Sometimes a bunch of the girls would invite me to go out with them. I seldom went because I knew what an uproar that would cause at home. I did go at first only a few times and only if it was a bunch of girls.
One night around Thanksgiving, I had gone with three girls. I still didn't drink and I was still a virgin. I don't even know why they wanted me with them. Maybe they thought they could corrupt me because they thought I was too much of a "goody two shoes." Little did they know, I was bad in so many other ways which I won't go into. Maybe I will. I sassed my mother a lot.
It just hit me. I never swore until I went to work here. I'd said shit once in front of the ice cream man back in Kingsbury and I'd been so ashamed, yet while I worked here I learned to swear like a trooper. Those old ladies corrupted me. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
To get back to the story of the night before Thanksgiving. I was drinking regular coke and the gal beside was drinking anything and everything. I was mighty thankful I'd driven myself there because no way was I getting in a car with her behind the wheel. I was supposed to drive her home after we left, however she and a guy she'd never met had other plans.
She really asked me if I minded that she took him home with her or rather he took her to her home. I was in a kind of awe at how loose the morals were of some people. I hadn't been raised to think it was ok to sleep with anyone but your husband. This gal had not only been married but she had a little kid she'd left with a sitter. Here she was taking a strange guy home with her to do the deed while the kid slept.
Needless to say I never went out with her again. In the mean time I was still sitting there at the table nursing my coke and wondering how soon I could leave as the other gals were ignoring me and off with the guys they'd found to entertain them. There was music playing. I idly hummed along.
One of the guys who either owned or ran the place came over and sat down. I was thinking , "oh God, he's gonna hit on me, " but no, he had another idea. Before I could get up and leave he pulled out a microphone and stuck it in front of me and told me to sing. I have no idea where I got the courage but I did.
The place went almost quiet. I was so embarrassed but I kept singing. He was still holding the microphone there. What else could I do? I sang a lot that night. It was about midnight when I went home.
I didn't dare tell a soul. It turned out to be a lot of fun. I was someone else when I sang. I was no longer that shy, ugly girl who didn't fit in anywhere.
I'm sure if our Mom knew she would have taken a strap to me. The next morning at work, I sat down to my glue station as usual. I suddenly heard humming behind me. One of the box guys was there. He had a big smile on his face. It was all over the plant in about ten minutes. How my mom never found out is beyond me.
Before I knew it I was going to that bar about twice a week, usually on weekends. I still didn't drink and I went home alone. But I SANG! The owner even gave me all the tip money I got in a jar when I sang. I was elated. I was also terrified Mom would find out.