She saw Stan with his arm around the tall blonde, and her face fell. She looked daggers at Anne for a moment, looked away from them both with a huff a...nd stalked out. Stan began to move after her, but stopped himself. Anne was close enough to him to feel the almost-movement and turned to look at him. ‘Not yet, Stan. We’ve all got things to work through before we can mend fences. ‘Anyway, we have to be leaving. See you Elaine! Come on, Stan, we have to work out our own plans for the evening,. They’re hard to find.”“Do you also have a pool?”“Yes.”“Oh damn. We wanted a pool too.”“Well, you’re welcome to come use mine anytime.”“That’s nice, but what would your wife think of that?”“I’m not married, Michelle.”“Oh! I’m surprised that some honey hasn’t grabbed you yet.”“Ha,” I laughed. “One did for about four years, then I caught her cheating on me.”“Oh no! I’m sorry.”“Thanks, but I’m long over it.”“Good.”“So, what would Todd think about you using my pool?”“Ha,” she snickered. “I’ll come. I was scheduled to meet with the executive staff of a major computer solution consultancy. Upon my arrival at their corporate headquarters I was informed by the receptionist that the CFO had a health concern emerge that morning and that the meetings had been canceled and there was some question as to whether the company in fact would close for the day. She expressed the appropriate apologies from the committee and I made my way out into the crisp autumn air. "Thank goodness this trip was on. She opens the door, listening to the shimmering rain outside and lookinginto the night sky, covered with a stars. She often reminds herself ofall these stories about "wish upon a star" and she silently says thatwish again, like a silent prayer. Then she has to fight her doubts again,before making a step.Every time she makes her first step into the rain, it's like an electricshock for her body. It's very short, but the strength of the uncertaintyis big. Deep inside her mind, she still repeats.