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\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid-296437734\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f14\fs20\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li3600\jclisttab\tx3600 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0
\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid1433176806\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f14\fs20\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li4320\jclisttab\tx4320 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0
\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid863506816\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f14\fs20\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li5040\jclisttab\tx5040 }{\listlevel\levelnfc23
\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid-1145650286\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f14\fs20\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0 \fi-360\li5760\jclisttab\tx5760 }
{\listlevel\levelnfc23\levelnfcn23\leveljc0\leveljcn0\levelfollow0\levelstartat1\levelspace0\levelindent0{\leveltext\leveltemplateid1644482848\'01\u-3929 ?;}{\levelnumbers;}\f14\fs20\chbrdr\brdrnone\brdrcf1 \chshdng0\chcfpat1\chcbpat1\fbias0
\fi-360\li6480\jclisttab\tx6480 }{\listname ;}\listid994453903}}{*\listoverridetable{\listoverride\listid211429197\listoverridecount0\ls1}{\listoverride\listid994453903\listoverridecount0\ls2}}{\info{\title \'93Hersterical\'94}{\author Henrie Timmers}
{\operator Night Hawk}{\creatim\yr2004\mo8\dy4\hr12\min32}{\revtim\yr2004\mo8\dy4\hr12\min32}{\version2}{\edmins0}{\nofpages11}{\nofwords5872}{\nofchars33474}{\nofcharsws41108}{\vern8247}}{*\userprops {\propname _AdHocReviewCycleID}\proptype3{\staticval
1686457819}{\propname _EmailSubject}\proptype30{\staticval Here 'Tis: OMWF23}{\propname _AuthorEmail}\proptype30{\staticval fred_reddie@hotmail.com}{\propname _AuthorEmailDisplayName}\proptype30{\staticval Ian}}
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{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \s1\qc \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel0\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0
\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\fs36 \'93Once More With Feelings\'94
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
A new story by Night Hawk
}{\cf6 \'a9}{ 2004 by }{\b Night Hawk
}\pard\plain \s2\ql \li0\ri0\sb240\sa60\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\f1\fs28\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\ul Chapter 23: It\rquote s beginning to look a lot like\'85
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
}\pard\plain \s4\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\tab Bob wasn\rquote t about to give up that easily, and he said to Mike, \'93We\rquote
ll talk about this later, Mike. I wish my employees were as loyal.\'94
\tab \'93See you at the game?\'94 I asked Einstein.
\tab \'93Wouldn\rquote t dream of missing it,\'94 he said, and then drove off with Mike.
\tab Mr. Denure was going to drive the bus himself tonight. We had waited till the panel was put back into place on the fancy coach and af
ter a quick check of the sound system, he thanked Mike with a vigorous handshake, expressing his gratitude that the bus could leave on schedule next Monday.
\tab We were going to be cutting it close time wise, but Annette\rquote s father had years of experience driving a bus through London, taking streets that I didn\rquote
t realize existed in either lifetime, and to him, the speed limit seemed to be only a suggestion.
\tab We had gotten about a dozen blocks from the bus depot when a London City Police cruiser lit up behind us. At the next stoplight, Bob opened his window and waved for it to pull alongside. \'93I got half the Saints team on this bus,\'94
he hollered out the window, \'93and I have to get the other half or we forfeit the game!\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451240\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrdate0\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {The cop gave him a thumbs up and turnin
g on his siren, pulled ahead of us with a squeal of tires and led us all the way to St. Ursula\rquote
s where the rest of the team stood waiting. Bob wheeled the big coach around on the gravel and with a hiss of brakes stopped in front of the waiting group, the doors open even before the big vehicle settled on its air springs. \'93
Good evening Sisters, Father,\'94 he greeted them as they climbed aboard. \'93Ladies, please take your seats, we have to hustle!\'94
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
He turned to his still open window, looking down at the cop car beside the coach, lights still flashing. \'93Wheable!\'94
he shouted in answer to an unheard question, and I saw the cop raise his thumb again. No sooner were the girls in their seats than we were off again for the run across town, arriving in time for the
four of us to change into the uniforms our teammates had brought with them.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab The game itself was uneventful. No bad feelings or animosity. I remembered they had a great football team, mainly because I didn\rquote t make the cut. Wheable was the high school
that Einstein would have attended but for his insistence on being allowed to take the placement tests. I remembered it as a very average school. No great intellectuals graduated from Wheable, but no losers either. Just a very business oriented school.
\tab
Although it was corny, I was starting to enjoy the brass band. In my first life, brass had never really appealed to me, but I was starting to see why it had thrived and survived all these years and why it was being used in more and more popular tunes.
Hell, Disco was coming so I might as well enjoy it this time.
\tab As Bob made the turn onto Adelaide, heading north, I looked out over the Thames. It was dark and I could sense the chill of the water. There was snow in the air.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab \tab
\tab On our first day back in school, it did snow.
