Charlotte Jacobs, CJ to her friends, had been working at the Drunken Monkey for about 18 months now. Most days followed a familiar pattern - work till close, get drunk with the other staff till morning and sleep off the hangover till mid day.
Sure it wasn’t the career she had hoped for when she started college but having dropped out in her junior year her options were limited. Besides she got to wear her own clothes, get tattoos and the neighbourhood was cool, well it had been until that new church/cult/whatever they claimed to be opened up next door.
It turned out that they were related to a sorority on the local college campus. CJs friend Mel had been pulled into the building one day and given the sales pitch.
‘It’s really weird’ she told CJ 'I tried to tell them I’m not in school but they insisted the sisterhood was for everyone.’
'Sisterhood? Sounds a bit wacky to me’ CJ laughed 'you sure do get into some stuff Mel’
'Call me Melanie please’ her friend shot back 'anyway they talked me into going back tonight, they said I should bring someone. You fancy coming?’
'Oh no I’m fine thanks Mel, I mean Melanie. All sounds a bit stepford to me!’ CJ tried to joke as her friend began to smile a strange vacant smile.
After yet another night on the vodka shots CJ stumbled into work. She was passing the weird building next door when out of nowhere two girls appeared.
'Hi I’m sister Claire and this is sister Lisa do you have minute to talk? We have seen you about and think you’d really benefit from our sororities support’
Before she could really speak CJ was swept inside the building. And she had to admit what a building. The inside was like something from a 20s novel, grand, shiny and very prim.
'Look thanks for the offer but I need to get to work’ CJ said trying to make her excuses.
'Don’t be silly’ said sister Claire 'you need the tour’
CJ was about to leave when something or rather someone caught her eye. Walking across the far side of the room was, are at least it looked like, but where had the skinny jeans and band tees gone…
'Mel!’ She shouted 'Mel!’
'Sister Melanie is just on her way to morning orientation. You should join her’ sister Lisa chimed in.
'But her clothes! What’s with the Betty Draper impression?’ CJ was growing worried and confused all at the same time.
'Standard sorority attire’ sister Lisa said as she and her companion again swept CJ off after her friend.
The next room was filled with chairs and one big screen. In the screen CJ saw what she thought must be the sorority logo. As about 15 girls all in the same attire began to sit down she was guided to a seat next to have friend.
Her friend turned to her with the same vacant smile as the the two girls that had brought her here. 'Its sister Melanie Charlotte. Please don’t call me that’ she chimed back 'hear watch the video and all will become clear.’
Before she could react the screen sprang into life and a women in her mid 40s appeared.
'Welcome sisters to the sorority. Please watch the video and follow along with the instructions’
4 hours later CJ stumbled out of the sorority building. 'Goodbye sister, come back tomorrow’ sister Melanie shouted at her.
CJ stumbled into work feeling very weird. Her boss was not pleased. 'Jesus CJ where have you been?’ he shouted.
'Call me Charlotte please Tim and I don’t care for your tone. I’m resigning.’ Charlotte shot back. Resigning was the right thing to do. It would give her more time to focus on other things.
The next Charlotte walked to work but before she got there turned into the building next door. Sisters Claire and Lisa were waiting.
'Welcome. We are so glad you returned. Please follow us.’ They said in perfect unison.
Charlotte was led away and into what appeared to be a giant walk in wardrobe. Then back to the room with the big TV. As she entered she felt a smile come across her face.
Weeks past and soon Charlotte and Melanie became full sisters. On graduation the strange women in her 40s presented Charlotte with a pair of gold earrings.
'Here you go my sorority princess’ she said 'you have turned out better than I could have hoped for and as a reward I’m sending you to Maine to start our branch there’
'Thank you ma'am’ sister Charlotte chimed 'serving the sorority is all I want to do’
