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           Ihavelikedthisbody-"

           WithamostuncustomarygestureofimpatienceMikethrewawayherclothes.

           "Thankyou,dear,"shesaidquietly,notstirringfromwhereshewasseated."Ithasbeenanicebodytome–andtoyou–tobothofuswhothoughtofit.ButIdon’texpecttomissitwhenIamthroughwithit.IhopethatyouwilleatitwhenIdiscorporate."

           "Oh,I’lleatyou,allright–unlessIdiscorporatefirst."

           "Idon’tsupposethatyouwill.WithyourmuchgreatercontroloveryoursweetbodyIsuspectthatyoucanliveseveralcenturiesatleast.Ifyouwishit.Unlessyouchoosetodiscorporatesooner."

           "Imight.Butnotnow.Jill,I’vetriedandtried.Howmanychurcheshaveweattended?"

           "AllthesortsthereareinSanFrancisco,Ithink–except,possibly,forlittle,secretonesthatdon’tlisttheiraddresses.Idon’trecallhowmanytimeswehavebeentoseekers’services."

           "That’sjusttocomfortPat–I’dnevergoagainifyouweren’tsurethatsheneedstoknowthatwehaven’tgivenup."

           "Shedoesneedto.Andwecan’tlieaboutit–youdon’tknowhowandIcan’t,nottoPatty.Noranybrother."

           "Actually,"headmitted,"theFosteritesdohavequiteabitontheball.Alltwisted,ofcourse.Theyareclumsy,groping–thewayIwasasacarney.Andthey’llnevercorrecttheirmistakes,becausethisthing-"HecausedPatty’sbooktolift."-ismostlycrap!"

           "Yes.ButPattydoesn’tseethosepartsofit.Sheiswrappedinherowninnocence.