She slowly danced naked to some imaginary rhythm that only she could hear, doused by the red light.

“I don’t know if anybody ever told you this,” he commented, “but you should be a stripper. I swear on everythang I love, you’d get paid! Tonya, you got one of the tightest bodies I’ve ever seen.”

She moved toward him, continuing to dance. She bent over and brushed her breasts across his face. Playfully, he licked at them. He enjoyed being teased; he enjoyed every minute of her show. She was a bit more relaxed with him than she normally was. Out of all the dudes she slept with, Todd treated her best.

“Seriously, you should think about strippin’. I mean it beats doin’ what cha doin’. You know.” He felt bad about using her the way he did. It wasn’t right and he knew it. But rather than say so, he’d at least try to help her out. “Listen, I gotta cousin named Katrina from West Philly who dances. I’ll introduce you to her. And she can definitely plug you in.”

She wasn’t sure whether this was good news or not but she said “Aiight.” Just to shut him up.

“C’mere, girl,” he whispered. “Gimme soma that thang.”

They fucked themselves to sleep. Early the next morning, Todd awoke and gave his cousin a call. Since they were close like that, she immediately came over. Tonya woke up hearing their loud conversation in the kitchen.

“… You was right, she is pretty. But … damn, how old is she? Ain’t no older chick gonna let you young niggas run up in her like that. So she gotta be unda age,” Katrina said.

“She almost eighteen,” he replied. “But she ain’t silly-actin’ or young-minded. Shorty just fucked up in da game right now. Dat’s all.”

Katrina laughed, “Nigga, what you runnin’ a fuckin’ group home here? I didn’t know you cared. Whatever happened to all that Snoop Dogg shit, Bitches ain’t shit but hos and tricks. Remember? What you getting soft on me? … Go wake her up. Let’s see what she tryin’ ta do. Hope you ain’t have me come out here fa nuttin’.”

Todd went to his room and gently shook Tonya awake. She pretended to be fast asleep.

“Huh?” she softly moaned.

“Git up! My cousin’s here and she wanna meet you. Now!” he announced.

Tonya climbed out of his warm bed and slipped on a pair of his basketball shorts and a plain white tank top. Following Todd into the kitchen, unsure of what to expect, she was somewhat awestruck by this gorgeous light-skinned girl with long black hair and cold catlike gray eyes.

“How you doin’?” Katrina warmly greeted her. “I’m Katrina, but I dance under the name Kat. My cousin here tells me he thinks you got da goods to be a stripper? Do you wanna dance?