thlyandtheyevenhadfihework.RichardandJamazalsosawSamanthacrossireetfromtheoppositeside,wearingfadedbluejeansandadenimjacket.Theclotheswereloosefittingandfortable,butcouldnothideherslenderwaistandfabulousfigure.Samanthawavedtothemandsaid,

    “Hi!Goodevening.Howareyou?Howarethingsgoing?”

    “Everything’sOK”repliedRichard.“Thisisthestdeliveryandthenwe’llbedoheyareallinthereingup.”

    “Thatfast?It’snoteven8o’clockyet!Imustgoinandhelporit’llbetoote.”Sayingso,shewalkedthroughthebackdoor.RichardandJamazfiheirbeer,steppedontheircigarettebuttandstartedupthetruaketheirstdelivery.

    SamanthacrossedthebackyardintotheworkroomandsawMarkingahuge,clumsybucketusedformixingdough.Lavernewashosingdownthekneadingboardsandtheremnantflour,butter,creamandothermaterialsdroppedonthefloor.Dimitriwasscrappingandingtheboardswithabrush.YokoandMarcelweremoppingthefloor.WhereverLaverne’shosewent,theyfollowedwiththeirmops.MaryandSheiwerewashingdirtytoolsandinstrumentsinwarmwater.Thiswasnotaaskastheywereallstidoilywithbutter,creamanddoughandcouldonlybeedater.Samanthawalkedinsaying,

    “Sorrytobete.Sorry.You’veallbeenwhard.Letmehelp.I’mte.”Sayingso,shetookoffherkangadgoofygsses,rolleduphersleevesandpreparedtohelpwiththework.

    “Isthatyou,Samantha?”askedDimitri.“We’realmostdonehere.Whydon’tyougointothekitauptheesetake-outsthatweorderedinthemicrowaveoven?Wehaveien,friedridoodstuff.We’vebeenwnon-stopalldaytomeetthedead-lineandhaven’thadtimetostopaadetmeal.Alsoutthegoodwiheback;we’llhaveapartytowelaraback.”

    “OK.Noproblem”shesaidandwalkedtowardsthekit.SoonMegginnalsohurriedinsaying,

    “Sorry.Sorry.I’mte.”Shetookoffhercap,releasingamassofgoldenhair,keptinpcebyahairband.DimitrikwasMegginnandasked,

    9

    “Howdidthepreparatorymeetinggo?”

    “Noproblehegeneralmeetingtomorrowwillbeapieceofcake.”

    “That’sgreat.That’sgreat.You’rejustintimeforourpartytowelara.”

    Megginnlookedaroundatherpanionsandsawtheyalllookedverytired.Theirhairwasamessandmanyhadtracesofflourandbutterypoundsontheirfadclothes.Theywerewetayandnonelookedliketheirusualpretty,debonairself.

    “Isuggestourbeautiesgoandupandgeintosomethingandfortable.Aftertheyhaverestedupalittlewe’llhaveourparty.”Everyoneagreedaupthestairstotheirroomstoupanddressup.MegginnturnedandsawAmaliasittingonachair,yawningsleepily.Shewasgettingalongiiredeasily.

    “Amalia,youaretired.Wouldyoulikemetohelpyoutoyourroomsoyousleep?”Amalianoddedhersent.Perhapssleepisherhighestenjoyment.MegginntookAmaliaupstairstoherroom,attendedoingherreadyforbedandsoonheardsoftsoundsofsn.MegginnwalkeddowairssawSamanthabusilywalohekitaohelpher.Shetookoutthewarmedupfood,pcedthemonthemakeshifttableintheworkshopahetable.Whenallwasready,MegginnlookedaroundandsaidtoDimitri,whowassittingnearby,

    “Thisdoesn’tlookquiteright.Something’swro’sthelighting.Thisfluorestlightistooplebeianandunrefined.Let’sturnitoffandusedlelightinstead.Howaboutthat?”

