."You manipulate people, Mrs. H," Frieda added. "But you're not smart about it. Jack won't be manipulated, and HE can manipulate YOU!" After a moment,...she said softly, "And you aren't Mrs. H any more, are you?"I burst into tears. It was all tumbling down around my ears; any minute, they were just going to stop somewhere and put me out on a street corner -- probably naked ... Ollie was pissed at me -- he'd made that clear by beating me, then handing me off to another man to have sex with, then. "Do you trust me?" You've asked me that before." And have I ever let you down?" ... N-no, but I'm scared." I could feel her quivering as I held her."Maybe you should go down in the cabin and ask the girl in the mirror." Oh, she's probably as bad as her cousin back home, always getting me to do things I don't want to." And have either of us ever steered you wrong?" I kidded her."Tommy, I never told you this, but she's the one who talked me into going to the coffee shop that first Friday night.". "Cindy told you?" Susan squealed."About the university wanting to buy our railgun?" I asked."Yeah," Susan said. "Where's Alan?" He just left to go stir a pot on the stove," I said."Wow," Susan said. "I didn't expect this. I hope we can keep it until we get to test fire it." We will," I said. "They won't haul it off tomorrow, you know." We need to read the sales agreement, too, little ones," I said. Cindy's used to being my 'little one'. I think this was a first time for Susan. She turned all. " Oooo-boy-yeah! You got that right. When that man kisses you, you stay kissed for a week. He's incredible. Who knows. Maybe you'll meet him again. And if you're really, really good, he might give you a kiss too." No way! After seeing what he did to you, I'd be scared to let him near me! Besides, he might spoil me for life." You could be right. I've never found anyone else who could kiss like that." So, who were you going out with? Would I know the guy?" Look, Betty. Maybe we can talk about.