"Look at my neck, my breasts. Look at my thighs!" I demanded.
"So?"
"I have blotches, black and blue marks," I said, pointing them out to her.
"Oh, I get that often myself," she said. "It's nothing. Maybe you're allergic to something. I'll take you to see the doctor if it continues."
"It's not an allergy. I was. . ."
What was I? Why couldn't I remember exactly what had happened? Had it been a dream? How could it have been?
"You were what, Celeste?"
"Why was I naked when I woke up?"
"How would I know? You probably had a hot spell or something from drinking and tossed your nightgown off. Then you hallucinated, and now you're just confused. It's nothing. It happens to people when they drink too much. You're not used to wine and cognac. It's nothing terrible. Take a shower. Get dressed. Eat something, and it will pass. You'll see," she promised. "Hurry up. I'm actually somewhat hungry myself."
I shook my head. I wasn't making sense to myself. How could I make any to her?
I nodded and returned to the bathroom to shower. Even afterward, I felt listless and still halfdazed. I ate very little for breakfast and found myself dozing off periodically. I noticed Mrs. Cukor studying me with some interest, but saying or doing nothing. Afterward, Ami went up to dress for our ride and told me to do the same, but when I got back to my bedroom, I lay down for a moment, and the next thing I knew, it was nearly four-thirty.
This time, when I woke up, I did feel a little better. I threw some cold water on my face and went to look for Ami. Mrs. M
cAlister said she had gone, but she'd left a message for me that she had looked in on me, seen I was asleep, and decided to let me rest.
"She said she'll come to you the moment she's home," Mrs. McAlister added, annoyed that she had to pass messages on to me.
Now I felt bad about missing school, so I returned to my room and called Trevor.
"I was afraid to call you again," he said immediately. "You sounded so weird this morning."
"I know. I mean, I can imagine. I don't remember much about the morning. I thought you and I had spoken, but I wasn't sure it wasn't a dream."
"Wow, what did you have to drink last night?"
"We celebrated my passing my driving test. Basil came to dinner, and I drank too much wine and cognac, guess," I said. Some details began to rush back. "But there were two accidents, one involving the plant's manager's wife and one involving an employee. I haven't seen Wade yet, so I don't know how everyone is."
"Oh," he said, not sounding very interested. "Well, how are you now?"
"Better, I think. What did I miss at school?"
"Not much. A surprise quiz in math. Lynette Fire-stone was dying to know why you weren't in school. She wasn't the only one asking after you. You'd think some of these kids didn't have a life."
"Maybe they don't," I said. "You'll be at school tomorrow?"
"Yes, of course," I said.
"Okay. I'm sure it won't take you long to catch up." I heard a knock on my door.
"I'll call you later," I said. "I think Ami's here." Just as I hung up, she entered.
"How are you?" she asked.
"Better, I think. I still feel confused."
"Oh, you'll be fine," she said. "Sorry I left you, but you were so dead asleep, I didn't have the heart to wake you. Guess what? Wade's not coming home for dinner again tonight. There's a big brouhaha at the plant. The accident might not have been an accident."
"Why not?"