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Chapter 2

We ran to the nearest public hospital, while they carried Beethoven in a rusty shopping cart that one of our homeless companions used to collect her plastic. Everyone here knew each other, and my grandfather was one of the longest-standing members on the street. Everyone respected and loved him. Seeing them together gave me strength.

“Don’t worry, Belle… that crazy old man can’t die; he has too many stories left to tell us.”

“I know… thanks for helping me bring him.”

“There’s no need to thank me. If we don’t help each other, who will? We’re forgotten…” I squeezed Valentin’s bony hand tightly. He was all I had… they couldn’t leave me alone again.

“We’re almost there. Make one last effort, guys,” Sasha urged. When we reached the hospital entrance, I shouted,

“Please, we need medical attention! My grandfather isn’t responding and… and...” When I looked up, the receptionist’s expression of disgust was indescribable. She covered her nose and dismissively said,

“You have to wait outside. People like you can’t enter the facilities.”

“Wait? Don’t you understand this is an emergency? Look at him; he’s an elderly man.”

“Yes, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re homeless.”

“You’re a health service, aren’t you? Is this how you treat a human being?”

“Complain to the administrator, but rules are rules.”

“Screw this, I’m going in, you bastards!” one of the boys shouted, pushing the cart inside. Security guards quickly came out upon hearing the commotion. How many more times did I have to witness the death of a companion just because I was a poor homeless scavenger?

“Money, right? That’s what you want… I’ll get it, and you’ll give this man the same treatment as any citizen,” I yelled, running quickly to one of our makeshift shops when Sasha stopped me.

“Where are you going, Belle?”

“Take care of Beethoven until I get back. I have a job that might take me in tonight. I’ll ask for an advance.”

“You’re not thinking of going to the Bahamas with those friends of yours from the bad crowd, are you? They only want you to sell your body,” she said, turning me around forcefully.

“Answer me!”

“And what do you want me to do? Beethoven needs me… and if I don’t get that money, I’ll be alone again…” She looked down, and not wanting to feel her pity, I ran off, hearing her calling after me.

¶

That same night, I had to break my promise to Beethoven and myself. I had sworn never to work by selling my body in a seedy pub, but this was a cry for help. It was the only way to get enough money to pay for a hospital bed for my grandfather. I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize my lips painted crimson, nor that revealing dress. I wasn’t a particularly attractive girl, but to seduce men, you didn’t need to be beautiful. I sighed deeply, running my hands through my tangled hair. If dignity was the only thing left of me as a person, what would be left after this?

“Are you ready, sweetie?” said Gata, entering the dressing room in a red sequin dress, holding a cigarette, looking at me as I lifted my head.

“Absolutely!” I responded enthusiastically, hiding my discomfort. I was good at that. “Are you sure they can pay me that amount?”

“Of course, anything is possible in this world. But… it also depends on you. Are you willing to sleep with a man without complaint?” she said, coming closer to take my face in her hands, smiling broadly.

“I suppose I’ll have to, right? A-also, I have no experience and might do something wrong and get fired, but I’ll try…” I said with a shy smile.

“You don’t have to pretend to be strong, sweetheart… I’ve known you since you were a little girl stealing fruit at the market. You’re so innocent and virginal that I couldn’t be cruel enough to throw you to the wolves. For now, you’ll serve tables. Later, we’ll see how much experience you gain.”

“Really?” I exclaimed excitedly. “Thank you, Gata. I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll serve so well they’ll want to fire the others,” I said with a big smile.

“Listen carefully… even if you’re just serving tables, you have to seduce the men, so they stay and buy more drinks. It’s not as easy as it sounds. You might have to deal with typical drunks, and sometimes you have to let them touch you.” I looked down and nodded fearfully.

“Yes… I understand.”

“Very well, I suggest you pay attention to the others, and it won’t be so hard.” I looked into her eyes seriously and said,

“The money. I need a lot of money for tonight. Tell me what I have to do to get it.” She stayed silent for a long second, taking a drag from her cigarette.

“You’re asking for a lot, girl, especially if you don’t want to sell that pretty body of yours, but…”

“But… but what? Please, give me anything.”

“I shouldn’t tell you this for the sake of the other girls, so you owe me a big favor.”

“I promise,” I said, leaning in as she whispered in my ear.

“Apparently, an important client is coming tonight, a millionaire named Montenegro. All the girls are eager to know when he’ll come so they can be the chosen ones to serve him and make a lot of money. If you play your cards right, you can get a lot of money from him.” Hesitant, I thought about what she had just said, and determined to achieve it, I nodded firmly.

“I’ll do it. What does he look like?”

“He’s a tall, blond man. When you see him, you’ll know, His beauty is out of this world, you’ll see… now hurry up. This man could be your lucky ticket. Maybe he’ll like your good-girl face,” she said, winking at me before leaving the women’s dressing room. I took a deep breath, looked at myself one last time in the mirror, and then went out.

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