The Class Menagerie

said, glad to escape.
    She went into Edgar’s beautiful kitchen and found him mincing shallots. Hector was sitting on a kitchen chair, supervising. “Do you know you’ve got a vegetarian out there?“ Jane asked.
    He shrugged. “No problem. She can just eat around the meat. I’m fixing creamed chicken in puff pastry shells and peas with nutmeg. And some old-fashioned deviled eggs. She’s not one of those full-fledged no-animal-products people, is she?“
    “I don’t think so. It looks like she exists on macaroni and chocolates.“
    “Oh, the fleshy one. I noticed her. She must live in a house without mirrors. Jane, get some butter for me, would you? I need it clarified.“
    When Edgar figured out that Jane had no idea how to clarify butter, at least not to his standards, he suggested that she join the guests. “Just keep an eye on the snack tray. If it runs low, refill it. Refresh drinks, that sort of thing.“
    The women had divided up into little groups, with everybody trying to listen to everybody else’s conversations. Jane approached Avalon and Mimi, who were studying a sheet of paper. Avalon’s red topknot had come loose and was falling around her face, like a curtain to hide behind. She was mumbling shy thanks. Mimi looked even more serene compared to Avalon. Mimi’s straight black hair, for all the hugging, looked like the lacquered hair of an exquisite Chinese doll.
    “May I get you ladies something to drink?“ Jane asked. Mimi shook her head and gently took the paper from Avalon. “Jane, look at this lovely sketch Avalon brought along.“
    It was an incredibly busy pencil drawing. “It’s the carriage house here, isn’t it?“ Jane said. “How lovely.“
    “Look at the detail,“ Mimi instructed.
    As Jane studied the picture, she started to smile. It was full of quiet little jokes. The bush beside the coach house wasn’t just squiggly lines as it first appeared, it was a seething mass of tiny rabbits. Bricks had faces hidden in them. So did tree trunks. A few random rocks along the drive were actually a chorus line of raccoons. There was a peddler with his pack in a cloud and a witch hidden in the branches of a tree.
    “This is delightful!“ Jane, exclaimed. “You must show it to Edgar. He’ll love it!“
    “Do you think so?“ Avalon whispered.
    Pooky came over to take a look and went hysterical with enthusiasm. “Why, this is wonderful. I love it! Oh, Avalon, would you consider giving it to me? I have just the perfect place to hang it in my apartment. It would change the whole room and mean all the more because an old friend made it.“
    Kathy slouched by, her mouth full of ham and egg roll. “Hey, Avalon, that’s cute,“ she said, spitting a few crumbs as she spoke. “Have you ever used this talent of yours for anything worthwhile?“
    “Worthwhile?“ Mimi asked with a dangerous smile.
    “Socially worthwhile. We all owe it to society to use our gifts to benefit mankind,“ Kathy said.
    “Oh, put a sock in it,“ Crispy said cheerfully from across the room. Several others laughed. “Avalon doesn’t owe anybody anything, Kathy. And if she did go crusading, she might not crusade for your causes. Have you thought about that? Just what are your causes these days, anyway?“
    She’d said it in a light, joking way, but Kathy, though not the least offended, took it to be a serious question. “The same as always, Crispy. Peace, love, the protection of the environment....“
    The individual groups fell silent as Crispy snapped, “Oh, come on! That’s all so easy and trendy to say. What are you doing about any of it?“
    “As much as we can,“ Kathy said smugly. She took a deep breath and several people decently averted their eyes from the expanding T-shirt. “My husband and children and I drive into Tulsa and volunteer every Saturday at the local recycling center. I make my own soap—“
    “All it takes is piss and ashes,“ someone muttered. Jane glanced around but nobody looked guilty.
    “No, it takes time and love and dedication,“ Kathy said. Her voice suddenly caught in something between a hiccup and a snort.
    Pooky had ignored the whole controversy and was still begging for the picture. Avalon didn’t seem to know how to say no to her, but hadn’t turned loose of it yet.
    “It’s a lovely drawing, Avalon,“ Jane said, getting the conversation back on what she hoped was a less dangerous course. Avalon’s next words dispelled this happy notion.
    “I did