Fawne
Being homeless was not Fawne’s idea of fun. She stayed in the bar until it was time to close, hoping that Judy, Bones, or a drunk customer would invite her to sleep on their couch. She needed a job, but didn’t know where to start. She was missing her senior year of high school, she had planned to start after the baby was born, but her Poppy’s temper tantrum spoiled that plan.
Sometimes during the day Fawne would sneak into the dollar cinema and watch Purple Rain. She loved music and loved Prince. Watching Purple Rain a few times a week was almost as good as sitting on her grandparents’ couch/bed and watching MTV. Fawne wanted to change her name to Apollonia, but knew that nobody would be able to pronounce it. Besides, the name Fawne as the only thing her Mama ever gave her. She may as well keep it.
After an afternoon in the bar, Fawne asked Judy if she could crash on her couch again, but could tell that Judy wasn‘t too excited about it this time.
“I’m sorry honey, I’ve got someone coming over tonight…” Judy hoped that Fawne would catch her drift.
“Oh, okay.” Fawne nodded, understanding completely. “I’ll ask Bones.”
Bones had plans after work, but since there were no customers left in the bar to offer Fawne a couch, he agreed to let her tag along. He was mad at his wife and had every intention of taking advantage of his anger by doing something that she would disapprove of. Fawne’s hair was windblown from the ride and to her surprise they pulled up to a strip club. “You coming in?” Bones looked over at her.
“I guess so. I don’t have any money…”
“I’ll take care of all that.” Bones smiled. It was nearly three o’clock in the morning and most of the people inside, including the dancers would be drunk by now. Bones knew from experience, that it wouldn’t take much money to show Fawne a good time.
They headed inside, greeted by a giant bouncer. The bouncer nodded at Bones and gave Fawne the once over before letting them in. The lights were low, smoke clouded the room, and Fawne couldn’t believe her eyes. Women were half naked, walking around and dancing around. They looked happy about it! She wouldn’t be smiling and giggling if she had to go to work with nothing more than a string running up her behind. “Goodness.” Fawne covered her eyes at the sight of a couple having sex. “They should do that at home!”
Bones laughed whole heartedly at her, “That is called a lap dance.”
“Oh,” Fawne glanced over her shoulder and made a face. It just didn’t seem natural. Fawne was turning out to be more amusing than Bones had ever imagined. “Do they know each other?”
“No, unless he’s a regular.” Bones looked over at the brunette stripper who was writhing around and wondered if Fawne would oppose to him having one himself.
“What’ll it be?” A skinny blonde in a bikini wandered up take their drink order.
“ Two Buds.” Bones had been mixing drinks all night, and wanted nothing to do with liquor.
“Two?” Fawne whispered, giggling. “For me?”
“Yeah, why not. It’s a special occasion.”
“It is?” Fawne asked, taking him literally.
“Sure, why not?” Bones laughed at her naivety.
“One for you,” the waitress handed Fawne an opened beer bottle, “And one for you.” Bones took his and looked the waitress up and down. Fawne had never seen him act that way before.
“Come back in a minute, I’ll need more where that came from.”
“Anything for you.” she flirted, glancing over her shoulder to be sure that he was looking as she walked away.
“Do you think she’s pretty?” Fawne asked, sipping the beer proudly.
“Very.” Bones nodded.
“Hey there.” A toppless beauty came and sat beside Fawne. “How old are you?”
Fawne looked at the girl, trying not to glance down at her tiny breasts. “I’m,”
“She’s eighteen.” Bones interjected. Fawne looked over at him strangely, but didn’t correct him on her age. She would gladly accept an extra year.
“Eighteen, hmm, you got a job?” She tossed her hair and if Fawne didn’t know any better she would have thought she was being flirted with.
“No.” Fawne admitted. She really needed one and planned on applying at Winn Dixie the next day.
“Can you dance?”
“I love to dance!” Fawne had never had a lesson in her life, but she had always been a dancer. Music lived inside her, and the only natural thing to do was to move.
“Well then it’s settled!”
Bones gave Fawne a look that said he couldn’t imagine her stripping for money.
“What is settled?” Fawne was confused.
“You can work here. I’ll put in a good word for you with my boss. We make tons and tons of money… I saw you come in and knew instantly that you were our kind of girl!” The girl shimmied for added effect.
“Oh, work here?” Fawne was surprised. She had never imagined herself stripping, but could already tell by the money being waved in the air that these girls wracked up. She looked down at her milk filled breasts and then over at the strippers pointy little ones and decided that she did have what it took. “When do I start?”
“Come by tomorrow…” The girl smiled, she was friendly and kind. “About three?”
“Okay.” Fawne nodded, forgetting that Bones was even there. “Wear my panties?”
The stripper laughed, “Wear your normal clothes, we’ll fix you up. My boss’s name is Stew. Tell him Bambi sent you, okay?”
“Bambi?” Fawne asked, lighting up. “My name is Fawne!”
“OOooo, I like it!” the stripper tussled Bones’ jet black hair as she walked away. “See you soon, Fawne.”
“Bye, Bambi!” Fawne waved, excited to have made a new friend.
“You sure about this?” Bones asked, no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t imagine Fawne being comfortable enough to strip.
“I am. If nothing else I’ll do it for a few weeks to save up some money. I’d love to sleep in a hotel instead of on somebody’s couch.” Fawne watched the girls in the room and imagined herself in their shoes. She could do it, and could probably do it better than them. Two things in life had come naturally to Fawne-- dancing and sex. This was a job where she could use them both!
“Two more.” Bones said to the flirty waitress. “And a side of you.”
Fawne narrowed her eyes, suddenly wanting him to pay attention to her. The attention from the stripper had give her more confidence than ever. She unbuttoned the top few buttons of her shirt and bit her lip, but Bones didn’t seem to notice. He was too busy taking in the room around him. “So why you mad at your wife?” Fawne brought him back to reality.
“I’m not. She’s mad at me.” Bones looked at her for the first time, surprised by the amount of exposed skin that hadn’t been there before.
“Oh.” Fawne licked her lips, suddenly wanting attention. “Buy me a lap dance?”
Bones raised his eyebrows and nodded. Maybe Fawne would make it in this business after all.
After meeting Stew the next day, it was decided that Fawne would start immediately. He could tell that she had money making potential. He advised her not to take a stage name because Fawne suited her so well, and told her to come prepared with a song list for her numbers on the stage. Fawne’s mind was swarming with great songs, and she couldn’t wait to get started! She was going to sleep in a hotel! No more couch surfing for Fawne. Finally, she was going to support herself.
