Can you stay over Saturday night as well? We already have a party planned to watch two college football bowl games and would love for you to attend. I...'s the first time my alma mater has been in a nationally televised game in over twenty years!" I don't think that would be a problem, I can get to Steamboat on Sunday evening. Look forward to seeing you in a couple weeks." That sounds great. I will email you our new address with directions from the airport."I thanked him for the invitation and he. ..referred to me by an alumnus who knew she'd be perfect forfinding her true place here. My first impression of her was that shehid from others, keeping walls up to protect herself, a sure sign ofsevere rejection indicating abuse. As I reached to welcome her, withhand extended...she forced herself to look up at me, onlybriefly...and gave me the awareness even further when she timidlyheld a cold, soft hand toward me to kiss...as is my customarygreeting for new novitiates. What she didn't. For a start we were all seated, lined up along a single long table, eighteen per side and two, the future football pros, at each end. And every one of them was a gentleman, seating us politely, talking to us quietly, bringing us drinks and filling our plates… it was nothing like I’d expected, in fact it was almost “normal,” as though they were rehearsing for the fast approaching day when they’d be out in the real world, and would have to start getting to know women all over again. Then I. "I can't go. My mom is really sick and my dad can't get any time of work, he's going to be in England for a month too. I need to stay with her during the day to make sure she's alright. I'm so so sorry." Vanessa looked down then took her cell off speaker and pressed it to her ear. She cut off her friend's apologies and started to speak: "It's okay, Ashley, I promise. I'll just go alone, I'm better on my own. You know what I'm like." Vanessa laughed genuinely. She secretly wanted to go on this.