Chapter 6

Cruising down Hillcrest Drive, Nelson looked over at Eleanor, told her she was looking smashingly hot and that he was very impressed to see her glammed-up like she was ready to walk the red carpet with him by her side. Smilingly, she thank him for complimenting her, and paid him the same accolades. And soon, he reached for her hand, kissed the back of it and began reaffirming to her that she was looking really smashing hot!

As Nelson nicely complimented her, Eleanor thought about Walt Whitman and hoped he could have seen her now and wondered if he would have changed his mind about being with her. But since he had never invited her out on a dinner date he would never have gotten the opportunity to see her like this... glamorously attired.

Nelson had brought her to a five-star restaurant with all the bells and whistle going on there. There were candle lights, dimed lights, mood lights, and soft music playing in the background, setting the mood for pure romance, and the tables were also elegantly set to accommodate them for the entire evening. Sitting around a table for two, Nelson made the orders of crab cake, boneless fish, chunky potatoes sprinkled with celery, basils and onions while soaked in creamy butter. Then, there was a bottle of Sparkling Champaign to top off the entire meal.

Dessert was a complimentary treat, and when the waiter had brought it to their table; the large crystal bowl packed with various kinds of fruits soaked in vanilla ice cream, Nelson made a grip for Eleanor's hand, began dipping the dessert spoon in the bowl and began feeding her with it. And while he fed her, he playfully kissed away whatever portion of ice cream that she had dripping from the corners of her lips which for most part, he had intentionally allowed it to be plastered on the outskirt of her mouth so he could purposely kissed her.

As the night went on, Eleanor learnt most of what she wanted to know about her date. She learnt that he was in a long term relationship before which ended because his partner wasn't really attracted to him or any man for that matter, but prefer to be in the arms of another woman. And all the time she had spent with Nelson was only because she was pleasing her parent who were totally against her being in a lesbian relationship.

But as soon as her parent had kicked the bucket – passed away, she then told him it was time for her to be herself; live her life the way she felt she should be living it.

She learnt that he has been nursing his wounded heart for the past four-and-a-half years now and she was the first woman he decided on giving a try since his lesbian wife left him to be with her heart's desire.

During their moments of sharing their feelings and their thoughts, she had also learnt from Nelson that he wasn't into playing games with anyone feelings. And how much he loved being faithful to his partner; because he didn't like the complications of cheating; being with another women behind his partner's back. And neither did he love the consequences or the aftermath that usually comes with such unveiling of secrecies.

Nelson now had both of Eleanor's hands tightly gripping between his, as he told her how much he loved her, and if she should ever give him a chance to be with her, she would make sure that she never regrets it.

He further went on to express to her how faithful he would be to her as long as they are together and she wouldn't have to worry about him cheating on her or mistreating her, because those characteristics weren't in his nature to carry out.

For the most part, Eleanor trusted and believed every word he had spoken to her, and now, she decided to forget about Walt Whitman for a while and give Nelson Zuckerberg a chance to be in her life. Because she realized that if she should continue chasing after her neighbor across the street, she would be only causing herself harm, especially now that Annie-fay was in the picture.

Sipping at her Champaign and staring into his eyes, Eleanor nodded her head, acknowledging to Nelson that she was willing to give him a chance to be in her life, after he persistently kept on requesting for her approval.

Getting the greenlight, Nelson immediately pushed his chair from under him, bolted across the table and began hugging and kissing on Eleanor like he had just won the football championship.

Minutes later, he was repeatedly throwing her up and down in the air like he had a winning trophy in his hands, and soon, he began wheeling her around in the restaurant while eyes began staring at them in amusement and pleasant surprise. Causing some persons in the restaurant to believe that he had just propose to her and she had happily given him an unexpected yes; triggering in him such a celebratory response.

Lowering her to the floor, Nelson began to let his affection towards her be shown for everyone in the restaurant to see and admired. He soon then began showering her with kisses while comfortingly embracing her and expressing to her that he was delighted that she had given him this chance to be her man and her partner in life. Even though, it was too early for him to make a proposal right there on the restaurant floor, engulf in his arms, Nelson told Eleanor that he was seriously hoping to marry her someday.

Not quite sure of what to say to his promise, Eleanor looked into his eyes and smiled, and moments later, she punched a kiss to the side of his cheeks. Reciprocating his affection, meant the world to him, and now he was squeezing her tightly and filling her face, hands and neck with tender and playful kisses.

