Johnny scuffed his worn boots against the sidewalk as he
looked for his next trick. He could see Rooskie far off a tiny spec but lethal
nonetheless peering at him and Johnny felt obedience. He had barely survived
the wrath of Tatiana in discovering what went down and how he only got $5000
from the last scam. He was forced to work it off working the streets as Rooskie
kept his tab. He didn’t mind
turning tricks but he did mind living under Rooskie’s thumb and in his
stable. He had tried to convince
Tatiana that he would make more picking pockets at local tourists traps or helping her at the religious scams but
she insisted if he wanted to live that he return to prostitution for his
payback. Man after man Johnny lost
track of days and nights and eventually and after weeks began believing Rooskie
was cheating him and that he had already achieved the payback amount. But
arguing with Rooskie was like arguing with the devil. It was hopeless until
Rooskie decided things were square whenever that occurred they wouldn’t be and
his life would be at risk.
A deep black car came into his focus as it swung over to the
side of the curb just ahead of Johnny. The window opening as he reached the
side of it and a hand crusted in diamonds stretched out of it waived him in. Johnny felt his power return as he
headed in the direction of the waiving hand of his approaching salvation. He knew that demise was not the fate of
a god like him and it was just a matter of time.
The door opened and he could see no one as he bent inward to
get in. As he adjusted himself he
noted the professional driver uniform and felt elated and quite at home. The
man at the other end of the sleek leather seat was older and seemed to be in
his 50s or so. His suit was tailored perfectly along his fit body. He was
handsome and Johnny was attracted to him. His wealth was clearly grand further
exciting Johnny on the possibilities that were now before him. His mind raced
as he thought about how he could play this to get the maximum benefit for
himself and release him from the slavery of Rooskie.
The man said nothing to Johnny and he sat looking towards
him with dark glasses that spoiled Johnny’s ability to read him with certainty.
He passed him a dark shiny mirror with lines of white powder that reminded
Johnny of his wonderful days in Torino. He leaned in eager to take this man’s
offerings and enjoy the ride fully as he easily eliminated one of the three
lines. He leaned backward to
reduce the run down his throat as the man’s hand came out motioning him to do
more. Johnny was even more thrilled “This is my dream come true!” he thought as
he bent forward to wipe another line off the glowing mirror.
“Take another” the man’s voice spoke low and deep and Johnny
could hear compassion for him in it.
Johnny did the last line and at this point he was ready to rule his own
fate and the world. He leaned towards the man reaching for his crotch ready to
please him into becoming his constant muse. The man pushed him back and Johnny
lost his footing. “You misunderstand friend” he said, “I am here to offer you a
new life. I’m offering you a life that you can get off the streets and into the
high life. I don’t want anything from you at the moment so relax. But I do like
your eagerness.” The man was confident and the driver seemed uninterested as if
this was a speech he had heard many times before. “What’s this about?” Johnny meekly asked. Johnny knew that a
muse would not be aggressive so he suppressed his own frustration over not
making immediate money keeping his voice sweet and innocent. He also was not interested in being in another pimp’s
stable. “I’ve got a great scam”
the man responded “and I need someone like you to pull it off.”
Johnny quickly deflated at the realization that he had
encountered another criminal organization and that he was thus not likely to
ever become this rich man’s muse nor would he make any money at all. “Sorry but I already belong to another
group and dude I am in hot water as is I don’t need it to get any hotter.
Thanks but no thanks.” Johnny put his hand on the door to depart and get back
to making money to get square with Tatiana. The man became
clearly agitated immediately as if lit by a quick fuse grabbing his arm “You don’t get it man you ARE going to do this
scam for me. I NEED YOU so that’s IT MOTHERFUCKER!” he bellowed as his sleek and
refined look turned to tacky. Johnny tried to get out but the doors were locked
as the car sped away. The man’s hands began groping Johnny’s body as the deep
laughter of an insane mind filled the air. The driver looked back at him and he
could see he was from the wrong world too and the mistake Johnny had made about
them. Johnny gave into the man’s groping hands knowing that he would have to give
in to survive.
