(It was morning now, a “morning after”, but not quite like some others Bette has had. They were up, after having at least a couple hours of sleep after their late-night chat, and Elaine was pouring freshly made coffee in the kitchen, with Bette awaiting the much needed brew at the kitchen table.)

ELAINE- “Here you go.”

BETTE- “Thanks. I’m in desperate need of this.”

ELAINE- “Long night?” (Bette looks at her as though saying, “Oh, you weren’t there huh?”) “Kidding. So, tell me(she sits down across from Bette)if you’re a “cougar” as your friend Al says, what does that make me, my fine young thing? (Bette had shared a few things with Elaine during their late-night discussion.)

BETTE- “I could smack Alice sometimes. (Looks at Elaine and squints her eyes as though she’s coming up with something) You know, I think there must be a higher category, like “Lynx”.”

ELAINE- “Lynx? I think cougars are the faster, stronger breedabove lynx for sure.”

BETTE- “Tiger?”

ELAINE- “Sounds youthful.”

BETTE- “Lion?”

ELAINE- “Oh God, I’m king of the forest!” (Both women laugh heartily.) “Lions and tigers and bears” Both women: “Oh my!!!” (They laugh some more.) “Listen, think about my offer, I could really use someone like you at the gallery. I know you need some time off from your last job, but come and see me in a week.”

BETTE- “I’ll think about it. I’m jaded right now, and not so sure I want to jump back into things so quickly, but what you described sounds great.”

ELAINE- “Well, you could ease into ittake it slow”

BETTE- (Bette cuts her off) “Take it easy, maybe?” (Elaine laughs, realizing it’s a reference to their encounter.)

ELAINE- “Well, you know, pace yourselfso you don’thow shall I put this???”

BETTE- “Go through it like a freight train?”

ELAINE- “Hey, it wasn’t quite like that!…But wowI don’t recall the last time I had 2 series of multiple orgasms in such a short time span. (Bette’s eyebrows rise and they chuckle.) Anyway, as far as the museum goes, I think it would be great.”

BETTE- “Yeah, we’ll bring the house down”

ELAINE- (Shakes her head.) “Well, listen, take your time, and if an interesting show is scheduled before you decide to make your appearance, I’ll let you know.”

BETTE- “Sounds great. Elaine, I really enjoyed meeting you and I’m glad that this has worked out”

ELAINE- “In a waybut the feeling is mutual.”

BETTE- “I better get home.”

ELAINE- “Say hello to Alice!”

BETTE- “I willshe’s going to expect an update.”

ELAINE- “Tell her the coffee was great.”

BETTE- “Rich and flavor-full, deep and aromatic, sensual and”

ELAINE- “Penetratingand orgasmic”

BETTE- “Triple shot?” ELAINE- “Quadruple”

BETTE- (Tilts her head, smiles and pretends to inquire) “Are you sure this was a one-time thing?” (But she knew it was.)

ELAINE- “As a long-time coffee drinker, aficionado really, I can spot those vintage brews, the ones valuable for their rarity and shot-lived, volcanic emergence, from a mile away…and I think I can safely say that this metaphor is well-past its prime.” (They share more laughter.) Bette, you really are a wonderful woman. I’m very glad we met and I look forward to what I hope will be a good friendship. Please think about the museum and the offer.”

BETTE- (She stands, takes her hands, kisses her delicately and briefly) “Likewise, madamand I definitely will call youit’s just a matter of time.” (She gets to the street as she exits the threshold of the building, looks around, takes in a fresh breath and marvels at her luck. “A kind woman”, she thought. “Last night could have been so much more empty, so much more defeating, so typical of these past months,” but a kind and decent spirit had entered her life. It was like a good sign. “Maybe it’s destiny, maybe this museum idea is not such a bad idea”, she pondered. She headed home.)