    “Uptoyou”saidDimitrismiling.“Dowhateveryouwant.WhateveryouthinkisalrightisOKwithme.”Meggi

thlyandtheyevenhadfihework.RichardandJamazalsosawSamanthacrossireetfromtheoppositeside,wearingfadedbluejeansandadenimjacket.Theclotheswereloosefittingandfortable,butcouldnothideherslenderwaistandfabulousfigure.Samanthawavedtothemandsaid,

    “Hi!Goodevening.Howareyou?Howarethingsgoing?”

    “Everything’sOK”repliedRichard.“Thisisthestdeliveryandthenwe’llbedoheyareallinthereingup.”

    “Thatfast?It’snoteven8o’clockyet!Imustgoinandhelporit’llbetoote.”Sayingso,shewalkedthroughthebackdoor.RichardandJamazfiheirbeer,steppedontheircigarettebuttandstartedupthetruaketheirstdelivery.

    SamanthacrossedthebackyardintotheworkroomandsawMarkingahuge,clumsybucketusedformixingdough.Lavernewashosingdownthekneadingboardsandtheremnantflour,butter,creamandothermaterialsdroppedonthefloor.Dimitriwasscrappingandingtheboardswithabrush.YokoandMarcelweremoppingthefloor.WhereverLaverne’shosewent,theyfollowedwiththeirmops.MaryandSheiwerewashingdirtytoolsandinstrumentsinwarmwater.Thiswasnotaaskastheywereallstidoilywithbutter,creamanddoughandcouldonlybeedater.Samanthawalkedinsaying,

    “Sorrytobete.Sorry.You’veallbeenwhard.Letmehelp.I’mte.”Sayingso,shetookoffherkangadgoofygsses,rolleduphersleevesandpreparedtohelpwiththework.

    “Isthatyou,Samantha?”askedDimitri.“We’realmostdonehere.Whydon’tyougointothekitauptheesetake-outsthatweorderedinthemicrowaveoven?Wehaveien,friedridoodstuff.We’vebeenwnon-stopalldaytomeetthedead-lineandhaven’thadtimetostopaadetmeal.Alsoutthegoodwiheback;we’llhaveapartytowelaraback.”

    “OK.Noproblem”shesaidandwalkedtowardsthekit.SoonMegginnalsohurriedinsaying,

    “Sorry.Sorry.I’mte.”Shetookoffhercap,releasingamassofgoldenhair,keptinpcebyahairband.DimitrikwasMegginnandasked,

    9

    “Howdidthepreparatorymeetinggo?”

    “Noproblehegeneralmeetingtomorrowwillbeapieceofcake.”

    “That’sgreat.That’sgreat.You’rejustintimeforourpartytowelara.”

    Megginnlookedaroundatherpanionsandsawtheyalllookedverytired.Theirhairwasamessandmanyhadtracesofflourandbutterypoundsontheirfadclothes.Theywerewetayandnonelookedliketheirusualpretty,debonairself.

    “Isuggestourbeautiesgoandupandgeintosomethingandfortable.Aftertheyhaverestedupalittlewe’llhaveourparty.”Everyoneagreedaupthestairstotheirroomstoupanddressup.MegginnturnedandsawAmaliasittingonachair,yawningsleepily.Shewasgettingalongiiredeasily.

    “Amalia,youaretired.Wouldyoulikemetohelpyoutoyourroomsoyousleep?”Amalianoddedhersent.Perhapssleepisherhighestenjoyment.MegginntookAmaliaupstairstoherroom,attendedoingherreadyforbedandsoonheardsoftsoundsofsn.MegginnwalkeddowairssawSamanthabusilywalohekitaohelpher.Shetookoutthewarmedupfood,pcedthemonthemakeshifttableintheworkshopahetable.Whenallwasready,MegginnlookedaroundandsaidtoDimitri,whowassittingnearby,

    “Thisdoesn’tlookquiteright.Something’swro’sthelighting.Thisfluorestlightistooplebeianandunrefined.Let’sturnitoffandusedlelightinstead.Howaboutthat?”

    “Uptoyou”saidDimitrismiling.“Dowhateveryouwant.WhateveryouthinkisalrightisOKwithme.”Meggi