Synopsis: A man struggling to pay child support goes to Bikini Beach with a friend to cheer him up. That night, while out partying, he ends up in an amateur strip contest, and after winning, wonders if there's a way to use Bikini Beach's magic to catch up on his child support.

(This is a repost of a story that was earlier posted to Fictionmania.)

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This story is copyright by the author. It is protected by licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

"Hey, Hal?"

Hal Wilson glanced up from his keyboard at the sound of his name. Even before he saw Tina's face, he knew it was her from the sound of her voice. "What?"

"You going to lunch? We're going to Armand's."

Hal's stomach churned, reminding him of his hunger, and the thought of Armand's sandwich specials sounded very tempting. Food was one of his great pleasures in life, but despite his love of fine dining, Hal remained within a few pounds of what his doctor called his ideal weight. Slowly, he shook his head. "Nah," he answered softly. "I've got ... some work to get done." He turned back to his keyboard. As Tina turned to leave, Hal shook his head sadly, his eyes closed. The heavy sigh emphasized his mood, which was as forlorn as the look on his face. For several seconds, he sat still, ignoring the rumbling in his stomach and the monitor and keyboard on his desk. "Why me?" he asked over and over in a soft voice that demanded an answer from some higher power. But as usual, no such answer was forthcoming, and Hal set back to work at the tedious job of transcribing records and correspondence for the accounting firm where he worked - as an assistant typist and clerk.

He was still sitting at his desk when Tina came back from lunch, his glum expression unchanged. It wasn't so much that she stopped by to see him as the fact that Tina had to walk past Hal's cubicle to reach her own desk. "You look like you haven't moved since I left," she said jokingly.

Hal glanced up, then he shook his head. Every motion seemed to be unpleasant for Hal. "I haven't," he answered.

Tina sensed a major problem. She leaned back on Hal's desk. "What's going on?" she asked. Hal knew her concern wasn't sudden, nor was it from any romantic interest. They were friends. Simple as that. Tina dated often, and she had no interest in Hal, nor he in her. Hal wasn't Tina's type; she went for the athletic, movie-star-looks type, which Hal wasn't. Though he was reasonably trim, it wasn't due to exercise, but rather a financially-imposed rationing of his calories. With his ever-tussled dark hair and his thin moustache and goatee, he appeared nothing so much as a young man desperately trying to look older. With his glasses, he had all the outward appearance of a stereotypical nerd.

Hal shook his head. "The other shoe dropped," he finally answered.

Tina's eyes narrowed. "You mean..."

Hal opened his desk drawer and retrieved a neatly folded paper, which he handed to Tina. "See for yourself."

Tina scanned the letter quickly. "Wow!" she finally said after she'd digested its contents. "She's serious this time."

Hal shook his head. "She always has been. This time, she's got everything she needs to back it up." His eyes were misting as he fought back tears.

"So unless you come up with this month's support..."

Hal nodded glumly. "No visitation. And none until I get caught up."

Tina patted Hal's shoulder in what she hoped was a comforting fashion. "I can loan you..."

"No," Hal cut her off quickly. "I can't do that." He shook his head again. "It wouldn't make any difference. I'm so far behind now that Mikey will be out of college before I get to see him again. If I had a better paying job..."

Tina shook her head. "She'd have come after you for more, and you'd still be behind." She sighed. "Face it, Hal, she's a bitch, and she's using the child support and visitation to hurt you."

Hal dropped his forehead into his upturned hand. For several seconds, he sat quietly. "Yeah," he finally muttered, "I know."

"So what are you going to do? Ask Mr. Reynolds for a raise?"

Hal shook his head. "Tried it. He got so mad he almost fired me."

"You could look for something else," Tina suggested softly. In this small office, this conversation was straying toward dangerous ground.

Hal snorted derisively. "Yeah, well if I'd majored in something besides art, I probably could find something that paid better." He glanced up and saw Tina start to speak, but he cut her off. "And I'm already working a second job, so that's out, too."

**********

"It's not a date. It's just a ... well ... a ..."

Hal shook his head. "If it looks like a duck, and walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck..."

Tina sighed. "This is _not_ a date. A couple of my friends and my roommate are coming, so it's just a social get-together."

"At a water park. I thought you said it was the beach."

Tina nodded. "You weren't listening. I said Bikini Beach. You've been so down since you got the notice that you need a relaxing day."

