The girls responded with nods and smiles.Joyce pulled her hand away. She had been at a PTA presentation on the use of those signals. She had been flas...ing them when she was nervous around Robbie. Somebody finally saw, somebody who could deal with Robbie.Andres turned back to Joyce. "Was it because of your husband?"Joyce nodded. She glanced at the girls again. Their expressions shifted, but remained supportive. However, the Marines were just as big as Robbie. They stopped Robbie. Maybe she could. The girl was making faces like she was tortured by those two women. I can't be sure of this, but I suspected that these two women were her grandparents, and she needed a nice dress for a family affair. She was now wearing a dress without sleeves. They gave that girl another dress and off, she went again.Finally, a changing booth got free, and I quickly went inside, before someone else could occupy it. I removed my coat and put the dress on that Sofie had picked out for me. When I checked it in. This top could go with three different skirts, bu this one only went with one. I took the top that could match three skirts.Variety. I needed to mix up my clothing. I couldn't wear the same outfit combinations all the time.With a dozen blouses and skirts chosen, I headed into the back for the changing rooms. “I can't wait to see how pretty you look,” Daddy said as I closed the door.My cheeks blushed. I looked out the louvered slats. I could sort of see through them from my side, glimpsing his. The blank map didn't worry me. There was only one path leading away from The Highway, flower-lined and completely inviting. A sign next to it simply said: WELCOME.It appeared to be late afternoon as I set foot on the path, trusting to find what I most sought.In minutes I reached a junction with paths going several directions. I knew I should take the path marked: TOWN. I wasn't worried about not being able to get a room and a meal, but I knew it wouldn't happen until I made it happen. Instead I.