The phone rings...

As Gerald continued up the stairs to his bedroom, the phone rang. "Gerald, it's for you, hollered his mother from the kitchen.

"I'll get it in my room," he answered.

It was Sam, his best friend from grade school. He had been in love with her for a long time but knew that she was a raging lesbo and knew that there was no chance even back in junior high. But he loved hanging with her. She was a classic goth--really loved the Cure, and wasn't into the whole vampire scene. She was more interested in the perceptions of people and playing with their minds than about some weird **** search for dispair. He liked that.

"Yo," her voice responded on the other side of the receiver.

"Are you packed yet?" he asked.

"Nah, just woke up."

"Are you crazy? We're supposed to be on the road in just a few more hours. They said in the flyer that all first year college students had to go to this lame-o registration intro thing. I'm not going without you."

"Chill, will you. Sheesh! You're such a hardon sometimes. My folks said they wanted to come up later in the week, so I'm taking advantage of my mother's deep need to do things for me in order to rid her of this guilt that she did something wrong in raising me. She said she'd pack up the important things and bring it with them. I just have a few clothes and stuff thrown in a bag."

There was a pause. "Alright, come on over then. I have a few more things to do."

There was still silence. "Samantha?" he asked, not sure if she was there anymore.

"Hey, Gerald. I don't suppose your sister is home, is she? I mean, one more chance to see her and all?"

Great! Gerald thought. Samantha had been very clear in her crush on Katrina for a while now and it sort of irritated him. "Leave her alone, Sam. She's too whitebread for you, and besides, she has her heart set on marrying a young Mel Gibson with a medical degree."

"Can't you do me one small favor?" Sam begged on the other side.

"Not when it comes to my sister. Just get over here."

They said their goodbyes and he hung up the phone. Man it would take some time to get things packed up. But then he remembered what happened at breakfast. He wondered if something like that could help him around here....