Altered DNA

“Nancy C. had flaming orange hair, laughing blue eyes, and a blood-red

mouth. And a most lovely set of hostages to fortune, begging for

release. If only.

“But by the time I got the hooks undone and the straps loose, Frank D.

and Solveig M. were halfway down the stairs, heading toward the couch

where we lay incumbent. So nothing happened that time, I met your mom

a day later, and there was no next time with Nancy C.

“If things had gone otherwise, there might not have been a you.”

“How about a me with orange hair?”

“You think?”