“There were a couple of nurses who were interested but they cannot have failed but to know that Tina barely left my side. You know what its like – it’s a superficial thing. They get over it”

“Do you get any really crazy women hanging around ?” Shane asked

“Meaning you still do ?” Bette asked as they walked towards two unoccupied slot machines.

“Yeah – I guess I shouldn’t complain about it “

“No – you have every right to complain about it “

“Did you hate it ?”

“Yes “ Bette said without hesitation  “Hated it at the time, loathed it when it happened when Tina and I first started out. I used to be so afraid that she would get fed up with all the blatant stuff “

“Tina is made of stronger stuff than that “ Shane said as a handful of coins tumbled from the slot she was playing.

“I know that now but it was hard for both of us “

“I remember the drama the night you first brought Tina to the club – it was like the collective brains of all these lesbians suddenly were all fed with the same information at the same time – Bette’s here but she’s here with a woman “

“You do talk BS “ Bette said smiling

Shane shook her head “No –  you and I are alike in a lot of ways. You and I could change the mood of a lesbian club by just walking into the place. You know that and I know you knew that”

Bette nodded

“And that night the same thing happened but then the jungle drums started with a new message – yes Bette was in da house but she was loved up as crazy with a new woman – a woman who was not one of them “

“So Tina nearly got lynched ?” Bette smiled

“You were scared that she might get grief “

Bette nodded “I was – I was more scared that I would let her down “

“And did you look at other women ? Do you look at other women ?”

“I look at them – but not in the same way “

Shane nodded “ I look more for a woman who I might like more than a woman I just want to fuck”