{\rtf1\ansi \deflang1033\deff0{\fonttbl
{\f0\froman \fcharset0 \fprq2 Times New Roman;}{\f1\froman \fcharset0 \fprq2 CentSchbook BT;}}{\colortbl;\red0\green0\blue0;}
{\stylesheet{\fs20 \snext0 Normal;}
{\*\ds1 Ward's book;}
}{\info{\title Allison 1 post.wpd}}
\notabind\margl1440\margr1440\widowctrl\hyphhotz936\ftnbj\fet2\ftnrstpg\aftnnar\hyphauto1\viewkind1\subfontbysize \sectd \sbknone\pgndec\headery1440\footery1440\endnhere\endnhere\titlepg 
{\header {
\posxr\nowrap {\field{\*\fldinst { PAGE  }}}\par}
\par}
{\*\pnseclvl1\pndec\pnstart1{\pntxta .}}
{\*\pnseclvl2\pnlcltr\pnstart1{\pntxta .}}
{\*\pnseclvl3\pnlcrm\pnstart1{\pntxta .}}
{\*\pnseclvl4\pndec\pnstart1{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}
{\*\pnseclvl5\pnlcltr\pnstart1{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}
{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcrm\pnstart1{\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}
{\*\pnseclvl7\pndec\pnstart1{\pntxta .}}
{\*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1{\pntxta .}}
{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1}

{\field{\*\fldinst {\lang4105  SEQ CHAPTER \\h \\r 1}}{\fldrslt }}\pard \fs24\qj\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs16 \f1\fs16 {\*\bkmkstart BM_1_}{\*\bkmkend BM_1_}}{\plain \fs24 \f1 The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual relationships.  If you feel that it is \softline
illegal, immoral, or otherwise improper for you to read this, then }{\plain \fs24 \b\f1 Don't Read It.}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}\pard \fs24\qc\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 *  *  *\par
}\pard \fs24\qc\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 }{\plain \fs36 \b\f1\fs36 Allison}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}\pard \fs24\qc\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 }{\plain \fs24 \b\f1 Copyright \'a9 Morgan, 1988, 2001.  All Rights Reserved.}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}\pard \fs24\qj\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Please note the original copyright date.  This story was basically written 13 years \softline
ago.  As a result, you may find references to, e.g., \'93antique\'94 computers, and so forth.  I\'92m \softline
afraid you\'92ll just have to live with it; it\'92s too tedious trying to keep up with the latest and \softline
greatest in technology in general and computers in particular.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr.org/~Morgan>  If you like it \softline
\'97 or if you don't \'97 please let me know at morg105829@aol.com.\par
}\pard \fs24\qc\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 *  *  *\par
}\pard \fs24\qc\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 }{\plain \fs28 \b\f1\fs28 Chapter 1}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}\pard \fs24\qj\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali McGrath was scared as she knocked on the door of Suite 1400 in the Beverly \softline
Wilshire Hotel.  Her appointment was vital.   It was her first tryout in years and she had \softline
to get the part.   A few moments later the door was opened by a tall man.   \'93Good \softline
morning,\'94 she said, \'93I\'92m Ali McGrath and I have a nine o\'92clock appointment with Mr. \softline
Clif\-ford.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked at the man standing before her.  He was six feet two with a full head of \softline
light brown hair graying at the temples.  He was very trim and conservatively dressed \softline
in a gray suit with a blue button-down shirt and a striped tie.  Ali was puzzled.  Her \softline
appointment was to audition for a movie role and Clifford didn\'92t look like he was in the \softline
business.  He looked like a New York business\-man not a Hollywood film producer.  She \softline
guessed his age as being early- to mid-forties.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When he held out his hand, she took it in a surprisingly firm grip.  \'93Hi, I\'92m Bill \softline
Clifford.  I am delighted to meet you, Miss McGrath.  Won\'92t you come in and sit down?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali McGrath was a tall girl \'97 five feet eight \'97 and had a beautiful figure.  Now, \softline
however, she was very thin \'97 too thin \'97 and it showed.  She prayed it didn\'92t show too \softline
much.  She had golden blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes with very beautiful features.  \softline
She followed him into the sitting room of his suite.  This was her first visit to the Beverly \softline
Wilshire which was considered to be a bit staid by the Hollywood types, many of whom \softline
hung around the pool at the Beverly Hills Hotel.  Pre\-ceding him into the room, she took \softline
a seat on a side chair.  He noticed she had passed up the sofa so he took the other side \softline
chair and sat facing her across the coffee table\'92s long axis.  Bill noticed the girl was thin.  \softline
He remembered some of the comments in her file lying on the coffee table between them \softline
that he had just reviewed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Miss McGrath, I apologize.  Things have been very hectic for me today and I never \softline
got around to eating breakfast.  I would like to order from room service.  Could I order \softline
something for you?\'94  Bill watched as a range of emotions quickly ran across her face.  He 
noted that he would have completely missed her reaction if he hadn\'92t been watching for \softline
it carefully.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Hunger obviously won out.  \'93Thank you, Mr. Clifford.  I would be happy to join you,\'94 \softline
she replied with a warm smile.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill went to the phone, dialed room service and ordered two large breakfasts of \softline
sirloin steak and eggs with hash browns and toast.  With his back towards her he placed \softline
the order in a very low voice so she couldn\'92t overhear.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When he rejoined her and sat down, the two exchanged general pleasantries for a \softline
while and then Clifford turned to the reason for her visit.  \'93Miss McGrath, thank you \softline
very much for coming in to see me.  Before I waste time going over what you may already \softline
know, perhaps you could tell me what you know about the part.  Then I\'92ll fill you in on \softline
the rest.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled again.  He noted that her appearance was unchanged from when she had \softline
starring film roles in the 1970\'92s, except now she did look notice\-ably thinner.  He looked \softline
at her care\-ful\-ly but still couldn\'92t decide whether she was wear\-ing no makeup or if her \softline
makeup was so well done that it ap\-pear\-ed she was not wearing any.  Bill decided it didn\'92t \softline
really matter.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I really know nothing about the part, except that there is one,\'94 she said.  Then \softline
smiling wryly, she added, \'93Congratulations on finding me.  I haven\'92t had an agent in \softline
years.  Which raises another question: There are some things I won\'92t do.  Perhaps I \softline
would have eaten more regularly if I had, but that\'92s the decision I made.  I just want you \softline
to know so I don\'92t waste your time.  What exactly is the part?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill started to answer when the doorbell rang.  He opened the door for the room-service waiter who came in and quickly opened up his service trolley for use as a table.  \softline
Then he brought over the two side chairs, set them up in facing positions and then held \softline
the chair for her as she grace\-fully seated herself.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter stood back and said, \'93Excuse me, ma\'92am, but aren\'92t you Ali McGrath?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked up at the waiter and smiled warmly.  Bill was reminded how much he \softline
loved her smile.  \'93Yes, I am, and it\'92s very good of you to remember me.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter suddenly looked embarrassed and Bill thought he knew the reason.  He \softline
glanced at Ali and saw she didn\'92t mind the attention.  He looked at the name badge the \softline
waiter wore and said, \'93It\'92s quite all right, Charley.  You needn\'92t feel embar\-rassed.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter relaxed and smiled.  \'93I remember you from movies in the 70\'92s.  In fact, \softline
I saw you in person in Vietnam in 1974 when you came out to enter\-tain.  I \'97 my buddies \softline
and I \'97 appre\-ci\-ated what you were doing.  It sure wasn\'92t a popular place to be in those \softline
days, at least not on our side of the line.\'94  Suddenly, his face turned grim and his voice \softline
went flat.  \'93It cost you your career, didn\'92t it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She started to shake her head and saw a skeptical look come across his face.  Then \softline
she nodded.  \'93I\'92m afraid it did,\'94 she admitted.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93I\'92m very sorry, Miss McGrath,\'94 the waiter said.  \'93You were our favorite... but I \softline
guess we don\'92t count for much either.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill looked at him.  \'93What are you doing now, Charley?  The war\'92s been over for \softline
quite awhile.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter smiled and replied, \'93I finally got out.  Now I\'92m finishing at law school.\'94  \softline
Again he looked embarrassed.  \'93Miss McGrath, I... I\'92m president of the student \softline
association at law school.  I\'92m at USC.  Could... Would you be willing to come and talk \softline
to the law students?  I know something of your background, and some of us would love \softline
to hear you speak.  Personally, I think it\'92s a major civil liber\-ties thing that\'92s been swept \softline
under the rug.  Would you consider it?  We would be happy to pay you, of course.  I know \softline
some of the speakers on the college lecture circuit pull down big money.  We can\'92t come \softline
up with the twenty grand or so an Abie Hoffman gets, but we could go to five thousand \softline
for you to make an appear\-ance.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali responded with a very warm smile that appeared to light up the room \'97 Bill \softline
could see she was really pleased.  She looked at him and said, \'93Charley, I\'92m here today \softline
to talk about a role with Mr. Clifford.  Please believe me when I say that you have just \softline
made me the best offer I\'92ve heard in over ten years.  If this part falls through, I\'92ll call \softline
you tomorrow if you will leave me your phone number.  And if it doesn\'92t fall through, I\'92ll \softline
still call you,\'94 she said.  \'93Further\-more, although I doubt if you know it, I\'92m study\-ing \softline
law, too.  I\'92m finishing at UCLA law school this year.  I think it would be delightful to \softline
meet your fellow students.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab As she talked with him, she realized Charley was a very hand\-some man.  He stood \softline
about six feet three and had dark hair and blue eyes.  He was very well built, weighing \softline
over 200 pounds.  Charley took out a small pad and wrote hurriedly.  He ripped off the \softline
sheet of paper and gave it to Ali.  As he did so, Bill reached into his wallet, took out a bill, \softline
folded it up and gave it to him.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He went to slip it into his pocket but then stopped.  \'93Excuse me, Mr. Clifford, but \softline
I think there\'92s been a mistake.  I think you took out the wrong bill.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Now it was Bill\'92s turn to smile.  \'93Charley, I promise I won\'92t tell anyone.  If I did, you \softline
would be thrown out of the waiters\'92 union.  It\'92s bad for your professional image to give \softline
back tips.\'94  He reached into his pocket and took out another bill that he did not bother \softline
to fold this time.  Ali could see it was a hundred.  \'93This is for your consideration, \softline
Charley.  And I know you can use it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Thank you very much, Mr. Clifford.  I really do appreciate it.\'94  Then he turned to \softline
Ali and said, \'93I hope you get the part, Miss McGrath.  I think Mr. Clifford is the sort of \softline
producer we need more of around here.\'94  He excused himself after saying he would be \softline
back in a while for the table.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When Ali looked at the breakfast for the first time, Bill saw her eyes widen.  He cut \softline
into his steak, and as he had expected it was a perfect medium rare.  He looked at the 
girl across the table.  \'93I apologize.  I didn\'92t even ask you what you wanted.  I just ordered \softline
two of what I was having.  I\'92m sorry.  Girls don\'92t eat steak and eggs.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had already started on her steak.  She put down her knife and fork and studied \softline
Clifford\'92s face.  She liked what she saw.  \'93Mr. Clifford, thank you for what you did for \softline
Charley.  You gave him a $200 tip, didn\'92t you?\'94  Bill just nodded.  \'93And you know \softline
something of my background from the conversation we had, even if you didn\'92t know it \softline
before.  I don\'92t care what other girls eat.  This girl is starving.  Literally.  I haven\'92t eaten \softline
in almost three days.  You couldn\'92t know that, but you did see I was hungry.  I tried to \softline
load up on water, but that didn\'92t work too well.  Now would you please excuse me for a \softline
moment?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She went to the bathroom and while she was out of the room Bill again ordered from \softline
room service.  He asked if Charley could please bring up the addition\-al order.  Ali \softline
reappeared a few moments later, sat down and finished her breakfast.  As she finished \softline
the doorbell rang again.  It was Charley with another cart.  He smiled and left it where \softline
it was, winking at Bill.  He left the room.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What\'92s that?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93A little more for you to eat,\'94 Bill replied.  \'93You\'92re right.  I do know you haven\'92t \softline
been eating very regularly.  I guess I didn\'92t realize it was this bad, though.  I really don\'92t \softline
know why, or what caused it.  It doesn\'92t affect the possible role you\'92re here to talk about \softline
today, but I am curious.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali got up and went to the second cart.  She started explor\-ing under the metal covers \softline
and found an order of raw oysters.  She looked at him with a question in her eyes.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill smiled and nodded.  \'93I don\'92t know what you like, so I got some stuff you can \softline
graze on.  You know, like a cow?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Moo,\'94 she said with a grin as she brought the oysters back to the table and started \softline
eating again.  \'93I\'92ve never eaten oysters so early in the day, but I seem to recall hearing \softline
they do eat them for breakfast along Chesapeake Bay.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When she finished them she looked up and said, \'93Holly\-wood is very open-minded \softline
about what you say \'97 as long as you say the right things.  That is, the right }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 liberal}{\plain \fs24 \f1  \softline
things.  It\'92s fine for Jane Fonda to go to North Vietnam.  But if you don\'92t like the way \softline
a script reads \'97 for example, typically making the Americans out as the bad guys \'97 \softline
you\'92re uncooperative and you don\'92t get any work.  I guess I had it up to here with the \softline
Army, the CIA and Ameri\-can businessmen in general being made the heavies.  They\'92re \softline
Holly\-wood\'92s new \'91men in the black hats.\'92\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Miss McGrath, you haven\'92t worked in over ten years have you?\'94 Bill asked quietly.  \softline
She shook her head.  \'93What have you been doing?  It\'92s been kind of hard tracking you \softline
down.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mostly I\'92ve been going to school.  I have an MBA, and you just heard about law \softline
school at UCLA.  I\'92ve been staying alive, is the best answer.  Now, Mr. Clifford, what is 
the part you would like me to read for?  I\'92m sure it\'92s obvious that my salary isn\'92t a big \softline
deal.  I work this week to try to cover this week\'92s rent... and that\'92s not a big tab.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at her steadily.  \'93The part is playing my wife,\'94 he said quietly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I beg your pardon, Mr. Clifford?\'94 she said, showing her astonishment.  \'93I thought \softline
you said the part was playing your wife?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93It is.\'94  He smiled and continued.  \'93Let me explain:  My wife died awhile ago and I \softline
have three grown children.  The youn\-gest is in college, while the others are in graduate \softline
or profes\-sional schools.  I decided I\'92m a little old for the singles scene.  I have a great deal \softline
of money, so I came up with the idea of casting the role as if it were a role in a movie.  \softline
That is basi\-cally what I\'92m doing.  The contract is very simple: There won\'92t be any \softline
residuals or percentages.  It pays one million dollars for twelve months.  It\'92s quite \softline
simple, really.\'94  He smiled and continued, \'93But I do have a few ques\-tions, though.  Miss \softline
McGrath, I understand you did many of your own stunts.  Is that true?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali was stunned.  She didn\'92t believe her ears.  All she could say was, \'93Did you say }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 one \softline
million dollars?\'94}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill smiled and nodded.  \'93Isn\'92t that enough?  But you didn\'92t answer my question.  \softline
By the way, since you\'92re auditioning for the role of my wife, the name is Bill.  My wife \softline
didn\'92t call me Mr. Clifford since...  since ever!  Come to think of it, she }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 never}{\plain \fs24 \f1  called me \softline
Mr. Clif\-ford\-.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Bill, the name is Ali, or Allison if you prefer.  I think my grandmother was the only \softline
person who ever called me that, though.  As for your question, yes, I did.  I guess I got \softline
a charge out of it.  Are there any special things you\'92re interested in?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Yes, there are.  I remember you in a skiing picture.  Do you ski?\'94  She nodded.  \softline
\'93Play golf?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again she nodded.  \'93I used to play pretty well, but I haven\'92t had the opportunity to \softline
play for years.  But why do you ask?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because I like to ski and play golf.  I wondered if you could play the part, or if I \softline
needed to hire a stunt double, too,\'94 he replied with a grin.  \'93By the way, how old are \softline
you?  I know what the old studio bio says, but they lie ten years or more in both \softline
directions.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m thirty-three,\'94 she replied, \'93How old are you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m forty-nine,\'94 he answered.  \'93Is that too old?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93No.  I lied.  I\'92m really thirty-five.  It\'92s not too old.  In fact, you look like you\'92re in \softline
your thirties.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93You flatter me,\'94 he said.  \'93What else do you need to know?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Tell me exactly what is involved in playing your wife.  Does that mean I have to \softline
sleep with you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Bill was very serious as he replied.  \'93Probably.  But I mean that literally, not \softline
figuratively.  I normal\-ly get a suite at a hotel, but usually there\'92s only one bedroom.  \softline
Frankly, Ali, I\'92m getting a little too old to be sleeping on the sofa.  Does the idea of \softline
sharing a bedroom with me \'97 and possibly a bed \'97 bother you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Bill, I guess it should, but it doesn\'92t.  Please don\'92t ask me why, because I honestly \softline
don\'92t know.  I guess I\'92ve played enough nude scenes that it really doesn\'92t bother me.  On \softline
the other hand, I would have been eating more regularly if I had been willing to do tricks \softline
for the troops.  As a call girl, the pay is pretty good to start, particularly for a girl who \softline
actually had star bill\-ing in a Hollywood film.  What more do you need to know about \softline
me?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I think I already know a great deal.  I have a folder here that\'92s pretty complete.  But \softline
are you interest\-ed in the job?  I don\'92t want to waste your time.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked at him and he could see her eyes start to tear.  He was surprised when \softline
she just sat up straighter in her chair.  \'93Please don\'92t say things like that.  You\'92re teasing \softline
me and you know it.  I\'92m sorry, but I guess I\'92m just not in shape for it anymore.  You are \softline
looking at a girl \'97 a woman \'97 who was starving \'97 literally starving \'97 just a few \softline
minutes ago.  Waste my time indeed!\'94  She smiled through the tears.  \'93Do you mind if \softline
I continue my grazing?  I think I saw some smoked salmon \'97 Scottish, isn\'92t it?\'94  He \softline
nodded, and she went back to the other cart, retrieving the plate of smoked salmon.  She \softline
looked up at him.  \'93Yes, I\'92m interested.  Obviously I\'92m interested.  What do I need to do?  \softline
Do you want me to undress or something?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill looked at her quizzically.  \'93Would you mind taking off your dress?  Just your \softline
dress.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked at him, got up and unbuttoned the plain dress she was wearing.  She \softline
slipped it off and stood up straight.  \'93I\'92m afraid there isn\'92t an awful lot of me left,\'94 she \softline
said wryly.  She was wearing only a pair of bikini briefs and a camisole.  He could see she \softline
wasn\'92t wearing a bra and could see her ribs plainly through her camisole \'97 clearly she \softline
was ten pounds or more under\-weight.  \'93Do I pass?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali\'92s legs were very shapely.  She had slim hips and \'97 at least at the moment \'97 very \softline
small breasts which he could see outlined beneath the thin top.  She saw his eyes focused \softline
on her chest.  \'93I\'92m sorry,\'94 she said, \'93I\'92ve never had big boobs, but this is ridiculous, even \softline
for me.  But you haven\'92t answered my ques\-tion.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Why don\'92t you put on your dress,\'94 he said.  \'93Do you want the part?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked at him while she stood holding her shirtwaist dress in her left hand.  \softline
\'93Yes,\'94 she said, \'93I would like the part.  I need the part!  What else do you want me to do \softline
now?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Nothing.  Except get back into condition.  You really are much too thin.\'94  Bill \softline
changed the subject suddenly.  \'93Ali, how much money do you need to get clear of all of \softline
your debts?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab She looked at him, puzzled.  \'93It would take more money than the mint!  Thousands!\'94  \softline
Then she smiled wryly.  \'93That\'92s funny,\'94 she said softly.  \'93I used to do features for \softline
hundreds of thou\-sands and thought I was getting screwed.  I guess I really was, too.  My \softline
co-stars often appeared in the same film for millions.  I suppose it\'92s just a matter of \softline
perspec\-tive: The answer to your question, though, is that it would take between seventy-five and a hundred thousand to be completely clean.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Where do you bank?\'94 Bill asked.  She told him at Bank of America and gave him the \softline
branch location.  He frowned and said, \'93Why there?  It\'92s not very convenient to where \softline
you live.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and said, \'93That\'92s true.  However, the manager is ex-Special Forces from \softline
Vietnam and does everything he can to help me.\'94  Bill asked for her account number and \softline
she gave it to him.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What\'92s the name on the account?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Allison McGrath,\'94 she replied.  \'93But what does that have to do with any\-thing?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab It was his turn to smile.  \'93Watch and see.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He picked up the phone and dialed a long-distance number.  When the phone was \softline
answered Bill said, \'93It\'92s B of A, account number 475-97765, in the name of Allison \softline
McGrath.  Send a half immediately.\'94  He checked the time on his watch, then looked at \softline
Ali.  \'93How about some more coffee?  You haven\'92t been drinking.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and said, \'93You\'92re right.  I will have some \'97 and some more orange juice, \softline
if I may?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill checked his watch and asked Ali, \'93What is your manager friend\'92s name, and \softline
what\'92s his phone number?\'94  She told him the name was Jeff Sills and gave him the \softline
number.  He said, \'93How much money did you have in your account this morning?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Less than ten bucks.  Why?\'94 she replied.  She was curious about Clifford\'92s cryptic \softline
phone conver\-sation.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93There will be substantially more there now.  Ali, I\'92m going to call Sills.  Would you \softline
please ask him to check your balance?  You can consider this to be a test of your acting \softline
ability.  I\'92m going to see if you can keep a straight face.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93How much will there be?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I think there will be enough.  By the way, do you have your checkbook with you?\'94 \softline
he asked as he dialed the number and then passed the receiver to her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She took her checkbook out of her purse and said, \'93For all the money I }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 don\'92t}{\plain \fs24 \f1  have \softline
in the account, I might as well use the checks as notepaper.\'94  Jeff answered his phone.  \softline
\'93Hi, Jeff.  It\'92s Ali.  Can you do me a favor?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Oh, God!  Ali, if I do you one more favor, I\'92m history at this bank.  But what the \softline
hell.  As we used to say in \'91Nam, you can\'92t live forever.  Sure!  What can I do for you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93Jeff, could you check your handy computer and see what my balance is?  My \softline
account number is...\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, by this time I know your account number better than my own!  Just a second.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She could hear him punching buttons on his keyboard to bring her account up on his \softline
computer screen.  He let out a low whistle and said, \'93Ali, I need to check something.  \softline
Would you mind if I put you on hold for a moment?\'94  She said that was no problem, and \softline
she listened to the music-on-hold for a few minutes.  Jeff came back on the line.  \softline
Excitement was obvious in his voice.  \'93Ali, I checked it, and it\'92s not a mistake.  You \softline
received a Federal Reserve money transfer from Morgan Guaranty, New York, in the \softline
amount of half a million dollars.  It\'92s here, it\'92s confirmed, and it\'92s good money.  With \softline
your previous balance of $7.64, that now gives you $500,007.64!  Honey, I don\'92t know \softline
what happened, but it couldn\'92t have happened to a nicer guy!  Do you want me to do \softline
anything?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had been slowly shaking her head, but her voice didn\'92t change a bit.  \'93Yes, Jeff, \softline
I do.  Would you please check and pay off all my loans with the bank?  Including the \softline
MasterCard and Visa accounts?  Your collection people are going to have a fit!  I\'92m going \softline
to lose all my good friends in various collection units who call me every couple of weeks \softline
chasing me for a few dollars against what I owe them.  Can you do that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff replied, \'93Ali, I just checked.  It\'92s a little more than $20,000.  I just hit the \softline
buttons and checked your cards.  They\'92re active again, and have their full balances \softline
available.  Okay?  Anything else?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Jeff, there is one more thing.  How late are you going to be around today?\'94 she \softline
asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Jen has to work late today, so I was going to stick around awhile.  Why?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m going to be writing some major-league checks in the next few hours and some \softline
people may want to be sure they aren\'92t rub\-ber,\'94 she replied.  \'93By the way, what time \softline
does Jen get off work?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93She\'92ll be working until seven and then is swinging by the bank to pick me up.  \softline
Why?  As far as taking calls, Ali, I will be absolutely delighted.  It seems like I\'92ve spent \softline
a fair amount of the last few years making up tales for you.  This will be a real pleasure!  \softline
I get to act really pompous: \'91My dear sir, of course Miss McGrath\'92s check is good!\'92  In \softline
fact, I\'92m looking forward to it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill scribbled a note and passed it to Ali.  She read it quickly and said, \'93Do you and \softline
Jen have any plans for tonight?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He replied, \'93Come on, Ali!  You know us better than that.  I manage a small bank \softline
branch and we\'92re desperately trying to save enough to make a down payment on a house \softline
\'97 and we\'92re losing.  You\'92ve had spaghetti at our place often enough.  And by the way, \softline
are you eating yet?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab She smiled at the question.  \'93I\'92ve been feeding my face all morning.  Look, Jeff, I \softline
have a favor to ask.  Promise me you\'92ll do it if you can?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She could hear the sound of resignation in his voice as he said, \'93Sure, Ali.  Don\'92t I \softline
always?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Great!  You are taking Jen to dinner at Maxim\'92s tonight.  Your reservations are for \softline
eight o\'92clock.  And Jeff, there won\'92t be a bill.  It\'92s on me.  I really owe you, and you know \softline
I can afford it now.\'94  There was hesitation on the line so she added, \'93Remember, you \softline
promised.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The tone of his voice changed as he said, \'93Okay, Ali, but you have to pick up the \softline
pieces.  Jen will absolutely kill me when I tell her where we\'92re going without even giving \softline
her a chance to prepare for it for three weeks ahead of time.  On your head be it.  And \softline
thanks very much.  It\'92s... It\'92s our anniversary and we had agreed we weren\'92t going to \softline
