by T. F. Walsh
I scooped Willy up and took the five steps necessary to set him on the lawn. My attention then turned to the Velcro fastening his diaper wrap followed by the diaper tabs. The sodden diaper went into the trashcan at the side of the house.
He bounced his excitement and relief. His front end bounced so hard at times his rear left the ground, too.
“Good boy! Let’s go get a treat.” Mission accomplished, I scooped him back up and headed in to find Raf standing in the middle of the living room.
“Problem?” I asked as I sat Willy on the floor, went to wash my hands and get him a cookie. Willy bounced over to Raf and sniffed his Reeboks while I got the doggie treat then parked my butt on the barstool. “I have got to get these shoes off.”
“What’s he doing?”
“He wants you to pick him up, silly.”
“He does?” Raf sounded shocked at the prospect.
“What are you, a cat person? Ahh!” Finally with the hellish shoes off, I wiggled my aching toes. “Those shoes may have maimed me for life.” I picked them up and turned to Raf. “This whole tanning thing may not be such a great idea. I definitely see drawbacks.”
Raf stared at Willy, who stared right back. He may have been jealous because Raf had bigger fangs. “You should wear a sign,” I groused. “And stop looking at him like that.”
“Well, he’s looking at me!”
“He isn’t going to bite you, and you sure as hell aren’t going to bite him.”
“I don’t do dogs.”
“Willy doesn’t bite people”
“I’m not exactly people.”
“Ya think? You could tell a girl.”
“Connie, I thought you knew. Do you think the boss would put two warm bloods together at night when most of the customers will be vamps? So the dog is cool with us?” His fangs retracted but he didn’t appear convinced.
“Looks like. Of course, you don’t look very threatening.”
“Honey, you have no idea.”
He was right.
CHAPTER 3
The grand opening began at nine P.M. As soon as the doors opened, the customers arrived. One minute they weren’t there, the next, they were.
Raf and I had agreed: I was in charge of packages, pricing, and payment. This would allow me to keep an eye on Willy, tucked in his bed under the counter. Raf would escort the clients back, demonstrate the process, distribute goggles and set timers. It seemed like a good plan. Unfortunately, no one consulted Willy.
When the doorbell chimed announcing the first customers, Willy came to full attention. He bounced over to the door sans cart, barking wildly. I glanced at Raf to find his eyes the size of dinner plates and ran to fetch my dog. The four vamps stood frozen on the threshold.
All four showed fang.
“Welcome!” I said after the initial shock subsided. “Don’t mind Willy, he’s sort of the unofficial mascot. Come on in and we’ll get you signed up and toasty in no time!” Even though my heart pounded like it would leap from my chest, I plastered on my friendliest smile.
With the exception of the black female, their skin seemed practically devoid of pigment. Unlike the porcelain white of her three Caucasian male companions, she appeared more pearl grey. They looked to be in their late teens or early twenties. The guys dressed in jeans, tanks and flip-flops, while the young black woman opted for shorts.
“What’s wrong with him?” The female asked in a heavy British accent, as she and her friends eased in the door, never taking their eyes off Willy. Their fangs had retracted, partially, they remained wary.
“He hurt his back, and can’t use his hind legs. He won’t bite you.” Their snort in reply tested my patience, so I added, “And he isn’t a snack item.” Laughter eased the tension a bit. With an audible sigh of relief I hurried around the counter, deposited Willy in his bed and began to explain the various packages offered and the price of each. Raf ushered them down the hall, explaining the process as they proceeded to the rooms.
A few humans mixed in, but initially vampires dominated the scene. Within minutes the vampire side of the hall filled. Not surprisingly, almost all wanted to experience the tanning beds as well as get a spray tan. The average tanning time was about fifteen minutes if you allowed a couple of minutes for clothes removal and room changes. With a few exceptions most opted for the deepest tan.
