.Present – Jens – In the equipment roomSomeone is lightly slapping my face saying, "Wake up." I complain, "I just might do that if you stop slappi...g me." I open my eyes and see Maria, Liz, Bernie and Ivan. Ivan beams, "Maybe I should kiss the Princess to make her feel better?"My first response is to jump his ass for calling me a princess, but better judgment takes hold. I cough a little (it hurts like hell) and state, "That's okay Ivan, not now but later."Maria asks, "Jens, what's going on with. . That was better; humour and a rueful internal admission of mentally slacking off a bit, acceptable in the circumstances but not to be wallowed in. Actually he’d had a damn good time today, he always did with her, but today had been more than “damn good”; it had been - different. Verbal play and banter, as always, deep pleasure in each other’s company, certainly. A mutual joy of being and in watching the world were the stuff of their meetings. but today had been – different; Gaargh ! that was. No one seemed to go for him so I took my chance and slipped off and made my way through the empty auditorium. I had butterflies in my stomach and was semi erect as I walked down to the dressing rooms. There was no one about as it was pretty late and those who weren’t partying in the bar had already gone. The door to the dressing room was open and I could see him packing his stuff. I walked in, closing the door behind me and told him his taxi was here, and it was time to say goodbye. He opened. No therehad to be another way but how, I thought as I started the trek withMelissa in the buggy back to the farmhouse.Saturday night followed a similar pattern, I was learning now not toprepare any dinner for George so after me and Melissa had a light dinnerand she was settled for the night in her cot downstairs I curled up onthe sofa in front of the roaring coal fire to watch some TV. By eleveno'clock I was beginning to drop off as the fire died, so carefullypicking up Melissa I switched off.