Gary chats with Tamara before she meets Joyce

"Yeah I'm really excited," Tamara said. She and Gary were sitting at an outside table of a coffeehouse by Gary and Bernie's college, which was just starting its summer term. "Joyce Bernstein is going to give me a free in to one of her workshops. Either the one she's putting together, or if that doesn't work out, just a personal invitation. Maybe both!"

Bernie had dropped Tamara off and moved along with her day plan, which included errands for her mom. She was driving the silver Honda compact that she and Gary had bought from Alison, their first big purchase together. It still had Alison's lesbian window decals and bumper stickers. Bernie had asked, but Gary was fine with leaving them. "Like I would ever argue with Alison on anything?" he'd said. "If you want to add something, that's fine." Beside Alison's Minoan double-axe and triple-fist bumper sticker, Bernie had added a rainbow flag with an infinity heart in the middle.

"What did you think of campus?" Gary asked. Bernie had taken Tamara for a walk and talk before dropping her off with Gary.

"It's a lot bigger than mine, for sure," Tamara said. "You've got a whole half of campus that's sort of a hillside grove. And I see why you got a car together, it's not like you can take the subway anywhere. Oh, and we ran into one of Bernie's old girlfriends, Raquel? Charming, but what a snake!"

"You don't have to tell me," Gary said. "The queen bitch of Hillel Campus Lesbians."

Tamara burst out into laughter. Her laugh was just like her mother Sonia's, loud and brassy, with her chin tilted up in the same way.

"Did Bernie say that to you?" she asked.

"Alison said that, actually," Gary said. "Alison graduated a couple years ago on the six-year plan, and she got to see a lot of Raquel's shenanigans. Not a lot directly, but Alison used to be a party organizer for the LGBT Student Club and she saw enough."

Tamara questioned Gary on his relationship with her mother and father. Gary took a deep breath and practiced being open and honest, as Bernie had insisted. Tamara laughed when she heard that Gary had taken her father's anal virginity.

"So Mom likes anal best with you," Tamara said. "She told me that. But wow, I had no idea Dad was bisexual! And you were his first?"

"Well, yeah," Gary said. "I was the first man he had anal with. First your dad took my ass, then a few days later, I was in him." Gary's ears felt warm as he admitted it to Dr. Rubin's daughter. "Bernie was around for both of those. And your mom. She was taking pictures. And she had me do her up the ass before I did your dad."

Tamara laughed. "Yeah. Mom likes anal. She and Dad have a weekly date for that. And she decided that you're some sort of wizard that way, she comes even harder with you."

"That's what she said," Gary said. "She said you like anal too. Do you have a regular date for that?"

"Ha ha, not quite," Tamara said. She brushed her dark hair back from her forehead. "I kind of have a harem back at school, I guess? One of them likes anal and asks me. He was the one that got me into it. One of them will do it if I ask him, and the third guy is 'eh, maybe for your birthday?'. So yeah, I get some. But then classes get busy, and we all kind of disappear into our books. It sounds like I have a big sex life, but I mean, it's not even every week, and less near finals. I see my vibrator more than any of the guys. And I really depend on my calendar." She smiled and shrugged, combining her mom's bright smile with her dad's style, more relaxed and thoughtful.

Gary shrugged. "I guess you've done your duty to your mom," he said. "Did she ask for a report?"

"Well, she was hoping, but only if we do it," Tamara said. "I want to talk to your girlfriend a little more. I mean, Mom was all 'You gotta try Gary!' but it's not like you're hers to lend out."

They laughed together.

"I won't say no if you ask," Gary said. "But I'll leave it to you, and Bernie will have to be there unless she tells you different."

"Good," Tamara said. She looked at Gary's empty tea glass. "You want me to buy another of those? I hardly spend any money unless I'm on vacation."

"Sure, thanks."

"Oh," Tamara said. "Mom said you were big. I kind of want to see."

"Sure," Gary said. "We'll find some place and you can take a look, but Bernie needs to be with me for anything else."

Tamara gave a smile that almost looked shy, like Bernie looked sometimes.