Spin Spin Spun.

They didn't have a bottle.  It wasn't that kind of party, or that kind of crowd.  There were only three of them: Annie, Martha and Lesley.  They were having a sleepover, knowing all too well they were too old, at nineteen, to be indulging themselves like this.

They were too old to lie around, in their pyjamas and nightgowns, in their sleeping bags, in their giggles and laughs.

They knew, without saying it, that it was one of the last sleepovers they'd have together.  University was coming, along with commitments, money problems and husbands.  People would talk.

They didn't have a bottle, but they had a cork.  The girls couldn't remember where they'd found it.  Probably in a junk drawer or a ditch somewhere.  The cork had a screw in it.

Spin.

"Martha, did you kiss Bobby Miller at the spring fling?"

Martha giggled, but shook her head.  "I didn't.  I swear I didn't.  He kissed me!"

The girls fell laughing, clutching their pillows.

Spin.

"Annie, what's the combination to your diary?"

Annie's mouth dropped open, but she was smiling.  "40-00-13, you little bitch."  Martha pencilled it onto her palm with her finger, laughing at her friend.

Spin.

"Martha, are you ready?"

Martha's smile dropped, and nodded.  Lesley cocked her head, anticipating a pillow fight.

Spin.

"Lesley, does your dad hit you?"

Lesley's eyes grew wide as she stopped breathing under her friends' stares.  She reached out and put her hand on the cork.  She had to tell the truth.  She had to.  "Yes."

Spin.

"Martha, how do you know?"

"We see you change before gym.  We see when you wear more makeup.  We see when you've cried.  We see the changes in your mood when no one else can."

Spin.

"Annie, when were we sure?"

Annie looked down at her hands knotted over her knees.  "We found your little sister, one day, crying in the park near your house.  We were on our way over with your birthday present.  She told us not to go, cause you had fallen down the stairs.  She told us your dad had made you fall down the stairs."

Spin.

"Lesley, does he hit your sister too?"

Lesley shook her head.  "Never!  I hide her under my bed and in my closet!  I stand in front of her and make her safe!"  Lesley looked tired.

Spin.

"Martha, what else was I supposed to do?" she asked, growling the words.  She'd started crying.

"You could have told us earlier.  You could have told the police.  You could have told your mom."  Martha caught the wince in Lesley's face.

Spin.

"Lesley, does he hit your mom too?"

Lesley only nodded.

Spin.

"Annie, what do I do?"

"We have information about houses.  We have the phone number to call at the police station.  We can help."  Annie had started crying.

Spin.

"Martha, tell her we'll be there."

"We will.  We promise."

"Oh god, please get me out..." she said as they collapsed into tears and hugs.

Spun.