She said she would take the subway home, and when I made remarks about it she said, "No, no, that's the way it's done here, unless you're going steady...or something. But, oh, I do like that Southern politeness. It's refreshing, really. Listen, would you like to keep in touch? I think you're very interesting, and we have theater conventions up here, so if you ever attend one I could help show you around."We exchanged addresses as I walked her to the subway at 86th and Lexington. She gave my hand. It wasn’t a big deal since his and Sera’s bedroom was right across the hall from Velt and Graff’s.As the front door closed behind Molo and Oona, the last two to leave, Kal looked over at the silver lamia and thought back to what he knew about the regular mortal ones. To stand upright her body below her legs had to make a sharp turn upward as though rearing back to strike. This was helped by there being no spine between her tailbone and the start of her backbone on the snake portion of her body.. Avalin kuthiyil munbe sirithu kanju kasinthu irunthathu, athai naan naki suvaikum pozhuthu suvaiyaaga irunthathu.Naan nandraaga en naakai pudai pilavil vaithu urinthu naka aarambithen, appozhuthu aval en thalaiyil kaiyai vaithu haaaaaa haaaaaaaaaa haaaaa endru munara aarambithaal.Nithaya kuthiyil satai konjam veliyil vanthu irunthathu, athai nandraaga urinthu naakal naki suvaithen. Avalaal sugathai thaangi kolave mudiya villai, en sunni jattiyil maati kondu veliyil vara thudithu kondu. The mother excuse might work, because Sylvia had told her she often visited her when there was no action. Fred wouldn't check. He didn't care for the mother."Oh, that's too bad." Muh--maybe you could come in for a drink," said Crystal. She had to keep him here at all costs, until she could flash a warning."Why not?" boomed Fred, the happy salesman. He marched into her apartment, dropped his bag, and made himself at home. All she could think was that she had to keep him here and call Sylvia....