$100            painting

Some say the fee ($100), is rather high for someone my age. But, I assure you, that my job is done with conscience. Yesterday, at about six o’clock, a guy came by. I’d never seen him before. A nice man, wearing glasses and a floppy hat. He told me he was a writer and that he was writing a book about hookers. He asked me if, as a favour, I would tell him my story, for the same amount of time and money it would take us to have sex. "Look", I told him, "my story is a long one and it’ll take me at least twice as long as that to tell it all."

He replied, "Try being concise, as I only have $100."

"Ok, I’ll do my best."

"Well, I was born into a wealthy family, but after mum’s death, my father went bankrupt. So, he gathered the family together, (I have two sisters and a brother), and said, "Get yourselves some work - I can no longer support you, I’m sorry." I took a job as an entreneuse in a club and soon became the boss’s mistress. He loved me and beat me and beat me and loved me. A year later, he was diagnosed with cancer of the liver and died. The club shut down and I had to work the streets, which was a tough experience. But, I needed the money because at that time I was living with a student and gave him many lavish gifts. His name was Mimmo. They called him "The Blond". Actually, one day, the Blond decided to marry and wanted nothing more to do with me. So, I decided to work for myself and started this place, which isn’t bad at all, as you can guess. Now, honestly, I can’t complain. I have a very select and exclusive clientele."

As I was speaking, the writer scribbled in his note pad. But, in the end, his expression was one of dissatisfaction. So, as not to disappoint him, I invented an outrageous story. I told him that my shift usually ended at 11 p.m., because at around midnight, a beautiful lady would appear, engulfed in pale blue light – as light and as blue as the sky. She’d wear a crown of small golden stars on her head and she is the mother of Jesus. That is, the Madonna. I told you, I do my job conscientiously.