Search Salon

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Recently in Salon Health & Body

The culture of secrecy
Docs make mistakes, but proposed regulations to make them talk about it won't change that scary fact.
By Dr. Jeff Drayer
[12/02/99]

Urge: Naked World
Kiwis elect world's first transsexual legislator
Having gotten over "the gender thing," New Zealand teaches a lesson on tolerance and maturity.
By Hank Hyena
[12/02/99]

The outer limits of schizophrenia treatment
Researchers are treating teenagers for schizophrenia before they are diagnosed. Some bioethicists think that's insane.
By Dawn MacKeen
[12/01/99]

Urge: Naked World
Elton John makes the Cub Scouts strip
Scout leaders balk at what they call a pedophilia-inspired Albert Hall show.
By Hank Hyena
[12/01/99]

Column
Crashing the Black Rose
In a suburban Ramada Inn, 1,500 players gathered to teach and discuss the sexual art of power and pain.
By Virginia Vitzthum
[11/30/99]

Complete archives for Health & Body

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Yesterday, Matt called three times -- once while I was in the shower getting ready to see Etienne, and later while I was in bed with Milton. Matt loves his new role, penitent boyfriend.

"He's like a reformed whore," Jasmine remarked. "So, let him think he's got a scarlet past to live down. It's a status thing."

"After a day of seeing clients, I can't handle it," I sighed. "He wants to talk all the time! And you know what? I think he really liked it when I called him a sadistic bastard!"

"Cut him some slack!" Jasmine advised. "It's probably the most interesting thing a girl ever called him. Anyway, he's forgotten all about your problems with Allison -- thank God."

But I haven't forgotten -- about Allison's threats or the stupid mistake I made this summer, trying to help her make some money off her book.

Tuesday

"Look, I can't believe MY BOYFRIEND fooled around with Spooky's daughter! It's too close for comfort," I told Jasmine today. "How long can I keep up the pretense? My own johns are producing the next generation of emotional competition. Sometimes I just want to tell Matt everything."

Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl appears in Health & Body every Monday and Thursday. + About Nancy Chan: Diary of a Manhattan Call Girl -- with links to all episodes to date. + Read the Diary from the start.

Jasmine was incensed. "If Matt knew that Larissa's dad was getting blow jobs at his desk from you -- or watching you masturbate on the office couch -- the guy would go out of his mind! The entire population of Manhattan is connected by its private parts -- well, why do think they're called private parts?" She was waggling her index finger rather fanatically. "New York as we know it would IMPLODE if smart alecks like us abandoned our duty. We're here to protect civilization from itself. If you weren't prepared for the rigors of a double life, you shouldn't have been dating a guy like Matt."

I guess she's right -- but why AM I so drawn to these straight relationships? Respectability looms -- forbidden, alluring, like the apple of temptation ... Matt was onto something when he asked me, "Don't you have one normal girlfriend?" I have one friend left, whom I really trust, and it's, well, Jasmine.

According to Jasmine, "It takes a long weekend and a few dinners for a guy to get over the fact that he's treated you badly; it would take seven years of therapy to recover from finding out that the Girl He Loves has been turning tricks her entire adult life!" She's convinced Matt would spend an entire year wondering if I ever had a real orgasm with him, having nightmares about every woman he dates. "Could you really do that to a guy? And don't forget, his sister's a prosecutor!" she added. "If you won't PROMISE to keep your mouth shut, I might just lock you in the bathroom with duct tape over your mouth. And," she snickered, weirdly, "I'll recruit Allison to stand guard."

Wednesday

This afternoon, as I was leaving the health club, Randy tried to stop me but -- running late for my hair appointment -- I pretended not to see him.

A tall, dapper, pink-faced man with a mustache opened the door for me. I flashed him a smile.

"Excuse me," he said, following me to the sidewalk, "aren't you Nancy Chan?" In a panic, I started heading back inside -- instinctively rushing toward Randy. "Don't," said the increasingly familiar voice, "make your situation worse by lying to a federal agent." As Randy approached, an enraged scowl on his face, the man turned.

"It's not a crime to lie to a boyfriend," he said. "But it's a crime to lie to us."
salon.com | Dec. 2, 1999

Episode 41 I fought the law

- - - - - - - - - - - -

- - - - - - - - - - - -

  Get a printer-friendly version

  E-mail a friend about this article

  Backflip this article to find it again

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Search Salon