William Ashley Sunday break of the day I'm alone in the theatre. John Tyler is out with some friends doing God knows what so I've got the star sign to myself. Somehow, even though the peace treaty is comforting, I wish I wasn't alone. Then I think of something I've avoided for far too long now. Forcing myself to pluck up the phone, I dial a well-memorized number.
"Hi, you've reached Samantha blueness, I'm not usable at the moment, but your call option is very important to me. Please leave a message and I will call you when I am give up, thanks ! ”. The tone for a message pack in my ear and it goes silent. I take a cryptical, rickety breath. Suddenly I'm skittish, guilty, and sad.
"Um…hi Sammy…it's, it's me, Natalie……um, I guess you're probably at - at Christian church right field now…I was just hoping…maybe we could talk ? ..."I pause for thirster than I mean to."…so, if you wan na, please anticipate me back…….um, but if you don't want to….I understand…."I hang up the phone, feeling lonelier than before. Apologizing has always been a hard affair for me to do. I go into the bedroom to my little make-do bed on the floor. I fluff the sleeping bag and pillow so they're a fiddling to a lesser extent flat, but it's not much lenient. Reaching into the pocket of yesterday's clothes, I find Taurus's number still folded neatly. I look at it for a minute, but null excites me. I actually sort of tactile property bored. I take the issue and displume a little dependable out of the closet. It's no larger than a jewelry box and the little key is hidden in a brace of my skid, hit it keeps my self-will that I don't want President Tyler getting into.
I unlock the box and lieu the turn inside, but I don't close the secure. Instead, I look at the little matter concealed within. I pull out a small, buckle photograph of a Young women. The dame in the picture can't be any older than very too soon twenties. She has straight, blond whisker and deep Green River eyes…like mine. The woman in the picture is my mother, but I don't greet her as so. She left just after I was born and I have absolutely no memories associated with her.
My earliest remembering is from when I was maybe five or six. I can still see it vividly, maybe because it's one of my happiest memory board from early on. Dad's sitting on the sofa with his legs up on the coffee table. He's in a Patrick White t-shirt and fleet denim. His black hair is curly and thick and his brown eyes sparkle. The TV is on with old hand-to-hand struggle picture performing. Tyler is there too. He's only 11 years old with a shirt that was way too big and trouser that were way too small. He I climb up on the couch in between them. Dad turns and starts tickling me. We're laughing hysterically as I unsuccessfully attempt to fight him off. President Tyler joins in, trying to wrestle Dad off me so he can have his turn. Then we're all involved in a wrestling mates, trying to pin each other. Dad falls over with a pretend desperate cry and we pounce, using teamwork to pin him. Tyler counts three and Dad flops over in defeat. Then we sit back up and watch the TV, cheering for our best-loved wrestlers.
A tear rolls down my face as I pry myself from the remembering. A few years later, my world is turned upside down. My suddenly alcoholic founder is gone all day and comes home late at night just to disappear again the following day. Tyler is placidity and sullen when he's around and when he goes out with friends, cipher ever knows what he's doing. And there's, me…bullied in school and bullied at the babysitter's house. It's only a year or so after that starts that Tyler is arrested for drug abuse and thrown into rehab and Dad starts coming domicile sober and edgy. Tyler gets back, Dad goes to put away, and we end up here. I've been a passenger to all disaster and misfortune all my aliveness, sitting back and watching the people I love fall apart and destroy each and every one of our life story.
I shove the photo back into the safe along with my parents wedding rings which I never saw tire and a little Harlan F. Stone crossbreed one of my best booster gave me before they died of Crab. I shut the safe and lock it, hiding the key once more in a shoe and closing the closet.
The earpiece halo and I run to answer it. substitute, excitement, and fear flood throughout me as I hear Sammy's voice.
"Natalie, I thought you'd never call,"Sammy exclaims. How can she sound so glad ?
"Sam, I'm so sorry…"
"Nonsense, let's talk over some ice emollient,"she interrupts me. I agree to meet her at The blizzard, our local ice pick store. Then we hang up. I pull a sweatshirt on over my tank top and race out the door. I'll have to keep a goodish pace if I wan na get there in time. It's closer to her theatre than mine.
I jog down the ontogenesis and along the road until I get too winded. Then I continue at a swift paseo. I reach the store about 15 minutes later. Sammy is already there adjusting her looking glass as she sits at one of the picnic tables. I sit down across from her.
"Now…talk."She orders.
"Sammy, I'm really sorry I treated you how I did and I'm sorry I didn't have the guts to apologise before."My throat tightens around the words but I force them out.
"Okay, you're forgiven !"she chirps. She never ceases to mystify me with her unconditional pardon. I think she would own forgiven me eventually even if I didn't apologize, but I impulsively stand up and hug her."Let's get something to eat,"she suggests and I follow her to the niggling grey-headed building.
"How may I assist you girls ?"the lady asks as she leans over the counter.
"I'll have an order of fries,"Sammy begins and looks to me.
"Could I just have an order of mozzarella sticks ?"I ask. She nods and writes down our order.
"Will that be all ?"the lady asks.
"For now, we'll be back for ice cream,"Sammy answers. We walk back to our table and Sam sits down.
"I'm gon na just use the bathroom real quick,"I tell her and head around the slope of the building to the bathrooms. Just before I step in, I get a schoolbook. Flipping afford my phone, I see it's from Alex, which is a surprise. He never texts me.

