He had stoppedworking, or was working very slowly, his eyes drifting away from hiswork, wandering over Nicole. She turned and the hem of her dress bru...hedagainst his face. She was awaiting permission to come back to the cart. Ishook my head. She turned back to the shelf talking another box. Herdress brushed against his cheek again, they were that close. She bent herknee and it brushed his arm. I knew what she was doing to him, poorfellow. He would be putting all the boxes upside down soon I was. That is, until Charlie helped get me back on my feet and functioning again. One day almost six months to the day after the accident, Charlie was out in the barn helping me to water the cows. It was hot that day, and we needed to make sure the cows drank plenty of water. I was carrying the bucket from the well into the barn when, graceful me, I tripped over the hay rake laying half-buried in the hay covered barn floor. I spilled the cold water all over the front of my shirt, soaking me. It was Saturday, the fifth day, that my life changed.I was startin' in early at the bar. It was just after noon. I was alone. Ben hadn't arrived yet. I think his wife, Susie, was a little miffed at him for bein' late every day for the past several."You Clyde Bristow?" said a complete stranger."Who wants to know," I said. I checked him up and down. He was all business."I'm Mason Kellerman. I'm a lawyer. You're kind a hard to find, Mr. Bristow." Didn't know anybody was lookin'," I said."Well, as. The first time felt like a release,getting all the dirt and the pollution off my skin, soothing my muscles.I had tried to settle afterwards but I couldn't, sit still or thinkstraight. It was like someone had downloaded a virus into my brain.During the second shower, I could still feel him on me. I stood therelike a zombie not able to think straight. At first I didn't realise Iwas crying because of the water from the shower. In the end I had to siton the edge of the bath because I was crying so.