The hours were now moving to another day, so Nelson Zuckerberg told Eleanor that he was ready to take her home, because it was getting too late to have his baby outside in the night air, and he also wanted her well rested since she might have to be up all day with Marx.

After paying their hospitality tab, Nelson threw his arms around Eleanor's shoulders and they both exited through the restaurant doors happily together as if, they had been dating for a very long time.

For Eleanor, it was such a marvelous night being in the company of Nelson Zuckerberg, because he had made her felt extremely special and treated her, the way she always dreamt of a man treating his woman. Even though, he hadn't bought her flowers or candy to compliment their evening together. But, he certainly made her felt like she was the only female in the room, spearing not a moment to gaze left or right, but solely upon her beautiful face.

Upon returning to Eleanor's house, Nelson assisted her from his car, walked her to her front door, and then began laying his lips on her. It was kisses after kisses that told her that he was very serious about her, and before heading back to his car, Nelson promised her that he would call her as soon as he was awake and gotten out of bed in the morning. And with that promise, he waved her a friendly good-bye, and seconds later, Nelson Zuckerberg was slowly driving away from Eleanor Ford's house address convince that she was going to be a prat of his life from now on.

Reaching home and standing in her living room, Eleanor felt very tempted to go by Walt Whitman's house for a soak in his jetted tub, but thought it might had been too late for her to go by there and knock on the door at that hour of the night. Especially, since she and Annie-fay had exchanged some harsh and vicious words earlier on in the day.

But little did she know that Marx had purposely left the front door opened for her, so when she had returned home from her date she could come on over and sleep in his father's bed. He really wanted to wake up in the morning and know that she was there in the house with him, since she had been the person he has been around for the past four weeks.

However, with Eleanor feeling tired and tipsy from being out with her wonderful date, Nelson, she decided to be satisfied with her small stand-up shower, and then jumped into bed as soon as she was done washing off her skin and pondering over how good an evening she had with the man she met on the beach.

Gently resting her head on her pillow, Eleanor fell into a deep and peaceful sleep for the rest of the night; and when morning had come, there was no need for her complaining about having an awful night's rest or feeling sluggish. Although, she hadn't slept in Walt Whitman's humongous and plush mattress, with its fluffy covers and very firm internal springs, but on her own little double bed which often felt like she was lifting some heavy load just to get out of it.

Just after getting dress, Eleanor hastily ran over the Whitman's house and began pounding on the large wooden front door. It was Marx who shouted for her to come on inside, because the door was already open.

Entering through the front door, she noticed that Marx was sitting on the floor putting on his sandals, but as soon as he was done doing so, he got up from the floor and ran to greet her with a loving hug.

"Have you gotten breakfast already?"

She asked, while lifting his face with her hand from under his chin.

"Not as yet!"

Marx replied.

And hearing his answer, Eleanor stepped inside the kitchen and began fixing whatever Marx said he felt like having for breakfast. With eggs, cheese and vegetable simmering on the stove, Eleanor went to her favorite room inside the Whitman's house and there she found Annie-fay, still fast asleep. Snoring loudly like the hungry heard of sheep she was accustom to chasing down in South Africa.

Eleanor thought.

She desperately wanted to tell her to get out of her man's bed, but she immediately recalled how Nelson Zuckerberg had kissed her and treated her all throughout their date, triggering her to refrain from picking a fight with her.

Presuming, Annie-fay should be up already and readying for her work anytime soon, Eleanor shook her real hard hoping to get her to wake up.

"Are you aware that Marx has gotten out of bed a longtime ago, and you haven't gotten up to give him his breakfast?"

Eleanor asked unkindly just to start an argument.

Rubbing the sleep away from her skin, Annie-fay asked.

"What time is it?"

Feel like being provocative, Eleanor replied.

"I think it's time for you to get on up out of here, and go do your job at the hospital!"

Annie-fay had suddenly recalled that there was a job that she needed to be at, pronto, and now she began running all over the house, rushing to cleanse herself and get herself dress for her work. Now she was feeling very sorry for being there, and wished she had allowed one of her co-workers to come at the Whitman's house and stay with Marx, instead of doing so herself.

