Jeff, finds himself in
Chapter 2: Jeff has landed in the Atlanta Underground where
the hotel shuttle driver advised him to have a pocket full of dollars for the
panhandlers. He finds himself in a woman’s clothing store captivated by
Jennifer, the charming young sales lady who talks him into buying an expensive
coat and scarf for his wife. She also offers to do a delivery to his hotel
tomorrow. As he leaves he sees a Victoria’s Secret store, but decides that if
he got in so much trouble in the other store the he will burn in hell in a Victoria’s Secret!
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- Chris Lamela---------------------------------------------------------------------
Author contact: Chris Lamela,
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Magic Town, Chapter 2
Friday, 5:08PM: Temptation
Jeff glanced out the window of the hotel shuttle van thinking that no, a
strip club was definitely not in his
plans tonight. He looked back to the driver, “So the Underground it is!”
Jeff thought, well like where else is
there? What else is he going to do? Sit in the hotel and watch TV? “Will
the Underground be worth my time?”
The driver gave a frown, “I guess, but any more it’s just like one of
them big malls all stuffed into a cave, except for like I said, the bars and
restaurants.”
“Mall, you mean like Mrs. Fields Cookies and all that?”
“I dunno if it’s that bad, but it’s definitely not the underground
hideaway kind of place anymore. Just lots of tourists. Probably lots of
businessmen like yourse'f down there, I ‘magine.”
“Anything I should see while I’m there?”
“Like I said, it’s been years since I’ve been there. I used to take my
family when my kids were younger.” The shuttle driver made a point to get eye
contact with Jeff in the rear-view mirror, “But please do be careful, there’s
all sorts of crazy people around there, so many of them are doin’ nothin’ but hanging
out all over around down there and up on the streets, too, some just lookin’
for trouble. All I know is what I read in the paper and hear from the guests at
the hotel. I have heard stories that it can be a little scary sometimes.”
“You’re making me not want to go.”
The driver glanced into the mirror smiling at Jeff, “Nah, nah, nah, it
ain’t all that bad, I’m pretty sure.” The driver looked forward, “You just be
careful and you’ll be fine.”
Jeff looked down to the paper guide in his hand in mild wonder.
“Anyway, here we are.” The hotel shuttle van pulled up to the curb in
front of the big airport Marta train station. “Just go up the stairs and take
the train, you wanna look for the Five Points station, and just ask around to
find the Underground, it’s real close by.”
“How will I get back?”
“Just make it back to the airport on Marta, use the courtesy phone to
call the hotel, we will come pick you back up, but the shuttles only run until
eleven o’clock, so make sure to get back here before ten-thirty, otherwise
you’ll have to take a cab back to the hotel.”
“Sounds simple.”
“The trains run until midnight. If you know you’re gonna be later than
ten-thirty, get off at the College
Station
Jeff opened the side door holding out three dollars to the driver.
“Hey, thanks for this, mighty generous. One more thing, keep your
pockets stuffed with dollar bills to give to the homeless guys who come up to
you, it’s a hell of a lot easier than hassling with them.”
“Give them just a dollar?”
“Damn rights, the tourists ignore them like they are invisible and it
pisses them off––if you are kind to them, and I’m talking just a dollah, those
bastards’ll take a bullet for you. Fo’ a lousy dollah!” Jeff frowned. “Anyway,
be careful out there and forget about all this and go have an interesting
evening. Remember to give us a call before ten-thirty otherwise you’ll be on
your own with a cab.”
Jeff stepped out thanking the driver once again who studied his face,
“And yo’ sure ah don’t know you. I swear you do look mighty familiar.” Jeff
shrugged. “Well, you go have yo’self an interesting evening.”
Jeff gave a nod turning toward the tall building in front on him,
heading for the stairs to get to the trains thinking to himself, interesting evening, yeah let’s do that!
Jeff walked up the stairs. There was a small crowd on the platform, a
couple towing suitcases had just flown in from somewhere who walked from the
airport, a few commuters, a few teenagers, twenty somethings all earnestly
looking down the tracks for an approaching train.
He walked up to the map board, figured out that either the yellow or red
line would take him where he was going, it was just a few stops up, looked like
the station he wanted was a main hub, so it would be easy to remember. He put
money into the ticket machine, deciding to get his return ticket while he was
at it, smiling at his reflection in the glass wearing tan Docker pants, polo, his
favorite brown and tan tweed sport coat. Definitely looked the part of the
businessman out to do a little touring. He thought of all the times he went out
dressed like this in ‘business casual’ wondering why he didn’t wear jeans and a
t-shirt. Too late, the evening lay before him, here he was.
