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Chapter Seventeen

Sunday, October 26, 1958

Johnny carried a tray of coffee and English muffins to Maeve who sat sleepy eyed in their bed.

"Sore?"

"Not really." Maeve took the tray and set it on her lap. "I'm not too sore for you." She smiled at him, then took a sip from her cup of coffee.

"Be right back," Johnny said.

He returned with another tray, joined Maeve on the bed.

"Still no word on Darlene." Johnny took a bite of toast.

Maeve nodded.

"Gloria called in last night. There is another one missing, Cherry. Also, she had Matt's phone number. They've been by, no one seems to be at home."

"Are you thinking about making love and just are finding it hard to ask me, or was that a no?"

"Thought you be interested." Johnny smiled at her, took another bite of toast.

"I'm interested in all sorts of things. Clothes, my wedding dress, flowers, caterer for the reception. You want to talk about them?" Maeve set her cup in the saucer.

"I was hoping you'd take care of those things." Johnny set his toast in its plate. "You sure you're not too sore?"

"There's plans for the honeymoon, Paris or London; we've still not decided. We need to make all sorts of plans for the reception; the band, music they'll play."

"If you're too sore, Gloria will be coming over this afternoon."

"I'd like to find a spot for the saying of the vows where the backdrop will be a wall of palm fronds."

"I'm sure Gloria would appreciate a warm up before going to the Bayside Pier. She might even enjoy it."

"The color of the dresses for the bride's maid is still something I've to decide, but I think I need to find the place for the ceremony first. I'd hate for the colors to clash."

"I'm sure she'd enjoy it." Johnny picked up his toast and resumed eating.

"So, have you decided?"

Johnny grinned at her, his mouth full of toast. He winked.

"Wink once for me, twice for Gloria."

Johnny chewed. He gave three slow winks.

Kitty woke to Gloria's whisper, "Winifred is taking them on a long walk around the neighborhood. A long walk. I said I'd give her two dollars."

Kitty smiled happily. She rolled onto her back.

"You are a crusty old thing this morning, aren't you?"

Kitty slowly nodded. She watched Gloria's face.

"Shower?" Gloria touched Kitty's nose with her finger. "It would take me forever to clean you otherwise."

"You promised."

"Shower just to loosen it a bit." Gloria pulled back Kitty's sheet. "You're caked." She kissed Kitty's nose. "How many were there?"

Kitty sat. "A million." She stretched her arms. "Maybe two million." She grinned. "They fucked me silly."

Gloria stood. "The best way to be fucked." She went to the bedroom door. "I'll get the water started."

Kitty stood and winced. She looked down. The sores on her knees were beginning to scab over.

Johnny sat at the dining room table, working on his ledger. Charles and Alex were coming later in the afternoon. Gloria and Michael should be here in an hour or so. He glanced at Maeve. She was working on the schedule for next week. It didn't seem to be requiring a lot of thought.

Johnny made a note on the pad beside the ledger. Things he needed to talk about with Kitty, Gloria and Maeve. It was too bad Kitty didn't have a phone yet.

Johnny watched Maeve. Her hair was almost dry after the long soaking bath she'd had, followed by a shower. Her skin glowed. She wore a burgundy robe, belted loosely so he could catch glimpses of her breasts. She'd redone her red nail polish on her hands and toes after the bath.

Johnny wondered what her mother had looked like. Maeve never mentioned her. She only talked about her father when her brother Ronald was visiting them or they were visiting Ronald. Johnny imagined Maeve thirty years from now, still beautiful, maybe a few gray hairs, still able to command attention.

He returned to his work on the ledger. Maeve had smiled when he asked if they could hear the Mozart concerto again. That smile, each of her smiles, meant the world to him.

Gloria knocked then walked into Johnny's house. She smiled at Maeve's look when she saw Gloria was naked.

"You don't need to do that anymore, you know," Maeve said.

"I like doing this. Walking in like this makes this an enchanted place. A place of adventure."

"Mozart or Beethoven?"

"Dvorak."

Maeve nodded. "Figures." She put her pad on the coffee table. "I'll join you." She smiled as she removed her robe. "I like Dvorak, too." Maeve sat. "Johnny is talking with Michael in the garage."

