He Told Me To Walk This Way

The Dude that Looks Like a Lady

A while later Steven had calmed down somewhat, but you could tell, inside, he was screaming. But he managed to continue on with the dinner acting as normal as possible. He chewed, he swallowed, he small-talked. And boy did he smile.

"So, mom, did Angela say why she couldn't come tonight?" I said, swallowing a bite of the chicken. It seemed weird because Angela had seemed kind of eager to see me.

My mom swallowed her wine and relit one of the candlesticks in the center of the table. "She said that something came up; maybe she and Joe decided to go out and celebrate about the big news."

"Maybe; but when I talked to her on the phone, she seemed like she really wanted to see me."

Steven looked up and chuckled. "Yeah, but if I know Joe, right about now, he's hittin' it."

"Steven!" I said, embarrassed.

My mom laughed. "Its okay, Ginger. You're al adults, I get it; you have sex." Right about then I was more embarrassed than ever. This had to be the most awkward moment ever. I filled the void of awkwardness by fixating on the slight taste of basil in the tomato sauce my mother used for the chicken parmesan.

The rest of dinner went smoothly and soon I was back in the stairwell of Steven's apartment building. It smelled like pee in the hallways and I was glad it smelled better in his apartment. We walked past a couple who were oblivious to the outside world. I'll just say, we may have been witnesses to a child being conceived. Inside, Steven turned on the light switch and threw his jacket on the couch.

"God, I couldn't believe it when my mom said that thing about sex. It was so embarrassing." 

Steven put his arm around me so that his hand was on my hip. He kissed me, gently. "It wasn't that bad. She has a point though. Young people try to act like goody-two-shoes' around the parents when they're out bangin' a different person every night." He let go of me and walked to the refrigerator.

"What? I don't do that!" I said, not sure if that's what he was implying.

He opened up a can of Pepsi. "I didn't say you do. Hopefully you're only bangin' me." He smiled.

"Oh shut up. That's one thing you don't have to worry about with me." I kissed him. "I love you."

He sat down on the couch and pulled out a small baggie of white powder. I knew what it was, and part of me wanted some. But part of me knew that there was chance of things getting better soon, what with Aerosmith opening for The Stones. That part of me didn't want any of the coke because that part wanted what was best for Steven and me. So, I let that part prevail. "Put it away." I said, grabbing his hands.

"Just a minute baby. I just wanna smooth out a little, that's all."

I pulled him up so he was standing in front of me. I kissed him feverishly, putting my arms around him and pulling him closer to me. When I stopped I said, "I don't care what I have to do...tonight. Just promise you won’t do any." I kissed him again, this time it was quick.

He seemed to contemplate this. "But Gin-"

"I'll do whatever you want." I interrupted him, whispering in his ear. "Anything."

This time I could tell he liked my proposition because he kissed me and pulled me into the bedroom, where we stayed, the entire night.

In the morning he and I walked to the supermarket together, holding hands. We passed a Chinese man selling small wooden wind-up toys. When we got inside the small store, I got a shopping cart and pulled out my wallet to see how much money I had. I counted the bills, a little disappointed.