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
We actually arrived on Sunday night after a tearful goodbye with Mike and Anne. I reassured them that they weren\rquote t losing us \endash we\rquote d be home again in four weeks for Christmas, and they\rquote d still see us on weekends and g
ame nights.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451256\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
I guess Mike and Ann had become used to having the two of us around. It still didn\rquote t really make sense to me though because while we were on our two-week semester break, Mike and Ann had still worked. I think we saw them more when we were i
n school!
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab
We spent that Sunday at home and I had a sneaking suspicion we did that because Mike and Ann wanted us to themselves, although Ann invited Linda and Julie over for lunch. I still hadn\rquote t learned why Mike and Ann were so sympathetic toward them
and understanding of their relationship, but figured that they\rquote d tell us when they were ready, so I didn\rquote t ask questions.
Mike was really thrilled that Bob Denure had contracted his shop for all the radio and sound system repairs for the entire London Bus Company fleet, telling us that he\rquote d come to the shop on Friday to discuss it.
\'93Actually, I think he really came over to get me to help him persuade Patrick to do those vinyl repairs for him, but first he asked for my bill.\'94 Mike smiled. \'93He looked at it, then said \lquote How would you like to do the lot?\rquote
I said, \lquote The lot of what?\rquote and he said \lquote The whole fleet\rquote . That sat me back on my heels, I can tell you!\'94
\'93And so,\'94 he went on, \'93we had a talk about it, and now I\rquote m his preferred supplier for electronic repairs.\'94 He grinned. \'93And all I have to do now is persuade Patrick to do vinyl repairs for him one evening a week!\'94
His voice took on a slightly awed tone. \'93You would not }{\b\i believe}{\b }{what he spends on seat repairs each year!\'94
Mike drove us back to school mid-afternoon after we had washed up the dishes, taking with us a special \lquote back to school\rquote
cake that Linda had baked to share with the rest of the team. We unpacked and settled in, then hooked up with everyone in the big seniors\rquote common room, where we talk
ed excitedly about what we all did on our semester break. Annette and Mandy were already there and we greeted them with the special affection we would share for the rest of our lives.
That night, we sat on our bed and cuddled in what had become our favorite position, nude with my darling sitting in my lap by the light of a single candle.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {Wendy and I still had the same homeroom and religion class with Sister Mary Francis. Monday morning we were deep in discussion on the Trinity versus th
e One God, when Helen Lompata injected \'93Hey, it\rquote s snowing!\'94
St. Ursula\rquote s had a continuous intake program, with new students arriving each semester, and Helen was one such, having been introduced to the class that morning. I thought I had had an attitude at her age, but Helen had attitude with a capital
\lquote A\rquote . \lquote If this was the year 2000,\rquote I thought, \lquote you\rquote d have a nose ring and black mascara just to get a rise out of your parents.\rquote
While Sister Mary Francis didn\rquote t particularly appreciate having the discussion interrupted, she skillfully led the remark into a comparison of the uniqueness of individuals.
\'93Yeah, just like sheep,\'94 Helen interjected again, \'93As unique as white wool.\'94
\'93Some of us appreciate just how unique each of us are,\'94 I said evenly. \'93And the miracle of life.\'94
\'93Oh, so you think you\rquote re something special?\'94 she sneered. \'93You think God knows you\rquote re alive?\'94
\'93Damn right!\'94 I snapped.
\'93Miss Johnson, I will not tolerate profanity!\'94 warned Sister Mary Francis.
\'93Oh, please!\'94 Helen laughed. \'93She can swear! God knows who she is!\'94
I was out of my chair and standing over her before she finished her sentence. \'93Listen, you little dipshit, you have no idea just how precious life is!\'94
\'93Fuck you!\'94 she said defiantly. \'93This isn\rquote t living!\'94
I leaned in close, my hands clenched and saw her expression get a little fearful. \'93Listen, }{\b\i Puta}{,\'94 I hissed into her ear, \'93if you don\rquote t think life is worth living, you might want to consider the alternative!\'94
She shrank away from me as if she thought I was about to rip her throat out. I was straightening up when sudden pain burst from my earlobe!
My eyes tearing, I heard Sister Mary Francis say, \'93Miss Johnson, you come with me.\'94
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab \'93Patti,\'94 said Sister Elizabeth. \'93I\rquote m disappointed in you. Of all the girls in the school, you were the last one I thought would be a discipline problem.\'94
\tab \'93I\rquote m sorry, Sister,\'94 I said, and I meant it too! I had let my temper take over when I should have just let it go.
\tab \'93I\rquote m sorry too, Patti, but I can\rquote t just let you off without some kind of disciplinary action. It would show favoritism. Just because you are on the volleyball team doesn\rquote
t give you the right to use profanity in the classroom or to physically threaten another student.\'94
\tab }{\b\i \'93But, Sister}{ \'85 I wasn\rquote t going to hit her or anything. I wouldn\rquote t do that! I was just so frustrated with her saying life wasn\rquote t worth living!\'94
\tab Sister Elizabeth thought on that for a few minutes. Damn! I liked the nuns, and got along with all of them. I wasn\rquote t sure why I reacted the
way I had. Finally, Sister Elizabeth told me to come back at lunchtime and she would decide what my punishment would be.
