Season 1: Episode 1 (Take it to Leave it)
I woke up the next morning in bed on my own, my head was hurting, but more than that I was it sure if I had dreamt what had happened at Boobs. I looked in my purse and saw the Β£7.50 and knew it was not a dream. I had done that on stage last night. Through the fog of my hangover I realised I had enjoyed it, and looking at the cash how could I not do it again. But then reality hit when I heard Dave banging around downstairs, he would never let me and what about the kids. I decided then it was a one off. I would never see Sandie again and as for George well he probably didn't even plan on offering me a job anyway was all lies to just get me back, and who knows what.
I went downstairs and Dave was still banging around. He was not happy I could tell. Then he started. When he went off on one it was best to sit and listen until he finished. He started off with not being happy how late I was , and what did I think I was doing coming home after midnight, and who was the guy that dropped me off why wasn't I in a taxi. I told him that I got separated from the girls and she was a barmaid at the club we were in and saw my crying so they offered me a lift home. That didn't help, he then started on about me being useless can't even go out without getting in trouble. The thing with Dave was he always put me down making sure I felt like I was useless and I needed him. It was not long before he began his usual rant about how I have let myself go, telling me I am overweight and my tits are saggy now. In the past I would just accept that and put my head down. But that day things were different I put my head down but I didn't believe him, I knew that I was not those things and that last night I made more money than he would in a whole day working. I was not useless I could do this. The more he went on the more I was determined that I was going to get out of this and the only way was to go back and see George and take his offer.
When he was done with his rant and had gone to the pub for his Sunday drinking session I went back upstairs took the money from my purse and hid it under the floorboards. That was going to be my way out one day I told myself. I went up to mum and dads and picked up the kids, I had kept Β£1 back and I told them we were going to have ice cream that afternoon as a special treat for being so good and they could have whatever one they wanted. The smiles on their faces confirmed that what I was going to do would all be worth it.
The week after was full of mixed emotions, when I was home on my own I began to doubt that the road I was considering was the right one, but then when Dave was home I remembered why I was doing this. I kept looking at the money under the floorboards, a couple of times almost taking it out and buying the kids new toys, but stopped myself. They didn't need them and I would save it up to buy them something special at Christmas maybe.
The word had got out at the factory about what happened Saturday night. Most of the girls teased me about it, only a couple of them were nasty but they were always like that and no one liked them anyway. It was the men that were mostly interested of course asking if I was going to do a show for them in the canteen. I just laughed at their comments, they were harmless and I think if I ever gave them any reason to think I would they would all run a mile. It was only Sue that I told about George's offer, and I swore her to secrecy. When I told her that I was going to see if he was serious she couldn't believe it, and said she would come with me if I wanted some support, I thanked her and we arranged to meet in town on Friday afternoon and go to the club to see him.
Friday afternoon came and I caught the bus into town. As I sat on the bus it felt like every pair of eyes was looking at me, knowing what I was on the bus for and who I was going to see. I almost bottled it until Sue joined me and I calmed down. We walked through town to Boobs, I had not even thought that the front door would be closed in the afternoon. We walked about a bit but it was not the sort of place for two young women to hang around being on the edge of the red light district. We had a few looks from the girls along the street which made us feel very uncomfortable. After 30 minutes a car pulled up and I thought we were in trouble then, but when the window wound down I saw that it was Sandie, I was so relieved. "Hello" she said. "Back already?"
I told her that I had come to speak to George now that I was sober. She laughed and said that he would be pleased to see me, he had mentioned me every day since Saturday. She parked her car by the side of the club and showed us where the rear door was. Why hadn't we thought about that. Inside the club looked so different in the daytime, it was not the buzzing, smokey club it had been on Saturday. Other than the three of us there was an old guy sweeping the floors and wiping tables and one bar maid restocking the bar. Sandie told us to wait in the club whilst she went to find George.
Sue looked at me and said "are you sure Ann?" I told her I thought I was and added that from now on I was Izzy.
"Why Izzy?" She asked, and I said it was because of my middle name, and it sounds more exotic than just Ann.
With that I heard George's loud voice front he other side of the club "Izzy!" He shouted, "I knew your would be back. But I had not expected you to bring a friend with you." He looked at Sue appraising her body. Sue managed to just about stutter out that she wasn't here for a job, just supporting me.
"That's a shame" George said, "But if you ever change your mind." He then looked at me and raised an eyebrow, a look I learnt over the years meant he was waiting for me to say something. When I didn't say anything though he had to ask, "You are here to accept my offer I assume."
I told him that I thought so. "No good thinking it, it's either a yes or no," he said.
"You really think I can make money?" I asked.
"How much did you make on Saturday for one show?"
"Β£7.50." I told him.
"A poultry sum," he said. "My top girls can pull in 20 quid per routine here on a good night and if they get invited to the Regal then they are making up to 100."
My mind was all over the place. I had no idea how much these girls would be earning. And I didn't have a clue what the Regal was.