Chapter 9

“Owwww!” The pain shot down my arm from where Hannah had punched me. I called out, “Aunt Janet – Hannah hit me!”

“Don’t be such a sissy – you probably deserved it” she replied from the kitchen, not looking up.

Hannah stifled her laughter long enough to answer her mother loudly, “Two whole days I couldn’t get him on the phone – of course he deserves it, scaring me like that.”

Aunt Janet replied, “Oh Hannah, you better stop – people are gonna think you two are married, the way you abuse that poor boy.”

I felt my heart stop and my eyes go wide. Susie, sitting on the couch immediately to my left, doubled over in laughter, her head between her knees. From her other side, Dave yelled, “Oh, gag me with a spoon – Hannah, kissing a guy!”

She leaned over my lap, waving her fist in front of her brother’s face. “You can kiss this, buster!”

Behind me, I could hear my aunt muttering, “Oh my God...”

I glanced at from side to side and whispered, “I am so going to kill you guys. That was too close.”

Hannah slapped me, right on the spot she had punched, then in a lower voice and much more serious tone said, “You really did worry me.”

“Actually, I was only gone about thirty hours...”

“My mom will let me hit you again...”

“ ... and I called you as soon as I got home last night. We had to go see my grandpap.”

“Yeah, I get it. Sorry - I just didn’t know. Have you heard anything since yesterday?”

“Mom called them right before I left to come over here, and Grandma said he seems to be doing okay. They went to church and everything this morning.”

Aunt Janet called over, “Hey, how long ‘til kickoff?”

Hannah replied, “A few more minutes. I hate waiting for four o’clock games.”

Aunt Janet called out, “Okay - hey Joe, wanna come over here and try this for me?”

I asked, “What are you making?” when I got to the kitchen.

She held out a large spoon filled with brown liquid and said, “Pot roast. It’s got potatoes, baby carrots, pearl onions and garlic.”

I slid my lips over the spoon and let the broth sit in my mouth. “Hm. Pretty good. How much longer?”

“Probably an hour. Plan on eating at half-time.”

When I returned to the couch, with only the back of my head visible from the kitchen, Hannah ran her hand up the inside of my thigh and gave it a pinch. “Sucking up to my mom again, huh?”

“What, you want me to be sucking on something else?”

When her face broke out in a grin, Susie elbowed me from the other side and whispered, “Looks like she’s a little frisky today. Too bad you won’t be having the house to yourselves again.”

An hour later the Steelers were trailing fifteen to seven when Terry Bradshaw found himself underneath a pile of Cardinals defenders. As he hobbled to the sidelines, Dave kicked the coffee table. “Dammit! He’s been stinking the joint up today, but now we gotta go to the backup quarterback? We lost this one!”

I said, “C’mon, we’re only down a touchdown” even as I felt a lump in my stomach.

Kruczek came in and completed a couple of passes, but the Steelers failed to score as the half ended.

Aunt Janet yelled, “Supper’s ready! Hannah – go call your sister down from her room.”

Midway through the meal Dave said, “Hey Mom – wanted to let you know that Susie and I are going to the drive-in after the game.”

“Uh, okay – but remember, this is a school night.”

“I’ll be up by seven – no problem.”

She frowned and replied, “I’m more worried about you still being up once you get to class.”

I asked them, “What’s showing?”

Susie spun around to me and smiled. “Monty Python...”

“ ... The Life of Brian” Dave added.

And she finished, “and, uh, Apocalypse Now.”

I replied, “Oh, I love Monty Python! The Holy Grail was great.”

Dave cried out, “She’s a witch!” and pointed his finger at Hannah, who stuck out her tongue in reply.

I asked, “What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?” then laughed out loud as Dave replied, “An African or European swallow?”

I turned to Hannah and explained, “Friday nights I’d go to my friend Matt’s lodge on campus to watch the show with him and his friends.”

She cocked her head and said, “You guys are weird.”

Susie put her hand on my arm. “You want to go with us, Joe?”

“Yeah...”

“But sweetie, what if we want to...”

Aunt Janet folded her arms and cleared her throat. “David Carter, what would you be doing in the car with Susie?”

“Nothing Mom – just kissing n’stuff. You know?”

“Believe me, I know.”

Hannah made this exaggerated frown and whined, “What about me?”

