Chapter 5
Erich and Victor were having problems at home. The brief encounter their mother had with 'Miss Manley had satisfied her long-neglected sexual desire. But after that one encounter, Mrs. Stern once again reverted to her chaste attitude towards sex. She pretended to be above that now, but in face her sexual desires mounted and her frustration increased. She took out her frustrations on the twins, making their lives increasingly miserable. She took out severe punishments for minor transgressions, such as forgetting an item on a grocery store errand. If they did not return home at a designated time, she would send them to their rooms without supper, or would forbid them to go out the next day. She began making them stay home Saturdays. Their lives became miserable.
At school, their friends made fun of them, called them sissies and mamma's boys. They got into fights to prove their masculinity, and when they came home dirty and bruised, Mrs. Stern would punish them for fighting. Their grades dropped. They began plotting to run away from home, but could not think of anywhere to go. At this point, Miss Manley reappeared in their lives. They were walking home from school one day, dirty and bruised after having been beaten up by Bob Wilson. Tney stood at the corner, waiting for the light to change, dreading returning home for more punishment. As they stood waiting, they heard a car horn honking repeatedly. Erich turned, then tugged Victor's arm, and both saw Miss Manley tooting and waving at them.
"It's Miss Manley," Erich said and began walking towards the car. Victor followed.
"Hi Erich, Hi Victor," she called out.
"Hello, Miss Manley," they answered.
"You boys look as if you've been to a rodeo," she laughed.
"We got in a fight," Erich said.
"The other guy must look awful, judging by you two."
They both laughed a little. "We didn't hardly hurt him at all," Victor said. "He's Bob Wilson and he's 15 and a lot bigger."
"I'm sorry to hear it. I hope things are going better for you at home."
They looked at each other and then Erich said, "Things are awful at home. Mom hates us," he growled.
"Well, I'm sorry to hear that too. I'm sure she doesn't really hate you. Mothers don't hate their kids."
"I don't know what's wrong, then," Erich responded. "But I sure don't like going home."
"Cheer up, boys, things will get better," Miss Manley said with a smile. "Why don't you come by and see me? I'm always wondering what's happening with you two. Do you know where I live now?"
They both shook their heads.
"Do you know where Grant Tower is?"
They stared at each other in amazement. "You live there?" Victor asked incredulously. "That's right," she answered. "Just ask for me at the desk. They'll know where I am. I've got to go now. Bye."
"Goodbye," they both said, waving as she drove off.
They walked on in silent wonder for a few minutes, then Erich spoke, "The Grant Tower. I wonder how she can live there?"
"I don't know," Victor said.
"She still likes us," Erich said.
"She invited us to come over," Victor said.
"Maybe...." Erich stopped his sentence without finishing. They both walked on in a dreamy state. When they got home, their mother was waiting for them, having left work early. She saw their state and gave them a harsh scolding for fighting, then sent them to their room until supper. They went dejectedly.
They washed up, first Erich then Victor. Neither knew that the other had Miss Manley on his mind, and neither knew that the other masturbated in the shower. They both lay on their backs on their own beds, staring at the ceiling and thinking of Miss Manley. Finally Erich spoke.
"Do you still want to run away?" he asked.
"More than ever," Victor responded.
"I know where we can go," Erich said.
"Where?" Victor asked.
"To Miss Manley's," Erich said.
Victor sat in silence. The thought had occurred to him too, but it had been too scary a proposition.
"Do you think she'll let us stay with her?" he asked.
"Didn't she invite us?" Erich asked.
"To visit, but not to stay," Victor answered.
"She likes us, and she'll understand, I bet. She knows a lot of things."
"But what if she tells mom," Victor suggested.
Erich thought for a moment, and then answered, "She won't. We didn't tell anything on her when mom caught us, and I bet she won't tell on us now."
"I'm scared. What if she won't let us stay."
"Oh, you're a chicken. If she won't, we'll just come back home. But she said she wanted to do it again, didn't she? She said she liked us and that she liked for us to do it to her. I want to do it to her, and I want to run away from home. I'm gonna go, and you can come if you want or stay if you don't. But you better not tell mom if you stay, that's all I've got to say."
Victor considered the possibilities. If he stayed, he would be forced, probably, to tell where Erich went, and then Erich would never forgive him. And if he went? He did not know what would happen. He decided to go.
"I'll go," he said weakly.
"Bingo," Erich shouted. "We've got to make plans now. We can go after school tomorrow, OK?"
Victor nodded.
"I've got it! I'll sneak out tonight and stash some clothes and stuff under the footbridge over by school. Then we can just go get it after school and go."
"I'll go too," Victor said.
"No, you stay here in case mom comes by. Tell her I'm in the bathroom. OK?"
Victor disliked this part of the plan, but agreed.
