Just A Gigolo
by Clive Arno

We spoke on the phone to arrange a meeting at B.B King's Restaurant at Universal Studios. It was agreed that it was convenient for both of us, and as good a place as any. I decided to arrive at our meeting place early, hoping to get a glimpse of what he was like when not being interviewed. Sitting out on the 2nd floor balcony, I had a good view of the fountain court, tourist and wanna-be actors that over run Hollywood. In the crowd of some three hundred people, I see this guy walking towards the restaurant, and I know it's him. He looked like any other brother you might see on the street, 5'11, goatee, shaved head, well built, neatly dressed in a suit, dress shirt, and a tie. All black. Even though he looked average, there was something above average about him. Pride, confidence, arrogance or bullshit, whatever it was, he was wearing it like a condom. He's turning heads as he walks along, making that "He must be somebody important, maybe he can get me in a movie" look appear on faces. He commanded attention, and was use to it. We introduce ourselves, made small-talk and discussed our mutual friend. We decide to start the interview. He says he wants to be called "Buster", and I turn on the tape recorder.

Our waitress shows up, she's a model thin blonde who looks at Buster like he's on the menu. "How can I help you?" she says, as though he's the only one at the table. He orders a "Vesper" and I take a Heineken.

What's a "Vesper?"

"It's a variation of a martini, it's: 3oz. Gin, 1oz. Vodka. 1/2 oz. Blonde Kina Linnet with a slice of lemon." Uh-oh, sounds expensive, but what the hell, it's on Players tab right? If anything, it will loosen him up and make the interview go smoother.

Maybe we should start with exactly what is a Gigolo?

A Gigolo is a man who's lifestyle is sponsored by a woman,...
or several women...based on a intimate understanding.

Well, that was very straightforward and rehearsed, couldn't it be said you're just a male prostitute?

Hey!...First of all, I'm not a prostitute. A prostitute will do anybody for money,.. they could be a faggot or whatever.

Then it's a safe bet you've never been with a man?

That's a very safe bet...You can bet your rent on it.....If this wasn't an interview, where I come, I'd be forced to start kicking your ass.

Where are you from anyway?

Back east.

Where back east?

East.

Oookay.

You have to understand, one of things you have to maintain is.....anonymity, It's not something you're necessarily proud of, or something I want to advertise. The fact that no one can recognize you is a must. ...No woman wants to admit she has a paid escort. ...sometime not even to themselves.

The waitress returns with the drinks. Facing Buster, she set them gently on the table. If she was trying to flirt with me by showing me her back, she was doing a damn good job. "Let me know if you want something" she cooed, and shimmied away.
I realized I jumped in too quickly, and decided on a more subtle approach.

When was your first sexual encounter?

I think I was either eight or nine years old, It was with my baby-sitter.

You were molested as a child?

No, I wouldn't call it that.... Y'know why is it when guy has sex with a girl, it's molestation or rape, but if a woman has sex with a boy it's cool!

Are you telling me it's not rape?

No, no I'm not saying that, ... Think about it, a guy has sex with a girl, ..say 12 years old, they say she's ruined, damage for life. Never will have a normal relationship, right? Take a boy, same age,... and he's bragging to his friends about it, ..like that kid and his teacher I read about, She's got two kids by him already! ....I'm not saying it's right or anything, It's just funny that way... No, I wasn't molested, she taught me a lot..

When was the first time you received payment for "services rendered?"

I was around twenty-four or five, I went to this club, y'know, just a night out,... looking for some sex.... I meet this woman, we have a nice time together, we drive back to her place,... I didn't have a car...She had a nice car, and a big-ass house...got back to her place and had sex all night long, it was great. That morning, I'm in her bathroom using her toothbrush and everything, thinking this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship, when she walks up behind me, says she had I great time, and puts something in my pocket, says it for "cab fare" and walks out. I look in pocket, it's $600.00 dollars. My feelings were hurt, but the $600.00 dollars helped me get over it. .... I really liked her though.

Six hundred dollars, You must know... or have something the rest of us don't.

Not really, I mean, I'm handling and everything, Y'know just as much as the next guy. ...It's not about that anyway.

It's not about penis size?

No, with women sex isn't about sex... with them it's about their minds, about what they think about sex. I guess he could tell I wasn't getting it. ...Look, women give birth to eight pound babies,... do you really think you can have any impact on their pussies with your dick?... No, that's because it's on another level with them. You have to have sex with their minds. If they think the sex is good, or they're breaking some taboo, they get wet.

Soooo, you're telling me all that work I'm doing, is for nothing?

Not for nothing, you enjoy it.... and that's part of what they enjoy. You can make a woman cum and not even have sex with her.

I don't care what the President says, oral sex, is sex.

(laughing) Good one, I don't mean that either. I'm talking about just touchin' em and whispering in their ear, ..having good music on, things like that.    

And that put you on the path to your current occupation?

Not really, I don't think you sit around and say "I want to be a gigolo". I don't know of any guys that has any success at it thought that way... It kind of creeps up on you, the next thing you know, that's what you do..... I guess it really hit the fan when I went to this Black Expo.

The waitress comes over doing her best Frederick's of Hollywood runway walk and ask: Is everything all right here? making eye contact with Buster. "We're fine, thank you." I said, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

What happened at the Black Expo?

You know how they have these black business expo's that come to town?, well, I went to one just to look around, y'know to have some fun. This woman walks up to me and ask me if I'm a model or anything, I say "no". She tells me she has a escort service, and would I be interested in working for her. The pay was $100.00 an hour. I took the job.

What's it like working for an escort service?