celebrate or exchange gifts.  We put the anniversary celebration money in the house \softline
fund.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali hung up and smiled her thanks at Bill.  \'93Thank you.  That was really very nice.  \softline
I guess you know I love those two.  I think they may have saved my life \'97 and they \softline
certainly preserved my sanity.  Now what?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93First, Ali, how would you like to save about $400,000?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I beg your pardon?  You\'92re joking, aren\'92t you?\'94 she asked, quite startled.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93No, I\'92m not.  The money I transferred to you has had taxes paid \'97 mine.  However, \softline
it\'92s now income to you.  With the new tax laws you can\'92t income-average anymore.  The \softline
tax bite on a million is about $400,000, give or take a bit after California takes its piece.  \softline
If you want to, we can legally keep it out of their grubby hands and in your bank \softline
account.  Interested?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Of course I\'92m interested.  It\'92s more money than I\'92ve seen in the last ten years \softline
combined.  I\'92m very interested in keeping as much of it as I legally can.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab After nodding once, Bill picked up the phone, dialed a number, and spoke for a few \softline
moments.  A short time later a girl appeared at the door.  He showed her in and she \softline
opened a small black bag.  Looking from Bill to Ali she asked, \'93Who\'92s first?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I guess I am,\'94 Bill said.  He rolled up a shirt sleeve.  The girl took out a hypo\-dermic \softline
needle and inserted it into a vein, then connected it to a Vacutainer bottle to draw blood.  \softline
When the bottle was filled, she carefully withdrew first the bottle and then the needle.  \softline
After carefully labeling the bottle she put it aside.  Ali had been watching with interest \softline
as she drew the blood, then went to the girl and the process was repeated with her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Finally the girl put her materials away and said, \'93The reports should be ready within \softline
an hour.  They will be sent over by messenger.\'94  She let herself out.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali was rubbing her arm with alcohol-soaked cotton.  \'93I don\'92t mean to be unnecessarily nosy, but what, exactly, was that all about?  In my present condition, I\'92m not sure \softline
how much blood I can spare,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93Ali, let\'92s sit down.  And why don\'92t you finish your grazing while I tell you about it?  \softline
It relates to the role you agreed to play for a year.  You have the part, by the way.  But \softline
I\'92m sure you knew that when the money was transferred to your account.\'94  Ali took the \softline
last dish off the second cart \'97 a huge portion of lump Chesapeake Bay crab meat \'97 and \softline
set it on the coffee table.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m listening,\'94 she said quietly as she looked at him intently.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill checked his watch, and made another quiet phone call.  He came back and sat \softline
on the sofa next to her.  \'93Okay.  First, this is a tax deal.  If I pay you money, it\'92s income \softline
to you.  On the other hand, a husband and wife can move assets between them to their \softline
heart\'92s content without creating what the accountants and lawyers term a taxable event.  \softline
Therefore, the reason for the blood test is it\'92s needed in this state for a marriage license.  \softline
We\'92re being married at City Hall in an hour.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at Bill with an expression of utter shock on her face.  \'93You\'92re serious, \softline
aren\'92t you?  You really intend to marry }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 me?  Today?}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He grinned at her and said, \'93Sure do!  There are some people who will do anything \softline
to lessen the tax bite.  I realize it isn\'92t very romantic, but there are four hundred \softline
thousand good reasons for you to say, \'91I do.\'92  Are you game?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93With the understanding I can get out of it later because in my present weakened \softline
condition I was temporarily insane,\'94 she said shaking her head in shock.  Then with a \softline
wry grin she asked, \'93What do we do now, coach?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then there was a knock on the door.  Bill opened it and signed for an envelope \softline
delivered by messenger.  After opening it he glanced at the contents.  \'93We\'92re all set.  The \softline
blood tests are done and we\'92re both in fine shape.  Are you ready?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She gave him a wry smile, shrugged, and followed him to the door.  His limousine \softline
was waiting at the curb to take them to City Hall.  When they arrived, it was eleven \softline
o\'92clock.  No one was waiting at the Clerk\'92s Office and they got their license quickly.  \softline
Following the clerk\'92s instructions, they then went down the hall to the office of a \softline
Superior Court judge.  Just a few minutes later, in the presence of the judge\'92s clerk and \softline
secretary, Bill and Ali were married.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The judge finished the very brief ceremony and then said, \'93You may kiss the bride.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill took her in his arms and gave her a warm kiss.  He was surprised to feel her lips \softline
open and her tongue dart into his mouth.  The kiss ended as far more than the friendly \softline
kiss he had intended.  Bill could hear bells when he kissed her.  As they left the judge\'92s \softline
chambers, Ali looked at the third finger of her left hand.  She admired the plain gold \softline
wedding band Bill had taken from his pocket and was surprised that it fit perfectly.  \softline
After they had gone a few steps down the hall, she stopped abruptly.  After taking \softline
another step, Bill stopped and turned around to see why she had stopped so suddenly.  \softline
She was bent over and it looked as if she were crying.  He went back to her and took her \softline
in his arms.  When she looked up, he realized she had been trying to control her laugh\-
ter.  In fact, she was still giggling.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93What\'92s so funny?\'94 he asked, looking at her with a very puzzled expression on his \softline
face.  Clifford thought her giggle was the cutest sound he had ever heard.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali was still giggling so hard she couldn\'92t talk.  All she could do was slowly shake her \softline
head from side to side.  Finally, she was able to speak.  \'93I\'92m sorry, Bill.  I\'92m laughing at \softline
the situation!  Do you realize the first time you kissed me was when we were married?  \softline
For Heaven\'92s sake, even in the movies we rehearse the clinches!  You\'92ve been here \softline
before.  Moreover, you\'92re doing it to save me some money on my taxes.  But it\'92s the first \softline
time for me!  Brides are supposed to cry at their weddings, not laugh!  Thank you for \softline
marrying me and saving me so much tax money.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab With a shake of her head she regained control and asked, \'93What do we do now?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93We go and see your creditors,\'94 he replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They set off and visited a couple of banks to settle charge-card bills and then a couple \softline
of department stores.  Twice the people in the credit office called Jeff who pompously \softline
told them, \'93Of course Miss McGrath\'92s check is good!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Meanwhile, Bill made a couple of phone calls.  At Nord\-strom\'92s, after finishing with \softline
the credit department, Bill insisted on swinging by the Better Dresses department.  Ali \softline
quickly entered into the spirit of the afternoon.  Bill, in consultation with the buyer, \softline
found the perfect dress for her.  It was a shade of blue that exactly matched her eyes.  \softline
While she was chang\-ing, he made yet another call.  She reached for her now-reactivated \softline
charge card to pay for the dress, but was told it was already taken care of. \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab After dropping her off at the hair salon in the store, Bill returned to the hotel.  While \softline
there, he sent off a couple of faxes to New York.  One went to his attorney and the other \softline
to his principal bank, Morgan Guaranty.  Then he went back to Nordstrom\'92s to see if Ali \softline
was ready.  As he read a magazine, he smiled to himself.  It had been a very eventful few \softline
hours.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A few minutes later, Ali emerged from the salon looking absolutely gorgeous.  \softline
Thinking about it, he decided she was only marginally prettier than she had been when \softline
she went in. }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 My God, she\'92s beautiful, }{\plain \fs24 \f1 he thought.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93How do I look?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill looked at her thoughtfully and walked around her.  Finally, he stood with his \softline
hand on his chin.  \'93Okay,\'94 he said thoughtfully.  Her face fell, and he could see she was \softline
hurt.  Then he added with a grin, \'93For a goddess!  Ali, you are out of this world!\'94  She \softline
instantly displayed a beaming smile that was as bright as sunshine. }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 It\'92s like the sun \softline
coming out from behind a cloud,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  he thought.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What now?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Let\'92s go back to the hotel.  There are a few more things on their way.  Incidentally, \softline
do you need anything from your apartment?  For that matter, do you even need the \softline
apartment?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Her face fell.  \'93Oh, my God!  I forgot the rent!  Bill, could we swing over now?  I \softline
could take a cab \'97 oops!  I don\'92t have any money.\'94  He just grinned.  \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went out to the limousine and drove over to her apartment which was in a very \softline
unfashionable section of the San Fernando Valley.  She went to the superinten\-dent\'92s \softline
apartment and rang the bell.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The superintendent, Mr. Garcia, looked at her skeptically when he opened the door.  \softline
\'93Miss McGrath, when can you give me some money?  The owner is really on my back!  \softline
I\'92ve given him all of your excuses and invented a dozen new ones of my own.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled at him, and he smiled back inviting them both in.  The apartment was \softline
very neat and smelled of Mexican cooking.  Ali introduced Bill merely as Mr. Clifford.  \softline
Garcia\'92s wife came out of the kitchen and gave Ali a big hug.  She was a very attractive \softline
\'97 and very heavy \'97 woman who enfolded Ali in her arms.  She went out to the kitchen \softline
and returned a few minutes later with tortilla chips and salsa.  Garcia opened two bottles \softline
of Dos \'c9quis for them and two more for his wife and himself.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab While this was going on, Ali had taken out her checkbook and wrote a check.  \'93Senor \softline
Garcia, I have a surprise for you,\'94 she said.  \'93I owe you for two months.  The check is for \softline
the back rent, this month, and two more months in lieu of notice.  I\'92ll be moving out.  \softline
I finally got a part after all these years!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She gave him the check and Gar\'e7ia looked stunned.  Then he smiled.  The smile got \softline
bigger and bigger until he was beaming.  \'93Miss McGrath, am so }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 happy}{\plain \fs24 \f1  for you!  You are \softline
the best actress in all of Hollywood!  But why did it take so long?  You have been here \softline
and have been avail\-able.  Why they not call before?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled at him warmly.  \'93I really don\'92t know.  I think I know, but I hope I\'92m \softline
wrong.  Senor Gar\'e7ia, thank you so much!  }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Muchas gracias, senor!  Hast\'e1 la vista!\'94}{\plain \fs24 \f1   \softline
They took their leave and went up to Ali\'92s apartment where she paused for a moment \softline
before entering.  It was obvious to Bill that she was ashamed of it but she ended up \softline
asking him in for a moment anyway.  }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 The apartment is Spartan,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  Bill thought, }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 but \softline
spotlessly clean.}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali went into the bedroom and Bill looked in the kitchen.  As he suspected, there was \softline
no food of any kind.  Her cupboard and refrigerator were almost completely empty.  \softline
There was just a bottle of water chilling in the refrigerator.  Ali returned with a small \softline
suitcase and another small stack of bills including her telephone and electric bills.  She \softline
wrote out checks, put them in the envelopes and then put the envelopes in her purse.  \softline
Smiling at him ruefully she said she didn\'92t have any stamps.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Do you want me to send a mover around to get the rest of your things?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She appeared embarrassed but looked directly at him.  \'93This is the rest, Bill.  \softline
Everything else has been sold.\'94  Suddenly, he saw her face crumple.  She sat down at the \softline
table again and took out her checkbook.  She looked quickly at the numbers, did some \softline
quick mental arithmetic, and scrawled out a check which she gave him.  It was for \softline
slightly over $450,000.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Bill was caught up short.  \'93What\'92s this?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93That\'92s the rest of the money you gave me, Bill.\'94  She was sitting up straight in the \softline
chair and looking him straight in the eye.  \'93Bill, I\'92m worth less than $10,000 a year.  \softline
You\'92ve saved my life.  I obviously can\'92t pay you the rest of the money you gave me \'97 you \softline
know where it all went.  But I\'92ll do anything you want me to do until it\'92s all paid back.  \softline
Thank you for helping me so much.\'94  Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but she was \softline
still holding her head up straight.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill felt like he had just been emotionally ripped in half.  When he held out his arms, \softline
she got up and came into them.  He just held her tightly as she started to cry.  He could \softline
feel her shoulders shaking from the sobs while he held her and gently stroked her hair.  \softline
Slowly, she re\-gained control.  \'93You\'92ll be perfect in the part Ali \'97 and worth every dime!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She tried to smile through the tears and did a remarkable job of it.  \'93Thank you, Bill.  \softline
It felt wonderful with you just holding me like that!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 She really is a top-flight actress,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  he thought.  Then he careful\-ly tore the check up \softline
into little pieces and dropped them in the trash container.  After putting his arm around \softline
her they went out to the waiting car.\par
}\page 
\pard \fs24\qj\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 Chapter 2\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When the limousine pulled up at the hotel, he gave Ali the room key and went over \softline
to the front desk.  \'93I\'92m Bill Clifford in Suite 1400,\'94 he said.  \'93I would like to speak to the \softline
manager on duty, please.\'94  The clerk had recognized him and very politely asked him to \softline
wait a moment.  She had obviously used a buzzer because moments later an assistant \softline
manager came out from the office, met Bill and went to his desk.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill said, \'93Mr. Carson,\'94 reading his name badge, \'93I was married this morning.  For \softline
a number of reasons I would like this fact kept confiden\-tial.  Obviously, not the fact that \softline
I\'92m married, but rather that it just happened this morning.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Carson smiled broadly and extended his hand, \'93Congratula\-tions, Mr. Clifford.  We... \softline
hear things.  Did you marry Miss McGrath?\'94  Bill nodded, and Carson beamed.  \'93How \softline
wonderful!  She\'92s one of my favorite actresses.  What has she been doing lately?  I can\'92t \softline
recall seeing her in a film in years.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill changed the subject.  \'93I\'92m not sure what my wife will be doing with her career.  \softline
Soon, we\'92re going to be doing some extensive traveling.  The reason I wanted you to \softline
know is, first, she\'92ll need a key to the suite.  Second, she\'92ll have occasion to cash checks, \softline
sign chits, and so forth, and I don\'92t want any embarrassment.  At the same time, I don\'92t \softline
want any publicity.  This shouldn\'92t cause the hotel any problems, should it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Of course not, sir.  I\'92ll see that the desk and the cashier are notified.  Is there \softline
anything we can do?  We will be sending you a gift from the management up to your \softline
suite, but is there anything else?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill smiled and said, \'93Thank you, Mr. Carson, but I think that will be all.  How\-ever, \softline
there should be a few things arriving by mail or by messen\-ger for Mrs. Clifford and I \softline
want to be sure there will be no delays.\'94  Bill excused himself and went up to the suite.  \softline
When he let himself in with the second key Carson had given him, he found Ali sitting \softline
on the sofa.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She brightened when he came in.  \'93Hi!  Welcome home, Mr. Clifford.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then the doorbell rang.  It was the waiter, Charley, with yet another cart.  The \softline
suite had been cleaned and the other carts removed while they were out.  Charley \softline
extended his hand to Bill and said, \'93Congratu\-lations, sir.  I think you\'92re the luckiest men \softline
in the world to marry Miss McGrath.  Mrs. Clifford, I would like to wish you every \softline
happiness.\'94  He turned to Bill and said, \'93The manager has asked me to bring this up, \softline
compliments of the hotel.  We\'92re all delighted and hope you enjoy it.\'94  Bill reached for \softline
his wallet, but Charley just waved away the tip.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Charley, before you go, we\'92re hungry.  Could you bring us two big sirloins on toast \softline
along with some french fries?  In the meantime, we\'92ll get started on the manage\-ment\'92s \softline
gift.\'94  Charley grinned, motioned thumbs-up, and let himself out.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill uncovered the platter on the trolley and let out a low whistle.  \'93My, my!  We\'92re \softline
really honored guests.  Ali, come and see what they brought for you to graze on,\'94 he said \softline
to Ali with a grin.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab He liked the way she rose so gracefully from the sofa and came over.  Her lips formed \softline
an \'91O\'92 as she saw a half-kilo of beluga caviar with all of the trimmings, along with a \softline
bottle of Dom P\'e9rignon champagne which Bill was in the process of opening.  She started \softline
to fill two plates with caviar spread on toast.  When she asked him about his choice of \softline
trimmings, he replied, \'93Everything.\'94  By this time he had popped the cork from the \softline
bottle and poured two glasses which he brought over to the sofa.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He handed a glass to Ali and raised his own.  \'93To us!  Thank you, Ali.  I\'92m looking \softline
forward to the year.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled over the top of her glass.  \'93Thank you, Bill, for the opportunity.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They sipped the champagne and ate the caviar.  Then he sat next to her on the sofa, \softline
putting his arm around her.  Turning his head, he found her lips poised before his.  Their \softline
kiss was soft and sweet but with passionate overtones.  He noticed how soft and sweet \softline
her mouth was.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When they separated, she leaned back against the cushions and slowly shook her \softline
head.  \'93Bill, if this was submitted as a movie script it wouldn\'92t survive two seconds.  It \softline
would be trashed as being totally unbe\-lievable.  My God!  I\'92m actually your wife \'97 in the \softline
eyes of the State of California, if not necessarily in the eyes of God.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then the doorbell rang.  It was Charley with their lunch.  When he had left Ali \softline
rubbed her belly and looked at Bill with feigned suspicion.  \'93Are you trying to fatten me \softline
up?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He picked up on her reaction and said, \'93Damn!  I thought I had you fooled.  There\'92s \softline
an Arab sheik who\'92s looking for a blonde addition to his harem, but he likes his women \softline
with some meat on them.  You can\'92t blame a guy for trying, can you?\'94 he said with a \softline
grin.  He looked at her fondly.  \'93Would you do me a favor?  Please put on your new \softline
dress?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Without saying a word she went to the bedroom to change.  While she was gone, he \softline
made another phone call.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Less than thirty minutes later the doorbell rang.  It was the representative from a \softline
Rodeo Drive jewelry store.  The man opened a small case he had with him and took out \softline
several strings of pearls.  Ali watched the performance with amaze\-ment shaded by \softline
amusement.  The representa\-tive took a double strand of pearls and put it around her \softline
neck as she looked at herself in a mirror.  The pearls appeared too large.  She shook her \softline
head and so did Bill.  She tried another necklace and then a third and a fourth.  Finally \softline
she tried on a two-strand necklace of matched pearls.  Ali smiled and Bill nodded at the \softline
salesman.  She noticed that almost no words had been spoken.  She carefully took off the \softline
necklace and went back to the bedroom to change.  When she returned to the sitting \softline
room, the salesman bid goodbye to Ali and Bill and left.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Sitting on the table was a lovely white-wrapped package.  Bill held it out to her and \softline
said, \'93A very small remembrance of your wedding day.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab She opened it and found the necklace lying in a beautiful jewelers\'92 presentation case.  \softline
For the first time, she saw that the clasp was diamond studded.  She looked at him \softline
puzzled, \'93They don\'92t gift-wrap props.  What\'92s going on?  I thought you were looking for \softline
something to go with my dress?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I was.  I found it.  Happy wedding,\'94 he said with a smile.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93This is real, isn\'92t it?  These aren\'92t fake.  In fact, they are not even cultured pearls, \softline
are they?\'94 she asked skepti\-cal\-ly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He nodded, \'93They\'92re real.  I guess they\'92re worth a couple of bucks.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She just shook her head in amazement.  \'93And they\'92re really for me?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93You\'92re the only wife I have at the moment, so I suppose so.  But do you like them, \softline
now that you\'92ve decided they\'92re real?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Instead of answering, Ali went to Bill, put her arms around his neck and kissed him.  \softline
He could feel a wetness on his cheek and held her away for a moment.  Tears were \softline
streaming from her eyes.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What\'92s wrong?\'94 he asked.  \'93What did I do this time?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Her head was up straight and she shook it slowly from side to side.  \'93Bill, you can\'92t \softline
possibly understand.  For so long I\'92ve been scrimping and saving \'97 and fighting.  It \softline
seemed like everyone with any power has been against me.  All I can say is, thank you!  \softline
I love the necklace.  It\'92s absolutely beauti\-ful.  But why are you doing this?  You never \softline
laid eyes on me until this morn\-ing.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93That\'92s not true,\'94 he said.  \'93I\'92ve laid eyes on you countless times \'97 in your movies.  \softline
I think I have every one you ever appeared in on tape, even the bit parts.  Unfortunately, \softline
the tapes are a bit worn from overuse.  But you\'92ve never laid eyes on }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 me.}{\plain \fs24 \f1   Ali, thank you \softline
for going through with this.  For me, this is really something of a personal dream.  I \softline
know a great deal about you.  When I met you this morning, I quickly con\-firmed my \softline
impres\-sion that you really are what you always appeared to be on the screen.  This \softline
project is working out far better than I ever expected.  I have one question, though.  You \softline
made pretty big money in a number of your films.  What happened to it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She grimaced.  \'93I guess a big chunk went for my parents.  They were seriously \softline
injured in an automobile accident and subse\-quently died.  Their final care was very \softline
expensive.  And, of course, the other guy didn\'92t have any insurance or assets.  Most of \softline
the rest went into my legal battles against the studio and some individuals over the \softline
blacklisting that has kept me from working.  They\'92ve been very vindictive.  Not only did \softline
they keep me out of films, they really stopped me from getting any kind of job \'97 even \softline
after I received my MBA.  I guess that\'92s the principal reason I decided to get a law \softline
degree.  This way I can represent myself without having to pay someone else while I \softline
continue the fight.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She cocked her head and looked at him.  \'93What now?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab He smiled and said, \'93Look, I know you have classes tomorrow morning, and tonight \softline
may be a late night.  Why don\'92t you take a nap, and I\'92ll take care of a few things?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She nodded and returned to the bedroom while Bill left the suite.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab It was several hours later when Ali felt a hand on her shoulder.  She was in the bed \softline
sleeping under the bedspread.  Her eyes opened and she saw Bill sitting on the edge of \softline
the bed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Hi!  Are you ready to rejoin the ranks of the living?  You were sleeping so soundly \softline
I almost didn\'92t wake you.  How do you feel?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She stretched like a big cat.  He noticed how beautiful she looked even at the \softline
moment of awakening.  \'93Yum!  I feel wonder\-ful.  Bill, I can\'92t remember sleeping so \softline
soundly.  I don\'92t know if it was the events of the day \'97 this has been the most unbe\-
lievable day of my life \'97 or if it\'92s finally getting out from under all my money worries.  \softline
Money has been a constant worry for years.  Anyway, I feel great.  What time is it and \softline
what are we doing?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He smiled warmly.  \'93I hope I didn\'92t wreck it.  It\'92s six-thirty already.  We have a \softline
reservation at eight.  Can you be ready or should I change the time of our reservation?  \softline
We are dining at Maxim\'92s with the Sills.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92ll be ready for my wedding dinner,\'94 she said.  Then she looked slightly embarrassed.  \'93Would you mind waiting outside while I get ready?  I know we\'92re married, and \softline
I\'92m not really very modest, but would you mind?\'94  He smiled and said he had already \softline
taken a shower while she was sleeping and didn\'92t mind at all.  He went out to the sitting \softline
room as she got out of bed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Forty minutes later she emerged from the bedroom and stood like a model.  \'93How \softline
do I look?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill glanced up from a book he was reading and then did a double-take.  \'93My God!  \softline
Ali, you\'92re magnificent!\'94  Her golden hair was beautiful\-ly arranged as it had been after \softline
the styling.  The dress looked as lovely on her as he had hoped it would, and the pearls \softline
were beautiful.  He got out of his chair, went to her, took her in his arms and warmly \softline
kissed her.  He could feel her lips move under his and felt her tongue dart out.  Again, \softline
Bill heard bells and this time could feel a two-way flow of electricity between them.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When the kiss ended and he stepped away he heard her murmur, \'93Wow!\'94  Then she \softline
smiled at him and said, \'93It\'92s a good thing I didn\'92t put on my lipstick yet.  And if you kiss \softline
me like that again, my knees will be too weak to stand up to do it!\'94  She looked in the \softline
mirror and very expertly put on some lipstick and turned to face him.  \'93I\'92m all set!\'94  \softline
Then her face fell slightly.  \'93I hope it\'92s not too cool tonight.  I just realized I have this \softline
beautiful dress but nothing to wear over it.  I don\'92t think it would look too cool to enter \softline
the restaurant wearing your jacket.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill just smiled.  \'93I think we\'92ll manage,\'94 he said.  Going over to the closet he brought \softline
out a beautiful full-length mink coat.  \'93I think this will handle the chill, don\'92t you?  Why 
don\'92t you see if it fits?\'94 he asked as he held it for her.  Ali slipped it on and it fit as \softline
perfectly as he had known it would.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She wrapped it around herself and nuzzled her cheek in the soft fur.  \'93Yum!  This \softline
is beautiful, Bill, and I\'92ll be very careful with it.  When does it have to go back?\'94 she \softline
asked, thinking that, like so many things in Hollywood, it was rented.  When she opened \softline
it up to look at the lining, she saw her monogram \'97 her new monogram, AMC \'97 sewn \softline
into the lining in thread only slightly different in color from the lining itself.  She looked \softline
at Bill accusingly.  \'93This isn\'92t rented, is it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He shook his head sheepishly.  \'93I\'92m sorry, Ali.  I took a chance you would like the \softline
