"I'm positive you knew there was something going on at home so I'm just going to say it. He abused me, he abused us..." And that's how I began my stor.... I told her everything. There was no point in hiding it anymore. I told her about the daily beatings, the horrible name calling, how he hit me in front of my mother and vice versa. I told her about his drinking problem, how he turned every day into a living hell and the amount of times the thought of suicide actually entered my mind. Her face. Our houses were all pre-sold so there were people there to gawk when the contractor handed me the key. I just handed it to the home owner. The ceremony wasn't fancy, but it was something to mark the day.I was happy to be doing it. On Friday I was attending and participating in one of those ceremonies, when my phone rang. The call was from Jerrod."Maxine, it seems Jerome got the message. He gave away all his furniture and packed everything into his car. He is about to drive away, should I give. ’ Back aching, stiff legged travelers tended to make an overnight stop at Bangalul, and so the town boasted two motels and a pub that had limited accommodation. Along with this went the services needed to support the gas field workers and the tourists. This included a reasonable shopping mall, a dentist and a medical centre. Bangalul was in the midst of an arid plain that rather like a huge bowl was surrounded at some distance by hills that from Bangalul seemed to be dusted by a blue mist. The. I’m sure you all know, but Mardi Gras time is when girls flash their tits and get beads to wear round their neck as a ‘reward’, for letting guys see their tits. Sarah and I were out one evening, right in amongst the crowds and sure enough, there were girl tit-flashing. I knew from Sarah’s reaction that it would only be a matter of time before she wanted to show hers off to any guy who wanted to look. We ended up in an area that wasn’t quite so crowded and, as we walked towards a group of white.