Christy put on a mock pout that she couldn’t as yet drive. With her new junior operator’s license in hand, I sat with Ash and also Christy on the ...ext Saturday morning in late August. I asked, “Well, what kind of vehicle would you like to be driving? Can you two agree?”They more or less knew the question would be coming and I had heard discussions between the two of them several times about various cars. They would pore over the Sunday newspaper looking at auto advertisements and specials.Ash. Main: Waise papa…Papa achanak se bole: Kuch papa wapa nahi chup chaap baitho ab.Woh jhut mooth ka gussa dikha rahe the apne awaaz mein.Main: Offo sunona papa, please.Papa: Hmm… ab kya hai? Bolo?Main apni ungli kaatti hui muskurati hui boli: Kal aapne meri panty ko kaha chupaye rakha sara time?Papa: Chupaye… mujhe to yaad bhi nahi tha. Maine pocket mein rakh li thi fir bhool gaya, baad mein tumhare kamre mein aaya to yaad aaya to tumhe diya wapas.Main: Achcha… agar maa dekhleti aaj apke payjame. Maria knew that whoever this was he knew if he delivered it to school than children and possibly other teachers would see it. No. It would be personal, but totally respectable. She tore off the gold foil and opened the little black velvet jeweler’s box and gasped, her eyes widened, thinking he could not have amazed her more. Nestled in purple velvet was exquisite gold cross. The children’s ‘ohs’ and ‘ahs’ and Maria sighs. In response to their begging she put it on immediately. And it looked. ’ ‘I’m late for work now,’ Kaylee hedged. ‘My shift ends at four.’ ‘Perfect,’ Gabe said. He took down the name of the restaurant and the time in his notebook and hung up. * * * * Kaylee left for work. She changed into her uniform in the employee locker room, throwing her purse and clothes into a locker and locking it securely. Grabbing her order pad, she hurried out onto the floor. ‘You’re late,’ hissed Tina as she hurried past with a full tray of food for one of the tables. ‘Devon’s looking.