Free Last Exit to Brooklyn by Hubert Selby Jr.

they are finished and start telling you about how much they love their wife and kiddies. And when they take out the pic – O I hate those freaks – Hey, how about that guy the Spook met in the Village that night who gaveim 10 bucks for his left shoe. The Spook toldim he could havem both for 10 bucks and his socks too – Goldie kept looking at Malfie and the way his hair waved back into a thick DA; and Georgette leaned closer to Vinnie and everyone seemed so close, as if they belonged to and with each other and everything was wonderful – Did Francene ever tell you about that Arab she met one night? Well honey, he just fucked her until she thought she would turn insideout. O, that must have been divine. – Camille looked nervously at Sal – it is so refreshing to meet a man who will give you a good fucking. Yes honey, but she almost had to have a hysterectomy. O was she – We had this here guy—
    The door banged open and a young woman with a bruised face and an enormous belly stumbled in and called to Tony. Tony looked at the others apologetically then crossed the room to her sister, led her into the kitchen and helped her lie down, took the pot off the stove and turned up the flame. Rosie looked at them, at the pot, but when Goldie said nothing she lowered her head to her knees. Tony knelt beside her sister, embarrassed because she knew Goldie and the others didnt like Mary, and asked her what was wrong. She raised her head slightly then let it fall back and it seemed to bounce on the floor (Goldie and Lee turned their heads, disgusted. Camille stared and shook), then rolled it from side to side, moaning, jerking up with a scream, clutching her moundish abdomen, banging her head and arms on the floor, jerking her legs up then jutting and spreading them out, grabbing Tony by the shoulders as another pain ripped her and Tony clawed at her hands. Let go! Let go! O youre hurting me, and the hands finally fell and she lay still and Tony looked into the other room, hoping they wouldnt hold her responsible for all this; and the queens turned their heads and the guys looked blankly, taking another drag or another drink, a little curious, and Tony asked if she should call the police so they could take her to a hospital. You aint callin no cops. Not with us here – What am I going to do? Why dont you just throw her out, the dirty slut. Shesgoing to have a baby – O is she? I thought perhaps it was gas. They roared with laughter (Rosie opened her eyes, her head on her knees, then closed them) and Tony almost cried. (O why did she pick now of all times? They would have asked me upstairs and we could have been friends). Why dont you get the slob shes living with? After all, he is the father, not us. I assure you. They roared again – how do you know he is. It could be almost anybody. (Camille still felt a little nauseous but she was determined to ignore it and be one of the girls.) Hey, did she swolla a watermelon seed. Even Harrys belching brought forth laughter, but everyone was becoming tense, especially the queens. This could ruin a perfectly delightful evening. If this were prolonged much longer it would bring everybody down and all the plans – Mary bolted up! Screaming! Not just one short scream, but one after another after another. Her face darkened and threatened to burst. The welts on her face oozed and she sat as if propped from behind, screaming, screeching, wailing, screaming … Tony leaned back and banged into the wall (Rosie still sat with her head on her knees) and Camille covered her face with her hands. The screams scraped through their ears and her eyes bulged, her arms still lifted toward Tony, her face becoming darker … then she stopped and fell back, her head smashing on the floor and the screams and the sound of her head hitting the floor resounded through the room and jammed in everyones ear and wouldnt leave like the sound of the sea in a shell … O O OOO!!! She broke water. She broke her