fur and the color.  But it can go back tomorrow if you don\'92t like it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Bill Clifford, you are terrible!  }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Like it?}{\plain \fs24 \f1   I love it!\'94  Her face fell, and he could see \softline
tears forming again in her eyes.  \'93Is this another wedding present?\'94 she asked.  Again \softline
he nodded.  \'93Bill, I feel awful.  I didn\'92t get you anything!  It\'92s worse than that, as I think \softline
about it.  You know everything about me and I don\'92t know anything about you.  I guess \softline
all I know is you are a widower, you are very attractive, you have three grown children \softline
and a lot of money.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Then she smiled.  Again, he thought it was like the sun coming out from behind a \softline
cloud.  He decided he loved her smile.  She continued, \'93On the other hand, I know a lot \softline
of girls who measure a man\'92s attractive\-ness solely by the size of his bank account.  I \softline
guess I\'92m not so bad off, after all.\'94  Ali smiled warmly and added, \'93I forgot something: \softline
You\'92re also incredibly gener\-ous.  And I think you\'92re impul\-sive, too.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93There\'92s something else you forgot,\'94 Bill said.  \'93I love your smile.  It literally lights \softline
up the room like sunshine.  I guess I want to do things that cause you to smile.  Ali, your \softline
smile just now made the coat cheap at twice the price.  Can you accept that?\'94  She \softline
nodded slowly.  \'93Great!  Now that you\'92re all set, shall we go?\'94  She took his arm and they \softline
left the suite.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When the doorman at Maxim\'92s opened the limousine door, Ali grace\-fully stepped out \softline
and smiled at him.  He saluted and said, \'93Welcome back to Maxim\'92s, Miss McGrath.  It\'92s \softline
been a long time \'97 much too long.  I\'92m delighted to see you again.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Thank you so much for remembering me, Henry.  It has been a long time,\'94 she \softline
replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They were ushered to their table by the maitre d\'92hotel.  It was a table for four; Jeff \softline
and Jennifer Sills had not yet ar\-rived.  Several minutes later when the maitre d\'92 showed \softline
the Sills to the table, Bill rose and held out his hand.  \'93I\'92m Bill Clifford, and I assume \softline
you\'92re Jeff Sills.  I\'92m very glad to meet you.  I should have warned you, perhaps, but this \softline
is my wife, Ali.  We were married this morning.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff\'92s jaw dropped.  \'93Married?  My God!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jen squealed and hugged Ali.  Then she stood back and said, \'93Ali, you look \softline
marvelous.  You haven\'92t looked this good in years.\'94  She grinned and continued, \softline
\'93Clearly, married life \'97 at least the first eight hours or so \'97 agrees with you.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab The couple sat down and the waiter brought the champagne Bill had ordered along \softline
with a huge container of beluga caviar.  Bill offered a toast.  \'93To us.  Jeff and Jen, \softline
congratulations on your anniversary.  Many happy returns of the day.  Ali, thank you,\'94 \softline
he finished simply.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The dinner was a great success.  Finally, as they were having coffee and cognac and \softline
everyone was feeling very mellow, Ali looked at Jeff and Jen and asked, \'93How\'92s your \softline
down-payment fund coming?  How much do you have and how much are you trying to \softline
save?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jen answered for the couple.  \'93We\'92re losing is what\'92s happening.  Ali, in the last \softline
twelve months Jeff and I have added nearly eighteen thousand to our savings.  And you \softline
know what?  I think the down-payment we need has increased by more than twenty!  We \softline
have nearly fifty thousand, but we figure we need almost one hundred to be able to \softline
afford the payments, closing costs, insurance, taxes, and that sort of thing.  Thank you \softline
so much for the dinner.  I guess we were both feeling pretty low this morning.  We\'92re \softline
running as fast as we can, but we seem to be going back\-wards.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and said, \'93Kids, the dinner is on Bill.  It\'92s his gift to you and to me.  But \softline
I haven\'92t given you a gift in all the time I\'92ve known you.  I just show up like a stray cat \softline
in desperate need of food and a kind word.  I know there have been times when you and \softline
Jeff were scrimping, but you always welcomed me and shared whatever you had.\'94  Ali \softline
smiled softly.  \'93It\'92s not really my style to just take and never give back.  So finally I have \softline
a gift for you.\'94  She took a check out of her purse that she had written earlier and gave \softline
it to Jen.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girl looked at it, and then looked stunned.  \'93Ali, this is a joke!  Please say it\'92s a \softline
joke,\'94 she exclaimed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff looked over her shoulder at the check.  \'93Jen, it\'92s not a joke.  I happen to know \softline
it\'92s good.\'94  He took it from Jen and gave it back to Ali.  \'93Ali, you know we can\'92t possibly \softline
accept this.  We appreciate what you\'92re trying to do, and we\'92ll accept a check for one \softline
hundred dollars very gratefully, but }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 one hundred thou\-sand?}{\plain \fs24 \f1   It\'92s out of the question!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Why is it out of the question?\'94 Ali asked quietly.  \'93Jeff, what\'92s my balance at the \softline
bank?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m not sure.  I don\'92t know how many checks you\'92ve written, but I guess it\'92s around \softline
four-fifty,\'94 he replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What\'92s my balance been running for the last year or so?  Let\'92s face it: it was a cause \softline
for celebration if it hit triple digits,\'94 she said.  Jeff nodded slowly.  \'93Okay, then.  I give \softline
you one hundred thousand.  That leaves me with about three-fifty.  Jen said it all: You\'92re \softline
losing ground.  I\'92m just trying to get you over the hump.  With this money coupled with \softline
your savings you can get into the house you want.  Maybe you can even get some \softline
furniture.  I\'92ve heard it\'92s dangerous to have only a bed.  First, you can\'92t go out much \softline
because you\'92re so financially strapped.  Second, when the only furniture is the bed, it \softline
becomes the playpen and all kinds of very expensive things can happen.  You can think 
of it as protecting my investment.  You\'92ve just admitted I have the money.  What you \softline
may not know is I also have a very generous husband, so I don\'92t think I\'92m going to be \softline
spending much of my own money for the next twelve months.  I\'92m asking you as a \softline
personal favor to me to take it.  Please!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jen looked at Jeff and asked, \'93Is what Ali just said true?\'94  Jeff nodded and said it \softline
was.  Looking at Ali, tears came to her eyes.  She got out of her seat and went to Ali, took \softline
the older girl in her arms, and started to cry.  \'93Ali, thank you.  There aren\'92t words...  \softline
there can\'92t be words to express the gratitude we feel.  This morning we were despondent.  \softline
We were losing our fight to get our house.  Tonight, it\'92s suddenly there.  I don\'92t know \softline
what to say, except thank you.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled.  Bill noticed it was the smile that he had begun to think of as her \softline
sunshine smile.  \'93Now that it\'92s all settled, then, do you have a house in mind?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff and Jen nodded in unison.  Jen said, \'93We sure do.  There\'92s a place in the Valley \softline
we\'92ve been looking at.  It\'92s a new development, but the developers are really good.  \softline
They\'92ve been building for several years, but they do it slowly \'97 just a few units at a \softline
time.  That\'92s been our big worry: We really love the place, but they\'92re nearly built out.  \softline
We were scared to death that the lots would be all gone before we got the money.\'94  She \softline
smiled.  \'93They\'92re really nice people.  We\'92ve been over there so much, we\'92re on a first-name basis with most of them.  They\'92ll collapse when I call them tomorrow and tell them \softline
we\'92re all set.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff picked up.  \'93Ali, we will register a second mortgage on the property in the name \softline
of Allison McGrath Clifford.  Will the going rate for second-mortgage money be okay?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali glared at him.  \'93No, it will not be okay.  I\'92ll compro\-mise with you: we\'92ll call it a \softline
deferred second for fifty thou\-sand.  Interest is waived until the first is paid.  It then \softline
takes interest at the first-mortgage rate and runs for the same term as the first, but \softline
beginning when the first is paid.  Otherwise, it\'92s a gift.  Period.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jeff looked at Jen and smiled sheepishly.  \'93Jen, it\'92s a tough deal, but it\'92s the best I \softline
can negotiate.  Is it okay with you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Jennifer was a small dark-haired girl with beautiful fea\-tures and lovely green eyes.  \softline
Right now her eyes were tearing as she slowly shook her head.  \'93Ali, what you\'92re saying \softline
is your hundred is for the down-payment.  Our fifty is for closing, furniture, and getting-in expenses.  Is that right?\'94  Ali nodded vigorously.  Jen smiled and said, \'93It\'92s a deal.  \softline
Thank you.\'94  She turned to Jeff and said, \'93Do we have to drive home tonight?  I think \softline
I\'92d rather just float.  We could float home and admire the lights of the city.  I feel I\'92m up \softline
about three thousand feet on a cloud as it is.  Honey, do you want to come with me?\'94 she \softline
asked with a warm smile.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m with you already!  Folks, would you excuse us?  I\'92m just a poor banker.  We\'92re \softline
not used to excitement like this and I don\'92t know how much of it I can take.  Besides, I \softline
see a look in my wife\'92s eyes I want to take advantage of.  Since you\'92re newlyweds, you \softline
probably understand.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab The Sills left arm-in-arm.  As they left, they even appeared to be floating.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill looked at Ali and said, \'93Thank you.  That was the nicest wedding present you \softline
could possibly have given me.  Isn\'92t it fun making others happy?  Ali, particularly when \softline
it\'92s you, it gives me joy.  In fact, you have a sunshine smile which appears when you\'92re \softline
joyous.  It absolutely lights up the place.  I love to see it and feel a sense of gratitude \softline
when I do.  Now are you ready to go back to the hotel?\'94  She nodded and they left the \softline
restaurant.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When they got back to the hotel, Ali went into the bedroom while Bill remained in \softline
the sitting room.  When he went in, she was already in bed with the covers up to her \softline
chin.  Going into the bathroom, he got ready for bed.  After putting on a pair of pajama \softline
bottoms, he went back to the bedroom.  When he slid between the covers he saw that Ali \softline
was completely nude.  She looked at him ques\-tioningly as he slid under the covers beside \softline
her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Remember what I said?  We sleep together literally, but not figuratively.  But would \softline
you give me a kiss?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again he saw the sunshine smile as she rolled on top of him and crushed his lips \softline
under her own.  He could feel her tongue working as he gently caressed her back with \softline
his fingertips.  Her skin was like warm satin to his touch.  Finally, she broke the kiss and \softline
rested on his chest.  As she did, he could feel her now-erect nipples.  \'93Are you sure?\'94 she \softline
asked softly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m sure,\'94 he replied softly.  With a very quiet sigh she rolled off him.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93May I sleep close to you?\'94 she asked.  \'93I would appreciate it if you would let me.  \softline
I\'92ve felt so lonely for so long.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He put his arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her towards him.  Resting \softline
her head on his broad shoulder, Ali\'92s hair spilled like a golden fan over him.  She lay \softline
back and pulled his arm around her shoulders, then cupped his right hand on her breast \softline
and put her hand on top of it.  He turned off the light with his left hand and in moments \softline
they were asleep.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The next morning Ali woke up at six o\'92clock.  Bill\'92s hand was still on her breast.  \softline
Very gently she took it off, eased her head off his shoulder and slipped out of bed.  She \softline
gathered up some things and went to the bath\-room.  When she came out dressed in \softline
Levi\'92s and a blue cham\-bray shirt, she tiptoed out to the sitting room.  She was star\-tled \softline
to see Bill sitting at the breakfast table waiting for her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What on earth is this?\'94 she asked in amazement.  \'93What are you doing up so \softline
early?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93When my new wife has to get up at the crack of dawn to go to work \'97 or to school, \softline
in this case \'97 the least I can do is keep her company.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill was wearing a white terry robe with the hotel\'92s logo on the pocket.  Ali recalled \softline
seeing them in the bathroom and guessed that Bill had taken one out and put it in the 
closet.  He poured her coffee as she sat down at the table, then he asked her which \softline
newspaper she wanted.  \'93We have }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  and \softline
}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 The Wall Street Journal,\'94}{\plain \fs24 \f1  he said.  She took the }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Journal}{\plain \fs24 \f1  and Bill was surprised to see \softline
her immediately go to the third section containing the financial tables.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Honey, do you have a broker I could use?  For years I\'92ve played paper games with \softline
commodities.  I\'92ve made a lot of money on paper.  Would you mind if I used some of my \softline
money and tried it for real?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill warmed as he heard her call him honey.  \'93Of course not.  It\'92s nine-thirty in New \softline
York.  Do you have a trade in mind this morning?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She nodded, looking a little embarrassed.  He picked up the phone and dialed a \softline
number.  When it was answered he said, \'93Pete, it\'92s Bill Clifford.  My wife...\'94  He listened \softline
at what was obvi\-ously an expression of surprise and congratulations.  \'93Thanks, Pete.  \softline
Anyway, my wife would like to open a commodities trading account.  She banks at B of \softline
A.\'94  He listened for a moment and said, \'93How much do you want to give them?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She replied, \'93I want to deposit $150,000 and trade on $50,000 using the rest as \softline
backup.  Is that okay?\'94  It was quickly set up and she told Bill her first trade was to buy \softline
pork bellies.  She turned to her food as Bill took care of the details.  It was corned beef \softline
hash with poached eggs.  When Bill got off the phone she said, \'93How big do I need to be \softline
for the sheik you\'92ve sold me to?  Would two hundred pounds be enough?  At this rate I\'92ll \softline
be there in about a month.\'94  In spite of what she said, she ate it all very happily.  Then \softline
she looked around the room trying to find a clock.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill said, \'93Is this what you\'92re looking for?\'94  He gave her a square box.  It contained \softline
a gold lady\'92s Rolex.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled at him wryly.  \'93Would you please knock off this shit?  We haven\'92t known \softline
each other for even twenty-four hours.  Already, though, I start to think about \softline
something and it appears.  It\'92s eerie!  But thank you so much.  It\'92s lovely, and it\'92s \softline
something I\'92ve wanted for years and years.  But I\'92ve got to dash, or I\'92ll be late.  Honey, \softline
would you please call Jeff later and make arrangements to wire the money to the \softline
broker?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Why are you leaving so soon?  What time is your class?\'94 Bill asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93It\'92s nine o\'92clock, but it\'92s going to take awhile for me to get there.  Public transit \softline
from here to there goes in round\-about ways,\'94 she replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He just shook his head.  \'93You surprise me.  I didn\'92t think you would be such a slow \softline
learner.  Why in God\'92s name would any sane person take public transportation in Los \softline
Angeles when there\'92s a perfectly good car sitting out front.  I thought that Fred with the \softline
limousine would look a little ostentatious dropping you off at school.\'94  He looked at his \softline
watch.  \'93You\'92ve got plenty of time.  Just give me a few minutes to get dressed.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He disappeared and then returned a few minutes later.  \'93Are you all set?\'94  She \softline
nodded and they went down to the lobby and then out front.  There was a white turbo-charged Mazda convert\-ible sitting in front with its top down.  The attendant was holding \softline
the door as he greeted Ali.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She took one look at it, turned to Bill and, standing on tiptoes, kissed him softly.  \softline
She whispered, \'93Thank you, darling.  I\'92ll see you later \'97 about four, if that\'92s okay?\'94  He \softline
nodded and grinned as she guided her new car out of the driveway.}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At four o\'92clock when Ali returned she found Bill in bed, face down.  She sat on the \softline
side of the bed, pulled the covers down to his waist, and found he was sleeping in his \softline
shorts.  Then she started to kneed the muscles in his shoulders and the back of his neck.  \softline
He woke up instantly and just started to make contented noises as she massaged his \softline
neck, his shoulders and then his back.  When she finished, she pulled the covers up \softline
again.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He rolled over on his back and smiled at her.  \'93Hi, honey.  To what do I owe this \softline
attention?  Want me to give you a massage?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and said, \'93Not now.  I just had one at the health club I joined.  It felt so \softline
good after the workout, I though you might like one too.  By the way, what are your \softline
plans?  How much longer will we be in Los Angeles?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill replied, \'93At least until you graduate in June.  Do you need to take a bar cram \softline
course?  I\'92m not that familiar with UCLA\'92s law school.  Are you prepared for the bar \softline
exam?  And when is it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93The answer is I am prepared, and the exam I want to take is in late June.  What do \softline
you want to do then?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93How about going out to Maui?  Maybe we could spend a couple of months playing \softline
golf, swimming, and generally relaxing.  Does that appeal?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab For an answer, she leaned over and kissed him softly.  Then she whispered, \'93Bill, \softline
could it be a real honeymoon?  Please?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He just kissed her back, and stretched.  \'93Honey, I have some things for you if you\'92ll \softline
let me get out of bed.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He realized that what had been an infatuation for Allison McGrath was changing.  \softline
In less than forty-eight hours he realized he was genuinely in love with this girl \'97 and \softline
she appeared to be in love with him.  He smiled at her and was rewarded with her \softline
sunshine smile.  When she left the room, he got dressed and joined her.  \'93Honey, I don\'92t \softline
even know if you drink, let alone what you drink.  Do you?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked at him with a quizzical little smile.  \'93William Clifford, I ask you \'97 with \softline
a name like McGrath, do you honestly think I\'92m a teetotaler?\'94  Then she smiled brightly \softline
and said, \'93Oh!  I see!  You mean do I drink on days other than my wedding?  Bill, things \softline
are moving much too fast.  I suddenly realized that since I\'92ve met you I had a bottle of \softline
Dos \'c9quis with Senor Gar\'e7ia and the rest of the time we\'92ve been drinking Dom \softline
P\'e9rignon.  I\'92ve developed a real taste for it, by the way.  And I think you\'92re doing it to 
me deliberately.\'94  There was another smile.  \'93Actually, Bill, I drink almost anything.  \softline
Could you just make me one of whatever you\'92re drinking?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at her skeptically.  \'93Are you sure?  I drink mar\-tinis, known to some as \softline
silver bullets... as in lethal.  Are you sure?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and nodded her head vigorously.  \'93The worst thing that could happen is \softline
you would take advantage of me in my weakened condition.  But you promised me a \softline
honeymoon anyway, so I\'92ll take my chances.\'94  Her expression became thoughtful.  \'93Bill, \softline
I want you to know something straight out.  I\'92m getting into this role.\'94  Her face became \softline
almost solemn as she said, \'93I should warn you \'97 in case it\'92s not completely obvious.  If \softline
I\'92m not madly in love with you yet \'97 and I may be \'97 I\'92m going in that direction very \softline
fast.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Then she gave another quick grin.  \'93Before I get com\-pletely maudlin, may I have a \softline
martini, please?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill had been making the drinks.  He gave Ali hers and went over to the table and \softline
sat down.  The bell rang.  It was the room-service waiter \'97 not Charley, this time \'97 \softline
with a trolley of hors d\'92oeuvres.  She looked at Bill and raised her glass.  \'93To us, darling.  \softline
I could get used to this very easily.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill had a small pile of packages which he started giving to her one at a time.  \softline
\'93Honey, first, this is your American Express Platinum Card.  If there\'92s a limit on the \softline
account, I haven\'92t found it yet.  It\'92s a related number on mine.\'94  He gave her the plastic \softline
with its assorted paraphernalia.  Then he opened another box containing a tan leather \softline
checkbook wallet with a supply of checks on Morgan Guaranty.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at the checkbook and opened it.  The personalized checks said Allison M. \softline
Clifford.  The address printed on the checks was c/o Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, \softline
New York.  She looked at it carefully.  \'93My God!  I guess I am married.  Darling, doesn\'92t \softline
Morgan\'92s imprimatur make it official?  But why the bank\'92s address?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill looked at her sheepishly.  \'93Morgan didn\'92t know I would be marrying an MBA.  \softline
As a result, this is checkbook balancing made easy.  Once a month, you just give me a list \softline
of check numbers and amounts which I send to New York.  You don\'92t ever show a \softline
balance in your check register.\'94  He grinned and added, \'93But try to let me know, though, \softline
if you write a single check for over $10 million.  It could affect the bank balance.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just shook her head in wonderment.  \'93Darling, the reason I\'92m shaking my head \softline
is I know you\'92re serious.  Forty-eight hours ago, I couldn\'92t write a check for}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1  ten dollars}{\plain \fs24 \f1  \softline
without breaking out in a cold sweat.  Now my darling husband asks me if I would sort \softline
of let him know if I write a check for over ten }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 million!}{\plain \fs24 \f1   Just call it a state of shock.  But \softline
I love it!\'94  Again, there was the glorious smile, \'93Is there more?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill smiled in the warmth of hers and nodded.  He gave her a gold Visa and a gold \softline
MasterCard.  \'93You\'92ll have to be a little careful with these, honey.  You have to watch \softline
what you spend.  There\'92s only $25,000 on each.  Can you manage?\'94 he asked with a grin.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Ali looked at him and he watched her face fall.  It appeared she was going to cry.  \softline
\'93Only twenty-five thousand?  William, I thought you said you loved me?\'94  She then \softline
started to cry and he applauded.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The tears instantly stopped and were replaced with an impish grin.  \'93Did you like \softline
it?  Did I do it all right?  Do I get the part?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab For an answer, he took her in his arms and kissed her.  Again, he felt the warmth \softline
of her lips, her dainty tongue, and the sense of leashed passion waiting to burst forth.  \softline
\'93I thought you did it beautifully!  By the way, how do you like your new car?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again her face lighted up, her act forgotten.  \'93Darling, it\'92s spectacular!  It will blow \softline
the doors off a Porsche.  It\'92s great!  By the way, I did some of my own driving stunts, too.  \softline
Usually when the director and producer didn\'92t watch me too carefully.  They would have \softline
had my head on a platter if they knew some of the things I did.  Honey, it\'92s wonderful.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Suddenly she was very serious as she looked at him.  \'93There\'92s one problem.  Darling, \softline
there\'92s only one thing I can give you for a wedding present \'97 me.  I\'92m trying to get into \softline
the physical shape you want me to be in.  I want to be as perfect for you as I can be.  \softline
Does that sound strange?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93It sounds embarrassing, is what it sounds like,\'94 he an\-swered.  \'93Did you call \softline
Charley?  I\'92m kind of interested in the USC thing.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I tried earlier.  Can I try again now?\'94 she asked.  He just passed her the phone \softline
while she looked in her purse and found the number.  She dialed it and this time got an \softline
answer.  \'93Charley, this is Ali McGrath.  I\'92m following up on your invitation.  Were you \softline
seri\-ous?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley Conrad replied, \'93I certainly was.  Would you consid\-er doing it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and said, \'93I certainly will.  There are a couple of problems, though, some \softline
of which we share.  First, we\'92re get\-ting close to the end of the term.  Can we do it in the \softline
next week or so?  Second, instead of paying me, could you have a beer party or something \softline
and put the rest of the money back in the treasury?  If Southern Cal is like UCLA \'97 and \softline
I\'92m sure it is \'97 the way to really get the attendance up is to announce that free beer will \softline
be served.  Are you game?  And, if so, you better have some beer for me.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab There was silence on the line for a few moments.  Then Charley said, \'93Mrs. Clifford, \softline
you\'92re serious, aren\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Charley, I never joke about anything as important as free beer.  Of course I\'92m \softline
serious.  And Charley, since I\'92m now an invited speaker and a fellow law student, I would \softline
appreciate it if you would call me Ali.  I\'92m practicing, but \'91Mrs. Clifford\'92 is still a pretty \softline
new concept to me.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93How about next Wednesday at four, Ali?\'94 he replied, \'93You can talk with us and \softline
we\'92ll serve the beer when you finish?  I\'92m sure I can schedule it if you can.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Charley, it\'92s a deal.  Could you drop off the directions for me at the hotel?  I would \softline
appreciate it,\'94 she replied and hung up.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Bill regarded his wife thoughtfully.  \'93There\'92s one final thing: investments.  Ali, I \softline
gather you like running money.  I\'92m getting the sense that you like the excitement \'97 \softline
similar to fast cars and doing your own stunts.  Am I right?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She nodded and said, \'93I think you probably are.  In some ways I\'92m very cautious, but \softline
I guess it\'92s because I\'92ve had to be.  When I look at investments it\'92s more of a game \'97 \softline
trying to beat the other guy, with the money you make \'97 or lose \'97 as a way of keeping \softline
score.  Does that sound weird to you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill was reacting to a phone call he had received earlier about Ali\'92s commodity \softline
position.  His broker told Bill that one of the professional traders in the Firm had looked \softline
at the position with great interest.  The broker indicated that while it was unorthodox, \softline
it most certain\-ly was not off the wall.  He replied, \'93No, it doesn\'92t.  Not at all.  Look, I pay \softline
a bunch of investment advisors a ton of money each year to get me invest\-ment \softline
performance that isn\'92t as good as the market averages.  Would you like to get in on the \softline
game?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked stunned and slowly shook her head.  \'93Honey, that\'92s not fair.  I came here \softline
originally because you were casting a part \'97 a very interesting one, I found out.  I\'92m a \softline
profes\-sional actress.  I have a string of very real credits and even an award or two.  I \softline
could apply and accept without a qualm.  But this is different.  I\'92ve never run a nickel.  \softline
When I had some money, I didn\'92t know the difference between an invest\-ment and a piece \softline
of jewelry.  When I started to study and learn something about financial markets, I \softline
didn\'92t have a dime.  The only investing I\'92ve ever done was on paper, reading}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1  The Wall \softline
Street Journal.}{\plain \fs24 \f1   There\'92s one more thing: I know from reading the paper that there are \softline
a host of new investment vehicles that didn\'92t even exist when I was in graduate school, \softline
let alone appear in text books.  Bill, why not just leave it to the pros?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, the problem is they don\'92t know either.  Furthermore, I pay them a lot more in \softline
a year than I\'92m paying you to get a lot less \'97 a hell of a lot less.  It would please me if \softline
