Cost of Love – Priceless 1
“Justin I’m sorry, but your father insists that you can’t come home until you’re ready to admit this is all a phase.” Justin’s mother looked at her first-born son and wanted to cry.
“Please honey, just say that it’s a mistake and you can come home.” She touched his shoulder but he jerked away from her hand.
“Mom, I can’t deny who or what I am. I don’t think I could live with myself if I did and I don’t see how you can ask me.” Justin’s voice hitched on his last words, but he stiffened his spine and straightened his shoulders. “I guess this is it then.” He turned and walked out the front door of his childhood home without turning back.
The walk to Daphne’s seemed to take forever. Justin felt like his feet were mired in molasses but finally he arrived. It was late, but the Chanders’ weren’t home yet from the opera. Justin looked around and in minutes he’d climbed the trellis and let himself into Daphne’s room. She always teased him about his ability for climbing into impossible places. It had come in handy tonight, because he didn’t want to wait on their front steps. How pathetic could he get, he thought to himself.
Justin sat on Daphne’s bed in the dark and looked around her room. Only the street light outside provided any kind of illumination, but it was enough for him sitting in the familiarity of her room.
He felt his pocket for the acceptance letter from PIFA, the cause of tonight’s explosion by his father. Justin knew that the man had figured he would ‘straighten up’ once he’d arrived at Dartmouth. Like that was ever going to happen. His face still stung where his father had hit him. He’d probably have a bruise tomorrow if he didn’t already. It sucked having fair skin sometimes.
Justin and Daphne had made such wonderful plans for the fall. They would get an apartment together, close to both of their schools. He would paint and draw and she would study hard for her premed credits. Now it was all going to go for shit. There was no way his father would pay his tuition, let alone his portion of the rent with Daphne, and he knew his mother didn’t have a dime of her own.
Car lights shone through the window and he heard the doors open and close. They were home. Justin waited patiently for Daphne to come to her room. He didn’t want her parents to know he was there or they might start something with his father and he didn’t need that.
Daphne’s eyes grew big and round when she opened her door and saw Justin sitting on her bed. She knew better than to say anything and quickly shut and locked the door behind her. Justin turned on her radio as he usually did to help hide their voices. “My dad found PIFA’s letter.” Justin said as a way of explanation. It was really all Daphne needed to hear.
“What are you going to do?” she asked with a sinking sensation.
“I’m not sure. Maybe get a job. I don’t have any money for tuition; well I have some but not enough.”
“Where can you stay?” she looked around. It was impossible to think she could hide him here.
“I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it yet.” Justin blinked away tears that threatened to fall. He was such a fucking wuss.
Daphne thought for a few minutes. “I have an idea, but it would mean you’d be gone for the summer. But I bet you could make enough money for at least the first semester’s tuition and by then, maybe your dad will have had second thoughts.” She smiled at him. “My dad is going to pay for my apartment anyway, so if you can’t help with the rent and groceries, he won’t notice. I was going to use your share for extra stuff that I can do without.”
“I want to pay my own way Daphne. What’s this great idea of yours?” Justin looked hopeful.
“I said it was an idea, not a ‘great’ idea.” Daphne clarified.
“Spill, I’m desperate.”
“You could go to New York and stay with my cousin Jasbir. His mom is okay, she’s my dad’s sister and Jasbir, well, he kind of got himself into some trouble. I bet his mom would be glad to have you spend the summer. You would be a good influence on him. Kind of help him get back on track.” Daphne looked pleased with herself. “His mom works for a fancy restaurant, she could maybe get you a job there. You’re kind of cute, you’d get good tips.”
“Daphne I’ve never worked in a restaurant in my life or worked anywhere for that matter.” Justin almost laughed out loud at the thought.
“Well, you said you needed a job and you’ve certainly been to enough fancy restaurants to know what’s expected of the waiters. You’re a bright boy, fake it.”
“I don’t know Daphne.” Justin began.
