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Show 48 card and asked the receptionist the amount of the total bill. "Let's see," the receptionist said, looking down at a chart on her desk, "Root canal. One hundred and twenty-five dollars." One hundred and twenty-five dollars. It took Sharon a moment to comprehend what the receptionist had said. One hundred and twenty-five dollars! She winced. "Is that novocaine wearing off already?" The receptionist looked sympathetically at her. "No," Sharon said, "Not yet. Are you sure that's right? One hundred twenty-five dollars?" The receptionist looked back at the chart. "Yes. Root canal. One hundred and twenty-five." Dazed, Sharon left the office. So it had been decided for her. Now there was no way that she could move. Before Christmas at the earliest. Even then, it was doubtful. It could be spring vacation. Even graduation. It was too long to comprehend-it was too long to wait. Already she had lived under Katie almost a year. A year next month. Another year-no, it was impossible. She could not comprehend it. She went to the bank and withdrew a hundred and seventy-five dollars, sent the dentist his money, and went shopping. Her mouth was still numb from the novocaine. But she bought a dress, a green one- it went very well with her green eyes and dark red hair-a new pair of shoes, and a purse to match. Clutching them to her, she walked all the way home, over a dozen blocks in the warm August sun: her mind numb, a void. That week a long wave of blackness came sweeping over her. It |