Parvathiamma would tell her that the borrowed amount would be cut from her next month’s salary. But often my mother would get the full salary itself... the old woman would ask her to forget the money she had borrowed. The old woman was kind to my mother in many other ways also. Often, when her children sent her presents from abroad, she would give something or the other to my mother. I used to wonder why she was being so kind to us. But soon Parvathiamma was to ask something from my mother in. "Corvus clung to her in a fierce hug for a long time before letting go. He wanted to demand she stay, but knew he would only make a scene. Where Clover went wasn't her choice. "I'll talk to my father in the morning."She gave him an unreadable smile. "As you wish."Corvus did end up discussing the subject with his father the next day, but not in the morning. He woke with a low, throbbing pain in his temples that turned vicious and threatened to bring up the contents of his stomach when he moved. " Maverick said a small prayer of thanks for Alana's kind words and amazing gift of unconditional friendship. He had never had anyone accept him so easily, before. Not ever in his life and he was thankful that it was Alana.oooDinner was a big affair, celebrating the arrival of the cattle and welcoming the cowboys that had brought them in. Alana's mother, Alice, had made a huge dinner of roast beef, turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet corn on the cob, dinner rolls and more banana pudding. " She passed into the hall.I never saw her again. Robots don't get to pick their friends.Another man came to see me the next day, a tall black man in a blacker suit. His body was strong and fit, his skin smooth and glossy. When I entered, he gave a big toothy smile.He was so much prettier than the last one. I gave a little curtsy and said, "Hi, I'm Amber." I glanced at the crotch of his slacks and hoped that his cock was big."Oh no, Amber won't do," he said. "You'll be Melissa. Is that fine?".