I’m doing I really start shaking my stuff. I hold the sign over my head and shake it around. I even try to do a twirl thing which at first ends in disaster when I drop it. “Shit!” I try to cover up my error by doing a flapping arm chicken dance thing. Someone honks at me – yep nailed it!
As I bend over to pick up the sign, a car honks and someone yells, “NICE ASS!” I have an overwhelming urge to give them the finger, but somehow I’m thinking that wouldn’t be an acceptable way to advertise the business. I just ignore it and try to twirl it again. I am able to do it easily this time and so I try it again and again. The more I do it, the better I get at it, but then I realize the more I keep twirling it and turning it around, no one can read it. So I tone it down a bit.
I close my eyes and just try to lose myself to the music. I start dancing and even forget where I am until reality smacks me in the face when someone honks again and yells, “How much for a blow job?”
“Fuck off!” is out of my mouth before I even realize it . Luckily the jackass just laughs and drives off when the light turns green.
This is so humiliating. I’m so glad no one has a clue who I am. I pull the iPod out, and take a look at the time. I’m amazed to see that it has already been an hour. It’s great that time went by so fast. That was really easy money when it comes right down to it. A few hours a day of anonymous dancing on a corner, I can handle that and no one even needs to know. I may not even need any other form of exercise.
I’m smiling and feeling pretty good about myself. I’m proud that I didn’t just run away screaming in horror when I realized what the job truly entailed, because I really wanted to. Instead, I gave it a shot – and weird chicken suit aside – that’s something to be proud of. As I walk through the door to the office with a smile on my face, I see that the receptionist is busy helping a client that’s waiting in the lobby. “Would you like anything to drink?”
Before they can answer she turns to me and says, “Oh hey, great job out there, I really liked some of your moves.”
I turn to her completely taking my mask off in the process and start shaking my ass. “Oh yeah? It’s because this is the hottest ass chicken you ever did see!” I laugh and happen to look to the side as I turn my head to really get into my shaking and happen to meet the eyes of the person sitting in the lobby.
“Aspen?”
Oh. My. God. “Wes?” My humiliation is complete.
There is laughter sparkling in his eyes and his smile is enormous . “I really enjoyed some of those moves as well. If only I had known it was you.”
There are no words. None. I thought I was speechless before, I was wrong. So, so wrong. I feel heat from my humiliation color my cheeks. “What are you doing here?” I’m finally able to utter.
“I have an appointment to get my taxes done.”
“Oh. Um, cool.” I give him a brief smile and wave, then turn on my heel and walk to the bathroom to escape, and change my clothes.
“Aspen?” Wes calls and I stop and close my eyes for a moment, bracing myself before I turn back around.
I face him once more and he looks me up and down, a smirk appears on his lips and he says, “Nice tail.”
I whirl around and stalk back to the bathroom, his laughter following me.
I’m relieved that when I leave the bathroom to head out, Wes is nowhere to be found. Mick had some paperwork he left for me to sign and I fill it out quickly before dashing to my car.
As soon as I get home, I waste no time going into my kitchen and reaching for the bottle of wine. I gulp the first glass down like it’s water and then pour a second taking it into the bathroom with me. I feel sticky from my dancing and can’t wait to shower it off.
The semi-cool water feels great on my skin and I imagine it’s also washing off my embarrassment as well. If only it could. I’m really not sure if I can ever
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