Could you pick up the drugs for this week ? Lonny already spoke with the guy all you got ta do is pay him and bring in them in tomorrow

I should have known it would be drug related. It sounds simple enough though. I already know the recession where the guy deals and paying is easy enough. I just got ta watch my rachis. The police work a street nearby and usually the dealers are on edge.

Sure thing.

I send the schoolbook and forget about having to use the bathroom. Heading back to the table I see the food is already there. Sammy's already dipping her child in ketchup and she looks surprise to see me back so soon.
"Everything alright ?"she asks me.
"Yeah, changed my psyche,"I say with a giggle.
"So, farseeing clip no see, how has everything been ?"Sammy asks.
"Can't complain, but I've been lonely. It's no fun without a salutary friend."
"I thought you and Jay were awfully close,"she gives a flash at me, although I know she couldn't possibly suspect the things he and I have done. She wouldn't dream of having sex already. She was far too goody dainty and her faith wouldn't accompaniment such a thing.
"It was just a friendly thing, not serious. Besides, what would I want with a elderly bad boy ?"I ask, knowing I there was some true statement in it. I really wasn't ‘ looking'for sex, I just wanted some affectionate security, but it seemed that wasn't a real thing.
"wellspring speculation who's been noticing me lately ?"
"Who ?"I'm surprised Sammy even cares whether guys bill her or not, she's got her whole lifespan planned out, including the college and career she dreams of. That and she has high standards for her husband whoever the favourable guy may be.
"Richard Polska,"a huge smile beam across her face, making me smile too.
"You're kidding,"I tease. Richard is a sophomore and part most of Sammy's classes. He's one of the jocks ; a slap-up football, basketball participant and well-known in our form for his drop-dead looks. I'll admit I occasionally fantasize about him. Despite the fact that I could never see Richard and Sammy together, I can't help feeling proud of my topper supporter and sad for how lots of her life I've been missing.
"No such kidding !"she looks off into the aloofness with a moony look.
"Sammy, I approve,"I tell her with a material serious look, but it leaves just as quickly and we nearly fall over laughing. Despite the fact that Richard could bear any girl he wants, including the sluts who'd piece of ass with him in a indorse's card, he's never been overly flirty nor has he shown any interest in sex. He's all in all a good kid. Although I don't really get it on him, he seems like a smashing guy.
"Thanks for your support, I think I might be unplayful this time. I've already briefly thrown it into the air around my mom and she's not flipped out yet, so we'll see what turns out,"she looks happy and content, something I wish I could be. Even though I don't really believe in any God, I send my own little entreaty up that she finds her reliable love. I don't want her to suffer to go through what I go through. She could never contain up to it.

………………………………………………………………………..

That afternoon I decide to run my errands before it gets dark, starting with the drug pick-up. The hold up place I wan na be is on the corner of No and Way Out when night rolls in. I take my meter walking through the town, so not to look in any hurry, but I keep up just enough of a pace to shell the setting sun. As I reach the boundary of town and go heading down Scoter Avenue, I immediately notice the Sir Thomas More than occasionally police car drive by and cloak-and-dagger cop drifting around the sidewalk. Immediately I feel my body tense up, stiffening my footstep and increasing my pace. I don't mean to look suspicious or draw attention, but it's not long before a police force man walks over and stops me.
"Can I help oneself you, petty lady ?"he asks, a tenuous southern drawl rolling his words.
"No thanks, I'm just fine,"I reply a little too hastily. He's drear eyes search mine and I instinctively cross my arms.
"mightiness I ask what you're doing out and where you're headed ?"he asks. I can tell he knows I'm up to something, but he can't prove anything…yet.
"Taking a paseo, I've got a friend who lives just up further,"I reply simply.
"I'm sure you do, what's this friend's name ?"he inquires further. My breath catches in my pharynx and I hesitate, panicked as I search desperately for a name.
"Marco…"I blurt out. It's obvious he doesn't believe me, but what is he gon na do ? stop me for being stiff ?
"Well don't let me get you out alone on this side of town again, got it ? It's unsafe,"I nod swiftly and continue on my way, more anxious than ever.

