He pointed to a black briefcase at the side of his bed. Keisha picked up the bag and brought it to him.
“Open it and look for an envelope that says Keisha,” he said. She peeked into the briefcase, riffled through some papers, and found a yellow envelope.
“They say that I may only have a week left to live,” he said. “But I don’t want you crying about that. I’ve lived a very full life and I’m at peace. However, I have something I need you to do for me when I die. And the instructions are in that envelope. Don’t open it until you’ve heard that I’ve passed. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes,” she said quietly. “I can do that.”
“Now tell me what you’re doing with yourself. You look great,” he said. Felice was fading fast and he looked like he could go to sleep at any time.
“I’m a student at UCLA and I’ve just gotten a full scholarship,” she said quickly.
“A student at UCLA,” he said with a smile. “Well, if you aren’t a chip off the old block. I wanted to go there and you’re going. That is so beautiful…”
Felice started fading and then went to sleep. Keisha pulled the covers up so he was comfortable and then kissed him. As she left the room, the nurse was coming back in.
“How long does he have?” she asked the nurse.
“It’s really day to day,” the nurse replied. “If I were you, I would start preparing.”
“Thanks.”
Keisha reached into her pocket and took out a pen.
“Could you do me a favor?” she asked, writing down her phone number on a piece of paper. “I’m his daughter. If something happens, could you please contact me as soon as possible? I’ll have my phone on, so you can’t miss me.”
The nurse took the paper. “I’ll make sure to give this to the head nurse and she’ll put this in the computer so that if there’s any change in his condition, you’ll be contacted.”
“Thank you very much,” Keisha said.
Even though her father was dying, Keisha left Cedars-Sinai feeling better than she had walking in. The great mystery about why her father had left so unexpectedly had been solved. And now she was at peace with her father, and she thought that he was at peace with her.
When she arrived back at Patra’s apartment, she found Patra in a better mood than the night before. Keisha decided to not bring up the pregnancy and just let Patra deal with her own business.
“So where were you last night?” Patra said, smiling at Keisha as she came into the apartment. “I noticed that you didn’t come home.”
“I hooked up with an old friend,” she said.
“Was it good?”
Keisha laughed. “I didn’t come home, did I?”
“Girl, that doesn’t mean shit.” Patra laughed. “I’ve spent the night with plenty of Negroes simply for the nice meal and not the Negro. So I ask again, was the dick good?”
“Damn good,” Keisha said, smiling. “And the only thing about good sex is that it makes you want more good sex.”
“Well, go on, then,” Patra said. “I must have been wrong about you. You do like a little nooky from time to time.”
“Yep, but it has to be the right nooky,” Keisha said. “All nooky ain’t good nooky.”
“Sure it is,” Patra said.
Keisha sat down on the couch and put her dad’s envelope in her duffle bag.
“So what are you feeling about your last day at the Chi Chi Room? All of the girls are talking about it and who’s going to take your weekends.”
“So you heard, eh? I bet every bitch in there has done all they could to get my Saturdays,” Keisha said.
“You know it!” Patra said. “Even old-ass Debra is trying to get it. I tried to tell her that she didn’t have a chance in hell to take your spot, but she’s straight tripping. Why are you leaving?”
“I found out that I was going to get a full ride to UCLA. So I’ll be moving out on Sunday.”
“Damn, all this happened and you didn’t tell me?”
“It’s been a whirlwind couple of days. Sorry about that.” Keisha walked into the kitchen and poured herself a soda. “Bought a new car, too.”
“Goddamn, girl, you really were on a mission.”
“So who do you think is going to get it?” Keisha asked curiously, coming back into the living room.
“Me.”
“You?”
“Yeah, why you so surprised?”
“It’s not that I’m surprised,” Keisha said. “I just never thought you’d go for it.”
“With the money that comes on Saturday, you think I’d pass that shit up?” Patra laughed. “Hell, I can’t understand why you’re passing that shit up. I told Sean the other day that I want it and he said that he’d think about it.”
Keisha hesitated. She wondered if she should tell her that Sean was trying to get her out, but then she thought again. With the pregnancy and everything, the last thing she needed to hear was that Sean was going to get rid of her. So she kept quiet.
“Work your thang, girl. Work your thang,” Keisha said.
“I will,” she said. “It’s what I do.”
“Where are the posters?” Steven asked. “Are they stacked in the warehouse?”
“Yeah,” Marty yelled. He was in the warehouse moving boxes around, and since the new issue of Pimp magazine was about to go to print, there was a lot of organizing to do.
“Bring one to me upstairs,” Steven instructed. Three black women were sitting in front of him, each with massive breasts and a massive behind spilling out of a string bikini. Ray was setting up a camera.
“Ladies, we at Pimp magazine and Pimp Video are looking to find the finest black women in the country. And if you think you have the stuff, we’ll put you in our magazine. If we get a lot of positive feedback from your magazine shoot, then we’ll move on to video.”
“How much do we get for the shoot and how much do we get for the video?” one woman asked.
