Leave it to Beavers: Jake 23

The days were getting shorter.  It would soon be Winter.  I was bored out of my tree.  I realized that when I was delivering pizza or going to school time seemed to go by so much faster.  Now, I have too much free time on my hands.  And I cannot get another job because I am really on call.  Never knowing when Ivan might need me.  The worst part is that I have too much time to think.  I start thinking about filming wild beaver in the wild and how exciting that is going to be.  I have waited so long.  And Spring is just around the corner.  Spring is just around the corner… no more taking photos of the DICE… no more Aurora.  My thoughts always come back to her!  It is extremely irritating.  Not much irritates me.  AND that is irritating.  I wonder what she is doing right now?  Of course, my contract does stipulate that I cannot have any contact with any of them outside the photo sessions.  So, I am just left wondering.  I mean we work together so it is just normal that I think of them… right?  But… I don’t really think about Piper and Josie.

I have to get out of my apartment.  Clear my head.  I grab my camera and without any real direction I find myself at the nearest mall.  The weather is definitely cooler now so maybe I can take some photos of shoppers.  Halloween has only recently ended, but just like clockwork, the stores are already pushing their Christmas sales.  Christmas music plays through the speakers.  Christmas lights and decorations adorn the shops.  Signs entice shoppers with Christmas sales.  And people buy it all up.  Like some sort of Christmas magic.  I never really noticed that before.  But it is all just a … fantasy. 

It is slightly more difficult photographing people while they are shopping as opposed to at a park.  People seem more suspicious.  So, the vibe was all wrong.  I did get some photos, but it just wasn’t working.  I sat down across from a lingerie shop… with my camera in hand.  On the bench I noticed a scarf.  I don’t have a scarf.  I picked it up.  It was soft and warm like someone had just been wearing it.  Without really thinking I smelled it.  Familiar?  People kind of looked at me odd.  Weird, how just because I was holding a camera across from a lingerie shop while smelling a scarf would get so much attention?  Would they have noticed me like at the food court?  I felt like saying I film women without their clothes on for a living.  And what a bunch of hypocrites!  Maybe, if I like had Aurora’s white lace panties with the faint yellow stain in my hand and up to my face AND my camera standing at the entrance to the lingerie shop that might have been different!  Honestly, I don’t even know why I was across from the lingerie shop.  A security guard came over and asked me what I was doing?  I told him I was a photographer.  He politely asked me to leave.  I no longer belonged in the real world.  Wow.  So, with scarf in hand, I left. 

Ivan shortly thereafter contacted me and said the Viking pics were once again great.  Unfortunately, the next shoot was also going to be outside.  It was the last outside shoot.  The investors at StarDreamers wanted some photos of the DICE in front of a church.  Not naked… of course, being cold and outside.  But again, there would be heaters and some smokers.  Some lighting as well.  The DICE would be wearing very sensual dresses with lace hats and gloves and even lace on there high heeled shoes.  He said that we, being myself and the ladies, were to meet on location.  He gave me all the details I would need and being just the photographer there wasn’t many.  Hard to believe it would soon be over.

A church?  With the DICE?  Odd, I get thrown out, well, asked to leave the mall all decorated with Christmas spirit, and now I am going to be taking photos of three very beautiful women in front of church!  I cannot … begin to understand.  Life at Easter Bay was so much simpler.

The day of the shoot arrived and I drove my melted soft serve vanilla ice cream smelling Chevy Nova to the church location.  It was early evening.  The church had an ominous appearance.  In the lighting, which was already set up, it gave an impression of black and white doom.  Steps led up to three individual doors.  I remember something … latin… nomine patris, et filly, et spirit sankti… or something like that.  Anyway, it resonated holiness.  And it was cool outside even with the heaters.  Fake smoke swirled around the steps.  Clouds were moving in.  There was snow in the forecast. 

