Tonight on our show (part 3)

... part 2

"You look hot. And I mean that literally and figuratively... what's that huge coat you're wearing?" It was Jake, my ex-husband...

Jake was the last person I wanted to deal with that night. I was tired, and the combination of the heavy faux fur coat, the thick sweater, and the latex underneath felt like a suffocating and constantly tightening prison.  I did my best ignoring him and began taking off my coat.

"And that waist! I think I haven't seen your waist in years, if not decades. That sweater, as thick as it is, is still way more revealing that those amorphous tunic things you wear nowadays."

"It's not the sweater. It's this awful contraption I'm wearing UNDERNEATH the sweater. A torture device that I'm sure was created by men who hate women.... Like you... Well, if you had any initiative." I barked back at Jake. "But yes, I'm very hot.... er ... warm!"

So you might wonder why my ex-husband was at my house? I wonder the same thing very often, even if there's an explanation. When we met, back in the early eighties, I was young and naive girl, trying to get my fifteen minutes of fame on TV, and jump start my acting career. Jake was low level playboy, fueling his lifestyle thanks to a trust fund. Our spurious romance led to an early marriage, but not before he showed his sleazy real self. He made me sign a prenup. I was hesitant at first, but I relented once he agreed to add a few concessions to the prenup. Just enough concessions so that I wouldn't be hungry or homeless... even though I had no claim whatsoever to his trust fund. Or so I thought. Surprise, surprise, we divorced five years later. And even those five years were a stretch.  The divorce didn't surprise anyone. What did surprise me was the divorce discovery... Jake claimed to be broke! His trust fund spent on parties, worthless gadgets and clothing (some of those clothes were hanging in my closet, I must admit). Our house was paid for, but there was little else. Except for my income, as a struggling presenter in cable TV shopping network. Turns out a double edged sword cuts both ways, and so did our prenup. I left divorce court still owning half my house, and owing Jake a few months of back alimony payments. I was in shock, but there was little I could do. Just like the prenup would have guaranteed me a roof over my head, it also guaranteed a roof over Jake's head. And since I was the only one with an income, he was my responsibility.



I hung the coat on the coat rack and proceeded to head to my room. It had been a long day and just wanted to strip off everything I was wearing as soon as possible. Once in my bed, sleep came soon, even if fitfully.



The next day on my way to station I grabbed the massive fur coat from the rack, and with a sigh slipped my arms into the tight fitting armholes of the coat. It was sunny outside, and although cool as usual for the season, I felt like I was going to boil inside that coat on my way to work. But I didn't want to risk Kim seeing me *not* wearing it, as impractical as it was. The sweater and the latex cincher was another story, they were in a bag. I didn't want to suffer them (or suffer trapped inside then) until I absolutely had to. By the time I got to the station, I was relieved to take off the coat. Even without the car's heat, the coat was more than warm enough. It was also so thick and restrictive that it made driving really awkward. Getting to the office and taking off the coat was a relief, feeling unencumbered once again. I walked over to the wardrobe room to see what Cristina had for me to wear today.

Cristina had a beautiful (and very thick, of course) knee length sweater dress. It was done in a color block pattern of ivory, blue and burgundy, and of course a chunky oversized turtleneck. It would have been more than enough to wear outside in the blustery days of early December. Or at least I would have worn it like that. But Cristina had other plans. I could already see myself sweating under the set lights while trapped inside that. Before the sweater dress went over my head, it was time to put on the obligatory waist cincher. It wasn't the one I had in my bag with last night's sweater. This was a fresh one. Cristina maintained that I shouldn't wear the same one two days in a row: "You don't want the cincher to get overstretched and loose its holding power." Yes, I knew I was overweight, but she didn't have to rub it in. I didn't even know how many cinchers Cristina had in rotation for me, but every day it was a struggle to put on the day's torture device. Soon enough the latex garment was sealed around my middle, and having already worked out a sweat just putting it on, it was time to slip into the sweater dress.

While I was donning plain black leggings under the sweater dress, Cristina brought out a shiny looking shoe box. She opened the box and took out a new pair of very chic booties.

The booties were new, and out of the box looked extremely cute. They were ankle high, and had a pointy toe. They were made of luxurious smooth black leather up front, and black snakeskin leather around the back. It wasn't until I focused at the sky-high stiletto heel that it dawned on me that I would be spending my whole day perched on those precarious shoes. 

Sooner than later, I was shod into said booties, and the heels click-clacked as I made my way to the set. The show of the day was a drag. Two hours of 'Toasty Trends', mostly featuring fall coats that were on clearance. But the upside is that the show went on without a hitch, without any drama. And that was good thing in my life right now...

