Chapter 5
The salivating odor of frying bacon awakened me. Jan was not in bed. I put on slippers and a robe, and padded out to the kitchen, to find her turning bacon in the skillet.
"Good morning, honey." She turned to me with a smile. "I was just about to call you."
With my left arm around her shoulder, I slipped my right hand into the fold of her housecoat and cupped her breast. "Feeling better? " I brushed a kiss across her cheek.
"I feel fine this morning. Drink your orange juice. I'll have your eggs ready in a minute."
Seated in the breakfast nook, I studied her every graceful movement, the fresh beauty of her scrubbed skin, the smooth flow of her long blonde hair. What a joy it was going to be to initiate her into the delights of cunnilingus.
"You look lovelier than I can remember, darling," I said as she placed a plate of bacon and eggs before me, "so ... so rested."
"How nice," she replied, seating herself opposite me. "Thank you, honey. I feel wonderful."
"This is Wednesday, isn't it? How about a steak dinner out tonight? " "Fine. I'll be dressed and ready when you get home."
As soon as I reached the office at a little after nine, I had a short meeting with two of the senior partners on the prospective Hubbard account, and received an okay to go all out in the preparation of a complete presentation. For the next hour. I was busy going over catalogs of Hubbard's products with Bill Alton, head of market research, and Joe Phillips, chief of the copy department.
Don Ashby called at eleven. He wanted to know if Jan and I could attend a special meeting at his studio at seven o'clock tonight. He had contacted all other members of the group, and they had all agreed to be there. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a replacement for Fred and Lydia Nelson, who were moving out to the west coast. I told him I was quite sure Jan and I could make it.
Not sure of Jan's reaction to continuance in the group -after her experience that first night, I phoned her immediately, prepared to do a selling job in case of a negation. I was surprised at her immediate acceptance, and suggested she meet me in the lobby downstairs at five-thirty. For a minute or two after hanging up, I wondered about Jan's reason for wanting to continue in the group. Unlike me, with a satisfying and delightful experience of bedding down with Helen and a raging desire to repeat it, she'd had nothing from the group but Freddie. She must be hopeful that the next pairing would bring her together with someone more interesting, I decided. I was too busy the rest of the day to give it more thought.
At five-thirty, I stepped off the elevator to find Jan waiting. My God! How lovely, I thought, as I approached her. She wore a dress she'd bought last week, a nubbed silk ensemble in pale yellow, with a sapphire brooch that matched the sparkle in her blue eyes.
"Heh!" I said, brushing a kiss on her cheek, "you look like a young girl I met four years ago. You're lovely."
"What time are we due at Don's?" "Seven. We'll have dinner first. I don't know how long these meetings last."
"Where are we going to eat?"
I took her arm and we started for the cab stand outside. "To a little restaurant I know. I'm sure you'll like it. Every lovely blonde I take to dinner, I always go there." Outside, I put her in a cab, then gave the driver an address on Rush Street before I got in.
As I paid the driver and helped her out of the cab in front of the small cafe, she glanced at the entrance, then chirped out a gay little laugh. "I remember this place."
"I thought you would. How come we never came back here? As I remember, the last time I was here, the evening turned out to be a delightful one." I held the door open for her.
She grinned. "The last time I was here was four years ago. I'll never forget it. I was raped that night by a tall blond with the biggest prick in town."
Throughout dinner, her gaiety was light and infectious. Maybe it was the two martinis, maybe the remembrance of our first date-whatever it was, I had never seen her so happy and light-hearted.
In the cab, on the way to Don's studio, I told her about the job of remodeling he had done, omitting to mention the mirrored bedroom. She said she'd be delighted to see it, and was glad he was having the meeting there.
Don met us in the reception room. "You're a little late, you two. Everybody else is here. Anyway, welcome to my den of iniquity."
They were all gathered in the living room, the men in business suits, the women in short, summery dresses. Joe Hagen had a drink in his hand, which he offered to Jan. "You look stunning, honey." She moved away from the hand he placed on her buttock.
"No, thanks. No more to drink tonight."
