My Other First Time, Part II
I tried to keep it short. If you missed Part I then you can read it here. The comments in bold and italics are the conversations I have with myself – you get to listen in.
“Please come in.”
Valerie pressed her back against the wall allowing T to pass through the narrow door frame and into the living room. Lifting the strap off his shoulder, he placed his bag on the floor next to the portable CD player and removed his coat.
“Can I get you anything, like an open fire to warm your hands?”
Amused by her dead serious delivery, he replied, “Oh no, I’m going to wash and warm them before we start, don’t worry.”
“Okay, I’ll let you get unpacked and I’ll um…I’m sorry, I’ve never done this before, what should I wear?”
“Some people wear shorts or underwear and I drape a sheet over them, but you can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.”
Valerie decided she felt comfortable in a pair of shorts and would remove her top once on the table. If she had to take off any more than that, he was going to pay her.
“Take your jewelry off too,” he shouted, as Valerie disappeared into the back room. Making a choice of what to wear was easy because she only had one pair of shorts and returned as quickly as she left.
T glanced up at Valerie with an inquisitive expression on his face and without hesitation asked, “Are you an athlete?”
Valerie thought his query was just as strange as when her chiropractor had asked. She always had a shapely upper body, like a swimmer, and slender legs, like a runner and the mid-section of a person who loved cookies and chocolate. Maybe she was an athlete, of some sort. Rather than delve into his inquiry, it’s obvious he has a cataract, she simply replied, “No.”
Valerie showed T where he could plug in his CD player and assumed she would be listening to the sounds of streaming water or babbling brook, not her preferred jazz. Good thing she went to the bathroom. Perched on the table, she turned to T and said, “I’m ready to take my shirt off now.”
Oh gosh, you sound like a virgin. I’m ready to take my shirt off now. Why are you announcing it?
Using the sheet as a shield, T held it between the two of them as Valerie removed her shirt and tried to find a comfortable position on the table. She could hear T in the background rubbing his hands together and satisfied that they were warm enough, he pulled back the sheet.
Surprisingly, Valerie did not flinch when he touched her. Maybe because his hands were better than warm, it was as if he brought his own open flame. Coming in for a perfect landing at the base of the runway, T worked his way up and down the right side of her back expelling pain and stress one knot at a time.
“Is this too much pressure?” he asked.
“No.” Valerie lied. It was a lot pressure, more than she was used to, but she wasn’t about to cry uncle. She preferred having too much, over too little pressure. Next time she would “cry uncle.” After he finished the right side of her back he did the same to the left side, applying more oil each time.
Cool! Not only am I no longer ashy, I’m waterproof.
Standing at the head of the table, T used his forearms to massage Valerie, who was only occasionally aware of the sound of the music and his breathing, into a motion-induced coma. The rhythm was so intoxicating, the last words she remembered saying was, “Oh gosh.”
****
“You can turn over now.”
Valerie felt disoriented and lost, like she was waking up from local anesthesia. She couldn’t remember how to turn over but somehow managed to roll over onto her back. T massaged the rest of her body and said he would conclude with a scalp and facial massage.
[insert the sound. of a needle. being dragged across a vinyl record.]
Did I hear that correctly, did he just say he was going to mess up my hair?
The massage was going great until he gripped Valerie’s head in between his large hands and messed up her hair! Her scalp didn’t need a massage, her scalp was fine, maybe a little dandruff, but stress free.
Didn’t anyone ever tell you never to touch a woman’s hair without 2 days notice?
Now fully awake and slightly annoyed Valerie could no longer concentrate, the massage was over. He massaged her cheeks, her eyebrows, her lips and even stuck his fingers in her ears.
Okay, if you’re looking for loose change or a generous tip, I got nothing. You were doing a much better job when I was on my stomach!
“Do you want me to massage your stomach?”
[insert the sound of another needle being dragged across a vinyl record.]
You don’t have access to that area. That’s a no-touch, no-massage zone.
“No, thank you.”
“Are you sure?”
“Oh yes, I’m sure.”
“Okay then you can just lie there and relax.”
I was very relaxed until you messed up my hair.
After the massage was over, T packed a few of his things and made small talk. Partially naked and chatting, Valerie felt a little weird, besides she wanted to get dressed and was getting cold.
“Are we done?”
“Yes, but you can rest a little while longer.”
“Nope, I’m okay!” Grabbing the sheet and holding it up against her chest, Valerie went to get dressed. She thanked T, paid his fee, but before showing him the door, he handed her a few business cards. Business cards that read TSG, Attorney-at-Law.
Wall Street address. Phone number. No email.
Valerie vaguely remembered her girlfriend telling her that he was an attorney and had seen him coming from court a few times on the train, but had forgotten.
Upon returning to work on Monday, Valerie found a New York Lawyers Diary in one of the offices. If he was a practicing attorney, he would be listed in this book. There could only be a few reasons why he would not be listed, like a recent move to the area, or maybe he just passed the bar or maybe he really is a killer and that was a body bag.
