Chapter 7
Joe Banning had an extra ten dollars in his pocket. It had been given to him by Matt Kroeger, as a fee. For the ten dollars he was supposed to supply Kroeger with a girl, young and pretty, and there wasn't much question why Kroeger wanted her. He had said he would treat her well and he had implied he would pay her, but he hadn't been specific about that. He wanted the girl tomorrow night, at eight-thirty.
In weighing the possibilities, Joe had decided to talk, first, to Debby. She would meet Kroeger's qualifications and she knew her way around. As long as a year ago she had been supposed to be an easy make. He hadn't made out with her, then, and Hugo Tennyson had moved into the picture and started dating her steady. But in spite of that he didn't think she had sold herself to Hugo. It might be she wouldn't be interested in Kroeger's proposition, or she might be very interested. Anyhow, he could try her out.
In the early evening he saw Debby at the fountain, but he was busy and when he could get away, she was gone. He went outside, looked around, but didn't see her.
Mary Riley was there and he asked, "What happened to Debby?"
"She just went off with Hugo," Mary said. "I thought he was in jail."
"I guess he got out."
Joe frowned. If Debby and Hugo had just left there was a good chance they wouldn't be back. Hugo had left his folks. He had settled down in one of the condemned houses which was vacant and supposedly boarded up. At least that was the story. Debby probably knew where it was and she might be there, but that didn't help him.
"Another couple left a little while ago," Mary said, and her voice was bitter. "Chuck and Noel."
Joe frowned. Chuck had a date tonight, with Olga Parkington. He had promised to keep it. He had said he would be there by nine. It was now after eight.
"They'll be back," he muttered, and he hoped he was right.
"They went toward the river," Mary said.
"They'll be back," Joe said, and he went inside.
He was annoyed. Nothing seemed to be iroin" right. He had planned to see Debby but she had left and he probably wouldn't be able to see her until tomorrow. Then, Chuck had agreed to take on Olga but he had disappeared with Noel. Here was a third thing he didn't like, Chuck and Noel walking off together. He was interested' in Noel himself.
Joe was headed for another disappointment that night. At a little before nine he was summoned to the telephone. Some woman wanted to talk to him. She had told Mr. Morrell that it was an emergency.
It was. The voice on the other end of the line was Serena's. She said very little, three short sentences. "Don't come by tonight. Oliver is back. I will call you when I can."
Joe hung up, and a chill ran down his back. What if he had gone to Serena's and had been on her bed when Oliver came home? That was something to think about. The role of a lover might have a rosy side, but at the same time it was a dangerous road.
Mr. Morrell spoke sternly. "You know I do not approve of private telephone conversations over a business telephone."
"It was my mother," Joe said. "T wasn't going home but she's quite ill."
"Hmm. I hope she's not so ill you won't be here tomorrow."
"No, I'll make it," Joe said.
He turned away and he was sick at heart. This was a hard, rough world. Too hard and too rough. Serena was a wonderful person. He was in love with her all the way. He wanted her for himself but he knew that such a thing was impossible. Oliver was back. And while he was home, Joe wouldn't be able to go near the woman he loved.
Another thing worried him. Serena had said that she and Oliver lived a platonic life, but secretly he was afraid that was not true. Serena was so beautiful and so delightful that even an aging husband couldn't have left her alone.
Joe was so upset over his telephone call that he went home that night without remembering to worry about Debby, whom he wanted to see, Chuck, who was supposed to have kept a date with Olga, and Noel, whom he put next to Serena in his affections.
But he remembered in the morning. He remembered Debby because he had an unearned ten dollars in his pocket. He remembered Noel uneasily. And he remembered Chuck when he met him on the street and noticed how he was grinning.
"How was last night?" he asked bluntly.
"Not bad. Not bad at all," Chuck said.
"How old do you think she is?"
"How old! Oh, you mean-I never got there."
"You never got there! But you promised."
"Something happened."
"What?"
Chuck didn't seem at all embarrassed. "Just one of those things you can't help. I've been working on an item a long time. Last night she paid off."
