Chapter 5
Joe Banning knew that he should have been fairly happy, but he wasn't. This made him uneasy, unsure of himself, and a little nervous. He tried to analyze himself, tried to understand the trouble, but it was not easy to find the proper answers. On what might have been the credit side of his ledger were a number of items. On the debit side were only a few things. The balance should have been much in his favor, but it wasn't. And there was his problem.
For instance, he had a job. It was not much of a job but he had one, and most kids his age didn't. He was making money in addition to his job. Tips, and what might be called a bonus from Olga Parkington. But money wasn't everything. He was healthy, he got along with the gang. He got along with his employer and the others in the drug store. His folks didn't bother him. All these things were in his favor. Definitely, he should have been very well satisfied with himself. But he wasn't.
Why he wasn't happy was hard to explain. He didn't like to have to work until nine-twenty every night, but that was a little thing. He enjoyed but he didn't like his occasional sessions with Olga Parkington. In fact, this relationship disturbed him a lot. Another thing. Serena O'Bannion hadn't sent for him again and that worrier) him. His short evening session with her had been ideal, at least he had thought so. But she hadn't sent for him again, and that upset him. Another thing which disturbed him was his failure with Noel. He had walked her to the river one night and he had gone quite a way with her but she had stopped him before he could go all the way. He wasn't sare he would ever learn why he had failed.
It was strange, but of all the girls around, she was the one he wanted. He didn't know why, but that was the way he felt.
So here he was, Joe Banning, in the summer of his seventeenth year, working, making money, and wanting Noel, but he couldn't get her. Or Serena, who seemed to have forgotten him.
Olga Parkington remembered him too well.
He was dusting some of the back shelves, and being as quiet as he could. He didn't want Mr. Morrell to notice him. Mr. Morrell might think up a harder job. He was like that, a gruff man who liked to show his authority.
It was a dull afternoon. There were not many customers, except at the fountain. There, Carter Harris was busy every moment. Sue Dorchester was on her stool at the cash register. Mr. Morrell was back at his desk. Mr. Kendrick was behind the prescription counter, taking it easy.
From where Joe was dusting he had a good view of Sue's legs, and the bulge of one of her breasts. But then he had seen a better view of her legs than this, and a better view of her breasts. He would probably never forget how she had looked flat on the floor in the back aisle of the supply room with Mr. Morrell stepping aside to adjust his clothing. What a scene! What a tumble!
Joe wondered, idly, how many times the scene had been repeated. And how many times Mr. Kendrick had been one of the principals. He had never seen Mr. Kendrick in action.
He wondered about another thing. Did Mr. Morrell and Mr. Kendrick know about each other's interest in Sue Dorchester? A very nice question. Who came first so far as Sue was concerned? What chance would he have with Sue? What would she be like if he got his chance? How could he approach her?
These were nothing but speculative questions to occupy his thoughts. None of this was very important to him. He was almost sure he would never make out with Sue. He didn't know how to approach her. She treated him like a child, like someone who wasn't important. If he tried to proposition her she would laugh. He was sure of that.
The telephone rang. Mr. Morrell answered it, made some notes on a pad, then went out and selected several items and packaged them. After that he called Joe.
"Here's an order to be delivered," Morrell said. "But you're to deliver it on your way home, after nine. Don't forget it."
"Where is it?" Joe asked.
"The Kim-Bar Towers."
He took a quick breath. Serena O'Brannion lived in the Kim-Bar Towers. If this was an order for her and if he was to make the delivery after nine, he wouldn't have to return to the drug store. He would have the rest of the evening off, which would be wonderful.
Mr. Morrell spoke again. "This is for a Mrs. O'Bannion. I wonder if I don't know her. The name seems familiar."
Joe looked away. The world was suddenly beautiful. He thought, Maybe you know her, Mr. Morrell, but you don't know her like I do. She has a mole just below the ribs on the right side. What do you think of that?
With that one thought he wiped Mr. Morrell out of his mind, made him small. It was funny how important you could be just by thinking.
He had a date for tonight, a sub rosa date, but it was very real. Very exciting. Serena hadn't forgotten him. At this moment he felt as important as Mr. Morrell, and much taller.
Mr. Morrell left at about eight o'clock, following a telephone conversation with his wife. What had happened to call him away Joe could guess. And he didn't care except that if Mr. Morrell had to leave before closing time, then Mr. Kendrick was in charge. And if Mr. Kendrick stayed after nine, and persuaded Sue to stay, and if Joe wasn't there to sweep out, then what might happen between Sue and Mr. Kendrick?