Walking up to the newspaper rack he saw the New York Times and Atlanta
Journal Constitution, both with headlines about a big storm expecting snow on
Monday, the city getting all mobilized. An article about a missing Congressman
with a picture, Jeff leaned over to look. The picture was fuzzy behind the scratched
yellowed plastic of the newspaper rack, the face looked vaguely familiar, he
couldn’t make it out. More about the wacky House Republicans making noise about
jobs, how they all hate Bill Clinton. And what kind of mother would name her
son Newt? And what is Gingrich? It sounds like a ginger cookie make by a witch.
What else? He didn’t pay too much attention turning to look at the crowd’s growing
anticipation of the train pulling up.
Just a few minutes later Jeff stepped off at the big downtown station with
bustling crowds going every direction. Soon he was out on the street. After
asking around to a couple people he was pointed toward the Underground.
He hadn’t gone fifty feet when a grungy looking man intercepted him,
“Sir, how are you today?” Jeff paused. “If I could bother you sir, I could
really use a little help here.”
Jeff pulled out a dollar handing it to the man, “Here you go, is that
enough?” The man’s jaw dropped astonished.
“Enough? Sir, you made my day, the best I ever get is a little pocket
change, god bless you sir!”
Jeff nodded continuing past the man who waved the dollar bill at him
thankfully making Jeff shake his head muttering to himself, “Wow, times are
pretty tough in Atlanta, huh?”
He handed out two more dollars with the same response as he went along, soon
finding himself walking under a big curved overhead sign announcing the
Underground. It hardly looked like some secret place of legend where the rum
runners of old hid their stash. The whole feel reminded Jeff of driving into Reno
Another minute later he was downstairs walking slowly looking at the
shops. Yep, lots of familiar names just like the big malls. There was a
definite charm to the place, the setting in the caves that made the familiar
store signs seem different, out of place.
Jeff stopped, looking at the map board trying to get the lay of the
place, deciding it was best to start at one end to stroll down the full length
of the place, figure out where he wants to eat. Turning to his right he started
toward the very end.
Reaching the dead-end he made an about-face, turning to walk slowly,
looking into windows, coming to an Ann Tallot’s store, one of his wife’s
favorite stores that she is always dragging him into. He meandered through the store’s
door taking in that wonderful smell of new clothes. With a whole evening to
burn he figured why not, began to wander slowly among the racks.
These places usually had old worn-out-looking women working there, nice
people, he always thought, always helpful. He always wondered if they somehow
represented the clientele the place was trying to attract, if that was the case
why on earth his mid-thirties wife went to these kinds of places. It seemed
that she either went to these places or Macy’s with nowhere in between. He
noticed that the styles in these stores changed a little according to the
location. He couldn’t help but notice that the styles here were much more
youthful than the stores up in Seattle
“Sir, may I help you?” Jeff looked around seeing a very attractive young
woman looking at him with her best sir-may-I-help-you expression. She had dark
hair, not black, more tinged with the slightest tone of red highlight––certainly
not the common brown color of his hair––curled just slightly at her shoulders,
a face with a wonderful open expression like she was waiting for something to
happen, all topped by the perfect tasteful amount of eye makeup.
“Uh, well, no, I was just kind of looking around.”
She smiled at him. Okay, she has a nice smile he thought. A really nice smile. He felt a quick flush
that was so out of place for such an innocent setting.
“You must be looking for your girlfriend?”
He felt the flush again, “Uh, my wife, I guess. I’m not really looking.
I just kind of wandered in here really.”
“What kinds of things does she like?” She glanced over Jeff’s shoulder
with a motion that made him turn his head, “We have a really nice collection of
scarves.” She took a step around him. “And they are on sale! Does she like
scarves? Women always like scarves. They are really nice gifts to bring home.”
He followed her to a wall tastefully draped with a nice assortment of
all kinds of scarves, turning to him, “You’re from out of town, aren’t you?”
He nodded, “Seattle
“Seattle
Jeff took her hand, noticed that she just kind of held onto his hand without
really shaking hands, he felt the flush again, “Jeff. Name’s Jeff.” He thought
his voice sounded nervous for some reason, wondering why as he pulled his hand
back. His smile warmed, he suddenly felt more relaxed, “Jeff from Seattle
He saw her glance at his wedding ring smiling, looking back up at his
face. “Well, Jeff from Seattle
He filtered though the scarves, soon finding one he thought his wife
would like. Continuing to walk slowly around the store he had the feeling that
people were watching him. Yes, they were definitely looking at him, watching
him. He shrugged, glanced around the store, it was all women. Another store
staff approached him, he said he was fine pointing toward Jennifer, that woman
over there was helping him, “Oh, Jennifer, yes she’s good, she’ll help you fine,
you let me know if you need other advice, that’s why we’re here after all.”
