” As his weeping abates Warner breaks our embrace. I take hold of his hand and caress his fingers. “I don't want anything to happen to you, Shane....�� My hands move to his bare arms. “Warner… I really like you.” “And I....” Warner eases away. “You need to know” (he wipes his eyes) “that I… I’m—” He hops to a bench then jumps to the table. With mock pomp he proclaims, “I am the Dread Fierce Warner!” A mischievous grin emerges. “You must do what I say!” “Whatever you command, I will obey.” “Let me. You must think of something new to say." Really? I don't remember." Today, I think I saw you naked for the first time. I saw you without your uniform. I saw you without 'navy' stamped all over your body. Mischa, today, I saw you as a man and not as an officer in the navy. A man who has loved, loves still, and also worthy of loving." What is that twaddle, Svetlana? You accuse me of trotting out lines of random poetry and self-serving sayings for every occasion?" Ha! So, anyway, are we going to. Tom raised his hand as if signaling someone in the distant darkness, and almost immediately Jason was there with fresh drinks. Tom took a sip, as did she, and he was talking to her, telling her about a film they were about to see, but that was unimportant compared with the depth of his eyes. How could she have ever been afraid of men?There was a sudden tenseness in the room, as if everyone was waiting anxiously for an event, and she, too, became excited... but for what reason, she couldn't. I hadsome wine and we headed to the slot machines. Being thebig spender that I am, I gave her $5.00 and watched asshe blew the whole lot on a penny machine. A big tittedbar maid came around and offered us refills. My newfriend emptied her glass and accepted. I declined andcontinued to sip at my wine.The slot machine didn’t smile on her, but with everysip of her drink she smiled at me, and with the alcoholcoursing through her, her eyes became a bit glassy. Hercoat became untied and hung on.