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From Chapter One, June 8, 1990:
It was a warm June evening nine years later, the auditorium at Tulane University was packed with proud parents and bored siblings. There was excitement, happiness, and sadness in the air.
For the graduating students, standing on the east side of the auditorium, it was the night they had worked hard for the last four years. At first glance, they looked like they were standing together, their blue gowns with yellow slashes presenting the illusion of unity. But on closer inspection, one could see they were anything but united. They stood with their friends and to cover the fact they were nervous, they made fun of other students.
Away from the main group were Billie and Bobbie. The past four years had pushed their friendship to its breaking point, but their friendship survived. The next challenge to their friendship was would it continue.
They were waiting for the President Kerouac to call out their name.
“Billie Josephine Carver,” he said, glancing over his left shoulder at the students.
Billie smiled and looked over at Bobbie. “Well, I’ll see you in a few minutes, Suzy Q,” she said, using her nickname for Bobbie.
“Yeah, you sure will, Billie,” Bobbie said, smiling back at her.
Billie chuckled and nodded. She went to President Kerouac, who was holding her diploma in his hand.
“Congratulations, Miss Carver,” he said, handing her diploma to her, with a polite smile.
“Thank you, sir,” Billie said, nodding. This was only the second time she had ever been in the same room as President Kerouac, the only time she had ever even talked to him. She doubted that he knew her or would remember her.
Billie glanced at the audience, searching for her mother and step-father. She smiled, seeing them in the third row. Her mother was wearing her blue dress, the one she only wore to church and her stepfather was wearing his black two piece suit.
Billie’s step-father, Franklin Carson, gave her a proud smile.
Billie was glad that Franklin was proud of her, because even though he was her step-father, he was the only father she had ever known. She was only three when her mother met Franklin and in a short time, married him.
Billie took her place among her classmates on the other side of the stage. She didn’t know many people in her class and the ones she did know, she had strong feelings about. She frowned, watching Sarah Connor receive her diploma. She didn’t know how Sarah even graduated.
Billie hadn’t liked Sarah since they were both students at St. Augustine. Sarah came from a family of New Orleans high society; she always made Billie feel invisible. The only time she acknowledged Billie was when she was with Bobbie.
It was Bobbie’s friendship with Billie that estranged her from girls like Sarah. Billie used to wonder why she and Bobbie were best friends. They had opposite personalities. And they came from different worlds, with Billie coming from a blue collar, middle class family while Bobbie was a member of the most respected family in New Orleans.
Billie was planning on what they were going to do afterwards, to celebrate graduating from Tulane and the fact they were still best friends, when Andrew Dessman’s name was called out.
Andrew had been the cause of a temporary rift between Billie and Bobbie during their freshman year.
It was only after he broke up with Billie, that she and Bobbie were able to repair the rift and continue to be friends. She gave him a dirty look.
Billie smiled when Annie Friedman received her diploma. She had become friends with Annie during their freshman year when she wasn’t talking to Bobbie.
Billie looked away and sighed. She had stopped talking to Annie after she and Bobbie had started talking to each other again. She felt guilty about the way she had used Annie, dropping her when she no longer needed her.
Billie smiled when she heard the name she had been waiting for.
“Roberta Susan Lamont.”
Bobbie walked up to President Kerouac. He handed her diploma to her and shook her hand. Unlike with Billie, he knew Bobbie.
Bobbie looked out to the audience. Billie frowned and tried to figure out who Bobbie was looking for. Bobbie’s parents were in the front row, smiling and clapping, but she wasn’t looking at them.
Billie sighed, seeing Lawrence Harris, their junior year English professor, standing in the back, near the exit. Bobbie had dated him for the past two years, on and off.
Bobbie smiled and nodded. Billie was afraid that Bobbie was making too much out of his presence.
Bobbie walked over to Billie. “He’s here,” she said.
“Of course, he’s here,” Billie said, sighing. Billie took Bobbie’s hand and squeezed it. “Forget about him. We’ve just graduated.”
“Oh, that,” Bobbie said, chuckling. “I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Billie shook her head and turned her attention back to the ceremony. She watched the rest of her class receive their diplomas, their valedictorian gave his speech.
Twenty minutes later, the ceremony was over. President Kerouac dismissed the graduates and they left the stage, meeting their families and friends in the hallway outside of the auditorium.
Franklin was taking pictures of Billie with her mother when Bobbie’s parents approached them.
“Excuse me, Billie,” Robert Lamont, Bobbie’s father, said. “Do you know where Bobbie went to?”
“No,” Billie said. Bobbie was by her side when they had been dismissed. “But I’ll find her for you, Mr. Lamont.”
