Cat Scratch: The Story of Mimi Marquez

Chapter Three: Sweet Lullaby

I walked into my apartment and went to turn on the light. Oh. Yeah. That bastard turned off the power, on Christmas Eve. Nice guy, that one is.

I wanted to sleep, I was exhausted. But I was also exhilarated. I wanted to scream his name over and over. I just loved the sound of it.

Roger. Roger. Roger! He's mine! I skipped around my apartment, trying not to grin. Tonight had gone much better than I had expected it too.

I prepared my heroin carefully, and tied a piece of rubber around the top of my arm. I hesitated, remembering that Roger didn't seem to approve of my drug use. I shook the thought out of my head; I'd worry about it later.

I began to smack my arm, waiting for the vein to surface. As I held the needle to my arm, it was hard to hold it still, I was shaking badly.

I injected my precious drug into my body once more. I grabbed my jacket and headed to the place I always go at this time of night-work.

I got tipped fairly well tonight, I reflected, as I sat in the dressing room, trying to wind down from the dancing. The whole night, all I could do, was picture Roger watching me dance. Watching as his satisfied look, turned into a look of wanting, and well, the rest of the story tells itself. So maybe it didn't actually happen, a girl can dream, right?

I grabbed my leopard print jacket, and threw it on before going out into the dark, cold night. I walked into the alleyway, there was one more stop I needed to make before heading home for the night. I went to visit the man, and when he gave me a look, I nodded. I wanted the same that I did every other night-enough heroin to get me through the next day, and if he was feeling generous, a little extra.

I handed him my money in exchange for the drug that I cherished so much. I gave him a slight smile before putting my smack away and headed home, to discover that Angel had apparently decided not to spend the night.

Oh well, I thought, can't really do much about it. I cuddled deep into my blankets. I was shivering. The stupid fuck had turned off the heat, and left me to freeze. It's cold in New York!

I was nearly asleep, when an idea came to me. Tomorrow was Christmas, and I didn't want to spend it alone. I could invite Roger…but how? I was awake now, with this new plan forming in my mind.

Without a second thought, I dragged myself back out of my warm bed. I lit up a cigarette and walked towards the fire escape. I stood outside, staring out at the city, while I collected my thoughts.

I was fragile, I couldn't take Roger rejecting me. But he wouldn't reject me. He's lonely, and besides, he was checking me out pretty good earlier…

I climbed up the stairs to the upstairs loft where Roger and Mark lived. The windows were dusty. Perfect. Carefully, I traced letters into the window. Hopefully Roger would notice them.

"XMAS BRUNCH MIMI

JUST US?"

I made my way back to my apartment, hoping-almost praying that Roger would come down to see me tomorrow. I needed him…

The next morning, I woke up to a surprise visit from Angel (dressed in a rather slutty Santa suit), and, surprisingly, the big black guy from the night before. Apparently, Collins had been mugged, when Angel found out. Angel brought Collins to Life Support with him, and then later on, they had discovered that the shared the wonderful thing known as homosexuality. After that, poor Collins got much more than he could have imagined. Not only did he get a gorgeous partner, he got a drag queen. Collins is HIV positive, just like Angel and I. Maybe it is more common that I thought it was.

I pondered on how commons AIDS was getting, before I remembered. Roger could be coming down anytime. I had to be ready. I quickly changed (With Collins and Angel right there. I'm a stripper, I don't care anymore.) Collins and Angel left to go up to the loft, seeing as the guys were probably worried-Collins was supposed to have been up their many hours before. Collins walked up the stairs, and Angel stayed behind for a few brief minutes.

"Mimi chica?" she said, "Would you like to come to Life Support? You haven't come in a while, and you're starting to look like you could use it."

I shook my head, "No, I'm actually expecting company today, but thanks anyways. I guess I'll see you later?"

Angel's face brightened, "Is your mama coming?"

I smiled sadly, "I wish. She still won't talk to me."

Angel hugged me and placed a light kiss on my cheek, before hurrying after his newly found lover.

I listened to the conversation upstairs, it was quite funny.

I could hear Angel's voice, and couldn't help but laugh to myself, when I heard the story that she was telling.

"It was my lucky day today on Avenue A, when a lady in a limousine drove my way. She said, "Darling - be a dear - haven't slept in a year

I need your help to make my neighbor's yappy dog disappear" "This Akita-Evita just won't shut up,I believe if you play non-stop that pup will breathe its very last high-strung breath. I'm certain that cur will bark itself to death" Today for you - tomorrow for me. Today for you - tomorrow for me. We agreed on a fee - A thousand dollar guarantee

Tax-free - and a bonus if I trim her tree. Now who could foretell that it would go so well, but sure as I am here that dog is now in doggy hell. After an hour - Evita - in all her glory on the window ledge of that 23rd story, like Thelma & Louise did when they got the blues, swan dove into the courtyard of the Gracie Mews ."

Ha. That was sooo Angel. I lit up a cigarette, and tried to wait patiently for Roger to hopefully come down here.

I waited, but I started to lose hope that he was coming. I could feel tears burning in my eyes, as I began to face that he possibly rejected me. I curled into my bed, and fell asleep, dreaming of Roger and his guitar-my sweet lullaby.