If someone wanted to know what the most awkward elevator ride could possibly be, it is the one where you're riding with an alien transvestite sex fiend. It was quiet. You could hear a pin drop, had it not been for the rattling and clattering of the lift. Remembering my bag, I turned to Frank.
"Do you think I can grab something from my room first?" I asked.
"I don't know," he replied. "Can you?"
It's smart asses like him that drove me nuts. Regardless, he stopped the elevator in the second floor and opened the gate for me. I ran out to the room and grabbed my bag. I stopped right before I left the room and turned around. This was the last time I'd ever be in this room. Once the floorshow was over…
… "Kaydence!" Frank called out impatiently. I ran back to the elevator and got inside. We continued down. "What do you keep in there, anyway?" he asked.
"My things," I replied.
"So you were planning to stay for the night?"
"No, not really."
He brushed his afro back with one of his hands, holding up his head. "Then why bring a bag?"
"I don't know," I sighed, not knowing what else to say. The shaft fell silent, until it rattled to a stop on the ground floor. Frank walked out first to lead the way. I followed. We stopped in front of a locked door. He patted his waist, looking for the key.
"How do we get the statues down here?" I wondered aloud.
The tumblers inside the lock clicked as Frank turned the key. He held the door open. He looked at me as I walked inside. "You're joking, right?"
"No, I'm serious. How do you move all –"
" – Why," he interrupted, insulted, "the same way the castle got here! What were you thinking, magic?! Psh! I'm a scientist!" He whirled around to a switch on the wall labeled AVPMTD, that looked like the Medusa switch, and pulled down the handle. A green lightning bolt lit up, and he pointed to an open, lit-up area of the room. I recognized it as the stage. Five red beams of light flashed, and the statues of Columbia, Rocky, Brad, Janet, and Dr. Scott appeared.
"AVPMTD?" I inquired.
"Auto-Vibrato-Physio-Molecular Transport Device," he retorted, smiling.
Frank waltzed over to the statues. He looked at them like pieces of art, deep in thought and occasionally nodding to himself. He skidded back towards me, opening a different set of doors. He pulled a chain, and the lights came on inside. He motioned for me to come in. My eyes widened and a gasp escaped my mouth.
Never had I seen so much lace, glitter, and feathers in my life. And the fishnets… there were crates upon crates of fishnet stockings. A small and simple dresser had labels on it for its three drawers: arm sleeves and gloves, hair accessories, and Franks' stuff. A full-length mirror hung next to the dresser. Racks extending from one end of the room to the other were cluttered with hanging corsets, bras, sheer tops, and boas. Setting down my bag, I looked over at Frank, who was digging through his own drawer. He pulled out and tossed on his silky black robe with an embroidered dragon on the back. Frantically pulling out clothing, he laid out his articles on top of the dresser.
"Your job," he instructed, "is to find four more of each and throw it onto that cart over there." He pointed to the cart, against another wall, waiting to be filled. While I flew through boxes, drawers, and hangars, Frank snatched a giant metal case and opened it. The case was stockpiled with makeup. He began touching up his face. He turned and smiled at me, adding, "And please do find yourself something! Just get those costumes to me." Seconds later, he ran out with his case to do the statues' makeup. I was left alone in the closet. Gathering the final missing pieces, I began to look around until I stumbled upon a shoebox filled with garters. I picked up a pretty one made of black silk and red lace trimming. A small white gem centered a tiny red bow on the front. I slipped it onto my foot and gently pulled it up. It looked so pretty o me. I thought of what a shame it would be to leave it in a shoebox. After all, he did say I could 'find myself something.' I'm sure he wouldn't miss one garter.
"Kaydence! You done?" Frank hollered.
"Yup," I replied just as loudly. My hands gripping the handle, I pushed the cart over to Frank. He and I grabbed the clothing and dressed up the statues like mannequins. After the chaos, he took me over to the side of the stage, teaching me how to work the spotlight and the pulleys for the curtains. While trying to close the curtain on my own after a demonstration, Frank jumped up and gasped. Startled I asked him, "What's wrong, Doc?"
"You're not changed yet!" he exclaimed.
"'Changed'? What do you mean?"
"I said for you to find something!"
"I did. See the garter?" I pointed to my leg.
"No, darling, I meant a whole costume!"