Chapter One

“Isn’t there a way we can cancel this? I’m frightened and…and it doesn’t seem at all right,” nervously she twisted the buttons on her blouse. “I mean the children and all.”

“Look, Maureen, you agreed. He’s here, down in the den. You can’t back out now. We arranged it. I got my mother to watch the kids for the night. He’s expecting you.”

She looked down at the floor, at her feet, the red toenails, the new expensive shoes with the four inch heels. She noted the sheen of oil on her legs and the scent of the costly perfume that they could ill afford. She thought of the long evening of preparations: the bubble bath, the perfumed oil, the vigorous brushing of her hair and painting of her nails, the eye shadow and mascara, the lipstick and gloss, her new skirt and blouse, the strappy shoes. Looking up at her husband she asked, “Is he young?”

He smiled wanly, “No. Sorry. In fact he’s probably fifteen or twenty years older than you. Maybe more than that. With these people it’s hard to tell.”

“My God! Maybe twenty or more years older!” She frowned, shaking her head. “All this was your idea. I didn’t want to do it. I still don’t. And now you say it’s an old guy. Damnit, Brian!” She looked up at him, anger flashing in her eyes. “I suppose he’s also dirty and a fat slob!”

“He seems clean enough even though he’s wearing jeans and work shoes.” He saw that she was waiting for a complete answer. “Well, honey, he is a big man, very big, maybe one of the biggest men I’ve ever seen. I guess you could say fat. But he looks strong, thick neck, powerful arms.”

She turned away from him, facing the window. “And how does he act? Is he at least personable and polite?”

“I don’t know. Seems like a serious guy. Doesn’t smile. He’s a little demanding. Right away he wanted me to get him a beer. He drank it right down. But he’s OK. I’m sure he’s OK.”

She looked back at him. “But you don’t know, right? You don’t really know if he’s OK?”

He nodded, “I guess not. You can’t be absolutely sure, not with their kind.”

“But you’ll be there, won’t you?”

He took a deep breath, “I’ll be there, at least at first. He said he’d probably want me to leave you alone with him.” He looked down at the floor sheepishly. “I told him I would.”

“No!” she exclaimed, “Brian, how could you? I don’t want to be alone with...with some black man…a stranger I’ve never seen before. My, God, Brian! Back when this insanity started, you said you’d be there, right in the room all the time.”

“He insisted. That’s the only way I could get him to come. He also wanted to see a photograph of you. He said he wanted a young woman who was thin and pretty. I told him you weigh about a hundred and ten and wear a size six. It will be OK. Just get into it...you know, get into it and everything will be OK.”

“Does he think I’m going to let him kiss me?

Brian forced a thin smile, “Well, honey, I guess so. That’s the way these things get started.”

“Oh God, Brian! He’s a big blac