Чужак в чужой стране

           Morethanhalfoftheladiesandotherfemales(plusafewmisguidedmales)whosuppliedthiscategoryincludedpicturesallegedtobeofthemselves;someofthesepicturesleftlittletotheimagination,asdidthelettersthemselvesinmanycases-

           Thisletterenclosedapicturewhichmanagednotonlytoleavenothingtotheimagination,butstartedoverbystimulatingfreshimaginings.Jillsaid,"Lookatthis,Boss!Iaskyou!"

           Jubalreadtheletter,thenlookedatthepicture."Sheseemstoknowwhatshewants.WhatdoesMikethinkofit?"

           "Hehasn’tseenit.That’swhyIbroughtittoyou."

           Jubalglancedagainatthepicture."Atypewhich,inmyyouth,wereferredtoas‘stacked.’Well,hersexisnotindoubt,norheragility.Butwhyareyoushowingittome?I’veseenbetter,Iassureyou."

           "ButwhatshouldIdowithit?Theletterisbadenough?butthatdisgustingpicture–shouldItearitup?BeforeMikeseesit?"

           "Oh-Siddown,Nurse.Whatdoesitsayontheenvelope?"

           "Nothing.Justtheaddressandthereturnaddress."

           "Howdoestheaddressread?"

           "Huh?‘Mr.ValentineMichaelSmith,theManfrom-"

           "Oh.Thenit’snotaddressedtoyou."

           "Why,no,ofcourse-"

           "That’sallIwantedtobesureof.Nowlet’sgetsomethingstraight.IamnotMike’sguardian.Youareneitherhismothernorhischaperon.I’vesimplyco-optedyouashissecretary.IfMikewantstoreadeverythingthatcomesinhereaddressedtohim,includingthirdclassjunkmail,heisfreetodoso."