Chapter X

Ruth E. had had enough of endless suitors, all of whom were consumed with her magnificence but daunted by her mind. Ruth was a daydreamer. She’d knit obsessively, manning the phone while Mummy Pia channelled for the credulous. Ruth knitted a sweater in a day and pondered the past, sometimes the future. Memories of Mummy Sara transported Ruth sweater by sweater; she saw herself as a germinating seed.“Freesia,” thought Ruth. She sensed she was approaching a place, her destiny, her time much like brother Fe and his writings. Ruth heard the distant bell of brother Mark and his trusty sharpening wheel. The clang-clang signaledround one in the arena of a fertile mind.

In her capacity as hostess, secretary, accountant in service to Mummy palm-reader Pia, Ruth acquired many useful skills. Management. Her gift was public relations. Simple interaction with customers and suppliers (incense, crystal balls, cards of chance) fed Ruth’s calm, social grace. Combining these learned skills, with her lean sensual carriage, Ruth reckoned she might make herself some serious money if she charged the Baseball Bobs of the world a fee to fraternize and adore her body and/or the bodies of other nubile women. By extension, Ruth had dreams of travel, philanthropy, ambitions to better the world. The focus had to be a viable voluminous well-managed operation.

Ruth enjoyed sex; she never saw it as a commodity to be sold like beef butwhy not? Ruth ran her plan by Gailic over lox and bagels at Yitz’s bakery. Gailic laughed loudly at first until she could see and hear that Ruth was quite serious. Gailic was a patient listener. More laughter ensued and finally Ruth closed with,“What say you, gorgeous?”

Gailic batted her lashes in response togorgeous. If one were to seek counsel on matters serious, Gailic far exceeded a palm-reader or a lawyer. Where she absorbed her business acumen is a mystery.“The idea is viable, sound and potentially a goldmine. Aside from the obvious health risks and police harassment, it’s just a case of solid investment, hard work and bribing the necessary irritants. Maybe I can help Ruthful,” giggled Gailic.

The business of prostitution was illegal in Canada in 1964. It flourished in Montréal. Having acquired a reputation for those seeking entertainment, Montréal was already an international destination for lovers of jazz, art, gambling, burlesque and more. Ruth aspired to more. Both Ruth and Gailic knew a few callgirls, so while Gailic continued her studies, Ruth took charge as Mummy Pia had done, except these stakes would be huge. Ruth could juggle.

To obtain a tubal ligation in Québec was almost unheard of except amongst health professionals and bookish women, those who were curious. Gailic was well-informed about women’s health, welfare, liberty and inequality. Ruth discussed her quest to get her tubes tied with Gailic.

It turns out a woman under the age of 25 seeking a legal tubal ligation required written permission from her pastor, priest, barrister/solicitor. She, Ruth may as well have been a child applying for a passport.

Then there were issues of disease to consider. Ruth had no desire to work as a frontline prostitute in her own employment centre. The termMadame was generally accepted, a euphemism for top management person. Ruth’s preferred position was as both owner and manager.