I went and greeted the ladies who were… looking incredibly beautiful.  Piper was wearing a blue tight-fitting dress.  Josie’s was yellow and you could just make out her tattoo snake slithering up her leg.  And Aurora… she was wearing red… wow, she looked really nice.  They all had black high heels … pumps… is that what they are called?  I don’t know.  Black lace gloves and hats with like netting that came down just past their noses.  Aurora’s blonde hair was in a pony tail.  And she was wearing a light red lipstick… on her … lips. 

We decided to get to work.  And they posed on the church steps and in front of the church doors.  I took my photos.  What a contrast.  These beautiful women glowed with bright colour and sensuality posing in front of the hallowed ground of a bleak church.  And it so worked!  They were like witches or demonesses or cast aside angels!  They didn’t belong and to me they seemed perfect.  Almost more real.  More alive.  And the church became like the dead or a fantasy.  The smoke swirled around the women enhancing their nymphlike appearance.  And I kept snapping my camera.  It wasn’t a long photo shoot.  I got a lot of great photos though.  We ended just as snow began to fall.  The crew packed up. 

Piper and Josie said they had a ride.  Aurora asked if I would take her back to the Mansion.  Sure.  After all, it was in my contract to… do what?  But I did agree to take her.  I loaded up my equipment and we hopped in my car.  I don’t remember ever being alone driving with Aurora.  The snow was definitely coming down heavier now.  I could see goose bumps on her arms so I fired up the heater and we were soon on our way in my melted soft serve vanilla ice cream smelling Chevy Nova.  I wonder if she could smell it.  Then I remembered the wrestling shoot with the vanilla smelling lubricant!  Funny.  We drove through the snow not really saying much.  Even now, I am at a loss for words when it comes to Aurora.  I can talk to Piper and Josie without any trouble.  But with Aurora, it’s like I am worried I am going to say the wrong thing.  Or maybe the right thing.  She is so strange. 

We made it back to the Mansion through what now looked like a heavy snowstorm.  I parked in the garage and we got out.  Aurora said she wanted to show me something.  Okay.  Did I say she was strange?  She took my hand and led me inside.  Her hand was so small yet mystifying.  I followed her and looked at the back of her red satiny dress as it moved over her … figure.  Funny how clothes can be at times more… seductive than without clothes.  She led me through the Mansion and as I followed her up the stairs she looked back and smiled at me.  It was a warm smile like the one she had when she was sleeping that one morning.  I remembered wondering what she was dreaming about and now I am wondering… what she is smiling about now?

I wake up.  I wake up in the master bed.  For some reason I expected Aurora would be there.  But she wasn’t.  The Mansion was quiet.  I could here the blizzard outside.  It was late in the evening.  Really late.  I suppose she must have had some urgency to leave and didn’t want to wake me up.  That was thoughtful.  I got up and went downstairs.  The Mansion reminded me of the church.  Quiet and lifeless.  I had never been here alone before.  I decided that rather than test my car in the blizzard I would wait until morning or at least until the roads were cleared.  I started up the gas fireplace and it cast eerie shadows on the walls.  I found the bar and poured myself a bourbon on ice then went and sat in front of the bay window.  I watched as the blizzard raged outside.  I thought of a book I once read by, I think, James Joyce about the dead and snow falling on graves.  It wasn’t a very interesting book.  I much prefer Great Expectations.  But as the snow fell and the fireplace shadows danced around the room and being alone, I couldn’t get that image of snow falling on graves from my thoughts.  It was an unsettling feeling of foreboding.  Unnerving.  It would have been nice if Aurora was here.  I might even have come up with something to say.  I finished my bourbon. 

