Groped

You take your shower, dress your best smile, and prepare to go to work. While on the subway you begin to think what happened.

" It's a test. " You think to yourself, finding a perfect excuse for Scarlet's behaviour. " She is telling me to ... earn more money. A way to show that I can stand by myself. " You continue to think about it, and remember the park.

Locking those thoughts inside a mental box, you prepare to enter your job as a waitress. You change your clothes in the back room and begin your shift. " Another day with not many clients ... Another sign from Scarlet. " You think to yourself. Close to the end of your shift, you take a customer's order and head over to the POS system to keying it in ... when you notice Jamie coming closer. He wants to talk to you.

"Hey Kelly, good job today!" He says to you with a smile.

"Thanks!" You reply back happily before turning back to finish puting the order in.

"Keep it up!" He says walking closely past you. But as he does you feel his hand grab your ass and squeeze it slightly. You tense up and look towards him in shock, but he's already walking away from you whistling a playful tune.

"He think's I'm hot." You think to yourself, and your remember the test you did with your landlord. " My magic is getting stronger ... Jamie is being influenced by it ... I need to keep this under control ... Or decide to enjoy it. " You think while beginning to smile. If for one side you're not sure how to feel about what just happened, on the other side ... it feels good to be desired. The rest of your shift finishes without incident and you collect your accumulated tips. Back at home, you look at your guitar.

" Scarlet provided me such a beautiful day ... It's slightly warm ... almost inviting. " You think leaving your house, without understanding that Scarlet "power" grew in your mind. You know that your expensive guitar inside de hard case is too heavy for you to carry, so you make a silent request to Scarlet, and go to the local market you shaw the last time you were jogging at the park.

" Thank you Scarlet. " You recite on your mind when you see that the old guitar is still there, abandoned near old records. It's inside the gig bag, also called dust cover, so you can't see the instrument, but you trust your "magic".

" Can I see the guitar, please ? " You say leaning a little forward, ignoring how the old man's eyes are looking at you. He pulls out the guitar, and begins to play a few chords.

" A distant memory from the past, missy. Do you play ? " He says after playing a few chords, and reaching the guitar to you

" Old, kept in perfect conditions ... Always ready to perform. " You smile beginning to play, ignoring the double meaning of your words. You are only focused on the guitar, and using your "power" to get a good price for it. But the old man loved the way you answered.

" Any favourite ... song ... " He stops talking when he recognises the chords you are playing. And he is not the only one. People think that the trick to perform on the street is to be a good musician, but that's only part of the truth. A cute face, a young body, and an average voice are enough to pick up the attention from the people passing by. The girls want to be brave like you, the boys undress you with their eyes. But you can't see them. You are focused on your practice, because playing on a park has a different sound. There are no walls, and it smells fresher. When you stop, the little crowd gives you a small applause. Mostly by sympathy, but you think it's a sign of your talent.

" It works ... I just need a good price. " You think focusing your "power" looking at the dust cover.

" You have talent, miss ... " Says the old man. The small crowd is gone, the park is almost deserted, so he tries his luck.

" Kelly ... How much for the guitar ? " You say showing that you lack any ability to negotiate prices.

" Kelly ... $100. " He answer overcharging the price. " It's in perfect conditions. " He continues seeing your face that shows you can't afford the price. It's not hard to guess, because you are using second hand cheap clothes. While serving the tables people don't see it, because you are using the uniform, but your boss also saw it. It's this cheap look, that makes all older men want to use you.

But you are only focused on counting the money on your wallet. " It's not enough ... I need to use my "power" ... Just this time. " You think to yourself wondering if your moral is bending every time you use your "magic". And lost on your mind, you step closer to him.

" Can't you ... make a discount ? " You say touching his hand with yours, leaving the old man clearly worried. Flirting with a young lady is one thing, but if someone sees how close your are now ... people will begin to talk.

" I'm sorry ... It's not possible. " He says feeling his old boner getting bigger. He wants to step back, but he can't. The opportunity is there, so he makes his move. " How much you have Kelly ? "

" $20 ... " You say thinking that you plan is working, ignoring the trap he is preparing.

" $20 ... I guess life is hard for all ... I'm looking for a helper ... Do you need a job ? " He says preparing to fish a fool.

" I have a job ... I'm a waitress ... " You say mostly to yourself, forgetting that people can hear your sad voice, that makes the old man smile.

" Waitress ... another youngster that dreams big, and never took care of the basics. Welcome to the real world, Kelly. Soon you will be on someone's casting couch ... So I'm doing this to protect you. " He thinks to himself .

" How about a part-time, Kelly ? Come here, after your work. I can't make a discount, or even pay you a salary. But I'll let you play a little between the sales. I'm going to be honest with you ... You have talent, I almost want to offer you the guitar, and wait until you go rich to pay me back. "

" Rich ? Do you really think I'm good ? " You say thinking that you're using your "power, and swallowing the bait.

" I think that you need to practice, Kelly. A lot of practice. " He says, and after listening to you it's not hard to tell. Pleasing a crowd of nice ignorants is easy, but the old salesman used to lay at bars, and already set this trap for all many fishes ... You're just another one.

" I see that you need time to think about it, Kelly. If you're interested come back tomorrow. I would love to talk more, but I need to continue my work. " He says dropping the final piece of his trap. You walk away confused.

" My "power" ... I need to control it better. The poor old man wanted to give me the guitar ... " You think to yourself.

" I'll see you tomorrow, Kelly. " Says the old man thinking about how easy it is to fish on a barrel.

You return home, walking is not hard. But after a day serving tables, the exercise is too much for your legs, and you just want to sleep.