Big Bangs, Prohibition, and a Sugar Daddy

Dangerous Men

The master bathroom that I shared with Luke extended far enough into my room to allow for a door. Between where the bathroom extended into the room and the other wall was a niche. Where there was a window that looked out onto the circular drive in the front of the house. I have there a comfortable armchair. A end table and a electric lamp. I look out the window and read my books.

I changed into my bed clothes and sat down to read. I imagined how wonderful it would be when my three students would learn to read the books that I love. Newspapers, magazines, and books opened the world up to those who could read. Books opened not only this world, but other worlds as well.

There was a knock at the door. The bathroom door. "Come in, Luke."

Luke was the only person who would knock from this door.

"How did your class go." Luke came in with those words on his lips, he sees me in my robe and nightgown. "I should buy you new clothes. I can't have my secretary wandering around in outdated rags."

I was indignant. "These are not rags. They may be outdated, second hand clothes, but they are quite respectable. I do not dress in rags."

"I shall have a woman come in to measure you for new clothes. A woman to style your hair as well." Luke said. "Now, how was your class."

"Clara is very smart, she learns quickly. Rita and Sara knew their alphabet and a few words. This makes it easier for them." I noticed that Luke wore a robe as well and possibly a nightshirt underneath. Since his legs were bare beneath the robe.

"I will make some calls tomorrow." Luke leaned over and kissed me on the top of my head. "In a couple of days we will make you look very modern."

Luke left. I had smelled a spicy scent mixed with cigar smoke. It lingered in my alcove. I went back to reading my book. I found it hard to concentrate. My mind wandered. I couldn't concentrate on the words. I shut the book and put it on the end table. I shut off the lamp and lay in bed. It took me some time to sleep. My thoughts kept wandering to Luke.

I was working in my ledger. More groceries had come in, bills for electric, water, and gas. Some garden and household supplies. I ordered the receipts and had just finished writing figures when Luke walked in accompanied by four other men.

"Please leave us alone." Luke said to me. "I have a private meeting to conduct."

I didn't like being summarily dismissed. Luke was my boss. If he ordered me out of the room, I had no right to question his authority.

One of the men was dressed in a Tweed suit. His brown shoes were scuffed. He had a bowler hat. There was a short plump man in a black silk suit, highly shined shoes, and a fedora. A red headed man who seemed familiar to me, wore long aviator jacket, high brown boots, tan pants and shirt. His didn't wear a hat. His hair was wild, curly and long. He didn't seem to belong with the men in the suits. The last man to come in the door was a man of color, he wore a dark blue pinstriped suit. A black fedora with a white band. In the band was a white feather. His shoes were black and shiny, but older and worn.

"Aww, let her stay, she's pretty in an old fashion way." Said the red headed man.

"She is not part of our business in any way. She keeps my household. That is it." Luke was looking at me as he spoke. Clearly stating that what happened in his business was none of my business, nor would it be.

"Oh, what a pity." Red said. "At least introduce her to us."

"Her name is unimportant. She is just staff." When Luke said that I marched out of the room.

I don't know why it hurt me so. First the dismissal, then hearing Luke tell the others I was nothing more than staff. I think what really hurt me was when he said my name was unimportant. I cried a little. Berated myself for shedding a few tears. Then I started to cry again. I caught myself. I let my anger push away the tears. Berating myself for even bothering to cry. I headed to my room, where I sat until I calmed down. I sat there for quite a while, simmering.

After I calmed down I stepped out into the hall. I walked down the hall until I came to the stairs. At the head of the stairs I saw Luke in the foyer with the other men. The swarthy short man, in his dark suit seemed a bit distant to me. The man in the bowler was all smiles. False smiles I might add, he reminded me of a snake oil salesman. O'Brian was talkative. The fourth man stood apart from the others. Was this because he was a Negro? Or was it because he was aloof like the shorter man?

As the Negro started to leave Luke and O'Brian talked to him briefly. O'Brian embraced the Negro affectionately. Luke simply shook his hand. I realized that these two men were the men in the picture over Luke's mantel in his bedroom. Some of my anger faded as I saw the three men who fought in the Great War say goodbye.

Luke turned from the door as the last two men left. He saw me standing at the head of the stairs. "I told you I didn't want you near those men."

"You told those men I was just staff. That my name wasn't important!" I shouted at Luke. "You said nothing about my not being near them. What am I suppose to do, hide in my room. I just happen to be coming down the stairs when they were leaving. If you are so ashamed of me, why did you hire me? Why do you even want me?"

I ran down the hall, back to my room. I slammed the door behind me. My breathing was rapid, I fought back more tears. I wouldn't cry again. As I attempted to calm down I heard a knock on the door. I didn't care who it was, I couldn't answer it. My distress was to obvious. No one could see me while I was this upset.

"Ellen. Let me in." It was Luke. His voice calm.

"Go eat a radish!" I shouted to Luke through the door.

Luke turned the door knob. I hadn't thought to lock the door. He opened it. I turned my back to him. I walked over to the window and looked out. I would not talk to him.

"My business associates are not the best men to associate with. I don't want you associating with them, because they can be dangerous." Luke kept his voice calm. "I'm merely concerned with your safety, if they thought you met anything to me, they might try to use you against me in some way."

As Luke spoke, I saw outside the window, in the drove below the men getting into various cars. The short man got into a black Buick. The man in the bowler stood beside a brown Buick, talking to two men. O'Brian and the Negro climbed into a green Model T.

"Who are these people?" I turned to look at Luke. "Why are you associating with men you think are dangerous? What business are you in?"

"The less you know about those men, the better off you will be. You don't want to be involved in my business. I don't want you involved." Luke said. "Bobby O'Brian and Thane are friends of mine, but the other two men are untrustworthy. To say the least. I don't want you near them."

"You didn't have to be so cruel to me." I crossed my arms and stared daggers at Luke.

"I am sorry. Forgive my rudeness, but I didn't want them to think that you were a friend of mine. Or that I wanted you as something more." Luke turned to leave. "I simply don't want you to be hurt because of me."

Luke closed the door behind him. Why would any of those men want to hurt me because of my association with Luke. What had I involved myself with when I took the job that Luke offered me. Just how dangerous were these men that Luke associated with? I began to wonder if I should reconsider my decision to work for Luke.