RED SOX: Believe
FEEDBACK: is appreciated at p.phair@comcast.net
Sunny hurried down the carpeted hallway of the Back Bay Inn. It was barely 4:15 Wednesday morning. She was grateful the carpet masked the click of her high heels. Sunny did not want to raise a commotion at the modest but elegant hotel.
She was heading toward room 1243. Bright Day Management Services always reserved that particular room for clients. It was a corner room which meant it was slightly bigger and had a better view of the city. The cost was the same as all the other rooms but most of her clients believed it was upper tiered. Sunny was more than happy not to clarify the misconception.
"Clients think they got a perk and I don't have to pay perk money is a win win, in my book," Sunny thought to herself before rapping on the door. "Animal will probably think she died and went to Heaven after a night in the comfort of a hotel room."
A few moments passed without an answer. Sunny rapped a little louder on the wood. No response. Sunny felt her heart rate pick up a bit. Her knuckles connected solidly with the door in a firm rat-ta-tat-tat. She leaned in closer and heard some muffled voices.
"At least they're in there," Sunny thought with a small amount of relief.
Once the door swung open, any sense of relief race out of Sunny's system as adrenalin broke loose from her shock. Nevada Smithe stood before her stark naked. Her dark and tattooed skin glistened with sweat. Her hair was free of its usual braid and plastered to her head. The smell of women's hot bodies wafted from the room.
"Oh hey, didn't expect to see you this early. Thought you were just gonna call and tell me where to dump the Animal," Nevada mumbled.
"Obviously," Sunny regained herself enough to get angry.
She pushed her way passed Nevada. Hitting the wall switch flooded the room with light and groaning. Animal was huddled in the center of a king size bed under thoroughly tossed sheets.
"Bright light, bright light," Animal squeaked.
Sunny waited until Nevada had enough sense to shut the door. She didn't turn around to speak to the contractor. Nevada's lecture would need to wait. Animal had to get up and moving or Sunny would be late for her appointment with Digger Braveman.
"Ms. Animal, if you would be so kind, please vacate the bed and get into the shower. We must be on our way in ten minutes or I'll be late."
"Um, I could drive her over to the office, if you have to hurry along," Nevada offered in a hoarse morning after voice.
Sunny glared at the woman over her shoulder. "No, I think you've done quite enough already." Sunny turned her attention back to Animal who was still in bed. "Ms. Animal, get out of that bed this instant! Your job depends on us getting out of here in nine minutes."
"Oh come on, that wasn't even a whole minute," Animal complained as she poked her head out from under the blankets.
"Now, Ms. Animal, now!"
Animal crawled out of the bed pulling free of bedding as she went. She emerged as naked as Nevada. Her pale skin was peppered with red blotches and scratch marks. Oblivious to the two sets of eyes studying her, Animal stretched then rubbed her ass.
"A little sore," she giggled before gathering her clothes and heading off to the shower.
Sunny followed slowly hoping the bathroom door would shut. When it did, she called in after Animal.
"Be sure to wash everywhere, shampoo your hair, and brush your teeth. You only have eight minutes so hurry!"
"Oh man," was muttered before the water blasted on.
Sunny turned her full attention to Nevada. The woman was still standing by the door. She was still naked. However, she had the sense to keep her eyes on some fascinating stain on the wall above the headboard. Sunny followed the line of vision and frowned.
"Is that from the two of you?"
"Maybe," Nevada shrugged.
"Damages? Wonderful. Five years of booking this room and not so much as a burnt out light bulb. Now, I have torn sheets," Sunny lifted the rent cloth from the bed, "stains on the wall paper, and Higher Being only knows what else."
Sunny used her knee to shove the mattress back several inches from where it drifted off the box spring. Something solid bounced from the bed after the mattress connected with the head board. Sunny looked down at her feet to see a well used vibrator lying on the toe of her shoe. Nevada made the mistake of smirking.
