Online Read Free Novel
  • Home
  • Romance & Love
  • Fantasy
  • Science Fiction
  • Mystery & Detective
  • Thrillers & Crime
  • Actions & Adventure
  • History & Fiction
  • Horror
  • Western
  • Humor

    Perfect Worlds Omnibus

    Page 9
    Prev Next


      “Val—”

      AfanfareoftrumpetscutKarioff.Loudjazzmusicbegantoplayandan emceeannouncedKriseewastakingthestage.ValpunchedKari’sarmlightly.

      “Yousoooohavetowatchher.Sheisamazingoutthere.”

      Sheopenedherroutinebycartwheelingontothestage,revealingshedidn’t haveanypantiesbeneathherplaidskirt.Karibitdownonherlipasshe watched.Valhadtakenhertoashowlikethisonce.Karihadmadeitthrough thefirstgirlbeforesheranfortheexits.Shefeltanevengreaterneedtorun awaynowassheimaginedherselfuptherelater.Therewasnowayshecould takeoffherclothesinfrontofeventhesefewgawkingstrangers,letalonea packedhouse.

      AsKriseethrustherhipsatthemenbythestageandtheytossedbillsback ather,Valshookherhead.“Allthecheapskatesshowupintheafternoon.You

      havetowaituntillaterforthehighrollers.Butitisgreatpractice.Helpsto keepyouinshape.Plus,everylittlebithelpspaythebills,youknow?”

      “Val,Ican’tdothat,”Karisaid,gesturingtoKriseeonstage,whoatthe momentwasunbuttoningherwhiteblousevery,veryslowly.

      “Whynot?”

      “Youknowwhynot.It’swrong.”

      “Gee,don’tbesuchaprude,Kari.Ifitwerereallywrongtherewouldbea lawagainstit.”

      “Yeah,right,”Karigrumbled.Therewouldn’tbealaw,notwithTai makingthoselaws.“Howcanyouletyourselfgetgropedbyabunchof strangers?”

      “It’snotthatbad.Alltheycandoistouchyourboobies.Anythingelseand theygetthrownout.”

      “Idon’twantanystrangerstotouchmyboobieseither.”

      “Whynot?Lookhowcutetheyare.Notlikethosemosquitobitesyou usedtohave.”

      “Youthoughtmybreastsweresmall?”

      “Justateensybit.”

      “Whydidn’tyousayanything?”

      “Wellit’snotlikeIhadanyroomtocomplain.YourememberhowI lookedbackthen?Thoseawfulfreckles.Andthathair!Ilookedlikesucha tomboybackthen.”

      “So?Whatwaswrongwiththat?”

      “Areyoukidding?Lookatmenow!EverywhereIgo,menstopandlook atme.Theyopendoorsforme.Theyletmecutinline.Theybuymedrinks.

      Noonedidthatbefore.”

      “Sothat’swhyyou’redoingit?Forperks?”

      “Thosearefringebenefits.”Valgesturedtothestage.“Mostnightsthe moneyisreallygood.Alotmorethanyoucanmakebeingasecretary.”

      “Allyouhavetodoiswhoreyourselfouttoabunchofhornyguys,right?”

      “Well,excuuuuseme,MissHighandMighty,butagirl’sgottoeat.And shop.JustyesterdayIsawtheprettiestshoesatMason’s—”

      “Damnit,Val,whyareyouactinglikethis?Whatdidhedotoyou?”

      “Allhedidwasmakemepretty.”

      “There’smoretoitthanthat.You’renotyouanymore.It’slikeyou’rea strangernow.”

      “Well,you’restillajudgmentalbitch.SoIguessthatevensthingsout.”

      Valstoodupandthencrossedherarmsbeneathheramplebreasts.“Breakaleg uptheretonight.I’llbewatching.”

      WiththatValstompedoffbackstageagain.Kariputherheaddownonthe tableandbegantocry.

      ***

      Seveno’clockcamemuchtooquickly.AsMissKilgorehadsaidearlier, theygaveKariarulerandapairoflenslessglassestogowithhernaughty teachercostume.Valwatchedthesepreparationswithasmugsneer,asifshe couldn’twaitforKaritofallonherface.KriseewastheonewhogaveKaritips onwhattodoandnotdo.

