Tales of the City 03 - Further Tales of the City

slightly.
    “It makes Mother climb the walls.”
    “Different generation,” said Mary Ann.
    “Did you know her at Daddy’s agency?”
    “Who?” asked Mary Ann.
    “D’orothea.”
    “Oh … not very well, actually. She just came in and out sometimes. She was our biggest client’s top model. Frankly, she intimidated the hell out of me.”
    DeDe smiled. “She had a way with her. Has, that is.”
    “She used to be friends with a friend of mine. A copywriter named Mona Ramsey.”
    “They were lovers,” said DeDe.
    “Yeah.” Mary Ann grinned sheepishly. “That’s what I meant, actually. Sometimes the Cleveland in me takes over.”
    DeDe chuckled, eyes glued to the sunset. “You’re doing better than I ever did. I never learned about a goddamn thing until it actually happened to me.”
    Mary Ann pondered that for a moment. “Yeah,” she said drily, “but what hasn’t happened to you?”
    DeDe shot her a wry glance. “Good point,” she said.
    “It’s a journalist’s dream,” observed Mary Ann, adding hastily: “I hope that doesn’t sound callous.”
    “No. I’m aware of its potential.”
    “There’s a book in it for sure. Maybe even a movie-for-TV.”
    DeDe laughed ironically at the prospect. “Won’t Mother love the hell out of that? ‘Starring Sally Struthers as the Society Lesbo.’ Jesus.”
    Mary Ann giggled. “We should be able to do better than that.”
    “Maybe … but I’m prepared for the worst.”
    Mary Ann looked earnestly at her passenger. “I’ll do everything I can to help.”
    “I know,” said DeDe. “I believe that. But not until the month is out, O.K.?”
    Mary Ann nodded. “I wish I understood why.”
    “If I tell you, will you promise me that Mother won’t hear about it?”
    “Of course.”
    “She thinks I need the time to rest up, to get my bearings before the publicity begins. That’s true enough, but not the whole truth. The whole truth has always been a bit too much for Mother.”
    Mary Ann smiled. “I’ve noticed that.”
    “I need to talk to some people. People who might know … what I need to know.”
    “Who? Can you say?”
    “Temple members,” answered DeDe. “And people who knew him.”
    “Jones?”
    DeDe nodded.
    “You could start with the governor,” said Mary Ann. “And half the politicians in town. He was quite a popular fellow around here.”
    DeDe smiled faintly. “I know. At any rate, I’m stalling right now, because I haven’t got all the facts. And I certainly don’t relish the thought of being branded as a nut case.”
    “That would never happen.”
    “In two weeks,” said DeDe, “you may have changed your mind.”
They parked to watch the sun go down in flames.
    “I guess I changed the subject,” said Mary Ann.
    “When?”
    “You wanted to talk about D’orothea.”
    “Yeah, well … there wasn’t much to say, really. Just that she cared for me. And made me laugh a lot. And the twins worshiped her. And she made love like an angel. And I wish she’d get her silly socialist ass out of Cuba and come home to me and the children. The usual stuff. Not much.”
    “Until you lose it,” said Mary Ann.
    “Until you lose it,” said DeDe. She watched the sea in silence for a moment, then turned to her companion. “I’m glad you’re here. You’re a generous listener. You take things in stride.”
    Mary Ann smiled. “Billie Jean King helped.”
    “Huh?”
    “I guess you haven’t heard about that.”
    “She’s a dyke, too?”
    “Well,” said Mary Ann. “She had an affair with a woman. Does that make her a dyke?”
    “It does if she did it right,” DeDe replied.

Gaying Out
    T HE WEATHER HAD BEEN RELENTLESSLY SUNNY FOR ALMOST a week, so Michael and Ned had their hands full at God’s Green Earth. Business was so brisk at the nursery that it was three o’clock before they sat down amidst the other living things requiring partial shade and contemplated their Yoplait.
    “What do you think I should do?” asked Michael.
    “About what?”
    “The parade.”
    Ned shrugged. “You’re going, aren’t you?”
    “Sure. But what do I wear? There’s a big demand for the All-American look, and I pull that off pretty well. On the other hand, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have asked me to be a nun this year.”
    Ned spooned yogurt into his mouth. “Go for the nun,” he said.
    Michael thought for a moment. “Have you ever tried getting laid when you’re dressed as a nun?”
    “Why not? There must be