"Hurry up Harry!" Gloria called to her ten year old. He was dawdling again, as he usually did. It was time he was off to school, and she wanted the rest of the day to herself. Gloria worked four ten-hour days in at the beginning of the week and had Friday off. Her husband was off to work, and if she could just get Harry out the door, the rest of the day was hers.
"Okay, Mom, I'm so outa here," Harry said as he picked up his lunch money and stuffed it into his pocket. He gave his mother a quick kiss - much like it was going to kill him if he made it much of a kiss at all. The door slammed behind him, as it usually did.
There isn't much point in chastising him, she lamented to herself, he hates school and getting on his case about everything just seems to make it worse. As much as her husband and she had tried to get to the bottom of it, they weren't sure why he hated it so much. Well, at least he was off. He was a good kid, he just didn’t like school. The house seemed suddenly very quiet. "Time to get going," she mumbled to herself.
There were a few errands to run. Friday's were usually interesting days for Gloria. It was her day away from work, and for much of the day, the family. It was her day and her time. She grabbed her purse, the pile of clothes, and headed off for the day. First, there was a trip to the cleaners to drop off a few work clothes. Then her car needed gas. Those were the un-fun ones. After that, things were going to be a little more interesting - a lot more interesting.
The first stop was the cleaners, just a few blocks away. It only took a few minutes to drop the clothes off and get the ticket from the little gun-chewing air head. Alfred wasn’t there, and rarely was that early. He was the owner and gave her a special rate; he would be there later when she returned. After that, she stopped at a gas station and filled her car's tank; a smelly unpleasant job she'd rather not have to do. She missed the days when full service was the norm. It was a lot nicer when some young guy filled the tank. It was also fun to hike her skirt up and have an extra button undone on her blouse. The service attendant would just about clean the windshield and driver’s side widow right off of the car. Oh well, those days were gone.
Next, it was off to her hair appointment with Louis, never Lou or Louie, the completely gay hairdresser - who wasn't. It turned out that was just the impression he gave everyone - especially husbands. Anyway, she knew Louis wasn't gay - well, not completely. She had to wonder if he wasn't a bit of a switch hitter. Anyone who could keep up that much of a gay act had to be doing a few of the boys on the side too. But, he sure knew how to take care of women.
Louis had a few talents beyond hair for a few special customers. There were times when Gloria wondered just how many "special" customers Louis was keeping happy and just how many women he ran through that cozy little back room of his. She wasn't in love with him, so it really didn't matter. She was scheduled in for the "full treatment" today. She knew he was going to make her very happy, and that’s all that mattered.
The sign on the door of the elegant little beauty shop said, "By Appointment Only." She had one; she pressed the little doorbell button and waited.
Gloria heard about this little shop from a friend of hers – one that, well, got around a little – more than a little. “Man shopping” Elaine called it. Elaine told Gloria about Louis – all about him. When Gloria decided to try him, Elaine told her to get her hair done by him a time or two, and then ask for a “full treatment.” It seems that he never did the specials, or the “full treatment,” for just anyone or a first time customer: he had to get to know you a little. And, he had been known to turn a few women down for reasons unknown. The first hair appointment had gone so well that she was hooked on him as a hair dresser if nothing else ever happened. She was getting along famously with him, and it was after the third hair appointment that she worked up the nerve to ask for a “full treatment” the next time. She hated the thought of being rejected, and at the same time, was wet with anticipation. She wasn’t turned down, and it even sounded like Louis had been dying to have her ask. That went so well, it was full treatments every time thereafter. Elaine knew hairdressers – real full service hair dressers!
In just a few seconds, Louis opened the door. Louis never left his customers waiting at the door. There was never anyone there when one of his "special" customers arrived either - at least not that she had ever seen. Louis was the utmost in discrete.
"Hi Gloria," he said when he opened the door. He was dressed in one of his usual gaudy Hawaiian shirts, dark baggy nylon pants with an elastic waistband, and sandals. "So nice to see you again. Let's see, I have you down for the full treatment today," he said consulting his appointment book on an elegant little wood book stand by the door. "This way," he said with a smile. He locked the front door again, and led the way through the small shop and into that unmarked, innocent looking little back room, the room where special customers got the "full treatment."
Once in the room, he closed the very solid six-panel wood door behind them, secluding them from the outside world. His shop was always quiet, so Gloria figured the walls must be well insulated. Inside this room, there was no noise at all. The room was softly lit by two desk lamps, not those glaring overhead florescent lights. It was a small room with dark wood paneling on the walls and heavy rich carpet on the floor. A counter ran along the back wall for Louis’s towels and things, a sink, and the lamps. Above the counter was a long wooden shelf with a small compact stereo on it. In the middle of the room was the massage and treatment table.
Louis turned on the stereo system, pressed CD, and out came some soft, nearly sexy, instrumental music. He was setting the mood as he always did. "There," he said turning back to her, "just slip out of those clothes and I'll take care of you," he said with a sexy grin. They were in a private little place of their own – he had made the world disappear for the time being. No one could see them, no one would hear them, and no one would disturb them.
"I'm counting on it," she said as she removed her blouse. The sexy little black demi bra came off next. She smiled as she noticed her hard nipples. Yes, they knew what was coming.
Louis made a few flattering comments as he kept an eye on her while he got things ready, a warm basin of water, shaving soap, and lots of fluffy white terrycloth towels.