The crowd of folks around us joined in with all kinds of hoots and hollers, and you could just see both Yolanda and her competition hunker down even further, their eyes brightening with the energy of those around them.

After what felt like several minutes, but might only have been about thirty seconds, the other woman seemed to tire, sweat dripping down her powdered face. She lost a half inch, then another inch, then another, and with each gain, Yolanda seemed to grow in stature until finally, in one last exertion, she pinned the other woman’s clenched hand to the table in triumph.

Bee lost her shit. You’d think Yolanda had just won the World Gay Games or something. While Yolanda sat back and folded her arms in utter smugness and satisfaction, Bee thumped her walker in a tight circle around the two competitors—thunk, shimmy shimmy, thunk, shimmy shimmy—alternatingly wailing like an ambulance siren and then cackling hysterically. I noticed folks in the crowd gave her and her walker a wide berth.

This was madness. But it was the kind of madness I could get behind. Competition and a little shameless gloating. And also… fun?

Shanti tugged at my sleeve and indicated with a head nod to follow her forward. As Bee made a second victory loop, she swerved toward Shanti and me and paused her walker to spread her arms out wide, inviting a hug.

I followed Shanti’s lead and leaned over the walker to gather Bee up in my arms. I didn’t want to squeeze too hard, but she sure as hell squeezed the crap out of me. Kat must have gotten her muscle from Bee. I wondered if Bee had passed on anything to Shanti, or if Shanti’s strength was all her own.

“Dollfaces! Did ya see that? Did ya see my girl whup some old-lady butt?” From the clapping and jeering going on around us, I suspected the crowd was used to Bee and Yolanda’s antics.

“We saw it, Nana!” Shanti replied.

“That’s sixteen wins in a row! How ’bout that, huh?” Bee said.

I looked at Shanti and said, “Amazing.” She nodded and grinned.

Yolanda grabbed her cane and thumped over to us. She brandished her right bicep and, without a hint she was joking, said, “All-natural beef.”

Shanti and I glanced at each other and stifled a laugh.

Bee brought us over to a card table with some pretzels and grapes on it. She plucked a grape from its stem and popped it into her mouth. Then she plucked another and popped it into Yolanda’s mouth before Yolanda even knew what was happening, which was about the cutest thing ever. “So what brings you two gorgeous gals he-ya anyway?” Bee asked, cheek bulging with its grape.