I Promise

Note: Contains drug use, alcohol use, stripping.

My divorce was messy. My husband, Josh, cheated on me with many different women and beat me when I didn’t do something right. When I finally got the courage to leave him, it was awful. I felt that people were watching me and reporting back to him because once in a while, I would get a random text saying I looked awful or I would never be able to get a job in this town again. I felt trapped. Late one night, I packed up everything I could fit into my car and leave this town, leave the whispers, and never come back. I went to the local bank, emptied my bank account, which was only a couple of thousand, and drove to wherever someone didn’t know me.

I drove through the night until I began to feel tired. I saw a motel, checked in, and slept for the rest of the night. The next morning, I woke up and went to the diner across the street to have some breakfast. I sat at the counter of the diner and ate my breakfast. I asked the waitress about work in the town, but she laughed at me and said, There is no work in this town. You will have to go to the next town over and look for work there. And honey, you will only be able to get a job as either a waitress or a stripper. I am thinking the stripper route for you.”

I stared at her, got up from the counter, and said, “Thanks, lady.”

I left the headed to the next town over. I slowly drove through the town looking for help wanted signs, but there weren’t any. So I continued to drive. I finally came upon a help wanted sign, which was at a diner in the middle of town. I walked in and asked the waitress about the help wanted sign in the window. She laughed at me and said, “No, but here is a place that is always looking for people to work. You should try there.”

I drove a little farther until I reached the address the waitress wrote down for me. When I arrived there, I noticed it was a gentleman’s club. I rolled my eyes and noticed they had a help wanted sign in the window for a bartender. I got out of the car and went to the door. The club was open, and I walked in. The owner greeted me and I told him I wanted a job, but as a bartender. The owner laughed at me and said, “No, no sweetie. You are pretty. You need to be on the stage. You will make tons more money on the stage than behind the bar.”

I stood up and was about to walk away when I heard the owner say to me, “I get it, you're scared, but try it once and then if you don’t like it, then you can quit. And if you like having money, then you can have a regular schedule.”

I agreed and sat back down. “What’s your name, sweetie? Tell me about yourself,” The owner asked as he handed me a drink.

“My name is Abbagale. I am divorced. I am trying to find a new life somewhere. No thank you. I don’t drink,” I said as I pushed the drink away.

The owner smiled at me again and said, “you don’t know but you will soon. I think your new name is going to be skyler. Abbagale is too boring. Skyler, I think you will be doing more than just drinking alcohol. You will start tonight. You will get everything you make. I hope you have some sexy clothing. If not, I will have one of my girls take you shopping.”

Since I didn’t have anything, one of the other girls, whose name was Jasmine, took me shopping. I bought a wig, some sexy clothing, and shoes. She told me the rules of the club and how the girls never follow the rules, especially the rules about sleeping with the patrons of the club. “I won’t do that, don’t worry about me,” I said.

“Yes, you will. All the girls say they won’t, but they do. Where are you staying?” Jasmine asked as we got into her car.

“I am not sure. I was going to see if there is a room to rent somewhere in this town.” I said, not knowing where to go for the night.

“You can stay with me. I won’t charge you for the first month. So you can get on your feet, but next month I will start to charge three hundred a month. Now let’s get back to the club so you can start making money.” Jasmine said as we drove back to the club.

My first night at the club went well. I made a couple of hundred for the night, but I was told I would make more once people started to get to know me. I went back to Jasmine’s place, and she had a room ready for me. She sat on my bed and we talked for a couple of hours. She handed me a shot of whiskey, but I turned it away. She laughed and tried to pass me the shot again, but this time I took it. Jasmine started to laugh and said, “Girl, you need to lighten up. Here, try this. I promise you won’t regret it.”

Jasmine handed me a couple of pills, then refilled my shot glass with more whiskey. I popped the pills, not knowing what I was taking. Soon after, I passed out in my bed.

I was working at the club for months before my life changed, and so would I. I was working on a Saturday, the club was extremely busy. After my set on stage, I was making my rounds around the club. I was flirting with all the different men, and they would slip money into my G-string or my bra. I came across two younger men sitting in the back of the club. I walked up to them and started to flirt with them. They told me they were just finishing up Law School and came out to celebrate. One of the waitresses came up with some shots, we all downed them, and I told them I could help them celebrate. The two men looked at each other, and one said, “No, but my friend Craig here will definitely want to celebrate with you.”

