It's All a Matter of Choice

by Liberty Allure

  He then picked up his pack of cigarettes off the nightstand, pulled off the plastic wrapping and put seven of the pieces into the cellophance, twisting it securely, then placing it under the pillow. Now he had what he needed to control the girl. She wouldn’t smoke it all up quickly. He’d regulate what she smoked.

  John was an old hat at this. He preyed on addicted girls from one end of the country to the other. He saw nothing wrong with it. Hell, they’d do him in if they could. He’d woken up completely broke from messing with the women…they were all thieves, every single one. He quickly learned to be sure to put up his keys and wallet, and to put the girls out before he went to sleep.

  John stripped down to his boxers as he heard the water turn off, then reached into a side pocket of his duffel bag and pulled out a condom. He hadn’t used any with Alicia and Sarah, but he knew he needed one for this girl. He got into the bed, sitting up against the headboard.

  Maria opened the bathroom door and came out wrapped in a towel. She really was quite skinny, with small breasts and hardly any curves. But she did have a mouth, a pussy and an ass. That was all John needed.

  Maria looked over at the dresser, dismayed at the small piece of crack there. She then looked at John, who gave her a smile.

  ”That’s a hit. I’ll give you more later,” he said, “Go on, smoke.”

  John watched as Maria dropped the pebble in her glass stem and tapped it with the flame, inhaling slowly and holding it. He recognized the glassy eyed look of the high as it took her over. Her towel fell off, but it was as if she didn’t notice as she hit the pipe again.

  John hardened, pulled down the front of his boxers and put on the condom. Maria turned toward him, her eyes already showing she wanted another hit.

  “Can I get a hit?” she asked him, her eyes wide.

  John nodded, gripping his cock by the base and holding it straight up.

  “I’ll let you get another hit of that pipe after you hit this one,” he said to her, wriggling his condom-covered organ.

  Maria put the pipe down and climbed into the bed, wasting no time wrapping her mouth around him. John sighed and leaned his head back, placing his hand on her head.

  “That’s right…that’s right, baby. Do old John right,” he breathed, closing his eyes.

  Chapter 35 ~ Clarification

  When Maria didn’t re-emerge from the white man’s room for a number of hours, Johnny Dread realized that most likely he wasn’t a crackhead and simply was purchasing the drugs for Maria and issuing hits out to her. Otherwise, Maria would have been back in at least twenty minutes, wide-eyed and ready to buy more for the both of them. Shit. Ah well, there were plenty of other customers.

  John did emerge with Maria about four hours later, the girl going her way as John walked up the street with his duffel bag on his shoulder. He was on his way to the deli down the block to get a case of beer. He had half emptied his duffel bag to put the beer inside so he wouldn’t be harassed when he returned to the motel. A case of beer was like shit to flies in an area like this. Everyone in the parking lot would come begging. It didn’t matter whether they knew him or not.

  John returned twenty minutes later, lugging his heavy duffel bag and let himself back into the room, locking the door. A minute later, a knock sounded.

  “Who is it?” John yelled, frowning as he popped a beer and stared at the television.

  “It’s Maria,” Maria said from the other side of the door.

  “I’m not in the mood for company!” John called back.

  Maria hovered around the door for a few minutes, then went her own way. She’d find something to do, some way to get more drugs…but would keep an eye out for John. She was achy and sore. John wasn’t gentle at all and really kinky, nasty actually. He made her do all kinds of acts on him, like lick his feet, the floor and other parts of his body. While fucking her, John called her names and said things like, “swallow this pipe, bitch” and “Now here’s a rock for you.” He had choked her a couple of times too, both with his hands and his cock, then made her do something freaky with the TV remote. But still he would give her a hit after each engagement…so she didn’t leave.

  John had treated Maria very different than he did Alicia and Sarah. Alicia’s father was a sheriff and Sarah was her friend. Despite loving to drink a bit too much beer and share men, they were relatively decent girls who worked for a living. Maria was a crack whore who would do anything for drugs. John Barrows had a dark side and liked to violate women who could do nothing about it. As far as he was concerned Maria was trash and could be treated as such. And he took great pleasure in bringing her as low as she could go before kicking her out.

