I nodded.We talked for another minute or two and then he was off to pass out some more of the invitations to the employees. I stood there looking at t...e card. It would be my first foray into the world of play. I was already nervous and it was still five days off."A party? A party with you?" said Samantha."Yes, it's at my boss' house," I said. She looked at me kind of—what—sympathetically. "I mean it's okay if you have something else to do. I'll understand."Samantha and I had gotten to know each. I never really believed in any of that. I always found it to be completely unrealistic. I have my reasons for not believing in God, it’s a long and painful story. I don’t feel like telling you about it, not yet at least. I guess with more time given to me I will feel comfortable speaking on it. God was never on my side as you can guess, but nevertheless, that’s only part of the reason why I don’t believe in such a lie. As I sat there on my red plastic chair, writing the last few notes of the. Before the giants sailed close and boarded us from the opposite side ... then she come swimming under the boat. 'Stay put.' she said. 'We'll have you AND your boat out of here in a few, ' she said. And she did."Thought we were goners, Harbormaster."We heard scrabbling at the bow and then she at the stern. The boat started rocking more. The Wendy ... her, you know ... the clean water witch ... she come under the deck with a rope and tied it to the mast. We rolled and were out. We immediately. If we think we can get it together for Worlds, we'll petition for a bye." Which you'll probably get, considering who we're going to have to send to Worlds if you don't go," Curtis sighed. "Ryan and Courtney, and two unknown never-were's." Huh?" Warren asked. "I think you forgot about Evan and Shawna." You haven't heard?" Curtis asked in surprise."Heard what, Curtis?" You haven't. It's been a hell of a bad month for American ice dance." He sighed. "Shawna Vickers had an accident, about a week.