Its walls filled with photographs of him and his college friends. Shelves lining one wall were filled with trophies from his athletic competitions. Hi... clothes still hung in the closet. It was a shrine that she had been unable to clear out. She rarely even went inside, except on the worst of her days when she curled into a ball clutching the pillow that she swore still held the smell of her baby boy. She would cry for hours, great gulping sobs that rent her soul until they slipped away to. She was dressed nicely, too, like before. At the theater, she stuck to diet soda and avoided the popcorn and candy. “I’ve sworn off ice cream until I lose thirty pounds or you drop me like a rock,” she announced.“Thanks!” I retorted, rolling my eyes, “No pressure!” She just giggled.I behaved myself in the theater, just rubbing her shoulder a little. We were sitting in the restaurant and she muttered, “You’re being such a gentleman...”“Well, I figure I’m operating under the three date rule, at. " No, Mom, the Institute has shown me all the statistics.Men are stupid, low creatures that always use women.They've been holding back the human race for all ofhistory. Their only purpose is a bit of momentary pleasure- thank you for showing me that, by the way - and that'sall a good woman should require of them. I mean, if theywere any better, they'd be women, right?"Brenda frowned. Perhaps she was imagining things, but thosewords sounded... barbed. "Speaking of the institute, honey,what's. Somehow, none of that seemed important anymore. We madeour way downstairs and I decided we'd better go and inform our mothers ofour plans before heading out. We walked into the kitchen and were greetedby the smiling police. Such perfect teeth on two middle aged ladies. Samwaited for me to speak first figuring that I'd have an easier time of it.I opened my mouth to speak, when suddenly Aunt Alice said "Don't John'searrings look exquisite darling?" Sam wasn't about to get drawn into.