you would take a shot.  Will you?  My proposition is this: I have about $2 billion invested.  \softline
I normally use ten managers.  Periodically, if one is performing particularly poorly, I\'92ll \softline
drop that firm and add a new one.  I\'92m ready to drop one right now.  To put it into better \softline
perspective, it\'92s hard to really know who to drop.  Last year, Ali, }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 none}{\plain \fs24 \f1  of them even \softline
equaled the S&P 500 on their equity investments.  Not a single one!  In other words, \softline
they all stink.  I\'92d like you to take over the portfolio from the poorest.  Please?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She had been studying his face as he spoke.  Again, she slowly shook her head, but \softline
this time it was an expression of bewilderment rather than negation.  Finally, she \softline
nodded and gave him a wry smile.  \'93Well, honey, I guess we can survive on a few million \softline
dollars less with only a few minor cuts in our lifestyle.  You have to promise me, though, \softline
not to cut my throat when I lose it all.  How much do you want me to start with, and \softline
what\'92s the deal?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Now Bill grinned broadly.  \'93I thought you should start small \'97 $200 million.  It\'92s \softline
all held by the custody folks at Chemical Bank in New York.  They\'92ll send you a list by \softline
fax of the holdings of the outgoing manager.  Oh, one more thing.  The compensation is 
1 percent per year of assets under management, paid monthly.  Expenses \'97 custody, \softline
commissions, and that junk \'97 come off the top before we calculate the commissionable \softline
assets.  Fair?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Suddenly \'97 and surprising to Bill \'97 Ali beamed.  \'93Whoop\-ee!  I get to play Monopoly \softline
with real money.\'94  Then she quickly turned serious.  \'93I think you should know my style, \softline
hon.  I intend to look over what they own, get out of whatever I consider to be junk and \softline
hold it in cash until I find some good opportunities.  With any luck, you \'97 we?  \'97 \softline
shouldn\'92t do much worse than the money-market rate.  Is that acceptable?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill smiled and said, \'93You had it right the second time \'97 we.  If it\'92s okay with my \softline
better half, it\'92s certainly okay with me.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Later that day a bellman brought up a thick envelope con\-taining a fax message from \softline
Chemical Bank.  Ali had a copy of the }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Journal}{\plain \fs24 \f1  and went through the list of securities \softline
checking the paper occasionally.  Bill was reading a book \'97 or pretending to \'97 as he \softline
watched her concentrate.  She finished and picked up the phone to call Jeff Sills.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When he answered, she said, \'93Jeff, it\'92s Ali.  Does B of A still have a discount \softline
brokerage?  You used to own Charles Schwab.  I\'92m looking for a broker here, and \softline
thought you might get some brownie points for a referral.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He replied that they didn\'92t but there were still cordial relations with Schwab.  He \softline
then mentioned that her account was again at the $500,000 level \'97 some more money \softline
had appeared from Morgan.  He said he\'92d call a friend at Schwab and have him call Ali. \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab After hanging up the phone she glared at Bill and said, \'93More money appeared in my \softline
account.  What\'92s going on?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at her while appearing puzzled and re\-plied, \'93Nothing, really.  It\'92s just bad \softline
for my image if my wife bounces a check.  I just wanted to be sure you\'92re...  comfort\-able.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She stuck out her tongue at him just as the phone rang.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab It was a Schwab broker named Jack Cummings who introduced himself as a friend \softline
of Jeff\'92s.  \'93What can I do for you, Mrs. Clifford?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill watched as she very efficiently went over the account set up, the registration \softline
information, and the custodial arrange\-ments.  Then she ran down the list of stocks to \softline
be disposed of.  Ali was pleased that Jack Cummings was obviously just as efficient.  He \softline
played back the infor\-mation she had given him precisely.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Then she said, \'93That gets rid of the garbage.  Now I want you to buy 100,000 shares \softline
of Acme Industries at a price less than forty.  Its last trade yesterday was 39-3/4.\'94  He \softline
confirmed.  \'93Finally, new subject.  I would like to open my own account.  I would like \softline
Schwab to retain custody.  The account name is A. M. Clifford.  Jack, I don\'92t want Ms., \softline
Miss, or Mrs.; just the ini\-tials.\'94  She gave him her social security number.  \'93I want to buy \softline
1,000 shares of Alliance Studios for that account.  Let me know the exact amount and \softline
I\'92ll tell Jeff to transfer the money to you on the settlement day.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93By the way, on the Clifford account the confirmations always go to Chemical, but \softline
in addition I would like an additional copy sent to me wherever I happen to be.  Right \softline
now it\'92s the Beverly Wilshire, but we\'92re planning on moving around.  You have our \softline
number here, and I\'92ll keep you informed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Go to it, Jack.  I\'92m looking forward to working with you.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She hung up the phone and saw Bill grinning.  \'93What\'92s so funny?\'94 she asked, feeling \softline
a little embarrassed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Nothing,\'94 he said.  \'93Want to make a little bet?  Ten dol\-lars?\'94  She was puzzled, but \softline
said she would.  \'93Ali, I\'92m betting you ten dollars that by the end of your contract \'97 one \softline
year, less a couple of days \'97 you\'92ll be running all of our money.  And you\'92ll be doing it \softline
because you will have outperformed every other manager I have.  Okay?\'94  She grinned \softline
and shook on the bet.  Within the next two days Ali had invested about $80 mil\-lion.  Bill \softline
was impressed with her ease in handling the money.  She spent an hour or so with the \softline
papers and magazines and a little time checking some special investment research she \softline
or\-dered.  He was very pleased.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab In the meantime, she continued to go to her law classes and work out at her health \softline
club.  On the following Wednesday morning, she had on her Levi\'92s and chambray shirt.  \softline
She had found a lea\-ther jacket to wear with it and had her hair tied back in a pony tail.  \softline
\'93Do you think I look all right for a beer party?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill just grinned and nodded.  \'93Darling, you look beautiful wearing anything at all.  \softline
Should I wait for you to have dinner?\'94 he asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Suddenly, she looked at him in surprise.  \'93Bill Clifford, do you realize if I stay for \softline
dinner with them it will be the first dinner I\'92ve eaten without you since the day we \softline
met?\'94  She frown\-ed, and said, \'93Would you mind if I called you after the session?  I don\'92t \softline
know if there are any plans.  But would it bother you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Honey, I love being with you, but I\'92ll survive for one night.  I think those guys can \softline
help you in your quest.  Enlist them in it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What quest is that?\'94 she asked, puzzled.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Your quest for justice from Alliance Studios and friends.  I hope you hang them by \softline
their balls.  By the way, our family resources are not inconsiderable, as you know.  \softline
They\'92re com\-pletely at your disposal to use in any way you wish.  I hope you know that, \softline
too,\'94 he replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled at him.  \'93Darling, I love you.  And I\'92m looking forward to our honey\-moon.  \softline
You can\'92t understand how it feels to sleep with you but not able to have you.  I thought \softline
you were imposing on me when you said I would be sleeping with you literally but not \softline
figuratively.  It\'92s turned out to be one hell of an imposition, but not the way I thought.\'94  \softline
Her smile brightened, \'93But I\'92m patient... sort of.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab As she said it, she thought about their personal relation\-ship.  It had developed into \softline
a pattern with an understood \'97 but unspoken \'97 set of rules.  They used the bathroom 
separately.  Ali usually went to bed first, and was always nude.  When they were in bed, \softline
she played a game with their one goodnight kiss.  She was inven\-tive in developing new \softline
ways to communicate her love and mounting pas\-sion, but it was always a single kiss \'97 \softline
never more.  She would then snuggle against him and they would go to sleep with her \softline
breast cupped in his hand and with her hand on top of his.  Remarkably, she was \softline
intensely happy and they both slept well.  She decided that, overall, it was a strangely \softline
pleasing relationship.\par
}\page 
\pard \fs24\qj\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 Chapter 3\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab That afternoon she drove to the USC campus and met Charley Conrad who was \softline
waiting for her at the parking lot.  As they walked towards the school he said, \'93Ali, \softline
you\'92ve already established a first.  This is the first time since I\'92ve been here \'97 and \softline
maybe the first time in history \'97 a featured speaker arrived on time.  In fact, precise\-ly \softline
on time.  Thank you for coming and for your courtesy to us by being so prompt.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When he took her to a large lecture hall in the law school, she was surprised to find \softline
it was crowded with law students.  After calling the meeting to order, he looked at his \softline
watch.  \'93Ladies and gentlemen, I think this is a first.  It is now four o\'92clock.  We have a \softline
featured speaker with us and we\'92re starting on time.  I think it says something about our \softline
speaker today.  Like many of you here \'97 looking around, I see a number of older faces \softline
\'97 I remember Allison McGrath from her screen roles in the 1970\'92s.  I can recall going \softline
to bed and dreaming about her.  She was the most beautiful woman alive, but then she \softline
disap\-peared.  There was a rumor going around about disagreements with the stu\-\-dio.  \softline
You still see her on the Late Show, of course, but there was no sign of her until a few \softline
weeks ago.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93As some of you know, I work at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in room service.  Last \softline
week I delivered a breakfast order to the Trouble Suite.\'94  He turned toward Ali and put \softline
his finger in front of his lips, then turned back to the group.  \'93Ali\'92s not sup\-posed to know \softline
this, of course, but the suite gets its name from the guests normally in it, not from the \softline
facilities.  It\'92s the finest suite in the hotel \'97 normally filled with the most obnoxious \softline
SOBs in the world: Traveling VIPs.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93At any rate I took an order up and met Ali and her husband, Bill Clifford.  Now I\'92m \softline
going to say something that can get me thrown out of the union, if I\'92m still alive.  The \softline
people who know guests best are the staff \'97 particularly if the guests are in the hotel \softline
for a while.  Right now, there are near fistfights to see who gets to service their suite.  \softline
It\'92s not the tips, although they\'92re very generous.  The fact is, it\'92s the smile.  You see \'97 \softline
and some of you may remember this from her films \'97 Ali has a smile that, when she \softline
really turns it on, is like sunshine.  The staff turns collective hand springs if they get \softline
that smile \'97 and they usually do.  To show you how bad it is, one guy was walking \softline
around like he\'92d been hit by a truck.  I guess he sort of had.  He\'92d been hit by one of Ali\'92s \softline
smiles.  He was walking around like a zombie with a grin on his face.  I asked him about \softline
his tip.  He actually didn\'92t know if she gave him one and he didn\'92t seem to care.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Now you\'92re not waiters or waitresses, but I know many of you have been.  When \softline
was the last time you didn\'92t know }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 if}{\plain \fs24 \f1  you got a tip, let alone how big it was?  With Ali, it\'92s \softline
not unusual.  She could really save a lot of money.  At any rate, I met her at the hotel.  \softline
She is the most gracious person I can ever recall meeting.  She thanked me for \softline
remembering her, and thanked me for inviting her to visit us today.  I could go on and \softline
on.  I would like to mention one thing more: Ali is a movie star.  Some consider her a sex \softline
goddess.  She also has her BA in History from the University of Kansas, and her MBA \softline
from UCLA, where she is now completing her law degree.  She gradu\-ates this June.  
Some friends over there tell me she\'92s at or near the top of her class.  Would you join me \softline
in welcoming our professional colleague, Allison McGrath Clifford?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He turned to Ali and she replaced him on the podium.  She was warmed by the \softline
applause she heard.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Thank you for the very warm welcome.  Charley tried to make you believe waiters \softline
only work for tips.  Well, there\'92s also a point of view that actors only perform for the \softline
money.  That\'92s just not true, either.  What we live on is applause... and that\'92s the first \softline
applause I\'92ve drawn in over ten years.  Thank you so much.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I suppose I should comment on my appearance this afternoon.  I couldn\'92t figure out \softline
whether Charley was inviting an actress \'97 in which case I would do my movie-star \softline
imitation \'97 or a lawyer.  I kind of decided he had invited a lawyer, but I don\'92t even have \softline
my basic grey-flannel lawyer suit yet.  Then I remembered the real attrac\-tion this \softline
afternoon: free beer.\'94  She smiled her very warm smile and was amazed when it evoked \softline
a spontaneous cheer.  \'93Any\-way, I came dressed for a beer party.  I hope there are no \softline
serious women\'92s libbers here who\'92ll chew me out for the rest of the afternoon.  Anyway, \softline
we\'92ve now agreed why we\'92re all here.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93However, particularly these days when everyone takes himself so seriously, we \softline
couldn\'92t just blow off the talk and start pouring the beer.  Appearances must be \softline
preserved, so I have to say something.  Unfortunately, Charley never told me what I was \softline
supposed to talk about, and I\'92ve been too busy getting ready for my own finals to sweat \softline
it.  This bothered me for a while.  Then I remembered that Charley originally offered me \softline
five thousand dollars to appear today.  I now realize the smartest move I ever made was \softline
to refuse the money and ask him to use some of it for beer.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Although I didn\'92t realize it at the time, I now know it took me off the hook.  Since \softline
I\'92m not doing this for money, I didn\'92t have to write a speech, so I didn\'92t.  I propose to \softline
answer your questions, if there are any.  Then we can get to the serious business of the \softline
afternoon.  However, there is one more word of preamble.  I am truly pleased to be here \softline
at the University of Southern California.  I would have loved to be a student here myself, \softline
but frankly I couldn\'92t afford it.  Thank you for inviting me and does anyone have any \softline
ques\-tions?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali walked out from behind the podium and sat on the edge of the stage with her legs \softline
dangling.  She real\-ized that the acoustics of the hall were good enough that the PA \softline
system wasn\'92t necessary.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A student rose from the back of the room.  \'93Miss McGrath, like Charley, I\'92m a \softline
Vietnam veteran.  I think I heard that Charley saw you over there in 1974.  I didn\'92t have \softline
the privilege.  He referred to a rumor that I\'92ve heard, too: that your career was cut short \softline
because of the war.  Would you care to comment?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grimaced.  \'93Yes, I will.  I guess the \'91in\'92 thing is to tell you where I\'92m coming \softline
from, although I detest the phrase.  First, I think we went over there with very \softline
honorable motives.  The phrase at the time was the domino theory which, as a concept, 
obvi\-ously had merit.  We lost Vietnam...  Excuse me, the Vietnamese lost their freedom, \softline
as did the Laotians and the Cambodi\-ans.  The dead in Cambodia are now numbered in \softline
the millions.  So much for the question of why.  Once there, though, we managed the war \softline
abominably.  Our leaders couldn\'92t make up their collective minds what we were there \softline
for.  But one thing was clear: We weren\'92t there to win the war in any historically \softline
recognizable sense.  That\'92s the trage\-dy.  Our people \'97 some of them are you people \'97 \softline
did absolutely every\-thing they were asked to do.  They performed effective\-ly, often under \softline
extremely adverse conditions.  But we left with our tail between our legs.  We weren\'92t \softline
beaten.  We were }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 never}{\plain \fs24 \f1  beaten.  We walked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I bitterly resented seeing our boys fighting, bleeding and dying, and then being spit \softline
on by draft-dodgers at home.  Sure, there were some committed pacifists who are against \softline
all wars as a matter of principle.  There were some very thoughtful people who had some \softline
of the same doubts I had: about the way we were fighting, not why we were there.  \softline
However, there were also a substantial number of committed cowards.  These were \softline
people who took cover in the antiwar movement.  I guess you could say they were in the \softline
forefront of what is now a major effort to make us safe from any accident or misfortune.  \softline
In fact, I\'92m waiting for OSHA to cite the U.S. Armed Forces on the grounds that war can \softline
be hazardous to one\'92s health.  But I digress.  I guess I got fed up with seeing us \'97 our \softline
GIs \'97 being portrayed as the bad guys.  In some influential quarters in Holly\-wood, they \softline
were all for free speech \'97 as long as you were saying the right things.  Jane Fonda was.  \softline
I wasn\'92t.  She worked.  I didn\'92t.  I guess it\'92s that simple.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The reaction to her short speech was astonishing.  Suddenly, the whole group was \softline
on its feet applauding.  Charley came up to her and shook her hand.  \'93Ali, that was \softline
absolutely magnificent!  I\'92ve never heard it summed up so accurately and clearly in so \softline
few words.\'94  Slowly the applause died down and a girl raised her hand.  Ali recognized \softline
her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Miss McGrath, what you just described sounds like a boy\-cott.  Specifically, it sounds \softline
like an organized effort to deprive you of the ability to earn a livelihood.  Did I under\-
stand you correctly?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali noted she was a very earnest-appearing young lady who seemed to be far too \softline
young to have been involved in any way during the Vietnam confrontations.  \'93First, you \softline
would all do me a great favor if you called me Ali.  As a matter of fact, my life was saved \softline
by Bill Clifford.  I still don\'92t really know why, but he married me and changed my life.  \softline
Technically, it\'92s Mrs. Clifford, which is a name I\'92ve come to like very much.  However, \softline
since we\'92re all law students \'97 even if there are some of us who are over the hill...\'94  At \softline
that instant, there was a loud chorus of boos and shouts disagreeing with her \'91over-the-hill\'92 assessment of her\-self.  She grinned and continued, \'93Thank you so much.  But as I \softline
was saying, since we\'92re all law students and I came for the beer, please call me Ali.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Miss, to address your question, I think the answer is yes, and I\'92m working on it.  \softline
You see, after I stopped getting work I still had a fair amount of money.  Unfortunately, \softline
my parents were critically injured in an automobile accident and subsequent\-ly died.  
Their expenses took a great deal of my money.  While I was with them, though, my agent \softline
was getting blank stares as he tried to sell me into var\-ious parts.  After I buried my \softline
parents in Kansas, I came back here to be available for casting.  I was also realistic \softline
enough to know I had to do some\-thing to support myself, too.  I went to UCLA and got \softline
my MBA.  When I graduated, I received no job offers.  Not one.  I don\'92t mean to brag, but \softline
I graduated first in my class.  I suppose I could have gone home to Kansas and gotten a \softline
job, but I didn\'92t want to let them run me out of Southern Cali\-fornia.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93The last of my money went on lawyers.  I don\'92t think mine were very good, or else \softline
they didn\'92t care very much or try very hard.  Anyway, it\'92s what got me to law school.  \softline
And I say this in full knowledge of the axiom, \'91a lawyer who represents himself has a fool \softline
for a client\'92.  Until a short time ago I was flat, stony broke.  Let me just say that on the \softline
morning of my wedding I had a bank balance of $7.64, I was two months behind in my \softline
rent and I was being hounded by every bill collector in Southern California.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Finally, I would like to comment on Charley\'92s introductory remarks about the \softline
attitude of the hotel staff towards us.  There\'92s an Indian saying to the effect, \'91To \softline
understand a man, you must walk a mile in his moccasins.\'92  Well, I think I know what \softline
it\'92s like to struggle and scrimp.  I appreciate people who have to work hard to earn a \softline
living.  I really appreciated what he said about Bill and me and only hope he\'92s not \softline
exaggerating too much.\'94  She smiled and was re\-warded with another burst of ap\-plause.  \softline
\'93Are there any more questions before we have the beer?  I\'92m planning on staying, by the \softline
way.  It\'92s a condition of my appearance.  Char\-ley promised to save a beer for me, so I \softline
would love to talk more with you while I\'92m here.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A young man sitting close to the front said, \'93Ali, can we help you?  We all get \softline
involved in these legal-aid things.  I guess it helps when you take care of a tough landlord \softline
situa\-tion, but many of us would like to do something bigger.  At the same time, I can\'92t \softline
stand these \'91constitutional issues\'92 cases where we get a few poor souls to sign some com\-
plaint papers and use them \'97 and I mean the people, not the papers \'97 to fry some fish \softline
of our own.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Anyway, is there something we can do?  It sounds to me that you were raped!  Like \softline
most of the people here, I was very young when Vietnam was a hot item.  But I think \softline
we\'92ve been sensitized enough on civil rights and civil liberties to see some applica\-tion \softline
here.  Ali, have you given any thought to going after those bastards on a Federal rap of \softline
conspiring to deny you your civil rights?  I sure don\'92t know you like some of the others \softline
here, but I have seen many of your films on TV.  I wondered what happened to such a \softline
great actress.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Actually, though, having listened to you this afternoon, I\'92m coming to the point of \softline
view that maybe you aren\'92t such a great actress.  After all, how great do you have to be \softline
to play yourself?  I think that is what you were doing: playing Ali McGrath.  And I think \softline
Ali McGrath is a pretty wonderful person!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again, everyone in the room rose and gave Ali a standing ovation.  She could feel \softline
tears rolling down her cheeks as the applause got louder and cheers and whistles mixed 
in.  Then she jumped to her feet again, stood on the stage and just listened to the ap\-
plause.  Moments later she was joined by Charley who stood by her side with his arm \softline
around her waist.  While he remained standing, she waved to the crowd and then sat \softline
down in the chair positioned for her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley waited for the cheering to die down, and finally it did.  He said, \'93This is the \softline
end of my third year here at USC Law School.  In that time I\'92ve seen many distinguished \softline
speakers come to address the students.  Frankly, this is a first for me.  I have never seen \softline
such a reception accorded a speaker since I have been here.  I\'92ve been thinking about \softline
that comment John Jacobs made, and I think he\'92s probably right.  I guess Ali isn\'92t such \softline
a great act\-ress.  She\'92s a great person, playing herself.  Anyway, I want to thank her for \softline
coming.  I would also be very interested in orga\-nizing and participating in any effort to \softline
assist her in seeing justice done.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Then he held up his arms and yelled, \'93The beer tap is now open!  Thank you all for \softline
coming.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He turned to Ali and said, \'93You were great.  By the way, you look great, too.\'94  He \softline
studied her and then slowly shook his head.  \'93That\'92s all you, isn\'92t it?  You\'92re wearing no \softline
makeup at all, are you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked chagrined.  \'93I\'92m sorry, Charley.  I just took a shower at my health club \softline
and came on over.  I didn\'92t think it showed that much.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He shook his head and looked at her as he might look at an amusing child.  \'93You \softline
really don\'92t understand, do you?  Ali, how many girls can step out of a shower and look \softline
like a gorgeous movie star without putting on a shred of makeup?  And I most particu\-
larly include the movie stars!  Damn!  If only I\'92d met you an hour earlier!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She looked up at him and turned on her smile.  \'93Why Charley Conrad, I\'92m \softline
overwhelmed!\'94  She stood on tiptoe and kissed him softly on the lips.  \'93Thank you,\'94 she \softline
said softly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley just looked dazed as he lightly rubbed the back of his wrist on his lips.  With \softline
an effort of will he regained control.  \'93Come on!\'94 he said, \'93The beer will be all gone, and \softline
then you\'92ll kill me!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She grinned at him and said, \'93I\'92m glad to see you understand the seriousness of the \softline
situation.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He led her to the side of the room and left her with a group of students who were \softline
crowding around.  A number wanted autographs which she cheerful\-ly provided.  She \softline
asked them where they intended to practice and asked their names.  Then she wrote a \softline
couple of lines using the person\'92s name and referring to each as a colleague at the bar.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then, Charley came up wearing his white waiter\'92s jacket and carrying a silver \softline
tray high over his head to clear the crowd.  When he rejoined Ali, he lowered it with a \softline
flourish.  On it was a bottle of Sam Adams and a tall frosted pilsner glass.  He carefully \softline
poured the beer and presented it on the tray to her, along with a paper napkin.  He 
grinned at Ali and the group and said, \'93I happen to know Ali is spoiled by the quality of \softline
service she gets at the hotel.  Also, USC has its honor to uphold against UCLA.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She grinned back and said, \'93Charley also knows I love Sam Adams.  Charley, thank \softline
you so much!  But where are the pretzels, for heaven\'92s sake?  Who ever heard of beer \softline
without pretzels?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then a friend of Charley\'92s, also wearing a waiter\'92s jacket, offered her a basket \softline
of fat beer pretzels.  Ali pretended to faint.  Although she let her knees go limp, she was \softline
careful not to spill a drop of her beer.  She then jumped up and grinned.  \'93I\'92ve died and \softline
gone to heaven!  Ice-cold Sam Adams and jumbo pretzels!  Yum!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A quiet girl had been standing close to Ali without saying anything.  Finally, Ali \softline
looked directly at her.  She reddened slightly and then said quietly, \'93Miss McGrath, \softline
could I speak to you alone for a moment?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at the girl and thought it had taken an effort of will for her to speak at all.  \softline
Charley had seen the exchange, so Ali winked at him while moving off with the girl \softline
towards the stage.  \'93Don\'92t you have a beer?\'94 Ali asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I don\'92t drink, Miss McGrath.  My name is Virginia Jamison.  I\'92m a third-year \softline
student here.  I wanted to speak to you person\-ally.  How do you handle men the way you \softline
do?  You\'92re so relaxed and natural.  I should tell you I came here to boo.  I thought that \softline
a big-time stuck-up movie star was going to grace us with her presence.  Then I heard \softline
you and saw you.  You\'92re real, aren\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali could see the girl was deeply troubled about something and she knew it was no \softline
time for a joke.  \'93Yes, I guess I am,\'94 she replied.  \'93What you see is what you get.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Virginia went on.  \'93You\'92re so...  so free with the guys.  How do you do it?  How do \softline
you maintain your dignity, your sense of personal worth?  How do you keep men from \softline
dominating you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at the girl carefully.  She suddenly realized that even she \'97 with her \softline
trained eye \'97 couldn\'92t discern what Virginia really looked like.  There wasn\'92t the least \softline
hint of a figure under her clothes.  She appeared formless and it puzzled her.  Then Ali \softline
said something totally removed from her thoughts.  \'93First, what do people call you?  \softline
Virginia is...  kind of formal.  Second, I don\'92t care if you drink or not, I want you to get \softline
yourself a beer and get us a basket of those pretzels.  Then I\'92m yours for as long as the \softline
pretzels hold out.  Okay?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Well, some people call me Ginny, but I don\'92t think that\'92s appropriate for a woman \softline