Bette walks into her house and heads for the answering machineshe could see the flashing light from the front door. She pushes the button and sure enough Alice was awaiting her: )

Answering Machine- “Bette, it’s me, you still not home? Amber delight I assume? Call me.” (Next message) “Bette, it’s Alice againcall meremember brunch?” (Next message) “Bette, it’s Dana, Al is driving me bananasthis Kretalika thingshe won’t let it gowe’re going to have brunch and if you can make it, great, if not, we’ll see you soonok?…Later Bette.” (Next message, female voice)- “Elizabeth Porter, WHERE are you? (Changes tone) Hey sweetie, I haven’t heard from you in a whileI miss yougive me a callJohn has a thing for work tonight so why don’t you come for dinner with us. He’ll be going in for work and we can talk and catch up. He misses you too.”

(Bette smiled and her eyes smiledit was Rose. Her old school friend had the name of a flower but the heart of a lion. She was one of her favourite people, and there weren’t too many of those. Rose meant a lot to Bette. She was very dear to her and she was straight. Rose was one of those people about whom Bette felt quite strongly but “never sexual”, she thought. It was almost like Rose was sacred, their friendship untouchable. Even though they kept in touch only sporadically, or not enough in any event in Bette’s mind, Rose was still a part of Bette’s life and Bette was grateful this was the case. She admired her tremendously. Rose was there for her, to provide the straight woman’s perspective when Bette started re-discovering herself. She had known her now for at least a decade and after all that had been happening lately she thought “only Rose” could really hear her outshe really needed to see her again, so the voicemail could not be more fortuitous. Two strokes of luck in a daythings could have been much worse she thought, and was really seeing how it was the people in her life that were making the difference in this bad time. She picks up the phone and calls her.)

ROSE- (On the phone) “Hello.”

BETTE- “Hi there counselor.”

ROSE- “Ms. Porter!!! Where have you been my friend?”

BETTE- “UghRose, I think I’m just glad it’s over.”

ROSE- “I am too. See, Alice and I were right. How is that wild woman anyway?”

BETTE- “She’s great. She asks about you too.”

ROSE- “She’s so cool. Her girlfriend, Dana?”

BETTE- “Yup, she’s doing well.”

ROSE- “So, what’s this? You need an invitation to call? You know I was getting worriedI knew things were almost over at that place. I’ve been thinking about you. John was worried toohe was actually annoying me. If I didn’t call you, he was going to come over there himself.”

BETTE- “He’s a nice guy. Rose, I really miss youis tonight still open?”

ROSE- (She pokes a bit of fun at Bette’s success at Sapphic lovemaking) “Lady lover, your arrival is highly anticipated.”

BETTE- (Jokingly) “John isn’t doing it for you anymore huh? You know I thought I explained the maneuver to him well, but I guess he needs a refresher.”

ROSE- “Hey nowwhat is it that Alice calls you? Cougareasy does itmy man could show you a thing or two”

BETTE- “Easy does it?…Frig, it must be a conspiracyyou’re the second woman in a 24-hr period to tell me to take it easy!”

ROSE- “Uh ohanother interesting night?”

BETTE- “Yes m’am.so, listen Rose, what time should I come over?” ROSE- “Make it 5:30.”

BETTE- “Done. See you then Rosie. Bye.” (She hangs up. She picks up the phone and calls Dana, avoiding a third degree from Alice.) DANA- (On her cell) “Hello.”

BETTE- “Good morning Ms. Fairbanks.”

DANA- “Hey there.” (Looks over at Alice) “It’s Bette. What’s up Bette? Are you joining us?”

BETTE- “Sure. Where are you?”

DANA- “Actually, on the road. We can swing by and pick you up, in about 30-45 minutes if that’s good.”

BETTE- (Thinking that gives her just enough time to change…) “Perfect.” (Bette hangs up, showers quickly and changes. The doorbell rings. Bette opens the door. As it turns out, this isn’t her ride. Instead, Alice, Dana and Shane are standing there with grocery bags and huge smiles. Bette is surprised but her smile is wide and her eyes fill with warmth and emotion.)

