The Gold Dollar Girls Return

Roxanne sat in her car and watched as Tony Jr., precariously balanced on top of a bar stool, hung a long blue and white tinsel garland over the front door of the Gold Dollar Lounge.

They look like Hanukkah decorations, she thought.

He finished hanging the garland and leaned back to look at his work, nearly falling over backwards and flapping his arms to regain his balance. When he had safely climbed down from his perch, Roxanne got out of the car and approached him.

He smiled and held up his arms when he saw her. Roxanne stepped forward and he gave her a tight hug.

"Welcome back," he said, "I have missed all you girls."

You don't remember my name, she thought, but she smiled and replied, "I've missed being here."

"Hard to believe it's been so long."

Roxanne nodded. It really was hard to believe that she had last been at the club on a gray and blustery March day and that she was back now on a bright summer afternoon, a year and a half later.

"Well, most of the girls are coming back," Tony said, "I just hope the customers do, too."

"I spoke to Dominique a few weeks ago. She said with what she's making online, she isn't interested in dancing anymore."

"I'm surprised you didn't say the same."

"I'm kind of surprised myself."

She had thought long and hard about returning to the Gold Dollar, and still wasn't sure why she was; she was making pretty good money doing cam shows. But she really did not like doing them. It was too impersonal; masturbating in front of a camera, faking orgasms and feigning enthusiasm for every bizarre kink the customers fantasized about. She fed off the energy of her audience when she danced, that was absent when the only reaction she received was text on a screen. But it was good money, and there was no reason she couldn't cam during the day and dance at night.

Tony held a sign reading "WELCOME BACK" up against the door, and asked Roxanne if it was straight. She stepped back and nodded. As he was taping it to the door, she heard a car pull in and turned around.

Sporty, the club's bouncer, was parking his SUV. He smiled and waved when he saw Roxanne, and she waved back.

She had always liked Sporty, and it was good to see him again. But as he crossed the asphalt toward her, she realized that she had never really given much thought to the fact that he was a very attractive man. He was tall and slender, with mocha skin and neatly cropped hair and beard. As he sauntered toward her, he opened his arms, and she enjoyed his hug much more than she had Tony's. It had been a long, lonely lockdown, and it felt good to have a handsome man's strong arms around her after so long.

"How've you been?" she asked him.

"Gettin' by. Doing some odd jobs. Me and my brother have been scrappin', making a few bucks that way."

"Scrapping?"

"Yeah, he's got a truck with a lift gate, we go around and pick up old dryers and refrigerators, rain gutters, shit people throw out. Take it to the junkyard and sell for scrap metal. Gotta do what you gotta do, right?"

"Everybody healthy?"

"My sister caught the 'rona, but she's okay now. What about your people?"

"Some close calls, but it's all good."

Tony interrupted them. "Hey Erwin," he called, "Can you bring in this stool when you come in?"

"Sure, boss."

Roxanne looked up at him over her glasses. "Erwin?" she asked with a grin.

Sporty shook his head and wagged his finger at her. "You ain't heard that," he said.

"I didn't hear a thing."

She held the door as he carried the stool inside, then, at long last, she stepped back into the Gold Dollar.

As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, her first impression was that it smelled much better than it had before. It smelled clean. The floor wasn't sticky. Maybe they even cleaned the bathrooms, she thought.

Crystal sat at the bar in her street clothes. She was a lithe, freckle faced redhead who drew a lot of attention from the men who liked their dancers to look young. Roxanne did not know her well; she had always worked the early day shifts, while Roxanne had always been on nights.

She looked up and smiled when she saw Roxanne enter.

"Hi, Roxy, I didn't think you were coming back."

"You can't keep a trooper away," the club manager, Sherry, said as she stepped out of the storeroom behind the bar. "How are you doing, kiddo?"

"I'm fine," Roxanne said, "I was sorry to hear about your Mom."

Sherry shrugged. "Thanks. Lots of people lost someone. Hope your folks are all okay."

"My dad and his partner both tested positive, but they didn't get sick. Thanks for asking."

The front door opened with a flash of white light and slammed shut with a loud bang. That's got to be her, Roxanne thought.

"I'm back, bitches," Clover shouted as she strutted in.

"Now it's a party," Sherry muttered.

Clover stood with her fists on her hips and looked around. "Am I in the right place?" she asked.

"They cleaned it," Roxanne said.

"No, I meant, when I saw your narrow ass, I thought it was twink night at the gay bar."

Roxanne gave her the finger. Sherry pulled a bottle of tequila from under the bar.