Soon she was fixing her hair, brushing her teeth, putting on her uniform and minutes later, she was rushing through the front doors of the Whitman's house without saying a proper good-bye to either Marx or Eleanor.

Annie-fay was rushing so hard that she had forgotten one of her bags in the bedrooms, and even though she despised her, Eleanor awkwardly called her, and then brought it to her attention that she had forgotten one of her overnight bags in the guest bedroom.

Realizing her gesture, Annie-fay thanked her, and in that same moment of gratitude, she apologized to Eleanor and Marx for the brawling outburst and depute they had gotten into the day before. Sincerely explaining away to Eleanor that such behavior just wasn't who she is... wasn't her style of dealing with an issue, and she hoped all will be forgotten so they could all be friends in the future.

Right at that moment, even though, she was late for work, Annie-fay extended her arms towards Marx and gave him a warm hug, and when she was done doing so with Marx, she did the same thing to Eleanor. But Eleanor squeamishly hugged her and told her, she hoped that she had a great day at work. Afterwards, slamming the front door so very hard as Annie-fay walked away from the door entrance, as if, she was getting rid of a neighborhood peasant.

Hearing the slamming of the door startled Annie-fay almost to death, causing her to duck behind the shrubs for cover, believing that something drastic was happening to her or in her immediate surroundings. But with moments slipping away, she then realized what was happening; and for her, the message was very clear to her, Eleanor Ford, definitely didn't want her around Walt Whitman's house or property ever again.

On her way to work, Annie-fay couldn't understand why Eleanor was being so hostile towards her. Especially, since she was only Walt's neighbor and good friend and not his love interest or former lover.

Something just wasn't right!

Numerous questions began juggling in Annie-fay's mind and she began wondering if her fiancée had slept with Eleanor, without saying a word to her about it. Indirectly, putting her in a danger zone to fight a battle she knew nothing about. So she promised herself as soon as her shift was over, she was going to pay him a visit and get to the bottom of this festering squabble between her and his so call neighbor, Eleanor Ford.

Punching out at the clock 5:00 p.m. sharp, Annie-fay changed out of her nursing uniform, into her street clothing and went to pay Walt Whitman a quick visit. As usual, he was delighted to see her, and opened his arms to give her a welcoming embrace. But since her confidence was practically dragging on the floor pertaining to their relationship, Annie-fay's reaction was very lukewarm and unenthusiastic towards him.

Swiftly hauling over a chair beside his bed, Annie-fay asked bluntly.

"Have you been sleeping with your neighbor, Eleanor?"

Smiling while looking straight into her eyes, Walt Whitman replied.

"You are being absurd my dear! Did she tell you that I have slept with her, or I had ever interest her or enticed her with any romantic prelude?"

Not giving him any reasons to doubt her, Annie-fay answered honestly.

"No, she didn't articulate such to me, but her actions towards me is telling me otherwise! We had a brawl at the house yesterday after arriving there; because she introduced me to one of the guest's bedrooms while she was occupying your room and your bed. And just after leaving out of the house this morning, she slammed the door so damn hard, I thought there was certainly an explosion in the neighborhood! Yesterday before going on her date, she did the same thing to me! This woman hates my guts... she is carrying some deep seated animosity towards me, and for what!"

Annie-fay expressed frustratingly.

Before Walt could make any comment on the issue bothering his fiancée, and give his opinion on the matter, or put his two-cents on anything that she had just expressed to him, Annie-fay asked.

"Did she, ever come on to you in any form of a seductive manner, or told you, she had a thing for you – some form of an attraction towards you; expecting for you and her to have a relationship?"

Putting his hands to his face, slowly rubbing against his cheek bones in wonderment, Walt Whitman tried jumbling for the right answer to explain to his fiancée the exchange of such conversations. But the truth took him a while before it came.

Because he had just come realized, he had just led the new love of his life into an ants nest without giving her any warning that it was there.

"Yes she had made that suggestion to me more than once, but I have turned her away or turned her down every time that she had tried dragging me in such conversations of being with her."

Walt Whitman answered honestly.

"I knew it... I knew there has to be a reason for her to be conducting herself like she is entitled to you and your son!"

Annie-fay exclaimed.

"And you knew that she has been making a past at you, and yet still, you introduced me to her?"

Annie-fay pro-longed.

"But under the circumstances; what did you expect me to do?"

