Both the cops looked at her as if they didn't believe they were hearing right. I had to look at her too.

Finally one of them asked her, 'Your car?'

'Mine,' I said.

He gave me a long hard look. 'I suppose your pa is a senator,' he said.

I didn't say anything. The other one said to Alice, 'Lemme see your operator's licence.'

'I left it in another bag,' she said imperiously. 'Mr. Jones called to escort me to dinner and I didn't think I'd need it.'

The cop grinned evilly. 'Been to a gin party, eh?'

Alice turned a slow red. 'May I have your names and identification numbers?' she said.

The cop looked at the other cop, then said, 'Okay, fall in behind me.' As an afterthought he added, 'And move over and let Rufus drive. You got your licence, haven't you, Rufus?'

I got out and walked around the car. He blocked my path. The other cop closed in beside me. I took a breath, let it out, said: 'Rufus isn't the name on it.'

'Lemme see it,' he said.

I let him see it. He spat, moved aside, and let me get into the car. They took us to the station in Santa Monica. I put up cash bail and the desk sergeant said, 'Now get back where you belong and stay there.'

We went out and got into the car and I drove down to the beach. I parked and we sat for a time looking out over the Pacific Ocean. There were two bright red spots in Alice's cheeks and she clenched and unclenched her hands.

'You could kill 'em, couldn't you?' I said. Suddenly I felt sorry for her. I put my arm about her shoulder and tried to pull her to me. 'Don't let it get you down, baby,' I said, trying to turn her face around to kiss her. 'You're not just finding out you're a nigger?'

She jerked away from me. 'I wish I was a man,' she said.