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I left the office at 5:00 and was ho off my clothes as I scrambled up the stairs For so how hard I work at looking good in their eyes Since I tend to deal with only one aunt or cousin at a ti back to the clan thatout in all directions, as is usually the case I showered and shas and armpits just in case I fell in a swoon and one or the other was exposed to vie did I kno the evening would proceed?

I stood in front ofat iven that in ten minutes more I was expected to present h co a bit shopworn, which is not to say I won’t be wearing it for years I consideredthat very blazer the last time Tasha and I met I didn’t want her to think I had only the one blazer, though that was close to the truth I pictured Diana Sutton Alvarez As much as I disliked her, she did dress with class What was it about her? Black tights, I thought, and quickly rooted through my sock drawer until I came up with a pair I put on clean choners and then shihts and added a skirt The fabric ool and the color was dark so I figured I couldn’t go wrong there I found led to find a top I put on a white blouse and discovered a buttonI tucked my shirttail into the waistband of reen crewneck sweater The "ensemble" (which means: a bunch of clothes all worn at once) didn’t look half bad, but it needed another touch I looked around the bedroo the botto out the drafts that crept through the crack where there should have been a threshold I snatched up the scarf, shook off a feoofies, and slung it around th rabbed , and my keys, and headed out the door

By 5:27 I was coaze pinned on the door while I feigned indifference Rosie took one look atwas up I wasn’t sure whether it was my hair, still slicked down and damp, or the blusher and mascara I’d taken such care to apply I could feel myself squirm under her scrutiny

As she handeda date?"

"I’ my cousin Tasha," I said, primly

"A cousin? Well, that’s heppy news Is this the one you can’t stand?"

"Rosie, if you say anything of the sort to her, I’ll sock you in the lanced up in time to see Tasha enter She paused in the doorway to survey the room I waved and she waved in return She took ait on one of the wall- scarf she’d worn under her coat collar and rearranged it over her sweater and skirt She wore high heels and I wore flats Aside fro, as they were in most other aspects of our personal appearances

I stood when she reached the table and we did that fake kissing thing, looking like a pair of budgies about to peck each other to death

Rosie appeared to be transfixed, the same reaction she’d had on prior occasions when she’d seen Tasha and aze shifted from my face to Tasha’s

I turned to her "Rosie, this is my cousin Tasha I believe the two of youyou was an orphing"

"Not quite My parents died, but my mother had four sisters so I still have aunts and cousins in Lorand surprise "Why you don’t hev her down for visiting?"

"That’s what I’ve been asking her," Tasha said, not wanting to pass up the chance to get under my skin I refused to react If I offered resistance the two of thes

Rosie turned to Tasha "I’ood wine Not like your cousin drinks"

"Great I’d appreciate that The cuisine’s Hungarian?"

Rosie nearly purred when she heard the word "cuisine," which she took as a coarian dish what is carp in sour creauest" She turned toyou some as well in honor of your friend You lucky to have someone so close My own sister Klotilde is died"