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great writing, great story waterstreet@nyc.com

Bless you, Grant, you were just what I need today. I'm going back to read it again as I was laughing so much the first time, I kept losing the thread. Thanks again.

Good article. I've never been able to work up the nerve to get an escort-chic or visit one of these places. Regarding the last paragraph just after the sentence: "I was left with questions about how Jung and the other women..." Yeah, I've always wondered about this stuff too. The personalities of the females in this business are incomprehensible to me. Obviously, my brain processes this sex stuff incorrectly. Interesting article.

will these places attend to a female looking for a little wick-wack from a stranger? where are the ladies scientists at?

As always, Grant's honesty and genuineness help "make" the story. But I agree with one of the other commentors--Em and Lo (or someone ... maybe Isablle, since she is SO helpful) need to get a bit "scientific" too.

we need a female version of Grant!

Funny stuff. I lived in Korea and I find that this sort of thing and even full on prostitution is indeed viewed much more pragmatically, like just another job, albeit a shitty one. I have also been to these sorts of places in small, blue-collar midwestern towns and there the girls often make the experience more erotic and less clinical, though the general air of sleaziness/dirtiness is of course far greater

Grant again does a masterful job. His writing is incredibly human and insightful, almost as though he were taking notes in a diary form while this was going on (which, of course, he wasn't... right?). Great job again, Grant. Consistently the best and most entertaining writing on Nerve.

Man, Come to San Francisco... We have an area of the city called the "Tenderloin". they have many "massage" parlors there... try one...

Wonderful as usual Grant! The perfect mix of "oh my gah" and "OH MY GOD" (the writing I mean) Any chance of you visiting Seattle? I wouldn't know about the "massage" parlours but I'd love to by you a drink! -Insomniac Girl

I think it's amazing that no one seems to have done this before. Well I have, not just a few times, both in parlors (sometimes successfully, sometimes not), and sometimes with private call girls (always at their place, not mine). (I also have picked up girls on the street for covered blowjobs, but ultimately found it unsatisfying on just about every level.) Here's a trick I learned: they can't take the sheet off, but you can, which gives them a clue. Usually, you pay a set fee up front, and take more into the room for a tip. $50 is a good starting place for a handjob, and up from there. The best parlor experience I ever had was in NY, also an unmarked place with a whole lineup of Asian girls, and I got to choose (very important!); mine was young and petite, accompanied me in the shower to bathe me herself, climbed all over me during the "massage", and kept going from there. I've used one incall girl in particular, who is very sweet, very physical, and gives the best hand I've ever had--I can't wait to see her again. For that matter, I've also gone once to a gay man, and had a great experience with some mutual play that was very erotic, and stoppped short of orgasm (my choice). I see this whole culture in very pragmatic terms. I love my partner dearly, but sex is a minimally-satisfying part of our relationship. Having the freedom to have these physical experiences with people who are practiced at it--well, frankly, it keeps me sane in my relationship.

Grant: I bet you got paid more for that handjob (writing about it) than the girl did for doing it. So it's really like YOU'RE the bigger prostitute. Oh Grant, you slut. I miss you! Love, Mommy

Grant i loved it. I added nerve.com to my favorites so that i can check in more regularly for your writing.

I'm a massage therapist, and I loved this story!

I've had a special massage a few times and have had varying experiences. I suppose I have been about 3 times over the years. I learned you are supposed to say "Yes" when they ask if you have been there before. They charge you less and give you a younger hotter girl. Which leps alot. All three of the girls had basically the sam going through the motions, mechanical attitude that simply cannot replicate a feeling of intimacy and affection we get from someone who we actually don't have to pay to touch us. Still there is a time and place for everything, and on the occasions I went I didn't really expect to leave with a girlfriend but perhaps a bit more tension relief than your ordinary massage. I would say the attractiveness of the girl has everything to do with it. The one time I had an older unenthused massuese I too could hardly get it up. But on another occasion I had a young and busty(naturally) massuese and I stood at full attention and quite delited in her masseuging my joy prong. I imagine they enjoy it a bit more if you are at least alert down there since they know it won't take as long. After those few times I couldn't bring myself to go back though, it was just too mechnical and sleazy, and not fulfilling what I was truly seeking which was a feeling of connection through affection. These people are not surrogate lovers, they view it as a job, hard physical labor without pleasure, even though the acts and motions are meant for just that which is an irony that bothered me too deeply to continue such pursuits. However should you get the itch again, make sure you say you have been there before and I have heard you can request a different girl if you don't like the one your with. Still a better investment is to give the money you spend there to a homeless person and chill out in a bar with some vicoden and vodka.

You just found the wrong place! I occasionally frequent a place where the happy ending isn't quite the ending. (I got in with a friend and gain entrance by a tap on the back door). First thing, you don't wash yourself, they wash you. They dry you. They even undress you first. Then onto the massage room, holding hands the whole way. The massage begins, from head to toe, until the "roll over" part comes. After the happy ending, they get a hot towel and clean you thoroughly. Then a face massage and whatever else she feels like, I guess. She dresses you and sends you on your way. All for 60 bucks... plus tip.

Once a honored profession, the art of the paid intimate now dwells in secrecy, in hiding, back alleys or well protected high class joints. Many who are sex workers do so because the pay is better than other jobs they can get or they do not have many other choices. There are some however who do this work because it is what they believe in, they love it and view it as being much needed in the world. These individuals who are the 'sacred intimates' come to their work with a touch of humanity, intimacy, care for the individual who places their trust and body into the hands of these skilled lovers. And they also take as much care in making a connection with the person if it is a hand job or much more. These individuals are much harder to find though which is sad but they exist and are making a difference in the expression of sexuality.

