When John went to the topless bar after work that day, all he had on his mind was having a couple of cold beers and looking at the pretty ladies.
He stopped his apartment first to shower and change clothes. As he worked putting hot tar on roofs, he doubted that showing up at the club reeking of sweat and hot tar would make him very popular.
At 28 years old, John was fresh out of the army and living clear across country from his family. Not that he had anything against his family, but army life had given him a taste for travel and independence.
Leaving his work truck at home, he got on his motorcycle and rode it to the club across town.
At the door, the bouncer greeted him by name. Just inside, John stepped sideways so as not to block the doorway while he let his eyes adjust to the much lower light level inside.
The bar was moderately busy, with about twenty men scattered among the tables, 3 or 4 at the bar, and the usual dozen or so sitting in 'pervert's row', the seats next to the stage itself. John threaded his way to his usual table, not too close to the stage, but close enough to see the dancers clearly.
“Hey John, How ya doin' today?" said the waitress as she lifted her little note pad. “What'll it be? The usual?"
John grinned up at her.
“Hi Sheila, sure, bring me my usual. I rode my bike tonight, so switch me to cokes after the first two."
“You got it hon." she said and headed off to the bar. John greeted and was greeted by several of the dancers and waitresses as they passed by. He was a welcome customer, and most of the staff liked him. He was always pleasant, tipped well, and never ever got grabby.
“Any new girls tonight?" he asked Sheila when she brought his beer."
“Only two." she said. “Cindy’s a bottle blonde with plastic tits. Susy is a natural blonde with cupcake tits."
“When are you going to break down and give me a lap dance?" John teased.
Sheila rolled her eyes in mock exasperation. “When my husband goes to Mars for the weekend." John laughed along with her. Sheila wasn't married and she knew that he knew it. She never minded John's harmless flirtations. He gave her a $5 for the beer and told her to keep the change.
The DJ was calling out the name of the next dancer, Kimberly. John had seen her dance before. A slender brunette, with a passably pretty face, but with the personality of a cobra.
Letting his attention drift away from the stage, He spotted a dancer he knew and liked.
“Hey Star! How about a lap dance next set?" She veered off the course she had been setting for the bar and dropped into a chair next to him.
“Hey John." she said. “How about set after next? I really have to use the little girls room. But I'll come back and sit with you until then."
“Sure." he said. “You are always worth waiting on." She stood and patted him on the head.
“Good boy." she giggled. John watched her backside as she wriggled off. Nice kid he thought. He raised his hand and caught Sheila's eye. She came over to see what he wanted, much to the annoyance of the drunk who had been trying vainly to make a coherent request for another beer.
As Sheila got to John's table, the drunk made it to his feet and reeled to the door and outside.
John watched him go with a bemused look on his face.
“Don't let me ever get that sloppy huh?" he said almost to himself.
“If you ever get that bad, I'll brain ya my own self." Sheila assured him. He looked up at her and grinned widely.
“Sheila me lass, I have a special request for ye." She winced at his terrible attempt at an Irish accent.
“And what would that be?" she replied. With most customers she would have told them to get bent already. But John was safe enough.
“If I give you $30, do you think you could find someone to trot next door to the Mickey D's and get a couple of Big Mac's and a couple of large fries?" He gave her a sweet smile that had always worked wonders with his grandma, but that usually produced laughter in anyone else.
Sheila glanced at her watch. “I'm going on break in a minute here. So I'll just do it myself."
John dug into his jeans and handed her the money.
“I really appreciate this Sheila,” he said.
“If ya didn't, I wouldn't be doing it," she said pertly. John watched her leave, then turned his attention back to the stage as the new Cindy came out. Pretty enough but looked bored and tired. He turned back around when Star came back from the bathroom.
“The usual 3 for 30?" she asked, meaning 3 songs for $30.
“Yep." he said
She squinted up at the girl on the stage.
“Whaddya think?" she nodded toward the stage.
John grimaced.
“Pretty, but I don't think she'd be anyone I'd ask to sit down and talk" Star leaned over and whispered in his ear.
“She's a real bitch. Been here two days and thinks she's the goddamn queen."
That was enough confirmation for John. Star was the kind of girl who could find the good in anybody and never said anything bad about anyone. If SHE was this pissed at the new girl, he was going to stay well away.
“What about the other new girl?" he asked quietly.
“Oh, she's a real doll,” said Star.
The DJ announced the next girl to the stage, the other new one. But he was paying attention to Star. She stood and untied her top when the music began. Star was short, about 4'11", but she had a tiny waist and her tits were proportionately large for her frame, and all natural, as she would proudly proclaim if asked.
John watched her writhe and turn to the music, keeping her fingers away from her nipples as required by local law, but cheating just a bit to bend over and “Accidentally" brush the stiff pink tips of her breasts across John's shoulder or cheek. John kept his hands in his lap and just enjoyed the view and occasional contact.
As she danced, Star debated going out with John. He was sweet enough, and always a perfect gentleman. Almost all of the girls who worked at the club liked him, except for Kimberly, and she was a bitch anyway. She bent over and wriggled her butt at him for a moment. She made up her mind. If he ever asked her out, she'd go. And if he waited too long, she would ask HIM.
As she danced, John noticed subtle changes in her body language. If he didn't know better, he would have sworn she was dancing for her boyfriend.
At the end of the third song, Star sat back down. She was breathing hard and lightly perspiring to boot.
“I'll just rest a moment if you don't mind." she said as she re-tied her bikini top. “Glad to have you." he said gallantly.
Just then, Sheila dumped a couple of bags on the table in front of him.
“Here ya go." she said. I'll send Connie over with a coke for you."
“Make it two cokes please." he replied. “And thanks again Sheila. I owe you one." Sheila patted him on the shoulder.
“Anytime John."
John unloaded the bags, putting a sandwich and box of fries in front of Star.
“I thought you might be a little hungry tonight."
Normally, she wouldn't have touched food a customer gave her with a 10-foot pole. But this was John, and she had seen Sheila deliver the food herself. She picked up a French fry and took a nibble. Before she knew it, she was finishing off the Big Mac and had eaten all of her fries and half of his as well. She finished the coke in front of her, and then let out a ladylike belch. “Scuse me" she said with a blush.
