by Woods, Karen
Shaun felt glued to the mattress. The heroin was still flowing through his veins and all he wanted to do was sleep. Everything surrounding him seemed so beautiful. He knew inside his head he lay in a shit pit but somehow the drugs brought out the beauty in even the worse situations. His eyes rolled as Ged could be heard mumbling as he got off.
“Orr I can’t be arsed waiting for ya.” Ged left Shaun in silence. Pulling the covers over his body Shaun found some calm away from all his problems. He was off his head.
*
Julie headed down Rochdale Road. Her head was dipped as the wind started to pick up. Her small leather jacket had more than seen its day as she pulled it together to try and keep warm. The zip was broken so she held it together with a strong grip. Standing in her usual place she twisted her body from side to side trying to keep warm. The area seemed quiet as she leant against an old wall. From where she stood she could see Strangeways. Each brick looked ancient and she wondered what it looked like when it was first built. Julie had always escaped any prison sentence in the past and knew if they locked her away she would definitely struggle to cope. In the distance she could see a white van approaching. She lifted her body from the wall and prepared herself to meet the punter.
“You looking for some fun?” The man cast his eyes on her scrawny body. He was an Asian man and looked quite fat. As she placed her head inside the car window she could smell the stale aroma of curry and spices. The man touched his crotch as he spoke in a foreign accent.
“Get inside.”
Julie loosened her coat. The punter licked his lips as he could now see the top of her breasts. His eyes looked excited as he started the engine and drove off to a nearby alleyway. Once the car came to a halt he slid his seat back. Julie knew to always get the money first and asked him what she could do for him. Stroking his chin he held his head back.
“I want you to give me a wank and let me come in your mouth,” his words were nauseating as he spoke further. “I want to press my cock around your mouth when I shoot my load as well.” Julie was used to this kind of talk from her punters and told him it was twenty quid. Lifting his fat arse up from the seat he dug into his jeans searching for some cash. She watched him as he pulled one ten-pound note from his pocket. He sat counting the change and held what he had out towards her. “I’ve got sixteen pounds twenty-two pence.”
Julie screwed her face up. She was sick to death of people talking the piss out of her and let him know it. “I said twenty quid not sixteen pound something.” The man knew she was desperate and started to put the money back into his pocket. He was cocky as he spoke.
“I can get what I want for a tenner. That blonde girl back there usually sorts me out.” He looked at the money again and held it one last time. “So, take it or leave it. It’s up to you. It won’t take you long; believe me I’m feeling very horny.” Julie knew she had no choice. Punters came a lot worse than him and she knew if she sucked him off she wouldn’t have to stay out all night selling her body. Grabbing the money she slid it into her coat pocket.
The man started to pull his strides down and position himself. Julie hated where her life had taken her and some days she thought she was cursed. She fell forward onto his lap and gripped his brown penis in her hands. Julie closed her eyes and tried to think of happier times in her life. The man’s cock smelt like onion bhajis. She could also see nob cheese all around the rim of it. Her eyes squeezed together as she felt his warm pole slide into her mouth. She could feel his hands placed heavily on her head as he pushed himself deep inside her throat. You could now hear moans and groans and Julie knew it wouldn’t be long before he shot his load. Her hand strummed his cock faster and faster. She could feel his body tensing. As he requested she pulled his penis from her mouth and let him squirt his muck all around her mouth. The man was ranting some foreign words as he ejaculated. Once he’d finished he pulled her head up and tried to kiss her. Her mouth was covered in spunk. She pulled away from him quickly wiping her mouth as quick as she could.
The man looked happy and after he had straightened his clothes he started the van. When he pulled up at the area where he’d picked her up he turned his head the other way as she left the car. Julie jerked her body forward and slid from the van with the shame she always felt when she’d just been with a punter.
A few other prostitutes stood on the street. Julie went straight towards them and tried to bum a cig. Some of the women had been on the game for years. They’d told her in the past that things didn’t get any better on the streets, they just got worse. A lot of them were junkies. You could tell by their thin bodies that the drug had stolen all their self-respect.
