EPILOGUE

From the journal of Kevin Savacier, age 37

April 20, 1990

I got a letter from my friend from Cole, Bill Kazan, the other day, and he said he and Karen are planning to move, with their six children, to New Orleans! This is exciting news to me.  I've enjoyed every minute of living here, since graduating from Tulane, and look forward to having a big reunion with them, and showing them around.  Funny thing about Bill and Karen--they sure had their share of fun, but after they got married and all those children started popping out, one after another, all that responsibility kicked in, and I'll be surprised if I, a bachelor, can even get them out of the house long enough to go have dinner somewhere!
I'm curious as to why they're relocating here, and where Bill and Karen have worked and all, but I'm sure we'll catch up at some point.

After I read that letter, I got to thinking about all those crazy things that happened in so short a period of time back in the early 1970s.  My gang and I were just kids back then, and laughed off so many of the antics of the old folks. Looking back on it, though, it couldn't have been so funny to them, and it's no wonder that when I go back to Cole from time to time, then old place just isn't what is used to be.  I recognize more names in the cemetery than I do in the newspaper these days, and it depresses me.  I can count on one hand the number of my contemporaries who still live there; we've all just sort of lost track of each other.  I'm sure Bill and Karen will bring me up to date, but there's got to be a good reason why they, too, left the place.

I've had a series of teaching jobs in both the public and parochial schools in New Orleans over the years.  When people ask me how on earth I learned "values" growing up in Cole, after I tell them some of the salacious stories from the seventies, my reply is that it is not so much of what went on and was talked about, so much as it was what did not go on.  I mean, we did have a few good teachers and preachers who tried to keep things on an even keel, but they certainly couldn't legislate morals.  My folks didn't allow me to go out much, but this didn't leave any emotional scars, and, given life in New Orleans, I'll always be thankful for their concern and direction.  Friends with no compass or good moral upbringing ruined themselves early; some have even already lost their earthly lives.

If I hadn't had such good teachers, I wouldn't have lasted as long as I have, trying to teach English and History to today's kids.

My phone's ringing now.

April 21, 1990

Well, things haven't changed much with Bill! He and Karen are still doing just fine, but he's ready for a break from those kids! We're scheduled to go to a pub tonight, a bar I doubt seriously Karen will track him down in.  In fact, after we leave the pub, if Bill's the same Bill I remember him as from twenty years ago, the party won't be over yet.


                                                                  THE END

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 16

At five thirty that afternoon, George and Helen were at Thomas' and Mary Kay's house for drinks.

The telephone rang.

"Hello--yes, they are here now.  Just a minute."

Mary Kay turned to George, and gave him the receiver.

As George conversed with Taylor Baker, everyone in the room was concerned.

"It doesn't look good," Taylor said.  "The gunshot wound is spreading into infection in Mr. Abraham.  Josiphene--well, Josiphene just sits in her bed and stares into space.  Her visitors, few as they are, tell me she won't say anything--just sits there, staring into space.  And, to top things off, this mess about a Mrs. Abraham hasn't helped things any!"

"Damn!" George sighed.  "I'd like to know more about this so called Mrs. Abraham--is she for real? I've heard so many second hand, passed down stories!"

"Well," Taylor continued, "there's one thing you can be certain of--she's for real! Seems her name is Gloria--she was a Smith, from somewhere out in Cole County!"

"Smith--Smith," George mumbled, "I don't think I recall any Gloria Smith."

"The story is that they were married about ten years ago," Taylor said, "when Nicholas was living in New Orleans.  The marriage--the togetherness, that is--lasted about two months.  Then, they separated.  She stayed in New Orleans, and Nicholas returned to Cole."

"Did Josiphene know anything about it?"

"That," Taylor replied, "no one knows.  It's doubtful that Abraham told her, though."

"Do you know where Gloria Abraham is now?"

"At the hospital--by her husband's bedside."

"The entire situation is a mess!" George said, after he hung up.  "A damn mess!"

