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deceptive grin stretched across his face.
    Uh oh … pummel time.
    “Diego!” exclaimed Alice, the dark clouds over her sky clearing fast.
    “Diego.... what a surprise.” mumbled Sierra, watching clouds rapidly cover his horizon.
    “I’m sure it is, little brother, I’m sure it is.”
    “Um…ah…I can explain.” began Sierra.
    “I’m sure you can. Why don’t we step outside for a bit and give you a chance to do that?”
    Sierra hesitated for a second, decided it wouldn’t do to get pounded in front of Alice and he quietly followed Diego outside on to the lawn.
    Diego turned around to face Sierra, the smile gone from his face. Instantly, Sierra’s hands flew up to defend his face.
    “Look, the thing is….”
    Sierra began but the rest of his words were drowned when Diego’s fist came crashing into his jaw. Sierra reeled back, clutching his nose.
    “Ouch! Dard it! You broke by dose, D!”
    “That’ll teach you to steal my date.” Diego said, already striding back into the house.
    Sierra clutched at his nose as a steady trickle of blood began to flow out of it.
    “Dashed biece of booger!” muttered Sierra, fishing around in the pockets of his jeans for something to wipe the blood with. At least, he thought with a small smile of satisfaction, he had had the good sense to ‘borrow’ Diego’s jeans again tonight.
    He pulled out a ball of lint and a folded piece of paper. He threw the lint on the grass with a “yech!” and then unfolded the piece of paper. It was a photo of a beautiful model posing in racy black lingerie. He took a moment to admire the contents of the picture, and then proceeded to wipe the blood off his nose. But it wasn’t enough and he searched Diego’s other pocket too. He pulled out another folded piece of paper but this one had some writing on it. He squinted at it in the dim light from the porch, and then froze, gaping at the note.
    Written on it in neat handwriting were the words;
     
    Okay Diego. If you’re sure Sierra’s going to be out of town. I’ll meet you at Joe’s Bistro at 8 o’clock this Friday.
    xoxo
    Rebecca.
     
    As he re-read the note, several things hit him simultaneously; Diego seemed to have a date with both Alice and Rebecca somehow.  He had also known that Sierra wanted to go out with Rebecca tonight. Rebecca, on the other hand, had cancelled out on him to go out with Diego. And lastly, he had just been punched by Diego for a crime that Diego himself had already committed! He had stolen his, Sierra’s, date!
     
    Why that lying, conniving, piece of …! fumed Sierra, as he stormed to the house and violently shoved open the front door. Diego was standing right there with a hand outstretched, as if he had been about to pull the door open.
    “What?” drawled Diego, “One punch not enough for you, bird brain?”
    Sierra held up the note to Diego’s face.
    “Recognize this?” he asked.
    He watched as Diego looked at the note first with bored disinterest, then dawning understanding and finally, guilt. Sierra grinned.
    “Yes?” he mocked.
    “You took my jeans again…” managed Diego lamely.
    “I did that, didn’t I? Why don’t you come outside and teach me another lesson?” he beckoned. Then he threw the note towards Alice.
    “Here, Alice, I bet Diego wants to explain what this is all about.” he said, looking innocently at Diego. “Don’t you, Diego?”
     
    Diego staggered into the room a second later, sporting a bruised eye. He reached out towards Alice who was standing near the door, glaring at him. “Alice…” he said thickly.
    Five minutes later, he was lying on the sofa, legs half hanging out from one end, nursing two black eyes. Stal entered and his groaning grew louder and more pained. Coming to stand near the sofa, Stal watched in quiet contemplation as his elder son twisted towards him hoping for some sympathy.
    “Hmm…interesting.” Stal said, “I just saw Sierra leave with Alice. He told me what happened in here. Reap as