He had gone by "Scott" for almost 25 years, but back home he felt like his given name "Simon". Simon left home at 18, joined the Navy and after getting out 2 years later set off on several adventures that left him wealthy but ultimately still alone. He had loved a woman then lost her, made his fortune and had vowed never to return to Sparta, Wisconsin. He was back now to settle his mom and step dad's estate but had no desire to see "The Twins"- his older stepbrothers. He really had little desire to see his younger half sister as well. He felt they had turned on him which caused him to turn his back on them and leave. He had money. He didn't need their junk or money and the strings that came with it. But what should have been a one day in and out visit now was prolonged with the estate lawyer having to quickly leave town for a family emergency. But technically he hadn't returned to Sparta. "Scott" was sitting in a pub in Tomah, eating supper, staring at the cute bartender while trying to resist the urge to walk out of the pub into the walkthrough hallway where the bathrooms were, and avoid going behind the green door into Ozzie's Bar.
Scott went to the bathroom, looked at the green door, and went back into the pub and ordered another beer. The bartender poured his beer and since he was the only one at the bar she settled in to visit.
"A Penny for your thoughts, Stranger?"
Scott snapped out of it, and said, "Sorry, kinda lost in thought." He put a $5 bill in the tip jar and said, "I'm Scott. I was just thinking things through. What's your story? Military?" Fort McCoy was only a few miles away and Sparta and Tomah both saw lots of transient women working at pubs and places like Ozzie's until their boyfriends or husbands moved on.
"Name's Penny. Thanks for the $5, but it's a slow night so I am willing to chat. So you can have 'A PENNY for your thoughts' all night long if you want."
She said it in a way that made Scott think there was more to that comment, but it would cost him more than a penny. Or the $5 he'd already invested.
"So what's your story, Scott? Why are you here on a Tuesday? Are YOU military?"
"No, I have some personal business. Former navy, now an investor but still an adventurer by heart. Looking at buying some vessels for Oshkosh or the Dells, but would rather spend my time in Florida than this far north. Ships get 12 months use in Florida but only half that here."
That wasn't a lie, but the whole truth was he was originally from Sparta and didn't want to go back or even be in Wisconsin right now. Wisconsin Dells was associated with his fondest memories but also his biggest heartbreak. Florida, Texas, the Caribbean and Mediterranean were much happier places for him now. And especially now. Off-season and early April in Wisconsin had the potential for cold and dreary. Coupled with his attitude towards his family and now having to wait a week for some pencil-neck geek accountant of a lawyer to come back...his attitude was like that of a January blizzard.
"Well, Scott, my family owns these buildings so I am in the family business. My dad and uncle are terrible businessmen but my cousins and I are doing what we can to make a go of it. My aunt is helpful, too, I guess. This time of year the National Guard and Reserve units aren't training in Fort McCoy so business is slow. Take your beer and go through the green door to Ozzie's and enjoy. I get off at 11 and will see you then unless I close up earlier," Penny said.
It was now just after 8. "Who's Ozzie and why do I want to go to his bar when you said I could have you all night?"
"Ozzie was the name on the bar when we bought it and didn't want to change it and alienate our older clientele. Go next door and spend some money. See you at midnight."
"You said you got off at 11," Scott replied.
"Don't worry, the time will fly if you are having fun. Tomorrow in here is karaoke. Maybe I'll see you in here tomorrow," Penny said.
"Wait! You said you get off at 11, will see me at midnight, but now tomorrow?"
"Go next door and spend some money. See you in about 3 hours," Penny said and winked at Scott.
Scott walked out into the walkthrough hallway and went through the green painted door. The sign said, "Must Be 21. Shows start at 9pm nightly". Scott was twice as old as he needed to be to enter. He sat at the bar with his drink from next door. The bartender had his back to him and was talking on the phone and when she hung up, she turned around and looked right at Scott. She was probably younger than Penny but every bit as stunning. She had the same, piercing blue eyes as Penny and looked like her. Only her hair was a different color, but that could come from a bottle. Penny had a dirty blonde look with her hair pulled back in a ponytail. The bartender had darker brown hair with lighter highlights and her hair cascaded past her shoulders and had some bouncy body to it. It would look fantastic splayed out on his pillow.
"Penny said she and her cousins ran these bars. She didn't mention a sister," Scott commented.
"We're the sisters over here tonight and Penny's our cousin. She said she was sending business our way."
"Did she tell you my name?"
The stunning bartender in a skimpy, tight white dress held out out her hand, "Bailey. She said you were Scott and to show you a good time until she got off."
There it was again. The double entendre. But then again, he was sitting in a strip bar. He didn't want to offend Bailey but he had to ask, "So, do you, uh, I mean. Dancers are when? Will you grace the stage tonight or not?"
"Maybe tomorrow if you ask nicely. Would you come here to see ME dance or go to karaoke next door and hit on the cougars if you're still in town?" She slightly emphasized "come" and hit on "ME" when she said that.
"I did tour with a boy band in the 90's but I don't sing anymore, so maybe I should watch you dance if I'm still in town." He finished his drink and put the glass down on the bar. She was ready for that and like magic sat two shots up on the bar- one for him and one for her. He didn't see what they were or even when she had poured them.
"Your choice," she said. He picked up one, she took the other. They tinked glasss and downed them. His was Captain Morgan. Hers was Jose Cuervo. He won that round.
"It's close enough to 9 so I will see if Anne is ready," Bailey said. Scott hadn't noticed 4 young men walk in. High and tight haircuts, probably from the nearby army base despite the calendar. Another sexy young girl with an exotic look took their drink orders.
Bailey hit the stage lights and punched a button and a recorded voice came over the speakers, "Now, please welcome to the stage, CAYENNE!"
Some new Taylor Swift song that sounds like every other pop song started blaring over the speskers and a woman who looked to be Bailey's twin- or Taylor Swift's twin- took the stage in a floral print, french cut bikini. She had moves, looks, and a sexual aura that few women ever did, let alone someone so young. She was probably 20 or 22. Everything about her was tight, fit, firm and prefect. Scott wondered if Bailey and Penny were built as good as Cayenne. If he was going to be stick in this town, he hoped he would find out.
Cayenne danced her first number and took her tips fron the young men now stationed on the "chow line", the row directly in front of the stage. When her second number started the dancer had failed to remove any clothes and the men started to protest.
