A couple of weeks ago I was part of an event at a local
bookstore, where four authors who write mysteries got together for a short
panel discussion. After introductions and brief biographies were shared, we
fielded questions from the thirty or so people in the audience.
Afterwards there was time to talk privately. I was approached by a lady named Sue. Turns
out that she has extensive experience working with cadaver dogs. That got my
attention in a hurry. We made
arrangements to meet so I could learn more about the training and her
background.
Last week we met at a Tim Horton’s donut shop. For almost two hours, Sue explained about her
education and training in veterinary medicine and her work with law enforcement
agencies in the US and Canada. She even
shared some videos of training with dogs, teaching them how to search and how
to signal when they made a discovery.
Parts of our conversation may have been uncomfortable for
the old fellow who took the booth behind me, especially when we discussed flies
and maggots and mummification of bodies.
But this was priceless information. As a writer, I’m always
alert to learning more about someone’s background, especially when it’s out of
the ordinary. So that chance encounter at
a bookstore has led to a new resource.
This has happened before, when I needed to know more about firearms or
technology.
Chance encounters.
You just never know when such
information may come in handy.
Writing about
chance encounters reminded me of Holly, a young lady I met years ago who was an
aerobics instructor. During a conversation she also mentioned teaching a pole
dancing class as a form of exercise. After Holly described it, I knew that
would become a part of Jamie Richmond’s “Vanishing Act”.
In this scene, Jamie and her best friend,
Linda go to the home of Madeline, their aerobics instructor for a semi-private
lesson in pole dancing.
“Okay, ladies,” Madeline said as she entered
the basement, “let’s all relax. We’re going to have a few laughs and learn some
things. I guarantee you will feel like you’ve had a good workout when you’re
done, along with a good time. Help yourself to a drink and find a seat.”
Once we all settled into a chair, she began
the lesson.
“No matter how old you are or how flexible
you are everyone can do these moves. It just takes some practice. It’s a lot
like being a kid, playing on the jungle gym or the swing set.”
Linda gave me a look. “I recall you always
falling off the swing set.”
“Hush. That was years ago. I’m much better
at it now.”
Madeline picked up on our exchange. “Falling
is part of learning. You’ll notice that in the beginning we’re going to take it
slow and I’ll be right next to you. And remember that falling is inevitable.
What’s important to remember is that when you do land on the floor, you get up
sexy.”
Bernadette, one of the older women from our
class, roared with laughter. “Get up sexy? At my age, I’m lucky to get up at
all.”
Madeline beamed a smile. “Trust me. By the
time we’re done tonight, even if you trip over your own feet, whoever you’re
dancing for will not notice that you fell. They will be too focused on the way
you get back up. And it will be sexy.”
With that, Madeline turned on the stereo and
flipped on a song with a slow, sultry beat. She began to move around the pole,
explaining how she placed her hands and where. All the laughing and comments
faded away quickly as we watched her move. She was graceful, using the pole as
a dance partner, swaying against it. When Madeline lifted both feet off the floor and wrapped her legs around
the pole, every one of us was watching intently.
After showing us some basic moves, we each
got a turn on the pole. At one point, it looked like a chorus line as Madeline
had us line up before the mirror and practice some of the steps. Linda’s face
was flushed and she couldn’t stop laughing.
“You know this really is a good workout.”
I agreed. “I thought we were in pretty good
shape, but we’re using muscles I didn’t even know I had.”
Madeline encouraged us to change into our
shorts and heels. There was a great deal of laughter now as we each learned new
dance steps, some of which involved the pole, others a chair. As each of us
took our turn with the pole, we did, in fact, end up on the floor and find a
way to ‘get up sexy’.
When
it was Linda’s turn with the pole, she yanked the clips from her hair and shook
out her curls. Then as she did each move, she would toss her head. When she was
on the floor, she tipped her head forward and her eyes were hidden by that
luxurious wave of hair. Slowly, she wiggled forward and got back to her feet.
Everyone was cheering and applauding. I could only imagine a guy’s reaction to
that pose. I hoped Vince was taking his vitamins.
Inspired by her efforts, I tried my best to
master the dance steps. I thought I did fairly well, but my version of the ‘get
up sexy’ move definitely left something to be desired. A few of the women
cheered. A few more were laughing. And Linda did her best to be supportive. She
gave me a hug after my routine and spun me around.
“You did it, Jamie. I can’t believe it, but
you did it.”
“What did you think of my moves?”
She couldn’t help but laugh. “When you use
those on Malone, maybe you should make sure the lights are off.”
Lots of blues on the airwaves this week, including an old favorite from Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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