"Who's there, Cessa?"

     Gus Argo and I looked up in the direction from which the voice asking this question had come. Gene Tierney stood at the top of the staircase. Or maybe it was Helen of Troy.

     "The delivery boys," Princessa answered. "They brought the new hi-fi."

     "Tell them to just leave the boxes in the living room. Daddy will set it up later."

     "I just did."

     The apparition on the staircase disappeared; she wasn't coming down.

     "Thanks, guys," said Princessa. "I'd give you a tip but I don't have any money. I can ask Turquoise if she does."

     "No," Gus said, "it's okay."

     He glanced at the top of the stairs once more, then walked out of the house.

     "My name is Buddy," I said to Princessa.

     "Hi, Buddy." she said, and held her right hand out to me. "I'm Cessa."

     I took her hand. It felt like a very small, freshly killed and skinned animal.

     "Your hand is warm," I said, holding it.

     "My body temperature is always slightly above normal. The doctor says people's temperatures vary."

     "It feels good. Mine is cold. I wasn't wearing any gloves."