The loser would beescorted to the mall, have his ears pierced, and wear those earringsuntil the first game of the 2017 season.Well, a bets a bet, so M...nday after work, I met up with Matt at thePiercing Pagoda at the mall. I was glad, though rather surprised, thatMatt was, for him, subdued. I fully expected to be majorly razzed byhim, but, he quietly explained the situation to the woman in the kiosk,as I reluctantly sat down in the chair to be pierced."No need to be embarassed," she said as she. ..people...do something like this to another child that's in needof love and affection."He nodded and sat back in his chair, folding his hands behind his head."I have to tell you Ashley, I'm really impressed with how you'vehandled all of this." Really?" I asked, looking up at him in surprise. "How do you mean?" I've handled more than my fair share of cases of child abuse. Too manyreally," he explained and I could tell from the change in hisexpression it was something that had stayed with him. ”That was more than fair, so I thanked her very much. She gave us a cup of tea and a thick slice of fruit cake, and then we lugged Julie’s stuff up to my room. I pretended to mop my sweating brow after all the effort.“Have you come for the whole week?”She giggled.“No, silly, I’ve come for the rest of my life! You’ve forgotten, I’m now homeless!”I slapped myself on the forehead in contrition and kissed her thoroughly before replying. Okay, so it was still a pretty weak response to her. I answered. Thanks Joan, I didnt see you very long because we were busy with your husband going over the new blue prints and working out in your basement gym. Frank and I think we have a great boss, so when we heard it was his birthday and you were throwing a birthday party for him, we wanted to pitch in and help. We didnt get to spend much time with you after we met. James said smiling and winked tugging his shirt out of his dress pants and taking it off. Would you like some of us to help you.