  Now he was ready to relax and get good and drunk. Tomorrow morning he’d catch a bus downtown and let Anita know he was in town and needed money and someplace to stay.

  Her place.

  *

  It was only nine when Emmet returned home. He walked in the house and was surprised to smell breakfast cooking. He sniffed appreciatively as he headed for the kitchen. He stopped to see June scrambling some eggs. On the kitchen table, strips of bacon rested on a platter, and a stack of toast on a plate next to it, a jar of grape jelly on the side.

  She turned around and looked at him in surprise.

  “Emmet? Are you just coming in? I thought you were in bed,” she said to him, slipping on an oven mitt and picking up the cast iron pan and scraping eggs into a plate.

  “I got sidetracked,” Emmet said to her, “What is all this?”

  June decided not to say anything about him staying out all night. She hadn’t known he was gone anyway, so she couldn’t use the information to her benefit.

  ”Well, I decided to cook you a nice breakfast,” June said, bringing the plate of eggs to the table.

  Despite everything smelling so good, Emmet had eaten so much Captain Crunch, he wasn’t hungry.

  “I already ate, mom,” he said, looking at all the food.

  June stopped and looked at him.

  “Emmet, I made this breakfast especially for you,” she said, a note of anger in her voice.

  It had been years since June made Emmet breakfast. He was the one who cooked when any cooking was done. Emmet knew she did this because he was supposed to be moving. He hoped she didn’t think making him breakfast would change his mind.

  Emmet sighed, pulled out a chair and sat down, June smiling at him.

  “You know, Emmet,” she said, putting food on his plate for him, “I’ve been thinking you’ve had to do too much around here, and that I need to step up to the plate and give you a break…some time to yourself. I’m…I’m willing to change how I’ve been. If you just give it a week or two before moving out…you’ll be able to see for yourself that you can be happier and stay here and….”

  Emmet looked up at his mother.

  “Mom, I’m just here to get my things,” he said, “I’ve already decided what I’m going to do and it has nothing to do with the way you act. It’s just time to go, mom.”

  June sank down in the chair opposite Emmet and turned on the waterworks, sobbing as Emmet tried to eat a little of each item she made. He felt miserable sitting there and watching his mother cry, but he knew most likely she was trying to make him feel that way. Finally he stood up and walked into his bedroom, leaving June at the table. She looked up, saw Emmet gone and stopped crying immediately. Her tears weren’t working. She could hear Emmet opening drawers.

  As she listened to her son packing, June realized that he really had little more than the clothes on his back. She had discouraged him from spending his money so much, he never collected anything…the only thing he purchased was his computer so he could work from home and work on his online classes. She even tried to keep him from buying that although she used it herself to book her weekend rooms at the casino.

  “Emmet, are you taking the computer?” she called to him.

  “No mom. I have my files all backed up on CDs. I’m going to leave the computer here
for you and get a new one,” he said to her as he zipped up his suitcase. His good suit was on a hanger in a suit bag. He didn’t have a lot of clothing actually, just pieces to mix and match. He was completely packed within forty-five minutes.

  Emmet carried his things to the foyer and set them down, then walked back to his home office to collect his files and a couple of books. He brought them out, opened up a bag that only had a few things in it, and deposited the books, folders and CDs inside. He closed it back and looked at his mother, who stood in the living room, twisting her hands and looking miserable.

  Emmet sighed inwardly, opened the front door and carried his things out to the car. It only took two trips. Then he walked back inside and looked at June.

  “Well mom, this is it. I’m going now,” he said to his mother.

  June didn’t answer him.

  Emmet walked up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

  “You have my number. If you need anything, anything at all mom, you call me, all right?” he said to her softly.

  June continued to look at him, saying nothing.

