"Screw him," Tom said, dismissing Jay's presence. He knew the bowling alley Charles was talking about and it wasn't very far by bus. "When can we see the place?"

"Any time. I've even got a set of keys at home."

"Okay, Tom, now we have a store for our club," Ed said sarcastically. "How are you going to get broads?"

Silence.

"I mean, let's face it," Ed said, less sarcastic now, "if you can't get a girl to go out with you, how can you get them to come to the club?"

Tom Dunn just stared at him with contempt. He wasn't prepared to answer any questions… not yet, anyway. This whole idea was dreamed up on the spot, but he couldn't let them know he was bluffing. If they lost respect for his intelligence he was lost, since he didn't have anything else to feed his ego. And besides, he decided, the idea was developing into an interesting situation. So he instinctively hid behind an air of superiority and let the silence work to his advantage, giving Ed a slight, tolerant grin.

"It's all based on my theory of pyramiding reactions…"

"We gonna build pyramids?" Jay couldn't resist the pun. And everyone but Tom laughed. However, the groping for an answer was over. Tom realized he'd be able to elaborate on his "theory" to the satisfaction of his associates.

"… which, for the benefit of you imbeciles, I'll spell out in simple terms." He stood up and walked briskly to the bar, received a bottle of beer from the short German bartender, who just added the charge to his weekly bill.

Seated once again, he began talking as he poured the beer. "There are four of us starting the club. Four male chauvinist pigs. We will do all the basic work in putting the store into shape and consequently be the officers. We will carefully select two or three other guys as members. However, I insist on having the final say on who joins the club."