Not that it was a conflict of interest for her, he was very professional, kept her covered at all times and he didn’t try anything, it’s a matter of curiosity. She knew several attorneys personally, as well as a judge, and most of them played golf as a hobby, not gave fantastic massages and messed up women’s hair.
Valerie opened the Lawyers Diary to the letter G and scrolled down the list of names. She hoped he was listed, that would make her feel better. Maybe she missed it. She checked the spelling of his last name against what was printed on the card and looked one more time. Nothing. A little disappointed and confused, she closed the book.
Maybe having D come sit and watch wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. She would hate to lose a good massage therapist just because he wasn’t listed in the Lawyers Diary. Valerie returned the book to the shelf and called her friend.
In: Massage · Tagged with: Massage, Storytelling
on January 29, 2009 at 4:58 am
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Hi Natural. You are a fantastic storyteller! I’m always guaranteed a smile when I pop over to your blog. I’ve had a few massages in my day. Have never liked the hair part either. I take transit and it’s embarrassing to go home with a wild oily hairdo.
well thanks davina. thank goodness for the written word. had i had to tell this story verbally i would have said, “it was okay”. writing let’s me play with blocks. ps, i like the quotes you chose but will replace one. you’ll be hearing from me soon. thank you davina.
Davina´s last blog post..Shopping for Effective Attitudes
on January 29, 2009 at 7:47 am
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Mmm … kinky
The ending is so true – every time I get my hair done my bf thinks it’s funny and sexy to mess them up .. I’m going to kick his butt if he tries it again 
kinky? no valerie was a good girl in telling this story, wasn’t i? i think i like to know beforehand when someone is going to mess up my hair..kinda took me by surprise. i just curled it that morning and had to go out afterward and here he comes. lol.
on January 29, 2009 at 10:45 am
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I do have to say you can write with the best!
thanks mark.
on January 29, 2009 at 12:12 pm
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found you through entrecard, great writing, I really enjoyed this story~
hello and welcome, hope you’ll stick around. glad you enjoyed, just doing a little something different.
staciesmadness´s last blog post..Upside down
on January 29, 2009 at 2:11 pm
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This really does read like that other kind of “first time”!
Oh, the scalp massage is the BEST! Of course, my hair looks like a rat’s nest anyway. I used to see a massage therapist who would pull my hair, and it felt soooo good. I’d whine for her to “pull my hair,” and she’d do it, sometimes saying, “You know, you can do this yourself!” No, I couldn’t.
it read that way? really? scalp massage is good when i’m getting my hair washed. i love having my hair brushed or combed, but really…i’m not a walk-in. you just can’t play in my hair w/o an appointment. he only had a consultation, over stepped his boundaries, he did. LOL. pulling hair? that sounds nice and nope you can’t do it yourself.
i love that: rat’s nest! tickles me. my hair is a rat’s nest so yours doesn’t have to be. LOLOLOL. i need a hair cut so bad.
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I Enjoy Exotic Caribbean Cuisine so you don’t have to
on January 29, 2009 at 4:22 pm
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Good writing! It was funny. I kept wondering, this is Valerie, why doesn’t she speak up? Why is she afraid to be herself? Why didn’t she get a woman instead of a man? I don’t think I’d ever want a man to massage me, if it was ONLY massage.
thanks Dot. afraid to be myself, nah. ah ha! i was wondering how come no one asked that question. i answered it in another version of this uh, story…because they (women) freak me out. the same way you feel about a man touching you is the same way i feel about a woman touching me. i’m sure another man wouldn’t want another man giving him a massage. [shudders] i don’t want a woman rubbing on me, doesn’t seem natural. i prefer male doctors, always have, it wasn’t easy finding him…and the heavy hands were much appreciated. oh no, it was ONLY a massage, i don’t get down like that. see my halo.
Dot´s last blog post..About Your Business
on January 29, 2009 at 4:41 pm
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I really enjoyed reading that. I think that you were very brave to have a massage in your home, with nobody else in the house. I wouldn’t have dared :O)
As JD said, there is definitely something lovely about having your hair pulled. I used to love having tangles brushed out when I was younger and hated hairdressers that were too gentle ;O)
thanks babs. yeah, i’m not too smart (stubborn) sometimes, but i didn’t think he would do anything and trusted my friend not to send a wacko to my house. there’s only room for one, even if no one could find him listed as a registered attorney anywhere. oh yes the hair pulling (sighs). i’ll have to have that taken care of uh, soon. too gentle, makes me mad, right?
Babs – beetle´s last blog post..Wii are not the same!
on January 29, 2009 at 4:47 pm
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I remember wondering what to wear the first time I had body work.
And I had a sore back and he asked me about my “stool” – I thought he was asking me about my bowels and started to tell him – but he meant my piano stool. Tres embarrassment.
yeah i wasn’t going to get too comfortable with taking off my clothes. not me. LOL, that’s too funny. your stool. ROFL.
