Benton?’ he asked. ‘Yes, yes,’ Clara answered. ‘And you’re Ben . . . Ben from Elizabeth Sturges’s church group, aren’t you?’ ‘Yes. I... looks like you are in a good bit of trouble and that you won’t be going anywhere in this car tonight.’ ‘I was just calling AAA,’ Clara answered. ‘Maybe you should do that,’ Ben answered. ‘I’d change your tire for you, but it looks like you have some front end damage too.’ ‘I hit a rock—avoiding a deer,’ Clara said. ‘Ah. Well, you can get AAA out here, and then. Anyway, I was intrigued to know more about Beth and couldn't resist the urge to go through her things. She went out to do some last minute buying this afternoon and, instead of going with her, I went into her room and unzipped her bag to look through her undies and whatever else might tell me more about her. I always think that a woman's undies (or more particularly her knickers) tell you more about her in two minutes than knowing the girl for a whole year might otherwise do. So I expected. . is up with the dress? And where ... do you think you're going dressed like that?" Really, Dad?" she replied. "This is nothing. Half the girls at the party I'm going to will be wearing a lot less." And they're you're age?" Younger, Dad. Get serious." Well I hope you at least have like ... shorts or something underneath." Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, Dad." You know, little miss trick-or-treater, you're not too old to get a spanking for being a snot. That would be a real trick, wouldn't. Diane opened a hiddenpanel in the storeroom wall and withdrew a toolkit, a large selection ofpaper and embellishments, and a special scrapbook. She emptied thecontents of the shopping bag Sheila had brought her onto a work table,reviewed them, and started to work.She began with one of the ultrasounds of Jessie when he had been insidehis mother. Diane spotted a tell-tale squiggle between his legs and saidto herself, 'This will be easy enough to fix,' and reached for a specialeraser. She added a.