regina is being fitted for a dress for her press conference. the room she is in reminds her of the studio in connecticut where she took ballet lessons before she moved to california. regina likes the way the squares of sunlight fall on the blond wood floor. she would like them better if the shadows of palm trees did not obscure the light.

regina is standing on top of a three-legged stool. a green jersey dress is hanging on her body. a spindly woman in her mid-sixties is pinning the dress so that it glides over regina's skinny curves. the woman is wearing a grey bouclé suit. her pantyhose are translucent black, with perfectly straight seams running up the backs of her knobby legs. the woman's hands are cold. regina shivers when the hands graze her thigh. the woman sucks a pinprick of blood from her thumb and continues to pin the dress. regina thinks that she would like to ask the woman about her life but feels that would be inappropriate. instead she concentrates on standing very still. she wonders if mark/dan will see the press conference. she thinks he would like the green dress she is wearing. she thinks she would not like for mark/dan to see her wearing as much bronzer as she will have to wear for the press conference. the woman pulls the dress over regina's head without warning. regina is standing in a square of sunlight, wearing only a black lace bra and boyshorts. the shadow of a palm tree falls across her foot.

regina gathers her clothes and tells the woman that someone will be by to pick up the dress tomorrow. the woman nods and leaves the room. regina wishes that the woman had smiled.

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