Charity lay in her bed, sound asleep, a sweet, serene expression on her face, her upraised arm had brought a mounding breast up from under the sheet, its contour under her thin nightgown promising a fullness that was also her mother's. Her face was framed in a glory of auburn hair, and Dottie could think of only one word to describe her daughter in peaceful sleep: innocence.

… And as she watched, a fleeting grimace crossed Charity's face. It was an expression of pain. Dottie guessed instantly. It was time for her daughter's menses to begin. She had remembered marking it, secretly, on the calendar. She didn't know why she did it, but perhaps she didn't expect the innocent to remain innocent. It was, she realized, a cynical attitude, a fear that corruption begets corruption… or simple guilt on her part, the hypocrisy of the lie she, herself, was living making her suspicious… almost paranoid concerning her daughter's chastity. She told herself that she was only being protective. Kids these days seem to have lost any sense of decency! They're reaching out for sex long before they're emotionally ready for it! Sex and drugs! It's just horrible!

She finished her bath and came out into the bedroom, a towel wrapped about her. Heading for the dresser to get a clean nightgown, she was aware that Gabe lay on the bed in his shorts, the bulge of an erection throbbing up against the fly of the thin cloth.

"Dottie, you got a ten-spot you can let me have?"

She hesitated. "No, I'm saving to get our couch upholstered, and I've got just enough, now," she told him. "I've already picked out the…"

"God damn it!" he roared. "I ask you for ten, and I get ten reasons why I can't have it!"

He came off the bed, bounding over to her, moving fast for his corpulence. "And how about a piece of ass, or are you too tired… or too sleepy?" His hands reached to rip the towel from her body, revealing her lovely nudity to him. Instantly, he crushed her in a bear-hug, his lips seeking hers.