FERNS IN A COOL GREEN ROOM FILLED WITH THE SCENT OF FORESTS AND FIELDS. SHE SAW HERSELF SPEEDING IN AND OUT, TAKING ROSES TO PALE MAIDENS, GLADIOLI TO SICK OLD LADIES IN MANSIONS, FLOWERY SECRET MESSAGES TO HANDSOME YOUNG MEN. WHAT FUN! AND SHE'D BE PAID FOR IT TOO. SHE WAS SMILING AS SHE WALKED INTO THE SHOP AND VENT UP TO THE TALL YOUNG CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER.

"YES MA'AM?" SAID HER POSSIBLE FUTURE CO-WORKER PLEASANTLY.

"YOU HAVE AN AD FOR A MESSENGER --" SHE BEGAN.

"YES. DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE?" HE SMILED ENCOURAGINGLY.

"WELL, I'D LIKE TO HAVE THE JOB MYSELF." JIMMIE STOOD TALL AND LOOKED EFFICIENT.

THE YOUNG MAN LOOKED AT HER WITH MORE INTEREST. "CH." HE HESITATED. "I'M NOT SURE | MEAN JUST A MOMENT, PLEASE." HE

TURNED ON HIS HEEL AND DISAPPEARED BEHIND A CURTAIN.

JIMMIE LOOKED AT THE COLORFUL FLOWERS ENTHRONED IN TIERS BEHIND WIDE GLASS DOORS. THERE WERE HUGE GREEN PLANTS GROUPED AROUND THE ROOM, MAKING IT LOOK LIKE AN INDOOR JUNGLE WHERE MONKEYS SLEPT OUT OF SIGHT. SHE COULD HEAR STEAM HISSING SOMEWHERE AND THOUGHT OF A SNAKE TWISTING HIS WAY THROUGH THE UNDERGROWTH. THE CURTAIN MOVED SLIGHTLY. THE HUNTER

OH NO, IT WAS JUST THE YOUNG MAN COMING BACK, SHE COLLECTED HER THOUGHTS AND WAITED FOR HIM TO TELL HER THE GOOD NEWS.

THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE QUITE SUITABLE. YOU

"I'M AFRAID, MISS SEE, BEING ON FIFTH AVENUE

THAT DO YOU THINK?" HE LOOKED AROUND

WELL, WE DO HAVE TO BE RATHER

IS, A GIRL ISN'T EXACTLY – UM

THE ROOM. "YOU DO KNOW WHAT I MEAN, DON'T YOU?" HE GAVE HER A

PLEADING GLANCE AND LOOKED AWAY AGAIN,

JIMMIE'S HOPEFUL SPIRITS DROPPED LIKE A STONE INTO A POOL. SHE SAID, WORLDS OF DISAPPOINTMENT IN HER FACE. "I SEE." SHE TURNED AWAY FROM THE COUNTER AND WENT SLOWLY TO THE DOOR.

"OH,"

"I'M SORRY," SHE HEARD THE SMALL APOLOGETIC VOICE VAGUELY AS SHE OPENED THE DOOR AND LEFT PARADISE BEHIND.