I'm responding to Cheryl's "problem." I had no problem until the final bit about Eloise's drunken importunity: "I was a nice girl..." What's the problem? I don't see this as a gender issue. It's just that this harridan, in a moment of semi-clarity wants her old friend to corroborate her recollection of ONCE having been a nice "girl" (read: person). She's become this virago, this "hard as nails" exurbanite, and seems to recall (what with the Walt memories) a time when she was naive or gentle or "nice." Eh?