Big Bangs, Prohibition, and a Sugar Daddy

Modern Animal

Supper was eaten. We sat at the same table, but we were distant. Each of us wrapped up in their own thoughts. Until Luke spoke. "I should take you back to your Mother. I should never have gotten you involved in all of this."

"All of what? Luke." I was tired of Luke keeping me in the dark.

"Don't worry you're pretty blond head about what, just accept that it would be a mistake to let you continue here." Luke was trying to protect me from something.

"If you are displeased with my work, tell me." I pressed. "Or is it that I won't let you sleep with me?"

"You're work is more than satisfactory. It has nothing to do with my desire for you." Luke told me. "It is the fact that you could be in danger from my associates if you stay here."

"I have bills to pay. I left my other job because you pay me more. I doubt I can get a better paying one. If you are dismissing me, then I have little choice, I'll leave. But, I'd prefer to stay." I disliked being dismissed simply because Luke's associates might prove dangerous.

"You could be in danger."

"I don't care. I prefer to face a possible danger, then run away from imagined ones." I really didn't understand the real danger Luke was talking about. I only knew that I wasn't ready to leave.

"I will pay your Mother's medical bills. You would no longer be in debt." Luke gulped down the rest of his wine, then filled the glass up again. "Will that be satisfactory?"

"No. I will not accept your charity. I will work for you, paying off the debt through my salary." I would not be chased away from the first job I had enjoyed working at.

"I suppose I am stuck with you, than." Luke sounded amused. "Are you sure you aren't afraid?"

"Should I be?"

"Yes. It would be foolish of you not to be."

Today I brushed out my long hair for the last time. My long blond hair had flowed down to my waist. A woman came today and bobbed my hair. I've seen women with short hair. I never thought I would do it. The woman who came here was Mary Hettie. She didn't just bob my hair, Mary pierced my ears, showed me the modern makeup techniques.

"You look quite modern now." Mary had said. I was dressed in a terry cloth robe. We were in the Master Bathroom. I looked in the mirror. I hardly recognized myself.

Ingrid Mauchen was a recent immigrant. Possibly married a soldier after the Great War. She knew the modern styles. She brought with her two other women. I had to strip down to my knickers. She took all kinds of measurements. She told me that she'd ship some ready made garments tomorrow, but I had to wait for the tailored dresses. She had brought samples and I was allowed to select the colors or prints myself. Ingrid also assured me that I would receive a wide selection of lingerie with the ready made garments.

"For someone as well developed as you are, the modern style doesn't always flatter your figure." Ingrid's German accent had a certain charm to it. "A shame that you weren't born a couple of decades later. When your figure would be more appreciated."

I selected some jewelry as well that matched the dresses and gowns that Ingrid had suggested to me. Ingrid helped me to select the styles and colors by giving me advice. Not choosing them for me. I appreciated a say in what I was going to wear.

Ingrid brought back three 'off the rack' dresses that afternoon. She called them 'day dresses'. They were rather simple, shift like dresses. I think the most shocking thing about these cotton, light dresses was that the hemline was a full twelve inches from the ground. Falling to my mid-calves.