      “Don’tdotoomuchforyourfirstshow.Justtrytogoouttherewithout breakingyourneck.”

      “Orthrowingup,”Desireeaddedassheputonhermakeup.“Thatwill definitelygiveyouablackmark.”

      “Ablackmark?”

      “Don’tworryaboutit,”Kriseesaid.“Justgooutthereanddoyourbest.”

      “I’lltry.”

      Karitoddledoutofthedressingroomonherspikeheels.Shetriednotto thinkthattwelvehoursagoshehadbeenametertallandheavierthanshewas now.Allshehadtodowasgooutonstage,undress,shakearoundalittle,and thengoback.ThatwouldshowValshewasn’tjustajudgmentalbitch.

      Sheheldontothislastthoughtassheheardtheemceesayherstagename.

      Shetookadeepbreathtotryandsteadyherself.Itwastimetodothis.

      Sheknewbetterthantodoanycartwheels.Insteadshewalkedoutslowly ontothestage,hereyesdownatherfeettomakesureshedidn’tfall.Evenover themusicblaringfromspeakersbyherears,shecouldhearthewhistlesand catcalls.Withanotherdeepbreath,shetookafewstepsforward,tothecenterof thestage.

      Onlythendidshelookup.AsValhadsaid,therewerealotmorepeoplein theplacenow,probablysincemostofficeshadclosed.Shesawalotofmenstill insuits,somestillevenwearingtheirties.Therewereothersinmorerelaxed clothes.Theyrangedfromtheirlateteenstoafewwhohadtobepushing seventy.Thecommondenominatorwasthewaytheywereallstaringatherwith predatoryeyes.

      KarihadseenthatlookbeforeinTai’sofficewhenhe’dtriedtoseduceher.

      Shehadfoughtagainsthimthenandkeptfightingevenafterhe’dmadehera littlekidandthenaweeperson.Thatwastheotherpartofthereasonhe’dsent herhere,soshewouldhavetofinallysurrenderhervirtue.Lookingaroundthe room,sheimaginedallthosepredatoryeyeswerereallyhiseyes.

      “I’msorry,”Karimumbled.Thenwithtearsinhereyessheranfromthe stage.Shecollapsedintoaheapbackstage,herheadpressedtothewall.She

      supposedthemysteriousBrunowouldbeatherintosubmissionnow.

      InsteaditwasValwhowrappedherarmsaroundKari.SherockedKari backandforthandwhispered,“It’sallright,sweetie.It’sfinenow.”Afterafew minutes,ValhelpedKaritoherfeet.“Comeon,I’lltakeyouhome.”

      WhenKarigottoherfeet,shesawarollofflabbulgingfrombeneaththe hemofherwhiteblouse.Sheputahandtothisrollonlytoseeablackhash markonthebackofherlefthand.“What’sthis?Whathappenedtome?”

      “We’lltalkaboutitathome.Comeon.”

      Chapter11

      Thoughshehadn’tbeenabletoboilwater,Valhadalwayscontributedto thedomesticchoresaroundtheirplacebydoingmostofthecleaning.Thathad beenheridea,asshe’dfoundKari’sstandardsnotuptothoseofmilitary barracks.Whenevershecamebackfromthebase,thesecondthingValwould do—aftermakinglovetoKari—wastotidyuptheirhousefromtoptobottom.

      SoitcameassomewhatofasurprisewhenValopenedthedoortoher apartmentandKarisawtheplacewasapigsty.Therewereclothesand magazinesthrownalloverthelivingroom:onthefloor,thecouch,thecoffee table,andevenabradanglingfromtheceilingfan.Mixedwiththesewere ancientboxesoftakeoutnoodlesandbottlesofsoda.

      “Whathappenedhere?”Kariasked.

      “Oh,I’vebeenmeaningtoclean,butI’vejustbeensoooobusy,you know?”

      “Iguess.”