Hal eyed her suspiciously. "This doesn't have anything to do with that fact that today is supposed to be my day with Mikey, does it?"

Tina winced. Hal had seen right through her plan.

"I really appreciate it, Tina," Hal said softly. "But I can't."

"Because I'd be paying?" Tina reached into her purse. "Technically, I wouldn't." She handed a small piece of paper to Hal.

"A two-for-one coupon?" Hal glanced at Tina. "But you're paying for the first ticket, so that means ..."

"Look, Hal," Tina said sternly, "I've been thinking about a membership at this park for a while now. I was going to come to check it out. This coupon lets you come along for free, and maybe will help take your mind off ..."

Hal threw up his hands. "I give up. You've thought this through, and I can't win."

**********

Hal closed the locker and pocketed the key. Remembering the admonition to shower, he stepped into one of the stalls and turned on the water, expecting an icy blast. Instead, the water was pleasantly warm, even tingly. The tiny jets of water seemed to be massaging his body, washing away the tension. He wanted to stay in the relaxing shower for the rest of the day, but Hal knew that Tina and her friends would be waiting for him. Reluctantly, he reached up and turned off the shower.

Hal paused for a second, his hand outstretched for the faucet handle. The movement seemed ... odd. For the briefest moment, Hal thought the handle was actually higher. He shook his head and turned off the water, then tugged the shower curtain open.

As Hal stepped across the cold tile, he thought, again, that his motions didn't quite feel right. Something, and he couldn't quite put his finger on it, was different. He grasped the handle of the door and tugged, surprised at how hard the door opened. Shielding his eyes from the sudden stab of bright midday sun, he stepped out into the water park.

For a moment, Hal regretted leaving his glasses in his locker. While he wasn't 'blind as a bat', so to speak, the glasses did help with his mild nearsightedness. And now, as he adjusted his eyes to the sunlight, he realized he was going to need them to navigate through the park.

Surprisingly, everything seemed sharp and focused. Hal shook his head again, as if to clear the cobwebs, and this time, something wet slapped his shoulders. He frowned and glanced around to see who - or what - had touched him. There was no one, though. Not close enough to touch him, anyway. There was only the girl in front of him.

Hal snapped his head back around toward the girl. His eyes narrowed, then widened as he realized that the girl had no top on. Her breasts were exposed for him to see. Out of politeness, Hal forced himself to avert his gaze from her bare bosom, even though his photographic memory was already studying every minute detail of her body.

The girl was of average height, perhaps five feet five. Wet long dark hair - and fighting to display waves despite the extra weight of the wetness. Dry, her tresses were probably beautifully wavy, Hal surmised. Her eyes were hazel in color, large and radiating warmth. She featured a hint of an Aquiline nose and a slight olive tint to her complexion - perhaps she, like Hal, had some Italian in her ancestry? If so, the bloodline was thicker than Hal's. Her cheeks were nicely defined without appearing fake; in fact, every feature of her face seemed pleasantly moderate. Her lips were thick enough to be seductively inviting without being overly large. Her neck was fine and graceful, her wet hair splayed off her shoulders as if pointing downward to her full breasts. Hal paused on that bit of mental imagery. Her breasts were full. Not petite, nor perky. Full. Round and large and capped by big dark nipples. Her hips were full and round without being fat, and Hal knew that her derriere had to be just as pleasantly shapely. The girl's hips and large breasts combined to offer the illusion that her waist was smaller than was actually the case. Her body was unmistakably feminine in all its curvy glory. Unlike the starving waif look of many models, this girl was more like a Forties pinup girl or bomber nose art.

Hal returned his gaze to the eyes of the girl, and he saw her uncertainty, perhaps even nervousness at being caught topless? He flinched inwardly; this was embarrassing to _him_, even if the girl didn't mind standing around topless. It didn't seem right. Hal glanced away for a few seconds, long enough to give the girl time to retain her modesty. Finally, he glanced back, only to find the girl still there, still staring at him.

And yet, as he turned his head, he felt the slap yet again. Something soft and cool and ... wet ... brushed his shoulders again.

It hit Hal like a thunderclap. He stared wide-eyed at the girl, ignoring the fact that she was staring at him, and realized that he was seeing her clearly, even though his vision should have been a bit blurry.