Walt Whitman asked upsettingly.

"You were already in the room, she and Marx came to visit me! I couldn't have introduced you to my son, and not to her! Wouldn't that seems ridiculous to you?"

Walt Whitman shouted.

Annie-fay knew in her hearts of hearts that it would indeed look quite strange, if he had introduced her only to his son and not to Eleanor. And how would she have handled it, if he had done so?

She knew, she would have presumed that she was standing in the presences of one of his concubines, break of their relationship and escape from his hospital room, immediately. Or, question why, he hadn't introduce her to Eleanor who was only supposed to be his neighbor, giving an eye on his son, until he had recovered from his injuries and return home from the hospital.

With thoughts of confusion jumbling up in her perplexed mind, Annie-fay grabbed her bag and dashed through the door of Walt Whitman's hospital room without ever looking back.

"Annie-fay, Annie-fay, please come back here and let us talk about this!"

Walt Whitman yelled repeatedly.

But, she didn't look back to his calls!

She was hurrying towards the elevator door and when she got there, she began fidgeting with the elevator button, anxiously hoping that it would open right way. So, she could hastily entered it and make her way out of the hospital building, and then to her car.

Walt Whitman was now feeling troubled, and he wasn't quite sure if she had broken off their relationship, needed some time to clear her head, or, if she was just thinking things through. He thought about calling her as soon as he felt she had reached home to her apartment. But having second thoughts, he decided to let things run-off for two days or so, before calling her and patching up their relationship.

However, two days came and went, and Walt Whitman had not heard a single word from his darling queen, Annie-fay. All his messages, went to her messaging box, and she did not bothered to respond to any of them while Walt suffered in silence from a broken heart as he focus on healing his gun-shot wound in the medical facility.

He missed her calls, her dropping by to see him and leaving little messages on his night stand whenever he was away in his therapy sessions or having consultations with his doctors. He missed her intervening on his behalf so her fellow nurses and doctors knew that one of them were looking out for his best interest. He missed how she had made him feel important amongst her colleagues. And he spent countless moments wondering; when would she ever walk back through his hospital room door.

But, he wasn't quite ready to give her up, as yet. He was determined to see their relationship through, and have it materialized the way in which they had planned and hoped for it to be, especially, after tying the knot.

Needless-to-say, he had three more weeks left to spend in the hospital before ever seeing the streets again. And fervently, Walt Whitman prayed for the three weeks to end, so he could go chasing after his sweet love interest, Annie-fay; convincing her how much he really loved her and apologize to her for his foolish mistakes. Or, anything else, he had done to her producing within her pain which was ultimately keeping them apart from each other.

Soon after Eleanor had done making breakfast for her and Marx; and they had done eating, on that same morning she had slammed to door hard, scaring the wits out of Annie-fay. Nelson Zuckerberg called her as soon as he had gotten up from his sleep, just like he had promised her he would.

He became inquisitive; in a nice way and wanted to know what she would be doing for the rest of the day, and if he could drop by her house and take her and Marx for a small outing in the park. Since there were no plans to visit Walt Whitman in the hospital that day, Eleanor responded.

"Sure! Why not!"

This wasn't any romantic setting to impress her and she was very happy to go out with him in a different atmosphere than they were the night before.

Delighted that she had accepted his invitation, Nelson told her that he would be there by her house in the afternoon hours to pick up her and Marx. Therefore, she should forget about fixing lunch for the both of them because lunch treat would be on him.

"Okay Nelson, we'll be expecting you later!"

Eleanor replied before placing the phone on the receiver.

While enjoying the comforts of Walt Whitman's bedroom as she waited for Nelson to come by the house and take her and Marx out for brunch. Eleanor thought about Walt lying in his hospital bed; and wondered if Annie-fay had told him anything about the fight they had yesterday and how she had been mean to her.

And her, feeling very scared of his angry reaction, because she had viciously attacked his African Queen, made her quite hesitant in calling his hospital room to find out how he was doing.

However, Walt Whitman had called the house to find out how his son was doing, and when he did, he mentioned not a word about what Annie-fay had told him about their squabbling and bickering at his house. It just wasn't the right time for him to confront her about the altercation she had with his fiancée or anything else that he wanted to say to Eleanor.

