Page 13 of A Lesson In Beginning

“Aftercare rooms?” I turned to look at him with a curious expression. I remembered the term from the few conversations Ruth and I’d had over the past week, but could not remember exactly what the term meant.

“Rooms where people go to relax, rest, and receive care after they scene.” With my memory jogged, we made our way down the hall towards the open space at the end. Before we could enter the space, however, Leviticus turned us to the right, into a large industrial style kitchen. There were two people cooking at the workspace, while snacks, goodies and drinks covered a large metal table. A few people trickled in and out of a door on the far side, which seemed to open out into the main room.

“This is the kitchen where you’ll be working.” Ruth threaded her arm through mine, pulling me towards the two people working diligently, one at the stove and one at the sink, clearing up dishes that had begun to pile up there.

“How are things going this evening, Trixie?” Leviticus asked the petite woman at the sink. She was a slight thing, almost elfish in stature and appearance, with her slight frame, short sheared hair, and mischievous smirk.

“Just peachy, Levi! The food options you suggested are definitely a hit. We can barely keep the place stocked!” Her voice tinkled like bells, only furthering her almost faerie-like nature.

“Perfect. I had hoped that would be the case.” Levi smiled, nudging the woman with his shoulder in an altogether familiar sense that seemed strange to me. I was not used to seeing men and women be so casual with one another, let alone when they were not married.

“Levi, my man!” The man who was busy at the stove turned, greeting Leviticus with a wide smile that made his eyes twinkle. “The Temple brothers giving tours now?”

His gaze turned to me, staring down at me from his tall stature. He was taller than even Leviticus, matching more of Malachi’s height, though he was thinner, like Leviticus was. His dirty blond hair was long, tied back at the nape of his neck and fixed into a bun much like a woman’s would be. I had never seen a man with such long hair, but it seemed to suit him all at the same time.

“Tonight, yes. This is Adah Price. She’ll be working with you here in the kitchen starting tomorrow.”

The man had not lifted his gaze from me, and I felt myself flush under such attention.

“Welcome to The Temple, Adah. I’m Joel. Pleasure to meet you.” He held his hand out to me and, much to my chagrin, I simply stared at it as though it would bite me. Ruth nudged my shoulder, shaking me from my awkward stupor.

“Oh, um. Hello, Mr…” I trailed off, realizing the man had not formally introduced himself. I had no idea how to greet him without his surname.

“Just Joel is fine.” Somehow he smiled even wider, and I felt my stomach flip.

“Joel. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” I slid my hand into his, expecting him to shake my hand, but he shocked me by flipping it over and leaning forward to kiss the back in such a purely elegant fashion that it left me speechless and staring at him with my jaw hanging slack like a fish out of water.

I quickly pulled my hand from his, feeling the crimson heat of a blush rush over my cheeks and down my neck. His eyes, which remained locked on mine, seemed to follow the reddened hue, flickering down to my neck before lifting to my eyes once more.

“We are going to show Adah around, but we will stop back by in a little while.” Leviticus patted the man on the back while Ruth led me towards the door that led to the main room of the club.

“You ready?” She whispered the words so that only I could hear. I nodded, not trusting my voice, still feeling my stomach flip and turn over the man’s — Joel’s, attentions.

She pushed the door open, and the sight that met me had my feet glued to the floor. Dozens of people gathered in various areas while the music thudded and pounded away. Voices meshed into one singular roar of sound that somehow rumbled even above the music.

What was most shocking, however, were the various states of undress of the scattered masses. Some were fully clothed, others in only lingerie. A fair few wore simply nothing at all. I had never before seen such a sight. Lifting my hand to my face, I covered my eyes.

“Everyone here is happy, and chooses to dress this way, Adah.” Ruth’s explanation did little to curb the embarrassment that I felt at witnessing such states of undress.

Then my eyes focused on what was actually happening in the room.

Women, fastened to strange benches, large wooden x-shaped crosses, and more, were being touched, hit, and played with by various hands. Men in nothing but leather crawled along the floor, attached to leashes held by women in corsets and high-heeled shoes. I turned my back to the room, wanting to flee, but staying frozen in that space, unsure of the right decision to make.

“Do you want to leave?” Ruth’s soft voice barely reached my ears over the roaring of the crowd, but I heard her nonetheless.

Did I want to leave? Did I want to stay and bear witness to such acts in this den of sin? No, I did not. But if Ruth was alright with this, if they were all alright with this, was I the one in the wrong?

“Come with me.” Ruth’s hand tugged at my arm insistently, pulling me back into the kitchen, this time without our Temple family entourage.

“Adah, are you okay? I know this is all shocking. I knew this was a bad idea.” She muttered the last sentence more to herself than to me.

“No. Don’t say that.” I held my hand up to her, halting her words. “I can handle this. It’s just… a shock.”

“I am here to answer any questions you have. I promise. And you don’t have to do this.”

I turned to her, my eyes finding hers with staunch determination.

“Yes, I do.” And that was the truth of the matter. I had thought about it every which way I could. I had not a dollar to my name, no resume or even experience to draw from that any employer would find suitable to warrant giving me a job. From the way Leviticus and his brothers spoke of it, jobs could be very scarce in the best of times, often resulting in employers having to cut dozens from the interview process in order to find the exact right candidate. I wasn’t the right candidate for anything. I had nothing. And my son needed everything. He deserved everything.

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