"Well, ladies, how about a toast? Clover, I seem to remember you liked Cuervo."

"Oh, shit," Roxanne laughed, "Just don't give her a match."

Tony and Sporty came in from the back room.

"Come on and join us, fellas," Sherry called. She poured out six shots as the men approached the bar.

"I'll do the honors," Tony said. He raised his glass and the others joined him. "To the return of the Gold Dollar girls."

They clinked glasses together, and drank.

"Now, let's get ready to dance," Tony said.

"Oh, you takin' a pole tonight?" Clover asked, with a snorting laugh.

"He'd probably make more tips than you will," Roxanne said, heading to the dressing room.

"We'll be lucky if any of us make enough to cover our gas to get here," Crystal muttered.

When they walked into the dressing room, the girls were surprised to see that it had been decorated with a rainbow of streamers and a large WELCOME BACK banner. Four vases of roses had been placed on the long makeup table, each adorned with a bow and a card.

"This wasn't Tony's doing, this had to be Georgie," Roxanne said, leaning down to sniff the flowers. She picked up the card and read it. "Yep," she said, "Georgie. He says he will see us tonight."

"Who is the fourth one for?" Crystal asked.

Clover shrugged. "Must be a new girl starting."

"Well, I got to tell you, I am glad to be back," Crystal said as they changed into their dancing outfits. "I mean, my boyfriend makes pretty good money at the canning factory, but still, we had to borrow from my folks and that was no fucking fun."

Roxanne nodded sympathetically. "I feel kind of guilty, but I made as much doing cam shows as I did dancing, and didn't have to leave the house."

"I've got young kids at home," Crystal sighed.

"I tried that cam show shit," Clover said, "I didn't like it. Some of the guys who come might be big pervs, but a lot of those online dudes are real fucking sickos."

"So what did you do?" Crystal asked.

"Well, Larry has his disability and his veteran bennies, but that wasn't enough. So I had to take a job at the Stop and Shop, stocking shelves."

"I hope they didn't have you stock the cookie aisle," Roxanne said, "They'd lose more money than they'd make."

"Eat a dick, munchkin," Clover barked, then laughed, "I can't help it if I like my Oreos."

Roxanne shook her head. "I keep telling you, the Paul Newman cookies are better."

Clover snorted in derision. "You just like them because they have a picture of an old man on the package and you got daddy issues."

"Bitch, you ever see a Paul Newman movie?" Roxanne asked, "He was smokin' hot."

"Oh, those blue eyes,"Crystal added.

Clover furrowed her brow. "He was in Butch Cassidy, right?"

"Yeah," Roxanne and Crystal both said.

"Which one was he?"

"Butch Cassidy," Roxanne replied, rolling her eyes.

Clover shrugged. "I liked the other one better."

"Robert Redford," Roxanne told her.

"If you say so. Is he still alive?"

Crystal searched on her phone and showed Clover a recent picture of Robert Redford.

"Damn, that fucker got old," Clover muttered.

"So did you," Roxanne replied.

"Bitch, don't fuck with me or you won't."

"Good to see that you two are still friends," Crystal muttered.

***

Misty opened the door and ushered Maya into the Gold Dollar.

"It's pitch black in here," Maya said. Misty took her arm and guided her forward.

"It's not, really, it just seems so when you come in out of the sun."

LeAnn, the bartender, was setting up for the night. "Misty! It's so good to have you back, even if it's only for one night," she said when she saw them enter.

"Thanks," Misty responded, "This is my fiancé, Maya. She never got a chance to see me dance before the pandemic. That's the main reason I decided to come tonight, if I'm being honest."

Maya said hello and managed to climb on to a barstool without stumbling in the dark.

"Yeah, everybody goes blind when they first come in," Leann said, "What can I get for you?"

"Scotch and soda, please."

"You ever think about dancing, honey?" LeAnn asked as she mixed the drink, "We get guys come in here and ask if we have any black dancers."

Maya looked sheepish as she shook her head. "I am going into teaching, so it wouldn't look very good on my resume."

"No, I guess not."

Misty kissed Maya on the cheek. "Alright, boo," she said, "I need to go get changed."

"I'll take good care of her," Leann said, setting Maya's drink on the bar.

Misty strode toward the dressing room, then hesitated before entering. She hadn't seen the other girls in more than a year and was not sure how they would relate to her. She thought they might feel patronized by her coming back, after telling everyone that she was through dancing. For her, stripping had been a way to finance her education, but for Clover and Roxy and the others, it was their career, in some ways, their whole life. Maybe they didn't want her back, even for the night.

