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Show THE UPSTAIRS PEOPLE-56 "Of course you do," said Schilly. "It's all in the mind." It had been a long time since she'd seen a praying mantis. "Cycled out," said John. "They proliferate, then they mate, the females scatter to lay their eggs. And of course most of the males are eaten. And now it's all slowing down, getting ready to lay low for the winter." "Winter?" It was out of her like a sigh. "I'd hibernate too if I could." John smiled at her. "You're pretty. Coming to the beach with us today? Bring a sweater." She wanted, just once, to say no. But always, now, there was the bath afterwards, the oil, him in her down there saying it was warm and nice, and she, knowing any time now she would feel him. Mostly she liked Schilly rolling her nipples between her thumb and forefinger, making them hard, and then sucking them for a long time until she could feel herself being drawn outwards, acid sharp, like vinegar, and then a sweetness, even sharper. Schilly and John would stare at each other the whole time. "This is making us new," Schilly would say. The Agency man came by again. This time they were still in bed and his knocks at the door roused them. Betty wheeled out to the porch, wearing the bathrobe, her hair tangled around her face. "Why do you let them use you?" the man said. The wrinkles around his sea-gray eyes looked very deep and she looked away from him. "You know you're pretty." he said, "And very nice." She began to turn her chair away from him, but he walked up to her, lay his hand on one of the handles. "They're going to leave come winter," he said, "It's me you need." |