He didn't care, really, but this was a nice question, and during the last hour he watched Mr. Kendrick, and Sue, and he wasn't much surprised when Mr. Kendrick and Sue had a whispered conversation.
She shook her head.
Mr. Kendrick insisted on something, or he seemed to be insisting on something. Sue shook her head again.
Mr. Kendrick went on talking and this time Sue seemed to be thinking. Then she said something and Mr. Kendrick straightened a little.
He said something more, then he went back to the prescription counter and disappeared behind it.
Sue looked thoughtful.
Joe thought, They've made a deal, or maybe Sue is just thinking about a deal. We'll see what happens at closing time.
At nine o'clock, Mr. Kendrick called him and said, "Joe, how about this order? You're supposed to deliver it as soon as possible after nine."
"I'll deliver it," Joe said.
"You'd better get started."
"Aren't you going to close up?"
"I will. I still have some things to do."
Sue was still at the cash register, busy at something. Usually she was ready to leave promptly at nine. Tonight she was taking her time. Joe nodded to himself. He thought he knew what was going to happen after he left and after they locked the door. Sue would make a trip to the rear of the supply room. Mr. Kendrick would be there, too. And tonight he'd get what he wanted.
That might be a good tumble, but not as good as the one he was headed for-he hoped. Why hadn't Serena called him before? What would she say when he appeared at the door? What would happen before he left? He was so excited he was out of breath before he had walked a block. Crossing the next street he was almost hit by a car. He was that anxious.
Serena answered the door. Her smile dazzled him. And what she was wearing made his heart jump. The first time he had been here she had been in shorts and a halter, and she had shown him a lot of tanned skin and a few beautiful curves. Tonight he could see hardly any of her skin. She was wearing a pale blue negligee, of some soft material that swayed in the draft of air from the corridor and was so thin it hid hardly any of her body. He could look right through the gown. He tried to say something but he couldn't.
Serena laughed. "Come on in, Joe. I've missed you."
He had dropped his eyes. He had been looking at her breasts, at the curve of her hips, at the shape of her legs. But now he made himself raise his head and he said, "You didn't call. I kept waiting but you didn't call."
"I couldn't call you," Serena said. "Oliver has been here, but tonight he's gone. He'll be away for a week. Won't that be wonderful? Come on in and close the door."
He stepped inside, closed the door, and then he just stood there. He knew he was supposed to step forward and take the woman in his arms. All the signs said that, yet he hesitated. She was so beautiful, so desirable, so completely a woman it was hard to realize that she was his. At least, his for a night. No, for a week. An entire week. This was too amazing to be real.
She raised her arms and her voice sounded puzzled. "Don't you want me?"
He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "I-I of course I do."
He walked toward her and took her into his arms, and that was strange, but as soon as he had her in his arms, he seemed to grow in stature so that he was more important, more dominant. He found her lips, and kissed her, and that was a very satisfactory kiss, so intense that left him breathless.
She drew away for a moment, finally, and she was almost out of breath herself but she could still say, "Are we going to stand here all evening?"
He shook his head. "No. Not all evening."
"Then get rid of that package you're holding and that's digging me in the back, and take me to the bedroom."
He released her for a moment, found a table on which to place the package, and turned back and slipped his arm around her waist. He led her toward the bedroom. With more practice he would have lifted her into his arms, but he was pretty new at this kind of relationship.
The lights in the bedroom were low. He looked around noticing the bed, the furniture. He remembered this place quite well. He remembered crouching on the bed, rubbing Serena's back.
He would never forget that moment. The sight of her breasts, so near and so perfect. All he could do was stare at them. He had even been afraid to touch them until Serena had taken his hand and put that on one of the soft, warm mounds.
But he had learned quickly from that moment. He wouldn't hesitate tonight. He wasn't afraid of her any more, and, more important, he was no longer unsure of himself. He knew what she expected. He knew what he could do.
She pointed to the bed. "See. I have the covers turned down. Wasn't that thoughtful?"
"Very thoughtful," Joe said. "And I like what you're wearing. That makes, you look more beautiful."
She seemed pleased. "You like this? Really?"
"Very much, but I'm going to take that off."
She laughed and leaned against him. "I expected you would."
"Right now," Joe said.