The first time I worked for the company, they had this big party arranged. All the guys were escorts, all the women were clients.
It was like a "Sadie Hawkins" thing, they would pick the guys they were interested in, dance, talk and everything, and if they liked you, they would call the service later and arrange an escort. Let's say you went out and everything, took her home, and she wanted sex. You would name a price, she agree, and you fuck... so you get that money, and the money from the service.

What kind of woman goes to an escort service for sex?

You name it... black, white, fat ,skinny from beauty queens to dairy queens... all kinds,...all races... they're all lonely, or they got some "control thing" going, but they all have money. ...... Buster takes a long sip from his drink, and looks past me as if noticing something. ...I'll tell you what kind, the kind that thought that money would solve all their problems,... the kind that married some poor sap not because she loved him or anything, but for what she could get out of him, now all they have is money, and they have to pay me for everything else, and pretend that it's something more.... Now that I think about it, I should be charging more.

What separates you from the woman you just described?

Because I know the whole program,.... most women only have half... See, take a beautiful woman... They hook up with a guy because he got money,... If a guy gets a woman because of the amount of money he's got,.. and he knows it's about his money,.. it's just a matter of time before he realizes he can buy better. Then she's surprised when her old ass is kicked to the curb. If her looks are her big bargaining chip, She's going to fail.

Aren't you counting on your looks?

Yeah, but like I said, I know it wont last. I'm working on starting my own business now... This way I'm in control, and nobody can tell me different. No matter what you think of me, I'm still a man. .... I don't like the fact that.... all my clothes are brought for me, I don't have any say in what I wear, or anything. .... Let me show you something.

We walked over to other side of the balcony that overlooked the main parking lot. "You see that car out there"? he said, pointing to the black mirror that was in the shape of a 89 Mustang GT. convertible, it looks like it just came out of the showroom. I was visibly impressed.

"That's nothing, I could do alot better than that....  back in "89" one of those were given to me, with a understanding. When I no longer cared for the arrangement, the car was given... taken back. I really liked that car. I promised myself I would buy my own one day, and no one would be able to take it away. That's why I keep that car?.

How do you have sex with women you aren't attracted to?

Well, that's because no woman is truly ugly,.... I mean they maybe ugly, but if you look really hard, you can find something on them that's sexy. Say you have a woman that's shaped like a potato... she may have pretty eyes or nice hair or something. Find what it is that's sexy, and concentrate on it.

Okay, but what if she has absolutely nothing that's sexy, I mean a "dog".

Impossible, there's always something, and if they don't, money is always sexy.

Have you ever been arrested?

No. See, with women, it's alot more discreet. First of all, they make you sign a contract saying anything that you do on the "date" is on you, and has nothing to do with the prearranged fee of the company....That way if something went wrong,... say you got arrested, you're just ass out. But that never happened.

What is the worst thing that happened to you?

One night, on my answering machine, a guy's voice on it yelled: "You're a dead man!" and hung up. I replayed that message all night, trying to figure out who it could be, listening for some clue as to who would leave such a thing and if they meant it. Then I asked myself  "Who did I piss off that would feel that way to make such a threat?"  I didn?t like the answer. I had hurt so many people, slept with so many wives, it was bound to catch up with me. Looking back, I'm surprised it took as long as it did. I made too many enemies. I was paranoid for a while, but it turned out to be nothing.

Sounds like it could get a little dangerous, why don't you quit?

What for?... Because some punk ass can't handle his woman?... If he can't deal with her, I know he can't deal with me. I got a pretty good setup... money, travel and every once in a while I enjoy the sex. There are alot worst jobs out there.

WAITRESS Are you okay here?, would you like another round?

BUSTER Yes, we'll have another round. Make it two "Vespers" Clive, you gotta try one.

We take a break from talking, light some cigarettes, and look down on the crowd in Citywalk. The blonde returns with our drinks, and leans over more than necessary to give Buster his drink. "If you decide you want anything else, you will let me know, won't you?" Buster flashed a smiled he must have practiced in the mirror, and said "Believe me baby, when I want it, you'll know it.? She showed me her back again, and I heard her whisper "I'll be waiting." and took her sweet time in walking away.

"Jeeez! Why don't you just give him a blowjob under the table and be done with it, for Christ?s sake!!?"

Does it bother you to take advantage of women with sex?

Take advantage of!!, You must be joking,  I don't do nothing that women don't do to you every day. If you give a girl a bouquet of flowers, and then she give you a hug.... you paid for it. .... If you take your date to a fancy restaurant and afterwards she licks your balls like maschino cherries.... you paid for it. ... See the response you got?, that's why  you got it. because you paid for it. Why didn't she just hug you for the hell of it?...At least prostitutes are up front about it.

The waitress walks over, only this time she isn't smiling. She looks as salty as a New York pretzel, and almost slams the drinks on the table. Blondie tells Buster that the lady over at the table in the corner brought his drink. She's a mature woman, but looks good for her age if she's forty or fifty. Dressed in a linen outfit that was tasteful and expensive. She wasn't the prettiest woman on the block, but she had nipples that were poking though the blouse like pencil erasers. She's sending out signals even I could pick up. I could tell this interview was just about over, and my ego took enough beating for one day.

Well uh... thanks for the interview, I'll give you a call to let you know when it's out.

"I'll seeya later, I have some business to take care of here." he said. Buster's eyes never moved off his new prey. I could almost hear the adding machine, calculating her net worth to the penny. I took a sip of my "Vesper", he was right, it was a good drink.

While I was paying the bill, Buster had made his way over to her table. He had her undivided attention. She was smiling like she could eat him for lunch, and probably would. I decided not to leave the waitress a tip, I bet she notice me now.

Clive Arno.
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