And, apparently, a real slow learner.

"Jimmy, why don't you bless your own family with your male know-how and leave me the hell alone?"

When the driver behind her laid on the horn, Charlotte put her van in gear and pulled away from the curb. Jimmy jogged alongside, still holding the ruined school project.

"LoriSue and I are separated and you know it," he panted. "I'm only living with her because I refuse to give her possession of the house. It's the principle of the thing."

Charlotte said nothing but pushed the automatic window button and smiled as the pane of glass went up between them. Unfortunately, Jimmy stuck his arm in the window and had this to add: "You may be a vegetarian, but I bet a hot little number like you can't go too long without a nice piece of meat!"

That was it. She hit the brakes and got out of her van.

She raised her chin and looked up at him-a thirty-something former jock with thinning blond hair and a very unattractive smirk. "I'm not interested in you, Jimmy."

Charlotte was quite pleased that her voice sounded calm yet assertive-clearly the voice of a woman who had her act together. "In fact, I just plain don't like you. You basically ignore your kid. You cheat on your wife. You have no manners. And as far as your 'piece of meat' goes…"

Charlotte let her gaze drop below Jimmy's belt, then shook her head. "Meat makes me nauseous. Now back off or I'm calling LoriSue to tell her all about this little encounter;" -

Jimmy's eyes narrowed and he gave her a nasty smile. "You know, Charlotte, someday you're going to beg for it"

She got back in the van. As she drove away, she heard him shout after her, "What the hell am I supposed to do with this volcano?"

The carpooler behind Charlotte told him precisely what he could do with it, and Charlotte laughed all the way to the Kroger parking lot.