by Cooper, Doug
Penny put her arm around Bill. “How about you? You had enough, too?”
Bill counted his chips. He was up fifteen since he bought back in. “Yeah, I think I’ll quit while I’m ahead.”
Crystal stood from the table. “You guys going to the Oasis in the morning?”
“Planning on it,” Bill said.
“I’ll try to make it, but no promises. Depends how late I stay at work.” She and Penny exchanged restrained good-byes, obviously still not over their disagreement.
Penny waited for Crystal to leave, then turned to Bill. “I got an idea. Let’s play here a little while longer then go surprise Crystal at work. I’ve been wanting to go, but don’t want to by myself.”
“A strip club? I’m too old for that place,” Bill said.
Penny clutched his arm. “Not with me. We’ll sit off to the side. I’ll make sure no one bothers you…unless you want them to.”
Dow Jones Close: 16,583.34
Chapter Forty-Three
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2014
Dow Jones Open: Closed
When Penny and Bill left the El Cortez, it was obvious he didn’t really want to go to OGs to visit Crystal. Penny’s feminine wiles were pretty tough to resist, but the truth was, he just wanted to go home even less. At the club he thought he would feel out of place, like a dirty old man. But when he and Penny got there just after midnight, the place was actually full of men just like him, many sitting alone at tables, leering from the darkness, happy to pay for any bit of attention, which, on a weekend night, was plentiful for all ages, sizes, and tastes. Of course it wasn’t the first time he had been to a strip club. There were several on his beat in New Jersey, and they would call the police routinely, usually for a fight or a patron refusing to pay his bill from an overextended stay in the VIP room. But he had never spent any length of time in one and just sat at a table and watched, continually having to fend off girls roaming the floor offering lap dances—and even more if they went to the back. And he certainly had never seen a girl he personally knew perform onstage, climbing and sliding down the pole, gyrating and thrusting across the stage, peeling off her clothes and pushing her breasts in a patron’s face for a dollar or two at a time. It all made him extremely uncomfortable.
Penny, on the other hand, seemed quite at home. She knew to tip the door guy to get a good table, to ask the waitress for singles when she ordered drinks, and, as a female, the no-touching rule didn’t apply to her. With her looks and build, she was a lightening rod of attention in the club.
A blond Eastern-European girl with pigtails named Candy was the first to set her sights on Penny. She sat down right on Penny’s lap, twisting Penny’s hair with her finger. “You look familiar to me. You come here before? You work at another club?”
Penny touched the end of Candy’s nose. “Maybe it was just in your dreams.”
“That might be it.” Candy laughed, rocking back and forth in Penny’s lap. “You want a private dance? I make a special offer for you, two for twenty.”
“Not right now, honey,” Penny said, and gave her the classic strip club brush-off, indicating she had definitely spent ample time in one before. “We just got here. Maybe after a drink or two.”
Candy pushed out her bottom lip. “That’s not how my dream goes.” She stood, facing Penny and shimmying her shoulders with her breasts only a few inches away from Penny’s face. “How about your uncle over there? Want to buy him one?”
Penny glanced over at Bill, who was shaking his head with widened eyes. Penny said, “Not just yet. We need to let our feet dangle in the water before we jump in. Do you know Crystal, er, I mean Faith? Is Faith here?”
Candy said, “Oh, so you like brown Asians? She’s in the back, but she’ll be out soon. Comes onstage after me.” Candy turned and leaned toward Bill, offering him a similar shoulder shimmy while presenting her G-string-clad bottom to Penny. Looking back over her shoulder, she smacked her bare right cheek. “Let me know when you’re ready to take a dip.”
The waitress delivered a vodka on the rocks for Penny and a Miller Lite for Bill. Penny paid her in cash, adding an additional twenty for the banded stack of singles. She looked over at Bill, who still appeared more petrified than anything, and tossed another forty on the waitress’s tray. “You better bring us two Patróns on the way back. We need to loosen up a bit.” The waitress nodded and left. Penny scooted her chair next to Bill’s. “You OK? It’s a bit overwhelming, isn’t it?”
