“I’msureshe’llbefine.”
***
AsKarisobbedinthestoreroomshecouldn’thelplookingatherright hand.Sheexpectedatanymomenttoseeanotherblackmarkappearandfor herselftoendupolder,fatter,anduglier.Butwhatdifferencewoulditmake now?ShehadlostVal,probablyforever.
Evenasshestaredatherrighthand,shesawthemarktheredisappear.The skinonthathandturnedpaler,butalsosmoother.Sheheldupherotherhand andsawtheothermarksgonetoo.Alloftheblackmarkshaddisappeared.
Thenshelookeddowntoseeherstomachflatteninguntilhertummywasso firmitfeltlikeiron.Hersaggingbreastsregainedtheirbuoyancy,seemingto growlargerintheprocess.Thebeehiveonherheadcollapsed,wavesofcurly redhairfallingtoalmostherwaist,notastrandofgrayamongstthem.
Shesawaservingtraylyingononeoftheshelvesoverhead.Withaslender handshegrabbedthetray.Itwasn’taperfectmirror,butshecouldclearlysee howbeautifulshehadbecome.Sheopenedhermouthtoseerowsofperfectly straight,whiteteeth.Therewasn’talinecrinklingherforeheadortheskin aroundhereyesormouth.
Asthefinaltouch,herT-shirtbecameapalebluetuxedojacketwithared-and-blue-stripedblousebeneathit.Herskirthadbecomeshorter,almosttothe pointofindecency,whiletherestofherlegswerewrappedinblackfishnet stockings.Shepattedtheblackbowtieatthebaseofherneck.Thiswasn’tthe outfitforawaitress.Wasitanotherdancercostume?Thenaughtyhostess, perhaps?
Therewasataponthedoor.SheexpectedittobeValorperhapsMiss Kilgore.Itwouldn’tbeBruno;hedidn’ttaponanything.SheheardKrisee’s
voicecallhername.“Areyouinthere,Kari?”
Karisaidnothing.Shedidn’twanttohavetoexplaintoKriseewhyshe wascrying,herfreshcoatofmascararunningdownhersmoothcheeks.She heldherbreath,hopingKriseewouldgoaway.Whenshesawthedoorknob turning,Kariheldthetrayuptoscreenherface.
“Kari,whatareyoudoinginhere?”
“Nothing.”
“What’swiththetray?”
“Nothing.”
“Kari—”
“Leavemealone,please.”
Toherdismay,Kriseepluckedthetrayfromherhand.KarisawKriseehad takenupthenursecostumewithitsextremelyshortwhitedressandfishnet stockings.Herunnaturallyorangehairwaspulledbacktohidebeneathherhat.
KriseeadjustedtheshortskirtsoshecouldsquatdownbesideKari.
“What’swrong?Didacustomerdosomethingtoyou?”
“No.”
“Thenwhatisit?Youcantellme.”
“Youwouldn’tunderstand.”
“Oh,Igetit.ThisisaboutVal,right?”
“Howdoyouknowthat?”
“Um,gee,maybebecauseIsawyoutwocomeinhereandhercomeout alone.Doesn’ttakeageniustofigureitout.”Kriseeshiftedintoasitting positionandthenputherarmaroundKari’sshoulders.Sheranahandthrough Kari’scurlyhair.“Youlookreallyprettynow.Whathappenedtoyourblack marks?”
“Idon’tknow.Theywentaway.”
“Youthinkthat’sacoincidence?”
“What?”
“YouandValhavethisspatandthenyourmarksaregone.”
“Idon’tunderstand.”
“Well,letmeputitthisway:onceshegotdoneinhere,shewentsnuggling upwiththeownerofthisplace.”
“Youthinkshegothimtotakemymarksaway?”
“Ithinkthat’sagoodbet.”KriseegaveKari’sshoulderalittleshake.
“Whydoyouthinkshewoulddothat?”
“Becauseshefeelsguilty.”
“Andwhywouldshefeelguilty?”
“Youtellme.”
“Itwassomethingmore.Muchmore.Thenhehadtoruinit.”Afresh roundoftearsstungKari’seyes.“Butmaybeitwasruinedlongbeforethat.”
“Whatdoyoumeanbythat?”
“ShesaidIclungtoherlikealifepreserver,thatIdidn’thavealifeofmy own,thatIwasdependentonherforeverything.”
“Andthat’snottrue?”
“No!Ihadmyownjob,myowninterests.MaybeIdidn’thavealotof friends,butIdidn’tjustsitaroundpiningforher.”
“Whoareyoutryingtoconvince?”
“Me,Iguess.Butyoudon’tknowwhatitwaslikeforme.Iwasnever pretty,notlikethis.Ihadthesereallythickglasses.UntilIwasateenagerIwas really,reallyfat.”Sheheldherarmsoutaboutthirtycentimeterstoeachsidefor emphasis.
