I was going to do something about her if he hadn’t. Actually, I’m relieved. While I was sitting in court waiting to be sentenced I thought what a ...amned fool I’ve been.”“You must hate me for not coming to see you, but you told me not to.”“No, don’t be sorry. I don’t think I could have stood seeing you and not being able to get close to you. I think somehow after I get done with my parole, I will move to where you are and we can be a family again. Your mother used to scream at me if I showed you. "Life is short," I'd replied, offering my own clich?.We hadn't spoken for five years, Curt and me, which is maybe why we hadto start with hackneyed expressions instead of words from the heart.We'd been estranged, and we found our sudden togetherness awkward, evenpainful.I'd stopped speaking to Curt when he'd told me he was a female trappedinside a male's body. He'd said he was going to change his sex."Instead of a kid brother, you'll have a little sister," he'd told me,as if he'd expected me to. I could see what your friend said, see?" I realized then that she was one of those many Welsh people with the habit of ending each sentence in a question to which they expect no response. I wondered what her deaf students made of the habit."Oh." I replied, not overly sure of what else to say and uncertain of how to proceed. I was providentially saved from having to make any conversation by the timely arrival of the barmaid. As I ordered and then paid for the drinks, I heard the woman say, "Cum. It's not that way at all."In an icy voice, Ann asked, "What way is it?" It's all very innocent." Innocent?" Let me tell you the truth. When I first came here, I was terrified to get undressed in front of him. The first time I did it, he barely looked at me. He's never looked at me in a way that's made me uncomfortable. I participate in the morning exercises undressed most mornings now." I really don't like this," said Ann becoming convinced that she had seriously misjudged William.Lucy was.