”“We see, yes,” was all Viktoriya said as she passed the Gibson ukulele back to Samantha.“We’d love to hear you play some, Viktoriya,” Mrs... Hobbs replied as she rested her right hand on the Ukraine lady’s shoulder. Viktoriya simply smiled and made a small nod back towards her daughter’s adopted mother.“Momma!” Kalena said with more passion in her voice than previously. “You need to tell everyone who you are, so they, these adults can help you ... please.”“Ms. Kharlamov?” Mr. St. Georges softly. When he dropped me off,he told me "I'm sorry about what happened, Chris, but youhave to understand that when that I had no idea you wouldwish for something like that. Then my hormones just tookover. I know you'll be mad at me, but I hope eventually wecan be friends, like before. Maybe one day in the futurewe'll laugh about it." He gave me a final kiss, rubbing mythigh, and I kissed him back, sticking my tongue down histhroat. He then drove off, leaving me by the front of myapartment.I looked. The first guy I read was Brian Murphy. He was a majorfan of African culture. He was distraught that "the Dark Continent" hadbeen generally overlooked in world affairs, and felt the internationalcommunity ought to do more about their problems of famine and warfare. Atthe same time, he was only about five foot three and wanted to be taller. Ihad a common solution that would solve both problems. I made him about afoot and a half taller; he now stood six foot eight. I also darkened hisskin,. They went wandering around the boulevards, stopping to watch interesting street performers, or to peer down dark, narrow streets like nosy children. At the entrance of the first bookstore that they found, Winter stopped and sucked in a breath like a child on Christmas. Sebastien looked around, seeing nothing but stacks upon stacks of dusty old tomes. His wife moved easily through the claustrophobic shelves, chattering gaily in French with the shopkeeper. Sebastien finally leaned against a wall.