Christmas eve at the strip club/draft one

Christmas eve at the strip club/draft one

fiction
edward w pritchard

The jute box had played " walkin in a winter wonderland' by Elvis with the stripper ending [ a walkin,- in a Winter-- wonda LAND]  23 times since 9AM on Dec 24th and now at 9pm the club was closing for the night. Tomorrow was Christmas day and most of the dancers had families and loved one's to race home to. Only a small Cadre of professional dancers would stay the night at the strip club next to the truck stop on route 76 East between Youngstown and Canfield a mile from the new casino which never closed. Mrs. Robertson the club's owner and a former dancer herself made sure that even if only one of her dancers needed to stay the night before Christmas that she would stay too; that was Mrs. Robertson's way, a tough but caring boss and there would be some fine wine for a toast and some French cheese and bread for a late night snack for all present as well for a strip club could be lonely and desolate closing early the night before Christmas three hundred yards South of the all night truck stop and 24 hour diner especially this year with Christmas eve falling on a Sunday night.

Some years a drunken patron would rap on the locked doors of the strip club around 2am Christmas eve and it was nice if an authoritative modern business woman was around to make sure no ruckus occurred at the Holidays. Both bouncers always leave right at closing time on Christmas eve.

This year there was just Mrs. Roberson, Marvella the odd girl, and Mary Vetsaro the clubs highest earning dancer year to date spending Christmas eve at the club.

Near mid night on Christmas eve Marvella as usual was reading a book. She had a multi colored red throw blanket tucked across herself and was sunken into a large comfortable chair that many of the girls used in their acts. Quietly contentedly alone Marvella sipped on a glass of Blanc French wine from a 24 ounce Styrofoam cup.

Mrs. Robertson was sitting at the bar balancing her accounts books. She wanted to have the whole day off on Christmas as the club was gloriously closed all day Christmas but the book work had to be ready for year end bonus which were traditionally paid on new years eve one week away. With a small whistle Mrs. Robertson closed out the account books for the 51st week of the year of 2017. "Where does the time go she exclaimed to a large dark empty room". In Answer Marvella smiled at the boss, closed her book, finished off her white wine and settled in for sleep.

With the day nearly over Mrs Robertson the boss decided to check on her other dancer Mary and maybe thank her for such a good year. As top earner Mary had her own private dressing room at the rear of the club.

to be continued