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{\title ********************************************************************}{\author Sue Boutle}{\operator Sue Boutle}{\creatim\yr2005\mo1\dy16\hr12\min32}{\revtim\yr2005\mo1\dy16\hr12\min32}{\version2}{\edmins2}{\nofpages6}{\nofwords2358}
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\f2\fs20\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 ********************************************************************
\par \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ \{ASSM\} The Journey
\par \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ [Stasya T. Canine and Esu Migabe] (no-sex)
\par ********************************************************************
\par 
\par Please note and understand the content codes for this story. The
\par characters portrayed in this story are just that, characters in our
\par story. Any similarities to real people are purely coincidental and
\par unintentional. 
\par ____________________________________________________________________
\par 
\par 
\par The Journey
\par 
\par Breakfast
\par 
\par He woke, as usual, alone.\~ Funny that.\~ How long had it been? Seemed
\par like only yesterday when he thought he'd never be alone.\~ Then, she'd
\par betrayed him.\~ Gone. Where was she?\~ Not in bed, smiling, cheerfully
\par welcoming him to a new day, that was for certain.
\par 
\par He looked out the window and sighed.\~ He didn't have much hope left
\par these days but, still...
\par 
\par He glanced over at the night stand.\~ Damn teeth.\~ Their smile mocked
\par him. He didn't feel like smiling.\~ Even the weather mocked him.\~ Days
\par were always bright.\~ Should have been dark.\~ Dark, gloomy, filled
\par with the thunder and flash of his rage.
\par 
\par He sighed again, grabbed his cane and tottered over to where his
\par clothes were neatly laid out for him.\~ Funny, that.\~ Just like she
\par used to set them out during happier times.\~ Maybe she was in the
\par kitchen, not totally gone from his life as he\rquote d thought.
\par 
\par The daydreams of past happiness made him eager to find out if he was
\par dreaming her betrayal.\~ He dressed hurriedly but carefully.\~ She
\par wouldn't like it if he didn't look his best when he went out.
\par 
\par When he got to the kitchen he froze with dismay.\~ The woman sitting
\par at the table, smiling a welcome, *looked* like her at first glance. 
\par But he knew better.
\par 
\par His shoulders slumped.
\par 
\par \tab \tab \tab \tab ---
\par 
\par She looked up at him, frowned, and then quickly smiled.\~ 'He looks
\par so sad', she thought to herself.\~ 'I thought, from his footsteps that
\par he'd...'
\par 
\par She sighed to herself.\~ Not today.\~ Maybe not ever.\~ 'I hope he
\par doesn't watch my eyes.\~ I'd never forgive myself if he felt he'd hurt
\par me.'
\par 
\par With an abrupt shock, she remembered her manners.\~ She made a small
\par gesture, which she knew he probably wouldn't notice, and indicated
\par the other side of the table.\~ "Your breakfast is ready."
\par 
\par It took a while for him to realize she'd spoken.\~ 'What did she
\par say?'\~ Panic seized him.\~ His stomach knotted.\~ Then he noticed the
\par slight tilt of her head. 'Thank God I haven't forgotten how to read
\par body language! She's indicating the food!\~ Must be what she
\par meant, it\rquote s for me.'
\par 
\par He mumbled his thanks while he settled himself.
\par 
\par At least she didn't prattle at him while he ate.\~ 'What am I going
\par to do? Can't stay here.\~ No work to go to, either.'\~ He sighed and
\par frowned to himself.\~ 'The park?\~ Yes, the park.\~ Maybe she was there,
\par waiting for him. She used to do that.'\~ Or at least he *thought*
\par she'd used to. Seemed like yesterday but sometimes his mind, not just
\par his legs, betrayed him.
\par 
\par He sighed to himself.\~ Nothing for it, then.\~ Best to go there and
\par see for himself.\~ He pushed away from the table, mumbling his thanks
\par for the food. Courtesy forced out another sentence.\~ "I'm going out."
\par 
\par The effort of forcing his legs to work properly distracted him so he
\par never noticed her tired, frustrated smile.
\par 
\par By the time he\rquote d gently closed the door and was slo}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 wly walking away}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 , he'd forgotten her.
\par 
\par \tab \tab \tab \tab ---
\par 
\par She smiled to herself as she walked to the bus stop, it was a
\par pleasant morning - the sun shone brightly and a gentle breeze blew
\par along the street. She nodded to the postman's cheery greeting as he
\par cycled past.\~ It was a wonderful day and she was going to town to do
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8130521 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cf1\insrsid5067907 some shopping. Her room had been freshly decorated and she wanted to}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521  }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 get the finishing touches -new curtains and maybe some matching}
{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521  cushions}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 .