She opened the door and Roxanne immediately shouted her name, rushed into her arms and hugged her.

"Oh honey, it's so good to see you," Roxanne said, squeezing her tightly.

"Jesus, Roxy," Clover snorted, "You going to start on girls now that you fucked every man in town?"

Roxanne kissed Misty on the cheek then turned her face to Clover and sneered. "I've been with women before."

"Without a guy being there watching?" Clover said, smirking.

"Well, you two haven't changed much," Misty said, peeling Roxanne off of her and stepping over to her locker. She saw Crystal sitting at the end of the table and said hello.

Crystal gestured toward Roxanne and Clover with her thumb. "Nice to see you," she said, "I was just waiting for these two to shut up to say hi."

"I'm like a fucking church mouse," Clover said. "Roxanne is the one who never shuts up. It comes from people never noticing her otherwise."

Roxanne laughed. "Says the bitch who face timed me every fucking day since the lockdown."

"I felt sorry for you being all alone. I was afraid you might go crazy from no dick and shave your head or something, like Britney Spears."

"She'd look hot with a shaved head," Misty said as she began to undress.

"I shaved my head once when I was a teenager," Crystal said, "I thought it looked pretty rad."

Misty looked at her and nodded. "I'll bet it did."

"So are you back for good?" Clover asked her.

"No," Misty said, "But I told Sherry I'd come in tonight, to help kick things off. I'm working at First American now."

"Well, if you can play those banker boys like you did the guys here, you'll be running the place in a year," Roxanne said.

Georgie, the club's burly house mom, came into the room.

"Just when I didn't think it could get any queerer in here," Clover said, rolling her eyes.

"Oh, so good to see you too, Clover," he said, "And I'm glad to see you stayed well fed during the pandemic."

"Suck my dick, Georgie."

"Pull it out."

"You'd choke on it."

"Oh honey, trust me, I would not."

Georgie greeted each of the other girls with a hug, then leaned down and kissed Clover on the top of the head. "I am glad to see you." he whispered. Straightening up, he said, "Now, sorry to have to tell you this, but Tony would like to see you all out front before we open. So, please, as soon as you are ready, come on out."

He left and they finished dressing. Each of them had picked out what they considered their money maker outfit for the reopening. Roxanne wore her schoolgirl outfit; white top, tiny plaid skirt and knee socks, while Misty donned her black spandex mini-dress and thigh high boots. Clover wore a blue mesh dress and Crystal, a gold lame bikini and fishnets.

"We are some good looking bitches," Roxanne said as they stood together and looked into the long mirror.

Together, they trooped out into the main room. Sherry and LeAnn sat at one of the round tables, and everyone joined them, except for Misty, who took a seat with Maya at the bar.

Tony came out of the office. "Listen up, ladies," he called, clapping his hands.

"Oh christ, are we going to have a pep rally?" Clover whined.

"Yeah, glad to see you, too, Charlene," Tony said. He was carrying a plastic shopping bag. Reaching into it, he handed each of the dancers a cloth mask. Roxanne held hers up and looked at it. On the front, in bright yellow cursive letters, it read The Gold Dollar Lounge.

"How do you like them?" Tony asked.

"You don't expect us to dance with masks on?" Crystal asked.

"No, no, no," Tony said, waving his hands, "But I had an idea to start the evening."

"This will be good," Clover muttered.

"See, we will wait until we get a good crowd in the door, then I'll have all you girls come out, like a chorus line..."

"There are only four of us," Roxanne said.

"Good thing Misty came back for tonight," Clover added, "Three isn't a chorus line, it's a fucking comedy act."

"Yeah," Roxanne said, "And she can actually dance, not just roll around and shove her fake tits in their faces."

"Take your tiny titties and go back in your hobbit hole, Roxy."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah" Tony said clapping his hands, "We are all glad Misty is here. I consider it a special favor that she came."

"You consider her your biggest draw," Clover said with a smirk.

Tony ignored her, looking at his watch. "Alright," he said, "We are opening the doors in ten minutes, so let's get ready."

Crystal held up her mask. "What about these things?"

"Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. See, we sent special invitations to some of our best customers..."

"Your poker buddies," Clover said.

"Some of our high rollers, and told them there would be a special grand opening ceremony at seven. So, what I want is, you all come out together, wearing the masks, do a few moves on your poles, then kind of strut your stuff..." He wriggled his hips, "...up to the front of the stage, and then, all together, pull off the masks and toss them into the crowd."