"OK, get what you need together," Erich said and began gathering some pants and shirts and underwear. He tied the little bundle in a towel and Victor did the same. Then they put the bundles under their beds. Shortly, their mother called them to supper. They ate in silence, listening to a lecture their mother gave them on the virtures of not fighting and the penalties one must face if he did. They listened but their thoughts were centered on their plan. They finished and were glad when Mrs. Stern sent them up to their room.
They played checkers and waited for darkness to set in. When it was quite dark, Erich crept out the window and Victor handed him the two bundles. "Good luck!" Victor whispered as Erich dashed into the night. Victor turned on the light in the bathroom, closed the door and sat on his bed with a book in front of him. Mrs. Stern walked in.
"Where's Erich? she asked,."
"He's in the bathroom," Victor lied.
"Oh, well, tell him to get on his homework. I see you've already started yours. Good," she said and patted him on the head. She turned and walked out.
Victor's heart was pounding furiously. He rose and walked to the window. No sign of Erich. He paced the room wondering what could have happened. When there was a tap at the window, he jumped and the hair stood out on his head. He whirled and saw Erich waiting outside. He opened the window and Erich crawled in.
'"It's done," Erich said with a grin.
They both lay down on their beds and stared at the ceiling. They slept little the whole night. They woke early the next day and ate breakfast quickly. Their mother kissed them goodbye and they left for school.
They spent an uneasy day in class, fidgetting and daydreaming. Several times they were called upon to answer questions and did not respond because they were lost in erotic fantasies of Miss Manley. It was a day of torment. Fortunately, no one picked a fight with either of them that day, and they met in front of school as planned. They walked to the bridge and found the two bundles Erich had hidden. They took their bundles under their arms and began walking uptown.
They walked long and tiringly, but finally they stood across from the fashionable Grant Tower. They hesitated here for some time, afraid to make the final step. Finally Erich stepped off the curb and walked boldly towards the front door. The doorman looked at them harshly but let them pass. They walked to the front desk, carrying their bundles, and waited there until the man noticed them.
"Yes, what do you two want," he answered severely. They both felt a wave of guilt and shame sweep over the, but Erich managed to reply, "We want to see Miss Manley."
"Oh, you do," he said smartly.
"Yes sir," Erich replied boldly, "She said we should ask for her and you would tell us where to find her."
"Who's looking for her?" the man asked.
"Erich and Victor," Erich said.
"Wait here," he said and walked to a distant phone.
They trembled as they watched him dial a number and speak into the phone and listen. Victor suspected he was calling the police and wanted to run for it, but Erich said they should wait.
Finally, he came back to them and said, "She said she would be down in just a moment. Why don't you have a seat over there and wait," he said, motioning toward a couch against the wall.
They went down and sat down. They waited nervously for an excruciating fifteen minutes when the elevator doors parted and a vivacious Miss Manley stepped out and greeted them.
"Well, hello, you two. I wasn't expecting you so soon. Things must be pretty bad on the home front," she said and smiled.
They both smiled back at her gleefully, feeling relieved that the excruciating wait was over.
"Hello, Miss Manley," Erich said. "Hi," Victor added.
"By the looks of those bundles, I'd say you were running away from home," she observed.
They both looked at each other guilely.
"Well, c'mon up and see where I live," she said and they followed her into the elevator. They went to the last floor listed on the panel, got out and walked down a hall. Miss Manley took a key from her pocket and unlocked it. Behind it was another elevator. They boarded it and went up another flight. It opened onto the living room of John Watkins' penthouse. The boys were astonished.
"Do you like it?" she asked.
"Wow!" was all that either of them could say.
They all sat down and she brought them a snack of sandwiches and soda. Darkness was beginning to set in outside. They ate hungrily as she watched and considered what to do with them. This was the chance she had waited for.
When they had finished their sandwiches, she asked, "Does anyone know you've run away?"
"No," Erich beamed. "We placed it all out and it went just like we planned."
"And here you are," Miss Manley said. "Well, I'm glad you've come."
They were both pleased to hear this. "I'm glad we came, too," Erich replied.
Victor was very quiet and moody.
"Wish you hadn't come, Victor?" Miss Manley asked.
Victor nodded.
"Cheer up. You'll like it. You'll see. Look at Erich, here. He's glad he's come. This is an adventure. Right, Erich?"
"Right," Erich agreed.
They sat in silence for a few minutes. Victor remained moody. Miss Manley said, "If you don't want to stay, you can go, Victor, okay?"
"Okay," Victor replied.
"Well, you two have had a long walk. Would you like to lie down and rest?" she asked.
They both nodded and she led them to Watkins' bedroom. They marveled at the pool and the view, and then sat down on the incredibly soft bed.
"You sure live a good life, Miss Manley," Erich said.
"I think so," she replied. "I have to leave for a little while now. Make yourself comfortable. If you get hungry, there's food in the kitchen. Bye now," she said and left them alone.