“Do you want to suck up to your father and be a liar and tell him you’re straight? Or maybe end up on the streets of Pittsburgh when you can’t get a job and don’t have a place to stay. I mean Justin, you can only hide out here so long. It’s just a good thing school is over for the summer.”
“Do you really think I could get a job where your Aunt works?” Justin asked.
“If I do my best suck up act, you’ll get a job.” Daphne smirked. “Now why don’t you go back to your place and pack what you can carry on the bus. Anything else you want, let me know and I’ll try and get it from your mother so it will be at the new apartment in September.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll meet you down the street from your place in an hour. Don’t get caught sneaking in.”
“I never get caught Daphne, I’m a regular cat burglar.” Justin joked before going out her window and disappearing over the side.
When Justin had disappeared, Daphne took a deep breath and picked up her phone to call her aunt. She was about to hang up when it was answered by Jasbir. “Yo” he barked.
“Jasbir, it’s Daphne.”
“What’s up girl?” he asked. “Why you calling here in the middle of the night?”
“Where’s Tante Ami?” she asked.
“Workin’, where you think she is?”
“Jasbir, I need a really, really big favor.” Daphne began.
“Don’t you always.”
“Play nice cousin.” Daphne laughed. The two of them had always gotten along despite the difference in size and age. Jasbir at nineteen stood six feet four inches, he’d always been tall for his age as long as Daphne had known him. “It’s my friend Justin; he needs a place to stay for the summer and a job. He’s a really good waiter, I was hoping Tante Ami could get him a job where she works and maybe you could just be his friend, help him learn how to be more independent.”
“Well independence got my black ass thrown in jail girl.” Jasbir smirked. “But I guess I could do you this little bitty favor. What’s in it for me?”
“Well for one thing, Justin would be a good influence on you and maybe keep you out of jail from now on.”
“I can’t help it if I got caught. If I hadn’t stopped to pick up that old lady’s groceries, I would have been like the wind, gone.”
“Right, tell it to the judge – oh that’s right you did.”
“You one mouthy bitch Button.” Jasbir said with a laugh. “I’ll see what I can do with momma. I’ll tell her you sending me someone to make me see the light. She’ll like that.”
“You be good to Justin, he’s an artist you know and his dad kicked him out of the house because he was accepted at the Pittsburgh Institute of Fine Arts instead of going to Dartmouth.”
“Well la de da, I guess the boy is going to go to the New York school of ‘hard knocks’ for the summer, Professor Jasbir is not taking classes.”
“I know you aren’t such a hard ass Jasbir, you can’t fool me.” Daphne’s voice was soft with love and affection. “I’m sending Justin there on the bus in a few hours, just make sure he returns to me in one piece.”
“Is he your boyfriend?” Jasbir asked. “Is that what this is all about, keeping him away from Daddy Chanders?”
“Asshole, he’s a boy and he’s a friend, that’s all I’m going to say.” Daphne made a smacking kiss into the phone and hung up. It was almost time to get Justin. She grabbed a sweater and headed out the door. “Mom, I need to take Justin to the bus depot, can I borrow the car?”
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“Justin here’s my Tante Ami’s address. I don’t know the bus routes, but maybe you could splurge on a cab this once. You’ll be getting into New York damn early in the morning. My cousin Jasbir will look out for you. He’s nineteen and really, really sweet though he tries to hide it.” Daphne bit her bottom lip. She hated to send her best friend away for two and half months, but it was the only solution she could come up with. “Phone me when you get there so I know you arrived safely.”
“Daphne, I’m almost nineteen, I think I can handle a bus ride to New York.” Justin tried to close the car door, but Daphne stopped him.
“If you need me for anything Justin, anything, call me. We’ll think of something.” Her brown eyes were shiny with tears.
“Daph, don’t worry. I’ll call when I get there. Do me a favor and keep it to yourself where I am. I have to do this on my own.” Justin smiled bravely and blew her a kiss. “I’ll see you in September. Make sure you find us something cool.”
