Valtookanothersipofherwinecoolertofortifyherselfbeforeshe answeredinarush,“Iwasjustsittingaroundhomewaitingformydaughterto gethomefromschoolandIstartedtofeelrestless,soIdecidedtotakeawalk andIendeduphere.”
“Ifyouwantmyadvice,Idon’tthinkyoushouldstayheretoolong.There aresome...unsavoryelementsaroundhere.”Foremphasis,Jerigesturedtothe stage,whereagirlinanurse’scostumegyratedaroundapole.
“Ohdear,”Valsaid.Hercheeksglowedred.“Iseeyourpoint.IsupposeI shouldfinishmydrinkthen.HowmuchdoIoweyou?”
Jeriquotedhertheprice.Valreachedintoherpurse.Sheputfarmorethan
thatonthecounter.“That’sfartoomuch—”
“It’sallright.Youdeserveitforyourwisecounsel.”Valsmiledather;it wasthesameimpishsmilefromwhentheyhadbeentogetherbefore.“You’re wisebeyondyouryears,I’dsay.”
“IguessIhaveanoldsoul.”
“Iguessso.Thankyou,younglady.”Valleftherhalf-emptybottleonthe counterandthenstooduptoleave.AsValheadedforthedoor,Jerifinallyfelt thelongingshehadthoughtshemightfeelwhenshelookedatthedancers.
Chapter15
JerinearlybrokeanotherglassthenextdaywhenshesawValinthe doorway.Atfirstshedidn’trecognizeValinherpoodleskirtandlightpurple sweaterwithherhairpulledintoashortponytail.Buttherewasnomistaking thosefreckledcheeksandicyblueeyes.Orthatbrilliantsmileasshestrode towardsthebar.
“Whatdoyouthink?”sheasked.“DoIfitinalittlebetterwithyouyoung peopletoday?”
“Alittle,”Jerisaid.Itwasn’tuntilValsatdownthatJerisawthetiny wrinklesatthecornersofhereyes;otherwiseshecouldpassasagirlJeri’sage.
“Istolethisfrommydaughter’scloset.Ihopeshedoesn’tmissit.”
“Itlooksgoodonyou.”
“Thanks.”Vallookedaroundandthensaid,“I’llhaveabeer.”
“Draftorbottle?”
“Surpriseme.”
Jerireachedbeneaththecounterforabottleofbeer.Itwassaferthanthe draftsincethetaphadn’teverbeencleanedfromthelookofit.Thatwas somethingJeriwouldhavetoattendtoaspartofhernewjob,butshedidn’tfeel comfortableenoughyettostarttakingthingsapart.“Hereyouare.”
Valtookthebottleandthenhandedoverenoughmoneyforthreebottles.
“You’regivingmetoomuchagain.”
“Justapplyittowardsmytabthen,”Valsaid.
TherewasacheeraroundthestageasSheriandTericameonstageintheir identicalcostumes.AsTaihadfigured,thecustomersateuptheiract;Sheriand Terihadquicklybecomethemostpopulargirlsattheclub.Inasingledaythey mademorethanJerididinamonth,somethingwhichoftenmadeJerijealous.
ShecouldhavebeenjustaspopularifTaihadn’tsaddledherwiththis tomboyishbody.
“Somethingwrong?”Valasked.
“It’snothing.”Jeriforcedherselftosmile.“Thebartenderistheonewho’s supposedtolistenanddispenseadvice,nottheotherwayaround.”
“Ohdear.Ihadn’trealizedIhadviolatedtradition.What’sthe punishment?”
“Youbuymeadrink.”Jerireachedbeneaththebarforabeerforherself.
Intheoryshewastooyoungtodrink,butifanyonehadcaredaboutthat,they wouldn’thavestationedheratthebarinthefirstplace.
“So,whatiswrong?Ifyoudon’tmindmyasking.”
Jerigesturedtothestage.“Thosearemyfriendsupthere.Theygettobea lotmorepopularthanmejustbecausethey’reprettier.”
“Isee.Ithinkyou’reaveryprettygirl.”
“Butnotlikethem.Istilllooklikeakid.Asillykid.”Shebrushedthe waveofpurplehairfromhereyeforemphasis.
“It’snotsillytoexpressyourself.”Valleanedforwardonherstool.“You probablywon’tbelieveme,butwhenIwasyourage,Iwasabit sillytoo.”
“You’reright,Idon’tbelieveyou,”Jerisaid.Shetookadrinkfromher beer.Evenwhentheyhadbeenkids,Valhadnotseemedliketherebellious type.Shehadalwaysbeensoconfidentinherself,despitehersmallstatureand thosechildishfreckles.“Youseemreallyputtogethertome.”
