New Job, New Suit - Part Two

 

Before I can finish my thought I see something out of the corner of my eye. A squat red brick building with a simple hand-painted sign in the window reading 'Suit Rescue: Find Your New You Today'. Looking both ways I rush across the street, my fannel open flannel shirt fluttering in the wind and revealing the slim fitted black tee beneath it.

Reaching the other side of the street I catch my breath, wiping the glistening sweat from my brow with my pale forearm. I take a moment to collect myself, straightening out my shirts and looking at my reflection in a nearby window as I try to prepare myself to make a good first impression.

I run my hands through my short brown hair, tidying it a bit after the brief burst of running. With a meek satisfied smile I nod to my reflection, turning away from it and heading towards the brick building a few doors down.

The windows into the Suit Rescue are obscured, blinds blocking people from seeing in beyond the sign resting on the windowsill. I purse my lips in confusion, wondering why it was like this?

"Maybe...privacy reasons" I mutter to myself in a low whisper, reaching out for the door handle and pushing it open. A little bell chimes as the large front door is opened, a small brass bell sitting above the entryway acting as an alert that a customer had arrived.

My jaw drops as I look around the room, barely able to comprehend what I was looking at. The building had obviously been refurbished, with clean white rendered walls and light polished hardwood giving the space a crisp and clean look. The building was filled with large wooden shelves, practically overflowing with neatly folded flesh-colored latex suits. They were tightly packed into the shelves, dangling out slightly as they bulged from their resting space.

"This...this is..." I mumble, struggling to take in what I was seeing.

I'm cut off by a calm soothing voice before I could finish my thought. "A lot isn't it?" the voice says, finishing my sentence for me. Out from behind one of the shelves steps a man in his mid-thirties, a scruffy blonde beard defining his rugged face. He is a little shorter than me, standing at around 6'1" with a slightly tanned complexion visible thanks to his plain white t-shirt and black shorts.

"I...yeah it is..." I reply, still ogling the shelves upon shelves of Suits.

"I'm Matthew" the man says with a warm smile, reaching out to shake my hand. "Are you here to help find one of these people a new home?"

"Jordan" I respond, reaching out to shake the man's hand. "And...yeah...I suppose I am" I explain nervously.

"Wonderful" he chirps excitedly. "Would you like to browse or..." he begins to ask, trailing off as he anticipates my answer.

I begin to walk a little further into the storefront, reaching one of the shelves. I reach out, taking a heavily tanned part of a Suit between my fingers and wincing at how real it felt.

"Can they...um..." I begin to ask, unsure if it was insensitive or not.

"They can't feel you now, not while in this state. Think of them as...sleeping" Matthew explains.

"However, once someone wears them they..."