It was as if they were getting into a fast car and they were going for a fast ride. Only the cab just kept getting stuck at red lights or stopping for a bold pedestrian each time they got going at a faster pace. There they were, zipping along the avenues at a steady clip and suddenly they were jolted back into harsh reality, the red traffic light dangling above the windshield. It was exhausting. Where it made the others dizzy, in Debbie it caused general giddiness and she began to giggle with the heady sensation of it all. The others could only follow in her ridiculous laughter. Maxine began to smile prettily. Nicole let out a roar and started to shriek. She could not laugh without screaming.
"Good evening, this is Doctor Ruth," the radio announced in a familiar German accent. And soon she was in a deep discussion about that part of the anatomy.
"Oh, brother," and Debbie began to shake with giggles all over again.
Maxine tried to change the subject. The cab driver appeared oblivious.
The threesome had been in motion all day long, transferring from train to train, first at Bowling Green, making their way slowly but surely from Manhattan to Queens. Then they had to get on a bus which took them to Rockaway Beach on the foremost tip of Long Island. There, at Nicole and Maxine's parents' house, they picked up the car which brought them to the party in Westhampton. It was a Sunday afternoon affair and they had to take the trains back in time to check in early and show up at the office at 9:00 sharp Monday morning. And now this.
Doctor Ruth chattered on as the cab came to a jolt, stopped, started again, raced, slowed, stopped. The starting and stopping was not unlike one of their frequent Friday nights out on the town.
"I don't want to go out tonight. I'm so tired," Maxine would groan.
"Guess what?" She would scream five minutes later. "We can get into Au Bar's!"
"But we have to be ready in half an hour and meet Dr. Klein at the door or we won't get in!" She would suddenly realize. "Hurry up!"
"It's on Madison. No, Park. Park and 58th. Um, let's try Park and 54th. Can we go around again?" She would instruct the unfortunate cab driver.
"Oh, I hate this," Joyce would groan. "I knew this would happen. Watch us end up back at the Surf Club again."