Before George could sit down, the telephone rang again.

"George," said Taylor Baker, "I'm going to make this short as possible.  Nicholas Abraham just passed away."

"Thank you, Taylor," a shocked and humiliated George replied.  "How is Josiphene?"

"We haven't told her, George," Taylor replied.  "Listen--if it's okay with you--I mean, if it won't inconvenience you or anything, I'd like to meet with you.  Let me see--tomorrow is Wednesday.  I figure the funeral will be Thursday or Friday.  Could we possible meet at my office Saturday morning? I'm afraid Josiphene is going to have to go to a special clinic for a few weeks.  It will have to be something better than we can offer at the Cole Hospital."

"Certainly," George, holding back years, replied, "anything for my sister!"

"With treatement and proper care," Taylor said, "the ole girl should be back on her feet in no time at all!"

The remainder of the week in Cole was full of tension, and an atmosphere of gloom hung over the streets of town, as if to remind the surviving citizens of not only better times in the past, but, somehow, of better times to come.

Times had, in fact, been getting increasingly difficult in Cole.  The little place seemed so remote, and was not keeping pace with modern technology.  Young folks were going off to college and not returning after they graduated, preferring, instead, the faster pace of the big cities, elsewhere.  It was hard to attract a reputable industry to the area, and a strange influx of illegal drugs was threatening the fabric, moral and otherwise, of people of all ages.  Keen observers were beginning to see the handwriting on the wall, and fearing for the future.  And, though race relations were better than in past years, there was still a great deal of room for improvement in that area, also.

Nichcolas' funeral was held that Thursday afternoon, at three o'clock.  Since he had not been active in any particular church, the chapel of the funeral home was the setting.  Everyone from janitor to top executive attended, some, curiosity seekers.  Word got around.

Friday evening, Ellis and Linda Kazan had George and Helen for dinner at the Kazan home, and the occasion was a refreshing relief to George who, for the past week, had been under pressure, worrying about the condition of Josiphene, and the upcoming meeting with Taylor Baker.

Saturday morning, the meeting went smoothly.  It took some cool persuasion of Taylor's part, but he finally convinced George that Josiphene would have to be sent to a clinic in Arizona for several weeks of treatement of nerves and stomach disorders.  Again, Taylor assured George that if Josiphene was treated properly, she would be "good as new" soon.

Throughout all the mess of that past week, there was one man who had been all but forgotten:  Eli Michael.  Though it was yet to happen, most people agreed that he would probably be arrested and charged with manslaughter, sooner or later.  There was no word on whether anyone would try to keep the grocery store open, but different family members, cousins and all, were slowly but surely emptying its contents before they spoiled.

As for Eli, mainly because of what his wife had done before she left the house to go on that last date with Eli, he would always passionately love Josiphene.  He hoped that, some day, something between them could be worked out.  Unfortunately, though, he also doubted it.

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 15

Tuesday morning, in the Kazan Store, tongues were flapping and ears were open.

"Yes," said Mildred Baker to Ellis, at the meat counter, "they tell me Nicholas Abraham has a wife.  That scoundrel!"

"That's what they say!" Ellis, cutting meat, replied.

"How's that?" asked Janet Silverman, overhearing, "I heard she wants money from Nicholas!"

"Where did you hear that?" Mildred questioned.

"From one of my snoopy bird dogs!" Janet snapped.

At Cole High School, during the morning break, Bill Kazan and a new friend, Ruth Anson, were chatting in front of the gym.  Karen Ingram, her face heavy with makeup, and wearing a new dress, walked up.

"Bill," Karen said, "have you been missing your car trunk key?"

"Yes," Bill, not really wanting to talk to Karen, replied.

"I found it last night!" Karen said. 

"Where?" Bill asked.

Karen pretended to be waving to someone, and looked away.

"Where?" Bill, his voice growing angry, again asked.

"Oh," Karen teased, "it was on my bedroom floor.  Of course, I can't imagine how it got there! Anyway, I got it!"

