Laura pulled the damp towels off the bed and avoided looking at the clock as she wearily made herself another drink. She had never drunk more than two Manhattans at a time before, and she felt dizzy and lightheaded, but not happy.

Laura was sober enough to know she'd be late, and that she wouldn't be ready when Betty and Jim came to pick her up at seven. But she was drunk and disgusted enough not to give a damn. All she cared about was her lonely, empty cunt that had to be filled. She resolved to get a man somehow. She'd get fucked, or die trying!

She dressed as prettily as she could, fussing with her hair and make-up in a dazed, drunken way. Laura was so dizzy that she didn't even care about her red, swollen eyes. She covered them with dark make-up and thick false eyelashes, not even noticing that she had covered nothing.

Pretty good-looking, even if you can't fuck.

Laura admired herself through her blurry eyes. The horn was honking for her, and she was nowhere near ready. In a drunken stupor, she slowly moved to the window and waved to her sister and brother-in-law. She signaled them to come upstairs. Then she put on a robe, set out some more glasses and ice, bottles of bourbon and vermouth, and a few crackers. Laura offered them a drink when they finally puffed upstairs. Jim was irritable because Laura wasn't ready and he had to climb the stairs.

"Happy birthday, Laura," he mumbled, looking very sullen.

"Thank you," she replied, too drunk to be embarrassed.

"Jesus! Aren't you ready yet? We have a seven-thirty reservation, and they may not hold "I'm sorry," lied Laura, not at all sorry. She had used up all of her sorriness feeling sorry for herself, and there wasn't a bit left for anyone else.

Betty, as perceptive and sweet as ever, gave Laura a birthday kiss and rushed her back to the bedroom to get dressed. "We'll have our drinks while you finish, hon. Hurry up, now." Her worried frown showed that she had seen the red, swollen eyes under all the heavy make-up. She also saw that Laura was drunk, something she'd never seen before. Betty sighed and finished her drink.