Chapter 20. The Rules. Poem by Katherine Shaw

A girl came over she had long brown hair
She helped me up and sat me in a chair
She said her name was Emma Jean
But I should call her by her pet name Nadine
She said I wouldn't be allowed to use my own name
And so she decided to call me Mary Jane
She told me all the other girls names
Said I would be expected to play provocative games
Explained I was now a lady of the night
Not to complain, do everything right

Food was shoved through the flap in the door
But I couldn't eat because I was too sore
The girls started fighting over the food
Said words that were vulgar and rude;
Getting into a right old flap
Fighting over every last scrap
Nadine introduced me to everyone
I met Sue, Baby Doll and Sugar Hon
I greeted them all with a big smile
They all seemed friendly, not at all hostile
Except the girl who said I'd be treated like queen
Her real name wasn't Sandy, it was Parveen
She seemed to stare straight through me
She made me feel alarmed and very uneasy
Sue said that Parveen was Mark's spy
She was known as his third eye
Sue again explained the rules
No one had broken any, they weren't fools

Rule 1... Accept your pay and don't complain
Rule 2... Do not cause another girl any pain
Rule 3...Don't leave cash or drugs lying about
We will confiscate it without a doubt
She had only got to rule number four
I didn't want to hear any more
Tired, worn out, my patience running thin
I wanted a bed, I wanted to get in
All the mattresses seemed to be taken
I asked Sue in case I was mistaken
She pointed to one, stained, threadbare
I was honestly too tired to care
It didn't bother me that it had no cover
I had no energy to scout for another