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5067907 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cf1\insrsid5067907 
\par As she neared the stop, she noticed a familiar figure waiting for
\par the bus as well.\~ She stood by him, "Nice day isn't it?" she said. 
\par The old man grunted a reply. 'Obviously wants to keep himself to
\par himself this morning, maybe he'll be more cheerful soon' she thought
\par as the bus pulled int}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 o the stop. She boarded}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907  behind the old
\par man and heard him give his destination 'the park'.\~ She paid her fare
\par to the driver before sitting down next to the old man.
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 The old man sighed!\~ He realiz}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 ed that all the other seats were
\par occupied. However, did that really mean that she had to sit next to
\par him? He didn't want company - }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 he wanted to be alone.\~ 'No such}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907  luck'
\par he thought to himself. Tutting, he shifted across the seat to give
\par her more room.
\par 
\par She smiled cheerfully before thanking him.
\par 
\par The old man groaned - he hadn't wanted to give her the seat in the
\par first place and now she was smiling and talking to him.\~ 'Damnation
\par just leave me in peace.'\~ He grunted back to her, hoping that she
\par would take the hint but to no avail, she carried on chatting.
\par 
\par "Where are you going today, are you going to the park again, it's
\par nice at this time of year isn't it?"
\par 
\par "If you like that sort of thing," the man sourly replied.
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 She smiled at him - realiz}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 ing that he was a sad old man but she did
\par feel sorry for him, she would hate to be that miserable when she got
\par to his age. She wondered if he would ever become the cheery person
\par that he once was and hoped it didn't run in his genes.
\par 
\par 'I know he hasn't always been like this,' she thought as she
\par continued to chat to him.
\par 
\par The old man sighed.\~ He didn't want to talk to her, all he wanted to
\par do was sit quietly and contemplate the day ahead, but what could he
\par do to stop her inane chatter?\~ He wondered if he went to sleep would
\par that shut her up? 'No' he thought to himself 'she's so busy chatting
\par she wouldn't e}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 ven notice.'\~ Sighing, he realiz}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 ed that he was just
\par going to have to put up with her.
\par 
\par The bus moved swiftly along the road, stopping at times to let
\par passengers off and on, before reaching the stop before the Park.\~ She
\par wondered if he would remember where he was going this time, or even
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid8130521 if he would recogniz}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid5067907 e his stop.\~ Sure enough, when his stop came, the
\par old man just sat in his seat. Smiling to herself, she tapped him on
\par his arm, "your stop - the Park".
\par 
\par The old man gazed at her briefly before struggling to his feet and
\par grunting loudly, made his way slowly off the bus.
\par 
\par The Park
\par 
\par The old man stood there, temporarily blinded by the light.\~ 'Is this
\par the right stop?\~ That woman on the bus?\~ Girl, wasn't she?\~\~ She said
\par she'd seen me get off here, before.\~ Before?\~ I don't remember her
\par being a regular on my bus.\~ It was my bus, wasn't it?'
\par 
\par His eyes slowly recovered and he looked at the sign.\~ 'A picture of
\par kids playing.\~ That way to my park.'\~ He snorted, not softly--and
\par passers by glanced at him.\~ 'They don't understand.\~ A park is a
\par place to relax, not go fadding about, like all these kids want to do
\par these days.\~ Why did I want to come here, anyway?'\~ He carefully set
\par his cane and with slow, tottering steps, slowly walked the short
\par distance to his park.
\par 
\par 'Kids.\~ Fadding kids.\~ It's all they do now.\~ Clothes that advertise
\par more clothes.\~ Blatant sex in the ads, to hint that without *their*
\par shoes, socks, shorts...\~ hell, even vaginal lubricant, you couldn't
\par *really* be successful.'\~ Someone jostled him and he almost fell.\~ He
\par glared at the rapidly retreating back.\~ 'Not even an apology.\~ Didn't
\par notice me, didn't care.\~ Just another faceless old man.'
\par 
\par A movement across the street caught his attention briefly.\~ Her. She
\par was waving at him.\~ She even smiled when their eyes met.\~ He turned
\par away. 'Thinks I'm hers.\~ Just a brief conversation on the bus.
\par Couldn't get away. Was a time when I wouldn't have hesitated to
\par change seats or stand up to escape.\~ No more.\~ Too much trouble to
\par force myself out of the seat. Ignore her.'
\par 
\par He thought about cursing his body, his age, whatever had happened to
\par take his life away from him.\~ He decided he didn't have the energy.
\par Better to use what little he had to finish walking to his park. 
\par Maybe his bench was available.\~ Probably was.\~ Too much shade, to
\par close to those annoying ducks--and the fadding kids that pranced all
\par over the lawn, giggling mindlessly at each other.
