Glitter girl
amo o nr o a ds t o r y
Jean McKinney
GLITTER GIRL
If you’re comin in, shut the door behind you. Lock in what’s left of the cool. Hundred and ten in the shade and it ain’t even noon yet. It’s a wonder this old Airstream don’t melt clean away. Hot damn, ain’t you a glory? Just look at you, standin there in the doorway with the sun fallin all around you. Legs all the way to heaven and your hair like midnight water; you got diamonds in your ears and steel in your heart. Now don’t turn away from me like that. We both know why you’re here. I been watchin you. I saw you up at the tourist shop, peerin out the window of the ladies room, catchin sight of this old trailer out here in the cactus. Saw you pickin through the dry brush, shyin past that crazy red eyed dog and all the burnt out cars. I heard the rocks, crackin like glass under your sandals. And sure enough, here you are, comin deep into my shadows, chasin off the buzz in my head. Take off your sunglasses. I want to see the whites of your eyes. What would your daddy say now? Here’s his pretty baby, sneakin out to talk to some dried up old hippie with a bad leg from Nam. Here’s his little girl, all grown up, wantin to get down and dirty with the witchin. Well, let me tell you what’s true. Up there in the shop, they don’t talk about me, don’t talk about what’s back here in the sand. Long as I pay my rent and stay quiet, I can lay low, like a rattlesnake hidin from the sun. 1
Magic’s not all flash and fancy. It takes a witch to find a witch. And see: you found me. Don’t give me that who, me? look. When you looked out that window the magic snagged you, didn’t it? Called you to come on, come on . . . But this desert eats glitter girls like you. Eats ‘em right up. You stay out here long enough, you get to be like me, nothin but leather and smoke, and bad witchery in the night. You should have stayed up there in the coffee shop, browsin tinpot silver and cactus jelly and gift boxes full of dates while your daddy buys the gas. Guess there’s places in this desert a private jet won’t go. Airconditioned Lexus is the next best thing, ain’t it? All right then. What do you want? Don’t even tell me. I can see it in your face. I can see him in your eyes, too: pretty boy back home with a movie-star face and a sweet fast car. He’s got muscles like a god and a head empty as a bucket, and he’s worth less than the dirt beneath your heel. But here you are, tellin me you want to own him. It’s love, you say. Love? Like hell. A thousand years ago I was as young as you. As hungry in the heart. And I know what you know, deep down. Love ain’t what makes the blood sing and the heart fly high. It’s power. Long as we’re clear, I’ll give you a spell or two. Twist him wrong side out, squeeze him like a rubber ball. Sink him in those daysky eyes of yours, though he don’t even know your name. He’ll come to you on his knees beggin. And when he does, you’ll laugh and walk away. Because that’s what witchin means. Your daddy’s nearly finished fillin up that shiny car. He’ll be headin in to settle up. Maybe buy a bola tie or a paperweight with a scorpion inside. But he’ll be missin his glitter girl -- and if he comes back here, he won’t like 2
what he sees. So let’s get down to business. Sixteen’s plenty old enough to pay. Just a little blood will do it. And a scrap or two of soul. I’m not so thirsty lately, and it don’t take much to steal a heart. Close your eyes and I’ll be quick. You’ll be in the sun again before your old man’s paid the bill.
THE MOON ROAD SERIES The southwestern Borderlands are rich in history, lore – and magic. The Moon Road modern fantasy series tells the storeis of the people and creatures of Soledad City, a fictional desert metropolis where magics old and new merge and meet, and the Moon Road that connects all theworlds sometimes appears.
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j e a nmc ki nne y . c o m L u n a Bl u eSt u d i o s2015