ALICE- “Ms. Porter, step aside! The brunch crew is here!”

SHANE- “Are you ready for Al’s famous omelets?”

DANA- “Oh God, careful, she might throw us out before we get in the door.”

ALICE- “Hey you yahoosyou know you’re just aching for one of my omelets…”

DANA- “Sure Al, our stomachs ache in not so fond memory! Don’t worry Bette, Shane and I will make sure she get’s it right.”

ALICE- (To Bette) “Just ignore themand step asideI have important work to do in that fine kitchen of yours!” (She politely pushes Bette aside and heads for the kitchen.)

BETTE- “You guysyou’re crazycome inbut you sure about this?”

DANA- “Sure? You realize she’s dying for an update right?”

BETTE- “Ah, stories of fabled adventure over omelets”

SHANE- “What, I didn’t know we were here to talk about my exploits!” (She winks at Bette.)
ALICE- (Yelling from the kitchen) “Ok, one of you get the coffee on, I can’t work wonders on my own you know!”

DANA- “The master chef beckons(she looks at BETTE)we better get over there before she destroys your kitchen.” (Bette laughs that characteristic chuckle, with her distinct vocal tone. She watches the three friends as they congregate in her kitchen. She makes her way over.)

ALICE- “Soanyone in the bedroom?”

DANA- “Al!”

BETTE- “No one else is here inspector Al”

ALICE- “Oh, she already gone? See you guys, I told you she’d get her out just in time.”

SHANE- “Just focus on the omelets, ok?”

ALICE- “Okyou guys have known me for how many years now? What, am I the only one with a healthy curiosity?!!! Like you’re all so disinterested! Ok Porter, spill it!”

BETTE- “You know Alice, you remember that old friend of yours Rita? The whole night was kind of like thatbut I’ll be happy to go through the details.” (Alice turns beat red. Her old friend has just pulled out an old secret, and not Alice’s finest hour. It had caused them both to laugh hysterically whenever they brought it up, but now Shane and Dana were there, so Alice was not too keen to hear the tale of passion that put her in such an “interesting” light.)

DANA- “Rita?”

SHANE- “Reeeeeta?”

ALICE- “Ok, wait”

BETTE- “Ohhhh.WAIT you say?”

DANA- “What does Shane mean’Reeeeeeeeeeta’?”

BETTE- “It was more like “Ree ee ee-ee-ee ee ee ee eeetaaahhhhhhhh”

ALICE- “Porter!!!”

BETTE- “Oh it’s Porter now?”

ALICE- “Hey, have some respect for your mentor here!”

BETTE- (Mouth gapingand smiling) “What????!!!”

ALICE- “Think about itwithout me, there would be no cougar!”

BETTE- “I think without you I would have been just fine, thank you very much!”

ALICE- (Addressing Shane and Danawith a big smile) “See, ungratefuljust ungrateful”

DANA- (Sarcastically) “Ungrateful? For what? Making her promiscuous?”

BETTE & ALICE- “WHAT?!!!”

SHANE- “Dana!” DANA- (Embarrassed) “Oh my Godthat’s not what I meant”

BETTE- (Seeing that Dana was embarrassed and that her retort was unintentional, takes the comment to a new sarcastic but lighthearted tone ) “Yes, imagine the impact you had Alyou drove me away so powerfully that I reached out to women everywherea catastrophic impact on my neophyte, Sapphic sex life that was so devastating I had to be saved by womankind everywhere and reoriented into such a fabulous loveralmost as good as Shane here After you Al there was nothing I could do but be reborn.”

ALICE- “Okaaaaaaythat’s just stupid.”

DANA- (Still reeling from her comment) “Bette, I’m sorry I didn’t mean”

BETTE- “It’s ok Danawould you like to hear about Reeeeeeeeta?”

ALICE- (Sounding desperate) “Stop. Do you want me to make these omelets or not?!”