Their mom said, “Dave, take your sister – then I know you won’t be fooling around.”

“Yeah, okay – but we’re taking my car, Joe. It has four doors!” Donna then waved her hand over her head, but her brother shot back, “The car is full!”

I said, “Don’t worry - I’ll keep an eye on them, Aunt Janet.”

She shook her head. “Oh, that makes me feel much better.”

In a more serious tone, Hannah said, “We’re growing up, Mom.”

“Don’t remind me.”

Terry Bradshaw returned for the second half, but the Steeler offense still didn’t look any better and failed to score in the third quarter as well. Meanwhile, the Cardinals tacked on a pair of field goals and led twenty-one to seven entering the fourth.

Finally, the Steelers showed signs of life, and had us hootin’ and hollerin’ and waving our towels as they marched down the field twice for touchdowns, cutting the deficit to only three points. Five minutes left in the game and the defense had to hold.

And hold they did. The Cardinals were forced to punt, and Bradshaw hit some key passes. Everyone was screaming at the T.V. when Franco Harris was stopped at the three-yard line – but it appeared to be an easy field goal with ten seconds left.

‘Three, two, one – win!’

Everyone was in a great mood as we prepared to head over to the drive-in. Aunt Janet said, “Hey Dave – there’s some lawn chairs out in the garage, and I’ll get you guys a couple of old blankets out of the closet.”

Ten minutes later Dave turned his car into the narrow gravel drive that led fifty yards down the hill to the ticket booth. I handed him a five from the backseat, and once he paid and we were inside we slowly made our way back up the hill, past the rows on our right, looking for an empty space.

I blurted out, “Over there!”

“Where?”

I leaned forward and extended my arm towards the windshield. “Two rows in front of the concession stand, a little bit on this side.”

Dave turned into the row and then swung wide to get his A.M.C. Matador into the space. Susie was looking out her window and said, “Be careful of the speaker post.”

“I know how to drive.”

“For two weeks?” she shot back.

“I’ve driven before – I just didn’t have my own car.”

I interrupted to say, “Fight nice, kids. Now let’s get the stuff out of the trunk and get set up.”

Dave placed the two lawn chairs right in front of the bumper and I laid out the blankets in front of them.

It was starting to get dark, but cars were still filing in, and the previews hadn’t started yet. After sitting on the blanket for only a minute or two, Hannah asked me, “You wanna go and get something to eat?”

“We just had supper like two hours ago – and I had thirds.”

“Oh! You can get me some candy. C’mon, walk with me.”

As we stood, I asked the others sitting behind us, “Yunz want anything from the concession stand?”

Susie replied, “How about some popcorn?”

“No problemo.”

When we were out of earshot, Hannah asked me, “Why didn’t you come to my last cross country meet?”

“I’m sorry, you didn’t say anything, and I forgot about it.”

“Do I have to remind you?”

“It would help if I had a schedule.”

“Sure – I can do that.” She frowned. “You know, Mom didn’t come either. I think the only one watching me run was Larry.”

“Is he that...”

She nodded. “Yeah, the dork. He never talks to me – always looks like he’s too scared...”

“Well, I know what that feels like...”

Hannah frowned and said, “I betcha he goes home every night and whacks off. You don’t still do that, do you?”

“Uh ... but how can I help it when the mere thought of you stirs...”

Just that second, as we neared the entrance to the building, I spotted shapes directly in front of me. Coming to a sudden stop to avoid a collision, I looked up and saw those perky boobs, the gorgeous smile, and those sparkling eyes...”Oh, hi Mandy – and Mrs. Kush. I’m so sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.” I could feel my face flushing.

Mandy, drinks in hand, took a step back, her eyes flitting back and forth between me and Hannah. Her mom, holding a cardboard tray of food, said, “Don’t worry Joe, we didn’t spill anything. How you been doing? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Fine. I’m back in school.” I felt Hannah’s hand slide past my palm. She then laced her fingers with mine, giving them a squeeze as Mandy’s eyes dropped down to observe. “Oh, uh - this is ... Hannah.”

Mandy smiled politely but still didn’t say a word. Mrs. Kush looked Hannah over and said, “Please to meet you. Say – weren’t you the one who went to the Pirates’ game with Jeff and them?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Jeff was telling us about you. You seemed like a nice young lady. I’m very pleased to meet you.”