The girl was surrounded by a thin frame, as if she were a picture. But that was impossible - she was moving. It wasn't a picture, nor a portal in a wall. It was a mirror, Hal suddenly realized. But that was impossible! If it were a mirror, where was he? Why did he see this girl and not his own reflection?

"Young lady," a stern voice sounded behind him. Hal turned to see a matronly older woman approaching him. "I do _not_ allow topless sunbathing in my park!"

Something in her tone and expression made Hal believe she was talking to him. And even though it was impossible, Hal understood. Somehow, against all known reason, Hal was the girl in the mirror, the girl this old woman was talking to. He glanced down to see the breasts protruding from his chest. A gasp, a soft, very feminine sound, escaped his lips as he absorbed the truth. His hands lifted to touch the impossible orbs on his chest, and when he saw his hands, his arms froze, allowing him to gaze at the fine delicate hands of a woman - now impossibly his!

"Young lady, are you listening to me?"

Hal's trance was shattered by the sharp rebuke. He looked up at the old woman, realizing that, despite her relatively short stature, he was now looking eye-to-eye with her. "Er...."

The old woman reached out her hand toward Hal, and as he watched, seemingly in slow motion, a bikini top appeared. Hal wanted desperately to believe it was an illusion, a cheap parlor magician's trick, but with the changes he saw and _felt_, he knew otherwise. It was real magic - of the sort that had somehow changed him into a woman. Despite the impossibility, it could only be magic, Hal knew.

"Put this on, please," the old woman said as Hal took the top.

Hal's mind raced, millions of thoughts racing in a mental traffic jam as he tried to sort out the changes. He _should_ be feeling a sense of panic, or so his rational left-half brain was telling him. He definitely should _not_ be easily putting on the bikini bra as if he'd done it all his life, and yet he was. It just didn't make sense.

"Now, I'll bet you're wondering what this is all about," the older woman continued after Hal had put on the bikini top.

Hal nodded slowly. "That's one of the biggest understatements I've ever heard." His eyes widened at the sound coming from his lips; his voice was husky and oh-so-feminine, and without trying, he was speaking with an unmistakable Italian accent.

The woman permitted herself a tiny smile as Hal was surprised yet again. "This park is a haven for women, a refuge from the lustful stares and leers of men. As such, all my patrons are women."

Hal nodded slowly. "Including the men?"

The old woman's eyes widened a bit, then she smiled. "Very good," she complimented Hal. "Most men aren't so quick to accept the reality of magic, nor the change. And with your well-developed sense of logic, it didn't take much to keep you from having a panic attack."

Hal nodded demurely at the compliment. "I've seen a lot of ... strange ... things."

The old woman grinned. "You're being modest, Carina." She watched Hal as she addressed him by that name. "Oh, yes, for the duration of the magic, you're Carina Giovanni. It even says so on your driver's license. You can go check, if you'd like!" She smiled when Hal glanced at the men's locker, then shook his head no. "It wouldn't do to have people running around without identities, you know."

Hal smiled at her words; she apparently had thought of everything. And then, without warning, a terrifying thought hit him. His mouth dropped open, his lip trembling, as he realized that he _had_ to know just how far the changes went. If the world thought he was Carina, then did that mean ...?

"No, Carina," the old woman said reassuringly. "In your case, the change is just local, which means the rest of reality is untouched. Your son Michael is unchanged."

The panic which had suddenly clamped vise-like around Hal's throat eased its grip. "Thank you," he whispered. As he glanced in the old woman's eyes, he _knew_ that she understood just how important Mikey was to Hal.

"You need a rest from your work and the stress of life. So go find your friend and have a pleasant day. Sometime around two tomorrow morning, the magic will wear off and you'll be back to your old self."

"Tina!" Hal gasped. If the change was local, then she would be expecting Hal. How was he going to explain his change to her?

The old woman read his thoughts. "I've already spoken with Tina. She understands the change, so you don't have to worry about how to explain it to her." The old woman gestured toward a building. "In fact, she's over by the gift shop waiting for you."

Hal - Corina - suppressed a tremor of uncertainty, then marched over to the gift shop. He felt his hips swaying, and though the walk felt unfamiliar to his formerly masculine memories, it seemed right to this body. Had the old woman given him feminine skills and instincts to go with the body, he wondered? How much of him _had_ she changed? He recalled the words about not needing too much to suppress his panic, and the ease with which he'd put on the bra - had she altered his mind as well? But, if that were the case, would he even be having these questions? Wouldn't he just be mindlessly accepting, not aware that he'd been changed? Hal took some comfort from the fact that he _could_ remember and question the changes.

