And a self-denying, cold-cunted divorcee Lisa had remained ever since, miserable and subconsciously frustrated…

With a heavy sigh of regret and self-pity, the melancholy teacher gathered her books and papers together, and with a last look around the cavernous room, walked out and shut the door behind her. The hall was empty, the mad exodus of students over now, and her footsteps were a lonely sound to her ears. She could hear the last bus leaving the parking lot, and from further on came the distant yells of the school's baseball team practicing on the field. Pretty soon the custodian would begin his rounds, pushing the day's collection of dirt and trash ahead of him with his big broom. Perhaps I should let him sweep me up, too, she contemplated sadly. I'm not any more use than an empty bottle, or a discarded candy wrapper…

Disconsolately, Lisa Hamilton walked down the stairs at the end of the hall, and along the basement corridor toward the teacher's lounge, where she kept her hat and coat. But as she was passing the door to the girl's locker room, she heard an odd sound which made her pause. Curious, she cocked her head to one side, wondering if she'd heard correctly…

Yes! There the noise was again! It was a very faint wet sound, almost a sucking sound that was coming from the other side of the door, interspersed with soft moaning mewls! What on earth…?

More perplexed with every passing second, Lisa stood wonderingly what the weird noises could possibly be, and automatically she glanced at her wristwatch. It was nearly three-thirty now, and nobody should be in the girls' locker room after the last gym class! Was somebody hurt, unable to cry out for help? Maybe… but she could not be certain. The walls were thin and the door hardly soundproof, but the sounds were so low as to be unintelligible. It would be terribly embarrassing to burst in and find that there was nothing wrong… but still… if there were a girl injured, it was her responsibility to find out!