So, here's where you conclude: "It's a terrible cliché, but I found that sex without any emotional attachment, or even mutual satisfaction, was a slightly chilling experience." THIS is the brave and innovative journalism that Nerve aspires to? Couldn't you find something actually interesting to say, or say it anything other than the blandest prose? Very lame.

As a professional mariner, I am always fascinated by the way people in this country view the "happy ending". The simple fact of the matter is that things that are illegal in America are not only legal but encouraged pretty much everywhere else. My advice is to simply enjoy yourself responsibly and if you want a hug afterwards, get a girlfriend.

I'd have to agree with TJ and Nomi, the writing was way too prissy and somewhat slyly supercilious. Grant seems a little too pleased with his youth through his sidelong slights at the older guys (though Wall Street types are always fair game in my book). And the writing was really callow and, dare I say, unstimulating? Finally, what's the big deal? There's even a strange morality in paid sex, of whatever variety. Which is sleazier: to enter into a romance when you are only partially interested but sex-starved or to garner some satisfaction while you search for real love? Other cultures are, and our culture used to be, much more sensible about these things. My personal experience with this was accidental. I went to a new place to get shiatsu (which I have received for years) after wrenching my shoulder swimming. The masseuse was 3/4 done with a so-so massage similar to Grant's when she touched the sheet over my penis and asked simply "You want?" While unexpected, I simply answered yes. She then went out, got some lotion, and gave me a magnificent hand-job. She then finished the regular massage. Happily, I left any Western guilt with my cares outside those steam-shrouded walls.

You guys should pay either Toronto or Montreal a visit. While Toronto has a lot more places, Montreal can offer some amazing experiences. My best was a two-girl 1 hr session where, for $120 Canadian, I had both of them completely nude on a queen-sized bed massaging me simultaneously. I could play with their pussies, suck their breasts, and they even played with my anus without being asked. They will even have sex with each other, if asked, for a bit extra. Basically, anything goes, except penetration. While a handjob at the end is pretty much guaranteed in Toronto, it sometimes has to be specified or paid extra for in Montreal.

You forgot to mention the tip? How much? Before the final act, no doubt.

Hey lw, I'm not sure if it's my post you're referring to but I'll answer anyway. The $120 CAN everything I mentioned. A blowjob was $20 per girl - that is, if I wanted to sample the cocksucking skills of each, it was up to me to choose one or the other or both. Buying a blowjob automatically entitled me to eat pussy of the girl(s) I tipped, if I so desired. I should point out that this was a freakin' bargain in my experience, in any city but that may have been because these two were university students operating out of their own apartment. Still, I was pretty amazed at what I could get in Montreal although it took some looking. I found a spa in the downtown area with showers in every room where $50 got you a one hour massage. The girl I got, charged $20 for each "extra" - handjob, topless, bottomless, nude reverse. The amazing thing about her was that she permitted fingering of her anus with an oiled finger - I've met masseuses who didn't mind or even claimed to like having their rosebuds tingled but none ever touching with a lubricated digit. And, she was mighty good and unhurried about electrifying my brown eye. Can't wait to take another trip there.

Get the fuck over it. I hope you didn't whine like that during the massage. If it was that "chilling", tear up the check you got for the story.

Hey Nerve!!! I got this edition 2nite (7/19) and there are comments all the way back to 7/11. What goes on? East coast bias??? Grant rocks & writes like he's getting paid to rock. This is a good thing. Rock on.

This was too funny. Now, Grant, you'll have to learn how to receive a REAL massage. Deep body massage with muscle release is like having multiple orgasms without anyone touching your genitals. It involves meditation, specific breathing techniques and energy flow on both the practitioner's part and the recipient's body parts. I would rather mind fuck while being deeply kinesthetically manipulated, than have to worry about where my masseuse is going to wipe his or her hand after drenching it with my pussy. The whole, true point of massage is relaxation and recentering, not cumming, anyway! *giggle*snort*grin*

nice article; I love your column. I was surprised they didn't offer to do more for you.

uhah! lol.

Hows it goin Grant- its little rossi miller. Nice picture of u havin ya back massaged.

Not sure I can take you for your word. Where can I do my own scientific experiment? :)

Can you tell me the name of the place and location where you got the happy ending? william wcohan@aol.com

Funny story and I think I've been to this place too. I got the table shower and really loved the attention they girls pay to you. My massage was great and the ending one worth remembering. The place was very clean and the sauna/steam great. I too was surprised at how little time it took me to come but by the time we got to that part I was very ready - what a little foreplay can do for you!

Ohhhh, booo hoooo. Emotionally unsatisfying, slightly sleazy, eh? When you wrote that, I did not know if you were describing your won feelings, or that of the poor soul in charge of you during this massage. I would not be surprised if the Chief Editor of your magazine is a chick, and you have to make your findings evoke the "better" nature of men, and the damming eyes of women. Ever wonder why this happy ending ritual is so prevalent, and impervious to law enforcement effots to erradicate it? That is what the real Q & A of your article should focus on. If you did it, and did it honestly the essence of this article would be different, instead of simply pathetic. You big baby !

Dear Grant, I loved you article on Happy Endings. I would like to get one for my boyfriend as a gift, could you point me in the right direction? Thanks very much. newyorkgirl74@gmail.com.

Well you have to look at it this way, it is a massage and you do tend to get worked up so I guess the happy ending is a great plus for most. I personally would like to know where this place is....for science as well, lets just leave it at that.

By the way the e-mail is Chulotazz69@yahoo.com

This is great! I've never heard of anyone actually going to one of these places. I've been to San Fran and I can attest to the impressive number of massage "parlors" (Swedish, French, Japanese, etc., etc.). This is my first time at this site and I look forward to reading more of your articles, Grant. Thanks!