Standing next to a middle aged woman Julie bummed a cig from her. The woman was dressed in a short black skirt with fishnet stockings and a figure hugging red blouse. Her make-up was over the top and you could see her wrinkled face seeping through it. The prostitute handed her a light for her cig. Standing back from the kerb they both took deep drags from their cigarettes. Within a few minutes a punter came along and took the woman away. Julie sat on the floor with her knees up to her chest still smoking.
The night went on and Julie had more nob ends than weekends. She felt like a sperm bank. As she walked home her knickers were overflowing with spunk from her punters. She didn’t even make them wear condoms. Counting her money she held sixty pounds in her hands. The money would just about cover her drugs for the next day.
Julie lived for heroin and nothing else in the world seemed to matter as long as the brown powder was in her veins. The walk back to the flat took about twenty minutes. As she stood in the lift she looked in a dirty mirror. She wiped her coat over a small part of it and could see the face of a heroin addict. Tears filled her eyes and she placed her finger in her mouth to wet it. Her index finger now wiped the mascara that stained her eyes underneath. Feeling guilty she knew she would have to come up with a story to tell Shaun about her whereabouts that night. Quickly she dug her hand into her knickers and shoved them all around her fanny. Bringing her hand out she smelt her fingers. Her face looked sick and she knew she would have to have a wash before she went anywhere near him. Julie stepped from the lift and knocked on the door.
“Fucking hell where the fuck have you been?” Shaun asked angrily when she got back. “I thought you said you wouldn’t be long?.”
Julie walked into the flat and muttered under her breath. She couldn’t look him in the eye and spoke with a low voice. “Oh I got sidetracked. I saw my old mate and we sat gabbing for a bit. I didn’t know it was that late.” Shaun threw himself on the chair and calmed down. He was starving and hoped she had some cash to get something to eat. Watching her sit down he asked her if she’d seen Ged.
“Nar, isn’t he back yet?” she rolled her eyes. “Oh don’t worry about him; he’s probably with his little tart somewhere.” Shaun asked about the girlfriend and smiled at the thought of Ged never mentioning her to him. He quickly changed the subject
“You got any money or what? I’m fucking starving. There’s nowt in the fridge except a mouldy tomato?” Julie threw her money on the table and Shaun sat up amazed. He knew she didn’t have any money earlier and interrogated her about it. “Where have you got that from? I thought you were skint. You snidey bitch!” Julie kicked her black ankle boots off and came up with another story.
“I was skint. My mate owed me some cash from the other week and she gave it me back tonight. That one of the reasons I stayed talking to her.” Shaun stood from his chair and made his way back into the bedroom for his clothes. Once he returned he held the arm of the chair while he slid his jeans on.
“Do you want owt or what? I’m gonna go to the chippy on Rochdale Road?” Julie’s appetite had long gone. She told him she’d already eaten and told him to take some money from the table. Shaun scraped up the cash and told her he wouldn’t be long. Once the front door closed she pulled herself from the chair and headed to the bathroom for a quick wash before he returned.
Ged
could be heard in the hallway and Julie held her ear to the door as she heard someone talking to him. Once she knew it was Lizzy, his fucked-up girlfriend, she screwed her face up. Lizzy was a head-case and a butty short of a picnic. She was a raving baghead and would do anything for a quick fix. Julie finished washing herself in the bathroom and headed back to the front room.
Ged and Lizzy were getting ready to inject the smack and Julie noticed a ten pound missing from her money. She quickly re-counted it and looked at Lizzy with hate in her eyes.
“Where’s my fucking tenner. It was there a minute ago?” Lizzy stopped what she was doing and stared into her face.
“Ay ya little slag. I hope you’re not saying I’ve had it away?” Julie was shaking inside and tried to be fearless but her shaking hands showed she was scared.
“Well there’s only you two in here. It was there when I went to the bathroom,” her hands were waving about in Lizzy’s face. “Don’t tell me it’s just fucking disappeared!”
Lizzy moved closer to her as Ged carried on preparing the drugs.“I’ve got money. So why the fuck would I nick yours?”
