Yes, please, Miss." I stood up and resumed the tiresome task in hand. Shortly afterward I could hear Jennifer drive off somewhere.That evening, after ...aroline and I had shared a vegan tart and salad, I found myself in the now, customary position, kneeling between my wife’s legs, worshipping her nylons and panties as she, unconcerned, watched her favourite soaps on television.“I was talking to Marian, again, today, Peter. You’ll never guess what she told me!”“Mmm, nnnn, nno?” I managed to mumble. Neither of which are using the coasters provided by Teddy’s mother. ‘You believe in that nonsense?’ Noah dismissively asked as he flipped through the channels, settling on the news. ‘You never know, those Aztecs–‘ ‘Mayans,’ Noah inserted. ‘Those Mayans,’ Teddy continued. ‘Those fucking Mayans knew about calculus and building pyramids, the fucking cosmos and all that crazy shit. How do fools know about that when they’re running around with spears, eating each other’s hearts, talking ’bout. "I'm so glad that you've settled in at school, as Laura." I never would have if it wasn't for them," I say. "Though not everyonehas made it easy for me..." Are you talking about that Harriet girl?" Grandma asks, and I nod inresponse. "Well don't you mind her. You have four close friends whogenuinely care about you, and that's the greatest blessing you can haveapart from family. Love the four friends you have, instead of wastingtime trying to make a fifth friend who isn't interested." I know," I. Yes, even with the brisk winter wind and the crowded platform, it was a relief to be out of the atmosphere of decay that had surrounded me at 444 Prefontaine Place. I wondered what life would be like there after the servants went on to their reward in another space and time. I expect I would wander the halls like some ghost of Christmas past muttering about opportunities I had ignored or relationships I had wasted because of asinine pride or selfishness.Right in front of me on the platform was.