Beth led Brenda by the hand. Brenda still carried her cucumber.As they went off on their tour, I wiped down the bike and topped off the gas. The oil w...as fine. I even vacuumed out the car and swept the garage floor. Forty minutes had gone by before I even realized it. So, after washing off in the bathroom, I made my way to the bedroom.I entered to find both girls naked on the bed. Brenda was lying flat on her back in the middle of the bed with her legs spread wide. She was working that cucumber. “Oh, Tara, I’m so happy to hear that you feel that way. I promise you won’t regret it. Put your Uncle Dan back on the phone, and we’ll make some arrangements. I want you back here as soon as possible!”“OK, mom, I’ll see you soon.” I signed off and called my uncle to the phone. I walked unsteadily back to the living room and collapsed on the couch. Was I ready to go back home? Was I ready to leave Uncle Dan? My thoughts were swirling in my head as my uncle returned to the living room.“Well, I. Only a friendlike Ashton was, would have been there and stood there as his Cody's nowunconscious body and collapsed gurney disappeared through the archway ofthe machine entrance. Only a friend would wait to see what fragilebiological frame would come out, a cyborg where a man had once lived.But it was not long before it was clear that something was wrong.Technicians around the machine seemed to be punching buttons in a panic.Subdued voices now seemed to be becoming anxious."What's happening,". Stacy had little Holly in tow. We bid our goodbyes shortly and walked home with Holly upon Ken’s shoulder. Trang picked up her daughter when she came for us to sign our tax forms. Thursday October 16, 1980 Dear Diary: Last night Ken announced that his trip to Tokyo has been moved up to the 26th. He flies to Chicago late on the 24th for the team meeting on the 25th. One night with him out of town is tolerable, two nights and I start to feel lonely. By the fourth night I feel lost without him..