Tina was easy to spot; in her bikini top and matching wrap skirt of yellow and red, she stood out like a traffic light. She was glancing around, as if looking for something but not knowing quite what she was searching for.

Corina - Hal marveled at how easily he was thinking of himself as Corina - sauntered up to Tina. "Hi, Tina," he said, still amazed at the sultry sexy voice coming from his lips.

"Hal?" Tina's eyes threatened to bulge from their sockets as she took in Hal's changes. "Is it really you?"

Corina spun like a model to display her body. "Yes, it's me," she answered. Her body moved with a fluid grace that surprised her, despite the light swaying of her unfamiliar breasts.

"Wow!" was all Tina could stammer. "You're ... changed!"

"Jealous?" Corina taunted playfully. She smiled, then grasped Tina's arm. "Just kidding," she said quickly. "Let's go have some fun."

Tina shook her head. "The old woman told me that you were going to be changed. But this!" She whistled. "You're a knockout! And that voice! Is that you doing the accent, or is it part of the package?"

Corina giggled. "It's part of the package." The duo started to walk toward the attractions. Suddenly, Corina giggled again.

"What?" Tina asked, perplexed.

"Can you imagine old man Reynolds turning down a request for a raise from me if I were in _this_ body?"

Tina tilted her head back and roared with laughter. After several seconds, she dabbed the corners of her eyes. "I'd pay to see that," she said through her mirth. After a few more moments, she wiped her eyes again. "But I don't think you'd want to risk it." She caught the baffled look in Corina's eyes. "You don't have the ... training ... to go with that body. You probably want to avoid some ... situations ... until you change back."

**********

"Are you sure about this?" Tina held Corina's arm. The two stood just outside the Coconut Club, a popular local watering hole. "You remember what I said earlier?"

Corina nodded. "I remember," she said slowly. "I _want_ to try this. I want to dance and go out." She caught the warning glance Tina was sending her. "And that's all! Nothing else. Just some dancing and night life."

Tina gave her a wary glance, then she nodded. "Okay," she gave her assent. "But I'll be watching out for you."

Corina smiled. "Thanks. I was hoping you'd help." The duo went into the club.

Instantly, Tina realized that watching out for Corina was going to be a difficult task. Her red knit dress seemed to be spray-painted on, hugging her curves tightly and emphasizing them. The curves of her shapely legs extended down from her short skirt all the way to the high-heeled shoes. Her low-cut neckline, coupled with a push-up bra, displayed and exaggerated Corina's cleavage. With Tina's help, Corina had done a little touch-up to her face. The result was enough to make Tina feel jealous, despite her assurance earlier in the day that she wasn't. It wasn't that Corina had super-model beauty; she quite clearly wasn't in that league. But the makeup and her natural looks gave her a friendly beauty. Sort of a 'girl next door' kind of look, Tina thought. Then she nearly choked as she realized the silliness of her previous thought. More like a friendly 'girl next door' face attached to the kind of body that every guy on the block would be trying to peer through windows to see naked!

And as they walked into the bar, the attention Tina and Corina received proved Tina's prediction accurate. Though she was able to act ladylike, Corina was clearly unfamiliar with being a lady, which meant that she had no built-in alarms about guys and their come-ons. Nor did Corina understand how to send signals to the guys. She didn't understand the limits of her body with regard to drinking, which meant Corina had one too many and was 'feeling no pain'.

**********

"You seemed to have a good time Saturday night."

Hal's head turned at the sound of Tina's voice. "Oh, hi." He glanced back at his computer screen. "Yeah, I guess."

Tina sat against Hal's desk, pinning him in his cubicle and making it harder for him to ignore her. "You guess?" she asked, incredulous. "You guess?"

Hal glanced up at Tina, and his cheeks flushed. "Yeah, I guess."

Tina shook her head, trying hard to avoid laughing. "You had fun. Admit it."

Hal took a deep breath. "Yeah, I had fun."

"Even the contest?"

Hal looked back at his computer. His cheeks were burning red as he attempted to resume his work.

"Come on, Hal," Tina prompted. "Did you enjoy it?"

Hal glanced up. It was obvious that he was embarrassed, almost painfully so. "Okay, so maybe I got carried away a little."

