She tilted her head and examined me.“You mean that. I think that’s one reason why I feel as strongly about you as I do. You’re compassionate. Yo... care about people and how they feel.”“I guess,” I said, feeling a little embarrassed for some reason.She blinked.“Go on. The first time was an accident.”“Yeah, and when we went to breakfast we were both terrified that the grownups would know, somehow, what had happened.”I reached for her orange juice and took a sip, to wet my mouth. Then I realized. Sometimes these light bulbs were turned on by a single thought, or even a comment made to me at some time in my past that had resurfaced in my memory. Sometimes there was a beginning and nothing else, sometimes and ending only, whatever the catalyst, in my mind, at that moment, the finished product was a clear vision. My motivation to get out of bed that morning and head for my study, to crank up my computer and begin, was tempered by the fact that this was the middle of a particularly cold. ‘The next she’s the only one that knows the right thing to say?’ I suggested. ‘Yes. Exactly. So, let me ask you, Jessie, did you used to eavesdrop on us?’ Allison grinned. ‘No! I would have never… I mean, I don’t know where that came from! Remember when you told me last night something I said was dumb, and you were all stressed out? She told us when she heard you she thought you were calling me dumb, and came back to defend me and then started hearing what we were talking about and listened.. .. Well it is rather short notice..." she begins, "but we're having a bit of a get together at my house tonight. Just a few work colleagues - not all from our department - and spouses. And, well I thought it might be a good opportunity for you to meet people. Of course I perfectly understand if you have other plans." Erm no," you mumble in surprise, "I'd love to come." Oh, that's great," she replies - I'll message the details over to you."Its quite a mixed group: Myself - and my husband,.