He was talking about Noel. Joe knew that because of what Mary Riley had said, but he didn't want to believe that. Chuck was boasting. Noel wouldn't have gone for a guy like Chuck. He was almost sure of that.
He made a vague motion. "You made a promise but you didn't keep it."
"I couldn't help it."
"What about tonight?"
"I might be busy with the same item."
"Noel?" Joe looked straight at him.
"Could be her. You know how I feel about Noel."
"She wouldn't go for you."
"What makes you think so? Just because you didn't get anywhere doesn't prove anything."
Joe wanted to step forward and smash Chuck in the face, but that wouldn't get him anywhere. The best thing he could think of was not to believe what Chuck had said.
He muttered something and brushed on, heading in the direction of the drug store. But he was interrupted again. A small nemjsis was waiting for him on the next corner. It was in the shape of Mrs. Olga Parkington.
She wasn't smiling, and she held out her hand. "I believe you have some money of mine."
He spoke quickly. "Everything got fouled up last night. The guy who was supposed to show up lost the address."
"The money, please." She was still holding out her hand.
"I don't have the money," Joe said.
He did, but he wanted to keep it. Money was a very important commodity.
The woman didn't bend an inch. "What should I do, Joe? Talk to your employer? Possibly I couldn't reclaim my money, but I could cause you trouble."
That was true enough. At any complaint, Mr. Morrell walked all over him. He never had a chance against a customer, and Olga was a customer. He made a quick decision. Serena was lost to him, at least for the moment, and if what Chuck had said was true, he had lost out with Noel. That left him out on the beach, and on his own, and he could think of one course he could follow. He looked down. "How would that be if I saw you tonight?"
Some of the sternness left her voice. "You mean that, Joe?"
"Sure I do."
"And the other young man?" He raised his head. "You mean you want him, too?"
"Some other night."
"All right," Joe said. "I guess I can get him."
"But tonight I can depend on you."
"About nine-twenty."
She nodded crisply. Joe thought, I never should have gotten mixed up with her even for the money.
But that was still easy money and a guy could have fun with her. She wasn't just an ordinary tumble, either. And she was salable. He had just realized that.
He walked on to the drug store. It .was almost noon. Some of the gang were hanging around. He noticed Noel. She was listening to Mary Riley, shaking her head about something. Hugo was there, Dell Underbill and Vance Glasser and a few more. But not Debby. He didn't see her anywhere.
He turned to Hugo. "Where's Debby?"
"How should I know?" Hugo sounded angry. "She's getting too fancy for me, anyhow."
"You saw her last night, didn't you?"
"That was last night."
Joe turned away. He stepped to where Noel and Mary were standing and asked, "Anyone know where Debby is?"
"I haven't seen her this morning," Mary said.
But Noel hesitated. "What do you want with her?"
"I've got a sort of a message for her."
"She might be by late this afternoon."
"Are you sure of that? Is she working somewhere?"
"In a way she is."
Joe frowned. "I sure wish I could see her."
"Tell me and I'll tell her," Noel suggested.
"Can't. At least I shouldn't."
He looked at Noel and looked away and he thought, She's a nice girl. Too nice for a guy like Chuck Wales. I just can't believe she'd go with him. I ought to see her tonight.
But he couldn't see her tonight. He had to go to Olga's and that meant money.
He went inside, got to work on the routine jobs which he was facing but he kept watching outside and noticing who was at the counter. A couple of hours went by and he didn't see Debby. He made several deliveries and when he returned most of the gang were gone. Later in the afternoon, most likely, some of them would show up again, and maybe one would be Debby, but he couldn't be sure of that.
Sue must have noticed his uneasiness, for she asked, "What's the matter, Joe? Are you worried about your girl?"
He scowled at her. "I don't have any."
Her lips twitched. "That's too bad. No one looking after you. Want to cry on my shoulder?"
"Naw."
"It's a good shoulder."
She touched herself halfway between the top of the shoulder and one of the mounds of her breasts. Joe knew she was kidding him but it struck him that if he could rest his head where she had pointed, that might be interesting. Sue's body was very well constructed.
