Show And Tell (3 of 5)

A week after her restoration, Daniel was at work, Britney was at school. Amanda woke to find her sister in Daniel’s office. She was rewatching the slideshow of everything she had missed.

Amanda sat down beside her and held her.

“Do you know what’s funny?” Ashley said. “I feel like I’ve been attending my own funeral these past few days.”

“What?”

“In reverse. Everyone is sitting around telling stories about the missing Mom. I’m the ghost in the stories. ‘Remember when Britney lost her first tooth and Mom wasn’t there?’ ‘Remember when Britney graduated from elementary school and Mom wasn’t there?’ ‘Remember when…’”

“Ashley, no one is faulting you for not being there.”

“I know that. It has nothing to do with fault. But, there are thousands of anecdotes about Britney did this and Britney did that. And none of them include me being there by her side. It hurts. I don’t want it to hurt. I certainly don’t want Britney to know I feel this way.”

“Of course it hurts. No one will be upset with you because you feel bad about missing stuff.”

“The weird part is I didn’t really miss her growing up. I saw her when she was six and seven and ten and so on. I’ve seen her and Daniel get older. If anything, seeing you is the only part where I feel like I truly missed the passage of time. I missed the last nine years and I was here for it. Like a ghost.”

“Any thoughts about seeing a therapist.”

Ashley laughed. “Yes. But then I think ‘Hi, does the therapist have any openings I’m hoping find one who’s experienced with being stuck as a mannequin for nine years.’”

“’Sorry, the therapist only takes patients who have been lost for twenty or more years.’”

They laughed together.

“How do I get to be her mother again? She’s nearly an adult.”

“Britney loves you. She loves you as her mother. You don’t need to be her mother again. You’ve always been her mother to her. I’m shocked to hear myself saying it, but you probably have Selena to thank for that. She kept you involved in Britney’s life far better than Daniel did.”

“Selena. What do I do about her? I can’t imagine life without her. She was my lifeline to the world. She’s the only friend I’m close to. And yet, she and Daniel are lovers. How does that work?”

“I have no idea. It was simpler when I hated her.”

“You’ve discovered like I did years ago that it’s hard to be mad at Selena.”

*****

A week later, Amanda entered the kitchen to see about lunch. She found her sister Ashley sitting at the table, just staring into space.

“Relapse?”

“What?”

“You were stock still and staring vacantly.”

“Oh. I’m just trying to relax.”

“More nightmares?”

“Not last night. They’re finally going away. I guess I’m just nervous.”

“Nervous?”

“My appointment later.”

“The driving test? You’re nervous?”

“I didn’t pass the first time.”

“I’d forgotten that,” Amanda said. “I remember you made sure I practiced so I wouldn’t fail mine. I can’t believe that was almost twenty years ago.”

“I don’t even have that any more. You’re the older sister now.”

“You take that back.”

She stuck her tongue out at Amanda.

“Really?”

“I get to be the less mature one, now.”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

“Go?”

“For a drive. I have to give you a driving lesson so you don’t fail the first time.”

With a wide grin, Ashley said, “Thanks, Big Sis.”

*****

When Britney got home that afternoon, her mother was in her room. Ashley was on the Mannequin Disk. The timer was counting down another ten minutes until it would restore her.

Britney was shocked. Mom hadn’t used the Disk since she’d been restored. She hesitated only a moment before going about her business as if her mother wasn’t there. She took off her shoes and put her book bag in the corner. She grabbed her tablet and opened the reading app. She tried to read the book assigned for her English class but was too distracted to get very far. She gave up on reading when she heard the Mannequin Disk turn on and start its pre-restoration checks.

In a moment, her mother was standing in her room. “I missed that,” she said softly.

“You did?”

“Oh, you’re home,” Ashley said placidly. She was feeling mellow enough that she wasn’t startled to see Britney was there. “How was your day?”

“No, no. Back up. You missed that?”

“I did. I admit I was nervous these past two weeks. I’ve been doing this for very short durations the past few days while you were at school.”

“How have you done this and Amanda didn’t kill you?”

“She wouldn’t kill me. I just do it when I know she’ll be occupied with something. She doesn’t know.”

“Then why did you make sure I found out?”

“Oh, right! Guess who’s taking you to school tomorrow?”

“You passed?”

“I did!” Ashley did a little dance and Britney joined in.

After a moment, Ashley stopped because Britney had stopped. Her daughter’s eyes were welling with tears.

“What, honey?”

“I forgot we used to happy dance,” Britney said pulling her mother into a hug.

“Yeah. You used to get excited by stuff easily.”

