?Happy birthday, Pumpkin,? I said as I hugged my pre-adolescent daughter. ?I think you’re old enough to understand a few things about our family no.... Do you know what a hierarchy is, Honey???Sure, Daddy—like the army with generals and privates and stuff.??Right?now who are the generals here in our home???Um?you and Aunt Tina???Right again?you’re very observant. And who is the private???Mommy?? ?Yes, dear and who is in between???Me???Very good?from this day forward you are above your mother. . I see him occasionally as i leave inthe morning, but he normally keeps out of my way. Hewould choose this morning to try to come on to me.I suppose he was good looking in his way, 6ft 2inches,230lbs, well defined, black and with an extremeattitude, obviously gay and he made it perfectly plainthat he was here looking for sex partners. Today hetried chatting me up and blowing his smoke breath allover me, i really wasn?t in the mood for it, so toldhim that if there were three things i didn?t like. The good news was that it meant that I was recovering from Julie's death. The bad news was an extra bath and a need for clean sheets. I showered and got ready for an early day. I stripped the bed and put the sheets in the washer and left the mattress bare to air a bit. I started my coffee and began breakfast. As I ate, I returned to my list.Long term, I didn't think staying in the house was going to work. If the power went out, I would have to go to a generator which would be a pain in the ass.. "About forty minutes," he said as he stopped for anotherred light."Take your time. I made an appointment to get my nails done in halfan hour. The coat I slapped on them after my night as your boyfriendisn't making it."Sandy smiled at the memory. "Call them back and make an appointmentfor me, too." Why? Your nails look great." Not any more. Where's the salon? I'll meet you there." She gavehim the address. "Okay, I'll be there in half an hour." What are you wearing?" That skirt and sweater.