'you did n't think of it , ' he said softly . `` hey , '' he said from right next to me . he squeezed shampoo in his palm then pitched the bottle back to shore . this was three days before christmas . i have slept through the alarm , and her mother is mad . youd never met her before and now youre engaged ? two-handed to her one and i was losing . mrs. wong , a short round woman , looked up and smiled slyly . that 's - '' `` real , '' he cut me off . 