Tales of the City

Mona takes a Quaalude and goes to church on a Sunday morning. She sings “with the fervor of a Southern Baptist, flanked by a Noe Valley wood butcher and a Tenderloin drag queen in a coral prom gown” (153). Reverend Willy Sessums begins to address Mona directly, and she feels uncomfortable. Afterwards, she is in a foul mood and takes stock of her life. The phone rings; it’s D’orothea, an old friend whom Mona has not seen in a long time. They agree to have lunch the next day. 

Mary Ann invites Michael and Mona for brunch but they decline. Mary Ann mentions that Mona looks distracted. Mary Ann goes to brunch alone, but bumps into Norman, who helps her cut to front of the line. He is with his friend’s daughter, Lexy. They eat brunch together and then go back to the apartment on the roof. Mary Ann and Norman talk while “Alexandra chased pigeons in the sunshine” (157). Norman reveals that he and Lexy’s father were in Vietnam together. He invites Mary Ann to a screening of Detective Story that night.