Sara stepped out of the cab into the cool spring air. The ride had cost her thirty dollars, a hefty chunk of the two hundred she had started out with. She had planned on an expensive evening but she had hoped she wouldn't have had to spend it on transportation. Across the street from where the cab had dropped her off stood a large building. The sun had not quite set so she could clearly see that it fit in with the industrial buildings in the area. Except for the large lighted sign on the roof which advertised the night club's name: The Extasy Club.
She walked across the street, taking careful steps. She didn't usually wear high heels and she did not want to stumble. She wore a simple white blouse and a knee length dark skirt. As she approached the building she felt a little nervous. Built of plain concrete block the entire side was broken by only a single door. There was a cluster of cars around the door and while she was walking towards the door a man exited the building and headed towards one of the cars. He didn't glance in her direction.
She arrived at the door, which was worn and battered. Only a sign indicating that a person had to be eighteen to enter marked it. Her mouth dry with excitement she grabbed the handle, pulled the door open and entered the dim hallway behind it.
The hallway was painted in a dark shade of red, although the paint was scuffed and peeling. Bare light bulbs lit the way to a doorway through which she could hear music playing. The lights on the other side of the doorway pulsated with the thumping bass notes as she got closer to the doorway.
At the door were two men. One was young and muscular, wearing black jeans and a T-shirt. He leaned against the frame of the door. The other man, seated at a small table was much older and wore a rather shabby suitcoat. She could feel them watching her as she made her way down the hallway in her unfamiliar shoes.
"You her to se Ernie miss?" asked the older man at the desk. "About the job?"
Sara wondered for a moment who Ernie was. She fought a sudden desire to suddenly say that she had made a mistake, turn around and leave. No she thought to herself. I'm going to get what I came for.
"No, I'm here to see the show" she declared, perhaps a bit too firmly.
"Zat so" he replied. He paused and looked at her. He looked up at the bouncer who was still leaning against the doorframe, unabashedly staring at Sara. "Five dollar cover after six o'clock"
Sara bit her lower lip. She could see the oversized digital watch on his wrist. She clearly saw the numbers indicating five-fiifty-two. Rather than argue she opened her purse and found a five. She thrust it out toward him. The man in the T-shirt grinned. "enjoy the show" he leered as she walked past him into the darkend area beyond.
Once inside Sara paused to get her bearings. As she moved into the room she could see a stage in the centre of the room. Along the wall to her left stretched the bar and she could see a number of men and women seated at the bar, mostly in couples. One man sat at the bar alone and he raised his head as she walked in. Most of the tables were empty, all though there was a group of four college boys seated at one, pitcher of beer between them. She moved towards a table at the other side of the room, a few rows from the stage and took a seat. She was aware that a number of people were watching here as she sat down. She hung her raincoat on the back of her chair.
A waitress wearing a black leotard came and asked her if she wanted anything to drink. Sara ordered a rye and soda and the waitress left. She looked around the room nervously. She was painfully aware that she was the only woman here who was not an employee of the club and that everyone must be wondering what she was doing there. She stared at the table not sure where she should look next.
The lights flashed on the stage. A deep male voice came over the PA system asking that everyone give a big welcome to the next dancer. No one clapped or even moved. A song started playing and after about twenty seconds a woman appeared and took the too small steps up to the stage.
The woman on stage had blonde hair that flowed down to the middle of her back and she wore a short, tight dress. Sara watched her as she walked around the stage, not dancing really, just moving. Sara found herself staring at this woman as she moved.
The waitress returned. She asked for eight dollars. 'shit' thought Sara 'at this rate my money will be gone before I get to the good stuff'. She passed the waitress a twenty and gave her a two dollar tip when she handed back the change. She took it without a word.
Sara returned to looking at the woman on stage. She had looked at women before but always in a furtive way, afraid of being caught staring. Here she knew it was all right to look, that was why she had come. She had come to the bar to look at women. A wave of excitement ran through her body at the thought. She knew that she had thoughts about women, and had looked at their pictures. She wasn't gay though she definitely liked men. But this was new, a forbidden thrill.
