It pleased her that her father did not know where she now worked. It was her first step on her planned bid for freedom. She could not trust her mother; she might back her husband,
no, she needed to disappear. Her father would surely come looking for her. But if he did not know where she worked and he did not know where she had her bank account it would be harder for him to find her… He’d probably take it out on her mother…
Ann sat down and anxiety flowed over her. The last thing in the world she wanted was that harm would befall her mother. Then she shook herself. It was time to wash before her brother and sister came up. She would put some cold cream on her sore nipple. She had not resisted his attack. She knew from old experience that if she just took it, it would go easier as resistance seemed to drive him wild.
No, she had to go. Her mother was big enough to look after herself and she would have to ask her son George to look out for her. She, Ann, felt she had enough. The beatings were getting ever more sexual and she was convinced that soon her father would catch her alone and rape her.
Chapter Nine
The title ‘The International Bar’ was set into small mosaic blue and black tiles at the entrance to the pub of that name in Wicklow Street. The taxi from the Templeogue tennis club had dropped them off.
“It’s still early,” Kieran, said, “the room is booked from eight upstairs. There’ll be sandwiches laid on and a bowl of soup later.”
“Sure we can go into the main bar,” Frank said leading the way and Padraig and Kieran followed.
There were three red cloth topped stools free at the bar and the three boys squeezed in between two other groups who were still discussing the football match.
“I like this place” Kieran said, “From me it’s a classic of what an Irish pub should be, “No frills, dark brown wood, clean floor”
“I’m not sure I like the mosaic tiled floor, I’d hate to fall off the bar stool.” Padraig offered.
“Great atmosphere” Frank added, “and I think they have a basement bar down stairs.”
“Music, comedy and drama on the first floor” Kieran said, and we have a room on top.”
“Relax” Padraig said, “ your guests won’t begin to appear until about half eight.”
However as he spoke Kieran’s future father in law and his future son in law came in through the door.”
“Thought we’d have one before going upstairs,” the future father in law said, surprised to find Kieran in the bar.
“We were watching the match in Templeogue, just arrived by taxi.” Kieran explained and then made the introductions. As kitty man Frank got them in a round of drinks.
As the hour advanced the bar began to fill further with regulars and Kieran’s stag party guests were beginning to cause an overflow. With signals from the barman and help from Padraig and Frank the guests were persuaded to move upstairs to the room which had been booked for the stag night.
Frank made sure all new arrivals got a starter free drink and after that they were on their own, buying rounds in groups.
Padraig took a phone call at one point and came back to Frank.
“Frank, the strip-o-gram has come through, you got enough in the kitty? It’s fifty Euro”
“Yes, Kieran gave you plenty for the kitty and I have only been buying the starter drink for everyone except us three. I have a tab at the bar.”
“Good man” Padraig said, “we’re still going lap dancing, I mentioned it to Kieran and he’s up for it.”
In the middle of the celebrations there was a ceremonial piece where Padraig made a bit of a speech and presented Kieran with an inflatable doll and a box of condoms. At the time it was wildly amusing, but this was topped by the arrival of the stripper.
Her minder located Padraig, who brought Frank outside and Frank paid her from the kitty. Padraig then pointed out the intended groom and she took over taking Kieran by the hand and she sat him at the top of the room.
There in the friendliest way possible, urged on with cheers from the assembly, she read him a poem, danced for him as he sat in awe and as part of this gave him quick flash of her boobs. She then turned and did the same for the assembly who roared in approval. Then as Kieran was beginning to rise to her advances through his fog of beer she gave him a hug and a kiss and danced him towards the door.
At the door she disappeared with a flourish, leaving Kieran looking bewildered while everyone cracked up laughing.
Towards half eleven the bar man called time, and by twelve things were a bit messy, with little movement, as everyone had got a stock of pints in at last orders.
Frank had remained half sober in recognition of his duty to mind the kitty and proceeded to pay the tab at the bar. Then the barman pulled down the shutters and flashed the lights on to apprise those who had not yet noticed that it was time to leave.
By twelve thirty people were starting to go except for the stubborn few who had a stock of pints. At a quarter to one, a row began when the barman livid with impatience took a pint from one of the guests who had been in deep conversation while nursing the pint, it being still nearly full more than an hour after official closing time. The barman snatched it and threw the contents on the floor saying, “Time please. Some of us have homes to go to.”
Frank and Padraig stepped in to prevent the row escalating, and to satisfy the remaining revellers, the potential in laws having gone home near half twelve, Padraig announced to general approval that the next step was the lap dancing club, which he promised ‘was no more than a ten minute walk.’ This was enough to persuade the remaining dozen to finish up and follow Kieran and Padraig.
Frank stayed until the room was cleared and then gave a tip to the barman to smooth over any unpleasantness.
“Good night sir” he said to Frank, “and enjoy the rest of the evening and thanks very much.”
