Softy truck slowly drives down every block with a trail of children running behind it. The air is thick with humanity and although the weather today h...as been expected to hit 102 degrees, now at one in the afternoon the temperature has hit 98. People trying their best to beat the heat sit on stoops fanning their selves drinking fresh brewed iced tea or homemade lemon aide. A black Lincoln town car with municipal plates comes to a stop at the corner of 112th and Malcolm X Boulevard. Three boys. "I kissed the top of her head. "That's admirable thinking, dear, but YOU make things extra special."She turned and wrapped me in her arms. "Dan," she said, looking up at me, "I still can't believe it. We're married." I know. It's like I hit the lottery or something." I kissed her pink lips."Go put some pants on, babe! You make it difficult for me to maintain my resolve, walkin' around half-hard like that!" Okay," I said. "A man is wise to listen to his wife." And get the deck of cards. We have. Even Glen had a chuckle at his own expense.We finished dinner and cleaned up the leftovers to be packed into the fridge. With six people to help, dishes were cleaned up and the kitchen tidied up much quicker than normal. Dessert was put off until after presents were opened since none of us had room for it just yet.We adjourned to the den where the tree occupied the entire corner of the room and started handing out gifts. May and Beth were thrilled with their presents. Beth had been to the place. The next morning, I woke at about seven. My kidneys were telling me I needed to get up now, despite it being a vacation. I went to the bathroom, and left my wife snoring, face down on the bed in the zillion count sheets. This place was pretty nice. I pulled on my swim trunks and padded barefoot out through the patio door to the ‘back yard’, the immense veranda and porch that looked out over the pool and on down to the beach. The sun was already up, and it was very pleasantly warm. Charlie was.