Embrace Me by Lisa Samson

and such, through his arms and legs. Even down under his tongue to come out of the bottom of his neck. I literally threw up when I saw him the first time. I—Lizard Woman—went running out of the tent with my hand clapped over my mouth, cheeks flared under the promise of the inevitable. Thank goodness we were at the edge of a wooded area.
    I haven’t watched him since.
    I can’t say anybody’s thrown up upon seeing me, and I am glad for it.
    Our show may be smaller than Grim, but we demolish them in the sparkle factor. We’re a little classier if you want to know the truth. Seems crazy to say, like saying Melanie Griffith is classier than Madonna, but there you go.
    Lella sits on Blaze’s easy chair as I prepare our costumes for tonight’s benefit show, the hand steamer burbling nearby.
    I pull out my gown covered with sequins of various greens laid out in a reptilian, scaly pattern.
    â€œThese are works of art, Valentine,” Lella says. “I just adore those gloves.”
    Full-length green satin evening gloves. “On anybody but Lizard Woman they’d be sexy.”
    â€œOh, now, hush.”
    I turn the dress inside out and run the steamer head over the fabric. Next, Lella’s suit based on Starry Night.
    â€œI think that one’s my favorite,” she says.
    Lella’s suits, sort of swimsuit affairs, are sequined too, and I get really creative on those. One is a rather cubic, geometric number, another winsome and floral. It all depends on my mood when I sit down with my needle and thread. I always design the neckline with great attention to detail in the needle-work, a frame for her beauty. And they’re always in pale, neutral shades—ivory, beige, ecru—to go along with the cocoon theme.
    â€œStarry Night in neutrals. Only you could get away with that, Lella.”
    She smiles, her dark eyes glittering as I steam her costume and hang it next to mine.
    Rick’s new stretch suit is tasteful in black and brown with cream-colored striping down the outside of his arms and legs. It really shows off his configurations.
    â€œYou did a fine job with that one, Valentine.”
    â€œI didn’t want him looking like a girly male figure skater.”
    â€œOh, surely not! Some of those get-ups are downright embarrassing to watch a grown man skate around the ice in.”
    â€œWho do they think they are, Freddie Mercury?”
    â€œWhat are the twins wearing tonight?”
    â€œThe twins are on their own.”
    I wouldn’t risk venturing near enough to take measurements. Especially after last week when they made Lella cry. I’ve started taking their dinner up to their room so they don’t have to distribute their misery amongst the rest of us.
    Lella and I get ready along with the other women in one of the side rooms in the Education Center, which doubles as a school during the week. Judging by the age level of the toys and the height of the tables and chairs, it’s a toddler room.
    I’m ready to perform tonight. Of course I don’t use makeup, other than false eyelashes—green false eyelashes and glittery green eye shadow.
    I apply the final touches of Lella’s makeup, a few stick-on sparkles. “My goodness, Valentine, your hair looks especially beautiful tonight. So lovely and thick. And dark. Did you put a rinse on it?”
    â€œNah. I just tried a new shampoo Rick brought in.”
    â€œIt’s even more gorgeous than usual.”
    â€œWell, when you’re a giant Drano burn, you have to accentuate the positives.”
    â€œIt reminds me of my Aunt Dahlia when she was young. She’d pile her hair up on her head in those big soup can curls.”
    â€œThat’s what I was going for. If Chubby Checkers starting singing The Twist , my hair would dance right along and with all the right moves.”
    â€œOh Val, you’re exactly right. Aunt Dahlia called me this afternoon while you were