So I pretty much just took care of the lawn and house, and did a lot of reading as well. I would awake rather early every day to try to get the outsid... done before the scorching heat arrived. I also liked to open up the windows to let a cool breeze flow through to delay having to turn on the air conditioner. Damn, the bill was expensive in summer. My vaulted ceilings were nice, but were certainly not conducive to either efficient cooling or heating.It was one of those mornings when I was. ’ Thomas stood and shook my hand, ‘Any idea what happened to Jeff?’ I told him the story about how Jeff tried to kick the door in and the cops took him away and said he mugged a lady and stole her purse. Thomas got all teary-eyed, which surprised me, and he put his hand on his chest and said, ‘That could’ve been me, man. Jeff and I were on the same path and he’s in jail and I got fifteen days clean! What does that tell you?’ ‘That you got the better deal.’ ‘I sure did Ray,’ his voice cracked. ." Look at me."The girl did. Poor thing was scared. "Come on; it'll be okay. Let's get you a bath and we can get you fed."At the mention of food, the girl perked up."Ah, are you homeless?" I ran away." Oh no, well we can help."Holding her hand out, the girl reluctantly took it. Valerie studied the room, realizing it was a bedroom. It had to be X's, and everything was dusty. Even Melissa wasn't allowed in here. "Where are we going?" To my room. We won't be bothered at all. There you can shower,. Occasional streams provided her water, but she did not eat. She wasn’t even sure why she had bothered with drinking water. It would be better to die, slowly and painfully, and start her eternity of pain. At least she would not have to suffer the defilement of her body.It was perhaps the third or fourth day after crashing on the shore when she’d come across the people. After the first day of her wandering, she hadn’t even bothered becoming unseen. If animals attacked and killed her, it was what.