With that Frank departed and soon caught up on the remaining bunch which had dwindled to a half dozen, others having decided that they had had enough and had taken their leave of Kieran, wishing him, as others who had departed had done, ‘all the best for the wedding and his future’
Twenty minutes later they were outside the establishment, which Padraig was recommending as “the best in town, not that they’re that many of such clubs in Dublin”
The bouncers on the door were not impressed with the group, however Frank, because he was the most sober, took the role of spokesman. “The remains of a stag party” he said concentrating on keeping his voice sober and relaxed.
There was a moment and then the bouncer stood back.
“Remember” the bouncer said, as they filed past, “no touching the girls, anyone who tries anything will be out faster than a bolt of lightning with a kick up the arse.”
They all nodded, afraid to speak lest they sounded too drunk, and filed into the premises.
George grinned at Ivan “Trouble later?” he forecast.
He was to the job as bouncer as a duck is to water. He and Ivan the Russian were getting on like a house on fire. They both loved a chance of a punch up and any drunken clients who broke the rules of the Lap Dance club were easy prey.
Frank led the way in and they passed down a narrow corridor, passing a small area with exercise machinery and weights, a token to the outside description of the club as a ‘gentlemen’s sporting club.’ This led to a stairs, which in turn led up to and opened out into a very large room. They stood and took it all in.
The club was busy and the area in front of the bar was packed with men drinking. Below them, down about five steps there was a table area with numerous individual tables set in a crescent around a large stage at the back of the room.
Some of the tables in the crescent shaped area were occupied by men and women engaged in deep conversation, with bottles of wine and champagne decorating the tables.
But it was the stage that stopped them in their tracks. Up on the stage about six girls were dancing, watched by all the assembled men. The girls were topless and some
of them seemed to be writhing on the floor of the stage. One in particular caught Padraig’s eye.
“Look at that “ he said indicating to a large Scandinavian looking girl who seemed to be dancing for a particular group in the audience. She gave them all her attention and they smiled warmly at her. Grins almost fixed to their faces as they stared at her movements.
A young Chinese looking girl came out of the crowd and led them to the bar. “Drinks Gentlemen?” she suggested.
“How much are they?” Frank asked
“Fifteen Euro a drink. I would like a vodka please.” She said with an engaging smile.
“How much is a beer?” Padraig asked in shock thinking that a pub price would be about a third.
“Everything is the same price” The girls answered demurely, “Vodka with tonic is better value. The measures are large. They like to encourage the patrons with strong drinks.”
Frank ordered a round and as the drinks came, another girl joined them and also had a vodka. Frank explained to the two girls that they were a stag party, while he arranged the drinks. Kieran as the future groom smiled widely and it was clear to the girls that he was well gone with the drink.
“Take your time with these,” Frank said handing the drinks out to his friends, “the kitty won’t stand much more, you are on your own for further drinks.”
“Lets’ explore” one of the party said and they took their drinks and Kieran off, leaving Frank and Padraig with the two girls. The girls took their drinks and sipped slowly, looking at Frank and Padraig with expectant eyes.
“How does this place work?” Frank asked, not knowing where to look. Beautiful girls were floating through the throng at the bar, talking to men, and inveigling them to buy them a drink. As for the stage, Frank was embarrassed to stare at the stage, because they were in the company of the two girls, but he wanted to look at the stage, there seemed to be a lot going on.
“I’m Philippi,” the Chinese looking girl said, “and I am from the Philippines.”
“I’m Frank” Frank said, “and this is Padraig”
“Hello Padraig, is that an Irish name?”
“It is surely,” Padraig affirmed.
“And this is Sara” Philippi introduced the girl who had joined them.
“Hello Sara, you from Africa?” Padraig replied.
“No Brixton London actually.” Sara replied, deciding she did not fancy Padraig.
The girls exchanged looks and Philippi smiled at Padraig. “Tell me what you do?” She asked taking him by the arm and pulling him slightly to one side.
“What brings you here Philippi?” he asked.
“I am looking for a rich man to make me his mistress.” Philippi said with a happy laugh. She sounded in earnest.
Frank was looking open mouthed at Sara.
“Are you all right?” she asked with a smile.
Frank thought he would drown. Her eyes seemed so soft and gentle and encompassed him.
“I will never see beauty again, without thinking of your eyes,” he said.
Sara blinked, was he for real?
Frank knew he was drunk, but not that drunk he reasoned. Amid the noise and bustle of the bar he had suddenly beheld a beautiful woman, and had an overwhelming conviction that they must be together. He could see a life in her eyes, a mix of sorrow and joy, and in the soft lines of her face and mouth he could see experience of living and loving and forgiving.
“I can’t stop staring at you” he said, “you are the most beautiful being I have ever seen.”
Sara laughed, “What have you been drinking?”
“Don’t joke. This is terrible. I have never been so struck. I am exhausted and I want to fall into your arms.”
“No touching,” Sara reminded him. She was experienced enough to see that something had befallen Frank. Could she really be having such an effect on him?
“I know” Frank said, his eyes lost in hers while making a gesture with his arms that seemed hopeless. She knew then that at that moment, nothing else in the room existed for Frank except her.
