CHAPTER 45- CHICKIE

I had enough money in my stash to get a cheap hotel for a few days. I called my dancing agent, Joe.

"I want to work where no one would think to look for me," I told him.  

"Ah, one of those situations." Joe had seen this before. He scheduled me to work at a New Jersey strip club.

An oval-shaped bar with a stage in the middle ran the length of the place. For a guy to tip, he had to hand the money to the bartender to hand to the dancer.

That night, a big guy gave the bartender a hundred-dollar bill and his business card to give to me.

"Hey sweetheart, you've got an admirer." The bartender gave me the bill and the card. "Vinnie Vitale -Contractor"

I was flooded with relief. 100 bucks would go a long way toward my freedom. I immediately made this theater in the round a proscenium situation, performing just for my big spender. During my set, six hundred dollar bills were passed to me from Vinnie.

I greeted him after my set.

"Get up so the lady can sit down," Vinnie told one of his buddies.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Thank you. White wine." Vinnie called over the bartender who hopped to.

"This was generous of you, but, why did you tip me so much? I'm not like, a hooker."

"No, no. I just wanted your attention."

"Well, you got it."

Then Vinnie let me know what the deal was.

"I want you to meet and ya know, 'hang out wit' a friend of mine, good guy named Chickie. He's not exactly good with the ladies. I'll take care of you."