SHANE- “Ladies, ladieswoe therewhy don’t we call it a stalemate- no ‘Reeeeeta” and no cougar storiesok?…(Looking at Bette) “Almost as good as me huh?”

DANA- (Looking at Alice and taunting her) “Reeeeeeeta????”

SHANE- “Dana”

ALICE- “Ok, oktruce. Well, Porter? (Looks at Dana) I’ll tell you later, okaaay? (Dana nods.)”

DANA- (To Bette) “You know I didn’t mean it like it sounded Bette”

BETTE- (Winks at Dana. Smiles) “Truce.”

(The three friends get to cooking and have their brunch. To Bette it was splendid. She felt so good sitting there laughing as Alice and Dana have a verbal joust and Shane trying to negotiate at every turn. She felt so at home within her own home, and it was because of these women. “How fortunate to have them in my life,” she thought. After they left, Bette got some chores done, went out to buy some things and a special bottle of wine to take to dinner at Rose’s place. It was a French wine they both enjoyed while in school, at Yale. Rose was in law school and Bette was going through the tail end of her undergraduate degree and then the masters. Bette came back, got ready, and sat at her kitchen table to relax before leaving for Rose’s house. She thought again about the brunch. Something about what Al had said stuck in Bette’s mind”mentor”If Alice had thought about it a little further, she would never had brought up the word. In a way, Alice should have known betterit was Al who was there for Bette, even more than Rose, when Bette went through her painful break-up. Her first serious relationship, with the “real” mentor, was torn asunder. There had never been any other relationship quite like it since. Alice had occasionally referred to this woman as “your mentor”, but that was before the break-up. “Mentor”, Bette thoughtshe said it aloud”mentor””how nave,” she said to herself.

She recalled her first sexual encounter with the professor. It wasn’t her first time “making out”, but it was the first time “making love” with a woman, and she remembers going to see Alice the next morning. Alice was there during the bliss, and she was there when it fell apart. It was a powerful first encounter, but the ride was downhill from there. She re-met the professor at a reunion, a few years after having graduated. Rose had invited Bette to the event. Bette had known of Professor Bassey but only as a teacher. She thought her classes were amazing. She thought the woman was striking, and, of course at the time, it was “not sexual.” Bette remembers relishing debates with Professor Bassey. Whenever she would run into her on campus, she felt it. She assumed that the older woman had inspired her intellect like no other “mentor”, but long after graduation and after she came out, and after they got re-acquainted at the reception, Professor Bassey moved her beyond measure, moved not her intellect but her whole self. Bassey was an experienced woman. She was driven, yet gentle. She was beautiful, and to Bette she was exquisite. They started becoming friends after the reunion. Bassey was awakened by Bette as well. If Bette was stunning now, back then she had that and the beauty that only youth could provide added to it. The older woman started feeling drawn to her and could not stop thinking about her, but she was reticentshe knew Bette had only recently gone down this path in her life. She was not sure it was a good idea to get so involved, but Bette was lighting a flame that other students couldn’t start with a blow torchand other women simply were not as interesting to her.

The professor paced the relationship. Under her experienced eye, and hands, the course of the relationship was steady, but developing rapidly in intensity. For Bette, the anticipation was becoming a force to be reckoned with; for the professor, her experience made the wait almost as good as graduating Bette to the next level.ALMOST. The memorable night was one that had Bette in Alice’s apartment for the entire morningso much time without a crack or joke from Alice had not occurred before or since. Bette was now remembering that night. She couldn’t help it. Such a memory cannot, and in a way, should not be erased. In a funny way she connected Professor Bassey to the Bassey song and the line”he walked into my life and made the living find.” But it was so true, she thought.

