THE HOOKER'S TALE
The date was set, the church reserved, bride's maids dresses were ordered, and the bride's dress was fitted and ready. The reception dinner menu was set, and the invitations had gone out. The only thing left were the 'I do's and the 'I pronounce you.' My suit was cleaned, pressed, and hanging in my closet, and my nerves were more than a little on edge.
The escorts were rehearsed, the groomsman had been instructed, and the minister had been paid. Everything was ready, but then she said, "We have to talk."
My blood went cold and I actually got dizzy. I waited. "I need to tell you something," my lovely bride told me the morning of the wedding. Without the ability to speak, I simply waited again. "You know I entered college without any scholarships or help from home, right?" I nodded, dumbly. "Well, I needed a way to earn an income."
Again, like a mechanical character at Disneyland, I nodded, without replying. "Well, I found a job that paid well." She stopped and waited for it to sink in, but it didn't. I just stood there gazing at her tortured smile.
"Okay?" I managed. I pictured myself standing before the church, apologizing to people as they left shaking their heads and tossing birdseed to the pigeons that gathered in front of the chapel, glad to get what wasn't going to be thrown at the bride and groom as they left the church. I had a picture in my mind of me standing before the empty church watching people drive away.
"Okay," I finally said, "where was this job?" I didn't think to ask what it was doing, but I lamely asked where it was.
"Hollywood," she said, relieved I hadn't asked what it was doing.
"And?" I said, waiting for the punch line.
"They paid me to be their date," she said so quietly I could barely hear her.
"And?" I repeated, having expected her to tell me she was a hired killer, or a mob boss, or a bank robber.
"And they paid me to do things," she said, amazed I didn't catch on.
"They didn't asked you to kill people?"
"No," she said emphatically. "Of course not. They paid me to be their date."
"Not to kill people, or steal diamonds, or rob banks?" I said, relieved.
"They paid me to have sex," she said bluntly, not able anymore to avoid the truth.
"But not to kill anyone?" I said.
"Of course not."
"That's a relief," I said, letting out a big breath.
"I was a call girl," she said, trying to make me understand.
"But you weren't a murderer," I said. "I was prepared for something bad," I said.
"You don't think being a prostitute is bad?" she asked, incredulous.
"My mom worked the streets after my father left," I said. "I thought you were going to tell me you did something awful," I said. "A hooker is not awful. It's the American way," I said.
"You don't think selling sex is awful?"
"Better than selling dope, or shooting people. No, I think not taking advantage of all your resources is dreadful, at least dumb," I said.
"You don't mind that I turned tricks for money?" she asked innocently.
"Sex is not evil," I said. "Selling sex is just good business sense. Would I mind if you had a second income? Only if you lost it at Vegas," I said, shaking my head. "I didn't tell you about my mom because I wasn't sure you'd approve, but you know I think prostitution should be legal, right? I am not against allowing people to pay you for giving them pleasure."