by Dorothy Feola

I became active in the adult entertainment business of 1988, and my most interesting experiences seemed to have occurred during those first years. This was due somewhat to the fact that I was a "born novice," coming from a background in poetry, women's small press, and women's rights activism, and suddenly, almost overnight, I was developing a friendship with the most successful, most popular black adult actress who ever flashed across the small screen. I can say this without partiality because Angel Kelly, the lovely lady in question, was the only real competition for my idol, the unique Sahara.

I am truly amazed that we took such an instant liking for each other. Her respect for Sahara, as a person as well as a performer, went a long way towards opening me to her natural openness and honesty. In fact, I found that she thought of Sahara as something of a mentor, an experienced performer who took Angel under her wing, cautioning her about certain pitfalls she would likely encounter while carving out a career in this area of explicit sexual entertainment.

I spent quite a bit of time with Angel in those early years whenever she came into New York. So much so, in fact, that fans who followed her schedule on any kind of regular basis became so familiar with me that they came up to greet me even when I was somewhere visiting another performer. One night at Show World, Angel told me, with a certain glint in her eyes, "I'm doing something special, just for you, at my last show."

I was already delirious over the fact that she had casually mentioned to me more than once that she always tried to make the dance performances I was at even more "special and unique"; and I knew for a fact that she always made sure she knew where I was situated during her performances, as from time to time, she would seek me out with her eyes, sharing a teasingly seductive smile with me in the darkened theater. (I often wondered how many guys came alive, thinking it was meant for them.)

So, I kidded her, asking, "Is it legal?" especially since our friend, Nina Hartley, had gotten arrested in Canada just before then. All Angel would say was, "You'll just have to wait and see for yourself," obviously enjoying her little secret.

I had no idea what was ahead for me when, towards the end of her last performance, she greased herself with baby oil, rubbing and caressing the entire nakedness of that delicious dark body, while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, bending, moving this way or that or moving one thing or other, her hands slipping and sliding up and down and around that mouth-watering chocolate surface. And, of course, her beautiful pink pussy, which I had always found incredibly exciting. She actually finished the act with a dildo, which was sort of anticlimactic for me in view of what I had just experienced.

The looks Angel threw in my direction that night seemed even more provocative than usual, though I felt they weren't so much seductive as the mere fact that she was reminding me of a time when I felt moved to admit to her how "hot" I thought her masturbation scenes were on video tape. I confessed they were "some of the best" I'd ever seen, "especially the scenes where you rub oil all over yourself." I had actually forgotten about that, since it was said over the phone, before we had ever spent any time together in person. But apparently Angel hadn't forgotten.

Afterward she stood before me, all shiny and glistening, and more than a bit satisfied with herself. "Well, were you pleasantly surprised?" All that I could do was nod my head up and down. "Well, I really do hope that you enjoyed it because it's so damn messy that I hate doing it on stage, and almost never do," she told me with deliberation.

I really appreciated her efforts more than I could express (at that moment), but actually, it was the thought behind it all that I could appreciate even more than the action itself. We have always loved doing things to please each other and make each other happy; it's what has always made our relationship unique. Some people in the business could never understand our relationship because we were as close as two lovers, yet there was never any real sex involved between us. (Even though I've slept with her more times than I can remember.)

Personally, I think it was a minor miracle. Angel must feel the same way, since she once told me soberly, "How can I not believe in God. He brought you into my life, didn't He?" Amen.