“I know. I still do. I just haven’t… haven’t danced like that in so long. I’d forgotten.”

“Well, we can dance now.”

“What’s wrong?” Amanda said as she entered. “I heard stomping.”

“Nothing,” Ashley said. “We were dancing.”

“That must have been some sad dance.”

“No, no, these are happy tears,” Britney said. “I haven’t danced with Mom in too long.”

“Oh. Why were you dancing?”

“You already know.”

“Because you passed?”

“I passed.”

The three of them danced. After a while Amanda had to sit down and just watch. “It isn’t fair you can keep up with Brit so easily.”

“I really don’t recommend my anti-aging process.”

“Nothing is good in excess,” Britney said. She gave her aunt a withering gaze. “Am I just finding out that dancing for fun wasn’t just between me and Mom?”

“We’ve danced for the joy of the smallest things forever, dear,” Amanda said. “I didn’t know you knew about it.”

“I didn’t. This is fantastic. I can not only dance with Mom, I can dance with you, too.”

“Any time.” The next time they stopped, they all sat down. After a moment, Amanda said to her sister, “Relaxed after using that thing?”

“What?”

“She knew!” Britney laughed.

“Of course, I knew. Why do you think I would disappear after lunch for an hour to run an errand or go jogging or something?”

“You knew? You wanted us to destroy it when you arrived.”

“It’s unnatural. But, Britney convinced me.”

“Britney? How?”

Amanda sighed and said, “You went out to dinner with Daniel a week or so ago and I found her on the machine with only a few minutes left. So I waited…”

*****

Lights flashed across Britney’s skin as her plastic form was replaced by her living body. She inhaled deeply.

“Why do you use that cursed thing?” Amanda said.

“Get on.”

“What?”

“Get. On,” Britney insisted.

“I am not becoming a mannequin.”

“Get on and find out what you keep complaining about. I won’t take no for an answer.”

“No.”

“Then never say another word about me using the machine.”

“Fine.”

“Or Mom.”

“No. She isn’t allowed…”

“You aren’t Grandma and even if she were here, I’d explain to her Mom isn’t a child. Now, get on or never talk about it again.”

“Fine.” Amanda got up. To Britney’s surprise, her aunt didn’t leave the room. She crossed it and stood on the Disk. “Now what?”

“Let me set the duration.”

“Just five minutes.”

“That’s too short. Just relax. I promise not to take you apart.”

“That isn’t comforting.”

“Ready?”

“I guess.”

Britney looked at her aunt and shook her head. “Don’t stand like that.”

“I’m just standing like I always stand.”

“Ever seen a mannequin standing like that?”

“I’m not a mannequin.”

“You will be. Now, stand like a mannequin does.”

Her aunt humored her, putting her weight on one foot so she could bend her other knee a bit. She held her arms away from her body in a dramatic manner.

“Relax your fingers more. Okay. That’s good.” Britney tapped the start button with her foot. “Just relax. It’s going take hold of you by surprise even though you’re expecting it. Don’t be afraid.”

After a second, Amanda said, “Don’t you have to start it.”

“Already did.”

Lights flashed. Amanda felt as if she were wrapped in a thousand layers of cling wrap. She found herself unable to move before the lights faded. It was weird not being able to move her eyes.

Britney’s face appeared in front of her and wagged her index finger at her aunt. “I’ve put you in time out for speaking badly about the Mannequin Disk, young lady.” Her face disappeared.

The light in the room turned off. The sound of Britney’s receding footsteps faded, Only the soft hiss of air being pushed out of the air conditioning vents reached Amanda’s plastic ears. Her outrage didn’t last long once she resigned herself to being here however long Britney had set the machine.

She didn’t have a heartbeat to break the silence. Or to provide her a sense of time. Her mind drifted. She memorized all the knick-knacks on the shelves in front of her, noting which ones weren’t quite lined up with the others. Her mind drifted. She noted the bits of laundry that always seemed to fail to find their way to Britney’s laundry basket. Her mind drifted.

She was suddenly very aware as it felt like thousands of layers of wrappings were being pulled away from her body. The feeling disappeared as suddenly as it had appeared. She could move. She inhaled deeply.

“Well?” Britney said.

Amanda hadn’t noticed the lights in the room had been turned on. But, she was too mellow to react with surprise at the sound of Britney’s voice. “I get it,” she said slowly.

“You do?”

“I’m never doing it again.”

“Awwww.”

“But, I get it. I can see how some might find that relaxing. It’s not for me.”

“That’s fine. As long as you’ll stay off our backs about it.”