      ValdidpushsomeoftheclothesandmagazinesfromthecouchsoKari couldsitdown.“Youhungry?Igotsomenoodlesinthefridge.Icanheatthem backupinajiff.”

      “Nothanks.”

      “Well,I’mgoingtoatleastgetabottleofsoda.Youthirsty?Thoselights aresoooohot.SometimesIthinkI’mgoingtodieofheatstrokeupthere.”

      “Justsomewaterwouldbefine.”

      WhileshewaitedforVal,Karistudiedthemarkonthebackofherhand.It appearedtobeinink,likeatattoo.Shehadalreadytriedrubbingitoffonthe wayhere,butithadrefusedtocomeoff.Shesuspectedthatatleastforthe momentitwaspermanent.

      Valsetaglassofwaterdowninfrontofheronthecoffeet
    ableandthensat down.ShemotionedtothemarkonKari’shand.“Ididn’twanttotellyou aboutthat.Ithoughtyou’dfreakoutwhenyoufoundout.”

      “Foundoutwhat?”

      “It’skindofanincentiveprogram.Youdogoodonstageandyougettobe youngerandprettier.”Valtookherhairfromitsponytailandtosseditfor emphasis.“WhenIfirststartedattheclubIwasalmostthirtyandreallypasty andchubbierandmyhairwasshort.Imean,Iwasn’tmuchtolookat.Itwas betterthanbeforebutnotbymuch,youknow?”

      “Youwerealwayspretty,Val.”

      “Notalways.”BeforeKaricouldpressfordetails,Valcontinued,“Sothe

      blackmarksareforifyoudon’tdogoodoutthere.Eachmarkyouget,yougeta littleolderanduglier.Notthatyou’reugly,atleastnotyet.Yougetafewmore ofthoseandyou’llhavetogooutwithabagoveryourhead.”

      “I’drathergetoldanduglythangooutthereagain.”

      “Don’ttalklikethat!Onceyougetfiveblackmarks,yougetdemotedtoa waitress.Andwhenyougetten—”

      Valdidn’tsayanything,soKaripromptedher,“Whathappensthen?”

      “Thenyougetputoutonthestreet.”

      “Wellthat’sfine.It’sbetterthanworkinginthatclub.”

      “No!Youdon’tgetit.Idon’tmeanlikeabumoranything.Imeanasa prostitute.”ValtookKari’shandandgaveitasqueeze.“Iknowyoudon’twant togetnakedforstrangers,butonstageisalotbetterthaninthebackofsome guy’scar,wherehecandoanythingtoyou.”

      “Areyouspeakingfromexperience?”

      “No,butI’veheardthestories.Someofthemevenendup,youknow, dead.”

      Karilookeddownatthefloor.OnceagainTaihadhertrapped.Shewould havetobeawhore,onewayortheother.PerhapsValwasrightthatitwouldbe bettertobeawhoreonstage,inacontrolledenvironment,thanonthestreet, whereanythingcould—andprobablywould—happentoher.

      “Howmanyblackmarksdoyouhave?”sheaskedVal.

      “Noneanymore.IgotacouplewhenIstarted.ThenKriseetoldmethe samethingI’mtellingyou.It’sreallynotabadlifeonceyougetusedtoit.I mean,Iknowmyplaceisn’talottolookat,butit’sbetterthanbeingonthe street,right?”

      “Maybe.”KariturnedtolookValintheeye.“Howdidyougethereto startwith?Whatdidhedotoyou?”

      “Kari—”

      “Please,Val,Ineedtoknow.”

      Valstaredatherforamomentandthensighed.“Allright,hereitis.”

      ***

      Afteryouleft,Ispentafewmoredaysinthatroomasababy.Noone cametochangemydiaperorgivemeanyfoodoranything.Iwasgettingsoooo hungryandstinky.Imean,likeeverythingfromthewaistdownwasgettingall soreandred.IthurteverytimeImoved.Mytummywasrumblingallthetime andmythroatwassoooodryIcouldbarelyswallowanymore.