The stream of customers remained steady after the initial rush. We averaged close to fifty customers an hour until about eleven-thirty when the two area hospitals had a shift change and a wave of scrub-clad humans burst through the doors.
Being the first tanning salon for vampires and humans made Midnight Sun a big draw for the curious, though the humans seemed tentative. Many bought the introductory package, three tanning bed sessions for thirty-five dollars, or chose to get one spray-tan at the introductory price of twenty-five dollars. They seemed cautious about hobnobbing so openly with vampires.
Raf’s vampire speed was a big plus when things got hectic, at least when no humans were about. He moved so quickly he appeared as a blur and sometimes not even that. He scared the life out of me repeatedly by suddenly appearing at my side. He apologized of course, but I could tell it tickled him pink to see me jump. He didn’t seem to startle Willy at all, which I would have thought odd, given time to think.
Finally about midnight I took my first break. Willy had worn down as our official greeter and dozed in his bed. I hated to wake him but who knew when he’d have another chance to go outside? With Willy tucked under my arm I stepped out onto the sidewalk and around the side of the building. The parking area near the alley had a small green space. The lot blazed with light from the street lamps so I felt comfortable even at this late hour. I bent to place Willy on the grass and removed his diaper.
“What a good boy you are.” Willy whined as I picked him up to go in.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone this time of night.”
“Geeze Louise!” I shouted, causing Willy to bark. “You scared the life out of me!”
“Be glad it’s only me,” Tom said as he stepped from the shadows. “You should be more cautious.”
He seemed upset with me and my self-defense mechanism kicked into full gear as I spat, “We needed a break!”
My heart pounded wildly. Perhaps I wasn’t as comfortable in the night as I thought. As soon as that thought registered in my brain, so did another. I was bitching at the man who signed my paycheck. Less defensively I added, “I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself.”
He didn’t respond as he placed his hand on the small of my back, ushering me forward. It seemed an oddly old fashioned gesture. He held the door as we walked back into the well-lit salon. The look he gave Raf when we entered would have withered most anyone, but Raf only asked, “What did I do?”
I excused myself and carried Willy down the hall to the ladies room hoping for a chance to compose myself further.
“Why didn’t you warn me, you little shit?” I asked as I washed my hands and fluffed my hair. Willy didn’t seem at all perturbed. Picking him back up, I gave him a hug. “Never mind, I guess they just take getting used to. Maybe they should wear bells so they can’t sneak up on us? Like cats.”
Their ability to move silently and blend into the shadows had allowed them to live — well exist — through the centuries, and feed without detection. I understood the need to stay hidden and lose yourself in your surroundings. I was a grown woman now and at no one’s mercy. Fear still lurked in the back of my mind, and, that’s just where I left it.
“We’ve made a haul so far,” Raf was telling the boss when I returned. “You might need to make an early bank run.”
With five more minutes of my break remaining, I bought a diet Dr. Pepper from the vending machine, deposited Willy in his bed and retreated to the lounge. I could wat
ch the lobby and my dog through the glass. Piped in music deadened sound but I could see Tom and Raf in deep discussion and had the eerie feeling I was the topic.
A quick peek at the clock told me break time was over. A last gulp of Dr. Pepper and back to the coal mines.
The latest batch of tanners exited their rooms as I returned to my place behind the counter. Even knowing they were a mixed batch, I couldn’t tell the difference between humans and vamps as they emerged. They all looked like tanned people.
The tanning process affected vampires of different ethnic backgrounds in subtle shade distinctions. Unless the fluorescent lighting was playing tricks black vampires kept an ashen cast while turning a deeper brown than their Caucasians counterparts. Hispanics turned a lovely, rich olive tone.
Everyone wanted to meet Thomas Thornton and he played the genial host. A few humans produced magazines with his photo on the cover and requested autographs. Vamps gushed over the wonders of the experience and the miracle of the tanning beds. The boss invited a couple of vamp clients into the office for a private word. Were they some of the special clients he’d spoken of? They seemed normal enough.
