Day 19—Night Town II

Desdemona had been hired at Miss Marilynn’s after moving in from Montana City two years earlier. The day Deanna joined the ranks, Des had immediately welcomed her. Most of the girls were unimpressed when a new girl joined the ranks. Miss Marilynn didn’t accept just anyone, and she kept strict numbers in the house for legal, sanitary and undercutting reasons. The girls just starting out usually got the biggest percentage taken and had to cover the other girls on their days off if there was no one to work. Usually the girls starting out had to do laundry. Miss Marilynn had heard about Miss Cassie’s place two blocks down getting lice 5 months ago and vowed that they’d never be afflicted so, nor with bedbugs.

Des was now comfortable as one of Miss Marilynn’s girls, and usually took a half day off, which often meant two half nights off in a row, since the trickle of johns during daytime hours was slow, but existent. They had much better dinnertime johns.

Des immediately accosted Deanna in the hall on her second half-day in.

“I reckon you got to start out last night?”

“Well, no.” Deanna laughed softly. “I can’t just take any old john. They have to ask for me.”

Des frowned swiftly. “Oh HELL. Really? And just who do you think you are Miss Queen of Sheba??”

Deanna explained her situation slowly and gently, with some nervousness. Des’s face softened. She promised not to divulge to the other girls, even if they pressed her.

“Oh. Well, that’s not what I thought it was. Then you means you don’t like kissing and making love to girls? Or doing that other word the johns always use but Miss Marilyn say she gonna fine us ALL a night’s pay if she hear us saying,” she chuckled.

“You see, I never tried. But I knew I loved mean and it’d always been like that and so I dressed like a lady. Anyhow I don’t know how you gals do it with all the corsets. I had to get used to that.”

Des laughed, softening. There was a pause with some tension.

“Deanna, can I tell you a secret, too?” Deanna nodded.

Des paused, and her voice wavered. “Um, nothin’. Maybe another time.”

“You gotta baby or something?”

“Most of us do, Deanna. You’s lucky like that I guess as long as yer johns don’t come cryin. Raylene almost died last time she had a baby. Sorry. I reckon you don’t need to hear about lady problems.”

Deanna cleared her throat softly.  “It’s no trouble.”

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