The professor, tall and with long hair in an elegant bun, with strands of hair accentuating her neckline, wearing a wrap-around dress, answered her door. She had left the gallery reception earlier than Bette. They had spent the entire evening circulating among their respective peers, and catching glances of one another. The simplicity of their glances hid the complexity of the yearning festering inside them. Bette was exhausted from anticipating their meeting this evening. She was so damn ready it made her almost angry at Bassey for pacing their relationship for what she felt was an eternity. It was hard for her- her body was on overdrivesensing, feeling, tingling…and enduring that sinking feeling in her chest every time she saw Bassey. By the time this night had arrived, Alice, and Rose too, were sure that Bette, maybe for the first time in her life, was quite possibly “in love.”

BASSEY- (The blue-eyed lady smiled intently.) “Hi, come in. You finished up alright?”

BETTE- (Walking in) “Yeah. It went well. I thought that(Bassey came right up to her, and faced her, held her hand up to Bette’s face and expecting a kiss hello. Bette was feeling very intense and almost wanting to punish Bassey. She pulled back, motioning to drop her bag somewhere convenient on the floor. Bassey retreated a bit, but waited.) “I thought that it was interesting how the different academics interacted, and it was funny actually. Did you see Professors Brown and Macavoy?” (She stood in front of her again.) “I thought they were going to go at each other right in the middle of the floor.”

BASSEY- “Macavoy is fiery. He’s got such passion, such devotion to his work, and his work, probably because of that, is inspirational. Brown, he’s just brilliant. He can’t stand Macavoy’s sense of flare and drama. The two have been at it for years” (Bassey continues talking but as Bette listens to Bassey talk, Bette is listening less and less. Bette was being conqueredthis woman’s flare, brilliance and passion had managed to kindle a devotion from Bette that needed attention and release. Here heart was aching, her body was a prisoner of this older woman’s aura. She had stopped listening to Bassey and was now just hoping she had the strength to continue her “hard to get act” a little further. The passive-aggressive stance was not going to last long though- Bette was too taken by her circumstances and the professor knew her too well.)

BASSEY- (She raises her hand again to Bette’s face. Playfully, she tests Bette) “So, Ms. Porter, do you agree with my analysis?” (Bette looks up at her eyesand slowly shakes her head.) “Two great minds colliding, it can be explosive.”

BETTE- (She extends her left hand around the older woman’s waist and pulls in. Bette kisses her once with a moist introductory kiss. The tingling on Bette’s face seems to expand and envelop her entire body, right down to her toes. Professor Bassey reveled at the beauty before her, and her body was telling her that it had really been far too long. But she wanted to make sure she undertook this night properly, for Bette. Bette, however, was not the young student anymore. A few years had passed since Yale. She was a novice in one way, but she could hold her own in every other way. Patience was not her virtue. She firmly raised her hands to Bassey’s face and surpassed the introductory kiss with a far more penetrating oral engagement of the older woman.)

BASSEY- (She was feeling the sweat on her body, and the moisture of greater magnitude that almost surprised her. She reached for Bette’s hips and slid her hands up and down the sides of Bette’s torso. Bette tilted her head to the opposite side while kissing Bassey and kept her oral exploration going. There was no space between them now as Bassey gripped Bette’s posterior and pulled Bette in. She briefly breaks the interlude, while keeping her forehead on Bette’s.) “Are you sure? Are you ready?”

BETTE- (Bette brought her hands to Bassey’s rather large mounds and targeted the tantalizing cleavage with her mouth. Bassey backs upfeeling her body being vanquished by the real conqueror that evening. Bassey legs were losing their stability, and the couch was nearby. Bette would not have it. She reached down to hold her steady and then released the belt at Bassey’s midsection while she traced a heated path with her lips down the professor’s neck. She held her close and looked into the brilliant eyes.) “Let’s go into the bedroom.”

BASSEY- (She kissed Bette’s mouth as though she was tasting the most delicious fruit, the kind that could not be devoured in a bite, but only with multiple sucking tastes. Bassey was almost moved to tears.) “Let’s go then,” she whispered.

