Dottie drove home through the almost deserted streets of Redfern, past grand old houses of an earlier time, most of them beginning to fall apart with abundance of time and decay. The huge trees, on either side of the broad avenue reached their limbs across the street to each other, creating a feeling in her as though she were driving through a long tunnel. The cooling effect of the trees, in the day time was pleasant, and the effect of the arching trees was different. It was at night, the eerie feeling overcame her.

She turned into her driveway and noted that Donnie's big motorcycle was not there. It was slightly after midnight, and she was irritated that he was not home. She had told him, repeatedly, that he must be home before eleven thirty, but more and more, it seemed, he'd been staying out later and later. And I really don't know where he is… Or who he's with! I hardly ever see my children… Anymore. They're gone off to school before I get up, and they're out, somewhere when I come home at night. No, it's Donnie that's out, Charity's always here, at least, when she does go out on a date she's got enough sense to come home at a reasonable hour.

She let herself in the front door. Her husband was seated before the television set watching a movie re-run. He had made no move to open the door, barely glancing up when she came in and responding only with a grunt to her greeting and brush of a kiss. He took a swig from his ever-present can of beer, looked up at her, finally, as she turned to go into their bedroom that opened off the living room and said, "Out kind of late, ain't you?"

"I had to work overtime," Dottie lied. "One of the girls had some car trouble… and couldn't get to work on time."

"Oh…?" He was satisfied.

"Did you see about that job at the mobile home factory?"

"Yeah, they filled it already. No jobs available, they said…"