I..." she started."It's okay," I interrupted, looking directly at Mandy, "it's just that Annette was afraid of disappointing someone today, if things ...on't go well."Her mouth formed an "O" of understanding as she jumped off the bed and wrapped her arms around Annette. "I love you, Honey," she whispered, and Annette's tears started again, but this time they were happy tears. I stood beside them, a hand rubbing each of their backs, then was hit from the side as Wendy wrapped her arms around Mandy. Ronnie held the door for Mindy, then went around to the driver's side. He started the car, signalled, and pulled away carefully. Mom waved from the window, and Mindy waved back."Free at last!" Mindy said, and we all laughed.Once we got to the drive-in, we bought tickets for some crime movie that I don't remember the title of. Frankly, I didn't watch much of it. Ronnie picked a spot toward the back to park, although there were plenty of slots open closer to the screen. The four of us made a trip. The third time led Ms. Smith to give me 6raps of ruler on my open palm but it did little to help my focus. Why myapprehension? Today was the day of my picnic and I was nervous. Earlyon my governess had been very solicitous of my desire to keep this partof my life private, but overtime she had made it clear that sooner orlater I would need to "step out from behind her skirts". Well later hadbecome now and although I did not have a clock or a watch, I could tellfrom the changing angle of the. I especially liked it when my two bosses noticed and complimented me on my ‘fashion sense!’ The week after Joey’s reunion was the week the bond issue was due, and to put it simply, it was utter chaos and frenzy. And it was terribly exciting. Everyone was working to near exhaustion, especially my two bosses, Mr. Damon and Mr. Compton, and me. We’d work well past 6:00, go for a quick dinner, come back and work until 10:00 or 11:00 many nights, and then just collapse in the conference room amid.