(And with that, they relished one another right to the bedroom. Bassey removed Bette’s blazer while kissing her and Bette returned the gesture with her attention to Bassey’s front dress buttons. Bassey touched Bette’s face during this eagerness, and watched affectionately and longingly. Bette finished, looked up and moved her hands inside the dress to the athletic body within and returned to her mouth to the original point of conquest, gaining entry quite quickly into Bassey mouth with her tongue. Bette toured the woman’s body with her hands and then moved up to her ample bosom, cradling and adorning this part of the professor with her kisses. Bette raised her head and then moved her hands up to Bassey’s shoulders. As she put her fingers under the respective brassiere straps and began to unwrap the precious contents, she began to pull the dress over Bassey’s shoulders. The dress fell to the floor. Bassey moaned with delight and went for Bette’s blouse while Bette took advantage of the elegant mounds before her. Bassey, quickly done with Bette’s blouse, then pulled it and open, revealing a lace-covered chest. She headed south to the belt buckle, and in seconds it was rendered useless, joining Bette’s pants on the way to the floor. Bassey pulled Bette close by pulling her waist.)

BASSEY- (In a now raspy voice) “Just follow my lead. If you don’t feel right, we’ll stop.”

BETTE- (She emitted a sigh of longing and pleasure, and kissed Bassey.) (Bette targeted the lingerie that remained while Bassey moved her hands to their long awaited destination at Bette’s front. The lace didn’t hold up well to the incursionBassey indulged in a frenzied disarming of the barrier to Bette’s soft and erect breasts. Bassey’s masterful hands began Bette’s deliverance from long festering anticipation. Bassey’s fingers led the fray, and once the front was hers, she put one hand on the right side of Bette’s face and pulled it close so she could kiss the other side of her face and move her lips toward Bette’s left ear where Bassey announced her next invasion.)

BASSEY- “You are exquisite.” (Bassey’s right hand moved down along Bette’s back, cupped Bette’s posterior cheek, and pulled it rhythmically so that Bette’s core could feel the escalating ecstasy and Bette’s mind could instantly foresee the coming wave of sheer rapture- Bette was being transported into an elevated sensation of bliss. Bassey then brought their entire bodies together and Bette felt ensconced. She wanted to stay here forever. Their bosoms touched and their cores united. The entirety of the younger woman’s skin was re-awaken, all over and throughout. Bassey could feel the moisture emanating from within Bette, and felt her core tremble. She moved Bette to the bed, at first sitting her on the edge, and then moving her hands down her legs, while kissing her younger subject all the while. Bassey’s hands stopped under Bette’s knees and gently cued the ascendancy of Bette’s body to the bed. Bassey never let the distance between them increase by much. She positioned herself over Bette, kissing her face, her mouth, moved to her right ear, and down to the neck. As Bette’s nape was subsumed under Bassey’s lips, she sighed and took Bassey’s face into her hands. The two women faced each other.)

BETTE- “I need you.” (Bassey was preparing to oblige, but at that moment Bette raised her leg to Bassey’s core, provoking a euphoric moan. Bette transformed the physical dynamic and assumed a position of ascendancy over her mate. Bette consumed the woman now beneath her, in body and mind. She worshiped her breasts orally and lowered her right hand to the center of her lover’s passion. She gently stroked this place, and as Bassey moved her head from side to side in reflexive reply, Bette found the entryway and crossed the threshold unabashed. Bassey was enraptured and also transfixed on Bette’s eyes as she reached for her face with one hand and grabbed the hand within her. As Bassey held onto Bette she slowly raised herself up into Bette and Bette brought her up enough to let Bassey do as she pleased. She held Bette’s hand that was now still inside her and guided it through a rhythmic intercourse with her core as she stared into Bettes eyes and let Bette take her through orgasmic pangs that engulfed her and simultaneously inspired Bette to her own.)

(Bette, sitting in her living room before she heads to Rose’s house, ends her remembrance and finds herself both warm and in tears.)