"Can I offer you something to drink?" He walked over the closet that held the washing machine, pulled it open, and then opened the door on the dryer a...s well before opening the washing machine and scooping the contents out and into the dryer in a well practiced motion. He paused and pulled her shirt out of the pile and held it up, looking at it. "Merde," he muttered. "Samantha, I am afraid this might take more work. The first pass didn't do it."She walked over and he was almost painfully aware. Time is wasting." What do you mean, Headmistress?" Suzie asked as she toweled off her long black hair, then pulled her skimpy dress over her head. "The first class doesn't start for another half hour." I know," Mrs. Grotten said dryly. "But you and Cindy won't be going to regular classes today. Every summer, at the end of July, the staff here at Steinway select the three girls who've made the most progress over the summer." She smiled at Cindy and Suzie. "The three biggest sluts, you might. It's obvious what you've done for me. Who knows? Maybe there are other children who could make it if their desire to live was just a little stronger."Then she addressed the bench and said, "Judge Ferguson, there's something else you should know. What you have seen is typical of Evangeline Pierce Collins. My first knowledge that she had done anything at all was when Mr. Miller told his story this morning. She never breathed a word to me, and I would bet all the money I have that she told no one. I'd seen it many times in the eyes of Penny and her party friends and last night in Pam's eyes."Nope. You'll have it to yourselves," I said as a gentle breeze carried the scent of beer toward me."Great!" Jeff said. His eyes flicked toward the girls with a look that I'd often seen in Ricky's eyes. Probably the same look I'd been giving Cheryl earlier.I'd have thought Cheryl would have been jealous of the way the girls were looking at me, but she was focused on the three guys like she was.