One Last Strip Tease

Chapter 8: The Changeroom

“She did what?" Candy said incredulously. It was 2 PM and Candy was about to give a makeup lesson to Laurie. Two other women sat in the small changing room behind the stage doing their hair in elaborate styles.

Diamond, the young, gorgeous Asian woman, was rolling her long dyed-red hair into hot rollers. Her exotic blue eyes (contact lenses as they were hazel yesterday) smiled at Laurie, and Laurie smiled back.

A few bar stools down, a lovely petite ombre-brunette that Laurie didn't recognize was making spiral curls with a hot iron. She didn't spare her a glance.

Laurie set down her new makeup kit and small paper bag that held her costume onto the long dressing table. She didn't open them right away. She needed to know why Sindy had played that terrible trick on her this morning.

“Yeah," she continued in a low voice, not wanting the other women in the changing room to overhear. “She made me clean the Mess Hall."

Candy shook her head in disbelief. “Unbelievable! Oh, by the way, that term is really offensive, and only John uses it. We call it anything but that, like a showroom, main room, or dance room…and the only thing we're supposed to keep clean around here is this." She motioned to her scantily clad, fit body. “And that," she said and motioned to Laurie's. “If John made us scrub tables every day, there would definitely be a revolt."

“More like a rash of suicides!" Diamond quipped, her bejeweled, satellite ears picking up their conversation.

A motion caused Laurie's gaze to shift to the ombre-brunette just in time to catch her rolling her darkly made-up eyes. “Speak for yourself!" she huffed.

“Really, Trix," Candy challenged, “you'd be willing to work 24/7 stripping and cleaning?"

Trix faked a yawn and dismissed them with a wave of her glittery hand. “I'll do what it takes to please John," she said in a bored tone.

“Yeah, like that's my goal. So why don't you then?" Diamond laughed, casting Trix a dirty look.

Clean or suicide? Laurie wondered.

“Anyway," Candy began, “if anyone asks you to do anything, ask me first, okay? I won't steer you wrong. Not on purpose anyway!"

“Thanks," Laurie smiled sweetly.

“Ready for your makeup lessons?" Candy asked, inspecting Laurie's features.

She nodded.

First, she pulled back Laurie's strawberry blonde hair with a scrunchie and busily got to work applying her makeup. She explained everything as she did it.

“Pile it on, don't be afraid."

Laurie felt the applicators pulling and tugging her skin. The scent of the makeup was light and pleasant but after a while, it felt heavy and caked on.

“Perfect!" Candy exclaimed, stepping back to gaze with appreciation at her work of art. She moved aside so Laurie had a clear view of herself in the mirror.

Laurie raised her thick, dark, painted brows in disbelief. The glittery peach eyeshadow looked like stickers on her lids, her face was strangely contoured in dramatic shades of red and bronze, and her lips appeared near-double their original size.

“Wow!" was all she could say.

“Now for your hair," Candy said brightly, pulling out the scrunchie and inspecting the soft hair that fell over Laurie's shoulders. “I know, beach waves!" she said with a loud snap of her fingers.

After twirling, teasing, scrunching, and spraying Laurie's shoulder-length hair, she spun Laurie around to face the mirror. “The natural look suits you best."

Laurie didn't recognize the dramatic young woman staring back at her. She looked just like a

stripper. “Wow," was all she could say. She loathed it but didn't want to offend Candy. She'd been so helpful.

Candy's smile was a little flustered. “You hate it. I've been here too long. You get used to it," she prattled, “it's not really attractive but the guys here like it. Anything that makes us look shiny and easy, right?" she ended brightly.

“Right," Laurie agreed, feeling ill. “Are they really grabby?"

“Oh yes!" Karess barged into the changing room and plopped down next to Laurie. Immediately, she began to apply her makeup in wild motions. “You have to be firm with them. Let them know you're not into giving extras. Unless you are." She winked at her.

“Extras?" Laurie asked.

“You know," Diamond teased and pushed her tongue into her inner cheek while motioning in a sideways motion with her opposite fist.

Karess and Diamond laughed hysterically.

Candy rolled her eyes but smiled. She shook her head at Laurie as if to say, “They're not serious."

A handful of other women trickled into the room and the pressure was on to finish getting ready, so they remained silent as they did that.

The outfit chosen for Laurie was a piece of delicate fabric. It was a sequin-covered apricot body suit, with high-cut thighs, a thong, and a plunging neckline. She had to wear the same clear plastic platform seven-inch heels she'd practiced in yesterday.

All dressed, Laurie glanced at the clock on the wall and it read 3:55 PM. She was up in five minutes. She took a deep, steadying breath and turned to Candy. “Best advice?"

“Remember the moves you practiced and don't be scared," Candy reassured, her smile pasted on but her eyes kind.

“Thanks." Laurie tried to suppress her suddenly chattering teeth.

Candy gently squeezed Laurie's trembling hand.