After the Show

As if coming out of a haze, you shake your head and look around you, trying to think straight. The room, formerly filled with patrons, was quickly emptying. What had happened? Had you fallen asleep during the show? The last thing you remembered was getting on stage, and Alex the hypnotist pulling out a spiral shape...

That's when the memories slip away. Try as you might, you can't seem to hold onto what happened next.

Oh well, you think, not that it matters. It's time to go home, anyway.

Following behind the final customer, you exit the building and head to your car, a silver Honda Civic, and leave the Magic Mansion parking lot. When you had received the free ticket to the Magic Mansion, you had had high hopes for a great night. Instead all you had was a big blank spot. You couldn't help but feel disappointed. The only consolation that you had was that the tickets had been free, the only thing that had been wasted was your time.

The evening was still young, barely eight-thirty. Normally on a Friday night you would head home, pour yourself a beer, and fall asleep watching movies. Tonight, though, after being let down at the Magic Mansion, you didn't want to go home yet. Passing by the mall near your house, you turn into the parking lot. There was still time before it closed, just enough time to pick up a few things that you needed.

Lucking out, you grabbed a spot near the door, allowing you to run inside quickly and head straight for your destination. You had never been an avid shopper, like most guys your age you enjoyed jeans and t-shirts, video games, and action movies. Pretty standard. Tonight, though, you wanted to expand your horizons.

It never occurred to you, as you browsed through the selections at Victoria's Secret, that your behaviour was odd. It seemed completely natural to ask one of the sales women to measure you up so that whatever you purchased would be a good size. Bras, panties, stockings, babydolls, corsets, bustiers, all perfectly sized for you, piled up quickly on the counter.

You found your heart dropped when you realized that they didn't sell shoes, but the clerk quickly realized your disappointment and upsold you lip-gloss and a few fragrances, all of which raised your spirits once again. You were glad to slap your credit card down on the counter, the huge bill a paltry price to pay for such delightful and useful purchases.

Then, hands full of pink striped bags, you exited the store just in time to hear the announcement over the overhead speakers that the mall was closing. The smile on your face widened. How lucky! You'd finished just in time! You were so glad that your Friday night had turned out to be so good.

If only that hypnotist's show hadn't been a bust. You were beginning to think that hypnotism wasn't even real.