After a late dinner, Bill showered and went to his room to study.

Susan and Tracy sat up, watching an old rerun on television. Susan had searched for a coolness from her daughter, but had found none. Instead, Tracy seemed more animated than usual. They left alone what they both knew, not mentioning the neighbor again.

When Tracy's date called to say he would be late in picking her up, she broke the date quickly and hung up on the guy.

"Asshole!" she said, glancing at her mother. It was the first time she had used such language in front of Susan. But Susan said nothing and simply smiled.

"I know what you mean, Tracy," she said a few minutes later. "I thought most guys were assholes, too, when I was your age."

Susan could see it in her daughter's eyes. Tracy was, she knew, disappointed in guys her own age. She could see the hunger on her daughter's lovely face and there was no doubt in her mind that Tracy was erotic, very, very erotic, and wasn't getting the satisfaction she wanted so desperately. She felt closer to her daughter than ever. Tracy, she thought, suffered from the same thing that most beautiful girls did. Guys wanted to fuck them because of their beauty, but it was an ego trip more than trying to please the girl. If a guy could fuck an exceptionally beautiful girl, it seemed to make him feel good. Susan had never understood such a mentality.

"I just hope Bill isn't as frustrated as we are," Susan said. "Maybe guys are different."

"I don't think so, Mother," Tracy said. "I caught him looking at me after I got out of the bath and he seemed excited."