The Jam’s “Liza Radley” is about a free-spirited young woman who lives in a small town/middle class neighborhood and does not fit in at all. That name kind of its my friend, who like the others, can’t be named.
Liza Radley (continued)
First, Liza called me the next day and told me something had happened after Gabriel and I left. She could not remember a thing at all, but she asked Brandon if he used a condom. Then Brandon sent her flowers and aplogized.
I don’t remember who called whom, but I talked to Brandon next. He told me his side of the story, saying that Liza came on to him and really wanted it. I listened to him, heard what he had to say, heard him defend himself, but never accused him. Somehow, things were not going to be the same. We were close, conspiritatorial friends in the beginning, ditching Teaching Composition classes and even going out to see the Sick and Twisted animation festival and the MFA party together. He would often jokingly give me a hard time about being gay. No more.
Even though I didn’t intend to take sides, I took Liza’s. She felt awkward, couldn’t talk to Brandon at all for a semester. And it took a while for her to forgive him for what had transpired, but she did.
to be continued…
