Grandpa raised his eyebrows and released her hand. "Welcometo the madhouse."

Suddenly there was a thunderouspounding on the stairs andRose and Dougie burst into the room. "Release the pigs!" they bothshouted. "Pig attack! Pig attack!"

Douglas just stood there laughing as his kids ran around the table,grunting and snorting like hogs as they reached into every bowl forchips and M&Ms and anything else that looked vaguely edible, stuffingit all into their mouths. The men all laughed as the kids ran back out ofthe room. Except Grandpa, who never cracked a smile. "What is theyounger generation coming to?" he murmured. Then he winked atRainie.

"Where should I sit?" she asked.

"Anyplace," said Tom.

She took the chair at the corner. It seemed the best place -- thespot where she'd have to sit back away from the table because thetable leg was in the way. It felt just a little safer to her, to be able to sita little bit outside of the circle of the players.

The mechanic leaned over to her and said, "Cecil."

"What?" Rainie asked.

"My name," he said. "Don't tell anybody else."

Tom, who was sitting next to her, said in a loud whisper. "Weall pretend that we think his name is `Buck.' It makes him feel moremanly."

"What do I call you?" asked Rainie. "If I'm supposed to keepCecil a secret."

"Now you've gone and told," said Cecil.

"Call him Buck," said Tom.

"Does anybody else really call him that?" asked Rainie.

"I will if you will," said Tom.

"Time for a review of the rules!" said Douglas, as he took the lastplace at the table, which happened to be in the middle of the table onthe side across from Rainie, so she'd be looking at him throughout thegame.

"I hate to make you have to spend time going over everything forme," said Rainie.

"They repeat the rules every time anyway," said Grandpa.