The Stage is Set

It was certainly bustling with activity at the newly renovated apartment complex. The place had been cleaned up after the prior afternoon’s ‘distractions’. Work had started early in the morning and the final touches were now just being completed. No expense had been spared. The koi pond had been drained, cleaned and stocked with aquatic plants and small goldfish.

The carpeted stairs had been cleaned and loose carpet nails hammered down. The plastic trees, bushes, plants and some small, naked cherubs shooting bows and arrows, were being installed in the narrow spaces joining the sides of the center staircase with the two flanking escalators to act as an eye level partition between them.

Built along the side of the pond and overlapping it slightly, was the other showcase piece of the renovated lobby. This was the rotating carousel bar. It was a small, refurbished amusement park carousel which had been salvaged after Madame Mayor had recently declared the park ‘hazardous’ thus clearing the way for the land to be bought up on the cheap by the adjacent country club for expansion.

The original horses had been removed and replaced by a number of benches radiating from the center like the spokes of a wheel. Made of wood with spaced, slatted backs, colorful cushions and matching wooden coffee style tables, they could accommodate up to six guests each. A small bar for serving coffees, drinks and light snacks stood in the center. Around the outside circumference was a waist high iron rail decorated with small Fleur de Lis pierced by a single opening. The entire configuration rotated continuously at little more than a slow walk, allowing guests to easily step on or off onto the lobby floor. Once in motion, one would have a marvelous view of the koi pond, the rest of the lobby and then further out the large glass windows.

The spacious rental agent’s office, complete with it’s own private outside entrance, was just off the lobby, at the head of a broad hallway leading down to a gym with separate sauna and shower facilities for men and women. In a deep recess next to the rental office was the location of the private bank of elevators to the rooftop penthouses and main business office.

Off the entrance to the hallway and lobby, just below the second floor balcony was a spacious alcove which could be used to set up tables for more large-scale displays.

A fascinating piece of cutting edge kinetic art was installed on one of the long alcove walls. It was a display of inter-meshed gears of varying sizes that were powered by a hidden electric motor. Quite avante garde. Quite expensive. The more so, the better. For the senior Mrs. Sykes, who owned the complex, believed it showed people what she and her family were made of. And she craved public exposure for herself, her daughter and grand daughter. She needed to be seen by all as the cultural leader of the community. Just another way for her to display her assets and highlight their selling points. Mrs. Sykes was all about showing the “less sophisticated” what class and culture were all about.

All in all, things were looking up. The apartments were finally getting renovated also. Rents were expected to stay affordable as the Sykes family owned the both the apartments and country club, which allowed them to maintain a steady supply of menial workers over at the country club.

It was a beehive of activity, alright. Preparations were almost complete. All of the food that had been prepped the night before was making its way onto the serving tables set up in the alcove. A large variety of dishes and desserts were laid out. Someone even had the foresight to borrow a nice chocolate fountain display from the club dinning facility. An area of the alcove next to the escalator was being used to set up the platform for the humongous multi tiered cake that was being brought in.

Megan was quite thrilled to be part of it. But needed to go change out of her too tight short pants and grungy T-shirt before things kicked off. Showing that she was a ‘fat bottomed girl’ with a pronounced VPL was drawing far too many leers.

“At least these are way better than those clothes April ruined yesterday” She thought. “Actually, where is April? I haven't seen her all morning. Eh, no loss.” she shrugged.

In fact, all the was left to do now was get ready for the arrival of Mrs. Sykes and her entourage.

“Should have about an hour yet.” thought Megan.

“Hey!!! Everybody!! They’re here!!!

“WHAT???” Came the collective voice.

The local sheriff and her deputies had arrived.