She rose, dropping the letters all in a heap.

She was the aggressive one now. She drew me to her quickly, "Stay ...
and I'll promise to be good to you!"

I pushed back, loathing ... loathing her and myself, but myself more,
because in spite of all my disgust, my pulses leaped quick again to
hers.

"Sit down again."

I did not listen, but stood.

"I was thinking that you would stay for supper and then we could go to
some show and after come back here and I would give you a good time."

* * * * *

I staggered out, shocked beyond belief, the last animal flush had died
out of me. All my body was ice-cold.

"Promise me you'll come again this day next week," she called after me
persistently.

She drew the door softly shut and left me reeling down the dark
corridor.

* * * * *

I could hardly speak to my father that night. I avoided him.