I kissed Craig, and we headed back to my apartment. Once back at the apartment, I handed him a shot, and I popped a couple of pills. I started to kiss him and unbutton his shirt. He pushed me away, and we sat on my bed. Craig pulled off my wig and said, “You really don’t want to do this, do you? I feel like you are hard on your luck and need someone to help you.”

I told Craig about my life, my ex-husband, running away, and just trying to find my way. Craig put his arm around my shoulder and said, “ I am making a promise to you right here and right now. I will come back for you in one month. I am starting a new job and need time to get settled in, but in those two months. You need to attempt to get clean, which means no pills and no alcohol. You need to get a real job or attempt to find one, and lastly, you need to leave here. Do we have an understanding?”

“Yes. I swear I will do everything. I promise,” I said as I shook Craig’s hand.

I slept the night at Jasmine’s house. The next morning, I stared at myself in the mirror. I took a pair of scissors and cut my hair. I bleached it blonde. I packed up my clothing and left the house. I went back into town and looked for a job. I went to a diner and walked in. I saw an older woman behind the counter. I walked over to her and asked her if they were hiring. She looked me up and down and said, “No. I don’t think you will be a good fit here. We only hire family.”

I begged her to give me a chance. I promised I wouldn’t be a problem. I told her about my life and the promise I made to Craig. The woman brought me to the back and introduced me to her husband, “I am Ruth, and this is my husband, Bruno. We own this place. We will give you a chance if you mess up once, you will be fired. Any question?”

“Do you have a room for me to stay in? I don’t have a place to live. I am sorry, I just need a place to live.” I asked, thinking they were just going to fire me right then and there.

“Yes, we have a spare bedroom for you to live in, but no alcohol and no drugs. We live in a dry house.” Ruth said as she stared at Bruno.

“That’s totally fine. I promise you no drugs, no alcohol. No boys. I will help out with chores. I will earn my keep. I promise.” I said as I hugged Ruth.

She handed me an apron and I got to work. I handled a couple of tables with no issues. A couple of guys hit on me, but I was waiting for Craig. I was exhausted at the end of my shift, but I was the happiest I have ever been. I went back to Ruth and Bruno’s house. Ruth showed me to my room, and I took a shower and turned in for the night. I finally felt safe.

The two months went by, and I was finally happy with my life. I had a job, a place to live, and people who cared about me. I was at the diner when two men in suits came into the diner. I noticed that one was Craig. I smiled and walked over to take his order. “Good Afternoon. Can I take your orders?” I said, holding out my pad.

“Yeah, we both want cheeseburgers and fries,” the other man said.

I stared at Craig and asked, “Anything else?”

“No, now leave,” The other man said as he shooed me away.

I put in the order and waited for it to be ready. I stared at Craig, thinking he would look at me. When the order was ready, I dropped it off at their table and asked one last time, “Can I get you anything else?”

“No, thank you, though,” Craig said as he stared up at me.

I was about to walk away when I heard him say, “Wait, I know you.”

I smiled at him and said, “Yes. We met at a club.”

“I will swing by later tonight, and we can talk. You can tell me what you have been up to. I went back to your old place a week after we met, and you were gone. I am glad to see you are safe,” Craig said he ate his lunch.

I walked away to help another table. When I heard the two men’s conversation.

“You know that girl?” His friend asked as the two ate lunch.

“Yeah. She was a stripper at a club. I made a promise to her, but I just wanted to get away from her,” Craig said as he continued to eat.

I felt betrayed, hurt, and angry all at once. I wanted to make a scene, but I couldn’t lose my job. I changed for this man, I thought he was going to love me with the changes I made, but then I realized that I did change because of him, but truly changed for myself. I am more confident now. I waited on the rest of my tables, but I asked Ruth to take Craig’s table. She agreed, and I took care of everyone else. When Craig was finished with his lunch, he walked up to me and said, “I would love to see you again. You have changed, and I love your confidence.”

I smiled at him and said, “You promised you would come back for me, but I truly think you wouldn’t have come to find me, but you just happened to stumble into the diner I work at, you don’t care about me. I could have been dead on the streets and you would have just been sitting at your nice comfortable chair in your office. I have changed, but not for you. I changed for myself, and I will keep changing. I promise that.”

Craig smiled at me, handed me his number, and left the diner.