"Give it to me," Bill said, "and I'll be eternally grateful!"

"Oh," Karen said, "I see we're learning the art of sarcasm now! I don't have it here--I mean, it's at my house! I'll be home tonight if you want to come get it!"

"Well," said Ruth, "I better be leaving, Bill.  If you two have business to discuss, I better be leaving."

"No!" Bill said.  "Please stay!"

"Oh, Ruth," Karen said, "I hate to cramp your style, but Bill and I do have something to discuss."

"No, we--" Bill began.

"I'll see you, Ruth," Karen said.  "Nice seeing you."

"Okay, damn you, Karen," Bill said, "What the hell is so important that I have to go to your house to get my trunk key?"

Karen began to cry.  Bill, pretending to be indifferent, looked away.

"Want a cigarette?" Bill said.

"No," Karen replied.  "Remember, we're at school.  We've been in enough trouble lately--I don't want us getting suspended for smoking at school!"

"Karen," Bill said, "do you realize how scared you had my ass when you lied that you were pregnant?"

"Well," Karen said, "that didn't seem to bother you when Bobby Nace caught us in the motel room, did it!"

"Uh--" Bill mumbled, his face turning red.

"Admit it, baby," Karen said.  "We're meant for each other.  You're probably the most handsome guy in this town.  You don't take shit from anybody! It's probably no secret to you that you weren't my first fuck, but, man, you're the best!"

"Damn," Bill said, "do you realize how trashy that sounded, Karen?"

"Oh, Bill," Karen again cried, "I made you a cake.  It would look pretty funny if I brought it to school."

"I don't know if I want your damn cake!" Bill, grabbing Karen's arm, said.

"You'll have to come to my house to get that key, then," Karen said, wiping her tears.

After a silence during which the two looked deeply into each others eyes, Bill suddenly realized that Karen, despite her reputation, really did love him.  In a rather vulgar way, he looked up and down her early matured body.

Karen grew excited.

"I'll be out around eight tonight," Bill said.

"You'll never regret it!" Karen said.  "I'll never lie to you again.  You'll never regret it!"

Later in the day, in class, Karen passed a note to Sarah Hammer, which read,

                                      I got Bill back! He's going to be so
                                      proud of me! I'll give him anything
                                      he wants, and answer to any call!

What a damn fool! Sarah Hammer thought.  At least, Karen was happy.  Bill, she knew, would be happy too.

"Operator," said Abel Moses, over the telephone in his store, "long distance to Vicksburg, Kyler and Burnington Realtors."  There was a short pause.  "Hello, may I speak to Mr. Kyler?" Another pause followed.  "I don't give a damn if he is in conference--tell him it's Abel Moses, his old friend from Cole.  Thanks."

After another pause, Abel continued.

"Hi--hi, Ralph.  This is your old buddy, Abel Moses.  Listen, I'm gonna sell my house and store here."

"Where are you planning to go?" a skeptical Ralph Kyler asked.

"I don't know where I'm going," Abel replied.  "I'll tell you more about it another time, but I'm just getting out of this town!"

"Have you thought about Vicksburg?"

"I don't know--will you shut up and let me talk?" Abel continued.  "I'm just getting away from Cole, Mississippi.  I want you to handle my property.  Don't sell it to anybody trashy.  There must be some good soul who wants to buy my place and fix it up! The store might be hopeless, but the house, after a couple of coats of paint and a few repairs, would be good as new!"

"And if I can't sell it?"

"But you can!" Abel replied.  "I've seen you work miracles with other properties a lot worse off than mine.  If you don't sell it, I might consider giving it to Captain Sam!"

"Whose Captain Sam?"

"Oh," Abel remorsefully replied, "just an old friend from down the street."

"Okay, okay," Ralph concluded, "I'll meet with you in a few days and see what I can do.  Do you have any debt on the place?"

"No, thank God.  But it's all a matter of time before it all falls down if somebody doesn't come along and fix it up.  Thanks, Ralph, for anything you can do to speed this up! See ya!"

