“Will you please go to the table so we can sit and talk about this like rational people?”
“I don’t think I can sit with you casually like nothing is wrong. You are in grave danger, Little Miss, and you don’t even know it. I demand that you quit being a stripper and try to put your life back together.”
“My life is not falling apart dad. I probably have more money in my savings account than you do. I’m not quitting my job to please you.”
“You are going to defy me?”
“Yes Chief, for the first time in my life I am going to defy you.”
This shocks my father beyond reason. I think he is going to have a heart attack. He finally sits down and takes out a handkerchief to wipe his face.
I go sit by him.
“Chief, I’m a grown woman now. I’m not your Little Miss anymore.”
My father looks like he is going to cry. He gets up and without saying a word, leaves my apartment. I feel sad because now my father and I are on the outs.
I hate that. I’ve always been daddy’s little girl but it’s time my father learns that I am a grown woman. A woman who needs to be responsible for her own life decisions.
I get my purse and tote bag and leave for work. When I get there, I feel so full of energy and ready to give the best performances of my life. It feels so good to not be living in a secret, pretending to work at the Oak café.
Ginger enters the dressing room, and I go up to her.
“Thanks for ratting me out to my dad.”
Ginger gets a smile on her face.
“Oh, don’t be so smug. I am happy that you did this. I feel so good to not be living a lie anymore. I really needed to get this off my chest. Thanks Ginger, I really appreciate what you did for me.”
Ginger doesn’t say anything to me. She just scowls and becomes angry that her plan didn’t work.
“Cat got your tongue Ginger?”
I laugh and so do the girls that are in the dressing room.
Ginger is clearly angry. She storms out of the dressing room and mumbles something while she is leaving that I can’t understand.