I kicked off my shoes then twisted around to lie completely on the bed. When I was done shifting my sister also moved until she was lying with me, he... head on my shoulder. She was still grieving for her lost love as I drifted to sleep. I woke to the fragrance of coffee. My eyes opened and the first thing I saw was a mug, held by my sister who looked like she’d spent the night in a tumble dryer. Her eyes were bleeding, her hair a tangle of knots, and the cup shook slightly. She was wearing. R. director named Salter told her he was impressed with herand her credentials, but that he simply did not have a position at that time,but would be glad with her permission to forward her resume to some other H.R.directors he knew .Karmal thanked him profusely and told him by all means todo so. She smiled as she thought of the phone call the next day from the H.R.director at W_S-T_N, who sounded so positive as he talked to her, that shesomehow knew that this was the one she been looking for. "Whatever it takes," Allen laughed. "Come on, Jeff."The two of them ascended the stairs and entered a room off the hall with a large desk with a computer and a couple of office chairs. Jeff sat down in one while Allen took the other."So you're going out with Kari," Allen commented."Yes sir," Jeff replied. "I mean, we haven't actually gone out, like on a date, but ... well..." I understand. And there's no need to call me 'sir.' That's for when you meet your girlfriend's father for the first. And who loved, even more than any ofthat, the feeling of having entered a special, secret society with Motherand Janie.So, what had happened to the pretty, confident girl in that last photo?What road had I travelled to get from that young ingenue to the confused,frightened young man, standing before the two women in my life, wearinglipstick?That last weekend I was dressed, when I was fourteen, had started like mostothers. My brothers and my father had gone off to a hockey tournament inCanada. .