When The Ground Shakes

Chapter 1

What the fuck am I doing? Actually no. Don't answer that. I'm talking to myself. I don't know why I signed up for this shit. Fuck. I'm sweating, I'm nervous as hell. What if nobody likes me? What if I'm going out there to throw my ass for no reason? Fuck bitch! Stop overthinking, you need this job, Forever 21 was not paying you enough.
I sigh.
I'm looking at my deep brown eyes in the mirror admiring myself. You got this. You that bitch. Look at you. Long hair don't care. Skin looking like a buttery honeybun and shit. Makeup on point, baby hairs on point. Add a little more lipgloss though. Okay cool. Boom hoe. I'm fresh from head to toe. See look I should've been a rapper instead of a stripper.
As I talk myself into more confidence, one of the girls comes from behind the curtain. Her outfit just a bright as her smile. So far the only Latina chick here, the one who gave me the application when I came in a week ago from today.
"You're on next. It's a full house out there, good luck." She says slouching in her chair which was next to mines.
"How long you been doing this?" I asked trying not to sound too nervous or nosy.
"Uh, maybe two years? Ion know maybe three. Shit who's counting. Dancing pay more than the bills so I'm comfortable where I'm at."
I nod agreeing with her. Money sound so good right now, it's up there with a #5 from Fred's Homemade Hamburgers & Fried Catfish with a strawberry Fanta drink.
She chuckles as she removes the burgundy wig from her scalp.
"You gonna be okay. I saw your audition tape. You gotta know you good. Otherwise you wouldn't be working here. Especially not this being your first strip joint. Suck that shit up and go do what the fuck you need to do. It's money out there."
She said exactly what I needed to hear in order to get off my ass. Now my adrenaline kicking in like I'm about to go preform for Beyoncé. I thank her before walking past all the hating ass bitches who looking at me up and down mumbling.
"Who is she?"
"What's her name?"
"Ion know."
Is all I catch before I open the curtains. When you open the curtains it's a pathway to the stage and the owner is right by the exit door talking to the DJ.
"Honey, we gotta problem." The owner says scratching his head.
"What's wrong?"
"Tiffany picked the same song as you and I already approved it. I apologize, that's my fault. You got another song you can dance to baby?"
My heart drops. I prepared myself all week for everything to go wrong but not this. Tiffany the main one who sized me up too. Bitch had it out for me since I walked in.
"I apologize but that's not my problem Rondo. I'm up next and Bitchany got 5 more girls ahead of her to think of something else. Now I'm gonna go on stage and—"
Rondo steps in front of me, "Wait a minute now lil mama. We ain't have no problems before you got here okay? I wanna keep the shit that way. I'm the boss in here, I gave you this job. Now I'm not the nigga to hold things over peoples heads but if I say something then well...whatever I say goes. You're not performing tonight Honey. I'll see you next week with a new routine, okay?"

I'm almost laughing in his face by this time and I mean no disrespect but he cannot he serious. If I don't put my foot down Ima look like the rest of these hoes. Weak. All this shit so unprofessional and unorganized but then again, it's not a 9 to 5 so what did I expect.
I rest my hands on my hips and suck the spit from between my teeth before talking back to Rondo because I want to choose my words carefully.

"Fire me when I get off stage. Ima make my band tonight so fuck how you or Tiffany copycat ass feel." And just like that I walked around Rondo and into the curtains to the stage.
I can't believe I just did that let alone said that to the man who gave me a job at the best strip club in downtown. It was all or nothing and I need to put a payment down for my classes or they're going to drop my classes for Fall semester and I really really really want to graduate this year.

Turning my focus to right now all I hear is my heels clacking on the floor. It's so packed men are standing up in between chairs. I see so much fucking money it's ridiculous. Might as well shoot a music video in here. I'm scared but I won't show it. I know my face pretty and my body banging but they wanna see what that ass looking like. So I walk to the center, look over to my shoulders to the DJ and nod for him to cue the music.

Look
What's her name ?
I must've forgot
Too many cities
Too many bottles
Too many thoughts
Too many problems
Not enough answers
Shawty, she a school girl
But at night she a dancer
You should know
She gon' work
She fell in love with the life
The money first
She gon' play
With your heart
She make it worse
I salute the things you do to make it work
- K Camp : Marilyn Monroe

I start with my legs twisting around the role and then sliding down into a middle split. Niggas started going crazy. I came together just to clap my left and right cheek on different beats then I grind while running my hands through my hair.
"DAYUM!" Someone yelled from behind the front row.
I kept my breathing in tact as I reached for the pole and climbed with no hands.
Bills started flying. Tens & Twenty's lying on the floor waiting to be safe in my bank account.
I'm giving myself a prep talk to remember the steps as I finish off my 2 minute performance. They yelling at me saying things they'd do to me and such. I feel violated but it's worth every fucking dollar because I know someday soon I won't be the girl on the pole. Ima be somebody. I didn't know who yet but somebody who's better than the person I am now.