‘Tolerante,’ I said as we sipped coffee and munched on fresh bolillos in the courtyard, ‘take me to see el cubano.’ He shook his head immediat...ly. ‘ No, senorita,’ he said. ‘ This I cannot do, not even for you.’ ‘And why not?’ ‘Because, senorita, one doses not seek out elcubano. If he wants you, he comes to you.’ ‘How unsatisfying,’ I said. I reached into my purse, took out another hundred-dollar bill, and stuffed it in his shirt pocket. Then I reached across the table and gave him a long. "I'm sorry," Shannon replied. "I was just feeling a little defensive I guess. I love you to pieces but sometimes your brains get to me. I mean, you are just so damn smart. I feel like, I don't know, like I'm the younger one. Like the other night, you figured out what Jimmy was doing with the key before I even noticed anything. And I still don't know what you were talking about before. I guess I was feeling sort of useless." Useless?" I asked. "Shannon, don't put yourself down like that. You're. When Godhanded out manliness, I must have been off playing hopscotch with my sister!Grade school was an endless bout of name-calling, being picked on by theneighborhood bullies (next time around, _I_ want to be the bully!), and theconstant belittlement at home for being a sissy-boy who could never stand upfor himself. Worse were the hours I spent alone in my room, broken andbitter, unable to cope with my assigned role in life. I remember the nightthat I finally realized once and for all that. She always wants attention and likeall cats, she wants it on her terms. I call downstairs for her to come up.However, she just meows more. On my return downstairs, as I near the couch, kitty-cat popsher head up to see me. She knows what is coming. My lap! The moment I take myseat she scurries over to invade my space. Curling up, she attempts to steal myheat. Switching on the TV, I find something to watch and settle infor the evening. I begin to stroke the kitty and soon she begins to purr..