“Well thank you.”

Mandy glanced down and then started leaning away from the building. “Uh, bye Joe, see you again sometime.”

“Yeah, bye Mandy.”

I watched for a few seconds as she turned and walked away, her mom right behind her. Hannah whispered, “She’s very pretty.”

“Yes, she is.”

Hannah tightened her grip on my fingers until I cringed. “You weren’t supposed to agree with me.”

I was able to pull away and flex my hand. “I already told you, I’m over her.”

Glancing down, she asked, “Was there anything stirring?”

“Noooo!”

“Okay, I forgive you – this time. Now kiss me.”

I slid my arm around her waist and lowered my lips to hers, but as soon as they touched, I felt her tongue pressing forward. When mine touched hers she pulled back and smirked. “Betcha it’s stirring now.”

“Oh man - I don’t know what to do with you. Now tell me what you want to eat.”

“Let me see. How about a hot dog, and a Coke – and a box of Sno-Caps!”

“You know, your butt looks just fine the way it is – you don’t need to be adding anything to it.”

“Hush up – and get me a bucket of popcorn too.”

After I paid, I picked up the two popcorns and pointed to the counter. “I’m not carrying all this stuff!”

When we made it back to Dave’s car, I handed Susie her popcorn then sat down with mine. I was a gentleman and held Hannah’s Coke while she sat down with her food, but later when she was chewing on her hot dog, I reached for the box of Sno-Caps that she had sitting next to her leg - and she smacked my hand. “Get away, those are mine!”

“Not even a couple?” I whined.

She stuck out her tongue and said, “You should’ve bought your own box.”

“I’m not made of money – I thought we could share.”

“Then get a job.”

“Ouch.”

As the pain receded from where I was whacked on the side of the head, Susie said, “Yeah Joe – get a job. Treat your woman right.”

Dave said sternly, “Would you kids just settle down and behave? The movie’s coming on.”

Jesus was born in a manger – as was Brian. During the Sermon on the Mount, the guys in the back were having a hard time hearing Jesus.

‘What did he say?’

‘The sheep shall inherit the Earth.’

Hannah tapped me on the arm. “I thought you said these guys were funny.”

“Yeah, I did. The last movie was hilarious.”

The four of us sat quietly and watched for a while until Dave and Susie got up and headed to the car. I nudged Hannah. “It is getting a little chilly. Do you wanna go sit inside too?”

Susie turned and said, “Uh – maybe you guys could wait fifteen or twenty minutes?”

Hannah replied, “Why so long? It only takes Joe a minute or two.”

“Hey!” I snapped.

Dave groaned, “Oh man - now I have to wash my brain out with soap.”

She asked her brother, “Why? Do I look that bad?”

“You weren’t the one I had an image of.”

I stretched out on the ground and Hannah did the same, laying her head on my shoulder as her hand wandered around my chest and belly.

She asked, “How can you do a comedy on the life of Jesus?”

“Well, actually, it’s the life of Brian. He’s just in the same place.” Right then it clicked in my head. “You notice they’re not being disrespectful of Jesus or the things he says – it’s his followers, and Brian’s, that they’re poking fun at. It’s that everyone was so anxious to find the Messiah that they couldn’t recognize Him even when He was standing right in front of them...”

“Hmm.”

“ ... or that by following Him they’d have to change, like the healed leper who was upset that he couldn’t beg anymore and would have to get a real job.”

She propped her head up on her elbow to get a better look at me. “Do you believe in God?”

Right away I answered, “Yeah, sure.”

“But you don’t go to church.”

I took a deep breath and pondered my reply. “I used to go. Mom took me to Sunday School and church from the time I was little up until I was like twelve.”

“What happened?”

“Nothing, really. I guess I just got bored with it. Dad never went, so Mom stopped going when I didn’t want to go anymore. I mean, I still believe in God and all that. I try to be a good person, but I never made religion a priority or anything.”

“Do you think He likes what we’re doing?”

I began to panic. “Why – you wanna stop?”

“No – but it’s something I was wondering about.”

I searched my brain for the right excuse. “Uhhh ... I know they say that no one’s supposed to have sex until they’re married, but, you know, people fall in love – and we’ve only ever done it with each other, so it’s not like we’re sluts or anything.”

