Chapter-4 Trouble in the Bordeaux

  The Bordeaux was closed on Sabbath, which was not at all for the reverence of the occasion.  On Sundays, Men were at home helping their wives prepare children for church.  It was a day for family meals and formalities, vows were kept on Sundays because pastors and patriarchs were watching.  Men had very little time to slip away to see their whores and mistresses on on holy days.

Lou had tried keeping open on Sunday, but the only folk that came in were the drunken rabble.  Wanting to keep a reputation for running a house of pleasure and not a cheap whore house, Lou found it was better to be closed on Sunday.  So, fights broke out at other brothels, and other whores were beaten by drunken sailors, but not Lous girls.  Instead, it was a day off on Sunday and Lou found there were plenty of returns with the decision to make it so.  The girls rested, recreated and primped.  They fixed their rooms and shopped, went to movies and walked.  Lou found that they came back happy and refreshed. 

That Sunday morning, as Jackie sauntered down stairs, it smelled like steak. Usually this was a good sign.  It meant that Lou was in good spirits.  That the Bordeaux was doing well enough to pay bills and have extra. Lou always bought the girls good food when there was extra money.

But today the girls shushed Jackie when she walked into the parlor. Sadie sat with one leg propped up on her chair while she gnawed meat from the T-bone of steak she was finishing, listening intently with the other girls.

Jackie looked at Sadie questioningly.  "Meg's pregnant!" Sadie whispered.  And a crash from Lou's office made all the girls jump.  Lou was shouting something that was difficult to decipher and the door swung open suddenly.  

Madame Lou had Meg by the scruff of the arm "I told you girls to use your salve and you caps!  I told you to use them for every customer!  The fat ugly Lawyers and the strong handsome Sailors!  All of 'em! You all understand that don't ya?"

Plenty of girls nodded silently.  Meg wasn't the only one who was lax.  

"If you're short on money, I can pitch in for the Doctor, Lou." Sadie chimed in to help and lots of girls nodded that they would too.  

"I'm not gettin' rid of my baby!" Protested Meg with her teeth grit and locked dead eyed with Lou.  Lou stared back with a venomous glare.  

"Whores don't have babies!" Lou snarled adamantly and turned to the rest of the girls. "You hear that?  All the rest of you! The only thing worse than a pregnant whore is a whore in love!"  She paced around the parlor hot with rage. "Babies born from working girls are bastards..."

"Their babies nonetheless..."Meg tried.

"BASTARDS! You know what they do to bastards out there? No child ever outgrows that!  And you think you're doing a good thing letting it live!"  Lou paced back to Meg and while substantially shorter she commanded the presence of the whole room like a general.  "Did he tell you he loved ya?"  Meg lowered her haughty eyes.  Lou could smell the scent of  weakness from Meg. "Did he bring you some gift?  I bet it was cheap! They do that you know...because girls fuck differently when they think their in love." A tear fell from Megs eye.

Sadie jumped up, "Quit it Lou!" 

"There's nothing more pathetic than a whore in love! This is a reminder to you all to wear your fucking caps, and use your Goddamn salve!"

With that Lou locked herself in her room for the rest of the afternoon.

Most of the girls smothered Meg with hugs. But nobody else ate steak. and that afternoon it rained and rained and it didn't stop until Monday when the Bordeaux opened and the men came.