Amateur Night

Cheeks started stripping when she was 16 years old. The legal age to strip is 18, but she got an early start on dancing provocatively by using her older sister's ID. I didn't prod much, but apparently that was enough for her to get on stage. When we met, she had just turned 18. Although Cheeks started dancing at such a young age, she claimed to dislike stripping--referring to it simply as a means to an end. Other than an aunt who helped her pay rent, Cheeks was literally on her own.

After Gucci told me about the stupid bitch who derailed his plans to play college ball because she failed a class he paid her to pass for him, Cheeks came and sat next to me. It was her first night at this particular joint. The night was very slow for her. After five hours of work, Cheeks had only pocketed $20. The other girls I had spoken to that night, like Raven, were doing a lot better.

Cheeks wasn't unattractive by any means. She had blue eyes and dirty blonde hair. Her face was unblemished and she had very thin lips. In her heels, Cheeks looked like she was about 5'10. She also had the requisite assetts to be dancing provocatively. In other words, she didn't need special jeans to prop up her derriere. Baby had back!

Cheeks was annoyed about making so little on her shift, but that didn't keep her from having an open conversation with me. Like Candy, she was very candid about her past and present.

Me: So this is your first night stripping?
Cheeks: Here? Yeh. I've been doing this for a couple of years. Started when I was 16. I'm 18 now.
Me: 16? Were you stripping after school or something?!?!
Cheeks: I dropped out at 16 and got my GED.
Me: School wasn't your thing?
Cheeks: No. It was. I used to live in Florida. Down there, I was in a talented and gifted program so they jumped me ahead two years down there. When I moved up here, I got put back two years. I was bored with school so I dropped out.
Me: Were your parents cool with that?
Cheeks: My mom wasn't at all. She kicked me out because of it. Well, she says it was because of that but it was really because she chose her boyfriend over me.
Me: Where's your dad?
Cheeks: He died when I was 2. Heroin overdose.
Me: So then where did you live when your mom kicked you out?
Cheeks: I lived in a shelter. That's actually where I found out about stripping. This other girl in there was bringing home $1000 regularly, so I was like I need to give this a shot!
Me: That's a lot of money!
Cheeks: I know, right. Well, she was making a lot of money because she was giving blow jobs in the champagne room.
Me: Ohh.. got you.
Cheeks: Ugh.. My back hurts so much. Wearing these friggin heels is the worst!
Me: So why don't you throw on some flip flops and dance barefoot on stage?
Cheeks: The owner won't let us. It's actually considered prostitution to dance barefoot on stage, so I gotta keep these damn heels on.

To be continued...