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extinguished.  When word spread several years ago of the two of them dating, Joseph Devereaux made it his mission in life to put a stop to the union real quick.  Needless to say, the Devereaux family was fiercely conservative, and didn’t take too kindly to the idea of their daughter consorting with the likes of Barabbas.  Nevertheless, the romance persisted, with the two of them falling madly in love.  Realizing that such a union would come to an end eventually, both decided to make the most of it at all costs.  The mere mention of her name was enough to paint a radiant smile across Barabbas’ face as Nicodemus went on and on about her… and at that moment, in she walked.   Like a brilliant ray of sunshine piercing the darkest of storm clouds, she lit up the room as she made a beeline for their table.  Her beautiful brown eyes shielded behind a pair of glasses and that hourglass figure hidden behind a set of meager scrubs couldn’t stop Barabbas from fantasizing about what it always felt like to feel her skin against his as they devoured each other for hours throughout the night.  Even to this day, he still remembered vividly that first kiss; that first taste of her divine flesh.  Of all the Mexican joints in all the cities in the entire world…she walks into mine.
    “Well well, speak of the devil and she bares her bony ass,” Nicodemus quipped.  Quickly met with a middle finger, Caroline wasted no time in greeting Barabbas with a passionate kiss.
    “I didn’t think you’d be able to make it,” he said.
    “I needed to see you, both of you,” Caroline said urgently.  “There’s something we need to talk about.”
    “Okay, so talk,” Nicodemus replied. 
    The sudden hesitation in Caroline’s demeanor clued Barabbas in to the fact that something wasn’t right.  Caroline was usually the epitome of calm, cool and collected.  Something just wasn’t right.
    “Not here,” she said.  “Let’s go to Gabriel’s.  There’s something you both need to hear.”
     
    ***
     
    About an hour later, the MINI sped down the street and stopped on a dime in front of Gabriel’s place, with Nicodemus’ usual playful teasing of Barabbas’ ‘granny shifting’ as he put it.  The playful banter between the two did quite a bit to calm Caroline down in preparation for what information she was about to divulge.  Just like the old days in college, the gang hadn’t changed much in spite of the world they now inhabited.  That familiar whimsical whir of Gabriel’s brilliantly polished trumpet singing in the night air was music to Caroline’s ears as they exited the car.  The old man greeted Barabbas with a warm hug.
    “I thought I heard that obnoxious growling from what you call a car,” the old man quipped.  “I see you brought some classy company for a change,” he said as Caroline made her way up the porch steps.  He playfully kissed her hand.  She beamed. 
    “Monsieur,” she smiled as she greeted him.
    “Madame,” he replied with a lumin ous smile in return.  “Always a pleasure.”
    Nicodemus looked on perturbed.
    “You never kissed my hand old man.”
    “ Fuck off you broke dick cocksucker,” Gabriel replied.
    Caroline erupted with laughter as they all entered the house.  Just like old times.  Just like old times indeed.  T hey all gathered around a modest coffee table as Gabriel prepared tea.  A tall, grizzled yet humble figure, his home was a virtual museum of old historical photos, covering everything from the Jazz Age all the way up to Hurricane Katrina.  Caroline thanked the old man with her usual kiss on the cheek, to which he was clearly a sucker for.  Nicodemus would always follow suit, looking for a playful peck to which he’d always get the usual finger from both Caroline and Gabriel.  It was a light and playful routine they went through for years.  One normal American family.  Barabbas declined tea for his usual late night drink-absinthe, the green fairy.  It was a