” James’ face turned white as his body suddenly tensed and stopped in mid-speech. Then his face dropped from the apologetic smile he’d just plas...tered on to reject Elder Gau, and his reflexive poker-face assumed its place. After but a second he threw a friendly and humble smile at the Elder and resumed his broken sentence.“ ... wait to accept your offer. I can’t speak for my companions but the opportunity to become a cultivator comes only once in a lifetime, and I most humbly accept. For that. As I sat down to order June came in and asked if she could join me. I was rather surprised but said sure. I haven't ever talked to June one on one since her divorce almost a year ago so this was really a surprise. I told her she might as well order also, I know she was in the courtroom all day and must be hungry. We both ordered a dinner and while we were waiting she started to talk.She said, "Dan I'm really sorry for having to testify. I had no choice."I said, "I know, it wasn't your. Sometimes I wonder if during my pregnancy he somehow knew the turmoil I was going through and adjusted back then, became this sweet, mature little boy, eager to help me, so lovable and dear.I pushed away from the table to get his backpack ready. I slipped in his Hot Wheels lunch box and, as promised, a plastic bag with three cookies."I had a weird dream," Scotty said, finishing his milk."Yeah? Tell me about it." I looked over my shoulder at him, meeting his gaze.He shrugged, reaching for a hot. We exchanged pleasantries about the hot weather lately and about the size and quantities of packages that Derrick needed to handle that day. As he turned to walk out of the house, I follow him onto the front porch. As we walked down to steps together I knew that if we were going to see if Derrick was interested in our plans, we would have start that conversation now. "So Derrick, do you mind if I ask you a question?" I posed to him."Not at all Mr. P. What's on your mind?" he politely.