"Jon'a-ren paced about, cooling himself down from their final run around the oval track, and for several moments he seemed lost in thought. He and mot...ioned for Berl'ahan to join them."I think we have accomplished all that we need for physical evaluation," he announced. "It would be well if we returned to our suite and arranged for clean garments and refreshments. Berl'a-han, please join us for the evening, if you would? I'm sure that Michael would delight in your continued company, especially. The joint was empty as hell. The manager walked over to us and offered us free drinks. I asked him where all the people were. He basically explained that they had a large bachelorette party that was canceled at the last minute because the bride- to- be fucked one of the strippers and decided she wasn't interested in marriage. I replied "I would love to meet that stripper" the manager laughed and agreed to give us a private show for the next hour. He told me that there were six strippers. In it was clutched a pendant of the sun. He wrapped the hand in white silk and tucked it in his bag meant for berries, putting the pendant in his belt. He set of to the north, knowing a farmer lived there and that he had children. He arrived without further adventure, finding the farmer outside. When he showed the man the pendant he was surprised, thinking his daughter had gone off to his fields, but when he explained himself after having shown him the hand the old farmer bowed his head and. During her elation periods she never failed to let me know just how happy she was, how this or that boy was the perfect fit for her, or that he was going away to college, come back, make a lot of money, marry her and they’d live happily ever after. Then there were her desolation times. I could count on them; she’d call my house and ask for my mom, “Is Travis there? Can he come over?”I’d always have to go over to her house, go to her parent’s family room, and usually sit on the same loveseat.