"You think this if funny?" Sunny questioned and kicked the toy across the room. "Well, I've got something even funnier for you. You violated your contract with Bright Day Management Services."
Nevada's jaw dropped.
"That would mean a pay back of your annual retainer plus a penalty. Should put you about 100K in the hole, I figure. How funny is that?" Sunny wasn't laughing.
"Look, this got nothing to do with you or the contract. Me and the kid…,"
"Yes, let's consider that aspect of this situation as well. My client is young and mentally unstable. This is why I retained you to sit with her. Note what I said, sit with her. The verb was not lay with her or sleep with her…,"
Nevada snorted a short laugh, "We weren't sleeping."
"Again, you think this is funny? I don't. You betrayed my trust, Nevada. We will no longer be able to do business. My lawyer will be contacting you regarding the penalties clearly spelled out in your contract." Sunny took a breath and heard the water shut off. "If you need a repayment plan then discuss it with Patrick. I can be reasonable."
Nevada groused back, "Then be reasonable, Sunny. The kid and me had a little toss. Nothing earth shattering. She put the moves on me not the other way around. So, I'm human. I screwed the punk. Big deal."
Sunny was grim faced. "I hope the little toss was worth it because it has cost you an awful lot of money never mind my respect."
"Hey Mrs. Sun, don't go blaming her. I wanted to fuck…I mean screw, you know what I mean. That movie you showed me got me all excited and kind of wet and I had to work it off somehow." Animal was full dressed and anxious to explain.
"What kind of movies were you showing our impressionable little girl, Sunshine?" Nevada questioned with a hint of smug humor.
Sunny turned a withering glare at the contractor. It wiped the smile from Nevada's face.
"She watched The Yule Log for three hours before you picked her up. Sexy enough viewing for you?" Sunny's voice was dripping with sarcasm.
Animal interrupted, "It was sexy enough for me; all those flames licking the logs, flashing orange and red, the wood snapping from the heat, the smoke fluttering up the chimney like a dancer at a strip club."
Sunny and Nevada stared at Animal while she detailed her favorite parts of the DVD. Animal's cheeks were flushed and her eyes wide as she described the fireside scene.
"See, there? She's just a fucking nut," Nevada noted.
Animal fell silent. She ducked her head and sniffed a little. Sunny didn't know who to be angrier with. She picked the one she was paying.
"How nice? Is this supposed to be your version of morning after sweet talk? It's no wonder you have to sleep with the clients when you have such limited social skills. I'm surprised you didn't shackle her to the bed!"
Animal's cheeks flushed a deeper red.
"Oh for the love of…," Sunny was going to lose it entirely if she didn't get moving. "Forget it. Let's go, Ms. Animal. Mr. Braveman is waiting."
Sunny took the young woman's hand and gently led her to the door. Animal turned back and mouthed to Nevada, "Call me."
Sunny sat at her desk watching Digger Braveman sweat. She was amazed at the way drops of sweat beaded on his forehead before racing down his puffy red face. It was almost unbelievable a human body would need to perspire in her optimal temperature controlled office. The setting was seventy four degrees Fahrenheit which she was told would provide a physically comfortable work environment for most people. Apparently, Digger Braveman was not most people.
Digger licked his thumb and index finger to turn the page of the proposal in his hand. The twenty five page proposal outlined Bright Day Management Service's ninety day plan for Wreckers. It covered everything from uniforms to OSHA regulations.
More importantly, two entire pages bullet pointed the steps necessary to assist Animal in her conversion to a responsible and productive member of society. In Sunshine's mind, this represented a promotion for Animal from her current socioeconomic position of firebug. Sunny spared the young woman a sideways glance. Animal was sitting in the same chair as the day before. Only today, she was reading through a stack of articles about tragic fires which Oran had the forethought to gather. She emitted an occasional horrified gasp at some distasteful story but was otherwise quiet and still.
