IT ENDED UP BEING A close call. Althea opened her door wide and greeted them with delight when Elaine rang the doorbell. But she drew back into her shell when she spotted Myrtle standing behind them. “I—uh—have Myrtle today, Miss Althea,” said Elaine, feeling as though she babysitting an extra kid. “I hope that will be okay.”
At that moment, perhaps picking up on Althea’s anxiety, a monstrous dog lunged out the door and gnashed its considerable teeth at her while strings of drool fell out of its mouth as if it could only imagine the tasty treat that Myrtle would provide. Althea called to it sternly, “Bambi! Down!”
Bambi. Sure.
Althea’s interest in Jean-Marc won out over her desire to keep away from Myrtle and she reluctantly invited the group inside. Elaine carried Jack in, looking