He looked over to Jennifer standing at the cash register wondering how
old she is, guessing about his wife’s age, maybe a year or two younger. Yeah,
thirty-three maybe. Boy, nice though. Very
nice. He had a quick flash in his mind about Jennifer but shook it off. He
glanced back at her––in what felt like less than a hundredth of a second he
lived a whole lifetime with that attractive young woman. How is it that a man
can do such a thing? In that flash they met as they just had, met again, fell
in love, his wife had somehow disappeared, they were married, had children and
were growing old together. And the sex was great, really great and often often
often until there were times he had to pretend to be asleep, they went on
glamorous vacations together, their children became doctors and lawyers and
gave them beautiful grandchildren, they a had a totally fulfilling life together
as his flash reached them sitting on a park bench under blue skies amid cherry
blossoms swirling softly around them, two old people holding hands at the end
of their richly gifted lives. All in his head. All in a hundredth of a second.
This was a skill he was pretty sure that only a man could have. He smiled to
himself recalling that he had that exact same flash when he met his wife. Skill
only a man has? If you can call that a
skill! he thought laughing to himself glancing at her again.
As he ambled among the racks he couldn’t help but wonder why he had
reacted like an embarrassed little kid in front of this nice lady. After all,
he meets pretty women all the time. Not at his work for sure, it’s mostly men
with a few secretaries. That’s pretty much all you have in an aerospace
company. Dull. He glanced back over at her, she was looking at him––he quickly
turned back to the rack looking away from her, head down.
Finally he went up to the register, another clerk was there. He heard a
voice, looked over, Jennifer walking up speaking to the woman who was beginning
to help him, “I was helping this gentleman.” The other woman smiled, stepping
back.
“So I see you found something.” She held it up admiringly. He was taken
by her bright voice that was so inviting, lulling him along with her bright
eyes. “Oh, what a lucky woman,” just as a flash of sadness, barely perceptible
swept across her face, “What I wouldn’t give to have a man like you give me
something like this.” Then back to her cheerful look, “But she’s going to
really like this, I’m sure.” He nodded. “Did you get a chance to look at coats,
we have a forty-percent-off sale.”
“No, not really, I think this will probably work fine.”
“You travel a lot don’t you?”
“Yeah, I guess.”
“You know this scarf is nice, but I’ll bet you could use some extra
brownie points with being away so much.” He shrugged.
“Look, do her a favor and at least come look,” she stepped around the
counter signaling him to follow her. He pulled the scarf off the counter
walking behind her. As he followed behind Jennifer he detected an aroma in her
wake as he followed. It was faintly of fruit, no not fruit really, it was a
warm smell with just the slightest scent of a summer day, a sensation that he
could almost feel rather than smell. He was suddenly aware that the hairs on
the back of his hands felt the soft wisps of air that streamed behind her, the
sensation of warmness on the skin of his face like he was walking in sunshine
on a warm day.
She stopped turning to him with a glowing smile, “So how tall is she?”
Jeff said about her height and build, she looked down at herself, back to Jeff
with a shy smile. “Well, let’s see…” she turned, went about picking coats, showing
them on the hangar, a couple she tried on to model for him twirling around in
them. What a good little sales person, he thought. He was having a lot of trouble paying attention to the coats.
He could still feel the sensation of warmth on his face from a moment ago,
wondering if he looked flushed to her. She said something about not to worry
that his wife could return the coat at one of their stores in Seattle to
exchange or get a refund, but that these coats were very much in style right
now, that they make a definite statement, that she imagined the wife of such a
good looking man must be a beautiful woman who would certainly appreciate such
a coat.
Finally she put one on that Jeff could picture his wife in. She laid it
on a rack pulling the scarf from Jeff’s hands, laying the scarf over the coat,
“Perfect match, good job!” The compliment made him feel a little foolish that
he had nothing to do with the match between the scarf and the coat. He said he
would take it, feeling like he was fumbling the words out, like the words were
tumbling over his tongue, playful children teasing each other daring the others
to come out first. He felt a flush, the children finally emerging from his
mouth making their noisy sounds that mimicked words. At that moment he could
only guess if the words made any sense to her.
