Lady Madonna

Dirty Maggie Mae

YEAR: 1964

"I-I'm sorry?"
"My name is Maggie Mae Eastman," I repeated
"Like the whore on Lime Street?"
"Exactly," I smiled.
"Wow, yer parents must've really liked the song," he teased.
"Darling, I was born years before that song was even made,"
"Really?" His eyes widened. "How old are ye?"
"27"
"Wow..."
"How old are ye?"
"22..."
"Yer just a baby,"
"Yer only five years older than me!" he laughed. "So...yer almost 30...most people would be tryin to settle down by now,"
"Yep,"
"Why haven't ye found anyone?"
"No one wants to marry a stripper with a kid," I smirked.
"I would,"
"What?"
"Yeah, if we had enough in common, and I was sure I loved ye, I'd marry ye,"
"Wow...no ones ever said that before," I blushed. "H-Heather, come on!"
"Why do we have to go!"
"Cause I said so...come on then," I picked her up. "Thanks for everythin Paul, te-ta,"

I began walking home with Heather resting on my waist. She began to nod off and eventually fell asleep on my shoulder. I walked up to my apartment to find someone waiting by the door.

"Excuse me...why are ye standin by my house?"
"Hi...are you Maggie Eastman?"
"Depends who's askin," I whispered, trying not to wake Heather up. "Excuse me," I said as I opened my door.
"May I come in?"
"Who are ye?"
"Linda," she smiled.
"Oh my god," I smiled. "Give me a minute, make yer self comfortable," I said as I walked into Heather's room, putting her down for a nap. "Hi," I smiled as I opened my arms for a hug.
"Hi," she hugged back.
"How have ye been?"
"Fine...you?"
"Fine I suppose,"
"How's the little thing?"
"She's great. Very smart for her age," I smiled as I cleaned up around the house. "If I knew ye were comin I would've cleaned up," I chuckled. "So, why are ye here?"
"Haven't seen you in a while,"
"Yer not here to take Heather are ye?" My body tensed up.
"What? No...why would I do that?"
"I don't know," I chuckled.
"Maggie, I gave her to you...she's yours. To be honest, I don't think I've ever seen you so happy,"
"What do ye mean?"
"You looked so happy with her...tired...but happy," she chuckled.
"I love her so much,"
"So...is there anyone new is your life?"
"No, not really. Y'know, I'll have a one night stand here and there but other than that I don't have much goin on,"
"Don't you think you should be finding a dad for Heather?"
"Oh my god, not you too!"
"What?"
"Ugh, the guy I shagged last night gave me the same stupid speech,"
"Maybe he wanted something more than a shag? Is that what it's called?"
"Highly doubt it...he's engaged," I mumbled.
"He's what!"
"Shhh! And I didn't know until the next day,"
"Oh my god, you did not spend the night at his house!"
"He came here ye twat,"
"And he spent the night? Oh dear lord, this guys an idiot. Did he see her?"
"Mhmm...he liked her a lot,"
"I-I don't know how to respond..."
"No one said ye needed to,"
"Touché,"
"I'm sorry, would ye like a drink or somethin?"
"I'll have some water." I gave her a weak smile and walked into the kitchen. "Thanks,"
"Mhmm...so how did ye find me?"
"Ye sent me a letter when ye moved here," she smiled.
"Right," I chuckled.
"So, can I ask you one thing?"
"Go ahead,"
"Why did you change your hair? You were such a pretty blonde," she teased.
"I liked red more,"
"Well you look pretty," she smiled.
"Thanks,"
"So what do you do for a living?"
"Let's not talk about that," I mumbled.
"Why not?"
"Let's just say I live up to my name,"
"Oh no...Maggie-"
"What? What's wrong with bein a whore?"
"Maggie-"
"Don't Maggie me! I'm 27 years old! I do what I want! I don't sass from a 19 year old!"
"You are so smart! You could've been a lawyer or a doctor, but no...you had to be a stripper!"
"Ye seem to be forgetting that we didn't have money for me to go to college!"
"Mum," Heather mumbled as she walked out. "Why ye yellin? Who's that?"
"Sorry I woke ye sweetie," I smiled. "This is my sister, Linda...say hi,"
"Hi," she mumbled.
"Hi...Heather is it? Your mom has told me a lot about you," Linda smiled.
"I've never heard of ye..."
"Sorry I don't talk about the family much," I chuckled.
"Ye sound different," Heather intruded.
"I'm from America," she smiled.
"Oh...mum where's Paul?"
"Who's Paul?" Linda raised a brow.
"My shag," I whispered. "Um...he's back at his house,"
"Oh...will he be back?"
"Probably not...sorry baby,"
"Why not?"
"Why do ye care? You've never cared about one of my friends before," I chuckled.
"I liked him!"
"I'll see if I can meet him again. Okay?"
"Okay!" She ran into the living room to watch the telly.
"Hey, I gotta head to work, would ye mind watching her?"
"Sure," she sighed.
"I'm headin to work honey, be good for Linda. Okay?"
"Okay..."
"Bye," I kissed her forehead.
"Bye."

***

That night I tried to get my mind off of Paul. I was stuck working the bar that night; the only upside is that I didn't have to put on the uncomfortable outfit. I was sat there, bored for most of the night until one familiar man caught my attention.

"Hello there," he said, "I'd like a tea."