After the conversation, Abel looked the store over.  Where he was going, he thought, he did not know.  But after last Saturday night, it would not be anywhere near Cole!

               

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 14

Sunday night, Josiphene was under heavy sedation at the Cole Hospital, second floor, room twenty.  On the other end of the hospital, barely hanging on, was Nicholas.

In the lobby were George and Helen Knapp, Thomas Moses, and Dr. Taylor Baker.

"How's Josiphene?" Thomas asked Taylor.

"She went back into shock when she realized what happened," Taylor replied.  "Another shock like this, and she won't be alive!"

"You've got to be kidding!" George said.  "Josiphene is a very strong woman!"

"I'm sorry," Taylor said, "but I don't agree! All these years--and I've kept quiet about it--all these years Josiphene has been hard working and beautiful on the outside, but going to pieces on the inside!"

"Are you serious?" Thomas replied.

"I've never been more serious!" Taylor answered.  "If you don't mind my saying so, her life with Eli Michael has not been happy.  Living with a man you hate is pure hell!"

"As Ginger Baker can assure," George said.

"George!" Helen snapped.  "How dare you!"

"That's all right," Taylor said.  "I'm used to it by now! Anyway, what I'm saying is that if Josiphene and Nicholas could have been married, instead of Eli and Josiphene--well, she could have been a healthy person!"

"Dr. Baker," Helen softly said, "just what has been wrong with Josiphene? Does she have a disease?"

"No," Taylor replied, "It's just her nerves.  They are shot! For the past several years, she has been secretly taking shots and pills for the condition.  No one knew.  Nicholas Abraham didn't even know!"

Everyone was stunned, as Taylor arose.

"If you'll excuse me," Taylor said, "I better check on my other patients!"

"Son of a bitch!" George said.  "I"m her brother--I didn't even know! I wonder if Eli knew?"

"You heard Dr. Baker," Helen said.  "No one knew!"

"Well," Thomas said, "that just goes to show you can't believe anything!"

"Huh?" George, his mind elsewhere, said.

"I mean--with all that goes on in this town," Thomas continued, "and especially Taylor Baker's big mouth--you'd think he would have said something about it by now!"

"A well kept secret," George said.  "A well kept secret!"

"You know," Helen began, after a short pause, "I've been thinking about writing a book about this place.  It's funny, but there are so many unique, novel characters around here! What could I call it, though?"

"How about The Mystic Adventures of Cole, Mississippi?" George suggested.

"No," Helen said, thinking back.  "There's something someone said to me about this place--yes! Winners and Losers--this certain person said Cole was full of winners and losers.  Half the town is drunk, and the other half is chicken!"

Everyone laughed.

"Yes," Helen continued, "winners and losers.  That's who makes up this place.  I guess were are all winners and losers of sorts!"

"Well," Thomas said, "lately, it sound like everyone's a loser, to me!"

Taylor burst into the lobby again.

"I forgot to mention," Taylor said, "that I would like the news about Josiphene being on nerve treatement to be a secret.  I told you this because you're her family, you know."

"Yes," Thomas answered.  "I won't even tell Mary Kay and the children!"

"I'll bet," Helen mumbled.

Thomas looked at this watch.

"Well," said Thomas, "it isn't going to do me any good to just sit here, George and Helen, so I'm going on home.  Will you please call me if there are any changes?"

"Of course," George said.  "Don't worry."

"George," Helen said, "what about Eli?"

"What about Eli?" George replied.

"Is he going to be charged with murder? I mean, he did pull the trigger!"

"I don't know, darling," George, grabbing the nervous Helen's hand, replied.  "I know how you feel.  No one has pressed charges--and we are confident that Nicholas will pull through, aren't we?"

"Of course," Helen, crying, replied.

At that moment, an attractive young lady entered the lobby.  She walked to the counter.

"Can you tell me the condition of Mr. Nicholas Abraham?" the lady asked.