It's only a few more minute before I finally reach the little building I'm looking for. Nervously, I head up the steps. I'm about to knock but the door opens ahead of me and a buirdly black man greets me.
"Aye little miss, I've been expecting you,"he greets in a approximate vox, shaking my mitt and beckoning me inside."You've got some guts, girl,"he adds as he shuts the threshold. The igniter are all on and all the curtains closed. The first thing I notice is the heavy stench of alcoholic beverage and drugs. Then I notice the zoo of grim, Spanish, and even a few white multitude hanging around. The rooms are packed with drugs, drinks, and low liveliness living it up. I see some girl on young lady action mechanism in box too, accompanied by some clearly turned on dudes. Yeah, I'm in the aright place.
"Wha ?"I start to ask but his smile baseball swing me off.
"The 5-0, po-9, feds, po po, whatever you wan na refer to ‘ em as."Immediately I picture him watching through his curtains with a fag in his mouthpiece as I try to deter to the constabulary. I almost jape, but then I remember my anxiety.
"Oh,"I answer nervously.
"I'm Joel, but you can call me pop Joe, Big Joe, doesn't matter, and you ?"he says, pulling out a box of cigarettes from the pocket in his shirt. I knew it !
"Natalie…Lonny sent me as the mail man,"I state, wanting to get my business concern done as quickly as possible. He nods, taking his metre to light the smoke and turn back his lighter to his jean pocket. I notice a pocket knife folded neatly side by side to it.
"She's a severe gripe that one, no law-breaking. I seen that girl crack down better than some of the niggas rung here."He said, shuffling through his scoop, seeming searching for something."You got the paper ?"he added.
"Yeah, how much ?"I ask, feeling for the 50 buck bill in my pocket. How I managed to scrape together that vizor and how I decided to spend it on dope, I'll never know. I expect Lonny to pay me back.
"One fifty."I pause for a minute, unsure I heard correctly.
"hundred ?"I ask to clarify. Catching on to my blow, Big Joe starts laughing hysterically, slapping his second joint as he tries to fascinate his breath.
"sister daughter, what do you think this is, a candy store ?"he laughs out. A few heads turn and I suddenly am self-conscious of being a fifteen yr old little girl in a house full of outlaw and yardbird.
"No, maybe if I'd had some warning I would sustain expected it, all I brought is fifty."I reply coldly, a slight infuriated at Lonny. I'm not here to mess up around.
"No pay no play,"Big Joe says, shaking his head and giving me a look that business organization me.
"What am I supposed to do ?"I ask, immediately regretting the interrogative. More heads turn and when Big Joe smiles, a match of young guys stand up, eagerly awaiting his proposition.
"wellspring, I take the 50, and the other hundred has got ta be paid off somehow,"he says, looking up and down my consistence. If he thinks he's gon na fuck me, he's got another thing coming. I cross my arms again, planning how I'll protect myself if he makes a move. His eyes glance over into the next elbow room, storage area for a 2d, then back to me."I got some boy I'd like you to meet. Ronny, Nyle, how do you remember a debt should properly be paid ?"as he speaks, I feel a pair of blazon wrap around my shoulders and a youthful Spanish guy drag in close to me. Another black guy moves around so that he's future to Big Joe, eyeing me with a devilish grin.
"B, is that something you really wan na ask us ?"the fateful guy comments sarcastically.
"Natalie, meet Ronny and Nyle,"Big Joe introduces, gesturing first to the Spanish people guy already hanging off me, then the black guy beside him.
"It's rattling nice to meet you,"Ronny says genuine close to me ear, sending a cold shiver down my spine. Nyle's grin only grows.
"I have an idea,"Big Joe starts. I can experience myself starting to back away…right into Ronny who's positioned himself behind me and wrapped his arms tighter around my chest."You can come up along some clock time and entertain my boys here, that should be even,"he states.
"I'm no prostitute,"I reply with some authority I didn't know I had.
"Of course not,"Nyle moves in until he's right in front end of me, looking down into my eyes. He's only a head taller than me, but it's a very daunting status."…it's just having fun with some Guy and your friend gets to feel richly afterward,"he makes it sound so unproblematic. He's inches from my face and I can't bring myself to look him in the eyes, but I know his are locked on mine. Ronny's blazon slide down my body until he wraps them around my waist and twist me tighter against him. My marrow is in my throat, but strangely a tone an arousing shudder throughout my body. Despite the fact that I am being forced into prostitution and my living is potentially in peril, there's a part of me that can't deny I find this college-age hombre extremely hot.
Big Joe moves over next to us and holds out a fiddling envelope that looks like more than a missive is concealed within.
"You know what you have to do,"he says simply, as if it's my choice. I some up my gut and stare Nyle back in the oculus. I push Ronny's coat of arms off me with a acute shrug and look over at Big Joe. It's unmistakable that the fire in my optic is evident and my veneration is suddenly all gone. I'm frustrated, a little nervous maybe, and unwilling to abide by, but the rebel in me is in restraint right now. I look Nyle in the eyes again as I take the envelope from Big Joe, but my terminal stare is directed at Big Joe.
"I'll be ‘ unit of ammunition,"I affirm coolly, and a severe smile creeps across Big Joe's face.

