Iceman

Vega, 1965

He'd already begun to tire of his retard of a stepsister by the time Darryl Haynes moved into the neighborhood. She was too slack, now, too pliant, too easily obtainable, and he lusted for a fresh conquest. Darryl was sissified, and very slim, with long hair like a girl. A play-hippie.

“How'd you like to play some cards?” he asked the newcomer to the block.

“Sure. You know how to play rummy?"

“Uh—yeah. But I've got something even better. Ever play high card?"

“Huh uh."

“Look. It's easy.” He fanned the deck. “Pick a card.” The boy picked one. “Now turn it over.” It was a nine of diamonds. He flipped a card over beside it. The two of hearts.

“See! You won. If we'd been playing for pennies, you would have won 1 cent just then."

“Yeah?"

“Sure. High card always wins. Let's try it."

“I don't have any money."

“Oh, that's okay. If you lose, you can owe me and pay me some other time. Okay?” Darryl shrugged. “Okay. Let's try it. Go ahead.” He let the boy beat him several times. “Boy! You're good at this. Hey, I'll tell you what, here's the money I owe you.” He forked over a shiny dime. “Let's play slave. We'll cut to see who is high card. Whoever loses has to be the other guy's slave the rest of the day. You know, do anything he wants him to do and that...” He trailed off vaguely.

“Yeah. Okay,” Darryl said, anxious to please his new friend. They cut the cards.

“Wow! An ace! Too bad, Darryl. I beatcha this time. I'll tell you what. Let's go two out of three, okay?” The other boy looked relieved as they cut the cards again. Darryl lost all three times. “A run of bad luck. Tough luck.” He had Darryl perform a few menial tasks and then he loaned him some of his comic books and they said good-bye. He was already learning how to build that initial foundation of trust.

Eventually he would get Darryl's mom and dad to let the boy go with him on a fishing trip. They would be gone overnight. He would play cards with the boy again. Another game of slave. He already had sent away for some high-heeled shoes he had seen in a magazine, even before he'd met Darryl. He had swiped some lipstick and a pair of old nylons. He fantasized how Darryl would look from behind in the women's hosiery and high-heeled shoes. How he would look naked from the rear. Long hair and a small butt like a girl's. He would make this sissy be his sister for the night. It filled him with a hot surge of desire that he couldn't explain, and he began to masturbate uncontrollably at the thought of such an experience. This sick, twisted child on his way to manhood.