Karla Ramirez

Carrie showed up at Ettie's right after opening. She'd been scouting and learned that Karla worked a half-shift on Mondays during the slow hours. Carrie went to the bar.

"What'll you have, hot stuff?" Karla asked. She was a leggy, 6'1 Colombian. She reminded Junior of the Colombian transsexual Laura Saenz.

"Just a glass of your finest red," Carrie said pleasantly.

"So where's your friend? That little boy ... I forget his name, but they call him the Pervert."

"Oh, him?" Carrie said dismissively. "He likes to tag along, but he can be annoying." Karla laughed, agreeing. "I'm more interested in you, really." Karla arched her eyebrows.

"Most people think I only like cock now. I didn't think you were interested."

"Well, I stereotyped too sadly." They talked for much of that slow afternoon. Carrie learned Karla had only been transitioning for a few years. That her dad was a professor at the university. That Karla was majoring in applied mathematics at the university. And that they were both into each other.

At 9, they were making out against Carrie's car. She tasted and smelled sweet.

"Your place," Karla asked breathlessly, "or mine?"