She shuddered as she had a sudden flashback of the days events. He let out a small sigh and leaned forward, uncrossing his legs. Youre welcome. Eat ...omething he said, gesturing to the fruit. She glanced at the fruit wearily and then picked up a strawberry and took a small bite, it was the best strawberry shed ever had. She reached for another. He was back to watching her. She was beautiful. He watched her pink lips wrap around the strawberry. She probably tasted like strawberries, he. His hair was almost black and cut very short, and despite the early hour he had a five o’clock shadow on his face. He was wearing a long black winter coat and underneath it she could spot a black jumper with a V-neck that exposed some of his black chest hair. She smiled at him. ‘How can I help you, sir?’ she asked. ‘I’d like a cup of coffee,’ he said, revealing a faint Eastern European accent. ‘What type of coffee?’ she asked, motioning with one hand towards the board that listed dozens of. Wanted to go prospecting.We went regularly. So did a great many others ... much to our dismay. Gold prices soared. What was once thirty five dollars an ounce had risen to two thousand an ounce. There were people camping at our favorite places. Our diggings were invaded. If one could drive to the site there were people there.I turned 27 ... Just Abbie was twenty. I sent her off to racing school. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate her ... I did. But she was underfoot. When I received standing. ?You’re too fat, Yates, ? I chuckled as I swung again. ?Might be less painful if you had less of that disgusting padding.?WHACK! WHACK! WHACK! ?Repeat (WHACK!!!) after me, (WHACK!!!) Yates? I droned. ?I am (WHACK!!!)a fat (WHACK!!!) disgusting lump (WHACK!!!)of lard and (WHACK!!!)unfit to pursue (WHACK!!!)a course (WHACK!!!)of study at (WHACK!!!)the Ponsonby School.?Sobbing, Yates obeyed to the best that he could, mucus coming out of his pug nose, and I felt fine! I slashed the cane again and.