I'm working and studying a lot of hours. I kind of lose track of things.

The kids in high school all turn eighteen years old and graduate, or not. Linda and I turn eighteen and our parents economic situation is so bad that I have to buy us a cake to celebrate the occasion.

Linda doesn't get to ride in a limousine to her prom. Instead our parents drive her and her date to the rather low key prom. Our parents then drive off to an overtime job, down the highway.

Our parents never come back. They're involved in a head on collision with a drunk wrong way driver.

I get the news, the next morning, from a destroyed Linda.

I'm shocked, I don't know what to say.

My sister then tells me the rest of the bad news. "Billy was my date for the prom. We danced and all, there was no supper. Billy had a bottle of rot gut booze and I got drunk. Billy took me into a back room and screwed me. Actually, several other girls got drunk and screwed. We got caught and now, we're all sluts."

I sigh, "Billy probably wasn't the worst choice for a prom date. The name Adolph Hitler comes to mind."

Linda says, "Anyhow, your slut sister has a job interview and you'll have to handle the Mom and Dad death by yourself." With that, Linda is off to the bathroom.

I make a couple of phone calls. I then ride my motorcycle down to the State Trooper Headquarters. I talk with the officer in charge of the investigation into my parent's death. I get a lecture.

"Your parents were killed in a head on collision with a drunk, wrong way driver, who also died in the collision. The drunk had some insurance. Your parents also had quite a bit of insurance. They were to leave for a trip, an interview for new jobs. Your parents took out a large short term travel insurance policy and there's quite a bit of money coming. It will take some time to wrap up the matter and you'll have to deal with insurance companies. However, you can get some short term money, at a cost."

I go through the financial things and the short term money isn't worth while. I tell the officer, "I have a full time job. I have enough money coming in to support my sister and me, while we wait for the big money to come in."

The officer gives me phone numbers and names, necessary to the financial wrap up.

I go home and, operating on automatic, I make a delivery to the military.

Linda is nowhere to be found.

I then fix myself some supper and go to bed.

Around noon, the next day, I get a phone call from my sister, Linda.

Linda tells me, "I got a job. I'm now working at the Princess Palace. Your sister is no longer a slut, now I'm a for real whore. I'm making quite a bit of money. I'm now staying at an apartment near the Princess Palace, walking distance. Some of the girls stay there."

I say, "Sis, you don't have to do that. I talked to the State Troopers. We have quite a bit of insurance money coming."

My sister laughs, "Jake, your sister likes to screw. I found a place where I can get well paid to do that. I can get a lift, to come and get my stuff, from the house. I'll leave my key."

I say, "Linda, keep your key. If you ever need a place of refuge, you have your key."

Linda asks, "Even after you found out that your sister is a slut and a whore, you'll still take me in?"

I say, "You're my sister. I'll take care of you. There will be some insurance papers to sign, but I can take care of that."

(I can hear Linda start to cry.)

Linda says, "Jake, I have been dealing with boys. You're a man."