Free Dr Jew by Robert Crayola Page A

juice.
    "Drink up," said the thin man, but he looked at Dave as he said this.
    Dave met the thin man's gaze and repeated, "Drink up, boy."

    Out on the street again, Swan said, "That juice was really good."
    "Pink lemonade. Get it at any grocery store."
    "Uncle Dave?"
    "What?"
    "That was a lot of money."
    "It was a good amount of money."
    "Why did he give it to you? I don't think that man likes you."
    Dave laughed. "I dare say you're right. But when you owe another man money you have to pay or suffer consequences."
    "Why did he owe you money?"
    "You sure ask a lot of questions. I'd think you got it from your aunt except you're my blood not hers. Alright. You see, I do all kinds of different jobs, you might say, and sometimes I bet money and sometimes I win and sometimes I lose. Last night I won. So yes, that guy wasn't eager to see me."
    "You mean like—"
    "Alright, boy, that's enough questions for now. Now it's time to reap the rewards of last night."
    They were in Chinatown and Swan couldn 't believe all the Chinese people everywhere.
    "Are we in another country?" said Swan.
    In a side alley Dave found stairs that went down to a door with neon lights that said OPEN. Uncle Dave rang and looked back to see Swan was still at the top of the stairs.
    "Get down here," said Dave.
    The door opened and a midget came out. Dave sized him up. The little man looked strong and had thick eyebrows, almost a monobrow.
    "I know you?" said Dave.
    "I don't know," said the midget. "Do you?"
    "Yeah, I think I seen you with Larry Fisher."
    "You know Larry?"
    "Sure, we worked together," said Dave.
    "Yeah, I worked with Larry too. But not lately. Any time I need a job he's pretty dry these days."
    "You looking for work?" said Dave.
    "It wouldn't hurt."
    "What experience you got?"
    Before the midget could answer, an old Chinese woman came from inside and said, "You want talk go coffee shop! Don't talk all day my doorway."
    Dave gave her the phoniest grin he had, and looked back at the midget. "What's your name?"
    "Vinny."
    "Alright, Vinny, I'm gonna check with Larry. If everything sounds good I'll give you a call. Might be able to use you for something. Soon."
    "Sounds fair. What's your name?"
    "Dave."
    "And this guy?" Vinny looked at Swan, and Swan wasn't sure if he should shake the little man's hand or just smile.
    "My nephew. Swan."
    "Some swan," said Vinny. And with that he climbed the stairs and disappeared.
    The Ch inese woman let them in, puffed her cigarette and smiled as Dave gave her money.
    "You must know everyone in town," said Swan.
    "Only the ones who count," said Dave.
    The Chinese woman bobbed down the hall ahead of them and into a living room where young Asian women watched TV and ate noodles. A few looked at Swan and Dave and smiled. Some ignored them.
    "Go ahead and pick one," said Dave.
    "Pick one?" said Swan.
    "Yeah, pick one."
    "What for?"
    "What for? Why –"
    Dave looked at his nephew and smiled. "I keep forgetting how young you are, boy. You're just gonna get a little massage, that's all. They'll rub you down and you'll feel good. Here, I'll pick one for you. Tammy! Come here."
    "I already feel good ," said Swan.
    One of the girls came over. She clearly had a distaste for Dave.
    "Not me," said Dave. "This guy here. Treat him like a king. He's family."
    Dave slipped her a bill. Tammy looked at Swan and smiled a plastic grin, took his hand in hers. As she led him down the hall, Swan said, "Uncle Dave?" and looked back to see Dave pick a girl of his own.
    Swan had no clue what a massage was or who the girl was. He had no idea what would happen in the next five minutes.
    Tammy opened a door in the hall that revealed a tiny room with a doctor's examination table. That's what it looked like to Swan, but she didn't look like any doctor he had ever met. They went in and Swan stood there.
    "Take off your clothes and lie down," said Tammy.
    Swan did as he was told, took his clothes off awkwardly, knowing the girl might be looking at