Ain't Gonna Be the Same Fool Twice by April Sinclair Page A

chair.
    â€œSome people just have all the luck. I hate you.” Today pretended to be angry, but her striking features made her look pretty, no matter what. Today and Sharlinda said their dates had been all right, but neither of them had heard bells or anything.
    â€œYou two are going to freeze in those halter tops,” I teased.
    â€œYeah, this is no town for a tan.” Sharlinda sighed.
    â€œDon’t worry, it’s burning up back home. In another week, Sharlinda, you’ll look like the rest of us,” Today said, laughing.
    â€œHey, maybe if we show some skin, one of the only two straight men in San Francisco will finally notice us,” Sharlinda joked.
    I was about to share my impressions of the Castro with Sharlinda and Today, but then decided against it. No point in drawing unnecessary attention to the subject of homosexuality.
    â€œCome on you all, it’s not that bad,” I said, leaning back in the chair and resting my arms on the sides.
    â€œIt’s not that bad? Easy for you to say, you’ve got yourself a man.”
    â€œYeah,” Today agreed. “What’s his name, Stevie?”
    â€œMr. Goodbar, honey.”
    â€œStevie, what is the brotha’s name?” Sharlinda demanded.
    â€œTraci,” I mumbled.
    â€œAnd where is he, with his fine self?”
    â€œHe just dropped me off. He had to go pick his mother up from church,” I lied.
    â€œTracy?” Sharlinda asked, a little puzzled.
    â€œYeah, Spencer Tracy.”
    â€œSpencer Tracy?” she repeated.
    â€œYeah, Spencer Tracy Washington,” I rattled off.
    â€œGo ’head, check her out, Miss Thing knows all three of his names. Doesn’t sound like a one-night stand to me,” Today chuckled.
    â€œWell, what happened with you and Mr. Spencer Tracy Washington Goodbar last night?” Sharlinda wanted to know.
    â€œDid y’all go straight to the groove?” Today asked.
    â€œNo, we did not go straight to the groove. We’re getting to know each other gradually. And it’s nice.”
    â€œDid you hear that, Today? A quality brotha.”
    â€œBy the way, has he got a brother?”
    â€œToday, I told you we’re taking it slow. I haven’t examined his family tree.”
    â€œWhy not?” Sharlinda demanded, playfully throwing a pillow at me. “Honey, inquiring minds want to know.” She laughed as the pillow landed on my face.
    â€œAll I ask is that I be maid of honor at your wedding. And that you name your first daughter after me,” Today giggled.
    â€œYou better take your crazy butt on back to Maywood. Nobody’s thinking about marriage, yet.”
    â€œYou heard her say, ‘yet,’ Sharlinda.”
    â€œHoney, Stevie has picked out everything, including the silverware by now.”
    I threw the pillow and got Sharlinda upside her head, real good.
    We’d checked out of our room. And it was time to say goodbye in the hotel lobby. Suddenly, I felt emotional.
    â€œStevie, what’s wrong? You’ve got tears in your eyes, girl,” Sharlinda said, puffing on a cigarette.
    â€œIt’s like the end of an era for the three of us.”
    â€œGirl, why you say that? You’ll be back in Chicago in another week.”
    â€œYeah, but you’ll be out in the burbs, and Sharlinda might get that job in Milwaukee. It won’t be the same. Remember all the Thursday nights we ordered pizza together?”
    â€œYeah, and how we used to borrow each other’s clothes before Today gained weight from all that pizza?” Sharlinda laughed, exhaling.
    â€œStevie, you better hold me back before I hurt her.”
    Today pretended to punch Sharlinda. It had been a cold thing to say, but it wasn’t like Today was fat. She could just stand to lose twenty pounds, that was all.
    â€œStevie smoked her first joint with me,” Sharlinda reminisced. “I taught her how to inhale.”
    â€œYou