  “I love you, mom,” Emmet said to her, kissing her cheek once more, then walking quickly out the door, pulling it closed behind him.

  June stood there in silence as she heard Emmet pull out of the driveway.

  The tears started falling again.

  But this time, they were real.

  *

  Emmet wished his mother would have said something to him before he left. Even yelled at him. That would have been better than her silence. He knew it hurt her, but he should have moved out years ago. He had stayed with her for twenty-six years…all his life. It was time to move on.

  Emmet let down his window and let the air wash over him. Mom would be all right. She’d get used to it…just like Agnes did. Hopefully, she’d come to enjoy her freedom. Who knew…maybe she’d meet somebody now. Emmet couldn’t really imagine his mother with a boyfriend. If she did get one…would she…

  Emmet shuddered at the very idea of his own mother having sex. He blinked several times, trying to keep any kind of image of June Barrows screwing from forming in his mind. Since he was trying so hard to avoid it, of course an image of two people engaged in vigorous sex tried to form, but Emmet quickly turned it into him and Anita.

  Whew. That had been scary.

  Emmet saw a florist shop coming up on the left and suddenly slowed down. He pulled into a parking space in front of the shop, thinking Anita might like some flowers.

  *

  When he arrived at the apartment, he found Anita busily at work putting away the rest of the items they purchased. She looked up and saw him, holding a single, perfect red rose.

  “For you,” he said nervously, adjusting his glasses. He hoped she liked roses.

  ”Aw, Emmet,” she said, taking the rose from him and kissing him on the lips, “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

  She carried the rose into the kitchen and took out a tall glass to put it in since she didn’t have a vase. She had to bend the stem. Emmet looked around the living room and realized something very important was missing.

  “Anita…we don’t have a television,” he said to her, “Or a DVD player.”

  Since they became intimate through watching movies together, Emmet thought it was important that they be able to enjoy doing just that.

  Anita looked around, surprised she hadn’t noticed that herself. But then again, she was so busy she hadn’t even thought about watching television.

  “We have to get one,” Emmet said firmly, “A big one. Plasma. HDTV”

  Anita rolled her eyes.

  “Emmet, you’re going to go broke if you keep spending money the way you do,” she said.

  “I’ll make it up in bonuses in a week. I have eight good interviews coming up. Five of them are as good as closed,” he responded, “I make good money Anita. Plus I have savings and investments. I’m fine, believe me. I haven’t spent any money really since I started working.”

  “Just because you have money, Emmet, it doesn’t mean you have to spend like you’re doing,” Anita said to him, putting her hands on her hips.

  Emmet gave her a crooked smile.

  “Why are you smiling at me, Emmet? It’s…it’s annoying,” she snapped at him.

  “It’s because you sound just like my mother,” he replied, “She never wanted me to buy anything. That’s why all I own I could put in a few suitcases.”

  Anita stared at him. She sounded like his mother? That was the last person she wanted to be compared to. His mother was a selfish, nagging…

  Emmet opened one of his bags and took out a folder containing a number of envelopes. He sorted through them, picking out a couple then putting the folder on the coffee table. He walked into the kitchen and took out the letters, opening them up on the table.

  “Come here and look at these, Anita,” he said.

  Curious, Anita walked over and looked at the papers. Her eyes went wide and she looked at Emmet, who smiled at her.

  “These are my account statements, and here are some of the stocks I own and my dividend statements. See why I don’t mind spending money?” he asked her.

  Anita nodded mutely. She knew Emmet had some money, but not how much money. It seemed he invested heavily in Google Inc. some years ago, purchasing over one thousand shares. Since his mother was so adamant about his spending, all he could do was come up with ways to use his money she didn’t know about. A single share of Google stock was now worth over five hundred dollars. And then he had other investments in mutual funds as well that he added to regularly.

  “So, no more worrying about what I spend, okay?” he said to her softly, “I can afford anything we need.”

  Anita simply stared at Emmet as he folded up the papers and put them back in the proper envelopes.

