“There we go,” I exclaim, assisting him back into his seat. “You are attending Priscilla and Ruben’s this evening, correct? Therefore, I require you to conduct yourself appropriately. Can you manage that?”
He acknowledges me with a brief nod as I present him with an apple juice. I cycle to the town centre where Priscilla and Ruben reside. They are two colleagues from the nightclub; Priscilla was a waitress, similar to my role, while Ruben served as a bartender.
I arrive at their flat and assist Bray in exiting his seat. He proceeds to skip ahead and knocks on the door while I secure the bicycle.
“Braylon!” Priscilla exclaims, extending her arms towards the young boy. “How is my adorable little man?” She beams as she bestows kisses upon his plump cheeks.
She gestures for me to enter and subsequently shuts the door behind me. An exquisite aroma permeates the entire home, and I glance into the compact kitchen to observe a diminutive woman diligently labouring at the stove. She stands at a height of barely more than 5 feet, possesses long, unkempt blonde hair, and has dark, kind eyes. The woman observes my admiration of her attractiveness, blushing intensely and gesturing graciously in my direction.
Recognising my impoliteness, I reciprocate the wave and present myself. “Greetings, I am Ricky, a friend of Priscilla and Ruben.”
The woman grins and nods, remaining silent.
“My apologies, dear,” Priscilla chuckles. “This is our friend Melina. She is both deaf and mute, therefore …”
“Is she deceased?!” Bray enquires with curiosity, glancing back at Melina. “To me, she does not resemble a ghost.”
Priscilla and I cannot restrain our laughter at his naivety.
“No, dear, she is both deaf and mute, which means she is unable to hear or speak,” I clarify while tousling his hair.
I approach the woman and indicate myself. She observes as I interlace my two thumbs and separate them, employing my fingers to inscribe my name. I rub my hands together, then bring my two index fingers together and ultimately direct them towards her. Her eyes illuminate upon my conclusion, and I hear Priscilla exclaim with enthusiasm.
“Are you proficient in sign language? Since when? What did you articulate?” she enquires.
“I just stated, ‘I am Ricky. It is a pleasure to meet you,’ and I shrugged. “I assist several deaf patients and have acquired fundamental signs to enhance their comfort.”
“You must instruct me,” Priscilla states. “She and her son are residing with us until they secure their own accommodation, and both are nonverbal. We have been communicating through writing to manage.”
“Where is the son?” I enquire, scanning the area for an additional guest.
“You have just missed him,” Priscilla said, blushing. “He is at the club with Ruben, and I must say, he is exceptionally attractive. You should observe him with Melina; it is utterly endearing. He possesses a charming demeanour, and I reiterate, he is indeed very attractive.” She chuckles like a schoolgirl. “I claim precedence! I am serious, Tal. Refrain from employing your Latina allure on him!” she admonishes.
I express my disdain by rolling my eyes and shaking my head at her. “I would never consider it,” I exhale, taking my keys and helmet. “I appreciate your assistance in watching Bray. You are invaluable.”
“At any moment!” she exclaims as I go.
I cycle to the club located in the town centre, securing the bicycle in the racks situated just behind the building.
THE HALITTON is an esteemed club frequented by some of the town’s notable residents. What is the reason? Basic: The Attire Regulations. All individuals entering the premises were required to don masks to conceal their identities. Any mask could suffice. Some donned extravagant masquerade masks, while others opted for the masks available at local Halloween retailers. Entry is prohibited without a mask. The objective was straightforward. Clients could enter and exit at their discretion without concern about public judgement, while the personnel, particularly the dancers, could do their duties without being stigmatised as promiscuous or s*x workers. It was mutually beneficial for all parties involved, and it functioned very well.
I thoroughly enjoyed attempting to identify individuals concealed under the masks. Based on the tips and beverages purchased, it was evident that some city council members were regular patrons, and I could only infer that police officers, physicians, teachers, and others also visited the establishment frequently.
Prior to entering the building, I donned a simple black masquerade mask and retrieved my outfit, proceeding directly to the changing room to replace my black top and pants with a revealing work uniform. We have weekly themes for nearly every fetish, encompassing full-body leather costumes to alluring schoolgirl uniforms. My maid uniform was a black bralette, a lacy black and white choker, a minimal black cloth that scarcely qualified as a skirt, and a little white apron. The ensemble was finalised with a garter belt, stockings, and heels, as I applied finishing touches to my makeup in the mirror. It was instances such as these when I truly appreciated the mask mandate.
