" Hi Michelle, it’s Sadie…… How ya’ going?"
said the chirpy girly voice at the end of the phone.
“Good Thanks,"
I said in an excited but slightly nervous tone.
Although I’d been expecting Sadie’s call at any time, I still felt unprepared and unsure how I should feel about it.
“I have your first job. You are to meet Ralphy and collect one hundred and twenty, with a negative twenty. Any extra you get is all yours.”
I pulled over to scribble down the details of where I was to go that following day. With a wish of Good Luck from Sadie, the call ended.
I checked on the street map to find the location an hour or two drive away South. I could not be more precise than that at the time, as I was unfamiliar with the route and not entirely confident about my transport. I left with plenty of time to get there, but managed to get disorientated and lost the way. Suddenly time became tight and I began to panic. I didn’t want to mess this up. I had to get it right. I had to get there.
As I drove down the dusty road in the middle of nowhere, I became a little hesitant as to whether I was doing the right thing or not. It had started to get dark and the atmosphere felt eerie as grass hoppers clicked and tumbleweed bounced across my path. There was just enough light for me to make out the house numbers, most partially concealed with foliage. A cluster of cars were parked up at the side of the road. Number twenty- five…… Got It!
I pulled over to double check that I definitely had the right house number and decided to park a few doors down from the other cars. I didn’t want to get parked in, just in case I had to leave in a hurry. There I was with a sensible head on, yet I was about to do something out of character and utterly crazy.
I adjusted the mirror to check I was looking okay. I checked my watch. I was still a little early and with enough time for a cigarette. I pulled out a new packet of 25 Marlborough Lights, loving the fact that they actually cost less than I’d usually pay for a packet of 20. The flame quivered as I held it up to one of my free cigarettes. Drawing back a deep breath of tobacco, hearing the crackling of the burning stick, I held my breath for longer than usual, then exhaled slowly, savouring every second, delaying time. It was no good. I couldn’t stall it off any longer. I picked up my holdall on the front seat and got out of the car. I tried to keep my thoughts empty as I clip -clopped up to the front door and took little notice of the face that opened it to me. Following Sadie’s instructions, I collected my money up front and was then shown into a bedroom and instructed that when ready, I was to make my way out to the shed in the rear yard.
There was still time for me to pull out of this. It seemed madness that I’d put myself in this position, when only two weeks earlier I’d been pounding the streets in my uniform and comfortable shoes. Yes, I needed a job here, but there were other options. Okay, I’d have to work lots more hours but it would be respectable, rather than this illicit method of earning a quick buck. I checked my watch……Seven minutes to go. I went back outside, lighting another free one. Pacing three steps to the left, three steps to the right… Check the watch again, five more minutes. Another heavy drag and I was out of time. I went back to the bedroom. My throat dry and tight, breathing rapid, chest thumping and arms unsteady. This was it. No turning back. Skirt down, top off, shoulders back and perk up those boobs. It’s show time!