IT'S A SECRET

‘Mom will you look after the kids? I got to go to work.’ Beth (Mom) replied, ‘come in. Joe, take your coat off and John go tell Granddad he’s late for work.’ John smiled with delight and ran up the stairs shouting, ‘Granddad, Granddad you’re late for work.’ Nan shouted, ‘you got to get out of bed.’ On John’s arrival at the bedroom door Granddad was zipping his trousers together and at the same time trying to find his socks. ‘All right Joe calm down, stop shouting, I’m coming,’ in a half-awake moan. John ran back down the stairs as fast as he ran up. His Mom had gone to work and Joe was watching the telly. Granddad arrived still half asleep and said, ‘morning boys, where’s your Nan?’ John said, ‘in the kitchen and I am John not Joe, Granddad.’ Granddad said, ‘sorry, you pair look so alike.’ John replied, ‘ok Granddad you are forgiven just this once, you hear?’ Granddad smiled with compassion and walked into the kitchen. Beth retorted, ‘yes I have done your packed lunch, and your flask is over on the table, and yes go.’ Granddad kissed her good bye and said, ‘thanks.’ As he walked out of the house, he shouted still half asleep, ‘bye boys. Talk to you later.’ Gerty got to work on time and her first client was waiting outside for the place to be opened. Gerty chuckled to Frank, ‘you’re eager aren’t you?’ He replied, ‘come on get ‘em off. I’ve been thinking about you all night. I’m gonna show you a good time.’ Gerty said surprisingly, ‘hope you got plenty of money?’ Frank grinned from ear to ear and could hardly hold his excitement, ‘loaded, just loaded.’ The key turned and the door opened. She smiled at Frank and said, ‘you had better come in then.’ As she was walking up the stairs, Frank was trying to look up her skirt. She pressed her dress down to her legs and said, ‘now Frank, behave. There’s time for all that.’ ‘You got any knickers on then?’ ‘Of course, what kind of girl do you take me for?’ They roared with laughter and climbed to the top. On the landing Gerty said, ‘just go in there Frank. I will be with you in a minute.’ Frank did as asked and said, ‘don’t be long, my Carmen lady.’ ‘Bella where have you been, you’re late again. Next time, there will be no next time. I need you to be here before I arrive. Your job is to see the clients before me and talk to them.’ ‘I gat trouble wid me kids. Me Mam is ill and me sista ave got a new bloke in, so she not lookin afta no bodi. Me bruva lookin afta em till twelve.’ Gerty said, ‘I finish and you finish at four today. What am I supposed to do after twelve?’ ‘I go see me Mam and opefully she feel betta.’ Gerty was fuming and said, ‘I need you to be here. I have a client waiting. I am going to have to find somebody reliable, Bella.’ With that, Gerty walked into the room where she had told Frank to wait. There was another Prostitute called Prim. Her business name was Sassy. She was of an English rose white complexion, painfully skinny, tall, about five foot eight inches and her hair was curly, wavy and rich, a naturally blond-haired woman. Everybody adored her hair. She only worked part time due to caring for her Mother at home. She was due in later that morning. Gerty was a prostitute and proud of it. She was a petite four foot nine inches high, slender, big-boobed woman. Her style was modern as in her hair was dyed black and cut with a straight fringe and her long hair down to her waist chopped in a subtle straight line. She wore her hair in various ways. Sometimes up and away from her face, other times up and thin plaits on one side but mostly she wore it down because she loved the feel of her hair dangling in front of her as she bent down. Her body was shaved from head to foot every few days. She would have a bikini wax done the professional way every end of month, in with her routine. She was very conscious of her role and needed to impress with her whole being. She would also have a facial, manicure, pedicure and body massage. Her clothes had to be good quality and she paid the price. Because of her height, she wore very high heels, which enhanced the elegance of her slender legs. She was definitely a handbag and shoe-collecting woman. Her nightwear was seductive, revealing and saucy but not sleazy. She paid the best to have the best. She liked her work and let everybody know about it. She was only discrete around her own family. She knew her Mom did not want her to do such a demeaning job; she also felt embarrassed about her daughter making out for a living. Her Mom thought it degrading and didn’t want anyone to know. Word always got out and the rumours rubbed off. Gerty was not bothered what other people said and in some cases revelled in the attention. Her local name to whom she was acquainted was dirty Gerty but her working name was Carmen. She posted her nearly clothed, thoughtful, artistic, photos on her internet web page for her admirers and to help with business. On the whole she did very well. She kept her boys in designer attire and bought herself some serious outfits to go clubbing when she could get a babysitter. She had many boyfriends in her time but not all knew her day job. Some were proud for her to stop at home and play the role of wifey, wifey. If the relationship was serious enough from her part she would tell them the truth and depending on the guy depended on whether they stayed or not. Some even tried to come to terms with their girl being shafted by other unknown men while they were at her home babysitting her kids. Most of the time the relationship didn’t last long as the relationship went only one way, Carmen’s or Gerty’s and that depended on whether she worked or not. There was never anything normal about Gerty’s life. She trudged along in her own sweet way, trying to do what was right for her family, work colleagues, and friends. Life with Gerty was always a mish mash of ideas, followed by the occasional action and surprisingly, a great deal of thought. She never did anything without thinking it through first. Unfortunately, like so many of us our hang-ups get the better of us and persuade us to stay safe. For Gerty it was a little of both but either way her life was a gamble and many times the challenge paid off. Not every time though. This woman was a very determined specimen of self worth. She sold her body for more than a good price, lived well on the profits, and claimed her government hand out for her night out money. Wrong or not it worked well for her and her kids. The men in her life all had to work and take drugs. It was a past time for her to relax with a smoke of drug induced relaxant. The problem with that was the after effects the drugs had to her system and especially when she and the boyfriends had a big session. The next morning she could just about get the boys to school. Her work was everything and she made sure she was fit for that. At about four thirty she arrived at her Mom’s house, picked up her boys and went shopping. Before she left she gave her Mom a twenty pound note and said thanks for looking after them. She also asked if it was alright for her to look after the boys Tuesday, Thursday and Friday next week. Her Mom said that was fine and closed the door. Gerty decided to spend the rest of the day with her boys. They made cakes and watched telly when they got home. It was a good time had by all. In the evening Michael, Gerty’s new boyfriend arrived on time at her door. He was dressed in a flashy new dark blue suit with a white crisp long sleeved shirt and a multi-coloured tie but not too flash. His shoes sparkled with polished newness. Either way he turned out immaculately to impress, which he did. John and Joe glared with tongues almost tasting the air. The boys could see he was being invited in and sat down quickly in a, never noticed you there, pose. He was invited to sit on the settee and watched the telly with Gerty and her boys.