Tina shook her head. "A little?" she asked in disbelief. "You enter a wet T-shirt contest, and that's only a little carried away?"

Hal looked defiant. "Yeah, well fifty bucks is fifty bucks."

Tina backed down. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I wasn't trying to be insulting or anything."

Hal's eyes lost some of the angry fire that had been animating them. "I know," he answered softly. "It's kind of embarrassing, really. I mean, I was a girl. I was _acting_ like a girl." He shook his head.

"Kind of confusing?" Tina prompted.

Hal nodded his agreement. "Yeah. Like part of me was enjoying being a girl."

Tina shook her head slowly. "Look, Hal, this may sound strange to you, but of all the guys I've known, you're probably the least likely to get upset by what happened." She saw the fire return to his eyes, and quickly continued. "And no, it's not because I think you act wimpy or gay or anything." She paused, as if searching for the right words. "You're the most comfortable with your body, with yourself, of anyone I've known. You're secure in who you are. So much so that a little thing like being a girl for a day doesn't rattle your super-macho ego."

"A little thing?" The anger was gone again, extinguished by her subtle if long-winded compliment.

Tina tried to contain her mirth, but ended up sputtering into laughter. "Okay, not so little." Then she held her hands in front of her chest to emphasize the point, and Hal joined her giggling.

After he wiped a tear of laughter from his eye, Hal turned back to his keyboard. "Reynolds said I can get a few hours of OT pay if I need it." He shook his head. "And boy, do I need it."

"The deadline is coming up?"

Hal nodded solemnly. "I've got another week and a half to get caught up. Or no visitation. Ever." The anguish in his voice was unmistakable. "Turns out her mother has some connections, and they've managed to convince the judge that I'm pretty much pond scum."

"You can still take me up on the loan," Tina offered.

Hal shook his head. "I know, but I can't." He stared at the screen.

Tina nodded her understanding. "Too bad you can't win a wet T-shirt contest every night."

Hal glanced up and shook his head. "I'd have to do four or five a night for a week to get caught up. And then two or three to keep current with the payments." He looked back at the pile of work. "There's no way I could turn that into ...." His voice trailed off.

Tina noticed the change in his tone. "Hal?" she asked, getting no response. "Hal?" she asked again, her eyes narrowed and her voice firmer.

Hal seemed to shake himself from a trance. "Oh, it's nothing," he answered quickly.

Too quickly, Tina sensed. There was some thought rattling around in his brain. "Out with it," she insisted.

Hal glanced at Tina. "The only kinds of women who make the kind of money I need quickly are porn stars and prostitutes." He shook his head. "And I'm not going there," he added with a laugh.

**********

"A bunch of us are having a beach cookout tonight. Interested?" Tina peeked around the corner into Hal's cubicle.

Hal glanced up. "Nah, not interested."

Tina watched his expression carefully. "Your other job?"

Hal started, then nodded. "Yeah. Got to try to catch up on the child support. I might not make it, but I've got to try."

Tina nodded. "Well, we'll miss you."

Hal watched as Tina left, then he shut down his computer. Grabbing his lunch sack, he strolled toward the door, glancing around himself frequently. He crossed the parking lot to the little broken down Ford Escort that was his car, and giving one final glance around himself, he started the car and drove off.

Behind him, Tina poked her head up from her car. She watched as Hal drove off, then started her own engine.

**********

Tina glanced around; her discomfort was visible. Still, she'd come this far, so she had to see it through.

"May I help you?" The deep voice seemed to boom above her, nearly startling her.

Tina looked up. "Yes," she managed to squeak. "My friend asked me to meet here."

The burly man at the cash register nodded. "Five dollars cover. Two drink minimum."

Tina nodded, then opened her purse and pulled out a twenty. After getting her change, she stepped toward a pair of ornate wooden doors. She could tell, just from the booming music, that the action was back there. So far, despite her fears, Tina had to admit that this club seemed ... respectable. Not a seedy dump, at least judging from the parking lot and the entrance. It even had valet parking.

It took a second for her eyes to adjust from the light of the foyer to the darkness of the bar room. Dark, that is, except for a couple of bright spotlights and the lights behind the bar counter. As her eyes adjusted, Tina scanned the room.