She spoke again. "Think about that, Joe. If everything's falling to pieces, I'm a good one to talk to. I'll stay late some night and you can walk me home."
He gulped, looked at her and looked away, and he thought, Here's a real opening, Joe. Grab this. Pick her right up while you cm.
But he couldn't. He had to go to Olga's tonight.
Nothing was breaking right. For the time he had lost Serena. When he would be able to see her again he didn't know. During this dry interval he should have been working at Noel, or Sue, or someone else. But Olga had moved in, at least for one night.
Noel, of course, was his prime objective. He had thought about Sue, vaguely, but never with the feeling that he might get anywhere. But maybe he had been wrong about her. She was older than he, but so was Serena, and he had really gone to town with her. If he had been able to satisfy her he didn't have to worry about Sue. All he needed was the chance, and he was pitching his chance out the window.
But maybe he could save the situation.
He lowered his voice. "I gotta see someone tonight. It won't do any good, but I've got to see what happens. After that, then maybe I'll cave in."
"Then you better come and see me," Sue said.
"Sure. That's what I'll do."
"Don't forget, Joe."
"I won't."
He didn't look at her and he tried to seem disconsolate, but he wanted to shout. This was almost a date, for tomorrow night. There was a chance Sue might change her mind, but if she didn't he could say he wanted to see her tomorrow night and she might wait for him somewhere, and if she did-
He could project all sorts of possibilities.
Maybe she could take Serena's place. He thought Sue had a husband. There might be a few complications, but if a guy and a girl wanted to get together, they could usually manage.
On several occasions, then, in the late afternoon, Joe noticed Slue looking at him with speculative eyes. Mr. Morrell went to talk to her but Sue kept shaking her head, and almost the same thing happened between Sue and Mr. Kendrick, she seemed to be refusing something. And after talking to Mr. Morrell and after talking to Mr. Kendrick, she had looked at him.
He was on the edge of excitement. Tomorrow night-
But he still had to face tonight and he had Olga for tonight, and he still had to reach Debby.
What had happened to Debby? How could he find her?
He had to make a delivery at about six and when he returned, Noel was just leaving the drug store. She had probably been inside, at the fountain.
He stopped her. "Hey, Noel. Have you see Debby?"
She shook her head. "Not around here."
"Do you know where she is?"
"I might."
"Do you think she might show up in the next couple hours?"
"She might, or she might not. What do you want to see her for? What's this mysterious message?"
He hesitated, then he said, "If I tell you, will you keep it to yourself, not talk about it?"
"Sure. I can keep a secret."
He still hesitated. He knew it helped to get you closer to someone, to share a secret, but this particular secret could easily be misunderstood.
"I might be able to find Debby," Noel said. "I might be able to give her the message."
"If you think you could-"
"I can try."
"Then it's this," Joe said slowly. "And don't talk about it to anyone. I had to deliver some medicine the other night. It was to a man. A nice guy, quite wealthy. He might be about forty. He's been Over here at the drug store and he noticed Debby. He's not married. I guess he's a little lonely. Anyhow, he wants to see Debby. He'd like to talk to her. He's even in the notion of spending some money. Debby might as well pick that up."
"He wants to put her to bed." Noel said bluntly. "He didn't say so."
"That's what hell want. That's what every man wants. Bed!" foe shrugged. "Debby wouldn't mind, would she?"
"Maybe not. What am I supposed to tell her?"
"That this guy wants to see her tonight, at eight-thirty."
"A guy who's rich, old, who's noticed her and who wants her. Is that all?"
There was a caustic note in the girl's voice. Joe spoke defensively. "He's a nice guy."
"They're all nice guys," Noel said. "What's his name?"
"Matt Kroeger. I'll write down his address." He did, and gave the slip of paper to Noel. She took it casually, and said, "All right. I'll see if I can find Debby."
"Will you let me know if you do?"
"Sure. I'll let you know."
Joe felt better when he left her and went into the store. He knew he couldn't be positive that Noel would find Debby, but there was a good chance she would and he had one advantage-Noel was helping him. This was a plus in his favor.
Against him, possibly, was Noel's attitude toward the message. She had been brutally honest in recognizing what the message said, but he knew he should have expected that. Noel was as smart as they came.
