You hesitate ... tempted, but unsure.

"I'm not sure... Perhaps later," I reply, my voice betraying my trepidation. I'm curious, but am I ready to be alone with Margaret? This is her store, and she's about to take me into the backroom. I definitely feel like I'm on enemy territory.

Margaret laughs at my nervousness, even as she gently strokes my hand in a way that seems much too familiar. "Given what "All The Finest Things" used to sell, right now you might be wondering: Am I a customer? Or am I inventory?"

Margaret laughed merrily, as if selling me was the most amusing thing in the world, but I 'm not amused, and my tone is a little sharp as I answer.

"I hadn't thought of it quite that way. It's hard to imagine myself... THAT way. I'm educated, a professional with a successful career and independent."

"Of course you are. But you'd be surprised at how quickly those things can be taken away." She turns away apparently not willing to push the matter. "Perhaps you'll join me for a drink, instead."

Margaret opened up a beautifully carved liquor cabinet and poured me a drink. She handed me a beautifully etched, antique wine glass. The concoction inside was a bright Kelly green with swirls of silvery streaks swirling when she carefully strained the liquor into two small antique crystal glasses sitting on a silver tray.

"What is it?" I asked as she held one of the delicate glasses to my lips.

"Go ahead, try it." She replied, and for some reason I found it difficult to refuse. It tasted like black licorice - not unpleasant, but not my choice of beverage. I sputtered and started to ****, but Margaret smiled knowingly. "Drink it down, dear, it's far too expensive to waste."

I drank it down while a grinning Margaret lifted her glass to her own lips and took a sip making no attempt to hide her pleasure in the drink. "Make sure you get every drop, isn't that good?"

"It was different," I reply carefully, feeling the warmth radiating from my belly in pulsing waves. "What was that?"

"Absinthe, my dear. Don't make such a fuss, dear. You aren't the first colored girl in this place who had to swallow something new and unexpected."

Margaret winked at me, but she seemed to do it slowly, and the colors in the room were blurring.

"What's happening..."

"Well, the drink is known to have an opioid effect. Especially with the special blend I use." She moved to front of the store and turned over the 'OPEN' sign as I slowly felt my fears dissipate. "Oh my, that seems like it's having a particularly strong effect on you. Now if you'll just accompany me in the back room, there's a couch you can lay down on."

I struggled to stand and not knock anything over and found myself leaning on Margaret as she led me to the back room.