96. One Moment

Cooked ground beef and spices filled the air. Chris’ mouth watered. “Three hard tacos” Chris said, his voice louder than normal. Sounds of people eating and talking filtered though an open doorway. He rubbed the stiff dollars between his thumb and fingers while the cashier silently punched the keys. Even with beef in the air, he could still smell the fresh ink on the bills. The cashier took the money in exchange for a smooth slip of paper.

“Our Janet is now the Magenta, and Brad is now Frank-N-Furter. We have just about every one. We just need to fill those two parts.” Hanna forced an empty cup into the soda fountain. The whoosh of Coke emitted carbonation in the air.

Chris’s nose twitched, the dry carbon smell of fresh Coke blocked out the dark spice smell from Hanna’s lotion. “I think I know someone for Brad, but we still need a Janet. The girls have a problem with undressing on stage.” Chris talked into the filling cup. The moment the carbonation reached the top, he brought it up.  He bit at the foam, inhaling the carbonation, canceling even the strong smell of beef.

“Janet” a brave feminine voice said. “Brad Majors and Janet Weiss?”

Chris and Hanna turned to see a petite girl behind them. She too was clutching a thin, impossibly smooth slip of paper. Their eyes darted along this girl. Her All-Star shoes, torn jeans, and band tee competed with Hanna’s fish net gloves, tight pants, and knee high boots.

“Yeah.” Hanna didn’t take her eyes off the girl. “We’re putting on the Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Chris quickly wiped the foam away from his nose. Vivid red and green flowers encircled on her shoes.

“I Love Rocky Horror” she squealed. “Do you have any parts left? Can I audition? I used to MC for it back in my home town. I did it every year.” Her body bounced as one leg bent slightly back and forth.

“Do you mind running around in your underwear in front of 300 people?” Hanna asked.

Chris concentrated hard to hear the cashier call his order number.

“Not at all, I’m Kassi.” She held out her hand.

Hanna shook it. “I’m Hana the producer, and this is Chris the director. Just come to rehearsal tomorrow at 7.”

“I’ll be there.” Kassi turned around to wait for her food.

Chris and Hanna found an empty table. “Do you think she’ll show up?” Hanna asked.

“I hope so.” Traces of an unknown shampoo lingered in the air.

©Chris Richards