An hour passed. It got to be seven-thirty. Then it was almost eight. Debby hadn't appeared and Noel didn't return. But at eight, Noel did show up, came into the store. She had changed ffom her shorts and halter and was wearing a dress, possibly one of her school dresses. She looked quite grown up, and rather pretty and she nodded to him.
"You talked to Debby?" he asked.
"I talked to her. Everything's all right." ' "She's going?"
"She said she would."
Joe felt better. For a time he had been worried, afraid he couldn't get anyone to turn up at Kroeger's. But Debby had been perfect for the job, and apparently she had fallen for Noel's story.
He said, "Thanks, Noel. I'll do something nice for you, someday. Maybe Saturday night-"
"I'll think about it," Noel said. And she turned and left.
Joe finished his sweeping as quickly as he could after nine o'clock, and at nine-fifteen he was ready to leave for Olga's. By that time, the gang outside had pretty well disappeared, but it was interesting to him that Noel wasn't there, and that Chuck was. He had no idea where Noel had gone, but at least she wasn't with Chuck, and that was encouraging.
He walked on toward Olga's, scowling, and a little uneasy. He knew what would be expected of him tonight. This was all right. He could enjoy himself but he knew that Olga would make him uncomfortable, and anyhow he would rather have gone to Serena's.
Serena! What was she doing tonight? Would she be alone, and lonely? Or would Oliver be there? He couldn't get Oliver out of his mind.
He rang the bell at Olga's door, and almost at once she answered it, and then stepped back, a stern, slight frown on her face. She was in her red negligee and she was perfumed and powdered. Ready for him, but he had to be punished. He could sense that.
"Here I am," he told her and he managed a grin. "I told you I'd be here."
"But you disappointed me last night," Olga said.
"I couldn't help that. The guy promised he'd be here."
She shook her head. "Never try to blame anyone else. If you ever make a promise, Joe, then see that it's kept."
"I'll do that after this, Olga."
"Do you mean it?"
"Yes. I mean it."
"All right," Olga said. "We'll talk in here."
She motioned toward the bedroom and headed in that direction. Joe followed her, but he knew they wouldn't do much talking after they got there. They would go directly to the bed.
They did, and from here there was a routine. That varied a bit, but not a great deal. The lights were low. Olga would slide out of her negligee and get onto the bed, nude. Then she would turn on her side toward him, and watch him as he undressed. The first time he had undressed he had turned his back to her, but she had said, "No, Joe. Move around this way. I want to watch." , He took his clothes off, and Olga watched. Then he got onto the bed and before he could settle down her hands were on him, and she usually got busy with him right away. She never wasted much time. Later, she might take her time but right to begin with she got what she wanted.
That was like that, this time. She worked at him and he just lay there. Almost at once her head got busy there where her hands were and he could feel the pressure of her kisses.
That was amazing the way she stirred him up, got him excited. He didn't have to do anything, but sometimes he couldn't stay still and he started threshing from side to side and Olga had to hang on. She did, too. She wasn't about to lose anything.
A real bang, a different kind of bang but that could shake you up, all the way. That hit you quickly, and then was over.
Olga rested for a while, and now there was time to talk.
"I think I was very good to you," Olga said. "Much too good. I should have punished you. I should have made you do all the work, but I didn't."
"I know," Joe said. "What can I say, Olga?"
"Don't say anything."
"But I want to."
"No, don't say anything, but if you want to be forgiven, then be as nice to me as I was to you."
"Now?"
"Any time, but don't put that off too long."
She really meant now, so Joe rolled toward her, and .started kissing her. He started with her breasts. He took his time, too much time, for Olga suddenly put her hands on his head and pushed him where she wanted him.
This was her show, this part. He could get her excited, and could keep her excited, but that was all he could do. That was quite a time even at that. She rolled into a fast rhythm and he had all he could do to keep up with her.
He was always glad when she was finished.
Then there was a chance to talk again. He never had much to offer, but Olga was different. She liked to talk.
"How long can you stay?"
"A little while. I don't know."
