BAD BLACK

I stirred awake from my afternoon nap on the couch, glancing at my watch to find it’s just a few minutes before 5:00 PM. Sometimes I easily get lost in my phone or reading a story book, often falling asleep without realizing it. Waking up, I walked to the edge of my room and opened the curtains to look outside. The sun was winding down, a clear sign that I needed to prepare for my night duty. Because the afternoon sun hits directly into my room, pulling down the curtains to block the intense light is the only way I can get any real rest.

I remember on my first day, I seriously considered asking the landlord for a refund so I could move somewhere else. But then I realized he’d probably refuse, and involving lawyers would just make things worse with all their legal nonsense. I hate the legal profession because of their double standards and hypocrisy.

I’m not a fan of daytime naps, but my job forces me into them. Staying awake for several hours at night leaves me drained the next afternoon, right as I’m trying to gear up for another shift. Anyway, it is a part of my life now and I am used to it.

Dressed in short pants and a blouse, I stretch inside my room just to draw some energy and kick the bore down away. I love doing the knees to chest exercise. Just lying flat on my back and I gently pull one or both of my knees toward the chest. I normally do like twenty stretches and pushups, when am done with that, I especially also like the cat- cow exercise. The gentle flowing movement between yoga poses that stretches the back torso and neck while relieving spinal tension does improve my posture and boosts my circulation.

Another stare at my watch and it is thirty minutes past 05:00pm and my time is getting close. I pour myself a glass of warm water as I cool down before I take a quick shower. I learned my lesson the hard way after almost fainting in the shower because I rushed to wash up while still completely sweaty. I survived death that day.

Because of my demanding work schedule, my daughter, Rihanna-named after my favorite musician, Robyn Rihanna Fenty-lives with my sister, Judith. While I would love to have her living with me, my job makes it difficult right now. Judith has been my rock for all these years and I don’t know what I would do if she wasn’t around for me. I love her unconditionally. Someone who looks after your child without even asking you a penny is one of the kinds. In fact, I had promised to take them for an outing and spoil them with gifts once I get my money right.

I load my bag with work gear and make sure that everything is in order. My work gear normally involves like short pants, sexy lingerie or skirts, a blouse and some other stuff like eyelashes, lip sticks, perfume and many others.

Two days ago, the streets were cold and the wind was flowing strong, and I just had to endure it. Our clients prefer to see what they are paying for. If you cover yourself up in a long dress or pants, it is hard to compete and get their attention. I dress up in long jeans with a white topless blouse with my thigh high boots and a sweater on as I step out of my house. I believe my neighbors think that maybe I work in a night club or to some other fancy place but anyway who cares about what they say. I call my sister Judith and she lets me talk to my daughter;

''Hello sweetie’’

''Hello mummy,’’ she replies

''How are you doing’’

''Am fine, mummy,’’

''I miss you. when are you coming to see us,’’ she says

''Very soon dear. I miss you a lot,’’ I reply

''Okay, you come now,’’ she says

''Oh sweetie, I wish but I can’t because I am going to work,’’ I reply

''Okay, but get for me some chocolate,’’ she says

''Yes dear, I will’’

''Ok mummy, bye and I love you’’

''I love you too my darling’’

Talking to my daughter usually brings tears to my eyes. She hands back the phone to her aunt;

''She misses you,’’ Judith said

''I know and I will make some time and come over,’’ I replied

''Fine’’

''I will try and send you something tomorrow,’’ I said

''It’s okay but don’t stress yourself. As long as I eat, she will also eat,’’ she replied

''Thank you’’

''You are welcome please’’

''Good day’’

''Good day too’’.

My sister is a kindergarten teacher and she has good manners. She is not like me I guess and that’s why I let her stay with my daughter. I am lucky that she is not yet married. I don’t know what would happen if she gets married because some men don’t like raising other people’s children and you can’t blame them either. I will work hard to earn money and buy myself a home and probably a change in my career. I trust God will answer my prayers so I can comfortably live with my daughter and provide for her. For now, I accept things as they are.

With my bag hanging over my shoulders I walk to the main road and wait for a public bus. I love boarding buses to work because several reasons. First, most public buses are driven by educated and middle-aged guys who drive well at relatively normal speed as compared to taxi guys. On any normal day it can take me twenty to thirty minutes’ drive to the city but if we get stuck in traffic, it can take us an hour plus to reach the city Centre. Luckily that day, there was no traffic and we drove straight to the city entre with no interruptions on the way. I was there at a few minutes past 7:00pm.

Stepping out of the bus and walking across a few streets to finally reaching my changing room. I spend some quality time at my changing room because it’s where I do some final touches on everything including my hair style for the day, my nails, my eye lashes and my lipstick, I mean a lot of stuff. Beauty is indeed expensive and tiring. It’s basically looking through the mirror and you like the person across staring back at you. My friend used to crack jokes that I prepare myself like a fattened cow ready to be slaughtered. There is no way you can get clients if you don’t smell and look good.

Thirty minutes later, I stepped out of my changing room wearing shorts, an off-shoulder blouse, my stylish heels. My crop top exposed my midriff, and I carried a small purse containing just my phone and some gum to keep my breath fresh. My fellow streetwalkers are already out lining on the streets scavenging around waiting for clients. I walk past a few to my standing position. We all have our positions and we do have some ground rules that keep us grounded. One basic rule that had stayed with us for a longtime which we all respected was that one must to stay in her lane and never try to pitch to a client who is already speaking with another woman. Clients have the freedom to walk around and choose whoever they want. Do not create a scene to lure them away.