Julie knew she was fighting a losing battle and backed away. She’d had dealings with her in the past and knew she wouldn’t think twice about twatting her. Throwing herself onto a chair she gazed around the flat. She could see Lizzy looking menacingly at the side of her and hoped Shaun would hurry back. Lizzy was an out and out bitch. She made no secret that she didn’t like Julie. Slowly she made her way back to Ged’s side. The drugs were ready and Ged handed her the syringe full of smack. Julie watched TV and didn’t bother talking to either of them. Lizzy was clenching her fist together. She was struggling to find a vein. Years of drug use had left her with collapsed veins. She finally gave up trying to find one in her arm and decided to inject in between her toes instead.
There was a knock at the door and Julie stood up quickly to answer it. Shaun entered eating chips, curry and rice. “Fucking hell starver!” Julie gasped, “Watch ya fingers, greedy balls.” Shaun made his way into the front room. He placed his food on the side as he peeled his coat off. Julie looked upset. Shaun sat on the corner of her chair with one arm drooped over her as he carried on eating. His eyes focused on Ged and Lizzy. He hadn’t met her before and he spoke to Ged who was now laid on the sofa. Shaun giggled.
“You’re a dark horse aren’t you?” He stretched his hand out towards Lizzy. “I’m Shaun by the way.” He looked at her and she smiled back. Ged lifted his head from the couch.
“Why am I a dark horse then?” Shaun fell onto the chair with Julie and smiled.
“You didn’t say you had a woman.”
Ged sat up and interrupted before Lizzy could speak, “Lizzy’s just my fuck buddy aren’t you love?” She threw a nearby pillow at him and laughed.
“You cheeky twat. I’m your fucking girlfriend and I have been for the last few years. Why haven’t you told him about me ay?” Lizzy was on one now and looked angry. Ged could tell he’d hurt her feelings and jumped up to make amends.
“Orr come here, my little precious. I’ve not told him about you because he’s been in nick and it never came into the conversation.” Lizzy pulled away as he laughed and tried to kiss her. She was trying not to laugh but Ged knew she was only kidding. Shaun walked over to her and gave her a hug.
“I’m Shaun.” Lizzy introduced herself as Ged watched them both with worried eyes. Lizzy was a good grafter and often provided Ged with drugs. He didn’t want to lose her and hugged her as she sat back down. He watched the connection between them and knew in he would have to watch Shaun like a hawk.
Julie sat oblivious to it all. She still felt angry about her missing tenner. She dug Shaun in the waist and asked him if he was ready for bed. Shaun stood up and stretched. Lizzy had stirred something inside him and he felt horny. He said goodnight to them both and pulled Julie from the chair.
“Come on then baggy fanny. Let’s see what tonight holds.” Julie shook her head and smirked. She knew he was showing off and put him back in his place.
“Ay my fanny might be baggy, but let’s see if ya nob can grow to fill it. You couldn’t get a hard on before, remember screw dick.” Shaun looked shocked. She grabbed his arm pulling him into the bedroom before he could reply. Ged could be heard laughing. He was shouting to him as he left the room.
“I can get hold of some Viagra if you need some our kid. Nothing worse than a floppy cock, is there mate?” Ged rolled about laughing.
Shaun felt angry at Julie’s comment and slouched onto the bed. “What the fuck are you telling them about that for? My dick is perfectly fine. I’ll have you know.” He shook it from his pants. “Look it’s like a baby’s arm now.” He pulled his strides fully down now and revealed his proud cock. Julie smiled.
“Ay don’t give what you can’t fucking take. You said I had a baggy fanny remember. What do you expect?” Shaun pulled his t-shirt over his head and lay naked on the bed waiting for her to reveal herself to him. He watched her take her clothes off. Her body was pale and he could see her ribs through her skin. The knickers she wore had seen better days and he wished he had a decent bird instead of her. Once she peeled her underwear off he smirked at her bushy fanny.
“Fuck me Julie, that’s some pubic mound innit. When was the last time you trimmed it?” she smiled and jumped on the bed beside him. As she lay down he sat up. The palm of his hand now hovered over her fanny as he slowly pressed down on her pubic hair.