“And we’re not about the sex” she added.

“Right.”

“But we are still lying to our parents.”

I grimaced. “Ugh – I know. We’ll have to do something about that - one of these days.”

After watching some more of the movie she did laugh and I asked, “Oh, so that was funny?”

She smirked and patted my crotch. “Yes, ’My friend, Biggus Dickus’ - I’ve got him right here.”

The movie ended with the actor Eric Idle hanging on a cross next to Brian’s, from where he serenaded him with

When the lights came up Hannah tugged on my shirt. “Hey, I gotta go pee. Walk with me up to the concession stand.” I glanced back at the car to see Susie cleaning Dave’s tonsils.

Hannah was lucky to only be second in the girl’s line while I was able to march right into the men’s room. On my way out, Mandy was standing right where I needed to cut through. I glanced to the right, but Hannah was not to be seen.

Mandy smiled as I approached. “Hey, Joe. So how long have you guys been going out?”

I replied, “Maybe six weeks. We met in July.”

“Wow, pretty quick. So, she’s sixteen already?”

I shook my head slightly and looked down. “No, not really. Fourteen.”

“And her parents...”

I looked back up at her. “It’s not like that.”

Her eyes narrowed and she bit her lip. “I don’t get it. It’s like you were waiting for me – but not for her?”

“Your parents said...”

Her tone turned angry. “Oh, I know what they said, but that doesn’t mean we couldn’t have snuck out ... did something.”

“I didn’t know you wanted...”

She poked her finger towards me. “You never asked!”

My chest tightened and my eyes got moist. “I’m sorry ... it’s not ... I was scared.”

“Scared?” She looked away and slowly shook her head. “Never mind ... you better run along before your better half catches you here. Wouldn’t want to do anything to mess up that little relationship of yours.”

She stepped back to give me room, then looked down and away when I went past.

I waited outside the main door and in another minute, Hannah joined me and said, “I saw Mandy in line.”

“Yeah – me too.”

“You don’t sound too enthused.”

“We ... shared a few words. I’ll get over it.”

Hannah took my hand and led me back to her brother’s car. She opened the back door, popped her head inside and asked, “Is it safe? Are you guys done yet?”

Given the ‘all clear’, she waved to me and I climbed in behind her. In the back seat we had to huddle near the middle to see the screen between Dave and Susie. Both of us leaned back and Hannah rested her head on my shoulder.

Moments later the jungles of Vietnam were aflame to the music of Jim Morrison, followed by Martin Sheen sitting alone in a hotel room wondering why the fuck he was there.

Soon enough Sheen’s character was off to the H.Q. to be briefed on his mission - and that’s when I had to whisper to Hannah, “Han Solo!”

“What? Where?”

“The dorky guy with the short hair and the glasses – that’s Harrison Ford!”

It was thirty some minutes into the movie and it seemed like Sheen’s mission to bring back the war criminal Major Kurtz was just an excuse to show this surreal journey through the exotic landscape and the way Coppola portrayed the war as inanity. To no one in particular, I said out loud “Heart of Darkness.”

Hannah looked up and asked, “What’s that?”

“A novel I read in high school, from around the turn of the century - about a guy going up the Congo River in Africa back in the late eighteen hundreds. He was looking at what the Europeans had done to the natives and using that to discuss what we consider civilized and barbaric. It looks like Coppola’s just doing the same story here but set in Vietnam.”

“Boor-ing.”

“My, you’re hard to please today.”

She flashed a devilish grin, then put a finger in front of her lips and went, “Shhh.”

Her head back on my shoulder, her hand wandered from my chest down to my belly as I feigned attention to the movie. Soon she pulled my shirt out from under my belt and was twirling her fingers through the hair below my belly button.

Those fingers kept exploring further to the south, and not long afterwards she carefully undid my belt and unsnapped my pants to allow herself unfettered access. She slipped my manhood out of my boxers, which quickly came to full attention as she continued squeezing and stroking.

One of her fingernails scraped the side of my shaft, causing me to jerk and squeal, “Ouch! Be careful!”

Susie turned and asked, “What are you guys doing back there?”

Hannah stretched out to cover me and snapped back, “Just look straight ahead and watch the movie!” Susie chuckled and did as she was told.

