I turned to go into Birgit’s old room, but Karin called after me.“My room, Steve,” she said firmly.I turned around and put my bags in her room a...d went back to the living room.“I’ll make some tea and we can talk,” she said. “Then we’re going to make love.”I nodded and sat on the couch in the living room. She started the water for the tea and came and sat on the couch, but not too close.“What’s happened with us?” she asked, coming right to the point.Karin was being very direct and there was no. " Her man is beating 'er!" Coln grimaced trying to pull away."No, the man that use to be her husband just beat 'er," Mary said sharply. "And 'e won't be doing that long. Her man is running to protect her. Get yer boys ready. There'll be another mess to clean up soon."Of course I didn't hear any of this. I was running as fast as I could and wondering if I should just pull down and shoot the motherfucker. I decided not to but it was a close call. Tom saw me coming, grinned and had just enough. Cora had successfully scared away man after man after man. From 4 to 9 she rode the farms ponies, she hid in its hay mows, she climbed in its corn cribs, and she nursed the newborn kittens and calves religiously. Years of play had built her an outstanding imagination which generally worked in her favor when it came to getting what she wanted from adults, but children at the grade schools thought differently. She was a short round farm girl. She didn’t care what she wore, she didn’t care about. Just ask around. Good girls get presents; bad boys get punished - severely. Question is, which are you?"Timmy didn't answer at first. He either didn't want to say, or had gotten to that point where he was no longer sure. Kong gave him a little light slap on his face to get his response."I'm... I'm a good girl," Timmy suddenly said. He knew he didn't really have a choice. The response brought laughter from those around Kong."Good." Kong smiled and kissed Timmy's forehead. "You ready to show.