Don't. Please. Don't Make Me

Chapter One-4

He didn't answer at first; just gauged the level of his ten-dollar beer. “No,” he replied without making eye contact. “I just want someone to hold me. Tell me that everything is going to be ok. That tomorrow will be better. And that they're happy just because I'm here.”

Oh lord, Sue thought. Any five and dime Advice Columnist could tell this kid wants to go to bed with his mother! “Look, Jeff,” she started in, knowing it really shouldn't concern her. “Quite frankly, and don't take this wrong, but you need to get a fuckin' life!” It wasn't what he expected to hear and after his head had jerked back, he turned deathly pale. “You're a self-pitying loser who has never got over having your mother yank her n****e from between your lips. You come to this place, mope around hoping some mature girl will take pity on you and supply you with whatever service you feel a desperate need for at that particular point in time. I suspect you are woefully inadequate in the 'men's department' and a real, honest to goodness woman, can spot that a mile away and will avoid you like a pile of doggy poo.”

His face crumpled.

“Don't you start crying!” Sue warned, looking about. “Don't you f*****g dare!”

“No. No I won't,” Jeff sobbed, jamming the meat of his thumbs into his eyeballs.

“If you cry, we're done here. Understand?”

“Yes. I promise.” He sucked in a breath; tried to steady himself.

“Drink your beer,” Sue suggested. He took a sip. “There. Feel better?”

“Yes.” He set the mug back down. “I hate you,” he seethed. “But I want to sleep with you.”

“Save it for mommy,” Sue shot back with undue malice.

“Sorry.

“And stop f*****g apologizing.” She watched as he slumped in the chair, his head back and a forearm across his eyes.

“You're not so different,” he sneered. It was a hateful sound.

“What? What the hell do you mean by that?”

“How old are you?” He dropped his arm to study her face. “Forty? Forty-five? What the hell are you doing in here, sulking in the shadows, hiding your jugs behind the edge of the table?”

“You little s**t!” she screamed much louder than was appropriate. He stood abruptly, knocking his chair askew and Sue was aware of the folks at the adjoining table shifting, heads coming up. In a panic she looked across at Marcy but thankfully her attention was directed at Starr who had returned from the dance floor and was extenuating the virtues of her new admirer. Sue watched Jeff stomp to the opposite side of the room, throw himself back against the wall and drive his hands deep into his pockets.

“What's with him?” Danny moved in, eyeing Jeff's belligerent stance. Then, looking down, “You ok?”

“A ten-year-old in an eighteen-year-old body; had a tantrum. Yeah, I'm fine thanks.”

“Room's full of them, if you hadn't noticed.”

Sue chuckled. “How do you stand it?”

Danny eased closer. “It's a job and I need the money.” She c****d a leg and rested her knee on a chair, holding her tray tucked under an arm. “You sure you're ok?”

“Yeah. Really. And thanks again. I get the feeling you're looking out for me. It's nice. I mean you seem nice.” Sue paused to recharge her lungs. “I know it's personal, but why are you here?”

Danny laughed. “You mean what's a nice girl like me doing in a place like this?”

Sue felt the heat rise but nodded her head. “Sure. Something like that.”

“Like I said, I need the money but more important that than, the hours fit my schedule. I'm a third year medical student at the University.” Danny smiled when she saw Sue's expression slide. “I'm there on a scholarship but there are so many expenses the scholarship doesn't cover and my parents don't have any resources. Last week I had to lend my mother money for tampons. Kar's, who owns the club, is very supportive, allowing me flexible hours so I can attend classes. And then, well the money's good!

“Kar's?” Sue asked.

“Yes, Karla. She's my boss and owns this place. A little spitfire; that's Kar's. She's been managing clubs all her life and now owns this one. The concept is her's: women drinking for free, the men paying for the privilege of watching. It's really caught on and I know she is speaking with investors. She is hoping to open 'Voyeurism' in another couple of cities next year. It will be a sort of a 'chain' night club.”