Gloria gave a nod. She walked in to the hi-fi and laid a record on it. "Johnny might like this." She sat across from Maeve, keeping her knees apart.

Maeve nodded, she uncrossed her legs.

"Pictures at an Exhibition by . . ."

"Yes, he'll like it." Maeve picked up her pad. "How are the kids?"

"Doing well. Winifred and I had a short talk last night. The girls are sisters like you suspected. There is an older sister, Cherry, aged twenty. She's been missing. Winifred wasn't forthcoming. Cherry is also known as Sylphie or Sylph."

Maeve nodded slowly.

"And I remembered I had Matt's number."

"No one seems to be at home."

Gloria watched Maeve's face, she nodded. "There's probably a good reason."

"No doubt."

Gloria grinned. "Gee. You sure are pretty, Maeve."

Maeve gave a broad smile. "Gee. You sure are pretty, Gloria." She stood. "I don't think Johnny is in a rush to see you." She held out her hand. "He's in a rush, but he can wait, can't he?"

Gloria stood, she took Maeve's hand. "I was so excited, I only stopped at one service station on the way here."

"Give Green Stamps?"

Gloria nodded.

"Give good service?"

"Not the best, but you know how hard it is to find a service station that does."

Gloria sat in the passenger seat of Kitty's old Pontiac. Michael had remembered a beach towel this time; it was spread on the back seat.

"I'm to meet him at the beach?"

Michael nodded. "I told him there was an extraordinarily beautiful woman who went walking along the beach, just before dark."

Gloria grinned. "You sure he'll recognize me? That description is awful vague."

Michael watched the road. "I think if I described the mole above your left buttock, if I described the heft of your breasts, the texture of your skin, how your cunt feels tight on my cock, he might have thought the description overly detailed."

"You sound like you are in love." Gloria touched his leg. "You're not in pain, are you? I'd hate for you to be in pain."

"I'm in pain, but Johnny and Maeve are following in your car. I'd have to pull over." He gave her a quick glance and grin. "For relief. He'd sit there, his hand on the horn, just to annoy me."

"And your son?"

"Medium height. Brown hair and eyes. Looks kind of like me at eighteen."

"Handsome."

"Passable." Michael made the turn at the light. "Would you want me to pay you?"

"I'd do it for free." Gloria gave his leg a squeeze. "How about a trade?"

Michael slowly nodded.

"You get my ass ready to fuck and you be the first one to fuck it?"

Michael nodded slowly, he smiled to himself.

"Evenings at Johnny's?" She paused. "I know it might take some time."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Need relief?"

"Damn, do I need relief." Michael drove the car into an empty parking lot. "Get in the back."

Gloria smiled. "And Johnny?"

"Fuck Johnny."

"I hope to."

Maeve sat in Gloria's Rambler with her pad making notes. Johnny and Michael were carrying on with Gloria, like a couple of teenagers, in Kitty's old Pontiac. That girl should know better. Maeve grinned. Seeing Gloria carrying on like that at thirty-one gave her hope she'd be doing the same in ten years.

She made a note about corsages. Michael would be the best man. She wondered if he had a tuxedo. Probably didn't. She wrote, "Tux." Johnny, too.

Maeve glanced up and saw Kitty's old car give that familiar wiggle. She hoped they'd save some for her on the drive home.

Kitty and the kids went out for a drive. They stopped at an ice cream shop for cones, then ate them in the car. The girls were cute around Mark. They babied him, but they also showed him respect. He liked them, especially Fancy who was closest to his age. He was in awe of Winifred.

Johnny had asked that they stop by the Bayside Pier at four-thirty. He wanted the girls to see if they recognized anyone. Then she was to take them to an address on the south side of town. Maybe they would recognize Matt's house.

Gloria stayed in the back seat after Michael parked on the Bayside Pier. There were more this time. Then she saw Al and his friends. She smiled and waved at them. Al and Bill saw her and waved back. Gloria watched Michael go from fishing party to fishing party, talking, pointed back to the car. She wondered if they'd remembered a bucket, ice. It would be a shame if the fish spoiled.

Gloria had few preparations to make before the first man reached the old Pontiac. She was already naked. All she had to do was open the back door, water side, and make sure it was open all the way. She waved at the men. Then she lay down on the towel and spread her legs.