He wanted his confrontation to be done in the presences of his fiancée for sure. And in doing so, Eleanor would certainly come to understand, he was very serious about his relationship with Annie-fay, and he was much more serious about not wanting her as his woman or shacking up with her in his bedroom, ever.

But Eleanor could senses that he had heard some disturbing news and her suspicions were right on point because she could detect the apprehensiveness in his voice – a very twitchy and uptightness in his speech, and the tension over the phone was also very strong as he spoke.

"Good morning, Eleanor. Could you please put Marx on the phone please?"

There were no happy hellos, no asking if everything at the house was going well like days gone by when he had called to speak with his son, or enquired if she was coming to the hospital to see him. Or, what were their plans for the day.

His conversation was just rigid and direct, and quite unpleasant. And when Walt was done talking to his son, he didn't worry to tell him to put Eleanor back on the phone. He just told him good-bye and that he would call back in the morning to make sure that he was doing alright.

Nelson had arrived at the Whitman's house twelve o'clock sharp just like he had promised her. He was there to take Eleanor and Marx out for a ride, so they could do some site seeing, and also to get some food that they could bring to the park with them and sit down on the grass and eat. Tooting his car horn twice, and walking up to the Whitman's front door, Eleanor opened the front door to greet him and was utterly surprise to see him standing at the door with a large bouquate of roses and a box of chocolate in his hands just for her.

Smilingly, he leaned over and kissed her gentle before uttering the words.

"These are for you my love!"

Happily, she took them from his hands and brought them to the kitchen where she rest the bouquet of flowers in the kitchen sink. After clogging the drainage exit, allowing the facet to run enough water to keep the flowers looking fresh until she came back from their outings, and the box of chocolate, she rested on the island next to the fruit basket.

With the flowers and chocolate in their place, Eleanor turned to Nelson and said, "The flowers are really beautiful, and thank you, for thinking that I deserve them. It's such a wonderful surprise for me!" while pulling Marx by the hand and leading him towards the front door of the house.

After locking the front door, Eleanor announced.

"Let's go!"

Seconds later, all three were leisurely walking down the walkway of the Whitman's property towards Nelson Zuckerberg's awaiting vehicle where he briskly ran to the passenger side, and open the door for both her and Marx.

And moments later, Nelson was carefully pulling away from his parked position and making their way to view some art work at his own art studio and other art studio that were in close proximity to his place of business. But throughout their journey, Nelson could tell that something was off... that Eleanor wasn't quite herself as though she was hiding something from him or something was drastically worrying her.

And reaching for her hand while one hand stayed steady on the steering wheel, Nelson asked.

"Is everything okay my love?"

In a haphazard kind of way she shook her shoulders and answered.

"I'm alright! Just have some things on my mind that I could or should have handled differently."

Being the loving and caring man that he is, Nelson asked.

"Would you like to tell me about them so we could handle them together?"

But Eleanor knew that this wasn't something she could tell him about while he was pursuing her; because her troubles were about Walt Whitman and how much she was still pining over him. Even though, she knew he didn't want her and his whole heart was set on someone else.

Preventing herself from lying to him or complicating her situation any further, she squeezed onto his grip tightly, and told him that her circumstance was something that she would have to handle all by herself, and she only needed a little more time to make the right decision and fix the problem that was perplexing her spirit.

Pulling her hand to his lips, Nelson kissed the back of her hand and told her that whatever it was that was of discomfort to her mind or her inner being, he trusted that she would make the right decision. But if she was feeling strained or overwhelmed by her difficulties, she shouldn't shy away from seeking his assistance.

And with those kind words of comfort, Eleanor looked into his eyes, smiled at him, and nodded her head to his very kind suggestion.

She had waited almost all her life for a man like this, and now that she had him seated right beside her, her thoughts were on someone else. Someone else who was very much interested in another, and not her.

She knew, she had to make a decision of clearing Walt Whitman out of her head and completely out of her system, and she had to try and make those decisions fast. Because so much of her thoughts were so absorb with him for far too long, and she had no clue how Nelson would react if he ever found out that while he was steadily pursuing her; hoping for her to be the one who he would share the rest of his life with and love for an eternity, she had her heart and dreams dead set on another; he neighbor.