“You know I will Justin, don’t worry.” Daphne sniffed and when Justin slammed the car door shut and began to walk to the bus station door, she allowed her tears to overflow.
The bus ride to New York took longer than Justin had thought it would. He couldn’t sleep on the bus, his mind was restless and he couldn’t help but think maybe he’d made a mistake in leaving Pittsburgh, though Justin knew he had no choice whatsoever.
After arriving at the bus terminal in New York City, it took Justin five different tries to finally get a taxi to agree to take him to the address Daphne had written down for him. By the third try he was nervous, by the fifth one he was down right scared. But it was the only New York contact he had and he just couldn’t get back on the bus and return to Pittsburgh.
The drive to Jasbir’s was hair raising. Traffic had built up with the morning rush hour and a light drizzling rain didn’t help. Finally the cab pulled over. Justin couldn’t believe that Jasbir lived in this neighborhood. Hustler’s huddled in doorways, tired after a long night, and wanting to get out of the rain. Street people were pushing their plastic covered carts and talking to themselves. An old man sat on the curb staring blankly into the gutter. Windows were boarded over on many of the buildings, though every now and then a
brightly painted window box filled with plants stood out in wild and extravagant contrast to the grimy building that supported it.
“This is as far as I’m going kid.” The taxi driver said. “The address you want is two blocks that way.” He pointed.
“Why can’t you take me there?” Justin was confused and tired.
“Look around you son, this isn’t a neighborhood I want to be caught in.”
“And you think I do?” Justin thought as he paid the cab driver. He made sure his wallet was tucked into his underwear and thanked the powers that be that he’d worn baggy cargo pants. Climbing out of the taxi, Justin hoisted his backpack and began to nervously trudge toward the address he’d been given. He was half way down the block before he realized that his was the only white face among the people on the sidewalks. He couldn’t have stood out any better had he been wearing a red dress.
A few yards from his goal, Justin realized that he had a group of tough looking and scary youths following him – at least they were scary to Justin who had been brought up in the WASPy suburbs of Pittsburgh and rather insulated from the real world.
“Yo blondie” one of them shouted. “What you doing, slumming?” they all began to laugh and Justin walked a bit faster. One of them came up behind him and gave Justin a push. Justin stumbled but managed to keep his balance. “Hand over your money honey.” Demanded one of the larger boys as he danced around to face Justin head on.
“Fuck off.” Justin spat. He wasn’t about to be bullied now. He prayed Jasbir was home and that he’d answer his door quickly.
“Who do you think you’re talking to boy?” shouted one of them, Justin refused to turn around and see who it was. “Maybe we should just help ourselves.”
Justin’s back pack was being tugged on and he whirled around. “I said fuck off.” Justin glared at them. “I wasn’t kidding.”
“Yeah, well there’s one of you and six of us. I’d say you’d just better hand over the bag blondie.”
“Is there a problem?” A lazy drawl was heard behind Justin. “Cause from where I’m standing, I’d be sayin’ you boys are hasslin’ my summer guest. I don’t think I like that much.”
“Hey Jasbir, sorry man, we didn’t know.” The boys began to back up. Justin turned around and squeaked with surprise. Daphne had neglected to mention that cousin Jasbir was a black, bald giant with muscles on his arms bigger than Justin’s thighs.
“Jasbir I presume” Justin said relieved. “Hi I’m Justin, Daphne’s friend.”
“Hey Justin, Daphne had to have been nuts to have sent you here. I mean for fuck sake, you stand out like you have a flashing sign on your back saying come and fuck with me.”
“That’s reassuring.” Justin looked at the retreating backs of the others. “Is it always like this in the neighborhood?”