\tab As I turned to leave, I said, \'93I really am sorry, Sister. It\rquote s just that life }{\b\i is }{worth living, and people who take it for granted or don\rquote t care if they live or die, they need to take a serious look at the alternative.\'94
\tab Sister Elizabeth nodded solemnly and said she would see me at lunch.
\tab
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab
\tab \'93Are you in deep shit?\'94 asked Wendy when I caught up with her.
\tab \'93Not as deep as that new girl, Helen. At least I didn\rquote t say \lquote fuck\rquote in class!\'94
\tab Wendy giggled. \'93You\rquote ll be okay, Pete,\'94 she said. \'93God, what a way to start off a new semester eh!\'94
\tab I laughed too, gave her butt a squeeze, and told her that I had to go back at lunchtime, but I would catch up with her afterwards.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {There were butterflies in my stomach as I approached Sister Elizabeth\rquote s office, not knowing what to expect. The secretary greeted me with a \'93
Hello, Patti, go on in, you\rquote re expected.\'94 The look she gave me was strange, and I knocked on the door, thinking \lquote Was that pity on her face?\rquote
\'93Enter,\'94 came Sister Elizabeth\rquote s voice, and I opened the door to see Father Ed, Sister Mary Francis along with Mike and Ann! I froze, feeling the blood drain from my face, knowing Sister had taken this very seriously indeed!
\'93Come in, Patti, and close the door.\'94 I complied, and then stood stiffly under their combined gaze. \'93Sit down, Patti,\'94 Sister Elizabeth directed me, and I saw Mike wink at me as I made m
y way to sit nervously on the edge of the only unoccupied chair. On her desk was the good tea set and plates of sandwiches - it seemed they\rquote d been here a while!
\'93We have been trying to decide what to do with you, Patti,\'94 Sister Elizabeth Ann said as she poured. \'93Sandwich?\'94 she asked, passing me the tea.
\'93No, thank you, Sister,\'94 I replied, carefully taking the cup and saucer.
\'93You are an honor student,\'94 she went on, \'93and so far without a blemish on your record. Sister Mary Francis said you didn\rquote t physi
cally threaten Helen as much as you just got too close, which we can probably all understand as coming from the intense way you girls play volleyball.\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab I took a sip of tea, my hand slightly trembling. I was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
\tab \'93And though we all slip once in a while with our language, Sister Mary Francis isn\rquote t even sure what the second remark you made was, she has explained she believes you were unintentionally aggravated by the other girl\rquote s comments.\'94
\tab I was keeping my mouth shut. Sister Elizabeth was doing a much better job of talking me out of my predicament than I could have done!
\tab \'93And Patti is very outspoken and adamant in her beliefs about Our Lord,\'94 said Sister Mary Francis. \'93She has on a number of occasions expressed deep felt emotional statements that are truly inspiring.\'94
\tab Father Ed was trying not to smile.
\tab \'93Well, Sister,\'94 said Mike. \'93I may be to blame for the language Patti used. I\rquote m a church going Catholic, but I work in the real world, and sometimes it just clings to you and I forget to shake it off before I get home. I\rquote
m afraid that Patti might have overheard me on a few occasions using words that I wouldn\rquote t normally use in mixed company.\'94
\tab \'93Be that as it may, Mr. Johnson,\'94 said Sister Elizabeth, \'93it was still Patti who uttered them. Provoked or not.\'94
\tab Bless him. Mike was trying to take the blame for me cussing. I wondered how he would feel if he heard how I talked when it was just Wendy and me or when we were around Linda and Julie!
\tab Mom spoke up as well. \'93It\rquote s possible that Patti responded the way she did because she had been so close to death.\'94
\tab \'93Actually, Mom,\'94 I said, having decided I better say something, \'93I did die. I know you decided it was best not to tell me, but I\lquote ve known since the day I woke up in the hospital.\'94
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451284\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab Ann\rquote s eyes started to mist.
\tab \'93Don\rquote t cry, Mom, please?\'94 I pleaded. \'93I\rquote m okay now. That\rquote s why I get so excited about living. And probably why I get so upset when people say life isn\rquote t precious.\'94
\tab \'93Oh, Honey,\'94 said Ann. \'93I don\rquote t know how you found out, but you\rquote re right. You did die on the operating table. The doctors said it was a miracle that you came back.\'94
\tab \'93It was a miracle, Mom,\'94 I said. I didn\rquote t say just how big a miracle it was! \'93That\rquote s why I know there is a God and he does watch over us, each and every one of us.\'94
\tab I turned to Sister Mary Francis. \'93I\rquote m sorry that I allowed my feelings to disrupt your class, Sister. I promise I\rquote ll try and be more careful in the future.\'94
\tab \'93How about never using such language again?\'94 asked Sister Elizabeth.
\tab \'93I\rquote m sorry, Sister, but I can\rquote t promise you that. I can try, but I would never make a promise knowing that there\rquote s a chance I might break it.\'94
\tab \'93Besides, Sister,\'94 said Father Ed. \'93I get promises from a lot of girls and every week
they come back confessing to the very same things they promised not to do the week before. All any of us can do is try. We are after all only human, and I seem to recall an incident not too long ago when a great many people spoke words that did not fit
with their position.\'94 He gave Sister Elizabeth a knowing look.