“Ibetyouwerestillcute.”
“No—”
Karicouldn’tsayanymore,asshefoundKrisee’slipspressedtohers.Kari struggledagainstitforamoment,butthengavein.Krisee’skisswasn’tas forcefulasVal’shadbeen;itwasfarmoregentle,evensweet.Itseemedfar sweeterakissthanshewouldhaveexpectedfromaveteranstripper.
“I’vebeenwantingtodothatforawhile,”KriseewhisperedinKari’sear aftershepulledherlipsaway.
“Youhave?”
KriseetousledKari’shair.“You’resoadorablyoblivious.Imean,maybe Valdoesn’tappreciateyouanymore,butIdo.”
“Youdo?”
“Yes,dum-dum.You’renotlikeanyoneelsehere.Icouldsenseitwhen youtoddledintothedressingroom,lookinglikeahelplesslittlefawn.”
“YouthinkI’mhelpless?”
“Allright,maybenaivewasmorethewordIwaslookingfor.Thepointis, Icouldseeinyoureyeshowgentleyouwere.You’resomeonewhocares deeply,aren’tyou?”
“Idon’tknow.”
“Youare.Imean,lookhowmuchyoustillcareaboutthatbitchafterwhat shedidtoyou.”
“Youdon’tknowanythingaboutVal.”
“Oh,please,shetalkedaboutyouinthedressingroomallthetime.Imean shedidn’tuseyourname,butonceyougothereitwasprettyfreakingobvious.”
“Whatdidshesayaboutme?”
“Mostlyhowgladshewastobehereandnothavesomeoneclingingall overher.”
“Shewouldn’tsaythat.”
“Whynot?Shesaidittoyou,didn’tshe?”
Karistareddownatthefloor.Shecouldn’treallyfaultKrisee’slogic.She justfoundithardtobelieveValwouldbadmouthhertocompletestrangers.But perhapsshehadbeendoingthatforyears.Inhermind’seyeshecouldseeVal withhermalesoldierfriends,sayinghowshehadtogethometothelittle womanorjokingthatKaricouldn’tfindherpussywithoutValtoshowher.
Therewasonethingthatdidn’tmakesense,though.“Ifyoulikedme,why didyouwaituntilnow?”
“MaybebecauseitwasprettyobvioushowintoValyouwere.”
“Thatmakessense.”
KriseetookKari’shandtohelpheruptoherfeet.Thenshesqueezed Kari’shand.“Youtakeasmuchtimetothinkaboutitasyouwant.I’llbe waiting.Inthemeantime,Makiswaitingforyouatthebar.”
Kriseestartedtogo,butKariyankedherback.ThistimeshekissedKrisee onthelipsashardasValusedtokissher.“Hecanwaitalittlelonger,”Kari whispered.Thenshebeganundoingthebuttonsofherblouse.
***
Ofallherjobsattheclubsofar,bartendinghadtobethebestone.
Sometimesthecustomerstriedtogropeher,butitwaseasyenoughforhertoget outoftheirreach.Eveniftheydidsucceed,theycouldn’tdomorethancopa feelofhertits.Theactualmixingofdrinksshehadn’tfounddifficult;as someonetrainedinscienceitwasn’tthatdifficulttounderstandthechemical balanceforagoodmartiniorginandtonic.
Thehardestpartwaslisteningtothechitchatofthepatrons.Thosenot gapingatthestageortryingtogrop
eawaitressusuallywantedasympathetic ear.Asthebartender,theyexpectedthosetobeherears.Shelistenedtothem whineabouttheirwivesorgirlfriendsorjobsorwhatever,gruntingaresponseat theappropriatetimeuntilitcametimetoaskthemforarefill.Afewofthe moresuaveoneswouldtrytoaskherout,towhichshewouldtrytoanswerwith apolitenegative.Iftheypressed,shewouldsignaltoBrunotoloomoverthem untiltheytookoff.
customergotabittoograbbyandshehadtopunchhim.
Thehighlightofherdaywasalwaysherbreak.SheandKriseehadquickly workeditoutsotheycouldtaketheirbreaksatthesametime.Theywouldend upinthestoreroomorsometimesastallintheladiesroomforaquickie.Italso hadn’ttakenlongforKariandKriseetogettoknoweachother’sbodiesvery well.KriseehadfoundsomeerogenouszonesValhadneverexploredallthe timetheyweretogether.Inturn,KriseehelpedKaritofindhersweetspotsina gentle,patientmanner.
Aftertheirfirstnightinthestoreroom,KarihadgonehomewithKrisee, wheretheyhadsharedthedoublebedinherapartment,entangledineachother’s armsmostofthenightbetweenlovemakingsessions.ThenextdayKarihad movedherfewpossessionsoutofVal’sapartmentandintoKrisee’s.