lawyer.  It\'92s not serious enough.\'94  Ali slowly nodded as the girl went off.  A few minutes \softline
later she was back with a glass of beer for herself and a bottle of Sam Adams stuck in a \softline
basket of pretzels for Ali.  Ali grinned and relieved her of the basket.  She refilled her \softline
own glass and gracefully pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the stage.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Won\'92t you join me, Ginny?  You can get up here, can\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab The girl gave Ali a strange look, then gracefully turned and lifted herself effortlessly \softline
up on the stage.  Ali smiled and said, \'93Have a pretzel.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny looked at them and said, \'93But they have so much salt.  All that sodium...\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked concerned and said, \'93I\'92m so sorry.  You don\'92t }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 look}{\plain \fs24 \f1  like you have a heart \softline
problem.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny looked startled.  \'93I don\'92t!  Why would you say a thing like that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because people with a tendency towards high blood pressure need to watch their \softline
sodium.  Personally, I don\'92t have the problem and I love pretzels and beer.  In fact, I \softline
think I\'92ll have a couple more and ask someone else to drive me home.  This is furthering \softline
a plan of my own.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What plan is that?\'94 Virginia asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I need to gain some more weight.  I\'92ve been working out a lot, particularly exercises \softline
that are supposed to increase the size of my boobs.  I\'92ve promised myself I\'92ll be in perfect \softline
shape \'97 or as good as I can ever get \'97 within sixty days \'97 or die in the attempt.  Right \softline
now I\'92m still too damned thin, and as flat as a board.  Why do you hide your figure, \softline
Ginny?  May I call you Ginny?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny smiled a very warm smile.  \'93Of course.  But Ali, isn\'92t it... unprofessional?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali gave the girl her sunshine smile and said, \'93Names are names.  They\'92re neither \softline
professional nor unprofessional.\'94  She looked at the girl very carefully and then slowly \softline
shook her head.  \'93Ginny, you are a first.  Look, I\'92m a pro.  I\'92ve done nude scenes.  I\'92ve \softline
faked lovemaking with a full film crew watching.  Where people are concerned, I see \softline
things most people don\'92t.  But you baffle me.  I think you\'92re a beautiful \'97 and very sexy \softline
\'97 girl.  But I\'92m not sure.  You do the best job \'97 in fact, a nearly perfect job \'97 of hiding \softline
it.  Why?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because I want to be respected for my brain, not for my tight little buns.  Is that \softline
so wrong?\'94 she replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Suddenly, Ali had an idea \'97 and it seemed to fit what little she knew and had \softline
observed.  \'93How old are you, Ginny?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m twenty-four,\'94 she replied.  \'93Why?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali ignored the question.  \'93How old is Charley Conrad?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93He\'92s thirty-one or thirty-two.  I\'92ve never been able to find out for sure,\'94 she replied.  \softline
Suddenly, the girl turned bright red.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Why are you blushing?\'94 Ali asked.  \'93Are you in love with Charley Conrad?\'94  The \softline
girl nodded slowly.  She looked miserable.  \'93Well, what are you doing about it?\'94 Ali \softline
continued.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny looked at her in surprise.  \'93What do you mean, \'91What am I doing about it?\'92  \softline
What }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 can}{\plain \fs24 \f1  I do about it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Ali just looked at the girl steadily.  \'93First, you could look like a woman.  Ginny, I \softline
would be willing to bet you have a great figure, don\'92t you?\'94  The girl gave the smallest \softline
possible nod.  \'93Your face I can see.  You have to work hard to conceal its beauty.  As far \softline
as your hair is concerned, I have a friend who\'92s a hair stylist.  In fact he\'92s won a couple \softline
of Oscars.  I don\'92t think he could do a better job of \'91uglifying\'92 you than you did yourself.  \softline
Why do you do it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali could see the girl\'92s face start to crumble.  She was very close to tears as she said, \softline
\'93That\'92s all very well for you to say.  You\'92re a movie star.  You\'92re not supposed to have \softline
a brain.  Just a body.  I\'92m a lawyer!  Lawyers use their brains, not their bods, for Christ\'92s \softline
sake.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just slowly shook her head as the girl was speaking.  \'93Ginny, let me tell you \softline
something.  I just got an investment management contract.  It\'92s paying me $2 million \softline
a year.  Guess what?  They don\'92t give a shit if I\'92m green with purple polka dots.  They \softline
care about investment per\-formance, and I\'92m giving it to them.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She glared at the girl with blue fire coming from her eyes and continued.  \'93I don\'92t \softline
know why, but I\'92m going to tell you something I\'92ve never told anyone.  My marriage isn\'92t \softline
consummated.  My husband hasn\'92t taken me \'97 yet.  And believe me, it\'92s not a question \softline
of physical capability, either.  God, is he capable!  Do you know what\'92s the greatest time \softline
in my day?  It\'92s going to bed.  I snuggle next to him as close as I can.  With my head on \softline
his shoulder, he puts his arm around me and cups his hand over my right breast \'97 what \softline
little there is of it.  I put my hand over his to keep it in place and I go to sleep.  I feel so \softline
warm, and snugly and loved!  You could take the investment management contract and \softline
shove it.  I\'92m a woman!  I think I have a very hot cunt.  I long for his cock to be in it.  I \softline
told you earlier I\'92m working hard to build up my boobs so he\'92ll have something more to \softline
hold.  I don\'92t go around selling it or preaching it.  Nevertheless, I think a girl needs a \softline
man to love her.  And I\'92m using the word, \'91needs,\'92 advisedly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Now, Ginny, let\'92s get back to you.  Are you afraid Charley won\'92t talk to you if you \softline
fix yourself up?  How do you really feel about him?  You said you loved him.  What have \softline
you done about it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She had been studying the younger girl careful\-ly.  Something had been bothering her \softline
\'97 it was the hair color which was odd.  It was like no hair color Ali had ever seen.  And \softline
her eyes.  There was some\-thing strange about them, too, when studied at close range. \softline
}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 My God,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  she thought, }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 this kid is wearing colored contact lenses!}{\plain \fs24 \f1   Then aloud she said, \softline
\'93Ginny, your natural hair color is auburn, isn\'92t it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girl\'92s eyes widened in momentary astonishment.  Then she reluctantly nodded.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What color are your eyes?  Green?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab This time the girl just ogled Ali.  \'93Who are you, anyway?  How could you possibly \softline
know that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled.  Things were starting to fall into place.  \'93Ginny, where are you from?  Did \softline
you have a bad sexual experience with a guy?\'94  Ginny shook her head.  This was going 
to be tougher than Ali thought.  She asked the girl, \'93Can I buy you dinner?  I would like \softline
to continue this a bit longer \'97 and at a place where we could have more privacy?  Are \softline
you inter\-ested?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny nodded reluctantly, and Ali went off to find Charley.  She found him with a \softline
group of students who were discussing her legal problems with great animation.  Charley \softline
told her the bull session was going to go on for a while and asked if he could get togeth\-er \softline
with her later.  They agreed to meet in her suite when he got off work on Friday \softline
afternoon.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab For reasons she didn\'92t fully understand Ali felt exhila\-rated as she went to rejoin \softline
Ginny.  When she asked the girl if she had a car at school, Ginny said she did.  Then Ali \softline
asked, \'93You live alone, don\'92t you?\'94  Again, Ginny\'92s surprise showed in her eyes, but she \softline
nodded.  \'93Nearby?\'94 Ali asked.  Again there was an affirma\-tive nod.  \'93Great!  Get your \softline
car and I\'92ll follow you to your apart\-ment.  We\'92ll drop your car and use mine.  Now let\'92s \softline
go.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went out to the parking lot.  Ali was getting a picture of what was going on.  \softline
Ginny\'92s car \'97 a nondescript Volkswagen \'97 supported the picture.  She got into her \softline
convertible and fol\-lowed the girl to an equally nondescript apartment house and wait\-ed.  \softline
Ginny walked up from the garage and got into the passenger seat.  Ali smiled to herself \softline
as the girl luxuriated in the leather bucket seats.  }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 All is not yet lost,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  Ali thought.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She drove to a nice restaurant she knew of and left the car with the valet.  She asked \softline
the maitre d\'92hotel for a table for two in a quiet corner, giving him a twenty dollar bill as \softline
she did.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at her and bowed deeply.  \'93You\'92re Ali McGrath, aren\'92t you?\'94  Ali nodded, \softline
and the maitre d\'92 beamed.  \'93It is a great honor, Miss McGrath,\'94 he said as he ushered \softline
them to the table in the far corner of the room.  \'93Is this satisfactory, Miss McGrath?\'94  \softline
She smiled her assent and the two women were seated.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali excused herself and went to the phone to call Bill to tell him she would be late.  \softline
She could hear the grin in his voice as he said, \'93Free at last!\'94  Then he chuckled and \softline
said, \'93Have a good time, sweetheart.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She told him where they were and quickly explained the situation.  \'93Dar\-ling, would \softline
it be terribly inconvenient to have Fred pick us up later in the limo?  Is that possible?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She heard Bill\'92s quiet chuckle again and his comment, \'93You\'92re learn\-ing.  You\'92re \softline
slow, but you\'92re learning.  Darling, chauffeurs are for times when you feel like drinking \softline
a little more than you can safely drive on.  How about if I have him there at nine-thirty.  \softline
He\'92ll just wait for you out front.\'94  She agreed and smiled fondly at the phone as she hung \softline
it up and went back to the corner booth.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She sat down and ordered two very dry Beefeater martinis, on the rocks.  She was \softline
amused as Ginny\'92s eyes widened as she placed the order.  She looked at the younger girl \softline
and asked, \'93Ginny, are those contacts corrective?  They\'92re not, are they?\'94  Ginny shook \softline
her head.  \'93Then please do me a big favor?  For God\'92s sake, go to the ladies\'92 room and 
take the damn things off.  And while you\'92re at it, see if you can remove some of that \softline
camouflage you\'92re wearing?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab For reasons she didn\'92t fully understand, Ginny did as she was asked and went to the \softline
ladies room.  In a stall she removed waist padding and stuffed it into her capacious \softline
purse.  Then she took off her blouse, removed her constricting bra, and put the blouse \softline
back on again.  At the basin she carefully removed her contact lenses.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled remembering the battle she had with the optician when she had insisted \softline
on the particular shade of brown.  \'93Ginny,\'94 he had said, \'93That color is hideous!  My God, \softline
girl, it\'92s the worst color possible for you!\'94  He was right, of course, which was why she \softline
had insisted on it.  She looked at herself in the mirror and felt strangely relieved to see \softline
her emerald-green eyes looking back at her.  She rejoined Ali.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93You really did work at it, didn\'92t you?\'94 Ali said when Ginny returned to the booth.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Feigning ignorance, Ginny said, \'93Worked at what?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just shook her head.  \'93You know, Ginny, it\'92s a remark\-able achievement.  It\'92s \softline
worthy of some of the best makeup people in Hollywood.  Better, in fact.  They only fool \softline
the camera, which isn\'92t really so hard to do.  You fooled people who saw you up close.  \softline
I still only see a vague hint of why, though.  I think you read too much women\'92s lib \softline
literature.  You have read a lot of it, haven\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginny nodded.  Then her head came up and her eyes flashed with green fire.  Ali \softline
thought her eyes were very beautiful.  \'93What if I do?  Men just want to put their cocks \softline
inside us.  We\'92re cavities for them to use to fill up with their fluids.  We\'92re not people, \softline
Ali, we\'92re just cunts!  I don\'92t want to be just a cunt!  I have a brain,\'94 she wailed.  Ali \softline
could see she was close to breaking down into tears.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter had brought their drinks and Ali offered a toast \'93to the practice of law.\'94  \softline
She then asked Virginia, \'93Just how experienced with men are you, anyway?  You talk \softline
about being \'91just a cunt for men to fill up with their fluids\'92.  Is that the way you\'92ve been \softline
treated?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Well, no,\'94 Virginia replied reluctantly.  \'93But that\'92s only because I don\'92t give them \softline
the chance.  They always want to get in my pants.\'94  She glared at Ali as she said the last \softline
words.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93You haven\'92t been with many men, have you?  Did you have a very painful experi\-
ence?\'94 Ali asked, ignoring the girl\'92s incipi\-ent outburst.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93The first one was,\'94 Virginia replied with a wry smile.  \'93No, on second thought I \softline
guess it really wasn\'92t.  In fact, I guess it was funny.  Of course, it wasn\'92t funny then, but \softline
it would have been hilarious if someone had filmed it.  Neither of us knew anything!  He \softline
was trying to get his thing out and trying to get my pants off at the same time in the \softline
front seat of a pretty small car.  Thinking about it, I guess it was sort of ridiculous.\'94  Her \softline
eyes warmed as she contin\-ued.  \'93There have only been a few.  The last one was...  pretty \softline
good.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab She grimaced and continued, \'93Bullshit!  It was very good.  I loved it \'97 and it scared \softline
me.  Ali, I lost control!  It happened when I was a senior in college.  We had been talking \softline
about something or other like intellectuals.  He had his arm around me and started \softline
cupping my breast.  The next thing I knew, I had taken off my sweater and bra so he \softline
could really feel me.  Ali, I did it to myself!  I took off my clothes.  He didn\'92t.  I un\-zipped \softline
his fly and took off his pants.  My God!  I guess I raped him.  I made him take me on the \softline
floor.  It was in my own living room and my roommate was due back any minute.  There \softline
I was, stark naked, with his fluids still dripping from my cunt, and I was holding onto \softline
him, begging him to do me again.  It was terrible!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali could see the problem emerging.  The girl wasn\'92t really afraid of men, she was \softline
afraid of her own feelings and behavior.  The waiter had brought another round of drinks \softline
and Ali had quietly ordered dinner for the two of them, thinking as she did so how out \softline
of character it was for her to order without even asking what the girl liked \'97 or didn\'92t.  \softline
She noticed that Virginia had just taken the new drink and was handling it like it was \softline
ice water.  She asked, \'93How did it feel?  When he fondled you and then made love to \softline
you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Virginia\'92s eyes glowed.  \'93It was heavenly.  I was on fire.  When he touched me, I \softline
melted.  My bones were like rubber.  Finally, I... I... I had an orgasm.  I just exploded.  \softline
It was like nothing that\'92s ever happened before or since.  I completely lost control.  I \softline
guess that\'92s why I tried to get him to stay.  I wanted to see if we could do it again.  It felt \softline
so great!  Then the next morning, I panicked.  I\'92ve never seen him since.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again Virginia smiled wryly.  \'93Ali, this is the first time I\'92ve ever spoken about that \softline
night... to anyone.  God, I was a bitch!  The guy took me to heaven, and then I refused \softline
to speak to him again.  I\'92m sure he wondered what he had done.  He must have known \softline
it was good for me, so he had to wonder what he said, or what I might have found out, \softline
or some\-thing.  The truth is, it was so great it scared hell out of me.  That\'92s when I \softline
decided I would change.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter had brought the first course of jumbo shrimp cocktail.  Ali was amused \softline
to see Virginia start to eat with relish.  She was quite certain that the girl would \softline
normally pick at her food if she weren\'92t so caught up in her memories.  Ali continued the \softline
interrogation.  \'93Virginia, where are you from?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m from Seattle,\'94 she replied.  \'93Dad\'92s with Boeing.  I decided to come to law school \softline
down here where I could get some sun... and hide.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What do your parents think?  Do you have any brothers or sisters?  And how do \softline
your parents get along?\'94  Ali continued her questioning.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Again the girl smiled wryly.  \'93They\'92ve about given up on me.  I think they think I\'92m \softline
an all-galaxy loser... and I guess they\'92re right.  I don\'92t have any siblings, Ali, and that\'92s \softline
part of the problem.  Dad was a fighter pilot when he met Mom.  I guess he was a hot \softline
ticket, and still is.  Mom teases me that they haven\'92t given up trying for a brother or \softline
sister.  It\'92s disgusting \'97 no, damn it, it isn\'92t.  I guess it\'92s really pretty wonderful.  When 
I\'92m home, which isn\'92t often, I hear them going at it every night.  And every morning, \softline
Mom and Dad have that well-fucked look.  Mom is young \'97 under forty-five, and she \softline
doesn\'92t look a lot older than you do.  Dad\'92s still in great shape.\'94  Virginia\'92s eyes got \softline
larger.  \'93Would you believe it!?  Even today, when I\'92m home and they don\'92t think I can \softline
see, he\'92ll grab her buns in the kitchen while she\'92s at the sink or something.  The result \softline
is always the same.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What\'92s the result?\'94 Ali asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I see her knees break.  She takes a deep breath making her boobs stick out.  Then \softline
she turns her head, kisses him, and gently removes his hand.  She never slaps him or \softline
says anything.  She\'92s the kind of person those books you mentioned are talking about.  \softline
She has no sense of self-worth.  She just serves as a depository for his fluids.  Do you \softline
know, Ali, I think at times when I\'92m not home they walk around the house naked!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali continued the interrogation.  \'93Does your mother work?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Virginia looked a little surprised at the question.  \'93Yes, she does now.  She\'92s a \softline
securities broker and is doing very well, I guess.  Why do you ask?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Instead of responding, Ali changed the subject.  In the meantime the waiter had \softline
brought their main course, two beautiful thick boneless sirloin steaks.  She was amused \softline
to see Virginia just continue her eating.  She said, \'93You admitted your natural hair color \softline
is auburn, didn\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girl was startled.  \'93Yes I did, but how did you know?  It surprised hell out of me \softline
when you said it at school.  How could you know?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and said, \'93It was a guess.  And you\'92re one of the very rare ones who tan, \softline
aren\'92t you?\'94  The girl nodded.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93No wonder your parents are disgusted.  Virginia, let me replay what you\'92ve told me \softline
in my own words.  First, you\'92re a beautiful girl.  I imagine you\'92re a real stunner \'97 \softline
without working at it at all.  Your parents are loving.  They sound like two of the neatest \softline
people around, deeply in love with each other.  They act it, they show it, and they love \softline
it.  How do you suppose they feel with a very bright, very beautiful daughter, who hides \softline
\'97 no, buries \'97 her beauty?  A girl with a sex drive that sounds like her mother\'92s.  \softline
Unlike her mother, though, she\'92s scared of it.  Have you ever asked your mother about \softline
sex, by the way?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Yes, I did.  I once asked her if she wasn\'92t afraid of Dad playing around on his trips \softline
\'97 he travels a lot.  She said, \'91Not at all.  And if he did, it would be my fault for not \softline
working hard enough to keep him focused on me.\'92  She was working out on an exercise \softline
machine.  She said her objective was to be better for him than any other woman could \softline
possibly be.  As far as going away, it made the homecoming an event.  Ali, she had the \softline
nerve to tell me that they almost never sleep the first night he is home from a trip \'97 and \softline
still don\'92t.  Can you believe that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and slowly shook her head.  \'93Virginia, I think it\'92s the neatest thing I\'92ve \softline
ever heard.  My God!  There is the wonderful Biblical line, \'91they have eyes but they do 
not see.\'92  That line must have been written especial\-ly for you.  You were raised in a \softline
family with so much love, if it were water, it would flood greater Seattle.  Yet you flee \softline
from it and from yourself.  Your only real experience with sex you describe as being so \softline
good you tried to keep the guy from leaving.  You\'92re a major-league head case.  By the \softline
way, are you ever called Ginger?  It\'92s an obvious nickname for a girl named Virginia, \softline
particularly one with auburn hair.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She nodded reluctantly.  \'93It\'92s what my parents call me.  They know I hate it \'97 it\'92s \softline
not a serious-sounding name \'97 but they do it anyway.  And all variations, like Gin, and \softline
Gingy.  They think I\'92m pompous, arrogant, a stick-in-the-mud, and an intellectual \softline
phony.  And then, you know what?  They say they love me anyway.  They tell me they \softline
haven\'92t given up hope.  What do you think?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I think I would like to meet your parents.  In fact, I\'92ve made a mental note to get \softline
up to Seattle to do just that.  Maybe your mother might like a new client with money to \softline
invest.  As for their comments, I think they\'92re dead right.  What do you think?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 know}{\plain \fs24 \f1  they\'92re right.  Is it too late?\'94  Suddenly the girl grinned, \'93Ali, would you call \softline
me Ginger?  Or Gin?  Or Gingy?  Do you know, I say I hate it, but I really get a warm \softline
feeling thinking of my parents calling me that.  They\'92re not teasing me...  Yes, they are, \softline
but in a different sense.  They\'92re trying to tease me back into the human race.\par
}\pard \fs24\sa72\tqc\tx4680\tx0\tx0\tx0\tx0\tx0 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, you may think I haven\'92t been paying attention to the food, but I have.  I said \softline
I don\'92t drink, but I do.  I love a drink before dinner, but I never have one here \'97 only \softline
at home.  As for food, this is the first steak I\'92ve had in Los Angeles, in all the time I\'92ve \softline
been down here.  I\'92ve been eating like a damned rabbit \'97 a fearful one, at that.  I take \softline
everything so seriously about my diet.  But Ali, I don\'92t want to!\'94 she wailed.  \'93Would you \softline
believe, I have a weight problem?  My problem is keeping it on.  I just don\'92t eat enough.  \softline
This dinner has been marvelous.  And thank you for listening to me.\'94  She started to get \softline
up from the table.\tab \par
}\pard \fs24\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Where do you think you\'92re going, young lady?\'94 Ali asked sternly.  \'93We\'92re not nearly \softline
finished with you.  You said you work out.  Where?\'94  Ginger told her.  It was an out-of-the-way location.  \'93Of course!  You would have to go to some out-of-the-way place.  \softline
You\'92re in a leotard and people can see your bod \'97 really.  And you couldn\'92t allow that \softline
to happen where anyone from S.C.  could ever find out.  Right?  Incidentally, I noticed \softline
you took off your bra.  I envy you your chest.\'94  The girl looked sheepish, but then felt \softline
flattered.  \'93What\'92s your class schedule like tomorrow?\'94 Ali asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I don\'92t have any tomorrow.  There is only one class sched\-uled and it was canceled.  \softline
Why?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because I\'92m picking you up at your apartment at eight o\'92clock and we\'92re going to \softline
my club.  And you had better be pre\-pared to be inspec\-ted.  I\'92m also going to make some \softline
other ar\-rangements.  Now, there is one element in all of this I need you to con\-firm.  You \softline
said you\'92re in love with Charley Conrad.  Why, in the name of God, haven\'92t you done \softline
anything about it?  Ginger, you really make me mad!  When you first came up to me, I 
thought it was the classic case of the plain girl with a crush on the handsome guy.  Now \softline
I know \'97 or am pretty sure \'97 that you\'92re a knockout!  Why in hell haven\'92t you done \softline
anything with what you have?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger just shook her head and said, \'93If I told you, you wouldn\'92t believe me.  In fact, \softline
it\'92s so stupid, }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 I}{\plain \fs24 \f1  don\'92t believe me!  Ali, I think I got so caught up in my act, I forgot to look \softline
in the mirror.  Is there any hope?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just grinned.  The girls had passed on dessert and had a cognac with coffee.  Ali \softline
checked her watch and saw it was almost ten o\'92clock and knew Fred would be waiting.  \softline
She smiled inwardly at the realization that here in Hollywood it was possible \'97 and ex\-
pected \'97 to show up at a fine restaurant in blue jeans and a work shirt with no one even \softline
glancing up.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Fred Clark, the chauffeur, was holding the door as they emerged.  He saluted Ali who \softline
introduced him to Ginger Jamison.  Then he whispered to Ali that he had taken the \softline
liberty of having her car driven back to the hotel so it would be available for her in the \softline
morning.  It was something she had completely forgotten and she gave him her big smile \softline
and thanked him for remembering.  Then she gave Fred Ginger\'92s address from memory \softline
and got in.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab As they drove off, she saw Ginger smiling and shaking her head.  \'93Charley had it \softline
absolutely right: You smiled at Fred, and I could see him melt.  Ali, you made his day, \softline
right then.  He\'92s not doing you a favor, you\'92re doing him one.  You are thoughtful, \softline
considerate, appreciative, beautiful \'97 and smart.\'94  Suddenly the girl brightened and \softline
smiled.  Her natural smile was similar to Ali\'92s.  It lit up the car and Ali smiled back.  \'93My \softline
God!  Now I see.  Ali, if you can do it, maybe I can, too.  Do you think it\'92s possible?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali said, \'93We\'92re going to try like hell!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When she returned to the hotel, she quickly filled in Bill on her project.  \'93Honey,\'94 \softline
she said, \'93I\'92m doing a Clifford.  Do you mind?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab By this time they were in bed together and Ali remembered her conversation with \softline
Ginger as she carefully placed Bill\'92s hand on her breast and snuggled close.  She had \softline
given him a soft, lingering kiss while gently rubbing her now-engorged nipples over his \softline
chest.  Then she just snuggled closer and went to sleep.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab *  *  *\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At eight the next morning she rang Ginger\'92s door bell and went up to her apartment.  \softline
She had decided that Ginger had plenty of money, although that, too, was well hidden.  \softline
Her apartment, nondescript on the outside, was beautiful inside.  It was spotless and was \softline
decorated with taste.  Ginger was wearing a pair of skin-tight jeans and a tee shirt.  \softline
There was no bra.  Her breasts were beautifully shaped and her small nipples were bulg\-
ing the thin fabric.  Ali gave an appreciative whistle.  \'93This is going to be much easier \softline
than I thought,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went to the health club.  Ginger had a tiny bikini she wore in the exercise \softline
room.  When they went up to the roof to lie in the sun, the bikini came off, revealing an 
all-over tan like Ali\'92s with no bikini marks on her loins or breasts.  Her body was \softline
magnificent.  Beautiful legs, slim hips, and a flat belly.  Ali noticed that her pubic hair \softline
was dark auburn.  Her breasts were perfect.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab As they left the club, Ali asked her about her clothes.  Ginger grinned.  \'93The jeans \softline
are mine.  The rest are things my parents gave me.  Do you think I would have the nerve \softline
to buy a bikini like that?  You know what\'92s funny?  My mother bought it.  She bought \softline
one for herself and then a second for me as an afterthought.  I think she looks better in \softline
hers than I do in mine!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and said, \'93I repeat: I want to meet your moth\-er.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went to the Alliance studio.  There was a pass for Ali who drove to a back area \softline
