Wenceslas

The Saint, the good Duke Wenceslas, looks down upon his children, from his proud horse, spear in hand. Below the boulevard, named in his name as a square, stretches before him. Tourists mill around, holding cameras during the day, from every nation on earth, except the one or two left which refuse to allow their citizens out for fear of losing them in this global playground. And shoppers, worshippers of the new religion in this global land of plenty, into which Czechoslovakia, or the Czech Republic, as it has now become, enjoy the practice of their most modern of pastimes.

By night other breeds come out; Men of many races, paid to promote the clubs and bars on, or just off the long ‘square’, stand on the walkways, accosting unsuspecting and suspecting males with promises of free drinks, good times, saucy hot entertainment, the time of their lives. We are trapped, unsuspecting at first, by the reasonable offers of a promoter. He tells us, in no uncertain terms, we can see cabaret, sexy striptease and have a good time! We can go down to look; we need not stay long. The decision is made for us by other members of our party. We will go in. We had not been expecting this so soon.

We have come into the city for drinks and the excitement of seeing a city buzz, to rub shoulders with the Czechs and their friends from the global village. We have wondered where the Red Light District is. Every West European city must have its Red Light District, but we have seen no evidence of such here until now, in this Boulevard, under the very nose of Wenceslas the Saint, who will come to life one day and ride down his square to redeem his nation. He will wake up and see what his nation has become, but will he like what he sees? What sort of Saint will he be? – the type who patiently saves souls in a heathen world, patient and understanding of his people? Or will he be the kind of leader who is sometimes born to rule, riding down his boulevard on his horse, to flush out and prey upon the scum and harlots, the weak willed and selfish pleasureseekers and the greedy moneymakers, all prostituting themselves on the streets below. In my mind’s eye he pokes with his spear into the carnal dens where excited males observe young female objects of beauty, erotically stripping the minimal clothing from their beautiful flesh, while their beautiful female comrades prise the sometimes extortionate money from their largely male admirers.

Young female – Pretty girl, just into adulthood. She knows she is good looking. The confident guys at school told her she looked good. The shy ones used to look away when they saw her looking back. She had a boyfriend or two, started smoking, wanted a good earning career because she likes money for clothes and everything else a girl wants. She got tired of the course she was on and the part time job. She ended up working here in this bar, as a stripper – a table dancer. She persuades men to pay as much as possible, for a private table dance. She is told she only needs one or two customers and she’s earned her money for the night. They are taught to approach it that way. She sees the customers looking and interested, but why don’t they want her to table dance for them. She is finding it difficult. Why don’t they want to spend their money. Is she attractive enough? She always thought she was. Everybody said she was.

The bar girl looks up to the strippers. She couldn’t do what they do. She doesn’t think she is good looking enough. Maybe she hasn’t got enough self confidence. She is satisfied in her role at present. She comes out to the men and serves their drinks. She isn’t aware yet. She would be good looking enough. Many of them would like to see her up there at the pole – without her clothes!

One girl hasn’t done the pole dancing before in public; she doesn’t look so professional; she keeps laughing at herself, as if she doesn’t believe she’s doing it well. Will she get up there again, or will she try a different career? The best play it serious. They have to believe in themselves and in what they’re doing.

The Pretty girl, the stripper, she starts to hate men. Why won’t they give her the money she wants. Why are they so difficult to persuade. Surely they want beauty. She sees them staring, gawp eyed. They’re happy to come in and look. The girls all take their turn on the stage at the pole. She knows they want to look, but they can’t be persuaded to have her table dance!

The most popular girls do get more table dancing business – the most confident and forward, who are most persuasive in approaching potential clients with their drinks. Also the most beautiful – the blonde gets more business. She befriends the other young strippers – not all of them are nice. Some are competitive.

She becomes distant and mistrustful of men, and competitive with women. None of them gives sex. Only give if you’re being paid extra, and even then never give yourself. Don’t ever give anything away for nothing. She longs sometimes to let go and cuddle the men, kiss them even, but that is strictly not allowed.

Why has her boyfriend dumped her? He used her for sex, but they didn’t talk much anymore. Why did she not seem so warm during sex? Why wouldn’t she even strip for him? Could it be that she is getting bored with sex altogether, or just that they don’t have anything to talk about. She sees him soon after with another beautiful trophy girlfriend.