by Ward, Penny
Rose and I got home but as soon as I arrive in my room, my phone starts to ring again. I look at the caller id and see that it’s my Mom.
“Hi, Mom,” I say into the phone.
“I see you are feeling a lot better than last night,” she says.
“Yes, I guess I just had a touch of the bug or something.”
“Or were you just trying to avoid staying long? I could see something there had made you very uncomfortable. Do you want to talk about it?”
“No, Mom, I really wanted to be there. I just got a little sick, that’s all. Nothing was bothering me. I was actually going to come see you pretty soon. You know, visit outside of a special occasion and get some real mother-daughter time in.”
“That would be nice, dear. I would really like that. We haven’t spent any real time together in a while. I miss my Monica.”
“Me, too, Mom, and I know.”
“Well, I was just calling to see how you were doing. Oh, and by the way, I gave Grayson your number. He wanted to check on you because I told him you were sick. He’s such a nice man.”
So that’s the weird number I didn’t recognize.
Damn it, Mom.
“Uh, well, I didn’t get any phone calls, maybe he’ll call later,” I say, hoping that she doesn’t catch onto my lie.
“Okay, sweetheart, take care of you.”
“I will, Mom.”
“And call me if you need anything.”
“I will, Mom.”
“Okay, I love you.”
“I love you, too, Mom,” I say as I hang up the phone.
I go to the weird number in my phone and add it to my block list.
Grayson Williams would not be getting any more of my time.
No way.
It was time to cut the craziness off and focus back on my life.
He was a distraction and right now, that was the last thing I needed.
If I were to get involved with a guy, I want to have a real relationship, not one where we argue all the time or the guy was a shallow jerk. I don’t need that.
No way.
I need someone who will ask me about my day and actually cares about me as a person.
I want a real man. That’s what I need. A fireman or someone.
Not a billionaire’s son.
I couldn’t go through the heartache of dealing with Grayson. Not him.
I don’t know what his intentions are but I do know they aren’t pure so I needed to leave him alone.
With any luck, I wouldn’t run into him anytime soon because I don’t know how I would handle it.
I don’t need him.
No way.
Chapter 8
I swivel my hips with a nice rhythm.
The men cheer and hollow for me as I walk past.
“Yes sexy!” one of them shouts.
Sometimes, it can be very empowering to have people cheering for your body.
Sometimes, I really enjoy this job.
It had been a week since I had been back at work and I was back in full swing.
I had to catch up on my student loans and pay my cell phone bill. All of the major bills were paid and so I was in the clear with all of those.
I was mainly on floor duty tonight so, hopefully, I can pull enough lap dances to cover what I needed to cover and have some money left over to have some fun.
Although, these days, fun mostly consisted of sitting in front of the TV, eating ice cream.
I walk around the floor and notice the nerdy guy who gave me almost all of his money from last time. I look his way and he waves me over.
“Hey, sexy,” I say as I sit down beside him. “How may I help you?”
“Can I get a lap dance?” he asks with a smile.
“Sure,” I say as I take the money from him and begin to twist on his lap.
I bounce up and down on him a little and then I turn around to face him.
“Where have you been the last few days? I’ve been looking for you. The other girls don’t even look my way. The only one who pays me any attention is you,” he says as he puts a hundred dollars in my G-string.
“I was off the past couple of days. Had a weird encounter so had to clear my head and figure some things out.”
“I hope it was nothing dangerous.”
I shake my head. “No, nothing like that. Just some personal stuff, that’s all, but it’s handled now, so I’m not worried about it. Nothing for you to worry about.”
I smile and wink at my nerdy man.
“Well, that’s good. I missed you. You were the highlight to my boring life behind the computer.”
“Well, dance is over, enjoy your night, Steven. I’ll have to tell some of the other girls to nice to you because you’re such a little sweetheart.”
“Thank you, I will enjoy the rest of my night, especially now that I saw you. Have a good night, girl.”
I wink at him again and walk off.
He seems to have more confidence than the last time I saw him.
I walk around the club and I get that feeling that someone is watching me. I look over at the nerdy guy but he’s talking to another guy who looks even nerdier than him.
I turn to my other side and I see Grayson standing in the middle of the room.
Damn.
What is he doing here?
What a pig.
I immediately start to walk toward the back but he catches me and grabs me by the arm.
“So can I get a private dance?” he asks.
“No! No, you may not! Why the hell are you even here? I know you see I haven’t been returning your phone calls. I don’t have anything to say to you and I’m damn sure not shaking a thing for you. You must be out of your damn mind!” I yell at him.
I see James, the club owner, coming back over toward me and I already know it’s going to be the same episode from last time.
He looks at Grayson, smiles politely and then grabs me by the arm.
