acquired a technical patter astounding Clem who in Paris had toyed with the notion of joining that new group of surrealists in their Freudian expositions. Semy's erotic studies aggravated his itch for Lucy and he could not stay away from 410 Brick when after school hours she practiced.
A few days after they had seen The Starlings, Semy tiptoed into the studio hoping to take her unawares. Resting from intense practice, she was covered with a sweet mist that atomized the air with her perfume. A glistening drop rolled from the inner corner of an outrageous eye coolly regarding him, meandered around the half-heart cheek, and dropped between her pointed breasts. Would it settle in her navel, or go on down? Jesus, she's filled out since she first came to the studio.
My goodness, he wants to touch me but if I keep on practicing he can't. Changements are good to keep hands off.
She drew her legs into a protective single column, feet at right angles for base, and curved her arms downward making a finger basket for the bud at the juncture of her thighs. Not that this final subtlety had occurred to her. With a slight bend of the knees in preparation for propulsion, she shot straight upward changing right heel front, left heel front, back and forth. Her eyes glowed victoriously.
"Hello, Semy."
Indulgently he waited for her up-down to cease but their continuous course outran his patience.
"God dammit, you'll drop!"
She stopped and stared, pursing her soft pink lips primly. Why did men always swear? Boys too?
Taking the fresh white handkerchief from his pocket he wiped her forehead. A look in her eyes paralyzed his hand. He could go no farther.
Through the cambric she felt the smoothness of his pulpy fingertips, like a spoiling plum, and, sliding from him, ran upstairs. At the top she turned and saw him looking up. In case he came up after her, she called, "Clem'll be here in a minute."
He forced his voice to casualness. "I wouldn't want to keep you from old Clem."
"What do you mean, old Clem? I bet he isn't so much older than you."
"That's just an expression between men—like old boy."
"Clem isn't old—it's that old beard."
Semy felt better, delighted to discover a vulnerable word with
