As recently as November 2018 a most erudite young woman wrote extensively in one of our top tabloids and among her comments the following useful thoughts about men, women and life:
"The mainstreaming of feminism (and online surveillance thereof) has made many women I know - and myself - anxious about conforming to stereotypes, lest we perpetuate the same conditions we find so constraining. At the same time, self consciously rejecting even harmless or positive ingrained ideas about women for the sake of doing so feels ridiculous, maybe even regressive. If there is any way to escape this double bind and establish some agency, it may be to approach womanhood like ... (the author about whom our lady writes) does, as just another perversity among many. Ultimately women's issues are particular in the same way anyone's are. How do we keep going, given the circumstances?"
This Part 3 deals with the evolving lives of five not perfect women caught in different binds to each other but sharing one simple realism, a combination of problemed marriages, a need for changes and a passionate love of their children.
Maybe the simplest answer is in the words of one of our sports goods manufacturers, "Just do it" or in the Australian equivalent "Just get on with it". But never give in.
We can never put ourselves in the shoes of others, notwithstanding we regularly judge on inadequate facts. We urge change on people with utterances like "No change, no change" but that ignores the difficulties and suffering that can create.
Hence the need to understand the WHY in life and not just the what, when and how.
Saturday Afternoon - One Day Left in Las Vegas for the Married Wives Club
Francis, Roman and Jack all headed off to the Italian casino to finish their poker competition leaving the girls to head to the pool for a bit of sun and a swim. Toni was not into baking, but she had her own issues at home and wanted to clear them before tonight. She got in some laps and headed for her room to shower and make her calls.
Toni called her girls enjoying the birthday party down at McDonalds. They were just leaving for the movies, so the chat was brief. Her man was about to drive them downtown to the cinema: Hi Honey. Yes off to the movies with all the kids from the party to see one of the new Disney flicks. Should be fun. Tonight me and the girls are going to Sam's place for a boys card night and the girls are going to have a sleepover.
Toni: You know he is an alcoholic. I want you be extra careful there. He is going to get a skinful and he gets a bit rough when he is drunk. So promise me you will take no risks with our kids.
Jake: OK I do hear you. Let's not get upset. I promise any hint of a problem and we will head home. And tomorrow I will drop the girls around to your mums around lunchtime, so I can go and meet the owners of that services business I told you about over a pool party. I think I told you about that already, but I only need to stay for a while and then I will come and collect you at the airport. Bit cool for swimming anyway. Your mum wants us to have dinner there tomorrow evening. Some family do. Got to run as we will miss the start of the movie. See you tomorrow.
Again he did not want to know what she was doing and seemingly did not care. Toni as a result put two and two together just confirming all her suspicions and her growing lack of respect for Jake. She had a seriously good idea what that pool party was going to be about, not that she was going to let on to Jake. She had already told her PI about that party so she was expecting to get a decent report from her PI on Monday.
Shower time.
Toni got that phone call she knew she could not avoid: Yes Gary. I recognised your number.
Gary: Come up here to the suite. I need you and your girlfriends help tonight. I figure you owe me.
Toni: Not the way I am thinking, but if it gets you off my back then fine. Give me 30 minutes as I just got out of the shower.
And if I know you it will be come up sexy, right?
Gary: Your learning fast.
Toni: We are going to have to talk us through today.
Gary: 30 minutes and sexy.
Toni knocked on the door of Gary's suite, hearing him answering a mobile as he walked to answer the door.
The door opened with Gary in the hotel housecoat and swimmers on underneath. He encouraged Toni in to wander while he took the call.
Gary: Yes this is Stephen's brother and his mobile. He and Hank are busy at the moment, doing an interview. How can I help?
Gary put the phone down on his table and got out a pen and paper from the side desk. He flicked the mobile to speaker phone.
Lance: Hi Gary. This is Lance, one of Stephen's regulars. Just made a big jackpot down in the slots and was wondering if Stephen could send one of his ladies over to my room for a couple of hours to help me celebrate. My normal room here is 414.
Gary: Is a little early for the ladies but I am sure we can get one of Stephen's best down there for you in say ten minutes? Cash or credit?
