untitled wramble in the land of Fiction

Ash was never my favorite sister. Not that I had a rational reason -- no torrid love triangles or sordid sorority scandals. We simply clashed. In outlook, in major, even in color choice. Which is not to say we actively disliked one another. Blue just doesn't blend well with flourescent orange, you know?
But, to paraphrase, when you're a BetPsi you're a BetPsi for life. Although Ash was almost the last person I expected to see hovering on my figurative doorstep, I could no more refuse her entry than I could my own grandmother. Edna didn't need an appointment, and since I had a full hour before my next session, neither did Ash.

"Come on back," I urged Ash. "I haven't seen you in years. You haven't aged a bit." Which wasn't exactly true, but was the polite thing to say. Ash paused in the doorway of my inner office, scoping out the place. And since I was familiar with the decor, I used the moment to consider her. Ash still had the silky dark hair and slight build of a gymnast or cheerleader, but she had graduated from blue jeans to pastel linens. Posture and dress suggested confidence and success, but some fine lines were beginning to appear around her eyes and mouth. Tension was evident in the tightness of her shoulders. "Tea?" I inquired?

"Do you have an herbal decaf?" Ash settled onto the edge of a chair. I busied myself with teatins and strainers.

"Eve gave me your information--"

"I must say, I'm surprised --" we both chuckled uneasily, and I passed Ash a cup and saucer. "You first."

"First, I hope you don't mind that I just dropped in on you," Ash said. "Eve mentioned you a few weeks ago, and I thought you might be able to help..." I nodded encouragingly while Ash sipped her tea. "I'm not quite sure how to go about this."

"Generally speaking, its best to start at the beginning," I said, and regretted it as the tension notched up further in her shoulders. "Why don't you ask a question and I'll try to answer it. Then we'll switch."

"Have you given any thought to attending the sorority banquet at the end of the month?"

I raised my own cup and sipped. "I wasn't planning on it. Why?"

Judging