“No, I mean,” Bill dropped his head and laughed. “Yes, it’s completely overwhelming. You seem to know your way around though.”
Penny took the hairband off her wrist and pulled her hair back in a ponytail. “I worked around professional athletes with a lot of discretionary income. When you’re out with the boys and they want to go to a strip club, you either go or call it an early night. It was a lot easier to get a scoop when they knew they could trust you.” The waitress dropped off the Patrón shots and the sixteen dollars of change. Penny took the single and gave the waitress back fifteen for a tip. Tearing the band from the stack of singles, she added the lone single to the rest of the supply. “Rule number one: you can never have enough ones.” She slid one of the Patróns in front of Bill. “Rule number two: strip clubs are a lot more fun with tequila.”
Bill waved his hand over the shot. “Oh no, I’m good. I only drink beer.”
She picked up the shot, holding it in front of Bill. “Rule number three: there are no rules.”
Bill took the shot from her. She touched her glass to his and tossed it back. Bill followed a few seconds behind, after watching how she did it. He winced, forcing it down, then smacked his lips and tongue several times, relaxing his face. “That’s not half bad.” He smelled the empty glass. “Pretty good actually.” He chased it with a long drink of beer, already feeling more at ease.
After Penny and Bill had been anchored for a while and their first round of drinks were gone, the sharks circled at a more frequent pace. Penny waved them off before they got close. “If you see one you like, let me know, and I’ll bring her over.”
“No, I think I’m fine right here,” Bill said.
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” She scooted her chair even closer. She was clearly trying to distract him with other conversation. “So, what’s the deal with Les? He used to be a minister or something, and now he runs this homeless shelter?”
“Catholic priest, actually,” Bill said. “I’m actually kind of worried about him to be honest. I didn’t know the Oasis was doing so bad.”
“I thought you were helping out there.”
“I do, every day. But he’s never said anything.”
Penny’s eyes followed a forty-year-old man with an athletic build walk toward the VIP room holding hands with one of the young dancers. “Yeah, well, he probably appreciates your help and just doesn’t want to bother you with his other issues. People do that, you know? They hold stuff back to not burden others.”
The music faded as the song finished. The girl onstage collected the bills scattered around. The DJ’s low voice filled the silence. “Ladies and gentleman, let’s put our hands together for Scarlett. She’s available for private dances, or if you ask really nicely, I’m sure she’ll give you a private tour of the VIP room. Up next we have the sweet and lovely Candy, followed by Faith.”
Penny whistled and clapped. She pumped her fist in the air, chanting, “Faith, Faith, Faith.” The waitress came by. Penny ordered another round of drinks and shots. Bill issued no objections this time. Penny dropped her previous line of questioning on Les and focused on Candy. Bill had a hard time keeping up with Penny, but most people did. She switched gears so quickly. One second she was a girly girl with beauty pageant looks, and the next, one of the boys, banging back shots and talking sports. She could go from serious to bawdy in an instant.
The waitress dropped off t
he drinks. Bill didn’t wait for Penny this time to do the shot. He touched his glass to hers and downed it right away. Penny banged hers back and slammed the shot glass upside down on the table. Snatching the stack of singles with one hand, she grabbed Bill’s with the other. “Come on. Let’s get a spot at the stage for Crystal’s set.”
Bill wasn’t thrilled about being at the edge of the stage under the lights, but figured it was better than sitting alone at the table. At least at the stage he had Penny running interference. He trailed a few steps behind like a freighter being towed by a powerful tug.
