Lamelight

Two

Marga and her sister were able to talk to the doctor at the hospital.

“Your mother is in a very serious condition. It was good you brought her to the hospital in time, it will be a great help to her. But her heart is in a very bad condition. She may need heart surgery. If her heart doesn’t show any signs of improving, or if it does not return to its normal condition, then she will need an operation. In such a case, that can be quite a costly affair,” said the doctor.

He continued, “you will have to be prepared to find a considerable amount of money for her operation if she needs surgery. I can give you the details later. But to be blunt, it will cost in excess of 300, 000 pesos.”

Somehow, they were a little relieved when the doctor told them that their mother was fine for the time being. But this seemed to be a temporary condition, because without their mother’s improvement, she would surely need surgery.

“Mel, I’ll go home and get the clothes that nanay will need, and I’ll bring some of your clothes as well, she told her younger sister.

“Ok, I’ll wait here for you,” Melanie answered.

After she gave Melanie some money, so she could buy whatever she needed for herself and their mother, she went back to the house to get everything they would need at the hospital. After she had packed everything they would need, she left the house, and just before reaching the corner of their compound, she bumped into Kris.

“Hey Marga, I heard what happened to tita Linda, how is she?” her friend asked.

“Nanay is better, but she might need heart surgery later, but we have no money to pay for it,” she said despondently.

“In that case come with me in the club – try and see what you can grab there,” Kris offered.

“I can’t do that kind of work Kris. I’m scared.”

“Well where do you expect to get the money from? You don’t have any money,” said Kris plainly.

Because of the gravity of the problem, she had no alternative, but to go to the club where Kris worked as a dancer and entertainer, and see if she could get work there too.

~

At the club, ‘Black Room’, in Ermita, Manila

“Madam, you have a visitor,” Kris said as they entered the boss’s office.

“And who is this pretty girl?” madam said flitting her gaze from Kris to Marga.

“The girl I told you about Madam,” Kris answered.

“I see,” madam said turning to Marga, and running her eyes up and down her young slim, full-breasted body and long skinny legs.

“Madam, Marga wants to work here,” Kris said, causing Madam Gracia’s face to break out into a wide grin.

“Of course, of course,” said madam still smiling.

“And madam, if she can get an advance, because her mother is in hospital,” Kris asked.

“I can give you some money in advance from your salary, but not much, since you haven’t started yet,” she offered.

“I appreciate it Madam Gracia – it will be a big help – don’t worry, I will do the best I can at this job,” she said earnestly.

“That’s good – we’re agreed then,” madam said smiling again.

“Thank you very much!” she was very grateful that Madam Gracia could advance her the money.

~

The same day, Marga immediately rushed to the hospital to pay the deposit for the surgery, which she gave to her sister in the hospital, so she could give it to the hospital administration the next day. She also paid the rent from the advance money.

“Look after nanay, okay?” she said to her sister. She had to leave her sister there looking after their mother, because it was her first night working at the club.

“Are you really sure you want to work there? There are so many nasty things there that might hurt you,” she said as she was worried about her sister.

“I can do it,” she said, perhaps trying mostly to convince herself. “It’s for our mother. God has shown me this is the right thing to do.”

“Alright just be safe,” and God bless you,” she said.

“Okay I have to go now before it gets too late – watch over our mother. I will come back as soon as I’ve finished work,” she said saying goodbye.

“Okay, ate.”

She was reluctant to walk out of the hospital, knowing what was awaiting her. But it’s true that beggars can’t be choosers was the only thought she was left with.

“Hay .. Be strong, Marga”! her little sister said as they parted.

~

Upon arriving at the club, she ran into Kris. They went straight to the dressing room. Kris helped her get dressed for the show – the garment she had to wear was such that you could almost see the soul of the wearer.

“Oh my God!” she gasped. Just wearing this outfit makes my knees weak.”

“Don’t overreact – it’s just a dress, and you’ll get used to it,” Kris said.

She was nervous and worried about what Kris was going to show her next.

“I’m going to point out some basic pole dancing moves, and it’ll be easy since you’re good at dancing,” said Kris.

“You will be the new pole dancer in the club. The regular clients always like seeing a new girl,” said Kris trying to encourage her.

She became even more nervous, because she was going to dance on stage, with a lot of men ogling her, and perhaps many of them will be drunk, she thought to herself.

“You have to grind the pole using your thighs, and wear an alluring expression,” Kris explained.

“The men like to imagine that the substantial pole is a symbol of their phallos. It’s just make believe, ha ha!”

She taught her the steps and how to dance using the pole. It was a little bit difficult, because Marga was a really shy Christian girl who went to church every Sunday. But she had to sacrifice herself for her mother. Like a female Abraham in the Bible, God had given her this trial to test her faith. She wasn’t to offer a child like Abraham, but herself. Marga thought of her mother lying unconscious in hospital. There was no one to help her. She was the only one that could help her. She had to sacrifice Her body, Her virginity, give it up to the lustful, so that her mother might live. She was the only person in the world who could help her mother.

…

“That’s it; it’s a little bit more complicated, and it’s obvious you’re not used to it, but you’ll get better with practice,” Kris advised her.

“I hope I can do it well,” she said.

“Just think positively. You can earn a lot of money here – even in just a few days.”

After one hour of practice, she was ready to perform – she felt really uneasy. She just hoped she wouldn’t mess it up, she thought to herself.

Madam Gracia came into the dressing room.

“Are you ready?” she asked grinning.

“Yes, madam,” Marga answered nervously.

“Get ready – you’ll be called for soon,” she said, and left the dressing room.

Marga prepared herself as best she could, and prayed everything would be fine.