“We pay five hundred for the shoot, and one thousand for the video,” Steven said as Marty walked into the room. He handed Steven a poster of Inside Keisha! Steven held it like a trophy before the women.
“And if you are really successful, we can make you a star,” he said proudly. “Now go over there and take off your clothes. Ray needs to take pictures of you.”
The three women walked over to Ray and began undressing.
“Come with me,” Steven told Marty. They both left the office and walked down to the warehouse. “I want all of this taken care of by tonight. On Sunday, you guys are to meet us at midnight.”
“How many people are we going to use?” Marty asked.
“We need to have at least ten people ready to help out. This operation is going to be lightning-quick, and I don’t want any fuck-ups.”
“We’ll be ready.”
Chapter 27
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.
—Anatole France
“Surprise!”
It was Saturday, and Keisha had entered the dressing room from the back, like always. But this time, all of the strippers had gathered, waiting for her.
“I told you that we bitches have to stick together,” Debra said, smiling. There was a cake with GOOD LUCK, KEISHA written on it, and a banner wishing the same. Keisha smiled as she looked around the room.
“Well, I didn’t know all you bitches cared in the first place.” Keisha laughed. “But thank you.”
“Somebody light the candle so Keisha can say some words and make a wish,” Patra said.
“This ain’t no damn birthday,” Debra said, smiling. “Keisha, you want to say something?”
Keisha had been unprepared to talk to anyone this evening. In fact, she’d only thought she’d do her gig and then leave forever. But now, feelings started coming to her that she didn’t even know she had. Who knew that she would suddenly hope that Debra
would find a new way to make a living when she couldn’t strip anymore? Who knew that she’d hope that Patra would stop stripping and escorting? She even wished Sean well, and hoped that he could fulfill his dreams. But what to say?
“I’ve learned something about myself at the Chi Chi Room,” she started, looking directly into the faces of all of the women. “I learned that in reality, I am worth something, and it’s not the dollar bills that the old men in the pervert pit throw onstage. I’ve learned that shaking my ass is not the whole part of me. And I’ve learned that each one of you can make it, and that I want you to make it.”
She walked over to Debra.
“This woman showed me what it takes to survive in this game, and I’ll always be grateful.” She then walked over to Patra.
“And when I needed a lifeline, this woman provided it. And I always will thank her for it.”
She walked back to the middle of the room.
“In a few minutes, I’m going to go out there and shake my ass, pick up my money, and go home. There’s no glamour and there’s no glory in what I’m doing. But each of you can keep your dignity as you do it. Do it for yourself and no one else. And you’ll walk off the stage with your head held high.”
Everyone was quiet. Finally Patra spoke up.
“Damn, bitch, we just wanted a ‘thank you very much,’ and now you got me tearing up!” Everyone laughed and began eating cake.
“How many sets are you doing tonight?” Debra asked, handing Keisha a piece of cake.
“One big one. That’s all. After that, I’m out of here.”
With a bang, the door to the dressing room opened. Only one person blasted into a room like that, so when it was Sean, no one was surprised.
“Shit, what the fuck is all of this?” he asked, looking around. “And how come no one has offered me any cake?”
“Get your own damn cake,” Debra shot back. “You’re a grown man.”
“And you a grown woman, so get me some shit, or you ain’t working here,” Sean said, shifting from side to side as usual. Debra cut him a glare but went and got him a piece of cake. Sean leaned over to Keisha and whispered into her ear.
“I need to see you upstairs.”
“What for?” she asked.
“Can’t talk down here,” he said. Debra brought him a tiny piece of cake and he stared at it like he was insulted. “Just get up there in five minutes.”
He turned to leave. “Don’t you bitches eat too much. I don’t want fat, flabby asses on the stage tonight.”
“Fuck you,” someone said.
“Yeah, and you’ll get fucked if you don’t stay in shape.”
And with a huff, Sean left the dressing room.
“What the fuck did that nigga want?” Debra asked.
“He wants me to meet him in his office.”
“Watch that fool,” Patra said, finishing her cake. “Ain’t nothing good ever happened at one of his meetings.”
“Don’t worry,” Keisha said, putting down her plate. “That fool ain’t got nothing I want.”
Keisha walked to the door and turned around.
“Thanks, girls,” she said. “I’ve got to go see about something. I hope y’all watch me onstage. I’m going to do some moves that I’ll give away for free. I won’t need them anymore.”
“You never know!” someone shouted.
“Yep, I know,” Keisha said, smiling. She turned and walked out of the dressing room into the club. The Chi Chi Room was already packed with men. The first stripper had gone onstage, but these men were here to see Keisha one last time. Her name had been on the marquee all week, and Sean had done all he could to promote this.
“What’s up, Blackie?” she shouted as she made her way to the stairs.
“Good luck, Keisha.”
Keisha walked up the stairs and into Sean’s office. To her surprise, Steven, Ray, and Marty were sitting down.
“Why are you Negroes here?” she asked. This wasn’t what she’d expected.
“We’re here to wish you good luck on your last night.” Steven smiled. “At least I could get a hug.”
“You’re a snake, and I don’t hug snakes,” Keisha said. “Sean, what did you want?”
