Archives

12-01-2008: The Waiting by Brian Alan Ellis; Symphony #1: Roger Castleman by John Grochalski
11-01-2008: A Splinter from the Devil's Mirror by Bryn Greenwood; Between You and the Man-Sized Prophylactic with the Zipper by Tom Bradley; Chief by Warren Buckles
09-01-2008: Routine by Felipe de Oliveira; Automatic Transmission by Warren Buckles
08-01-2008: The Axiom of Choice by Jim Chaffee
07-01-2008: A Pleasure Jaunt with One of the Sex Workers Who Don’t Exist in the People’s Republic of China by Tom Bradley; Making the Switch by George Sparling
06-01-2008: The War Prayer by Mark Twain
05-01-2008: About the Dog by Robert Aqunio Dollesin
04-01-2008: The Coup by Peter Schoenau
03-01-2008: Art School by Zach Plague; Consitutional Puppies by JR
02-01-2008: Selection from The Vicious Circulation of Dr. Catastrope by Kane X. Faucher; Party Pooper from Make Me by Eli Richardson; Una Noche Perfecta para Sanguijuelas por Jim Chaffee (tr. Sonia Ramos Rossi)
01-01-2008: A Night in Cameroon by Kelly Jameson; Missile by Jason Jordan
12-01-2007: Nothing by J.R.; Sacrament by Sonia Ramos Rossi
11-01-2007: Green Mountain Incumbent by D E Fredd; When Pacino's Hot, I'm Hot by Robert Levin
10-01-2007: The Book of Ancient Wisdom by Hugh Fox
09-01-2007: Dog Days by Robert Levin; Junk-Pure by Forrest Armstrong
08-01-2007: Beefsteak Mistake, Jake by Kelly Jameson; Sand by Jim Chaffee
07-01-2007: How to Make a Baby by Robert Levin; A Rude Little Monkey by Kelly Jameson
06-01-2007: Revolver by Sandra Ramos Rossi; Brian and Mona by Jim Chaffee
05-01-2007: El Castrator by Thomas Head
04-01-2007: Alone, As Always by Jennifer Gardner
03-01-2007: Polar Regions by Gayla Chaney
02-01-2007: Two Stories of Sex Beyond Erotica: Editor's Introduction by Jim Chaffee; Photo Finish by Anya Wassenberg; Mephisto and Me by Lily Edwards
01-01-2007: Management Case Study 17: Down East Chicken by D. E. Fredd; MoM by David Quinn
Full TEX Archive

Photo Finish - 3

By Anya Wassenberg

Marty pulls up his pants. He's signed a release and is back downstairs before I'm half dressed. Rick has my paperwork ready, and we sort out the pay as I fill in the blanks and sign.

Marty and I watch as Rick packs up and gets back into his black BMW. We wave when he starts it up and drives away.

"How much?" Marty asks me.

And just as I go to answer, I see Blondie's reflection again in the glass on the door, as clear as anything. She still looks polished, her hair looks even better for being tousled. Though of course the lipstick's gone, her lips are reddened from the friction - now there's a good shot to keep in mind for next time. I watch as she mouths the words.

"Three hundred and fifty US dollars. He said he'd probably want to do another shoot, too, maybe next week." The lips pause a moment, then smile. "Should we go out for dinner?"

Marty tightens his arm around my waist, checking back into the living room at what's on the TV set. "Sure babe. Just let me finish watching my shows."

So I give him a kiss before going back upstairs to clean up, put away all the lingerie and jump into a quick shower to wash Blondie's paint from my face. I brush my teeth, swish out my mouth with cold water, and spit in the sink. But I give her one last smile and a wink in the mirror. The best thing about Blondie is, when you pack her away, you pack away her memories too. She gives them very little, really, just a performance. They get her skin, no more. And there's too many to remember anyone in particular. Rick is already gone, somewhere, nowhere, never happened.

"Hon?" I call out to Marty, hesitating just before I step into the tub. "Do you know what the exchange rate is today?"