“Hell no, it’s early, it gets worse.” Jasbir laughed, his laugh deep and full of mischief. “Come on up to the apartment. Momma is waiting breakfast for us.” He headed up the stairs to the apartment building in front of where they were standing. “You have to share a room with me for the summer and a bed, but I trust you’ll remember I’m straight, despite the fact that I’m devastatingly handsome.”
Justin laughed. “I’ll try and control myself.”
“Just want to make sure you know that’s all.” Jasbir flashed Justin a smile. “Here it is, apartment 2B. Hey Momma, I rescued the white boy.”
“Jasbir, you know you aren’t supposed to call him that.” His mother admonished. “Hello Justin, I’m Daphne’s Aunt Ami. Daphne tells me that you need a place to stay for the summer and a job.”
“Yes, it’s a long story, but I need to get some money together for my tuition. I’m hoping that after the first semester I’ll qualify for a student loan. But right now I don’t, and I don’t have enough saved. Daphne and I are going to share an apartment in September.”
“Well Justin, I’m sure I can find you a job at my restaurant. They are always looking for waiters. Daphne tells me you have experience, but you really don’t look old enough to have much.”
“I grew up eating in high end restaurants, I know what to do.” Justin said. “I’m almost nineteen.”
“Well that’s good. I’ll tell you what, we’ll give you a try out for a week. If everything works out okay, you can stay on the rest of the summer. Jasbir says you can share his room, but if you aren’t comfortable doing that you can sleep on the sofa.”
“I don’t mind sharing if Jasbir doesn’t.” Justin said and smiled at the tall young man slouched on a kitchen chair. “But don’t I have to apply to the restaurant?”
“You just did honey. I own it.” She smiled at Justin. “You’ll be my token white boy. I’m afraid you’re rather a minority around here. Though I do believe Carlos in the kitchen is mostly white.”
“I can hardly wait to see how you fit in with the guys there.” Jasbir snickered.
“Just because you feel it is beneath you to work for your momma, doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good place to work.” Jasbir’s mother said. “Justin, we do supply a uniform. Jasbir will take you to the restaurant later. I’ll get you to fill out any paper work then and get fitted for the uniform.” She looked at her son. “Why don’t you show Justin your room while I finish breakfast. I’m sure he wants to freshen up after that long bus ride.”
“Actually that would be great.” Justin said with a smile.
Jasbir stood up and stretched, almost touching the ceiling with his finger tips. He grinned, “Come on Jus, I’ll show you where you’ll be bunking.”
Justin followed his tall new friend down the hall to a door that was closed. Jasbir took out a key and unlocked it. “I guess I’ll get you a key. I keep it locked because it’s nobodies business what’s in here.”
“But it’s like your mom’s apartment.” Justin said.
“Yeah, well this is my room.” Jasbir pushed the door open and walked in. Justin followed. He wasn’t sure what he was expecting, but it certainly wasn’t what he found.
There were shelves almost up to the ceiling filled with different locks. There were computers on three desks, diagrams on the walls of different security systems. Electronic pieces of equipment everywhere, the use of which Justin couldn’t imagine.
Justin stood in the doorway and stared. He couldn’t make his eyes leave all of the strange items on shelves and tables, on the floor and on the walls. The only spot of controlled sanity was the double bed which was made with military precision.
“Well, are you coming in or aren’t you?” Jasbir asked. “Shut the door.”
“Uhh, Jasbir, what in hell is all this stuff?” Justin shut the door and waved his arm around, indicating the room full of strange things.
“Well, as Daphne may have told you, I got a few months of vacation compliments of the State of New York. While I was there I learned a few things from some of the guys and one of the things I learned is that I’ll be damned if anyone will ever keep me locked up again anywhere. Of course that means I also can’t be locked out of anywhere. So I learned everything I could from the guys, and then when I got home, I began to teach myself what they weren’t able to.”
Justin had wandered over to one of the small tables. “Hey this is kind of neat. Can you show me how to do some of this stuff?”
