I heard something about a mortgage and credit cards, and I already knew my parents were deep in debt and having problems paying the bank each month. ...Then there was something about Uncle Bill ‘helping out’ with the finances (I can still remember the actual phrase he used) in return for the family ‘helping out’ with some videos and photos for his business. It was then I began to realise that Uncle Bill’s smart car and posh lifestyle weren’t being paid for by his ordinary photographic business,. "All right then, Alan," she replied with mock seriousness,emphasising my name. Thank goodness she wasn't using the femalealternative with which she'd rechristened me. "Listen, about last night ..." I said. She arched her eyebrows. "Yes?" Iswallowed nervously and continued. "I just wanted to thank you for, youknow, all of it. It was ... the best thing that's ever happened to me."She stared at me impassively for a few seconds. "Well I should fuckingwell hope it was," she said finally. But then. ”We all paused to take a drink. My throat had inexplicably gotten dry during Charlie’s monologue, and I was really curious myself about what happened on his trip.“The next morning, we all went out to one of Alberto’s barns after a big breakfast, a breakfast that I noted was passed over by Eloise. One of the conversations over the table was the mechanics of a horse’s ejaculation, and we got a very thorough education by the ranch’s head wrangler. It seems that most of their stallions are used to. You couldn’t afford me?” Sarah tittered, “Maybe dance lessons though?”“Mom show me how, please?” Claire asked. “Then I can give Charles a rubdown whenever he wants one.”Sarah said, “Honey, as much as Charles would likely enjoy that, I believe he’s going to be all right, but I also think you both had better save yourselves for your competition rehearsal tomorrow.”Kalista suggested, “Wouldn’t getting him back into the spa putting one of those jet thingies against his back, help?”“It probably.