The Blue Goatfish Bar was jumping the night the club matron pushed young Lilly Lipturn up the steps to the raised dais where the pole dancers did their thing each night.
"I don't think I can do this, Ms. Ragnub."
"Sure you can, honey. Just jump up on the pole and shimmy-swing around till your feet touch the floor. And don't forget to smile for the boys who're gonna be throwin' their money your way!"
The small band struck up a hasty tune, and Lilly moved timidly to the pole and tried to smile. The men, young and old, hunched up to the edge of the dais and began clapping and whistling and hooting and throwing a few bills on the floor at Lilly's feet. She felt obligated to do something, so she tried to pick up the beat of the music, and threw herself up onto the pole. She was a sight to see, all right. Eighteen years of age, fresh out of Beltcorn High with a C- average and a body that would have made Marilyn Monroe envious, she did her best to land like they had showed her in rehearsal, but instead lost her balance and fell flat on her bare chest.
Sitting in the audience was James Emory Laxton, whose pa had recently passed on, leaving the young man very wealthy. For years he had been looking for someone to share their life with him--or at least accompany him to the movies now and then--but without any luck . . . even after he inherited a fortune.
Feeling sudden empathy for the girl lying in a tangle of arms and legs, and topless at that, he jumped up, pushed through the crowd and climbed up onto the stage. He leaned over Lilly, picked her up, straightened her limbs (and magnificent ones they were), and brushed several strands of hair from her face.
"Ma'am, I'm in love with you," he said. "Let me take you away from all this and let's us get married."
"I think I love you, too," said Lilly, kissing him on the cheek. "And I accept your lovely offer."
So they left the Blue Goatfish Bar, and he took her in his brand new Mercedes to the best shops in town, bought her a nice dress, some silky under things, and a ton of cosmetics (though she needed none of these), then whisked her away to the 24/12/365 Drive in Marriage Palace out on Turnsnip Road, where they were married.
Lilly and James lived happily ever after, or until he developed a gambling problem and went through his inheritance from his father faster than fire through a gasoline-soaked house.
Finally tired of James's reckless ways, Lilly left him and went back to the Blue Goatfish Bar, where they welcomed her with open arms and promised to give her top billing as soon as she learned how to properly spiral sexily from the top to the bottom of the pole.
"I don't think I can do this, Ms. Ragnub."
"Sure you can, honey. Just jump up on the pole and shimmy-swing around till your feet touch the floor. And don't forget to smile for the boys who're gonna be throwin' their money your way!"
The small band struck up a hasty tune, and Lilly moved timidly to the pole and tried to smile. The men, young and old, hunched up to the edge of the dais and began clapping and whistling and hooting and throwing a few bills on the floor at Lilly's feet. She felt obligated to do something, so she tried to pick up the beat of the music, and threw herself up onto the pole. She was a sight to see, all right. Eighteen years of age, fresh out of Beltcorn High with a C- average and a body that would have made Marilyn Monroe envious, she did her best to land like they had showed her in rehearsal, but instead lost her balance and fell flat on her bare chest.
Sitting in the audience was James Emory Laxton, whose pa had recently passed on, leaving the young man very wealthy. For years he had been looking for someone to share their life with him--or at least accompany him to the movies now and then--but without any luck . . . even after he inherited a fortune.
Feeling sudden empathy for the girl lying in a tangle of arms and legs, and topless at that, he jumped up, pushed through the crowd and climbed up onto the stage. He leaned over Lilly, picked her up, straightened her limbs (and magnificent ones they were), and brushed several strands of hair from her face.
"Ma'am, I'm in love with you," he said. "Let me take you away from all this and let's us get married."
"I think I love you, too," said Lilly, kissing him on the cheek. "And I accept your lovely offer."
So they left the Blue Goatfish Bar, and he took her in his brand new Mercedes to the best shops in town, bought her a nice dress, some silky under things, and a ton of cosmetics (though she needed none of these), then whisked her away to the 24/12/365 Drive in Marriage Palace out on Turnsnip Road, where they were married.
Lilly and James lived happily ever after, or until he developed a gambling problem and went through his inheritance from his father faster than fire through a gasoline-soaked house.
Finally tired of James's reckless ways, Lilly left him and went back to the Blue Goatfish Bar, where they welcomed her with open arms and promised to give her top billing as soon as she learned how to properly spiral sexily from the top to the bottom of the pole.