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on January 29, 2009 at 5:14 pm
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I kept thinking the message therapist was going to end up being your bosses bestmate or something, LOL, is there a part III?
nope. not a bestmate at all and i’m still working on finding out if he is an attorney or not. a part III? lol. no, part I and II were hard enough. lol
Tondy´s last blog post..Rescures and Pleasers
on January 29, 2009 at 5:51 pm
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An attorney who gives massages on the side? Now this is starting to sound like Jonathan Field’s “Career Renegade”
Well, it sounds like your first massage went well … except for the head massage part.
yes an attorney. that’s where the “hacking” music comes in for me.
on January 29, 2009 at 5:58 pm
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*LOL* Thanks for sharing. I heard those needle scratches in my head as I was reading. The massage story makes me glad I have a hubby to do such things, even if he’s not a pro.
i hear all kinds of sound effects no one knows about when they say something crazy. lol. yeah i kinda needed a pro, someone who knew what they were doing, not loving hands, for this job. i did go two full weeks without any sciatic pain. yay!
Lana´s last blog post..New Painting
on January 29, 2009 at 9:14 pm
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Gosh, I laughed so hard. I’ve had plenty of massages. I don’t allow them to do the scalp massage – messes hair AND leaves it super oily. Of course they can’t touch the tummy. These days I often tell them that I prefer to do the entire massage lying on my tummy. When they ask me to turn over, I wake up and the magic is gone.
that was my first professional. next time i’m going to wear a bonnet on my head and see him deal with that. LOL. and the stomach? rolling my eyes. how could he even ask! so off limits. yes, i wish i would have known. next time, i will not roll over, i’ll will mumble, umm mmm and shake my head no. it was so over by then. LOL .
Vered – MomGrind´s last blog post..Women And Body Image: Ten Disturbing Facts
on January 30, 2009 at 11:15 am
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Oh wow you are a fantastic story teller. you should most definitely keep this up.
Wow why would an attorney also being doing massages. I think that part is a little odd.
And I like Babs think you are very brave to have done this in your home alone. Wow I am way too paranoid to try that.
I would love to go to a nice spa someday and have a massage. Oh it sounds so wonderful.
I will definitely keep coming back for more of your stories!!:-)
thanks. storytelling is not my normal grind here, it’s new to me, but it was fun, so we’ll see. i checked the 2009 lawyers diary and he’s just not in there. i really didn’t feel like going to his place, driving and getting all stressed out. i should have been a lot more afraid i guess – strangely i wasn’t. thanks for stopping by.
on January 30, 2009 at 8:52 pm
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Never, ever, under no circumstances, should a man, or woman, or child, ever, mess up a woman’s hair. EVER.
Thank god I’m bald–ish.
peace, mike, livelife365
that’s right mike, unless of course she knows it’s going to happen first
on January 30, 2009 at 8:56 pm
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I LOVE scalp massages. Oh.My.Goodness. Total heaven. Messy hair be damned; it can be brushed out.
I have had a couple of massages but always by females. I just don’t think I’d be comfortable with a male … unless it’s the Lion of course!
oh scalp massages are great, but he was messing up my hair, not giving a real scalp massage (with poo or a brush or at least his nails, lol)….if you don’t do it right, that just makes me mad.
female massage therapist, huh? and how was that? i’m comfortable with male doctors or MT, just a preference i guess.
on January 30, 2009 at 9:55 pm
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You paint such an intriguing picture. Some people sense they can almost walk into a painting to the place that is depicted. Other people become so engaged in storytelling that they imagine they were there. Discovered your blog through Shades of Crimson. May your visions continue to evolve.
thanks. i always feel that way when i read other people’s writing. never mind own…i guess it’s like trying to tickle yourself…not the same experience when someone else does it.
Liara Covert´s last blog post..7 Reasons people fear spiritual awakening
on January 30, 2009 at 10:24 pm
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An attorney doing massages. That is just so weird — if he really was an attorney.
it is weird mike. i check the law diary again and nothing, but he did a great job and didn’t kill me. safer than some of the people i know.
Mike Goad´s last blog post..Applying for Unemployment
on January 30, 2009 at 10:41 pm
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LOL… You’re too funny for your own good.
oh urban, i bet you say that to all the girls.
Urban Thought´s last blog post..Tolerance
on January 31, 2009 at 6:11 am
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This post was so priceless, I almost have no words!
One of my favorite parts:
“[insert the sound. of a needle. being dragged across a vinyl record.]” I LOVE that imagery. Perfect.
Now I did get hung up on the roll over. Um, were you able to, uh, roll over discretely? And what the hell with oil in your hair?! (Shakes head.)
And lastly, my mouth hung up from “You can turn over now” until the end of the post.
Well done Raj!
but you have to have words, you’re cardiogirl. yes ma’am, i play that needle sound all the time. lol. i’m like wth. the story is not complete because i couldn’t get into all the description here without making it a five part series. maybe one day i’ll do a monday-friday series. hey that’s not a bad idea raj.
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on February 3, 2009 at 3:33 am
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I loved this story so very much!
oh there was more to it, but not a bad try for me.
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on February 4, 2009 at 12:43 pm
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Another great post….I love coming here.
do you really grog? that’s so nice of you to say, considering my finger was on the delete button. nice to have you here.
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