“Areyousureaboutthis?”Valasked.
“IthinkitwouldbeforthebestifIweren’there.”
“Kari,don’tbelikethat.I’mstillyou’refriend.”
“Sure.”
“WhodoyouthinkgotTaitogetridofyourblackmarks?”
KarisetdownthebagcontainingSnowmaneandherspareclothes.“I knowandthankyoufordoingthat.Ireallydoappreciateit.Ijustthinkweneed sometimeapartto,youknow,letthingssettle.”
Valstaredatheramomentandthensmiled.Sheshookherheadwithfaux-sadness.“IneverthoughtI’dseeyoulikethis.”
“Likewhat?”
“Soindependent.Soballsy.Imean,movinginwithsomeoneyoubarely know?That’snotsomethingMolegirlwoulddo.”
“WellI’mnotMolegirlanymore.Isn’tthatwhatyouwanted?”
“Geez,sofeisty,”Valsaid.ShethrewherarmsaroundKariinahug.“If thingsdon’tworkoutwithher,youcanalwayscomebackhere.”
“Iknow.Thanks.”
WiththatKarihadbegunthenextphaseofherlife.UnlikewithVal,they sharedthecookingduties,aswellasthelaundryandcleaning,notthattheyhad alotoftimeforanyofthat.Mostoftheirtimetheyspentinthecluborinbed witheachother.
Karicouldn’thelpleaningonthecounterofthebarandsighingasshe watchedKriseeuponstage.Shehadneverfeltlikethisbefore.SheandValhad knowneachothersincetheyweretoddlers,sotheyhadfalleninlovewitheach othergradually,oratleastKarihad;maybeValhadneverreallylovedher.With Kriseeitwasdifferent,likeabombexplodinginherheart,spreadingthis warmthofjoyeverywhere.
“Hey,lady,”someonesaid.“Hey!”
“Huh?What?”
“Isaidtogetmeafuckingvodkatonic.Youfuckingdeaforjustretarded?”
“I’msorry,sir.I’llgetthatrightaway.”Asshemixedthedrink,she watchedfromthecornerofhereyeasKriseefinishedherroutine.Inafew minutesitwouldbetimeforthemtogoonbreak.
“Hey,sometimetoday,sugartits,”themangrowled.
Itwastemptingtojustthrowthedrinkinhisface,butshedidn’twanttoget anotherblackmarkthatmightruinherfigureoraddwrinklestoherface.
Despitethepassionintheirrelationship,sheandKriseewerestillatadelicate stageintheircourtship;ifKariturnedintoahag,Kriseemightdecidetolookfor greenerpastures.
Soshesetthedrinkdowninfrontoftheman,whothankedherbyblowing acloudofsmokeinherface.Shequotedhimthepriceforthedrink,butheonly laughed.“Afteryoumademewaitthislong?Keepdreaming,toots.Feellucky Idon’tgetyourfatassfired.”
Shesaidnothingtothis,insteadtakingafewstepsback.Shelookedatthe clockoverhershoulder.Kriseewouldbetakingoffhermakeuprightnowand thencombinghersweatyhair.Themuskyscentofthesweatwouldstillbe trappedinherhairwhentheygotintothestoreroom.Karicouldsmellitnow.
ShehadservedthemanatthebaraseconddrinkbythetimeKriseeshowed upatthebar.SheworealoosepinkT-shirtandalongfloralskirt,nothingatall likewhatsheworeonstage.Herlooseorangehairframedherfaceinaway Karialwaysfoundflattering.
“CanIgetawater?”Kriseesaidascasuallyaspossible.
“Comingrightup.”
“Ohsure,heryouserverightaway.”
Kariignoredthiscommentandpouredsomewaterinaglassbefore droppingacoupleoficecubesin.ShesetthedrinkdowninfrontofKrisee.
ShetriedtolookrelaxedassheleanedoverthecountertogetawhiffofKrisee’s hair.“Here’syourwater,ma’am,”Karisaid,grinning.
“Thankyou,ma’am.”
“Yousmellgood,”Kariwhispered.
“IwishIcouldsaythesameforyou.”Theygiggledinunisonatthis.
Kriseesetherpurseonthebar.“Ibroughtsomethingspecialtoday.”
“Really?Whatisit?”
“You’lljusthavetofindout.”
“Oh,forfuck’ssake,ifyoutwodykesarefinished,canIgetafucking refill?”
“Sure,”Karigrowled.Shewentovertothebottles,splashingsomeliquid intotheglass.Thensheturnedandslammeditdowninfrontoftheman.
“Drinkitandgetlost.”
