PART 12: VALERIE

February 2020, Melbourne

Today I had two house inspections to go to and my Chiropractor and Myotherapist appointment, which was a pain without my car. One inspection was in Fitzroy and the other house and my appointment were in Brunswick. So, I guess that kinda worked out well. They were both kinda close to each other.

I haven’t taken a tram anywhere apart from my regular 57 for a very long time. No one dob me in but I can’t remember the last time I touched on, on public transport.

One house was really good! It was a great location and super spacious. The other was super run down, with an agent to go with it. I was the only one inspecting it at that time but he kept telling me he had been here for an hour because so many people wanted to look through it, and I was like “OK, I’ve got two other girls I wanna move in with so I’ll go and take some photos and videos if you don’t mind”.

He followed me everywhere a little too closely, reassuring me the leaks, chips and dirt would be fixed by the time we moved in. The place was a little on the weathered side but as in a great location and really good price. That’s why we decided to inspect it. He kept saying that he would be the best agent I would ever have, and that his tenants never leave because he’s that good. I was like alright dude let me look at this place and take my pictures in peace.

My friend and I applied as a couple because we believe that real estate agents find that a bit more appealing maturity wise, so he asked who would be taking which bedroom. And, being a dancer for 4 years I know how to make up shit on the spot pretty well, so I said that my friend and I are artists so we would use the front room as our room and the back room as our studio, then our other friend will use the middle room. The agent asked what I did for a living and I told him I’m a graphic designer and I strip.

Damn, didn’t his ears perk up. I wrapped it up because I had finished inspecting, so I said “OK thanks for showing me the place, I’ll send these pics to the girls now and if we all like it we will apply this afternoon”. And then he went on about asking where I worked etc, so I was polite and told him. Then he’s like “oh jeez do you mind waiting a second, I’m just busting for the toilet” and kinda did a dance as if he was a pre-schooler that needed to go to the bathroom. He rushed off before I said yes, I wanted to leave but felt rude, you know, obviously if we wanted this house it would be a bit fucked if I had just left, even though I had been trying to wrap up the conversation for about 5 minutes.

He came back and I said again, “OK, if the girls like it we will apply tonight”. Then he asked where I was going and I said down to Brunswick Street to get some film. At this time it was spitting but nothing hectic, and he was like “Just wait, I reckon 3 minutes and the rain will be gone, I’m usually super accurate with this stuff”. And I was like “No, no its ok I have my jacket I’m just gunna go to the tram stop I’ll be fine”. And then he was like “Wait I’ll see how much an Uber will be for you” and asked for the film stores name and got his phone out, and tried to look up to see how much an Uber would be and I was like “Yo it’s OK I can get myself around fine”, then he was like “OK well I’ll show you the tram stop” then and walked me out and around the block to the stop.

A lot of people would see this as helpful behaviour, but to me and probably a lot of sex workers, you could tell that he was trying to get me to stay a bit longer and just wanted to spend some time with me.

Like it isn’t harassment.

Like there wouldn’t be any need to report it to anyone.

Maybe these men are a bit lonely and get excited at the sight of us, who knows. But yeah long story short we didn’t apply for this house.