Perceptions of Morality

Excerpt One: Part of a conversation between friends at a New Year’s Eve party. “These are our beers,” said Bob. “I got Heineken and some other imported stuff in the refrigerator for those snobs out there if you want to try any.” “Nah, grab me a Lite,” John said, while perusing the crowd. “I don’t see Gene or Rol.” “Gene’s here somewhere,” said Bob, handing John his beer. “Rol and Karen went to Wheeling to play the slots and dog races.” “At least they got a chance of winning on a dog race,” John said. “Forget them slot machines. They’re computers programmed to bleed you dry.” “You shoulda told Diane that ten grand ago,” Bob replied. “Maybe she would have listened to you.” While gesturing to his side, Bob said, “Get a load of these goofs.” John turned to see Dave and Gene entering the kitchen. “Hi, guys,” he said. “Mean Gene, where you been hiding?” “I was downstairs shootin’ pool with some fish,” said Gene with a grin. “Easiest fifty bucks I ever made.” “Where’s Allison? I don’t see her out there.” “Stood me up. Says she has the flu.” “Don’t worry, Gene,” Dave said, a wide smile across his face. “The circus is coming to town next week. Maybe the bearded lady will go out with you.” “Here’s your bearded lady right here, ya hairy fuck!” Gene yelled, while cupping his crotch with his hand. Their impulsive roar at Gene’s spur-of-the-moment comeback caused some of Bob’s guests to take notice. With the women remaining near the living room, they saw Butch heading towards them. “Let’s give Butch the bank story,” John whispered to them. As Butch entered the kitchen, he said, “What are you bunch of trolls yakking about?” “We were just talking about you, Officer Gill,” replied John. He eyed the others. “Guys, I suppose it’s time we tell him. We need him in on the heist.” “Might as well,” Bob said. “What heist?” “Relax, Butch, everything’s all set,” said John, sounding confident. “All we need to know is what shift you’ll be on this week.” “I’m day-turn for the next three weeks.” Looking downward, John sighed. “Oh, well, I guess we gotta wait.” “We’ll just have to tough it out,” Gene said. “Damn, I was counting on it,” Dave followed. “Sharon and I wanted to buy a new house out here in hog-heaven.” “It’ll only give us more time to refine our plans,” added Bob. “Alright, what are you fools up to?” Butch asked of them. “Don’t worry about it, big troll, we’ve got everything mapped out with mathematical precision,” John said, continuing to pan the living room. “The four of us and Rol will do all the dirty work. All you gotta do is collect your cut.” “What cut?” Butch demanded in too serious a tone. “Okay, flatfoot, I’ll come clean,” said John in his best Bogart imitation. “We’re robbing the bank the next time you’re on midnight. Gene’s gonna cause a disturbance at the Exxon station out on Route 55, and while your responding to the call, that’s when we hit the bank.” “Sure, I suppose Gene’s gonna rob the gas station, too,” said Butch, now convinced he was about to become the brunt of their joke. “No way,” said John. “Mean Gene could get arrested if he robbed the gas station. No, we just need him distracting you for ten minutes. Fine him for indecent exposure if you have to. That’s peanuts compared to the bank.” “Butch, we got it all figured,” Gene said. “I’ll be sitting in my car naked parked at the Exxon station. When I see some woman stop for gas, I’ll jump out and start taking a piss in her gas tank. I won’t do anything crude. I’ll just tell her that my coveralls got doused with gasoline. When she screams, I’ll say, ‘I’m sorry Ma’am, I got mixed-up. I used the wrong hose!’” Realizing they didn’t have much privacy remaining following their raucous burst of laughter, John said, “Butch, trust me, it’ll go perfect. While you’re at the Exxon with Gene, Dave and Rol will disarm the bank’s alarm, then Bob and I will dynamite the safe. We’ll grab the cash and be gone in five minutes, tops. By the time you get there, we’ll be at my house divvying-up the loot. You can stop over in the morning to pick up your share.” “Sorry guys, the plan has a flaw,” said a smiling Butch. “What flaw?” said Bob. “Gene ain’t tall enough to piss in the gas tank!” Butch roared. “Okay, he can use a ladder!” John shouted above their laughter. As their hilarious antics continued, Vicky Gill sat quietly dismayed at the commotion her date and his pals were causing. “Boys will be boys,” said Diane Cook, as she, Amy, Sharon and Vicky walked towards their men. Seeing them near, their uproar ceased. “Pipe down, you guys,” said Bob. “We don’t want them nagging us the rest of the night.” Diane allowed her husband’s comment to pass. “Robert, you’re ignoring our other guests. This is the first party we’ve ever had at this house and I don’t want our neighbors thinking we’re rude.” Excerpt Two: Part of a section where John V. and Vicky G. begin a romantic evening. “It does, honey,” she said, seductively placing her leg across his thighs while pulling at his hand. “Take me into the bedroom. I want you so bad I can’t stand it.” For Vicky, the lovemaking wasn’t as it had been before. John wasn’t as affectionate as he’d been in their previous times–as if he were still on guard against her, still protecting his emotional well-being. Yet she gave no hint about his performance. She believed that through some idiosyncrasy of nature, men were more sensitive to a situation such as theirs. Still, she found making love with him even after such a long absence the most natural thing in the world. It was almost as if they’d never been apart, the incidents of their past soon to become a distant memory. “How many other girls have you slept with since me?” she said while nestling against him afterwards. “Butch told me he’s seen you discourage quite a few of them at the bar.” “Just one Butch never knew of,” he replied, a demure facial expression about him. “I hope you—” “Yes, Vicky, I always used a rubber with her. When I met her, I was so horny from missing you and I needed to get laid. In the beginning, I only wanted sex. I certainly didn’t want to knock her up.” “Who was she?” “Ah, she didn’t mean anything to me.” “Oh, come on. Tell me about her.” “Her first name was Grace. Never asked her last name.” “Was she from Vernon Park?” “No, she lived in some dink town near Altoona." “How’d you meet her?” “I was up there on business. She works for some guy named Darren who owns a manufacturing company.” “So how did you happen to meet her?” “I was doing some consulting for Darren’s company. When I was getting ready to leave one night, she practically threw herself at me. So we went to a motel and had sex.” “Was she pretty?” asked Vicky, holding the jealously from her tone. As he laced his fingers through her golden hair, he kissed her full-lips. “She was a dog next to you.” “Why didn’t you keep seeing her? Sounds like she was easy.” “Too easy,” he said. “And I found out why.” “What'd she do?” “For the next couple months I drove up there every Sunday morning and met her at the same motel. She never wanted to leave the room, so it was practically non-stop sex the whole time we were there." A sigh of disgust. "She must have thought I was putty in her hands when she asked me for a loan.” “How much did she want?” “Twenty thousand. Told me she wanted to buy a new trailer so she could get away from her husband.” “You’re joking?” “Nope.” John shook his head and said, “Shows how lonely and naïve I was. There I was having an affair with a married woman who was nothing but trailer-park trash.” “What happened then?” “I put my clothes on and I dropped a hundred dollar bill onto the bed.”