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Show Woodworth/107 is no tester. Who knows? But it's $1^. so she puts it back. And then musk oil. She takes the musk oil, and puts everything on the counter. "Ready?" Peter asks. "Yeah. I guess that's it." He comes around the counter. "Put that on the charge?" "Um. Yeah." She watches as he fills out her mother's name. Address. Writes each item meticulously in curved letters, checks the price. "This yours, too?" He points to the contraceptive cream, nestled against a pile of Kadak envelopes. She nods, feeling her face get hot. Everything in a white bag. Almost as if he studies the proper relationship of forms to fit the items in the bag properly. "You want me to sign for that?" Marty asks. "No. That's ok. No need." Clutching the bag, she leaves the store- Her elation has sprung a leak, she can feel her mood collapsing. When she has access to her trust fund, she will stop charging things to her mother, she.promises herself. A slightly better feeling, but her mood sinks again as she climbs the long, slow hill to her home. She tries to feel the vibrations coming from the house. Is Ruth there? The car is parked in the driveway, just as it has been all week. Is Ned home? Has Ruth been drinking? Is she asleep? Where is her father? She enters the house, and wanders cautiously from room to room. She feels as if she is a thief. Dirty plates in the living room. One on the coffee table, one on the table by her moter's chair- Good. It means Ned has been home at least pat of the day. Kitchen. Empty. Watery blood seeps from a paper-wrapped package on the counter. They^must be UoStalPsv She hides her bag of cosmetics under the |