"Hi Megan, it's me Susan again. Can I talk to you for a few minutes..."

"Of course Susan, how can I help you?"

"The way you have me dressed for the shows is getting uncomfortable. Can I at least wear lower shoes on the shows? The heels are killing me."

"Well, the high heels help you look a bit taller, and somewhat less pudgy, so I'd say for now we'll keep the 'killer heels'... So learn to enjoy them, they really help you and your image. By the way, love those booties."

"Are you trying to get me to quit? Where am I going to go?"

"Trying to get you to quit! Not at all. But if you read your contract, it says clearly we can set reasonable expectations regarding your image. And high heels it is. Cristina showed me some new super cute knee high boots that she found specially for you. Enjoy your heels. And keep up that smile."

-----------

Days came and went, and the new routine became just like the old routine, but with more and warmer clothes on. Suffer through the shows while faking a smile, go home, sleep, and come back and do it all over again.

Today's show was low profile enough to not have any guests, which means that Kim wasn't around. In fact, I hadn't seen Kin since that one incident with her gift... until I stepped off the set.

The new knee high boots that Cristina had gotten for me were killing me, after standing and walking around for more than 3 hours. Megan was right that the boots were "super cute", but mostly for the onlookers, not so cute for me perched who was perched on the precarious five inch heel (even if they had a one inch platform). And to make it worse I was boiling under the thick sweater dress that reached almost to my knees. The dress went all the way from the high turtle neck to  just a few inches short of where my leather boots reached. Underneath I had leggings, but not regular leggings, these were fleece lined ones.  It felt like torture, a hot . How much more could I take?

As I was walking Kim was standing in the hallway, casually speaking with Megan. As I got closer, I tried to fake a smile. Megan did the faked smile, and turned towards me.

"Susan! Great to see you, I was just chatting with Kim about the holiday specials we're planning for the next couple of weeks.... Hey listen, I also mentioned to her how you gave that new coat a chance, and how you know looooove it, right?"

I turned towards Kim and gave her the same fake smile...She smiled back...Saying Kim was somewhat bipolar wouldn't be too much of a stretch.

I was feeling distressed and uncomfortable after the long day. I was hot and sweaty. My feet hurt from standing for hours in my high heel boots.  My waist cincher was driving me crazy, I felt it digging in all over my poor and sore flesh. I was trying to fidget with the shoulder straps of my cinched to adjust them into a more comfortable position, but the sweater dress I was wearing was too thick and made it hard to manipulate the straps. Without thinking I blathered something unexpected, and that I would come to regret:

"Yes, I've really been loving the coat, and I've gotten so many compliments. Specially from Megan... I'm sure she would like to have one of her own."


Megan looked at me with piercing eyes... and I felt the whole room grow colder.



"Really, Megan!? I wouldn't have expect you to like this coat that much, but it's wonderful to hear! I'll make sure to have one made just for you as soon as possible."



part 4

Tonight on our show (part 2)

... part 1

Susan looked around the reception area. There was a large box leaning against a desk. A large garment box. Susan lifted it, not realizing how heavy it was. She placed the box on top of the empty desk, and removed the lid. There was a handwritten note on top.

Susan,

On this holiday season, I wanted to wish you the best for you and your loved ones. But I also wanted to thank you for the support you have shown me on all of your shows. The current day success of the Kim Danelle brand is in big part due to your enthusiasm. As a small token of gratitude, I wanted to give you this coat as a gift. This is by far the coziest coat I have ever designed. Since you've been one of my biggest champions since I started in the business I wanted you to have one of the prototypes, which I had done in your measurements. Hope you enjoy this coat... See you soon on the show.

xoxo 

Kim

Susan took out the coat from the box. It was an ankle length faux fur coat, in a deep brown. It looked bulky and luxurious. It looked not very different from the typical full length Kim Danelle faux fur coat. Susan had two of those faux fur coat at home, but seldom wore them because they never seemed too impractical for regular days. However, this coat felt different than any coat Susan had seen. It felt thicker and heavier. Susan peered inside the coat, and the lining seemed different from the other faux fur coats Susan had. Was it a reversible coat? It had the iconic Kim Danelle white and gold tag on the back, so Susan quickly put that idea away. Yet the coat seemed off. Somewhat piqued by curiosity, Susan slid her left arm into the sleeve and quickly realized why it seemed off.  The inside of the coat was actually puffed up, the fit of her arm inside the sleeve was very snug. Was it one of those coat that had a removable liner for extra warmth? Susan looked at the seams but couldn't find any zippers or buttons to remove such liner. Susan slid in her right arm into the faux fur coat. The coat was as heavy and warm as much as it looked in the box. Or maybe it was even warmer. Susan had already been feeling overly warm in the thick turtleneck sweater she had worn on her show. The coat quickly turned from cozy and cute to hot and heavy, and she hadn't even closed the coat. Susan could feel how the snug quilting inside the sleeves restricted get arm movement. Sensing the on set of a claustrophobic attack, Susan quickly took off the coat, and looked at the label:

Faux-fur shell: polyester

Fill: down/feather

Lining: nylon satin twill

This was basically a full length down coat inside of a length faux fur coat. No wonder Kim had said it was the "coziest" coat she had ever designed. Susan put the coat back in the box, and started lugging the box back to her dressing room. 

