Idol Urges

by Ruby Bassett

  Her cell phone range and she snatched it from amongst the items on her bed.

  “Hi, it’s me, Gloria.”

  “Hi.”

  “What’s wrong? You sound out of breath.”

  “No, I’m…I’m fine.” Wendy pressed her hand to her head.

  “Well, good news. You passed the health test. Do you want to check out the club on Friday?”

  “Yes,” Wendy rasped.

  “Really?” Gloria laughed. “I thought I’d have to twist your arm. I’ll pick you up around eight.”

  “Good.”

  Wendy shut her phone off and lay on her bed trying to quell the roiling in her stomach. Already wetness pooled between her legs at the mere thought of maybe meeting someone. Gradually, she slowed her breathing and brought her mind back to the task of studying.

  She gathered her things from her bed and returned them to her purse. All except the idol. That she left on the bed, glaring at it. Her analytic, rational brain did not want to consider the idea forming in the back of her mind.

  Maybe she hadn’t let her restraint slip. It couldn’t be. Magic, spirits, those didn’t exist. But she couldn’t deny that each time she touched that tiki idol, she got so horny she jumped on the nearest man.

  The tiki stared back mutely. Its ridiculous grin mocked her. Using her robe, she scooped it up and dropped it into her sock drawer. She’d deal with that later, for now she had a Chem test on Thursday to study for. And she had to work on an excuse to bail out on going to Gloria’s club on Friday night.

  Chapter Five

  The level of gin in the glass hadn’t dropped far. Despite her determination, Wendy couldn’t take more than a tiny sip at a time. She hated the taste and the burn as it went down. She couldn’t even succeed at getting drunk.

  Midterms had been a disaster. The papers she handed in today for Political Science and English would be fine, probably B’s, and if the professors were feeling generous, she might keep her A average in those classes. But last night’s debacle of a chemistry test put her grade in danger. How could she have bombed it so completely? Her stomach convulsed with the memory of how she had gawked at the page of questions. She had almost asked if she had gotten the wrong test, maybe hers was written in a foreign language.

  If she failed Chemistry, she could kiss her college career goodbye. Crap, if she got less than a B, she jeopardized her scholarship. She barely paid her portion of the tuition now, and her partial scholarship required her to get all B’s and above. She tested another sip of her mother’s gin, then banged the glass on the table.

  The front door opened and her mother trudged in. Water from her lightweight jacket dripped onto the entryway floor from the ever present rain that fell on this side of the island. She carried her hand bag as if it were filled with stones.

  “What are you up to?” She fell into the seat across from Wendy.

  “Trying to get drunk.” Wendy slid the tumbler toward her mother.

  “Well, this won’t work. You need to spruce it up a bit.” Samantha pushed herself up from the table and went into the kitchen. She added tonic water, ice and lime wedges and fixed another glass for herself.

  When she rejoined Wendy at the table, she took a sip from her own glass. “That’s better. So, what are we trying to forget?” Samantha asked.

  “I’m failing Chemistry.” Wendy took a drink from hers. It tasted a little better, but she still preferred wine.

  “It can’t be all that bad. You’re a great student.”

  “It’s not for lack of trying. I don’t understand it. When I studied for the test, I knew all the answers. At the practice lab, I got everything right.” Wendy held her face in her hand.

  “It’s not like you to freeze at a test. You have nerves of steel.”

  “I didn’t freeze. My mind went blank. No, that’s not it. My mind wasn’t blank, it was full, too full.”

  Her mother nodded. “I believe that. You carry a heavy load, taxing your brain. No wonder it gave out.”

  “If I don’t get at least a B in Chemistry, I lose my scholarship and I’ll have to quit school.”

  Samantha reached out and patted her hand. “Honey, we’ll figure something out.”

  Wendy glanced sideways at her mother. “Really? Do you have a fairy godmother you haven’t told me about?”

  “Wish I did. I’d have her get you dolled up, change a pineapple into a limo and take you to the ball. What about that handsome guy who made us dinner? He’s gorgeous and he cooks.”

