Worth a thousand words....
This may be the first installment of a serial.
...See the note at the end... It will depend on YOU!
Thanks for reading...all characters are fictitious.
Hope to hear from you!
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"Hey! Glad you came in today!" Katy was always bounding about like she had been sampling the caffeine that she dispensed in the coffee she served at my favorite diner. "I have something I wanted to ask you. But come on in, get settled. I'll be right back!" Everything she said ended in an exclamation point, or so it seemed. I went to my usual booth and sat down. The usual group was here. We would have been here anyway, but having a perky young redhead who made all of us old men wish we were thirty years younger didn't hurt.
I'd barely set down and gotten my paper out when a steaming cup of black coffee was at my place. Despite what most people think of diner coffee, this smelled great, was fresh and tasted wonderful. Something the chains and designer coffee bars couldn't match.
"So. I saw this ad and had questions. And I knew just who to ask!" Katy slid in next to me. I was immediately the object of intense hatred of all the men in the diner. I resisted the urge to stick my tongue out at all of them. She pulled out her phone and pulled up a screen. "Here it is. 'Models wanted. Legs, hose and shoes. Aspiring women's hosiery company. $20/hour. FULLY CLOTHED LAYOUTS (unless model proposes something edgier). For consideration, send...yadda, yadda, yadda." She turned to me and tilted her head. "Think it's legit? I figured you would know if anyone would."
I chuckled. "I'll have to check it out. From the sound of it and the look of you, I'd say it would be quite a match if it is legitimate. Send me that ad so I can dig into it more. And if you need help with the sample pictures to apply, I can recommend a ready volunteer to help!" Now she had me ending sentences with exclamation points. What was next? Hearts to dot my "i's"?
Someone signaled for their check and a couple waved their coffee cups. And from all of them I got a glare that wasn't particularly friendly. The urge to stick out my tongue came back. But I opted for a long swig of coffee and a satisfied "Ah".
-0-
Over the next few days I did check on the advertisement and much to my surprise, it turned out to be a photographer working for a real new hosiery company that wanted fresh models for a new product. I let Katy know it was above board and had a cup of coffee since I was already at the diner. She came by to see if I wanted a refill, and I told her "The answer to that question is always 'Yes'.". She chuckled even though she had heard that many times before from me.
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The coffee and Katy were waiting for me the next time I went to the diner. She seemed even perkier than usual, her red hair in a pony tail waved as she guided me to a booth.
"I got that job! Thank you SO much for the info and checking it out. Best thing is that I can keep working here." She leaned over slightly as I sat down. In a quiet voice she continued. "I do have one more favor to ask. Could you come with me? I mean I trust this guy, but I would just feel better having a friend there."
"Well, I appreciate you considering me a friend. I really do. And sure, I'd be happy to go. Maybe I could be your agent." We both laughed at that comment. Katy turned to serve the other customers and I turned to the steaming coffee before me.
-0-
A couple days later Katy and I headed off to the photo shoot. "Thank you for driving, but that wasn't why I asked you to come along. I could have gotten there. I just wanted company. Kind of a different experience for me." Katy had a sweet voice when she wanted. She could also curse with the best of them. I'd heard it once when she got bumped and dumped a couple of breakfasts.
"My pleasure, Katy. I figure I helped get you into this, so I better follow through. What all do you have in that bag?" I motioned to the duffel she carried with her.
"Oh, just a change of clothes, a towel and some makeup. Just thought I'd be prepared." She set the bag down on the floor. "Didn't realize I was clutching it. I guess I am a little nervous. Do I look okay?"
I glanced over. Her red hair was perfect, her skin was a milky white and flawless. Without makeup, she looked gorgeous. Pink lips, and sparkly eyes. "You look great. Just be you and listen to the photographer. He has done this and you are exactly what he was asking for. A fresh face. And it is fully clothed. I mean, that was the ad."
"Yeah, about that. It also said 'unless model proposes something edgier'. What do you think that meant? I'm thinking less clothes. Maybe more revealing, like lingerie?" Katy sounded a little worried.
"Not sure what it means. But remember, it is your call. Plus, I am there. What do you think? Is that something you might be interested in? You considering something edgier?"
Katy paused. I assumed she was thinking over what I had said. "Well, I might ask. Like you always say, 'I may be on a diet, but it never hurts to look at the menu'. If I did show more, um, you wouldn't say anything, would you? And would you think any, um, less of me?" Her green eyes looked at me.
"What? If you decide that is something you want, go for it. It is your call. I'm here to support. As for thinking less of you, no. Without a doubt, no. As long as you won't think less of me if I look. You are beautiful and I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't look and enjoy it." I felt a tinge of red go to my cheek. I hoped I hadn't crossed a line. But I wanted to be honest. Inside I laughed. "You dirty old man. Here's this gorgeous kid next to you. You'd look all right. You'd get a hard on and jack it off." Inner voices can be downright blunt and cruel at times.
Katy looked straight ahead and smiled. "I'd like that. I think I'd like that very much." We drove the rest of the way with just the radio on. And a smile.
-0-
The studio was more like an addition off the side of the photographers' home. Spacious, well lighted and comfortable with an area for changing behind a screen, a sitting area and the focal point with a screen and umbrella lights. Somewhat sterile, but still comfortable. It just needed a coffee machine.
"Can I get you some water?" The forty something man who greeted us asked as he showed us in. "I'm Philip, the owner and sole employee for PDPhotos. But I am sure you figured that out. You are Katy, and you are...?" Philip's voice trailed off as he ushered us into the studio.
"I'm Bob, a friend of Katy's. Consider me the fun uncle. 'Funcle' for short." That was an inside joke between Katy and I. She never quite knew how to 'fit' me into her life. More than a customer, semi father figure, but more. I always tried to have a joke or a clever comeback for her, so we had settled on 'Funcle'. It worked. I saw her smile a little. "Good, it broke the tension she was feeling" my inside voice said to itself.