Her head ending up near my crotch, Hannah took the opportunity to lick me from base to tip before engulfing me between her lips. She bobbed while I leaned back, closed my eyes, and quickened my breathing. I reached out to play with her hair, and whispered, “My mom told me you might try to seduce me.”

In an instant she sat up, leaned away from me, and yelled, “What the hell! She said what?”

Susie’s head whipped around, and with me sitting there all exposed less than three feet away, her eyes went wide, her hands went to her face, and she squealed, “Oh my God!”

My hands quickly covered my lap as I shot back, “She told you not to look!”

Dave’s view was blocked by Susie, and he exclaimed, “Look at what?”

Even in the low light I could see that Hannah’s face was turning bright red. She barked, “Forget all that – you tell me everything she said, right now!”

“Okay – calm down. We were coming back from the reunion a couple weeks ago, and Mom said some of our aunts and uncles were concerned about how we were acting together. She told me to be careful, that you might try to seduce me, and she didn’t want me to get into trouble.”

“And why the hell would she think I’d try to seduce you?”

“She said ... oh God ... she told me that last year you were caught with some older boy, and I guess they thought it was your fault.”

“And you didn’t see fit to tell me about this?”

“I thought you’d be upset – like you are now – but then I sort of forgot about it until it just slipped out just now.”

Susie looked up at my face and said, “Wait a minute...” which made me realize I was still in my glory. I was hurriedly trying to stuff it back inside as she continued, “I thought those guys were having a reunion. What were your folks doing there as well?”

“Um ... it was our reunion. Her mom and my mom are sisters. We’re first cousins.”

Susie stared at me for several seconds before breaking into a grin. “Damn – you’re more of a kinky bastard than I thought.”

“Hey, I’m nothing compared to your boyfriend there. But it’s not like that. We just, you know, met and fell in love. I’d just as soon not be her cousin if it, like ... meant we could get married someday, like happily ever after.”

Hannah’s expression softened. “So, you’d marry me?”

“Well, not right now...” ’Oh shit.’ “I mean, you’d have to finish school n’at – but yeah.”

As Hannah was pondering that, Susie turned to Dave and whispered, “He might be bigger than you!”

“Shut up!” he snapped. “It’s how you use it. He’s got like two week’s experience.”

Hannah looked back at me and asked, “Is that it?” and I nodded.

Susie smiled then turned her attention back to the movie. Hannah moved close, laying her head on my shoulder, and hugging me with one arm.

After a minute or two I whispered, “Are you going to finish me?”

She lifted her head and snapped, “No, I am not going to finish you. I don’t want to be blamed if your mom finds any stains on your underwear.”

“Please – don’t be that way. I don’t want you to be upset.”

“I’m fine. Just shut up and hold me.”

Those were the last words any of us spoke for quite a while, and soon both of the girls were asleep. “Hey Dave, what time is it?”

“A little after eleven.”

‘and Sheen still hasn’t found Brando out in the woods.’

“This movie is taking fucking forever.”

After another twenty minutes or so Dave asked, “Do you really want to stay ‘til the end? I got school in the morning and both girls are out cold.”

“Nah – we can go if you want.”

Hannah picked up her head as Dave was heading out the gravel drive, then again pulled herself tight to me. When we stopped in her driveway, I gently roused her. “Hey, wake up. You’re home.”

Two days later, Hannah looked like she was ready to collapse as she came across the finish line. I waited by the corner of the bleachers as she lifted her hands off her knees and began slowly walking in circles while breathing deeply and continually more slowly.

She spotted me and walked over. “God damn twelfth place.”

“Wow – such language.”

“Bite me. It’s only Tuesday and it’s already been a hell of a week.”

“Are you still...”

“Yes – and I was hoping to kick some butt today, but I just didn’t have it. I wanted to push coming down the stretch and it wasn’t there.”

I reached out and rubbed her arm while trying to muster a reassuring smile. When she leaned her head back and puckered up, I glanced around then bent down to kiss her. “Better?” I asked.

“A little. Was Larry watching?”

I looked around again then nodded. “Yep. He just turned away.”

“Maybe if he knows I’m taken he’ll quit staring at me all the time.”

“Yeah, that’s an idea. You sure you won’t get in trouble for kissing me?”