Greg Orr I wondered why the group tolerated this crude little bastard. The Hubbards and the Leflers greeted us warmly. Helen Conrad was friendly but distant.
"All right everybody, let's get down to business. Does anybody have a couple they wish to nominate for admittance to the group?" He waited. No one spoke up. "I have a couple I wish to recommend for your consideration. They are very dear friends of mine. They're not married, but they've been going together for over a year. She's a very beautiful girl with a magnificent figure. I've used her as a model a number of times. The man has been a close friend of mine for the past six years. He was a star athlete in college and is now a successful insurance man. I first met him when he was a junior. He also has posed for ads for a number of my accounts." "They sound like a very desirable addition to the group, Don," Milt broke in. "When can we meet them?"
"Well," Don replied, "I have some large color shots of both of them. I thought you could look them over and then decide."
As Don walked over to the fireplace and took down two batches of photographs, I knew he was building up to something, but I couldn't figure out what it was.
'I'm going to give each man here a picture of the woman, and each woman a picture of the man. I'll hand them to you face down, and I ask that you wait to turn them over until I have completed the distribution."
Tension built in the room as Don passed among the men and women. Each of them dutifully laid the eight by ten photograph face down, awaiting Don's signal.
Standing before the fireplace, Don raised both hands. "Friends, the photos you hold are pictures of two of my dearest and closest friends. I earnestly urge that you welcome them into our little group. Okay, turn them over."
There were startled gasps from several of the women, and complete silence from the men.
"My God! He's a nigger!" Rose Hubbard blurted aloud. She quickly raised the palm of her hand to her mouth.
In the shocked silence, Don's voice was calm and cold with controlled rage. "Rose, your choice of both expletive and descriptive term was most unfortunate. If you knew this man as I have known him, you would have said instead, Thank God! He's a gentleman.' " "Don, I'm sorry. I apologize."
He ignored her remark. "When I joined this group a year ago, you all told me of your dedication to the destruction of the old shibboleths, the acceptance of the new morality. Well, ladies and gentlemen, the new morality means nothing to me, unless it is founded on the principle of the acceptance of the individual for his worth and his human dignity, and to hell with his color or his creed. I'll leave you alone to make your decision. I feel very strongly about this."
"Don! Wait!" Jan called out. Everybody turned toward her.
"Don's right." She held up the photograph. "I've never met him, but he looks like a gentleman, and on Don's recommendation, I should very much like to meet him. You told Jim and me on our first night with you, that it was all important that a new couple in the group spend their first night in the same room with their partners whom chance assigned to them. This is supposed to show that the new couple has accepted a complete break with the old code. Much more meaningful, I think, would be acceptance of this couple into the group."
"Jan's right," I said, looking up from the photograph in my hand. "This woman must be one of the most charming and warm personalities one could expect to meet. What's her name, Don?"
"Marie Dulong. The man's name is Gossard Jenkins."
"I remember him," Paul said. "Goss, the hoss. All-conference halfback a few years ago."
Joe Hagen held the photograph above his head. "I don't give a damn what anybody else says, I vote yes, yes, yes."
"How about you women? " Don asked.
"I'm willing, if Joe thinks it's all right," Alicia Hagen said.
"You know you have my vote," Helen broke in, then added, "I've known them both for over a year. They're delightful people."
"I take it you vote yes, Jan?"
Jan nodded.
Marge Lefler spoke up. "Paul and I have had several black friends ever since our college years. I'm sure it's all right with Paul, and certainly with me."
There was silence for a moment as all turned to look at Rose. But Milt spoke. "She's a very charming person, I'm sure. I agree with Jim. Rose and I vote yes. When are we going to meet them? " "Everyone's agreed then?" Don's glance passed slowly over everyone in the room. "Thank you, my friends. I felt so certain of your affirmative vote that I asked them to wait downstairs. I'll bring them right up."
In Don's brief absence, Rose sat stiff and silent, her head lowered, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. I overheard Alicia's whispered question of Marg, "Have you ever been in bed with one?" Marg's reply was drowned out by Joe's loud laugh and loud remark, "Goddamn! I could really go for a piece of that tonight!"
