Every time we do, there's this tense feeling inthe air that it may very well the last time we men sit around to talk andrelax. Yet for some reason, th...e women always allow not olny these get-togethers of ours, but the whisky and cigars, too. They probably havesomething up their sleeves, but you know? I love my cigars and I love myscotch.So forgive us if we spend more time talking about our clothes and properskin care than keeping the reins of the society in our hands. Times havechanged and I. He wants me to go to attend the diplomatic functions." How long will you be gone?" Since I have no job and the market is awful, I agreed to go for six weeks. With your permission, I will go and leave Brianna with you." As I said, I have no need for her to leave, ever. Six weeks is no problem for me. I hope Rachel doesn't find a real boyfriend during that time. She helps me with Brianna more than I know." I am eternally grateful. You brightened my life more than I can say. I will be able to stay. Why? I didn't understand. I could just see Joanne holding Della in her arms as Della wept. Then Della spoke, faintly."You can have him now, Joanne. I've finished with him." No you haven't. He doesn't know why. You, not me, should explain. It might be an idea to unhood him and ungag him first. We don't want him to suffocate." OK, Joanne. Help me, please." I will, Della. You have helped me. I hope that you have helped Sam. I think you have. Come on. Let's get his head out."Della and Joanne sat. It came as naturally to him as breathing; it came so naturally, he had once thought everyone could do it.This time, though, it wasn't so easy. His body and mind – his very soul – was filled with abject misery and horror. It was blocking his ability to think, to plan. It was blocking his ability to survive. That was unacceptable.He closed his eyes and concentrated. His pain and misery were too big to fit in a single compartment – so he separated them. The pain was pushed in one mental bin, the.