PROSTITUTE
EVERY DAY WHEN I GOT OFF THE CAR AFTER A TIRING DAY AT THE CLINIC I SAW A GIRL OF ABOUT FIFTEEN READING A BOOK ON THE WEBSITE OF THE PENSION FRONT. SHE LOOKED WITH HER BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES AS I APPROACHED THE FRONT DOOR. CURIOUS ONE DAY I ASKED IF SHE LIKED TO READ.
__ ARE YOU DOCTOR? I SAY 'CAUSE THE WHITE ROBE YOU’RE WEARING.
__ YES. BUT TELL ME. WHAT DO YOU STUDY?
__ I'M IN HIGH SCHOOL. I WANT TO BE A NURSE WHEN I FINISH.
__ DO YOU FIND IT EASIER TO STUDY IN THE PORTAL?
I SAY THIS FROM THE NOISE OF PASSING TRUCKS AND BUSES.
__ I NEED QUIET TO READ.__I SAID.
__ THAT WOULD BE IDEAL. BUT WHEN MY MOTHER HAS CUSTOMERS IN THE ROOM I GO OUT AND I TAKE THE TIME TO STUDY.
__YOUR MOTHER IS PROSTITUTE.
__ I AFFIRM BECAUSE IT WAS OBVIOUS.
__ SEX WORKER SHE LIKES TO BE CALLED. SOME NIGHTS, ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AND SATURDAY UP ARE SO MANY MEN AND I REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO GET INVOLVED. SO I LOOK FOR A LIGHT BULB TO READ.
I DID NOT KNOW TO ADD TO HIS STORY. BE SILENT FOR A FEW SECONDS:
__ YOUR MOTHER DOES NOT THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, WHEN SHE GET OLD. HOW DOES SHE KEEP?
__ SHE PAYS RETIREMENT INSURANCE. SEX WORKERS OF URUGUAY ARE GROUPED "THE ASSOCIATION OF HARLOTS" WHEN THE ACHES AND PAINS HAVE COME A PENSION WHICH NEED TO SURVIVE.
__ AND YOUR MOTHER HAS MANY CUSTOMERS?
__ THIS VARIES. THERE ARE SEVEN A DAY AND THERE ARE DAYS THAT JUST ONE.
__ AND THAT ENOUGH TO LIVE COMFORTABLY?
__ DO NOT THROW BUTTER AT THE CEILING BUT WE PULLING
.
I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MORE TO SAY. I FELT SORRY FOR THE YOUNG TEENAGER, I SAID A MUTTERED GOODBYE AND CROSS THE STREET TO THE WARMTH OF HOME. I THOUGHT THAT SOME WOMEN HAVE A HARD TIME BUT THIS GIRL KEPT SOME CHILDISH NAIVETE AND TOOK HER MOTHER'S WORK NATURALLY. SURELY SHE WOULD BE A GOOD NURSE.
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