Copyright ©2020 by Creole Gaudet. All rights reserved.
No part of this chronicle may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system – except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine or newspaper – without permission in writing from the publisher, Creole Gaudet.
I’d arrived, cruising the parking lot, searching.
Sway had seen me from inside and came running. She opened the door and quickly ducked in.
“Hey.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She struggled quietly, hustling her seat belt, locking it as we pulled away.
“Did anyone see you?”
“No.” Her shaky hands clutched the front of her jacket, pulling it tight. She was disheveled, trembling, and sweating. She watched out of her window, hiding her tears, but I could see her reflection.
“Don’t be upset, everything is going to be okay.”
“I’m not upset, Andre…” She turned to me. “I’m happy.”
“But are you hungry?”
Sway smiled glowingly. “I’m starved.”
“What would you like?”
“IHOP?”
We’d both ordered steak burgers. I had The Classic, and Sway was putting the finishing touches on a Mega Monster.
My phone rang. It was Mandy.
I looked to Sway. “Be quiet, don’t say anything… What’s up, Mandy? Did you run out?”
Sway panicked. She began to cry. I placed my hand atop hers. I continued. “Your phone was on the stairs? Why the fuck you call me? How would I know where she went?” I gripped tighter. “I don’t know what to tell you… You’ll be okay.” I ended the call.
“They’re going to find me and kill me, Andre… Or put me in a hospital.”
“Nobody’s going to do anything to you. You’re safe. I promise.”
“Are you sure? I wasn’t scared before, but I am now.”
“I know, but you’re brave. It took a lot of courage to do what you did. Never forget that. You are brave.” I looked at her plate. “Now finish your food.”
“Okay.”
“I tell you who is scared, though. You should have heard Mandy. She’s losing her shit. She has to go and let Rosebud know that she fucked up.”
MEET UP – OUTSIDE LONGHORN ICEHOUSE – NORTHWEST HIGHWAY – 9:45 p.m.
Met with Solo, a gorgeous brown-skinned Chicana with a shapely figure and dark shoulder-length hair. Solo runs with a big-time pimp named Lee.
She was waiting in her car with a trick when we arrived. I’d parked at the other end.
“Who’s this, Andre?” She handed me a single hundred. “She’s pretty.”
“This is Sway.” I handed her the sack.
“Hey, Sway. Are you looking for work?” Solo looked to me. “I could use her…and make you a lot of money, Andre.”
“We’re good right now.”
“Okay, let me know, alright? A rack an hour for sure. Guaranteed… Money waiting as soon as she arrives.”
WALMART – 10:15 p.m.
We’d parked and entered. I was pushing a cart, leading her to the women’s department. “I know you don’t have anything right now as far as clothes and all the lady stuff, so I want you to go and get whatever…”
“Andre, I don’t want you to spend a lot on me…”
“Sway… I’m going to go and look at some bikes or toys, or something. Come get me when you’re done. I’ll probably be by the auto parts by then.”
About an hour later, we were standing in the check-out line. Along with the basics, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and mouthwash, she had a few hair pieces, shaving razors, and some feminine supplies. For clothing, she’d picked out several pairs of panties, some bras, and a couple of pairs of jeans with matching tops.
“Is that all you need?”
“That’s more than enough.”
I handed her four hundred dollars in twenties and walked to the front of the store. I took a seat on the bench and waited.
We’d loaded her items into the car and were pulling away when she handed me the change and receipt. “You hold onto that, okay?”
“Andre…”
“What?”
“I can’t believe… Why are you being so good to me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Sway smiled. She then leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Huh, I thought our first kiss would be something more than that.”
“What?! Pull the car over!”
“Pull over?”
“Pull over!”
I stopped near the exit. Sway stepped out and hurried around to my side.
I stood, looking down into her eyes. We embraced. Our lips met. Our tongues swapped. I felt a fluttering in my chest as we parted. She asked softly, “How was that?”
“It was good for me.”
Creole Gaudet
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