Roni stopped in the dark hall. She had passed the gym and was in a short hallway just as Ms. Williams had said. "Look for the office door." She had said. She moved a little farther and finally found a doorway on the opposite side of the hall. "LeAnn Williams - Athletic Department."
Roni had been in the dean's office that morning. She was distraught after finding out she would not be getting the same full scholarship as last year. There was no way she could afford to pay for three more years at Arizona State without the financial support she thought she had been promised.
Then, later in the day, she had received a call from LeAnn Williams. All she would say was stop by my office after classes at five thirty. Well, she was there. She knocked on the door and a female voice said. "Come in."
Roni opened the door. The office was nothing special except for the walls covered with photographs of athletes from various sports in a types of uniforms. LeAnn, Roni was guessing, was setting at her desk.
"Roni?" She asked. And Roni nodded. "Please, have a seat and she pointed to a chair there in front of Roni facing the desk.
Roni was unquestionably a most beautiful girl. At nineteen, she was tall, slender and had a very athletic figure. Short curly brown hair, dark eyes and perfect complexion. Roni set there waiting as LeAnn sorted through some papers.
"You want to remain at AU?" She finally asked.
"Of course." Roni said. "But there is no way I can without the scholarship and they say they are all committed.
LeAnn leaned back in her chair. She looked at Roni. She stared as if she was looking right through her and it was making Roni a little nervous. "I have a scholarship available." She said.
"Ms. Williams, I don't know what you've been told but I don't play sports." Roni explained.
"Good." LeAnn said. She leaned forward and put her arms on the desk, hands together. Looking right at Roni. "Are you sexually active?"
"Wa What?" Roni asked.
"Simple question." LeAnn said. "If you are then I can get your next three years fully covered."
"I don't understand.' Roni said.
LeAnn chuckled. "Of course you don't." She said. "How could you?" She waited. 'Here's what I have." She started. The university Alumni Association provides me with three full scholarships."
"That's wonderful." Roni said. "But again. I'm not an athlete."
"No." LeAnn said. "But you are beautiful, you need the money and again, all I need to know now is are you sexually active."
Roni seemed very flustered with LeAnn asking about her sexual activity. It was not that she was a prude, far from it. Roni was very active, even to the point of initiating many encounters but still.
"Roni," LeAnn said. "Many of our best athletes come from great distances. They are required to abide very strict rules regarding their conduct on and off of the field." She looked at Roni. "They are young and they have needs."
Roni was finally getting it. "You mean you want me to...?" She stopped.
LeAnn nodded. "Not me." She said. "The Alumni Association." She added. "You know, the ones with all the money.
Roni stood up. "I'm sorry." She offered. "I don't think this is a good idea. I need to go." Roni let the office and literally ran down the hall and out into the open air. She was shaking.
Roni spent the entire night alternating between being shocked at being asked to do such things to crying because of having to leave school. The next day at five thirty in the evening she found herself leaning against the door of LeAnn William's office as she came around the hall corner.
LeAnn fumbled with a ring of keys, unlocked her door and went in. Roni, after a pause, followed her. LeAnn set down and removed a file folder from a drawer. She opened it and placed a multi paged document in front of Roni. "A standard Scholarship agreement." She said. "Sign the last page."
"You thought I would come back?" Roni asked.
"Obviously." LeAnn replied. Roni picked up the pen.
"You will have approximately eight athletes to look after." LeAnn said.