\par 
\par 'Fadding', he thought suddenly.\~ 'Used to be a joke, something
\par people with no sense of self-worth did.\~ When did it become
\par respectable?'\~ He straightened himself slightly.\~ 'Time was, *I*
\par never fadded.\~ I knew who I was.\~ I am, 'his shoulders sagged, 'an
\par old man, now.\~ Who's going to pay attention to a tottering old man,
\par these days?\~ Got to be quick. New. Got to be flashy before people can
\par respect it.'\~ He coughed, noisily cleared his throat and spat in the
\par gutter.\~ "Fadding."\~ His tone made it obvious he was using it as a
\par curse.
\par 
\par Step by slow, carefully placed, painful, hesitant step, he continued
\par to make his way to his park.
\par 
\par He cursed inaudibly.\~ 'The grass is wet.\~ Got to go the long way.'
\par He sighed and moved on.\~ There it was.\~ His bench.\~ Just like he
\par remembered it--and...\~ He cursed again.\~ She was in it.\~ She looked
\par up from the child she was talking to, waved at him, said something to
\par the kid and got up. 'She's left me my bench.\~ Damn woman.\~ About time
\par she showed some sense. Got no use for her.\~ No use for any of them
\par since...'\~ He chopped the thoughts off.\~ He knew where they'd lead. 
\par He didn't like to cry. Men don't cry.\~ God knows he'd earned the
\par right, if any man had...\~ But, he was a man.
\par 
\par He settled on his bench, grateful for the random twist of fate that
\par had spared him the mindless prattle of a woman.
\par 
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16410813 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 The Dog
\par 
\par She got off the bus a stop later, still thinking about the old man.
\par Something about him today worried her - he seemed even more forgetful
\par than normal, less cheerful than he usually was!\~ She decided to walk
\par back to the park to make sure he was all right.\~ It did not take her
\par long and she was soon opposite the park gates.\~ She watched the old
\par man as he shuffled along and waved to him when he paused.\~ She saw
\par him look at her and smiled back at him, suddenly noticing his
\par defensive stance. 'Oops, I had better be on my way,' she decided and
\par walked back towards the town.
\par 
\par As she walked along, a young tearful boy came running up. "Can you
\par help me please? \'85 It's my dog \'85 He ran off in the park \'85
\par I can't find him." The boy was obviously very upset and she felt sorry for him.\~ She smiled at him and said, "Of course I'll help you - come on, let's go and look."\~ 'Oh well,' she sighed to herself,' I have all day to get my curtains'.\~
 She handed him a tissue to dry his eyes before entering the park by the rear entrance and sitting down on the nearest bench.
\par 
\par "Now where were you, when you lost your dog?" she asked the boy.
\par 
\par "Over there," he replied, pointing over to the play area, which backed on to a wood.
\par 
\par "Perhaps he is hiding from you in those trees."
\par 
\par She looked over and saw the old man approaching, and waved to him as
\par she rose from the bench.
\par 
\par "Come on, let's go and look for him."
\par 
\par They walked over to the wood, the young boy holding her hand.\~ They
\par searched through the trees calling for the dog but to no avail.
\par 
\par "Maybe your dog is frightened, he may be hiding somewhere," she said
\par to the young boy.
\par 
\par She started to search the bushes and undergrowth; the young boy
\par followed her lead.
\par 
\par A sudden rustle and snapping of twigs alerted them as the dog came
\par bounding up to the young boy, wagging its tail wildly and jumping up
\par all over him.
\par 
\par She smiled at the two reunited pals, as the young boy thanked her
\par and then went on her way, nodding at the old man as she passed the
\par bench on which he sat.
\par 
\par The old man stared after her wondering!
\par 
\par 'Who is she?\~ Why does she smile at me?\~ Do I know her?\~ Her face
\par looks familiar.'\~ His eyes blurred as thoughts of his recently
\par departed wife came to his mind. 'Damn these mood swings. Have to look
\par after myself now. No-one else to do it.'
\par 
\par Resolutely he pushed the thoughts of the woman away and tried to
\par relax.
\par 
\par The dog and boy romped gleefully on the grass in front of him.\~ He
\par used to have a dog.\~ Had many in his life.\~ Or did he?\~ Yes.\~ He knew
\par he'd had one when he was a boy.\~ Later?\~ He wasn't certain about
\par that.\~ His wife, now... She'd liked animals.\~ Cats, mostly, but she'd
\par been nice to dogs, too.\~ A puppy.\~ Sure, she'd brought home that
\par puppy, just for him.\~ He tried to remember more.
\par 
\par No use.\~ It had been too many years ago.\~ His past was too blurry.
\par It angered him.\~ Made him frustrated.
\par 
\par The boy settled on the bench next to him and the dog settled in
\par front of them, panting heavily.\~ "Do you know her?\~ She helped me
\par find my dog. She said you liked dogs.\~ She likes you, I could tell.\~ 
\par Sam likes you. See? He's smiling at you."