I turned off the fireplace and went back upstairs.  I crawled underneath the covers of the master bed.  Somehow, I could smell Aurora.  I liked her smell.  I didn’t have her white lace panties with the faint yellow stain, but I could still smell her.  I closed my eyes and let her smell fill my thoughts.  I curled up in a fetal position and imagined holding her.  My hand under her pajama top.  She wasn’t wearing pajamas though she was wearing that satiny red dress.  I could still feel her flesh and her heart beating and her breathing and the warm sweet smell of her breath… and her kiss… the softness of her lips.  She kissed me.  She kissed me twice.  No, three times.  Once on the cheek though and the first time out at the cabin when she was high on drugs.  But that other time… here in the Mansion, she said she was sorry and that kiss… felt… real. 

I wonder what she wanted to show me?  That’s what she said.  When we got out of my car.  She wanted to show me something.  And she led me through the Mansion as I looked at her red satiny dress moving over her… body.  She smiled at me going up the stairs.  She really has a nice smile.  I fell asleep wondering… what did she want to show me?

I was in the black fog.  It swirled around me.  I could see it, but couldn’t see through it.  I wasn’t a wolf this time.  I was just me.  I looked around.  All I could see was the black fog.  Out of nowhere, I thought I heard my name being called.  I ran in the direction from where it came from.  I yelled out, Hello!  Nothing.  I kept running.  Frightened this time.  My name was called again in the distance, but from farther away.  I ran!  I ran as fast I could, trying desperately to catch up.  Hello!!!  My heart was beating, aching… my legs were burning and all around me was the black fog.  HELLO!!!  Nothing.  The voice was gone.  I was left … standing alone… in the black fog.

Leave it to Beavers: Jake 15

I decided to head home.  I am not even sure why.  Maybe I missed Easter Bay.  The time at the log cabin in the mountains with the DICE was just not enough.  Maybe I just needed to see my parents and reconnect.  But honestly, I don’t know.  After, the fiasco of the last shoot, which didn’t end up being a vacation at all, something in me just didn’t feel quite right.  Like I was lost. 

I hopped in my soft serve melted vanilla ice cream smelling Chevy Nova and headed home to Easter Bay.  Maybe I just needed direction because as soon as I left the city, I was already feeling better.  More at ease.  Less irritated even though for the life of me I had no idea why I would be irritated.  A few hours later I was pulling down the driveway to my home.  Easter Bay was beautiful and a welcoming site.  Mom came running out surprised to see me.  I guess I should have called, but I didn’t think of it.  The first thing she asked was if anything was wrong.  No.  I’m fine.  I just wanted to get away from the city.  She just nodded like she knew something I didn’t, oh okay. 

It didn’t take me long to get settled into my old room that was still decorated with all my beaver shots.  It was early afternoon and Dad asked if I wanted to do some fishing.  Yes!  Being out in the boat with Dad was just so tranquil.  I could just focus on the sounds and the smells of the lake.  I didn’t take my camera which was unusual.  You never know what you can capture in a moment.  We were soon on the lake anchored at one of our favorite fishing holes.  It was warm and the sun felt nice.  I was wearing sunglasses.  Dad mentioned that I had forgot my camera.  I just nodded.  Is everything okay?  Why would he ask that?  Yes, Dad.  Everything is fine.  He just nodded.  We didn’t catch anything and he said we should call it a day. 

Mom had cooked meat loaf with gravy and veggies for supper.  I loved my Mom’s meat loaf!  We sat down at the kitchen table as we had done so many times before.  I found myself playing with my food not thinking of anything really.  My Mom asked how the job was going?  It’s fine.  Like I could really tell her I photograph naked women doing things to each other.  Dad asked how the car was running?  It’s fine.  Like I could explain how it smells of soft serve melted vanilla ice cream because these women were … eating it and licking each other in the back seat!  They then talked between themselves.  I didn’t quite finish all my supper before I asked to be excused.  Mom asked if I was feeling okay?  I am just a little tired.  Holy!  What is their problem?

