Much better than the cold shoulder I got at the end of last semester... The opening theme returned, played faster now. Joel leaned in, waiting expecta...ntly for the powerful cadence. Emily delivered, sounding the final notes with a clear tone that filled the hall.Nice job, Emily.II. Ruhig bewegtKyle realized he was leaning forward in his chair.This is strange music, he conceded, as Richard started playing the second part of the piece. Nothing like what I listen to.But it's still cool to see. Wear clothing that is accessible, the invitations read. Anyone accepting would tacitly agree to an evening of touching and being touched. Only two of the four couples invited accepted. Now they were here. The bold ones. The daring ones. The ones honest in their curiosity and desire. Charles and Sue arrived first. Within ten minutes, Mitch and Maggi were here. The six of us had been friends for several years now and even vacationed together last summer. Sue had done the most overt. Wade broke the silence, his voice coming through a grill in the glass that seemed to be floating in space a few inches above the table.“One of the guys owes me a pack of smokes. I guess the fact that you’re here means the judge saw reason, huh?”Helena looked down at the seat of the chair. She flicked an imaginary bug or speck off of it. If she’d heard, she didn’t react.“How’s the new foster family? Must be doing something right, even if they keep letting that old bastard bring you for Father’s. Ta nokol keno korle maa? Ami utter dite pari ni. Er sashti ki jano? Tomake school theke ber korey debo ar tumi kono schoole varti hotey parbe na. Sir amake doya korun, ami kede fellam. Headmaster amake dekhlen. Farsa golgal chehara. Chokhgulo sundar. Buk duto o vari sundor. Jama fere beriye aste chai. Ar pachhata dekhe unar chokh duto boro boro haye geloo. Ami tomader jonno koto kichhu kori ar tomara amake eivabe beijjoti koro. Aj theke ar ami tomader jonno kichu korbo na sir ekhon theke apni.