“Sounds like you could get in on the ground floor.”

“Nope. This is a good job for now, but in another couple of years, I plan to be a very respectable Dr. Daniel Druthers.”

Sue pushed her chair back. “I'm impressed,” she said truthfully. “Beauty and brains.”

“That's kind of you to say.” Danny flipped hair back from her face and glanced around at her tables. “You want another one of those?” She indicated Sue's glass.

“Oh no. Thank you. Another one of these and I'll be sound asleep. The cleaning lady will have to sweep me out the door along with the trash.”

“So you'll be leaving soon?” There was a sense of distance.

Sue glanced over to where Marcy still had her head c****d toward Starr. “Yes. In a few minutes I suspect, but I've really enjoyed meeting you.”

“Yes,” Danny paused. “The same. Nice.”

“Nice,” Sue repeated, awkwardly.

“But you won't be back.”

“Well you never know. I could have a weak moment; when I feel compelled to expose myself to a room full of boys.”

Danny leaned back, laughed from deep down. “Well if that should happen, I hope it's on a Friday. I'm always here on Fridays.”

“Fridays...”

“Yeah. It's my easy day at the University. I have Anatomy in the morning and the rest of the day free. I'm always here on Fridays.” She paused for a moment. “Look, I know something's going on here, tonight. It's just, well, I'm a good listener. If you want. Sometimes it's easier with a stranger.”

The offer was touching. “Fridays,” Sue repeated, forgetting her bare breasts for a moment and rolling her glass between her palms. “I'll remember that.”

“You sure about another drink?” Danny asked again, lifting her knee from the chair.

“Thank you, but no,” Sue waved her off. Danny nodded and turned away, a little despondent, Sue thought; or maybe hoped. She gazed back into her glass, rolling it back and forth. Fridays, Sue thought.

“I'm really sorry.”

Sue started. She had been dreaming for a few moments, studying the last swirls in her glass. Happy thoughts. Jeff shifted his weight from right to left and set a bottle of beer on the table. Sue stealthfully re-positioned her arms and hid her n*****s behind the crossed barricade.

“I was an i***t. Please, try to forgive me.”

“Oh sit down,” Sue reneged. “You can't help it if you've been p***y-whipped.” She caught the flash in his eyes but it quickly faded. He still hoped to rescue their dangling relationship. He dropped into his chair.

“What I said was outta line,” he sounded apologetic.

“Same for me,” Sue followed. “I'm not sorry for what I said, just how I said it. I could have been a little more tactful, is all. I'm kinda stressed out right now. You have to cut me a little slack.”

“What's so stressful?” he asked innocently.

“You've so naive,” she replied, taking a careful sip of her drink. “I envy that.” Sue placed her glass back on the coaster and returned her arm to the blockade position. “I'm forty-two yeas old; haven’t been in a relationship for the last twenty years and, outta nowhere, I'm sitting half naked with you and fifty other guys. Excuse me if I feel off base and just a little unsettled!”

He stifled a snicker.

“If you think that's funny? Take off your pants and tell me how it feels!”

He thought that was even better, or perhaps it was the look of indignation on her face. Anyway he burst into laughter. It was infectious and Sue found herself grinning back at him. “You really are a piece of work. You know that?”

“It comes from hanging around with mouthy chicks.”

“Ones that are twice your age?”

“Uh-uh. That distinction is yours. Exclusively.”

“I'm supposed to be flattered?” Sue shot back.

“No. But I'm beginning to understand why you haven’t had a relationship in twenty years!”

So the kid had some balls after all! A lesser woman would have been offended by the remark. She gave him a show of teeth.

“I'm available. You could have a relationship with me.” He was taking a chance here; hoping to get lucky, Sue figured, and she watched as he took a long sip on his beer. There was a certain swagger.

“Relationship? Admit it. You just want to cuddle up to my crotch!”

