As mentioned in my Theme Reveal, my character Isola is taking over! She’s going to share with you some of her crazy stories, mostly centered around working in a Sex Toy Shop. Take it away, Isola!

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One day I was working at the sex toy shop when a woman rolled in the front door in a wheelchair.

Feeling a little saucy, I said, “Welcome to Aphrodite’s Toychest. Can I help you find your fantasy today?”

“I, no, well, I mean, maybe.” She seems thrown off by my comment.

I smile at her. “Well, we’ve got lots of toys, depending on your preferences. For yourself or to use with someone?”

“Oh. I don’t have a someone. Actually, that’s kind of why I’m here.”

I raise an eyebrow, though it’s partially hidden behind my long, straight hair. “I’ve got dolls, but there are no hookers in the back.”

She laughs, and I find her to be endearing. Generally, I am attracted to laughter, but there was something special about hers that made me tingle. Not in a sexual way, just a feeling. “Good to know,” she says. “I’m actually looking for roommates — the more open-minded variety. I run a psychic business out of my converted garage. I’m hoping to avoid the judgmental types. You know?”

I nod. “Yeah, I can see how a place with fuzzy cuffs probably has a better market for you than a grocery store.”

She hands me her ad. “Fuzzy cuffs? My ex stole my old pair. So, since I’m here…”

“Leopard, pink, purple, black, or red?” I offer.

“Hmm. My favorite color is copper. Don’t suppose you have that?”

“Not in fuzzy cuffs,” I reply. “Nipple clamps though!”

She laughs. “I’ll take the leopard print, please.”

I get them and ring her up, thanking her for her business, and promising to get the ad seen by the right people.

After she leaves, I read over the ad. She’s looking for someone for the second floor and basement in a house. It’s no mystery to me why she would need someone to live in those spaces. Unless the house was majorly wheelchair accessible, those wouldn’t be areas she could use much. Though, I didn’t know if she was entirely wheelchair bound. I hoped not, for her sake.

I hung the ad up on the board on the wall. Something was still tingling in the back of my mind about the woman. Had she given me a name? I didn’t think so. But then another customer entered.

“Hello,” I said cheerily, setting aside the thoughts of the woman looking for a roommate.

All of my thoughts were focused on the customer who had entered. Of all the things I thought I would have to deal with when I took this job, I hadn’t considered creepy guys. But here I was, looking at a creepy guy who came in at least once a week. He had never stolen anything, to my knowledge, but he would sometimes hang around and ask awkward questions. I was okay with that until he tried to take a girl home with him and didn’t take no for an answer. She had handled herself well, but I was ready to call the police if he hadn’t buggered off when he did.

He came in and wandered over to the board where I had just posted the ad. And I knew. I knew that he should not see that ad.

I got to the board at the same time he did. He was just looking at the paper when I snatched it off the board and crumpled it up.

“Hey,” he said, “what was that for?”

“I just got a call to take that down. The place has been rented.”

“So soon?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said, feigning confidence I didn’t feel. “Sorry it didn’t work out for you.”

I stuck the crumpled piece of paper in my pocket and went back to the desk, watching as he perused the store. He picked out a new pair of leathers and brought them to the counter. I rang up his purchase and watched as he left.

When he was out of sight, I realized that I had pulled the paper out of my pocket and smoothed it out subconsciously. The phone number on the bottom of the ad was almost pulsing with the need for me to call it. I hadn’t been planning to move, but my lease was only month to month, so I could leave any time…

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By the way, you should check out another perspective on this story on another blog… http://uniquelymaladjustedbutfun.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading my blog! Come back to read more of Isola’s stories throughout the month of April, and check out other A to Z Blogs here!