Lamelight

Three

“AND FOR TONIGHT’S SHOW, LET’S WELCOME THE NEW YOUNG AND INNOCENT GIRL OF THIS HAVEN, MARGA!!” the MC loudly introduced her to the audience.

When Marga entered the stage, slow, sensuous music began to play and she swayed her body in rhythm with it. She started to dance, even although she was still very apprehensive. All she could hear were cheers, wolf whistles and shouts from the drunken guests. She forced herself to perform all the moves that Kris had taught her.

After the performance, the drunken audience became wild, demanding another performance. Many of them were in a frenzy and tried to approach her and touch and grope her, so she felt frightened; but it was a good thing there were bouncers at the edge of the stage to protect the dancers.

When Marga went back to the dressing room, she met Kris, who seemed so delighted ….

“You were really good out there, Marga. It seems like it’s not your first time.”

“Yes. I’m relieved it’s all over – I think I almost fainted out there,” she laughed.

Madam Gracia suddenly came into the dressing room.

“I didn’t make a mistake when I gave you the job! The clients are looking forward to your next performance. Everyone wants to take you out,” said Madam Gracia happily.

“Take out? What does that mean?” Marga stuttered while asking the question?

“It means some of the clients want to take you out of the club – they are always generous,” she answered frankly.

“No, I don’t want to do that. It was hard enough just dancing on the stage. I don’t want to do more,” she said declining the offer.

“I’m just telling you what the customers said to me. It’s up you what you do. It’s you’re decision if you want to go with them or not. But remember, beggars can’t be choosers. You’ll come to understand the meaning of those words,” said Madam Gracia, who then left the room.

Marga was horrified at madam’s words. What did she want her to do?

“Don’t mind her. That’s the way she is – upfront and blunt,” Kris said in sympathy.

“It’s fine. I understand,” Marga said to her. But somehow, she still felt frightened that someday Madam Gracia’s words would materialise. Still, she hoped they wouldn’t.

~

It was almost morning when she got back to the hospital. She had bought some fresh fruit and food for her mother and sister. When she reached the ward, she saw that her mother was still unconscious, and Mel was sleeping in a sitting position beside her mother’s bed.

She just let Mel carry on sleeping, as she must have been very tired. She arranged the fruits on the table next to her mother’s bed. Then she sat in the empty chair next to her sister, watching over them.

“Whatever happens, I’ll not neglect you. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure you get well,” she silently promised her mother.

~

“Well, you’re here already,” said Mel waking up.

“Oh yes, I’ve just come actually, and I’ve brought some food too, Mel, – come and eat first,” she said to her sister.

“Okay, ate. I’ll just go to the restroom first. Anyway, the doctor that checked on mother told me that nanay’s heart is still in bad shape, and one of the reasons is that her whole body is very weak,” Mel sadly informed her.

“That’s bad news for us. But don’t lose hope. We have to keep on fighting!”

“Yes. And he said that all we can do for the moment is to wait for a few days for nanay to rest, and then they’ll decide if our mother needs surgery or not,” Mel added sadly.

“Just pray that our mother will be okay, because that’s all we can do right now.”

~

In truth, Marga was having mixed emotions about the situation, and what she felt the most was a great fear over what might happen.

“But God is still with us, and He will never abandon us,” was her innermost thought.

“And nanay needed to get better, because she was all that Melanie and I have, because our father preferred to be with his mistress, and left us when my little sister was just a baby,” thought Marga to herself, brooding on what life throws at you.

The father of the two girls had left their mother with nothing, except two young children to take care of. He never contacted them or gave any assistance in any way whatsoever. Mel still hadn’t learnt to walk when he abandoned them.

Although abandoned, their mother did everything she could to raise the children properly, with no help from the father or anyone else. The church had offered her spiritual help, but were not of the material world. The government were unable to help her, because she wasn’t qualified as a single parent in need.

Marga needed to be strong for her mother. Her heart was filled with a mixture of regret, desertion and revulsion at the thought of her father.

“Why did he leave us? Why do we have no room in your heart – in your life? Why didn’t you choose us? Why did Mel have to grow up with no father?” She couldn’t ever remember the feeling of having a father that guides you and protects you.

She became transfixed in her thoughts and tearful about the things that never were and never could be.

~

After she left the hospital, she went home to get some rest, because she had to work in the evening. And tomorrow, Mel could be with their mother. It was a good thing that Mel had her school vacation at this time, so they were able to share being together with their mother and looking after the home. Marga did the housework, and then had a wash, before taking a rest.

When evening came, she got prepared to go to the Black Room. She could visit her mother and sister in the hospital first, since the club was just one ride from the hospital, and it was along the way.