      ButIwasstillgoingtokeepfighting.MostlybecauseIwasmadatyou.I mean,atthewayyou’djustleftmetheretosuffer.Ithoughtatfirstyou’dcome back,butwhenyoudidn’t,Ifiguredyoumusthavebeggedhimtogobackto

      preschoolorwhatever.Iwasn’tgoingtodothat,though.Iwasgoingtokeep fightingtothebitterend,justlikethey’dtaughtustodoinbootcampandstuff.

      ItfinallygottothepointIcouldn’tkeepmyeyesopen.Icouldn’tmove anymore.Istartedhavingthesehallucinations,hearingvoicesandstuff.Mostly yourvoice.Youkeptsayinghowmuchyoulovedmeandallthatstuffandhow youwantedmetostaywithyou.

      Iwasprobablygoingtodieinafewminuteswhenhefinallycameintoget me.HecarriedmeintothisnurseryandNannyJenewashedmybottomand changedmydiaperandgavemeabottle.Sheputmeinacribforafewhoursto rest.

      WhenIopenedmyeyes,Taiwasbythecrib.HeaskedmeifIwantedto gobackintothestudioornot.IfIapologizedthenhe’dmakemeatoddleragain andIcouldgobacktopreschooltolearntobeagoodgirl.IfIdidn’tI’dgo backtothestudioandhe’dletnaturetakeitscoursethistime.

      Iwasstilltootiredtotalk,soIansweredhimbythrowingupalloverhim.

      HisfacegotsooooredandhelookedsoooomadIthoughtforsurehe’dbreak meinhalfrightthen.Ithinkhewasgoingto,butthenhegotcontrolofhimself.

      Hesmiledatmeandhesaid,“IthinkIhaveabetteridea.”

      ThenextthingIknew,Iwasinthisreallydarkroom.Itriedtomove,butI wasstilltooweak,oratleastthat’swhatIthought.Thensomeoneturnedthe lightonandIsawwhatwasreallygoingon.

      Iwassoooofat!Idon’tmeanlikewhenyouwereakid,either.Imeanlike Iwasonaking-sizebedandItookupthewholethingbymyself.That’swhyI couldn’tmove,becauseIwastoofattomove.ThisguynamedLonncamein withabucketandaspongeonastick.Hesaiditwasalmosttimefortheshow.

      AtfirstIthoughtmaybetheshowwashimgivingmeabath.Ittooka reallylongtimeforthatbecausehehadtogetunderalltheserollsoffat.Itwas sogrossIalmostthrewupagainrightthen.Afterhegotdonewiththebuckethe tookoutsomescissors.Ithoughthewasgoingtocutmyhair,buthestarted cuttingaroundmyneck.

      See,thatwastheotherthing.NotonlywasIafatlady,butIwasabearded fatlady.Itwasn’tashortbeardeither;itwentdowntowherevermyheartwas.

      Itwasreallyfulltoo,justlikeaman’sbeard.

      Anyway,onceLonnwasdone,hekissedmeonthecheekandtoldmeit wastime.Iwantedtoaskforwhatbutthenhepulledthecurtainbythewalland allthislightfloodedtheroom.Icouldn’tseeanythingforaminute.ThenIhear peoplegaspingandlaughingandstuff.MyeyesclearedupenoughandIfinally gotmyheadtoturnalittlesoIcouldseeallthesepeoplegawkingatme.

      AndthenIheardthebarkershoutingforpeopletosteprightupandcome

      seetheWorld’sFattestBeardedLady.That’swhoIwas.Iwasacircusfreak.

      Ithoughtbeingababywasbadenough,butthiswasworse.Imean,people thinkbabiesarecute,eventheuglyones.TheWorld’sFattestBeardedLadyno onethinksiscute.Theyjustlaughatyouandthrowstuff.Somepeoplethrew coins,butmostpeoplejustthrewwhateverfoodtheyhadhandy:popcorn,corn dogs,elephantears,andevenslicesofpizza.Thatwastheact,besidesmejust lyingthere:LonnwouldfeedmeinfrontofthemlikeIwassomekindof animal.Ididn’treallywantto,butIwassoooohungryandreally,whatchoice didIhave?

