Hookers Part 5

"Big Boy, you think of the best things--food will do us a lot of good right now. Come to think of it, I forgot to eat this morning. d.a.m.ned if I ain't hungry," answered Evelyn.

"Where shall we go," asked Pearl.

"Well--I think that the Hilton Coffee Shoppe would be grand," suggested Evelyn.

"Hey, look--Big Boy, you go on down to the cafe, and order for us, and we will be along in a few minutes--will you?"

"Oke, Baby; what do you crave in the way of food?"

"Well, as for me--I'll have ham and eggs--what do you want, Ev?"

"The same, and lots of it."

"Now, look, you two--don't be all day," said Big Boy, as he went out the door, giving Evelyn a wink.

"Pearl--" said Evelyn, slowly, "Do you know what you're letting yourself in for?" as she sat down on the bed.

"Why--I don't get you, Ev, what do you mean?"

"Just this, Honey--I like you--you're a good kid, but don't be foolish--now don't think I'm trying to tell you your business, but you see I've been down here for a long time and I know this border--Oh, G.o.d, how well I know it."

"What are you driving at, Ev?"

"Honey, don't try to kid that guy--look here," said Evelyn, showing Pearl the hundred-dollar bill Big Boy had given her.

"What's it for, Ev?"

"Well, he's nuts about you--and he wants to marry you. Of course, you know that already, and what's more, it's none of my business, but for your own good, don't try to string that guy along. He looks like a kid, that's true. He is as easy to handle as a kid, but Pearl, he is a killer. I know him, and I know what he will do. So, if you want to marry him, and settle down, your nest will be feathered and in a big way, but don't try to kid him if you ain't serious--be frank about it--tell him the truth and then lay off him, or else be all for him. He gave me this money to talk for him, and to tell you what a great guy he is, and try to talk you into marrying him--I ain't telling you what to do and I ain't telling you what not to do--but don't kid him, and don't promise nothing you can't make good."

"Why, Ev, I haven't known you for hardly twenty-four hours. I didn't even stop to think you had a serious side--you are a dear. Sure, I know what you mean. Now I'll tell you how I feel towards him. I don't love him, I never could. He's not my type, but when he gets around me, and puts his arms around me, and pulls me close, I can't hold out on him--he is the personification of satisfaction--Oh, h.e.l.l, Ev, you know what I mean, don't you?"

"I admit you ain't left much to my imagination, but I get you."

"You see, Ev, I am in love--but I know it is a hopeless love--but love, nevertheless--and it's Harry Hicks, the guy I went with when I left you last night in the cafe--that kid sure got under my skin."

"Well, he better stay from under them things."

"You don't like Harry, do you, Ev?"

"Well,--I don't dislike him. I never thought of him as anything but a big kid and I always treated him as one--Harry is a d.a.m.n good guy as far as I know, and I don't think that he has an enemy in the world, but don't make the mistake that lots of the other girls have made with Harry--he likes all the girls, and what's more, he couldn't be true to any one for five minutes, not even himself--he's like millions of other men; to him a woman is for one thing, and when he is through, he is through--so the only way to impress him is to never--never let him know that he means any more to you than the lowest Cholo."

"That seems to be the standard formula to make any man nuts for you."

"Oh--good--Heavens, Pearl, dear, we are forgetting Big Boy, and most of all to me, we are forgetting breakfast, even if it is almost dinner time," said Evelyn, as they hurried to the street.

"Have you been waiting long?" asked Pearl, as they sat down.

"Not long, but I had begun to be a little impatient."

"Did you order for us yet?" asked Evelyn.

"No, I thought I'd better wait, so I just had coffee, and decided to read the paper until you showed up."

"Any news?" asked Pearl.

"Paper says that some old boy down below the border is sore because he ain't President, and is gathering troops back in the mountains to start a little revolution."

"That ain't nothing new," said Evelyn, "That's in every day's paper."

"I'll bet it's something awful down here when a revolution does start,"

mused Pearl.

"Awful is right--awfullest laugh in the country," answered Evelyn.

"Have you and Big Boy ever been down here when one started?"

"I'll say," answered Evelyn, as she sipped her coffee. "I was over in Juarez when the last one started."

"It must be awful, all those guns."

"Yeah--the only kind of guns these Mex wars are fought with is Gonorrhea Guns."

"Listen, honey," said Big Boy, "What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?"

"Nothing--why?" asked Pearl.

"Well, I won't be able to see you tonight, I've some business to attend to, but tomorrow afternoon I thought you might like to go swimming some place."

"Oh--I would--wouldn't you, Ev?"

"I would not. I hate water, even for swimming, but that don't stop you two from going and having a good time."

"Well, I'll be seeing you, tomorrow afternoon at two o'clock, at your room, baby," as he picked up the checks and started for the door.

"Are you sure it's swimming he wants to meet you for?" asked Evelyn, with a mouth full of eggs.

"I don't know, Ev--I can't figure it. I've never been in love before, and I don't know what it's like, but I think this is the real thing."

"You mean with Big Boy?" exclaimed Evelyn.

"No--no--no--Ev, honey, I mean Harry Hicks. When that kid took me in his arms last night out on that mountain, I went hook, line and sinker, and I don't know how to handle it."

"I'm sorry, Pearl, yet I'm happy--but there's only one thing can come from it, and that's--trouble--, but you got to expect that. You see, for every bit of fun you have in this racket, you have twice as much trouble, so my motto is--laugh, as long as you can, and take the rest of it with a grain of salt, so if you love Harry--you go right ahead--let nothing stand in the way--make it grand while it lasts--then when it's over, you will have something to remember, and nothing can take that from you."

"Come on, Ev, let's get going. It's early, but let's go on over to Juarez and have a few snorts, what do you say?"

"When you mention drinks, you're talking right up my alley."