The Beginning (2 page)

“Welcome” he said. “Go ahead get ready in the dressing room; you will go on stage at seven. Did you think of a name?”

“Yes, Lenox.”

“Like the hospital?”

“No, like the fine china.”

“Good name. Classy, that works well for girls. Ok go get ready and come see me at 6:50.”

I walked back towards the locker room and this time everyone looked at me and checked me out. Suddenly feeling like fresh meat made me nervous. I opened the door to the dressing room and didn’t know where to start. But it was decided for me. A tall skinny model-type handsome black guy was sitting in the barber chair reading Forbes magazine. He looked up when I opened the door and said “OMG so glad I am here you really need my help. Get up in this chair girl I need all the time I got with you!!”

I burst into tears and heaping sobs. All my nerves and insecurities came to a head and I crumpled to the ground like a bag of laundry. The black man came running over to me, passed me, opened the door and yelled across to the bartender leaning against the bar filing her long acrylic nails and yelled “Get me two double Ketel One and sodas with extra lemon” and came over, plopped down on the floor and enveloped me in a huge Burberry for men cologne hug.

“I’m sorry sweetie pie, don’t cry. I can be a real queen sometimes.”

“AND a bitch” is yelled from one of the stalls.

“Yes and a bitch and you are lovely, I was crass, and I am sorry You are so pretty and all I meant was that you need me to bring out the sexy glam tiger in you is all. We want to make those men cum in their boxer briefs when they see you on stage. Forgive me?”

Just then, the door opened and a spray tanned arm reached in with a cocktail tray and two drinks. No face, just the tray, he leaned over and grabbed them off it and handed me one.

“To you sexy girl and all the fucking money I am going to help you make” and clinked my glass and we sipped. It was strong but good and the warmth washed over me and soothed my nerves almost immediately. I looked at him and smiled.

”Alcohol a strippers best friend, glass of courage and pain reliever all in one.”

“Good coke works too” came again yelled from the stall.

“Shut up you laxative taking bitch and get out of here. Ignore her, she’s drama in payless pumps.”

I smiled felt better and stood up. He grabbed my hand and helped me up and said “Hi I am Samson, what’s you name?”

“Katherine”

“We already have a Katherine” yelled from the stall.

Samson rolled his eyes but looked at me and said, “Yeah we do.”

“Well my stage name is Lenox.”

“Ok girl you need to be that person when you walk in the door. Create that persona, be her, or when someone calls your name and you don’t answer their fantasy is over and the money stops Ok? Lets start on your hair.”

In thirty minutes, Samson had my formerly average dirty blonde hair cascading into long thick soft ringlets down to my shoulders, and he gave me a little lift on top to keep it out of my face he said. It was sprayed and teased and amazing and he promised it would stay sleek and de-frizzed all night. “You know if you got some bright blonde highlights around your face and on the top of your head it would really stand out and make you pop under those lights when you are onstage. Let me know I can refer you to someone.”

“In a ghetto apartment walk up, bring a knife.” came from the stall.

“Shut up bitch and eat more prunes!”

I was DYING to see who the hell was in there and what they were doing all this time.

“Maybe when I have some money I will think about it.”

“Ok let me know, she is really reasonable but very good.”

He then turned me away from the mirror and started to work on my makeup. Another 45 minutes and I was stunning. Gorgeous even and I barely recognized myself but I was still me underneath the smooth glowing skin, the perfectly arched eyebrows, my sun kissed cheeks, and the amazing Kim Kardashian contouring bone structure. But then my attention fell on the lips. My lips were a full perfect luscious pout. Soft, slick, shiny, and kissable as a Victoria’s Secret model. I was sexy, glowing, hot and I knew I was going to be making some money tonight.

“Ok girl, love affair is good with yourself but over for right now, we have to get you ready for the stage. Have you done this before? I am guessing not.”

I shook my head and my perfectly tousled hair shook in slow motion back and forth.

“Ok” Samson said, “here is how you get through the first night, before you go on stage, stand off to the side and look around the club for a guy that you find attractive. Someone you would see in a bar and get hot for. That is the guy you need tonight. You focus on him, dance for him, get in the mind set that you want him watching you and when he does, you wink, and smile. He and his attentions will build your confidence and get you through all your nerves tonight. Just worry about that, and see how it goes. Now what did you bring to wear?”

I showed him my bag; he dug around and pulled out a simple pair of black satin and lace panties, with a matching black satin push-up bra.

“Put these on and use this lotion on your legs.”

He handed me some silky bronzing type with glitter in it. The outfit looked kind of plain to me, but I did as I was told. Then I put on the black patent pumps that I had practiced in earlier. “All you need is these.” and Samson me a beautiful pair of long crystal chandelier earrings. A quick tousle of my hair and I was ready. I finished my double Ketel One, Samson dabbed some fresh gloss on my lips and slapped me on my ass and said “Go get that money tiger!”

Before I hit the door I turned, “What about my stuff?”

“Girl, nobody wants what you brought” shouts out from the stall.

“I’ve got extra locks, I’ll put it all in here for you, and watch it.” Samson said, “Come see me for a touch up when you get off stage.”

“Ok, and thanks Samson” and winked.

“Oooohhh that wink girl, use that on stage.”

“HEY!” came a shout from the stall. I had almost forgotten about her, almost, “You want the DJ on your side!! Remember that always.” Samson nodded in agreement. The hair, the face, the vodka, I was confident and I strutted down the steps out the door and into the club.

I sauntered over to the manager and as I strutted by the bar, my head held high and looking straight ahead I felt all eyes on me. Whether it was because I was a new girl or just fucking hot I didn’t know, and I didn’t care. As I approached, the manager looked up from his paper and smiled. I knew he was pleased with how I turned out.