\tab \'93Very well,\'94 said Sister Elizabeth blushing slightly. \'93I do appreciate your honesty, Patti. But now I\rquote m in an awkward position. I can\rquote t confine you to your room for the next week because
then I would have Sister Gabriella to deal with. I also can\rquote t very well take away your TV privileges, because I know you don\rquote t watch it.\'94
\tab \'93I have an idea,\'94 said Sister Mary Francis. \'93Patti has been taking advanced classes in public speaking as one of her English electives.\'94 She had everybody\rquote s attention now. \'93
How about a speech, to the student body, about the joys of being alive?\'94
\tab And that\rquote s how I ended up at Centennial Hall facing 10 judges and an audience of 300 in April 1975.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard\plain \s4\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
\tab }{\b0\i0 Yes. I had taken public speaking as an English elective.
\tab Yes, I did believe that the ability to speak well would serve me in the future, but I had not expected to start until later in life. When Sister Mary Francis had suggested as \'93punishment\'94 that
I address the school on the joys of being alive, I was a bit stunned.
\tab Father Ed thought it was a great idea, and Dad, after verifying that my record would remain untarnished, quickly added his vote of support. Mom was nodding as well. Damn but I was outflanked and outgunned!
\tab I tried to smile, and in retrospect, it was a fit reprimand for speaking out of turn in class, but\'85 Was I ready to talk to a crowd?
\tab It turns out that I was more than ready. Wendy sat by my side that night as I attempted to draft my ten-minute speech. I had no clue as to where to start.
\tab Wendy grabbed a pad and a pen. \'93Okay, Pete. How about just telling me what\rquote s so great about being a teen? This is your second time at it. Tell me why you enjoy life so much.\'94
\tab I could have kissed her. I guess that\rquote s one of the things that I enjoyed so much in this life!
\tab We worked until nearly midnight, Wendy taking notes as I talked.
\tab Sister Elizabeth had given me the week to prepare, and that Friday, I was to do my first public speech at an open assembly.
\tab Helen, the girl who had started this ruckus, had refused to apologize to Sister Mary Francis or to the class and spent the next month confined to the school. She didn\rquote t come back after the Christmas break.
\tab By the time I had wri
tten out my ten-minute speech based on the notes that Wendy had taken, I felt more alive than ever. It was like I was seeing for the first time all the reasons I was so happy all the time. Aside from a few minor run-ins with jerks and religious fanatics
, I had a good life. I couldn\rquote t understand why kids were so unhappy in high school.
\tab I\rquote m still not sure if it was my speech that got all the applause Friday morning at the general assembly or the fact that the night before we had hosted Tecumseh High on o
ur court and righteously whipped their ass! It was the only game we would play in our own school for the entire season.
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
\tab Either way, the speech was well received and I got a standing ovation for it. It was not until after Christmas that I found out th
at my name had been submitted to the London Public Speaking Contest. When I asked Sister Elizabeth about it, she just smiled at me and said my English teachers were so impressed they felt I should represent St. Ursula\rquote s at the contest.
\tab Christmas came first though, and what a Christmas it was. Wendy\rquote s first real Christmas.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard\plain \s4\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b0\i0
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\tab School ended on Friday the 20}{\super th}{
. We had 12 days off. Kind of fitting when you think of the twelve days of Christmas. There was no game during the week we had off.
\tab Mike slipped Wendy and me some money so we could buy gifts for each other and for our friends. We protested, but he said that we had earned it. Then Ann slipped us more money. All we could do was thank her.
\tab After confession on Saturday, Wendy an
d I met up with Annette and Mandy, and we took off for the mall. Mandy was staying in London again with Annette. The weather was beautiful. Snow on the ground and just a light chill in the air with the sun causing everything to shine.
\tab Annette and I took off so we could shop in private for our lovers. Wendy and Mandy did the same. We arranged to stay to one side of the mall for one hour and then we would swap sides. It was hard since what I wanted to buy Wendy, I simply couldn
\rquote t afford. Other things that I had in mind, I couldn\rquote t give to her in mixed company. Annette was in a similar quandary. Money wasn\rquote t her problem, but appearances were.
\tab \'93Damn!\'94 said Annette. \'93This is harder than anything else.\'94
\tab \'93Too true!\'94 I said, and then I spotted the Coles bookstore. Thank God, I had a memory from the future! Annette couldn\rquote
t figure out why I was buying a book about Aviatophobia, but I quickly explained to her that the author was not really talking about a fear of flying but of taking chances. What I couldn\rquote
t tell Annette was that the book was also about our alternate lifestyles.
\tab After the book, I picked Wendy up a few small trinkets. A little engraved heart box for her to keep her earrings in, and other such things that she wouldn\rquote t buy for herself.
\tab We swapped sides of the mall at the appointed time, and then after another hour we had lunch. Annette paid for all of us.
\tab Over the years that followed, Annette was a large contributor to many worthy causes, but I\rquote m proud to say that I first saw her generous nature when she was still in high school.
