
                                 DEDICATION

           Throughout my writing career, my good friends Mary Alley,
      Carol Altieri, Patsy Sauls, Mary Ann Marshall and Lorraine
      Pickett have laughed at my funny stories and cried at my sad
      ones. My father, Charles R. Cusic, Jr., and my aunt and uncle,
      Bob and Marion Hodges, and a score of relatives no longer living,
      encouraged me to continue and believed in my talent. The
      excellent editor, Kathy Horak, who has honed my skill. To all
      those, and many who are unnamed, I owe a debt of undying
      gratitude no words can express.
           But one person has been a constant comfort and a continual
      champion. He has believed in me when I didn't believe in myself,
      and supported me always. If it weren't for him, there would be no
      Del Freeman, reporter; no Del Freeman, author, no Del Freeman,
      freelance writer. I owe the entity of Del Freeman, writer, to my
      husband, David Freeman, with whom all things have been possible.
      In another lifetime, I would gladly kiss all those frogs again to
      reach him. He is truly my prince charming.


