‘Honey…’ she began. ‘Raj, please…’ His mother appeared to be experiencing as much difficulty as Raj in dealing with the embarrassment of t...e situation. Raj felt her weight at the bottom corner of his bed and he turned away from her.‘Please Raj,’ Vinita persisted. ‘Don’t be embarrassed… please… I should’ve knocked… It’s natural for you… Normal…’It may be natural and everyone does it, Raj thought, but no one wants to be caught doing it. He groaned again at the memory and felt his face flush. Might I ask where you learned English? You don’t look military.”She smiled at him, her blue eyes reflecting the glow of the eclipse. He felt her arm move, the soft fur sliding against his body and her large, padded hand coming to rest near his thigh.“I’ll let you in on a secret, Ambassador,” she whispered to him. Her lips were close enough to his ear that he could feel the warmth of her breath on his skin. “I have more than a passing interest in humans and their affairs. Ever since the. I know I look... different." The truth of the matter is," I said rather too forcefully, trying to steer quickly away from this topic, "I WAS leering; but only because you are a remarkably beautiful girl. Please accept my heartfelt apology and deepest contrition. It won't happen again." Wanna bet?" Brenda said, grinning tauntingly at me. I gave her another glare and she laughed.I was making a very conscious effort NOT to stare, and just for something to do, I reached into my pocket and pulled. They went to Lonnie’s and he came out to greet them: ‘Well, look at you two, nice wheels, Carol!’ ‘Newly acquired,’ she quipped with him, as they hugged. ‘Your car is in the er,’ he said. ‘Doesn’t look good.’ ‘We’re fine here now, Dooby,’ Matt said. ‘Looks like I guess you are,’ Lonnie said. ‘Where to?’ Carol asked next, as they were leaving Lonnie’s. ‘How much time do you need to get ready?’ he asked. ‘Eeeep!’ she squealed, ‘I forgot.’ ‘Forgot our big night out?’ he said, with a mock hurt.