where the makeup department was located.  The first stop was the hair stylist.  She \softline
introduced Ginger to Henry Hall who looked at the younger girl thoughtfully while he \softline
ex\-changed news with Ali.  Seating Ginger in a chair, he took out a powerful magnifying \softline
glass.  He and Ali consulted on color as they carefully studied the roots of her hair.  \softline
Finally they agreed on the color, and the work began.  While Hall worked, Ali wandered \softline
around and renewed acquaintances with some of the people who had been around for \softline
years.  When she returned later, Henry was ready to start combing out the hair and \softline
styling it.  The chair had been positioned facing away from the mirror.  He spun it \softline
around towards the mirror and asked, \'93How did we do?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger gasped.  \'93My God!  It\'92s perfect.  Ali, when I got home last night I started to \softline
cry.  The dye job wasn\'92t going to go away, and I envisioned years before it fully grew out.  \softline
I think you got the color on the nose.  Thank you so much!\'94  She smiled at Henry \softline
warmly and he blushed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had told him about styling the girl\'92s hair.  \'93She\'92s playing a lawyer.  She has to \softline
be able to look very professional.  At the same time, you can see she\'92s athletic, and she\'92s \softline
}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 very good}{\plain \fs24 \f1  in bed.  We don\'92t want a lot of hair pins, curlers, etc., clut\-tering up the bed.  \softline
Understand?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Henry just grinned and went to work.  What emerged was a masterpiece, showing \softline
off the beautiful hair, but at the same time being a very easy-care hairdo.  He said to the \softline
women, \'93It only works, Ali, because she has hair very similar to yours.  It\'92s got body, it\'92s \softline
full and it has a natural wave.  Ginger, what do you think?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She jumped out of the chair and gave him a big kiss, fol\-lowed by a big smile.  \'93That\'92s \softline
what I think,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Henry reddened and smiled.  He turned to Ali and said, \'93This girl may make it \softline
bigger than you did.  She\'92s a beauty \'97 and she has the same star quality.  Thanks for \softline
bringing her in.  Who\'92s producing the film, by the way?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger had heard the references, but hadn\'92t said anything.  Ali replied, \'93It\'92s an \softline
independent produc\-tion, Henry.  It\'92s not in the studio so I want to pay you now.  There\'92s \softline
no recognized budget for the production here at the studio.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab He just waved it away.  \'93It was a real pleasure.  It\'92s not often I get to have so much \softline
fun.  Thanks again.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girls left, and Ali did some shopping for Ginger.  Finally, she gave her \softline
instructions for Friday along with a shopping list.  Things were falling in place \'97 she \softline
had confirmed that Charley wasn\'92t sched\-uled to work that weekend.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab *  *  *\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When the doorbell at the suite rang promptly at four o\'92clock Friday afternoon, Ali \softline
winked at Ginger who responded with a weak smile.  They were dressed as twins \'97 both \softline
wearing tight Levi\'92s and chambray work shirts.  Neither wore bras.  Ali opened the door \softline
for Charley who had just finished work and was dressed in slacks, a golf shirt, and was \softline
wearing a blue blazer.  Ali decided he looked great with his dark hair, piercing blue eyes, \softline
and athletic build.  He didn\'92t look like a lawyer \'97 but neither did they.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley came in and saw Ginger.  Ali said, \'93Charley, you know Ginger Jamison.  I \softline
asked her to join us for our discussion.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley looked admiringly at Ginger and shook his head.  \'93Ali, I\'92m afraid I don\'92t.  \softline
I\'92m sure we\'92ve never met before.  Gin\-ger is not a girl a guy could forget very quickly.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Charley,\'94 Ginger said, \'93we\'92re classmates.  I\'92m in your class at S.C.  Virginia \softline
Jamison?  Is the name familiar?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Virginia Jamison,\'94 Charley said softly, almost to himself.  Suddenly he jerked up, \softline
startled, and blurted, \'93But that can\'92t be!  Virginia is short and mousy and...  and \softline
nondescript.\'94  He looked at Ginger and shook his head.  \'93It\'92s impossible.  I can\'92t \softline
remember what color Virginia\'92s eye\'92s are, but they sure as hell aren\'92t emerald green.  \softline
The same thing with her hair \'97 I can\'92t remember what color it is, but it sure isn\'92t your \softline
autumn fire.  And her figure \'97 she just doesn\'92t have one, and you sure do.\'94  He looked \softline
at Ali and at Ginger with a baffled look on his face.  \'93What\'92s going on?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger smiled an Ali smile, and Ali could see Charley start to melt.  \'93Charley, it \softline
really is me.  What you see is the product of a couple of days with Ali.  I... I had some \softline
pretty screwy ideas.  I\'92ve been wearing brown contacts since I came down here and...  \softline
Wait!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She took her purse and removed the wallet.  \'93Charley, here\'92s my California driver\'92s \softline
license.  Does the picture remind you of anyone?\'94 He looked at it and was shocked.  \softline
There was the girl, Virginia Jamison, that he knew of but hadn\'92t bothered ever to get to \softline
know.  As Ginger said, the eyes were brown, and the hair was brown.  She then handed \softline
him another license.  \'93Charley, I live in Washington State.  Here\'92s my Washington \softline
license.  Do you see any differences?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at the picture and then looked at the girl in front of him.  It showed a \softline
beautiful green-eyed girl with auburn hair.  It was the girl in front of him with her hair \softline
in a diff\-erent style.  He put the two licenses together.  The names, dates of birth, and \softline
social security numbers were identi\-cal.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93I guess I\'92ll have to get a new California license,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had been watching the exchange with great amusement.  She mentally \softline
complimented the girl for her quick thinking with the licenses.  It was something that \softline
would not have occurred to her.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley just shook his head and finally said, \'93Wow!  You\'92re... You are beautiful.  \softline
Absolutely gorgeous.  What, in hell, were you doing?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He realized that standing up straight as she was now, Ginger was as tall as Ali \'97 \softline
probably about five feet eight.  Her head was up straight and she said, \'93Being a turkey... \softline
an idiot... a fool...  Charley, I think I\'92m reasonably bright.  I didn\'92t think guys liked smart \softline
girls.  Then I met Ali.  Then she intro\-duced me to my own mother, for God\'92s sake.  Then \softline
she got me out of my dumb shell.  Charley, I\'92m afraid this is really me.  What you see is \softline
what you get.\'94  She turned to Ali as Charley\'92s eyes widened as he tried to grasp the \softline
significance of her last state\-ment.  Then she said, \'93What\'92s a girl have to do to get a drink \softline
around here?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and went to the bar.  A platter of cold hors d\'92oeuvres were there which \softline
she brought to the table in the room.  \'93What are you drinking, Ginger?  The same?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger nodded with a grin, while Charley looked baffled again.  \'93But Virginia, you \softline
don\'92t drink!  That\'92s one thing I }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 do}{\plain \fs24 \f1  remember.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger stuck out the tip of her tongue at him.  \'93You\'92re absolutely right, Charley.  \softline
Virginia doesn\'92t ever drink anything stronger than spring water.  On the other hand, \softline
Ginger loves Beefeater martinis, very dry on the rocks.  I\'92m afraid Virginia died an \softline
unlamented death a couple of days ago.  Ali, may I?  How about you, Charley?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He grinned and went to the bar and made three.  Then they sat down and started \softline
to review the material he and his friends had gath\-ered.  In just a couple of days the USC \softline
law students had made tremendous strides preparing Ali\'92s case.  Charley had a list of \softline
names and ad\-dresses of people who had been contacted.  With the passage of time it \softline
appeared a number of them were now willing to talk \'97 and talk on the official record.  \softline
They discussed the possibility of taking depositions, and Ali identified specific names on \softline
the list she thought could be most helpful.  After a couple of hours, they put away the \softline
papers.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had been amused to see the reaction of the young couple.  It was what she had \softline
expected, but she suspected it came as a surprise to Ginger.  Charley was paying strict \softline
attention to her ideas.  So much for the theory a girl could not be beautiful and smart.  \softline
Ali was sure Ginger was getting a more serious hearing than she had since she started \softline
law school.  Charley made another round of drinks and Ali continued her grazing among \softline
the hors d\'92oeuvres.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab It was clearly getting to be time to go, but just as clearly Charley didn\'92t want to leave \softline
this lovely girl he had just discovered.  Yet he didn\'92t seem to know quite what to do.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger took the bull by the horns.  She smiled at Charley and asked, \'93Do you have \softline
any plans for this evening?  I\'92m having a couple of people over for dinner.  Would you 
like to join us?\'94  Ali maintained a straight face knowing \'97 as did Ginger \'97 there was \softline
a message on her answering machine saying her other guests couldn\'92t attend.  Jen Sills \softline
had left the message.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley visibly brightened.  \'93I would love to,\'94 he said.  \'93What time?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger glanced at her watch and yelped, \'93Holy cow!  Right now!  Ali, I\'92m sorry, but \softline
I have to dash.  Charley, I hate to impose, but Ali picked me up.  Could you drive?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali admired the very professional acting performance Ginger was giving.  There \softline
wasn\'92t the slightest false note.  The two left the hotel suite in a rush.\par
}\page 
\pard \fs24\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 Chapter 4\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At nine o\'92clock Monday morning, Ali was stretching luxuri\-ant\-ly in her bed when the \softline
doorbell rang.  Bill had had to get up early to go to New York so it was the first time they \softline
had been separated.  She had wanted to go with him, but he had in\-sisted she stay and \softline
prepare for her finals.  Slipping on the unisex terry bathrobe, she went to open the door.  \softline
Standing behind the room service cart was Ginger in the hotel\'92s room-service uniform, \softline
complete with white shirt and bow tie.  Ali grinned broadly and held the door open.  Only \softline
when Ginger pushed the cart in did Ali realize the girl was wearing no pants.  Her \softline
beautiful bare legs disappeared under her waiter\'92s jacket.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali started to laugh.  \'93Ginger, you look great!  Come over here.\'94  The terry-cloth \softline
robe was very short and Ali and Ginger stood side by side comparing legs.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger was the first to speak.  \'93You know, Ali, your legs are really very good... for \softline
a middle-aged woman.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and punched her in the arm.  \'93And yours aren\'92t bad either... for a little \softline
kid.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They both laughed.  Ginger proceeded very professional\-ly to open up the service cart.  \softline
\'93Where\'92s Mr. Clifford?  His breakfast is here, too,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just grinned.  \'93That\'92s not his, it\'92s yours.  He\'92s left for New York.  You haven\'92t \softline
eaten, have you?  And where\'92s Charley, by the way?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger gave her a big smile.  \'93He couldn\'92t get out of bed this morning.  He just \softline
couldn\'92t move.  When my alarm went off, he just groaned.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali raised an eyebrow.  \'93When }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 your}{\plain \fs24 \f1  alarm went off?  Why Ginger Jamison, that \softline
implies he slept in your apartment last night.  I\'92m shocked!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger tried to look pensive but her grin kept getting in the way.  \'93Actually, Ali, \softline
your statement isn\'92t quite accurate.  He spent the night }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 at}{\plain \fs24 \f1  my apartment.  However, he \softline
spent it }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 in}{\plain \fs24 \f1  me.  In fact,\'94 she said with a broad grin, \'93He spent very often in me.  He \softline
didn\'92t really sleep, though.  That was the problem.  Ali, may I sit down and spread my \softline
legs?  I am absolutely ruined.  I\'92m at the point right now where my body doesn\'92t feel \softline
normal unless my thighs are spread wide.  May I?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali just grinned and nodded.  \'93Gee,\'94 she said, \'93Aren\'92t you the girl who feels women \softline
are just cunts to be used by men as a depository for their sexual fluids?  You sort of \softline
resemble that girl.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93That\'92s me,\'94 Ginger said brightly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She and Ali were attack\-ing a huge breakfast and Ginger acted like she hadn\'92t eaten \softline
in a week.  She was smiling at Ali when suddenly her smile turned into a frown.  \'93But \softline
I have a bone to pick with you, Allison Clif\-ford.  About that depository business?  You \softline
didn\'92t tell me that some\-times the guy runs out of those fluids!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93So tell me what happened?  Before you start, though, let me just say you could have \softline
a brilliant career in films if you want one.  But with respect to careers, I have another 
idea I want to talk to you about later.  You handled that material here on Friday like a \softline
pro.  It was all I could do to keep from applauding your performance.  Your delivery and \softline
timing were perfect.  But then what happened?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93First, Ali, while compliments are being passed out, you could have given Niccolo \softline
Machiavelli a run for his money.  I may have spoken the lines, but you sure as hell wrote \softline
the script.  It played brilliantly.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Anyway, we jumped into Charley\'92s car and roared over to my apartment.  Strangely \softline
believe it, there was a message on my machine from my friend \'97 your friend \'97 Jen.  \softline
The poor thing was in tears because she and Jeff couldn\'92t make it.  There was an \softline
emergency involving her new house.\'94  Ginger grinned.  \'93I almost had to step back to \softline
keep from drowning in the tears coming from the machine.  Who is Jen, by the way?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled.  \'93She and Jeff are lovely people to whom I owe my sanity.  On the other \softline
hand, they think I\'92m responsible for helping them get their house.  You and Charley will \softline
have to meet them sometime.  I know you\'92ll like them.  Jeff was Special Forces in \softline
Vietnam.  Anyway, then what happened?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Well,\'94 she continued, \'93I smiled and said to Charley that I hoped he was hungry.  \softline
He made more drinks, we ate shrimp cocktail and steaks \'97 and I did a beautiful job, if \softline
I do say so myself.  Then we took our coffee and cognac into the living room and were \softline
really feeling expan\-sive.  I guess we had something on the cable channel and were sitting \softline
on the sofa.  One thing led to another and he kissed me.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, it was all over right there.  There were bells.  I just melted.  I couldn\'92t wait, so \softline
I unbut\-toned the front of my shirt.  Since I wasn\'92t wearing a bra, my breasts were bare.  \softline
He held me and caressed me, and a few minutes later we were in bed.  We made love, and \softline
slept a little.  We made love and took a shower together... and made love in the shower.  \softline
We didn\'92t eat much, we didn\'92t drink much, and we sure in hell didn\'92t sleep much.  But \softline
God, did we make love.  My snapshot memory of the weekend is arms, legs and bodies \softline
in every imaginable position.  The common denominator was mostly my thighs were \softline
spread as wide as they could go.  I guess that\'92s about it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali was beaming.  \'93You don\'92t regret it, do you?  You don\'92t think you compromised \softline
your intellectual integrity?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93That\'92s one of the things that\'92s so strange.  In the first place, you can take \softline
intellectual integrity and stuff it.  But in the second place, we had some great post-coital \softline
conversations.  Incidentally, Ali, I took a tip from you.  After making it, when I was \softline
absolutely drained and limp, I was on my back in bed next to him with my head on his \softline
shoulder.  Then I snuggled as close as I could get and put his hand on my breast.  He \softline
cupped it, I held his hand, and we were instantly asleep.  God, it feels so great to feel a \softline
man\'92s big hand on your tit when you wake up!  The funny thing is, the talk was intel\-lec\-
tual \'97 or at least intelligent.  Does that sound strange?\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali shook her head and said, \'93No, not at all.  To change the subject let me ask you: \softline
What are your plans for after school?  Do you have a job?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Ginger smiled and said, \'93I did.  Unfortunately, my offer is from the same firm where \softline
Charley is going.  He got terribly unglued, but I told him our relationship compared to \softline
a law firm was no contest.  I told him I would be his secretary so he could take me on his \softline
desk, but we agreed that the law firm probably would\-n\'92t like that idea much better.  So \softline
anyway, I\'92m now looking for a job again.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali beamed and Ginger looked puzzled.  Ali said, \'93I\'92m offer\-ing you a job.  But there\'92s \softline
a minor contingency: we both have to pass our bar exams.  Are you confident?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger paused for a moment and said, \'93Virginia Jamison is in a panic \'97 but she\'92s \softline
always in a panic.  Ginger Jamison, on the other hand, is confident as hell.  She\'92d climb \softline
Mount Everest naked if she had to.  Hell yes, I\'92ll pass.  I\'92ll ace it!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Great!\'94 Ali continued.  \'93How would you like to be a partner in the firm of Clifford \softline
& Jamison?  Bill thought the idea was great when I talked to him about it last night.  \softline
Here\'92s the deal: The money is mine, but most of the time will be yours.  As you know, \softline
Bill hired me \'97 married me \'97 to travel with him, and I\'92m looking forward to it.  \softline
Meanwhile, you\'92ll be working your buns off \'97 what\'92s left of them after Charley\'92s \softline
through with you, of course.  I have my eye on an office suite downtown \'97 it\'92s on the \softline
38th floor, northwest corner, with a view of the mountains to the north and out to the \softline
ocean in the west.  I can\'92t wait to be there at night with just the lights of the city, with \softline
the office dark, and being laid on my desk in full view of the ocean and the mountains.  \softline
Does it scare you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Scare me?\'94 Ginger exclaimed, \'93Ali, you\'92re a witch!  You just sold me.  Where do I \softline
sign?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali held out her hand and said, \'93Shake, partner!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They shook hands and then Ginger took the older girl in her arms and hugged her.  \softline
Ali was surprised to feel the girl\'92s shoulders shaking.  She held her by the shoulders and \softline
stepped back.  Ginger was sob\-bing.  Tears were rolling down her cheeks.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ginger, what\'92s wrong?  Why are you crying?  I thought things were looking pretty \softline
good?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger held her head up, but the tears continued to stream.  \'93Allison McGrath \softline
Clifford, you have turned my life upside down in just five days.  I thought I was happy \softline
in my little gray shell.  Now you have smashed my shell, forced me into love \'97 into the \softline
most won\-derful relationship a girl could imagine.  Then you give me a law part\-nership \softline
\'97 a partnership, for God\'92s sake \'97 before I even gradu\-ate!  You are a piece of work.  And \softline
I love you.  And I\'92m so damned happy, the happiness is streaming out of my eyes.\'94  She \softline
tried to grin, but instead just kissed Ali on the cheek.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali didn\'92t know what to do as the younger girl sat down on the sofa and leaned back.  \softline
In seconds, she was sound asleep.  Ali lifted her legs up on the sofa and stretched her out.  \softline
Then she went to the bedroom and came back with a pillow and a blanket.  Placing the \softline
pillow under Ginger\'92s head, she covered her with the blanket.  Then she went to the \softline
table by the window that was used for eating, drinking, and as a desk the rest of the 
time.  Because of the VIP nature of the suite, it had provision for private telephone lines \softline
that bypassed the hotel switchboard.  These were now in use for a private fax machine \softline
and a private telephone, in addition to the regular hotel line.  She spent time looking \softline
over the securities research she had received over the weekend and made plans to invest \softline
more of the money she was managing.  Then she studied for her final exams.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At eleven-thirty, there was a stirring on the sofa.  Gin\-ger\'92s eyes opened and she \softline
looked at Ali.  \'93Hi,\'94 she said sleepi\-ly.  Sudden\-ly, she jerked upright.  \'93Ali, did I do what \softline
I vaguely remember doing?  Did I really collapse in tears?\'94 Ali just smiled and nodded.  \softline
\'93Oh, shit!\'94 Ginger jumped up and remembered what she was wearing \'97 or not wearing.  \softline
\'93Ali, you\'92ve done everything else for me already.  Could you stand one more favor?  \softline
Could I use your bathroom?\'94 Ali started to say, sure, when she remembered something.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ginger, I can do better than that.  You can have a bath of your own.  There\'92s a \softline
second bedroom we pay for but never use.  It has its very own bath that\'92s cleaned \softline
religiously every day.  Come on!\'94 She glanced at Ginger and asked, \'93Where are your \softline
clothes?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girl grinned and removed them from under the service cart.  Then she quickly \softline
stripped off the uniform tunic and stood there in only a pair of bikini pants.  Ali had seen \softline
her figure the previous week, but now there was a glow.  \'93You\'92ve been well loved, young \softline
lady,\'94 Ali said.  \'93You glow!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger smiled and ran into the second bedroom while Ali moved the cart out to the \softline
hall and then went back to her law books.  Awhile later Ginger emerged with a towel \softline
wrapped around her hair wearing her Levi\'92s and a shirt.  \'93What are you doing?\'94 she \softline
asked Ali.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m getting ready to give your mother some business.  Would you mind calling her \softline
from here?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Suddenly, Ginger was excited.  \'93Could you handle some true confessions?  They say \softline
confession is good for the soul.  I see your phone has a speaker unit on it.  Could we use \softline
it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali said, \'93Of course!  What\'92s your mother\'92s number?\'94  Ginger told her and Ali dialed \softline
Seattle.  The phone was answered with the name of the firm.  Ali said, \'93Mrs. Jamison, \softline
please.\'94  A moment later a girl answered saying it was Mrs. Jamison\'92s office.  Ali asked \softline
for her and identi\-fied herself.  She had learned that Ginger\'92s mother\'92s name was \softline
Barbara.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A moment later a very musical voice came on the phone.  \'93This is Barbara Jamison.  \softline
How may I help you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Good morning, Barbara.  This is Allison Clifford.  Your daughter, Virginia, is here \softline
with me, and would like me to turn on the speaker on my phone.  Do you mind?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What a surprise!\'94 came the reply.  \'93Of course, I don\'92t mind.\'94  Ali hit the button and \softline
Barbara said, \'93Hi, Ging!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Ali began.  \'93Before we get to the personal part, I would like to introduce myself.  My \softline
name is Allison McGrath Clifford.  You may have heard of my husband, Bill Clifford?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mrs. Clifford,\'94 Barbara Jamison replied, \'93Is that William Harrison Clifford of \softline
points east?  Somewhere in the top ten on }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Forbes}{\plain \fs24 \f1  list?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I\'92m afraid so.  Do you mind if I call you Barbara?  And please call me Ali,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93My God!\'94 Barbara exclaimed, \'93Are you Ali McGrath, the actress?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I was, Barbara.  Right again.  But why the surprise?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, the only thing that saved my marriage was the inven\-tion of the VCR.  If you \softline
were on the screen I could be standing naked rubbing my groin, and Bob would just peer \softline
between my legs.  We have every movie you ever made on tape.  Bob Jamison is going to \softline
absolutely freak out when I tell him I talked with Ali Mc\-Grath.\'94  She paused for a \softline
moment and continued, \'93Ali, could you send me an autographed picture or something?  \softline
Bob flat-out just won\'92t believe it if I don\'92t have some solid proof.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I think I can do better than that.  First, Ginger tells me you\'92re a broker and she \softline
says you\'92re doing very well.  I love your daughter, and I envy you and Bob.  But this is \softline
all business.  I am a money manager.  Right now I\'92m running $200 million and it\'92s going \softline
up to $2 billion.  I have a broker here, but it occurred to me that Seattle could be a very \softline
nice place to trade from.  No one thinks of people running money from Seattle.  Do you \softline
have room for another client?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab There was silence for a moment.  Then the musical voice, now sounding somewhat \softline
shaken, said, \'93I\'92m not sure I heard the size of the account.  It almost sounded like two \softline
hundred million dol\-lars.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Well, that\'92s only now.  It\'92ll get bigger.  Are you inter\-ested?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, I don\'92t know how long it will take, but I\'92ll crawl on my hands and knees from \softline
Seattle to Los Angeles for a small frac\-tion of that amount.  You are serious, aren\'92t you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, I don\'92t joke about money like that.  I take your answer to be yes.  Let me \softline
give you some information about it.\'94  She gave her the numbers, the Chemical \softline
connection, and the rest.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara then said, \'93Thank you very much, Ali.  By the way, for my daughter\'92s \softline
information I\'92m now a vice-president of the firm.  Now what\'92s the next step?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, how would it be if I had Chemical Bank wire you open authority for an \softline
initial $100 million, subject to discussion of invest\-ment objectives and specific securities.  \softline
Would that be suffi\-cient to break you loose and get you down to see me here in LA?  I am \softline
serious.  I would like to meet you very soon.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93There\'92s a two-thirty flight that gets into LAX about six-fifteen today.  Would that \softline
be soon enough?  Or would you like to do it some other time?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, I\'92d love it.  Ginger and I will meet you at the United terminal.  I\'92ll make \softline
a reservation for you here at the Beverly Wilshire, if that\'92s all right?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab \'93It\'92s great.  Now may I speak to my backward daughter for a moment?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger picked up the phone and said, \'93Mom, now that you\'92re a vice president, do you \softline
rate a private line?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I sure do, why?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because I\'92ll call you, or better yet, you would call me at this number.  It\'92s a private \softline
line into the suite bypassing the hotel switchboard.\'94  Barbara agreed to place the call, \softline
and Ginger hung up.  Moments later, the phone rang and Ginger picked it up again.  \softline
\'93Mom?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93It\'92s me,\'94 Barbara said.  \'93What\'92s on your weak excuse for a mind?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mom, the speaker\'92s still on.  I want Ali to hear this because she engineered it.  I \softline
want to apologize to you.  I remember always thinking how physically abused you were \softline
\'97 how Dad was always using you as a sexual plaything.  You\'92d be in the kitchen and, \softline
when Dad thought I wasn\'92t looking, he would grab your buns.  You always sort of melted \softline
and kissed him.  I always thought you were being abused.  I never said anything, but \softline
each night I could hear you being tortured.  I always thought you were so brave and self-sacrific\-ing.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mom, I know better, now.  It really does feel great, doesn\'92t it?  Last weekend I was \softline
naked and peeling a carrot at the sink.  My lover came up and grabbed my buns.  I \softline
almost fell when my knees wanted to turn to water.  The next thing I know, he is lifting \softline
