Chapter 6
Arthur Wrigley put down his copy of Playboy and started to undress. Bunny was in the kitchen mixing drinks, and he wanted to be ready for her when she returned.
Never in his life had he felt so completely satisfied as he did with this girl and he had no intention of letting anyone deny him his pleasure. He knew he shouldn't be in her apartment but he didn't care. It was his privilege and he intended to make use of it. The whole thing was mapped out in his magazine and all he had to do was live up to it. He was a human being, he was an individual and he was entitled to have a little bit of what he desired, and right now, he desired most of all Bunny Harris.
Bunny Harris was agreeable that Arthur Wrigley should have her. She happened to like Mr. Wrigley, but liked even more what Mr. Wrigley was doing for her. Now the rent was paid and there was no roommate to contend with. She had a new dress to go dancing in and enough liquor to keep Arthur happy. No more beating herself with some young punk who expected a weekend of fucking for a measly few bucks and expected her to thank him for the sacrifice. Meeting up with Mr. Wrigley had been a stroke of luck and she had no intention of permitting anyone to change it.
"Here's your drink, Honey," she said coming out of the kitchen with two glasses on a tray. "I hope you like it. I bought Early Times this time instead of the stuff you didn't like."
"Great!" exclaimed Mr. Wrigley. He was in the process of pulling his pants off but took the glass and drank deeply.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" he sighed in satisfaction. "That sure hits the spot." He sat the glass on a small end table and began unbuttoning his shirt. The girl settled down in the one big easy chair in the apartment, pulled the thin negligee about her middle and sipped at her own drink.
"Here's to us," she said beaming in the direction of Arthur Wrigley and holding out her glass.
"And more to come," promised Mr. Wrigley taking note of the flimsy garment and the inviting flesh he could see through it.
"That too," promised Miss Harris. She turned, startled, as the door rattled from the force of the fist which struck it repeatedly on the outside, then hurried to see who it was who would dare to spoil their afternoon.
She pulled the negligee closer about her, completely aware that the thin material was incapable of shielding her body from whoever would be calling. "Who's there" she asked through the door.
"It's me." Leonard said from the other side. "I want to talk to you."
"Go away," muttered Bunny "Go away ... I'm busy."
"I want to see you." Leonard said again and rapped once more on the door.
"Go away," the girl said again.
"Who the hell's that!" barked Mr. Wrigley completely miffed by the distraction.
"A kid I know."
"A kid....Kid!" blurted Mr. Wrigley. "You been wasting this stuff on kids?"
Bunny tried to explain her statement. "Just a friend. I played him for kicks."
"Jesus! You're not banging any more kids! Tell him to get lost!"
"Go away," repeated Miss Harris.
"Not until I talk to you," insisted the boy and the door rattled in the frame as he jerked the knob.
The girl turned the catch of the night lock and pulled the door open a few inches. "All right, what do you want?" she demanded through the opening. "What's so damned important it can't wait another five minutes?"
The boy blinked and then his eyes opened wide in astonishment. For a moment he was unable to speak while his gaze took in the full impact of the thin robe which hung open at the front, leaving her bare body to the full view of his scrutiny. "I have to see you." he stammered.
"What about?" asked Miss Harris. She fumbled with the knob of the night lock completely unaware she was on display. "What's so all fired important?"
"You didn't answer the phone."
"I was busy!" The girl moved back behind the shelter of the door and drew the robe closer about her.
"I want to apologize." He pushed on the door to force the opening larger. "So apologize!" snapped Miss Harris putting her knee firmly against it. The opening was open only a crack but she wanted to close even that. From all indications Leonard was becoming panicky and could cause real trouble. She pushed harder with her leg.
The boy put his shoulder to the wood and moved it a few inches. The girl glared at the intruder and pushed harder from her side. "Go away damn it, you bother me!"
"I gotta see ya!" he blurted." Later maybe?"
"I don't have time to fool with kids, I'm busy."
"Please!"
Arthur Wrigley stopped in the process of removing his shoes and stalked to the door. He pushed Bunny aside and confronted the intruder through the narrow opening.
"God damn it kid!" he bellowed in mounting anger. "Can't you take no for an answer!" He glared down at the startled boy who was backing away from this new threat.
"Beat it punk! Don't you understand English?"
Leonard Felton gaped open-mouthed at this new menace and a flow of color mounted his cheeks. It was quite apparent that he had interrupted a proceeding for which there was no apology. He tried to look away and be nonchalant but succeeded only in appearing more defiant. Arthur Wrigley exploded.
"Scram Kid!" he bellowed, "or I'll tear you in half!"
"But I ... I...." Leonard was almost tongue-tied.
Mr. Wrigley was turning a vivid shade of red and his eyes were rapidly becoming glassy. He was almost speechless with rage. He pulled the door open further, displaying the full extent of his nudity.
"Scram Bud!" he bellowed " ... or I'll beat you to death!" and he reached for Leonard through the opening.
The protruding arm appeared to the excited boy like some giant scoop shovel which was about to pounce down on him. He turned in terror and scurried down the hallway as the door banged behind him with reverberating echo. It was quite plain that Bunny Harris had no further need for him and the only thought now in his mind was to put as much space between him and her as he possibly could.