Chapter 12
“Money talks,” I said.
“What’s that mean?”
“For twenty bucks, the owner of the Dixie Motel gave me a room number; for forty bucks more, he gave me a passkey; and for another fifty bucks, he gave me his blessing to kick the door in. He even asked if he could watch me do it.”
“Wow,” Jethro said, “that sounds exciting.”
“And dangerous, I should think,” Rion said.
“It can be both at times. That’s why my pony car was parked on a side street nearby. I was out of there before the guy had his pants back on.”
“Why do you guys call him Q?” Jethro said.
“What else would you call a gay guy whose initials are Q. Q. Q.?” Mitch said.
“Yeah.”
As we ate, I listened to Jethro interacting with a pair of older guys whom he hardly knew. I had to admit that I was impressed—the kid handled himself very well and showed none of the awkwardness that guys his age typically display around their elders.