The loose material draped over me. It was a sparkly, gold dress with black pumps. Chanthara, the curvy woman, tried to get me to wear something more-revealing. I'm not going out of my comfort zone just for money, as soon as I feel unsafe, I'm booking it. After someone gets a konk on the head. A hard one. Yeah.

They had us line up against the wall and they took notes of us. How tall, how pretty, or similar statistics. I hated every second of it. I was not dancing for that crowd. Not the kind they expected of me anyway.

Before the place opened its doors to the public, my group settled in a room behind the stage. Liquor cabinets in every corner ready to be broken as a token afterwards. The men had already helped themselves but they wanted us ladies sober for the show. I sat slack on a leather chair fingering my shoes. My word, they itch. Not to mention how wobbly they were. My ankle had gotten cut from the pointed heel. That would end up itchy too.

"When people come in, go out and dance. Take your money, and go home."

"How 'bout we skip that first part?" I asked. They ignored me.

"How many people come to see us?"

"Many." Not an answer dude.

"What do we dance with? Like songs," Amporn said.

"You all pick one and we play." The girls liked that idea. I recalled the time I blasted the Back in Black album at my house. I was making a powdered drink while dancing along to What do you do for Money Honey. My arm flew back resulting in chocolate powder on my kitchen floor.

Playing an AC/DC song might make the experience more bearable, and I knew the song. If they were gonna get me to dance, they were gonna play that song. Some tech person came out speaking rapid Thai and holding printed pictures of our names. But instead of Hannah, mine said-

"Lawan, look!" Amporn was standing on the red couch looking out the peephole. A crowd of people, mainly men came pouring in taking tables left and right. The tables were packed like sardines to fit in as many customers as possible. Waitresses came out passing drinks and dimming the lights.

"Come on, come on, let us get you ready!" a man called us over. I crossed my arms feeling a little shy, but it was too late now.

"Angus, you've got the hardest-to-take-care-of girl I've ever met," Malcolm said as they searched the streets. This practice had become routine as of late.

"Don't remind me," Angus muttered. He skimmed every road, glanced in every corner but found nothing of importance.

"You frustrated with her?" Malcolm cracked a smile.

"You don't know the half of it Mal, I'm gonna-" Angus sighed and scratched his hand. "I'm gonna kill her."

"That's a little harsh, don't you think mate?"

"Hear me out then," Angus turned to face his brother. "First I'm gonna hug her so tight she won't get away, then I'm gonna kiss that silly little nose of hers a million times-" Angus resumed walking. "-then I'm gonna kill her."

"Oh, that's quite alright then," Malcolm rolled his eyes.

"She's just-constantly running around, finding trouble-"

"My God Ang..." Malcolm chuckled.

"What?"

"You're always so worried about her."

"Can you blame me?"

"You're ridiculous."

"Why don't you get yourself a girl, you'd be ridiculous too."

"I have one."

"You know one of these days she's gonna get herself hurt."

"Yeah? And you're gonna get yourself hurt tryin' to help her!"

"Mal, you can just..." Angus shook his head.

"I can just what?" Malcolm grabbed his little brother and tussled up his hair, all while avoiding his defensive arms.

"Stop that!"

"You're making a scene Angus!"

"Let go you little..."

"Come on Ang, finish a damn sentence."

"Let go!" Malcolm released his brother and laughed when he tripped as he walked away. "'T's not funny!"

Amporn came backstage with shaky hands. "That was cool! I can not believe I do this!" I gave a half smile to be polite. "Lawan, it is your turn." Already? The tech guy put my music choice on the stereo and I couldn't back out. But my legs wouldn't move forward either. "Why you not go?"

"It's not me, it's my legs!" Amporn came up and pushed me through the curtain. My face grew hot as applause erupted over the crowd. Even some children were brought by their mothers who didn't have a babysitter. Bless their souls, they shouldn't be here. Hell. I shouldn't be here! I knew I wouldn't get the money if I stood there like an idiot so-here goes nothing.

Brian's voice came over the speaker and I began by slowly bouncing up and down like Winnie the Pooh. Some people cheered. Most looked confused. I myself didn't know what I was doing. How long was this song, three minutes? Hours? I stuck my leg out as high as it could go without getting a cramp, which isn't much, and hopped in a circle like a drunk ballerina. Mr. Bean dances better than this. Good news is more people threw money than I thought would. I discreetly picked up what I could and hid it in my fist.

The chorus picked up but my routine sure didn't. I did a little 1960s twist-to the best of my ability. I wasn't much of a chubby checker, more like an awkward chess piece. That didn't know how to play chess...

Malcolm and Angus leaned against a brick building. It was getting hotter, and a run around town did them in. "Come on Angus, she's probably back at the motel."

A yawn found its way to Angus' throat and he rubbed his nose. "Probably out here for nothin'," he mumbled.

"Eh, the music here sounds good." Malcolm pointed behind them with his thumb. Angus smiled, recognizing their song.

"Yeah."

"Wonder what's goin' on... Can't see through the windows too good." Malcolm had his hands pinned to the glass and he squinted to look inside.

"You probably just can't reach 'em."

"Ha ha." Malcolm scanned the room for any activity but it was too dark.

"Anything?"

"Nah, too dark. 'T's get a better look inside."

The second verse had started and eventually my audience was paying me like a comedy sketch. Finally, something I'm good at. I saw the door open and nearly tripped as Angus and Malcolm came waltzing in. They must have heard the music. Or, they have a secret hobby we don't know about...

If those two saw me like this, I'd be permanently embarrassed forever. I'll look like Animal from the Muppets, hair and all. And I can't have that. Nor do I want them to find out about my-new job. As soon as the chant part came on I put my head down and jumped off the stage and on to the nearest table. My fist was full of money already, might as well make a run for it. Every beat my foot hit a new table and I made it to the front door.

The girl on the stage was-'dancing' to their music while the whole crowd was laughing. "Ain't this somethin'," Malcolm muttered. Angus glanced around at the mass of people. If they had known this was a show building, they never would have walked inside.

His attention was yanked away by a heel hitting metal. The girl was making a break for the exit keeping her face hidden. He stood back to let her go, but one glimpse of her stirred him up as she turned back one last time.

I ran out of that place as fast as those heels would let me. I pulled them off and started to run again but someone grabbed my waist from behind.

"Shh, shh, it's only me!"

"Let go!"

"You gonna get in more trouble?" the voice teased.

"What?" I turned around.

"This takes the cake Han Banan, this takes the big, fat, stinkin' cake." Angus grinned at me and pulled me in for a hug. He buried his nose in my hair and started laughing.

"So what's next Hannah, on your list of daily events?" Malcolm asked coming up beside us.

"Maybe one of you oughta decide that." Angus grabbed my face in his hands and started kissing it.

"What. Am I. Gonna do. With you?" he asked attacking my face. I turned it in different directions hoping he'd miss but not a chance.

"Geez Ang, you can't wait till we're out of the street?" Malcolm joked.

"I. Don't. Care." With one last kiss on my nose he smiled and took my hand. "You are explaining yourself, young lady." We walked down the road while I glanced behind to see if anyone had followed me.

By the time we reached the motel the sun was going down. I stepped in Cliff and Georganne's room where they sat at the table. "Oh there you are."

"What's up?" Cliff asked. Angus nodded at them and I walked over to where Georganne was sitting. And handed her the crumpled pile of Thai money.

"What...is..."

"It's a long story."