“Everygirlgoesthroughthatphasewhensheneedstofigureoutwhoshe is.”
“Butyoudidn’tdyeyourhairpurple,didyou?Orgetabunchofstupid piercings?”
Valchuckledatthis.“No,Isupposenot.ButifIcantrustyouwitha secret,I’mgoingthroughabitofaphasenow.Mydaughterdoesn’treallyneed meanymore.She’sgotherownfriends,herownlife.I’mnotmuchapartof it.”
“I’msureshestilllovesyou.”
“Iknow,butwearen’tthatcloseanymore.I’mmoreofamaidtoheratthis point:Icleanupherroom,doherlaundry,andmakehermealsandthat’sabout it.”
“Shesoundsprettyspoiled.IliveinanapartmentthesizeofaclosetandI havetocleanupaftermyselfandmakemymeals.”
“Isupposesheislucky,”Valsaid.Shestoppedtotakealongpullfromher beer.Shedidn’treactasviolentlyasyesterday;perhapsshehadalready developedatolerance.“Anyway,that’swhatbroughtmehere.Somethingtold meImightfindafriendinhere.”
Jeri’scheekswarmedatthis.DidValalreadyconsiderherafriend?She mustreallybelonelythen.“I’mgladyoudidcomein.Itgetsboringjust listeningtothesemengoingonandonallthetime.”Shegesturedtowardsthe stage,wherethemenwhoopedandthrewmoneyatSheriandTeri.Theywere almostpantinglikedogsatthenakedgirls.
“Don’ttheothergirlstalktoyou?”
“Alittle,butI’mnotreallylikethem.”
“Youpoorgirl.Whataboutafterwork?”
“There’snotmuchtimethen.MostlyIjustgohome,heatupsomesoup, andfallasleep.”
“Ohdear.I’msosorry.”
“It’snotsobad.Notlikeanorphanageoranything.”
“Well,no,Isupposenot.Still,aprettyyounggirlshouldhavesome friends.”
“Idohaveone,don’tI?”JeriwinkedanditwasVal’sturntoblush.
ShereachedouttopatJeri’shand.“Youdo,dear.”
“Hi,Jeri!”SheriorTerisqueaked.
“Who’syourfriend?”theotheradded.
Thetwinssatdownatthebar.Theyhadputtheirclothesbackon,which thankfullyincludedtheirheadbandssoJericouldtellthemapart.Shefetcheda bottleofwaterforeachofthegirls;thatwasoneareawheretheydidn’tshare.
“ThisisVal.Shedroppedinforabeer.”
“Thatwasaveryniceperformance,girls.It’samazinghowinsynchyou are.”
“Notalways,”Sherigrumbled.“Teriwastwosecondslateonherone pivot.”
“Iwasnot!Youwereearly.”
“Comeon,don’tfight.Itwasgreat.Andit’snotlikethoseguyswould noticeanyway,right?”
“MissKilgorewillnotice,”Sherisaid.
“Shealwaysnotices,”Teriadded.
“Youshouldn’tletthatbotheryou.Aslongasthecustomerishappythat’s allthatmatters,isn’tit?”Valsaid.
“Tellherthat,”Sherisaid.
“I’dbehappyto.AndIcouldtellherwhatadelightfulbartendershehas.”
“Youmeanwhatafreakybartendershehas,”Sherisaid.
“Shutup,”Jerigrowled.
“Whodoyouthinkyou’reimpressingwiththatlook?”Shericontinued.
Hersisterlookeddownatherwater,hercheeksred.Inpersonalitytheystill weren’tidentical—notyet.
“I’mnottryingtoimpressanyone.”
“Wellyou’recertainlysucceedingthen.”
Jeripickedupato
welandthrewitatSheri’sface.Sherihowledwithrage.
Beforeshecouldthrowthetowelback,Valputahandonherarm.“Calmdown, dear.Let’snotloseourheads.”
“Youcan’ttelluswhattodo.You’renotourmother,evenifyouareold enoughtobe.”
“Don’ttalktoherlikethat.OrI’lltellMissKilgore—”
“Ooh,you’lltellonus.Whatareyou,six?”
ValturnedtoJeriwithasmile.“It’sallright,dear.IknowImustlook positivelyancienttoyougirls.Whydon’twealljustdrinkourdrinksandcalm down?”
Sherilookedreadytosaysomethingnasty,butTeriputahandonher shoulder.“Weshouldgetbackstage.MissKilgorewillwanttoseeus.”
“Fine.We’lljustleavethefreakalonewithher girlfriend,”Sherisneered.
Thetwinshurriedaway,Teriseemingtopullhersisteralong.They receivedaslewofpinchesandpatstothebottomastheywent.Therewerealso afewlewdoffersthrowntheirway,whichtheyignored.Theclubhadvery specificrulesaboutfornicatingwiththecustomers.