I went to my room and laid down on my old comfortable bed staring up at the large beaver shot on the ceiling.  However, I wasn’t thinking about beavers.  Strange, I was thinking about how I wish I had brought the white lace panties with the faint yellow stain.  I enjoy smelling them.  Aurora had worn them.  She was so strange.  She never wore jewelry or perfume.  She did have a nice smell to her.  Even without the white lace panties with the faint yellow stain, I could still smell her scent.  Her hair.  Yes, she didn’t shave her armpits!  All women shave their armpits.  But not Aurora.  Her smell when I was lying next to her in the log cabin.  Her warmth.  Her heart beating.  My feet had this peculiar sensation as if they were being poked by toothpicks!  Strange.  She was strange.  I only slept with her because Piper and Josie had insisted.  It was just to protect her from hurting herself.  She was so drugged up thinking about white rabbits.  She even kissed me she was so out of it.  Her lips.  She was strange.  We had nothing in common. 

I stayed at Easter Bay a couple more days even though I wanted to leave like right away.  I tried my best to act normal and avoid any further concerns from Mom and Dad.  As strange as it might seem considering how I was looking forward to coming home, I was even more relieved to be heading back to the city.  I was looking forward to getting back to work.  I was hoping Aurora was doing okay.  I found that strange because, other than work, I had no real interest in Aurora. 

Soon thereafter, Ivan called.  I apologized for the last set of photos, but he said they were great.  They were, as he put it, hilarious.  He was amazed at how we all worked so well together.  He also added it was after all supposed to be a type of vacation.  I was baffled.  Not what I was expecting.  Actually, I didn’t know what to expect.  The next assignment was relatively simple.  It would involve motorcycles and the DICE would be fitted out in racing leathers.  Each member would have an individual set and then there would be a team set.  The leathers would all be custom made.  I asked if he, or the ladies, needed me to help with their fittings.  Nope.  Damn.  Their measurements were on file.  The bikes would be set up ahead of time in the garage at the Mansion so all I had to do was show up and take my shots.  I could coordinate the photos, as usual, with the ladies. 

I didn’t have much to do so in the mean time I went and rented a copy of The Holy Grail.  I guess I wanted to see what had freaked Aurora out.  It was actually a comedy.  That kind of surprised me.  Unfortunately, I was never a big fan of English humor.  Just silly nonsense.  I mean pretending to ride horses by clapping coconuts together!  Stupid.  But for Aurora, I watched it anyway.  And there was a white rabbit that flew through the air and bit the heads off of some knights.  And it was bloody so I can understand how Aurora had an issue with white rabbits.  She just didn’t seem to be one who would be freaked out about anything.

The day of the shoot arrived finally.  I drove my soft serve melted vanilla ice cream smelling car over to the Mansion.  Sure enough, the bikes were in one of the stalls.  The stall had been completely painted white for the background.  The bikes were all Ducatis and of different colours.  Really nice bikes.  I road dirt bikes and Quads growing up, but never saw the use of a sport bike.  But they were still nice.  Piper and Josie were already there getting into their leather outfits.  Piper was in red and Josie had a blue outfit.  Made sense.  The bikes were red, white, and blue.  The leather was pretty tight so I did my best to help them get dressed up.  They were also wearing underwear that matched their outfits.  They had helmets, gloves, biker boots, jackets, and of course pants.  Their jackets had DICE over the left part of their chest.  They both laughed as I did my best to get their pants on.  Aurora showed up just about that time.  It was nice to see her and I asked how she was doing.  She said fine.  I left it at that.  I asked her if she needed help getting her suit on.  She said she could manage.  She is so strange. 

I first took individual shots of Piper and Josie on their bikes.  There was no actual riding.  They just posed.  Then they posed with their jackets off, pants off, helmets off, and finally everything was off.  Flesh hung all over the bikes.  All this time, I kept a vigilant eye on Aurora getting dressed in her white leathers.  She was also wearing white lace panties and I couldn’t help but think of the white lace panties with the faint yellow stain that I still had.  Aurora posed just as the other two ladies had, but there seemed to be an almost negative like energy coming from her.  Like she was angry.  It was strange, but so was she.  She smiled and all that, but something was off.

