chapter 4

Rudolf’s visits became more and more numerous. They’d become so frequent, in fact, that after two months of being on the market, Alphonse had repaid his debts to Papa. One afternoon in early December, Papa stormed into the room Alphonse still shared with the other Al.

“Pack your bags.”

“What do you mean?” Alphonse asked in disbelief. “I’ve only been on the market for a little over two months.” Papa grunted angrily at the statement. It wasn’t just that Rudolf Blauvelt had been purchasing sessions with Alphonse, it was the fact that he’d been paying for exclusivity. He’d invested quite a sum in his pursuit of Alphonse’s affections.

“Your debt has been repaid courtesy of Mr. Blauvelt.”

“I have an appointment with Rudolf this evening,” Alphonse said, wanting to reunite with his family, but not wanting to stand Rudolf up. Maybe now that he was no longer employed at the bathhouse, they could spend more time together free of charge.

“I’ve called and cancelled said appointment,” Papa said angrily. “This isn’t some café. If you want to meet with him, make those arrangements outside of these premises.” With that, Papa left the room, slamming the door on his way out.

“You—you’re free,” Alvin exclaimed, a small jealous feeling in the pit of his stomach. “You can go home to your mother and your sisters. Hurry before he fabricates a reason for you to stay!” Alphonse moved quickly, collecting his few belongings and placing them in the single suitcase he owned. It was the same suitcase that had brought him to the bathhouse. One thing stayed on his mind as he finished gathering his things—Rudolf. Would they see each other again? Did Rudolf even know he’d been relieved of his duties at the bathhouse? He couldn’t just leave without telling him where he’d be.

He and Alvin stood in the doorway and embraced one another for a moment. “I’m a little scared,” Alphonse admitted. “What am I to do?”

“You must go and find your family,” Alvin replied. He had tears in his eyes, and it pained Alphonse to leave his friend behind. “Hug your sisters for me.”

Alvin didn’t have the strength to see Alphonse out of the bathhouse; it would take too much of an emotional toll. After they said their goodbyes, he reentered the bedroom they’d shared up until moments before and closed the door. Alphonse made his way down the hallway towards the stairs. He encountered Dorian at the stair’s landing near his bedroom.

“Come here a moment, Alphonse,” Dorian said, entering his sleeping quarters. Alphonse followed.

“Do you wish to chastise me some more before I go?” Alphonse asked.

“Quite the opposite.” He sat on his bed and crossed his legs. He wore an oversized white shirt and a baggy pair of slacks. Even in these items he emitted an aura of intense sex appeal. “I have questions about Rudolf Blauvelt. What is it you did to make him spend so much on you? What is your technique?”

“I don’t understand.”

“What did you do to bewitch him so? What is your method to enrapture a man so completely he spends a fortune for time with you?” Alphonse stared at Dorian with a confused look in his eye, causing the more experienced of the pair to be more direct. “How did you work his cock?”

“We’ve just talked,” Alphonse said. “I offered myself to him, but he said he wanted to get to know me first.”

“It doesn’t take two months to get to know a man,” Dorian scoffed. “The men who frequent this place are easy to read. They’re either homosexuals who have no appeal or married men with homosexual tendencies but no desire to leave their wives.”

“I don’t think Rudolf is either of those things.”

“So, you haven’t even seen his cock?”

“No.” Alphonse wondered why this was embarrassing him so intensely. Why hadn’t Rudolf made his move yet? Al considered the possibility that Rudolf was hiding something about himself.

“If he’s a homosexual and not just a married man blowing off steam, he’ll be willing to do things the others won’t.” Alphonse held the handle of his suitcase tightly. He wanted to know Dorian’s secrets. If he were to see Rudolf again, he wanted to make sure the businessman was properly compensated for his generosity. “I assume you’ll be on the receiving end of that mystery member. If he puts it in right away, you’ll be in a world of pain. Ask him to loosen you up with his fingers. Have him kiss you and caress you. He should have you begging him to fuck you.”

“Does Mr. Pfeiffer do these things for you?” Alphonse asked, intrigued by all of this information.