me by the hips and is enter\-ing me from behind.  And Mom, guess what?  I\'92m about to \softline
cum, and I\'92m still peeling the damned carrot!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara gave a soft, musical laugh and said, \'93I\'92ll give you a tip.  Try to keep the cum \softline
out of the salad.  The taste clashes with several popular salad dressings.  Dad and I know \softline
from experi\-ence.  How did it feel, honey?\'94 she asked softly.  \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mom, it was heaven!  Right now, I don\'92t know what to do.  We made love so much \softline
over the weekend, my cunt hurts when he enters me.  On the other hand, I\'92m in agony \softline
if he doesn\'92t.  So he does.  Was it like that for you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Welcome to the club, Darling.  I\'92ll see you this evening.  Will I meet this paragon \softline
of manhood, too?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Bet on it, Mom!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At five o\'92clock, Ali and Ginger were in the gray limousine going west on the Santa \softline
Monica Freeway towards the San Diego Freeway and the airport.  Ali leaned forward, \softline
opened the small bar and made two martinis for Ginger and herself.  She gave the girl \softline
hers and said, \'93Ginger, a toast.  To us and to our partner\-ship: Clifford & Jamison.\'94  \softline
They clinked glasses and sipped.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Why is it this traffic doesn\'92t bother me, Ali?  Normally, I detest rush hour in Los \softline
Angeles, but this doesn\'92t bother me at all.  I really can\'92t understand it,\'94 Ginger said with \softline
a very broad grin.  She leaned her head back on the seat.  \'93Ali, I really wouldn\'92t have to 
train very hard to get used to this.  In fact, I think I\'92m going to give my dad hell.  I think \softline
my real talent is to be a second-generation millionaire.  Why didn\'92t he cooperate?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali picked up on the joke and said, \'93You\'92re quicker than I was, Gin.  It took me a \softline
long time \'97 thirty or forty seconds \'97 to get used to it.  Of course, being a woman you \softline
have an advan\-tage.  If your dad didn\'92t make it, you marry it.  That\'92s what I did.  Charley \softline
}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 is}{\plain \fs24 \f1  a millionaire, isn\'92t he?\'94 Ali\'92s eyes were dancing as she said it.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger stuck out her tongue.  \'93When I told Charley about tonight and about our \softline
partnership, he was ecstatic.  He said I could now support him in the style to which he \softline
would like to become accustomed.  When I said we were just starting out, he said I could \softline
easily make it on my back with my legs spread.  He said he\'92d give me a great \softline
recommenda\-tion.  And besides, he says I\'92m a nympho and he needs all the help he can \softline
get.  Wait until I get him alone!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali pretended to look puzzled.  \'93Ginger, I don\'92t understand.  If you\'92re mad at \softline
Charley, why did you lick your lips when you talked about getting him alone?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She grinned at Ginger and then said, \'93Do me a favor?  Better yet, I\'92ll make you a bet.  \softline
I\'92ll bet you ten dollars I can identify your mother with no help from you.  A bet?\'94 Ginger \softline
grinned and nodded.  Ali said, \'93Sucker bet!  First, I have a pretty good idea who I\'92m \softline
looking for.  A woman who looks about my age, but with a figure like yours.  There won\'92t \softline
be that many of those.  Furthermore, you forgot something.  She knows me.  But thanks \softline
for the money, partner.  I\'92ll deduct it from your first pay check.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali picked up the car phone, called United Air\-lines, and learned that the flight from \softline
Seattle was on time.  Looking out the window, she decided they would hit it just right.  \softline
When she picked up the intercom and told Fred they were right on the dot, they could \softline
see his smile in the rear-view mirror.  The car pulled up to the curb at the Arrivals \softline
entrance of the United terminal, the two girls got out and walked inside.  After passing \softline
through the tunnel they checked the Arrivals screen and found the Seattle flight was \softline
shown as being on the ground taxiing to the gate.  They went to the security barrier and \softline
waited. \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger said, \'93I\'92m not going to make it any easier than it is already.  I\'92m just going \softline
to stand well back and watch.\'94  Ali just grinned.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab A few minutes later, Ali saw a beautiful woman walking up the concourse with a \softline
long-legged stride.  She was wearing a well-tailored business suit and carried a shoulder \softline
bag.  Ali went up to her and said, \'93Barbara Jamison?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The woman stopped suddenly and her eyes widened, \'93My God, it is you!  Ali \softline
McGrath!\'94 The two women, for reasons neither understood, hugged each other like long-lost college roommates.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Just then Virginia came up.  She was holding a folded ten-dollar bill which she gave \softline
to Ali with a wry smile.  \'93You win.  And you didn\'92t even cheat.  I thought I had won.  \softline
Mom was looking for me, not for you.\'94  Then she gave her mother a big smile and 
hugged and kissed her.  \'93Mom, it\'92s so great to see you!  Let\'92s go.  Where\'92s your baggage \softline
check?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara Jamison winked at Ali, held up her handbag and said, \'93This is my baggage.  \softline
An extra bikini doesn\'92t take up a lot of room these days.  Shall we go?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went out to the car and Fred Clark saluted as Barbara got in.  Ali winked and \softline
he grinned back in return.  Fred was another in a very long list of people who loved Ali.  \softline
Nothing Ali wanted was ever any trouble for him.  The women got in the car and it \softline
pulled away.  Then Ali peeked into the ice bucket and smiled.  As she had expected, it \softline
had been refilled.  She decided she didn\'92t want to know how or where Fred obtained the \softline
things he did.  They were just always there.  Ali grinned at Barbara and said, \'93I don\'92t \softline
know if you\'92re used to riding in a limou\-sine, but I\'92m not.  I always feel like a little kid.  \softline
I want to press all the buttons and bounce up and down on the seat!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara was sitting next to Ali in the back seat while Ginger was riding backward \softline
in a rear-facing seat in the stretch limou\-sine.  Barbara grinned back at Ali and said, \'93Ali, \softline
I feel at home already.  Can I bounce?\'94 And she did, with a broad grin, while Ginger \softline
pretended to look chagrined.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger, pretending to look embarrassed, said, \'93Mother!  Really!  I can\'92t take you \softline
anywhere.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They all laughed and Ali asked if she could make Barbara a drink.  She said it was \softline
what she enjoyed most about the car.  You }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 could}{\plain \fs24 \f1  drive and drink.  Ali started to make \softline
martinis for the three of them.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger\'92s head was nodding up and down and Barbara said, \'93I can\'92t believe it!  My \softline
daughter?  Having an alcoholic beverage!  Darling, I thought you only drank spring \softline
water \'97 and then only from selected springs.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger smiled and said, \'93Mom, you\'92re right.  Virginia Jamison only drinks spring \softline
water, but Ginger Jamison is a real swinger.  She likes Beefeater martinis.  Virginia \softline
Jamison disap\-peared, Mom.  She hasn\'92t been seen anywhere since last Wednesday.  \softline
That\'92s when I met Ali.  Mom, I love you and Dad.  But why didn\'92t you drown me or \softline
some\-thing?  I was a real bitch.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara Jamison looked quite serious as she replied, \'93I tried, dear, several times.  \softline
Your father always pulled you out by your hair at the last minute.  He\'92s the one who\'92s \softline
soft-headed, not me.\'94  Then she smiled and Ali realized that Ginger\'92s smile was a near-duplicate of her mother\'92s.  \'93Ginger, you look lovely!  You\'92ve never looked so good.  In \softline
fact, as we used to say in the Air Force Officers\'92 Wives Club, you\'92ve got that well-fucked \softline
look.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger smiled back, \'93Maybe that\'92s because I am.  Well fuck\-ed, I mean.  Mother, I \softline
think my juices are drained dry and I know Charley\'92s are.  It was the most divine \softline
experience, and now I under\-stand more about you and Dad.  Incidentally, I remember \softline
you saying he never gets to sleep when he gets back from a business trip.  Does that go \softline
for you, too?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Barbara licked her lips lasciviously and said, \'93I certainly hope so!  On the other \softline
hand, this is the first business trip I\'92ve ever taken.\'94  She looked at Ali and smiled.  \'93I feel \softline
like a little kid playing grown-up.  I get to travel just like a real businessman!  I hope you \softline
don\'92t mind?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali stuck out her hand.  \'93Barbara, you\'92re a girl after my own heart.  When Ginger \softline
told me about you, I kept saying I had to meet you.  I\'92m delighted it happened so soon.  \softline
You know, she\'92s an incredibly lucky girl to have a family like yours.  From what I hear, \softline
if your love and Bob\'92s were liquid, it would flood Seattle and the entire Puget Sound \softline
area.  I envy you.  I really do.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara looked at Ali closely.  Finally she said, \'93I think you really mean that.  Maybe \softline
it\'92s true.  All I know is my cunt still gushes whenever Bob comes home.  I\'92m not sure if \softline
there\'92s a square inch of that house we haven\'92t made love on at some time or other.  I love \softline
sex, I love him, and he loves me.  It\'92s pretty simple, really.  I call it our bedroom exercise.  \softline
I think it keeps me in shape.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, can I tell you a secret?\'94 Ali asked.  \'93I bet Ginger I could find you at the \softline
airport.  I looked for a beautiful woman who looked to be about thirty years old.  And \softline
there you were.  Of course, you look closer to twenty-five than thirty, but what the hell.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara studied Ali carefully.  Ali just looked at her steadily.  Finally the older \softline
woman said, \'93You know, Bob is abso\-lutely right.  I was serious this morning when I \softline
talked about you.  It really, honest-to-God happened.  I was standing, abso\-lutely naked \softline
\'97 and my figure is pretty good.  I was running my finger up and down my slit.  Bob had \softline
been caressing me and my cunt was running rivers.  I needed him desperately.  \softline
Suddenly, there you are on the screen.  That bastard literally watched the screen \softline
between my legs.  I could have cheerfully killed him \'97 and you.  But he said you were \softline
the very best.  He said you were really the person you appeared to be on the screen.  He \softline
said, \'91That girl isn\'92t acting.  That\'92s the way she is.  And I love her!\'92  You know what?  He \softline
was absolutely right.  I hope he has a chance to meet you sometime.  I think it\'92s going \softline
to be the funniest thing in the world.  He\'92s just going to just stand there with his mouth \softline
open for at least five minutes without saying a word.  He\'92ll just stare!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and sipped her martini.  \'93Barbara, thank you.\'94  Ali then slid as far into \softline
the corner away from Barbara as she could and said, \'93Could I apologize for disturbing \softline
your love life?  If it had been me, I would have thrown something at the picture tube \'97 \softline
preferably something very heavy!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara grinned.  \'93We were poor, then.  If I remember, the idea crossed my mind, \softline
but then I remembered the set wasn\'92t paid-for yet!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I wonder about your husband\'92s judgment, though.  You are absolutely gorgeous!  \softline
A choice between you in the flesh and me on the tube is no choice at all.  All I can say is: \softline
Wow!  He must be a real fan.  I wish I had a few more over the last few years.  They\'92ve \softline
been very lean years, indeed.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Ginger had been listening and not saying anything.  She was sipping her drink, when \softline
she interrupted.  \'93Ali, I know you\'92ve been on very short rations for years.  But what \softline
about residuals?  As a star, aren\'92t you supposed to get paid when your movies rerun on \softline
TV?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali jerked up like she had been struck across the face.  \'93My God!  What an idiot!  \softline
Ginger, you\'92re right.  I can\'92t remember the last check I got.  In fact, come to think of it, \softline
I can\'92t ever remember getting a single one!\'94  She grinned and leaned forward in the seat \softline
and held out her hand, \'93Thanks, partner!  That\'92s what you\'92re being paid for \'97 whenever \softline
you get paid.  Barbara, I don\'92t think we got around to telling you: I\'92m finishing law \softline
school this June, too.  Your daughter and I are forming a partnership, Clifford & Jami\-
son.  I\'92ve got our offices picked out, and I\'92d like you to see them.  I think they\'92re kind of \softline
neat.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali studied Barbara Jamison and decided she was the kind of person she really liked.  \softline
She glanced outside the speeding car to check their location, then checked her watch.  \softline
\'93Barbara, I\'92ve been thoughtless.  We\'92re headed for the restaurant, but would you like \softline
to go to the hotel and freshen up first?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled and shook her head.  \'93I\'92m fine.  I...  Old habits die hard.  Because \softline
Bob is with Boeing and they sell to virtually every airline, we give the customers a bit of \softline
a rebate by always flying first class.  I\'92m not with them, but I guess I decided to celebrate \softline
my vice-presidency.  Anyway, I flew down first class and was very well-treated.  I have \softline
nothing to change into, anyway.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and continued, \'93Ali, will you please do me a great favor?  Would you \softline
please tell me what you said and did with my daughter?  I\'92m proud and pleased.  I tease \softline
her, but there actually was some truth in the teasing.  Bob and I were trying to get me \softline
pregnant again up until only a few years ago.  I guess I owe Ginger something, too.  I \softline
don\'92t think I would have gotten out of the house if it hadn\'92t been for her.  She made me \softline
so damned mad!  Her favorite phrase was \'91displaced home\-maker\'92.  What bullshit!  Maybe \softline
it\'92s the fact that Bob and I were married while he was a fighter pilot.  It\'92s not the world\'92s \softline
safest occupation and I was determined to make the most of our time together.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, it was funny... strange.  I set out to make him happy and made myself happy \softline
as hell.  I wanted to give him a great sex\-ual experience, and the more I worked at it, the \softline
better it was for me.  I wasn\'92t kidding about your movies, by the way.  I really think I \softline
need sex more than Bob does.  I tease him about giving me my regular protein injection.  \softline
Anyway, I thought about it while I looked at Ginger digging a hole and burying herself \softline
in it.  I thought about Bob and our life together.  A job re\-quirement of mine was that \softline
nothing was going to get in the way of our time together.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Anyway, I decided selling securities could be the answer.  I looked at the people in \softline
it.  So many are trying to push product whether the particular security fit the needs of \softline
the client or not.  It occurred to me that if I didn\'92t make a nickel in commissions it didn\'92t \softline
matter.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab She looked at Ali and smiled, \'93You know what I did?  I \'91yessed\'92 them to death.  The \softline
sales manager would start off every day with the great new deals we were supposed to \softline
push.  I would ignore all that and try to figure out what my clients should have in their \softline
portfolios.  I used my femininity as an advantage.  The sales manager would threaten me \softline
with termina\-tion, and I would just turn on a big smile and he\'92d melt.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Anyway, it seems my way works best.  Last year I was the biggest producer in the \softline
office.  What the firm hasn\'92t understood is that it\'92s a result of my doing the very best job \softline
for my clients.  And Ali, I\'92m not sure I could have done that if Bob didn\'92t have a good job \softline
producing an income that more than covers all our requirements.\'94  She grinned and \softline
added, \'93Would you believe it?  When I got my first pay check I didn\'92t know what to do \softline
with it?  I wasn\'92t working; I was trying to prove something to my daugh\-ter and to \softline
myself.  Does that sound sufficiently weird?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and said, \'93No.  It sounds exactly like something I would do.  But that \softline
means we\'92re probably both a little weird.\'94  The two women laughed and Ginger just \softline
shook her head.  Fred pulled up in front of Maxim\'92s and the doorman opened the door.  \softline
Ali greeted the doorman and went inside.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When they entered, they found Charley waiting for them and Ginger immediately \softline
went into his arms.  The other two women heard her whisper, \'93It\'92s been so long!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They looked at each other and smiled.  Barbara winked.  Ginger took Charley\'92s hand \softline
and said, \'93Mother, I would like you to meet my lover, Charles Conrad.  Charley, this is \softline
my mother, Barbara Jamison.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley held out his hand but Barbara stepped inside it and kissed him full on the \softline
lips.  Then she stepped back and took his hand that was still outstretched.  \'93Hi, \softline
Charley,\'94 she said with a grin.  \'93I guess I should apologize.  I\'92m always embarrassing my \softline
stuffy daughter.  On the other hand, I guess you don\'92t know my stuffy daughter, \softline
Virginia.  You love my swinging daughter, Ginger!\'94  She smiled warmly, and he melted.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mrs. Jamison, wow!\'94 Charley said with a smile.  \'93I was wondering where Ginger \softline
got her beauty.  Now it\'92s easy to see where it came from, but comparatively, she didn\'92t \softline
get a lot.\'94  Ginger punched his arm as he spoke.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They all laughed and the maitre d\'92hotel showed them to a table in the corner.  He \softline
exchanged a few words with Ali.  \'93I hope this table is adequate, Miss McGrath?  As you \softline
instructed, there will be no bill presented.  We will add the service to the bill.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali smiled and nodded.  The waiter came over and they all ordered drinks.  When he \softline
left Ali looked at Charley and teased him.  \'93I missed you this morning, Charley.  Where \softline
were you?  And for that matter, you look like hell.  You look like you were run over by \softline
a truck.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He smiled wryly at Ali and winked at Barbara.  When he did, his back was towards \softline
Ginger.  \'93Ali, I\'92m going to report this girl to OSHA or somebody.  She should come with \softline
a caution sticker, Dangerous When Wet, or something like that.  Thinking about it, I was \softline
lucky to get out alive.  She\'92s a man-eater!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab He looked at Ginger who pretended to pout and stuck out her tongue at him.  \'93What \softline
are you bitching about?\'94 she pretended to grump.  \'93You still have two arms, two legs, \softline
and one head.\'94  She then leaned over and lightly kissed him on the lips.  Turning to her \softline
mother she said, \'93Mom, Charley was a Marine fighter pilot.  I told him Dad flew fighters \softline
in the Air Force and he said Air Force fighter jocks are woosies.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara raised an eyebrow.  \'93And what, may I ask, is a woosie?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Mom, it\'92s a combination of wimp and pussy, or woosie.  Often short\-ened to woos.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Oh, I see,\'94 Barbara replied archly.  \'93Marine fighter pi\-lot...\'94  She shook her head \softline
sadly.  \'93Darling, I think you should trade him in.  It\'92s not the danger.  In fact your father \softline
thrived on it and, in a strange way I did, too.  But Marines?...  Your dad used to swear \softline
at their stupidity.  I guess he still would if someone dared to mention them in front of \softline
him.  He used to get so damned frustrated because the jarheads couldn\'92t understand why \softline
a jet can\'92t fly through a rice paddy.  I don\'92t mean over.  I mean through.  You could \softline
always tell a Marine fighter: it had rice growing in its air intake.\'94  Barbara dainti\-ly stuck \softline
out her tongue at Charley and turned back to her daugh\-ter.  \'93Ging, why don\'92t you find \softline
someone in a safe, sane occupa\-tion... something like bomb disposal?  Woosie, indeed!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley was laughing hard and had his arms up in a sign of surrender.  \'93I give up.  \softline
We may be stupid, but we\'92re not }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 complete}{\plain \fs24 \f1  fools!  I know when I\'92m overmatched.\'94  He \softline
smiled at Barbara and asked, \'93Do you always defend your husband like that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She grinned and said, \'93Only when he\'92s not around.  When he is, he can more than \softline
take care of himself.  Charley, if Bob were here tonight I might have taken your part to \softline
even things up a little.  I\'92ll tell you though, don\'92t get him going.  He can cite book, \softline
chapter, and verse.  He knows aircraft... and still flies them.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley persisted.  \'93You really love him, don\'92t you?\'94\par
}\pard \fs24\sa72\tx720\tqr\tx9360 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled softly.  \'93Let\'92s just say we\'92ve been good for each other and to each \softline
other.  The short answer is I adore the man.  Is that what you were looking for?  I \softline
sometimes get the feeling that we\'92re a little old fashioned.  I really believe that man is \softline
naturally monogamous.  If a guy strays, I think the wife often had more than a little to \softline
do with it.\'94\ul0 \tab \par
}\pard \fs24\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley smiled warmly and said, \'93Mrs. Jamison, in Mr. Jami\-son\'92s absence, I would \softline
like to ask for your permission to court your daughter.  I would like to marry her when \softline
she agrees.  My intentions are strictly honor\-able.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93My,\'94 Barbara replied, \'93how quaint!  Have you asked Ginger?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93No, ma\'92am.  She\'92s been asking me.\'94  He yanked his arm away just as she swung at \softline
it, causing her to miss.  \'93I told her I would have to speak to her parents first.\'94  Again he \softline
winked at Barbara, who smiled back.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The waiter had taken their dinner orders, and began to serve a very fine meal.  \softline
Barbara ordered a steak saying they always had a ton of seafood from Puget Sound.  Ali \softline
had been trying to keep from laugh\-ing out loud at the byplay between the Jamisons and 
Charley.  Finally, she turned to Charley and said, \'93Don\'92t keep us in sus\-pense, Charley.  \softline
Are you going to accept Ginger\'92s proposal?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley looked at Ginger and his eyes softened.  He replied, \'93Ali, that\'92s a good \softline
question.  Now you\'92re a lawyer, so let\'92s look at it the way a lawyer should: First, \softline
appearance.  Well, she might not win the Miss Universe contest.  A finalist?  Certain\-ly.  \softline
The winner?  Maybe, but I doubt it.  There are maybe two or three other girls in her \softline
class and you can\'92t rely on judges.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Brains?  Okay.  Phi Beta Kappa in History from University of Washington, but she \softline
won\'92t be number one in the class at S.C.  She\'92ll be number two, maybe three.  But I \softline
guess we can make allow\-ances.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Family?  I\'92m looking at half of it, so enough said.  Then there are the other factors.  \softline
For example, I love this girl so damned much, I really can\'92t live without her.  But it\'92s not \softline
all roses.  For example, she\'92s so damned passionate it scares me sometimes.  I\'92m not sure \softline
how long I can go without sleep, but what the hell.  I signed on as a Marine fighter pilot \softline
and they have a combat life expectancy measured in milliseconds, so I\'92m on borrowed \softline
time, anyway.  The short answer, Ali, is... I have to.  I can\'92t live without her.\'94  He turned \softline
to Ginger and said, \'93Ginger?  Will you marry me?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She jumped out of her chair into his arms and said, \'93Oh God, Charley!  Yes!  \softline
Whenever you want.\'94  Then she kissed him.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at Barbara and said, \'93That was fast.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Nonchalantly, Barbara replied, \'93It\'92s okay, but not really fast.  Let\'92s see: It\'92s Monday \softline
night.  Their first date was Friday.  That\'92s seventy-two hours.  No, Ali, that\'92s not fast.  \softline
Bob and I did it in under thirty-six.  Of course, he was on active duty so I guess we had \softline
to move faster.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Meanwhile, Charley had reached into his pocket and took out a ring.  \'93Darling, it \softline
isn\'92t very big, but I hope you like it.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The girl\'92s eyes danced as she slipped it on her finger.  It was a diamond ring with a \softline
small but perfect center stone.  She gave Charley a warm kiss.  Then she held out her \softline
hand to her mother.  Barbara looked at the ring, and then looked at her own.  \'93Honey, \softline
it\'92s twice as big as mine, and mine worked pretty well.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had signaled the maitre d\'92 and moments later the wine steward brought a bottle \softline
of champagne to the table.  The waiter also brought a lovely little cake with \'93Congratula\-
tions Ginger and Charley\'94 written on the top.  The champagne was poured and Ali \softline
offered a toast.  \'93To Ginger and Charley: May every day be as joyful as the days just \softline
past!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They drank the toast and Ginger looked at her mother.  \'93Mom, how did you meet \softline
Dad?  I don\'92t think you ever told me.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled warmly at her daughter and replied, \'93Darling, I was younger than \softline
you are.  I guess I was only about twenty.  I had just finished my sophomore year in 
college and your father had just received his silver wings as an Air Force pilot.  He was \softline
so proud and I was so impressed.  I can\'92t really remember what happened next.  I don\'92t \softline
know if he seduced me or I seduced him or if we seduced each other.  All I know is I was \softline
attracted to the wings and fell in love with the man.  I guess we spent two nights and a \softline
day in bed.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara frowned and added, \'93Incidentally, your father and I invented sex about \softline
twenty-five years ago.  We filed for a patent.  I wonder why it hasn\'92t issued yet?\'94  The \softline
rest of the group laughed and Barbara grinned.  \'93That\'92s just in case you and Charley \softline
think you made an original discovery.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali had been watching Barbara carefully.  She realized there was something a bit \softline
different about her.  She was alive, vibrant, and beautiful, but there was something else.  \softline
At this point she spoke up.  \'93Barbara, you\'92ve been puzzling me for hours.  But now I \softline
think I\'92ve finally figured it out.  You\'92re secure.  You have what you want, don\'92t you?  Bob \softline
is your whole life.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara turned to her and replied, \'93Of course.  All the rest doesn\'92t really count \'97 \softline
except for Miss Jamison here, of course.  I guess that\'92s really it.  I have Bob and my \softline
daughter and I don\'92t really need anything else.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93You know, it\'92s kind of strange.  I finally got my degree in the last hours before \softline
Ginger was born.  It was funny.  My class\-mates at graduation seemed like such children.  \softline
I\'92d lost a couple of years, but that wasn\'92t it.  They were so uptight, and I was so relaxed.\'94  \softline
She turned to Ginger.  \'93I think there may be hope for you yet.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger was showing her impatience.  She excused herself and she and Charley rose \softline
to go.  But first he went over to Barbara and kissed her.  \'93Goodnight, Mom.  I\'92m looking \softline
forward to becoming a part of the family.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled and said, \'93Take care of her, Charley.  She\'92s really a pretty good kid.  \softline
Good night to you both.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They left and Ali and Barbara had another cup of coffee.  Finally they left the \softline
restaurant and found Fred waiting for them with the limou\-sine\'92s door open.  They were \softline
driving towards the hotel when Ali said, \'93Bar\-bara, I made a reservation for you at the \softline
hotel.  However, when I spoke to you, I had completely forgotten we have another \softline
bedroom and bath in our suite which you are more than welcome to use.  It\'92s your \softline
choice.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I think I\'92ll take you up on it, if I may.  I can\'92t recall ever staying in a suite before.\'94  \softline
She smiled wryly and continued, \'93I mentioned that because of Bob being at Boeing, we \softline
fly first class whenever it\'92s available.  However, the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh \softline
away.  I get the feeling we make up for it by staying in fourth-rate hotels.  Thank you for \softline
the invitation.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab When they arrived at the hotel, Ali informed the desk that Mrs. Jamison would be \softline
staying in the suite and picked up a key for her.  They went up and Ali opened the door.  \softline
As usual, it had been prepared for the evening.  The lights were dimmed and soft music 
