"You haven't. But tonight Mrs. Watson is lending me her son Gerald.
He's coming at seven."
"Mother!" Kathryn cried, releasing Dell. "How terrible! Gerald! What a
stupid name. I love Bass, and you can't take him away from me."
"That wasn't very nice, was it, Amanda?"
"It's done," she said. "He's twenty-two, and I want you to talk to him,
Kathryn."
Kathryn scowled.
"And I've arranged for you to go over to their house to watch Alice, if
you must, Dell."
Dell forgot he was indignant. "Well, Kippie, maybe this one time you
can do as your mother wants," he said. "Surely Bass won't mind if you
miss him this once. He's an understanding sort of chap."
Kathryn thought for a moment, scowling. "All right, I'll do it--if
you'll call me Kippie, Mother."
Amanda studied her. "All right--Kippie," she said finally.
* * * * *
After agreeing reluctantly not to call Replacements until Gerald had
come and gone, Kippie wriggled into a Kippie-like position and poked
her finger deep into her cheek again.
Gerald, who arrived promptly at seven, wore his light hair combed
into a Bass-like curl low over his forehead. He speared Amanda with a
penetrating stare, making her shiver as she led him to the Wall room.
Kippie sulked angrily on the Wall seat.
Amanda introduced them, and they looked at each other, their glances
revealing no interest.
"You're trying to comb your hair like Bass," Kippie accused.