They all got dressed up again and posed for group photos.  The white background, the beautiful Ducatis, and the women in leathers made for vivid images that were nothing less than spectacular.  Then their clothes started coming off and then… well their tongues and legs and flesh… began doing what they usually do and I just kept snapping.  I mean this was just normal to me now.  Afterwards, Piper and Josie went to go get washed up.  Aurora however, wanted some more personal pics.  She almost like aggressively insisted.  Okay.  I thought she was going to get dressed again, but no, she just began doing things to herself.  Spreading her legs and lying on her bike… moaning.  She was actually moaning.  Rubbing herself on the leather seat.  Then she was bending over the bike with her hand between… and her fingers… anyway, I took her photos until she said she was done.  She is really strange.  And sweaty. 

I started putting my camera away and she said what are you doing?  I am just getting ready to leave.  Ah, I don’t think so mister.  Oh, right.  I am sweaty and smelly and it is your job to clean me up.  Okay, now she seemed like upset about something.  Are you alright?  She gritted her teeth!  What was up with this strange woman???  Come with me!  Okay.  So, I followed her into the Mansion.  And up the stairs.

I woke up lying on my back in the master bed.  Aurora’s head was on my chest.  Drooling.  Her hair was all matted across her face and neck.  It was nighttime.  There was a strong smell of sweat in the air.  Piper and Josie were asleep on the other side of the bed.  I slid out and tried to get to my feet, but I almost fell over.  My legs were like rubber and I felt like I had run a marathon.  My lip hurt and I could taste blood.  What happened?  I must have had a major seizure and the women took care of me.  Lucky to have them as friends.  My earlobes even hurt.

I weakly made my way to my car.  I don’t have any clue how I got home.  I just remember flopping onto my bed absolutely exhausted. 

I was surrounded by that black fog.  Except I was a wolf and I was running as fast as I could through the black fog.  My canine sense of smell was powerful and I picked up a scent far off in the distance.  I raced towards it amazed at how fast I could run.  The scent was getting closer.  I was hungry for it.  I wanted to discover what it was.  And then, it was gone and I felt incredible disappointment.  But then off in another direction, it was back.  And I raced towards it… running… through the black fog.

Leave it to Beavers: Jake 17

I hardly ever sleep on my stomach, but I must have been so exhausted that I just passed out.  My body ached.  And yet, there was also this overwhelming sense of exhilaration or… accomplishment maybe.  I rolled over and stared up at the ceiling and without thinking I reached out and found the white lace panties with the faint yellow stain.  I put them to my face and inhaled.  More than anything, they always seemed to relax me.  I had become very familiar with their scent.  I closed my eyes and just relaxed.  

