Butch is just about the meanest man I've ever met. I'm no St. Francis of Assisi myself, but sometimes he makes me shudder. Still, if you're very nice ...nd don't give him any shit, maybe you'll get through this period without any broken bones."She was crying, but she sat still, as though she were afraid that moving itself might break her bones. Butch grabbed a thick handful of red hair and jerked her head back. It must have looked like deliberate cruelty to the other women, and to Julie's. My wife said Hi and sounded like she was at some kind of bar as I could hear a lot of noise in the background.I asked her where she was and she reminded me that she had told me last week she was having lunch with a friend, she then quickly asked me if I was sure I wanted to have my fantasy come true. Well she sent my head spinning, I had people in my office so I couldn't really talk to her in detail but I wasn't really sure what she meant or what fantasy. I vaguely remembered her telling me. They casually conveyed that this was not possible, but he did not seem to get it. Of course no one could leave -- they had all known that for generations. But they recalled that Elijah and Patience had assumed they could get out somehow to return to their companions, so this man would as well.The Smiths vacated a hut for his use, and he was content to share the food they offered and spend the night.The next morning he set out confidently, accompanied by a shifting audience of curious children. At least she didn't want the ceiling painted red. The semi-glossof the red paint made the walls look like they were coated with freshblood even when dried. I found myself shuddering uncontrollably as Isurveyed my work. I realized that if I did have a "brag book" that Iwouldn't want a picture of this room in it. I laughed to myself.Thankfully, Marcy never poked her head in the room during the rest of mystay. Mrs. Whitcomb paid me with cash. I was half-afraid that she wasgoing to give me a check.