Fighting Over Pete....

There was this old Greek man who was, at least, in his eighties named Pete. He was a a cook at the Golden Pheasant Restaurant. This place was a "hang-out" for us strippers who danced at the State Burlesk Theater on Tuscawaras Street in Canton, Ohio. I always joked around with him telling everyone that he was my boyfriend.

There was a stripper who, occasionally, worked at the theater that, for some reason I cannot remember, did not like me; and I did not like her. She started, one day, teasing me about Pete. She was so stupid that she could not see that I was only joking about the situation of his being my boyfriend.

I ignored her until she started running Pete down - making fun of him. Pete was a nice person and did not deserve some nut like her saying bad things about him such as how he probably could not even get a "hard on" and more deragotory comments that I cannot remember.

At that point, I decided that I would not give her the satisfaction of even telling her the difference - that he was really not my boyfriend; and I was only joking to have a good time and to make him feel good. Instead, I stood up for him letting the dummy realy thnk that Pete was my boyfriend.

Later on that day I was sitting in the Golden Pheasant talking with Pete and one of the waitresses. This stripper walks in. She starts telling Pete that he should not have anything to do with me because I am such a bitch. I told her to shut up; but she just kept it up.

This prompted me to get out of the booth and walk toward her. I was boiling with anger. She said, "I don't want to fight!" I said, "Well, I do!"

I had her down on the floor and was getting the most of her when the waitress and the cook jumped in. This girl had long, thick blond hair. All three of us women had ahold of it. She screamed, "Let go of my hair!" We would probably still be pulling her hair if Mr. Manos, the owner and Pete had not broke us up.

Mr. Manos hollered at the girl to leave and she was wobbling out the door. But I was not satisfied. I started to go after her again; but Pete stopped me and put me in the booth and sat so I could not get out.

This incident is an example of my stubborn attitude. I would cut off my nose to spite my face. I could have told her the truth; and she would have probably laughed about it and went on. But for some reason, I did not like her and did not want to give her this satisfaction of knowing the truth. Then when she blasphemed a good person like Pete, that mad up my mind not to tell her. I should have ignored her; but many times ignorance is so profound that it cannot be ignored.

Opal, THE OLD STRIPPER: