I finished dressing and went to the stairs.Somehow it didn't surprise me to find Celine on the stairs waiting for me. I lifted my arm and she took my ...lbow. Together we descended the stairs into the main room that was a hive of activity. At the base of the stairway two serving women were standing together, one of them handed us a mug from a silver tray. I swallowed a mouthful, the liquor burning its way down my throat. Celine sipped it and bit back a grimace, handing the mug back to the serving. Now, she was a shadow of her old self, shambling like a lost soul through life. Eventually, I decided that I had to do something, and chose to have a heart to heart talk with her. One night after a glum, mostly silent dinner, I brought my mother into the living room and sat her down. Kneeling before her, I took both her hands and said, "Mom, you've been mourning Dad for way too long. I miss him too, but he's been gone for almost two years! You've got to start living your life again. Don't. They moved out rapidly to the north and arrived back at the area where they first encountered the young boys just as darkness was starting to fall. Mike saw the two large barracks style building that supposedly housed the 50 boys and girls of the new order. It didn't look like a typical school because of the extensive barbed wire and the floodlights that kept the perimeter well-lit at night.They hunkered down near a railroad track that was so rusted it gave away the fact that it had not been in. .....................................Back in my cabin I changed into a loose fitting almost Hippy styleblouse with a long flower patterned wrap over skirt. I put on some corkwedged sandals and touched up my make up. I put my purse and make up bagin large beach bag checking that my swipe card for boarding was in thepurse. Then I was on my way confidently I strode along the deck headingfor the exit ramp. I opened my bag and pulled out my purse, then it hitme. "Damn I've left my cigarettes in my.