At the stage, Penny split the stack, giving half to Bill. Not sure what to do with the money, he folded it and dropped his hands between his legs, out of sight. Penny stuffed two dollars in the neckline of her shirt. Candy sauntered over and dropped down to her knees. She covered her chest with one arm and reached around to the back with the other, untying the bikini top. She leaned toward Penny and let the top fall. Being so close made Bill even more uncomfortable. He looked away. Penny peeled off three singles and stuck them in the band of the G-string. Candy moved in and pulled the money out of Penny’s neckline with her teeth and dropped it on the stage. Penny leaned toward her. Candy moved in and kissed her on the neck. Penny tossed more money on the stage. Candy moved up to Penny’s jawline. Tilting her head back, Penny closed her eyes. Candy wrapped her arms around Penny, pulled her close, and put her lips on Penny’s. The crowd cheered. Penny threw the rest of her money on the stage and put her arms around Candy, her eyes popping open momentarily when Candy slipped her tongue into Penny’s mouth. But after the initial surprise, Penny just went with it. Afterward, she flopped back in her chair and fanned herself, playing to the delight of the crowd.
Candy said, “Hope the water was warm enough for you. I’ll come find you later. Maybe we can go in the deep end of the pool.”
Penny just smiled, still looking a little shocked about having Candy’s tongue in her mouth. Bill, feeling like he had been drowned in the splash, handed Penny the money she had given him. It was damp and crumpled from him wringing it in his sweaty hands. “Here it looks like you need this more than me.”
“Sorry, I didn’t see that going that way at all. I guess the girls here are more aggressive than I’m used to.” Penny took half and extended the other half back to Bill.
Bill waved it off, not wanting to find out what would happen if he gave the dancers money. “I’m just here for moral support.”
Penny combined the two halves. “I guess that leaves all the immoral support up to me.”
The DJ’s voice boomed. “Let’s hear it for Candy…and the lovely young lady who got a little extra taste of her sweetness.” The crowd whistled and hollered. The kiss might have left Penny a little flushed, but it would take Candy well past flush in terms of money. Her dance card would be full for the rest of the night, based on the crowd’s reaction and the number of guys lingering by the stage steps where Crystal was also waiting to be announced. The DJ continued, “Now that everyone is warmed up, please welcome to the stage, Faaaaaaith.” Her usual George Michael song kicked off.
Penny screamed and waved her arms. Crystal performed her routine, not even looking in their direction. Penny sprinkled singles on the stage. Crystal slid up and down the pole and finished her routine, still not giving them any recognition. The song transitioned to Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name.” The routine became more energetic and aggressive. All eyes in the room were on Crystal. The seats along the stage were all filled, and guys stood in the spaces in between. She didn’t need to take her clothes off. Her moves and intensity commanded the room.
Bill was still in shock, but now for a different reason. He couldn’t believe that underneath the hat that was always pulled low and the baggy clothes was a girl with so much charisma. He tried looking away, but his eyes always flashed back to her. Even Penny was quiet and just watched.
Showing her range and diversity, the next song was “Loca” by Shakira, during which Crystal worked the sides of the stage, giving attention to any of the patrons who were willing to part with a few dollars to have her sultry gaze directed on them. Any of the patrons, that is, except for Penny and Bill, the latter of whom was perfectly fine with the snub. Crystal worked to the right and left of them, but she never made eye contact. Penny tossed the remaining money on the stage. Crystal swept it toward the middle on her way by, never acknowledging their presence.
After the last song, Penny and Bill went back to the table. Bill said, “Wow, I had no idea she could dance like that.”
“You should hear her sing. Even better,” Penny said. “I don’t think she was too happy to see us, though.”
Across the room, Crystal reassembled her wardrobe and descended the stage amongst a gathering of eager suitors. She dispatched them and headed toward Penny and Bill. Glistening with sweat, she pulled up a chair with her back to the stage. “What are you guys doing? You don’t belong here.”
“First of all, holy shit! You’re amazing,” Penny said.
“Is this the part where you tell me I’m too good for this place?” Crystal picked up Penny’s vodka and took a healthy drink.
Penny said, “No, I mean, yes that’s true. I knew you could sing, but with moves like that, you have to get out of here.”
“Find another project.” She slammed the glass on the table and pushed back from the chair. “I don’t know how many times or ways I need to say this, but I don’t need your or anyone’s help.”
“Are you sure about that?” Penny stood, scanning the room. “Take a look around you.”