\tab We shopped as a foursome to pick up gifts for our teachers and Sister Gabe, pooling our money to buy Sister Elizabeth a desk set. A rich burgundy pen set with a beautifully carved oak holder with a m
atching desk pad with real leather edges. We had it wrapped at the store, and we all signed our names on the card.
\tab For Sister Gabriella, we bought a gleaming silver plated whistle from a sports store and a towel that said, \'93Winners, no Whiners.\'94 For ou
r regular teachers, we found a series of nice calendars for 1975. Then with regrets, Wendy and I said we had to split. Mike and Tom were planning on taking all of the toys they had made for the kids stuck in the local hospitals up tonight, and we still
had to pick up and wrap the dolls and the clothes that Ann and Rita had made for them as well as the clothes the nuns had made.
\tab \'93How are you guys going to pack that all in one car?\'94 asked Annette.
\tab \'93We\rquote ll probably make a few trips,\'94 I said. Mike and Tom and Einstein had managed to make a lot of really neat wooden cars and trains and trucks.
\tab Annette asked us to wait a minute while she called her dad.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab Since that day Mike fixed the bus\rquote s sound system, he and Robert Denure had become pret
ty friendly. Mike convinced Einstein to do the repairs on the bus seats, and the two of them went every week to do ten seats together. They were still repairing them.
\tab Well, Robert called Mike who called Tom and then Robert called the school and the nex
t thing we knew, arrangements had been made to load everything into the Saints bus, along with six of the nuns who sang in the church choir. That part was especially cool because one of the nuns played guitar just like the Singing Nun had in the movie.
\tab
Somebody must have moved really fast, because by the time the bus pulled up at our house that evening, the back was loaded with other toys as well. Annette and Mandy were on board and Robert was driving. All the stuff that Tom had made before Einstein a
nd I swapped lives, and all the stuff he and Mike helped make was at the O\rquote
Donnell house, along with the dolls and clothes. We made short work of loading it all up and then we took off for the school. Ann and Rita were excited, while Einstein just smiled
a lot. Tom and Mike were trying to just be cool, but were sitting up at the front chatting with Robert as he drove.
\tab At the school the rest of the doll clothes were loaded and the six nuns, one carrying a guitar climbed on board, and then from the school walked Santa Claus!
\tab It was Father Ed, all padded up and complete with the beard. We started our journey at 6 o\rquote clock and though there were five hospitals in London, Robert insisted on taking a ten-mile spin south to the St. Thomas hospital as well. It
impressed me, it impressed Einstein, but the one with eyes the size of saucers was Wendy. Though she had heard kids talk about Christmas and Santa Claus before, this was her first experience with the whole ritual. By the time we pulled back into the sc
hool parking lot it was close to 11.
\tab It was a happy group of travelers that got off the bus to enjoy the snack prepared for us by Sister Elizabeth and her secretary. The irony was not lost on any of us \endash we were having hot chocolate and biscuits in the s
ame room where we fought for and won Wendy\rquote s freedom.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451306\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab Annette\rquote
s dad drove us all back home again, but would not let any of us off until he had a promise that we would all get together at his house over the holidays for a Christmas meal. Ann was the one who said we would if Linda and Julie were invited as well.
\tab \'93Of course they\rquote re invited!\'94 boomed Robert. \'93I haven\rquote t forgotten how they took care of my baby that night at Beal.\'94
\tab We agreed to join in celebration on Boxing Day.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\tab We were pretty exhausted on Sunday when we attended mass, but it was a good feeling. Even Tom and Rita attended.
\tab Monday, Wendy and I met Einstein downtown. We still had to buy gifts for the parents, but more importantly, we had to buy something for Linda and Julie.
\tab Einstein had suggested matching ankle chains, but I wasn\rquote t sure how practical they would be with them having to wear nylons everyday. We were having lunch at Eaton\rquote s. Wendy joked that our waists couldn\rquote
t afford too many days off, but Einstein said that with as much walking as we did each day, we could all afford to splurge. So we did.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451309\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {Even though I knew it wasn\rquote
t the best for me, I had a thick chocolate shake, same as Wendy and Einstein. We had hot beef sandwiches and followed that up with hot
apple dumplings with ice cream. I was so full that I just wanted to find the bedroom furniture department and lie down, but Wendy and Einstein kept dragging me away from the escalators.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab We staggered out of the mall and headed for Simpson\rquote s, crossing King Street at the four way pedestrian crosswalk. As we passed Novak\rquote
s Army Surplus, Einstein told me he was buying old war medals, a few at a time from this store and their sister store on the uptown side of Dundas Street. On one of our many talks at Linda and Julie\rquote
s, I had suggested to him that he start looking at collectibles. In 1974, it wasn\rquote t a fad yet, but in another 15 years, it would be a rage and the prices would surely reflect it. I had also told him to start to buy every new comic book that h
e could spot. First issues only. I remembered how pissed I was at having thrown away my X-Men comics when I had moved out on my own the first time then discovered how much they had gained in value over such a short period of time. Since Einstein was wo
rking, he could afford a little careful spending, and I told him how to protect them from finger oil and not to split any spines.