“Thank you, Billie,” Robert said.
Billie looked over at her mother, who motioned for her to go.
Billie left the hallway and went back to the auditorium. Bobbie wasn’t there, so Billie searched the other hallways.
Billie found Bobbie talking to Lawrence. His back was to her, she was too far away to hear what they’re saying to each other.
Bobbie hugged Lawrence, smiling at him. With her hands on his shoulders, she told him something. He shook his head and removed her hands, taking a step away from her. Bobbie’s face changed. Then she scowled at him, slapped him hard across his jaw, tears coming down her face. She turned from him and ran away.
Billie waited until Lawrence walked away, going the opposite direction from Bobbie. She sighed and shook her head.
Billie went after Bobbie, knowing that her best friend needed her. She walked by Lawrence.
“Congratulations, Miss Carver,” he said, looking away from her.
“Ah, thanks, Professor Harris,” Billie said. She wanted to say more to him, but knew it was pointless in doing so.
The classrooms were locked. Billie knew the only place Bobbie could go was the Ladies room. She hesitated, standing at the door. She wanted to comfort Bobbie, but didn’t know what to say to her.
Billie waited a few minutes, biting her bottom lip. She frowned and shook her head. She pushed the door open, entering the ladies room.
There were four stalls, only the last one was closed. Billie followed the sounds of Bobbie crying to it. She knocked on the door.
“Hey, Suzy Q,” Billie said. “Your parents are looking for you.”
“I don’t want to see them,” Bobbie said. “I don’t want to see anyone right now.”
“Are you okay?” Billie regretted the question, recognizing how stupid it was.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Bobbie said, sighing.
Billie shook her head. She knew better. “Come on, Suzy Q,” Billie said. “I want to talk to you and I don’t want to talk to you through this damn door.”
“Okay,” Bobbie said. “Just give me a minute. I might as well use the toilet while I’m in here.”
“Okay,” Billie said, chuckling. She backed away from the stall and went over to the sink. She took out a cigarette from the pack she stuck inside her bra and lit it.
The toilet flushed and the stall door opened. Bobbie walked out and went over to Billie, who was leaning against the sink, smoking her cigarette. Bobbie’s eyes were red and swollen.
“Oh, Bobbie,” Billie said, sighing. She went over to Bobbie and hugged her.
Billie and Bobbie were about the same height and build. Billie’s hands were around Bobbie’s waist while Bobbie’s hands were on Billie’s shoulders. Their faces were pressed together; Billie could smell Bobbie’s hair.
Billie felt her old urges start to stir up inside her. She sighed, listening to Bobbie mumble about the professor.
“I just don’t understand,” Bobbie said, trembling.
“I know,” Billie said, sighing. She took a step back from Bobbie. “Now, come on, Suzy Q. You need to clean yourself up before you see your parents.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Bobbie said, nodding.
Bobbie did her best to clean her face. They then left the Ladies room. They found their parents waiting for them outside the auditorium.
“I see Billie found you,” Robert said, glancing over at Billie, giving her an approving smile.
“Yeah, Dad, she did,” Bobbie said, nodding and looking over at Billie.
Their parents took pictures of them, standing together while holding up their diplomas.
Before Billie and Bobbie went their separate ways, Billie leaned over to Bobbie and said, “Remember, we’re going out tonight to celebrate.”
“I don’t think I’d be good company right now,” Bobbie said, sighing with a sad smile.
Billie shook her head. She knew what Bobbie would do if she didn’t go out with Billie. She would sit in her bedroom, smoke and write in her diary, brooding about the professor. “I don’t care, Suzy Q. We’ve worked too hard for the last four years not to go out and celebrate.” She hoped that she wouldn’t have to argue with Bobbie.
“Yeah, I know,” Bobbie said, sighing. “I guess pick me up in a couple of hours.”
“Okay,” Billie said, nodding, pleased that Bobbie hadn’t tried to argue with her.
A few hours later, Billie and Bobbie were at their favorite bar in the French Quarter, the Wolf’s Den. They had been going there for a few years. If the bouncers noticed the ID’s they were now using were different from the ones they used to have, they didn’t say anything.
Billie and Bobbie were sitting at their usual table, near the back with a clear view of the front entrance. Bobbie was quiet and hadn’t said anything since they had sat down. Billie refused to let Bobbie spoil her good mood. The bar was crowded, Billie was getting a lot of attention from men there because of the way she was dressed. She loved to dance and didn’t turn down any chance to do so. She danced while Bobbie drowned her sorrows in vodka tonics.