“Monica, I thought we went over this last time,” he talks through gritted teeth, “You always give the customer what he wants and this is a very important customer. He has spent a lot of money here over the last few days and you seem to be his favorite girl. I don’t know why you insist on making things so difficult. It’s not like I’m asking you to sleep with the guy.”
“No, I’m not dancing for him but you can. That guy is rude and is a complete asshole and I will not be subject to dealing with him anymore,” I say as I fold my arms across my chest.
He could say what he wants to say to me but I was not about to budge from my point.
There was no way I was going to a private room with Grayson.
No way.
“You know you will be fired if you don’t dance for him, right? It’s one dance, it’s not going to kill you,” he says between clenched teeth.
“Well, you don’t have to fire me because I quit! I’m done dealing with you and him! Now if he’s such a good customer, then he will continue to spend money whether I dance for him or not! Now both of you can kiss my ass because I am out of here!” I yell at him and storm toward the back.
I hear James saying something to Grayson but I don’t stick around to hear what it is.
I go in the back, grab my moneybox, and throw on the clothes that I walked in the club with, over my other clothes.
I walk from the back, look at the club owner and Grayson one more time, and leave.
I don’t even bother giving James his share of tonight’s takings. I’m done here.
I’ve been using this job as a crutch too long anyway and it is time I start to look for a job in my field.
I throw the moneybox and the rest of my stuff onto the backseat of my car and aggressively drive home. I have never used the car horn so much.
Why do people drive that badly anyway?
I pull into the driveway at the house, grab the moneybox, and head inside.
Rose is sitting on the chair in her pajamas, texting on her cell phone, and she looks up at me.
“I thought you had to work the rest of the night,” she says as she places the cell phone down.
I sigh. “I did but I quit so I will be working no more nights.”
A shocked expression crosses her face. “Really? Why? Did a customer get a little too rough? Oh, wait, did James do something to piss you off? He has been feeling himself a little too much lately. I almost cussed him out the other day but I held it in.”
“No, Grayson showed up again asking for a private dance but I refused and then James started to threaten me about the customer is always right or whatever and I told him he should dance for him because I quit. There was no way I was going in a private room with that man. I’m so over him and his games that it’s ridiculous. I was having a nice night but he just sat there and ruined it all for me. ”
“Grayson came back to the club?”
“Yes, weren’t you listening?”
“Girl, he has it bad for you. That’s the only reason I can think of why he would keep showing up asking you for private dances and stuff. I just think he doesn’t know how to approach you.”
“No, he just likes to get on my nerves. And I’m done being a little toy to him. I have to hold on to as much self-respect as I can get, you know? I mean, he just walks up to me and was like, “Can I get a private dance?” This is all a very sick and twisted game to him but it’s my life! I just wish he would crawl in a cave somewhere and leave me the hell alone.”
“I understand… but I still say that he has it bad for you, otherwise, why go through all of the trouble? It doesn’t make any sense.”
“Because he’s an asshole. That’s what asshole’s do. He is an absolute asshole. That’s why he’s going through all of this trouble.”
She laughs. “So what are you going to do for a job? Because the way our bills and your own bills are set up, you’re going to need one.”
“I have enough to cover me for a little while but I’m going to start applying for jobs in my field. Time for me to quit procrastinating and give the business world a chance.”
“Finally going to put your degree to use, huh?”
“With as much as it cost me, I need to. As you know, I’m still paying the bills so I am going to do something with it if it kills me.”
She laughs. “I don’t blame you. So what can you do with an English literature degree anyway? Stuff that has to do with reading or something?”
“Lots of stuff but I really want to teach a college course or something like that, you know?”
“Not me, I would not look forward to that. Grading papers, dealing with crazy students, and so many other negatives, it’s ridiculous.”
“But it really is what I want to do. It’s my dream.”
“Well, go for it. Hopefully, you can make something happen soon.”
“Yeah, I hope so, too,” I sigh. “What a crappy day. Actually what a crappy month.”
“So do you want to get in on this ice cream action or what?” Rose smiles at me.
“I could use some ice cream action with the type of night I had.”
“Well, there’s a fresh carton of brownie chunks in there for you,” she says.
“That’s not the official name, but thanks,” I say with a laugh as I go and get the ice cream out of the freezer. I grab a spoon and take a seat beside Rose.
“You know you’re going to make something happen, right? You’re smart, beautiful and you’re a winner. You can do this,” she says.
“Thanks,” I say as I eat a big spoonful of ice cream.
“So to new beginnings,” she says as she raises a spoonful of ice cream.
“To new beginnings,” I say as I hit my spoon up against hers.
Chapter 9
Today is a very important day for me.
It was the first day of the rest of my life, aka post stripper days.
I wake up bright and early and go into the kitchen to grab some orange juice.
I pour a tall glass and head back into the lounge room.