\tab Because of his own semester finals, and the time he was spending with Mike working, we hadn\rquote t had much opportunity to get together with Linda and Julie. A fact that bothered Wendy a bit since she wanted to explore Einstein\rquote
s cock a bit more. I reassured her and said we would have plenty of time after Christmas, and then as we headed up Richmond Street, looking in store windows
as we walked, I spied the identical ring the lady from the CAS had been wearing. Something was clicking in the back of my mind. Ankle chains might not be practical, but I instantly recognized the name of the store as the place they had thought of Wendy
and me with the necklaces. I think I might have accidentally discovered London\rquote s first gay oriented jewelry store!
\tab Dragging Einstein in, we were instantly aware that this shop was not your average gift store. Everything was designed in pairs.
\tab It didn\rquote t take much convincing for Wendy and Einstein to agree that we should buy Linda and Julie matching rings, for their right hand ring fingers! Wendy and I didn\rquote t have a lot of money, but Einstein came to the rescue, again.
\tab It felt weird, to me, who had always been self sufficient, to need others to help me out, but damn it\'85 I was a girl who just didn\rquote t have a way of earning money yet. I couldn\rquote
t even baby-sit since I stayed at the school 42 weeks out of the year!
\tab The rings were 10 karat gold in a beautiful scrolled pattern that reflected the light. We had them gift wrapped, and then went out to buy a card for the three of us to sign.
\tab Wendy and I had already bought Einstein\rquote s Christmas present when we were at the White Oaks Mall. We still had to keep up appearances for the sake of the parents, so I bought him Eric Clapton\rquote s latest album, \'93461 Ocean Boulevard\'94
which contained the Bob Marley tune, \'93I Shot the Sheriff.\'94 Wendy opted for something she had gotten addicted to herself listening late at night on our radio, \'93Barry White and the Love Unlimited Orchestra.\'94
Hey! If Einstein and I were going to have to relive the Disco Era, it might as well start off with style, and Barry White had style and a voice that made Wendy wet! That was something I would have to tell Einstein about!
\tab Since we were done early, and Einstein had told Mike he was taking the whole day off for Christmas shopping, we bought a big tub of buttered popcorn, three sodas and sat through a special holiday matinee of \'93The Towering Inferno.\'94
\tab Special effects were way different in the 70\rquote s compared to what was to come, but even though we knew the building was obviously a miniature, we still enjoyed it and each other\rquote
s company. Einstein of course had the seat of honor between us and I could swear he was feeling Wendy up during the movie. Of course I couldn\rquote t see Wendy\rquote
s hand either, and I was NOT going to reach under the tub of popcorn perched on Einstein\rquote s lap!
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard\plain \s4\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b0\i0
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\tab Tuesday night at 10, we headed off to St. Ursula\rquote s f
or midnight mass. It was quite something to see. Tom and Rita came with Einstein, and sat next to Mike and Ann and Wendy and me. Julie and Linda had come right over after their shift had finished and they had showered and changed, and rode with us. We
ndy and I rode up front with Mike while Ann managed to get herself between Linda and Julie. I didn\rquote t understand what was going on, but Ann held both their hands for the drive over.
\tab Annette and Mandy and Mr. Denure were waiting out front for us. Annette
said her older sisters were arriving in the morning with their families, but could only stay the day. She said she was glad that we were all coming for Boxing Day, as Christmas was one of the worst times of the year for her dad feeling lonely and I made
a mental note to pass that on to Mike and Einstein.
\tab Mass started at 10:30 and between the Nun\rquote s choir and the School\rquote s choir we had quite a concert going. Father Ed looked great. Hell, the church looked great all decked out in garlands, and lit up with
hundreds of candles. At midnight we all took communion and then the chapel bells started ringing in a glorious carillon.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth1\pnrdate646451319\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\pnrauth2\pnrdate646407537\pnrnot1\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
After Mass, we exchanged greetings with our schoolmates and their families and of course with all the nuns and our teachers. We wer
e pleasantly greeted by falling snow when we stepped outside. It was the perfect beginning to a perfect Christmas. I cried all the way home.
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab When we woke up Wednesday morning, the ground was covered in snow. At least four inches had fallen through the night! Wendy was still going through that \'93Gee Whiz\'94
stage, as this was her first real Christmas. I had heard enough stories of her past experiences to empathize.
\tab We ate a very light breakfast around the Christmas tree that Mike and Ann had decorated with us the day before. No artificial trees for this household! Mike had cut this one down himself!
\tab It was just the four of us this Christmas morning. Linda and Julie had to work though thankfully they would join up with us later at the O\rquote
Donnell house. Father Ed had his own tasks to perform Christmas day and would not be able to join us at all. I had ribbed him about joining a union so that he wouldn\rquote
t have to work all those Sundays and holidays. He laughed with us, enjoying the joke. Wendy and I had bought him a box of Dutch Masters cigars. He thought we didn\rquote
t know about his affection for them, but during his many visits to our room after classes, we had grown very fond and close to this man.
