Desdemona had gone straight home after her shift at the Gulch. When she returned home, the Pratz estate had been quiet as both her parents and the inhouse servants had gone to sleep hours earlier. Her alarm clock came far too early the next morning. She washed the tiredness out of her bones underneath a long and hot shower. One of the things her father insisted on was for her to join them to the church service every Sunday. Even Robert Pratz had to keep up appearances and he would not accept the fact that his daughter would skip church, not as long as she chose to live underneath his roof and of his money.<br/><br/>By the time they departed for the church in her mother’s Mercedes SUV, her father’s demeanor was stormy.<strong> “What took you so long to get ready Desdemona? We will never make it on time… you know how much I hate being late? Just how late did you get home last night?”</strong>She blew out air audibly at her father’s complaints as her mother drove towards the end of their drive-way and then onto the road.<strong> “Relax dad, it’s only four miles up the road, we’ll be there in no time… And I just went out for a few drinks… Are you going to forbid me even that? You might as well lock me up in a nunnery then…” </strong><br/><br/><strong>“Don’t give me that attitude young lady… when are you going to do something other than just pass the hours of the day? If you aren’t interested in the real estate business… then look for something else to do… anything. Open a shop… I’ll front you the money. Anything but sitting on your ass all day long.” </strong>Eniz Pratz flashed him an annoyed look.<strong> “Robert! Your language… we’re on our way to church!”</strong>She then briefly turned to her daughter.<strong>“Your father is right though sweetie… You should start looking for a long-term career. But we can talk more about this later…” </strong><br/><br/>Desdemona crossed her arms underneath her chest and gave her parents the silent treatment, acting more like a bratty 13- year old than the 22-year old she was. When they arrived at the church, his father was relieved to find out that at least the service hadn’t started yet. They rushed into the church towards their usual place near the front, where the rest of the New Harrisville elite sat, Robert’s brother and mayor amongst them. Eniz Pratz got almost as much looks as her daughter. Desdemona’s mother shone in her elegant crème satin dress, which brought out the color of her skin and made her look especially radiant. In many ways Desdemona was a younger copy of her mother, and mrs. Pratz herself could easily pass for ten years younger than her 46 years.<br/><br/>As Desdemona sat down, she noticed the reverend’s wife towards the front of the church and gave the woman a friendly nod. It had been a shock to see her at the Gulch, but Desdemona had gotten used to the thought and actually found it more than a bit amusing to think of what the preacher’s good wife got up to behind his back.<br/>