"But you don't have to leave right away. That's wonderful."
She had turned toward him, and right now her hand was making wide circles around his stomach. Now and then her hand would stop and she would laugh, even if she was talking.
"You'll always be my favorite, Joe," she was saying. "Always my favorite. But I do want to see that other young man. You owe me that anyhow."
"I'll send him," Joe promised.
"You don't mind if I see someone else?"
"Not if you want to."
"Then you really don't mind?"
"I mind, but that's all right."
"Are there other young men like this one you are sending to see me?"
"You mean other guys who might like to-;you know what I mean."
"Yes. Are there others?"
"I suppose so."
She was silent for a time, then she said. "Joe, if you can't always be here when I want you, then can you always send someone else? That's sort of interesting to have different people. I mean-" Her voice trailed off.
He stared up at the ceiling. "A different person each time?"
"Oh goodness, no. There aren't that many, I'm sure. But if you knew of several different ones who could see me at different times, why that would be fine."
Again her voice faded and she was silent.
Joe was searching his mind. How many guys could he dig up who might like to be up here? Chuck had said he was interested. Hugo might be. And Vance Glasser. He might remember a few more.
"You would have to be very careful," Olga was saying. "Nice young men. I wouldn't want anyone else. That would take time, I know, to pick out the ones you need, so I think I should pay you. That's only right. I'm not very much interested in money."
That wasn't true, he knew. But he knew another thing. Olga would pay what she had to, to get this kind of entertainment.
"That might cost a little," he said slowly. "But you give the money to me, don't pay anyone else."
"I think that's sound."
Joe nodded, and smiled. He would do all the collecting. And he would keep all the money. Why not? He would send guys here for the adventure, for the experience.
What a beautiful setup.
The breaks were coming this way again.
Sue Dorchester was surprised at herself. She had no interest in Joe Banning. He might not have been an infant, but in relation to her he was. She had guessed ho was seventeen, maybe eighteen. That might have meant he was old enough to know about the birds and the bees, but she was twenty-eight, much too old for him.
Why had she offered to help him? She wasn't sure Certainly she didn't want to get involved with him. She was already too much involved-with Ed Yorty in the apartment house where she lived, and here in the drug store with Arthur, and Howard. She should have left Joe alone.
Howard had talked to her, earlier. He had raised more money through the sale of some drug, illegally. Now he wanted to set a date when he could reserve a hotel room for them, maybe next week. He wanted her to stay all night. He was sure he could get away from his family. Now, she had to make arrangements for herself, but she wasn't sure how she could do that But maybe she could. Maybe she could say she had to stay with a sick friend.
That excuse was hoary with time, but it still could stand up.
The problem, now, was this. Did she want to? Right now, tonight, she felt she did. Tonight, from the way she felt, she could have gone to bed with Howard Kendrick and enjoyed him. But how would she feel on a stated date? She wasn't sure.
She had another proposition to consider. This was even more definite than Howard's. In a way this was startling, for if she accepted, she would change the direction of her life. This was that drastic-a complete break with Carl.
She could accept that. She didn't know exactly the moment when she had lost interest in Carl, but thinking about it now she realized she hadn't been in love with him for months. He was dead as a lover, as a husband, as someone who controlled her life. She could forget him right now. If she never saw him again she wouldn't miss him.
That took care of Carl, took care of the break, but how about the proposition-the proposition from Arthur Morrell?
He had told her that he had found a small, furnished apartment. He had leased it, he would pay the rent. In return, he would expect to stay overnight occasionally. And two or three times a week he would expect to spend the evening.
His proposition had some virtues. It took care of the rent. It would provide enough personal attention so she shouldn't go to any other man. But if she wanted someone else, she could have them. She could arrange an evening with Howard if she was careful. And she could continue to work at the drug store.
Why she hadn't instantly accepted Arthur's proposition she wasn't sure. She didn't know why she was stalling. Maybe it was because she didn't care much for Arthur.
Anyhow, she hadn't made her decision.
She didn't know what she would do.
Howard Kendrick spoke to her just before closing time. "Think about that, Sue. Set the date, I'll make the reservation. We'll make that a night to remember."
