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.
*****
"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.
Taegan said, "Dad, I have a friend that started modeling on runways last year. I called and she filled me in on what to expect. The models switch clothes fairly quickly so we're nudish a lot. There's a helper for everything. A swarm of people get us prepared and comfortable so we're relaxed. Big changing room. Rolling racks of clothes. Tables and stools or chairs for makeup. Hair specialists and fitting people.
"We try on the clothes and they make adjustments. They have tape and funny pins for that so they fit our bodies better. It's a very fast process so we just give them our bodies and let them work. When it's time we get the right smile and body shape and go. Back and undressed and set up for the next one. You can come in the set up room but you have to stay out of the way. They have chairs and refreshments. A few buyers, designers, backers, and others. She said it's usually very entertaining and informative to see the models and process."
"Great," I said. "I thought I would be in the audience."
"Oh, you will," she said. "Both. They're both exciting she said and you have to see both. You can move between them whenever you want. Dad, we lose a lot of personal privacy but she says you get used to it and don't care. Try not to be perturbed by anything. A lot of people are going to see me nudish but they've seen a lot and don't care. Cecil will explain the process. She says it can get hectic. Enjoy yourself. It should be fun." Taegan sounded like I might not like something. Cecil comes to mind.
We slept with the connecting doors open. I tried not to snore and I tried to pee softly. I knew what Taegan wore to bed and I was a little mindful before getting to sleep. Well why not. Judy and I make great human beings. It took enough practice but it worked.
We got there three hours before practice time and Taegan took me right in the prep space. It was a circus even that early. I stood off to the side with Taegan and took it all in. Her too. This wasn't photography. There were about fifteen girls, almost all topless with a little loin cloth hanging down in front with a stretch string around the upper hips. Full butt out in the breeze. Most of them had small breasts with perfect nipples. One of them was quite striking. Reminded me a little of Judy. Nice butt. I couldn't see between her legs. I couldn't help looking.
Lots of helpers would get a rack of something on a model and they would flitter all around making notes. No one doing makeup or hair yet. Taegan said, "There's Cecil." I looked and my whole world opened up and the gods descended and the music started. I giggled and looked around and giggled again.
Cecil was about 5ft6 and was standing with a measuring tape hanging around his neck with one arm across his chest holding the elbow of the other one with his wrist up in the air and his hand and fingers bent forward, hanging over like a flamingo. His voice was a little high but steady and clear. He spotted Taegan and swivel hipped over.
"You certainly are a fine specimen," he said looking at me. "You must be the father. Well welcome to the, to the, Taegan, what should we call this? With all this new stuff we're doing we need to come up with a new name for it. We're going to have to think about that."
He looked at me again and said, "I'm going to steal your lovely daughter away and get her started. You'll be able to see her progress. It'll be just delicious. I always get giddy with Taegan. She's so different. I'll come back and tell you all about it after she gets started. Well, I'm Cecil and you're Eliot and we might as well act like we've been bosom buddies for ages. Have some wine and I won't be long."