And things were fine… until… The following Thursday night. I was working late, and frankly had the stereo cranked a notch louder than necessary. I... fact, it was only during a quiet passage that I heard her knock on the door. And I opened the door to find Cathy, pushing her way in. I remember the door bumping my forehead as she pushed her way into the room. ‘Now he says he’s going to be gone for 2 months, the SOB!’ Cathy whirled and kicked the floor as she continued. ‘Did you ever believe that. She wore the same outfit as before and I remind myself that it's only been ten minutes since I last saw her. She had enough time to fill the ice bucket and put a bottle of bubbly on it. Two glasses--real glass!--sit next to it. That made me realize that she had this planned all along. She invited me in. Like any mid-range room there's one chair and the bed to sit on. She sat on the chair, leaving me no place other than the bed. As soon as she sat down she got back up again offering me a glass. I don't know how long I was asleep but it couldn't have been very long. The movie was still playing on the tv but the volume was high. When I came to my senses I realized what was happening. A figure beneath the blanket bobbing up and down, slobbering and slurping, and the occasional choking was all too familiar to me."Mel...fuck," I moaned as quietly as I could, tilting my head back. I pulled the blanket down and ran my hands through her short black hair. Those emerald eyes stared up at me as. ”“Bye mom.”I picked the phone up, took it off speaker and I walked outside the room.“Mom make sure the supplies are enough for all of us and tell the kids about the skunks. Make sure Jill understands about the skunks. She’s like me.”“Oh, I will, and I might tell them about you. Don’t worry about the food. I have been through a siege before. I love you, son. Bye.”“I love you, bye.”I disconnected the phone while I walked back into the room.“Thank you, Mick. I needed that, but skunks?”“Yeah. I’ll.