They had reached the bed and now he turned her and for a moment his fingers struggled with the tie-strings at the throat of her negligee. Then he opened them, pushed the folds back, and let the gown slide from her shoulders and arms. There was no garment beneath, and he couldn't help pulling her into his arms again.
The woman submitted, but then she made a protest. "Your clothes are rough. That would be a lot better if they were gone."
"That's what's going to happen next," Joe promised. And he second her into his arms, put her on the bed, and started undressing.
She had turned on her side, toward him, and she watched with a frank interest as he undressed. Briefly, he was embarrassed, but he knew he shouldn't feel that way. If her unclothed body didn't worry her, why should he feel any different?
That didn't take long to get undressed, and get onto the bed, and take Serena into his arms again. She had pulled up a light covering and that was strange how much more exciting that was when they were really in bed.
He kissed her again and he made that a real kiss, but at the same time one of his hands was on her breasts, touching them gently, shaping up the sides, rubbing over the nipples. He felt them grow and lift up, and he could sense her growing excitement.
Her own hands were busy, just as before. They reached along his body, touching him possessively. And if that was fair for her, the same was fair for him, so he touched her the same way.
He did something else, and this was on his own. He moved his head against her breasts. This seemed to make her almost crazy. Her head started rolling and he thought, Now is the time! He didn't want to leave her breasts. He had found them very interesting. But they weren't going away. They would still be there later. The evening was very, very young.
He swung closer to her, then let her guide him. She had moved her arms to clutch him around the shoulders, and she kept moving, constantly. There was a pattern to the way she moved. He picked up the same rhythm.
But he couldn't do that very long. The excitement which had been piling up for him got to be too much to be controlled. He tried to hold back, he did for a time, then he had to let go, and this was a very good moment.
That seemed to be very. good for her, too.
The excitements rushed away, but not the good feeling of satisfaction, the pleasure of a quiet relaxation.
He spoke slowly. "Mind if I don't move?"
She shook her head. "Stay as long as you want to."
He was silent for a moment, then he said. "Your breasts-T kind of neglected them."
"I didn't think so."
"But I did. You know. I think I like them."
"They're just breasts."
"No. They're special," Joe said. "They'll always be special."
He felt wonderful, satisfied, relaxed. After a time he rolled away a bit but he drew her into his arms and that was pleasant to hold her, particularly since he was holding her breasts. She smelled very nice, too, and she was warm and soft, and she nestled against him as though she belonged there.
For a long time they didn't talk, they just rested. Joe did a little thinking. He had one uncomfortable moment, realizing that Serena was much older than he and that she was married, and that he couldn't have her whenever he wanted her. But that was the way life was. Not many things were perfect. You adjusted yourself to the facts which faced you. You made the best deals you could. Serena didn't belong to him. She never could. But if he could have her occasionally, that would be fine.
One or two other things worried him. Serena was beautiful, desirable, and still young. Surely she could have had her choice of a hundred lovers, more mature, more attractive. Why then had she picked him? He didn't know. He might never know the answer. Another thing. Who was she, really? He didn't know how she thought, what she believed, what she was like.
She stirred in his arms, stretched, turned toward him, then spoke and she sounded sleepy. "I think I must have been napping."
"You were," Joe answered.
"Umm. Did I snore?"
"Not even once."
"Maybe you slept."
"Almost."
"I think that would be nice to sleep with you all night. Do you have to go home?"
"I ought to telephone my parents. I can say I am staying with a friend."
"Do you want to?"
"Yes I do, very much. That is, I want to stay if-if-"
"If it's safe? Don't worry. You have nothing to worry about. Oliver won't be back. I am sure of that. But if you stay you might not get much sleep. I might keep you awake."
He laughed easily. "I might do that to you."
"Mmm. You're nice."
"Only that?"
"You're very good, and that's all I'll say."
He smiled, and reached out and touched one of her breasts and he had forgotten all about the difference in their ages. He seemed to be aware of a new confidence in himself. He and Serena went together very well.
She spoke his name. "Joe-"
"What?"
"I want you to like me, but not too much. We can have most of the next week, but then I don't know. For days I won't be able to see you."
He frowned, but nodded. "I know."
"I want you to love me but I don't want you to fall in love with me. There is a difference."
He was silent, weighing what she had said.
She spoke again. "I want to tell you a little about me. I am a very much married woman. Oliver is older than me, but I like him very much. We get along quite well. I don't want to disturb our relationship. We are good, companions, Oliver and I. We don't have much of a time in bed, but that's all right. Do you understand what I am saying?"
