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The Child - Eight The Child - Eight He turned to go, but Jill didn’t budge. Ted hesitated only a moment and then walked out the door alone. Snow had started to fall, but he hardly noticed. The chill he felt was somewhere in his heart. His hand went up to his chest, and for a brief moment he thought of the angel’s touch there. The Jill he had been made to love was not the girl he’d just left in the bar, After work the next evening, Ted wondered if Jill would come down and ask him to go out. By nine p.m. when she hadn’t appeared, his curiosity won out, and he went to the women’s wing. Jill’s room was empty. It was much later when she finally showed up at his door, slightly inebriated, and made a conciliatory gesture. Nothing more was said after that, but they both knew the old routine had changed. Jill went to the bar most nights by herself or with some of the others; Ted stayed home; and then Jill would pop in for a quick good-night when she returned. During the day, their relationship seemed the same, though, and Ted hoped the crisis was over. One night when he had nothing in particular to do, he decided to go down to the bar and surprise her. He trudged through the cold night into town, and by the time he reached the bar he was ready for a warming drink and maybe a work- out on the dance floor. He moved from table to table, looking for Jill without any luck. Finally one of his coworkers waved him over, and Ted sat down. “It’s been a while since you were out here,” his friend remarked. “Let me pay for that one, okay?” he offered as Ted ordered a beer, his usual indulgence, from the waitress. “Thanks,” Ted said. “You haven’t seen Jill, have you?” “Nope, not tonight,” the friend replied. “Thought maybe the two of you were having a private party.” Ted laughed and shook his head. Everyone knew that he and Jill were a couple, but since she’d been coming to the bar alone, their intimate late-night romancing had waned. That’s why he was there now, hoping to share Jill’s fun and then return to the dorm together. Really together, for the first time in weeks. Masquerade of Angels 68 He had a couple of beers and waited for an hour or more, watching for her. But at last it was obvious that Jill was else- where, so reluctantly he walked back to the Lodge alone. It was almost one a.m. by the time he arrived. Before going to his own room, Ted stopped by Jill’s and started to knock. The muffled sound of voices inside made him hesitate a moment, but he tapped lightly and pushed the door open. In the dim light, the first thing he saw was his roommate, Gary, sitting on the couch with his arm around someone. Jill. They were kissing, but when the door opened they both looked up in surprise. Jill started after him as Ted backed slowly out of the room, but the look on his face warned her not to follow. Thirty minutes later, Ted was back in town, at the first liquor store he saw. Then he went on, to a small hotel, checked in, and proceeded to empty the bottle he had bought. He couldn’t quit crying, and the alcohol didn’t stop his pain, but at last he passed out on the bed. Two days later when he finally returned to the Lodge, Bert was alarmed and angry. “Where the hell have you been?” he demanded. “You missed your shift yesterday, and you don’t look like you can work today, either. That’s not like you, Ted, to be so irrespon- sible.” “T’m sorry,” Ted said miserably. “You know I’m always on time, Bert. I’ve never let you down before. But this was personal. I had to have some time alone to think about things. Am I fired?” “No, you’re not fired,” Bert replied, and from the tone of his voice, Ted guessed that his boss must have heard some- thing about the situation. “You’re one of my best workers, I think I can let it go this time. But make sure I know where you are before you disappear again, okay?” “Okay,” Ted nodded. “It won’t happen again. Thanks, Bert.” When his shift ended, Ted reluctantly headed for the dorm, uncertain what would happen when he confronted Gary. That was the first thing he had to get through. Dealing with Jill was more than he could think about just then. But Masquerade of Angels 69