Page 25 of A Straight Line

“He had me pegged immediately,” Bethany said, “He knew that I was born a dyke and would always be a dyke.”

“Bethany…”

“I’ll say what I want, damnit. I’ve been through enough to have the privilege.” She glowered at me for a second. “Anyhow, maybe I was looking at the melons too long or something, but something told him we were kindred. Well, in the queer way, I guess. He didn’t say anything about his suspicions then, though. We got to talking, he found out I worked in the cafeteria, and he asked if I’d ever been to something called A Straight Line. Of course, then I didn’t even want to accept feelings I’d had about other women. I was happy to push those down. So, I’d never been to the bar before. Actually, I’d never been to any bar. I was a good little wife then.”

“I just can’t picture it.” I laughed.

“Well,” She continued, “Morty said they were thinking about starting to serve some food, help get more business, you know, so he asked if I would be interested in applying for the job as their cook.”

“You cooked at A Straight Line?”

“Well, for the first few years they served food,” She said. “Listen to the story, damnit. I’m getting there. Well, once I found out what your uncles’ bar was all about, I was scared to go. I was scared to tell my husband that the queer bar in town wanted me to apply for a job. I was scared at how excited it all made me.”

“That’s awful.”

“Yeah,” She sighed, “but, the cafeteria didn’t pay shit. And I was tired of always being the good little wife, always depending on a man to make sure things were taken care of. So, I went down to the bar, asked to see Morty. And then I met Bang Bang.”

“Oh my.” I teased.

“’Oh my’ is right.” She laughed. “I’d never seen such in my life up until that moment. A man in a dress? But Bang Bang took me to Harry—who wasn’t so happy to see me—but he gave me the job on the spot at Bang Bang’s request. For the first two years that the bar served food, I was the one cooking and plating it. All by myself. Before it became too big of an operation to do on my own. So, they brought in more staff. Over those few years, I saved up money, got rid of my husband, found Georgina, and decided that I could run my own restaurant.”

I just stared at her.

“Because of Hairy Mary, I’m a proud old dyke with my own business and wonderful memories of the life I shared with Georgina before her passing. I needed a little queer magic to set me on the right path to the right career and into the arms of the love of my life.”

“Sounds like it was more Bang Bang who should get the credit, actually.”

“Maybe,” Bethany said, “but Hairy Mary didn’t have to give me a chance. Bang Bang knew what I needed, he knew what Hairy Mary needed, but all she could do was push us in the right direction. We had to be the ones to reach out and snatch the opportunity. Your uncle may be an old bitch, but he’s good people. He’s why I am who I am today. But I suppose we can give Bang Bang some of the credit.”

Again, she nudged me with her elbow. I chuckled as she winked at me.

“If it weren’t for your uncles and their bravery—and my God, Bang Bang just being who she is—Littleburg would be an awful place.” Bethany sighed. “You should-a seen this place forty years ago. You know, when your uncles opened that bar, it was like Dorothy stepping out of her house from black and white into technicolor. Things just…became more beautiful.”

“What a fittingly gay metaphor.”

“You can joke all you want, but that’s exactly what it was like,” She said. “A fog being burnt off by the sun. Finally, we could all see again. That’s your uncles, Russy. They made Littleburg a lovely little town for everyone to coexist. Sure, they got knocked down time and time again, but they kept getting up. For them. For us. Even if none of these pictures were on this wall, they’ve led an exceptional life. An exceptional life of service to their community.”

“That’s very sweet of you, Bethany.”

“Well, I’ll give Hairy Mary credit where credit is due.” She sighed. “But I’ll never stop getting under his skin every chance he gives me.”

“I would expect nothing less.” I chuckled.

“Why don’t you get out there and get you some food, sugar?” She nudged me towards the kitchen. “You’re skinnier than the last time I saw you.”

“Thanks?”

“Go on.” She swatted at me playfully.

Heeding the words of the “aged lesbian,” I made my way down the hall and away from the wall of pictures. Bethany turned back to the wall to continue taking in all of the wonderful memories.

“Hey,” Bethany’s voice stopped me short, “where’s Clint? Didn’t he come with you?”

With a sigh, I turned to her.

“We don’t all find our Georgina, Bethany.” I shrugged.

“Oh, Russy,” She said. “I’m sorry, sugar.”

I waved her off. Bethany looked thoughtful for a moment.

“Your uncles know?”

“Of course,” I said. “I had to give them a reason why I wanted to stay here indefinitely without him, right?”

“That grandson of Felix’s isn’t too bad to look at,” She said. “It’s been a while since I’ve been with a man, but I’d definitely call him hot. Do you young’uns still use hot?”

“Sometimes.” I shrugged again.

“Well, then that’s what he is,” She said. “He’d probably make a good dance partner. Or at least someone to enjoy a plate of food or a drink with at a party.”

“Fuck off, Bethany.”

She laughed. “Fair enough.”

I smiled at her, then she went back to looking at pictures, and I made my way outside where the sun was setting and night was creeping up on us. As if announcing my arrival, the strings of lights that had been hung up suddenly switched on. And I was hit with the realization that the crowd outside had doubled. Apparently, the queers had answered the call. Either that or they smelled the food. When I saw the group of younger gay men huddled around Uncle Vic and Uncle Harry, a smile came to my face.

Their community hadn’t let them down.