The door opened and Don ushered his two friends into the room. "Folks, these are my two very dear friends, Marie Dulong and Goss Jenkins. Will you please introduce yourselves as they walk by you?"
I had taken a quick glance at the man, tall, brown-skinned, with an athlete's grace of posture and movement, but I concentrated on the woman. I had to. Her dark eyes and warm smile radiated an irresistible charm that not only fascinated the men, but enchanted the women as well. As I took her hand in friendly clasp, I was intrigued by the alluring cleft of her breasts, her light, toffee-colored skin, and her coral aureoles barely visible beneath a white, crocheted-eyelet dress. I thought, how I wish you and I were playing games tonight! Milt was standing next to me. As I shook hands with Gossard, I noted with a sideways glance that Milt took her hand in both of his, running his left hand up her arm while he kissed her cheek and whispered something in her ear.
Don was standing in front of the fireplace, and called for attention. "This isn't one of our regular nights for games so perhaps some of the ladies present aren't prepared. But, now that we know each other, maybe we might want to indulge in some extracurricular fun. How about it? " "Not tonight," Rose said sharply. "Milt has to get up early."
"Nonsense. I have nothing important in the morning. Let's play tonight," Milt answered.
"You'll have to excuse us," Marg said. "We'd love to stay, but this is one of those days."
"We'll have to go too," Alicia added, "and for the same reason, damn it. You all have fun. Come on, Joe."
"Shit!" Joe muttered in a hoarse whisper.
After showing the Leflers and Hagens out, Don returned, and picked up a deck of cards. He shuffled them five or six times, then handed them to Milt to cut. "Tonight, the high and the low cards match up. The holder of the high card uses the mirrored bedroom, the next two higher cards win the bedrooms on the second floor, and the holder of the lowest card uses the studio. Okay?"
"How about ties? " Milt asked.
"They draw a second time."
As Don spread the pack, offering a choice to each one, I glanced at Rose. Beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and her hand trembled as she reached out to choose a card.
"And I'll take one. Now, who has an ace? Nobody? A king?"
"I have," Jan called, holding the card above her head. "Any man have a deuce?"
After a short pause, Gossard held his card up. "I have."
I glanced quickly at Jan and noted her face pale. "My God!" I whispered, then looked about. Apparently, no one had heard me. Could she go through with it? Could I let her go through with it? I tried to catch her eye, but she was looking down at her card.
"Jan and Gossard win the big bedroom. Okay, kids."
I watched them disappear behind the bedroom door, listening to the click as it closed. My palms were wet and large beads of perspiration stood out on my forehead. I looked up to see a vicious smile part Rose Hagen's lips.
"A queen anybody? No? A Jack?"
"Here." Milt held his card up.
"Any woman have a deuce? No, excuse me, a trey?"
"That's me," Marie called out.
"Heh!" Milt cried exultantly, "my lucky night."
Rose Hagen s mouth twisted with quiet rage.
"Okay, Milt and Marie, off with you downstairs."
Rose trembled as she watched them leave. I feared she was about to scream.
"Jim, do you have a ten?" I shook my head 'no'.
"A nine? No? I have a nine."
Helen held up a four, Rose a six, and I displayed a six.
"Helen and I take the other bedroom downstairs. Jim, you and Rose have the studio all to yourselves."
"How about bath facilities?" I asked.
"There's a shower back of the kitchen. I forgot to show it to you the other day. Helen, why don't you go downstairs? I'll be with you shortly. Come on, you two." He led the way into the studio. A clean white sheet covered the studio couch; a pillow lay at one end, and a folded blanket at the other. Don opened a door just beyond the refrigerator, and turned on the wall switch. The small room Swapper's Rights 83 contained a toilet, wash stand, and a shower. On the mirror of the medicine chest over the washbowl was a small lettered sign: All games over at 11 p.m. Assemble in living room for sandwiches.
"You had this all planned," I commented.
"Yes." He opened the medicine chest door. "Even to basic necessities." His finger pointed to a jar of Vaseline on the shelf. "Have fun."