Street Pole

Finding Truth

I wasn't stripping tonight but I was working the bar. Wale - Lotus Flower Bomb was playing and Sprinkles was up there doing her thing. Shorty was good but she wasn't on my level. I was taking orders and I looked at the front entrance and saw Dominique, Rocky, JaQuan, and Mack walk in the club followed by a cloud of smoke. I stopped everything I was doing and ran to the dressing room.

"Girl what's wrong with you?" Shay asked changing her clothes.

"My brother is out there." I sat at the makeup counter.

Knock knock

"Wassup?" Shay answered the door.

"Jelani you're on in 10." the owner of the club Raz  said when he entered the dressing room. 

"Wait what? I'm not dancing tonight." I stood up face to face with him.

"Baby these men aren't digging deep in their pockets enough for these girls. I told the DJ to play something slow so give it your all." he said then left the room.

"Shay what I'ma do? Domo can not see me." I paced back and forth in the middle of the floor.

"Just keep your face down and whatever you do DO NOT look their way." She said fixing her hair before going out.

I was putting on my sheer lace black costume. I strapped up my studded black 6in heels, wand curled my hair and fixed my makeup. I said a short prayer before I exited the dressing room.

"Now I need y'all to make some noise for Silk Platinum!" The Dj called and Pony by Ginuwine started playing.

As I made my way to the stage I kept my face down and got lost in the music. Halfway into the dance I looked up to see JaQuan not where he was when they first came in. I did a few more tricks. I watched the cash flow pick up. When the song ended I collected my money and went to my dressing room.

"3010, 3020, 30---" I was interrupted by a knock on my door. "Come in" I said as I continued counting my money.

"So this what you doing?" said the familiar voice. I turned to see JaQuan standing in my doorway.

"This has nothing to do with you Quan." I put up the cash.

"You right it has nothing to do with me but you think I'm not going to tell Domo?" He said about to turn around.

"JaQuan stop! You can't tell him." I ran to the door and closed it behind him.

"And why not? I thought you were above this lifestyle Jelani. Why are you doing this?" He asked with a sincere look in his eyes.

"When I moved here I found a job. But then I lost it."

"Why you just didn't come home?" He sat at the makeup counter.

"I couldn't stand to do that. I wasn't about to live off of Dominique."

"How much you got saved up?" He asked looking around.

"Enough. Why?" I raised my eyebrow.

"Cause when you leave here tonight you're not coming back."

"Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?" I was furious.

"It's settled. Now go tell Raz you quit."

"I'm not quitting my job JaQuan. You have no say so in what I do. I've been taking care of myself this long I think I can handle it a while longer."

"So what you expect me to do? Turn a blind eye to this?"

"No I expect you to be my friend and not tell my brother. You're the only one who knows and I can't let him find out."

"Jelani you got one week to find another job or tell him yourself. If you don't I will." And with that he left my dressing room.

I slammed the door behind him. I can't believe he just tried to come in here and give me an ultimatum. I got to get home. I changed out my clothes, grabbed my bag and car keys and went to the parking lot through the back exit.

At Home

"Baby?" I called out to DJ. His car was in the parking lot. But it's 2 in the morning so he should be asleep. I walked down the hall to Trey's room and saw him asleep on the floor with Trey in his banister asleep.

"Baby get up." I lightly shook him. He just turned over and opened his eyes slightly.

"What time is it?" He asked in his adorable sleepy voice.

"It 2 babe. Why are you on the floor?" I asked. He sat up and looked around.

"Shit who knows." He stood and hugged me.

"Go get in the bed. I'm about to shower." I told him as we both walked into my room.

"Baby why your stomach looks hard?" He asked touching it.

"Because it is DJ. Dang always touching me." I pouted going into the bathroom.

"Lani are you pregnant?" DJ asked coming into the bathroom.

"No. Why would you ask that?" I sat on the sink counter.

"Because all the signs are there. We've been having unprotected sex. You're always hungry or moody. The weight gain and your stomach is getting hard."

"Okay well if you're so concerned go buy me a pregnancy test." I turned on the shower.

"No place open this time of night." He went into the room.

"Wrong cause Walmart is open 24/7." I stripped and got in the shower.

"Ight I'll be right back." He closed the room door.

I got my hair wet and washed for about 20 minutes. I got out dried off and went into my closet. I put on one of DJ's big Hollister shirts and a pair of fuzzy socks. I pulled my hair into a bun. I went into the living room and watched tv. I was in the middle of watching Rugrats when DJ came in the door.

"Why your grown ass in here watching Rugrats?" He put the keys on the tray and sat beside me.

"Cause my rugrat asleep so I needed company." I layed in his lap.

"Don't call my son no rugrat." He threw the gray Walmart bag at me.

"Trey is a rugrat." I laughed and looked in the bag to see 3 different test.

"Well I only asked for one DJ."

"Aye man I just want to be sure."

"I guess. Go to bed I'm coming in a minute." I sat up and he just stared at me.

"Not until you take at least one of those test."

"I'm not taking them now babe I'm tired."

"Tired my ass Jelani. Get up and take that test." He said playful but serious.

I stood up in front if him, " I don't know who you think you're talking to but you not my daddy."

"You wasn't saying that the other night." He smacked my butt as I walking to the room with the bag.

"Childish ass." I laughed and went into the bathroom. I opened the first box, read the instructions and did as it said. I just sat there and waited.

5 minutes pass

DJ came in and sat at the counter, "So what does it say?"

"I'm not pregnant." I told him throwing away the test then walking back into the room.

He rubbed my back as I climbed into the bed.

"So what now?" I asked confusingly.

"Take another one next week. Just to be safe." He said turning me over to face him.

"I really don't see the point. And I'm not going to argue about it."

"Me either that's why you're taking that test next week. End of discussion and goodnight."

"Whatever." I said then drifted to sleep thinking about my entire day.