“Youbetterchecktheattitude,toots,”themansaid.Hereachedintohis pockettotakeoutagoldbadge.“IcantakeyouandyourgirlfriendinanytimeI want.”
“Basedonwhatevidence?”
“Youthinkthey’lltakemywordorthatofacoupleofsluttydykes?”
“Slutty?Whyyou—”
“Isthereaproblemhere,sir?”Taiasked.Karihadneverbeensogladto seehimbefore.Anotherfewsecondsandshewouldhavecrackedthebiggest, heaviestbottleintheplaceoverthecop’shead,whichsurelywouldhavelanded herinprison.
“Oh,nothingmuch.Justyourgirlhere’sbeentoobusyoglingher girlfriendtheretodoherfuckingjob.Yourealizehiringdykesisafelony,bub?”
“Iwouldn’tworryaboutthat,”Taisaid.“Youknowhowyounggirlsliketo experiment.”
KarisawtheringonTai’sfingerwink.Amomentlatertheclubbeganto swellassheshortened.Afterafewsecondsthetopofthebarcameuptoher breasts.Thosebreastsshrunkconsiderably,untiltheywerejustnubs.Herhair shorteneduntilitwasonlytoaboutherjaw,onewaveofitdrapingacrossher forehead.Thehairdarkenedfromtherootsondowntoaburgundy.Hertuxedo jacketdisappearedwhileherblousebecameatanktopthecolorofherhair.Her skirtshortenedandthenhardenedintoblackleather,azipperalongoneside.
Thechangeofherclothesrevealedanevenbiggerdifference.Tattoosof everythingfromgrinningskullstosnakestoadragondrewthemselvesalong Kari’sarmsandcollarbones.Shewassuretherewereevenmorebeneathher blackstockings.Thenshefeltapaininhernose.Whenshetouchedherright nostril,shefeltahoopthere.Shefeltanotherhoopinherlefteyebrow.
Acrossthebar,Kriseeunderwentherownchange.LikeKarisheshrank untilshewasateenager,probablynomorethanfifteen.Herhairturnedfromits unnaturalorangetoanevenmoreunnaturalpinkandthentwisteditselfintoa pairofstubbypigtails.Herfloralskirtturnedtoleatherandshortenedtobarely coverherprivateswhileherT-shirtturnedblackandwascapped
byablack leatherjacket.AswithKari,aringappearedinhernoseandeyebrow.Kariwas sureKriseehadherownsetoftattoosnowtoo;shewouldbeanxioustofindout where.
Taigesturedtothemandthensmiledatthecop.“Thesekidsareharmless.
Theydon’tevenknowwhatthey’redoing.”
ThecopstaredbackatKari.Ifhehadnoticedhowshe’dchanged,he didn’tgiveanysign.“Yeah,sure.ButI’mnotpayingforthesedrinks.”
“That’sperfectlyunderstandable.Wehopeyou’llcomebackandseeus again.”
“Don’tcountonit.”
Afterthecophadsaunteredoff,TaiturnedtoKari.“Thatshouldeliminate anyfuturemisunderstandings.”
“Thankyou,sir,”Karimumbled.
Taicheckedhiswatch.“Ithinkit’stimeforyourbreak.”
“Yes,sir.”Kariroundedthecounter,notsurewhatsheandKriseewould donow.
Kriseeansweredthatquestionbytakingherhand.“Comeon,lover,let’sgo experimentsomemore.”
Karididn’tneedtobetoldtwice.Gigglingliketheteenagerstheywere now,theyranhand-in-handtothebathroom.
Chapter14
Beforeshewentintothedrugstore,KaritookKrisee’sleatherjackettoput onoverhertanktop.Kriseeregardedherforamomentandthennodded.“You rememberwhattoget?”
“Iremember.I’mnotanidiot.Youjustmakesurenopigsshowup.”
“Iknow.”ThenKriseekissedheronthelipsforluck.Itwasn’tadrylittle peckeither,butalong,passionatekisswithKrisee’stonguefindingitsway downintoKari’sthroat.Outofthecornerofhereye,Karisawacoupleoflittle oldladieshurryacrossthestreet.
“I’llbebackinaminute,”Kariwhispered.
Shewentintothestore,tryingtoappearasnonchalantaspossiblewhile remainingvigilant.Thecashieratthefrontcounterwastalkingwithamiddle-agedwoman.Thesodajerkwasdealingwithacoupleofbrattytoddlersand theirmom.Thepharmacistwaslecturinganoldmanfromuponhispedestal.
Karimaintainedhernonchalantwalkasshereachedthejunkfoodaisle.
Shehadtosuppressagiggleassheshovedcandybarsandbagsofchipsintothe pocketsofKrisee’sjacket.Thenshesnatchedacoupleofpacksofgumtokeep inherhandsjustincaseanyoneaskedwhatshewasdoing.