Chapter 113

Hymie Roth gave the Stillman family the final tally. It was their daily 6 AM meeting and Claire had given Luke a brand-new hire. Carrie Oglethorpe was 24 with a new husband of three weeks. Willow had hired her to work in the truck-stop general store because Carrie had a fetching little daughter from a previous marriage. Too young right now, but Willow was still pushing her mother to lower the age restrictions.

In the interview, a naked Carrie had told Consuela, “I wouldn’t be here asking for work, but he went out an bought a new bass boat — a Pelican.” He — Danny, her new husband.

“Does Danny know what I’ll have you doing here?”

“No ma’am, he’s from up in the Twin Cities.” She pointed vaguely north as if it were another world away. “Not Minneapolis, the other one.”

“You do understand what the job entails, dear?”

“I think so. My Aunt Eileen worked here two summers. Before her mama moved to Florida.” Again, Carrie pointed vaguely.

“Do you enjoy sucking cocks?”

“Not particularly, no ma’am.”

“But you do do it?”

Carrie looked startled, “Of course, that’s what girls do.” Her tone carried a question like Consuela was a little daffy even asking.

“Okay, hon, I’ll take a chance on you. I’ll give you half days in the store and four hours in Claire’s Garage.”

“Garage?”

“There are private rooms for you and the other little cocksuckers. You’ll get $30 for every dick you suck.”

No hesitation, “How many would that be, ma’am?”

“Two an hour would be eight per shift. Times thirty bucks, that’s $240. Some days a little more, some days a little less.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“If you do a good job, a really good job, I’ll let you work Pink Pussy part time.”

“The trailers?”

“The trailers.”

The next morning, headset in place, Carie was struggling to accommodate Luke. Willow said, “She doesn’t like sucking cock, Luke, give her something to really dislike.”

He glanced at his mother. Claire shrugged — the pussy shortage was over. They were fully staffed, but she had instructed Consuela, “Keep hiring — let the best ones replace the average earners.”

Hyman Roth, stealing an occasional glance at Willow said, “All in, it came to a little over $214,000.”

Clair, “How much over?”

“Three hundred, twelve dollars, eighty-seven cents. That includes funeral costs for Richie Simmons, plus a $25,000 cash payment to his widow. Medical and rehab for Carl Pickering. Daily stipends and bonuses for the others. Transportation to and from here.”

Willow enjoyed teasing Hyman, “Do your figures include the cost of lye for the three cunts?”

Not known for his sense of humor, Hyman said, “We paid $138.20 for level 7 potassium Hydroxide.”

“Very good, Hyman, thank you.”

He blushed with pleasure.

Carrie’s hands started flailing and she tried to stop Luke’s advance. Claire smiled to herself, a common sight. Willow stopped herself from slapping the girl; this was her first day.