ValpattedJeri’shandagain.“Don’tworryabouther.She’sjustjealous.”
“Ofme?Why?”
“Becauseyouhaveafriendandallshehasishersisterandabunchof hornymenwhodon’treallycareabouther.”
“Oh.Maybeyou’reright.”Jeriforcedherselftosmile.“Youshouldbethe onebehindthecounter.You’realotwiserthanme.”
“It’sjustexperience,dear.”Shecheckedherwatch.“I’dbettergethome.
Areyouworkingtomorrow?”
“Iworkeveryday.”
“ThenI’llseeyoutomorrow.”Valwinkedandthenshesashayedoutofthe club.Jerileanedforwardonthecounterandsighed.
***
WhenValcamebackthenextdayshewasagaindressedinthepoodleskirt andsweater.Theplateofcookiesshecarriedbeliedherattemptstolooklikea teenager.ShesettheplatedownonthecounterinfrontofJeri.“Hereyougo, dear.Ithoughtyoucouldusealittlehomecooking.They’repeanutbutter.”
“Thanks,”Jerisaid.Shesnatchedtwofromtheplateandatethemin seconds.Allshecouldaffordtobuyonhermeagersalarywassoupand noodles;shehadn’teatenanythingsweetsincethatstalecinnamonrolltaken fromthetrashwhenshe’dbeenastreeturchin.Throughamouthfulofcookies shesaid,“Thesearedelicious.”
“I’mgladyoulikethem.CouldIgetabeer?”
“Noproblem.”Jeritookoutabottleandsetitonthecounter.Beforeshe couldtakeanymorecookies,amansatdownattheoppositeendofthecounter.
“Getmeabottleofwhiskey,sweetcheeks,”hesaid.
“Comingup.”Shehurriedovertotheracksofliquortowherethewhiskey bottleswerekept.“Anyparticularbrand,sir?”
“There’sonlyonerealbrandofwhiskey,honey.”
“Whichis?”
“FourLeafs,youdumbcunt.”
“Excuseme,sir,”Valsaid.“Youshouldn’ttalktoherlikethat.”
“What,youhermother?”
“No—”
“Thenstepoff.”
“Nowseehere—”
“It’sallright.Igotitrighthere,”Jerisaid.Shesetthebottledowninfront ofhim.Shepouredsomeintoaglass.Traditionallysheonlysplashedalittlein, butheinsistedshefilltheglasstothetop.
“Thatweren’tsohard,wereit,sugartits?”
“No.”
Shestartedtopullback,buthegrabbedheraroundthewaist.“Fromthe lookofit,youdon’tlikeguys,buthow’saboutIchangeyourmind?”
“Idon’tthinkso.Thankyou.”Jerilookeddownmeeklyatthefloor.She hadneverbeenpropositionedlikethisbefore.Shedidn’tknowwhattodo;she wastoosmallandscrawnytofightback.ShecouldyellforBrunothebouncer, butthenshewouldreceiveadressingdownfromMissKilgoreforturningaway apayingcustomer.
“Comeon,anicebigcockisjustwhatagirllikeyouneeds.”
“Please,leavemealone,”shesaidwithawhimper.
Hepushedherdowntokissherroughlyonthecheek.“Let’syouandme getoutofhererightnowanddrinkdownthiswholebottle.”
“Ican’t.Ihavetowork.”
“Don’tworry,itwon’ttakelong.Andyourmomherecanrunthingswhile you’regone.”
“I’msorry—”
“Iain’taskingyou,bitch.”Heseizedherwristinonemeatyhand.Shewas abouttoscreamforhelpwhenthebottleofwhiskeyshatteredovertheman’s head.Hisgripslackenedenoughtoletherpullaway.
Valshovedthemantothefloor,wherehelayinaheap.“Youowemy friendanapology.Andmetoo.”
“I’llshowyouwheretocramyourapology—”Hestoppedashemusthave seenthejaggedendofthebottleValheldinherhand.“I’msorry,”hemuttered.
“Sayitlikeyoumeanit.”
HelookedoveratJeri.“I’msorry,ma’am.Ishouldn’thavedonethat.”
“That’sverygood,”Valsaid.“NowIthinkyoushouldgohome.”
“Yes,ma’am.”Themanhurriedoutoftheclub.
Valshookherheadasshetossedthebrokenbottleintothetrash.“Whata brute.Idon’tknowhowagirllikeyoucanstandithere.”
Howdidyouknowtodothat?”
“ItoldyouIwasabitrebelliousinmyyouth,”Valsaid.“Oldhabitsdie hard.”
“Thankyousomuch.Ifyouhadn’tbeenhere—”Jeri’svoicetrailedoffas shebegantosob.Shecouldimaginewhatthemanwouldhavedonetoherif she’dgonewithhim.
