Sky’s the Limit
Book Two

Chapter Nine

Sky’s new Hell 

Many thanks to Rec for editing! 

Eddie and Danny were very nice to Sky, even taking him out shopping and got him some decent clothes.  Danny got Sky settled in a room that he would share with a guy named Seth; the room was little more than a couple of cots, a shared dresser, and some space in a small closet, but it was way the hell better than the park.  There were seven guys, including Sky, sharing a small three-bedroom house with only one full bath, but, as everybody worked odd hours, it was very seldom that more than three or four were ever there at the same time.   

That first weekend after Sky got his job at Phil’s club, he was given a new fake ID that made him officially eighteen, and he reported to the club for work.  Eddie informed him that he would have to learn a few things and get a costume before he could start dancing, so he would work “cleanup” for the first night or two.  Cleanup would involve primarily picking up the cash thrown on the stage at the different dancers and gathering up their costumes when they finished an act.  Sky was also expected to watch the different dancers for ideas on an act for himself.  As the cleanup person, he would be paid a small percentage of the tips for all the dancers.   

Before he started, Eddie gave him the warning.  “Sky, I’m only going to tell you this one time.  There will be no more warnings.  This goes for all the dancers as well as the boys working in the stables.  You get caught skimming tips, working independent, or not reporting those who do, you could get hurt – really hurt bad. Do you understand what I’m saying?” 

“Yeah, I turn in all tips and report anyone who doesn’t.” 

“Right. Dancers may on occasion moonlight at private parties or straight bars that have a lady’s night – but only for dancing and only with permission.  You get permission from me or Phil.  If you turn a trick at another gig and don’t report it, you could get hurt.  Is that clear?” 

“I’m not having sex for money.  I’m just not doing that,” Sky said emphatically. 

“Yeah, right, whatever.  You won’t get another warning, but you need to know why. Not reporting tips and skimming is obvious, as the house always gets paid first, but the boys in the stable, and the dancers, too, for that matter, are under Phil’s protection.  The cops in this city are among the most corrupt in the country.  Phil pays them a lot of money every month to avoid hassles and problems. That’s why the house gets part of your tips, and that’s why we’re not too worried about them running that ID we gave you through their computers; it’s really just for appearances.  For God’s sake don’t try driving with it or even showing it outside of here.  Also, if you do get busted outside the club and you’re hustling for Phil, he’ll get you a good lawyer with all the right connections to all the right prosecutors and judges.  None of our boys has done any time yet, and they won’t as long as you follow the rules.  Break the rules and you get hurt – or worse.  I can’t stress this enough, Sky.” 

Sky was wondering what the hell he gotten himself into.  He had pretty much resigned himself to the fact that he was going to become a stripper, but this was definitely something he hadn’t bargained for.  Bribed cops, possibility of being arrested for prostitution, and to top it off, threats to break his legs or worse if they think he was stealing or even accused of it.  Damn, this was some heavy shit.  

On the other hand, what the hell difference did it make?  He was just a worthless piece of faggot shit anyway.  He was beyond redemption, beyond salvage, unless he was to totally deny what he knew he was.  At least that's what those assholes at “The Refuge" had drilled into him for the last month before he escaped.  Maybe they were right. Maybe he deserved whatever hand this life he had chosen had dealt him. 

“Sky, do you understand?” Eddie asked pulling him out of his thoughts. 

“Uh, yeah, Eddie, I get it.  I don’t skim, and I don’t work independent anywhere without permission.” 

“Right.  You’re going to do fine, Sky.  The customers are going to be good to you, I can tell.  It’s important when you’re dancing to make eye contact with the saps.  Those are the guys with lots of money and not afraid to give it to you, especially if you let ‘em cop a feel of the package every now and then.  We’ll teach you how to pick ‘em out.  Eye contact and that million-dollar smile of yours will knock ‘em off their feet. Then there’s lap dances; that’s where you make the real money. Watch the other boys this weekend, and you can probably start dancing yourself by Wednesday night.  We’ll have you in a costume by then.  I’m thinking cowboy for you.  Chaps, boots, hat – yeah, cowboy.” 

“Um, lap dances?” 

“Private one-on-one shows in the back of the club. Lots of touchy feely, but you get a minimum of forty bucks for a lap dance.  Most of the time they’ll slip you a hundred if you do it right.  But on a good night you could clear two or three hundred easy if you’re good, as I think you will be, and you’re willing.  Hell, during Southern Decadence last year I had one guy clear almost two grand for the weekend just with performing and lap dances, but that was insane.” 