"I think so."
"You don't hate me for wanting you like this?"
"Why should I?"
He was thinking, thinking hard. He wasn't sure he was right, but he thought Serena had chosen him because he was young enough to be safe. He was old enough to give her all the exercise she needed in bed, but he wasn't old enough to complicate her life.
That added up. He was being used.
But if he was being used, he was using her, too. And he was learning. At the same time this was fun.
"There's a telephone over there on the bed stand," Serena said. "Do you want to telephone your folks and explain you won't be home?"
He nodded. "Sure, I'll call them."
"Are you sure you want to?"
"Of course I am."
"I just want you to be sure," Serena said. "If you make that telephone call and decide to stay, I'm going to get up and turn off all the lights, then get in bed with you, and I won't give you a minute's peace. Are you hat brave, and reckless?"
Joe grinned. He was really doing very well. He said, "Start turning off the lights. I'll make my telephone call and I'll be ready for you. I'm not afraid of you, not a bit."
Sue Dorchester had half expected the proposition Howard Kendrick made that night when Mr. Morrell had to go home at eight. His departure left the closing of the store to Kendrick, and she knew that Joe could stay tonight to do the cleaning. That meant that at nine promptly, the doors could be locked. And if Howard could persuade her to stay for a time-
Definitely, she would say no.
Definitely, she did, when he suggested that she help him a little tonight, after closing.
This was just an excuse, but he said, "Sue, I'm a little behind in the records I've got to keep. If you could stay a little while after we close the store-"
Her lips twitched. "No deal, Howard."
"I wouldn't keep you long."
"You mean you'd rush. No thanks."
He frowned at her, then looked away. "I suppose you still want a room in a first-class hotel."
"Why not? I'm no tramp."
"I know that. It's just-it's just hard to walk into a first-class hotel and take a room with no baggage. We wouldn't have a chance."
"Then you don't have a chance."
He hesitated, then lowered his voice. "I'm going to tell you something I never want you to repeat. I don't do this often and you could never prove it, but the other day I sold some medicine without a prescription. I picked up an extra twenty dollars. Wouldn't twenty dollars buy you a pretty nice dress?"
She was startled. And she was angered. What kind of a person did Howard think she was? A hustler?
Someone who could be bought? Not at all. She wasn't like that. She wanted to reach out and slap Howard on the face but she didn't. Joe Banning was watching them. If she started anything-
Howard was still talking. "Don't get mad at me, Sue. Don't get me wrong. The only reason I took a chance to sell the medicine was that I needed the twenty to rent a room. Are you listening to me? Are you?"
She had stiffened. "I don't know."
"I took a chance," Howard said. "I sold some morphine without a prescription. I could go to jail for that, but I thought that if I could pick up twenty dollars extra I could afford a hotel room. Then I got to thinking. We need more than twenty dollars. We need baggage and a reservation, and all that takes time. Instead of spending the twenty dollars, why not just give the cash to you?"
She took a sharp breath. "I told you-"
"I know what you told me. A bed in a first-class hotel. And you can have that. I'll dig up the baggage, I'll phone for a reservation. But it seems it might be a lot more practical to give you the twenty dollars. Think about it, anyhow."
He turned away, walked to his place behind the prescription counter, and Sue thought, Never! What does he think I am? She raised her head and saw that Joe Banning was still watching her. There was a too-knowing look in his eyes, a smirk on his lips. He seemed to be reading her mind, and he might have been doing that. But not completely. Not this thought. I'll stay some night with him. I'll get him in the back of the store, and make him scream for mercy. That's what he needs-someone to cut him down to size.
But she didn't go on thinking about Joe. She tried not to think about anything. It was well after eight.
Soon it would be nine and she could go home to Carl. But Carl would be smothered by his work. Or if he didn't work he would pile into bed and fall asleep. He might even be too tired to kiss her good night.
She could go to Carl, and Carl was like nothing.
There had been a time when she could go to Ed Yorty, but Ed's wife was back home again, and he wasn't available.
Of course, that should have been all right. She had a place to go tonight. She even had a husband, and if he wasn't very loving it was because he was working for the future. Someday, Carl would have time for her. Maybe.