"The crowd?" Clover asked, "Ain't it probably gonna be like six guys?"

"Yeah," Roxanne said, "And I am not sure breathing into a mask, then tossing it at someone, is a very good idea, pandemic or not."

Clover jerked her thumb toward Roxanne. "Frodo is right."

"Okay, okay," Tony said, throwing up his hands, "Toss them over your heads to the back of the stage. So, go get ready."

"So, we're the fuckin' Rockettes now," Clover grumbled as they made their way back to the dressing room.

As they waited to go on stage, Misty cleared her throat. "So, uh, there's something I want to talk to you guys about..."

"What's up?" Clover asked.

"Well, Maya and I are going to get married in October..."

"That's terrific!" Roxanne exclaimed, and Clover and Crystal joined in the congratulations.

"Thanks, but well..."

"But what?" Clover said with one arched eyebrow.

"You guys have been awesome friends..."

"But you can't invite us to the wedding," Roxanne said.

Misty bit her lip and nodded.

"It's just as well," Clover said, "Roxanne would probably fuck Maya's dad in the men's room or something."

"And not inviting Clover saves on the cost of the buffet," Roxanne shot back.

"Come on," Misty said, "Don't joke. I feel bad about it."

Clover patted Misty's shoulder. "We get it, babe, no prob."

"Hey," Roxanne said, "What we could do, is give you a bachelorette party here."

"Really?" Misty smiled, "That would be cool."

"Yeah, we can talk to Sherry about it," Clover said.

"But you guys hate doing bachelorette parties."

Clover punched Misty lightly on the shoulder, "Not if we love the bachelorette."

Georgie stuck his head in the door. "Showtime, ladies."

As they stood and checked themselves one last time, Roxanne said, "You never told me that you love me."

"That's because she's fucking hot and you look like Harry Potter in a skirt."

"Fuck you, Hagrid."

They stepped into the main room, where Georgie quickly lined them up.

"How are we doing this?" Crystal asked.

"Go to your poles, take two spins and then step off and throw the masks," Georgie instructed them, "Then go into your usual moves."

"Every gay dude thinks he's Bob Fosse," Clover muttered.

"He can cast you in the remake of All That Jizz," Roxanne told her.

"Oh Christ, now what?" Clover moaned. Roxanne looked over and saw Tony mounting the stage.

"Take it off!" Clover shouted.

Tony shot her a dirty look, then turned to the patrons. "Ladies and Gentlemen," he shouted. Maya was the only lady in the audience. Clover had underestimated the turnout; there were ten men present, five of them sitting together at one table.

"Welcome, friends," Tony continued, "It's been a tough time for all of us, but now, we are back, to provide you with the finest in live adult entertainment. May I present to you, the world famous Gold Dollar Girls."

"What world does he live in?" Crystal asked as she led the others on to the stage. Roxanne followed her, then Clover, with Misty in the rear. They took their places to a smattering of applause. LeAnn cued up the music, and , more or less in sync, each dancer made their first spin on their pole. Roxanne spun fast and was finished before Clover had gone around once. Misty and Clover finished simultaneously, and when Clover finished her second turn, they all looked at each other and pulled off their masks, to another round of applause.

Clover tried to shoot her mask like a rubber band, but it just fluttered to the floor. While the other girls tossed theirs to the back of the stage, she kicked hers away.

As they began their dances, two of the customers moved to the rails, one in front of Crystal, the other to Misty. Tony brought a tray of drinks to the table of five and sat down with them. Clover watched him interacting with his friends. He obviously enjoyed playing the big shot. Yeah, she thought, be proud of the business your daddy built and gave you to run.

A couple of the men at the table looked familiar; she assumed they had been in before. As Tony blathered on, the one nearest the stage turned his chair and watched her, leaning back on his elbows on the table and stretching his legs out in front of him.

Clover had no compunctions about dancing nearly naked before a crowded bar, but she became self conscious when only one person was watching her. She hated slow nights. Roxanne and Misty both seemed able to zone out into some kind of weird fugue state, in which they could dance on their poles and shut everything out, but she had never been able to do that. As the man watched her, she grew anxious. She glanced over at Roxanne. Sure enough, that bitch was off in La La Land somewhere.

When she looked back down, the man had dropped his hand between his legs and was wriggling a twenty dollar bill between his fingers. As soon as she saw the money, her confidence returned. The men might think that their money made them the boss, but she knew better. If they were willing to pay her, she had the upper hand.