“Well”

“Am I too young?

“How old are you?”

“Eighteen,” Shane responded.

“Yeah, right,” commented Bette skeptically.

“Am I too young?” Shane repeated.

“I have a girlfriend.”

“If you break up with her, should I approach you again?”

“You’re too young.”

After this exchange was over, they settled into an easy conversation. Bette learned that she had last lived in Austin and, because of her unruly hair, was startled to be told that she was a hairdresser. Bette knew that one had to be licensed to be a hairdresser and probably had to be 18. Either Shane was 18 or had pulled the wool over the eyes of somebody at some California state licensing office. Bette decided that she would put her money on Shane and a bunch of wool.

Bette excused herself from the table and went to the counter to order dessert and brought back two huge wedges of Better Than ***** cake.

“My treat,” said Bette as she put one of the slabs in front of Shane.

Shane looked a little unsure about letting Bette pay for her food.

“I always treat people to this cake if I turn them down,” Bette grinned.

Shane grinned, relaxed and turned her attention to the cake. Bette watched her surreptitiously as they both downed their slices of cake. Shane finished first.

Shane asked Bette about the art world and Bette gave her an introduction. She also gave Shane her business card and told her she would put her on her gallery’s invitation list.

“Give me your full name and mailing addressfor the invitation list.”

Shane wrote the information down in a notebook that Bette put in front of her.

“I really don’t have clothes for that kind ofart thing,” said Shane.

“Do you ever wear skirts or dresses?”

“No.”

“That’s OK. I can tell you where to go and what to get and it isn’t expensive.”

Shane looked at her with a little frown.

“I’ll take you to the place, OK? Just call me. I’d like you to come to events at my gallery. There’ll be punch and food. Bring a date.”

“I don’t do dates.” explained Shane.

“You don’t.? OK, but I still want you to come to my gallery events.”

Shane nodded.

“Call me and I’ll give you a personal tour of the gallery. Next week would be good for me.”

When they left the Planet, Bette volunteered to drive Shane home, but she refused, saying it was good exercise for her to walk.

As they separated, Bette turned, “Shane, thanks for the compliments; they were great for my ego.”

Shane turned and continued in the same direction, walking backwards. “I might’ve gotten lucky,” Shane shrugged philosophically.

Shane continued home thinking that maybe Bette would become a friend. She respected the kind turn down and Bette’s reasons. Next week she would call Bette about a tour of the art gallery.

She was actually sort of glad that Bette had turned her down. But if Bette had said yes..well. Anyone would like to sleep with the most attractive and exciting woman she had ever seen.

Bette was smiling as she got into her car. She liked this bold kid, Shane. The youngster showed a lot of guts hitting on her and she did it with directness and candor. She could say things that might be annoying or insulting from someone else, but was not insulting coming from her.

Bette had been approached by many women and she had approached many women, but there was something unique about Shane’s style. It was sincere and polite and honest with an unforced ***** effect.

Shane was so cool, she was hot. Bette thought that Shane would have a busy love life in West Hollywood. And not too many people showed that kind of friendliness and charm after being turned down.

Shane had been evaluated by the master and had scored very high marks.

But she looked so young. Bette was afraid that was a sure sign of her advancing age.

She hoped Shane would call her about a tour of the gallery because she enjoyed the kid’s company. Maybe more important, Shane had actually taken her mind off Tina for a couple of hours and Bette was grateful. But now it was back into the world of Myst.