Rick is smart and ambitious. He is handsome and good with the ladies. I have always envied his charm. He seems to attract women without even trying. I... am more of a quiet person. I enjoy being alone with a book or a movie. I have accepted the fact that I will never be cool or part of the "in crowd." Still, Rick and I have always been tight. There is a bond between us that I don't understand but I know exists.Over the years, Rick's taste in women has been awful. With the wide variety that he had. This one was all done inwhite satin complete with layered tiers, the bottom of which containeddelicate eyelet lace trim all around and several feminine blue satinribbons and bows to set the bottom hem off.I heard the long zipper on the wedding gown being pulled down as Iteetered on the heels. I was sat back down on the edge of the four posterbed as the ladies gathered the gleaming white satin gown and holding theskirt high they carefully fitted it over my head taking great pains not tomuss my. "You look beautiful, Nora. Is my tie straight?"She walked over and gave him a quick peck (so as not to muss up her lipstick) and replied, "Yes, sir." Shall we go?" he said and gestured towards the garage and followed her out.The ball was held at a local hotel where the club rented a portion of the conference center for the evening. No other events were planned (Nora suspected that this was part of the arrangement), so there would be no one other than club members on the premises. Master parked. Blackburn gave an account of the events in the White Swan which was so different from what had actually happened I wondered if I had mistakenly appeared in the wrong courtroom and case. According to the prosecution, I 'attacked Hodge hell bent on revenge, and crippled a man for life. It had been premeditated and vicious attack, and the perpetrator, the accused man in the dock' ... he pointed towards me as if no one in the court knew where the accused stood, what a tosser... 'deserves to be put.