Ready for her party, her disastrous ombré flowing in sculpted waves around her shoulders, Bunny raced down I-10 until she reached the industrial zone east of Houston, after which the tall towers rose up like Oz. The afternoon sun gleamed off the black mirrored windows of the soaring structures, sleek buildings radiating grandeur, permanence, stability, the solidity of guaranteed infrastructure, piercing the sky and dwarfing the faded beauties behind her in downtown Beaumont. Houston. The City. After more than a year at Miles Engineering Consultants, she thrilled to it, had gotten herself a cheap motel room near the site of the party, planned to treat herself to a nice brunch before driving home the next day.