“But almost true,” Liz said.
“You’re bad.”
“That’s why the boys like me. Listen, are you going to keep me company
till Richie gets here?” “Sure,” Amy said.
She went to the fountain and drew down two Cokes, and she and Liz took
the first booth at the front of the room, where they had a view of Main
Street.
Liz’s car was parked out front. It was a yellow Toyota Celica.
Her parents had given it to her as a surprise graduation gift.
“No matter how hard I try,” Amy said, “I can’t picture you and Richie
Atterbury as a couple.”
“Why not? We were both unique in school,” Liz said. “He was the class
genius with an IQ of oneeighty, and I was the class slut with a hundred
and eighty names on my scorecard.”
“I don’t know why you keep putting yourself down like that,” Amy
said.
“You haven’t had anywhere near a hundred and eighty guys, for God’s
sake.”
“I’m not putting myself down,” Liz said. “Honey, I revel in it. I
love what I am. It’s the only way to fly.” aRichie was always so
shy.”
“He’s not so shy anymore,” Liz said. She winked.
Listen, it’s been a ball teaching Richie what the : game is all
about.
He was so gangly and clumsy and naive! A real challenge. But he’s
coming along. He’s coming along real nice. He has a real taste for
corruption.”
, “And you’re corrupting him?”
: “ExactlY.”
Isn’t that a bit melodramatic?”
, “No. Because that’s exactly what I’m doing. I’m corrupting Richie
Atterbury, boy genius.”
, “Elizabeth Ann Duncan, sultry temptress, the b all-knowing wanton
woman of exotic Royal City,” Amy said sarcastically.
:, Liz grinned. “That’s me. You know, just three weeks ago, when I
first started going out with him, Richie had never smoked grass? Can
you O imagine? Now he’s a regular pothead.”
That’s the only reason you’re dating him? Just so you can corrupt
him?”
“No,” Liz said. “It’s a hell of a lot of fun to open him up to new
things, new experiences. But even if he already knew his way around,
he’d be fun to be with. He’s clever, witty. And he seems to know
something interesting about almost everything. I’ve never dated a
genius before. It’s different.” “Sounds like maybe this one will last
a little longer than the others,” Amy said.
“No way,” Liz said quickly. “I figure another month, six weeks at the
outside.
Then bye-bye, Richie. No matter how clever he is, I’ll be bored with
him by then. Besides, even if I wanted something permanent with
someone, which I don’t want, but even if for some weird reason I did, I
wouldn’t want anything permanent with anyone here in this jerkwater
town. I don’t want anyone holding me back when I’m ready to split for
the west.” “You’re still planning on goingn “Hell, yes. I’ll work in
my father’s office until the middle of December, build up a nest egg,
and then knock off a couple of weeks before Christmas.
After the holiday, I’ll pack my clothes into my little yellow car, and
I’ll be off like a shot to the land of sun and opportunity.”
“California?”
Y’ve decided on Vegas,” Liz said.
aLas Vegas?” “That’s the only Vegas I know.”
“What will you do there?” “Sell it,” Liz said, grinning again.
“Sell what?”
“Don’t be dopey.” “I’m not being dopey.” “As dense as a post.” “I
don’t understand. What are you going to sell?” “My ass.” “Huh?” “I’m
going to do some heavy hooking.” “Hooking?”
“Jesus!n Liz said. “Listen, kid, don’t you realize how much money a
high-priced call girl can make in Vegas? A six-figure income, that’s
how much.”
Amy stared at her in disbelief. “You’re trying to make me believe that
you’re going to Vegas to be a whore?” “I’m not trying to make you
believe anything,” Liz said. “I’m merely telling you the facts, kid.
Besides, I’m not going to be an ordinary whore. Whore is a low-class
word. Whores are cheap. I’m going to be a personal escort, an
intimate companion to a new gentleman every evening. Intimate
companions are quite expensive, you know. And I’m going to be more