"Anyway, just thought you'd like to know. See you around," she said, and was off.After that Pam was surprisingly friendly to me, and I noticed that mo...t of the other moms, who had been distinctly chilly for a few days, went back to being at least passably friendly, too.More than that, I noticed Pam started working in little references to sex, or fooling around, or not getting enough at home into the conversation. Here we go again, I thought.We were standing by a jungle gym when a couple of. I do have some news for you.”“Oh?”“I’ve been dating a guy for about a month now. He’s a radiology tech who works in the same building I do.”“Good,” I said. “I’m happy for you!”“Thanks. Hope likes him, too. And she has a boyfriend. Not too serious, but she’s seeing him on weekends. He’s sixteen, so a bit more age appropriate.”“A bit,” I chuckled. “I’m glad to hear that, too. Things are working out about as well as could be expected. I do need to get going now. See you Tuesday night.”She stood up. We left Otterswick, sailing free on a reach, with Eric at the wheel, turning north as soon as may be. There are tidal races between Sanday and Ronaldsay, so we were to pass the latter island to the west. We put one tack in before reaching Masewell Rock, and that let us clear Ronaldsay easily before setting course for Fair Isle, on a reach.As soon as we were clear, Grace took me by the hand and we went below to the saloon, leaving the deck to Bridget and Eric.She sat and patted the seat next to. " She said. "I mean, wasn't it awesomewhen ratty old Miss Claire at the store saw you in that white dress?Until then, she was sure you were a boy, and she was intent onembarrassing you for sneaking into the girls changing room. But you cameout playing Charity and really fooled her! Twice, she quietly apologizedto me for her mistake, afraid we weren't going to buy anything. Allbecause of how brave you were, Charlie. That's not being a sissy." She deserved it." And wasn't the material just.