“Looters” is a violent word. It presumes an act of aggression, a violation of personal space and a conspiracy since the word is plural. But “The Looters” by Laura Jamison is a story about friendship. What’s the connection?
Gwen and Ethan, an up-and-coming power couple, have invited some people over to their NY duplex for dinner. Denise, as Gwen’s official best friend, is keeping watch over a suspect guest, Michelle. Michelle is suspect because Ethan may be attracted to her. Denise, playing guardian of Gwen’s happiness, introduces herself to Michelle. “I’m an old friend of- she overenuciated- Ethan and Gwen’s“.
The plot falls into the back story of Gwen and Denise so we can understand this symbiotic friendship. It’s 1989, five years before that dinner party. Both Gwen and Denise are aspiring journalists in San Francisco who half-way dream of writing novels. They want to form a writers’ group of two and discuss each others’ work. Some people think they are sisters. Others think they are lesbian lovers. “…but really Denise grew toward and around Gwen like a vine seeking the sun…”
In a plot twist of triangulating elegance, Denise encounters Michelle again and through her is set on the road to literary success. But Denise’s growing personal power scrambles her friendship with Gwen as competition overwhelms their alliance. Laura Jamison has written the life cycle of a friendship from its youthful solidarity to its betrayal with age and “The Looters” is an apt title.
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