Some days one just feels cheerful. Kaede just wished to shuffle on the way to work on a James Brown song.

It was Marco’s s day off.

The week always began with her wishing he would break a leg, then Kaede would just wait and pray for his day off.

Kaede acknowledged the fact her judgment was biased. The man could do whatever he wanted; Marco was still the evil bastard who left her when she needed him the most.

The man took away more than he could imagine the night he broke up with her.

Not only did she cry her heart out, but she bled. The doctors said it was not rare; stress amongst other factors could cause it.

The woman did not even have the time to grasp that she held life within her that it was gone.

Kaede loathed Marco, but above all, the woman hated herself for not taking care of or listening to her body, which sent her warning signs.

The man had no clue of the grudge she carried. Inside, Kaede screamed like a banshee.

At least today, she could breathe on a little wooden plank that was Marco’s day off and would let her float above the shit.

“Hi guys,” Kaede pointed at the immense peacock train colored mohawk, “oh Andrea, love the hair.”

Andrea and Dia exchanged an accomplice stare while Kaede stood on the side to insert the key, which lifted the grid.

“I hope you guys are hyped, let’s make some money.” Kaede beamed

As they entered, Andrea gave Dia five euros for the bet she lost. Dia betted Kaede would be in a good mood, and Anissa, who was reasonably new, betted she would not.

The permanent staff knew Kaede was another woman in Marco’s absence. Before opening, four other staff members joined them for the morning brief.

“Okay, guys, as you know, it’s fashion week. Friday’s venue should influence Saturday’s sales. But I don’t want you to sleep on it and wait for Saturday. Incentives are individual; it’s you who decides whether your payment will be a plain loath of bread or coated with peanut butter, jam whatever your fancy.”

Also, we have the Sacai raffle coming up. Remember, you can not enter ours. If you want to try your luck, please see the other vendor’s lottery.”

“Kaede”

“Yes, Tara.”

“I don’t get why we get enter since it’s a fair draw.”

“We know it’s fair, Tara, but customers don’t. How would you feel if you entered a draw where the winners were the store’s staff members?”

Tara nodded.

“Can I say something,” the deep voice came from one of Da Stuff’s prettiest faces.

If it was not for the voice, one could not imagine the Brazilian was transgender. Tan skin, almond-shaped eyes, and long black hair surpassed the buttocks with assets in the right places. Lorenzo threw shade on many so-called beauties.

“Yes, Lorenzo.”

“Eh, guys, about the toilets, please don’t piss as if you have a runaway hose out of control.”

Tara clapped, and Dia knocked a knuckle with Lorenzo while Chris, Chen, Francois, lifted eyes to the ceiling, amongst other gestures.

“Okay, thanks, Lorenzo. Let’s open,” Kaede clapped, and the music came on with the playlist she chose, which started with I feel good by James Brown.

This time it was Tara who discreetly gave five euros to Dia. As Andrea before her, she betted on the playlist, which began with Post Malone, Bazzi, or Black Bear, while Dia knew a good day meant there would be some soul, funk, and old school jives.

The first customers seemed to have woke on the same foot as Kaede as they bought quickly, knowing what they wanted.

Joseph arrived at noon, “that’s how I like it,” he said when he saw the five-digit figure of the morning sales. “How are you Kaede, you’re radiant today.”

Kaede smiled.

“Whatever happens today, please try to keep that beautiful smile. It will influence all your encounters.”

As always, Joseph dropped his words of wisdom like an A-bomb and got Kaede analyzing. Where many needed a daily horoscope reading, Stan Lee’s lookalike words were enough. The man’s predictions were rarely wrong.

Kaede applied what he said untilㅡ.

“Hi.”

“Marco isn’t here today.”

Dominque gave her a devilish grin and leaned and folded his elbow on the counter, “I know.”

“Eh, can you take your elbows off? I just wiped that.”

“Sorry,” Dominque arranged his posture and swiped his hand at the back of his head.

They are Siamese twins, Kaede thought. She noticed Dominque had the same body language as Marco when embarrassed, her lips twitched.

