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Show Woodworth/150 of the bar cart, covered with bottles. "Ruth? Pick your poison," he calls to her- "Gin and tonic," she says, "Sounds good to me." Kathy disappears into the house, and Ned and Gray immerse themselves in a conversation about cocktails. She watches the surface of the water in the pool. What would it be like to drown? Not so different, really. Maybe there would be a flash, a sting of panic. But she could keep her head under. A few minutes of discipline, and then it would be over. For good. They would stop blaming her then. Maybe. Finally. The sun is sinking, falling behind the hedges on the far side of the pool. The light is fragmented, shattered, near the drains. Languid, oily near the middle. So seductive. She stands, and walks toward the pool. Tonight. She can come back tonight. Or, better still, do it later this evening, after she has had a few drinks. They will all go swimming, and the rest of them will probably be so drunk that they won't even care. She can just slip in. In an unlighted corner. Keep her head under for just long enough. She holds the railing with one hand, and. pushes her slipper off with one foot. Lifts the hem of her skirt, and feels the water. Enveloping. Not even cold or refreshing. It's too warm. She pulls her foot out and slips off the other shoe. Wades in to the first step. The water pulls at her ankles. It would be so quiet, so peaceful. Stay under water, be completely emersed in it. Her feet seem to be expanding, they are so relaxed. She lifts her hem slightly, and goes in another step. She can feel the bottom of her skirt get wet. Didn't hoist it far enough. Oh well. Never mind. It drags, too. All around, hands dragging. No need to drag though. No need to pull. "I hope yjQM Jacaagtefc.,&pur suit," Gray says, handing her drink |