“Once Mo had closed the gates, he returned to his little stone hut, and his half-eaten sandwich of butter and canned sardines, and his mug of thick hot chocolate, which every night he poured carefully into a thermos labeled COFFEE.”

“He downed the last of his coffee, carried his mug over to the pot, poured himself a refill, and returned to the table.Why, yes, thank you, I'd love some more coffee. Hmmm, Narcisstic Personality Disorder? Attention Deficit Disorder? Or just a typical male?”

“The room was much as he had left it, festeringly untidy, though the effect was muted a little by a thick layer of dust. Half-read books and magazines nestled among piles of half-used towels. Half-pairs of socks reclined in half-drunk cups of coffee. What once had been a half-eaten sandwich had now half-turned into something that Arthur didn’t entirely want to know about. Bung a fork of lightning through this lot, he thought to himself, and you’d start the evolution of life off all over again.”

“He’d just poured himself a hot cup of coffee, his mouth already watering as he brought the mug to hislips.“Oh, thanks, sweetie.” And like that, the cup was gone.He glared down at the female who dared take his coffee. The life-giving elixir was his! Then he noticedshe was fully dressed.“You’re leaving?” Damn. And he really did have plans for that adorable little ass.“Oh, yeah.” She sipped the coffee and grimaced. “Geez. Battery acid.” It suddenly occurred tohim…She was perky. Who was perky at five-thirty in the morning?Good Lord!Morning people were perky at five-thirty in the morning!”

“She was downstairs now in the living room watching TV' with a mug of hot chocolate and a fried egg and pineappelpineappel?yes pineappel- sandwich.”

“He stared at his hot chocolate like it held the secret to the universe.”