"Are you gonna tell them or shall I?" Tell us what?" Kayla asks, clearly frustrated at being kept out of theloop."Ugh," Lauren moans, resting her head...on the table. "It- it was mybirthday yesterday, that's all..." No way!" Kayla squeaks. "Which one?" ...Eighteenth," Lauren sighs, making the entire table cheer andapplaud- myself a split second behind the other three."We've GOT to celebrate!" Becca insists."Seriously, I don't want any fuss," Lauren moans."No way, you only turn eighteen once!". "Is that all?"said Gabrielle."All? It bloody well hurt," wailed Kylie."I mean did he or the red-head sexually abuse you? You are not wearing panties."Kylie solemnly shook her head.Gabrielle still had the document in her hand. Impulsively she grabbed a pen from the pile of stuff from her handbag spread over the table. Added her name and address and signed it. She thrust the paper at the "Major" and said, "Damn you. I've signed it. What next?" Now please accompany Miss Ash into the cell where she. It was a stark contrast between the enlightened new civilization and social order that I had built around hedonism, social justice, scientific progress, and peaceful cooperation (a euphemism for the Pax Diabolica, as I liked to call it); and the increasing barbarism and brutality of the Celestial Mandate regime in China, which had renamed the place the Celestial Territories of East Asia. The New Celestial Army, as it called itself, now controlled all of China proper, from the Manchuria border. I mostly stayed pretty close to the ranch just an ear shot away from Sam if anything should happened. At noon Sam would bring lunch and around 6 P.M. supper should be ready after I wash up. Anything Sam cooks, I literally licked the plate clean. Her mother taught her well. Ever since Jean died, Sam’s cooking has been tasting a bit bland and I know why but I just don’t know how to help her. Sam barely talks to me now, sometimes she would replied with a yes, okay or no. Sam probably blames me.