“I can lap dance for you” she said kindly.
“How?” Frank asked.
Sara looked at him. He seemed an intelligent man. “It works like this, do you know how it works?”
“No” Frank said, “ I asked your friend, but then she latched on to Padraig.”
“Well see under the glass top of the bar, there is a price list.”
Frank dragged his eyes down to the bar.
“It’s twenty euro for a lap dance on the stage. I can do that; also we can go to the crescent of tables. There you have to buy a bottle of champagne for fifty euro and I can do an individual dance for you for forty Euro. If we get on really well I can take you to the Executive suite.”
“What’s that?” Frank asked, “its’ not on the price list.”
“The club lets Executive suites out to patrons for a fee of a hundred euro. Up there you can have different rules. If the girl permits you can even touch.”
“Oh” said Frank, not really taking it all in. The prices had distracted him, “The prices on the bar are less than you said,” he said with a frown.
“They are guide prices. I am more expensive” Sara explained.
“Sara let’s have another drink, I have to talk with you. We can lap dance in a minute.”
“You will want me to lap dance for you?”
“Yes Sara, I can’t think of anything more wonderful.”
“Then we can have another drink first,” Sara said agreeably.
Frank found it hard to take his eyes off her. Padraig disappeared off to his left with Philippi in tow, and he was only dimly aware of the movement. The light from the bar threw a beam against Sara’s dark hair and shone on her shoulders. Her dress was a simple white affair and was cut to show her cleavage and he could see how her breast rose and fell as she spoke to him.
Her eyes combined amusement and kindness and pleasure, as she felt the way he looked at her. His was not a lecherous look, more as if he was drowning.
“Tell me about yourself?” Frank asked earnestly, “and leave nothing out.”
Sara smiled and began to explain to Frank about her Jamaican background. He was amazed when she told him she had three children.
“And the fathers, are you married?” he asked.
“No” Sara explained, “Each was born to a different important lover in my life. The father of one of them stays in touch but not the others.”
“How do you care for them?” he asked but Sara took him by the arm.
“I have to be working,” she said. “I have to be seen to do a number of dances or the management get worried, shall I dance on stage for you?”
As she spoke Sara gave her second drink to a passing girl who was wandering in the bar area and looking worried, out of her depth. “Newcomer” Sara explained, “If management see she is not mingling they may be upset with her. The drink will give her time to make a mark.”
“Yes” Frank said, still not sure what was going on around him, but Sara seemed to have the pulse of the place.
“You have to pay me,” she said with a look from the side of her eyes that seemed to Frank to be the most seductive look he had ever experienced. “Right” he said coming up with some money from his pocket and she took twenty Euro from the bundle in his hand.
From the edge of the bar area Frank watched Sara go up on the side stairs to the stage. She beckoned him down to the edge of the stage, which was at shoulder height for Frank. There he could look up at her and feel she was dancing for him, although behind him all the loose crowd at the bar would be watching both her and also the other girls who were performing on stage at that time.
Sara blanked her mind and went into her routine, concentrating on looking into Frank’s eyes as he stared up at her. He really was handsome, she decided and she liked the way he would talk about her and not all about himself. She decided that she liked Frank.
As she came to the end of her routine she c
rouched down opposite Frank where he stood trying to take in her every movement. As a finale she in her crouched position she flashed her vagina for a mille-second. Frank was shocked, had he really seen?
Sara danced on, beginning to stand up, still moving rhythmically to the background music. She was amused at Frank’s startled face. Her little flash of genitalia was something she kept for clients she liked.
She knew she could manage it without anyone else seeing as she was quick and also so near to the client, and it gave her a secret thrill to be so bold.
Before Frank could recover himself, Sara took him to a table in the crescent and they ordered champagne. Frank handed over more Euro notes. The drink was strong and was beginning to loosen him up. When drunk Frank lost a lot of inhibition and became warm and loving. Eventually he would become a slushy sentimentalist, but at the present stage he was perfectly balanced between sober and pissed and was really enjoying himself for the first time in years.
Sara leaned over and said “Go easy on your cash, use your credit card.”
Frank face showed his puzzlement, and Sara added, “You will need cash when we go to the executive suite, I only take cash.”
Frank wondered had he heard correctly, but he had paid in cash anyway.
“I have only a few euro left.” He said.
“Not to worry.” Sara said, “lets’ drink the champagne, have you enough for a table dance”
“Forty Euro, I think I must still have about sixty.” Frank said looking at his pile of crumpled notes.
“Put them away” Sara said, taking forty, and he pressed the rest of the notes and coins back into his pocket.
“Tell me more about your family” Frank began leaning forward and wanting her to reach over to him.
“No, enough about me. “Sara said, “tell me about yourself.”
Sara dragged Frank’s story out of him as they drank the Champagne. Half way down the bottle she stood up and Frank was startled, “Don’t go,” he implored.
Love on the Dark Side of the City Page 8