) Some people only went to the room once, while others (like me) went several times. At least two guys took their dates home and returned later with o...her dates. I think I made five or six trips across the parking lot to the room, each time with a different girl. By supper time, the Madame announced that no one would enter the room after 8pm but those already there could get their rocks off. Everyone, she said, must leave no later than 9pm. She wanted to have the night with her soldier. "A car pulled slowly to the curb and the two women sashayed over, showing their wares to the potential customer."Well, you take care now. The streets aren't safe you know," said Louise."You should be telling this to me?" he smiled. There had been some muggings in the neighborhood during the last month, two of the victims hookers.The women returned the smile then turned their attention back to the car and Charlie continued on his way.He could just make out Mrs. Craven's apartment house another. For someone raised in the hard scrabble of the Morbihan desert and Virginia’s own tough and tumble youth, the weather had yet to reach a point where we might need jackets.Virginia looked at me. Her eyes were shadowed in the strange half-twilight that came from being situated between lamps. When the lamp nearest to us finally did flicker on, it came first with a flare, then a shadow, then a flare again, casting Virginia’s features as if she were in a kinetoscope. First frame, a look of. “How long have you worked for the phone company?”“Five years ... I grew up over in Junction City and transferred over here to get married ... that fell through though, but I liked the town and stayed.“Where do you work, Korian?”“I’m a senior in high school. I’ll graduate next spring. I applied for a co-op job and Mr. Marks, the principal, let me work here for our own business so I can come each afternoon and get our stuff set up.”“You look older than a high school senior. I mean, well ... I.