“Most certainly, when he’s feeling especially dominant,” Dorian replied, smiling, “but usually it is I who does these things for him.” He paused for a moment, considering if Alphonse even needed to know these things as he was on his way out of the bathhouse. “If you really want to push Rudolf Blauvelt, see if he’ll even loosen you up with his tongue. It works wonders.” Dorian stuck his tongue out for effect, licking the air between his pointer and middle fingers slowly. Alphonse’s eyes widened in surprise causing Dorian to fall back on his mattress in a fit of giggles. “You really are a virgin, young Alphonse.”

“Would he really want to do that?” Alphonse asked, ignoring Dorian’s laughter at his inexperience.

“You take a long hot bath and scrub yourself clean beforehand, and he won’t be able to stop. Have him rub some olive oil on his cock and your hole before he puts it in, and things will go smoothly, literally.”

Alphonse paused, looking at the bathhouse’s highest earner, and felt himself getting sentimental. He had a feeling that he might not ever see Dorian again and it made him somewhat melancholic.

“I really appreciate you telling me all of these things,” Alphonse began. “I—I know you’ve hated me because of what happened, but I’ve always kind of admired you. I always thought we were similar, different than all the other men here. I still do.”

“Well, isn’t that sweet,” Dorian said, standing. He was just a hair taller than Alphonse. “I hope you and the rich man are very happy together. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment to prepare for.” Alphonse nodded and left the room. Dorian smiled to himself, touched slightly by Alphonse’s words, but also at the thought that the number one spot would soon belong to him once more.

Alphonse hesitated in the foyer for a moment. How would he find Rudolf? Would this be the end of their relationship? Papa shouted at him to get out, pushing him into the street outside of the bathhouse entrance. “Feel free to come back when you’re ready to make me some more money.”

Outside, he could feel all of his blood rushing to the pit of his stomach. His limbs suddenly went cold as he stumbled down the street towards his childhood home. He hadn’t heard from or seen his family since he was taken in by Papa. (The workers were unaware, but Papa made sure any parcels or letters sent to the bathhouse were destroyed. He didn’t want his sons to be distracted from their work. He also found it easier to break his sons if they believed nobody wished to contact them. It was a powerful tactic, isolation).

Things in the red-light district were familiar to Alphonse, as that’s as far as the sons were allowed to travel with supervision, but as he got farther away from the bathhouse, things became unrecognizable. There were new buildings and different avenues he hadn’t seen before.

He wandered the streets for nearly two hours when he finally found landmarks that he could recall from three years ago. He ran excitedly down the street, his suitcase bobbing in his hand. He passed a row of shops that hadn’t changed at all! He encountered the large tree that the neighborhood had fought the city to save. He was almost home! They had lived in a small duplex, the other half occupied by a family even larger than his own.

He arrived to where his home should have been. He should have been looking at a dingy maisonette with blue doors and crumbling brick and children’s toys scattered about the stairs. But he saw no such things. He saw a large vacant plot of land with remnants of what had once been. The small duplex had completely burned to ashes.

Alphonse dropped his suitcase and walked into the rubble, where their kitchen should have been. He knelt and grabbed an old hand mirror. The handle was snapped and the glass shattered, but he knew this had once belonged to his mother. Where were they now? He had to find them. He’d talk to the neighbors. He’d find out their new address.

“Shame isn’t it?” Al looked up at a man he remembered lived next door. “Those three fine ladies were left alone by that riff raff boy.”

Alphonse knew he was that riff raff boy.

“Where are they now?” he asked. The man’s face was suddenly sympathetic.

“Well, you see, they died trying their hands at being laundresses. If it wasn’t bad enough, they managed to take out the family next door as well. Thank the heavens the fire brigade was able to contain the blaze to this one plot of land.” The neighbor sighed. “Aye, but still, I can’t believe it’s been nearly three years since then. Real tragic, ain’t it?”

Alphonse’s entire body was shaking. He began to sob and the man who’d informed him of what had happened went on his way. Alphonse was all alone. He’d have to return to the bathhouse and beg Papa to hire him. Papa would charge him outrageously for room and board, never allowing for his debt to be paid down. He’d spend the best years of his life a whore, before being tossed out on the street when he was no longer profitable.

He began his journey back to the bathhouse, the only thing keeping him from utter despair the thought that he’d be able to see Rudolf again.