Once in the dressing room Susan took off the hot and heavy turtle neck sweater. She put on the top she had been wearing when see came in this morning, a plain cotton blouse with three quarter sleeves.

Susan grabbed her coat, a rather utilitarian hip length down coat, and headed to her car.

It was early December, but the air was already chilly that night. Maybe she should have kept the heavy turtle neck sweater?

---

"Thank you Kim, it was great having you on our show today."

"Always a pleasure Susan, it always is so much fun."

"Thank you for watching, and tune in tomorrow for another hour of 'Kim Danelle Apparel'"

... 

Susan and Kim walked back to Susan's dressing room in the back of the studio. Susan was sweating, she was wearing a thick knit cowlneck sweater, leggings and high heeled booties. Susan had just spent the last hour or so heavily bundled in a thick sweater, and parading around the set wearing a multitude of winter coats. Under normal circumstances Susan would have run (as much as her heels would allow) to the dressing room to change out of the hot stuffy clothes she was made to wear for her shows. But Susan was having a great time with Kim, as they always did. There had been a strong connection between the two ever since they both started their respective journeys. Susan as a television host hoping to one day make it to the national news networks. And Kim as a fashion designer.

Once in the studio, Susan started to pull up her cowlneck sweater. Underneath the sweater, Susan was wearing some fearful looking shapewear. The vest shaped garment covered her midriff, lifting Susan's substantial bust high up. A high back reached past Susan shoulder blades, where two thick shoulder straps went around each shoulder holding Susan ramrod stiff. Like a soldier standing at attention.

"Wow, Susan, what are you wearing?"

"This? It's a modern take on an ancient torture device, it's a latex waist cincher. Like a girdle, but built like a personal sauna.  It's part of my daily wardrobe nowadays. But not by my own volition, mind you."

"Doesn't look very comfortable..."

"I can't say it's comfortable ... actually, it's agony, I can't breathe and I feel my bust up to my neck! It's made of latex so it super hot. And it's got wires all around that will poke me every so often so that I never forget that I'm wearing this contraption."

"Well, it does give you a nice figure! Those curves would turn heads. And at least it keeps you warm, which you seem to like, by the warm sweaters you seem to favor lately. By the way, are you enjoying my gift?"

"Gift...?"

Both Susan's and Kim's eyes converged to the big garment box, leaning on the dresser.

"Ohh... If you didn't like it you could have just returned it to me..." Kim tried to hide her disappointment, but her face betrayed her.

"No Kim, I did like it, I just hadn't found the right occasion to wear such a gorgeous coat!"

Susan hurriedly got back into the massive cowlneck sweater she had been wearing during the show, grabbed the heavy coat from inside the box. Susan hurried outside the dressing room, but Kim was nowhere to be seen...

"What was that scene?" ... it was Megan, standing on the doorway to her office.

"Well, Kim was disheartened that I had worn this coat that she had given me as gift... but look at it, it's monstrous! It's like a down coat inside a fur coat."

"Well, that very ungrateful from you. You should stop complaining, and from now one make that beautiful coat your go-to daily coat. Remember that the 'personal image' clause in your contract applies not only to your appearance on set, but also outside. So enjoy your new coat, and make sure you do whatever is necessary to Kim happy. That's one exclusive the network can't afford to loose."

"... yes Megan."

"Great... that should at least be a first step to making it up to Kim."

Susan walked to the dressing room and grabbed her purse, too shaken after disappointing someone she considered a true friend. It just felt that her job ShoppingTV was getting harder by minute. But what other option did she have? At her age what other station would take a chance on her? Susan knew that she had signed a very advantageous contract back in the day. As her high heeled boots clicked on the way to the exit. Susan closed up her coat. It was cold outside, but not that cold. The thick collar of her coat covered most of Susan's face. Yet tonight she just wished she could sink into the coat and disappear for a while.

---

After parking my car and stepping inside my home I heard a voice I didn't really want to hear that night. "You look hot. And I mean that literally and figuratively... what's that huge coat you're wearing?" It was Jake, my ex-husband.

part 3...