Her hair was a loose mass of brown waves, andher eyes sparkled a smile when they met his. Although he wasn'tpanicking anymore, his heart still raced....Maritza loved being able to grab his full attention just by enteringthe room. This one definitely had possibilities. She giggled at hiswide-eyed stare. Trying for the easiest way to snap him out of it, shesashayed right up to him, leaned her head down, tenderly grabbed hisface, tipped up his chin and kissed him deeply and thoroughly. . . We as a community see the greatness that is in you, John. We remembered when you hoodwinked an entire baseball crowd into believing you pitch a perfect game. We didn't care as a town we knew you were feeling bad about losing to our town rival. I recollect the time you made me think I was chicken at the town talent show. I didn't care about looking like a total donkey. But there was no reason, son, that you had to usurp that truck driver's mind. I or Mr. Timms could feed your family for the. Now, put these on, and this, and… oh, and put this on.” I said, dropping a suit of heavy orc armor, four bags of sand, and a berserker helm. The imperial gawked at what I’d laid at his feet, then began to put it on. The orc armor was much too big for him, even though it was the smallest I could find, and it rendered him unable to pick up the sandbags. I tied each fifty-pound sack to his torso and legs, then put the helm on him. “There.” I said, stepping back to admire my work, “Can you raise. In fact, you can almost bet on it.The reason I couldn't get on the computer is that the wife is heading off on her last trip to the Western Slope. She will be gone six days and she kind of kept me all to herself - stocking up so to speak. Starting the first of next month her region changes and somebody else gets to take over the offices on the other side of the mountain. I don't mind a little time alone, but six days? Oh well, at least I'll be able to spend a good deal of time typing stories.