Jack had taken a degree in mechanical engineering and now worked in the drafting office of a large successful corporation. The job wasn't too high paying, but plenty of other young men would have been happy to be in his place, because the company promoted only from within its own ranks and Jack knew that, if he stuck it out, before long he would be working in the engineering department.

As soon as he sat down at his drafting table, the young up-and-comer knew it was a mistake to go to parties the night before a work day. His head swam and his belly shuddered as he forced himself to begin working. But his determination paid off, because, by noon, his immersion in his work had made him feel a lot better. Going to the company cafeteria, Jack sat down next to one of his closest friends in the plant, Harry Thompson, a man several years older, feeling a lot better than he had a right to.

"Well, if it isn't Al Jolson himself," Harry said. Harry had also been at the party last night.

"I was as bad as all that?" Jack asked ruefully.

"I didn't think you were bad at all. I was far enough gone myself to enjoy your little act. Too bad your wife broke it up, though."

"Oh?" said Jack, honestly not remembering.

"Yeah, when you started to do the striptease," and Harry started to laugh boisterously, but then stopped and grimaced in pain. "Oh Christ, my head," he moaned. "Hey, what was Angela moaning about to my wife last night, anyhow?"

"Angela?" Jack asked in alarm. Christ, if she had been yapping about their bed problems to Myra Thompson, it would be all over town by tonight. "Well, who knows," he added quickly. "You know how women are… or do you? I sure as hell don't. Does any man?"