Harry had done his research and had a list of Gyms in Hove. The first one was near Hove station. Jenny and Harry bought coffees from the stand near the station and walked to the Gym. They almost got soaked from the car wash which operated near the petrol station. Harry remarked that Hove station was on the perimeter of Hove and did not really give the best impression of Hove. Jenny knew that Harry was a Hove snob and identified with Regency Hove rather than west Hove which was more Victorian. Jenny lived in a small 1930s semi-detached house near Hove Park, but had always wanted to live in a large, detached house overlooking Hove Park like Marsha and Bob’s. These were the superior 1930s houses and tended to attract the nouveaux riche.
They had chosen to go to the Gym on a Monday as they reckoned that would be a popular time for a retired person to go. They got there for 10 as Harry had said that most people who had retired rarely got up before 8am and hated rushing. They thought they could hang around outside the gym watching who was coming and going. It was the 3rd of December and even the gym had a small Christmas tree in the reception. Jenny had worn a warm coat and her Ugg boots. Harry was wearing a deer stalker hat and looked a little Dickensian with his long black woollen coat and scarf. An older man emerged, but he could not be described as a bear. Jenny and Harry had agreed on a signal which they would use if they saw someone resembling a bear entering or leaving. Harry would tug on the peak of his deer stalker and Jenny would be the one to engage the person in a conversation. Jenny had worked out a sort of script for approaching the person. She didn’t want to sound too scripted though. There were slim pickings that morning. A rather rotund man emerged who somewhat resembled a garden Gnome. He was stocky but did not look fit enough. After a rather disappointing hour of hovering and drawing the attention of the manager who asked them why they were loitering outside, Harry and Jenny decided to walk to the next place on their list.
The second Gym was in Blatchington Road. It was part of a chain. Harry turned his nose up at the venue. He felt this road which had two female funeral directors was the pits. He said it represented all that was wrong about this part of Hove. Jenny ignored him. There was a homeless man sitting outside the Co op and Jenny went off to buy him a coffee. As she was walking back to the Gym Harry was frantically trying to gain her attention and was tugging on the peak of his hat and pointing at a man who was walking in Jenny’s direction. Jenny managed to stop the man. Later she wondered if she really should revise her script.
‘Hi, my name is Jenny, you have just come out of the Gym.’
Looking back Jenny had known that he was a nasty piece of work. He was aggressive from the start.
‘Well yes, but I don’t know how you know that.’
‘I am with my business partner who is standing outside the Gym. We are looking for men who are retired and who work out regularly and are very fit, strong and bulky. We might have a part-time business opportunity for you. You look strong and I bet you are able to take care of yourself if anyone tried to assault you.’
‘Is that chap in the Deerstalker hat, your business partner?’
‘Yes.’
‘What sort of business do you two run?’
Jenny paused and knew that what she was about to say would either repel or entice someone. She had to be honest and there really was no other way of describing their business.
‘We run a kinky cleaning company. It is called ‘Jenny Likes Dirt and Harry is Filthy’.’
‘What role do you want me to play in this business?’
‘We are looking for a bodyguard.’
Later Jenny questioned why she was prepared to put herself through any of it. However her desire to strike out on her own and leave Tim was at times overwhelming.
‘What sort of kinky stuff do you engage in Jenny?’
‘Mostly naked cleaning.’
‘Then show us your tits love and I will tell you whether you are worth defending. You don’t strike me as having two pimples on your chest. Your business partner looks like a total wanker. What sort of stuff do you two get up to?
Jenny was shocked and she was surprised because she thought she was unshockable now.
‘We don’t get up to anything.’
‘Is that because he can’t get it up. I would need to check out your fanny too. Is it hairy? I love a very hairy fanny. I would insist on having a test run.’
Jenny decided to walk away from this situation. The potential bear just laughed and called her a small titted, dry pussy, bitch. When she got back to Harry, he looked frustrated with her.
‘What happened there? He was bloody perfect!’
‘Don’t even ask Harry. I work for perverts, but I am not prepared to work with a colleague who is a pervert.’
They both agreed after a further hour of no suitable men, that this Gym was not going to be worth staying at. They walked to Gym number 3 in New Church Road.
Harry said it was in a more acceptable part of Hove but he wished they had gone to the Gym in central Hove first. Standing outside another place and feeling cold and despondent, Jenny questioned why they didn’t just go to an agency which hired out security guards, but Harry reminded her that their work whilst lucrative was sporadic and an agency would charge fees and expect regular shifts. They both spotted the bear at the same time. He looked around 6 foot 1 and was built like the proverbial brick shit house. He was no spring chicken. He was leaving the Gym. Harry tugged on the peak of his deerstalker, but Jenny was already on to it.
‘Excuse me sir, can I have a word with you please.’ Jenny felt that being polite might discourage any vulgarity. The guy looked wary. Jenny was very surprised by his reply.
‘You aren’t trying to sell me something are you?’ This bear had the highest pitch voice that she had ever heard.
‘No I am not trying to sell you anything.’
‘Good because I am broke.’
‘Ah but you are a member of this gym, can’t be cheap.’
‘Well I pay nothing because my GP has referred me here.’
‘Great! Would you like to earn a few bob?’
‘Doing what?’
‘What comes naturally to you. Being a big strong man who can act as a bodyguard for me and my business partner Harry.’
‘What sort of business do you have then?’
‘A naked cleaning company.’
The man laughed like a drain but sounded more like a sort of squeaky toy.
‘I have heard it all now!’
Jenny called Harry over.
‘This is Harry, I am Jenny and what is your name?’
‘Pleased to meet you both, I am Brawn. Brian really but everybody calls me Brawn.’
Jenny stifled a giggle as she thought of him as Brawn Bear.
‘Brawn do you fancy going for a coffee and we can tell you more about our business.’
‘Sure where shall we go?’
‘Let’s go to Baked. The coffees are on me and feel free to have a pastry too.’
Jenny liked Brawn. He was amused by, but not rude about their business. He needed some money and was probably just what they were looking for. She knew he had a back story, but her gut told her that he was basically sound. She would be honest with him about the business. They walked the short distance to Baked. Harry was chatting to Brawn asking him what he used to do for a living and where he lived and how long he had been in Hove. Harry was such a superficial man. She could tell that he was trying to establish that he had higher status than Brawn. Jenny wondered why a lot of men felt the need to play these games. She knew some women who were no better, but for women status could also be about how you looked and what you wore. Men like Harry were unable to sniff someone out, they relied on the social clues such as job, car and where someone lived. Harry did wear expensive clothes and his watch was not cheap. Jenny had always known that she was of low status and was aware of when she was being patronised or looked down on. However, she was currently earning good money and Harry was benefiting from her company. Brawn had a twinkle in his eye and he was not wearing a wedding ring. Jenny, Harry and Brawn entered Baked. Jenny chose a table which afforded some privacy. When Brawn removed his coat, Jenny was impressed by his physique, no one would mess with this guy. She took her coat off and noticed that Brawn’s eyes were drawn to her cleavage. She was surprised to feel pleased by his response. Jenny looked at the two men and knew who was the more interesting and intriguing one.