“What’s this?” she asked.I looked to where she was pointing. Oh shit! I thought. I forgot to hide the weed.“Um… well… uh…” I stuttered...nervously.“You know, I don’t mind drinking as long as it’s not often, but weed is a gateway drug. It leads to all sorts of things.”“Oh come on Ms. Robinson…”“No! Not come on! I hate to do it, but I might have to tell your dad or the police.”“Oh please! Don’t call either I’d do anything. Please!”“No Brad. Im sorry, but…” she trailed off, eyeing me and smiling. I got a good home cooked meal that evening, something I hadn’t even realized I’d been missing. Melissa beamed when I went on and on with the compliments…and meant them. When I kissed her cheek goodnight, I called Melissa ‘Sis,’ making my voice very serious, and she called me ‘Brother.’ I knew darn well when she closed the door she was going to burst out into tears again but, in spite of Cal’s declaration that it was my responsibility, he had to deal with it, not me. ******** A week later at a. An AK-47, now, if I hear that I’ll probably jump out of bed and dive for shelter.”“Right. Any idiot can look at a gun and say ‘That’s an AK’ or ‘That’s a 16’. Very few men can identify them by sound. You’ve been in firefights and you know the difference. So, on to what I need help with. First, some background and I know that this won’t make any sense and you won’t believe me anyway, but I gotta try, okay?”Eric leaned forward. “Back when mirrors were first invented, they were expensive as hell,. . and what he’d found when he’d visited Jeff’s house the previous day.He was diplomatic enough to leave out the parts of the story that involved sleeping with Brandi or Nicolette, but seeing Kristine naked was vital, and so it was with great shame that the young football player described sleeping with Brandi’s mother.When his tale was done, he glanced up at the Mentor and his blood ran cold. There was a look in Niles’ eyes unlike anything the black teen had ever encountered before.No, that.