Heaven

chapter 1: dime

The fluorescent lights in the club spasmed like the fading fragments of an orgasm. On the old wooden stage, a figure pumped shamelessly against the stripper's pole while Billy Idol screamed through the speakers. Arching back, the dancer's eyes closed and his long, black hair fell like silken threads over his semi-clad form. Clean sweat made him glisten as did the sticky glitter on his torso and arms. But he was fool's gold. A tarnished penny. Not worth much and not wanted anyway – just like the cheap, bargain bin glitter from K-Mart he hated wearing.

In the corner of the strip club, the DJ hunched down to snort a thin, white line from the back of his hand before returning to his music to turn it up even louder.

The dancer slithered serpentine to the beat of the song. He straightened up and then turned his attention to the patrons. Monday night brought few people. None of which were heavy tippers. Below him, a pair of hungry eyes beckoned. Lowering himself onto the floor, the stripper crawled along the length of the stage and grabbed the awaiting man by his tie. Reeling the ogler closer, the dancer shoved his body against the man's face and waited until a crisp bill was slid into the waistband of his underpants.

Fingers sticky from cheap liquor lingered a second too long on the stripper's belly before they tried to skitter lower.

The stickiness made the dancer's skin crawl. It was worse than the damned glitter. When he pulled back from the patron, the dancer saw a dollar bill peeking out.

"Are you serious? One dollar does not get you this, fucker," hissing, the dancer gave the man's tie an aggravated tug. "If you want to touch me, try slipping a twenty next time." Letting go of the tie, he watched the patron sputter then get up and leave in a huff. "It's great when the grody trash takes itself out." Rising, the dancer walked off the stage as his song bled into the next and another stripper walked out to do their set.

"One dollar. Is that all I'm worth? These Monday-nighters think they can get it for free." Scowling, the stripper entered the dressing room and glanced at himself in the mirror. His make-up had been stellar an hour ago, now the black kohl and shimmer around his eyes made him look more gargoyle than glam.

"Darling," replied a deep drawl from the opposite side of the room, "I was once tossed a dime. A fucking dime." Leaning against the wall, a dark-skinned figure in a garish orange feather boa and matching short shorts chuckled and pulled out a cigarette. "Deep breaths, Sina. Anyway, have you got anywhere else to go besides here?"

"I was thinking of running for president but the White House still hasn't called," Sina said sarcastically. Shrugging, he plopped himself on a chair and reached his hand out. "One ciggy. I swear, Cookie. I'll buy you a whole pack next week."

With a dramatic sigh, Cookie slid another cigarette out of the package and gave Sina a dirty look. "You said that last week, boy," he tutted as he crossed the room.

Sina bit his lip.

"And the week before." Flicking the cigarette to his companion, Cookie shook his head. "You're lucky you're cute or I would have beat your ass ages ago."

"Spare me the sexy talk," Sina muttered with the unlit cig dangling between his lips.

Leaning closer, Cookie jutted out a slender hip and flickered his lighter near Sina's face. "I don't care that you're the only friend I have, I will kick your butt one of these days. I swear to God."

Leaning the tip of his cigarette to the flame, Sina uttered under his breath, "Who? The all high-an'-mighty? What sort of fantasy have you been living in any way? Don't you know that Sky dweller doesn't give a shit? He may as well be dead."

Cookie frowned. When he exhaled, the feathers by his face shuddered. "You know I'm a God-fearing man," he replied gently.

"I've never seen you wear a cross." Taking a long drag, Sina looked up at his friend.

"A cross? In Purgatory? I'd scare most of the pervs away. When Saint Agatha's was open, I swear, I saw none of these people ever come in to get down on their knees to pray their wretchedness away. And I was there every Sunday."

Sina scowled. Above him, a ring of smoke mocked a halo. "Bet you they were too busy doing something else on their knees."

Rolling his eyes at Sina's comment, Cookie whacked him with his boa, just barely missing the cigarette's cherry. "Every Sunday." Stepping back, Cookie pointed a long finger at Sina. "I never saw you at church. Not once. And I've known you for ages."

"And a day. At least."

"So, what's your problem with church?"

Here we go again, Sina thought. As if! I'd bleed out my eyeballs if I were to walk into a church. Combust. Explode. Go up in flames like a petrol-drenched wad of cotton. 

He exhaled a ribbon of smoke then clicked his tongue. "I don't do church. Since you've known me for ages, you should know that. Tattoo it on your face so you see it in the mirror every time you go to beautify your face." He pointed to Cookie and the pale pink eyeshadow creating a three-quarter circle around his brown eyes. "You look like Jem." When Cookie shook his head and shrugged confused, Sina added, "Saturday morning cartoon. Jem and the Holigra... oh, never mind."

Turning away, Cookie headed to his make-up bag and pulled out a pink lipstick that matched the shadow.

Sina drew in a breath and smelt the faint strawberry scent coming from the lipstick."I can't believe you don't know who Jem is."

Touching the lipstick to his lips, Cookie huffed. "I don't watch Saturday morning cartoons. I'm not a child."

"And I am? I just happen to know a lot of stuff so I know who Jem is."

"You need God in your life, boy, not a kiddy show. You stink of the Devil sometimes, you know that? If I was you, I'd be getting on my knees once in a while."

Leaning back, Sina looked at the ceiling. A pair of horns jutted from his shadow. 

The cigarette in his hand birthed a long cylindrical ash that threatened to scorch his fingers. But Sina didn't flinch. "On my knees? Not for less than twenty dollars."

*Fun fact: I am an 80's kid and Jem was one of my favourite cartoons. Therefore, it is one of Sina's too!