help in my work at the Actors' Lab. Then I got the idea it would be fun to try other things. Animals, chairs, tables. One rainy night I was a footstool until it was time to go to bed." 
"I was a tea kettle as a boy. Stop kidding." 
"I don't know, Ben. It gets sort of vacant all around when you're away somewhere. I had this feeling that I wanted to see if I could just step into a store or someplace and try to swipe something. Anything." 

Pendleton found himself starting to shake. He put his arms around Beth. "That was you, then, taking junk from an old Chinese." 
"I could change, you see, and take things as all sorts of odd characters. If I was spotted and followed, I'd try to duck in an alley or a doorway and change again. The clothes are extra. Sometimes I could hide clothes in a lot. Most of the time, though, I'd have to change into something new. A bird, a cat. Then I'd carry what I had stolen in my beak or around my neck." She laughed softly. "Once I copped an umbrella and changed into a big dog and went off with it in my mouth." She twisted slightly in his arms. "I'm sorry. It's all sort of odd and silly. I do it." 
"Well, why?" 
"I don't know." 
"Beth?" He inched up, lifting her with him. 
"Yes?" She let him sit her in the sofa chair. 
"You have to go see somebody. You have to stop." 
She stiffened. "If it was as simple as insanity, I would." 
"Please, Beth." He wandered to the fireplace and threw in more wood. "The stealing does bother me. I think the changing is good. I can use it to really go someplace in my acting career. Quit the secretary business altogether. I actually changed to an old woman for one of Alex's one-acters. He thought I'd just done a good job of makeup. I don't believe I want to simply stop, Ben." 
"You have to!" 
"Don't start shouting commands." 
Pendleton sat across from her on the sofa. "Will you promise to start seeing somebody? Maybe I can find out about a good man. Promise you'll see him." 
"You going to ask around? Why don't you do a TV spot? 'We are happy to announce that Beth Gershwin is daffy.'" 
"Relax, Beth. You decide what you want to do. I won't talk to anybody." 
Beth moved to the window. The wind had died. "I don't know, Ben." 
"Let it rest. Let's have the drink." He came to her side. 
"I think I'd like to be alone for a while." 
"I'd like to stay." 
"I'd like you to go. Please." 
"Beth." 
"Go on, Ben." She stared at him, then walked into her bedroom. 
She didn't close the door and he followed. 

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