  “You’re rich, Emmet,” she said to him in a hushed voice.

  He shook his head.

  ”No, I’m not rich, Anita…just well off,” he replied, smiling.

  Anita walked into the living room and dropped on to the couch, a dazed look on her face. Emmet followed her, placing the envelopes back into the folder on the coffee table. He then removed a couple of empty cookware boxes and sat down beside her. Anita looked at him.

  “Emmet, you could have been involved with someone long before me if they knew how well off you were,” she said to him softly.

  Emmet shrugged.

  “No one talked to me enough to find out anything about me, Anita. It was like I had “Loser” stamped across my forehead,” he replied, “Besides…if I found someone like that, it wouldn’t be me they were interested in…just my money. You liked me from the start. Geekiness and all.”

  Anita lowered her eyes. Yes, she really had liked Emmet on sight. He was a nice guy, and yeah…a geek.

  “Anita?” Emmet said.

  She looked up at him.

  “What are we?” he asked her, his brown eyes searching her face from behind his glasses.

  ”What do you mean, Emmet?” she asked him.

  “Are we…are we involved? Or am I just a friend that you have sex with?” he asked her.

  Anita looked at him, her face darkening a little.

  “Emmet, I know you think you’re in love with me, but right now…I do see you as a friend who I’m intimate with. I hope that doesn’t hurt you,” she said to him.

  Emmet’s brow furrowed a bit.

  “So, does that mean if you meet another guy you’re attracted to…the way you’re attracted to me, that you’d…you’d go to bed with him too?” he asked her, his chest tightening. The idea of another man touching Anita was enough to make him want to throw up.

  “Oh, no. No Emmet. I wouldn’t ever do that,” she replied softly. “Not while I was involved with you.”

  Emmet looked at her, the tightness in his chest releasing.

  ”So, we are involved then, since you say you won’t sleep with anyone else as long as I’m around. I plan to be around a long, long time An
ita,” he said to her. “If I have my way, no one else will ever touch you but me for the rest of your life.”

  Now it was Anita’s turn to feel her chest tighten. Emmet was looking at her very possessively. How had he twisted that around the way he did? Emmet continued.

  “Since we’re involved, Anita…that makes you my…well…girlfriend sounds a little juvenile, and “my woman” sounds like something a caveman would say. So…”

  Emmet looked thoughtful then said, “I guess that just makes you…mine.”

  Emmet felt a little strange laying claim to Anita the way he was…but it was something he felt he had to say, to cement their relationship. What had happened between them wasn’t casual to him, not by a long shot.

  He looked at Anita, and thought she looked a little frightened.

  “Anita, are you all right?” he asked her.

  Anita looked up at him, her eyes wet.

  ”Yes, I’m all right Emmet. It’s just no one’s ever said the things you’ve said to me before,” she said softly.

  “I’m glad they haven’t,” Emmet said, “Or you probably wouldn’t be with me now.”

  He leaned over and captured her mouth gently, his heart swelling as Anita kissed him back, her arms snaking around his neck.

  As their mouths connected, Anita didn’t think she loved Emmet.

  But she had a sneaking suspicion she could.

  Chapter 36 ~ Meeting John Bowen

  Emmet and Anita spent most of the afternoon shopping. In addition to buying a flat panel TV with wall mounts and a combination VCR/DVD player, Emmet also purchased a computer, printer/scanner, computer desk, cable modem and a basic tool set. They went food shopping afterwards. Anita leaned more toward the prepared foods and canned goods, while Emmet liked meats and fresh vegetables, since he ate a lot of prepared foods when he lived with his mother. He thought he would do more cooking now.

  Their evening was spent setting up everything. The apartment already had cable, so Emmet hooked it up directly to the flat screen, which he hung on the wall with hooks after calling Loretta to make sure it was all right to screw hooks into the walls. They needed a cable box to get the digital channels, but both were perfectly happy with the family channels available at the moment. Then Emmet and Anita put together the computer desk, with Anita holding the wood together while Emmet screwed them together.