The summer before my final year in college I was really hurting for money and didn't know what I was going to do. My parents didn't have any extra money and I couldn't find a job for the summer no matter what I did, it just wasn't working out for me. I was sitting in a coffee shop with a few of the girls from one of my classes that had just finished. I only knew a couple of them, the rest I knew them to see them, but didn't know them well. I was sitting there upset not knowing what to do, when most of them left for one reason or the other and it was just me and another girl sitting there I didn't know well. She asked me why I looked so down and I told her I was upset at not finding anything to earn money at for the summer.
Her name was Liza, and she was an attractive girl, always nicely dressed, she certainly didn't look like she was hurting for money, ever. I'd noticed her nice car, her always manicured nails and expensive shoes, I just assumed she had a rich father.
"How open minded are you?", she asked me as she looked around to make sure no one could hear us talking.
I thought it an odd question, but replied honestly, "I'm pretty opened minded, why do you ask?"
"Well, I don't go around telling the other girls what it is I do for a job on the side, but it pays well, most of my time is free and it's not boring. I can lounge around the house and make good money."
My curiosity was piqued to say the very least. I was getting desperate for money and told her so. "Please tell me what it is, I won't tell the other girls, I promise," I said.
"I work as an erotic phone actress," she said in a low voice.
"The place I take calls for is always looking for new girls, the business has a high turnover, most girls can't take it and don't last more than a night or a week, it's really not for everybody," she stated matter of factly.
I'd never thought about something like this. When I thought of adult entertainment, I thought of strippers or porn stars or hookers, talking on the phone didn't really enter my mind.
"This place I work for, it's not like other services," she trailed off.
I wondered what that meant, but she quickly looked at her watch and scribbled a name and number on a napkin and pushed it towards me.
"This is the owners info., give her a call and tell her Liza recommended you, and remember, not a word to the other girls. My family would NOT understand and some of those girls parents know my parents, you understand," she said as she got up and grabbed her purse and walked towards the door.
I had a ton of questions I wanted to ask her, but she'd left in such a rush, I'd not had time to ask them, and even though I knew her to see her, I didn't have a number to call her at or ask how to get in touch with her to talk about this further.
I walked back to my apartment thinking about this. I went to the fridge and opened the door, nearly empty except for some condiments, diet pop and some fruit. Less than $20 in my purse, I really didn't know what else to do. I'd never known any phone sex operators, or as she'd called herself, "an erotic phone actress" before. I couldn't exactly call up some friends and ask them if they knew anyone in this line of work, I was certain they didn't, or else they'd have gossiped and speculated about it.
I took the rumpled napkin out of my purse and looked at what she'd written on it. There was a toll free number and the name Joan on it. It was nearly ten pm, but I thought this Joan person would likely be up, so I nervously picked up the phone and called the number. It rang a few times before this sultry voice answered and I nearly hung up.
"Hi, um, my name's Molly and a girl I know named Liza gave me your name and number. I really need a job," I said matter of factly.
"Ah yes, Liza! She's one of my best girls, did she explain to you all involved?", she questioned.