"I don't know," Rudi said, and shrugged. "Some time. This morning, maybe. Look, what difference does it make? I thought you'd like the idea, Ma. Some more dough coming in ... you know."
"This morning." Mrs. Wladek raised clenched fists over her head. "Cossacks!" she screamed. "Monsters! Witches!"
Lunchtime.
Gloria looked up and smiled sweetly and distantly as Harold Meedy appeared at her desk. "Got any special place to go?" he said.
"As a matter of fact—" she began, but he was too quick for her.
"It's always 'as a matter of fact,'" he said. "What's the matter—you got another boy friend or something? You don't like poor Harold? Look, Gloria, if you want to avoid me, then you go ahead and avoid me. But—"
"It's nothing like that," Gloria said.
"So come on," Harold said. "Listen, I'm really a sweet guy when you get to know me. You'd like me. Sure you would."
"I'm sure," Gloria said. "But I really do have something to take care of."
"Can't you take care of it later?"