The patrons were all but ignoring her, which, she decided, was just as well. Tina had never liked the bar scene, and this place confirmed that old sentiment. It was smoky, loud, and generally chaotic, just as Tina had feared. As she became more comfortable with the low light level, she scanned the room again, this time a little more slowly. The chairs looked to have leather upholstery. The tables appeared to be wood, and without the carved abuse one found in a less respectable establishment. Though it was hard to tell, in this light the carpet looked rather new, not worn and stained. Even more surprising to Tina, all the patrons she could see were attired in accordance with the advertised dress code - no jeans, no tennis shoes, and jackets. Still...

Tina spied an empty table and began to thread her way across the floor toward it. Situated where it was, Tina understood why it was empty, unlike most of the other tables that were closer to the 'action'.

After ordering a glass of wine, Tina resumed her search. She was interrupted by a gentleman who appeared beside her table. She glanced up, and instantly read the man's face. "I'm waiting for a friend," she said loudly so she'd be heard over the music. "And no, you may not join me to help me pass the time until my friend arrives." The man nodded, trying to maintain some shred of dignity, and slunk away, thoroughly rebuffed.

As the waitress brought her glass of wine, Tina spied what she was looking for. She whispered a request to the waitress, who nodded and shrugged her shoulders. Whatever the customer wanted....

The girl approached Tina's table, walking with a confidence and sexy gait that nearly floored Tina. "Brandi said you wanted ...." The girl halted, her mouth dropping open in total shock.

Tina glanced at the girl, eyeing her up and down, then she frowned. "Hi, Corina."

"Tina! What are you ... How did you ..." Corina's jaw flapped a few more times as she tried to overcome her total shock.

Tina lightly touched Corina's elbow and guided her. "Sit down," she ordered. Corina, stunned beyond words, complied. "Now, Corina, or Sophia, or Hal, or whatever you want to call yourself, what the hell is going on here?"

Corina swallowed hard. She knew she'd been caught. "It's not what it looks like," she said quickly.

"That's reassuring," Tina said sarcastically.

Corina looked down at the carpet. "I knew you wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

Corina glanced up, then she slowly nodded. "Let's go in back, where we can talk." She stood, and with Tina following , she threaded her way across the floor and to one of the backstage entrances. The loudness of the music lessened considerably as they moved into the dressing room area.

"Okay, out with it." Tina demanded.

Corina shrugged. "I needed to make the money," she answered simply. "You know that."

"By..."

"Stripping. Dancing. Whatever."

"But..."

Corina shook her head. "Look, you were the one who said that I was comfortable enough with myself to not be rattled by a change like this."

"But ... stripping?"

"I need the money." She saw the disapproval on Tina's face. "It's my son. My _son_!" Corina looked down, feeling the weight of Tina's judgment. "You don't understand. He's my son. I'd do anything to be able to keep seeing him."

"Including being a ... cheap slut?" Tina asked sarcastically, her voice practically dripping with the distaste she obviously felt toward women who flaunted their semi-nude bodies for a living.

Corina glanced up, her expression changing to defiance. Her jaw clenched in anger, and her face began to flush crimson. "It's not like that. This place is ... legit." She took a deep breath, working to control her anger. "I'm a dancer, not a hooker. I don't do anything like that. Neither do any of the other girls."

Tina stared at Corina for a few seconds. Then she looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't ... understand. I thought ... I'm sorry."

Corina nodded slowly as she digested the apology and let her anger wane. "Well, it's not what you thought."

A head popped back through the stage door. "Sophia, you're up next." The head vanished.

"Look, I've got to do another set. Can you at least wait until I'm done so we can talk some more?"

"Okay." Tina nodded slowly. They she narrowed her eyes. "Sophia?"

Corina laughed. "Stage name. All the girls have them. It ... helps ... when the guys don't know your real name."

**********

Tina sipped her wine glass, hoping she could stay unobtrusively in the shadows. For the most part, it was working. The guys were all focused on the main stage, or on the other two side stages.

As the music started, the dark-haired dancer sauntered onto stage, her eyes gazing defiantly at the crowd. Slowly, the music seemed to creep into her body, causing minor swaying, until eventually her entire body was moving to the fast rhythm. Her top strained to contain the heaving breasts within, while her tiny skirt barely hid anything, especially with the slit all the way down the right side. The girl seemed to be getting hotter and hotter, and slowly, to the beat of the music, she peeled off her top, revealing a very skimpy bikini bra beneath. It, too, seemed to strain to contain the dancer's large breasts. Slowly, she slid her hands down her sides, pausing to trace the curves of her waist and hips, and all the while swaying to the beat. The audience really couldn't tell when she unclasped her skirt; one minute it was wrapped around her sensuous hips, and the next, she was waving it like a flag of surrender. But for the tiny G-string and the overstressed bra, she was naked. And from the cheering of the crowd, they loved it.

