Erin pulled her car into the 7-Eleven parking lot and searched for an un-occupied space. Looking around, she realized that she might have to park on the street, which made her uncomfortable at night. This wasn't the best neighborhood; just a week ago, some cars had been broken into where she worked, a few blocks away. It was summer, so kids from the neighborhood were out in droves, and Erin noticed a group of young black guys hanging out in front of the store. Just as she was ready to give up and pull out of the lot, she spied an empty space on the side of the building. "Thank God," she thought, and pulled her car in to it.
Opening the door and stepping out, Erin suddenly realized that she had forgotten to call her mother back earlier in the day. "Oh Lord, that was hours ago," she said out loud to herself. "Shit!" She knew her mom was probably pretty mad by now. "I am not looking forward to making this call," she thought, knowing that her mother would do that "thing" she does, and scold her like a child. She had been doing it since Erin
was
a child, and the fact that she was now thirty-three didn't seem to matter. Erin wished she could just be brave and stand up for herself. "Damn," she said out loud. "I'd better call and apologize." Fumbling around in her purse for her cell phone, she closed and locked the car door.
Leaning on her car, Erin dialed the number and braced herself. Three, then four rings; was she not home? Her face began to relax into a smile and she thought, "Could I
be
that lucky?" When the answering machine picked up, she was ready. "Hi, Mom! Sorry I couldn't get back to you earlier; it was a long, crazy day at work. Anyway, I'm on my way home, and I should be there in about an hour. I'll call you then. Bye!" She closed the phone, looked up at the sky, and said three times, in rapid succession, "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Erin walked toward the store's entrance, grinning, at her luck. Reaching for the door handle, she glanced at the group of guys hanging out near the front corner of the building. There were four of them, and they were all looking at her. Flashing a quick and somewhat nervous smile, she pushed hard on the door, but it didn't budge. Somebody laughed, and Erin turned her head back, to look in his direction. He was a big guy, but he looked young; maybe a teenager. He held his stomach and pointed at her, obviously entertained.
"Pull! Not
push
!" He let out another big laugh and a loud snort.
Erin stared at him for a moment. His reaction to her fumble with the door seemed so exaggerated, it was just weird. "Shut up, James," said one of the teen's friends, jumping to his feet. He glanced at Erin. "Don't mind him, baby girl. He don't mean nothin'." He moved towards her, pulled the door open, and held it for her, saying, "Sorry 'bout that." Erin smiled, and thanking him, she walked into the store.
"Mmm, mmm, mmm," he said, letting go of the big glass door, watching her walk away. Erin heard him and smiled to herself. She wanted to look over her shoulder and see if she was still being watched, but she didn't. She knew that her ass looked damn good in those pants, and her legs looked a mile long with the heels she was wearing. She felt herself put a little extra "oomph" in her walk.
Upon exiting the store, she glanced in the direction of the group, and again said, "Thanks." The big teenager, James, was furiously tapping the shoulder of the guy who had held the door for her. "Darnell! Her! Her!" She turned and headed for her car, a little bit nervous, wondering what they were talking about, and pretty sure that they were watching her ass as she left.
Erin turned the corner and put the key into the car door. She had the door opened and was inside, when Darnell ran up, making her jump. "Hang on, sweet thing," he panted. "I got a question. The big, goofy guy, that's my brother. Today's his birthday. He's eighteen, but he's a little
slow
, you know what I mean? I'm takin' him out tonight to show him his first pussy."
Erin was speechless. Did he just say "pussy?" What the hell was he talking about? She just stared at him, blankly.
Darnell pushed on. "I was gonna hook him up with a lady I know, but he says
he
wants to pick the girl." He looked at Erin, to gage her reaction. There was none, so he continued. "He says he likes
you
. So, I got fifty bucks, if you want it." He reached into his pocket, and withdrew a wad of bills.
Erin couldn't believe what a total stranger had just suggested to her. "I am
not
going to have sex with your brother for money. Are you kidding me? Why would you think..."
Darnell jumped in. "I ain't talkin' bout no
sex
! He just wants to
see
the pussy," he explained.
"This is insane," Erin thought, trying hard to ignore the fact that when Darnell had said "
the pussy
," she felt herself get wet. She had always fantasized about letting loose and being a "bad girl," but had never acted on it. "I can't do this," she thought to herself. She certainly didn't need the money. But she couldn't deny that the thought of doing something this "dirty" was exciting the hell out of her.
"He just wants to see it? That's all?" Did she just say that out loud? Her head was spinning.
"Just
look
at it, and maybe
touch
it." Darnell reached out, trying to give her the money.
"Wait, a minute;
touch
? Oh God, I can't." She sat in the car, shaking her head. "Just look at it, and touch it? That's really all?"
"That's all. Shit, he don't
know
nothin' else." He put the money in her hand, and folded her fingers around it.
"Where would we do it," Erin asked. "Here, in the car?"