An hour later, a car pulled up next to my walkway. The window rolled down. I looked closer—it was a Black man, probably in his mid-forties. I stepped toward the vehicle, leaning over to tap the roof;

″Hello beautiful,″ he said

″Hello love,″ I reply

I usually like to keep a distance because some of our clients are rowdy and some can even try to touch your private parts like squeeze my breasts. The client is driving a Suzuki x trail a new model and perhaps he may have some good money to spend tonight.

''Are you looking for some sugar,’’ I said

''Yes, yes, you,″ he replied

Taking a good look at the back seats, he is alone in his car just staring at my breasts.

‘’You want me for a night,’’ I said

''Yeah’’

''For the whole night or just some time,’’ I reply

''I don’t know how you guys do it here. Do you charge differently depending on time allotted,’’ he asked?

''Absolutely’’

''It’s basically $150 for one hour and $250 for the whole night,’’ I replied

‘’I get it. I will go for one hour. come in and let’s go,’’ he says

I normally don’t like to jump into the client’s car before I know where we are going.

''Where do you want to take me?’’ I ask him.

''Where do you want to go,″ he replied

''There a good hotel not far from here, it’s called classic hotel but remember the hotel fees are on you,’’ I said

''Yes, it’s okay. Come and we go,’’ he replied

''I guess we have a deal here’’

''Give me a few minutes, let me get my bag,’’ I said

''Okay, fine’’

I turn around and walk towards my changing room. I know his eyes are glued just looking at my ass and maybe imagining what he is about to get for tonight. I walk to my changing room and grab my bag because it has some of my stuff to use like another pair of underwear to change to after the game and some other stuff to use like condoms. I need to keep my life safe of course.

I returned to find him practically vibrating with anticipation. Opening the car door myself, I slid into the driver’s seat and threw it into gear. A glance across the console confirmed everything: he was utterly captivated, unhinged, and ready. The hunt was over. Now, he was just waiting to butcher the prey.

''Please give me directions, I don’t know the place,’’ he said

''Fine’’

''My name is Eric, by the way,’’ he said

I don’t normally like to introduce myself beyond what we are about to do because its business to me and I don’t enjoy it even. They say mixing business with pleasure is bad thing but for purposes of keeping courtesy, I just tell him my street name of course which are not my real names.

''I am Sheila,’’ I reply

''Nice to meet you Sheila, you are so gorgeous,’’ he said

''Thank you. You are handsome too,’’ I replied

‘’Really’’

''Yeah’’

''Fine.’’

After about a kilometer, we turn right and drive straight to the hotel premises. He gets out quickly and opens my door and he is trying much to be a gentleman but I appreciate that.

We walk to the counter and I sit at one of the waiting chairs as he pays for a room. The workers there know me because they have seen me a couple of times although I try as much to change hotels. The lady behind the deck is smiling staring at me as he turns around to check on me. What could have happened if he turned around and I am nowhere to be seen. He would probably go berserk and finally we were allocated a room up to the third floor. We walk upstairs; I am leading as he follows.

As we walk up to the third floor, he is there behind me, his right hand is massaging on my waist flank area causing that shock waves right through the body. It’s like he wants to jump on me right away.

''Stop it,’’ I said jokingly

''You love that one, yes,’’ he replied

We get inside and I lock the door. Classic hotels have modest rooms with enough space, big beds, a shower room, a lovers’ seat for two people, a television set mounted on the wall and a wardrobe on the sides for hanging clothes. there is also a telephone installed next to the door way in case you want to order anything down stairs.

Aware of his urgent task ahead, Eric quickly removes his clothes and jumps on the bed and calls me;

''Come over darling,’’ he says

I usually like guys who take it slow after all; I am here for him.

I guess this is what we came here for and I strip myself and grab a towel and wrap it around my upper body covering my breasts while exposing my thighs.

''Let me take a shower,’’ I said

''Oh yeah. You are killing me,’’ he replied

''You are funny,’’ I replied jokingly

This was an excuse because I was not yet ready in any mood for anything. I walk across to the bathroom and hang my towel across the metal stands and open the water showers. With water flowing over my shoulders, I close my eyes and try to reflect what I am about to do.

Few seconds later, Eric finds me in the bathroom and grabs me from behind and I feel his cock is hard like it wants to slice me into half.

I turn around and face him and he allover me, kissing my neck and going down my throat and I realize the stuff is happening any moment.

''You don’t have a condom on,’’ I said as I pushed him away

''Do you have one with you,’’ he replied

''Yes’’

''Where’’

''In my bag,’’ I reply

''Okay’’

''We get out of the bathroom and I rush to my bag, pick it and hand it over to him. he rolls it over as I was watching and I guess the time is now.

I lie on the bed with my back down and raise my legs up and pretend as usual waiting for him to do his stuff. Eric was hard and I felt him right way for some good minutes until he finally let go.

I get up and rush to the bathroom and got a quick shower and by the time I came back, I found my money already on the table adjacent to the bed.

''Thank you, Sheila,″ he said

''It was nice meeting you,’’ I replied

''Before you go, just get me your number,’’ he said

I look back and stare at him. if he wants a second chance, I have no problem.

''I will be around at the same place if you need me,’’ I reply

''Are you going back to work?’’ he says

I don’t know why he is asking me such ridiculous question at this particular time. I have served him and doesn’t it mean that I should not work on others. He is just being greedy, I guess.

''No’’

''Good night’’

''Like wise.’’

I step out and push the door lock in.

I Walked out of the hotel and rushed back to the street to look for a second client. I will stop at that and call it a night.