Lance: Cash. Stephen's normal rates were $1500 for two hours, plus tips. Am off to dinner tonight so your lady can join me if she wants to and we can make our own arrangements afterwards?
Gary somewhat unfussed and relaxed at what must have been a common conversation: We are going to be busy tonight, so dinner may be a bit hard, but call back later after a couple of hours and we can see what we can arrange. Stephen will be available then anyway.
Gary wrote down the details, including those of the client and approached Toni.
Meanwhile Toni was taking in the conversation and checking out the scene around the pool where there were several ladies and two of Gary's other brothers seemingly carefree and relaxed. Two people were in the pool doing laps and obviously very comfortable with the surrounds.
Gary: So are you free for the next couple of hours and want to make a cool tax free grand? He is a great client and he has an enormous member down there. All the ladies want this guy as a regular? You interested?
Toni taken aback with his forward approach: No thanks Gary (said through clenched teeth). You have undoubtedly provided we three girls with a lot of different experiences this week but I am no call girl and don't want to be thank you.
Gary with his normal dead pan poker style face: OK, no problems, just thought you may need the cash and I know you would not have regretted this guy. Hold on here for a minute while I get this fixed.
He went out to the team outside and spoke to two of the girls. One obviously willingly agreed as she was off to grab her bag and coat in a flash.
She beat Gary through the door with paper in hand.
Here was a very attractive woman, most probably in her early thirties, blond, about 5 feet ten, blue halter neck dress that fitted her figure to perfection. Slight signs of make-up and bracelets and anklets in white gold. Probably diamond studs and no rings. Her boobs were probably B cup and they bounced slightly without support. Her shoulder bag obviously contained all the essentials for her trade, but was nothing out of the ordinary. She could easily walk around the casino without ever been considered to be a prostitute. Another beautiful face in the crowd of single women that regularly occupied the halls of the Bellagio.
She slipped by Toni giving her a smile, arguably a knowing smile as she passed: Enjoy your evening. I know I am going to.
Gary let her out and returned to Toni: Sorry about that. Bit busy tonight and with Stephen and Hank getting to know two new ladies am a bit pushed filling in. Was trying to get in a few laps in our heated pool but the phone keeps ringing. All hands on deck tonight. A typical Saturday night in Las Vegas.
I get the impression you don't trust me. Maybe even think I am a bit of a low life. That's a pitty. Hopefully we can work on that.
Toni: Like why should I have another attitude? Recent history is mixed at best one would say. And I keep telling you we girls are not women who want strange men between our legs. We are here and we are getting our own form of private revenge on our men back in Houston.
Gary: OK, I get the picture but I want to keep open our friendship, if I can call it that. What I want you and Belle and Sam to help me with tonight is to run our tables. We have two poker tables and one wheel for tonight for our small party. It will start around 10.00pm and you girls would be appreciated up to say 1.00 ish, when the serious gambling will take place and you can crash or do whatever you want with whoever you want. The players tonight want amateur dealers who are not part of our family. Call it a favour if you like or your contribution to my entertainment this week, I don't care, but I will not forget it if you agree.
Toni: Why should we trust you? Are we likely to be raided by the police for whatever reason? And you are not going to treat us like hookers are you?
Gary somewhat perplexed: Look this is not the Molly Bloom movie set. This is Las Vegas. There never has been and never will be mobsters or Mafia or Russian gangsters invited to our games. Our gamblers are genuine normal Americans who come down here for a run of luck, good times and great entertainment. There may be other games down here that cater to those creeps, but never with me. Our risks are so low...
I am no angel and do play the gambling games to win. I run gambling in my family here in Las Vegas. Stephen and Hank run the girls. The other brothers have businesses down here. I only help out my brothers when they require help, like today.
Those women you see out there and Vanessa you saw go out are all close friends to us. Over the last two years Stephen and Hank have attracted some seriously great looking women who have for one reason or another got down on their luck and they need great money quickly and regularly. They are all mature adults and make up their own minds about the multitude of questions as to why a woman wants to be or chooses to be a call girl down here. Some of them were abused working for other guys down here and Stephen got them out of their problems and they now work for him. We have never had one issue with our girls being assaulted by our clients and that's because we know our clients and we don't have anyone who we don't trust with our ladies.