The Stepford Wives

She tossed the salad. "I don't know," she said. "The way it's set up, and that old house…"

"That was the Terhune place," Mary said, laying a stretch of plastic over the toothpicked platter. "They got it dirt-cheap. Auctioned for taxes and no one else bid."

The party was a disaster. Lucy Ferrault was allergic to something and never stopped sneezing; Sylvia was preoccupied; Bobbie, whom Joa

'Enry Iggins, 'e does." But Charmaine, who knew the man and had taped for him herself, cut her short with "Never make fun of what a Capricorn's doing; they produce," and went into an around-the-table sign analysis that demanded everyone's attention. The roast was overdone, and Walter had a bad time slicing it. The souff16 rose, but not quite as much as it should have-as Mary remarked while serving it. Lucy Ferrault sneezed.

"Never again," Joa

"Listen, you," she said. "How could you stand there talking to Don while three women are sitting like stones on the sofa?"

SYLVIA CALLED TO APOLOGIZE – she had been passed up for a promotion she damn well knew she deserved-and Charmaine called to say they'd had a great time and to postpone a tentative Tuesday te

"Why not let him catch you?" Joa

"Oh God," Charmaine said. "Look, I just don't enjoy having a big cock shoved into me, that's all. Never have and never will. And I'm not a lez either, because I tried it and that's no big deal. I'm just not interested in sex. I don't think any woman is, really, not even Pisces women. Are you?"

"Well I'm not a nympho," Joa

'Really, or do you just feel you're supposed to be?"

"Really."

"Well, to each his own," Charmaine said. "Let's make it Thursday, all right? He's got a conference he can't get out of, thank God."

"Okay, Thursday, unless something comes up."

"Don't let anything."

"It's getting cold."

"We'll wear sweaters."

SHE WENT TO A P.T.A. MEETING. Pete's and Kim's teachers were there, Miss Turner and Miss Gair, pleasant middle-aged women eagerly responsive to her questions about teaching methods and how the busing program was working out. The meeting was poorly attended; aside from the group of teachers at the back of the auditorium, there were only nine women and about a dozen men. The president of the association was an attractive blond woman named Mrs. Hollingsworth, who conducted business with smiling unhurried efficiency.

She bought winter clothes for Pete and Kim, and two pairs of wool slacks for herself. She made terrific enlargements of "Off Duty" and "The Stepford Library," and took Pete and Kim to Dr. Coe, the dentist.

"DID WE?" CHARMAINE ASKED, letting her into the house.

"Of course we did," she said. "I said it was okay if nothing came up."

Charmaine closed the door and smiled at her. She was wearing an apron over slacks and a blouse. "Gosh, I'm sorry, Joa

"That's all right," she said, "go change."

"We can't play," Charmaine said. "For one thing, I've got too much work to do-"

"Work?"

"Housework."

Joa

"We've let Nettie go," Charmaine said. "It's absolutely unbelievable, the sloppy job she was getting away with. The place looks clean at first glance, but boy, look in the corners. I did the kitchen and the dining room yesterday, but I've still got all the other rooms. Ed shouldn't have to live with dirt."

Joa

"I'm not joking," Charmaine said. "Ed's a pretty wonderful guy, and I've been lazy and selfish. I'm through playing te

Joa

"Go look," Charmaine said.

Joa

"Go look," Charmaine said.

Joa

A truck piled with sections of mesh fencing stood on the tire-marked grass beside the te

"Ed wants a putting green," Charmaine said, coming to Joa

"It's a clay court!" Joa

"It's the only level place we've got," Charmaine said.

"My God," Joa

"That's crazy, Charmaine!"

"Ed plays golf, he doesn't play te

Joa

"Don't be silly," Charmaine said, smiling. "He's a wonderful guy and I'm a lucky woman who ought to be grateful to him. Do you want to stay awhile? I'll make you some coffee. I'm doing Merrill's room but we can talk while I'm working-"

"All right," Joa

"I'm sorry I forgot to call you," Charmaine said, following her into the living room.

"It's all right," Joa

"Yes," Charmaine said, smiling. "Please call me. And please give my regards to Walter."

BOBBIE WENT TO SEE FOR herself, and called about it. "She was moving the bedroom furniture. And they just moved in in July; how dirty can the place be?"

"It won't last," Joa

"Don't they?" Bobbie said. "Around here?"

"What do you mean?"

"Shut up, Ke

Can you have lunch tomorrow?"

"Yes-"

"I'll pick you up around noon. I said give it to him! Okay? Noon, nothing fancy."