The anticipation had been driving Rick nuts.Rick kept asking me if I was sure I wanted to do thisin a tone of voice that left no doubt that he hoped I...was. I confirmed I was still willing, but I wasfeeling really nervous. Swankies is in an iffy partof town and the clientele I saw entering the place wasnoticeably rough looking and “ethnic”, if you knowwhat I mean. I was glad I had a big guy like Rick withme. “You seem nervous,” he said. “Of course I am. It. Ma, however, wasn’t impressed. ‘Now, will you come back to me?’ Dad asked confidently. He was certain that he had won my mother’s forgiveness. Ma had always wanted Dad to build a house in the country for them to live in and raise us, and he has made her dream come true. But Ma didn’t look as thrilled as he had hoped. ‘Well?’ Dad queried. ‘Do you forgive me now?’ Ma gazed blankly at him and said no. His eyes opened wide. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. Just then, he got down on his. When she woke up, he was lying on top of her. She tried to move but he was heavy. She could barely see anything. It was still dark and windy outside and the power wasn’t back. She slowly rolled him away, dreading the moment he would wake up. He didn’t. He seemed to be in deep sleep. She wanted to get out and run, call for help. She couldn’t bear the thought of another moment in the house. Her clothes were in her bedroom, but she was panicking and not thinking. She grabbed the blanket and. I hatedthem, almost as much as they hated me. I was probably going to have toburn them, unless someone could stop me, but now wasn't the time. Iwent through the wardrobe looking for something else, and found a skirtnot nearly as short as the others, it was blue, and came down to thetop of my knees. I could wear this, sure I could.Hanging gracefully from my waist, the skirt only needed some minoradjustments as I pulled it up my legs and sorted it out while lookingin the mirror. It looked good on.