She looked toward Howard and she wondered what that would be like if she stayed. At least she would get a little attention, and twenty dollars. Twenty dollars! Why not? She could use twenty dollars, and if she took it, who else would know anything-about it? She had taken a tumble from Arthur Morrell, but that had been a business proposition. She hadn't let him touch her since. She had gone to bed with Ed Yorty because she wanted to. Now, if she let Howard take her, and if she accepted the twenty dollars, did that make her a pro? No, not at all. A pro was in business. She wasn't like that at all.
She knew right now what she was going to do, but she didn't yet admit that to herself. She was going to stay tonight, and take the twenty dollars. But the twenty dollars was extra. She was going to stay chiefly because of some need which was crying for attention.
What had her life become? Dull. Routine. Unexciting. She had a home and a husband, but her husband was too busy to notice her and her home was ugly, uninspiring. She worked on a dreary job. There was no sparkle in her life, nothing to keep her going. But if she spent an extra half hour with Howard in the back of the supply room, at least she would be manhandled, and that was always fun. She didn't know what that would be like to be tumbled by Howard, but that might turn out to be a ball.
Sue was doing a nice bit of rationalizing, but she didn't think about it that way. She was reaching for a justification of what she meant to do. How important was the twenty dollars? She didn't know. Maybe very important, but she would accept it casually, as something extra. Nice but not really necessary.
It was nine o'clock. Carter Harris, who ran the fountain, left right on the button. Joe followed him with the package he had to deliver. Sue took more time, checking the cash register tape with the cash, and getting the cash ready to be deposited in the floor safe. She was a little excited. She still hadn't admitted to herself what she meant to do, but she knew what she would do when Howard walked toward her.
She would hesitate.
Maybe she would be persuaded to stay. Maybe-
He walked toward her, touched her shoulder lightly. "Should I lock up, Sue?"
She didn't raise her head. "I haven't finished."
"If I don't lock up, someone will walk in."
"Then maybe you'd better lock up."
He turned away, walked to the front door, locked it, and clicked off most of the lights. There was still a light at the cash register. It would stay on all night. There were still lights in the prescription department.
Howard walked back, came up beside her and he was smiling. "Are you going to stay for a time?"
She took a deep breath. "I might."
He held out his hand. "Here. Take this. Look after it. I'd hate to spend it on a hotel room, although that might be fun some time."
Sue took the folded bill he was offering her. She slipped it into her purse and she had one bad moment-thinking. Now I've been bought, and paid for. But not if I don't feel that way. Not if I don't make a practice of this.
"Want to go back with me?" Howard asked.
She didn't answer but she nodded. She know where she was going. Back out of sight from the window into the rear of the supply room. They would be on the hard floor, like two animals.
She knew this, and that was amazing, hut she was looking forward to what would happen. She was excited, thrilled, and she knew she shouldn't feel that way, but she did. She wanted to be manhandled. She wanted to be loved, she wanted to be tumbled and she hoped Howard wouldn't be too gentle.
Why did she feel that way?
Maybe she was just a normal woman who felt the need of being wanted, of being desired, of being used. She wasn't getting love at home, so she had to get that somewhere else.
Howard led the way around the prescription counter. He clicked out all but one light, then led her on to the back aisle, and turned and took her in his arms. He had done that before.
He kissed her and he did that very well, but he had done that before.
He got his hand under the top of her dress and he plundered her breasts, and he had done that before.
Then he got her down onto the floor, eased her down slowly, and this was new. But this was in the program for the evening and she offered no objections.
You can love almost anywhere. You can love on the hard boards of a floor, and that can even be exciting. Arthur Morrell had taken her that way, but he had been in a hurry, and he hadn't been much fun. Howard was much better. He wasn't in any hurry. He was interested in her breasts. His hands were interested: so was his kiss. He took a little time right there and Sue loved that. He even got a little rough, which was all right. This was what she had wanted.
Then he reached under the hem of her dress, and when he started in that direction that took him about six seconds to reach all the way to the top of her panties, and to pull them down. Up to this point he hadn't been hurrying, but for a time, now, he would be. He was ready. And she was ready, too.
He crawled to her and he seemed very well satisfied. He moved and she was aware of the hard boards of the floor bruising her. She was quite aware of that but she couldn't help what was happening.
Who cared about bruises? Things were happening for her, exciting things, exploding feelings, a roaring river of pleasure. She was being tossed along and she never wanted to stop.
Finally she had to, but that was wonderful, and very promptly Howard moved away.
Then he crouched beside her. "Are you all right?"
"I think so." She smiled crookedly.