"His doctor is Dr. Taylor Baker," the receptionist replied.  "He should be here in a few minutes.  Are you a relative of Mr. Abraham?"

"I'm his wife."

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 13

At ten thirty that same night, Eli and his friend, Abel Moses, constantly drinking, were discussing the general disadvantages of one Nicholas Abraham.

"Ha!" Eli said, "I got my shotgun filled up!"

"Huh?" Abel, half asleep, grunted.

"I said I got my shotgun filled up.  When Nicholas and Josiphene return tonight, I'm gonna scare hell out of 'em! You wait and see!"

Loud laughter followed.

"You really aren't gonna shoot em, are you?" a suddenly serious Abel asked, afgter a large swallow of whiskey.

"Hell, naw!" Eli slurred.  "I'm just gonna sccare hell out of em! Nicholas Abraham will never show up here again! And little Miss Josiphene will be so scared of me that she'll make love to me--whenever I ask! I never knew what I had in front of me.  I always thought all Josie cared about was that damned store--and Nicholas.  I was mistaken!"

"How ya figure that?" asked Abel.

"Before she left here last Saturday," Eli continued, "she backed me up in a corner.  She kissed me like she never kissed me before! It was great, Moses!"

"Where's the gun?" Abel laughed.

"Over there," Eli said, pointing to the shotgun resting on a chair by the front door.  "He usually walks her to the front door.  When we hear a car door slam, we'll get the gun.

"Are ya sure ya know what you're doing?" Abel, realizing how drunk they both were, asked.

"Like I said," Eli reassured, "I'm only gonna scare em!"

They talked continuously until midnight.

Nichoas and Josiphene, on their way home, talked about their future together.

"Oh, Nicholas," Josiphene said, "it will be so wonderful.  I can imagine it now--Mrs. Josiphene Abraham--oh, such a change from my present life!"

"First things first," Nicholas insisted, "I love you, dear, but we're going to have to act--well--decent! First, there's the divorce, then we'll have to date at least another month or two before we marry!"

"Why?"

"How would it look to the people of Cole? I mean--what would they say about us?"

"We've been dating!" Josiphene laughed.  "What do you think they are saying now?"

As they parked in front of the Michael residence, Josiphene got her keys from her purse.

The couple warmly embraced, and kissed goodnight.

"What time tomorrow?" Nicholas softly asked.

"About five thirty," Josiphene replied.

"I think I hear a car door slam!" Abel said, rising.  As he walked toward the door, Eli jumped up, ran to the chair, and grabbed the gun.

"I hope you weren't reaching for the gun, ole buddy!" Abel said.  "Are you sure you won't get careless? I mean--that thing could kill!"

"Shut up!" Eli said.  "I told ya I was only gonna scare em!"

Suddenly, Eli flung the door open.  As he detected Josiphene and Nicholas approaching, he pointed the gun in the air, and fired.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Nicholas, running toward Eli, yelled.

"Eli!" Josiphene demanded, "put that damn gun down! And get out of here, Abel Moses, you damn skunk!"

"Don' ya come near me!" Eli said, "or I'll shoot!"

"Take the gun away from him, Moses!" Nicholas screamed.

"Okay," Abel said, walking toward Eli, "the joke is over!"

"Damn right the joke is over!" Josiphene said.

What happened within the following few minutes happened so fast, to Josiphene, that it was like a horrible nightmare, one that would flash through her mind for days to come.

Abel, trying to get the gun away from Eli, fell down the steps.  As Eli, the gun in his left hand (pointing toward Nicholas), leaned over to help Abel up, the gun went off.  It hit Nicholas.

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 12

At eight o'clock that night, Deputy Sheriff Bobby Nace had rounded up two deputies from the state alcohol and beverage control.  As they sat around inside the City Cafe, drinking coffee after dinner, they plotted their strategy for what would probably be the first "bust" in Cole in many years.