Valpattedherback.“Don’tworryaboutit.You’resafenow.”
“Whatisthemeaningofthis?”MissKilgoreshouted.“Whathaveyou beenupto,younglady?”
“I’msorry,”Jeristammered.“I—”
“It’smyfault,ma’am,”Valsaid.“Amanwassayingsomeveryunpleasant thingsandIwasabitroughinmyresponse.I’llbehappytopayforthe damages.”
“Icouldn’taskyoutodothat,ma’am.Thebartenderissupposedtokeep thingsundercontrol.”MissKilgorewaggedafingeratJeri.“Thiswillcome outofyourcheck.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
“Nowgetthismesscleanedupbeforesomeonegetsglassintheirfootand sues.”
“Yes,ma’am.”
MissKilgorestompedoffwhileJerifetchedabroomanddustpan.AsJeri sweptup,Valsaid,“Whydidn’tyoustandupforyourself?Itwasthatpig’s fault,notyours.”
“Idon’twanttolosemyjob.IfIdo,I’llenduponthestreet.”
“Ohdear.Youpoorgirl.”Valreachedintoherpurse.“Youjusttellme howmuchitisandI’llreimburseyou.”
“Icouldn’t—”
“Itwasmyfault.Ibrokethebottleoverhisfathead.”
“IfMissKilgorefindsout—”
“Howwillsheknow?”
“Please,justleaveitalone.Icantakecareofmyself.”
ValbristledasifJerihadslappedher.“Isee.IsupposeIshouldgo.”
JerireachedouttograbVal’swrist.“I’msorry.Idon’tmeanitlikethat.
It’sjust…thereare rulesaroundhere.”
“Ithoughtyouweresupposedtobeinarebelliousphase.”Valgrinnedat herandsaid,“I’monlykidding,dear.Iunderstandcompletely.”
“Thankyou.”
Valnoddedtoher.Shelefttheplateofcookies.“I’llpicktheplateup tomorrow,”shesaidwithawink.
Jeribreathedasighofrelief.ButasValleft,Jerifeltherheadspin.She reachedouttograbholdofthecounter.Asshedid,shenoticedat
attooonher lefthand.Itwasablackhashmark.Evenasshewonderedwhatitwas,the sleeveofherjacketcovereditup.Herblousehadbecomelooseraswellandher skirtwasfarlessindecentnow.
Sheturnedtothemirrorbehindthebarandgasped.Herhairwaslonger, closertoshoulderlengthnow.Shesweptsomeofthisbacktoseepimpleshad takenupresidenceonherface.Shehadlosttheringinherlipandeyebrowas well.Fromthesedifferencesandherclothessheknewshewasyoungernow.
Probablyonlyfifteennowatmost.
Thatwasherrealpunishment,nothavingtopayforthedamage.She gulpedassheknewifshewerepunishedtoomanymoretimesinthismanner, shewouldendupeitheronthestreetorinanorphanage.Sheturnedtogulp downafewmorecookiesassheworriedforthefuture.
Chapter16
Jerilayonthecoldfloorofthebathroomstallandstaredatherhand.Her thirdblackmark.Nowshewasakidagain.Itwasn’tfair.
Shehadreceivedhersecondblackmarkamonthago.Thathadcomewhen MissKilgoredeterminedJeri’sdrawerwasshortbytoomuch.“Thedifference willhavetocomeoutofyourcheck,”MissKilgorehadsaid.
Shortlyafter,thesecondmarkappearednexttothefirst.Jerihadfelt lightheadedagain.Sheshrunkafewmorecentimeters.Thenumberofpimples onherfacemultiplied.Herhairhadlengthenedtopasthershoulders,thoughit wasstillpurple.Shestillhadapiercinginhernose,butnowitwasatinysilver stud.Mostofhertattooshadvanishedaswellasshebecametooyoungforthat muchinkonherbody.Ontheplusside,insteadofthesheerblouseandleather jacketshegottowearablackT-shirtandalongerskirt.
Ifanyonehadnoticedthischange,nooneleton.NotevenValseemedto notice.Shehadcomeinthenextdaylikeusualwithaplateofbrownies.
“Hello,dear,”Valsaid.“You’relookingprettytoday.”
“Thanks,”Jerimuttered.Thentheybegantochatliketheyusuallydid.Val talkedaboutherdaughterandthingsaroundherneighborhoodwhileJeri listened.
Thislatestblackmarkwasn’tevenJeri’sfault.Thebusshetooktowork hadbrokendown.Shehadbeenforcedtogetoffandruntenkilometersinthe rain.Shehadalreadybeenahalf-hourlatewhentheclubhadcomeinsight.