And on went the music, driving the girl wilder with each beat. Slowly, she lowered the straps of her bra over her arms, playing the act for every sensuous second, until finally, her bare breasts leapt free. She tossed the now-empty bra over her shoulder with a defiant look, and her swaying became even more intense. To the beat, she traced the outline of her breasts, savoring every delicious moment and curve. The music seemed to be visibly making the dancer hotter, more desperate in her need, and she pulled herself up against a pole on the stage. Slowly, but with increasing intensity and need, she rubbed herself on the pole, as if it were the only thing in the world which could satisfy her wanton needs.

On and on she went, through the first number, then through a second, pausing frequently in her frantic dance of need to allow a guy to slip a bill into her G-string. She even made an act of that move - the club had rules about how near the patrons could come to the girls, and how much - or little - touching was permitted. The dancer seemed as if she were straining against some invisible force, as if by breaking some unseen bonds, she could hurl herself onto one of the guys and finally receive some satisfaction.

Finally, the music ended, and with a visible reluctance, the girl retrieved her skirt, top, and bra, and left the stage.

**********

"So?"

Tina shrugged. "So ... what?"

Corina laughed. "So you thought I was good, didn't you."

Tina stared, open mouthed, then she laughed. "Like I'm going to admit that one of my co-workers - a _male_ co-worker at that - is a better looking woman, is less inhibited, and is a sexy dancer?"

"That's what I thought."

Tina watched Corina carefully. "You're not telling me the whole story, though. Are you?"

Corina glanced sharply at Tina, then she looked down. The two were sitting at an all-night restaurant, having a very early breakfast of omelets. "No."

"Go on."

Corina looked up, and for the first time, Tina saw something she hadn't seen before. "When I'm up there dancing, I'm scared as hell."

"Why?"

"Why?" Corina's eyes widened. "Why? Because I'm a small, defenseless woman. Because of the way some of those guys act and the things they say. Because the other girls talk a lot about what they do with their boyfriends."

"And?" Tina knew - somehow - that Corina was having a hard time telling the whole truth.

"And I'm afraid ... that someday, I might get to like it too much."

Tina sat, mute, not knowing what to say. This was a powerful admission.

Corina wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "The second night, one of the customers waited outside for me. He ..." Corina looked away, unable to continue.

"He raped you?" Tina's mouth hung open.

Corina glanced back, shaking her head. "No," she said softly. "But he wanted to. I was afraid he was going to."

"So why ...?"

"Mikey," Corina answered sharply. "I'm not going to lose my visitation rights with my son."

"But there has to be some other way."

Corina shook her head. "No. And you know it. We've both tried to think of something, and we both know there isn't anything else." She sipped her coffee. "You know Reynolds found out about my job at the home center." She watched Tina's reaction. "He threatened to fire me if I didn't quit." Corina shook her head. "We both know he can't do that. Not legally, anyway. But ever since I asked him for that raise, he's been pushing. Like he's collecting data in case he ever wants to fire me."

"So you're stuck?"

Corina stared at Tina, then she laughed. "Not really stuck. See, as long as I don't think about that one guy, as long as I don't try to stare past the lights, I'm fine." She took another sip. "I'll be caught up on the support in the next day or two."

"You're doing this every night?" Tina asked, alarmed.

Corina smiled. "The old woman said I couldn't do that for more than a week or two. It has something to do with the changes being hard on my body. If I kept trying, it could cripple me. So no, I'm not doing this every night. More precisely, not after I get caught up on support."

"Then what?"

Corina laughed. "With what I've been making, I can keep my support payments current working one night a week. If I work a second night, I can use the money to pay for night school. A couple of years, with the bachelor's degree I've already got, and I can get a degree in accounting. Then it's the tests to get my CPA, and if that works out, I can quit."

"And you get to see your son."

Corina smiled. "That's the best part. That's the part that makes this all worth while." She glanced at her watch. "Oops, we've got to run." She pried a bill from her purse and set it on the table. "I don't want to be in here when the magic wears off."

FIN