"I'm tellin' ya," Bobby said, "This ain't gonna be easy.  I'm gonna have parents and what have you all over my back; might even have a couple of 'em come in and shoot up the place--but we gotta clean things up here! Bad enough this has been going on for so long! These kids are hog wild out there, and it's a wonder someone ain't got hurt before now!"

Henry Morton, a regular patron of the cafe, overheard Bobby talking, and headed home to tell his wife the news about a raid.

During the next few minutes, the trio of lawmakers continued to discuss the raid.  Throughout the conversation, Bobby even thought about cancelling it, but conscience kicked in, and he decided, for better or worse, to proceed.

Within minutes, the three patrol cars pulled up to the back of the Sampson Motel.  The blue lights and sirens of the cars began shining and blaring as the three men rapidly got out of the cars and proceeded toward the two rooms, which were easy to find, as the door was open to the one where the drinking was going on.

What followed remained a blur for long thereafter to those involved, so shocking was it to them all.  Most of the teens were, by this time, so drunk that they didn't realize the gravity of the situation until hours after.  Ironically, Henry Morton, who'd overheard the lawmen's conversation in the cafe, worked for the Cole newspaper, and was on hand to photograph the whole situation.

After those gathered in the "drinking and mingling" room were handcuffed and contained in the back seats of the cars, Bobby decided to break the door down to the room where the "loving" was going on.  He didn't have to, though, as the door was unlocked.

Stark naked, on top of the bedspread, were Bill Kazan and Karen Ingram, whose wild passion was, for now, most rudely interrupted.

Suddenly, Bill's temper emerged again.

"Look, man!" he shouted at Bobby, "why don't you cut us some slack? We were just having some fun!"

"Yeah," Bobby replied, "and you need to put some clothes on before something else gets cut off! You're pretty tough for a young boy, but you need to remember, there's always someone tougher out there!"

As Bill and a yet again tearful Karen got dressed, Bobby, realizing their embarrassment, did try to lighten up.

"Look," Bobby said, "I won't even handcuff you if you go quietly."

"Will you tell our parents?" Karen asked.

"I'll probably have to, young lady!" Bobby replied, at which time Bill took a swing at the armed lawman.

"Okay, okay, that's it!" Bobby said, applying handcuffs to both Bill and Karen.  "Tell it to the judge!"

By Monday morning, all the parents of those arrested would be reacting in different ways.  Some were punished corporal; some were grounded; some were given extra chores.

About the only ones who escaped major wrath were Danny and Bill Kazan, who just worked some overtime in the grocery store.  Within days, Bill and Karen were back together, in part, Karen had convinced Bill, because her parents were acting so violently about the whole arrest situation.  She managed to  convince Bill that he could be her "protector," and this label boosted his already swollen ego to the highest degree.

The following Saturday night, in the dimly lit room of a Natchez motel, Nicholas and Josiphene drank wine and talked.

"Frankly," Josiphene said, "I'm beginning to think you don't want me to get a divorce.  Why do I think that, Nicholas?"

Nichoas lit a cigarette.

"How long can we go on this way?" Josiphene continued, tears forming.

"Go ahead with the divorce," he said.  "If Eli doesn't care, how's it going to hurt you?"

Josiphene took another swig of her wine.

"Last Saturday," she said, "he--he wanted me to stay!"

"What are you talking about?" Nicholas replied.  "I thought Eli didn't care about anybody but himself!"

"Instead of running out on me, like I thought he would, he wanted me to stay.  He kept begging me to stay.  Oh, Nicholas, it was pathetic!"

"You should never have kissed him!" Nicholas frowned.  "He's going to expect it again!"

Winners and Losers, book 3, chapter 11

Josiphene Knapp Michael, having never looked lovelier, stood in front of her bedroom mirror, admiring herself.  She held in her left hand, a small bottle of men's cologne, which she intended to give to Nicholas when he came to get her.

She was touching up her eyes when Eli entered.  He sat down on her bed.

"And what do you think you're doing?" Josiphene asked.

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Eli answered.

"You smell like you've been drinking, Eli! I thought I told you never to enter this room, anyway!"