“Sure and showing you will help me. Hey, by the time you leave New York, I’ll have you trained as a master cat burglar.” He laughed at the idea. “It might be a way for you to get your tuition money together.”
“Fat lot of good it will do if I’m in jail.” Justin took off his back pack and threw himself on the bed. “Don’t worry; I’ll make sure it gets straightened out when I get up.” Justin shut his eyes. “Tell your mom I’ll eat breakfast in a couple of hours. I don’t care if it’s cold, but damn I’m beat.”
“I’ll tell her. I guess I should email Daphne and tell her you arrived.”
“Could you please?” Justin’s voice faded as he fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
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“Momma, this isn’t going to work.” Jasbir said to his mother at the breakfast table. “He’ll be eaten alive by the guys in the hood.”
“Jasbir, you are a great big strapping boy, I would certainly expect that you will make sure that Justin is sent back to Pittsburgh in September in the same shape as when he arrived.” His mother set a plate of bacon and eggs down in front of him.
“But momma, he’s blond and not exactly big boned.”
“All the more reason for you to take extra care in making sure that he survives his few weeks here.” His mother smiled and kissed the top of his head. “It will do you good having someone to look after. Maybe you’ll stop all this nonsense with the locks.”
“Actually Justin asked me to show him.” Jasbir said with a good natured grin.
His mother rolled her eyes and left the kitchen. “Make sure you tidy the kitchen before you go to your room,” were her parting words.
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Later that afternoon Justin began his New York adventure in earnest. He showered and ate his warmed up breakfast and then Jasbir and he headed out to Summer Moon, the restaurant owned by Tante Ami.
By the time they reached the bus stop every eye on the street was on them. “Geeze” Justin said in an undertone, “This isn’t going to work out is it? They want to squash me like a bug.”
Jasbir burst out laughing. Just then a car roared around the corner barely staying upright. At the same time, a little girl who was walking down the street dropped the ball she was carrying. It rolled out into the street and not paying attention to the traffic, she ran after it. Justin didn’t even think, he darted out into the road, grabbed the little girl and then threw himself and her back onto the sidewalk. The car wheels grazed the tips of his runners and his good jeans were ripped, but they both were safe. He sat on the curb shaking, his arms around the now crying child. “Hey beautiful,” he said with a smile “That was a close one.”
She looked at him, her brown eyes glistening with tears and nodded. “I’m sorry your jeans got wrecked. Is your mom going to be very mad?” she asked him.
Justin looked at his pants and shrugged. “It could have been worse.”
“Don’t you worry about this boy’s jeans; we’ll make sure he has some new ones.” One of the boys who had been trailing him earlier spoke. He looked at Justin. “Thanks man, she’s my sister. I was supposed to be watching her.”
“Hey, I’ve got a little sister too. You can’t watch them every second, they’re very fast.” Justin said with a laugh.
“You got that right.” The other boy helped Justin up. “Kiki, you go up and see momma right now.”
“But my ball.” She said and sniffed. Already forgotten was the close brush with death.
“I’ll bring your ball.” He pulled on one of her braids with a gentle tug that seemed to reassure her.
Justin dusted off his pants and tried to make himself presentable. “Jasbir, I hope Tante Ami doesn’t mind about my pants.” He looked worried. “We could go back, I have another pair.”
“Na, we might as well get this bus. That way you can see how to get to the restaurant and get your shift schedule.”
“I hate to meet the other guys looking like this.”
“Trust me Jus; they’ll know all about what happened before we can even get there.”
A rumble of laughter went through the crowd. “You got that right Jas, the old jungle drums are heating up right now.” Someone said with a laugh.
“Hey blondie, don’t worry none, you’re safe in this neighborhood.” Someone else said.
“If you guys don’t mind, my name’s Justin” Justin looked at all the faces surrounding him and grinned, “just plain old Justin.”
