" Good," she smiled, watching him as he dropped the load of firewood by the fire, noticing that his face was once again bright red, "it looks like it ...might be cold tonight."Feeling his face flush with embarrassment, Seth turned away and walked over to his backpack. Stooping down, he rifled through it, hoping he could hide his shame."Your father just left a couple of minutes ago." "He did," he blurted out, pulling out some clean clothes and standing up.Turning around, he saw his mother squatting. "How much are you paying her? That was disgusting." "Told ya, never seen her before in my life. Asfor disgusting," he paused and stared at her pointedly, "you need to work onyour acting. I've just met you and I'd bet you've had things in your mouththat would make that thong taste like a breath mint." She colored and angrily stubbed out her cigarette.Before she could respond Kristeen returned with their food. They both watchedher chewing busily as she laid their plates on the table. "Don't ever. ‘I’m happy you like it. Just remember to mention me when you publish that great American novel,’ he said backing away. I stood there, still speechless, as he left, telling me he was happy I’d be going to the dance. I was happier to be going than I had ever been in high school. **** ‘So I guess it’s a Mardi Gras theme,’ I said smiling amongst a sea of purple, green, and yellow. Girls danced with sparkly beads whipping around their heads, their shirts pulled up to reveal pubescent midriffs. . She had a little apartment in Manhattan, Kansas, where she’d been going to college. Because of the incentives to getting promoted faster I’d signed up for six years. I had to go to basic almost as soon as I graduated, based on the Air Force Specialty Code I had chosen. The architecture program at Kansas State University in Manhattan was five years long which meant that while I was off spending six years in the Air Force, she spent those six years finishing high school and college. I got home on.