It was still dark.I was more accustomed to moving around London in the blackout than Mary was, but occasional kerbstones were marked with whitewash an...d each of the iron lamposts had three white rings painted round at eye level to reduce chances of walking into them.There was no moon but the sky was clear with a crisp hint of frost in the air and the stars were out, so we managed to feel ourselves about well enough. It wasn’t due to be dawn for another half hour.Alongside Mary and I was an older. Don’t let me slow down your fucking!” I went to Laura’s car in the parking lot to wait to go home. I didn’t care to associate with anyone. I wanted silence to think about what I needed to do next.About three hours later, Stacy, Laura and Todd walked up. They didn’t hurry because of me. If anything, they stayed longer than they normally would have, maybe they had a few things to discuss. The ride to Laura’s house was quiet. Not a word was said in normal conversation. Stacy and Todd. Ok, I haven’t had a ‘real’ girlfriend, at least for more than a week or two. No nesting for this fella. Variety is the spice of my life.She pauses, still stroking Wingman who is now napping in her lap.I ask, “How about you? I’m sure you’ve got a boyfriend around here.” I look around this way and that acting like I’m hunting for ‘him’.She smiles, “Well, no. Kinda same thing. ‘cept he already found someone else.”Oh too bad for him. My gain. Let’s jump to the next level... “Did you know that. On this paved yard are to be seen, --pacing to and fro from morning till night, pale, careworn, and haggard, like so many shadows, --the men whom justice holds beneath the steel she is sharpening. There, crouched against the side of the wall which attracts and retains the most heat, they may be seen sometimes talking to one another, but more frequently alone, watching the door, which sometimes opens to call forth one from the gloomy assemblage, or to throw in another outcast from society.The.