Hollywood Happy Endings

David Trapper turned his car off with a resigned sigh. He wished that he had called in sick today, just to get one day free from the disgusting monotony, but he needed the money badly. Rent was due in two weeks and he needed every dollar, so he sucked it up and made his way to work. So here he was, sitting in the parking lot of ’Hands for Stars’, wishing he was home in bed.

What had once been a sweet idea for a job had quickly turned into a torturous experience day in and out. Family and friends had always raved about David’s hands and how they delivered such amazing massages, so David choose to become a professional masseur. After a year and a half of study and 1,000 plus contact hours, David finally got his license and set out to make a name for himself.

Unfortunately there were many other people who were also looking to make a name, especially in Los Angeles. So David got a job in a massage parlor, trying to build up the money and reputation to open a business of his own.

David got out of his car, locked it, and made his way to the front door adorned with a picture of a 5-point star being massaged by a pair of hands. At least that’s what it was supposed to be. To David it looked like Thing from the Addams Family found a friend and was trying to strangle a star, but hey, who was David to complain? Nobody, just some new guy fresh out of school.

Entering the building, David gave a ****-cheerful “Good afternoon” that didn’t actually sound **** to Denise, the receptionist currently on the phone and computer at the same time. Denise gave a genuine smile of greeting back before returning her focus to the tasks at hand.

David couldn’t help but feel perked up a little. He had always liked Denise. She seemed to be the only person in this place who actually liked him being here. Everyone else (the other masseurs employed by ’Hands on Stars’ and even the management) just saw him as either competition or a complete novice.

David made his way to the back room where about half-a-dozen of his co-workers were relaxing and instantly made his way to the coffee machine. Unlike most offices portrayed on TV and in the movies, this place actually had great coffee and always managed to give David the burst of energy he needed to survive the day.

He was just about to go check on his appointments for the day when Taylor Froth, assistant to Joseph Kendell, the owner and manager of ‘Hands on Stars’, approached him.

“No need to check your appointments today, Trapper,” Taylor said brusquely without even a ‘hello’.

“Good afternoon to you too, Mr. Froth,” said David with a transparent excitement. “And why not, if I can ask.”

Taylor ignored David’s cheekiness and continued as if he hadn’t been interrupted.

“Change of plans, Trapper. Goodman had a family emergency and couldn’t make it, so you get to go on the road today,” Taylor told David without looking up from the clipboard he was carrying.

It was like the clouds had just cleared letting in the sunlight in its radiant glory. In a few clipped words, Mr. Taylor Froth had done what a smile from a pretty woman and a cup of excellent coffee failed to do: make David happy he came to work.

John Goodman (no relation, he exhaustedly explained every time he introduces himself) was one of the traveling masseurs who went to clients who couldn’t make it out to the parlor or preferred to stay in the safety and comfort of home.

If this was a normal massage parlor this news wouldn’t get David so excited, but this was a parlor exclusively for the hundreds of celebrities who make Los Angeles so famous. In order to make them happy thou, the parlor also served the family and friends of the famous clientele.

But in David’s two months in ‘Hands on Stars’, David had never had a famous client. He served Scarlett Johansson’s twin brother and Tom Hanks’ personal assistant, but never anyone he actually heard of. He saw Kobe Bryant here once and had thought he recognized the voice of Gwen Stafani a few times, but has never come in contact with them.

Now, however, he was going to get the chance to go to them. He was going to get the chance to go into their house, or trailer if the client was on set, and actually talk to them. He couldn’t wait!

“What happened to John? Is everything alright,” asked David, remembering how nice of a guy John was and feeling a twinge of guilt at feeling happy when something horrible might be happening to him and his family.

“He didn’t say,” Taylor said, with actual concern in his voice as he detached a paper from his clip board. “he didn’t sound hysterical so hopefully what ever it is isn’t too bad.”

David nodded his head at these slightly comforting words as Taylor got back down to business, “Now, Trapper, here is your client information. She has been contacted and told in the change from Goodman to you and has given her consent. You were chosen over other, longer served co-workers because, despite your inexperience here, we have heard nothing but good things about….”

Taylor’s voice faded into static background noise as David blinked rapidly, thinking he might be seeing things. His client couldn’t be who he thought it was.