“We’re thinkin’ you need a street name” someone said. “Yeah, JayPeeOh, that’s it JPO,”
It took Justin a few seconds to wonder what in heck ‘JPO’ had to do with Justin, and then it came to him. ‘just plain old’ and he laughed. “I guess I have a New York ‘Hood’ name.” and he giggled.
“Yeah, man, now you need to get some sun, you be waaaaay too pale.” The bus arrived before Justin could reply and he and Jasbir got on.
Justin walked to the rear of the bus and took a seat. Jasbir soon collapsed next to him. “Man you were fast.” Jasbir said to Justin. “I’ve never seen anyone move that fast.”
“You get used to running when you’re gay and out.” Justin said with a smirk. “You learn to move fast if you’re going to survive.”
Jasbir’s booming laugh had heads turning toward the two of them. “I’ll have to remember that if you’re ever chasing me.”
“What would I do with you if I caught you?” Justin asked with a giggle. They grinned at each other.
“This is our stop.” Jasbir stood up and pulled the cord. “I’ll be busing with you to work every day and if Momma doesn’t come home with you, I’ll come and meet you. I don’t think it would be a good idea for you to be on your own.”
“Jas, I’ve got to work things out for myself. I’m not some little faggot who needs a babysitter.”
“Humor me.” Jasbir said as they climbed down off the bus. “Momma’s place is just down the street.
Justin looked around. The neighborhood where he stood was light years different than the one where he was living. “Wow, cool place.” He said as he walked beside Jasbir.”
Jasbir stopped in front of what had once been a brownstone residence and now was a thriving upscale restaurant. He led Justin through the basement entrance that was cleverly disguised with ornamental pots of shrubbery. “This is where the staff entrance is.” Jasbir said. He pushed a buzzer by the door and then pointed up to a camera. “They keep it locked all the time, but if you want in, you buzz and someone will let you in.” he made a face in front of the camera lens. Justin heard a buzzer sound and the door lock click open.
“Hey Carlos” Jasbir said. “Meet the new guy, Justin.” Justin smiled shyly. “I’m going to take him to Momma; he needs to fill out some paperwork.”
“Hey Justin, you be quite the hero.” Carlos said. “Tante Ami has been telling us all about your brush with death.”
“It wasn’t anything anyone else wouldn’t have done.” Justin looked embarrassed. Jasbir had been right, news did travel fast.
“That’s not the way we heard it.” He laughed.
“Come on Justin, I’ll show you around and introduce you to the rest of the staff.” Jasbir took Justin by the arm. “See you later Carlos.”
Carlos waved and went back to peeling potatoes.
Justin was quickly was introduced to all of the staff as they made their way through the restaurant. Everyone was busy, the lunch crowd had left and they were all preparing for the dinner onslaught.
“Justin, you brave young man. Are you okay?” were the first words out of Tante Ami’s mouth. Jasbir rolled his eyes and slouched into a chair in the corner.
“I’m okay.” Justin said blushing.
She looked him all over while glaring at her son. “Jasbir, I told you to watch out for this young man.”
“Tante Ami, Jasbir has been great. He didn’t see the car and the little girl, I did. I guess I’m so used to keeping an eye on my little sister, it just kind of comes naturally.”
“Well, I want you boys to have some dinner and then Jasbir will take you home. I’ve ordered your uniform and it should be delivered tomorrow morning. As you may have noticed, the waiters wear black dress trousers, white tuxedo shirts, with tapestry vests and matching bow ties. You are issued two uniforms; there is a staff change room near the kitchen. You are expected to keep your uniform here; we will look after the dry-cleaning or laundry. If you want to purchase additional uniforms, you can do so at cost through our supplier.”
“That’s great.” Justin said. “I was wondering about laundry, I’ve never had to do my own before.”
“Well, you’ll be learning how to do it at our house.” Jasbir said. “I ain’t washin’ your dainties.”
“Jasbir, you know how to speak correctly.” His mother said with a shake of her head.
“I don’t mind doing it. I’ve just never done it before. I want to learn.” Justin grinned at Jasbir. “I don’t imagine Daphne will do my laundry for me either.”