Raf handed out questionnaires concerning the overall experience, inviting input for improvements. For each completed questionnaire customers received a five-dollar off coupon. Arkansas is not a something for nothing state. I collected them at the door as they left.
A couple of guys of unknown persuasion asked for my number, leaving me flattered but flustered. They were cute — not that I was looking — but the policy on employee/client dating had not been discussed during my interview. I smiled politely and nodded toward the boss. They appeared to catch my drift. Mental note to self — ask the boss. Such information might be useful in the future, but for now, men were off my menu.
Willy, chased rabbits in his sleep. His little body jerked and lips twitched. It was hard work for him to haul his body without his cart, even on the slick surface of the floor. Since he obviously didn’t intend to stay still, I’d make sure he was in his cart at least for the first part of my shift.
Others waited to enter as soon as the current guests made way. The night promised to be long, and busy. For the most part, things went smoothly.
An embarrassing moment occurred as I lead two human guys to their tanning beds. A female vampire stepped out of a spray tan room and walked leisurely to the tanning bed a little further down the hall — buck-naked. Vampires had no sense of modesty. Even through their jeans I could tell Mr. Happy was very excited. The vamp winking at them while showing fang had him twitching beneath the denim.
Remember to sanitize their beds for sure!
I kept a straight face and acted as if this was a common occurrence — or so I thought. I realized I had failed miserably when Raf took one look at my face and cracked up! With smothered giggles, and Raf looking over my shoulder, I wrote on a slip of paper, ‘robes or much bigger towels needed,’ and dropped it into the suggestion box.
About four A.M. the crowds thinned and lack of sleep began to catch up with me. Normally in bed by ten and up at five-thirty, my internal clock was justifiably confused. On autopilot, I kept moving. Beds had to be sprayed, towels picked up and tossed in the bin for laundry pick up. I collected and rinsed the Razorback Red bottles so they could be returned for deposit, while Raf got the second night receipts ready. At four-thirty Tom collected the bag and left for the bank.
Our shift ended at five, dawn came around six this time of year, so Raf must live close by. I called Jimmy to pick me up. If I could find a cheap car, I wouldn’t need a driver. If not for Willy, I’d take the bus to the clinic but they only allow service dogs.
Jimmy claimed not to mind, but still … His workday in North Little Rock started at seven, which worked great for my job at the clinic. But, at least for now, he had to get up an hour early to pick me up at the salon, drive me to the clinic and then turn around and drive back across the river to work. I refused to take advantage of him long term.
Dr. Julie Smith, the vet I worked for, agreed to let me come to the clinic after working at the salon and catch a little sleep on the cot we kept in back for emergencies. I had my own keys. I could put Willy in a kennel, which we both hated, catch a couple hours sleep, and then change into scrubs for my day job.
Although the clinic didn’t open for business until nine, morning drop-offs started at seven. The kennel staff would start walking, feeding and medicating the boarded animals a few minutes later. No one could sleep through that racket.
Okay, so the plan wasn’t perfect.
The day shift dragged in right on time. Jimmy had been waiting for about five minutes. I introduced Raf to Jimmy. Raf seemed thrilled, Jimmy, not. I don’t think it had anything to do with Raf being a vampire but rather his sexual orientation that bothered Jimmy. His homophobia bothered me, but he was my friend and that meant I accepted him warts and all. Still, I felt bad for Raf. I liked him a lot.
“See ya tonight, Raf.” I planted a kiss on his cheek. He looked a little worn.
“Honey, you made my night!” Raf said with waggling brows. “See ya. Got to get my beauty sleep.”
I figured the waggling brows were for Jimmy, who apparently agreed if his scowl was any indication. The ride to the clinic was quiet. “Call my cell if you need me,” he said as he drove away.
I was too tired to worry about it.
