I see that it is coming inmy direction. I jump. I am short, shorter than my neighbors, but somehowI manage to catch the bouquet. Instinctively I bring...it towards my bellyand protect it with my body, just like rugby players do. I fall to theground and two other girls, who missed the bouquet only for meremilliseconds, fall over me. After a while, a hand helps me stand up andthe girls congratulate me, with obvious jealousy in their eyes. I seekDon in the crowd. As our eyes meet I understand he is. Woh kitchen mein ghuste hi pani ke naal ke pass ja kar bottle mein pani bharna shuru kiya.Main kitchen mein door se thoda andar khadi thi aur use dekh rahi thi. Fir woh bola “To chale andar tumhare room mein?” Main kuch bolu uske pehle hi kisine mujhe piche se kass ke pakad liya aur mere gardan pe churi rakh di.Balwant mere pass aya aur churi nikali aur mere pet pe rakh kar bola, “Agar jaan pyari hai, to chup chap hume tere room mein le chal. Warna yahi tujhe khatam kar ke khet ke us par fek. Remember the summer that we spent a month at your lake house?”Even as my brain responded to her words, my eyes looked for confirmation. The comparison between this lanky sex goddess and the tiny, nerdy girl with braces, giant glasses, and freakishly frizzy hair seemed impossible. But there was something about her face...“Clarissa... ?” I said questioningly.“I go by Clary, now,” she said reaching for me affectionately. “I’m all grown up now,” she gushed.It was a really awkward moment. She beamed. And Gordy will tell many to his grandson. And I will repeat the most important one of all.”“Which is?”“‘Always be the best, my boy, the bravest, and hold your head up high above the others. Never disgrace the generations of your fathers.’ It’s nearly 3000 years old.”“Right. From The Iliad.”“Yes. A father telling his son to never commit a shameful act.”“Which is why you can’t become a politician!”“Yes. Even the best are constrained to be deceitful. Ed Biggers said he hated politicians.”“Are you.