“Southern Decadence?” 

“The biggest gay party in the South – possibly the country.  Every Labor Day weekend the whole downtown is literally nothing but a huge gay block party all over the French Quarter.  It’s awesome.” 

Eddie proceeded to fill Sky in on other “details” of working for Phil, most of which were just when to show up, how the dancers are scheduled, and so on.  Sky learned that there were usually anywhere from twenty to thirty dancers working this club at any given time, and he would usually average dancing at least three nights a week along with five or so other dancers, and he could work cleanup another night or two a week if he wanted or needed to.  Sky told him he needed to for a while at least, as he needed the money badly.  It was about that time a guy his age walked in wearing only shorts and a wife-beater shirt.  He was probably a year or two older than Sky, but Sky thought he was incredibly hot.  He was very muscular with shoulder-length, sandy-colored hair with light-blond streaks. 

“Jo-Jo, meet Sky, dancer trainee,” Eddie said pointing to Sky. 

The guy stuck out his hand at Sky, who shook it and said, “Pleased to meet you, you work here?” 

“Headline dancer on Fridays and Saturdays.”  

Eddie interrupted, “Jo-Jo, Sky is a virgin to clubs. I want you to show him around, teach him a few things and help him get an act together.  He’s living over at Danny’s, so that’s close to you, anyhow.  I’m working on a costume for him; we should have it in a day or two.  He’s going to work cleanup tonight so I want you fill him in on that, too.” 

“Will do, Eddie.  Is he working the stables, too?” 

“No, just dancing for now.” 

“Okay, then.  C’mon Sky, I’ll show ya the dressing rooms and what we need ya to do while we’re dancing.” 

Jo-Jo led Sky to the back of the club.  There were two rather small rooms with a couple of open closets and dressing tables with large mirrors lining two walls.  He showed Sky where they kept the costumes. The costumes and hangers were labeled with numbers.  Each dancer had a number.  He looked on a list and scratched through a name and wrote Sky’s name beside number twenty-five. 

“Jo-Jo, how long you been doing this – dancing, I mean?” 

“About two years, I guess.  I was only seventeen, but Phil and Eddie took me in and helped me get started.” 

“Same here. I just met them this week, but they already got me set up with clothes and a place to sleep.” 

“Don’t worry, Sky, you’ll pay them back. They hold money out to make sure of that. Don’t get me wrong; they’re nice guys and do more than most to help guys like us, but their motives are more than just the kindness of their hearts.  They expect you and me and the other guys to attract customers and to make them a lot of money.  They only hire the hottest-looking guys, and you definitely fill that requirement.  It’s twink city here,” he finished with a chuckle. 

“I’m still not sure I’m going to be able to do this. I don’t know about taking my clothes off in front of a lot of people, let alone letting them, uh, touch me.” 

“The first time is the hardest, Sky.  We’ll have you ready, though.  After we teach you some moves and how to locate the big spenders, you’ll do all right and rake in some good money.  Besides nobody goes out there sober.  A couple of hits of weed or meth, maybe a line or two and a shot or two or three of vodka or something – you won’t care who’s feeling up your package and your ass.” 

“I don’t do drugs.” 

“Heh, you will. We all do.  Nobody would do this sober.  We’ll comp you the first weekend or two, then you throw into the kitty after every show.” 

“I take it there’s no random drug testing to work here.” 

“Heh, if you pass a drug test working here it would be a miracle.  The only reason anyone here would be pissed that you flunked a drug test would be that maybe you weren’t sharing whatever it was that showed up in your piss test.  We do want you as sober as possible the nights you work cleanup.  We don’t want the cleanup guy passing out and losing the money, screwing up the costumes, or getting ripped off.  Just common sense, you know.” 

Jo-Jo then showed him around the backstage area.  After the cleanup man picked up all the cash that customers would throw on the stage and gather the costumes, he would put all the cash in a slot in a metal box right behind the DJ booth.   

That evening, Sky was introduced to the rest of the dancers who would be performing that night.  Sky figured he was probably the youngest, but most of them appeared to be almost his age or only a little older. The oldest was a guy name Brett who he found out was twenty-six but looked much younger.  He also found out why Jo-Jo was the headliner.  His dick must have been eight-inches long – soft – and it was very thick.  It looked like a horse dick.   

