WARNING: This scene contains strong language and racist slurs which might be upsetting for readers
Chapter Two
A Usual Night
There was nothing much different about the city of Chicago on a Friday night.
The City was bustling with late night party-goers as well as people either leaving or starting the night shift.
In a western part of town, a tall muscular black skinned man was standing outside the door of a Strip Club wearing a suit and dark glasses, behind them he scanned the crowds who were going in as well as keeping his eyes focused on who was allowed in and who wasn't as there were some people who had a ban from entering.
So far he hadn't had any problems from anyone entering the club and before long the long line of crowds soon entered through the doors and he leaned against the wall feeling a little bored and stared at the night sky through his dark glasses.
Just then, the sound of a can being kicked across the ground startled him and he looked over to see a man no older than his mid fifties wearing dirty worn clothes and walking over carrying a bag filled with cans, or rather the bag was hooked over his right elbow which was missing his forearm and hand.
The man sighed upon seeing him, he knew the man very well, as he often walked around the city trying to find cans to recycle for a few cents so he could get his next meal.
"Hey Marcus." he said catching the man's attention.
"Milo!" the man smiled to which the bouncer stood up straight "At ease soldier!"
Milo chuckled slightly.
"How have you been?" he asked.
"So, so." Marcus replied "I think I've collected enough cans to fetch me some good cash for a decent meal."
Milo felt a tear form in his eye as he looked at the homeless man before him.
Marcus was not just any tramp down on his luck, but he was a soldier, a veteran who had served in the Iraq War and even in the War for Afghanistan, he had spent years in the army and when he was lost serving he lost most of his right arm when trying to save his fellow soldiers from a grenade that he been thrown at them.
He had been brave to throw it back, but it exploded as he threw it thus loosing his right arm.
Since he had returned from the war, he had found it difficult to get by and due with increasing rent and unable to keep up with the payments, he had lost his home.
Milo had become friendly with him since he had met Marcus not long after he became homeless and found him sheltering between two dumpsters near the Nightclub three nights ago, and noticing the medals he still wore commemorating him for his services in the American Army.
Even though Milo couldn't do much for him, he did try to make things easier for him by giving him some money he could spare so Marcus could eat as well as direct him to the soup kitchens and hostels so he didn't have to beg or spend a night on the streets if it was possible.
"Seems you've doing well!" Milo smiled then fished in his pocket for a $10.00 note "Listen, here's 10 bucks, get yourself fed okay?"
"God bless you Milo." Marcus smiled then sighed sadly "If only more citizens were as kind as you"
Milo cocked his head on one side in question.
"Some Red-Necks in the city decided to kick me about earlier tonight." he said.
"They what?" Milo growled.
Marcus nodded.
"They kicked me and threw rubbish at me." he sighed "They have no idea what I've been through."
Milo lowered his head, he felt so angry that the system had failed Marcus, after everything the man did for his country, he felt that it had been thrown back in his face after he lost his arm and his home not long after he returned.
"What did they look like?" Milo asked "I wonder if they're still in the city? Or they came here?" he tried to recall who had come into the club that night, but so many people came in, he couldn't always remember a face, unless they were a regular, or a photo he had studied of people who had been banned.
Marcus thought for a second.
"They were four of them." he answered "two were sporting red baseball caps of 'Make America Great Again' and dressed in tracksuits, one had a ginger beard, another a skin head."
Milo growled.
"Donald Trump Supporters?" he groaned "I should have known, I get some of those idiots wearing that ridiculous hat!"
Marcus nodded.
"Try not to worry about me." he said "I'll get by." he started to walk off but Milo stopped him.
"If I see those idiots." he said "I'll teach them a lesson!"
"Thanks." Marcus said "I have to say, meeting you does make my life worth it sometimes, despite my situation."
Milo smiled again.
"Don't give up!" he said "Keep going to the shelters and talk to the charities, they will help you, and I'll keep trying to find some more help for you."
"You're too kind." Marcus said before walking off into the city "See you again Friend."
Milo watched him go and leaned back against the wall and stared at the sky.
He hadn't been standing there for long before he felt someone tap him on the shoulder.
"Hey Milo!"
The Bouncer turned around at the sound of his name and he saw a fellow bouncer walking over, this one was a Caucasian man with broad shoulders and thick ginger stubble.
"What's up Harry?" he asked.
"Boss needs you in the main club!" Harry replied "I'll take over from here!"
"Thanks mate!" Milo replied then patting his colleague on the shoulder, he walked inside. He was looking forward to going inside since he could watch the girls dancing as well as keep an eye out for trouble.
He walked up the stairs, taking his glasses off as he did and placing them in his lapel.
As he walked, he thought about Marcus and wondered if he had gone to one of the shelters or found somewhere else to sleep for the night.
He felt so bad for the man, and he wished he could do more for him, especially after he had done so much for America, and now he was just a forgotten hero.
He soon made it to the club where some dance music was playing loudly and the club was filled to almost overflowing with men and some women who were watching girls in skimpy outfits dancing on poles or performing in front of several men who ever so often stuffed dollar bills into their bras, G-strings or garters.
As he entered, Milo stood at the side and watched some men who were being entertained by a tall blonde woman wearing a red bikini set and matching platform heels.