Sometime later, I awoke.  Well, I don’t think I slept long if any, and decided to get up.  My lip was still swollen and my earlobe hurt, but for the most part I was fine.  I loaded up the pics from the prior day’s shoot, I think it was yesterday, onto my computer and sent them to Ivan.  I thought they had turned out very well.  I enjoyed working with the DICE, even more so now that we were friends.  At least, they said we were friends.  I couldn’t help, but look over the previous shoots.  The first hotel shoot where they were just in lingerie.  I remember being in shock at what … they did to each other.  Even now, part of me questions whether their behaviour then and now is even normal.  And, whether my photographing them is acceptable.  But then, what is normal?  And as I look at the photos, I see them as not a fantasy, but human beings.  My friends.  And although I am more comfortable speaking and interacting with Piper and Josie, I have gotten to see a sensitive side to Aurora.  I don’t think a razor has ever touched her.  She has no tattoos.  Wears no make up or jewellery.  Not even perfume.  And yet, I always felt this disconcerting power emanating from her.  Aggressive.  Maybe that really changed when we went to the cabin in the mountains.  She clearly displayed a vulnerability.  It made me look at her differently.  More human.  Of course, we did sleep together.  Not SLEEP sleep, but just sleep.  Twice in fact.  She smelled nice and she was warm.  I remember her heart beating against my chest and my hand on her chest.  And her kissing me when I carried her from the lake… in her drug addled state though so it really meant nothing.  Then, there was the baseball pics and the soft serve vanilla ice cream cones.  The melted ice cream all over the back seat of my car while the ladies… did what they did.  My car still has that smell.  And that is when I found the white lace panties with the faint yellow stain.  I did plan on returning them.  Did Aurora leave them on purpose?  She has never brought them up.  Part of me thought she just forgot.  But what if she hasn’t forgotten about them?  Well… that just doesn’t make sense.  So much has happened.  I was honestly going to quit after the first hotel shoot until I was paid and then the contract was even more and I couldn’t refuse the job.  I remember at the time thinking, I will just take the photos and complete the project and keep things professional.  But now, we’re friends… I look forward to seeing them.  I enjoy working with them, but I also enjoy laughing with them.  They have become part of my life.  I guess to a certain extent… I care about them.  Unconsciously, I continue to look through the past photos.  It seems like a dream now. 

About a week later, I was sitting on my couch thinking about watching… anything on TV, just to pass the time, my lip and earlobe were much better, it was raining outside, and a strange thought crossed my mind.  I really don’t know what made me think about it, but I remember when I was younger asking my parents how they had met.  I guess at some point everyone wonders the same thing.  Where did we come from?  I asked my Dad first and his explanation was a little far-fetched even hearing it as a kid.  He said that he had discovered Mom in the woods while searching for foxes.  And he thought she was quite a fox.  So, he clubbed her over the head and dragged her to his man cave where he dazzled her with his intelligence.  And they have been together ever since.  Right.  I then asked Mom.  She said ask your father.  I already did.  Oh, did he tell you that he clubbed me over the head.  Yes.  She laughed.  Mom, please.  Okay, it wasn’t quite like he told you.  We were at a high school dance and I had noticed your father talking to a couple of his buddies.  He looked handsome.  I had seen him before.  His buddies left him alone to go talk to some girls.  He seemed so alone.  By himself.  So, I walked over and I asked him if he would like to dance.  And he danced with you?  And that was it?  Do you want to hear this or not?  Yes, sorry.  In fact, he turned me down.  I didn’t think he liked me.  But I was determined.  Later in the summer, I saw him in a hardware store looking at fishing gear.  I asked him if he remembered me and he looked a bit sheepish and said yes.  He then asked if I liked to fish.  Which I didn’t.  Of course, I said yes, would you take me fishing?  We ended up going out on his parents’ boat.  It was a beautiful summer day and I had absolutely no interest in fishing.  We anchored out into a little cove and set about fishing.  I asked him if he would like to kiss me.  He was shy. but do not tell him I told you that.  Okay, then what happened?  We kissed and I can still remember that first kiss.  So, when he tells you he clubbed me, it was in fact the other way around.  We never did dance, but we fished a lot.  And, we have been together ever since.

Funny, the things we think about.  My memories.  Their memories.  I wonder what Aurora thinks about.

Ivan finally called.  He said the last photos were very racy and the investors really liked them.  I didn’t admit this to him, but I couldn’t recall much of the photo shoot so, in fact, they must have been racy they were such a blur.  He said the next photo shoot was being arranged right now.  He thought I would really enjoy it.  It was going to be in a saloon/pub.  The down side was that the shoot would have to take place in the wee hours of the morning when the place was closed.  There would be animal trainers and a couple actors as well.  Animal trainers?  Yes, for the dogs.  I am to photograph the DICE at a saloon with dogs… and actors.  Yup!  Don’t worry about anything.  I worked everything out with Aurora and she will fill you in.  A couple days later, Ivan called back and gave me the date and location.  He said the ladies would meet me there so I could just go directly to the shoot and use my own car.  Okay. 