She was glad Michael remembered the towel. It was so much better than the scratchy seat cover. Otherwise, she liked this big old car. There was lots of room.

The first man was on her, in her. She held him to her, she whispered "Fuck" repeatedly in his ear. She could smell him. She opened her eyes; she brought his face to hers and kissed him. He wasn't Matt. She shut her eyes.

Maeve stood by the Rambler parked near the seawall. She was able to watch the men out on the cement Bayside Pier. She wanted to be close, but not that close. Johnny had walked out to help Michael. She could see Johnny and Michael talk with several other men. She guessed those were Gloria's friends.

Maeve thought about Darlene. She thought she'd talk to Johnny about one of them, her, working Darlene's corner for a few evenings. Maybe one of the other girls would know something. Johnny would be seen differently if he were a pimp with a girl of his own.

She smiled, thinking about Johnny's story about Alice. He'd seen too many detective movies. It wasn't that simple in real life.

She heard a car, looked over. Kitty parked next to the Rambler.

Maeve waved to Mark, walked to Kitty's window. "I think Winifred and I need to take a short walk." She looked into the back of the car. "Winifred?"

Winifred looked to Kitty then back at Maeve. She nodded. Mark and the girls wanted to join them, Kitty said, "Not this time."

Maeve took Winifred's hand in hers. "Just a little stroll."

Winifred walked alongside.

"See if you recognize anyone."

Winifred said, "I don't, should I?"

"We're looking for Mack."

"I don't see him."

Maeve was silent for a few steps. "Nothing will happen to him if Darlene isn't seriously hurt." She paused. "Johnny bought me from another pimp for two thousand." She paused. "Johnny wants to buy Darlene and Cherry." She smiled. "They won't make him near the money I do, it won't be for two thousand each." She gave Winifred's hand a squeeze. "He'll pay five hundred just to talk to Mack." She paused. "Understand?"

Winifred watched Maeve's face. She nodded quickly. "He paid two thousand?"

Maeve gave a quick smile. "He did. That pimp had me whoring in a service station men's room." She glanced at Winifred. "Didn't know what he had, did he?"

Winifred looked warily at her, gave a slow shake of her head.

"Look again. We'll go closer." Maeve slowed momentarily, then resumed her pace. "Gloria's working in that car today. Not working, this is fun for her. When she works, she works hard. Today it is jut for fish for dinner tonight. When she works for five hundred, she works for every penny." Maeve paused. "Is this bothering you?"

Winifred slowly shook her head.

"Recognize anybody?"

Winifred shook her head. "I don't see Mack."

"All right. Let's turn." Maeve and Winifred turned and walked back to Kitty's car. "Kitty, Gloria and I are whores, Winifred. You saw that, didn't you?"

Winifred nodded her head. She watched Maeve.

"And Johnny is a pimp. We weren't lying to you. I'm not lying to you about Mack."

Winifred nodded slowly. She watched Maeve's face.

"You ever do anything like that?"

Winifred shook her head. "Not that many."

"Winifred, you have a year or more to think about what you want to do. Think hard. Think how your choice will influence your little sisters' choices when they are eighteen." Maeve paused. "Where did you lose Cherry?"

"Philly."

"Philadelphia?"

Winifred nodded.

"What happened?"

"One night she didn't come home."

"You were with Mack then?"

"Not then?"

"How long ago?"

"Last summer."

"Wonder what happened?"

Winifred gave a quick nod.

"Scared?"

"Of course I'm scared. We're all scared."

"When did Mack take you up?"

"A couple of weeks ago."

"Here?"

"Jacksonville."

"Been places, haven't you?" Maeve paused. "Like Gloria and Kitty?"

Winifred slowly nodded.

"They like you and your sisters, too. Gloria spoke well of you this afternoon." Maeve gave Winifred's hand a squeeze. "You'll be staying at Kitty's until we get things sorted out. Mark's a card, isn't he?"

Winifred smiled.

"We're back. I have to talk to Kitty a moment. You like fish?"

Winifred made a face, shook her head.

Maeve have her a broad smile. "That's all right. It won't go to waste."

Gloria relaxed on the seat under Al. It felt great to have him here, to have all of them here. She nuzzled his ear as he fucked her with long slow strokes.

