Have you ever made small talk with a call girl?
I have. My former housemate of 25 years ago, R. Airhead,* used to call a particular escort service, avail himself of the product, then tell the service provider he had no money.
Airhead, in fairness, had been in a very serious accident and had to relearn to walk. It also left him with the attention span of a gnat. Perhaps that’s why he got away with it. Despite his getting along in the world, having a job and driving a car and even having a girlfriend, he really wasn’t all there.
Maybe it’s because I’m a writer that I can see something interesting in most people. Certainly Airhead provided plenty of fodder.
So I did have a bland conversation with an escort one evening while the guys of the house asked some specific questions regarding services and rates, etc. It was several years before I could work it into a conversation, but one boring afternoon at the newspaper my knowing the rates for services perked things up.
On another occasion I was reading one of Frank Herbert’s Dune series when either his girlfriend or a service provider asked, ”What have you got there, a book?”
And one stellar evening I came home to a lovely aroma that originated in my closet. My nose led me to a suitcase stuffed full of individually packaged bags of pot. When I confronted Airhead about it he bragged that it was about $10,000 worth and all I had to do was tell the cops it wasn’t mine.
I’m glad I’m able to look though a writer’s eyes and see all this as interesting bits of life to be used later. Sure, he was irritating as all get out. But between drugs in the closet and the knocks on the door that might be someone coming to clear up a debt, Airhead made life exciting.
*Airhead was our nickname for him.
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15 comments:
Gee, Leah, sounds like you have all the fun! The Bag Lady has never had a call girl come calling...
Back when I saw clients at a low-fee counseling place, I ended up seeing a fair number of sex workers. But they were dancers, not prostitutes, and it was fascinating how bright they were and how aware they were of the impact their job had on them--they needed the money, so they did it, but it wasn't a casual career choice, and it came with a lot of angst.
I agree--going out of your comfort zone and dealing with people you normally wouldn't socially can be a very enriching experience!
(Airhead sounds like he was quite a pain in the ass though!)
dfBag Lady it was a lot of fun.
Crabby, all the escorts were at least actresses or the like and they made a point of letting us know it. The woman who ran the agency gave every indication of being a smart businesswoman.
And yes, Airhead was a pain.
Oh, yeah, it does sound like you had all the fun! Drugs in your closet? Yeah, the cops would believe they weren't yours! I would have told him I would rather the 10,000 thank you very much.
When my parents and I lived in an apartment after my dad's big heart attack, a girl who'd graduated high school a year or two before me lived in the apartment below ours. I soon found out she worked at a men's club near the airport. That's the closest I've come to such a person to my knowledge.
I did have a roomie once who likely ended up in the life at the rate she was going. This child had a list of 64 guys she slept with during her freshman year in college - and those were the names she could remember. Poor child. She'd been raped when she was eleven and somehow bamboozled into thinking she was ready and willing to be sexually active then. Somehow I find that very difficult to believe...
You've had some interesting friends, Leah. All excellent background stuff for a writer.
Hello again!
Dawn! You're back. Leah will be so glad. She's away for a little while, but I'll make sure she knows you are around.
I finally got the go-ahead from Leah to let everyone know that she has been taken ill with congestive heart failure! She has been transferred to the University of Alberta Hospital from Rocky Mountain House (where she resides) via the hospital in Red Deer. She is undergoing massive testing to try to determine how this could afflict someone in her good physical condition. If anyone wishes to pass on virtual chocolates and good wishes can do so via this blog, or through the Bag Lady's Blather.
That is totally the greatest story ever.
I am so glad that Karen is into solitude-- I don't think I could handle pot and hookers. If she knew she'd have an absolute cow.
-- P
Great story! And I'm with you--I love "interesting" folks! Never a dull moment when they are around!
Syl
For the very latest news on Leah’s condition, check out Reb's blog where she has even posted a photo from her visit to Leah in the hospital. Sounds as though Leah is more than ready to get the heck out of there and back to the important stuff in life, like blogging!
Bag Lady,
Thank you for the update about Leah!
Got the fingers crossed and the prayers said!
Leah - thinking of you. Get well - you still have stories to tell us.
df Leah!
Welcome Home!!!
Terrie
Thanks, everyone.
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