John howled with laughter. "You fucked up now, kid. You're in trouble. You didn't come home with the money. Should I string you up like Kayla?" i stared at Benny with distrustful eyes. i didn't understand. i had asked the same way the other girls had. Why was he doing this to me? Would John really hit me with that car antenna now? Benny turned to Kayla and said, "Kayla, what did Raven do wrong?" Kayla sighed and gave me an apology with her eyes. "Everything." i winced. Tears were stinging my eyes and i had to blink to keep them from falling. "Why?" "Because you don't really ask for the money like that." "Show her the right way." But, John stopped her. "Oh, no, pretty boy. This may be your little pet. You may have gotten that. But, she still failed. I think she's got something coming to her." "Oh she does. But, who knows how many times she'll fuck up before she gets it right. I'll just save it all up do her one good turn in the back room. You can watch." John grinned. It was a grin i would come to know only too well. Every time i saw it, it would make me sick.
It was Sunday afternoon. i had lost many hours. i didn't care, it meant i was closer to Monday and the promise of being picked up for school... what i was hanging on to. i passed the next hour or so being coached on getting the money without being offensive. Since i would be going to negotiated clients this would mostly be a non issue since they would have paid in advance. But some clients insisted on getting their product first and so i had to be able to get Edward's money. i watched Candy do it, then Kayla, Pearl, and finally April. Benny had easily given each of them ten bucks when they asked for it. When i asked he told me no.