Her body was covered with pools of sweat; her hair was a damp mass around her head. Each man, when he left her, left with damp spots on his shirt, a large spot where the shirt touched her stomach, a smaller spot if it had pressed between her breasts. She looked at each man; no one looked like Matt. She wondered if he'd been here last week. She wondered if he'd delicately fenced with her during their meetings; if she hadn't been right all along.

Al muttered in her ear after he came, "I think I love you."

Gloria held his head to hers. "I'm a whore, Al. You can't fall in love with a whore." She felt him shake his head. "It's okay to like me a lot, though."

Al nodded. He whispered, "I think I'm falling into liking you a lot."

"It helps to have a sense of humor about life, doesn't it, Al?"

He raised his head and looked into her eyes. "I can see I'll have to wait in line for a date. You're a popular girl."

"Keep on with the sweet stuff and I'll give you a ten percent discount."

"Not twenty?"

"Sorry, Al. Friends is one thing. Parting a whore from her money is something else." She kissed him. "Al, they're waiting."

Al nodded, he began to crawl out of the car.

"Al, if you and your friends want seconds, they're on me."

Al smiled. "Thirds?" He stood at the side of the car zipping up. He had two damp spots on his shirt.

"Thirds, too, but I have a date tonight I can't miss." Gloria smiled at him, then at Danny who was next.

Johnny walked back to the car to sit with Maeve.

"Any fish?"

Johnny nodded. "Hope you like fish."

"Will she be done soon?"

Johnny smiled. "She and Al are saying goodbye."

"They any good?"

"She likes them. They seem nice."

"Maybe you should invite them over sometime?"

Johnny laid his head back on the seat. "I have their number."

"No Matt?"

"No Matt."

"I talked to Winifred. She gave us a little more."

"Is she scared or protecting Mack?"

"Both I think. I think she loves Mack. She's falling in love with you."

Johnny nodded slowly, the back of his head still on the seat.

"I have the schedule for Gloria."

"Can I see it?"

"Of course." Maeve handed it to him. "Here she comes."

Johnny nodded. "Just a second."

"She looks beautiful in that black robe of yours, Johnny."

Johnny nodded slowly. "Looks okay to me." He handed the schedule to Maeve.

"Hand it to her, Johnny. Isn't she beautiful?"

Johnny turned and watched Gloria step to her car.

"All done?" Maeve asked. She opened the door and got out of the back seat.

"All done," Gloria said. "There were more this time."

"Sorry about that?" Johnny asked. He stood next to Maeve.

"Of course not." Gloria smiled. "That was fun."

Maeve handed Gloria the new schedule. "We'll see you tomorrow evening."

Gloria took the schedule, glanced at it, then looked up to Maeve. "Thanks, Maeve." She smiled. "I have a date, guess I better get going."

Johnny kissed Gloria; he watched Maeve and Gloria kiss. They walked to Kitty's old Pontiac and Michael who was waiting for them. Gloria drove off in her white Rambler.

Johnny smiled at Michael. "Hungry?"

"Damn tooting I'm hungry. Some of those guys thought they were eighteen-year-olds; they kept coming back for more. If everyone acted their proper age, we'd be eating by now." Michael gave a broad smile. "I envy the young at heart."

Maeve got into the back seat, began to take off her clothes. "You both will have a chance on the way home. Same spot, different girl."

Johnny sat in the passenger seat. He sniffed the air two times, then looked back at Maeve. "What's that fishy smell?" He grinned.

"That's a terrible joke, Johnny." Maeve patted his arm. She smiled at him. "If we weren't getting married, I'd dump you."

Chapter Nine | Chapter Ten | Chapter Eleven | Chapter Twelve | Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen | Chapter Fifteen | Chapter Sixteen | Chapter Seventeen | The Schedule

The first part of Switch: a novel is Switch.
The second part of Switch: a novel is The Babysitter.
The third part of Switch: a novel is Comes the Bride.
The fourth part of Switch: a novel is The Revolver.

Disclaimer: Some of the things the characters do in this story are seen as offensive or frightening (even terrifying) by some if not most people. Please don't surprise anyone. Always ask first. Have an agreed upon safe word even if you don't do BDSM.

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