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Chapter 23.
The web cam was installed at Smokey's just in time for the lunchtime opening. Gavin minced up behind me full of loud admiration.
"Very nice," he said. His voice lilted with double-barreled camp.
It was possible that he was admiring my handiwork but it was also likely that Gerda would soon be starting up her gay theories again and with much probable cause.
I made one final check of the circuits that would record the floorshow and wandered off to see Gerda in her room. I'd imagined that she'd be feeling quite nervous by now and wasn't wrong.
She was curled up between the wall and her headboard sniveling into a tissue. I gingerly tapped on her door and went in and she immediately hung her arms around my neck as if she were drowning.
"I can't do it! I shouldn't have said I would. There'll be all those men looking at me, leering, and then they'll want me to take my clothes off. And I won't be able to."
Briefly, as I struggled for appropriate and sensitive words of encouragement, it occurred to me that she had put on weight and it suited her. Perhaps Ron had taken my advice and given her some square meals. It also occurred to me that I was a lucky fellow these days with the embraces of so many females in one morning.
"It's like jumping into a swimming pool," I said, hugely confident. "Jumping in is the most difficult. Once you're in, it's a snip."
"But what if I can't swim," wailed Gerda.
That flummoxed me and I tried a new tack.
"It's all a show anyway. The whole thing's pretend. They're not looking at you as a person, just as some titillation. Lots of them won't even be looking at you at all. They'll be more interested in their drinks.
"I don't want them to be more interested in their drinks," the tears welled up again. "I want them to think I'm beautiful."
I tried to stay rational and think of something that would help but my desire to punch Ron on the nose was becoming very strong again. It was his fault she was doing this.
"They'll think you are beautiful because you have a beautiful personality and because you care. Most of the females that do this sort of thing are mere husks of the women they were because they are so used to doing it. You're fresh, new and alive compared with them."
"But how long will it be before I become a mere husk too? You were right when you said not to do it."
Suddenly, a dreadful thought occurred to me. If she didn't do the floorshow, all my hard work and plans for the web site over the next few days would be wasted. Self interest made me renew my efforts.
"You are a wonderful person, Gerda, and you should go out there and show them how wonderful you are. Nobody else is important except you. When you're dancing, they won't exist. Build your own world and dance inside it. Let them see your beauty shine out."
"Will you be watching out for me, Barry," she said, forlornly.
"I'll be there for you, Gerda," I said, softly. "And I promise that no harm will come to you."
She straightened her shoulders as if she'd had enough of crying.
"Go on Barry," she said. "Push off and let me get ready."
I went off down to give Ron a progress report and found him in the storeroom behind the bar doing this month's accounts. It was his way of cheering himself up when he was worried.
"Is she going to do it," he said, nervously.
"I think so," I said, hoping my voice sounded more confident than I felt. "I've fixed up a web camera to cover the floor show. It's a good way to get the content of the web site kicked off quickly."
"I knew you are right man for the job," nodded Ron, looking marginally reassured.
There was a small rattle of applause outside in the bar as Gavin announced Gerda. I showed Ron how he could monitor the bar and dance area through the portable computer if he wanted to and then went through to keep a not too overtly lustful eye on Gerda.
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