I helped Willy go potty and tried to get in the clinic, turn off the alarm, reset it, and get bedded down without waking the dogs in the back. While not totally successful, they settled pretty quickly when the lights went out. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. I dreamed of naked vampires, who strangely, all looked like Tom. Mmm.
Screech, clang. Startled, it took a minute to get my bearings. Jennifer was trying to get Willy out of the cage.
“Sorry!” Jen whispered.
“What time is it?”
“Almost eight.”
Less than two hours sleep — definitely not enough. “Here, I’ll take him.” I rose and held open my arms.
“Ah, Connie, you might want to get dressed first.” She smirked and gave me the once over. “It’s only a suggestion, but old man Bartlett is in the lobby with Scooter and you might just give him a coronary. Nice tan by the way.”
“Okay, you take him while I pull myself together,” I grinned through a yawn. “I’m going to lock this door for a sec.”
“Good idea.” Jen giggled as she left with Willy.
I snapped the lock behind her and pulled my small case from under the cot. Tottering to the sink on sore feet, I pulled my toothbrush and a washcloth from the case and did my best to make myself presentable.
Animals don’t care if you stink and wear no makeup, but their owners do. I gave myself a quick sink bath, grinning at my reflection. The lacy bra and panties I wore would have given Mr. Bartlett a heart attack all right! Fresh undies, clean scrubs, socks, a tad of makeup and I went to join the workforce.
While the team finished walking the dogs, I cleaned litter pans and kennels and put out fresh food and water before checking the charts for those on medication and administering what was necessary. Only a few needed prepping for the light surgery schedule. I managed pretty well.
Julie, er, Dr. Smith, asked me to go to lunch, her treat. Before I took the first bite of my Santa Fe chicken salad, she told me, “Connie, you need to make a decision, Midnight Sun or the clinic. You almost gave Scooter prednisone this morning instead of his thyroid meds. You’re dead on your feet after only one double shift. I know you’re trying, but you just can’t do two jobs with no sleep. I can’t take the risk. Besides, you’d never forgive yourself if you caused harm to any of those animals.”
“Oh God! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even realize … ”
“Understood and I want you to stay. You’re the best worker I have. I’d give
you insurance if I could afford it for all my employees, but I can’t do it for just you.”
Unprepared to make a decision, I didn’t know how to respond. I had Willy to consider. “I know that. If it wasn’t for Willy I’d never think of leaving.”
Julie raised a brow. “What’s Willy got to do with it?”
“He’s snapping at clients.”
Julie’s other brow raised to join the first. “Since when?”
“That’s what … somebody said.” For the life of me, I couldn’t remember who. My head seemed full of gray fuzz lately.
“Maybe you need a little time off. You’ve seemed a little off the mark the past few days. My next appointment isn’t until two so eat up and I’ll drive you home. You need sleep.”
As we walked back to her truck she paused and pulled me up short with a hand on my shoulder. “Let me know if you remember who said that about Willy. I can’t think of anyone who doesn’t love that rascal.”
I nodded. “Mr. Thornton has me on probation until he’s convinced I can do the job.”
“Talk to him tonight and see where you stand, then go home and get some rest. You’re not on the schedule for Saturday. Call me Sunday night with your answer.”
We stopped to get Willy. Julie told Jen to call her cell if there was an emergency then drove me home. Dee came out to meet us when we pulled into the drive. If she wanted answers she’d have to wait.
“Call me Sunday.” Julie called as she drove away.
“I’ll fill you in later, Dee.” I closed my door in her face. She’d make me sorry for that, which might worry me later, now, I was going to bed. Kicking off my shoes, I crawled between the sheets, scrubs and all, pulling Willy in with me. I set the clock for six. Four hours sleep …
CHAPTER 4
The alarm went off and a warm tongue swiped my cheek. I had forgotten to let Willy potty before bed. Rising, I scooped him up and headed for the door. Dee hurried over. “I’ll tell you while I get ready. Come on in.”