Serena。”

She　let　the　curtain　fall　closed；　but　Maureen　pulled　it　open　a　few

inches。　“That　looks　nice；”　she　said；　nodding　approvingly　at　the

orange　dress。　“It　suits　you。”

Jenny　grimaced。　“Does　it　e　in　black？”　she　asked。

“But　you’re　too　young　for　black；”　Maureen　said；　frowning。

Jenny　frowned　back　and　handed　the　pile　of　reject　dresses　to

Maureen；　closing　the　curtain　firmly　in　her　face。　“Thanks　for　your

help；”　she　called。　She　yanked　the　orange　dress　over　her　head　and

whipped　off　her　bra；　reaching　for　a　black　stretch…satin　dress　she　had

picked　out　herself。　Braless；　she　pulled　the　dress　on　over　her　head

and　felt　it　ooze　all　over　her。　When　she　looked　up；　little　Jenny

Humphrey　had　vanished　from　the　dressing　room。　In　her　place　was　a

dangerous；　slutty　sex　goddess。

Throw　in　a　pair　of　kitten　heels；　a　thong；　and　some　Chanel　Vamp

lipstick；　and　she　had　it　going　on。　No　girl　is　ever　too　young　to　wear

black。

Late　Sunday　morning　the　steps　of　the　Metropolitan　Museum　of　Art

were　crawling　with　people。　Tourists；　mostly；　and　locals　who　had

e　for　a　brief　visit　so　they　could　brag　about　it　to　their　friends　and

sound　cultured。

Inside；　brunch　was　being　served　in　the　Egyptian　wing　for　all　the

museum’s　board　members　and　their　families。　The　Egyptian　wing

was　a　superb　setting　for　nighttime　parties—glittering　gold　and

exotic；　with　the　moonli