"I didn't mean to hurt you. I must have gotten excited."
"I'm sure you did. Let me see if I can sit up."
She did, and with no trouble. She knew she might find a few sore spots tomorrow, but after all, this had been worth that. You didn't get anything in this world for nothing.
He sounded worried. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"I'll live, Howard. But next time-"
"Yes, I know. Next time, a bed."
He stood up, straightened his clothing, and she was annoyed by how simple that was for a man. After an affair like this a woman always had to readjust her brassiere, put on her panties and maybe a girdle. Then she had to fix her hair. Things were never fair between the sexes. The man always had the advantage.
Howard helped her up, then, man-like, he looked away while she put on her panties and smoothed down her dress. Before the session he wouldn't have looked away but now that this was over he was acting the gentleman.
And what he did next was typical. He drew her into his arms, comfortingly, gently, and with all the compassion in the world. He was adjusting his passions to the moment. At the height of his excitement he had been a little rough. This was to make up.
He kissed her on the forehead. "That was wonderful, Sue. More wonderful than I thought that could be. I know you have to leave but I wish you didn't have to."
"I wish we had something better than the floor," Sue answered.
"You mean you would stay."
"I might."
"Then you're not mad, not disgusted?"
"Why should I be disgusted? I know what a floor is like."
He showed a touch of excitement, of real interest. He hugged her tight and he said, "Know what I'm going to do? I'm going to raise another twenty dollars, or more, and we're going to set up that room."
She frowned at him. "You're married, and so am I."
"Maybe so, but we can work that out. I know we can."
She was still frowning. "You'll have to let me know ahead of time."
"I'll let you know."
A few minutes later she left. It was just after nine-thirty. The entire affair hadn't taken any more time than she had expected. She felt a little bruised, but not badly, and she felt very much at ease, most of her tensions gone. That had been a good tumble, a little rough, but she had wanted him to be like that.
She had an extra twenty dollars, too. A fee, if you wanted to call it that. But that really hadn't been a fee. That was a payment for the bruises she had taken, a well earned twenty dollars. And she had enjoyed herself, too.
This was very fine and nothing to worry about, but what lay ahead? What if she got all wound up in another week, and if Carl went on neglecting her, and if she looked around and saw an available man. What then?
That was a knotty question. She didn't want to search for the answer. She was afraid of what that answer might be.
Joe Banning had spent three very pleasant nights with Serena. And he had learned a number of things he hadn't expected to.
Little things, but they were not little things in Serena's mind-gentleness, and when to be rough, the vital importance of making good love, and of not being in a hurry.
They talked sometimes and, gradually, Joe found out a little about Serena's life. From several dates she mentioned he figured she was thirty and that she and Oliver had been married for three years. Oliver was much older than she was, and he was wealthy. He was also kind and good and she was fond of him, not only of his money.
Joe believed that. From other things Serena had said, be gathered that she had grown up in a poverty-stricken family, that she had fled from that into marriage with a man who had been cruel and sadistic. She had run away from him and had been on the verge of walking the streets when Oliver had picked her up.
Good old Oliver, She wouldn't want to hurt him, ever. But this didn't hurt him. His passions had run out. In sleeping with Joe she wasn't stealing anything from Oliver.
"I've only lied to him once," Serena said. "I told him I hated men, never wanted to have anything to do with another man. But of course that isn't true. I miss things like this, a man in my bed. After all, I'm just normal."
After one night with Serena, Joe was in love with her. After two more nights he could think of nothing else. He was seventeen and she was thirty, but he would have married her tomorrow. How he would be able to give her up when Oliver came home he couldn't imagine. He found he was starting to hate the man she had married. Maybe he was kind and sweet and never touched her, never put her to bed, but he still held the control of her life and that was intolerable.
He wanted her himself. He wanted Serena to be his, forever. If he could have wiped Oliver off the earth he would have done so. If an accident could have happened to him, he would have been quite happy.
It hadn't occurred to him to wonder if Serena was in love with him. Or if she was using him.
He had had three nights with Serena. He was going to have three more. Three more wonderful nights. He walked toward the drug store in a fog of pleasure, everything around him beautiful, but on the corner a block away he met Mrs. Olga Parkington, and she was enough to jolt him awake.
Serena was the stuff of which dreams are made. Olga wasn't. Olga was a shock of reality. She was a ten dollar fee for a bed session. He didn't want her now. He wasn't interested in what she could offer, but there she was, blocking his way. He couldn't dodge around her. He couldn't pretend she wasn't there.
