The Adventures Of Bette Porter And Sissee Gardner Schmidt After Howie (Part 3, Chapter 8)
PART THREE: SANTA BARBARA, CALIFORNIA

Chapter 8

Both Bette and I knew by logic what Alice’s secret was. We both knew that Terry should have jumped third, going in the sequence we were sitting, whereas, Randy should have been last.

We knew and we also knew that if we kept Alice from talking now, in the limo, she would spill the beans to everyone else as soon as she got out of here.

Jenny kept pumping her and Alice could no longer look at Bette and I. Bette gave me a subtle elbow, as if to no longer protest and just let her get it off her chest.

“Well, I was just talking to one of those videographers who went up on the plane,” she began, speaking only to Jenny. “I mean, I didn’t just go looking for somebody. I had to go pee and I remembered seeing restrooms inside the hanger, so while all of you were standing in the chow line, I went inside.”

“Come on Al,” protested Shane. “They told you to keep it to yourself.”

“Let her,” interrupted Helena. “Honestly, aren’t you all curious?”

“I am,” chimed in Jenny.

“Me too,” said Helena.

Shane looked at Bette and sighed. “What the fuck! You know she’s gonna tell all of us one at a time if she can’t do it any other way.”

“Alright Alice,” said Bette. “Tell it once and for all, and then bury it deep.”

“And it doesn’t leave this limo,” I added.

“Agreed?” pursued Bette.

“Yeah, I promise,” said Alice, raising her right hand with three fingers up and thumb and baby finger locked. “Girl Scout honor.”

Shane slumped forward, shaking her head. Both Jenny and Helena, on either side of Alice, watched Alice with mouths agape.

There was no doubt that Bette and I wanted to know the truth even though we were afraid of what it might do to our respect for a very accomplished man.

Alice got all full of herself, jerking her shoulders with enthusiasm. Her eyes got wide and a permanent grin froze on her face as she settled into the telling.

“Well, like I said, I went into the hanger and I could see a whole new group of people were being oriented out in the center, same as you two were,” she said, glancing at Bette and I. “So, I went off to the side, minding my own business and on my way to the can, I saw two of those video guys sitting in a coupla chairs. I go ‘hi’ to them, you know me….,” she acts it out. “….a nice, friendly wave….‘hi guys!’”