“Ha, that girl will have you doing hers.” Jasbir smirked.
Justin laughed. “You could be right.”
“Let’s go see what there is to eat Justin.” Jasbir said. “I hope I can get a hamburger.”
Justin looked around the fancy dining room they were walking through. “Do they have hamburgers on the menu?” he sounded dubious.
“Nope, at least not called hamburger, they give it some fancy assed name.”
“Can I take a menu home with us? I want to learn it so that I don’t sound completely stunned tomorrow. Your mom has me working four hour shifts for the first week. From ten thirty until two thirty.”
“Yeah, that’s the training shift, you learn set up for both lunch and dinner and you can work the lunch crowd. By then they’ll know whether to keep you on lunch or put you up to dinner. Dinner gives you better tips.”
“Have you worked here?”
“Not unless I absolutely have to. I’m not exactly waiter material. I have a tendency to put my finger in the soup.”
“Gross”
“That’s what momma says.”
“You probably do it on purpose.” Justin eyed up his new friend.
“I’ll never tell.” Jasbir said. “Hey, Mr. B, can we get a couple of burgers and some fries for dinner?” he asked an officious and busy little chef who was moving at lightning speed around the kitchen preparing for the evening.
“Sure thing Jas,” the man said. “While I’m fixing it, can you open the file cabinet in my office again, damned if I know where the key is.”
“Always willing to break into something legally.” Jas replied. “Hey Justin, come on in the office. I’ll give you your first lesson in lock picking.”
“Cool” Justin said. “Oh wow, real potatoes.” He noticed the freshly cut potatoes being lowered into the fry fat.
“Momma has everything fresh here. Nothing is mass produced and as much as possible is organic.” Jasbir boasted. “Wait till you taste the burger, when it’s dressed up for dinner it sells for twenty five bucks. But Mr. B will put it on a bun that has just been baked, with onions caramelized to perfection and a side order of fries that will make you think you’ve died and gone to heaven.”
Justin grinned at him. “I may never go back to the Pitts.”
After they had dinner and Jasbir had Justin open the basic file cabinet lock a number of times until he could do it without even thinking about it, the two boys left the restaurant and began the trip back to Jasbir’s neighborhood. “Hey Justin, I have to see a friend. You don’t mind if we take a bit of a detour do you?” he asked.
“No,” Justin said. He was enjoying the evening in New York. Everyone was still rushing around looking like they had someplace to go. The lights that had begun to flicker on in the windows of stores and on the advertising signs only added to the mystery of the large city.
The bus ride was relatively short when Jasbir pulled the cord and the two of them got off.
The city block they were on was unfamiliar to Justin; he didn’t remember it when they had ridden to the restaurant, though he figured it might have changed with the coming of the evening shadows. Jasbir walked confidently up to a freshly painted front door in a renovated townhouse and rang the bell. Justin wasn’t really surprised to see a surveillance camera’s red light flicker and then a disembodied voice. “Jas, the rules about strangers?”
“Hey, man, this is Justin, he’s staying with me for the summer and then he’s back to the Pitts. He’s cool man.”
“I guess you bet your life on that don’t you Jas?” the voice answered, though the door opened silently allowing the boys to walk through.
Justin wasn’t sure what this was all about. He stepped into the luxurious foyer and stared open mouthed at the paintings in the room directly off the front entrance. “Holy shit” he whispered. “I can’t believe the paintings in here.”
“Ah, a young man of refinement.” Said the voice as a tall, thin and elegantly dressed man in his sixties walked into the room. “I do have a lovely collection of some of the more talented artists of the twentieth century.” He admitted. “And you must be Justin. I’m Jeremie Framboise, but you may call me Jeremie.” He walked to the other side of the room to look closely at some of his art work, not offering to shake Justin’s hand. “Jas, you should have your young friend teach you the finer points of my collection. Perhaps then you could help me acquire more should you run across any.”
