Harry walked in and picked up a collection of Arm & Hammer deodorant, Colgate Whitening toothpaste, a Reach toothbrush, a large bottle of Listerine, a bottle of Nyquil and some disposable shavers. He held the two bottles reverently, almost fondling them in his large hands. He walked over to the register and waited in line behind an obviously intoxicated, filthy, pungent street person, who was also buying a large bottle of Listerine. He looked at his own selection, and suddenly felt like his own sneaky drinking behavior was about to reach pathetic proportions. What an ugly wake-up call.

Harry left the register and wandered some more around the store.

�What�s keeping you, Denby? Get a move on!� Danny shouted in from the door.

Denby revisited the personal hygiene aisle, walking up and down several times, ostensibly to search for one last necessary item. He put the Listerine and Nyquil down, and walked back toward the register. The anxiety was increasing, and he was nearly in a panic. He needed a drink, but he didn�t want to sink so low as to use home remedies on the sly. Who was he kidding? He went back and picked up the Listerine and Nyquil again and walked purposefully to the register.

�Denby, you have a cold or something?� Danny was standing right beside him, staring at the Nyquil. �And what�s with the tank of Listerine? You�re not staying at my place that long. Besides, your breath isn�t that bad.�

�All right. You�re right. I�ll downsize them.� Denby walked back to the personal hygiene aisle and put the Nyquil and Listerine back. He stood, staring at them. Now that Danny knew he intended to buy them in the first place, he felt obligated to buy a smaller size.

�Hop to it, Denby. Let�s go.�

�Fine.� Denby turned and walked directly to the register, paid for his sundries, and the two left for Danny�s apartment. On the silent walk home to Danny�s, Harry pondered the existence of strange angels who walk among us on earth, dictating the precise messages we need to hear, at the precise time we need to hear them. Tonight he was acutely aware, through abundant personal experience, of his normal state of deafness and blindness to those subtle messengers. Oh God, he could sure use a drink right now.

Diane couldn�t sleep. She twisted and turned, tied herself in knots with her sheet, and kicked off the covers. Her lips still tingled after that kiss. That amazing, stolen kiss. This time, she had no need to flush her mouth with Lavoris to wash out the taste of booze. She was confused. She wasn�t used to having so many people interested in her at the same time, and she felt a great deal of pressure to choose one, and choose quickly so she could put an end to all this macho posturing. Too bad this never happened in high school. That would have changed her opinion of herself and men in general much earlier. She finally drifted off, dreaming of Denby�s succulent lips, Bob�s strong arms and shoulders, and Danny�s sweet protectiveness.