\tab Mike opened the gift Wendy and I had got him. Okay, it wasn\rquote
t unusual or even imaginative, a shirt with matching tie and handkerchief, but the way he carried on over it. Sheesh! What the hell did I know about gift buying anyway? Ann had been much easier to buy for. We got her a pearl b
rooch. We did have one surprise left for the two of them, but that we would save for last. Mike was the only one dressed, you see. Ann was still in her nightgown, and Wendy and I had thrown on flannel pajamas when we got up.
\tab Wendy and I were spoiled rotten. Satin baby dolls, sweaters, blouses and perfume and make up!
\tab We had picked the best cards for them, and I saw a tear in Mike\rquote s eye as he read not just the printed verse about being a father in good times and bad, but the hand written note Wendy a
nd I had composed about what it meant to have a father who really cared and showed how much he loved you in everything he did.
\tab Ann\rquote s card was also a carefully chosen one. It talked about mothers who were also friends, who you could confide in and count
on when your back was against the wall or someone to lean on when you needed a shoulder. Our handwritten part told her how much we enjoyed spending time with her on our special days, and thanked her for being so understanding.
\tab \'93We wanted to give you guys so much more,\'94 I said, \'93but my great plans for getting a job seem to have vanished.\'94
\tab \'93Oh, Patti-cake,\'94 said Mike. \'93Both of you make us so proud. I\rquote d much rather have daughters that I can be proud of than to have all the tea in China.\'94
\tab \'93Well,\'94 I said. \'93There is one other gift, but it\rquote s for Mom, but really Daddy, we think you\rquote ll enjoy it more than her.\'94
\tab Ann\rquote s eyes grew wide with curiosity, and I ran to our bedroom and pulled the single box out from under the bed. Mike\rquote s brow wrinkled as he gazed a
t the fancy wrapped box, obviously as curious as Ann was. It was something Wendy and I had picked out from the new lingerie shop at the White Oaks when Annette and Mandy were with us. They couldn\rquote
t believe we would or could give something like this to Mom.
\tab Ann carefully opened the package and her eyes lit up brighter than the lights on the tree! It had taken a lot of our money, but there she was, standing up and holding it in front of her. A black widow negligee!
\tab \'93Why don\rquote t you try it on, dear?\'94 Mi
ke asked nonchalantly, and she quickly slipped into their bedroom, appearing a few minutes later draped in sheer black folds that exposed nearly as much as it hid. The only color on it was the red rose that hooked the two sides of the top together. Wend
y
and I grinned at each other as we both noticed Mike hide the swelling in his pants. Mom was nearly as nude as she was dressed. Her own excitement showing by the obvious dents her nipples made in the top. Mike got up with a bit of discomfort and with a
growl, picked Ann up and closed the bedroom door behind him. Wendy and I stifled our laughter and picked up the paper and ribbons and just generally cleaned up the room.
\tab We tried on our Baby Dolls, and commented on how we could tease our friends at school with them. They weren\rquote t sheer, but clung to the skin a lot closer than I think Ann had expected. We packed them away before anybody had second thoughts.
\tab Even though Mike had Christmas carols playing on the stereo, we could hear the bed from their
room groaning in a familiar rhythm. We discreetly turned up the music and made ourselves a cup of tea in the kitchen where Mike and Ann found us an hour later.
\tab \'93You were absolutely right, girls,\'94 said Ann. \'93It definitely was more a gift for your father,\'94 but the dreamy glaze in her eyes told us that she had enjoyed the results as much as he had. Mike just blushed.
\tab Wendy\rquote s gifts to me were of a more personal nature. Camisoles. In both cotton and satin with matching boxer style panties. I suspect th
at Wendy liked seeing me in these as much as I liked wearing them. But Wendy was overwhelmed with the gifts she had received. She loved the Erica Jong book, and I knew that soon I would be enjoying the results of her reading it. The other trinkets she
adored as well as everything Mike and Ann had given her. This was a long way from the Christmases where at the best she could expect a piece of fruit, some nuts, and maybe some candy.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab After a light lunch, we packed up our gifts for the O\rquote Donnells and Mike just drove through the snow. The big station wagon with its V8 engine easily purred a pathway.
\tab The O\rquote Donnell house was all decorated and more Christmas carols were playing. We shook off our coats and took off our boots and placed
our gifts to them under the tree. Actually it was the gifts for Einstein and Julie and Linda. Mike and Ann had given Tom and Rita a gift pack containing a good bottle of wine and two glasses.
\tab It must have been a good idea, as Linda and Julie had brought the same for Mike and Ann as well as for Tom and Rita! For us \'93kids\'94 though, they had brought wrapped presents.
\tab Strange as it seems, I was actually looking forward to opening more presents! I was curious as to what Einstein had gotten for me. But first we had to drink some eggnog. Mike and Tom spiked theirs with rum, then we gathered around the O\rquote
Donnell tree to hand out our gifts to each other.
