Her grandmother pointed to the next seat in line. ‘Van, that spot is yours.’ Van joined he others at the table. His jaw hurt a bit from gritting h...is teeth. Half a minute of awkward silence hung over the proceedings. Van coughed loudly. ‘Oh,’ said the matron as if she just noticed the lone standing guest. ‘Your classmate from college can sit next to me on my left.’ ‘My friend’s name is Bo,’ Van responded. Bo quietly assumed his position at the table. The salad course could have been a meal on. '" Um," Nat said, taking all this in. So far nearly all his clients fitinto one of two categories: transsexuals and curiosity-seekers. Nearlyall of the latter started out by making two appointments, a few daysor weeks apart, and they almost never canceled the second appointment;most of those who didn't start out with two appointments made a secondone pretty soon after he changed them. As far as he knew, Rae Nan wasthe only one who didn't like being female, but was willing to put upwith it. “I’m sorry Brad! Sometime parents just have trouble getting along.” Jean said trying to think of something to make him feel better.“I also found out that he is not my real dad, He got drunk and said he was tired of being something called a cuckold; whatever that is. He also told mom she should stop living a lie. That is when he left.” He said as he continued to sniffle.“Maybe they will get back together again when they both calm down.” Jean said but she really hoped that the perverted couple. I kiss her cheek ever so softly, not wanting to wake her up. I slide my arm out from her under her body as gently as I can. I stand next to my bed for a few minutes and watch M as she sleeps. “Beautiful Emma, beautiful M,” I think to myself. I head for the shower, close the bathroom door so the running water won’t wake her. After showering and drying off, I head to the kitchen, stopping to look in on M still sleeping. I place two towels on the mattress for her. When she wakes up, she can.