After an eternity, Deshona Reed opened the door. There was no expression on her face, which was as cold and impassive as Laura remembered it being for...so long before the ice had thawed. The freeze was back. She didn't open the door widely either.Laura was very submissive and placatory. She realized that unspilled tears were shining in her eyes. "Can I come in for a minute... only a minute?"The dog growled and snuffled uncomfortably at Deshona's feet. It was a huge dog, a Rotweiler. She saw. The consensus of the members of the congregation seemed, slowly, toconverge on Miss. Ellen Pryor as the best choice. Miss Pryor, a spinsterin her late forties, moved to Winson some ten years earlier and had beena member of the congregation of Grace Church since the day she arrived.She worked as a (part-time) secretary in one of the local agriculturalcooperatives, with her income was supplemented by large monthly checksshe received from New York. She owned a large house, which she paid forin. Did I? Oh, I did, didn't I, Sir? Thank you, Sir," was her reply as she removed the clothespin on her right nipple and put it on correctly. "Oh fuck that hurts!" It's supposed to, slut, was Mark's response.She forgot to thank me as she replaced the pin on her left nipple. You forgot to thank me, didn't you? I typed."No Sir, I didn't. I didn't forget." Are you arguing with me? tsk ... tsk ... tsk ... Mark added."No Sir, I am sorry, I forgot. Yes Sir, I forgot to thank you." Good girl. Now. That was why I felt so much more guilty about Colette. Somehow there was more investment even with her: there was an intensity there; a raging desire to be together, rather than simply to relieve tension. Colette wanted me, and I wanted her. Susan just wanted the relief and the action. There was admiration, affection, friendship with Colette. Admittedly it was quite light hearted, and the commitment was not in any sense complete, but there was a certain investment in each other.Whenever I went.