" "No?" I ventured meekly. “Then... what do you want?" Rance's smile just about exploded across his face. "We just thought we'd offer you a ride bef...ore one of those nice country boys around here turned out to be Jeffrey Dahmer. Come on, you’ll be safe with us, and we'd be glad to take you. I can promise you this, we won't be boring." There wasn't much I could do. I was afraid of upsetting him, and I did need the ride. So, with a quick and resigned nod, I accepted his offer. Greeted by whistles. Susan’s blonde head rose and her mouth opened, emitting a very high-pitched scream. The next blow landed but a moment later, just above and slightly more to the center ofher buttock than the previous. Susan tried vainly to thrash about, as if somehow, movement would lessen the pain. Tearshad instantly returned to her eyes, and she was crying loudly. The strokes of the riding crop landed continually, methodically, as if creating a pattern. The blow she received would land next to where that. Her cousin Lexy had just moved here from Lebanon, and her f****y was staying with Tina’s f****y. I was 15 at the time, Tina was 16 and had her license, and Lexy was 18. Tina dropped me off at soccer practice one day after school because I needed a ride, and she asked me to hang out that night. After soccer practice I caught a ride to Tina’s and got more than I bargained for when I rang the doorbell. Lexy opened the door in hr pajamas, I woke her up from a nap. She wore short shorts showing off. “Do we actually have two different scenarios here? If Roald and I have a falling out, we should both be aware enough of this dynamic to find out what the other really wants and then work together to resolve our difference. But if either one or both do not have the tools or education to get to that point, they are automatically in a lose-lose situation. Is that what we are ultimately coming down to?” Liam saw Roald nodding. Mr. Boyer stopped in mid-stride as he paced the room and turned to fix.