Damn." Ned slapped his hand on the table again. "Another coupla seconds, that's--" We get the point, Ned," Cassie declared, holding her dripping cup a...ove her tray."Huh? Oh, ah, sorry, babe. Here." Ned grabbed his napkin and helped sop up the soda that had splashed over the rim of the cup."I didn't think such tactics would work against something like this," Jason said."Well, we had some help, ya know," Ned said, jerking his head towards Cassie."I opened something up," Cassie admitted. "I'm not. "Why do you ask?" Oh, you just look like this guy I know named John." He smiled and I glanced towards Ronnie. I didn't move and didn't really know what else to say."Something else I can help you with, young lady?" The craving was strong and I knew I'd better do something fast."Yea, I, um, well, you see, it's, huh, my mom. She's uh, sick and needs medicine," I blubbered, not sure he'd believe me or not. I figured it was worth a chance. He stared down at me with a serious look on his face."What. "Where are yougoing? I rented you for three more hours."Forgetting their shoes and underwear, they quickly jumped into dark skirtsand blouses as they raced out of the room and down the fire escape out ofthe hotel. "This is you're fault!" Diane screamed. "You got me drunk. Icould be pregnant." As Diane's eyes glowed red, Paula felt the world spinning and thenlacked out. When she woke, she felt somewhat different. Her purse wasgone, but she saw Diane's and went to her address with hope. Perkins’ son was quite smitten with her when they met last summer, and has asked for her hand in marriage You can imagine her response, and her family was overjoyed she will have the future she so longed for. I’m quite glad for her: she was so afraid of becoming a spinster.’ I nodded in agreement and found two names left off the list. Pearl nibbled a roll and looked at me, calculating, assessing my mood. ‘And what of me?’ ‘Your job here is definitely over, and we thank you for it. I do not.