She no longer remembered what outside felt like, what the sun looked like. Those words were foreign to her now. Day and night were terms that were dis...tant memories. She knew light or darkness, no shades of dusk or tints of dawn. She couldn't think of what the wind was or how it felt against her skin. The only air she got was the stale air that was thinly circulated by fans. Trees, flowers, animals, those things were gone to her, gone like her innocence. Gone like her belief of heaven because. Jean wondered how Virgil could ever be conned by such a slick huckster."Hold it right there, Jean Plover! I am not a huckster, I'm a magician." But how did you know-" I just told you, I'm a magician. I also know you're upset at me selling a dietary supplement to your husband that not only worsened his weight loss, but feminized him. Don't worry, dear, I've got the solution to your problem right here." The old man held up a small prescription bottle, like you would find in a pharmacy. . Sit down. I lit a fire. Would you like some wine?" I don't drink no more. Quit when I went to jail; and told myself nomore drink ever." Water, ginger ale, coke ... ?" Water."Ever the worker, she wiped a bit of dust with the skirt of her dresswhile I poured her a glass of water from a ceramic pitcher. She tookgreat pride in the condition of the room she had resurrected fromsqualor.At that moment I noted that she and Tatiana were of similar stature. Asa going away gift I would offer her some of. That night, after I said goodnight to everyone, I read the letter again. "Dear Sir (or Madam, if you prefer) After an intense selection program, we have determined that you would make an excellent candidate for our exclusive services. We at the Body Shoppe offer a wide variety of physical transformative services. Our test show you to be an honorable person or you would not have this letter in your hand. We must insist on absolute privacy from you with regard to this offer. No one else may.