I stifled any other noises as I saw Mary, my supervisor, approaching. ‘Quiet, isn’t it Elaine?’ She said as I tried to get an unspoken message t...o Malcolm to stop before I groaned aloud. Mary’s voice did what my thoughts couldn’t. Malcolm kept perfectly still. Could Mary see the bulge of his head under my skirt? I hoped not. I wished she would go away. ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘Not long to closing and it doesn’t seem as if there are many people about.’ ‘Did I see Malcolm a few minutes ago?’ Mary asked,. Apologize.’ ‘No.’ The defiance was understandable. Hardened from drilling work and recreational fights and bar-room brawls ashore, Clark was no longer afraid of older brother, who was larger-framed. The slap across Clark’s ear rocked him but he continued to eye Jack. Jack snarled, ‘Apologize damn you.’ ‘Go to hell.’ With the marriage break-up trauma bottled up, Jack threw a punch. It caught Clark heavily on the left shoulder, swinging him around. Clark, a little off balance, clubbed both fists. Adding basketball to the mix of my crazy life, I was thinking that I had enough on my plate. I discussed the coach's proposition and his offer of help with Brodie and Steve, they pushed me into trying out since if I was a bit more distracted I would be able to slow down and pace myself better in school. If that were the case then taking up a sport during the spring semester would be even better.Before I could do that I started to have girl problems, the first being Mary who tracked me down our. "The issue might even be bigger. You realize, as we rebuild society, our old political boundaries and ideals will no longer have the same meaning. No one will remember Washington, Lincoln or even Julius Caesar. Instead they'll celebrate those who are now reshaping civilization." Yeah, and... ?" David asked, not liking where this was leading."The survivors will redraw state boarders based on different survivor groups, and they'll rename cities. I expect you and each of the girls will soon have.