We walked upstairs and through the lobby. When we reached the front desk I was glad the landlady was gone to bed; there was no reason for it, but I didn’t want Mrs Hargraves to see me with this woman. I told her to tiptoe across the lobby, and she did it; she enjoyed it terribly, like an adventure in little things; it thrilled her and she tightened her fingers around my arm.

It was foggy on Bunker Hill, but not downtown. The streets were deserted, and the sound of her heels on the sidewalk echoed among the old buildings. She tugged my arm and I bent down to hear what she wanted to whisper.

‘You’re going to be so marvellous!’ she said. ‘So wonderful!’

I said, ‘Let’s forget it now. Let’s just walk.’

She wanted a drink. She insisted upon it. She opened her purse and waved a ten dollar bill.

‘Look. Money! I have lots of money!’

We walked down to Solomon’s Bar on the corner, where I played the pin games. Nobody was there but Solomon, who stood with his chin in his hands, worried about business. We walked to a booth facing the front window, and I waited for her to sit down, but she insisted I get in first. Solomon walked over for our order.

‘Whiskey!’ she said. ‘Lots of whiskey.’

Solomon frowned.

‘A short beer for me,’ I said.

Solomon was watching her sternly, searchingly, his bald spot crinkling from a frown. I could sense the consanguinity, and I knew then that she was Jewish too. Solomon went back for the drinks and she sat there with her eyes blazing, her hands folded on the table, her fingers twining and untwining. I sat trying to think of some way of dodging her.

‘A drink’ll fix you up fine,’ I said.

Before I knew it she was at my throat, but not roughly, her long fingernails and short fingers against my flesh as she talked about my mouth, my wonderful mouth; oh God, what a mouth I had.

‘Kiss me!’ she said.

‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Let’s have a drink first.’

She clenched her teeth.

‘Then you too know about me!’ she said. ‘You’re like the rest of them. You know about my wounds, and that’s why you won’t kiss me. Because I disgust you!’

I thought, she is crazy; I’ve got to get out of here. She kissed me, her mouth tasting of liverwurst on rye. She sat back, breathing with relief. I took out my handkerchief and wiped the sweat from my forehead. Solomon returned with the drinks. I reached for some money, but she paid quickly. Solomon went back for the change, but I called him back and handed him a bill. She fussed and protested, pounding her heels and fists. Solomon lifted his hands in a gesture of hopelessness and took her money. The moment his back was turned I said,

‘Lady, this is your party. I’ve got to go.’ She pulled me down and her arms went around me and we fought until I thought it was absurd. I sat back and tried to think of another escape.