Rocky had been an old time pornographer back in the fifties and had actually served time in San Quentin for producing and distributing a film of two women getting it on with a large pig. I gently run my hands across Felicia's breast and then down to her bush. She is truly a beauty and I sincerely wish that she wasn't married. She sighs, mumbles something in Spanish that sounds like "knock it off, fuckstick" and rolls over on to her side and resumes her snoring. I roll over back to my side of the bed and sit up with my feet on the floor. The alarm clock tells me that it's ten o'clock. By union rules I have two hours to respond to their call. I grab my pack of Camels and light one up with my battered Zippo. I sit and stare at the lighter for several seconds. It has my old Navy ship, the USS Dixie, inscribed on it, the only keepsake I have from my days in the military except for my honorable discharge certificate.
Standing up I shuffle over to the small refrigerator and get out a
can of beer. Testing the waters I gently sip it. Tasty.
The old hair of the dog. It seems like everything is
going to be all right. I think I'll call the dock office
and take a sick day. They won't be able to say much
since this will be my first and then I'll take Felicia
out for brunch and then maybe we'll got to the
beach later. She loves the beach. I take my cigarette
and beer and sit down on the couch and pull out the
answering machine from under the couch. One call
is waiting to be listened to. I turn the volume up
slightly and hit play:
There's a pause then a coughing jag. I about
shit the couch when I hear the voice. "Hey asshole.
Long time no see. I just wanted to let you know that
I got some bad news yesterday. My old man got
shanked up at Stillwater. The poor old fucker died
in the prison infirmary before they could an
ambulance out to the prison. Bad fucking way to go.
Seventy some years old and a nigger runs a
sharpened up piece of plastic through you. Shit!
Anyway, that means all bets are off.
I know that my old man and yours used to be tight but as you can
see, those days are fucking over. So I hired a private
detective to look you up. Didn't take too fucking
long since you left quite a trail. Plus, we have a
mutual acquaintance. A little birdy in Leavenworth
prison. He got hold of me and said you he had some
information about you. That made things a lot easier
for the dick I hired. So anyway. Here's the deal you
miserable little prick. You got two weeks to come
see me. If you're one goddamn second late I'm
going out to your dad's house and break both his
fucking legs and burn his house down with him in
it." There was some wheezing laughter. "Just like
what happened to your buddy. Mike was his name
wasn't it? And I've got another nice little tidbit for
you. I just discovered that you have an older brother
who's married and has two beautiful children. I
never knew that before.
They live down in Florida. Pensacola I believe. Very successful couple. Pity
for anything to happen to them because you're such
a fuckup. You can leave a message for me at the
Aragon Bar. Have a nice day."
I almost jumped out of my skin when the
hands touched my back. I whirled around to find
Felicia standing, still naked behind me. She looked
at me quizzically.
"Problem?"
"Yes, baby. Big fucking problem."
I leaned over and put my head in my hands.
It was time to pay up. I looked back up a Felicia
who was looking at me with genuine concern in her
eyes. I wished to God I could just crawl into bed
with her and never have to go anywhere again.
"I have to go home for a while. But on
Monday I need you to go to the bank with me. I
have a safety deposit box there. I'm going to put
your name on the access list so that you can get a
key to it."