The Porn King was the preeminent pornographer in the state at the time, with a thriving and successful business operation. He was called the Porn King by the media and the nick name stuck. The money was flowing. He was also in the cross-hairs of local, state, and federal law enforcement.
Bookstores, peep-shows, real estate, XXX video sales, prostitution and book-making kept the Porn King busy and financially prosperous. To facilitate the fluid and discreet movement of money in his operations, and as a way to generate new sources of income, he bankrolled a small chain of video stores operated by his daughter. These stores rented and sold family oriented videos, but also had a small section renting and selling adult content videos.
By word of mouth I was referred to him and his daughter as a carpenter who could build cabinets and the like for their stores. I was warned of his reputation but looked forward to meeting him and the potential of employment. That same year I’d decided I was cut out to be my own boss, so was self-employed and eager for opportunity.
His office and base of operations was on a commercial avenue in the heart of a neighborhood trending to social decay and crime. One snowy night I arrived on time for our first meeting, rang the doorbell, and was surprised to see an older fellow- short, stocky, tough demeanor, smiling. He opened the door and welcomed me in. He held an apple in his hand. “How you doin kid?” he asked. “Have an apple.”
Our business dealings were precise and uneventful from that point on. I designed and built whatever was asked of me, and he paid me in cash, always smiling and often offering an apple. I’d never made that kind of money before and counted my blessings for the opportunity. On paydays he would ask me what I was owed, pull from his pants pocket a baseball sized roll of Franklins, count out my pay, and thank me for my good work.
One day, after handing me a stack of C-notes, he asked, “Care to see my video operation, kid?” We each gnawed on an apple as we walked through a room filled with whirring, chattering, droning, VHS tape duplication machines. I was mesmerized by all of it.
Around that time my girlfriend and I were having trouble, and my behavior led her to another man’s bed. One night, feeling miserable and blue, I paid the Porn King a visit to collect money. He looked at me and said, “What gives kid, you look unhappy. You have woman trouble?”
“You got that right. My girl’s with another guy tonight.” I said, looking down at the floor, broken-hearted and filled with shame.
“You want me to send a couple of my guys to pay them a visit?” he said, his eyes locked on mine, his look somber yet with hint of compassion- the implications obvious. It was then that I knew we were friends. “Appreciate it but no thanks. She’s history.” I said.
I finished employment with him later that year after an argument with his daughter and kept busy with new customers. The Porn King was indicted by grand jury, prosecuted, and convicted of racketeering under the RICO act. Last I heard he died not long after being released from a lengthy stay in prison. He’d served his sentence and paid his debt to society and was my friend.
CP Butchvarov
2023
Copyright © 2023 by CP Butchvarov