“Well Lenox are you ready? Wanna a drink first to smooth the jitters?” he asked.

“No thanks, I had one already.”

“Ok lets get the DJ over here.”

He picked up a phone, said two words and the DJ left the booth and came over.

“Hey hot stuff what’s your handle?” He said looking at my tits.

He was about 45 and looked like a DJ straight from a bad 70’s disco movie, cheap clothes and comb-over to match.

“This is Lenox” the manager said, “It’s her first time on stage.”

“Hey Hey Hey a virgin! I like those!” Ugh, cheesy creep.

“What do you want me to spin for your entrance?”

“Entrance?”

“Yes,” the manager points to the stage and I notice that it faces the long bar in a W shape. “You enter here on the left and work you way from pole to pole point to point until you have worked up and down the W passed all the men sitting at the bar top there and then you exit. You are up for 2 songs, first song left side, second song right side. We play whatever song you want for your entrance, then the girl behind you has an entrance song and that is your second song…got it?”

I nodded. This is about to get real.

“Ok so what’s your poison?” and I looked back to the DJ. The last words I heard in the locker room still in my head.

“You look like a smart guy,” I said to the DJ, “why don’t you pick for me? You know much more than these things that I do.” I touched his arm and I smiled: he ate it up and said “yes, yes I do” and walked away.

“End of this song your up.” He shouted without turning around.

“Smart girl” the manager said, “You can stand over there at the end of the bar until you’re called.” 

I waited and suddenly realized I was nervous. Holy fuck what now…too late...crap...ok...I can do this...I can do this…I CAN DO THIS!  Then I heard a deep booming voice…”Gentleman do I have a treat for yooouuuu, fresh off the mean streets of New York CIT-AY a new girl, a lost lamb, she needs to feel loved and welcomed, put your hands together, if they are free that is, for our new china doll…LENOX!!!!” and with that David Bowies China Girl began to play…damn this guy is GOOD!

I moved over to the steps feeling sexy and confident. I grabbed the banister and climbed up the three little steps to the stage, the lights flooded me with warmth immediately and it took me a minute to get my bearings. Shit, I realized I never looked for a cute guy to dance for.
“l could escape this feeling, with my little china girl.”
I heard whistles and catcalls and felt my chest lift up and I walked out onto the stage and grabbed the pole.
“ I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder”
All the nerves fell away and I began to dance, sway back and forth, after a minute I found my groove and began to look down at all the men lining the stage at the attached bar top. This is easy, I am not nervous at all. They were waving and holding up money. I didn’t know how to take it, did I need a garter? Shit.

“Come here honey,” an older man called out, I walked over and bent down.

“What do I do?” I whispered. 

“Take the money honey, that’s why you’re here right?” I nodded and grabbed the bill.

I worked my way down the men, grabbing, shimmying, and shaking. Some had requests, some wanted me to crawl, bend over, and grab it from behind. I didn’t know if I was allowed to do any of it, so I just smiled and took the money from those that didn’t ask for anything in return. When my song was ending and I was half way through the W, they started saying;

Take off your bra!

Let us see your tits!

Show us the money honey!

Then for some reason, all of the sudden I got nervous. Up until now I think it felt like I was just dancing at a club or something, but now it got real, real fast. I finally froze and did not know what to do. The guys in the front started to chant “take it off! take it off!!” and this made me more nervous as I stood there. I looked up and around for help but could barely see anything with the bright lights. I looked over to where the manager was sitting and he kind of half smiled and shrugged watching to decide if I would do it. I looked to left and I saw all the girls not dancing huddled up and watching me. They huddled together whispering, almost as if they were taking bets on me. I looked down at my feet and while this entire delay felt like it was an hour in front of everyone starting at me, it was probably only 10 seconds.

I looked over to the far left of the stage and I saw him. I could tell he was beautiful even with the lights shining in my eyes. His short dark silky hair was a little messed up on top, with a strong face, and lips that quirked up into a little smile. He was looking at me with such intensity that I ceased to hear the music, then he tipped his head and raised his left eyebrow at me as if to say, “well, what are you going to do?” He was just what Samson told me to look for, a cute boy to focus on. However he wasn’t a boy, he was most definitely a man. A fine strong capable looking man. His encouraging look gave me the boost I needed and I decided to just go for it and reached the tiny front snap clasp of my bra and undid it with one hand. My tits popped out free and the men whooped and clapped and threw money at my feet. I laughed aloud and felt great. I was sexy and in control. I love this! I just held the money in my hand and threw my bra to the back of the stage. I totally forgot there was another girl with me up there, and I didn’t care. In fact, I was strangely jealous and suddenly felt protective of the men’s attention and money. Towards the end of the second song the DJ popped back on the mic.

“What do you say guys? Is she a keeper? Should we give her a home?” There was loud applause and hollers. I felt great and proceeded to leave the stage. What do I wear off stage? Hold my bra in front of me?  I decided to make a run for it, and as I began to head towards the locker room, the strong capable man grabbed my wrist and said, “Buy you a drink?” He has deep oceanic eyes you can sink into.

“Yes,” I said. “Give me a minute?”

“I’ll wait longer… much, much longer for you.” he replied and I melted a little bit inside. I stood there, with him holding my wrist, and him holding my gaze for a few long beats of my pounding heart.

“Ok.” And he released my wrist with a grin and I ran to the locker room to freshen up.

Samson was waiting with a towel and a brush and began to pamper me like J. Lo. fresh off a two hour concert. “You were great! A natural! So beautiful!” He told me.