Since we lost Doug, does anyone mind if we bring in a woman? That will make the primary group total 18——9 women and 9 men.

My family has a connection to this story because my mother is the regional Aliversal executive and so she manages millions in loans to local women every year. Both my parents have taken my younger brother, Sam, who has mild Downs Syndrome, and me with them to work so I have some familiarity with what they do in the professional world. Anticipating some of your questions, I will follow Avani's pattern in dp12:2 and answer a few.

I am a virgin so I don't really know if I'm straight or lesbian and I don't think about sex much. My parents are Catholic but I have never attended services. In fact, I know more about Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism than I do Catholicism because I love Chinese culture, dialects and history. My parents, my brother and I have traveled to China several years in a row. In fact, we're leaving soon for our next trip. We stay for a few months so I can meet new friends, visit cultural sites and compete in martial arts, a hobby of mine.

Jill Price has been killing for 45 years. I have no experience with or interest in dangerous felons, having lived a sheltered life, but I cannot imagine how one even contemplates taking a human life. For example, Benny is 13 and I'm 15, so we are a year younger and a year older compared to Jill's age when those brothers repeatedly gang-raped her that January night in 1963. A few years later, while she was about the age of Amalie and me, Jill began killing. Benny, Amalie and I have no idea how to traverse the distance from our current state of mind to one that would enable us to hunt and kill men—intentionally. I do not know, and cannot imagine, therefore, I do not condemn Jill Price.

Admittedly, I am naïve, but why do we still depend upon a non-renewable resource like fossil fuels when [1] we know it cannot last, [2] it makes us dependent upon foreign interests, some of whom have sworn to destroy us and [3] it harms the earth, our only home? This makes no sense to me. When I can, I intend to do something about it. When I learn that Pere's manipulation may lead to a future in which humans co-exist in relative harmony with nature, as Avani envisions, I say that's an improvement over what we're doing now. Jill, Ume, Sara and Amalie, if you're listening, when I am closer to finishing my studies, I'd like to help. As Avani said, "Sign me up."

This is wonderful. I love how we just dive in and start discussing. Some day, Amalie I may care about God, sex and other topics, but for now, I don't know and I don't care. What's your second question?

You would ask that after I told you I don't care about God and sex. Living in LA and attending social functions with our parents as we do, my brother and I meet movie actors all the time and they never impress us, mostly because they're small, plain and boring. I'm tall for a girl at 5-9, 107 and still growing.

Well, I met Lara, KMark's wife, last year at an afternoon lawn party so everyone is dressed in collared shirts and slacks or summer dresses. She's tall and athletic-looking—beautiful in a relaxed, casual way. When my mother introduces us, Lara takes my arm and my brother's arm, leads us aside and talks to us for 10mins. We laugh, talk and even exchange a couple jabs in a mock sparring match, which I'm glad no one notices because she's quick and strong. She slaps aside my jab and gets inside before I react, proving she can kick my ass. When Lara spars with my brother, she let him inside, so we laughed about that.

Lara's eye-hand coordination is awesome. Governor Schwarzenegger walks by and shakes our hands—I've known Maria and him for a while—and whispers to me, "Watch this." He pretends to set his half-full wine glass on a passing waiter's tray waist-high but misses. Lara's standing 3ft away and catches the glass by the stem without effort before it's knee-high, and doesn't spill a drop. The gov winks and moves on. Lara murmurs, "I wish he'd quit doing that. One of these days I'll miss."

My mouth is still open when Lara waves behind me and says, "Honey, come here." Turn and suddenly I'm staring at this tight shirt over a flat, ripped stomach beneath a massive, chiseled chest with bulging biceps and shoulders on either side. Of course, it's Lara's husband. I'm certain my mouth is still open as I raise my eyes to his, towering above me.

Amalie, KMark Brandeau is huge and powerful, frightful-looking, interesting, and exciting. Without being introduced, KMark says, "Lupita, it's good to finally meet you. Ready to kick some butt in China this summer?" I glance to his right and see this big, Chinese guy grinning at me. While KMark hugs my brother, I force my mouth into a smile and say, "Will you new too?" Now, I have no idea why I said that, because I meant to say, "Yes, I am. Will you and Lara be attending the Olympics too?" I don't know where the `new' came from but I'm so embarrassed I don't know how to recover.

KMark says, "Oh yeah, we'll be there, and my money's on you to win a medal." Then he introduces Leroy Fun, who red-shirts for the UCLA Bruins last fall. Leroy shakes my hand and says, "Never misses a chance to try and embarrass me," as if he's the one who looks and sounds like an idiot, not me. Still gripping Leroy's hand, I lean forward and say, "He's encouraging you to take pride in your heritage even though you're 3rd generation like me, Leroy." It must have been funny and appropriate because suddenly the tension is gone, everyone is laughing and I'm getting a hug from Lara's massive husband, the brick shithouse.

A few minutes later, KMark and Lara rescue my brother and me from the social ordeal and take me to their Manhattan Beach house, where we pull on huge white sweaters and walk barefoot on the beach for nearly an hour, just talking. After a light dinner, a couple USC guys come by to pick up KMark. While my brother naps, Lara and I sit chatting until almost dark, when Mom finally comes by to take me home. Turns out to be a perfect, relaxing evening with the most friendly, personable couple I've known besides my parents.

Sam has problems with his heart and his breathing, so we have to be mindful because he tires easily. The doctors have warned us about his heart, which may cut short his life. Sam is brave, sweet and eager to please. He's skilled and quite capable with children and animals, which is why he works both jobs at UCLA—one at childcare and the other at animal care.

First match, Lupita strolls out on the mat as if she's gazing at California redwoods on a warm afternoon. Bows to her opponent and wanders some more, looking around, whistling under her breath. Suddenly, her opponent attacks with a kick to the head, which Lupita calmly deflects while she delivers a quick and vicious kick to the head and knocks her opponent down—3pts. The referee counts to 10, but the opponent doesn't move—KO and match over. Elapsed time: 7 seconds.

Second match, Lupita bows, steps once, twice. Her opponent shifts balance to her back foot but Lupita is already in the air, delivering a quick and powerful kick to the head. Snap! The opponent, arms and legs spread, sails across the boundary line and out of the competition area—3pts. Another 10 count—KO, match over. Elapsed time: 3 seconds.