“Yeah. Yeah. I promise.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. I’m going to go lie down and think about what just happened.”

“Lie down? You already look like you’re asleep.”

“Yeah. It’s not for me.” She left Britney’s room. “Not for me,” she muttered. “I’d become addicted,” she thought.

*****

She didn’t mention that last bit as she finished telling her sister about the one and only time she had used the Mannequin Disk.

That evening, long after laughing at Britney’s schooling of Amanda about Mannequing Disks, Ashley lay in bed next to Daniel. A pair of their arms were intertwined. They were both a bit sweaty and winded.

“What’s that look?” Daniel said.

“It’s nothing. You really got me tonight.”

“Oh?”

“One of our best times together. Five stars, would recommend.”

“I’m glad to hear it. You were wonderful, too.”

They lay in silence for a while. His hand held hers.

“Did… Did she teach you how to…?”

“I don’t want to talk about…”

“You’ve never done that to me before. It was too messy, you’d say.”

“I’m older and more mature, young lady.”

“More attentive to your partner’s needs.”

“I’m not apologizing for giving you a good time.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m glad. Happy even. I was just curious.”

“I’d rather not talk about Selena,” he said. He got up. “I’ll be right back.” He went to the bathroom.

She was right where he’d left her when he returned to the bed.

“You should go out on a real date with her without me.”

“Yeah, sure. You can help me get dressed up for it.”

“If you want.”

“Are you serious?”

“I was thinking. You never dated Selena while I was a living being.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“So, if I weren’t alive, and you went on a date, it would be the same thing.”

“Weren’t alive? What are you…? Have you been using the Disk?”

“I have. I needed it.”

“Ashley, I could never survive if I lost you again.”

“There’s very little chance that Britney would take my head to school these days.”

“But…”

She cuddled up close to him so her face filled his vision. “No, no. Let me finish. I see it in your face. You never used to close your eyes when we made love. You do now. Don’t tell me the answer. Just allow me to speculate. You probably developed that habit with her as well. Not looking at her during sex when you started dating her allowed you to pretend she was me. Now, you have your eyes closed with me and I’m sure sometimes, you’re thinking of her.”

“I…”

“No, no. I don’t care. It’s fine. It’s even natural. None of this fair to you or to her or to me. I owe her a lot. We all do. And if I were a mannequin, it wouldn’t be any different than it was a year ago.”

“But, it would be different. You’re here.”

“I’ve always been here. If taking her to dinner would be morally wrong a week from Friday night, it was wrong a year ago.”

“That is very mature… for someone of your apparent age.”

“Don’t change the subject.”

“I was hoping that was funny.”

“Not enough.

“Next Friday night?”

“When she said she was busy tomorrow night, I asked if she was busy next Friday and said I’d love if we all went to dinner together. I didn’t tell her only you were showing up. Now. She’s your mistress. So, if you want to tell her it’s a real date, that’s up to you. I intend to spend that Friday night through to Saturday morning on the Disk. I haven’t been a mannequin that long since my reawakening.”

He kissed her and after a few aborted protests she kissed back. They lay in one another’s arm for quite a while exchanging kisses and gentle touches.

“You’re sure you’ll be okay with this?”

“No,” she laughed. “Only one way to find out.”

“What about Britney?”

“Oh,” she said. “Do you think we should tell her?”

“I think I should tell her,” he said. “I think she’ll understand.”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think about telling her.”

“And Amanda?”

“Amanda has to go back home next Wednesday and won’t be back until the following week. She won’t be here either, conveniently.”

“I’m sure she would have more issue with you using the Disk.”

“She already knows I’ve been using it. She even kind of approves thanks to Britney.”

“Why didn’t I know?”

“Yeah. Why didn’t you?” She said. “I’m just busting you. I think Amanda would be torn about whether it was or wasn’t a good idea.”

“I’m still feeling the same way.”

“It’ll be fine. Selena deserves happiness. And you need to figure out how to deal with having two women who love you.”

“Please, don’t say it like that. It makes me feel like a low life.”

“No, you’re just a victim of your godly tongue powers.”

“I said I wouldn’t apologize for that.”

Her hand wrapped around his engorged member.

“Are you planning to do something with that?” He asked, leering at her.

She nodded. Lust twinkled in her eyes. “My tongue can be more godly.”

“I can get behind a greatest tongue competition that’ll take us decades to settle.”

*****

“Hey, there’s my idol,” Gerry said. He slapped Daniel on the back in a friendly gesture. They were meeting for lunch downtown.

“You heard?”

“Heard? Daniel, your socials are blowing up about Ashley’s return. And most of us have met Selena. Ash didn’t make you dump her as I understand it.”

