The executive committee commended Ed for his work on making the mail-in ballots work so well. Personally, I think that the culture of consultation we have built over the past few years should be given most of the credit. That culture allowed Ed to find capable helpers who then implemented the directives of the new constitution. When people get along and there are no hidden agendas, there is a lot less effort expended. And not so much controversy.

We also reassured Pete that he had done a fine job as treasurer. We wanted him to continue to serve the rest of his term and train the next treasurer. Pete was taking his loss stoically: "The TDG has its own ways of moving people in and out. I'm thankful for the last three years of being part of this executive committee."

I moved the meeting into another important direction. "In a previous meeting, we discussed turning our TDG into a registered non-profit society. We thought we should make some amendments to our constitution before doing that. We have mail-in ballots, and our new electoral procedures are working well. Should we move forward with registering?"

The consensus was yes. Mustafa and I, with my father's help, would continue with this task.

Francy knew something was wrong with me, but I kept my disease quiet. After a week, I agreed to go with her to Ezzie's for a couple of drinks and no more. We were approached by a man named Paul. A lot of people called him Smarmy. Smarmy thought he was a great player, but his pick-up technique was rather primitive. He just moved from girl-to-girl until he found what he was looking for. Neither Francy nor I were going to take this man to our bed. Rejecting him was part of Francy's Balance.

But we treated him nice. And it was fun to play his game for a little while. He tried to generate some gossip about other nightclub goers. But I was paying more attention to the two voices talking to each other in my head.

"He"s trolling for sex, isn't he?”

"Yeah. What else is new?”

"Watch his technique. Even though you've seen it before.”

"Look! He has his hand on Francy's forearm.”

"She"s smiling at him. I know she"s not going to take it much further than that.”

"But listen to them talk such trivial drivel. Now he"s giving her his puppy dog look.”

"And she just pulled her arm away, pretending to grab her drink.”

"So will he try again?”

"Nope! Now he has his hand on your knee.”

"And the puppy dog look. He really wants your body.”

"Why does he think this technique is going to work?”

"Well it"s not going to work with Francy and you. But he did nail Sharon Fritz about a month ago.”

"Well, she's a slut.”

"It"s all a numbers game to him. He just keeps trying. Eventually some slutty girl is going to have sex with him.”

"He still has his hand on your knee.”

"And he just moved it a little closer. Francy is almost giggling.”

"Doesn't he know you have syphylis?”

"Of course not. I haven"t told anyone.”

"Shouldn't great players expect to get some venereal disease from time-to-time.”

"They should. But maybe they don"t care.”

"What about you? Aren't you a great player?”

"What do you mean?”

"Don"t you play men?”

"Well, not men like Smarmy. I have taste.”

"Really? Who gave you syphilis? The football guy? Daniel? The after-Daniel? There's a long list of guys you could have gotten it from. Or maybe you gave it to them?”

"But all these guys have class. They know how to charm a woman. You know, make you feel good about yourself. Smarmy can't do that. He is just about sex.”

"And these guys aren't?”

"Look, they buy you drinks. They dance with you. They compliment your looks. Smarmy just puts his hand on your knee and gives you puppy dog looks.”

"So these men are a higher class of men than Smarmy?”

"Yes.”

"And one of them gave you syphilis, which he caught from another girl. If you give your disease to Smarmy, he will just pass it on. And maybe it will come back to you after you are cured.”

"Maybe that's the price to pay if you want to have fun.”

"Fun? . . . You give your money to the owners of this nightclub. You let many men take advantage of your body. One man gave you a disease. He might have even known he had the disease. If you continue, shouldn't you expect another disease? What is the fun in that?”

"Nightclubs and sex are fun. That's just the way it is.”

"You read that doctor's brochure. While you will likely be cured of this disease, it could already have caused some damage to your body that won't show up for 10 or 20 years. And you want to do it again?”

Blank. Blank. A really long blank.

MY LIFE IS JUST SO FUCKING STUPID!  

I told Francy it was time to go home. We left Smarmy and our drinks at the table. She was confused.

I just couldn't be around that life anymore. A week later, I got my own one-bedroom apartment in northwest Riverbend.