"Ha!"

"Get out!" Josiphene, startled by Eli's sudden arrogance and assertiveness, ordered.  "Why don't you just go watch your television--or something.  Just get out of my room!"

"My, my," Eli, studying his wife carefully, replied, "I never realized how beautiful you really were!"

"Well," Josiphene said, "you had plenty of time to! Now--well, now I have someone who really cares about me, and you better stay out of sight, you dirty bastard.  When he gets here--you stay out of sight!"

"What kind of woman do you think you are?" Eli boldly asked.  "Why, no woman in this town does the things you do--and under her husband's own eyes!"

As Josiphene walked toward him, Eli began to tremble.

"You're letting yourself get a bit too carried away," Josiphene said, caressing Eli's bumpy face.  "I don't want you to get carried away, Eli."

"What the hell?" a suddenly startled Eli uttered.

Josiphene backed Eli into a corner.

She hated to do it, but wanted to scare Eli.  Thus, Josiphene embraced her husband, and sloppily kissed his lips.

"That's what Nicholas gets from me!" she said, as the honking of a horn could be heard outdoors.

"Good thing he honks instead of knocks at the door," Josiphene said.  "He probably doesn't want to see my dirty husband! I don't blame him!"

"Don't leave me tonight, Josiphene!" Eli, breathing heavily, said.  "Stay here and make love to me just this one night!"

"You had your chance, Mr. Michael," sneered Josiphene.  "Now, I'm having my fun!"

Josiphene quickly left the room, grabbed her purse from the living room sofa, and ran, with open arms, to meet her waiting lover.

At the Sampson Motel, two miles south of Cole, the party was in full swing.  Bill and Sharon; Danny and Geraldine; Steven and Valerie; Jack and Margaret--these were a few of the couples making the wild scene.  Prominent, too, was the doped up Kit Carpenter and a hot Karen Ingram.

Gary Brown had rented two rooms under the name of John Smith.  The motel attendant asked for no identification, and paid no attention to anyone's ages.

The rooms were located at the back of the motel, at the end of a dark driveway.  The rooms were separated by a wall and a small, sliding door.  One room was used for drinking and mingling, and the other, for lovemaking.

"What sin!" said a lost tourist, searching for his room.

"Up yours!" Danny Kazan shouted back.

The tourist immediately moved on.

Sharon had gone to the bathroom, and Kit Carpenter had gone to his car, when Karen walked up to Bill, who was in the process of leaning over and reaching for one of the moonshine bottles on the floor.

"What do you want?" Bill, turning around, asked a tearful Karen.

"I want to talk to you, honey."

"What gives you the right to call me 'honey'?" Bill asked.

"Oh, Bill," Karen said, grabbing him, "take Sharon home.  I'll get rid of Kit, somehow--I think he's gone to the car to get a fix.  Oh, please, Bill, take me tonight!"

Bill put down his bottle and cup, and looked at Karen.

"What would we do if we were to go off together?"

"Anything!" Karen said.  "Your wish is my command!"

"You're a fool," Bill said.  "A real fool! Do you realize that I don't love you? I don't care about what you do!"

"Oh, baby, you do!" said Valerie Black, in a mocking voice.

Bill turned around quickly and faced Steven Lee, apparently drunk, as his eyes were always red when he'd been drinking, and a tempting looking Valerie Black.

"Oh, baby," Valerie continued, "Take her! Take her!"

"Why don't you and your bitch of a daaaaaaate get out of her before I spit?' Bill said, deliberately stretching the word, date.

"Let's bo, baby," Steven replied, grabbing Valerie.  "Looks like we're in the way!"

Bill took a swing at Steven, but Karen held him back.

"Please, Bill," Karen continued, "I'll do anything for you! There's no reason in the world why we can't be a couple, like we once were!"

"Get out of here before I hit you again," Bill said.  Before he could say another word, Sharon handed him a drink.  Karen quickly headed for the car, where Kit was.