140

when that’s all you lived for. There’s nothing wrong
with being queer. It’s how you handle it. None of
us, I guess, are too smart at that—until it’s too late.”

Myrtle’s life is typical of those of thousands of §
other' aged homosexuals, men who have never lived |
in a normal world. Men who, like Myrtle, are afraid §
to associate with elderly normal people because they |
fear a slip of the tongue.

Those who can navigate better than Myrtle and
who have more money can still be found occupying [
lonely seats at the gay bars—still looking, still §
hoping.

And hearing the young ones, “Dig that old auntie.

She’s here every night. Who she’s waiting for? Oscar
Wilde?”