“Isa! Glad suburbia isn’t keeping you away!”
“Not a chance, Neil. Be a doll and do me up?” She turned and he deftly hooked her bustier.
“Thanks. So, is this big table of hens a straight party?”
“Oh yeah. A bunch of ‘em had that Fifty Shades book. One actually asked me if we had a ‘red room of pain.’”
“Neil, you need to get out of the city. What you read on the subway here, you hide on the playground there. Yeah, I believe it. That damn book is the reason most of the other moms I know have Kindles.”
“Go give ‘em what they want, then.”
“So, Christian or Ana?”
She dodged his swat as she ducked out.
The pole was hidden behind a screen. On cue, the music changed, the lights dimmed, and the lights behind her flared. Seduce the pole, seduce the party.
“Look at that! She’s hanging upside down with only her legs!”
Isa knew that voice. Teenie.
“Good call on the book club venue!” Kathie.
“Yeah, too bad Isabelle couldn’t make it,” Jennie said. “Course, this doesn’t seem like her scene.”
Isa began to shimmy up the pole. They would have had the two drink minimum by now, she had on a wig and stage makeup. But the red room was small. She didn’t like her chances.
Screw it. If they know, they know.
She flipped off the pole and stood as the screen rose, flashing her book club and most of the PTA a clear view of her cheeks.
“God, I’d kill to have that ass,” a voice said. Allie or Jamie, she couldn’t tell. Well, put a pole in your house and get on it, she thought. Best workout around.
The music began thumping. The bass pulsated through her body, caressing her from the inside out. Isa felt it vibrate up through her shoes into her hands, weaving its magic. She twined around the pole like jasmine.
“Look at that tattoo!” It was Laurie, squeaking like a mouse. “The snake! There! No, wait, there –”
Isa flipped off the pole and moved to the front of the stage.
“I feel like I’ve seen that tattoo before,” Teenie said. Isa couldn’t see her through the lights. She slid onto her knees, feeling the wood floor bite into her knees through her fishnets.
“Me, too,” a voice added.
Just finish.
“Doesn’t Isabelle have a tattoo like that?” Teenie asked.
“Yes! I wonder if it’s a thing, like in the city,” someone added.
The music ended, then Neil’s voice echoed, “Give a big hand to Isa!!!”
Gasps.
Isa turned and blew kisses toward the dark corners of the room.
So much for book club.
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This is a piece of fiction written for Write on Edge, an online writers’ workshop. This week’s prompt was simply the photo you see at the top of this post. We were given 450 words to let our imaginations take us…well, wherever they might go.
Constructive criticism is welcome!
Cameron says
Hey! Welcome back, and well done! So much for book club, indeed.
Angie says
Thanks, you! Yeah, I figure Isa’s book club days are over. Thanks for the provocative prompt. This was take two. I couldn’t bring myself to publish the first one…but it sure was interesting to write.
barbara @ de rebus says
HA!
Oh man, that is a GREAT response to the prompt. A whole fascinating life conveyed in a scene. HEART.
angela says
What a wonderful take on the prompt (and hello! It’s wonderful to see you around.)
I like the slow reveal, the way she is able to identify each of them as they finally realize who she really is.