Chapter 3

About a week after my experience with Bobbie I was working an afternoon shift at McDonald’s. I had worked there throughout high school and still picked up shifts when I was home from college on vacations or in the summer. I don’t know if it’s still like this, but hiring at McDonald’s was pretty sexist back then, if you were a girl, you’d work at a register, if you were a boy you’d work the grill or the fryers.

Tony, Bobbie’s brother, came into the restaurant and, after scanning the menu, waited at the end of my line, even though it was the longest. Another register opened up while he was waiting, and after the girl on it offered to take him, he responded “naw, that’s ok, I want to order from my friend Theresa!”

When he got up to my register, I put on my best minimum wage smile and asked “what can I get you Tony?”

“Hey Theresa! You’re such a hard worker putting in a shift during your vacation.” He said, glanced at the menu again and ordered a Quarter Pounder meal, to go, with a root beer. Sliding an envelope across the counter he added “have a look at this next time you’re alone.”

“We’re not allowed to accept tips, Tony” I told him “We have to pass them along to a manager.”

“That’s not a tip and you won’t want to ‘pass it along to a manager’. Have a look the next time you’re by yourself.” He replied. With a wink he took his bag of food and left.

Sitting on the toilet in the staff bathroom, next to the break room, I ripped open the letter. Inside was a photograph and a note. Looking at the photograph, I saw in horror that it was a picture of myself, dress hiked up and panties pulled to the side furiously masturbating. My face was contorted in lust and my entire womanhood was on vulgar display. I had never seen such a blatantly pornographic image in my life, and it was ME! I imagined Jack, my parents, my former high school teachers and friends and my neighbors seeing every intimate part of my body.

Reading the note, it said “Come to my house as soon as you finish work and we’ll discuss this. Tony”. Gasping aloud, I wracked my brain wondering how I could get out of this!

With despair, I knocked on Bobbie’s door once again. I had almost called Jack and asked him to help me, but the idea of him seeing that picture and the questions he’d ask was more than I could bear. Involving my father or a policeman was inconceivable. One way or another I would have to put Tony off and figure out why Bobbie had lied to me.

I briefly entertained the idea of getting a gun and shooting Bobbie and Tony or burning down their house with them in it, but I knew I wouldn’t get away with it. Even if I did, I’d end up in jail. I didn’t even know where to get a gun.

Soon after my knock, Tony threw open the door with a large grin on his face, and invited me in.

Bobbie was making a cup of coffee at the kitchen counter and I squawked when I saw her. “You said you wouldn’t show anyone!” I accused her.

“And I didn’t” she replied, continuing to make her coffee. “My shitty brother went into my room, which he isn’t supposed to, and went through my porn collection, which he also isn’t supposed to. I didn’t show him anything, he’s just a shitty dude.”

“I really hit the motherload!” Tony added.

“Why couldn’t you have protected it better?” I wailed, eliciting a shrug from Bobbie.

“That wasn’t our deal” she said.

“Why are you doing this?” I asked Tony.

“If you’d accepted one of the times I asked you out, I’d be your boyfriend now and would probably protect you from all this. Since you decided you’re too good for me, all I want is to have my fill of what I’ve been missing. I want you to come over every week, do what I tell you, and I’ll keep everything tucked away. If I ever get sick of you, I’ll give you all your material and send you on your way.” he suggested.

“You want me doing this forever? No way! Hiding the pictures isn’t worth that.” I objected.

“There’s the videos too.” he reminded me.

“Big deal, I should have let Boobie show everyone my fucking bra and avoid all this.” I replied.

“Bra?” he asked, looked confused. He glanced over at Bobbie.

“Well” she smirked “there’s actually a little bit more video than just your bra being shown.”

I followed Tony into their living room as he turned on their TV. Their VCR was set up and he pressed the play button.

I glanced at Tony as I watched the video that started all this that Bobbie had first recorded at the party. I was laughing, clearly tipsy, and enjoying myself when my boyfriend Jack pulled up my shirt. It was all so innocent, why was I so afraid of this getting out, I asked myself, thinking about the pornographic picture Tony had given me.

There was a burst of static and I was about to look at Bobbie when another video started. The new video was filmed in the living room we were in and seemed to be a recording of a chair sitting in the middle of the room. I looked in confusion as Tony hit the fast forward button. He slowed it back to regular play when two figures entered the screen and, with a start, I realized it was Bobbie and I.

With a start, I realized how well positioned the chair was and, as I started hiking up my dress on the video, I realized how much was yet to come.

“Stop it, stop it!” I demanded “I don’t want Tony to see the rest!” I rushed to the VCR and ejected the tape.