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noticed the inspection of her legs.
         I'm done for, he thought.
        The girl sidestepped, ready to be on her way.
        Bodie sidestepped, too.
        'Excuse me,' she said. Her voice trembled. 'Please, I'm in a hurry.' She stepped the other way. Again, Bodie blocked her.
        She gave up trying to dodge past him. Standing still, she looked into his eyes and caught her lower lip between her teeth.
        'I'm sorry if I upset you,' he said.
        'I'm not upset.'
        'And I was not staring at your legs,' he added.
        'There's nothing wrong with my legs,' she said.
        'Really?' He didn't know why he said that. He could think of nothing else to say.
        'My legs are fine,' she insisted.
        'And dandy,' Bodie said. 'They're a couple of the dandiest legs I've seen in a long time.'
        'Yeah, I'll bet.' She watched him with narrowed eyes.
         Either she has a leg problem that I didn't notice, Bodie thought, or her self-image needs an overhaul.
        'In fact,' he said, 'I couldn't help wondering what the rest of them looked like.'
        'I've only got the two.'
        'That isn't what I…' He realized she had made a joke. Taken totally by surprise, he burst out laughing. The girl didn't laugh, but a corner of her mouth turned up in a rather wry half-smile.
        'I've got this-here quarter,' Bodie said. He flipped it in the air and caught it. 'What-say we mosey over to the student union and I'll buy you a Dr Pepper?'
        She accepted the offer.
        It started that way: a tossed coin, a look at her legs, a misunderstanding, and a joke that made things right.
        Melanie seemed perplexed that he found her attractive. She made nervous jokes about being skinny and plain.
        
***
        
        The next night at the drive-in, when he fumbled under the back of her blouse to unhook her bra, she said, 'You'll be sorry.'
        He said, 'Don't be ridiculous.'
        He got it open and reached around to the front and she grabbed his wrist.
        'Don't,' she said. She was weeping, her tears making silver slicks down her face in the light from the movie screen.
        'It's padded,' she sobbed.
        'So?' She let go of his hand.
        He moved it to her breast.
        'See?' she asked.
        And Bodie said, 'That's not so bad, Herman.'
        She laughed through her sobs, and elbowed him. The breast was warm and smooth. It wasn't large, but it filled his hand. The nipple felt very big. The other breast was the same. His hand wandered from one to the other. He wanted them in his mouth, but when he tried to unbutton her blouse, Melanie stopped him.
        'Not here,' she gasped. They left the drive-in and Bodie drove to his apartment.
        
***
        
        When he opened the door, she stood rigid and gazed into the dark room with wide, frightened eyes. Bodie took her hand. It felt like ice. It trembled. 'Nothing to worry about,' he said, and led her inside. He turned on the lights.
        'I don't know about this,' she said. Her voice sounded high and tight.
        'Neither do I,' Bodie said to calm her down. 'Let's just watch some TV.'
        A quick, jerking nod.
        'We don't have to do anything,' he told her.
        'Okay.'
        He turned on the television. Leaving Melanie on the sofa, he went into the kitchen and poured wine. Then he sat down beside her. She used both hands on her glass, trying to hold it steady. As she took a sip, she watched Bodie raise his glass. They both saw the surface of his wine shimmer. He was shaking a little, himself.
        'What are you so nervous about?' Melanie asked.
        'Who, me?'
        'Yeah, you.'
        They stared into each other's eyes. For a long time.
        'We don't have to do anything,' she told him. Smiling, she set her glass on the table.
        Bodie put down his glass.
        They kissed. They held each other. She was