"I'll think about that," Sue promised.
Then Arthur spoke to her. "I can hold that apartment only another day, then I've got to say yes or no. Would you like to see it tomorrow?"
She nodded. "Yes, I think I would."
"It's small but nice. I think you'll like it. Maybe you'll say yes."
"I'll tell you tomorrow," Sue answered.
He smiled and turned away and she looked at Joe but at the moment he didn't seem interested in her. He was scowling darkly. She shook her head, half angrily, and she told herself, He's nothing. He's nothing at all. Tomorrow I won't even talk to him.
She left the drug store promptly at nine, started home, but at the next corner a man called her name, stopped her. "Sue. What are you doing here?"
She recognized the man as one of the men who dropped into the drug store now and then, but she didn't know his name. He had seemed friendly in the store, and there seemed to be no reason not to be friendly now.
She nodded. "I'm on my way home."
"Then you live down here."
"Across the next street."
He was an older man, possibly in the late thirties, tall, slender, light-haired. He had a rather pleasant smile. "I don't imagine you remember my name?"
"No, I don't."
"It's Frank Silverman. Say, can I buy you a drink? Some coffee, or a beer? Even something stronger?"
She hesitated. She ought to go home, but why? Carl would have no time for her. He would be buried in some book.
"Come on," the man was insisting. "There couldn't be anything wrong in a drink. Make it as light as you want to."
"A beer?" Sue said.
"That's perfect. That's what I wanted myself."
They stopped in the next bar, sat in a booth, and had three beers, one after the other. Frank Silverman talked about his wife, his three children, and his job. Sue listened. And nothing happened. Frank made no proposition. He didn't nudge her knees under the table. He came nowhere near making a pass. He acted like a gentleman.
But the beer was good.
Sue left him in the bar. She walked on toward her own apartment, but before she got there a man stopped her and said, "Hi-ya, baby. I got five bucks that says you've got a place to take me. What do you say?"
Sue made it brief. "Drop dead."
He shook his head and laughed. "What could I buy for ten bucks?"
"A slap across the face if you come any closer."
"Yeah? What would you cost?"
"More than you ever had," Sue answered. "Now get out of my way."
The man did step aside, but he seemed puzzled, and be muttered, "Ain't no woman in the country worth more than ten bucks. What's wrong with me, anyhow."
Sue walked on past him but at the corner she stopped and she thought, That would have been an easy ten dollars if I had any place to take him.
Then, of course, she shook her head. She could never do anything like that. Never! What was the matter with her? She didn't have to walk the streets, she didn't have to turn to hustling. If she left Carl, acceptted Arthur's proposition, and kept her job at the drug store, she would be doing very well, with no rent to pay. She could even keep pretty straight. Arthur was all she needed. Arthur and occasionally a visit from Howard or someone else.
She smiled, crossed the street with the light, and a few minutes later was home.
There, Carl was studying as usual. He didn't notice she was late. He hardly looked up. But for once, Sue didn't mind. She had reached a decision. She would accept Arthur's proposition. As soon as possible she would move out.
That morning, Noel had slept until Bill woke her, and he woke her the way he usually did, in bed with her, his arms around her. She was a little surprised. He had told her Debby would be over and if that was true she had thought he would leave her alone. Maybe she should have known better.
Bill was cuddling her in his arms, his hands at her breasts, and she turned restlessly and said, "What about Debby?"
"She won't get here till almost noon," he answered, and he squeezed her breasts. "Besides, I got to look after these."
Now that she was awake he rolled her to her back and got his head on one of her breasts In a moment he would move to the other. Then he would move back and forth, between them. That wouldn't take long before her excitement would be racing and he would take her.
She had thought that the introduction of Debby would change things, would release her, but apparently she was wrong. Bill would take whatever he could from Debby, but that would be extra. Here at home, nothing had changed. And nothing would. Bill would be attentive to Fan, while she was around. When Fan was away at work, he would have Noel. She had been stamped as a second wife.