“Is this true?” Rashad said. “Who is Ashley?

“Okay, that’s a long story,” Gerry said. “Ashley is Daniel’s wife. She had an accident with a Mannequin Disk thing and was trapped as a mannequin for several years. From what I understand, she’s no longer trapped.”

“You were dating Selena while your wife was alive?”

“As she pointed out to me the other night, while she was stuck, as Gerry put it, she wasn’t a living being.”

“How did you convince her of that?”

“I didn’t. She explained it to me. She likes Selena. Why is also a long story. I did not deal with being in a state of having lost my wife and she was still there standing in the house very well.”

“She ended up in his attic,” Gerry said.

“She did. And apparently, when Selena would come over, she would visit Ashley and tell her about what Britney and I were up to.”

“You didn’t visit your sick wife constantly. I hope ‘sick wife’ works.”

“Not like I should have. Even Britney had trouble going up to see her the last couple years. Selena kept Ashley in the loop.”

“They’re friends now?” Rashad asked.

“They get along well.”

“Oh, really? How well?” Gerry said. He made a rude gesture.

“Don’t be disgusting,” Rashad said. He was more upset by Gerry’s attitude than Daniel was.

“Rashad, Marta and I have sex once a month. He has two women who apparent love him and don’t hate each other. That must mean sex at least twice a month.”

“You only have sex once a month because Marta knows you’re a dog,” Rashad said.

Daniel and Gerry laughed.

“We warned her,” Daniel said. “She didn’t seem to mind when they were in college.”

“Yeah, children change a woman.”

“When you have more time, I’d love to hear more of this story,” Rashad said. “I’ve only met Selena once and my impression of her matches this selflessness you say she has.”

*****

“Britney?” her mother called out when she didn’t find her daughter in her bedroom.

“Attic.”

Britney noticed twenty or thirty minutes passed before she saw her mother climbing the stairs. From the landing, her mother said, “What is that smell?”

“You should climb back on this horse. Or these last six steps. The attic isn’t really all that scary.”

Ashley took a settling breath and straightened her back as she stepped into the attic. “You swept?”

“We really let the attic go while you were here. I’m so sorry you were abandoned in our never used attic.”

“Selena made sure it was never abandoned. Why are you sitting on the floor?”

Britney held up a rag. “The doll stand you were on was made of copper. Look at this green patina. I thought I’d polish it. It’s a beautiful doll stand.”

“Mark made it. Mark was Daniel’s friend in high school. Did you ever meet him?”

“I was here when he brought it up here. But, I don’t remember what he looked like.”

“He was great with making things. He propped me up in the stand. Daniel just stood there trying not to lose it.”

“I remember the old wooden thing Dad had you leaning against. This was a huge upgrade. It’s a shame it’s all corroded like this.”

“What are you going to do with it when you’re done?”

“Well, after it airs out for a few days, I want to put it in my room next to the Disk. It’s a cool looking thing.”

“You’re just going to end up hanging your clothes on it.”

“It isn’t exclusively useful for dolls,” Britney said seriously. “You doing okay. You don’t have to hang around here if you don’t want to.”

“I’m good. You were right. It’s just an attic. I might come up here more often.”

“Why?”

“To enjoy the novelty of being able to turn my head and see it from more than one angle.”

“Was that a joke?”

“Maybe. Changing the subject… When was the last time you spent the night with, um, Beth or that new girl, Darla?” Ashley asked Britney.

“I haven’t had a sleep over with anyone in a year, maybe two, I think. Why?”

“I was just hoping you might be out on a Friday night so I could use the Disk overnight.”

“We could move it into your bedroom.”

“No, it’s really yours now. You use it more than I do.”

“Not if you’re planning to use it overnight. Isn’t that a big jump compared to the fifteen to thirty minute times you admitted you’ve been doing?”

“Well, I figure I need to get back on that horse.”

“I know about Selena and Daddy’s date night.”

“You do?”

“Selena asked me if I was okay with it.”

Ashley laughed. “Of course, she did.”

“So did Dad. You weren’t going to tell me?”

“Not immediately. It’s really just between me and him and Selena.”

“True. But, I’m not a child.”

“I’m sorry, honey. Blame me for keeping it from you. I just figured you wouldn’t want to be here whenever your father gets home.”

“Now that’s a convincing argument. I’ll text Darla. And I’m glad to have you use the Disk while I’m out. Since it’s mine now.”

“Thank you, dear.”

*****

Britney bounded down the stairs. Daniel was checking his collar in the mirror by the front door. “Looking good, Dad. Have fun.”

