"'Be patient, be kind, be good, say please, say thank you, don't speak unless spoken to.' Her voice is rising, quickening. 'Don't forget to smile, don't give it all away, don't disobey your teachers.' She stops suddenly, looks round at the group to see if they are with her.

'Your boyfriend,' Bernice adds. 'Your husband,' says Raina. 'Your producers,' says Ashlee. Ruby glances at Gretel, offers her a beat to contribute. Gretel looks in her lap. 'But don't, you know, follow them blindly either,' Ruby says. 'Hold this key, but don't go in there,' says Bernice, shaking her head. 'Don't you dare open that door.' 'Don't cross the street without looking both ways,' adds Ashlee. 'But don't dawddle,' says Raina. 'Yeah. Don't get distracted on your way,' Bernice says, wagging her finger at Ruby.

'Actually, you know what?' says Ruby. 'Maybe don't even be out there on the street. Not if it's dark. Not if you're alone. Not if you're a kid. Not if you're a woman. Not without a rape whistle around your neck. Not without pepper spray clutched in your hand. Not, anyway, if you're wearing that outfit.' 'But, I mean, don't be a prude either,' says Ashlee, pulling at the hem of her dress.

Ruby nods at Ashlee, and then all of the women, save Gretel, smile at one another with a kind of surprised delight. Like band members who finally got the song just right."

"'Maybe just don't leave the house at all,' Gretel pipes in. 'Maybe stay home.' 'But isn't that where accidents happen?' says Ashlee. 'So lock all of the doors,' says Ruby. 'Doesn't always help,' says Bernice. 'Don't let anyone in,' says Gretel. 'Unless you trust them,' says Ashlee."

"'Especially, not if you trust them,' says Gretel."