Logging into my laptop, I start to look for jobs within my field. I scroll college sites and other educational sites but there aren’t many jobs that don’t require previous experience.
Searching the Internet for jobs, I realize there isn’t much about.
I take a deep sigh.
“Things will work out,” I whisper to myself.
I apply for a few jobs where people were asking for papers and books to be written, and hoped I would get the job because I knew I could use the cash. After two hours of applying to as many jobs as I can, I decide to take a break.
I grab some sandwich meat and cheese and being to prepare me a sandwich. I grab a soda out of the fridge, place it on the counter, and grab a bag of chips.
Sigh.
I should get used to this routine, because it looks like I might be job-hunting for a while.
I walk into the living room and begin to flip through the channels and settle on an old sitcom. It’s poorly acted, I know the jokes, and the script is terrible but it is nice to watch something so easy.
I guess that’s what entertainment can be - very comforting.
I eat my sandwich and am halfway through my bag of chips when Rose walks into the house, carrying a few bags.
“So how’d the job hunting search go this morning?” she asks.
“I didn’t see much but I applied for every one I saw,” I say as I take a sip of soda from my can.
“That’s good. I hope you get one of them. How long were you filling out applications?”
“About two hours before I finally called it a day. Will look again tomorrow and see if any new ones are posted.”
“Well, that’s all you can do right now, unless you’re thinking about going to the pole.”
“Nope, I’m not going back. I can’t deal with Grayson bothering me or with James harassing me.”
“Well, then I suggest you continue with the job hunt. But what if you don’t get one soon, what are you going to do for money? I can help out with what I’ve been doing but you know our bills will be piling up again soon.”
I sigh.
I don’t want to admit it.
“I think I will just have to ask my Mom for some money then but that’s the last thing I would want to do. Ever.”
“But if you’re going to need it, then you may just have to swallow your pride.”
“I know, but hopefully, it won’t come down to that.”
“Always good to have a Plan B.”
“I know. I just hate asking my Mom for help.”
“But that’s what parents are there for. To help you when you fall.”
“Well, if I don’t have a job or a job interview in the next two weeks, that’s what I’m going to have to do. Swallow my pride.”
“Just keep the faith, it will all work out.”
“I know it will. It just may not work out when I need it to work out.”
“As long as it does, that’s all that matters, right?”
“Yeah, I guess you would be right about that.”
“I know I am but in the meantime, want to see what I got from the store?”
I shake my head. “No, I would be super jealous right now because all of my money has to go toward bills.”
She looks sad but nods her head. “I guess, but when you get your fancy job, we can go shopping together once again and all will be okay in the world.”
I laugh. “Let’s hope I get the new fancy job first.”
“I’ll say it in my prayers tonight, how about that?” she says.
“If that’s all it took, I’m sure the unemployment rate would be nonexistent.”
We look at each other and start laughing.
I love having Rose as my roommate.
She can always cheer me up and right now, that’s exactly what I need in my life because I was at a serious crossroads and had to find a path soon.
Quickly, two weeks go by.
I had yet to find a job in the field where my degree was relevant. My
cell phone bill was overdue, my half of the rent was coming up, along with the light bill, groceries, and basically everything I need to survive.
I twirl my phone in my hand, dreading making the call to my Mom but I knew it had to be done or I would be moving back in with her and George and I definitely did not want that to happen.
I take a deep breath and press the button to dial my Mom’s number.
“Hello!” says my Mom into the phone.
“Hi Mom, how are you?” I ask her.
“I’m good, how are you, sweetie?”
“Not so good.”
“What’s wrong, sweetheart? Are you sick? In some kind of trouble?”
“I quit my waitressing job two weeks ago because the boss was being terrible,” I lie, “And I have been trying to find a job to use my degree in but it hasn’t been easy and now my bills are piling up and I feel as if I’m about to go crazy!”
“Well, why didn’t you call me sooner, sweetheart? You know that I would help you with no problem.”
“I don’t know. I just wanted to do it on my own, I guess, but I see that, at this moment, I can’t. I need help.”
“That’s ok. That’s what Mom’s are for. I will send money to your house first thing in the morning. Don’t worry about it. It should tide you over for a while. I can also help you get a job in your field as well if that’s what you want to do. I don’t understand why you have to be so stubborn all of the time and not accept the help I try to offer to you.”
“You know I like to be independent.”
“Sometimes it is okay to ask for help.”
“I know Mom, and I’m asking now.”
“I’m glad you are finally asking. I will send the money and make a few calls in the morning to get you a job in your profession.”
“Thanks Mom, I love you.”
“I love you, too, sweetheart. Is there anything else you need?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“Monica?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for asking.”
Her words bring a tear to my eye.
She is a good Mom and she has always been there for me when I needed it. I should really try to talk to her more.