He had been good this morning, but then he always was, and after the session he devoted more time to her breasts, giving her what he called his treatment. It was after nine before Noel could get away. Ordinarily, she couldn't have escaped then, but Debby was expected. Bill had to save something for her. So in a way, Debby helped.
But not the way Noel had hoped. She headed down the street asking herself as she had maybe a thousand times, What am I going to do about this? How can J break the pattern? The only possibility she could see was to run away. That might hurt Fan a great deal, but she would be hurt more if she ever found out the way she and Bill spent most mornings.
She had a new problem, Mary Riley. The afternoon before she had indulged in a Lesbian exercise. Mary thought that had made her one of the gay girls, but she was wrong. Last night Mary had been tragic, and a little nasty. Noel meant to see her today.
She did. In fact, a good part of the day was occupied by Mary, arguing, begging, and now and then showing a flash of anger. Morning and afternoon, Mary followed her wherever she went. She seemed sure that Noel would break down.
Around noon, Noel talked to Joe Banning. For some reason or other he wanted to see Debby. She could have told him exactly where Debby was, but she didn't. She said she would try to find Debby but she forgot all about that until early evening. Then, in the early evening, she talked to Joe again, and this time he told her why he wanted to see Debby. She had been seen by a man who admired her, and wanted a date with her. Presumably the man had money.
"I'll find her and tell her," Noel said.
She did try to find her and she did get a glimpse of her but she was with Hugo, walking the other way, walking in the direction of Hugo's pad. It might be late in the evening before Debby got back into circulation.
"So she misses the date with the rich guy," Noel said to herself. "Too bad."
Then she had an idea. If a rich guy was available and wanted a date, why not a substitute? Why not a substitute named Noel Traubert? She was as tall and slender as Debby, and if she wasn't as pretty she still looked pretty nice in a dress. There was a chance, of course, that the man didn't want anyone but Debby, and if that was the case he could send her away. But he might not send her away. He might accept a substitute.
She hurried home. Fan was there, and she was delighted to see Noel change to a dress. She liked it when her daughter dressed up.
"Is it a party?" she asked.
"Sort of a party."
"Have fun."
"I will."
"And don't be too late."
"No. I won't be late."
She glanced at Bill. He really looked worn out. He must have had quite a ball with Debby. A crazy thought crossed her mind. Maybe, if Debby and J work, we can use him to the point where he falls apart. But that might take a long time.
Noel stopped at the drug store to tell Joe she had found Debby and that she would keep the date. Then she left, delayed along the street until nearly eight-thirty, and at that time approached Matt Kroeger's apartment, and rang the bell. She was excited, frightened, not sure what might happen. If this man didn't want a substitute-
He opened the door. A big man, heavy, thick-bodied, he had wide shoulders, long powerful arms, and there wasn't anything soft in his face. But his eyes brightened as he saw her, and he whistled. Then he cried, "Say, you look all right. Come on in."
She managed a smile. "Debby couldn't, come, so I thought-"
"Debby?" the man said. "Who's Debby?"
"She was the girl you wanted, but-"
"You look all right to me. Who needs Debby, whoever she is?"
"But I thought-"
He shook his head. "Stop thinking. This is a night for fun, at least I hope this is. I suppose you've got a name."
"Noel."
"Noel. I like that. You can call me Matt. Want to walk over here?"
She walked toward him and he reached out and took her in his arms. He lifted her right off her feet, and held her, and kissed her, and if he was a little rough he wasn't so rough that he hurt her.
He held her, and kissed her, and then he put her down, moved his hands to her shoulders and pushed her an arm's length away and looked at her-just looked at her. Then he shook his head and he said. "Never did I expect anyone like you. Young, and clean and you even smell nice."
Noel was a little embarrassed. "Anyone can be clean and anyone can smell nice if they take the trouble."
"If they take the trouble. A lot of people don't. When do you have to go home?"
"At eleven. At least I ought to be home by eleven."
"That's wonderful," Matt said. "But at eleven I'm going to want to keep you. That's the way I am. Are you hungry?"
"No, I'm not hungry."
"A drink?"
"No. I don't think so."
"There's food in the kitchen, in the refrigerator there are some Cokes. Should we forget them?"
