* * *Mum and Susie were bubbling with excitement as we drove back to ourvillage. Mum couldn?t wait to tell Esme. I was excited too, but Ialso had ... troubling sense of unease. I was afraid that my quiet, ifunsatisfying, life as a nonentity schoolteacher was about to come toan abrupt end. The limelight beckoned ? Earls tend to be publicfigures, after all ? and I would need to find ways to avoid it.My mother was quick to insist that all three of us should expect tomove into the Hall. It was. Only I could cram the two most common school nightmares -- naked in school and unprepared for class -- into one real live occasion.Then, when I turned to face the throng to take my seat, there, in the front row along with Mom, Elaine and dignitaries' entourages, is my brother Carl, next to his GF Beth, and next to her is their very good bud Stephanie, who was clinging lovingly to her girlfriend Kathy's arm! Where had they come from?I went down like a marionette whose strings had been cut.. I gave him a so what look and walked down the bar abandoning him.Angel Suarez was melancholy. “Yes, I have to go to Phoenix yet again. The doctor says they have found something that needs taking care of,” she said.“Oh my,” I said.“Yes, You and Hank will have to carry the load until I get back. Okay?” she said. She seemed about to cry. I was worried. She was supposed to be clean of the cancer.“Sure, sure,” I said. “We’ll handle it. Just come back soon, and keep us in the loop. Okay?” I. But thank you for understanding.’ I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door. ‘Bye,’ I say with a wave and walk out. ‘Bye Lexi,’ I called back as she walked out the door. There was something about her. I couldn’t really place it, but she seemed special. I shake my head quickly, trying to get back to work. First day, and I’m already picking out favorite students, I joke to myself. After a long day of classes, I headed home and had a drink, heading off to bed. I was already exhausted, and it was.