MY WIFE IS A STRIPPER
CHAPTER ONE
Wandering in front of the club with a clerical collar, Pastor Steve felt like all eyes were on him, but at that moment, it didn’t matter to him. His eyes were cold and sharp, shooting lasers at each drunkard, young boy, and girl frolicking with each other as he stepped out of his car and walked up to the club. He had been trying so hard to reach his wife Patricia, but she wasn’t responding, only for his friend to send him a picture of a stripper in a nightclub, telling him it was his wife.
He called his friend again to confirm the location he gave him.
“Hello! Where did you say you saw her again?”
“I saw her at Club 68, man! She was…”
Pastor Steve cut off the call again and charged into the club.
“I am sorry, sir. You’re not allowed in unless you’ve bought your ticket,” a bouncer stopped him.
“I need to see someone in there!” he scolded. “Let me in.”
“Who the hell are you to come in here and just want a free pass?”
“I need to—”
“He’s even wearing a costume. Hahaha, we don’t celebrate Halloween in Africa,” another bouncer mocked him. “Go back home and change unless you want to make a fool of yourself in here.”
“I don’t care what you think, but I need to see my wife!” He struggled to push his way in but was carried and thrown outside.
He picked himself up, dusted off his suit, and took a deep breath. He couldn’t let this go. His wife, Patricia, who had left their home claiming she was going to a night vigil at church, was supposedly inside this den of sin. He needed answers.
Determined, he pulled out his phone and dialed another number.
“Hello, Elder Johnson? It’s Pastor Steve. I need your help.”
“What happened, Pastor? You sound distressed.”
“Patricia… someone sent me a picture of her at Club 68. I need to know if she’s there or if it’s some kind of mistake.”
Elder Johnson hesitated. “Steve, I know this is hard, but are you sure it’s Patricia? Could it be a misunderstanding?”
“I need to see for myself. She told me she was going to church, but I didn’t find anyone in church. Can you meet me at the club? I need someone to help me in.”
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Elder Johnson arrived, his face etched with concern. “Let’s go in together,” Johnson said.
“Those bouncers won’t let me in. They think I’m wearing a costume for Halloween.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll go in and try to reason with them. If she’s in there, we’ll get her out and leave immediately!” He assured the pastor, and they both stormed off.
He approached the entrance again, this time with more resolve. “We’re not here to cause trouble,” Elder Johnson said calmly. “We just need to verify something. Please.”
The bouncers exchanged glances but ultimately shrugged. “Fine. Ten minutes. If you cause a scene, you’re out.”
Inside, the club was a cacophony of neon lights and deafening music. The interior was a maze of bodies, packed like sardines in a can. They all moved foolishly to the rhythm of the music. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of cheap perfume.
Masked strippers paraded on stage, their faces obscured by elaborate, glittering masks. Men hovered around them like leeches, stuffing bills into their scanty outfits. Steve’s eyes darted frantically from one dancer to another, trying to spot Patricia. But with their faces covered, it was nearly impossible to identify anyone.
“I don’t see her,” Elder Johnson said, straining his voice to be heard over the music. “Are you sure she’s here?”
“I’m not sure of anything anymore,” Steve replied, feeling a pang of hopelessness.
They pushed through the crowd, avoiding intoxicated patrons and trying to get a closer look at the dancers. Steve felt his anger growing with each step, the betrayal cutting deeper into his heart. “How could Patricia do this? Was she really here, or was this some cruel prank?” he pondered.
Suddenly, one of the masked strippers caught Steve’s eye. Something about her posture, her movements, seemed familiar. He couldn’t shake the feeling that it might be Patricia.
“Excuse me!” Steve called out, trying to get closer. “Patricia!”
The stripper glanced in his direction, her eyes widening in recognition before she quickly turned away and disappeared behind a curtain.
“That’s her! I know it!” Steve yelled, pushing through the crowd toward the backstage area.
“Wait, Steve!” Elder Johnson grabbed his arm. “You can’t just barge in there.”
But Steve was beyond reasoning. He pushed past the last few people and found himself in a narrow hallway, lined with dressing rooms. He could hear voices and hurried footsteps.
“Patricia!” he shouted again, his voice echoing off the walls.
A door at the end of the hallway creaked open, and a figure emerged, still masked but now wrapped in a robe. She hesitated, then slowly lifted her mask.
Steve’s heart nearly stopped. It was Patricia.
“Steve, please, let me explain,” she began, her voice trembling.
“I don’t understand,” Steve said, his voice breaking. “What are you doing here?”
Patricia looked down, tears streaming down her face. “It’s not what you think. I had no choice. The church… we needed money. I didn’t know how else to get it.”
Steve shook his head, struggling to comprehend. “You lied to me. You betrayed our vows. How could you?”
“I’m so sorry,” Patricia sobbed. “I thought I could handle it. I thought I could keep it a secret. But I never wanted to hurt you.”
Elder Johnson stepped forward, placing a hand on Steve’s shoulder. “Let’s take this outside. We need to talk, but not here.”
Reluctantly, Steve nodded. They made their way out of the club, the neon lights fading behind them. Outside, the night air felt cool and refreshing, a stark contrast to the suffocating atmosphere of the club.
Steve turned to Patricia, his eyes filled with pain. “Why didn’t you come to me? We could have found another way.” He angrily took his car and drove off. “You disgust me!”
Elder Johnson took Patricia home in his car. When they arrived, they didn’t find Pastor Steve at home. They called and called, but to no avail. The next day, Patricia’s phone rang, and she picked up, thinking it was Steve.
“Hello! Honey! Please come home!”
“Hello, ma’am. This is Dr. Stan speaking. Your husband had a ghastly accident last night.”
“Jesus!!!!” She dropped the phone and fainted.
TO BE CONTINUED
© Nita
