Tears were running down her cheeks as she leaned over and kissed me lips gently. I could tell she wanted to hug me tightly but was holding back. I smi...ed at her slowly. Hoarsely, I asked, “How bad is it?”Dad said, “He hit you in your right side almost nicking a lung. You should be okay after a while.”I looked to my right and saw Carl with his arm in a sling. I looked puzzled. Dad resumed, “Carl went after him when he ran and took him down. He was shot in the arm. By then, the police arrived and. She wouldn't be showing anything unless she wanted to. I speculated that she would be wanting to. I nodded a smile at her and got back to the serious work of winning a five-dollar game of 8 ball.She suprised me by coming straight over as soon as I missed a shot; I had expected that she would mingle for a bit first. Instead, she came up beside me and casually leaned a breast against my arm while telling me how good it was to see me. I was right about the shirt. There was no bra. Apparently, she. Oneither side was a green mat for the coffins to sit on.As they waited for the vicar to arrive, Simon started to remember thebuild-up to the fateful day. I'd got home from school and said a passionate goodbye to Kirsty. Asper usual I was the first one home. My mother would be home in about andhour. My father would be back in about two hours. I'd just settled downto do my homework when the phone rang. The phone never went at thistime. "Oh, Simon," wailed a distraught Kirsty. "Dad just told. Then I want you to take a nap." A walk is OK, but I'm not napping alone! I need you close to me every minute you are here, until you need to leave on Wednesday!"I said, "Oh, love! I don't want to be apart from you either! But, shouldn't we move back to your room and give Sheila back hers? I think you're strong enough for the stairs by now, aren't you?"Sandy agreed with me, and we quickly switched the clothes and things between the two bedrooms. I called Sarah at IBM, and said, "Sarah, this is.