My embarrassment was starting to fade as I stood there with my arms crossed against my chest trying to conceal myself. Jenna began turning from one s...de to another and finished with a twirl."What do you think?" she finally said. I looked her up and down one last time before stammering out "I think it looks good." She had selected a patriotic two piece. The bottoms where red and white striped with white strings coming off the hips. The bikini top was navy blue on one cup with white stars and. ..dresses become tighter, suits more elegant. Everyone struggles to convey a sense of allure, even if fear and loneliness have taken a strong grip on the soul… People had gathered at the vernissage, the usual talk, the wine, the hors d´oeuvres. The same predictable couples, married for the predictable number of years, running a marathon without prizes. Everyone had become a connoisseur all of a sudden, everyone does at openings of art exhibits. And I was there, trying to understand, drinking. "And why's that Sir?"Captain acting Commodore Peter Scott RMN shifted his eyes to look at the other occupant of the office. Carlton was tinkering with the entrails of the desk's 'puter,"You will be able to put that back together again, won't you, Chief? I might need it from time to time for things like planning ops and perhaps checking on the Wings' maintenance."Carlton looked equally firmly back,"Young? He's older that the Admiral, not by much, though; he graduated a year behind her." Oh so. “You couldn’t let her be could you? Had to come and ruin her night.”This was a surprise. Who was she and what the hell was she talking about? Harriet looked on with a mixture of puzzlement and wry humour.“You must excuse me, but I do know you from somewhere, but can’t remember where. Also, I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”“Still the congenital liar, Graham? You know perfectly well why you’re here, and it’s despicable after what you did to that girl!”Now I was getting irked. “Still.