“What brings you here today?” heasked inquisitively.“My husband left early this morning, and I am a needy woman,” I responded.“Really?” he...replied. “What do you need? Can I help you with something?”"Yes, if you have a few minutes,” I replied. “May I take off my coat?”“Of course! Forgive me for not offering,” he apologized and stood up tohelp me with my coat.I turned my back to him and started unbuttoning my jacket from the topdown. I felt his hands on my shoulders, ready to pull the jacket off. ’ ‘You never lied to your parents?’ ‘Sure I did. However, my mother and father knew by the third one, that I was lying, and my father has a belt that I learned to hate. The more I hated it, the fewer lies I told. Finally, I stopped telling lies completely. I have not seen that belt in ten years. If you are interested, I can go to my house and get it for you.’ ‘No thank you, Frank. I believe I will pass. I will be right back with my computer.’ She was backing in less than a minute and sat down. Thursday I went to work as usual and suffered the jibes of my friends and co-workers; comments such as "baby face" and "lightweight drinker" followed me most of the day. I tried to appear unconcerned, but I didn't know how far this was going to go and I was worried. I hadn't changed my diet, my drinking or smoking habits, my detergent or my bath soap, so I assumed it wasn't an allergy. I thought maybe someone had slipped something into my lunch bucket or the water barrel, but I hadn't eaten. Wilson and I usually went the sandwich made at home or bowl of cereal for lunch. Since Melody was running so late, I invited Wilson to join with us for lunch. He also should have some input into her status. Not that I would listen, but it would make him feel better.Melody's hair was colored red like a barn. In my opinion it was not attractive. When I had known her in County Seat she had been barely eighteen years old. Mary Ellen was not real good about checking their ID's, before she took girls.