  “Mom, it’s because I spent time with Franco and went to that party that I bombed the test. I should have been studying during those times.”

  “Mmm, maybe. I know you’ll hate to hear this. But you’ve got a bit of your father in you. A wild side that probably needs to be let out once in a while.” Samantha nodded.

  “How can you say that? Look what his wild side did to us.”

  “His crazy ways were part of what attracted me to him in the first place. I was mesmerized by his carefree attitude.” She took another sip of her drink and peered out to nowhere. “I first spotted him getting on his gear to hang glide off a cliff. What set him apart was how nonchalant he was. Everyone else was nervous or excited, but your dad, he just smiled like he was going for a walk in the park. He drew people into him.”

  “And then he left them high and dry.” Wendy added.

  “That’s true. But there’s something powerful about that kind of personality. You have that confidence. It’s what Franco sees. It’s what—”

  A car horn beeped twice outside. Wendy got up to peep outside.

  “Oh, crap! It’s Gloria. I completely forgot I told her I’d go out to a club with her tonight.”

  “Perfect,” her mom said. “Go get drunk with Gloria. It’ll be more fun than hanging around here.”

  “No way. Mom, go tell her I’m sick in bed.” The horn honked again. “Come on, Mom.”

  “I’m not lying to your friend for you.” Her mother carried her drink into her bedroom. “I’m going to read my book.”

  A knock beat on the door. “I know you’re there. Don’t tell me you’re chickening out on me,” Gloria called from outside.

  Wendy opened the door. “I’m chickening out on you.”

  “Why?”

  “I failed the chemistry test.”

  “So staying home tonight’s going to change your grade?” Gloria set her fists on her hips.

  “No, but I’m in no mood to meet people. You wouldn’t want your friends’ first impression of me to be a wet blanket.”

  Gloria blew out a heavy breath. “I know not to argue when you dig your heels in. But you have to promise to come another time.”

  “I promise. Really, when I’m done moping.”

  “Okay. See ya.” Gloria walked back to her car. “I’m not giving up on you,” she called over her shoulder.

  “I know,” Wendy called back.

  She probably would go with Gloria one of these days. But first she had to prove her mother wrong. There wasn’t a shred of her father in her. She had no wild side.

  ****

  Lulled by the motion of the bus, Wendy forced her eyes to stay focused on the chemical symbols in her textbook. She had failed the test, just as she suspected. Her teacher had been forgiving and offered her a chance to redeem herself—a make-up test scheduled for eight AM Saturday morning. He would weight the test, so that if she got an A it would only count as a B, but it was better than nothing. That left her three days to study.

  This week, she wouldn’t go out with Gloria, or over to Susan’s house, or even look at Franco. Anytime not at work would be spent with her head in this textbook. The bus’s brakes squeaked to a halt and jolted Wendy. She scrambled to gather her bag and get off at her stop.

  Two blocks from her house, it might as well have been two miles. She had pulled laundry duty today and her muscles ached. Her legs plodded around the corner. Her head cast down, she only spied Franco’s black El Camino when she was almost at
her front door.

  “Can I carry your book bag? It looks like it weighs a ton.” His smile liquefied her insides.

  “No thanks. I got it.” But Wendy yearned to give him the bag. Nothing would ease her burden than to have him carry the load, even if it was only for the last few feet. “What are you doing here?”

  “I was at my cousin’s house. He lives nearby. So I thought I’d come over and see if you were around. Your house was dark. I was going to leave, but I saw you turn the corner.”

  “Oh.” Even in the dark, Wendy could see his bright green eyes and his thick black hair reflect the moonlight.

  “I was thinking about Saturday. Maybe we could make a whole day of it. I’ll pick you up at eight. We’ll go to the restaurant. I’ll make a picnic brunch for the beach. And we could take my uncle’s sailboat out. I’m not too bad as a captain. I’m a better chef, but if we stay close to the shore I can promise we won’t be blown out to sea.” He lifted her bag and swung it on his shoulder. With his other hand he caressed her arm.

