He first met Mark at one of those Japanese restaurants where
they cook at the table. He had invited a friend from school in
New York who lived nearby his parents' house in Connecticut to
meet during Christmas vacation. Instead of bringing a date; his
friend brought Mark. He thought his friend was crazy; Mark
appeared to be about 16 years old, and surely wouldn't get
served alcohol (which was the reason this particular Japanese
restaurant was chosen, certainly not the insipidly over-
marinated, poor-quality steaks for which they could charge a
fortune because the chef juggled them right in front of one's
face before serving). An evening like this would've been much
better spent, he thought on behalf of his friend, with one of
the very, very pretty young women his friend was notorious for
having in his company at nearly all times. Worse, he'd hoped
that his friend would bring yet another very, very pretty young
woman; perhaps a Christmas fling for him.  It turned out that
Mark indeed got served. He was right, in