Soft. Caring. Genuine. If I was going to talk to somebody, it would be somebody who sounded like Jo. Sounded like Jo. I'd actually sat through a coupl... of sessions with real live counselors. The army provides those. So does the Veterans' Administration. Each time, though, I felt like the counselor was filling out the forms for Patient # 564392. Jo made me feel almost like Patient #1 of 1. Scratch 'patient'. Make that 'friend'."Jo," I said, "Some things happened long ago and far away and I have. It was a large space, complete with a sitting area to one side, where his parents would often watch television. The carpet looked freshly vacuumed and everything was in its place. He recognized Jasmine’s touch in the way everything sparkled. On the sofa in the sitting area, he received updates from his parents about their business. Tonight’s news wasn’t very good. Greedy Electronics was ramping up pressure on the senior management, and it seemed a mutiny was imminent. If his parents didn’t sell. I could feel a stirring in my groin. Before I could do anything she popped up off the bed and said, “Why don’t you go shower and I’ll make us some breakfast.” With that, she walked out of the bedroom.I decided I should shower and got up and headed to the bathroom. I noticed the towel she had used to dry off hanging on the rack. Without thinking, I reached over and lifted it to my face and smelled it. I so loved the way she smelled. Quickly, I hopped into the shower and went about my. She answered a door knock and let in Silvana. They hugged and kissed. ‘Half a glass of wine?’ ‘No thanks, we are eating formerly tonight and I’ll have some wine then. Jim’s new girlfriend is coming for dinner and mom went me to ask would you mind if she invites Gene, um, to give balance to the table.’ ‘I have you to sit beside me for balance.’ ‘Aw mom wants something started between you and Gene. She’s been talking about this with Gene’s mother.’ ‘Oh hell, she must know I won’t like Gene being.