This story, as is all stories, isn't written for everyone. If you enjoyed it, thank you very much and you're welcome. If not, thank you for visiting.
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"That it," I said. She nodded yep so I said, "You sure?" She nodded yep so I said, "Ok. We're outta here." I kissed my wife. Taegan hugged her mom, same person, climbed in and we set off for the big city. We're going to Austin. My name is 'big hunky dad' or Eliot as my wife, and sometimes our daughter Taegan, calls me. Mostly Taegan calls me pop. I discourage her from calling me pop so that's why she does.
Taegan fills up the car seat a lot. No, not that much. Not that kind of fill up. She says Cecil says she's bedroom weight. I haven't laid eyes on Cecil yet. She's 'hugging' weight thin. Once you get your arms around her you don't want to let her go. She's a good height, 5ft10. I'm 5ft11 and I can jump over all those fence sections on a running track all lined up like in the Olympics. Well, that's a lie. I trip over my share of the top rims and dive straight down into the hard track. Always hurts. Juvenile behavior for someone my age.
Taegan is 19, almost the big two oh. She's been part time photographed modeling fashion lines for a few years and after her first year in college she was invited to one of those runway shows. She knows all about them, routine and all that. As far as I know you put something on and stomp each foot right in front of the other until you get to the end and you stop and flip around twice and stomp right back. Cecil is her performance boss. Yeaw, I'll bet.
A few weeks ago I was cooking on the grill and Taegan and her mom got two chairs away from the smoke and sat staring at me so I said, "What?"
Judy, my wife, said, "Taegan wants to ask you something."
Taegan said, "Oh mom, could you tell him. You'll do it better."
Judy said, "Ok. Eliot, Taegan has been invited to model a new line of clothes at a fashion show in Austin. She, well we, want you to go along to help her. Travel, restaurants, accommodations, incidentals, helping her get to the right place and while she's there and back home.
"One day traveling, one day for familiarization and instructions, two days modeling, one day back so that's four nights. Accommodations will be paid for. We pay for incidentals. Eats are free if you eat at one of four restaurants they contract with. They supply everything else. Cecil called and said he would really love to have her." Yeaw, I'll bet.
"I can do that," I said. "Go through it again. Slower. More detail." They both swapped off talking and got through it quickly. Looked good although after I said ok Taegan said in a lower quiet voice, 'the second show day is the same place but another designer. Just undies and bed wear'. I held myself back since Judy must have known that. You don't mess with Texas women. Besides, Taegan is grown.
***
Taegan was driving. She didn't worry me driving. She took race car driving at the local paved track. She could handle a police car in tight streets and do skids on the oil and water track and work a crowded field in high speed chases around the track. She didn't worry me driving. Her eyes were always flickering from one mirror to the other. She viewed all of them about every four or five seconds. I counted. All the time talking to me.
We were both in lite shorts and lite tops, floppy worn boat shoes. Whenever she drove she always got in the car and lifted her bottom up and stuck her hand in and pulled her shorts down by the crotch making sure to grab her pants too so she had room. Every time she did that, every single time, I stared at the back of her fingers until she started the car. I got in the habit of stopping at that juncture. She even did that when she was in the passenger side, out of habit. I had to look out of the edge of my eyes. She was busy with the keys when she drove so I could look ok.
She had hair that could hang down her back to about the top of her shoulder blades. Mostly she liked pony tails for every day. Her hair was smooth and loose. Very nice features and great Mona Lisa smiles for modeling and alluring shy eyes. In photos she knew how to turn and tilt her head depending on the clothing and venue. I suppose it's a lot like acting.
We ate on the way. About a six hour trip plus stopping and eating time. Not that tiring and lots of scenery. We got to the hotel and checked in. They had reservations for us so that helped get rid of some anticipation. Two rooms. Taegan lingered and stared at me a little before turning for her room. A bell had her luggage. One rolling suitcase and a case for personal stuff and a big shoulder bag, not heavy. Hard getting yourself weaned.
The room was very nice, modern. Not worn looking. I heard a knock and opened a wall door and there was Taegan. We had connecting rooms. She came in, smiling, and flopped on the bed. I unpacked while we were talking. Her phone rang and she flitted over and talked and came back.
She said. "That was Cecil checking to be sure we got here. He said he was totally bombed under with details and would see us in the morning. He said quote, 'I'm looking forward to meeting your dad'." Yeaw, I'll bet. It was early so we drove around Austin some, ate supper, camped out on some street benches and watched a street band. They were very good.