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The Move

The Move

There were five people jammed into Tori's little red Honda and everyone was drunk except for her. This was usual for a Friday night, and they usually not in this part of town. If it were, not for Jo volunteering them to pick Shauna up after work, she would not be here at all under any circumstances.

Where the hell is this place? Tori asked, as she cruised along the street called Broadway on the map and the pussy mile on campus.

Shauna said you couldn't miss it, Veronica Goings offered.

Yeah, well, this is our third time around this street. If we don't find it soon, I'm heading back to the dorm.

Don't be a stick in the mud, Tori, we'll find it, Candice Ford replied.

Yeah, take a hit of this and chill out, Joann Taylor said, passing a blunt to the front seat.

Joann was her best friend. They had known each other since grade school and roomed together in the upperclassman dorm. They were thinking about getting an apartment after this semester and she knew Tori did not smoke. Tori should have been mad, but she wasn't Jo was like that, always pushing her to relax and as she put it, live a little.

Get that shit away from me, Tori snarled as Monica Riley tried to pass her the joint.

Monica inhaled deeply and blew out a cloud of the reeking smoke right into Tori's face.

The car exploded into a fit of giggles as Tori coughed and choked. She desperately wanted to roll down a window, but in this area of town her innate caution overcame her desire.

Hookers ranged up and down the sidewalks, many accompanied by their pimps. Strip clubs and adult book, stores decorated the rundown facades in garish neon light. College students prowled along in groups, egging each other on and getting drunk. The occasional beat cop and his partner could be seen, as well as a few black and whites parked in warehouse loading docks. Hotels advertised rooms by the hour with free XXX feeds. Dealers had their corners staked out and junkies could be seen in every possible recess.

There it is, Veronica said, pointing to a rundown building with a girls, girls - girls sign flashing in red and gold.

A larger sign proclaimed The Harem in red lettering, but the sign was almost burned out with only the small 'a' still lit, explaining how they had missed it.

Tori rarely drank and never used drugs. She was the straight arrow among her friends. Her slightly prudish demeanor was tolerated because she was Jo's best friend and because she did not mind being designated driver. She had a contact high now and found parking to be difficult in the narrow alley behind the place. The lines seemed uneven, but she wasn't sure if that was just bad city planning or the way her head was spinning.

They all piled out and made their way to the front, stepping through a doorway covered only by Persian beads. Inside the door was a small foyer with Arabic murals and some very explicit photos of the dancers. A small, greasy man in black leathers sat behind a bank teller style grill with a money box.

Ten dollar cover charge, and two drink minimum, he declared, apparently unfazed by their gender.

After they paid, they made their way into a large, open room, with a main stage in the middle and two smaller stages at each end. The décor was a pathetic attempt at an Arabian harem, with pillows and silk wall hangings. Plastic scimitars hung on the walls and the waitresses all wore gauzy pants and pointy-toed slippers that reminded her of Jeannie from the old TV show. Each table had a small candle burning on it.
The place reeked of marijuana and stale beer.

It was not very crowded, and they found a table near the main stage. A few of the male customers gave them curious looks. One table had a bunch of frat rats and they seemed to be paying them more attention than the other patrons. Tori had the idea they were egging each other on to see if the girls wanted company, but nothing came of it. Soon a topless barmaid appeared.

She was an older woman, with sad, tired eyes and a listless manner that bespoke of extreme exhaustion. Tori noticed her breasts were large and very firm, obviously implants.

What can I get you? she asked.

Everyone ordered exotic sounding drinks, except for Tori. She was still flying from the weed and wanted to try and clear her head.

Do you have coffee? she asked.

Ignore her, Candice said, before the woman could answer.

Yeah, bring her a pink panty pulldown, Monica cackled.

"I don't..."

Be cool, Tori. Its only two drinks and were staying till Shauna gets off. You'll be plenty sober by then, Joann said reasonably.

Sweetie? the woman asked, with a tired, but apparently genuine smile.

Normally, she would have demurred, but she was feeling strange from the weed and she couldn't really make sense of her thoughts.

All right, I guess, she said.

So, when's Shauna goanna be on stage? Veronica asked excitedly.

Probably be a while, they work in rotations. She'll get a main stage introduction, then work the side stages, then the floor, then a break, then main stage again, Joann said.

You sure seem to know a lot about strip clubs, Monica observed.

I worked at T & A's two months last summer to pay for the cruise.

"Really? Make a lot?" the perpetually broke Veronica asked.

Oh, yeah. It is really, good money if you have a body or can dance. Even better if you will work the back room.

The back room? Tori asked.

Yeah. Girls take guys to the back rooms for private dances. If all you do is dance, it's thirty bucks, half going to the house, but if you're willing to give him a hand job or blow, you can make a mint because the house only takes ten more for extra services, no matter how much you make.

So, did you blow a lot of cute guys? Monica asked.

She was a great person when sober, but when she starts drinking, she gets really mean and snide. Everyone was used to it, so Joann took no offense.

No, I was making over two hundred a night in tips. I did not need to run any extra risks.

Two hundred a night? I was wondering why Shauna was doing this, Veronica exclaimed.

She wants that Mercedes pretty bad, but Mommy and Daddy are in a snit because her grades sucked so they won't get it for her.

How much do the waitresses make? Tori asked.

Not much. They are usually older women and do not look all that good anymore. A lot are single moms. These places rack up most of their profit on the weekends. The big earners usually only work two nights a week, so most of the waitresses you see on Friday and Saturday night are the dancers Monday through Thursday.

To be continued
Written by nutbuster (D C)
Published
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