It was a warm June evening nine years later, the auditorium at Tulane University was packed with proud parents and bored siblings. There was excitement, happiness, and sadness in the air.
For the graduating students, standing on the east side of the auditorium, it was the night they had worked hard for the last four years. At first glance, they looked like they were standing together, their blue gowns with yellow slashes presenting the illusion of unity. But on closer inspection, one could see they were anything but united. They stood with their friends and to cover the fact they were nervous, they made fun of other students.
Away from the main group were Billie and Bobbie. The past four years had pushed their friendship to its breaking point, but their friendship survived. The next challenge to their friendship was would it continue.
They were waiting for the President Kerouac to call out their name.
“Billie Josephine Carver,” he said, glancing over his left shoulder at the students.
Billie smiled and looked over at Bobbie. “Well, I’ll see you in a few minutes, Suzy Q,” she said, using her nickname for Bobbie.
“Yeah, you sure will, Billie,” Bobbie said, smiling back at her.
Billie chuckled and nodded. She went to President Kerouac, who was holding her diploma in his hand.
“Congratulations, Miss Carver,” he said, handing her diploma to her, with a polite smile.
“Thank you, sir,” Billie said, nodding. This was only the second time she had ever been in the same room as President Kerouac, the only time she had ever even talked to him. She doubted that he knew her or would remember her.
Billie glanced at the audience, searching for her mother and step-father. She smiled, seeing them in the third row. Her mother was wearing her blue dress, the one she only wore to church and her stepfather was wearing his black two piece suit.
Billie’s step-father, Franklin Carson, gave her a proud smile.
Billie was glad that Franklin was proud of her, because even though he was her step-father, he was the only father she had ever known. She was only three when her mother met Franklin and in a short time, married him.
Billie took her place among her classmates on the other side of the stage. She didn’t know many people in her class and the ones she did know, she had strong feelings about. She frowned, watching Sarah Connor receive her diploma. She didn’t know how Sarah even graduated.
Billie hadn’t liked Sarah since they were both students at St. Augustine. Sarah came from a family of New Orleans high society; she always made Billie feel invisible. The only time she acknowledged Billie was when she was with Bobbie.
It was Bobbie’s friendship with Billie that estranged her from girls like Sarah. Billie used to wonder why she and Bobbie were best friends. They had opposite personalities. And they came from different worlds, with Billie coming from a blue collar, middle class family while Bobbie was a member of the most respected family in New Orleans.
Billie was planning on what they were going to do afterwards, to celebrate graduating from Tulane and the fact they were still best friends, when Andrew Dessman’s name was called out.
Andrew had been the cause of a temporary rift between Billie and Bobbie during their freshman year.
It was only after he broke up with Billie, that she and Bobbie were able to repair the rift and continue to be friends. She gave him a dirty look.
Billie smiled when Annie Friedman received her diploma. She had become friends with Annie during their freshman year when she wasn’t talking to Bobbie.
Billie looked away and sighed. She had stopped talking to Annie after she and Bobbie had started talking to each other again. She felt guilty about the way she had used Annie, dropping her when she no longer needed her.
Billie smiled when she heard the name she had been waiting for.
“Roberta Susan Lamont.”
Bobbie walked up to President Kerouac. He handed her diploma to her and shook her hand. Unlike with Billie, he knew Bobbie.
Bobbie looked out to the audience. Billie frowned and tried to figure out who Bobbie was looking for. Bobbie’s parents were in the front row, smiling and clapping, but she wasn’t looking at them.
Billie sighed, seeing Lawrence Harris, their junior year English professor, standing in the back, near the exit. Bobbie had dated him for the past two years, on and off.
Bobbie smiled and nodded. Billie was afraid that Bobbie was making too much out of his presence.
Bobbie walked over to Billie. “He’s here,” she said.
“Of course, he’s here,” Billie said, sighing. Billie took Bobbie’s hand and squeezed it. “Forget about him. We’ve just graduated.”
“Oh, that,” Bobbie said, chuckling. “I guess it hasn’t sunk in yet.”
Billie shook her head and turned her attention back to the ceremony. She watched the rest of her class receive their diplomas, their valedictorian gave his speech.
Twenty minutes later, the ceremony was over. President Kerouac dismissed the graduates and they left the stage, meeting their families and friends in the hallway outside of the auditorium.
Franklin was taking pictures of Billie with her mother when Bobbie’s parents approached them.
“Excuse me, Billie,” Robert Lamont, Bobbie’s father, said. “Do you know where Bobbie went to?”
“No,” Billie said. Bobbie was by her side when they had been dismissed. “But I’ll find her for you, Mr. Lamont.”