Before the dancers went on, Sky noticed they would either stroke themselves or get someone else to do it.  The dances were more or less what he had imagined: a lot of hip rotations and gyrations, with little choreography involved.  Sky was pretty sure he could handle the dancing part; what really bothered him was getting practically nude except for a pouch and thong and occasionally “whipping it out.”  Even worse were these old troll-like guys and overweight businessmen his dad’s age and older who wanted to put their hands on the “equipment” or stuff money in the pouch or in the thong strap.   

Anyway, after each dancer was done, Sky would run out on the stage, scoop up the cash that was thrown there, gather up the costumes, head backstage, deposit the cash in the box then hang up the costumes.  Sky would get drinks and things for some of the dancers on occasion and generally just help out backstage.  It was really sort of fun.  At the end of the night, he was given eighty bucks as his “share” for helping out.  Sky figured it beat the hell out of flipping burgers for five bucks an hour.  Jo-Jo offered him a ride home, and they left. 

“What did ya think?” 

“I gotta tell ya, Jo-Jo, I’m scared.  I don’t know about this.  I’ve never done anything like this.  My dick is not that big, unlike yours. I don’t know, I’m really nervous.” 

“Look, a hit or two on something to calm your nerves, a little practice, and you’ll do fine.  Everybody has jitters the first time.  It’s normal.  Don’t worry about your dick size.  Most of the guys have average dicks.  It’s the bod.  Your ass is as important as the dick. From what I can tell, you don’t have anything to worry about.” 

“Thanks.” 

The next day, he went back to the club after lunch.  Eddie and a couple of cleaning guys were the only people there.  “Good, you’re here early,” Eddie said when Sky walked in. “I have a costume for you to try.” 

Eddie handed him a box, and Sky headed for one of the dressing rooms.  The “costume” consisted of a leather vest, a pair of jeans with the side seams Velcroed together, a pair of leather chaps, the standard thong and pouch, a pair of black cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat.  

“Looks good, Sky,” Eddie said when Sky went back out.  “We’ll pick you out some music, and Jo-Jo’s agreed to come in early and show you some moves;  he’ll be here in an hour or so.  I just wanted to see if all this stuff fit or if we needed to swap something out or alter it.  Looks like it’ll work fine, though.  I like it.”   

They went through the available music, and Eddie wanted Sky to dance to some country-and-western music to go with the costume.  They settled on three pieces by Brooks and Dunn. The first was Rock my World Little Country Girl, then Redneck Rhythm and Blues, and finally Boot Scootin’ Boogie to end the set.  Just as they were finishing listening to the music, Jo-Jo walked in.   

“Hey, guys. Cute costume, Sky. Very hot!” 

“Thanks.” 

“Eddie, how you want me to do this?” Jo-Jo asked. 

“Well, I figured you could get up here on stage with him, and just show him some tricks.” 

“Okay, c’mon, Sky.” 

Eddie started the music, and Jo-Jo started dancing.  Sky started imitating his moves, and Jo-Jo would tell him when to start removing the vest and how to rip the pants off but leave the chaps in place. By the last tune, Sky was wearing only the thong and the boots.  It felt really strange, and he was more than nervous and embarrassed even though the club was empty except for them.  Jo-Jo showed Sky how to get down so the guys next to the stage could put money in his thong, and what to do if they tried to rip it off or grab his crotch.   This wasn’t as easy as it had first appeared to Sky. 

After a couple of run-throughs with Jo-Jo, Eddie had to get ready to open up, so they stopped and went back to the dressing room, where Sky could change.   

“So, Sky, you looked really hot out there.” 

“Thanks.” 

“Ahh, Sky, there is one other thing.” 

“What’s that?” 

Jo-Jo came over to where Sky was sitting, getting ready to put on his shirt and pants. “Sky, I supposed you noticed how just before we go out, we like to umm, fluff it up a bit.” 

“Huh?”   

“Stroke your dick, Sky, till it’s at least half hard.  Sometimes we do it for each other.  Umm, I’d be happy to help you with it first few nights if I’m scheduled to work when you are.”  He reached down and put his hand on Sky’s shoulder and began to stroke down his arm. 

“Uhh… Jo-Jo.  It’s not like I don’t appreciate it, and you’re really attractive and all. I’m just not...   I just got out of a relationship, and I’m still messed up about everything. I’m not ready to...” 

