He likes his strong and black. As I wait for the drip, drip, drip of the machine, my head begins to race. I feel so full of stories, they leech out of...my skin and run onto the page themselves. I pick up the notes from the kitchen table and remind myself where we are, today we will write but not for an hour or so yet. He is still sleeping when I enter the shadows of the bedroom, his long frame thrown across the bed, his face creased into the pillow. I smile. I cannot help it. He’s finally mine. Neil visited Irene so often that she began to wish that he had someoneelse in his life that he would care for the way he did for her. He was askinny young man, with short brown hair and some freckles. Irene knew hethought very little of himself, but she also knew many of the nurses hadshown interest in him but he was too shy to pursue anything."You know, I'm not going to be here forever." I know," said Neil as he gathered up his things to leave for the day,"I'm only 25, there's no rush."Irene. " No, you won't have to do that. I'm not interested in your money." Shegave me a quick look. I knew what she was thinking. I shook my head. "Iwould never take advantage of you, Katie. That's just not my style."She bit at her lower lip. "Alright. But only for a few days. IF you atleast let me cook the meals."I smiled, feeling better about the whole situation. "Deal," I said,taking her slender hand in mine and shaking it.******We sat in the back of the cab, listening to the wipers beating out. "You better get that cute ass of yours upstairs in the attic. Mistress is on her way up there now with a slave."I knew the way blindfolded, literally. As I entered the attic, I saw Mistress inspecting a pole, which had been installed above an old hot air riser, from floor to roof. For those not old enough to remember, a hot air riser is just a fancy vent that allows hot air to rise from one level of a house to the next. They were common before forced hot air furnaces. Many older houses still.