What’s Happening? by John Nicholas Iannuzzi Page A

We’ll go to the movies or something.”
    â€œOkay, … one of these days.” She wasn’t really paying attention to what he said. She looked at her friend with the pathetic look of a lost puppy, holding the side of her head, tears still streaking her face.
    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œOh, I got kicked out of the Lisa.”
    â€œHow? What happened?”
    â€œThe bouncer called me something and wanted me to do something … and I told him to F himself … and he punched me.”
    â€œOh, that’s real nice. You hang out in all the best spots, don’t you?”
    She looked at him guiltily. His admonition only presaged the annoyance that Rita and Jeannie would display when Laura told them.
    â€œHey Laura,” a tall curly-haired fellow in the back called. Laura looked to the back, then at her disapproving friend.
    â€œI’ll be right back,” she said, escaping toward the back. She sat on a stool next to the fellow who had called. He was a tall, thin fellow named George.
    â€œWhatta ya been doin’, baby?” he asked with affected, one-uplifted-brow casualness.
    â€œNothin’ …”
    â€œListen, I got some smokes that’ll make you fly. Whatta ya say you and me go to my pad and have a ball?”
    Laura made a face of disapproval. George chuckled and began to explain what kicks it would be. He bought her a beer. After many minutes she stood, turned, and shook her head all the while walking back to the front of the bar. George stared after her, shrugging disappointedly.
    â€œWhat do you call right back?” asked the blond fellow. “Like you were gone for days.”
    Laura smiled weakly out of the side of her mouth and half shrugged. Sammy the bartender put down a beer for her.
    â€œHey … don’t you even say hello?”
    She looked up at Sammy. “Oh, I’m sorry, Sammy …” She wrinkled an excuse for a smile. “I didn’t see you. What’s the beer for?”
    â€œYour buddy bought it for you.” He jerked his thumb at the blond.
    Laura looked to the blond and flickered a smile. She appreciated his thoughtfulness. She didn’t even know his name. They had met at a party, but she had never found out his name, and now she felt badly about asking him what it was. He stood taller than she, watching her. She became flustered and sipped her beer, looking around, still pressing a hand to the side of her head.
    Josh Minot, Jeannie’s shaven-headed friend pushed the door open and walked into Johnson’s.
    â€œJosh!” Laura called to him, half lifting her arm to wave.
    â€œHi, Laura,” he said walking over to her, “where’d you go? Like everybody was worried about you.” He looked over her head at the people seated around the room. She noticed his lack of interest.
    â€œJust for a walk,” she said unimportantly. “Is that other fellow still at the apartment?”
    â€œNo, everybody split for their own pad. I’ll see you later,” he said, seeing a friend in the back of the bar.
    Laura turned quickly to her blond friend.
    â€œI’ll be right back.” She put down her drink.
    â€œHey, don’t go, baby, the night’s just beginning.”
    Laura dashed out of the cafe and started to run. She ran across the Avenue of the Americas, up Fourth Street, and across Sheridan Square to Christopher Street. Out of breath, she walked very fast the rest of the way to the house and dashed up the stairs two by two. Cautiously, she opened the door of the apartment. The V of light cutting through the darkness revealed only one figure on Jeannie’s bed. Laura walked in slowly and quietly and shut the door. She peered through the slits in the curtain until her eyes made out the lone figure in bed. Rita was asleep, her arm stretched out across Laura’s side of the bed. Laura walked into the room, undressed quickly and slid into bed, curling up to keep