* * * *
Samantha slowly opened the large, oak doors to her father's million-dollar mansion, and tiptoed inside.
Her small, black shoes made petite indentations on the vibrant Parisian rug her father had bought on his last business trip as she crept slowly towards the staircase.
Her efforts were cut short as he father's rug voice rang out throughout the hall.
"Samantha? I know it's you. There's no use in hiding."
Samantha sighed and walked across the hall to her father's study.
Charles Davidson looked sternly at his daughter and motioned for her to come closer towards him.
His hair was slightly turning gray, but his eyes still contained the same fire they had years ago as he spoke sharply to Samantha.
"Why are you late? I told you to be back precisely at two-thirty!"
Samantha hung her head slightly. "I know father, I just lost track of time."
"That's no excuse. You are to be home when I tell you and no later. Do you understand?"
Samantha regarded her father somberly. "Yes father. I understand."
Charles nodded his head slowly and motioned for Samantha to leave his study."
Just as Samantha had one foot out the door to freedom, she heard her father's gruff voice call out to her once again.
"Samantha, no dinner for you tonight, okay?"
These last words from Charles' mouth sounded more like an order than a question, and Samantha knew better than to try to protest.
"Yes father."
* * *
"Hey Blink, you okay?" a short, cigar smoking Italian asked his friend. "You've been acting spacey all day!"
"I'm fine Race. Absolutely fine," he replied hazily.
He let his thoughts wander once again. The scene from earlier that day kept drifting into Blink's mind and he couldn't stop thinking about the fireball he had met earlier in the park.
"Where does she get off judging me? It's so like rich people. They think they're so perfect and above us just because they have money to buy expensive clothes and possessions,"he thought to himself.
Suddenly, a quick jolt from behind awoke him from his thoughts. Blink looked up and spied his girlfriend Martini staring down at him.
"Hey Blink," she said affectionately. "Are you almost ready? I've been waiting all day for our double with Bookie and Race!"
Blink smiled, stood up, and gave Martini a short kiss on the lips. "I'm ready whenever you are."
She smiled once again and the two went hand in hand to collect Bookie and Race and head out on their double date.
* * * *
