Ever since Stan was laid off from his job 3 months ago we have been struggling. He has lost all of his enthusiasm for working and supporting me and our two children. Stan is normally a man with a very strong sense of what is right and has always been a good provider but now he has slipped into the depths of despair and nothing seems to shift him. It was a bitter blow to his ego when he lost his job - he had been working in the same factory for 11 years and never seriously thought he would ever lose his job. The same sorry story is heard all over the country - small profitable firm is taken over by large impersonal company and then staff is cut!
Stan seems to just sit around the house and doesn't do anything much at all. He will mind the children while I am at work but he never prepares meals nor cleans up our home like he used to do before the trouble began. We are in financial trouble because my wage in the diner just covers the payments on our home and there is nothing left over for food and clothing and all the extras needed to keep the home running.
I have been to my father half a dozen times borrowing money but he is retired and doesn't have much and now I can't possibly get any more from him. I am getting desperate so I went to talk to Dad in the hope he might have a suggestion for me. Dad was bitterly disappointed things had turned out the way they have but he just couldn't help me any more. He did, however, suggest I go and see a friend of his who was the owner of a gambling joint just out of town. Dad told me he would ring his friend and make an appointment for me and then if he could offer me work I might make a little bit more than I am at the diner. At least someone was doing something to help us out.
When Dad told me he had organized an appointment for me to see Bart Kingman at the Gambler's Inn the next morning I was quite excited so I took special care getting myself dressed properly for the interview. I don't have many good clothes but what I have are well cared for and very clean. I selected a blouse and skirt but didn't have any stockings so had to go with bare legs. I had already shaved my legs so that they would look nice for Bart and I did my hair up as well as I could. I am 26 years old and I am a honey blond, 5'7" tall and with a nice slim build. Stan and I have been married for 5 years and our two children followed our marriage quite quickly.
I drove the car to the Inn although it was low on gas but I wanted to avoid walking and keep myself clean. I walked into the Inn and was met with the usual smokey atmosphere and the smell of alcohol but I didn't mind that too much. I don't drink or smoke myself - it costs too much - but I don't object to others doing that. I made my way to Bart's office at the rear of the Inn and knocked on the door. I have known Bart for many years because he has been a friend of Dad and he often came to our home before I was married and he always sat me on his knee and teased me.
Bart greeted me like a long lost friend and threw his arms around me and kissed me on the cheek. He sat me down on a chair and asked me what sort of trouble I was in. He said my Dad had told him I might be looking for a job but didn't give him any details. When I told Bart all about my troubles he immediately told me he would be able to help. He said he was always on the lookout for young attractive ladies to help him run the Gambler's Inn and I would be very suitable for the job. He asked me how much I was earning at the diner and when I told him he said he would pay me double! I was so excited I jumped up and kissed Bart on the lips but instantly recoiled and said I was sorry and I shouldn't have done that! Bart on the other hand told me I had done just right and he would expect me to do that to him quite often while he was helping me. I guess the warning signs should have been flashing but I didn't realize it at the time. I asked him what I would have to do and he said, "Rita, it will take you a few days to get used to the way we do things around here but I can assure you it won't be long before you are earning lots more money than that. For the first couple of weeks we will dress you up in a uniform and you will wander around the gaming rooms getting drinks for the gamblers. You will have plenty of opportunity to get tips from the gamblers and that will be in addition to your wages. You will have to understand some of these men will be a little frisky but you will soon get used to that! Would you be ready to start tomorrow afternoon about 2pm and you can work until say, 10pm and then we will see how you like it and change your working times if necessary."
Of course I accepted his offer on the spot and asked when I would see my uniform and should I take it home and wear it to work or would I get it when I arrive. He told me the uniforms couldn't be taken from the premises so I would be dressed here. I kept on thanking him and before I left he suggested I give him another kiss to show how grateful I was. I went over to him and gave him a big kiss on the mouth and he held me to him and kissed me back. It is good to have friends when they know my Dad and will help me.