“It wasn’t getting anywhere” Tina shook her defensively looking back at her “you both wanted the last word”

“I had everything under control” she exhaled and looked back at the dinner table that was quickly getting full

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to upset you”

“No I’m sorry baby, you were right” Bette felt bad for Tina apologizing for doing the sensible thing “It’s just that she really annoys me”

“I’ve never seen anyone get to you like this before”

“Not even that pompous asshole Franklin gave me this hard of a time.”

The following week after picking up Angie, Tina headed over to the center to see her old friends and perhaps squeeze in a little sign language lesson from a friend.  Monique, lap dance lady, turned out has a deaf six year old son.  Her mother has custody of the little boy until the state sees her fit enough to raise him.  She used stripping, the only thing that paid well enough, in order to pay her way through night school.  Five years later she graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work.  The money she earned from stripping paid for a luxurious lifestyle and for what ever her son and mother needed.  It also made it difficult for her to walk away from it all, but fear was the main thing holding her back.  It wasn’t until she met and befriended Tina that she summoned the courage to quit the club in order to start building a life for her and her son.  It was through her that she found out that the center was in need of a social worker.  With Tina’s recommendation and connections she was able to get a job with the state.

Tina and Monique spent time catching up on each other’s lives, and even fit it a little sign language lesson.  She told Monique that she will have to bring Bette with her so they could learn together.  “One hour a week is all we need” Monique suggested to her.  Angie enjoyed playing with the other kids even if she couldn’t get around as much as them.  Seeing other children brought the normally shy little girl out of her shell and it made Tina wish they could spend more time here.  She and Angie stopped by Oscar’s office to say goodbye, and he told them that he’d walk them out.