“How am I not myself?”

–I Heart Huckabees

Im worth a million in prizes
Yeah, Im through with sleeping on the sidewalk
No more beating my brains
No more beating my brains
With liquor and drugs
With liquor and drugs.

-Iggy Pop

Everyone grew quiet, realizing that Bette had just made a rather huge commitment.

“Just the two of us.” Bette randomly added.

“Don’t start singing ‘just the two of us’.” Alice said, trying to break the tension. “I might puke.”

Bette started singing a version that sounded like ‘just the twenty or so or maybe more’ of us, laughing and playing with her daughter. Alice did not puke, and they were soon joined by Shane.  They swam and talked and enjoyed whatever random time they had together.  After an hour or two, folks started yawning in the sun, tired from a lot of swimming and running around.

Bette started giving Helena that look again, watching how she played with their daughter, watching how she conversed so easily with their friends—everything she did made Bette want to hold onto her and never let go.  “Ok, I wanna go have sex with my girlfriend now.” Bette sang out happily. “Leave us!” She laughed maniacally, falling backwards into the water.

Helena noted that Bette was enjoying bossing everyone around way too much, but she found it pretty funny and didn’t much mind. “Oooook….you can’t just dismiss them and have your way with me.”

Bette swam up to her and tossed Helena over her shoulder, before falling into the water again. “This was a good birthday.” She said cheerfully, as Helena came up for air, sputtering and laughing.

“Good..you…mad woman…. And your birthday isn’t over yet.” Helena splashed her repeatedly.

“Guys, Caiohme’s ready for her nap anyway.” Shane held the half dozing baby in her arms, and the others began to make their way toward their things on the beach. “It’s still only noon…so you both have plenty of time…ya know.” Shane herself wanted to get back to continue flirting with the woman she’d been pursuing.  She wouldn’t tell anyone about her plans, but things were going well with Aikane.

“Yay.” Bette said gleefully. She sighed and waved at them all. “Thanks for coming guys.” Caiohme kissed her mothers goodbye, then went off with the others as they walked back to the compound.