I was probably five perhaps six when I woke up, came to or whatever on Dancer Street, near where I had our shed, with an evil smelling drunk leering a...t me trying to remove my pants. Somehow, I knew to be silent and to scratch his face deeply and within seconds he stiffened and collapsed. Instinctively, I knew what I had to look for to replace the poison I'd used and until I had the concoction, the imperative remained with me to replenish; the girls are the same; you don't have the imperative. I. ? Niki waited for Melissa to lead the way. She began to walk out with Niki at her side but slightly behind her. They walked out to the bus stop in silence. Neither one of them was used to talking to anyone outside of the competitions. The silence would have been very unsettling to anyone else but they not only were used to it, they almost preferred it. They waited at the bus stop together. Melissa couldn’t help herself. She would glance down to get a look at Niki every now and. "All right. Well, I better go."He stepped forward, but his mother did not move. She straightened up and placed a hand on Jason's shoulder. "Aren't you going to give your mother a kiss before you go?"Jason wanted to tell her "no," but the word would not reach his lips. He leaned towards her, tilting his head to one side, intending to kiss his mother on the cheek. He saw her eyes slide closed, her smile widening, but he allowed himself to relax in the belief nothing would come of it.His lips met. Please, Dad, okay? All right, Iʼll drop by tonight to check in on you. No, of course itʼs no trouble.” Her brown orbs were alight as she listened but they were troubled.“Why donʼt I bring some Chinese? Pepper steak okay -- and noodles? All right, then, see you about eight -- Dad, not a drop. You know what happens. Okay, eight oʼclock. Dad, promise me!”Deputy Brad Thurmond leaned against the door frame, holding the two cups of steaming coffee, admiring her good looks. Glistening straight black.