But horror of horrors, my mom suddenly called up the attic stairs, "Anthony, are you up there?"We hadn't heard her car drive up at all.Sheila jumped a...way from me as though the magazine had turned into a live cobra or something. I jumped up as well and flew instantly into a chaos of panic."Yeah, mom. I'm here! I'll be right down!" I said, trying to disguise my insane fear. At any second she could have started up the stairs, one by one, and caught us in front of a trunk full of Playboys. We froze. "If people are going to talk, one way or the other, why shouldn't we be happy while they do it?" How do you know we'd be happy?" he asked."I've known you my whole life," said Cindy. "The only other man I know better is my father. I don't feel like trying to find a boyfriend. Why should I, when I already have the best man in the world right here." What about Neece?" he asked."What about what?" What about if we get married, and she still wants to ... do this?" We have that all worked out too,". It seemed at the very least that grief and romantic tensions weren't his sole providence after all!Hell! half the time it felt like he, his family and friends were stuck in some cheap Sho'jo!The melodic tones which lilted gently rose briefly as a quartet of musicians a short distance away plied instruments that were at once curious and wonderful.Primarily drawing his attention was a massive stringed instrument. Apparently played much as an inverted guitar.Braced against the ground, the slender. Then, as usual, she suffered last minute doubt. A few more catwalks in front of the full length mirror failed to convince her. So, despite the ticking clock, she changed into a more suggestive scarlet dress.Again,Zinaat paraded in front of the mirror but decided that she was in fact right the first time, and reverted back to her original black number.The perils of womanhood.Before leaving the apartment she prayed in silence. Not just to calm her nerves but to give her thanks for what she had,.