"Only on the sidelines across the field," Griff responded, "where he has one mission. And that is to beat Stanford. My team. And cut another notch on his yearly goal of Husky domination of the PAC-10."

At home in San Francisco, there was an answering machine message from Edelira. "Call me as soon as you get home, even if it is late." Caydance took a shower, put on a comfortable dress that she wore at home for studio work, poured a glass of white wine; dialed Miami.

"Every thing was in place," Edelira began. "Ribs and chicken were marinated; the grill was ready. An expanding table I borrowed from my Mom was set up with a huge bowl of black beans and rice, an avocado and orange slices salad, Cuban bread fresh from the oven, mango salsa, American barbeque sauce, an enormous pitcher of mojitos with mint from my garden and a tower of beer. My little house looked lovely.

In came Juanjose's family -- one group by one group.