Crying out, I felt my head ripped back by my hair and the point of thespike sticking out of his one remaining functional hand, if it wasindeed still f...unctional, pressed against my throat. "Twitch and I givethe bitch a non-medically approved tracheotomy. Hey, twitch? Bitch?" Helaughed hysterically at his sick rhyme. "Now back away," he ordered theman, his voice suddenly becoming deadly serious.The man didn't respond verbally, he simply maintained his point of aimat the doctor, who by this point. "Where did you learn that slang? I haven't heard it in years." I picked it up from one of your TV programs. I am not sure which one. Do you want me to search my records to make an exact identification?"Zeke had forgotten just how literal a computer could be. "No. I don't need that information. You may disregard that last question."Xylo asked, "What do 'roger' and 'wilco' mean? Those are not common words in my vocabularly." Tonto was making a small joke. 'Roger' literally means 'I acknowledge. This year, it was Gail Dodge. All three of them sat there waiting, little portable microphones pinned to their clothing. To the left of the stage there was a podium, and as soon as everyone was seated, Gail stepped up to it."Boys and girls, welcome to this year's election for student council. There are two slates of candidates this year, and I'd like those running for office to stand when I call your name. Running for president on the first slate is Andy Richardson. His vice-presidential. "You must be Jamie's mom." I forced myself to smile at the woman who opened the door."I must be," she said with a lop-sided smile. "I'm wearin' her panties." Great," I replied under my breath and cleared my throat. "I'm Mr. Valentine, uh, Jack ... and I teach math at..."Valentine?" She must have been in her late thirties, I supposed, and trying to look twenty years younger. Too much makeup, too much red coloring in her hair, too much alcohol and cigarettes and too much ... Everything."Yeah," I.