“I will. I’m nervous.”

“I’m not helping you get psyched up for a date with Selena.

“I wouldn’t ask you to. Go have fun.”

She kissed her father’s cheek. “Nice cologne. I’ll be at Darla’s till tomorrow.”

“Okay. Is…?”

“The mannequin in my room isn’t going anywhere until morning.”

“Okay. Have a good night, Britney.”

She left.

With a last look in the mirror, he put his formal jacket over his arm for the restaurant later and left. He drove to Selena’s apartment.

When she opened the door, she greeted him with a brief, familiar kiss. “I’ll be ready in two shakes.” It was their first kiss since Ashley’s return. He marveled at how she was so nonchalant about it.

“Take your time. I’m early.”

“I know. You always are. You look a bit nervous,” she said as she put on a pair of wide hoop earrings.

“This is a little weird.”

“You’ve known me for years. You have no reason to be nervous with me. I find it rather romantic.”

“I know.”

“How do I look?”

“Stunning as always.” He helped drape the shawl she was holding over her shoulders. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.”

An awkward silence fell between them as he drove them to the restaurant.

“Do you remember our first date?”

“Yeah, though I try not to dwell on it,” he said.

“You were a total stiff. You were nervous about something. Worse than tonight even. At the time I thought it was because you were leaving Britney with a sitter for the first time since your wife and you had been estranged. That was how you put it in the early days. You told me it was a complicated situation. And too complicated for a first date.”

“I was there.”

“Actually, you were barely there. I didn’t know at the time. Your nerves had nothing to do with the sitter. It had everything to do with the mannequin in the attic.”

“Why are you thinking about this now?”

“You’re stiff and nervous, Daniel. If you can’t do this with me, just take me home now. I won’t be mad if you can’t…”

“No, no. You’re right I’m nervous. It’s the stupidest thing. It’s…”

He left it hanging so long, she said, “It’s what?”

“It’s stupid,” he said. “I’m worried about our date being too good.”

“Too good?”

“None of this is fair to you. I love Ashley. And I love you. You know how many times I suggested we do something official.”

“It’s a good thing we didn’t.”

“I suppose in hindsight it is. But where does that put me now? I expect we’ll have a wonderful time tonight.”

“Darn.”

“And then I’ll go home and Ashley will be there. Every time I think about that it gets more awkward.” He parked the car. “We’re here.”

“We haven’t been here in a while. Are we going in?”

He sighed. He opened his car door. “Of course. I’m just being anxious for no reason.”

“You spend an hour or so staring into my eyes and it’ll fade away.”

“A whole hour?”

“You’re right. For you, these eyes will only need ten minutes. Fifteen tops.”

“They are hypnotic.” They approached the hostess table. When he mentioned his reservation, the hostess led them to their table.

“You do remember our first date. Did you arrange this?”

“This is our table.” He held her chair for her and pushed it in behind her.

“Are you already relaxing?”

“A bit.”

His nerves didn’t bother him again until they got back to his car and he was driving her home.

“You’ve gotten quiet,” she said.

“Sorry. Were you saying something?”

“Not really. I suppose we should talk about this now. When we get home, I’d love for you to come in and stay the night.”

“So would I. And I’m not sure I can.”

“I’m sure you can.” She put her hand on his thigh. “She trusts you. She loves you. And she knew this was exactly how this date would end.”

“I know. I know. I can’t shake the feeling this should be a bigger deal than it is. We operate under unusual circumstances. All the feelings I have are normal. But, there’s nothing normal about this.”

“I suppose that’s one way to look at it,” she said.

“How else should I look at it?”

“Remember our first time?”

“Of course. It was magical,” he said, the memory twinkled in his eye.

He parked the car.

“No, not the first successful time. The first time.”

“Oh, Lord,” He laughed. “No, I’d forgotten that. I said something about not dwelling earlier if you recall.”

She ignored that. “Why didn’t we have sex that first time?”

“You weren’t sure it was right. Not me. You,” he said.

“And what did you explain to me?”

“I said, ‘I don’t know if this is right or wrong. The whole situation is crazy. Let’s just focus on us the next time we try this.’ Or words to that effect.”

“That was close to exact, I think,” she said thoughtfully. “The point is that question is on both of our minds. I love Ashley, too. I don’t want to hurt her. Even though us having a date was her idea, I don’t know if inviting you to my bed is right or wrong. But, right now, we have the opportunity to focus on us with no other distractions. Let’s not waste it.”

He turned the car off. They kissed. The world patiently waited for them to finish that first kiss of many to come that evening. “Okay,” he said.