“Have you got a plank of wood or summat?” he joked. She looked confused as she replied to him.
“Nar. What do ya need a fucking plank of wood for?” He giggled as he grabbed her bony arm.
“To tie across my arse, so I don’t fall in ya growler. Fucking hell I would never be seen again if I got lost in that lot.”
She punched him playfully on his arm. He made her smile so much. They both lay giggling. Julie made the first move and started to kiss him softly. She teased her tongue around his lips and eventually he kissed her back. Sex was quite straightforward. He didn’t dare give her oral because once he’d stuck his fingers inside her he could smell the aroma of stale fish and knew licking her muffin would make him feel sick. Julie did, however, suck a mean cock. She was more than willing to show him her moves in the bedroom. Sex was good and it wasn’t long before his toes were curling and he was shooting his load.
Julie felt like her mission was complete and fell back onto the bed. She hadn’t really had any enjoyment from Shaun but she didn’t mind. She hoped in time sex would get better between them and she too would feel the excitement of an orgasm. Lay in each other’s arms they fell asleep. Shaun struggled at first to stop his mind from working overtime but eventually he found sleep with the help from his pebble.
Next morning birds could be heard outside the window. Shaun opened his eyes and felt a pain deep in his guts. He thought he might have had food poisoning but as he sat up he realised it was his body calling out for heroin. He sat against the cold bedroom wall and shivered.
Shaun remembered days gone by and how his mother was the one who used to wake him up with a cup of tea and some toast. All he had now was his addiction for smack shaking his body every morning to wake him. He looked at Julie as he searched for his t-shirt. Her hair was all over the place and he could see spit dribbling from the side of her mouth as she slept. Sneaking from the bedroom he made his way to the kitchen. He needed a brew as his mouth felt raw.
Entering the kitchen he could see Lizzy stood there with her back to him. She was wearing one of Ged’s t-shirts that barely covered her arse cheeks. Shaun gazed at every inch of her legs and knew he wouldn’t mind getting in between them in the near future. As she turned around she caught him scanning her body.
“Do ya want a brew Shaun?” she said pretending to ignore his prying eyes. Shaun nodded and rested one of his arms on the kitchen door-frame. The kitchen was only small. The sides were covered in grease and the stove looked like it hadn’t been cleaned in years. He wa
tched as she pulled a white cup from the sink. He could see the brown circles inside it and asked her to wash it again before she used it. She smiled as she rinsed it.
“The cups are all like that. They’re fucking minging aren’t they?” Lizzy moaned. Shaun agreed and took the cup from her hand to examine it further.
“I’m fucking scrubbing this again. How long has it been in the sink for?” She handed him the cups and watched as he squeezed the shabby cloth inside it.
“When I’m out today I’ll pick us some decent cups up,” he moaned. “Ged and Julie can use the dirty ones. They don’t seem arsed anyway do they?” They both giggled and he handed the clean cups back to her while she placed a t-bag and some sugar into them. After she’d made the brews they headed to the front room. Lizzy looked at Shaun and weighed him up. You could tell she thought he was cute as she licked her lips. She knew in time she would be more than just his friend.
Shaun sipped his cup of tea. He was shaking and you could see small sweat balls gathering around his forehead. He looked rough. Lizzy knew he was rattling and passed him a small bag of brown powder from her coat pocket.
“Here, sort ya self out. I’m going to score in a bit anyway. So I don’t need it for now. You can pay me back when ya get yourself sorted out.” Shaun grabbed it from her hands gratefully. She passed him a dirty needle from the table and told him it was the one she’d used previously. His eyes looked at the needle and he knew the dangers of sharing but that didn’t deter him because his body needed a hit as soon as possible.
At first he struggled to tie the shoe lace around his arm, but with Lizzy’s help he soon found a vein. As the drugs hit him she smiled at him. Lizzy was at his side. She looked as if she was leaning in for a kiss but the voice of Ged behind her made her jump. As she turned to face him he looked angry as he scratched his head.
“Why didn’t you wake me up?”