A short, stocky, unpleasant looking woman, she had gray, frizzy hair and her face was caked with makeup. Too much lipstick, too much perfume. And a flabby body. He knew her body too well. She said, "Hello, Joe. I missed you last night."
He had completely forgotten he was supposed to be at her apartment last night. With Serena in his mind he could think of nothing else, and-right now he couldn't come up with a good lie.
"Well, Joe?" Her voice was reproving.
"My-my brother's at the hospital," Joe said. "I've had to go and see him every night."
"You could have stopped by at my place afterward."
"No. I have to take my mom home, then I have to look after her. She's frightened about my brother. She cries."
"I'm very sorry about your brother."
He nodded, and he was suddenly proud of the story he had come up with. It sounded good. It could even be spread out to cover the next three nights, three nights with Serena.
"He'll be at the hospital at least three more days," he mentioned. "After that-"
"After that you'll remember me?"
He scowled at the sidewalk. "It isn't my fault my brother got sick."
"No, I suppose not. But I don't like being neglected. I think I may go to Miami for a few months."
"You mean-"
"I don't like being neglected, Joe, I don't care what the reason. If you can't find a way to stop by tonight-"
"I'll see what I can do."
She reached into her purse, took out some money a five and a ten. She crumpled the bills together then held them out to him. She said, "Here, Joe."
He shook his head. "No. I can't take that. If I can't get there-"
"I want to make sure you'll be there. Or if you can't, I want a substitute."
"A-a substitute!" He was startled.
There was a hard, glistening look in her eyes. "Yes, that's what I said, Joe. A substitute. But I don't want just anyone. Maybe one of your friends."
He took the money, put it in his pocket, and he was amazed. He had never thought he would run into a proposition such as this, but maybe he shouldn't have been surprised at all. He had gone to Olga's bed four times in two weeks, and she was a hungry woman. Hers was a crazy way to enjoy love, but she surely wanted what she wanted, and if he couldn't supply what she wanted, almost anyone else would do.
Any young man.
She would pay for him, too, just as some men would pay for a woman.
Maybe there wasn't anything unusual about that at all.
She was watching him closely. "Well, Joe?"
"I'll see what I can do."
"I'm counting on you, Joe."
"I know."
"I'd rather that was you. I like you very much, Joe. I would always rather that was you. But if you can't be there, then I want someone else. Do you understand?"
He gulped, and nodded, and watched her move away, and he thought, That's what I've become. A contact. Olga's contact to a group of young men who van be suborned and who can be used, who can feed her hungers. If I can't satisfy her, then I'm supposed to find someone else.
He couldn't go. Serena was first in his life. She was first tonight. He couldn't go to Olga and then to Serena. Olga would have drained him of all desires. No, he had to find a substitute, one of the gang who might like a new experience. If he could set this up just right-
He walked on slowly, thinking about whom he could try, and although he hadn't been particularly thinking about Chuck Wales, he ran into him about halfway down the block. Chuck was just his own age, tall, thin, not unattractive. He was supposed to know his way around but he didn't go steady with anyone. He tried to hang around Noel but without much success which Joe approved. Someday he meant to get Noel himself.
He waved a hand. "Hi there, Chuck. How's everything going?"
"Nothing new." Chuck shrugged. "You won't believe it but I sort of wish school would start again."
"It'll start soon enough."
"One more year for you and for me and then what? The cruel, cruel world."
"And a job you don't want."
Chuck grinned. "No. I'd like a job. An easy job like yours."
"I do meet a few interesting people," Joe said ... "Yeah?"
"Women."
"Who are you kidding?"
"I'm not kidding," Joe said. "Can you keep something to yourself?"
"Sure. I don't blab."
"I met a woman the other night. I was delivering some medicines. It was about nine o'clock at night. I didn't have to go back to the store. This woman who answered the door wasn't much to look at, short and chunky, and maybe forty. But not bad at that. She invited me in."
"Yeah. I don't believe you." Chuck's eyes had widened.
"She sure did. She asked me to come in. Then she said her back was hurting and could I rub that. She said she was all alone and, well, she got me into the bedroom-and man, oh, man!"
"You mean she was that good?"
"Not good the way you mean. She got me onto the bed and she really took me. She was really something. I just met her on the corner. She wants me to see her again tonight, but I can't. I'm already in trouble at home."
"So what are you going to do about her?"
