by Jenna Baker
*****
The bimbo behind the desk at California Sun Quest was probably twenty-one and very tan and perky.
“My skin doesn’t accept the sun, Gin,” I explained. “I’ll leave here a lobster and then ten minutes later I’ll be pale again.”
“I know that, Vicky, we have the same skin. That’s why I’ve been gradually tanning for the past three weeks.” Ginny turned to the bimbo. “We’re gonna have to spray her.”
“Great. Did you bring your bikini?” the bimbo asked me.
“No.”
“Oh. Well, Ricardo is our only tanner right now. Are you okay with getting sprayed by a man?”
I turned to my sister. “Ginny, what the hell?”
“You can leave your underwear on. But you don’t want tan lines up top, so no bra, okay?”
I cursed myself for allowing my guilt to get me to this place. The bimbo walked me to the back and told me to strip down. I stood there topless in my underwear, waiting for Ricardo.
Ricardo was a big burly guy with muscles on top of muscles. His voice was smooth and even, just like his tan. “No tan lines, all right, girl. I’m gonna spray you and I need you to spin, okay? It gives the best coverage.”
I was past the point of humiliation, so I obliged his request. I stood with my arms up and nipples blaring spinning in circles while Ricardo shot me with a spray gun of skin dye.
“Spin! Spin! Faster, faster!” Ricardo ordered.
“I’m gonna throw up!” I called out.
“Yeah, but you’re gonna look great!”
I stepped out of the room a while later wearing a white towel that was slowly turning orange. I was especially annoyed because my underwear was now also orange, and I was going to have to wear it for the rest of the day. I looked in the mirror and noted that I was more pumpkin than bronze, but I had little time to worry about that – I needed to get back to the station.
I thanked my sister for the memories, then hopped in my Miata and headed east. On the way to the station I passed a dollar store and pulled in. I found a seven-pack of cotton underpants with the various days of the week on them. They were meant for kids, but at least they were clean, so I bought them. I used the restroom of the store, threw my orange-stained panties in the trash, and put the Friday pair on. I figured if I was going to wear the days of the week, I should at least wear the correct day.
