For My Cat

*Note: I wrote this story a very long time ago while still in high school, and recently discovered it and wanted to share.  It's something different.  Enjoy.

 

FOR MY CAT

 

The music contnued to blare loudly as she stepped off of the stage and disappeared behind the beaded curtain.

All around her the roombustled with activity.  "Great set, Deb," someone said to her.  "Yeah, real good," someone else agreed.

She barely noticed the comments as he sat down in front of a large, lighted mirror.  She grabbed a jar of cold cream ands tarted to remove her makeup, and siged as she glanced into the mirror.

The woman she saw looked much older than her twenty-five years.  Her once bright green eyes were shadowed by dark circles, and her skin looked tired and pale.  The only color on her face were the streaks of grey eyeshadow and her rouged lips.

"You're still beautiful, Deb."

She looked up to see her boss standing behind her.  His enormous head on such a thin body was nearly comical.

"If I'm so beautiful, then why is it that every time I look in the mirror, I feel ike shit?" she asked sarcastically.  "Huh, Eddie?  I mean, I'm a damn stripper.  I'm two moves away from being a cheap whore and yet I'm 'beautiful'?"

Eddie sighed.  "Deb, you're a high class woman and our feature performer.  You used to love this job, this feeling."

She stood up angrily.  "That's just it; I never loved this job!  I've always hated it!  But I need the money."

With as much dignity as he could mnuster, she slipped into a dress that was draped over the chair and headed for the exit.

"Why do you need money so badly?" Eddie asked as she opened the door.

Looking back, she answered simply, "It's for my cat," before heading out.

 

•••

 

After a long and quiet drive home, she felt the stress and fatigue fade away.

Her apartment was dark and as she turned on the light, she gasped.

"Cat!  Hey, cat?" she called out.  She walked into her bedroom and sat on her bed.  "Hey, Cat...wake up, kitten."

Sleeping in her bed lay a small, red-haired child.

"Catherine, wake up; Mommy's home."