\par 
\par Distracted, he looked at the boy, then the dog.\~ Sure enough the dog
\par was watching him.\~ His tongue was hanging out and he had a smile on
\par his face. He leaned forward carefully.\~ "Like me, does he?"\~ He held
\par out his hand.
\par 
\par "Had a dog when I was a boy.\~ My wife gave me a puppy once, too.
\par Long time ago, young man.\~ A long time ago."
\par 
\par Lost in his search for his memories he never noticed when the boy
\par and dog left.
\par 
\par The Return
\par 
\par She carried on walking -- determined to reach the shops and buy her
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 C}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 urtains}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 . 'H}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 ad enough interruptions for one day
}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 ' she thought. 'He's
\par certainly missing his wife, but don't we all}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 .}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 ' Memories swam through
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11102272 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 her mind as she smiled to herself}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813  '}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 L}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 ife must move on though - shame
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16410813 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 that he isn't able to do so}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 .'}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813  She wondered if he ever would.
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 After wandering through the town, shop after shop, she finally
\par decided on the curtains she wanted.\~ 'Umm, they are just right, the
\par colour}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272  is a perfect match,' she thought}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813  as she compared the swatches. 
\par She paid for them and decided to have a coffee in the caf\'e9 nearby
\par before making her way home.
\par 
\par Sitting at the table sipping her coffee, her mind wandered thinking
\par about the events of the day. That young boy, so worried about his
\par dog, glad I was able to help h}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 im. More importantly though, Dad}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 . I
\par wonder if he is becoming senile or is he still confused about losing
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 mum}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 . I try to help him but it just seems never ending - one step
\par forward and then two back. Don't know what else I can do, though.
\par 
\par The old man continued to search through his memories - daughter.
\par There was a daughter once as well. He wondered, had he seen her
\par lately? What did she look like now? She cared, but where was she now?
\par He vaguely remembered seeing her at times.
\par 
\par The old man, having spent the day in the park, went home.
\par 
\par He waited for the bus, boarding it when it arrived. He looked around
\par at the empty seats and noticed her, sitting a few rows down. He sat
\par down next to her and smiled.
\par 
\par "Hello}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 " he said politely as she returned his smile.
\par 
\par "Nice to see you again}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 ,}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 " she replied.
\par 
\par She sat quietly, tired after her hectic day.
\par 
\par He smiled, realising he would soon be home, alone in his own
\par pleasant room, eating a splendid meal, before spending the evening in
\par front of his television.
\par 
\par The bus pulled to a stop. Standing up first, she helped the old man
\par to his feet.
\par 
\par "Come on, Dad, let's go home and cook your meal}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 ."}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 
\par 
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 
\par \'a9 Stasya T. Canine}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid11102272 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 \'a9 }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 Esu Migabe January 2005
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16410813 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 
\ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 ____________________________________________________________________
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid11102272 
\par Foot Notes
\par }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 We hope you have enjoyed reading this story as much as we have
\par enjoyed writing it.\~ As always, feedback is appreciated, since it is
\par our only payment for our work.
\par 
\par Please address comments to }{\field\fldedit{\*\fldinst {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813  HYPERLINK "http://by101fd.bay101.hotmail.msn.com/cgi-bin/com
pose?curmbox=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000001&a=7d7f14008706c9b85c8091bf436b86cc&mailto=1&to=esu_migabe@hotmail.com&msg=9CEE4BA9-6D69-4B18-ACF6-B7DDEA76716F&start=0&len=18987&src=&type=x" }{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cf1\insrsid12988323\charrsid12988323 {\*\datafield 
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00260074007900700065003d0078000000}}}{\fldrslt {\rtlch\fcs1 \af35\afs17 \ltrch\fcs0 \cs16\f35\fs17\cf17\insrsid16410813 esu_migabe@hotmail.com}}}{\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 \cf1\insrsid16410813 
\par 
\par This story is copyrighted by the authors and as such may not be
\par published, posted or archived on any newsgroup, website, or server,
\par other than ASSM and ASSTR, without the EXPRESS PERMISSION of the
\par authors. Any reader may archive a copy of this story, provided the
\par warnings and copyright information is attached in full.
\par 
\par }\pard \ltrpar\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tx916\tx1832\tx2748\tx3664\tx4580\tx5496\tx6412\tx7328\tx8244\tx9160\tx10076\tx10992\tx11908\tx12824\tx13740\tx14656\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid5067907 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af2 \ltrch\fcs0 
\cf1\insrsid5067907 
\par }\pard\plain \ltrpar\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \rtlch\fcs1 \af0\afs24\alang1025 \ltrch\fcs0 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\rtlch\fcs1 \af0 \ltrch\fcs0 \insrsid3683406 
\par }}