I am a woman
was, on the curb, with the street light illuminating her silver blonde
hair and leaving her face in the shadow.
Slowly Beebo turned around. She looked at Laura. She dropped the
cigarette in her hand and crushed it under her heel. For some moments
they just stood there and gazed at each other. A man walked by, and then
a couple. Then the street was empty.
Finally Laura said, in a whisper that carried clearly to Beebo’s heart,
“I love you, Beebo. Darling, I love you.”
Beebo walked over to her, still moving very slowly, until they stood
together in the pool of light just inches from each other. The dawn of a
smile showed on her face.
“Little bitch,” she said softly. “Laura ... Laura....” She leaned down
then, tipping Laura’s face up to hers, “I can’t hate you any more,” she
said. “I’ve given up. There’s nothing left but love.” And she kissed
her. Their arms went around each other suddenly, hard, and they stood
there in the lamplight, kissing.
Then they turned and walked into the night toward Cordelia Street.
Transcriber’s Notes
This text was transcribed from the unchanged reprint edition in the
collection _HOMOSEXUALITY. Lesbians and Gay Men in Society, History and
Literature_, Arno Press: New York, 1975. Materials from a later date
than the original publication year 1959, such as series title, editorial
information, or publisher advertisements, have been omitted.
New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public
domain.
The original spelling was mostly preserved. A few obvious typographical
and punctuation errors as well as variations in hyphenation were
silently amended. All other changes are shown here (before/after):
[p. 30]:
... walk with the victory over the little man. God, if I could ...
... walk and with the victory over the little man. God, if I
could ...
[p. 48]:
... “No, no call tonight.” ...
... “No, no, call tonight.” ...
[p. 137]:
... another two blocks. Laura walked if she were drunk. She ...
... another two blocks. Laura walked as if she were drunk. She ...
[p. 140]:
... things. He did ask if you called in, through. He asked ...
... things. He did ask if you called in, though. He asked ...
[p. 142]:
... “Don’t lie to my any more, Laura. It makes me sick. I ...
... “Don’t lie to me any more, Laura. It makes me sick. I ...
[p. 157]:
... quite, “I swear to you by God and Heaven and everything ...
... quiet, “I swear to you by God and Heaven and everything ...
[p. 223]:
... at once swallow. Then she said to the boy beside her, “See ...
... at one swallow. Then she said to the boy beside her, “See ...