Untitled - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge
Untitled - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge
Untitled - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge
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eassuring clinical hardness to match her clear eyes; maybe<br />
even a promise of study and experimentation. She looked<br />
almost rosy, but subdued. The people made the room noisy<br />
with their chatter. His mouth twitched. He wondered if<br />
ancestral spirits were laughing and poking at him. But he<br />
kept his eyes more or less on the blonde client while she<br />
wrapped up her lengthy goodbye. When she finally moved<br />
away Sam turned his body to face Esther, who was<br />
standing near the entrance and not moving anything but<br />
her eyes.<br />
Esther sucked in her breath, holding it for a few seconds<br />
before blowing it out. She felt her hips square themselves<br />
parallel to the ground. She would take another step soon.<br />
But her eyes scanned the tops of the walls, where they<br />
turned into ceiling. That was where she should be, her back<br />
hovering against the wall up there, held by static electricity,<br />
and her head popping through the ceiling. She could float<br />
there and watch for her arm wax customer, Mia Goskins, a<br />
useless girl who had once been on MTV's horrible Singled<br />
Out show, and had ridden a bus from Santa Barbara for the<br />
privilege. And now she's mine, Esther planned. Those stupid,<br />
tired arms would be purged of hair re-growth, and then be<br />
filled with purposefulness. She would see to that. Esther<br />
had never bothered to think about the girl before. She saw<br />
her every month or so, and her attentions remained above<br />
the surface. But her whiskey would dig Esther into the<br />
girl's soul. She would prepare.<br />
Sam backed into a chair and sat. Her marrow must be soft.<br />
He could pull it out.<br />
She smiled at him and took large steps toward her room.<br />
A few feet before him she felt her keys fall from her hands.<br />
Damn it. She could feel him watching her. She didn't know<br />
how to bend down to get her keys. She hadn't planned on<br />
making a mistake. She imagined John the Roadie bending<br />
and lifting important things. How could she compete? She<br />
shakily knelt down. Her keys were there, but she could still<br />
feel Sam watching. Was this his business? She grabbed at<br />
the keys, but they fell from her fingers again. She felt like<br />
warm rubber. Anxiety.<br />
Sam sat and watched her fumble. He watched her pick<br />
up her keys, only to drop them a second later. She did three<br />
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