Read Zeke for Free Online

she’d had to rush to get an English
report done on time. They were sitting in his van on a quiet residential
street. “I’m not faulting you for it. You were raised that way; you have a lot
to overcome.”
    “So was I supposed to not turn in
my assignment?” Sue felt vaguely insulted. She had hurried to meet him after
work, knowing he didn’t like to wait. He didn’t seem happy to see her.
    “What if you hadn’t? Why should you
put yourself on someone else’s schedule, doing what someone else dictates? Why
should you allow yourself to be treated like property? There are alternatives.”
He tapped her forehead roughly with his finger. “You’ve got a better mind than
that, Sue. Think.”
    “I can’t figure out what you want
me to say.” She was confused.
    “I can’t tell you what to say. Then
you would just be parroting me. If I wanted that, I would just listen to myself
talk.” Zeke sounded frustrated. He shook his head slightly.
    “If I don’t turn in my assignments,
I’ll fail my class.” Sue’s voice trembled slightly.
    “And what do you think about the
methods used today to label, grade, and define every student’s identity, even
their very worth, by attaching a meaningless letter to every tiny piece of
writing they produce?” He raised his eyebrows at her.
    “I don’t know.”
    “You do know. In fact, you are the
one and only undisputed world-wide expert on the subject.”
    “I’m an expert on grading systems?”
    “No, you blockhead!” Zeke laughed.
“You’re an expert on what you think. I asked you what you think. Remember?”
    “Oh.” She gave a nervous titter to
hide the sting of his words and hoped he was joking.
    “Maybe we need to pick an easier
task,” he said sarcastically. “How about you just take down your panties
instead?”
    “I don’t think I want to.” Sue’s
throat was tight with tears.
    “Fine then. I’ll take you back to
your car. Maybe when you get out of your mood, you can call me.” He jammed the
van into gear and drove recklessly back to the Re-Books parking lot where she
had left her car. It was still early; not even twilight yet, and her evening
was ruined.
    Zeke remained cold and didn’t tell
her goodbye when he dropped her off. By the time she slid behind the wheel,
harsh sobs were already working their way up from the pit of her stomach.
Through the tears in her eyes, she watched Zeke drive away. She rolled the
window down and let the hot air escape from the car. So miserable she could
barely think straight, Sue drove home. She refused dinner, went up to her room,
and cried herself to sleep.
     
    Zeke pulled into the driveway of
Mrs. Harrington’s estate. Earlier, Mrs. Harrington had advised Zeke that he
would be giving Lazlo a lesson in lovemaking, so he’d had to cut short his
evening with Sue. He’d picked the fight deliberately so he could leave early,
and it had put him in a foul mood. Lazlo already knew what to do, but Mrs.
Harrington liked playing teacher, and he had no choice but to go along with
her. Not if he wanted a place to live, that is.
    Slamming into the house, he ran up
the stairs, taking two at a time, and ducked into the bathroom.
    “Ezekiel,” Mrs. Harrington called.
“Come on in here. We’re ready to begin.”
    Annoyed, Zeke knew he had to answer
his keeper’s call. He had no choice but to respond. Leaning over the bathroom
sink, he looked at his hair in the mirror. He bared his teeth, checking they
were clean, then stepped back and slapped on some cologne.
    Entering the bedroom, he almost
laughed at the sight of Lazlo sitting quietly in a chair in the corner. The man
was nude, but shielded his privates with his hands, as if Zeke hadn’t seen his
junk before.
    Mrs. Harrington was prone on the
bed in a filmy robe that made her look ludicrous. Zeke shrugged. It could be
worse. At least, she might tip him a twenty tonight. She was stingy with her
resources, as she counted room and board, the tiny stipend she paid each