No one seemed to notice I was a guy and we had a nice dinner. By now it was about 10:00 and my wife asked me if I was ready for my lesson. “Sure, ...I guess,” was my reply. She drove us to a neighborhood I did not go often. Then she stopped at an adult book store we had been to before. I assumed she wanted to pick up some toys or lube or something. I must admit, I was very excited and nervous to go in there as Vicky. We went inside and there were about eight people in there. Almost all were. I hadn’t been on a date in more than a decade, and then I was a teenager. Did I pay for my half, or say nothing? Is he supposed to kiss me, even just a peck? Or should we shake hands? Or hug? I really didn’t want to make any obvious mistakes and scare him away, because even if we didn’t see each other again, he still seemed to be a really great guy. In the end I said nothing and he paid for lunch without comment. Outside the restaurant there was a seconds’ delay before he said that lunch was. Elodie never left my side and gripped my hand occasionally. I let her keep it there, a little nervous; I needed the reassurance too. We worked as a team: I kept an eye out for champagne as it floated past and Elodie translated at opportune moments. My origins made for a good icebreaker. Plied with champagne, her megawatt smile and dazzling eyes proved infectious; we began to relax.An older couple stood out and to my relief, spoke very good English. Him, bespectacled and bookish, a dry wit. " She had a defiant look on her face.I said, "Come on, let's see how your home faired in the storm." Midge nodded, but I sensed her hesitancy about seeing the havoc wreaked on her house. We followed the road for three or four litter-covered miles, and Midge had me turn in a long driveway. The path had been tree lined; however, several trees had been uprooted and blocked a direct route to the house and barn. The other trees had been stripped bare of foliage.Half the roof and part of the upstairs.