She was the best sister a boy could have had. Unfortunately we didn’t realize it at the time. ‘When she was eighteen, an offer of marriage came fo... her. My mother had an arranged marriage, and she had been happy, so of course we thought it would be the best thing for her. It was no surprise, as my sister had a sweet face and a fair turn about her. The boys were already responding, and my father thought it prudent to marry her off. We didn’t ask her wishes, simply agreed to the marriage and told. And anyway what fucking good is school anyway? There ain't no fucking jobs no more."Emily didn't really understand very much of what Mummy was saying. And she hated it when Mummy and her new Daddy cuddled on the mattress. It was so noisy and it looked weird. On the other hand, it was better when they did it during the day, rather than at night when Emily was trying to sleep on the sofa with the coiled spring that had poked its way through the plastic cover and chafed against her calves. On. But wouldn't you know it, Michael chose that instant to return from his food run, and the tender moment evaporated into thin air. Wendy dashed into the kitchen and fried up some steaks, along with a batch of spicy noodles. Actually, she prepared two different batches of noodles – a milder one for Michael, who didn't share our enthusiasm for fiery cuisine."You Brits and your bland taste in food," I cracked; he just laughed in response. Even though I'd met Michael the previous day, I was growing. .." Bucky licked his lips, looking for sympathy. "I was just foolin' around is all ... I didn't..." Shut-up, Bucky, 'fore you get yourself hurt," Slim told him, cuffing the boy upside the head."What do you want to do with him, Cali?" Frank asked, looking at me since I was the injured party. They were all looking at me.Now, there's a lot of ways for dealing with a card cheat and none of them are too good cause it ain't nothing but thievery, plain and simple. Back a hundred years ago they'd shoot.