\tab Mike had bought a Starrett tool kit for Einstein, which was a surprise to everyone. \'93Can\rquote t have a future electronics engineer using junk,\'94
said Mike. I saw Einstein go misty in the eyes for a second and then he brushed his arm over his face trying to regain his composure. It had to be hard on him to be so accepted by Mike in this lifetime as a boy, a vi
rtual stranger who happened by one day while Mike was trimming the tree. In the course of barely four months, Mike\rquote s former daughter had established a new relationship with him based on trust, friendship, and admiration.
\tab Ann had bought him a sweater, and he gave her a big hug.
\tab Wendy and I gave him his albums, and he grinned at me, and winked at Wendy.
\tab Tom had made Wendy and me each a small jewelry box in his workshop, and Rita had used her sewing skills to make us both a white three quarter length te
rrycloth housecoat. We would certainly put these to good use for the rest of the winter! We gave them both a big hug.
\tab From Einstein, Wendy and I got matching Tennis bracelets. In gold of course! He really shouldn\rquote t have spent that much money, but we
were too happy to argue with him. Julie and Linda bought us matching watches. We had hugged everybody we could, including Einstein. Then he brought out the rings we had bought for Linda and Julie.
\tab They read the card first, one that we had clearly written our feelings in for them. They nearly cried over the card, and came closer when they saw the rings. They didn\rquote
t have to be told which hand or which finger they belonged on. Einstein said we would go with them to have them sized properly after Boxing Day.
\tab Then came the big surprises! Mike and Ann pulled out matching necklaces for Linda and Julie, and Mike put one on Linda\rquote s neck while Ann put the other on Julie\rquote s. \'93We can\rquote t thank you enough for watching out for our girls,\'94
said Ann. Julie finally broke down and cried. It was Ann who hugged her, stroking her hair as Julie sobbed into her shoulder. With her other hand she reached out for Linda and the three of them just hugged. It wasn\rquote
t until Linda turned that I saw the thin gold necklace now around her neck. Swinging from the bottom were two entwined hearts.
\tab We certainly were an emotional bunch!
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab After a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings, and a small glass of wine for us \lquote youngsters,\rquote Wendy and I shooed everybody
out of the kitchen while she and I washed the dishes. Einstein insisted on helping. Helping himself to free feels is what I think he meant. With the adults in the living room, mostly out of sight, he had no hesitation grabbing my ass!
\tab \'93What do you think you\rquote re doing?\'94 I asked him.
\tab \'93Feeling your bum,\'94 he said with a smile. Then he grabbed Wendy\rquote s! \'93Mmm,\'94 he murmured. \'93Very nice. Both of you!\'94
\tab Wendy blushed, but didn\rquote t make any moves to get out of his reach.
\tab Okay, so I didn\rquote t move either. It did feel good, and different from the gentle way that Wendy touched me. Wendy and I moved closer together to sandwich him in between us. \'93When we get together,\'94 I whispered, \'93we\rquote
ll get closer yet, and naked!\'94
\tab \'93God, don\rquote t tease me, Peppermint,\'94 he said. \'93You two have each other. I get so horny all the time now. And of course I haven\rquote
t had a chance for any more lessons from Julie. And I wake up in the middle of the night dreaming about what you two did to me that afternoon at their place!\'94
\tab \'93You liked that? Wait till next time, Einstein,\'94 I said.
}\pard \ql \fi720\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\'93We\rquote re going to swallow your cock!\'94 added Wendy
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab Beads of sweat were breaking out on his forehead. I felt bad for him, knowing he was right. Your own hand just doesn\rquote t match the feelings of having some
one else touch you or kiss you where you most want to be pleasured, by someone who wants to. I didn\rquote
t know how soon we would get a chance to be alone with him, but he told us as we were finishing the dishes that Linda had given him a key to their place in
the event that an opportunity came up for the three of us to get together while they were at work. But fate had other plans in store for us.
\tab When we returned to the living room, Mike announced that he and Ann were going to a New Year\rquote s party at the Moose lodge with Tom and Rita. He said that Linda and Julie had offered to take us \lquote kids\rquote
for the evening since they didn\rquote t have plans of their own.
\tab Hmmm\'85 New Year\rquote s Eve. Maybe Wendy and I could bring 1975 in with a bang! I looked at Einstein and watched him cross his legs to hide the swelling in his groin.
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {~~~~~ // ~~~~~
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {
\tab Rita put a couple of home made pies into the oven, and said they would be ready in time for when we got back. Got back???
\tab \'93Time to walk off some of that turkey,\'94 Tom said.
\tab Rita had a nice stove with an auto timer, and she set the temperature to 325F and to start at 6 o\rquote clock. \'93That should give us two hours,\'94 she said.
\tab We all got our boots and coats on and walked through the fresh snow to Victoria Park. Every year, the park wa
s lit up with thousands of Christmas lights. All the trees were decorated and there were Nativity scenes and Christmas scenes and winter scenes all through the park. Wendy and I were certainly grateful that Ann had bought us winter boots on one of our s
hopping trips!
\tab We crunched through the snow, made some snow angels and laughed like a big happy family. Which I guess we were.
}\pard\plain \s4\ql \li0\ri0\keepn\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\outlinelevel3\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \b\i\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {To be continued\'85
}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {
}