Stunned by the outburst Tina’s anger bubbled over. “Clearly is doesn’t Al,” she yelled back, “because the axis on which the earth spins is firmly shoved up your ass!”

“Ah!!!” Alice put her hand over her heart like she’d been stabbed. “Talk about hurting friends, that was just plain mean Tina.”

“Says the woman who just called her best friend a ginormous cheater in front of all her friends and partner!” Tina retorted.

“Yeah, well clearly I was right,” Alice mumbled.

“Fuck you Alice!” Tina yelled as she jumped up. “Fuck you!”

The group of women watching this intense and emotionally charged exchange sat completely still, shocked by the depth of the anger between the two women who were supposed to be the closest of friends.

Tina slowly sat back down again, her burst of anger having dissipated. As she stared at Alice she realized that she wasn’t going to get the answers she sought, because from the look on Alice’s face she could tell that her friend had not even thought about these questions. Tina decided to move on and get everything out that she had been holding in for so long. “Explain something to me Al,”

“Now what?” Alice responded impatiently, ready for this little dramatic scene to be over.

“Why is it you always think that you’re right and you’re beliefs are so righteous? Why is it you think the rules apply to others but never to you? Why is it you throw out the word cheater so casually, yet you yourself participated in infidelity? Hmmm…tell me Al, why do you accuse others of being a hypocrite when you practice it constantly? Why?”

“Wow Tina, been holding that in for a while?” Alice snapped sarcastically.

“Yeah, actually I have. But I kept it to myself because you are a good friend to Bette and I and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

“Oh, but you have no problem hurting them now?” Alice scoffed.

“Well, you’re certainly making it easier by the minute,” Tina murmured. “I’m tired of you thinking that you’re the only one who doesn’t need to filter their thoughts before speaking. Or that somehow it’s your responsibility to be the judge of everyone else, yet you’re offended when anyone has the audacity to judge you. You think that you can get away with saying hurtful things by claiming it’s a joke…and you know what, maybe we’ve all allowed that and forgiven you because you’re eccentric Alice. Well I’m done, after tonight’s display I’m not going to allow you to hurt those I love anymore.”