PROLOGUEOf the two of us, Don and myself, I am the more outgoing, adventurous and willing to take a chance. When we got new neighbors three years ago, it fell to me to do the meet-and-greet ritual. I baked cookies for this round.“So, Rickie, how did it go?” My husband’s quizzed me as soon as I returned, that summer afternoon.I cautioned, “Names are Alice and Arnie. At least remember that.”I summed up, “They seem nice, mo...

Young people today have an acronym for it: BFF or best friends forever. But, as is often the case in the real world, “forever” is a word that has no substantive meaning. For me, James Clausen, and my best friend Rodney Pollard, both currently and commonly 27 years old, the acronym had, however, been meaningful since the second grade.Yes we were tight the two of us. And the nature of things being what they were, the gods s...

It all started with a messy break up with my girl of five years, Patty. We had been together since our senior year in high school. By no means was I one of the studs on campus, you know the type. Before Patty I had only been with a few other girls. After living together for three years things just didn't work out.She had a way of punishing me after a fight. She would cut me off of all sex for days. Once as long as two wee...

You asked are you a preventing a liaison unknown,Is this love, a foundation, building bricks for a home;or a rendezvous, for souls; that travel alone?Do you feel the need, the desire that returns,like the swallows that rest under Africa's sun;consider our chances, in these moments,our fate;in love close together; companionship safe.The hours and the minutes, in vigil I wait;at the instance we kiss; the loneliness dissipat...