Eilene

 

She was standing at the corner of the street. Leaning against the wall as she watched the cars passing by. The night was bright yet it blew breezes of cold winds. She didn’t care the chill she felt through her skin. She wore black leather mini skirt and tight pink t-shirt.

Nothing unusual that night. She lit a cigarette to drift away her shivers. The smoke from her cigarette slowly dancing with the wind. She recalled how many man she called patients had come that night and how many so-called costumers she had served.

She stroked her brunette locks as she glanced at the car stopping a few steps before her. “Who would he invite?” she wondered. She watched the man waving his hand to Claudia, the girl who was standing beside her. “Claudia, here comes your costumer,” she said.

“Ha, ha,” Claudia laughed. “Don’t let him get cold. I know.” She walked towards the car. “Bye bye Eilene! I wish ya some guy to spend your night with!” She waved her hands, in style!

“I’d pray on that too!” Eilene crossed her finger for luck. She watched the car until it disappear in the crowded city street.

She sighed. There had been two costumers and one patient that day. She always called ‘patients’ to those who took her regularly and ‘costumers’ to the new ones. Some of her costumers came back and became her patients. Some others are those who liked to changed partners and they hardly ever came back.

“So, how’s business, Babe?” asked a Puerto Rican to her. “Pretty bad, huh? How ‘bout a nice bath with me? I’ll grant you satisfaction.” His hand brushed her cheeks. He grinned.

“C’mon, Nino! You never pay!” She jerked and pushed him away. She giggled,” You never give anything!”

“But you said friends mustn’t pay.”

“Yeah, but not when I’m working.”

Nino stood beside her. He lit a cigarette and inhaled a deep relief into his lungs. Everybody knew he never smoked tobacco. He only smoke cannabis and he would do anything just for some hash in desperate time. Sometimes he worked as a dishwasher. Sometimes he worked as a beggar. Some other times – when he needed money most – he worked as a gigolo.

They both stayed quiet. There was nothing to talk about. Nino gazed at the sky blackened by the city lights. “The sky was brighter at home,” he said slowly as he grinned. Nobody chose to live in the city and so did he. “Funny that we always get blinded by these fake stars,” he spoke as it was for himself.

“Why are you here?” Eilene asked rather humming.

“Thought I could be something. Thought I could …,” he paused, “But I have no chance.” He stopped again, gazing at the street. The Big Apple was bright, but still she has her shady spots, like where they were standing.

Eilene ducked her face. She took a deep breath. She liked to be on the streets rather than being at the place which people called home. Though nobody had abused her there, not her father, not her brother, not her friends.

She was 17 when decided to go away. What so good about living with a bunch of hippies dreaming about peace and hash. And even though she found the very same thing on the street, she thought it was normal for people to become addicts there. She never liked it to be at home. People are too weird there.

“Eilene, I think he calls for you,” Nino pointed at a car stopping a few steps in front of them.

She raised her head and saw a man in a black Ford. He was thirty something. He looked at the side-walk, waiting as she walked toward him.

“Hi, there!” she said, “Need a date?”

“Y-yeah,” he said. “How much do you want?” he asked in a rather low tone.

“One fifty per hour, plus twenty if you don’t bring gloves.”

He kept silent, thinking. He knocked his knuckles on the steering-wheel. He looked nervous.

“I haven’t got all night,” Eilene said, “Yes or no? And don’t ask for discount. I do this for living.”

She sighed. “Why there’s always people like this?” she wondered and said, “What takes you so long? You haven’t dated a whore?”

He thought for a few seconds and opened the car for her. He drove to a motel. He kept silent and so did Eilene. There was nothing to talk about. The less they talk, the better the business.

It didn’t need an emotional relationship to date with a whore. And though sometimes Eilene felt a touch of desire and affection, she would rather call it hunger. Sometimes she missed her patients, sometimes she dreamed of them, but she never wished to be more than just a baggage. She loved the job and loved all the people who had come for her. She funny about it, but she loved to be a hooker.

The clock showed 10.45 when they reached the motel. He led her to a small room. The man looked pretty much wealthy. He wore nice suits, a tie and well-pressed shirt and trousers. His hair was dark with a touch of grey here and there. His face looked worry. He was not sure of what he was doing.

Eilene lay on the bed. “Let’s get started … er … What should I call you?”

“Eric.”

“Ok, Eric, would you like it fast or slow?” asked Eilene. She got undressed and pulled Eric closer to her. She began to unbutton his shirt one by one. “I like your body, Eric. Has anyone told ya that you’re sexy?”

He loosened his shirt. Eilene noticed him shaking when he did it.

“You don’t have to worry. I’m professional.” She opened her purse. “I have some gloves here. You can take whichever you want, or probably you’ve got one already?”

He nodded.

“You’re pretty quiet, eh?” She pulled the man onto the bed. “How do you want to start?”

She ran her fingertips over his face, down to the chest. She smiled and thought, “His heart beating so fast. What is he thinking about? Or is it his first time?”

Eilene was running her fingers along his hips when he caught her hands.

“No,” he said, “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.”

He jerked and sat beside her. He put his head in his hands. There was a ring around his finger. He cried and shook his head, “I can’t do this.”

Eilene grabbed her t-shirt. “Is it your wife you’re worrying about?” She got dressed. “Ya don’t have to do it if ya don’t wanna.”

She held his hands and smiled. She was meant to give pleasure and not pain. She was meant to nurse and entertain people, not to make them feel the guilt of being with her.

The man laughed a little. “I can’t betray her. It’s stupid, isn’t it? She grows cold and bitter on me, but still I can’t betray her.” He lifted his head. “They said I would feel better if I went out with another woman. But they lied.” He chuckled.

He touched his wedding ring. “They lied,” he whispered.

“You love her too much, don’t ya?” Eilene wrapped her hands around his shoulders. “Then you must go home. I don’t want to see myself breaking up your family. I’m not a place to hide.”

She lifted his face. “Listen, the more you get into me, the greater the pain you have. Eric, people like you don’t need me at all.”

He touched her arms, “It’s not that simple.”

“Who says it’s simple to maintain love? You’ve got to water the seeds, let it grows. You can’t just out it in a deposit box. It’ll die.” She pulled her hands away from Eric. “You might think that I’m not supposed to tell you about this. You might say I’m just a whore daydreaming about love.”

“You sound wiser than I am.” He lowered his face, murmuring to himself.

Eilene stood and walked towards the door. “Guess I’d better go now.”

“Wait,” said Eric. He grabbed her hand to stop her from going away. “Would you stay the night?” he asked. Took her words to soothe away his pain. “Just to talk, please?”

“No,” Eilene shook her head. “You’re not ready for this.” She squeezed his hand and sighed. “You don’t have to pay me for this. You’ve already paid something worth more than just money.”

She let loose her hand and kissed him on his forehead. “Goodnight.” She opened the door. “You can take me some other time when you’re ready. Be sure on that.” She smiled and waved goodbye.

Eric watched her walking away from the window.

The moon was full as she walked slowly under the electric stars. The smoke from her cigarette slowly dancing with the wind. She turned around and smiled at Eric. She crossed her fingers for luck.

That was why she loved the job. That was why she loved all the men she knew. That was why she loved her life. They always paid more than she would ever ask. And even though the sky might be brighter at home, it’s always be more colorful in the city.