know what it was. Then, quite by chance, I happened to meet some bo dy 2...a woman, like us, Connie. But by that time... Marion sighed deeply. "I turned my back on her and on the type of life she represented. But I always thought that if it hadn't been for tho children..." Marion didn't completo her sentence.

"You зee?" Connie replied, straightening out and leaning forward. "You never had a chance.'

Marion smiled; her eyes were deep and glowing with memories. "I had," she said softly, "but it came too late."

"Okay, so that's over and past," Connie said in her practical manner. "You'll get another chance some day soon...'

maybe

Marion shook her head, sighing deeply. "No, my dear. I'm much too old for that romantio, dreamy existence now. Maybe right after my husband died; maybe fifteen or even ten years ago, but not now. Not now." She laughed softly. "I'm a grandmother, Connie, complete with three little grandchildren who love me dearly."

Connie was silent a moment, then she said, "Going to live the part, huh?"

Marion smiled, then chuckled. "I have to! It's the part that Life has presented to me, Connie."

The younger woman leaned back in the comfortable chair again. "Life presents us with many 'parts,' Marion. I think that we ourselves select the one that we wish to portray."

Marion stared at her without replying.

"For instance," Connie said, "Life also presented you with a...a Lesbian 'part' too, didn't she?"

Marion nodded and said, "Well, yes, but...

"So," the younger woman continued, "you deliberately select the old granny 'part' to play, ignoring the Juicy role of Lesbian, which is also yours, and which you