away from me. She looked like she was nodding off.
“You take something?” I interrupted, trying to get her come to.
She blinked and shrugged. “Who knows? Some kind of pill. Knocked the shit out of me. But the psycho music helped.”
“It’s psycho music?”
“Yeah, whatever.”
“I think it’s ‘psychedelic.’ You don’t remember much, do you?”
She shrugged. “I remember coming into the park, but after I took that pill it’s all hazy.”
I shook my head. “Were you with those friends I saw you with yesterday?”
She shrugged. “Who knows. Anyway, it was a free concert, free love, you know? Get stoned, get high, drop out,” she grinned at me and sat up. “Hey, can we get some cigarettes? I’m all out,” she said, crinkling up her empty pack and tossing it away.
I suddenly brightened, staring at the crumpled Newports pack.
“My neighbor Pips, he smokes the exact same brand. I just bought him two packs yesterday. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you had a few.”
“Hmm, you bought them,” she drawled. “I wonder what you got in return.”
“I bought them because he asked me to,” I said, feeling defensive. “He gave me the money. That’s all.”
She giggled and stood up. “Take me to your leader.” She started walking like a movie robot, step by step by step.
I laughed and stood up, too, not resisting when she put her arm around my back. I put my arm around her and we walked out of the park as if we were two lovers on their way to bed.
My hard-on was stiff and pulsing in my pants, as I’m sure hers was in her white leggings. But she started clinging tighter to my waist as we walked, going more slowly, her head drooping with every step. On Avenue A, while we waited for a truck to pass, her arm fell from my waist and she almost collapsed.
“Sissy. Sissy,” I said, pulling her back up and trying to steady her. “Are you all right?”
She caught herself, straightening and yawning, again putting her arm around my waist.
“Wow, I didn’t know I was that wasted. I’m really tired.” She yawned again and giggled. “Hope Pips has a bed. I sure could use a little sleep.”
I blushed and looked away, trying not to recall lying on Pips’ bed and jerking off.
“Where is it, anyway?”
“First Avenue, we’re almost there.”
“Shit, my mom works on 1 st Avenue, around 7 th Street. I don’t want her to see me. She was pretty pissed at me for coming home stoned.” She hunched over and looked down, and we got to my building very quickly after that.
“This is it,” I said steering her in. “He’s on the top floor, just like me.”
Her eyes widened. “Wow, you live together? Cool.”
I shook my head. “No, no, we’re just neighbors, but on the same floor. It’s nothing like that.”
“Uh-huh, sure, sure. Oh, wow, it’s dark in here.”
I frowned. “My stupid landlord doesn’t believe in spending money on lighting. He’s a jerk.”
“Yeah, most are.” She shrugged and let go of my waist, but clutched my hand as we climbed the stairs. On the first floorlanding, just as we turned to take the next flight, she looked down at my crotch. “Man, are you big!” She made a grab at my erection. “Can I see it, mister?”
I stared at her, amazed that she was trying to grab me. “Only if you show me yours, pretty miss.”
What the hell was I saying! I’m not a queer!
She pawed my crotch another moment, then lifted the bottom of her halter top, showing me the sizable bulge in her leggings. I reached for it and squeezed it. She pushed my hand off.
What the hell was I doing, feeling her erection! Jesus, what’s wrong with me!
“Fresh!” she giggled, and we continued climbing. On the fourth floor I gestured to my apartment.
“I live here, Pips is over there.”
“Nice to know,” she said, “that I can always come here for a visit and a good groping, no?” Her hand was reaching for my penis.
“Yes. Yes, you can,” I said, pushing my bulge toward her. “It’ll always be there for you,
Michael Baden, Linda Kenney
Master of The Highland (html)
James Wasserman, Thomas Stanley, Henry L. Drake, J Daniel Gunther