“Oh, I’m sorry, Sky.  Listen, no hard feelings.  I know how it can be.  Here’s a peace offering.”  He reached in his pocket and pulled out a hand-rolled cigarette and a lighter.  He lit it up, took a drag and handed it to Sky. “Go ahead take a nice long hit.  That’s primo stuff.” 

Sky took it from Jo-Jo, took a long drag, and handed it back to him.  The two of them continued smoking the joint till it was gone.  By that time, Sky was fully dressed again.  “C’mon, Sky, let’s get out of here for a while.  We got a couple of hours or so before the shows start up. Let’s go get some food.  I know a place with great shrimp po-boys and gumbo. We can talk, get to know each other.” 

“Sounds good to me,” Sky replied. 

They left the club and walked a few blocks to an old store-front diner.  They ordered their food and started chatting. They talked about the club and some of the other guys there.  Jo-Jo told Sky about himself, how his Dad had kicked him out when his little brother ratted on him about a gay magazine in his room.  Jo-Jo was from Baton Rouge and about Sky’s age when he got kicked out.  That was two years ago. 

“So, Sky, what’s your story, really.  How did you wind up in New Orleans on the streets?” 

“I got caught in bed with my boyfriend.  My dad went ballistic and didn’t want anything else to do with me.  He sent me to my mom’s. She’s a religious freak and shipped me off to an ex-gay ministry program that was supposed to make me straight by shoving the Bible down my throat every day.  I couldn’t take any more and left.” 

“Man, that really sucks.  Sorry. What happened to your boyfriend?” 

“That’s the worst part.” Sky had tried not to think about Jonah ever since he left Memphis.  Now it just hit him all at once.  Maybe it was the weed that had set off his emotions; whatever it was, he started to tear up. He wiped his eyes.  “I don’t even know.  The last I had heard he was in some sort of wreck and was sent off to live with relatives somewhere.  I was forced to write him this damn letter dumping him.  I sent him an email trying to explain it and tell him I still loved him, but that we can’t ever be together.”  

Jo-Jo reached out and put his hand on Sky’s arm and squeezed. “I’m sorry, Sky. I shouldn’t have asked. Really, don’t get upset.”  

Sky nodded at him and wiped his eyes with a napkin.  “I’m okay.  I’ve just been trying not to think about it.  I do miss him, but I never want him to know about any of this.  It would kill me.  I can never go back.” 

“You just need something to take your mind off it.  When we get back to the club, we got some good shit.  A line or two and a couple of drinks. Hell, you’ll feel better in no time.”  

“I may take you up on the drinks, but I’ve never done coke. I don’t think I...” 

“Look, Sky, you might as well get used to it.  We all do it.  We can start you off on something a little less potent.  We got some meth.  It’ll make you feel like a god – invincible.” 

“I don’t know...” 

“Sky, when you get ready to get up there and take off your clothes in front of an audience, you do not even want to think about doing it sober.  Trust me on this.” 

“Well, I’m not dancing till at least next week, according to Eddie, so maybe just the drink and another joint.  I’ll be fine, thanks.” 

“Whatever. The offer stays open.” 

 They finished eating and walked around the French Quarter until it was time to get back to the club.  When they got there. Eddie was yelling at someone on the phone.  When he finished, he looked over at Sky and Jo-Jo and yelled.  “We’re at least one dancer short and probably two.  Sky’s gotta go on tonight.  Get him ready.” 

Sky looked over at Jo-Jo like a deer caught in headlights.  Jo-Jo looked back at him with a large grin.  “Sure you don’t want to take me up on that offer now, Sky?” 

Sky looked over at Eddie who was glaring at both of them. “Eddie, umm, I just went over this routine one time. You know that.  I just don’t think...” 

“I don’t care what you think, Sky.  I gotta have another dancer out there, and you’re it.” Eddie retorted. 

Jo-Jo put his hand on Sky’s shoulder and squeezed. “Don’t worry, Eddie. I’ll have him on that stage.  Okay if he dances his first set with me?  I have a cowboy costume back there somewhere, and we can use his music.” 

“You’re a featured act, Jo-Jo. You and that ten inches of meat between your legs, You’re not a warm-up act.  Some of the other boys might get pissed if you do that.” 