“What’s funny?”

“Nothing; why are you here?” The woman pursed her lips together.

Dominque looked around and returned his stare on Kaede, “I thought I could get a manicure.”

“It’s expensive here, and since Marco is off, you can’t use his discount.”

Dominque smirked, “do you think I can’t spend?”

“I didn’t say that we have millionaires asking for discounts attempting to save up. It seems logical to me if you did the same; they’re wealthy because they know how to bargain.”

Dominque shrugged, “I’m no a millionaire, but I’m not stingy with myself. See you later.”

Dominque turned and went to the Hands’ N ’Nails bar. His mouth fell agape as the most beautiful woman he ever saw came and prompted him to sit down. Okay, she wore fake lashes and thick makeup, but she was bombastic until she opened her mouth and, “wow, you have beautiful hands for a man,” in one of the most profound and most masculine voices Dominque ever heard, “what do you want to be done, babes?”

“Eh, just the basic.”

Lorenzo winked, “don’t worry, relax. I’ll be quick, so you can go and play a lover boy with our manager.”

Blinked in disbelief, the man naively thought he went unnoticed.

“Don’t look at me like that. No one pays attention here. But when you sit at this bar all day, one sees things. If it can reassure you, she’s not indifferent to you.”

Dominque turned to see where Kaede was. She stood near the entrance with Tara and pointed her hands in different directions. He liked Kaede’s style; she wore Nike’s Clash Icon’s jogger set in electric blue and burgundy, she appeared to be an effortless woman, yet one saw the rigor she put into everything she did.

“Oh, they’re discussing the merch for Friday’s venue.”

“Yeah, there’s a party, right?”

Lorenzo nodded and continued filing, “Yeah, Joseph likes to make sure Paris doesn’t forget us. You’ll be there; I imagine because the boss lady will?”

“I don’t know,” Dominque brought his eyes back on his nails. The man could not believe who filed his nails or the fact he did not notice Lorenzo was a trans until he spoke. For a man who traveled in countries such as Thailand, Brazil, or Trinidad, not recognizing one seemed shameful.

Dominque waddled in his seat to adjust his position. Finally, getting his nails done was not a bad idea, especially since he could observe Kaede and get info from Lorenzo, who was chatty and funny, “so the guy backed me up in the alley telling to scream and shit. He lifted my skirt, and he was like shit, you’re a man, and I was like hell yeah. Suck my dick, or perhaps you should bend over. I swear the guy ran so fast. I think he’ll think twice next time he tries to assault someone. Now that I’m complete, I would not take such risks. Once the body is one of a woman, one realizes the dangers we face, mind, and soul. Okay, babes, you’re done.”

“Thanks.”

Lorenzo winked, and Dominque continued his tour. He stopped in front of the Books ‘N’ Stuff area, he picked up a few titles, and went to the counter.

“Hi, again.”

Kaede cocked an eyebrow at the cocky tone employed, “nails done?”

“Yep, have a look,” Dominque posed his hands over the computer screen, blocking her view, “look.”

Kaede nodded and gestured to push his hands when Dominque grabbed hers; you should get yours done too, he said as he lifted a chipped nail.

Kaede hands could not be qualified as soft or delicate, but they were not rough. They testified she was a girl who did not have the leisure to procrastinate. The man’s hold was tight; Kaede attempted to use her other hand to free herself.

Dominque grasped the other hand and turned both her palms.

“Can you let go of my hands, please?”

“Interesting,” Dominque ran his finger on the lines of her palm. The ticklish feeling made Kaede shudder and bite the bottom of her inner lip to keep a straight face. She stared at him, up close the man was painting. Cheekbones and chiseled jaw ticked off the masculinity checkbox, while the long lashes gave him a flirtatious gaze. Kaede noted Dominque looked less juvenile than Marco with the small creases around his eyes that Joseph called laugh lines, which attested he smiled a lot.

“What?” Kaede’s voice came off weak, and the corner smile sketched on the man’s face showed he, too, did not miss the Marlyn Monroe pitch squeal.