would begin — three or four days when Aunt Paula and Marian could get through, but to the rest of the world Hannah was not at home. Mamma called them her headache days — she stayed in bed, barely ate, didn't even turn on the television. Usually around the fifth day she'd start writing letters and making phone calls — that was the beginning of the Up Cycle. She'd begin dressing. Though Hannah rarely went out, each day she wore a different outfit for supervising the maid, watching T.V, and keeping in touch with the two dozen other mothers who had problem children, like Ralph.
" — and then, I told the Doctor to take Ralph off the Thorazine and give him B-5 and more B-6," Hannah was explaining. Through her network of other mothers, she kept herself up-to-date on all the latest scientific advances. "And his eyes are puffy," Mamma was saying.
During the last visit she'd made to the upstate institution, Marian noticed that her brother was sluggish and putting on a little weight, but she didn't like to aid and abet Mamma's worry-warting. "Mamma dear, I've got chores to do, why don't we come over for dinner on Saturday?"
"I know you're busy darling but if you could just phone the Doctor and remind him about the sun lamp and the Thorazine."
"Mamma, he never ignores your suggestions. Let Dr. Benedict do the blood count. We'll phone him the beginning of next week." The desk clock was warning Marian if she wanted to accomplish anything special as a cook she had to get started.
Marian phoned in a grocery list.
It was fun, getting ready to cook a special dinner, cleaning up the broken wine bottle, re-arranging shelves, even putting away the tin of fresh coffee — "Maybe Ferris likes fresh coffee, I must remember to ask him." The portable TV was playing out a tense marital drama like Muzak in the background. "While I'm waiting for the delivery boy, I'll chat with Elena."
Marian's assistant was bursting with news.
"You're back? You'll never guess what happened — just a second ago, I got back from a lunch date with the big bad wolf," Elena said.
"Wexler — oh dear, what does he want now?" Their star client was always giving them a hard time.
"More attention from you and me, he feels you're neglecting him. The Wexler Art Institute had only two hundred visitors last week — the usual complaints — but I comforted Old Wex, told him about the idea we have for the poster so he's happy for the moment. I had Oysters Rockefeller so I'm happy, and speaking of happiness, American Biological Surveys got their Ford grant, Mari. What a time we've been having, I had to work overtime two nights last week. And wouldn't you know — I'm in love — I met this fantastic man!"
"I knew something was up," Marian said. She'd noticed that Elena seemed more crackling, more sparkling than usual.
"He's liberated me, body and soul, I'm a changed woman, Mari. You should see me, I've got on a new red knit suit, no bra, no girdle. No hair clip, and no makeup! Just a touch of lipstick — Dennis wants me to be 'au naturel'... Mari, for goodness sake, how are you?"
"Fine, it's good to be back. You sound terrific." Marian's enthusiasm was genuine. With mahogany red hair, bronze skin, full bosom, tiny waist, Elena was more than averagely good-looking. 'Au naturel' was undoubtedly spectacular. "Your Dennis sounds like quite a man."
"Terribly handsome, and intellectual — being with him is a revelation, Mari. Of course my shrink feels I'm building my usual fantasies but this time it's true love, Mari!"
"That's wonderful, but go slow, just remember what happened with Victor." Marian couldn't help but remember the "true love" and the disastrous ending of the Victor love-story.
"Victor was a brute, Dennis is an utter angel. When are you coming in to the office? I've got a stack of documents from the Somerset people on that Retirement Home project, they want your reaction to it. And I've got the Wexler layout for you to look at and — my goodness Mari,
" — and then, I told the Doctor to take Ralph off the Thorazine and give him B-5 and more B-6," Hannah was explaining. Through her network of other mothers, she kept herself up-to-date on all the latest scientific advances. "And his eyes are puffy," Mamma was saying.
During the last visit she'd made to the upstate institution, Marian noticed that her brother was sluggish and putting on a little weight, but she didn't like to aid and abet Mamma's worry-warting. "Mamma dear, I've got chores to do, why don't we come over for dinner on Saturday?"
"I know you're busy darling but if you could just phone the Doctor and remind him about the sun lamp and the Thorazine."
"Mamma, he never ignores your suggestions. Let Dr. Benedict do the blood count. We'll phone him the beginning of next week." The desk clock was warning Marian if she wanted to accomplish anything special as a cook she had to get started.
Marian phoned in a grocery list.
It was fun, getting ready to cook a special dinner, cleaning up the broken wine bottle, re-arranging shelves, even putting away the tin of fresh coffee — "Maybe Ferris likes fresh coffee, I must remember to ask him." The portable TV was playing out a tense marital drama like Muzak in the background. "While I'm waiting for the delivery boy, I'll chat with Elena."
Marian's assistant was bursting with news.
"You're back? You'll never guess what happened — just a second ago, I got back from a lunch date with the big bad wolf," Elena said.
"Wexler — oh dear, what does he want now?" Their star client was always giving them a hard time.
"More attention from you and me, he feels you're neglecting him. The Wexler Art Institute had only two hundred visitors last week — the usual complaints — but I comforted Old Wex, told him about the idea we have for the poster so he's happy for the moment. I had Oysters Rockefeller so I'm happy, and speaking of happiness, American Biological Surveys got their Ford grant, Mari. What a time we've been having, I had to work overtime two nights last week. And wouldn't you know — I'm in love — I met this fantastic man!"
"I knew something was up," Marian said. She'd noticed that Elena seemed more crackling, more sparkling than usual.
"He's liberated me, body and soul, I'm a changed woman, Mari. You should see me, I've got on a new red knit suit, no bra, no girdle. No hair clip, and no makeup! Just a touch of lipstick — Dennis wants me to be 'au naturel'... Mari, for goodness sake, how are you?"
"Fine, it's good to be back. You sound terrific." Marian's enthusiasm was genuine. With mahogany red hair, bronze skin, full bosom, tiny waist, Elena was more than averagely good-looking. 'Au naturel' was undoubtedly spectacular. "Your Dennis sounds like quite a man."
"Terribly handsome, and intellectual — being with him is a revelation, Mari. Of course my shrink feels I'm building my usual fantasies but this time it's true love, Mari!"
"That's wonderful, but go slow, just remember what happened with Victor." Marian couldn't help but remember the "true love" and the disastrous ending of the Victor love-story.
"Victor was a brute, Dennis is an utter angel. When are you coming in to the office? I've got a stack of documents from the Somerset people on that Retirement Home project, they want your reaction to it. And I've got the Wexler layout for you to look at and — my goodness Mari,
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