He didn’t even bother to look at the price.
She smiled, “A really excellent choice, you have very good taste,” straightened
up the rack, put the coat over her left arm, putting her right arm through
Jeff’s left arm, gently leading him up to the counter again. This time her
fragrance washed over him as he felt
the flush again.
He suddenly noticed her eyes. They were a bright silver color that
seemed to carry the slightest tint of the green blouse she was wearing. He
imagined that her eyes could look blue, or even purple if they had such a color
near them, color that her eyes magically draw from surfaces around them. Jeff
always felt captivated by women’s eyes, especially when they were an unusual
color. Captivated. Absolutely captivated.
She punched some buttons on the cash register, took his credit card, starting
to pull out a box when he suddenly realized where he was standing. “Uh, I
forgot, I am not going back to my hotel right now. I’m here for dinner. I don’t
want to have something to carry with me. I’ll just end up leaving it
somewhere.”
She laughed, “Well, we’ve all done that before haven’t we?” they both
laughed together.
“Where are you staying?”
“Airport Sheraton.”
“Well, I will tell you what. We get lots of traveling customers here. We
have a special service for orders over fifty dollars where we will deliver to
your hotel for no charge the next day. Will you be there tomorrow?”
“Through the weekend.”
“Well then, excellent!” She looked at him for just a second longer with
a widening smile, “Yes, excellent!” She
handed him a piece of paper and pen telling him to write down his hotel
information saying that she would have it delivered at noon tomorrow.
He scribbled, she held up the paper, “You forgot to put your name on
this, but don’t worry, I know it’s Jeff. Will you be there at noon?”
Jeff thought for a second, “Yes, I’m pretty sure. Don’t know where else
I would be. If I’m not can’t you just leave it at the front desk?”
“We can, but we do want to make sure that you get it, especially
something so expensive, so we will try to deliver it to your room first. Noon.”
She pulled out a box from under the counter, unfolded it, pulling out tissue
paper to lay the coat into the box, reaching for the scarf.
“I’ll take the scarf,” he said taking it from the counter. “I’ll just
put it in my coat pocket here if it’ll fit.” He wasn’t really sure why he
didn’t just lay it in the box on top of the coat but thought he would look
foolish to change his mind now.
He signed the credit card slip, she handed him his receipt. He carefully
folded the scarf tucking it into his left inside sport coat pocket, standing
back with his arms out to his sides. “See? No lost packages!” they both laughed
together again.
Jennifer reached her hand across the counter, Jeff took it though she
didn’t offer it as in a shaking of hands, he found her hand laying in his again,
“Well mister Jeff, you go out and have an interesting evening.” She cocked her
head just slightly, “And remember, tomorrow. Noon. Sharp.”
Their eyes were locked together when a woman standing behind him with a
grumbling excuse me can I please pay interrupted
their stares, only then did he consciously realize that they had been flirting,
that she was actually flirting back to him, that she thought he was handsome, how
surprised he was that this meant something to him. It was flattering. He felt a
tingle that this pretty woman was paying this kind of attention to him. The
woman behind him made a frumping growl, he took a step back, the woman pushed
past him to get to the counter while their eyes still held the other’s, looking
over the old woman spreading her items on the counter.
“Uh, thanks, thank you really, you’ve been really great,” he said nervously
backing away. She gave a little wave with her fingers as he turned to the right
walking slowly to the door, glancing over his shoulder seeing her eyes
following him even as the grouchy woman was crabbing for her attention.
Turning left out the door, Jeff shook his head as he started walking. “Wow,
what was that?” he said out loud. He
stopped, looking back at the store. She was out of sight, he turned around, continued
walking. He looked down at the receipt. He wasn’t surprised that he had just
spent two-hundred twenty dollars. Forty percent off? He tucked the receipt into
his pants pocket, realizing he hadn’t even paid attention in the store.
His wife was going to kill him.
Somehow he didn’t care. She was
just a sales clerk, he said to himself, hustling him to buy a very expensive
coat that his wife was going to kill him over. Just some innocent flirting. No
big deal. So why did he suddenly feel so good? He paused for a second, pulled at
his coat sleeves, straightened the front of his coat, walking on.
He continued along coming to a Victoria’s Secret store, started to go
in. Stopped. Seeing three curvaceous young women standing in the store, one
looking at him expectantly, he suddenly had second thoughts.
If he got into so much trouble at an Ann Tallot’s store with that little
clerk, he could only imagine one thing that would happen to him if he walked
into that Victoria’s Secret.
I will burn in hell!
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