There were some snarky reactions that I knew were the wives. More than being condescended to, being laughed at is something I cannot stand. Because of...how flustered it makes me feel. I blushed, worried I was making myself look ditzy. I quickly thanked Victor and turned and left the podium, walking across the stage and past the curtain to the backstage area. PART 5 - GARRETTI had one more appearance onstage to make after Victor’s presentation. He would speak for five and then, after Garrett. Next I heard the unmistakable sound of a gaspfollowed by a painful grunting that continued for several minutes. I hadno idea what they were doing because they were no longer making sweetmummers like they had moments earlier. At this time, the other man soundedlike he was in some kind of awful pain. Although my eyes had adjusted tothe dark, most of my vision was still obscured by objects on my left andright. Even though I desperately wanted to see what they were up to, Ididn't dare move and. Tricky Dick who had declared hisself the leader of the pack of no-goods pounded the worn-out wooden top of the bar with his short little riding whip which he kept wrapped around his wrist like some sort of badge of leadership.Dutch didn't like Tricky Dick because he was much too mouthy and tended to bully anyone who crossed his path and seemed a bit weaker. Still, if he wanted to run with this collection of losers he had to stay on Tricky Dick's good side and pretend he was some kind of. Every girl should keep a literary man in tow." She sighed.The next question was the one that women will ask of any single man."Do you have a girlfriend, or significant other?" I smiled a little at the expression significant other. I was well aware of the rumour sometimes circulating around Sunrooms, that I may be gay. No reason apart from my being thirty-one and single. Then of course there was my liking for the arts. Why is it that an appreciation of music and literature inevitably leads to.