We'll need to talk about it sooner or later. He grinned listlessly. "The mine closed. I lost my job." Ah, Dad. I'm so sorry," Nora said, truly sorry n...w because she'd pushed him into a corner. "When did it close?" Three months back." How are you living? Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped..." I didn't tell you for the very reason you just started to mention. You would've wanted to help me, tried to send me money, and I won't have it! You understand! I just won't accept money from you.". Weather is ridiculous this year."I looked around for a spare table and saw one at the far end of the room next to the large windows that were painted on the outside with spectacular frost patterns that gleamed and glistened in the early morning sunshine. As I made my way across the aisles, the canteen doors suddenly opened and Heather walked in with Janet to one side of her and her two pool friends to the other.Time, as they say, came to a complete stop.*"Can I ask you something?"She was. Some gears are turning rapidly in fits and spurts while others wobble, threatening to break loose and barely in contact with their neighboring gears. You are so shocked by the vast, elaborate mechanism of pink crystal that you almost trip over the ruined Hina twisted into a heap on the floor.“Oh, my sister,” moans your Hina, crouching down beside her ruined sister. “What has done this to you?”“I’m willing to bet it was whatever damaged this machine,” you say, indicating the Heart Engine. “Can. Of course I've known hir forever. Sie's agreat gurl, hir long wavy (dyed of course) violet hair being a nicecounterpoint to my pink. Sie's a superstar on our Irish dance team andour chorus line. What delicious long legs. Sie plays the oboe in theschool marching band, of which I am a member as well, since I am themajorette. Sie gives me a wink, I blow hir a little kiss and we start ourstretching routines. The stretches are designed to make us as flexible aspossible. Most of the sissy.