Don, Claire, PJ, and Nadia were making forays from the various boxes with pretty ornaments and putting them on the lighted tree.Don looked over at me,... "Before you say anything, I have to tell you this almost in private, but ... well..." I wondered where this was going and how I'd respond. He got a big smile on his face. " ... we like artificial trees. They don't shed their pine needles everywhere; and they're a cinch to set up. The lights were already on this one; all I had to do was assemble. " I handed her the book I had bought at W H Smith's on the way over to her house."I stopped to get this." It was a paper back copy of ' Death to the French'She gazed at me for a few seconds then threw her arms around my neck and hugged me. We stayed like that for a moment."You better let me in, your neighbours will be throwing a bucket of water over us else!"I could see that she was near to tears and wanted to get her to laugh. I succeeded and we went into the kitchen, her laughter filling the. Usne muje uthaya aur apni sari thik karke boli baaki murad raat ko puri kar lena,par mera abhi kuch hua hi nahi tha par mai bhi maan gaya.Aur hum bathroom se bahar aaye.Bhabhi ghar ka kuch kaam niptane chali gayi aur mai raaat ka intzar karne laga.Rat ko sab log khana khane dining pe baithe to maine notice kiya kipriti bhabhi mere shareer se apna shareer accident ke bahane se raga deti thi.Ek bar tounki bur wala hissajaan kar mere hath se ragad diya aur priti muskura gayi.Maine unke baccho ke. One offered $5,000, but said he’d double it if I could deliver the four companion pieces with it. Apparently, he was taking Bob Bowers at his word. I wondered if anyone else had received offers.There were two requests for proposals for public art—building murals—in Bellevue and Tacoma. And a total of five handwritten letters that included nude photos of women in artistic poses asking if I would consider a commission to paint them. I had no idea how to respond to any of these letters. Thank god.