“I’ll take care of any flack from those drama queens, and it’s just for the first show.  He’ll do it solo for the other sets.  I’ll even have him ready for lap dances by the second set.  Whaddya say?” 

“Alright, but you two guys split the tips from your little duet fifty-fifty.  We ain’t hirin’ no bookkeeper for one damn act.  I’ll tell Phil I let you do it.” 

“Deal,” Jo-Jo replied. 

They headed back towards the dressing rooms, but stopped at the bar, where Jo-Jo got the bartender’s attention.  “Sammy, hook us up with four Lollipops.”  The bartender mixed something into four small glasses and handed them to Jo-Jo.  Jo-Jo handed two of the glasses to Sky. He followed Jo-Jo back to the dressing rooms. 

When they got there, Jo-Jo slid a mirror stand to one side, took a brick out of the wall, reached in and pulled out a small bag.  He went back over to a dressing table, fooled with something, and then went back and put the bag and the brick back in the wall.  He handed Sky a fat joint and a lighter.  “Smoke this, then down those two drinks; that’ll get you relaxed a little.  Then we’ll snag some crank when the other guys get here.  Enjoy! Remember, we’ll comp the pharmaceuticals your first two nights of shows, then you pitch into the kitty.” 

“What’re the drinks?” 

“Sammy calls ‘em Lollipops.  It’s a full shot of Jagermeister and a shot glass of one of those Red Bull energy drinks.  Kicks in like a sonovabitch, but tastes like candy.” 

Sky and Jo-Jo smoked the joints while they both started getting their costumes together. Jo-Jo’s cowboy costume was very similar to Sky’s except for a couple of six-shooter prop guns and holster.  After Sky finished the joint, he downed the two drinks.  Jo-Jo had been right; they did taste like candy. 

By the time they finished, a couple of the other guys that shared that dressing room came in, and Sky was introduced. The other two guys were Jake and Chaz.  They hadn’t danced the last night when Sky did cleanup.  Jo-Jo explained the deal about Sky’s dancing with him for the first set.  Jake seemed a little ticked, but when he found out that it was Sky’s very first time on stage, he seemed cool with it.  Sky was feeling pretty damn buzzed.  Jo-Jo, went over to a small locked cabinet, unlocked it and took out a small box.  That box was also locked.  He opened it, took out some cash, and gave it Chaz.  “Go see Blueboy, and snag some crisco and whatever you guys want that we can afford, and come on back here.  I gotta show Sky here how to do a lap dance and to go over some other shit.” 

Jo-Jo put the box back as Chaz left.  “Alright, Sky, go ahead and get into your costume and sit in that chair.”  Sky did as asked.  Jo-Jo had stripped down and was wearing only the bottom portion of his costume, which, like Sky’s was a pair of tear-away jeans, chaps, and boots.  Jo-Jo went over to a boom box and put on a CD, came over to where Sky was sitting and started dancing right in front of him.  As he danced, he removed the tear-away jeans, then the chaps, leaving only the thong and the boots.  He was talking to Sky the whole time, telling him how to make the dance sexier. After Jo-Jo got down to just the thong, he moved forward, straddling Sky’s lap, with his crotch inches from Sky’s face. 

“Reach for my dick as if you want to feel it and stroke it.”  

Sky did as he requested, and got a good feel for just a couple of seconds before Sky felt Jo-Jo’s hands gently on his wrists, guiding his hands to Jo-Jo’s ass. Sky grabbed his ass, and Jo-Jo put his crotch right in Sky’s face.  Sky could feel the heat from Jo-Jo’s cock through the thin material. Jo-Jo reached down and pulled the material away just a few inches so that Sky had a clear view of the massive member. Jo-Jo was gyrating his crotch in rhythm with the music the whole time.  He was teasing Sky, and it was having the desired effect.  Sky could feel his own cock rising from the dead.  Then Jo-Jo backed away, and turned away and gave Sky an equally good view of his ass. He backed up again, so that he was again straddling Sky’s lap. Instinctively, Sky reached up and put his hands on Jo-Jo’s hips. Jo-Jo sank lower so that his ass was just over Sky’s crotch; then Sky felt Jo-Jo’s ass grinding into his crotch for a few seconds before Jo-Jo stood back up, leaned over, still gyrating those hips, reached behind him and pulled the thong strap to one side so that Sky could get a peak at his obviously shaved pink hole. 

