#furley

Andy Bellum, fresh from university with a shock of red hair, strolled in with a glowing reference from the fraternity house executive board and took Delilah's heart in his unmarred hands. He was sensitive to the fact that his room was previously occupied by Delilah's close and dear friend Patricia, who took a turn and passed away in her sleep. She was the mother of his newest fraternity brother, Cian, and he had spoken with the poor lad to get his blessing. He called every second day to check in on him too - what a lovely young man.

It happened only with a few words from Andy - "Is it okay if I hold your hand?" - yes, it was, and so he took Delilah to Dany the cat and Lollipop the bird to show them he would only ever be kind and soft to their mum. It was only ever going to be a little fling, both of them knew that - but it gave Delilah such happiness that Andy was taking it with such gentility. He was clearly raised well.

Thank goodness they had each other as they set off for Land Grant University. The transition from teenager under watchful parent eye to tertiary study with no hands to hold was a jarring one; Delilah remembered being so nervous as a freshman, she couldn't even set foot in the university library building because it loomed over her. Her girls - her little women - were different. Vibrant, passionate, headstrong. There was always a little bit of their dad in them and Delilah would always be grateful for that, no matter how their relationship was near the end.

More to be grateful for: Patricia sticking around as a dear friend and roommate. Lollipop the parrot and Dany the cat being in good health and happily receiving all of Delilah's increased affections without the twins around. Her own continued health and happiness.

Miranda Capp was one. She struck Andy like lightning with her platinum pixie cut and ice blue glasses, looking like she'd stepped off the runway and into a countryside boutique that couldn't keep up with her freak. She seemed impressed that Andy knew avant garde when he saw it; it was important for a man to know such things if he was to bring her home for the night and slip off the velour three-quarter fingerless gloves.

Such stories of romantic encounters used to be shared with Lollipop the rainbow lorikeet, Delilah's dear bird, but she passed away after a long life being the Furley family confidante. So Andy was looking for a new, non-judgmental friend (it couldn't be Delilah, on account of her being one of said romances). He tried it on with a woman at Owlberry Lake who he thought to be avant garde in a different way to Miranda; she was dressed head-to-toe in stiff beige layers and held a very expensive looking black purse in two iron fists. She used these to take a swing of the purse at Andy's shoulder when he offered his compliments. Crazy old bag - literally!

Something about late nights and black coffee made Andy seem like a superlovin' superhuman. When he wasn't bringing someone home, he was off for an overnighter with someone else. Delilah wasn't judging at all! She used to do just the same, wearing nothing but a sunflower print bucket hat. She just didn't have the time right now to try it on again, what with mourning the loss of Dany the cat after many years of companionship.

Living vicariously through Andy's stories was a lot more enjoyable when they had nothing to do with one's daughters, though. Delilah couldn't believe the amount of swooning going on when Lilita and Vespera came to visit! She couldn't possibly let on that she'd taken her roommate up on his raw 'rizz' either.