When that part of our life ended I was least aware of it, except I woke up one morning and realised he seldom touched me anymore. A long time ago he c...mposed sonnets in my name, and always he welcomed me with a tray of breakfast and a kiss in the morning. I can’t remember the last time he did any of such to me. Too many times I’ve tried getting back some measure of feeling into him. Once I’d even jumped on him at night, but he’d knocked me off from the bed and turned on his other side facing. "You don't have to hate me," she whispered."I don't," Laura said."You and I have a lot in common."Laura nodded, unable to deny it."Let's just go to my place," Rhonda said, sounding weary."You don't have to worry, I won't rape you. I like black girls. Just like you do. But I'm tired of this effing bar, and the looks we're getting." Okay," Laura smiled, unable to turn her back on any possiblity.When they got there, Rhonda made them fresh drinks. Laura joined her in the kitchen. She could not help. We have some things to do early in the morning," Mom said, as she reached for the phone and then dialed a number."Hi, Ellen. Ginny is going to sleep here tonight. We have some things to do early tomorrow," Mom said There was a pause, then Mom said, "Yes, I'll remind her," and hung up"Ellen said to remind you that she and your father will be out tomorrow night and to take care of your brother," Mom told Ginny."What do you have to do early in the morning?" Dad asked. "Tomorrow is Saturday." Don't. “I had my helmet and my seat belts!”“But your mom was worried about you,” I said. “You could have been hurt.”“Mom, will you let me go again?” Matthew asked.Elyse took a deep breath and looked at me. With my eyes I told her it was completely up to her. I knew the risks and nobody was pushing Matthew to drive Go-Karts. I knew that Abbie and Jason were a strong influence on him, but I hadn’t ever heard them do anything other than encourage him to follow his own ideas about what he wanted to.