Page 45 of Space Oddities

Rose preens. “Thanks.”

“I didn’t know.” I feel the need to apologize for my attire, or the amount of it. I shoot Rose a glare. “She didn’t say it was a pole dancing class.”

“Of course not.” Rose snorts. “’Cause your southern lady ass wouldn’t have come.”

“That’s not true!” Okay, yes it is. But not for the reasons she thinks.

“It’s okay, doll.” Angela hooks an arm around me and brings me in close, like a mother would to console a child. “You’ll get the hang of it in no time.”

A flash of natural light from the opening door penetrates the room. “Can’t wait to get my hands on that pole.”

Rose, Angela, and I turn to see a group of three older women pushing through the blacked-out front doors.

“Will you stop with all your pole innuendos?” a woman with long black hair says. “I can’t take it anymore.”

“I’m talking about exercising.” The woman with short, spiky white hair looks frighteningly familiar. “I can’t help it if your mind’s in the gutter all the time.”

“Exercise.” The third woman snorts. “Please. You know good and well that you just take this class so you can practice twerking. You never actually try toclimbthe pole.”

“Oh, shut it, Nina. You’re just jealous of my rock-solid ass. I told you to come power-walking with me.”

“Hashtag girl posse goals,” Rose whispers reverently as the women get closer.

Myra, my previous landlady, gives her friend the finger before glancing over at us. Shock, then happiness, lights up her face. “Trish, dear. You came!” The closer she comes, the more horrified I’m sure I look. My sweet, power-walking-addicted landlady, usually decked out in colorful parachute pants, is wearing hot pants and a sports bra.

And that’s all.

Myra closes the distance between us and kisses me on the cheek. “So glad you girls could make it.” Turning to Rose, Myra hugs her. Half of Rose’s glitter transfers to Myra. “I really didn’t think you’d get her to come.”

“Wait.” I point to Myra then Rose. “You two know each other?” I didn’t think I could be more apprehensive than when I figured out where Rose had lured me to. But now, standing before the one person who could “out me” to my best friend, I see that I was wrong.

“I gave her a Groupon yesterday,” Myra answers, at ease with this whole bizarre situation.

“Yeah.” Rose elbows me. “When I swung by your trailer.” She quirks one brow in my direction. “Fancy my surprise to find your trailer missing.”

Myra tsks. “Shame on you, dear, for worrying your friend.”

“Yes. Shame, shame,” Rose singsongs.

Not touching that subject yet, I glare at Myra, hands on hips. “I’ve known you formonthsand you’ve never mentioned taking a pole dancing class.”

Myra shrugs, giving me an apologetic look. “Well, sweetie, it just didn’t seem like your thing. You always seemed so…”

“Boring?” Rose offers.

I glare at her.

“Refined,” Myra says firmly, though I can see she’s fighting a smile at Rose’s suggestion.

Though I should be happy Myra thought a strip club so far removed from me, seeing as though I’ve spentyearstrying to overcome my trailer trash upbringing, I’m still deeply insulted that these two would think me so condescending. “What are you talking about? I’m not boring. I—” Thankfully I stop myself in time. I can’t tell them about my writing career.

“It’s okay, girl.” Rose blows me a kiss. “I still love you.”

“We won’t push you too far out of your comfort zone,” Angela adds, taking Myra’s bag and placing it in the booth by the stage. “No need to feel uncomfortable.”

I know they are trying to be helpful, but heat builds up inside me with each sympathetic platitude drenched in understanding.

“This isn’t my first time in a strip club, you know.” I direct my ire at Rose, stung by her personality assessment.Boring. Rose doesn’t know how much I hold back, how often I stop myself from being fun and outgoing for fear of being too conspicuous. For fear of being put down or worse, caught.

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