Big Book of Submission Volume 2 by Rachel Kramer Bussel

Author:Rachel Kramer Bussel [Bussel, Rachel Kramer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: The Big Book of Submission
Publisher: Cleis Press
Published: 2017-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

WE ARE MAGIC

Giselle Renarde

Body parts gleamed like polished bone as Parker lifted them from their cardboard crates. “I love hanging out with you,” Nabila said. She picked up a sheet of Bubble Wrap and draped it around her waist like a miniskirt. “What do you think of my new look?”

He handed her a legless torso. “Here, hold this for a sec.”

She dropped the Bubble Wrap before hugging Parker’s mannequin to her chest. The plastic was so slippery she had to squeeze it hard. “You’ve got the coolest job.”

He snorted, laughing. “If you say so.”

“You get to be alone in the store after dark, when the mall is closed. It’s so exclusive.”

Parker’s smile fell as he flicked his bangs out of his eyes. “It’s not like I went to design school to become a window dresser.”

“Nobody ends up doing what they went to school for. I didn’t get my masters so I could sell cheap denim to teens.”

His gaze bore into her, like he was seeing something internal, something private. “You’ll find a better job.”

“I’m not even looking anymore.”

“Yeah. Me neither.”

Parker popped in one leg while Nabila gripped the body.

“What do you think of the new mannequins?” he asked.

“They sure are white. Did you order them?”

“No. Corporate picks the dolls.”

“I wonder if there are any brown ones.” Her skin looked darker than usual against the mannequin’s shiny plastic whiteness. “When I was a kid, I watched a children’s show set in a department store after hours. Ever see that?”

Parker found another leg and worked it into the empty socket. “Doesn’t ring any bells.”

“One character was a window dresser. She always wore a pink and red jumpsuit. Then there was a guy who was a mannequin. He came to life when you put on his magic hat. That’s what I think of every time I stay after hours with you.”

“I’m sure we could find you an ugly-ass jumpsuit,” he said.

Nabila let go of the mannequin once it could stand on its own two feet. Grabbing a sunhat off the rack, she set it on Parker’s head. “There’s your magic hat.”

“Am I supposed to come to life?” Parker asked. “Because I’ll need a serious dose of coffee before that happens.”

Nabila watched Parker sort through packing peanuts until he found a head. “What about the arms?”

He said, “It’s easier to put them on after she’s dressed.”

Nabila played with the new summer stock while Parker flipped through his sketchbook. The mall was on a conservation kick, which meant most lights were turned off. Fortunately the place was built with so many sunroofs and windows that the moon and parking-lot lights kept their shop front pretty bright.

“You’d look great in this,” Nabila said, holding up a sundress.

He barely looked up from his sketchbook before saying, “Not all fairies prance around in florals.”

“But if you’ve got the body for it…” “Who says I do?”

There wasn’t exactly a glint in his eye, but she saw something impish in him.

“Do you believe in magic?” she asked.

Before he could answer, she sang Olivia Newton-John at him, dancing with the dress, hopping over scattered body parts.

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