‘you are free to be yourself when with us’ she added.We walked to the taxi, my open long hair now shining in the sun, and I saw each and every eye...s in the hotel glued to my knee length hair. Even our driver took extra time opening the door just to check out my long hair.The rest of the journey was uneventful, reached their home, not so big, but definitely bigger than my home. It was almost 10pm when we reached there, aunty showed me my room, and told me to make myself like at home, and close. . You can end up one of those plump little mama-sans...”“What do YOU know about mama-sans?”“Uncle was in the Army. Spent a tour in Korea.”“And I’m sure he spent his off hours surveying the finer points of the country’s culture.”“No doubt,” Carl grinned. “Prob’ly the Korean equivalent of the beach at Padre Island on Spring Break...”“So much for cultural superiority.”He turned his head to look at me sideways. “Like a second generation child of Korean descent...”“Roots,” I laughed.. Shauna should’ve told you. It was unfair to spring it on you like that.’ His hand caressed my upper arm in an effort to comfort me. It settled me down, at least to the point of just teetering on the edge of nervousness. ‘You actually handled it well.’ ‘After awhile, it’s just easy to forget. You seem so, adjusted?’ I wasn’t sure that was the right word. ‘That’s as good a way of putting it as any. I’ve been like this most of my life, so I’ve had a while to adjust, as you so eloquently put it.’. Well, okay, she had to. I was just along to provide support. I had no idea why. It was some ancient tradition that Acolytes of the Goddess Saphique would journey with the female Knights Deute on their initiation Quests. It was stupid. I wanted to be back in the temple lounging with a nubile novice. I missed those twins. They had been so cute.The city of Shesax was bustling. I was surprised that so many people were awake. The sun had barely risen. Shouldn't they be asleep for hours more? I tried.