Robert Vickers - Beast girl

It was an impossible situation. Depressed and angry with herself, she had a bad session with the librarian, trying to explain why she was bringing her own library book back into the library to read. It was irritating. The woman was so ignorant that she couldn't cope with anything but library books being checked out of the library or being returned to the library. Nothing else.

Laura left the library in a huff, flustered and angry, clutching her book.

I probably couldn't have concentrated on reading it, anyway.

She got in the car and drove around, not knowing where she could go. It was a beautiful day, but not yet warm enough to sit outdoors and read.

I need a drink.

Laura yearned to go home and read there, near her bar. But she was afraid of a phone call or a visit.

As she drove, she looked for a place to stop for a drink. It was a strange neighborhood, so she was a bit afraid to go into one of the bars alone. Some of them looked pretty bad. She kept driving.

Laura saw a small restaurant on the corner. They advertised beer, so she knew they had a liquor license.

I'll get a cocktail and then have lunch. I needn't starve, just because I'm in disgrace. It's bad enough that I have to go into hiding.

She parked and walked into the restaurant, carrying her book. Laura felt depressed and lonely, and she felt that no one in the world would ever like her or respect her again.

She ordered a Manhattan and drank it quickly. Then she looked at the menu. She wasn't hungry, but she knew she'd better eat something. She felt lightheaded from just one drink.

"I'll have a grilled cheese sandwich."

"Coffee?"

"No. No, thanks."

"Another cocktail?"

Why not? I feel rotten.

"Yes. One more.

As Laura was sipping her drink, she saw a woman she knew walk in. Her first impulse was to hide from her.

That's silly. She couldn't know about it. Not yet. Pretty soon I won't be able to face anyone.

Laura waved to the woman. She had played bridge with her often in the past. Maybe some company would help her to snap out of it. She was really down.

The woman came over, smiling broadly. "Hello, Laura. Good to see you."

Laura greeted her with a smile. "Hi."

"It's been over a year since we've gotten together in our duplicate group. I really miss playing bridge that way."

"I do, too. We'll have to get together soon."

You won't find two more people who will sit in the same room with me. And you won't either, when you find out.

Laura's cheeks got warm with shame.

The waitress came to take the woman's order. Laura was groping to remember the woman's name.

It'll come to me.

"I'll have a cheeseburger," the woman said.

"Uh… I'll have a Manhattan."

She'll think it's just my second one.

As they ate and chatted, Laura relaxed a little.

The drinks help, she thought gratefully. This woman won't speak to me by next week. I'd better enjoy her company while she will. What's her name? Marie. Marie something.

Marie was talking Laura had missed half of it, but she didn't care. "… and I have to pick up a baby gift for one of my neighbors. So, would you like to go shopping with me? I'd love some company."

"Sure. That'll be fun." Laura hadn't had time to shop for months. It was always paper-marking, lesson-planning or house cleaning on the weekends. Lately, everything had been neglected for Bert. Anyway, she had nowhere to go. She didn't know where to go if she couldn't go home.

They left gaily. The woman was happy about her shopping expedition. Laura was a bit cheerful because of her three Manhattans.

The two women drove to the shopping center in Marie's car. She parked, and they walked into the city's finest department store, Trumbell's.

Laura's head was in a whirl from the drinks, the spring air, and the intoxicating smell of perfume in the store.

They sauntered slowly past the women's blouse section. Laura lingered, but decided to let Marie get her baby gift first before she shopped.

"Do you want to shop here?" Marie asked.

"Later. Let's get your present first."

"Good idea."

They walked toward the escalator, Marie jabbering about starting a new duplicate bridge group, when Laura stopped dead. Facing her in the aisle was Elaine! Bert's mother stood there glaring at her, with Laura's sister, Bet, at her side. Bet looked pale and accusing. Laura wanted to faint to get away from the impossible horror of it! She couldn't. Her knees were weak, but she stayed conscious and had to face her lover's mother.

"I've been calling you," Elaine snarled in controlled fury. "You filthy whore! Why did you have to choose a child to sleep with? Why? Doesn't my son have enough troubles without a sordid affair with an older woman? What can he possibly see in you? Twice his age! I'd have you arrested if I could! And I'm going to find out, believe me! There must be some law protecting youngsters from depraved whores like you!" Elaine was shrieking now, and Bet was crying.

Laura couldn't answer her. Her throat was dry, and her voice croaked. Anyway, what was there to say? Marie stood there, fascinated by the scene. She seemed to be enjoying it, but she looked a little puzzled because she wasn't exactly sure which son of Elaine's Laura was having the affair with.

Elaine ranted on. A small group of people congregated to listen.

It's probably making their day, Laura noted with horror. Everyone loves a victim.

"You're going to stay away from my child! Do you understand? No dirty slut is going to ruin his life! He has enough grief to live down! And if I hear that you're sexually molesting my boy, I'm going to report you to the authorities! There must be some way I can keep an old sex moron away from my child!"

Elaine looked and sounded hysterical. As she raised her hand to strike Laura, Bet pulled at her and stood in the way. "No! No! Don't hit her!" She pulled Elaine away.

"Will you forgive me, Bet?" croaked Laura, looking pleadingly into her sister's eyes. She ignored the hysterical mother.

"You make me sick!" answered Bet in disgust. She pulled her friend away, and led Elaine to a chair, where she wept hysterically.

The crowd of people had formed such a tight circle around them that Laura could hardly push through them. She left the gaping Marie and ran out of the store, crying and gasping for air.

Laura didn't know which was the worst, the public humiliation, or the private knowledge that she deserved it. She ran breathlessly, looking for a cab to take her to her car. She wasn't even sure where she had parked it, but she knew what neighborhood the restaurant was in. She stood there weeping for about fifteen minutes. When she finally got a cab, they drove to the restaurant and she got out. She paid the driver and stumbled around the block, finally finding her car.

I need a drink! I'd better go home for it or I'll never get there! I won't be able to drive!

All the way home Laura wept. She knew she couldn't give up Bert, but the pressures of a hysterical mother could be considerable.

Laura finally reached home, having a few close calls on the way. She was no longer drunk from the earlier drinks, but she couldn't keep her mind on the driving.

Laura threw off all her clothes and ran for a drink. She drank it greedily.

She phoned Bert at his house, desperately needing him and wanting to hear his voice. His mother wouldn't be home yet, so it was fairly safe.

If his father answers, I'll hang up.

No one answered. Weeping, Laura ran for the whiskey bottle.

I don't need the vermouth. Why do I have to be so fancy at a time like this?

Lance had come to greet her when she arrived home. Laura petted him and lay down next to him on the rug.

Maybe he can make me feel better, though I don't think anything can. Why am I so rotten? Why can't I be normal like other people?