"I lie there feeling grateful bemusement at this turn of events. Whydidn't he force himself on me? I am truly thankful, but I still wonderis he the fi...rst man to not find Aurore's body desirable, or am I beingpreserved for some other purpose?The grey man has certainly not forgotten the right of owner to enjoyslave, because as we try to sleep a loud reminder of this power becomesaudible through the thin walls of the tents.Such is the volume of noise that any chance of rest is prevented by theloud. As a young boy growing up in a middle class Catholic family on the North side of Chicago all sex was taboo and forbidden, there were 'bad' girls in the area but my parernts knew who they were and I certainly had to keep a distance or risk grounding or worse. Down the street from us lived a woman, Marie, she was nearing 'spinsterhood' at age 36, owning her own meticulously kept home I overheard she had a big management job at a big firm downtown. She took the train, putting few miles on her. ‘Hi Serena, what are you up to?’ I asked.‘Oh hi Rob, just been into Debenhams for a free make up session,’ she replied.I had already noticed the stunning red lipstick and lipgloss and smoky grey eye shadow she was wearing. I asked her, ‘have you got time for a coffee?’‘Yes definitely, I need a sit down and a cigarette,’ she replied.We headed to the Obscura café, sat down and I ordered two coffees. As we waited she took out her cigarettes and put them on the table. She really has the most. Hetried to imagine where she was. Was she with that doctor who she had beenwith that morning, sitting so close, holding his hand, maybe it was him.Frankie was so frustrated; he couldn't even remember the older man'sname.Was that his Volvo she drove out to the Hamptons? Was she conspiring toleave him? What was going on? It was so unlike Helen. They talked everyday. Was she creating a situation that was going to leave him high anddry? Someone once said that she was so nice because she was looking.