  “Franco, I told you already. Don’t expect anything from me. I’m busy. I’m no good as a girlfriend. Once you got to know me, you wouldn’t like me. Besides I just failed my chemistry midterm.”

  She stopped at her stoop and sat on her front step. Franco sat next to her, his leg touching hers. He sat with his profile toward her, and she shoved her hands beneath her knees to keep from stroking a wayward bit of hair that fell over his high cheekbone.

  “Shit, that’s terrible. I’m sorry about your test. Chemistry was tough enough in high school. I can’t imagine how hard it is in college.”

  “Yeah, and I have a second chance at the test on Saturday morning.” Franco’s face fell and so did the lump in her stomach. “But of course, I’ll go to see the restaurant. I said I would.”

  “Great.” When he smiled, she tried to ignore the fluttering in her chest.

  “I’d better go in.” Wendy stood and lifted her bag. When she straightened up, Franco came face to face with her. He didn’t hesitate. His lips brushed hers, and her mouth opened, gladly receiving his tongue. Her heart pounded, crushed against his strong chest. Held by his arms, she never felt so safe, so cared for.

  “Goodnight,” he whispered in her ear.

  Her eyes barely opened to watch him fold his lean body into his car.

  When her breath returned, she let herself into the silent house. She couldn’t be falling for Franco. She shouldn’t be falling for Franco. A man like that would be more than a distraction. He could be an obsession.

  ****

  Wendy cleaned the last suite with the efficiency of someone who had done the same task day after day for years. It was Friday, her last day to study before tomorrow’s make up test. She careened down the hall with her cleaning cart and repeatedly pushed the button for the service elevator until it arrived. Her supervisor had agreed to let her off early once she finished her rooms. If she aced the test, it would be worth the dock of an hour’s wage.

  In the locker room, she threw on her clothes, bolted out the service door, and ran to the bus stop. An added benefit to leaving early, she wouldn’t run into Susan, who would beg her to go out tonight. And even better, she wouldn’t run into Franco. Although, disappointment welled inside her to see his car in the employee parking lot without his body resting against it, tanned arms crossed over his chest.

  She jogged faster to clear that image from her mind. As she approached the bus stop, she spotted that crazy woman who sold macadamia nuts and had foisted that stupid tiki idol on her.

  “Hey!” Wendy slowed down, panting, gripping the stitch in her side. “What’s with that gross thing you put in my bag of nuts?”

  The old woman’s contented smile didn’t alter. She kept her black eyes trained on Wendy and nodded. “It is what you think it is. It can do what you need it to do.”

  “Listen, I don’t buy any of that magic mojo stuff. But I think that idol made me…made me…. Did you put some drug on it? You can’t go putting foreign objects into people’s food. I should get the health department out here. You should be ashamed.”

  The woman’s teeth, what there was of them, clicked together. “Tsk.” Stray hairs from beneath the bright pink head scarf blew in the wind. “It’s you who should be ashamed. Running away from yourself. You’ll learn to use it.”

  At that moment the bus arrived. Wendy debated between arguing with the woman in the floral muumuu and getting home to study. Chemistry won out. Wendy shot the old woman one last angry glower and boarded the bus.

  Wendy shut out the woman’s words. She would throw her energy into studying.

  When she got home, she grabbed a banana from the bowl in the kitchen and locked herself in her room.

  The words on the page refused to make sense. For hours, she worked and reworked the problems. She took another practice test and bombed. Her mother came home. She exchanged brief greetings and went back to the books.

  She hurled her pencil across the room. It hit the mirror and fell behind the dresser drawers. Think! Think! She pounded her fists against her temples. Why had she done so well studying last time? Why had she been able to make sense of the lab exercises? What had she done differently?

  Her mind disobeyed her, and strayed away from chemistry to Franco. God, he was gorgeous, and he wanted her. Closing her eyes, she remembered how she attacked him that day. She had attacked Robert the same way at Susan’s party. She giggled, partly from embarrassment, partly because she could see now how ridiculous she had behaved.

