I said, “I don’t want to go in there.”
Alonzo didn’t seem to care what I wanted. He shoved me into the room marked PRIVATE. It was different than the rest of the place. Like a star’s dressing room with all the amenities of comfort. A plush purple couch with a royal vibe to it took up one corner. A flat-screen plasma television set held down another corner. Large speakers hung from the ceiling. Candlelight was the only reprieve from pure darkness. Alonzo’s face really took on the look of the devil in the glow of lights. I did my best not to look at him. Closed my eyes and pretended I was somewhere else.
“You like the place, baby girl?”
I didn’t answer at first, and then I felt his hand on my wrist. I opened my eyes and smiled at him. My best opportunity to get out the situation unscathed, I figured, was to play along as much as possible, hope someone came in and spoiled the fun, hope he had a change of heart, hope for something.
I smiled at Alonzo. “It is beautiful. I didn’t get to see much out there. Why don’t you show me around?”
He said, “Later. After we’ve had our fun in here, I’ll show you the entire place. Now, why don’t you get comfortable? Take off that hot dress.”
I had on a baby-doll dress the color of the North Carolina Tar Heels. It was a soft and sheer material. Not hot at all.
I asked Alonzo, “I could use a drink. That would make me comfortable.”
He didn’t answer, but I noticed a punch bowl in the corner. I went over to it.
It was filled with condoms.
Behind me I heard Alonzo’s booming horror-movie laugh.
I closed my eyes again.