Verge: Stories

A WOMAN GOING OUT

Leave the legs for last.

Take the razor up smooth against the slight resistance of stubble, flick the wrist at the top, dip the head into the water, swish it around, then back down to the ankle for the next run. Flesh smooth-appearing in a track through white foam. Do it again. Expose the leg in stripes of skin.

Wash off the excess foam, squeeze aloe and rub briskly between the palms, ahh, warm caress up and down the legs.

Slide the hand in each leg, spread fingers wide, and examine for runs, point one toe and enter the hose, pull slowly up the ankle, the calf, and over the knee to the thigh, pause; same with the other leg, pause; scrunch it inch by inch up the thighs to the balls pushed back up into the cave, to the penis tucked tight between the legs and secured with a thong and over the hip bones and snap the elastic around the waist with thumbs.

Then the pumps and the jewels: red stilettos and rhinestones in the ears, at the neck, and of course on the wrists.