By this time Sky was hard as a rock, and the music was ending.  Jo-Jo stood up and turned to Sky grinning, “And that, my dear Sky, is a lap dance.” He looked down at Sky’s obviously tenting crotch, chuckled, and added, “And I see I haven’t lost my touch.  The idea is to tease.  Most guys, me included, only allow one feel of the jewels and then move their hands somewhere else.  If they persist, you back off and let them know they’re out of bounds.  If that doesn’t work, there’s always a bouncer close by.  You signal him by yelling out ‘Groper!’ then you leave immediately.  Oh, and there’s one last thing I almost forgot to warn you about.  When they’re putting money in your thong pouch, watch out for paper cuts.” 

“Ouch!” Sky winced at the thought. 

About that time, Chaz came back in and handed a small package to Jo-Jo.  He took it and went back over to his dressing table and stashed it in a drawer.  “That’s for later.  We’ll wait till just before time for us to go on.  In the meantime, have another J,” he said as he handed Sky another joint and lit it for him.  As they sat there smoking the joints, Sky heard the music start up in the bar.  Pretty soon, it was time for Chaz to go do his thing. When he was done, he came back in, and Jake was getting ready to go out.  One of the guys Sky recognized from the night before as a part-time server was doing the cleanup.  Jo-Jo told him to get them a couple more Lollipops.   

“There’s a couple more dancers after Jake. They’re over in the smaller dressing room; then it’s us,”  Jo-Jo said as he headed back over to the dressing table and got the package out of the drawer, grabbing another small object, and brought them  back  to where Sky was sitting.  He opened the package. Inside was a small cellophane pouch.  He took two small whitish things that looked like rock salt out and put them in a small glass pipe.  He handed Sky the tube end and said, “Hold this.  When I tell you, inhale slowly through the little tube.” 

“I don’t know, Jo-Jo, I’m already pretty buzzed, and I’ve never done hard drugs.”   

“Look, it’s just a small dose, and it’s only one hit.  If you don’t like it, hell, you don’t have to do it again.  It’s not like it’s costing you anything.” 

Sky couldn’t argue with that.  What harm could one dose do?  Sky was still really nervous about going out there and stripping.  He took the pipe and held it while Jo-Jo held a lighter under the bowl part.  Soon there was a little wisp of what looked like smoke.  

“Now, inhale slowly as I cook it,” Jo-Jo said. 

Sky did as instructed until the bowl was empty except for some ashy residue.  Jo-Jo then took the pipe from Sky and refilled the bowl and put the tube in his own mouth as he held the lighter under it.  By the time he was done, Jake was back, and the cleanup guy brought us the two Lollipops.  Jo-Jo held his glass up, and said, “To your first dance!” Sky raised his to the toast and gulped it down. 

In just a few minutes, Sky was feeling really strange.  He had been pretty mellow after the two joints and the Lollipops, but now, this was different.  He felt euphoric, energized, ready to take on the whole damn world all at once. He was invincible.  He felt like a god.   He was ready to get out there and show his ass – literally.  The next thing Sky knew, the cleanup guy banged on the door and said, “Ya’ll are next, Jo-Jo.” 

Jo-Jo looked over at Sky and asked, “Ready?” 

Sky nodded, smiled, and said, “Yeah, I feel good.” 

“Good, then time to fluff.” 

Jo-Jo reached inside his crotch, and Sky could see him stroking himself.  Sky did the same till he was about half hard and had a nice bulge showing. 

“It’s time,” Jo-Jo said as he grabbed Sky’s arm. They went out the door to the stage.  

The music was just starting when Sky heard the DJ announce, “All right, all you fags and fag hags, the star attraction, the famous Jo-Jo.  Tonight in a special show, a brand new dancer, in his very first show. Sky Blue is joining Jo-Jo.  They’re swingin’ their things to some country-western tonight. Remember, save a horse... ride a cowboy!  Go, boys!.” 

With that they went on stage, and the music was blasting from the speakers.  The crowd was really into the show and cheered every time part of a costume came off.  By the second song, the beat was pounding, driving the dance. They were both down to just their chaps, boots, and thongs.  By the time they lost the chaps, the stage was littered with ones and fives.  A few guys were waving twenties, and they would bend down, squat, or whatever, to let them put their money in the thong.  A couple of guys tried to feel Sky up, but as soon as the money was secure they would back away.  By the last song, Jo-Jo and Sky were naked except for thongs and boots. 

