I didn't even know for sure. We just went along like nothing had happened. Then this cop shows up. "

"Cop?" said Arlene. "To pinch

Ed?"

"Hell, no," said Mollie, "Not to pinch him."

"Well, what do you know!" said Mac.

"He was a big guy too," said Mollie. "I seen him last year. He was driving a truck."

"Pete's been laying there two months," said Arlene. "He don't know nobody."

"Well, hell," said Mollie, "I guess I was dumb all right. Even then I didn't think nothing much. But one day I came home again. 'Look Ed,' I says, 'what is all this? Who is this copper?' Ed said he was just a pal. But he didn't look like no pal to me. Ed was real nice. I guess I took on some and said a lot. You know how it is. I loved the guy. He said 'Haven't I been a good husband to you, Mollie? This apartment and all? That chesterfield cost two hundred dollars and I got you a new refrigerator last month.' That's right, he did! He was a good husband. I couldn't've asked for a nicer man. Maybe I shouldn't've said what I did. Maybe I shouldn't.

23

Tears rolled down Mollie's made-up cheeks.

"Now, now, Mollie," said Mac.

"Maybe I shouldn't've told him off. Maybe I should've just gone on. Ed was a nice guy. I didn't know nothing about queers."

Arlene stood up, holding on to the bar. Her handbag fell

down. I picked it up for her. She took it without looking at me and started toward the door, weaving a little.

"Pete won't know me," she said. "He just lays there. Pete won't know me."

"Take it easy, Arlene," called Mac, as she tottered out onto the sidewalk.

"You think I should've told him off, Mac?" said Mollie. "You think I should've? What do you think, Mister?"

"I guess you did what seemed right then," I said.

"Mac," said Mollie, "give me another shot."

"Be

"Now, Mollie," said Mac. a good girl. You've had enough.

"You give me another shot, Mac, she said. "You give me another shot." She began to pound the bottom of her glass on the bar. "I want a shot. If I hadn't told him off, maybe he wouldn't've walked out on me. I loved the guy. I want Ed!" The tears were loosening the paint on her cheeks. She went on pounding the bar. "I want Ed! I want Ed back!" Her hat was crooked on her red hair. "You couldn't find a nicer guy. Come on, Mac, fill it up. For Christ's sake, Mac, I want a shot!"

Her cheeks were smeared; her hands, trembling. She pounded on the bar. Mac reached for the She bottle and filled her glass. half-emptied it, then sat clutching it, while the tears oozed from her eyes. Now and then she sniffled. Mac rinsed Arlene's glass and dried it. Then he wiped off the bar and began to rearrange some bottles in front of the mirror.

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