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Emma
It is a great morning for me. I’m out of bed early and cleaning my apartment in record time. Now I am making myself the best turkey club sandwich of all time. I am just about to sit down to eat when there is a loud bang on my door.
I get up to answer the door, a little bit scared. When I get to the door, I can see that the person banging on the door is my father. He looks so angry. I feel like pretending that I am not here.
“I see you Emma, open the door.”
There goes my chance to go hide under the bed. I reluctantly open the door. My father pushes his way into my apartment.
I close the door behind him.
“What’s wrong dad?”
My father’s face seems to turn red.
“A little bird came to visit me at work with the news that you don’t work at the Oak Café and that your stage name is Ember.”
I feel faint. This is the moment that was never supposed to happen. I work so hard to keep my job information from my father.
All hell is breaking loose and I feel like I am going to faint.
“Who is this little bird who told you where I work?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’ve been lying to me this whole time.”
It had to be Ginger who was the little bird. Since the day I said I wouldn’t tell my dad about her, she has done nothing but scowl at me. She said she would get revenge, and this is it.
“I work hard at keeping my job a secret from you so that you won’t get upset.”
“And this isn’t upsetting? Finding out that you have been lying to me this whole time. My daughter who I think is so sweet and pure.”
“Okay dad, get a grip. Would you like to sit down? Can I get you some water?”
This seems to anger my father even more.
“Sit down? Have a glass of water? Do you really think that is going to calm me down? My sweet daughter is a stripper, undressing herself for the men of this city. Who knows what the men under me will think? I’ll be the butt of every joke.”
I know that what I ought to be feeling is remorse, but I don’t feel that way. I am starting to boil with anger. Try as I might, I can’t hold back. I need to speak the truth.
“Listen here Chief. You are totally wrong about what I do. I am not doing anything illegal or immoral.”
“According to who?”
“Just hold on there. I am proud to be a stripper. I make more money in one night than I would ever make at any other job.”
“Men will never look at you the same or respect you, if they think you are a prostitute.”
“Wait a minute, I am not a prostitute.”
“What’s the difference between a prostitute and a stripper?”
“ A lot dad! All I do is dance for a living to entertain people.”
“You think what you are doing is a performing art like you studied in school. I don’t think so. Do men throw ballerina money at the end of a ballet performance?”
“You just don’t understand, I’m using my assets to prepare for the future.”
I turn away from my dad because I am seething mad. When my father gets mad at me for walking away, I tell him that I am merely getting a glass of water.
