CHARLES NEWMAN
Geoff was smoking a small cigar. "How's everything?' ,
" Fine . Just fine ."
" Is what you ' re trying to prove have to do with him? "
" Not exactly. "
575
" We've never talked about our families. I'll bet you have a nice
family . "
" Sure , Geoff. I'll bet you do too ."
" So it's not the family then."
"Not exactly. Not mine anyway ."
" I guess you don ' t want to talk. That's all right."
"Dammit," yelled Corinne, pounding her fists together, Geoff
dropping ashes all over his chest, and then flailing madly at the
sparks, "Dammit Geoff, don ' t you know what 's happening with
women ?"
Geoff was looking around for an ashtray, both hands cupped
with ashes . His chest was smeared with charcoal, his parts become
very small. .,You mean . . . women in general? ' ,
"If you like . In America."
"You mean that they're more ... aggressive . .. and every–
thing?"
·'Goon."
"No, I don't know much about it, I guess. It's a lot easier to get
laid, of course . "
"So
that 's
how you think about it."
"Look, Corinne . Were you saving this number for me? I'm
not your . .. "
" Because you are a sane , strong, and decent man, Geoff, who
ought to know better. Who ought to know what's going on. "
"Know what?" Geoff had absentmindedly slipped on his crim–
son acetate briefs .
" Don't you ever talk about this with your wife?"
" No, I mean, we ' re very open ... bur ... anyway, what busi-
ness is it of yours?"
"She doesn ' t tell you what it's like to be a woman?"
"She doesn ' t complain much, if that's what you mean ."
"She has her life and you have yours. Is that what you mean?"
,'This isn't like you, Corinne . ' ,
, 'I suppose I'm the exception that proves the rule. ' ,