“Good-bye.” I started to close the door.

“Mr. Welch, next Thursday, four P.M. sharp, I’m looking forward to it!”

The door shut, still the creature kept talking.

“Mr. Welch, I’ll need an hour.”

“Ten minutes,” I said as my head fell against the wavy glass.

“Twenty!”

“Ten, and no more.”

“Ten, perfect,” she said, and then, thank God, she was gone.

Aw, fuck it. Against the strong advice of legal counsel, her real name is printed here. Bea Myerly.

Memorize the name and steel yourself. Should you meet her someday, remember—you’ve been warned.

BEA MYERLY

I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch. I love Mr. Welch.