Sex, sex, sex. I have really got to stop wanting to have it, and more and more of it.

Clumsy sex (Mick); choreographed sex ***

(Ty); imagined sex (Lawler, assorted others).

I've even half thought about experimenting with a girl or two. Variety is the spice of life.

Sex, sex, sex. And what goes with that?

Drugs, more drugs, and alcohol, of course.

I'm a living, walking, waking party on **

two unsteady legs. (Not to mention a shaky brain.) Tonight is Halloween, a night to walk on the dark side. Can't wait to hit the road.

322.

First, I Have to Get Through the Day And that starts with getting out the door. Standing between me and that goal is a red-eyed Daddy.

Apparently you forgot to tell me something important.

Quick. Think. "Uh. Something important? Like what?" I mentally run down a long list of possibilities: He saw the bathroom?

He saw me with Brittany?

He saw me see him with Hannah?

He missed a few "borrowed" pills?

One of his spies saw me with Lawler, or told him about Mick, the pot, and the cop?

You know, the phone call? Listen...

He advances, menacing, and now I'm thinking about phone calls.

Is he talking about the hang-ups, or--oh, shit--the call from his father?

He never mentioned it, so I assumed he never found out about it.

If you can't pass on a simple answering machine message, don't play them back, understand!

323.

I Decide to Act Ignorant And. you know, for the most part I am. I have no clue what he's **

talking about. "Uh...I'm sorry, but I'm not sure what you mean."

Your mother called yesterday, and left a rather lengthy message....

News to me. "Sorry, Daddy.

I didn't check the machine.

Really. And here I thought you'd made it your mission....

What the hell does that mean?

Maybe he knows more than **

he's saying too. I apologize again.

"Sorry. I usually do, but I was **

all excited about writing my term paper." No need to mention why.

His eyes say, yeah right, but his lips say, Ahem. Okay. well, your **

mother is coming home to watch the election returns and expects 324.

to host a large party here. It's a big deal, as you can imagine.

and you'll have to help me pull it together. We've only got a few days.

And with Manuela unavailable.

I'm not sure what to do.

A devious thought crosses my mind. Do I dare? Oh, why not?

"Maybe Hannah from down the street would help out."

H-Hannah?

he sputters, eyes filling with uncertainty.

Why Hannah?

How much do I know, Daddy? Not as much as I've guessed, but enough.

But I don't say that. Instead I shrug. "She's always seemed **

pretty friendly, and she looks like she knows how to party."

325.

He Has No Idea What I mean, or what to say.

His jaw drops, spittle pooling in the corners of his mouth.

His eyes blink like some annoying spore has found its ocular target.

Tears puddle, reflect something **

like rising denial. No worries, Pop, I won't tell, as long as you be nice to me. (Pretty please be nice.) **

One thing for sure, his reaction, silent as it might be, makes me know my instincts were right.

Somehow, some way, that hurts more than it should. After all, he's not married to me. Still, why **

not twist the knife a little deeper?

Kind of fun to make him squirm.

"Do you want me to talk to Hannah?

I don't mind. Unless you'd rather do it yourself?" I ask, all innocent eyed. "I'll help too, of course."

326.

Finally Daddy snaps out of his trance.

That's okay. I'll talk to her. Good idea. She'll be great.

He stands, hands on his hips, looking a lot like Wyatt Earp, facing down bad guys at the OK Corral.

Guess what that makes me.

Better holster my six-shooter.

I'll break out the shotgun later.

327.

School Totally Drags Tricks and treats are put on hold in favor of tests and ineffectual lectures.

Teachers can be so heartless.

At lunch, I'm still deciding who to get witchy with. I'm wandering, foodless, when I hear someone call my name.

Ms. Gardella? One minute!

Would you please honor me with your presence?

Lawler, sounding all teacher.