He lurched forward, coughing up, eyes tearing. “That's what a like about you,” he managed once he got his tonsils back in place, “you don't waste time chewin' on your words.”

Sue looked at him with new admiration; even thinking that she might have misjudged him earlier. “Look, you seem like a nice kid,” Sue turned somber. “You seriously looking for a meaningful relationship with a girl who patronizes a club like this?” She knew she had fallen into a trap even before finishing her sentence. Her daughter sat, not a dozen feet away, and she was here as well. Sue knew she was stereotyping all the women in the room, including Danny; soon to be Dr. Daniel Druthers. It wasn't fair. She caught the look in his eyes but he was either kind enough, or perhaps smart enough, not to turn her words in retribution. He said nothing; looked into his mug.

“God, I gotta get out of here,” Sue sighed, her eyes returning to Marcy. Doesn't she ever pee?

“Finish your drink,” he said. “My truck is outside. Is there someplace I can drop you?”

“That's sweet, thank you, but I have my car.”

“How about something to eat?” He was desperately trying to save the evening. “There's a place called “El Rodeo” ...makes a terrific chili-dog.”

El Rodeo again! “Oh Jeff, I don't think so. I really need to get home.”

“Are you sure? I'll pay...” he was leaking sincerity all over her.

“There's lots of girls here,” your own age, Sue thought but didn't say, “that would love for you to ask them out for a bite to eat.”

“It wouldn't be the same,” he glanced around the room, shook his head sadly.

“I'm sorry, Jeff. It's not going to happen between us.” She reached out and placed a hand on his wrist. “It could never work.” Sue felt her right breast swing forward.

She froze as he glanced down. And before she could react, his hand darted across; gripped the n****e between index and middle finger and he softly raked his thumb nail across the tip.

“Argh!” Sue moaned. She knew she should slap his hand away, protest, stand and turn indignantly away from him, but her insides were already sliding, cascading down like a collapsed house of playing cards. The heat rose up through her abdomen, running across her chest like a line-fire. Her eyes fluttered.

“Oh Jeff. Don't!” But he held her eyes and continued tempting the tip of her n****e with his touch and, damn it, she didn't pull away! Twenty years it had been since she had been touched like a woman. Twenty years! With the arrival of Marcy, Sue had lost her status as desirable. Become a mother; no longer a lover in her husband's eyes. With assumed dignity, she had excepted her new roll; suffered in silence on the lonely evenings when he 'had to work late.' Fended for herself over those endless weekends when he 'had to attended the business convention.' And it all ended at the Mr. Bubble Car Wash! The ultimate slap to her face. Twenty long years. She realized that she wanted the drought to end. But not like this!

Sue opened her eyes; refocused.

She panned across the frenetic dance floor, the surrounding tables; saw the empty chair but it didn't register. Not until she had caught his hungry eyes.

Oh s**t! She dragged her eyes back. Marcy's chair had been abandoned. Sue was weakly aware of Jeff's fingers, still clutching her n****e as she scrutinized the dancers. Marcy was not among them. She had to have gone to the ladies' room.

“I've got to go!” Sue announced decisively and stood, pulling from Jeff's outstretched fingertips and brazenly giving him the full show; both breasts bobbed freely. Without waiting for a word from him, she picked her blouse from the back of the chair and thrust her arms into the sleeves. Balling up her bra, she stuffed it into her purse and, gripping her blouse closed, with chin tucked in, she bolted toward the exit. Sue hit the door at full stride and it bounced back. She already had her ticket in her hand and retrieved her jacket which she carelessly tossed across her shoulder in a mad flight to escape the building. Out through the double glass doors, cold night air filled her lungs and at a brisk trot, she reached the sanctity of the parking lot. Her car was there, waiting like a brave soldier.

She almost reached it.

Sue heard the footsteps trailing behind and faltered; spun on the ball of a foot and looked over a shoulder. It was Jeff. Oh crap!