“Baby, come to me.”

We are together; his voice intoxicates me, it’s as potent as whiskey. I hold on tightly, but he still departs; leaving me behind. I am Dorothy Kennedy-Denham, heir to Kennedy Electronics. I’ve outlived friends, my children and my love, Nicky. This small house evaporates, and I return to where it began. The lure to remain is powerful, but I have unfinished business.

My family calls this an absence of presence. Their concern begins the process, and they descend on me, it’s decided I should move into a nursing home. Packing my life into boxes, it’s not long before my home is bare. Forgotten photos open the door to a past they never imagined. I won’t apologize; not about the burlesque club or the mobsters I’ve known and loved. They might think my life is unimaginable; my connection with Nicky is unbelievable. But, in the end, I hope they find it inspirational.

“The women exclaimed in unison, “Oh God, its Grandma!”  

The reaction to the discovery that sweet Grandma Dottie had been a burlesque dancer was varied, while Mary was outraged her sister Kim was intrigued. Their daughters were just as separated in their reaction, Josie was amazed when she learned of her Great Grandmother’s past. Maisie, however, could only focus on one thing, how her Great Gran was amazingly brave to have danced nearly nude! As she unveiled her past, Dottie fell backward in time, revisiting where it all begins, and returning to him, Nick Denham; the layoff man for the Brady Organization.

Like the petals of a flower, slowly the story unfolds. Dottie spoke of her teen years when she and her brother were left orphaned after her parents succumbed to influenza.  These were hard times; there were no jobs, no welfare, and no hope.  Determined not to lose the only family she had left; she did the only thing she could.  Dottie quit school and asked a neighbor girl put in a good word for her, at The Honey Bee.  Dottie knew it was a man’s club but the job paid well, and she could be home in the afternoon to help Donny with his schoolwork.  Even as a young woman she recognized the importance of this.  Donny was smart, actually he brilliant.  Due to her commitment to Donny, Dottie is transformed from a girl in her late teens into a young adult overnight.  With each discussion, Dottie revealed a past the family never knew existed.  She took them back in time with her; each accompanied her to the past returning with a deeper understanding and respect.  The present melted away as they learn more about the troupe, Moon Maiden, Whiskey Lil and The Louisville Legs.  They listened with rapt attention as Dottie danced under her stage name; Autumn Storm.  It was a name she had not uttered in decades.  Through it all, Dottie apologized for nothing as her family learns of a band of women that dared to be strong long before it was acceptable.  By design or circumstance, they found themselves at The Bee, and they made the best of it.  Together, they laughed, cried and celebrated anything good that came their way.  These were no ladies; these were women.