The crowd kept hooting and cheering them on.  Sky was simply flowing with the music and reacting to the crowd.  It wasn’t really as hard as he thought it would be, but he sure was glad Jo-Jo was up there with him.  It gave him a lot more confidence that he could get through this. 

After they were done, they ran backstage, depositing their tips in the box on the way. Jo-Jo had explained that the money was collected from the box after each dancer was done, counted and kept in that dancer’s “account.” They would be paid from the account at closing time.  While they were waiting on their next shows, Sky began getting nervous again, because in the next show he would be solo.  Jo-Jo ordered another round of the Lollipop shots and a fixed another joint apiece.  They also both took another hit on the meth just before it was time to for Sky to go back on for his second show – his first solo show. 

Sky was still nervous when he went back out, despite the fact that he was high as a kite.  He had used some grass a couple of times back home with some his friends.  He was remembering how they thought they were really getting away with something.  That seemed like a whole other lifetime ago now.  The music started again, and Sky started dancing – and stripping.  The stage seemed twice as large with him there alone, but the crowd was just as wild as it was for the first show – maybe even wilder.  There were more people now.  Sky continued to dance, and by the beginning of the last song, he was once again nearly nude but for the thong and the boots, and there were several fives, tens, and twenties sticking out of his thong.  He was feeling pretty good about the reaction he was getting from the crowd.  Yeah, there were a couple of older guys that just wanted a grope, but the stage was elevated enough that it wasn’t hard to back out of reach easily enough after their money was securely in his costume. 

By the time Sky got backstage after that show, Jo-Jo was going back on. The cleanup guy came back and told Sky there were a couple of guys asking for lap dances from him.  Sky went to the room where they did the lap dances.  One guy who Sky guessed to be in his thirties waved some money at him when he came in.  Sky went over, and the guy handed him fifty bucks.  Sky stripped off the jeans – he wasn’t wearing the chaps or vest – and gave him a show just the way Jo-Jo had showed him.  When Sky was done, the guy was obviously hot, and his crotch was tented. Sky smiled at him, and the guy reached in his pocket and pulled out another twenty bucks and said, “Damn, you’re hot, kid.”  Sky took his money and thanked him, but before he could go, another guy was shoving money at him, wanting a lap dance.  Sky obliged him.  By the time Sky was done, Jo-Jo had finished his act. Sky went backstage and joined him. 

“Jo-Jo, I earned a hundred and fifty lap dancing just now.” 

“Great, Sky! You give that to Eddie; he’ll square with you later.  Sounds like they love ya.” 

Sky found Eddie and gave him the tips from the lap dances.  When Sky got back to the dressing room, Jo-Jo had fixed them another couple of joints, and there were two more Lollipops on the dressing table. 

They danced three more shows that night, and Sky did several more lap dances.  It got easier with each one.  It was also a little easier because of the booze, the grass and the meth that they kept hitting all night, too.  By closing, Sky was pretty fucked up. 

Eddie came around and paid both of them.  Sky had made over four hundred dollars.  By the time they held out the club’s share, plus some of what Sky owed Phil for clothes and his costume, Sky took home a little more than one hundred dollars. 

As they were leaving, Jo-Jo could tell that Sky was fucked up.  Hell, anybody with two eyes and a brain could tell he was fucked up.  He could barely walk.   “Sky, umm, you live at Danny’s place, right?” 

“Yah, why?” 

“Look, my place is closer, and my roomie is moving in with his boyfriend.  There’s an empty bed there you can use to crash till you get your head back on.  You’re pretty messed up, and you’ll need some help when you come down.  I’ve been there and know what to do.  Why don’t you just come over.  I’ll take you back over to Danny’s tomorrow.” 

“I guess that’ll be okay.  Thanks.” 

Jo-Jo hailed a cab, even though his place was just a few blocks away. When they arrived, Jo-Jo had to help Sky out of the cab.  He had his arm around Sky and helped him up the three steps to the small porch of the old frame duplex.   

Sky woke the next morning with light streaming into his eyes from a window.  He had no idea where he was or any memory of getting there.  The pain in his head was almost unbearable, and he felt nauseated. He quickly realized he was naked, but when he finally managed to turn his head, he was shocked to find he was in bed with a very naked Jo-Jo.

Another special thanks to CJ and Colin.  Thank you to all you readers… You are the ones who make it worthwhile and keep me going.