Jail-bait! Paul said to himself. And I should be ashamed of myself? A thirty-five year old man leering at a little girl! Next thing you know, I'll be out in the park in a dirty raincoat!

Paul made the desk computer read out the formula he had just programmed into it, and started a series of calculations based on the formula. He was copying figures from the computer readout to a flow-chart when the phone rang.

"Hello, Paul Evans here," he said.

"Paul? Oh, Paul, I'm so glad you're home!" It was a female voice; and Paul's face flashed a slight grimace of annoyance when he recognized it.

"Hello, Angela," Paul said. "Yes, I'm home… home working! You know I've only got a few days left to get this program set up for Engineering Dynamics."

A whining, note crept into Angela's high-pitched voice. "But, Paul! You promised we'd go out today!"

"I told you we might go out for dinner if I got enough work done!" Paul said. "But it's not even noon yet, Angela and I've barely gotten started on my work!"

"Oh, Paul, don't be such a wet blanket! I've got a picnic lunch all packed! We can drive up the canyon to our favorite spot, and… "

"Angela, you don't seem to understand!" Paul interrupted. "I can't go on any picnics! I only just this morning finally figured out the right formula to handle the feedback effects after… well, anyway, Angela, I can't go! And that's all there is to it! Can't you understand?"

"Sure, Paul, I can understand!" Angela's voice was quavering. "I understand just perfect! I understand that you and that God damned computer ought to be having an affair, not you and me! That's your real love, Paul!"

"Angela, please! Do we have to go through this all over again? Just because I'm self-employed I can't always go off and do anything I want any time I want to! If I'm going to make it with my own consulting business, I've got to produce the programs for the customers when I promised them! Please try to understand!"