Pulling up at his Art Studio, Nelson ushered Eleanor and Marx into the massive building with all its beautiful and large pieces of art work hanging on the walls, bringing such luminance to the entire space. Nelson went on to show her his working space and some of the pieces he was working on at the moment and others which her had already created while Marx roamed around the show room freely checking all the beautiful pieces of art, even though, he didn't quite understood their meaning.

Some of the gigantic pieces fascinated him and had him wondering how they were actually done.

And there, standing in front of a painting with his mother, Nelson promised Eleanor that he was going to make a painting of her as soon as he was done with some of the major pieces he was working on at the moment.

Seeing all that there was to see in his own art studio, the trio walked to one of the museums that were in close proximity to his company see some of the ancient pieces of art and artifacts that they were housing there.

And just after leaving the museum, Nelson held Eleanor in his arms and softly kissed her on the cheeks. It wasn't a kissed that would cause any embarrassment to the eyes of a child, but bring any child the awareness that it was alright to show loving affection to each other in a public place, if such were their feelings.

Moments later, Nelson lifted Marx, held tightly to Eleanor's hand and walked her to his car while the little boy who had the strangest appearance of jet-black skin and very amazing blue eyes, rested on his shoulder as though he was resting on his own shoulders of his own father's.

Soon they were all in Nelson's car and buckling up to make their way to the park, but first, Nelson had to stop and collect all the food he had ordered from one of the Italian restaurants, located around three miles away from where is art studio was located. And with all the fool neatly packed in a jumbo size shopping bag, Nelson stored them in the trunk compartment of his vehicle and minutes later, they were all happily making their way to the Lake District National Park.

Within twenty-five minutes, they were there at the park. A space filled with many birds, mainly pigeons and ducks magically floating on the surface of the water and many miniature gardens which were telling their own story of blooming and beauty.

The park was quite a stunning and lovely romantic spot to be, and Eleanor could see other love interest slowly strolling around the park hand-in-hand, as they decided on their tomorrows or the absence of it. Some persons weren't holding back their feelings; just being free to let their affections show out in the open for all to see whether they wanted to or not.

Nelson removed a large commercial blanket from the back of his car and carefully spread it out on the lush green grass, next to the lake. Returning to the vehicle he then brought back with him the large bag filled with food and rested it on the blanket along with a few eating utensils. He then invited Eleanor and Marx to sit down on the blanket after pouring bottle water on their hands to get them clean, along with his own. And soon, he began removing one food container after the other and spreading then out on the blanket as he removed the lids from the top of them.

He was the perfect host!

Turning to Marx, Nelson asked; "What first would you like to eat?" while Eleanor open a bottle of fruit juice from the large shopping bag, presuming that he should be quite thirsty by now.

Not certain of what to call the various food items in front of him, Marx began pointing his finger at each container and stating that he wanted that one, that one, and that one until his plate was completely filled with the foods, his heart desire.

Gazing up at her and smiling, Nelson took a plate from the stack of disposable plates he had sitting on the blanket and began dishing out Eleanor's portion of food. And when he we was done doing so, he extended his hand and handed the plate of food to her, as his lips curved with a pleasant grin and he uttered.

"This is for you, my darling lady!"

An hour later, their bellies were full, and what wasn't in their bellies were being thrown to feed the birds that were hovering around and swimming in the lake next to them. While Marx felt ticklish amused himself as he excitingly watched the birds snap at each other and the pieces of food being thrown at them one after the other.

With all of Marx attention all drawn to the birds and their habits, Eleanor and Nelson stretched out on the thick blue blanket. And in that moment of sheer intimacy and aloneness, Nelson pulled a small silver box from his pocket, placed it between the both of them and then he asked her.

"Eleanor, I truly believe that you are the woman for me! And even though, we are in the very early stages of her relationship, I just feel the urge to ask you my darling; will you marry me?"

Eleanor repeatedly began looking down at the box and then into Nelson's eyes with indecisiveness plastered all over her face.

It was just too soon, and she couldn't make up her mind right then and there about accepting his ring. Furthermore, she still hadn't gotten Walt Whitman out of her system as yet. She really wanted to free herself of him before committing to this relationship she was developing with Nelson Zuckerberg.

But when would she ever free her thoughts from Walt Whitman and how long, would her new love interest, Nelson Zuckerberg stick around before such would ever happen?

And so she put her hands to his face and began caressing it while she spoke these unreassuringly word to him.

"Sweetheart, let's wait a while longer!"