      Thiswassoooomuchmorehumiliatingthanbeinginthatdancestudiowith adirtydiaper.ImeanIstillhadadirtydiaperbecauseIcouldn’tgetoffthebed tousethebathroom.LonnwouldchangemycatheterandpoopbagonceIfilled itup,soIwasprettymuchlikeababy—areally,reallybigbaby.Imeansoooo bigittookeightbig,strongguystocarrymewhenthecircuslefttown.

      Idon’tmeantomakeLonnsoundlikeabadguybecausehewasn’t.He didn’twanttoembarrassme,buthedidn’thavemuchchoiceeither.Imean,it’s notlikethere’smuchotherworkfortheWorld’sFattestBeardedLady.Inhis ownwayIguesshelovedmeandjustwantedtotakecareofme.

      Iheldoutforlikeamonth.Imeanasbadasitwas,Istilldidn’twantto giveTaithesatisfactionofcavingin.Thenonedayinwhateverlittletownwe werein,thislittlegirlcameupbymycageorpenorwhateveryou’dcallit.She wasarealcutietoowithcurlyredhairthatmademethinkofyou.Andshesaid,

      “Mommy,isthatamonster?”

      IaskedLonnthatlaterthatnight.HesaidofcourseIwasn’tamonster.I wasaniceladyandI’dneverhurtanyone,notevenhim.Hesaiditsonicely thatIwantedtobelievehim,butIcouldn’t.Ikeptseeingthatgirl’sfaceandI gottothinkingthatmaybeithadbeenyou.MaybeyouthoughtIwasa monster.Icouldn’tstandtothinkaboutthat.Iwantedtodie,butIwassobigI couldn’te
    venkillmyselfanymore.I’dhavetoaskLonntodoitandIknewhe wouldn’t.

      Taimusthavesensedwhatwasgoingthroughmymind,becauseassoonas Lonnleftforthenight,heshowedupbesidemybed.Hepokedaroundmyrolls forawhileuntilhefoundbetweenmylegs.Thenhereachedinthereandhe, youknow,touchedme.Hewasn’tallthatgentleaboutiteither,butitfeltreally good.IknowIshouldn’tsaythat,butitdid.Imean,ithadbeensoooolong sinceanyonehaddonethat.

      Thenhetoldmehewassorryaboutthethingshe’ddonetome.He’dreally cometorespectmeovertheselastcoupleofmonths.EventhewayIwasatthe moment,hecouldstillseeabeautifulwomaninside.AndifIwanted,hecould

      bringthatbeautifulwomanoutofme.Hecouldmakemenormalagain,or really,evenbetterthannormal.AllIhadtodowaskisshisringanditwould happen.

      Iseethewayyou’relookingatme,butwhatelsecouldIdo?Iwasafreak, amonster.NomanwouldevertouchmethewayTaihad,exceptmaybeLonn whenhebathedme.Icouldn’tevenkillmyselfifIwantedto.WhatshouldI havedone?

      SoIkissedthering.LikeIsaid,Iwasn’tthisprettyatfirst,butby comparisontotheWorld’sFattestLadyIwasgorgeous.ThenIendedupatthe clubandyouknowtherest.

      ***

      AfterValfinishedherstory,Kariwrappedherinahug.“It’sallright,”she said.“Youdidwhatyouthoughtwasright.”

      “Iknowyouthinklessofmenow.YouthinkI’mweak,butIdon’tcare.

      Noonewasgoingtosaveme.Imean,howlongdidIwaitforsomeoneto rescueus?Noonewascomingandevenyouhadabandonedme.Iwasall alone.WhatelsecouldIdo?”

      “It’sallright,sweetie.I’msoooosorryIabandonedyou,”Karisaid.“I wasweaktoo.Ididn’tevenlastaslongasyoudid.Oncehegotmeinthe nursery,thatwasit,butyouheldoutawholeothermonth.”

      “Soyoudon’thateme?”

      “Ofcoursenot.Iloveyou.”KaritriedtokissVal’slips,butherfiancée turnedaway.“What’swrong?”

     


    Prev Next
Online Read Free Novel Copyright 2016 - 2025