was coming from the FM radio.  Ali asked if Barbara would like a nightcap.  \'93We have \softline
essentially anything,\'94 she said.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bar\-bara shook her head and said she had to call Bob and tell him where she was.  \softline
She placed the call.  When the phone was an\-swered, Ali noticed a change in the tone of \softline
voice.  The love between them was obvious in Barbara\'92s voice.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Hi, darling.  I\'92m staying at the Beverly Wilshire in room 1401.  It\'92s part of a \softline
magnificent suite my new client, Ali Clif\-ford has.  Do you miss me?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali saw Barbara\'92s face brighten and her hand move down to her crotch.  Clearly, Bob \softline
Jamison was being explicit in his answer.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara continued, \'93Bob, I think a set of major problems involving our wayward \softline
daughter has been resolved.  First, she now allows herself to look as beautiful as we\'92ve \softline
always known she is.  Second, she\'92s now engaged to be married and it looks like I\'92m \softline
going to have to run like hell to make the wedding arrangements.  She\'92s as impatient as \softline
we were.  Tonight she officially became engaged to Charles Conrad.  Incidentally, Bill, \softline
she introduced him to me as her lover \'97 not a good friend, fiance, or some other bullshit.  \softline
Then Charley formally asked my permission and then asked Ginger to marry him.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Finally, she has a job \'97 as a partner in a law firm.  Her partner is my new client, \softline
Ali McGrath, who I\'92m sure you remember.  I\'92m staying with Ali now.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara jerked the phone away from her ear as Bob yelped, then put it back.  Ali was \softline
grinning as she watched the exchange.  \'93Yes, Bob.  She\'92s right here.  I\'92m staying in  her \softline
suite \'97 and I already told her how she almost broke up our marriage.  How you would \softline
rather watch her on the tube than make love to me in the flesh.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She paused, and then said, \'93I\'92ll ask her.\'94  She looked at Ali and said, \'93I told you!  He \softline
doesn\'92t believe me.  Will you talk to him?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali took the phone and said, \'93Good evening, Bob.  This is Ali McGrath \'97 actually, \softline
it\'92s now Allison McGrath Clifford.  My husband, Bill, is out of town.  And I have a bone \softline
to pick with you.  Bar\-\-bara told me you\'92re one of my biggest fans and I was flat\-tered.  \softline
Then she told me how she was standing in front of you naked and you were watching one \softline
of my movies between her legs.  Bob, your wife is one of the most beautiful women I\'92ve \softline
ever seen.  If we were nude side by side, I\'92m afraid I would lose.  With me on the screen \softline
and Barbara in the flesh, choosing me raises questions about your judgment, your sanity, \softline
or both.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali could hear laughter at the other end of the line.  Bob Jamison said, \'93You really \softline
are Ali McGrath.  I not only recognize the voice, but I sure recognize the attitude.  Ali \softline
\'97 may I call you that? \'97 I always said you just played yourself.  Will I get to meet you \softline
sometime?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Bob, I\'92m sure we\'92ll meet in no more than a few weeks.  On the day Ginger \softline
graduates from USC, I\'92m graduating from UCLA Law School.  Furthermore, Ginger and \softline
I are law partners.  I intend to be matron of honor at her wedding \'97 although she 
doesn\'92t know it yet \'97 and your wife is going to be my principal securities broker.  We\'92re \softline
certainly going to meet soon.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Incidentally, Barbara didn\'92t have a chance to mention it, but your future son-in-law \softline
is also an ex-fighter pilot.  He flew for the Marines... and your wife was giving him a well-deserved hard time.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She passed the phone back and went to her bedroom so Barbara could finish her call \softline
in private.  She heard the phone hang up and there was a knock on the bedroom door.  \softline
Barbara stuck her head in and said, \'93I came down here to see you on business, Ali, but \softline
all that\'92s happened has been I\'92ve been treated like visiting royalty, and you\'92ve solved a \softline
whole bunch of my family\'92s problems and concerns.  But when are we going to talk about \softline
you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and said, \'93How about starting over breakfast.  Is eight o\'92clock too early?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara grinned and shook her head.  \'93Remember the time difference?  We run on \softline
the Big Board\'92s clock.  It opens at nine-thirty which is six-thirty here.  Eight o\'92clock is \softline
practically the afternoon.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93On the other hand,\'94 and she smiled broadly, \'93that bed is simply scrump\-tious.  I \softline
think I can suffer in silence for a bit.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She left the room and went to bed.\par
}\page 
\pard \fs24\sa72\tx0\tx432\tx864\tx1296\tx1728\tx4680 
{\plain \fs24 \f1 Chapter 5\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab At eight o\'92clock the next morning, Barbara came out from her room with a towel \softline
wrapped around her head wearing the hotel\'92s terry cloth robe.  She grinned and said, \softline
\'93Good morning, Ali!  I have a question.  How long did it take you to get used to this \softline
luxury?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked thoughtful for a moment and then replied, \'93A long time.  Five... maybe \softline
ten seconds.  Something like that.  Why?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Because it took me almost twenty,\'94 she replied with a smile.  Her face became \softline
serious and she said, \'93Ali, tell me about your\-self.  You look beauti\-ful, but...\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93...I\'92m much too thin?\'94 Ali finished the sentence for her.  \'93You\'92re right.  I am.  It \softline
comes from not eating which results from a lack of money.  Barbara, I\'92ve been thinking \softline
about my fortunes over the last few weeks.  I decided that it wasn\'92t all bad.  I was raised \softline
in Kansas and came out here after a producer \'97 shoot\-ing a movie in Lawrence, Kansas, \softline
of all the improba\-ble places \'97 thought I should.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I really got into the business very easily.  Too easily, I guess, in retrospect.  Anyway, \softline
things went along.  I guess I didn\'92t see eye-to-eye \'97 to say the very least \'97 with the \softline
people who like to depict America and its institu\-tions as the bad guys whenever and \softline
wherever possible.  I guess I spoke out a little too loudly and in the wrong places, and \softline
suddenly, no more parts.  Then my parents died.  The last months have been tough.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara looked at her thoughtfully and asked, \'93Then what happened?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali continued.  \'93Then I met Bill Clifford.  More accurately, he found me.\'94  She smiled \softline
at Barbara and said, \'93Would you believe it?  We were married less than three hours after \softline
I first laid eyes on him.  Bill calls it a tax deal.  Now I\'92m madly in love with him.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Does he know that?\'94 Barbara asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I don\'92t know.  I haven\'92t told him.  Except maybe I whis\-pered it once or twice.  It \softline
gets even stranger: Our marriage isn\'92t consummated.  We sleep in the same bed and \softline
have ever since the first day I met him \'97 our wedding day.  I never wear any\-thing at all \softline
in bed \'97 I\'92m stark naked.  I do play a little game, though.  I kiss him goodnight.  During \softline
the kiss I can do anything I want above his waist.  When it ends, it\'92s over for another \softline
day.  Oh, there\'92s one more thing: We always sleep on our backs with my head on his \softline
shoulder.  I snuggle as close to him as I can get and we go to sleep with his hand cupping \softline
my breast \'97 or what passes for one in my present condi\-tion.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, I\'92m jealous of you in two ways: First, it\'92s so obvious that you and Bob are \softline
still madly in love and have a joyous sex life.  Second, I\'92m jealous of your chest.  I haven\'92t \softline
seen them, but I\'92ll bet your tits are perfect.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara opened her bathrobe and stood there like a model.  As Ali had perceived, the \softline
woman\'92s breasts were beautifully shaped, full, but not too large.  She had small, lovely \softline
nipples.  \'93Do you approve?\'94 she asked with a shy smile.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93As I said, I\'92m jealous.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \ul0 \tab Barbara slipped her robe back on as Ali continued, \'93Now that that\'92s out of the way, \softline
how about break\-fast?\'94  She smiled and said, \'93Bill and I have another running joke.  He \softline
said he\'92s fattening me up for an Arab sheik who wants a blonde concubine.  However, \softline
he said Arabs still like their women... full-bodied, shall we say? \'97 so I\'92ve got to put on \softline
weight.  At any rate, I\'92ve been catching up on meals uneaten for the last year or so.  \softline
What would you like to have for breakfast?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93How about orange juice, crisp bacon, and eggs over light?\'94 Barbara responded.  \'93No \softline
toast.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali picked up the phone and ordered.  Turning back to Bar\-bara, she said, \'93Are you \softline
ready to talk business?\'94  The woman nodded and Ali started to explain the investment \softline
arrangements.  After they went through the preliminaries with Barbara completing all \softline
the necessary forms for opening an account, the doorbell rang.  Ali opened it for the \softline
waiter who set up their breakfast.  When they finished eating, Ali turned back to \softline
Barbara and they started to discuss investment oppor\-tunities.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara asked, \'93Ali, what is your investment goal?  Preser\-va\-tion of principal, capital \softline
appreciation \'97 what?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I guess my answer is going to sound rather odd: It\'92s to beat the S&P 500.  There are \softline
nine other investment managers right now and Bill doesn\'92t really like the results from \softline
any of them.  I managed a portfolio on paper for a couple of years now and did pretty \softline
well, so Bill decided I ought to do it with real money.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Barbara, there\'92s one area I\'92m interested in: fiber optics.  Everyone has heard the \softline
Sprint ads touting its fiber optic network.  It\'92s given me an idea.  First, how much do you \softline
know about fiber optics and communications?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Not much, I\'92m afraid.  All I know is communications travel using tiny glass fibers \softline
rather than copper wire,\'94 she replied.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I guess I know a little more than that.  First, the tradi\-tional tele\-phone service uses \softline
analog transmission.  Fiber optics uses digital which is much cleaner and clearer.  \softline
However, it\'92s like the chain that\'92s only as strong as its weakest link.  To get the full \softline
benefit of fiber optics, the system has to be digital end-to-end.  Now there are a great \softline
many digital systems \'97 in offices, particularly.  The AT&T Merlin system, for example, \softline
doesn\'92t use telephones.  They look like telephones, but technically they\'92re digital voice \softline
termi\-nals.  In other words, the communication is digital from the phone to the Merlin \softline
box.  If it\'92s long distance, it may use digital on a fiber-optic long-distance network.  The \softline
problem is the local telephone systems are all analog.  No one receives the full benefit \softline
unless its digital }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 end to end.}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93What I would like to invest in is a company that has the facilities and equipment \softline
to make fiber optic connec\-tions from the originating point to the point of connection to \softline
a fiber optic network.  Question for you, Barbara: Is there such a company?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled and said, \'93I think there is.  I recall hearing about a small company \softline
in the East that\'92s struggling.  Apparently, they make a full line of connection hardware.  
Let me check.\'94  She picked up Ali\'92s phone and called Seattle.  She spoke with the \softline
research director for a few minutes, thanked him, and hung up.  \'93It\'92s called ComTech \softline
and it\'92s in Massachusetts.  The stock is traded over-the-counter.  It\'92s a thin capitalization stock.  There may be a few million shares outstanding.  The last quote is 3-1/4.  \softline
Want it?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and stuck out her hand, and Barbara took it.  The girls shook on their \softline
deal.  \'93We\'92re in business!  Buy as much as you can get for any price under five.  If it goes \softline
higher, we\'92ll talk about it.  I think maybe we ought to go and see the fine folks back East.  \softline
Do you think they might give me a seat on the Board?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93For the kind of investment you\'92re talking about, I\'92m sure they will.  What do you \softline
want to do?  Own it?\'94  Ali just smiled and shrugged.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara called Seattle again, this time asking for the trading desk.  \'93Charley, there\'92s \softline
an OTC stock called ComTech.  I have a new client who wants to buy it \'97 as many \softline
shares as you can get your hands on at any price five dollars a share or less.\'94  She gave \softline
the trader her phone number and he promised to keep them informed.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali and Barbara spent the next two hours talking about other investment \softline
opportunities.  When they finished, she had committed another $50 million.  Finally, she \softline
said, \'93There\'92s one more thing, Barbara.  Open another account in the name of A. M. \softline
Clifford.  It\'92s going to be my funny-money account.  I\'92ll wire you some money to start \'97 \softline
I guess $100,000.  You handle the money.  If you get any hunches, just buy for me.  I \softline
think we\'92ll do all right.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She smiled and said, \'93Now, how would you like to see our new law offices?  We can\'92t \softline
announce yet because we have to pass the bar exams before we can formal\-ly hang out \softline
our shingle.  But the offices are there.  Inter\-ested?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara nodded and ran off to her room.  Ali went into her own and showered and \softline
dressed.  She put on a light-colored linen suit she had purchased as her first \'93lawyer \softline
suit\'94 and went back to the living room and found Barbara already waiting for her.  \'93I \softline
decided this is the way to travel \'97 just a spare pair of pants.  I don\'92t have to spend an \softline
hour deciding what to wear.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They went down to the lobby and out the front doors where Ali\'92s car was waiting.  \softline
\'93I hope you\'92re not terribly sensitive to your hair blowing?\'94 she asked Barbara.  \'93My car \softline
is still so new, I can\'92t bear to drive with the top up.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara just grinned and said, \'93Ali, I think our hair is similar in texture and wave.  \softline
I just run a comb through it when it blows.  If that\'92s not enough, tough!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I knew it!\'94 Ali exclaimed, \'93A girl after my own heart.  We\'92re off!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She went out to the freeway and then towards downtown Los Angeles.  She got off \softline
at an exit and made her way a few blocks to the garage entrance of a bank\'92s headquarters building.  After driving down the ramp she parked in a reserved spot.  The reserved \softline
spot next to it was also empty.  \'93That\'92s for Ginger,\'94 Ali noted.  They took the elevator \softline
up to the lobby and then another one up to thirty-eight, the top office floor.  Getting out, 
she turned right.  Facing them were two impressive cherry wood doors in a lovely \softline
polished-wood colo\-nial-style entrance.  Above the door in brass letters was }{\plain \fs24 \scaps\f1 Clifford & \softline
Jamison}{\plain \fs24 \f1  and below it in more discrete letters, }{\plain \fs24 \scaps\f1 Attor\-neys at Law}{\plain \fs24 \f1 .\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali stopped short and exclaimed, \'93Wow!  It\'92s really neat.\'94  Then turning to Barbara \softline
she said, \'93I apologize.  I\'92m not supposed to say things like that.  But it\'92s the first time \softline
I\'92ve ever seen it!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara smiled at her and said, \'93Why not?  I would have been jumping up and down.  \softline
In fact, since it\'92s my name there, too, I think I will!\'94  And she did.  Then she gave Ali a \softline
big hug.  \'93Can we see the inside?\'94 she asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali opened the door and they entered the office.  She stood at the doorway and \softline
smiled.  Obviously, the decorating had been completed.  She turned to Barbara and said, \softline
\'93Instant law office.  Just add people.\'94  There was a receptionist/secretary\'92s desk along \softline
with a leather sofa, and a group of very comfortable-looking leather chairs.  They went \softline
through the door and found the offices.  There were two large ones, one in the corner \softline
and another next to it with a connecting door.  There were two smaller offices on the \softline
outer wall, a small law library and a conference room.  After exploring it, they went into \softline
the corner office.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab It was on the building\'92s northwest corner.  Behind the desk were the hills and the \softline
San Fernando Valley beyond.  To the west there was a clear view of the ocean.  }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 \'93What \softline
do you know?\'94}{\plain \fs24 \f1  Barbara exclaimed.  \'93Today is LA\'92s clear day for the year so you can even \softline
see the ocean!\'94 She turned to Ali and saw the girl\'92s eyes were dancing.  \'93It\'92s beautiful, \softline
Ali.  It really is.  You don\'92t waste any time, do you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at her with a puzzled expression and Barbara continued, \'93I gather it\'92s \softline
only been a couple of days since you asked Ginger to join you.  How did they do it all so \softline
fast?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali grinned and held her finger up in front of her mouth and said, \'93I cheated, Barb.  \softline
I could see it coming with Ginger and Charley so I had the firm name lettering ordered \softline
last week.  I guess they just put it up yesterday.  Do you really like it?  Do you think \softline
Ginger will?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Ali, I can\'92t believe you\'92re serious!  Let\'92s take the second question first \'97 about \softline
Ginger.  I ask you: You\'92re not twenty-four years old yet, you haven\'92t graduated from law \softline
school let alone been ad\-mitted to practice.  Nevertheless, here you are as a name partner \softline
in a law firm with the most prestigious address in the city.  She\'92ll freak out!  As for me, \softline
I\'92m a small-town girl from Tex\-as...\'94  She stopped and looked at Ali quizzical\-ly.  \'93Ali, how \softline
long has your family lived in Kansas?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked at her, surprised at the question.  \'93I really don\'92t know, Barb.  They\'92ve \softline
been there for generations, but I never bothered to find out exactly how long.  Why do \softline
you ask?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93Young lady, my ancestors probably knew yours.  We\'92ve been in Texas for \softline
generations, too.  I know my family ran cattle drives north to Kansas and the railroad.  
I figured there had to be some reason we get along so well!\'94  Taking Ali in her arms she \softline
gave her a kiss.  \'93Hi, cousin!\'94 She stepped away and smiled warmly.  \'93Anyway, as I was \softline
saying, I\'92m a small-town girl.  This is the most impressive office I\'92ve seen outside the set \softline
of }{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 LA Law}{\plain \fs24 \f1  I see on TV.  I think it\'92s marvelous!\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They were trying out the leather-upholstered furniture in the office when they heard \softline
a squeal of excitement from the elevator lobby, followed by a knock on the outer door.  \softline
Ali went out and opened it.  Ginger and Charley were standing there, waiting.  When she \softline
saw Ali, she grabbed her in a big hug and kissed her warmly on the cheek like her \softline
mother had done.  Step\-ping back she said, \'93Ali, it\'92s magnificent.  You weren\'92t kidding, \softline
were you?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab They walked in and Ali gave her a tour of the facilities ending in the corner office.  \softline
\'93What do you think?  Does it live up to its billing?  Your mother commented that today \softline
is our clear day for the year so you can see the ocean.\'94  The office had glass walls that \softline
ran from floor to ceiling.  There were drapes that could be drawn, but were now wide \softline
open.  Ginger and Charley stood and admired the view.  Ali continued, \'93Ginger, since I\'92m \softline
not going to be around very much, this is your office.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger turned and her jaw dropped.  Then she rapidly shook her head.  \'93Absolutely \softline
not, Ali.  I won\'92t hear of it!  I was gaping at the office next door, thinking it was a junior-grade palace.  By the way, how much does it cost?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked puzzled.  \'93The rent?  I...\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger grinned and said, \'93No, Ali!  How much is it going to cost me to work here?  \softline
I can\'92t afford to pay you very much, but I\'92m going to get a job nights and sign over my \softline
paycheck so I can use my office.  Charley and I were talking and he thinks I have the \softline
talent to be a good stripper and they do pretty well...  Then there\'92s the after-hours work.  \softline
He feels he needs some help...\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali instantly understood and her face became serious.  She looked at Barbara and \softline
said, \'93Cous, do you think she could make it?  Isn\'92t she a little.... scrawny?  I think she \softline
needs much bigger boobs to make it as a stripper.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara just laughed.  \'93Darling, I think you\'92re one of the luckiest girls alive.  \softline
Seriously, have you had a chance to talk about the firm and what you\'92re going to do?  I \softline
don\'92t want to be a wet blanket, but do you know enough law to handle this?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ginger\'92s face fell.  \'93Mom, that\'92s a question I was hoping no one would think to ask.  \softline
I woke up in the middle of the night last night thinking about it.  What am I supposed \softline
to do, Ali?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93The firm has one client now, Ginger: me.  I\'92ll be retain\-ing the Firm to represent me \softline
in the actions I\'92m getting ready to bring against Alliance Studios and other assorted \softline
friends.  It won\'92t get dull.\'94  Then she said, \'93Charley, you\'92ve been very quiet.  What do \softline
you think?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He smiled broadly and replied, \'93We stopped off at my firm on the way up.  The \softline
managing partner\'92s office isn\'92t half as nice as this.  And the less said about accommodations for junior associates the better.  Incidentally, Mom, Ginger was nice enough not to \softline
awaken me when she was pondering her future \'97 as a lawyer, that is, not as Mrs. \softline
Charles T. Conrad.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab He looked at Ali and said, \'93Could I look over your equipment, Ali?  I\'92ve always been \softline
fascinated by what they\'92re doing now with computers.  Didn\'92t I see one out\-side?\'94 There \softline
had been a stack of IBM packing boxes arrayed alongside one of the desks.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali replied, \'93The way things are going, it looks like busi\-ness must be slow in Los \softline
Angeles.  I didn\'92t expect this stuff for weeks.\'94  She sat down in the execu\-tive chair and \softline
swung it around.  \'93I think I could get to like this stuff, kids.  How about if we start \softline
getting it sorted out?  Barbara, this is a little out of your line, though.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Barbara just snorted.  She and Charley started opening boxes.  \'93Before we get \softline
carried away, what did you buy and where do you want it?\'94 Charley asked.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali said, \'93That\'92s an intelligent question.  We have two powerful IBM PCs.  They\'92re \softline
supposed to be really loaded \'97 the full memory expansion and the whole nine yards.  \softline
There\'92s one laser printer, too.  Why don\'92t we each take one?  Then we can play with our \softline
own toys.  They\'92re supposed to be fully equipped to communi\-cate with each other, as \softline
well.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Charley showed unexpected facility with the computers.  In a short time they were \softline
both up and running.  When Ali picked up a telephone on the desk, she was surprised to \softline
hear a dial tone.  \'93Will wonders never cease!  The phones are apparently in ser\-vice, too.\'94  \softline
Charley continued with the wiring, and finally hooked up a modem to the telephone line.  \softline
Ali thought they had done enough and took the group out to lunch.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab That afternoon she and Barbara drove out to the airport and Ali put her on the \softline
plane.  Then she went to the American terminal and waited for Bill\'92s flight which was \softline
late arriving.  After waiting at the security area she finally saw him coming toward her \softline
and felt a strange thrill.  It was the first time she had felt this sense of anticipation. \softline
}{\plain \fs24 \i\f1 Maybe it\'92s the associa\-tion with Barbara,}{\plain \fs24 \f1  she thought.  As soon as he was through the \softline
checkpoint, she was in his arms.  She gave him a very warm kiss and got an equally \softline
warm response.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93I missed you, darling,\'94 she whispered.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill kissed her again.  They ignored the looks from the pas\-sers-by as she held him.  \softline
\'93I missed you too, Ali.  How was your day, yesterday?\'94  Arm-in-arm they walked out to \softline
where Fred was waiting with the car.  As they drove back to the hotel, she filled him in \softline
on the developments, including Virginia\'92s engagement to Charley and her meeting with \softline
Barbara.  Then she told him about the investment in ComTech, the reasons for it, and \softline
looked at him with a question in her eyes.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Bill just smiled and then gave her another kiss.  \'93It\'92s wonderful what a smart wife \softline
can do.  Honey, it makes all kinds of sense to me.  Incidentally, I talked to your \softline
commodities guy.  He\'92s watching what you\'92re doing in some wonderment.  He doesn\'92t \softline
know where you get your information but his traders have been watching your moves 
with increasing interest.  They are now following your trades with their own money and \softline
would like to recommend the same trades to their clients.  They have one major problem \softline
doing it, though,\'94 he said with a laugh.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Ali looked puzzled and said, \'93What\'92s that?\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab \'93They can\'92t figure out why you\'92re doing what you\'92re doing.  As a result, they can\'92t \softline
make it a Firm recommendation!  Can you imagine?  They\'92re following your lead, but it \softline
would look pretty silly if they recommended it to a custom\-er.  The customer asks why \softline
they\'92re recommending the move and they reply, \'91We don\'92t know, but one of our \softline
customers is making a lot of money doing it.  Except we can\'92t really figure out what it \softline
is she\'92s doing.\'92  You\'92ve got a big profit in your positions already.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab That night they went through their accustomed bedroom ritual.  When Bill got into \softline
bed, Ali rolled over on top of him.  Instead of kissing him, she lay on his torso with her \softline
face only inches from his.  He looked into her brilliant blue eyes that were intently \softline
focused on his.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab Without moving her head, she lowered her body so the nipples on her breasts were \softline
barely touching his chest.  Then very slowly she started to move.  Her nipples were now \softline
engorged from the sensual contact with the hair on his chest.  As she continued to move, \softline
it felt like two soft pencil points were making circles on his chest.  It was tormenting.  \softline
He saw a small smile on her lips and a glow in her eyes.  Finally, he could take it no \softline
longer and whispered, \'93Ali, what are you doing?  I can\'92t take much more of this.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab The small smile remained as she replied softly, \'93I\'92m tortur\-ing us, husband.  I\'92m \softline
trying to get you to feel the same need for me that I feel for you.  It\'92s against our rules, \softline
darling \'97 I know I\'92m not supposed to say anything \'97 but my cunt is flooded with my \softline
juices.  I need you, and want so desper\-ately for you to need me, too.  I\'92m glad you can\'92t \softline
take it anymore.  It means I\'92m winning.\'94\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She then lowered her head so that her lips barely touched his.  Their single \softline
nighttime kiss was a dream of sensuality.  Her tongue darted into his mouth, while her \softline
lips maintained only the barest contact with his.  Finally, it was over.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 \tab She rolled off him, fit her body to his, and placed his hand on her breast which, with \softline
her diet and exercise, was regaining its former shape.  Bill could feel their pulses racing.  \softline
Her hand came over his, and minutes later they were both asleep.\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 To be continued...\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 * * *\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome.  Let me hear from you.  \softline
morg105829@aol.com\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 Allison  Copyright \'a9 1988, 2001 by Morgan.  <morg105829@aol.com>\par
}{\plain \fs24 \f1 All rights reserved.  No part may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any \softline
electronic means, including photocopying, recording or by any information and retrieval \softline
system, without the written permission of the author.}}