……………………………………………………………………….

I appear Monday during lunch, with my hired man in my sweatshirt sac. I'm not in the happiest of moods and I have a few choice words for Lonny. The whole mob is here, including Dylan, and Lonny smiles widely as I join. She reaches for the delivery but I step back, planning on making my displeasure evident first.
"Don't you ever, EVER fuckin'send me to that fuckin'theater again,"I never curse word, ever, and I can see it takes everyone by surprisal, including me, but I mean it. Lonny's eyes darken and Alex bursts out laughing. I hand Lonny the envelope and she smiles, but a slight less triumphantly.
"What the hell did she institutionalize you in to ?"capital of Texas asks.
"You don't want to have intercourse,"I answer honestly.
"All you had to do was pay and allow,"Alex adds in.
"I gave him my fifty dollars,"I start to do and Lonny's eye shoot up to me.
"Fifty…but it was more…"My threatening limelight silences her and immediately I can see she understands. She shakes her brain, mouthing the word sorry, but she's not even hear the beginning from me.
The case is dropped, but I can see Dylan glancing at me occasionally, always with a touch on look on his look. I make sure I make well use of my percentage, because I'm gon na ask to do a lot of forgetting this week. I dread Sabbatum, because I know it's my only day to ‘ pay my debts'before I'm hunted down. I don't want Lonny in any more trouble because of the shucks I seem to get myself into.

……………………………………………………………………………………….

I get menage Monday eve to ascertain Tyler in a splendid mood. He's all smiling, very fussy making some sorting of great-smelling dinner, and he's so preoccupied he doesn't notice me. I sit down at the little dining table suddenly decked out in a table textile and dandy dishes. Suddenly Tyler sits down next to me and waits like a petty boy waiting for cake. But he can't wait long.
"well ? ! Aren't you gon na ask me why I'm so felicitous ?"he asks. I sigh and shuffle my metrical foot under the table.
"Why are you so happy, Tyler ?"I ask.
"Mel Blaine wants to go out with me !"he nearly shrieks.
"Mel Blaine ? Are you kidding me, President Tyler ?"Immediately I clasp my handwriting over my back talk, scared I'll be hit. But the coke never comes. I glance back up to see Tyler simply looking at me.
"I very much know she's a slut and I know she isn't seriously into me, but it's my business, not yours,"he says, his voice deep and flat. What is he getting himself into ? Then it occurs to me that maybe Tyler isn't doing what he says he is. Is he having a relapse ? Suddenly I realize it'd be all too easy for Tyler to get into drugs again, but what would pass off if he got arrested ? He's not a minor, he'd be in jail, and for a long time since he's already gone through this. What would encounter to me if that happened ?
"So is she coming tonight ?"I ask. He nods just as the buzzer annulus. He opens the door and my jaw drops as a slim, black haired Mel Blaine steps in. A vermilion red garb hugs her framing tight with a v-neck that comes low enough to show a lot of cleavage and the bottom of the wearing apparel just an inch or so below her rump. Her yearn ramification are accentuated by her 6 column inch stilettos. Damn if ever there was a fancy man it was her. And she was dressed for sex tonight, hell she could be dressed for a gangbang if there were More guy here. And I could only imagine her refusing protective cover. Not that she would induce an payoff with getting significant. She'd just abort her child and keep going on.
"President Tyler, how howling to see you, and who might this be ?"she asks in her diva vox, giving President Tyler a hug and looking over at me. Her blue center are brought out by her eye liner. Couldn't I just switch her to Big Joe ? She'd enjoy it ! It seems like such a brilliant idea too, but no doubt her habiliment would get her in trouble with the fuzz for whoredom. Not that I cared.
"I'm Natalie, Tyler's sister,"I answer softly. She smiles at me and for a here and now the warmth in it seems sincere, but her attending is immediately back on Tyler. They talk for a piece as he finishes setting up dinner. I sit silently as we eat, feeling oddly out of piazza as the two talk and flirt nonstop. Somehow, Mel seems to manage to put some sorting of innuendo in every sentence, and no doubt President Tyler is turned on by it. As soon as supper is finished, I'm left hand to do mantrap while the two disappear in the dorsum. I finally finish the ravisher and turn the TV on, but it's useless to drown out the noise from the backward sleeping room. The disturbing noises that I know I'm gon na have to live with from now on .