Crystal’s eyes burned with resentment. “I don’t need to stand here and listen to this.” She turned to walk away.
Penny grabbed her hand. “Just wait. I didn’t mean that. I only came here to say I was sorry for blabbing about the singing earlier.”
“So your way to apologize about getting into my business is by getting even more into my business?”
Bill intervened. “We just wanted to show our support.”
Crystal spread her arms with her palms up. “As you already pointed out, all the years of hard work have paid off quite handsomely for me. I’m a lucky girl, what can I say? Just living the dream.”
“Come on. Don’t be like that,” Penny said. “This is just a stop on a longer journey.”
“Please save the pep talks. And tell your agent I appreciate the opportunity, but I’m not interested. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to work.”
Penny started after her, but Bill stopped her. “Come on, we should go. She was right, we shouldn’t have come here without her invitation.”
Penny looked like she wanted to argue but didn’t say anything. She offered to give Bill a ride home, but, worried about how much she had to drink, he declined, opting for a taxi.
In the cab, the driver angled off Las Vegas Boulevard to Fourth Street toward the Juhl, which was only spotted with lights at this late of an hour. The cab illuminated then went dark, alternating between the streetlights and the vacant buildings on the short ride back downtown. The drone of the tires on the road and low mumble of the driver talking through a cellphone headset soothed the ringing in his ears from the loud music at the club. The slightest of sounds registered: his pants sliding across the vinyl seat on the way out of the cab, the door slamming and echoing into the night, the key inserting into the building door, the tone of the arriving elevator. He was aware of it all.
In the hallway, Bill stood for a moment outside their apartment door. It would always be theirs, never just his. Some things he would never accept. He bought it for her. They lived there together. She would always be a part of it.
Bill hated this time of day, when he came home and had to face the emptiness. He unlocked the door and pushed it open.
The light from the hallway knifed into the dark interior. He didn’t bother turning on the light. No need
to see what was there. It would only remind him of what was missing. He kicked off his shoes and felt his way past the dining table toward the couch, where he slept every night. He had tried sleeping in their bedroom, but it never worked. He either couldn’t fall asleep and just stared at the ceiling all night, or if he did drift off, he would wake up three hours later and never fall back to sleep. At least on the couch he got four to five hours.
Flopping down on the cushions, he pulled the afghan draped over the back on top of him. It was the one Darlene had knitted and given to him many Christmases ago. He adjusted the throw pillows under his head. He had tried using his pillow from their bed, but no matter how many times he washed the pillowcase, the smell was too much. He would still roll over and catch a faint whiff of their life and be up for hours.
Staring at the ceiling, he emptied his lungs in frustration. Streetlight crept around the blinds, which covered the sliding door to the terrace, forming a line across the floor, up the couch, and diagonally across his body to the wall. It was after two in the morning. He had been up this late many nights, but never out this late. The comfort and happiness he felt watching the game, playing blackjack and being around Les, Penny, and Crystal were gone. All he could think about was Penny and Crystal. Why does Penny get so drunk? He remembered Crystal’s intensity on stage but the anger and shame that lingered behind it when she came over to the table. Rolling over, he buried his face in the corner of the cushions, trying to block everything out.
Unable to sleep, he sat up on the couch. Draping the afghan around his shoulders, he walked over and reached behind the vertical blinds to open the balcony door. He lifted back the blinds and stepped out onto the balcony. The cool concrete soothed his sweating feet, which were always hot when he drank too much. He cinched the afghan up around his neck to push away the cold. Laughter and loud talking radiated from a party several floors below. He walked to the edge of the terrace, wondering when things would get easier, when the pain would stop. He clutched the railing. Thoughts of Crystal drifted back. He knew they shouldn’t have ambushed her, but maybe it was exactly what she needed, to see that there were others who cared about her, whether she liked it or not. Maybe she needed more of it and not less. It might be too late for him, but maybe not be for her. He let go of the railing, took a few steps back and dropped into one of the chairs. Wrapping the blanket around him, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.