Page 18 of Riding Pine
Not that Lukas and I are dating, but if we were, I’d rather be upfront about why I can’t meet him on a Tuesday night at 8 P.M. than lie.
“We’d allow a spouse by legal marriage, but simply dating someone? No, this is to be a secret, Ben. It’s part of the thrill for people. Not knowing who the mysterious beaver is.”
Christine frowns again at my silence. “That part is nonnegotiable, Ben. I can budge on nearly everything else but that.”
A year of my life essentially being forced into a closet and not revealing myself. It feels like high school all over again, and I’m struggling with myself to accept this part of the contract. But the money…Surely I can keep a secret for less than a year? Nine months minimum, and take the pay. A year of two jobs, great income, and keeping a secret.
I can do this.
Besides, Lukas is just casual. We haven’t even gotten to the getting to know you part. We have amazing sex together, and that’s likely all it ever will be. If we’re casual, then there’s no big deal. It’s not a secret. It’s just withholding information that’s not important.
That makes sense. Right?
Keep seeing Lukas and play the beaver. Get a pay cheque.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
Christine claps her hands together.
“You won’t regret it, Ben. There’s an opportunity to be had. Lots of perks if the team does well.” She hands me a pen, and I sign all the documents. After giving me a copy, she stands. “Want to see the costume?”
“Yes, of course!”
The garment bag she carried in earlier is unzipped, and there it is.
Slappy the beaver suit is brown and fuzzy with a tight-fitting T-shirt emblazoned with the team logo over its chest. The head is large and snaps into place under the collar of the suit. It might be hard to do any acrobatics in that head, but I’ll see what I can do. However, the tail is a bigger concern.
It’s huge and very stiff.
“Uh, so I’m not sure what kind of performing I can do in this thing, Christine. That tail is…well, it’s big.”
“I thought you might say that. I’ve already cleared with management; you can alter the entire suit as needed as long as your identity remains a secret.”
“Really? That’s good. I’ll test it out at the studio right away. Do you have a contact I can use for alterations?”
“Our equipment guy. He sews all the jerseys.” She hands me a card. “You’re part of the team too, so he’ll get whatever you need done.”
We shake hands, and I exit the building with the garment bag, a bag of beaver souvenirs and a copy of the contract I signed.
I just signed a contract to play a beaver.
There’s a first time for everything, I suppose. Including doing a tumbling sequence with a giant tail.
After stuffing the bag into the back seat, I head back to my studio, mind constantly spinning, conjuring scenarios of what I can do without damaging the suit or me. Christine handed me an envelope with contact names of people I could reach out to for help along with the equipment manager, and the list was short. Other than him, who can deal with any costume issues, I could also reach out to Landon. He’s an athletic trainer for the team, andshould I need any attention for injuries, I’m to see him. Especially if I’m still in costume.
So that’s it. Christine, George the equipment guy, and Landon. Oh, and James, since I sort of told him prior. Remaining mute while performing will be fine. It’s not talking about the job that will be hard. I get excited for routines and shows, and other than tripping on this tail, the biggest worry I have is accidentally spilling the beans.
With that in mind, when I arrive at the studio, I pull the blind down on the door in case someone comes by and I don’t notice. Like the way Lukas seems to sneak up on me.
Honestly, I should ditch the costume and call him to come back. I wanted nothing more than to feel the naked slap of our skin again, but the call of designing a routine is like a siren’s song, and I can’t ignore it.
Stripping down, I pull on a pair of yoga pants before zipping myself into the beaver suit.
“Good lord, I’m gonna sweat buckets in this thing. I hope they have a dry cleaner on retainer.”
Faux fur and spandex are not what you call breathable materials. I’ll definitely need to wear as little as possible under this thing.
With an ice surface or floating floor as my future stage, I begin the process of discovery about what I can manage in this suit.
