Many of my friends and family know that I am a nurse at a leading hospital—always doing the night shift. But such a bluff, however risky or silly, will satisfy a girl’s ego and possibly command better prices. The street, like the rest of the city, runs on escapism, pretenses and appearances. These are important attributes for one to remain sane, and at least succeed in the trade. Most girls in the street are never sure when they will quit, they would rather live in denial with escapist thoughts as “I am doing it to raise money to start a business. I will quit in a month’s time.”

However deep down each one of us knows how impossible this is. Imagine working for over two years with no savings or exit plan. It is an ugly reality, one that would not motivate a girl to come to the street the following day.

Most of us are also good at keeping appearances—those that give a client the impressions such as ‘Okay, I am a prostitute, but it is not like I have nothing else to do or family to go to. If you are not okay with my terms you can bounce!’

A bluff it is but in reality, most girls are cornered when it comes to economic matters. A few have the courage to face their families when cornered about their real jobs. My friends and family know that I am a nurse at a leading hospital—always doing the night shift. But such a bluff, however risky or silly, will satisfy a girl’s ego and possibly command better prices.

Men too, especially the married ones and those coming to the street for the first time, weave a lot of lies to justify their ‘need’ for prostitutes. Excuses such as ‘my wife doesn’t excite me anymore’ or ‘I am doing this for adventure’ or ‘I am just trying to help a girl out’ are in plenty. The latter excuse is one many girls exploit to their advantage. A few weeks back, a man (let’s call him Don), driving a flashy Suzuki slowed down at our corner then zoomed off.

Then came again, almost stopped, but when the girls started rushing towards his car, he sped off. That’s a big hint that a man is a novice, possibly one who has never picked up a prostitute. Such a man will be a little jittery having heard all sort of things said about prostitutes – both positive and negative. Some of the good include ‘prostitutes are daring, and will go all the way to satisfy a man’ while the bad being ‘girls from the street will drug you and steal all your cash. Indeed, some of the girls work in collaboration with the watchmen to steal from clients. Minutes later, Don mastered the courage to stop his car. Like all typical street ‘freshmen’, it took a while before Don picked a particular girl. Actually he didn’t.

He was confused about his next move. In such cases, if any of his car doors is unlocked, the first girl to jump in carries the day. You may not be the man’s favorite but in his state of confusion he will have no option but drive off with you. That is what I did. I could tell the man was uneasy, and so I tried to cheer him up.

“You look great,” I said. He grunted. We drove in silence towards a hotel in Milimani. Before we headed to the room, he murmured something to the guard and one of the waitresses. I imagined he must have warned them not let me out without his permission. Inside the room, he did not make any move, preferring instead to sit in the chair beside his bed. “I don’t plan to steal from you,” I said “I didn’t say that’s what you are planning,” he answered. “You look worried. Let’s get over with this.” “Why do you do this?” he asked. Somehow I was expecting the question. And I knew the trick was to play the damsel in distress. “I have no job, and got to feed and dress,” I said

“Are you sure there is nothing else you could have done? You are a beautiful girl and should not waste yourself out in the streets.” “If I had an alternative, I would take it immediately. Lack of choice,” I said, almost crying. “I am sure there is something better you could have done. This is very risky, what with all the diseases?” “I take care of myself. And death won’t come until it’s your time.” “How much were you to charge me?” he asked. “Two thousand bob,” I responded. He removed his wallet and gave me 2,500 shillings. The extra 500 must have been out of sympathy. We chatted for about half an hour, before he offered to drive me back to town, claiming that he could not bring himself to sleep with me seated there. “Why would you offer cash to a stranger for nothing in return?”

I asked myself. Maybe Don is angelic and truly wanted to help, but I felt that he was a ‘failure’. I was back on the streets, smiling and telling myself that I will quit in the next one month. That was about five months ago.