My Daughter, Audrey [ON HOLD]

The Show

The club was packed that night.   Rumor had it that one man could have backstage passes with the girl of his choice, then again, it was just a rumor and probably a way to reel in more viewers.   Peter and Audrey pawed their way through the crowd and into the main room where the girls were already performing.   Obnoxious violin music screeched throughout the halls as liquor was being passed around.  The air was coated with a thin layer of cigar and cigarette smoke, making Audrey cough and sneeze.

               “I’m sorry, darling, this is a ‘orrid place to bring ya.  We’ll slip backstage 'n' see if we can spot Jennie!”

               “I can’t breathe really well!”  Audrey wheezed, pointing to her throat.

               Peter picked her up and carried her towards his reserved seat.  The doors to the back rooms were shielded off by cops and the only way to get to the back was to wait till closing time.   Peter was willing to do that unless Audrey began to fidget and whisper loudly.   “Alright, Ace, sit on my lap like a good girl.  We’ll wait till the show is ova.”

               Number after number went by, and Audrey was fascinated with the whirling skirts, the tossing of expensive jewelry, and the strange solo dances put on in front of strange men.   Audrey nestled into Peter’s arms and yawned.  “When is Jennie coming?”

               “She’s been in an’ out, love.  The show is almost done.  See?  There’s  Jennie!”

               Audrey rubbed her eyes and clapped along with the whistling and hollering man.

               Jennie came out and bowed.   She waved and blew kisses to the crowds before continuing her routine.   The girls around her danced slowly while she undressed down to her under garments.  The music heightened as she swayed her hips and ran her fingers through her hair.   She spun twice, ripping her necklace and bracelets off and then stopped on her toes.   She let the crowd applaud while her eyes scanned the crowd.   Her eyes landed on Audrey and she stopped, mouth opening in humiliation.  Forgetting where she was, she ran over to the edge of the stage and dropped to her knees.

               “Oh, Peter, she wasn’t supposed to ever see me like this!”   She tried to reach for something to cover herself, but all her clothes had been thrown to the men.

               Peter, feeling entirely dreadful, stood up in his seat. “I’m sorry, Jennie!  Wot was I thinkin’?  I didn’t want to leave her alone in the shop!”

               “Sit down, lad!”  growled an old man, standing up, too.

               Audrey frowned at the man and pressed an index finger to her lips.  She shushed him loudly.  The man looked around uncomfortable and he sat down, trying to blend into the crowd.

               “I understand, Peter, but I said after the show!”  Jennie sobbed before the stage manager stomped out on stage and yanked her to her feet.  Jennie yelped at the surprising pain in her wrist.

               The crowd got excited and some even egged the stage manager to get rougher.

               Peter crawled over the seats in front of him, still keeping Audrey in his arm, and made it to the platform.  He sat Audrey down on the stage and ran over to the stage manager, who was now enjoying handling Jennie so indecently.   “Git yer 'ands off her”  Peter snarled, jerking the man off of Jennie.   The stage manager landed with a sickening thud.  He rubbed his sore jaw and stared up at Peter, who was hovering over him with balled fists.