"Why not?"
"Do you like music?"
"Sometimes."
He looked at her curiously. "You're a funny girl. Do you know you could use up a lot of time fixing things in the kitchen, or fooling around with the hi-fi?"
"Why would I do that?"
"It's a good way to stall."
Her lips twitched. "Do you want me to stall?"
"No."
"Then what do you want to do?"
"You mean that's up to me?"
She nodded, and this time she smiled, and Matt pulled her forward, hugged her tightly, then released her enough so he could stoop over and scoop her into his arms. He started carrying her somewhere and she knew just where they were going. To the bedroom. Even before she had gotten here, even when Joe had told her about this date, presumably with Debby, she had guessed the purpose. This was to be a bed date.
Her reasoning was simple. If bed was the destination, why delay? Stalling, or setting up a framework, was a little foolish.
Matt lowered her to the bed, straightened up, and grinned. "I haven't heard you scream."
"Do you want me to?" Noel asked.
"Then you don't mind this?"
"Nol This is what I expected."
He took off his coat, his necktie, his shirt. After that he sat down on the bed. That was a big bed, and to Noel felt very comfortable.
He looked around at her curiously. "You don't mind if I get undressed first?"
"Not if that's what you want."
"You still amaze me." He took off the rest of his clothes then got onto the bed with her, and nodded. "You're next."
"I know."
He leaned over and kissed her, and touched her breasts. And as he did that he took a deep breath and his hands suddenly weren't steady. "They must be wonderful."
"Why don't you find out?" Noel said.
She could never have acted this way if it hadn't been for Bill, but he had taught her a great many things. Chiefly he had taught her not to be ashamed of her body and not to be afraid of being touched. She was much smaller than Matt, and much younger, but much more steady. He had reached behind her to unzip her dress but he was having trouble. In the end she practically took off the dress herself.
He handled the rest of her clothes all right. A slip, panties, and a brassiere-away they went, and then she and Matt were in bed the way she had been with Bill this morning.
But this was much different than with Bill. Matt was tender, careful of her. He kissed her with a kind of reverence. He rubbed his hands over her body as though she were something precious, and he kissed her almost everywhere. She had never been loved quite like this. And she had never been excited this way. Long before he was ready to take her, she was ready for him. That was difficult to wait, terribly difficult.
But she waited, and when he took her, that couldn't have been much better. At the very first he moved slowly. Then, of course, in the drive of his excitement, he forgot to be careful and he let himself go. That was all right. She let go herself.
She had done that with Bill, with Chuck, and even with Mary. But this was topping everything else. This was the best. In a way she could understand why. With Bill, always, she was guilty. She held back a little. With Chuck they had been too hurried. With Mary the situation had been too strange. This affair tonight was different. She was there for love. There was no reason to hold back anything.
They had hit way up high and they stayed there for a time.
And then they eased down and lay together for a while, neither one talking.
But then Matt sat up and looked at her and shook his head. "I don't believe you're real."
"I'm real," Noel said.
"Umm. Want a Coke?"
"Yes."
"I'll get you one," Matt said. "And a drink for me. Don't go away."
"I'm not going anywhere," she answered. "At least not for a while."
He brought her a Coke and a drink for himself, and they went back to bed again, and talked, but didn't say much. They loved again almost better than the first time.
That used up the evening. It was almost eleven when they sat up, started getting dressed.
"I want to do something for you," Matt said, and he looked away. "If you need some new clothes-"
"No clothes," Noel asked.
"Jewelry?"
"No. If you want to do anything, give me money."
"Money?"
"You don't have to. I haven't asked for anything." He hesitated, then pointed to the dresser. "My wallet is over there. Take what you need-within reason."
She got up, walked to the dresser, picked up his wallet and looked inside. He had a number of big bills. She took out five.
"Mind telling me what you've taken?" Matt asked.
She looked around. "Fifty dollars. Is that too much?"
Again he hesitated, but then shook his head. "No, you're worth more than that. Can you see me tomorrow afternoon?"
"Why?"
"I might want to suggest something."
"Then I'll be here," Noel said promptly.