"Well, it's one big job you plan on doing for me," Digger said when he closed the folder.
Sunshine answered his statement with one of her own. "Wreckers needs me to do a very big job if it is going to succeed."
"I was sort of hoping you could just fix Animal and leave the rest of us be. We're okay in our own way. It's her that needs changing." He glanced over at Animal and wrinkled his nose in distaste. "And, the pink shirts ain't gonna fly with the crew. Nope. We don't go for them faggie colors. We don't go for dressin' alike either. It's the girl you gotta take care of. Get her straight and I'll be all set."
Sunshine extended her hand to Digger. He passed her back the proposal. Sunny dumped it into the wastepaper basket next to her desk.
"What're you doin' Ms. Bright-Day?" Digger was alarmed by her action.
Sunny folded her hands over her flat stomach. "We've finished our business, Mr. Braveman. It has been an interesting experience meeting you and your team. We at Bright Day Management Services wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Now, if you check with Oran on your way out he'll validate your parking for you. Consider the clothes for Ms. Animal a charitable donation. Good day, Sir."
"Hold on, a minute," Digger really started to sweat. "I still want you to work on Animal. She has to get some help."
"Mr. Braveman, I have spent the last forty eight hours developing an intervention to assist you with the variety of deficit areas in your current business plan. Ms. Animal represents only one piece of your operation which must be addressed." Sunny gave a small shake of her head. "I do not do half measures. My consultations are all or nothing and not cafeteria selections. I will not put myself or my company in a position where we will fail because a client refuses to utilize our recommendations." Sunny frowned a bit. "None of this should be a surprise for you if you really did watch my seminar."
"OH NO!" Animal cried out before Digger could reply to Sunny. "His mom must have burned to death. No, no, no…,"
Animal began to cry as she clutched several sheets of paper to her chest. Sunny and Digger looked at each then to animal then back to each other.
"You want to handle this?" Digger asked.
"…why would anybody set a fire there…," Animal continued to sob.
"Why me?" Sunny asked.
"cuz you're a girl and she's a girl and she's cryin' and I don't know what to say," Digger offered and wiped his brow with the back of his hand.
Sunny decided to ask Animal what was wrong in order to move the meeting to a prompt conclusion. "Ms. Animal, what is the matter? Why are you crying?"
Animal got up, swatting tears from her eyes, and hurried over to Sunshine's side of the desk. "Look at him. He's just a little baby and he got all burned. They found him in a tree tryin' to hide from the fire. His Mom must've died, don't ya think?"
Sunny stared at the news story. If Animal wasn't so upset then the moment might have been funny. It was from more than fifty years ago. The story of a little black bear found in a forest fire. They named him Smokey Bear after the cartoon mascot for the forest service. He went on to become the living version of the mascot and spent the rest of his life at the national zoo.
"Ms. Animal, this bear is dead," Sunny began to explain.
Animal dropped to her knees and cried even harder. "He was burned that bad? The story didn't say he died. Stupid people! You can't start fires in the woods! Everything burns up. You can't stop it then. You always got to be able to stop it. Can't let it get ahead of you. It's no fun when it gets out of control, when animals get hurt, when Animal gets hurt."
Sunny heard the subtle change. She was able to see a small portion of Animal's suffering. Animal was obsessed with something which terrified her.
"Ms. Bright-Day," Digger's voice was somber, "could we take another look at that plan of yours?"
"Why?"
Sunny wanted to force the man to make a decision. It was very clear to the executive that more than a business was at stake. Animal needed a lot of help and if Digger wasn't going to see to it then Sunny would.
"I want to sign it," Digger sighed in defeat. "Pink tee shirts and all; let's do everything you said we should. But, you better be right about getting Animal's head screwed back on because I think we only got one shot at takin' care of her."
Sunny could see worry etched on Digger's face. Her respect for the man ratcheted up several notches.
"We will. Don't worry, Digger. We'll help Animal get well."