The Costume Shop

You are looking for a costume for Friday's Halloween party at Victor's house. All the ones you could make at home are lame, and ones you've done before. You want something new and sexy, so maybe someone might get interested and maybe you can get laid. You've been fallow for far too long.

You head downtown toward one of the big costume rental shops when you see a new shop just four blocks from your house. You could swear it wasn't there last week. It is in a building that had been a big coffeehouse until the recession it to close. The space had been empty for six months.

You stop because of the sandwich board sign in front -- "Madame Vivante's Costumery - Make your Fantasy Come True".

You park and walk in.

The door jingles as you enter. The place is huge and filled with racks of clothes. Just inside the door, at the front counter, stands Madame Vivante, you presume. She is an older woman dressed in clothes more suited to the Sixties than the new millennium -- a flower pattern gauzy blouse and a tie-dye skirt.

"Welcome to Madame Vivante's," she says with a thick French accent. "I have many coztumes zat will make your fantasies come true. Just browse around, and zere are changing rooms in ze back." She vaguely points with her hand toward the back of the shop. She then returns to her seat behind the counter and reads her French fashion magazine.

You look through the shop.

(Author's Note: I've started a tip jar over at Ko-Fi. Drop-in and say hi!)