‘Did someone mention a stripper?’ Suddenly Pippa came alive and grabbed hold of Elle’s arm like an excited child. ‘Did I hear you correctly?’
Elle shook her head in jest. ‘Trust you to start paying attention now.’
‘You didn’t think this was it, did you?’ Eleni said, laughing and pointing towards Pippa. ‘A sophisticated meal followed by cups of coffee and mints?’
‘Well, I did wonder!’
‘I may be pregnant but I’ve not developed baby brain yet!’
‘I knew you wouldn’t let us down, girl. The Full Monty, now that’s more like it!’ Pippa exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
‘I’m not sure if it’s The Full Monty,’ Mim added quickly. ‘More like a local lad trying to earn a few extra quid by taking his kit off.’
‘And if you look outside now, you’ll see our carriage awaits!’ Mim announced.
Everyone sitting at the table turned towards the window and gasped.
‘Only the best for my daughter,’ she said, smiling, and handed her credit card to the waiter. ‘And tonight’s meal is on me!’
One by one, they thanked Mim before quickly finishing off the rest of the wine.
‘Now let’s get this show on the road!’ exclaimed Felicity.
They all grabbed their bags and walked excitedly out of the bistro.
‘This night might not turn out so badly after all,’ Pippa said, smiling as she once again wrestled with her skirt before climbing into the back of the limo.
‘Grab yourself a glass of champers, girls,’ ordered Eleni. ‘And would someone be kind enough to pour me an orange juice?’
ChapterTwenty-Five
The limo pulled up outside the club, where there was already a queue of shrieking, scantily dressed girls with their arms linked, tottering on their heels.
‘They’ll catch their death dressed like that,’ observed Irene.
‘It makes me cold just looking at them,’ added Jenny.
Both women gripped the lapels of their coats tighter.
‘You know you’ve definitely reached the next stage of your life when leaving home without your coat is not an option,’ Elle said, giving a twirl in her coat. There was no way she had any intention of being cold on the way home.
The hen group joined the back of the line and chatted amongst themselves as the queue began to move slowly forward.
‘I can’t believe it’s only going to cost me ten pounds to watch some dishy man get his kit off on a Friday night,’ Pippa marvelled as she rummaged through the loose change in her purse.
‘I’ve happily got to my time of life without ever seeing a strip show,’ admitted Mim, with a twinkle in her eye, ‘but I have to admit I’m a little intrigued.’
Eleni chuckled. ‘I can’t believe I’m actually queuing up with my mother to watch this kind of show!’
Once inside the foyer, they could hear the music blaring from a room at the far end of the club. An unsmiling woman sat behind a dated oak ticket booth, her hair harshly scraped into a bun and secured by a black velvet scrunchie. Electric blue eyeshadow covered her lids and thick red blusher striped her cheeks.
‘Are you sure we aren’t coming to watchRocky Horror?’ Pippa whispered in Elle’s ear.
‘That’s next month,’ replied Elle, nodding to the tatty poster pinned up behind the woman.
‘You must be over eighteen to enter. Prepare for nudity. No touching the act and no photography allowed,’ she intoned as she blew a bubble with her gum and slapped a pink ticket down on the counter. ‘Ten pounds please.’ She held out her bony hand.
Once everyone had paid, they entered the club.
