It was nearly half past two when Mary poured herself through the door. She had been out partying with the girls again—her usual Thursday-night group.

I tugged her clothes off, including the white T-shirt with the red-wine spill down the front, and dragged her up the landing to her bedroom. She tried to mumble something about dogs and horses, but I knew she would be in no shape to help with the chores in the morning.

My roommate, the lush.