The Kings Of Cool

91

Doc hangs up the receiver of the pay phone on Ocean Avenue and walks back into the Marine Room.

John sits at the bar, nursing a beer and idly watching the baseball game on television.

“She’s in line,” Doc says.

His tone is cool, but John can tell that Doc is nervous.

Stan and Diane sit in their small living room.

Reading.

He Updike, she Cheever.

She looks up from her book and says,

“I fucked John McAlister.”

The customs officer tells Kim to set her bag on the table and open it.

He watches her, not the bag, as she does.

And sees

Nothing.

The girl is totally calm unconcerned.

Aloof, detached.

He looks into the bag and sees the strand of Kotex that Doc provided her with, told her to put on top.

Kim looks at the customs officer coolly, as if to say

Hey, you told me to open it.

He hands her the bag and welcomes her back to the United States.

She crosses the bridge.