“I know what happened last night,” Gail said, her face red with embarrassment. She was sitting at the breakfast nook in Crystal’s tiny apartment and the trembling young teacher slowly took another sip of coffee to try to steady her nerves. “I’m sorry, Sis, but you’ve got to remember that I was drunk last night. I feel entirely different about the whole thing this morning.”
“You mean after all that you’re going to tell on me, anyway?” Crystal gasped, squeezing Jerry’s hand tightly. “How can you be so mean?”
“I’m not being mean,” Gail sighed, brushing her hair away from her forehead. “I realize that anyone can be carried away in a moment of passion. If you and Jerry were just dating each other and sleeping together occasionally, I would never say a word. But Crystal! Living together is entirely different! Frank said the promotion won’t come through for another month yet, and I can’t just go back and tell Mom and Dad that everything is fine when it’s not! That’s a lie and you know how I feel about telling lies!”
“Damnit.” Jerry groaned, thumping his fist on the table. “I just don’t understand you, Gail. I thought everything was going to be fine after last night.”
“Well!” Gail breathed, her face turning even redder. “Last night was nothing but an accident. I had a little too much to drink and I did some things I’m not very proud of, but that doesn’t change the fact that you and Crystal are living together without the benefit of marriage. As long as Mom and Dad are paying the bills, I have to give them an honest report of what’s happening here. I just can’t do it any other way.”
“Won’t anything change your mind?” Crystal asked, looking at her grim-faced sister, hopefully.
“Nothing!” Gail said emphatically. “Of course I’ll be as tactful as possible, but Mom and Dad have to hear the truth. There’s no way around it that I can see. Now I’d better hurry and get dressed or I’ll miss the first meeting of the conference.”
“How about if Jerry moves out and I really get a girl roommate?” Crystal asked quickly as Gail made a move to leave the table. “Would you tell then?”
“Well, I’d have to think about that,” Gail sighed, frowning thoughtfully. “That might be acceptable, Crystal… I just don’t know. Let’s talk about it again tonight, after my meetings are over.”
As soon as Gail closed the bedroom door behind her, she sank wearily down on the bed. It had been very difficult facing Crystal and Jerry but she had handled it rather well. Of course the scene last night had complicated everything terribly, but that sort of thing would never happen again. She’d thought it all out this morning and decided that the liquor was to blame for her uncharacteristic behavior. She’d been drinking the night Herb had fucked her and yesterday’s dire disaster had started only after she’d had a couple of drinks. Alcohol was bad for her, that was all! It clouded her mind and made her do things she wouldn’t normally do. One thing was for certain… she’d never take another drink! Not if things like that happened to her when she was drinking!
“Damn!” Gail muttered, pulling some clothes out of her suitcase and beginning to dress. She really felt sorry for Crystal and Jerry but she couldn’t let sympathy change her concept of right and wrong. If Crystal didn’t get a female roommate, she had no choice but to tell her parents. That was all there was to it! Living in sin was wrong and she had to teach Crystal that. From now on, she would be a sterling example for her errant little sister. Everyone made mistakes and she was no exception but Crystal had to learn that she should stick to the right way of living and give up sex until she was married. That was the correct way of doing things and the sooner Crystal learned it, the better!