I noticed him leaning up in his seat looking over at me from time to time. Being somewhat unsure and afraid, I made no move. But in a few minutes the... guy got out of his car and came to my window and asked, “Do you have the time?” That started a short conversation about nothing in particular until he asked, “Can I sit in the car with you for a while since it was cool outside?” He was a cute younger guy, probable twenty or so... as clean cut as Clark Kent, black horn-rim glasses, moderate. I almost missed it. My dinner behind me, I lay dozing in front of the fire, sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio and glancing over my latest Odd Thomas novel. My head was filled with ghosts as I dozed and my mind drifted into a gray haze from the wine. I went to the door and raised up on tiptoe to look through the tiny porthole glass peep hole but saw nothing outside. I started walking back to the couch when the sound came again, this time a little louder and accompanied by a soft cry. I cracked the. ’ She hugged herself. Sergei lifted her chin. ‘Victoria, you ask too much of yourself. You are only twenty-four. Soon, you will come to a realization about what your purpose should be and then you will do it. Be patient. But do go visit your family and recharge yourself mentally. When you come back things will seem much clearer to you.’ ‘You are a great guy, Sergei. I wish we were in love.’ ‘Yes, it would be nice if we were, but we’re not and it is best for us to part ways before the little. “Rodney made the honor roll, to my amazement. And Kirsten’s getting her cherry popped this Friday night.”“What!?” he exclaimed, his face registering shock and maybe even horror. I giggled to myself.“Maybe, maybe not. She just told me she was thinking about it.”“Dawn! You can’t let her do that!” he exclaimed. I was surprised he cared.“Steven, you can’t stop it. And I can’t watch her every hour of the day by myself. It’s just part of life, anyway.” I said.“Well, shit,” he said. “Act like you.