  That had been the night she understood chemistry!

  Her eyes popped open. And right after she got off watching Gloria and Dr. Romero, she aced the lab exercises.

  She whipped her head to stare at her sock drawer. The idol sat untouched all week. She didn’t want to admit that it had an effect on her. But if she pieced it together, every time she had contact with that tiki, she got hot and crazy and did whatever it took to get some relief. And afterwards her mind cleared. She could focus on her work.

  It was as if she needed to have sex to be smart.

  She laughed again. That’s an insane notion. Magic wasn’t real. Still, her eyes fixed on the drawer.

  She crept across the room, and with deliberate care, opened the drawer. There it remained, nestled among her socks. Its absurd grin seemed out of place on a tiki. She clasped it, and brought it close to her face.

  She waited. And sure enough, warmth seeped from the idol into her hand and up her arm. She dropped it and it landed with a thud back in the drawer. The unbearable heat could only be relieved from an intense orgasm. An orgasm that would be more forceful than any she had before. At least the others were.

  And afterwards she’d be ready to take that test tomorrow morning.

  She grabbed her phone and called Gloria.

  “Hey, Gloria, are you going to your club tonight?”

  “I was thinking of it. I thought you were studying for your big test tomorrow.”

  “I want to go. Tonight. Now.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll drive by and pick you up in fifteen minutes.” Gloria hung up.

  Wendy paused. She took deep breaths and soon the sensation passed. Well, it waned a bit, but simmered in the background. It was useless to think about anything else. So she got dressed in her best jeans and a tight, button shirt. She sprayed her good perfume she treated herself to last birthday, and swiped on eyeshadow.

  “Wendy, I think I see Gloria’s car outside,” her mom called from the living room.

  “I’ll be right there.” Wendy reached out with just her thumb and index finger, and plopped the tiki idol into her bag. Even that little contact renewed some of the warmth and desire that had faded.

  She hurried out through the house calling, “Bye Mom, don’t wait up,” as she let the door swing closed behind her.

  “So, what made you change your mind?” Gloria asked as she drove.

  “What if I were to tell you I had a magic tiki idol that makes me horny?”<
br />
  “I’d say you were horny enough without an idol. Geeze, Wendy, I knew all that studying would addle your brain.”

  Wendy planned to meet someone for a quick, casual fling. There had to be a half-way decent looking guy who was up for a one night stand. Just something to get her through the night. Then tomorrow, her mind would be equipped to tackle the periodic table.

  A short drive brought them to a neighborhood where upscale shops and restaurants lined the streets. Down the side streets sat the kind of houses Wendy hoped one day to afford for herself and her mother. The nightlife spilled onto the streets from the bars and clubs. Wendy scanned them for names.

  “What did you say this club was called?”

  “I didn’t. It doesn’t really have a name,” Gloria said, turning into a parking lot that served a number of businesses.

  Wendy got out and gripped her purse.

  “Maybe this is a bad idea,” Wendy said. The effects of the idol seemed to decrease after a few minutes.

  “No backing out now.” Gloria grabbed her elbow and steered her to the rear of the parking lot behind a dry cleaners. A closed steel door barred their way

  “What, is there some kind of secret knock?” Wendy chuckled.

  “Yeah, there is.” Gloria proceeded to wrap out a pattern on the door. “I’ll teach it to you, and it changes every month.”

  The door swung open and a huge man filled up the entire doorway.

  “Hey, Gloria.” His deep voice and impressive size would scare away anyone who didn’t belong. If he hadn’t had a friendly expression on his face, Wendy would have been scared off, too.

  “Hey, Jack. This is Wendy, the new member.”

  “They told me. Welcome, Wendy,” his voice boomed. He stood aside and waved them in.

  Wendy squeezed past, her nipples brushing against his hard chest as she went. Music drifted up from below. Gloria led the way down a narrow flight of steps.