to the part about Sasha, he ranted at the old man about how the first time, when Elliot was passed out in the bedroom, Sasha had kissed him before stripping right there in the living room and riding him to a shrieking climax on the couch. His fists balled at his sides when he told of how she would taunt him, laughing no matter how hard he pounded himself into her, urging him to hurt her, loving the roughness she couldn’t get from Elliot.
He ended his rant with his head hung as he muttered that he was supposed to throw Elliot a bachelor party tomorrow night, but couldn’t even do that since Sasha insisted on tagging along.
For a moment neither spoke, Chad caught up in his misery, the old man smoking his pipe and nodding. Then he spoke, his voice raspy from the cloying tobacco that stung Chad’s eyes.
“Pussy will destroy your life, son.”
Chad glanced up.
“Yeah. I guess it can.” He looked at the man, searching for some trace of humor or anger in his dark eyes, but saw only a weary sort of compassion that spoke of bitter experience.
“I don’t know what to do.”
“You could tell your friend. Come clean, and stop the wedding.”
“I can’t do that. It would break his heart.”
“Better to break a heart now, than after he’s already married the bitch.”
“I know. But . . . ”
“But you don’t want to lose your friend.”
“Right.”
The old man nodded again, placing the hot pipe on the counter and pulling open a drawer, rummaging around as he spoke. “You have some tough choices, boy. Every man does sooner or later. But I think I’ve figured out what you need, and if I’m correct, it’s right here.” He held up a piece of paper, his wrinkled face bright with triumph. Laying the paper on the counter, he slid it towards Chad with one shaking hand.
It was some sort of ticket, a couple of inches long and maybe one inch wide, made of heavy card stock. The edges were worn and it was creased in places, the words printed on it faded but still legible. CLUB CARNAL.
“What is it?” He turned it over, seeing the words ADMIT TWO scrawled on the back.
“What does it look like? It’s a ticket to Club Carnal.” The man began to fill his pipe once again.
“What’s Club Carnal? I’ve never even heard of it.”
“Son, there are a great many things you’ve never heard of, and if you live as long as I have, there will still be mysteries in the world.”
“So what is it? A strip club, or something?”
“Or something.” The man said, his pipe once again full and trickling bluish smoke that wreathed his head.
Chad was growing annoyed by the old man and his enigmatic speech. “Look, no offense man, I appreciate you letting me come in here and unload my troubles all over you like that, but I’m not going to pay money for an old ticket to a club I’ve never heard of.”
“Who said anything about money? Consider it a gift. From an old man who’s been there.” His eyes sparkled, intense and unsettling.
“What’s there?” Chad looked at the ticket in his hand, feeling uneasy about the exchange.
“A lesson. Maybe a hard one, but one you need to learn.”
“That pussy will ruin my life?” Chad guessed.
“Exactly.” The old man didn’t smile.
“Where is Club Carnal?”
“The address is on the back.”
Chad turned the stub over again and saw an address where before there had only been ADMIT TWO. 122 ½ E. Maple Street, written in spiky handwriting. He was sure it hadn’t been there before.
“What the fuck? Is this some sort of trick?”
“Go there. See what there is to see and have fun. Fuck the girls, but whatever you do . . . ” He paused, his flinty eyes piercing Chad’s for emphasis. “Don’t partake of the flesh. You will want to, but don’t. Learn the lesson, son. Men are more susceptible to their sexual desires. It’s about self-control. Don’t take what is offered without question. No matter how much you want it. All of life has consequences, and beauty is never what it seems. Learn the lesson, Chad.”
He gave Chad another hard look before sliding off his stool and disappearing back behind the curtain.
“Hey! What the hell does that even mean?” Chad called to his back.
If the old man heard Chad from behind the curtain, he gave no indication. Chad made it back onto the street before it even occurred to him that he’d