I unzipped my backpack and pulled out an orange tanktop. However, before I could pull it over my head, I heard a shuffle of feet and turned around to ...ee Mr Collins at the door. I stood there, stunned, for a moment, before finally pulling the tanktop over my head. We stared at each other for a minute before he walked over to his desk and pulled out some folders.I retreated into my usual seat, biting my lower lip. I judged the expression on his face. The cocky confidence that usually showed was. However, Alice said she was busy this evening so unable to swap. Oh well I thought chances are they won’t be back and if they are hopefully there will be other customers in the café so I will be OK. Ever the optimist!That afternoon I went to work and the café was very busy, in the hurly burly I forgot about the threat of the young men to come back tonight until almost closing time with only two customers left, a man and his wife, when in walked the three lads . I immediately felt a bit scared. ’ ‘I see.’ ‘Yes, I do understand.’ ‘OK, Jennifer, but a birthday is an excuse you get to use only once a year, and we will remember that Mark’s birthday is April 22nd. And we will expect you, both of you, the following weekend, with no excuses. And one other thing: your mother and I expect you to go to church on Sunday morning.’ ‘I love you, too, Jennifer, and we’ll see you in ten days.’ Fred hung up the phone, saying ‘I hope Jennifer knows what she’s doing. I like this Mark Stewart, and I. “Great! Text me your address, I’ll come by tomorrow morning at five.”“Five in the morning?” I asked, aghast.“Yes,” she said.She gave me her number and hung up. I texted her our address on my cheap flip phone before returning to the dining room.“Who was that?” asked Mom.“A girl from the track team,” I said. “She wants to run with me.” * The next morning, I waited on our porch in the predawn darkness. It was a bit chill, and I wore tights and a Lycra T-shirt over my sports bra. I was glad.