WILD THANGZ by Winston Chapman (An Essence Magazine National Best Seller)

Chapter 12

In late January, Brea had to cover most of the bills for the month because I just didn't have

I planned to start paying her back once I got my job at R e f l e x .

Trina was struggling too, as her parents' divorce was getting extremely ugly. Accounts had been frozen to prevent either party from unfairly using money until a final court decision had been made, which reduced the normal free-flowing money she got.

Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield were strapped for cash paying each of their attorney's fees, mortgage on the house, Mr. Whitfield's apartment rent, Trina's tuition, among other bills.

At my suggestion, Trina moved-in temporarily with us at the beginning of January to stay out of the fray of the divorce.

When I informed Brea, she thought that Trina should pay a third of the rent.

After I threatened to smack the taste out of her mouth if she even so much as mentioned it to Trina, the friend we'd already betrayed once, Brea let it go.

Brea was making good money at both places, R e f l e x and Slick-N-Thick.

My music career wasn't going as smooth as I'd thought it would go. The best gig I'd been able to get was singing Christmas songs during the holidays at a few local malls for little cash.

When I needed to rely on Brea to pay some of the bills, she suggested that I at least check- out Slick-N-Thick as a possible source of income. She wasn't pressuring me because I owed her money, so I did go by the club.

Trina and I went by on one of the days, Brea was working to survey the scene. I watched dollar bills flowing like water.

I was surprised to find that it was nothing like I imagined.

Originally, I thought I'd feel awkward as a woman in a strip club, but there were many women there. Some were obviously gay, but most were not. It was more of a hangout place. Like a sports-bar that happen to have nude dancing.

There were pool tables and a vast array of televisions tuned to sports games.

Though the atmosphere was a pleasant surprise and I was desperate, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Trina and I laughed as the DJ called Brea to the stage by her stage-name, "Next booty on duty, Cool Breeze".

Brea smiled as we watched her during her routine that included acrobatic pole maneuvers. "It's not that bad working in here," Trina commented to me. "Gurrll, you trippin'!" I said with a surprise look.

"Naw, I'm just saying, it ain't that bad," Trina returned bobbing her head to the beat of the music as she watched Brea accepting bill after bill in her g-string from guys that kept coming up to her on the stage.

The more money Brea received, the more clothing she removed until she was completely naked.

"What are you sayin'? You'd actually consider working here?" I asked an entranced Trina.

"Mmmmm. Maybe. It's just nudity," she said, undeterred.

Trina's outlook on life had changed dramatically after her parents' split. Three-months ago, she'da been offended at the mere suggestion of her being a stripper. It was like she was a whole different person.

The increase in confidence was good, but I think she was over-compensating for her years of inhibition, too much too fast.

When Trina vacated her seat to go place a bill in Brea's g-string, I wanted to hide my face from embarrassment, but the room seemed unaffected by it. No one was staring at the sight of a woman tipping a woman.