“Whatever Jeremie, I just came to get paid for the last acquisitions.” Jas looked around at the paintings. They didn’t look like much to him, though Justin damn near had his nose on them.
“You young people are so impatient.” Jeremie chided. He pulled a white envelope from the inside pocket of his designer jacket and handed it to Jas. “It is the usual with a little extra in your off shore account, the deposit slip should be there. Your taste is improving.”
“Cool” Jas said. “Come on Justin.” Justin startled at his name. He’d only partially been paying attention to what had been going on between Jasbir and the man whose house they were in.
“Thanks for letting me see the pictures Mr. Framboise.” Justin said. “You have a super collection. I’m hoping to attend the Pittsburgh Institute of Fine Arts in the fall.”
“Only the best are accepted.” The gentleman said to Justin kindly.
“I’ve been accepted, I’m just tying to get my tuition money lined up.” Justin admitted.
“Your parents are helping?”
“My father will pay if I go to Dartmouth and say I’m straight. Two things that aren’t about to happen. I’ll find a way to get my PIFA years in.” Justin’s chin went up and he looked determined.
“I’m sure you will find a way.” Jeremie said with a smile. “Jasbir,” he looked at the tall young man. “Teach Justin some of your skills; he may just find he could use them and if he does, well, you can give him my phone number.”
“Sure thing Jeremie, I was thinking that myself.”
Justin looked at them both puzzled by the conversation. “What are you guys talking about?” he asked.
“Don’t worry your pretty little blond head about it Jus, I’ll tell you later.” Jasbir ruffled Justin’s hair and Justin rolled his eyes and darted out of the way.
“You watch it Jas, remember who’s sharing your bed.” Justin did an evil ‘Boris Karloff’ laugh.
Shaking his head, Jeremie opened the door to let the two boys out. “Stay safe both of you.” he murmured like a benediction.
“He’s got some cool stuff” Justin began. “What does he do for a living? It must pay really good.”
“Justin, I’m going to tell you something that I want you to keep to yourself. I mean it. No telling Daphne and no telling Momma.” Jasbir looked at Justin sternly.
“What?”
“Jeremie is a fence. A high class one, but a fence. He buys stuff that people steal. He’s very, very fussy about who he buys from. I mean not just anybody can even get in to see him and he never, never lets anyone come directly to his house with anything. He must have liked something about you to even suggest I tell you about him and offer you his phone number. Do you know how many around here would kill just for that number?” Jasbir shook his head. “Trust me, there are lots of guys in the hood who would love a nice safe spot like Jeremie to sell to. He never rips you off. He always gives you fair value and he insists that you open an off shore account for part of your money so that you can build up enough savings so that you don’t need to steal.”
“You’re shitting me right?” Justin asked. He looked around in case they were overheard, but kept on walking.
“No I’m not.” Jasbir said. “I have an arrangement with the man. I specialize in small antiques. One of a kind things. I’m not sure, but I think everyone who sells to him has a specialty. Like you for instance, if you were going to steal something it would probably be art work, because that’s what you know.”
“Like that’s ever going to happen.” Justin said with a shake of his head. “I don’t even know anybody with anything worth stealing even if I was so inclined.”
“Well that’s the nice thing about Jeremie. If you work for him, there are lots of times he’ll let me know where and what he wants. I don’t know how he gets the information, but it’s always been good.” Jasbir nodded at the bus coming towards them. “That’s our bus.”
Justin followed Jasbir onto the bus and sat down. It was almost empty and he was glad to sit in the brightly lit silence staring out the window. His eyes took in none of the sights as his mind whirled with what he’d heard. He couldn’t believe Jasbir was really serious. That he really stole things.
By the time they reached the apartment and Jasbir’s room, Justin was convinced he was mistaken until he looked around at all the locks and the diagrams, the computers and the software, and he knew that Jasbir had been telling him the truth.