Learning The Ropes
1196 Words
“I admire your work,” Robert replied. “Now let me show you where you will sleep.”
Robert took Sally up another set of steps to a small servants’ room. The room was cozy with two beds and the walls were plain white. Everything was crisp, clean, and relatively new. Sally looked at the tidy beds and fireplace. It was much nicer than the straw mat and dirty floor she slept on now.
“Why are you being so nice to me?” she asked. Sally was still a little wary of Robert’s motives.
“You will be fed, given clean clothing, and a place to sleep in my house if you work for me,” he replied.
“Can I stay after I pay you back?” She asked.
“If you wish,” he said. “Good night Sally, you have a lot of work in the morning.”
The next morning, Pearl was dragging Sally out of her bed. “Get up, get dressed, get something to eat, and be quick about it,” Pearl said. Her tone was icy as she rushed Sally about.
Sally had a few words in mind for Pearl, but she remembered Robert’s warning from the night before. Sally kept her mouth clamped shut to hold back any insults. Pearl led Sally to an empty game room inside the club. The room was decorated in red and gold; statues of nude women were in every corner. A large blond man was waiting for them. He was taller than Robert and his shoulders were much wider.
“This is Sam,” Pearl said, introducing the man to Sally. “He handles the members that get too rowdy.” Sally looked up at the large man. She thought Sam could pick her up and throw her across the room.
“I don’t like this, Miss Pearl. She’s small, I could hurt her,” he said. Sally stared at him; his brown eyes soft and kind. Sally looked at Pearl, not sure what Pearl had in mind for her. She wanted to leave but Pearl had her by the back of her shirt.
“That’s exactly why she needs to learn, Sam,” Pearl answered. Sally was confused.
Pearl pointed a slender finger at burly Sam. “Run at him as you did to me last night,” Pearl ordered.
“But Mr. Deacon said I can’t fight nobody,” Sally said, doing her best to behave.
“He also told you to do what I say,” Pearl replied, letting go of Sally. Sally tightened her mouth and narrowed her eyes at Pearl, but she remembered Robert’s warning.
“Fine,” Sally said. She took a few steps back and ran at Sam; he didn’t move an inch. When Sally got closer, Sam held out his hand and knocked Sally on her backside. Sally hit the floor with a loud thud. “You’re getting even with me for last night aren’t you, witch?” Sally said. Pearl smiled and shrugged.
Sam reached down and hauled Sally to her feet.
“I told you I’d hurt her,” he said.
“I’m not hurt.” Sally snapped. “Why are you doing this?” She asked Pearl.
Pearl put her hands on her hips and c****d her head to the side. “Are you good at what you do?” Pearl asked Sally.
“I’m damn good,” Sally said proudly.
“Have you ever been caught before yesterday?” Pearl asked.
“No,” Sally answered.
“Are you in a gang?” Pearl asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Who’s in charge, you?” Pearl asked.
Sally folded her arms across her chest. “No, Jack is.”
“Let me guess,” Pearl said. “Jack keeps most of what you bring back, feeds you just enough to keep you alive, and gives you a grubby little hole to sleep in.” Sally nodded. “You’re his property, Sally. And he’s going to want you back.” Pearl paused and let her words sink in. “Did he know where you were last night?”
Sally shook her head, no. Her shoulders slumped. She realized that Jack would consider what she did stealing. “No, I was mad at Jack for taking all my money. I snuck out without telling him.” She said with a hint of terror in her voice. Sally remembered what Jack did to the last person who tried to leave their little group.
Pearl understood; she knew men like Jack. They would use a person until there was nothing left. “Robert will protect you as much as he can, but your friend Jack will wait for you to be alone and vulnerable.”
Sally stared at Pearl wide-eyed, she started to shake. One mistake would cost her everything. Pearl took a deep breath and mumbled something. Both Sam and Sally looked at her.
“I said I’m going to help you,” Pearl said louder.
Sally wrinkled her brow. She was sure the woman disliked her. “Why?” Sally asked.
“I have my reasons,” Pearl said, her arms crossed, and brows furrowed. “Sam is going to attack you and you are going to learn how to escape him.”
“Don’t worry, miss,” Sam said to Sally. “I won’t be too rough on you.”
“You will not make this easy for her, Sam. Jack won’t go easy on her . She needs to be prepared,” Pearl said.
“I can do this,” Sally said with determination. Sally's hands were balled into little fists. She looked up at Sam. “I’m ready.”
Pearl nodded to Sam, the large man walked behind Sally and grabbed her tightly. Sally was lifted off the ground and couldn’t move her arms.
“What do I do?” She asked Pearl. Her voice squeaked as Sam squeezed her harder.
Pearl shook her head, Sally had to figure this out for herself. Sally raised her right leg, swung it back as hard as she could, and connected with Sam’s knee. He dropped the girl on the ground.
“Sorry,” Sally squealed again. “I’m so sorry.” She said to Sam.
“I’ll be fine.” He grunted.
“See, I knew she would learn fast,” Pearl said. She had a self-satisfied smirk on her face. “Come along, there is real work to be done.” She took Sally by the arm and led her to another part of the house.
“But I thought you were going to teach me more?” Sally said.
“I will. But I can’t have you hurting our guard, so he can’t work tonight. And you still have your end of the bargain with Robert to uphold.” Pearl took Sally to the kitchen to scrub pots and floors.
Sally grumbled all day about the work but did what she was told. She may not have wanted to take orders from people, but for the first time in her life, she was well-fed, clean, and safe.
- Writer
