Maria is already showered and dressed when I return. I shower then get dressed in the bathroom."Feeling bashful?" she asks."Just don't want to start a...ything," I tease.Dinner with her parents and siblings is ok. I feel awkward but I survive. I often put my hand on top of Maria's as a show of affection. I think I'm doing much better at helping her fool her parents. Her mom still likes to steer the topic to marriage but it's not just Maria that's sick of it. Her dad often guides the topic. Anyway before the locust descend on me and strip this place bare," he waved his hand about, "I want to give you something."He pointed to a small wooden box on his bedside cabinet. It looked very old, banded in brass with a huge key sticking out of the escutcheon."Open it son," he said.I turned the large key and the lid opened, inside was a small silver ball, the size of a tennis ball, perhaps a little smaller."Pick it up lad," he said.As soon as my hand touched the silver orb, I could feel it's. Not fat, just not a twig. She weighed around130 pounds. Her jet black hair hung down to her shoulders. I was five foot seven and weighed about 135 pounds. My hair was short and light brown. We both wore glasses. Neither one of us would win a beauty contest. We were just ordinary farm kids that had ended up in the city after dad died. We were both considered nerds and dwebs by everyone in school and everyone let us know it all the time despite the fact Shela was a straight “A” student. . The awards had been presented while I was unconscious in a Georgia hospital, and Tom had flown to New York immediately after the game to accept for me.The Fergusons were coming to Tempe with me — Mack and Ellie would never miss UK in a title game, and Beth would never miss a chance to check out a new shopping area — so I sent the remaining three comp tickets to my Georgia doctor.She called me and told me she wouldn't miss the chance to see a title game for the world."But just to let you know,.