“I think this is more about Steven than me,” Sean said. “Come in and sit down.”
Keisha looked at all of them. “No, I don’t have to come in. I can walk and never have a damn thing to do with any of you. So if you have anything to say, you’d better say it now or get the fuck out of my life.”
Steven looked at Ray and Marty. Then he looked back at Keisha.
“You’ve always been to the point with me, Keisha, and I like that. So I’m not going to bullshit you. We want you back doing more videos at Pimp.”
Keisha frowned. “This is going to be a short conversation, I see. I told you that I’m done with that shit. You got your one video, so find some other girl for your shit.”
“We like you, and I think you need to know that it’s not so easy to just walk away from us,” Steven retorted. “I put thousands into your video, and I don’t intend to waste my investment. So as I told you before, if you don’t play ball with us, we’re going to have to ratchet it up a level. And that could have negative repercussions for you.”
Keisha walked over to Steven and looked him directly in the eye. “You don’t scare me like you could all those girls downstairs. You fuck with me and I’ll ruin you. But I won’t stop. I’ll not only ruin you, but crush you into the ground. You better remember that.”
“This bitch has lost her mind,” Marty said, laughing.
“No, this bitch has her mind straight,” she said, pointing to herself. “All you muthafuckas better understand that.”
Steven stood up and smiled. “Okay, have it your way. Ray, Marty, let’s get out of here. We don’t want to ruin Keisha’s last night. Good luck, Keisha. I wish you well.”
“And I wish that you go to hell,” she responded.
And with those words, Keisha left Sean’s office and went downstairs. Sean looked at Steven.
“I’ve listened to you all these years, and we’ve played ball. And I don’t attach myself to any of these hoes. But I’m giving you a warning. Don’t fuck with Keisha. She’s different.”
Steven walked over to Sean and smiled.
“As long as you live, don’t you ever tell me what I can or can’t do,” Steven said. “It ain’t good for your health.”
Keisha made it back to the dressing room, where everyone had already left. Patra had finished her gig, and there was nothing left but for Keisha to go onstage.
“So what did he want?” Patra asked.
“Oh, he didn’t want anything,” Keisha said, taking off her clothes. Patra tossed Keisha her bikini and Keisha began putting it on. “But Steven, Ray, and Marty were all there. Steven is still pissed that I’m not going to do any more videos for them. He threatened me, but I ain’t afraid of them.”
“Screw them,” Patra said. “Let’s get ready to go. I’ll glitter you up.”
Patra dipped a brush into some glitter and began brushing Keisha all over. Debra opened the door.
“Don’t you look pretty,” she said. “Are you ready?”
“Let’s get this going,” Keisha replied.
Keisha started walking out but was stopped by Debra.
“Take a look at this,” she instructed. Keisha saw that the strippers had formed a traditional honor guard for her.
“I’m touched,” she said. “But let’s get this going.”
Keisha stood at the doorway of the dressing room, ready to go onstage for the last time. Patra and Debra flanked her, and the rest of the girls lined up as an honor guard. Sean stood on the stage with a microphone.
“Gentlemen, the Chi Chi Room has had some beautiful women dance on this stage, but one of the best has been Keisha Montez.”
The pervert pit erupted in shouts, whistles, and catcalls.
Sean smiled. “Tonight we have the sad occasion to say goo
dbye to Keisha. But I want everyone here to give her one last standing ovation as she comes to the stage. So without further ado, Keisha Montez!”
The honor guard of strippers began clapping and Keisha slowly made her way to the stage. She was dressed in a black string bikini and, as usual, she was spilling out of it. She’d worn her special glass high heels for this night, and when she got to the stage, Sean handed her the microphone.
“I just want to say that I’ve enjoyed dancing for you guys, and let’s do this one more time,” she said.
With that, she handed the microphone back to Sean, who leapt off the stage. The DJ then cued up 50 Cent’s song “P.I.M.P.”
How ironic, Keisha thought as she began gyrating on the stage to the sound of the beat.
Tonight, Keisha was going to give the pervert pit a show. She walked to each side of the stage, letting them see her full body. She then made her way to the golden pole in the middle, where she took her hands and rubbed it up and down.
Then she wrapped her legs around the pole and slid so that she was upside-down. It was then that she undid her bikini top. Her breasts, always perfect, stood at attention for everyone.
“Oh my God,” a man yelled. “You are fucking fine!”
Keisha blew a kiss to the man, and the dollar bills came flying.
She slid off the pole and then went to the edge of the pit. She pulled on her bikini bottom so that her ass was accentuated to the men behind her.
“Show it, baby!”
Keisha got on the ground and began crawling like a stalking cat, her ass high in the air. Then she got on her back and slowly began taking off her bikini bottom. The men started cheering like they’d never seen a woman before.
“Ooww!” they yelled at her. The money flew at her like a green snowstorm.
Keisha twisted on the floor and then started to hump it, and each man watching imagined that he was the floor.
The music was almost over and Keisha decided to give each man one more look at her body. She stood up next to the pole and, with one hand on it, she did a full turn.
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