“We’re not allowed off campus during school hours. Nothing wrong with a little display of affection. Kids are slobbering over each other in the hallway all the time.”

I replied, “Well, that’s good to know” then gave her another quick peck on the lips.

“Hey, can we go get a bite to eat before you take me home?”

I asked, “Isn’t you mom cooking supper?”

“Nah – she’s working three to eleven this week. Since Dave doesn’t have to pick me up, he’s probably over at Susie’s. So, it would be down to Mickey and Donna and some leftovers. I can call home from the locker room.”

“You gonna take a shower while you’re in there?”

She put her hands on her hips. “What? You don’t like my manly aroma?”

When I pulled in the parking lot Hannah remarked, “Oh my – the man who couldn’t afford an extra box of Sno-Caps is taking me to Eat’n Park?”

I smiled and shook my head as we walked in. “You act like this is a fancy place. Anyway, I got forty bucks out of my dad’s sock drawer.”

She stopped and spun around. “Wait – you what?”

I looked away before responding. “He keeps a couple thousand in twenties and hundreds in the back corner of his top drawer, under a pile of socks. Sometimes, if I’m short and don’t want to ask, I slip out a twenty or two.”

I held up two fingers as the hostess approached and she then led us to a table in the corner.

Hannah got comfortable on the bench seat, and as she perused the menu asked, “So you’re feeding me with stolen money?”

“You make that sound like it’s a bad thing.”

She just muttered, “Joseph Long...” as she slowly shook her head.

At that point, the waitress stepped up. “What can I get yunz today?”

I glanced again at the menu and replied, “Club sandwich with egg and cheese.”

The waitress replied, “Any sides or salad bar?”

“Nah, that’s it.”

“And you, Miss?”

“I’d like the Philly Cheese Steak with mozzarella, onions and peppers, and mayo – with a side of fries.”

When the waitress left, I asked, “You still upset about Sunday?”

“My mom had no damn...” Her hand came to her chin as she closed her eyes and looked to be holding back tears. “ ... no right telling anybody about that.”

“Can I ask what happened?”

“No.”

“I mean - were you hurt or anything?”

“It was just very personal, something that I am not proud of, and it doesn’t need shared. Understand?”

“Okay, that’s cool – but I can see how that’s something that sisters might talk about, like if your mom wanted advice. Couldn’t you see you and Donna, twenty years from now, talking about your own kids?”

“Not really.”

“Huh?”

“If you haven’t noticed, we don’t get along too well with her.”

“Yeah, but it’s not like that’ll last forever. Right?”

“That girl needs an attitude adjustment.”

“Isn’t that a little harsh? I know she went off on us that once – but on the other hand Dave has been really mean to her sometimes. What’s the deal?”

Hannah leaned back and sighed. “As you know, the three of us all have different dads. For most of our lives, it was her dad, Tom, who was living with us.”

“Where’s your dad now?”

She looked down and slowly shook her head. “Florida. Married with a couple kids - but I’d rather not talk about him.”

“Sorry.”

“As I was saying, Donna could always run to her daddy while the rest of us got in trouble.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah, we’re getting our ass beat while she’s in the corner smiling. Then Tom died, Mom got married again, and Princess Donna got knocked off her throne. She’s not taking well to being treated just like me and Dave.”

“Paybacks are a bitch.”

“Not that I want to hurt her, but yep.”

I shook my head. “The things I miss being an only child.”

She smiled and pushed her plate towards me. “You want the rest of my fries?”

I stared at her plate. “How did you eat all of that sandwich already?”

“I don’t graze on my food, like some people here.”

“Hey – I like to savor the taste.”

She replied, “Well don’t take too long. You didn’t call home yet and you still have to drop me off at the house.”

I looked her in the eyes. “Does that mean we don’t have time for...”

“We’ll see.”

When we got to the car I asked, “I guess we can’t go to your house.”

“And I’m not parking along the curb. How about that little road into the woods?”

“Fine with me - we’ll be there in five minutes!” I slowed as I rounded the curve, but as I prepared to make the left-hand turn into the drive, I instead stopped dead in the middle of the road. “Who the hell put a gate there?”

“How about not bouncing my head off the dashboard?” She smiled then shook her head and put her hand on my arm. “What now?”

I looked down the street and spotted the old abandoned elementary school. “There’s a parking lot over there.”