uninvited

"Must be strangely exciting to watch the stoic squirm."

The lights in the room began to dim. And as the lights softened, so did the crowd. The laughter, the clinking of glasses, the polite interruptions of waitresses all turned into a soft hum. Almost like the constant yet comforting sound of a clothes dryer. The crowd was eager and strained to see beyond the sudden darkness to the stage. Almost silent happenings were occurring onstage. Silhouttes of people walking. The sound of stilettos trying to tiptoe into position.

Then as suddenly as the lights went down, the stage lit up. On it sat three girls in was assumedly expensive, overtly arousing outfits. A brunette with long wavy hair wearing a black jumpsuit that looked more like a second skin than an actual layer of clothing. Another brunette, this one with a sleek bob, in a barely there mini skirt and silk cami. A blond whose hair was more than halfway down her back in tight capris and a literally breathtaking corset. Three girls straddling three chairs.

And the hush deepened in the crowd. The waitresses stopped serving and themselves sat to watch the show. Drinks were nursed in effort to keep focus on the show. The women sang. They danced. Eventually they disrobed. There were some in the crowd nearly salivating by the end. Some were clearly aroused and ready to go home to their own lovers.

Then there were the ashamed few. The prude newcomers. The people's whose friend or significant other or sibling or co-worker had pushed them to come. The people who were suddenly faced with a sexuality they had run from their entire lives. The people who found their own deep-seated belief that shows were exploitation of women being overtaken by their own suppressed sexual desire. When the show ended, those people sat transfixed and embarrassed. They were frozen by their internal conflict. They were confused and disgusted by their enjoyment. They were unwilling to face the people they came with. But most of all, those people found themselves reluctant to get up in case they missed the encore.