Chapter Nine
Kinky Rites
Honey’s wake-up nudge in the darkness of her bedroom brought me dim recollections of those pre-dawn mornings when my mother would wake me up to start my paper route. Only this time, the duty that called was a dream-come-true: spending an hour or so with Catherine the Great! My pleasure was bittersweet. My guilt over Honey’s hurt feelings would diminish the sheer joy of receiving Mrs. Roman’s undivided attention. In Honey’s eyes, after stealing me fair and square, she didn’t want to share me with another woman. Still, the operative word was “stealing.” Regardless of Honey’s kindness to me, she still took me against my will.
Honey kissed me flush on the mouth. “Go earn some money!” she urged.
We walked together down the hall to the parlor. When I saw Mrs. Roman,