The men were smirking as the woman moved sexily and held her leg up above her head showing her crotch to them then would turn and wiggle her bottom at them which prompted two of them to stuff some dollars in her G-String.
Milo narrowed his eyes as he watched, as he knew some of the men would try and sneak a brief touch and one of the laws in the club was Women where not to be touched.
He had had his share of men who had gone to far and he had to escort them out and warn them to never come back so if something like this were to happen, he was ready.
As the blonde woman finished her dance, she flicked her hair then walked away leaving the men to their drinks, and Milo felt satisfied that nothing happened.
But as he started to relax, he saw a light coming from the corner of his eye which wasn't from one of the disco lights or a flash from the disco ball above his head, nor even the reflection from one of the pole dancing poles.
Frowning he glanced in the direction of the light and he saw four men sitting in the corner watching some women dancing on a nearby pole who were topless apart from some sparkling nipple tassels and thongs with nine inch platform heels.
He raised an eyebrow as he studied them, then saw two of them were wearing those red caps! And one was a skinhead, and the other had a thick ginger beard!
Those men weren't wearing tracksuits but rather more smart wear since this strip club had a dress code, but their facial descriptions matched what Marcus had told him! And that wasn't all! As the ginger bearded man was holding up an Iphone and was videoing the girls!
That was a Club rule broken! When the girls were performing, videos and photography was banned mainly out of respect for the girls.
Milo frowned then reached for a walkie talkie on his suit before speaking into it getting the attention of the owner and any back up just in case.
Taking a breath and striding over, Milo tapped the bearded man on the shoulder making him jump and almost drop his phone.
"What?" the man asked in a disrespectful tone as he turned to look at Milo who glared.
"You know videoing in the club is against the rules!" he said "Delete the video! Now!"
"Says who?" the man asked to which his mates followed suite
"Yeah! Where does it day?"
Milo glanced towards a sign that was on the wall that clearly showed that no photography or video equipment was allowed in the club.
"Can't be any more clearer!" Milo said before grabbing the phone before the man had a chance to lock it and deleted the video off the phone.
"Hey!" the man cried in protest "That's my phone!"
"Rules are rules!" Milo said, his glare never leaving his face "Now I must ask you to leave!"
"And whose gonna make us Nigger?" one of the men wearing a red MAGA cap "You?"
Milo was shocked at the racial slur but he let it run off like water off a ducks back as he had a job to do.
"Look!" he said firmly "You can either leave quietly or I will use force! Do you want to cause a scene?"
"Make us!" the Skinhead sneered "You want to cause a scene? Go ahead!"
Milo glared then he saw three other security guards appear and he smiled within.
"Very well!" he said grabbing the ginger bearded man by the collar then forcing him to stand up, the other men were shocked but before they could protest they too were hauled out of their seats and were dragged towards the door of the club before being dragged to the stairs.
As they were dragged off, luckily the music drowned out their protests yet some people looked up to observe, yet the dancers carried on since they had been used to such incidents and had to continue on despite such interruptions.
Before long, Milo and the other security members dragged them to a side door of the club and threw them outside.
Two of the men stumbled before falling into some rubbish bags yet the other two managed to stay balanced.
"And stay out!" one of the security men called before walking back inside, the others following except Milo who glared.
"You think picking on a homeless man is fun huh?" he asked to which the four men looked shocked then angry
"And you think disrespecting women is fine?" Milo continued "You think that'll make America Great again? That and racism? Well I'm surprised you think such crap!"
"Fuck you!" one of the men shouted "You're not even a true American yourself Negro!"
Milo winced again yet he gripped the door handle.
"And don't let me catch your faces around here again!" he barked "Got it!?" he then slammed the door and made sure it as locked yet he heard voices from the outside.
"You haven't heard the last of this! We'll get you! We'll teach you a lesson you fucking Negro! Your time's coming Chocolate!"
Milo again sucked in a few breaths then waited until there was silence on the other side before walking back to the club.
He was used to such slurs, but they still cut deep, and he had to swallow the lump in his throat.
As he walked back he saw a white man in a smart suit appear.
"Well done Milo." he said "You did great there!"
"Thanks boss!" Milo said with a weak smile.
"You feeling okay?" the Boss asked as he escorted Milo back to the club "I heard what those men said, I almost called the cops."
"Don't worry about it Mate." Milo said "I've heard such things before."
"But it's still disgusting!" the Boss said patting Milo's back "Listen, when your shift ends you can have a free drink on the house and I'm gonna put in an extra bonus for your services tonight!"
That cheered Milo up instantly.
"Thanks Boss!" he said with a smile.
Well, that was a rather rough night, as well as nasty for Milo there, and I guess you're wondering why I've written a chapter focused on Milo and Marcus, well they are important to the story and all will be revealed soon enough!
Stay tuned to find out more!
P.S. I really hate Racists, and I have to admit I felt a bit bad writing such slang, but it is a story, and I can only encourage you readers, that if you witness such behaviour, do something about it, even if it means reporting the incident or showing the victim comfort and support. Also, if you or someone you know suffers from such abuse, reach out to someone you know and trust and don't let the racists get away with it.