“Thank you, Billie,” Robert said.
Billie looked over at her mother, who motioned for her to go.
Billie left the hallway and went back to the auditorium. Bobbie wasn’t there, so Billie searched the other hallways.
Billie found Bobbie talking to Lawrence. His back was to her, she was too far away to hear what they’re saying to each other.
Bobbie hugged Lawrence, smiling at him. With her hands on his shoulders, she told him something. He shook his head and removed her hands, taking a step away from her. Bobbie’s face changed. Then she scowled at him, slapped him hard across his jaw, tears coming down her face. She turned from him and ran away.
Billie waited until Lawrence walked away, going the opposite direction from Bobbie. She sighed and shook her head.
Billie went after Bobbie, knowing that her best friend needed her. She walked by Lawrence.
“Congratulations, Miss Carver,” he said, looking away from her.
“Ah, thanks, Professor Harris,” Billie said. She wanted to say more to him, but knew it was pointless in doing so.
The classrooms were locked. Billie knew the only place Bobbie could go was the Ladies room. She hesitated, standing at the door. She wanted to comfort Bobbie, but didn’t know what to say to her.
Billie waited a few minutes, biting her bottom lip. She frowned and shook her head. She pushed the door open, entering the ladies room.
There were four stalls, only the last one was closed. Billie followed the sounds of Bobbie crying to it. She knocked on the door.
“Hey, Suzy Q,” Billie said. “Your parents are looking for you.”
“I don’t want to see them,” Bobbie said. “I don’t want to see anyone right now.”
“Are you okay?” Billie regretted the question, recognizing how stupid it was.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” Bobbie said, sighing.
Billie shook her head. She knew better. “Come on, Suzy Q,” Billie said. “I want to talk to you and I don’t want to talk to you through this damn door.”
“Okay,” Bobbie said. “Just give me a minute. I might as well use the toilet while I’m in here.”
“Okay,” Billie said, chuckling. She backed away from the stall and went over to the sink. She took out a cigarette from the pack she stuck inside her bra and lit it.
The toilet flushed and the stall door opened. Bobbie walked out and went over to Billie, who was leaning against the sink, smoking her cigarette. Bobbie’s eyes were red and swollen.
“Oh, Bobbie,” Billie said, sighing. She went over to Bobbie and hugged her.
Billie and Bobbie were about the same height and build. Billie’s hands were around Bobbie’s waist while Bobbie’s hands were on Billie’s shoulders. Their faces were pressed together; Billie could smell Bobbie’s hair.
Billie felt her old urges start to stir up inside her. She sighed, listening to Bobbie mumble about the professor.
“I just don’t understand,” Bobbie said, trembling.
“I know,” Billie said, sighing. She took a step back from Bobbie. “Now, come on, Suzy Q. You need to clean yourself up before you see your parents.”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Bobbie said, nodding.
Bobbie did her best to clean her face. They then left the Ladies room. They found their parents waiting for them outside the auditorium.
“I see Billie found you,” Robert said, glancing over at Billie, giving her an approving smile.
“Yeah, Dad, she did,” Bobbie said, nodding and looking over at Billie.
Their parents took pictures of them, standing together while holding up their diplomas.
Before Billie and Bobbie went their separate ways, Billie leaned over to Bobbie and said, “Remember, we’re going out tonight to celebrate.”
“I don’t think I’d be good company right now,” Bobbie said, sighing with a sad smile.
Billie shook her head. She knew what Bobbie would do if she didn’t go out with Billie. She would sit in her bedroom, smoke and write in her diary, brooding about the professor. “I don’t care, Suzy Q. We’ve worked too hard for the last four years not to go out and celebrate.” She hoped that she wouldn’t have to argue with Bobbie.
“Yeah, I know,” Bobbie said, sighing. “I guess pick me up in a couple of hours.”
“Okay,” Billie said, nodding, pleased that Bobbie hadn’t tried to argue with her.
A few hours later, Billie and Bobbie were at their favorite bar in the French Quarter, the Wolf’s Den. They had been going there for a few years. If the bouncers noticed the ID’s they were now using were different from the ones they used to have, they didn’t say anything.
Billie and Bobbie were sitting at their usual table, near the back with a clear view of the front entrance. Bobbie was quiet and hadn’t said anything since they had sat down. Billie refused to let Bobbie spoil her good mood. The bar was crowded, Billie was getting a lot of attention from men there because of the way she was dressed. She loved to dance and didn’t turn down any chance to do so. She danced while Bobbie drowned her sorrows in vodka tonics.