Stripper Ripper

Poppy's Story

As "Poppy Seed" walked through the blood red velvet curtains that covered the back of the stage, a smattering of applause interrupted her thoughts. She continued along the thread bare dimly lit hallway to the performer's change room. She plunked herself down in her chair and stared at her reflection in the lighted make up mirror. How much she looked like her mother, she thought.

"Hey kid." Poppy turned to see Cinnamon Tea entering from the back alley stage door. "Is it busy tonight?"

Poppy shook her head and turned back to the mirror. She reached for some makeup remover and pulled her hand back.

"What the...?" She looked closer and saw small pieces of one of her favourite costumes mixed in the jar. She turned back to her clothes rack to see her top shredded.

"They did it again, why I'm not taking away someone's job. I just want to make a living. They'll pay for this!"

Cinnamon put her bag on her chair and leaned in closer to her mirror, she picked away some sleep that was in her eye. "Now I remember why no conventions in town and its exam time at college. I'm goin' to havta put on the charm to get 'em in the back room."

Poppy shrugged her shoulders and threw a sad smile at Cinnamon.

"Is Sugar Plum or Vanilla Toffee in yet?"

Poppy turned and shook her head.

"Gee kid I wish you could talk to me."

Poppy hadn't spoken in years. She would not give anyone the pleasure to hear her stutter through a sentence ever again. Poppy's father was cruel and merciless when it came to mocking her, that's when he wasn't drunk or high and physically abusing her.

The girls thought she was mute. Poppy liked it that way because she didn't have to explain anything. More important she didn't have to lie.

Cinnamon Tea was always kind to her and Poppy liked her very much. Cinnamon stood up for her and taught her how to get the clients to surrender their last dollar to her and give them nothing but a smile of their fat, sweaty faces.

Poppy grabbed another jar of makeup remover from the cupboard and started to take off her makeup.

CHAPTER TWO

As she scrubbed the makeup off she remembered the night her mother died. It was her Mum's birthday and they went out for dinner at her Mum's favourite restaurant. The whole family was there and it was a wonderful evening.

Poppy was proud of her mother she loved their time together whether it was helping her out at the studio, or going out on a special girl's day, that was even more special when her Mum's sister would join them. Poppy's mum would encourage her in everything she would do.

As the party came to a close her father was feeling no pain and became angry when her mother and aunt suggested they take a cab home.

A mile from the restaurant the car slid off the road and rolled down a gully into a tree. Her mother crashed through the windshield. Poppy watched in horror as her mother landed head first against a large rock. Her father was slumped over the steering wheel.

Poppy crawled out of the wrecked car to her mother. She held her and watched her breath in the cold night air. Her Mum opened her eyes and smiled when she saw Poppy and breathed her last.

That night changed Poppy's life. She started to stutter and became very withdrawn.

Her father used the insurance money to get drunk and when that stopped working he bought drugs. Poppy was left her mother's house and that infuriated her father.