"I don't know. I want to go but I can't." Chuck rose to the bait perfectly. "Why don't you send me?"
"You! She'd wear out, Chuck!"
"Maybe I wouldn't mind. How about that?"
"I don't know. She might not like you."
"Bet I'm as good as you are."
"Maybe you are, but I'd have to ask her, talk to her. I should try, anyhow."
"That's the idea, Joe. Talk to her."
Joe hesitated and then nodded. "All right, I'll get away this afternoon for a minute and talk to her. I'll try to sell her on the idea. You really want to try her?"
"Why not?"
"All right, then I'll try to set that up," Joe said. "But just remember this. You asked me."
"Sure, I'm asking," Chuck said. "I can take whatever you can."
He seemed pleased, excited, and he walked on toward the drug store with Joe, asking more details about Olga.. Joe mentioned everything but the money. Olga's fifteen dollars was nicely nestled in his pocket and he meant to keep it there.
In the late afternoon he telephoned Olga about Chuck. She sounded pleased. A little later Chuck came in and he told him everything was set for the night. He gave him Olga's address, and he said, gruffly, "Don't back out, Chuck. If you do-"
"Who's gonna back out?" Chuck answered. "I want to try this woman of yours."
That was that. Joe was rather pleased with himself. A few more days and he could go back to Olga himself. But he didn't want to. It was Serena he wanted. If he couldn't have her he would dream about her. And wait. Definitely, he didn't want Olga.
In the early evening he was asked to make a delivery to a Matt Kroeger who lived in a nearby apartment house. He recognized the name instantly. He had made a delivery there some time ago. On that occasion, the man had suggested that he must know a lot of girls who lived around there. When he had admitted it, the man made a tentative proposition-that he might be able to help him pick up a girl. A young girl. He had said he liked them young. Joe had. said he wasn't sure what he could and Matt Kroeger had made the proposition more definite. "You like money, don't you. This might be worth ten bucks to you."
Those might not have been the man's exact words, but that had been the sense of what he had said. Then he had dropped things but had said he would see Joe later.
He hadn't. But he might say something tonight, and Joe was a little uneasy as he headed for Kroeger's. He wasn't sure he could do what the man wanted.
He reached the man's apartment, rang the bell, and when the door was opened, held out the package. "Here's your order from the drug store. Three eighty."
"Three eighty, huh?" The man nodded. "Come on in, kid. I'll see if I've got that much money."
Joe stepped inside, closed the door. He had discovered it was foolish to refuse to step inside someone's door. Breaking a rule had given him Serena.
Matt Kroeger reached into his billfold, took out a five dollar bill and held it toward Joe. "I reckon you can use the extra money. Keep it."
"Thank you very much, sir," Joe said promptly.
"Your name is Joe something, isn't it?" . "Joe Banning."
"That's right. I remember. We talked about a girl, didn't we?"
"Not exactly," Joe said. "You said-"
"I remember. You said you knew most of the kids around here, and maybe you could dig up someone for me. Isn't that right?"
"I said I wasn't sure I could."
"But you might."
"I don't know exactly what you mean."
The man laughed. He was a big man, wide-shouldered. He looked powerful and he was well dressed. He might have been about forty. "You don't have to know exactly what I mean. Let me worry about that. You just provide the girl."
"What kind of girl?"
"A live one, kid. One who's pretty and who can laugh and who knows how to have fun. One about your age, sixteen or seventeen. No older than that. I like 'em young. I'll bet you know a dozen who are like that."
"Maybe so, but-"
"But what, kid? What's holding you back?" He took a deep breath. "What should I say to them?"
"To them? Don't say anything to them. Pick out one-a live one, a pretty one, one of the fast crowd if you know what I mean."
Joe nodded. He was thinking of Debby Roth. She had been around plenty. She might go for a thing like this. Or Dell Underhill might. She was another.
"How about it, kid?" Kroeger asked, and he reached for his billfold again, took out a ten and gave it to Joe. "This is for you."
Joe took the ten, and he thought, Why not? All I have to do is pass on a message, tell Debby about this man. Or Dell. If one or the other wants to take a chance, why should I worry?
He put the ten dollars in his pocket.
"I want her tomorrow night, at eight," Kroeger said. "A live one, pretty, and about seventeen. Don't make any mistakes, kid."
"I'll do what I can," Joe said.
He turned to go and he didn't realize it, but today he had entered into a new profession. He had become a procurer.