I arrived at the pub, called The Sensational Pub, at about 3 am.  Everyone was already there.  Piper, Josie, and Aurora all seemed very concerned about my well being.  I’m fine.  Are you guys okay?  They nodded and said they were okay.  Great.  The bar was incredible.  A lot of wood and polished brass and leather covered bar stools.  The lighting was perfect.  The entire atmosphere gave a sense of an old English pub.  Aurora took my hand and walked me through the bar.  She introduced me to the dog trainers and the dogs.  There was an English Bull dog, of course, a Beagle, and brown Labrador retriever.  I still had no idea what the dogs were for.  Aurora laughed.  She showed me a poker room that was located in the back of the bar.  Interesting.  The “actors” were a burly bartender and an old man that was to be a patron.  I began to get the picture.  No pun intended.  I laughed.  This was going to be a fun shoot.  Aurora said she was glad I liked it.  With a smile.  We soon got down to work.

The ladies were dressed in evening dresses.  Very expensive and yet, obviously revealing, dresses.  Aurora wore white, Piper had red and Josie wore yellow.  They had on high heels and Aurora wore lipstick and earrings and even a necklace.  I was somewhat surprised since she hated that stuff.  I guess she was going all in.  I would soon find out that they had matching panties, but none of them wore bras.  They began by posing at the bar on the leather bar stools.  The old man patron was at the far end of the bar acting oblivious to the women.  The bartender’s part was to pretend to polish glasses with his back to the women.  It was awesome!  And the dogs were lined up staring at them while they posed!  So funny.  And they posed.  They posed with their legs spread.  Cupping their … well, upper endowments.  The dogs licked their lips and the old man patron drank his beer.  They hiked up their dresses to their waists and dropped their panties to their knees spreading … the dogs were great sports and stared fixated up at their … parts.  The bartender kept cleaning his beer mugs.  And I kept snapping my pics.  The dresses were soon off and the ladies drank beer from beer mugs and poured beer on themselves and the dogs licked up any beer that was on the floor.  You cannot make this up!  We then went back to the poker room … with the dogs.  What was going to happen here?  Aurora smiled.  She, at least, appeared to be coordinating everything.  The trainers got the dogs dressed up in like gambling outfits and sat them interspersed between the ladies who were still naked.  Oh!  I get it!  The idea was that they had been playing strip poker and the dogs were winning!  Wow!  This was great and I kept snapping pics.  The dogs would look at the women and the women would look somewhat defeated.  It was a lot of fun. 

Finally, it was over.  The DICE took selfies, with their dresses back on, with the dogs and their trainers, the old man and the bartender.  Everyone had a good time. 

Aurora came up to me still smiling.  Did you have fun?  Yes, it was a lot of fun.  She said she really wanted to do a more professional shoot and she hoped that she did all right.  I then said, words which I will never forget, like ever, You all did really good work, kiddo.  I said it with a smile on my face.  But… her smile slowly faded.  What?  Whack!!!  She slapped me!  I mean she hit me so hard my head spun.  It stung!  I had to blink quickly having lost focus.  I heard the front door of the bar open and close.  The dogs started barking and howling!  The trainers and actors were trying to calm the dogs down!  I looked at Piper and Josie.  They asked what I had said?  I told them.  They shook their heads and said I shouldn’t have said that.  Said WHAT?  Should I go after her?  They put up their hands and said emphatically, NO!! 

And that was the end of one of the best shoots we have had.  I still have no clue what I did or said that upset Aurora so much.  She is so strange.  I will never forget her sting.  I hope I don’t get fired.  But here is the thing I really don’t understand, the slap didn’t bother me or the thought of being fired, no, the thing that really bothered me the most was upsetting Aurora.  And I don’t understand why?