Sky Tongues Read Online Free PDF

water cooler around and she told me where I could find one down the hall a ways.
   By the time I returned with my tiny cup of water, Milo was gone, off to do her audition. I sat and sipped water, occasionally dipping my tongues despite the looks of disgust the receptionist was giving me. I glared right back and went on with my business.
   The water was gone by the time Milo emerged with the casting director. “We’ll give you a call,” he was saying. “But, just for future reference, you really should get yourself some headshots and a portfolio.”
   She smiled sweetly, saying yes and thank you, blah, blah, blah. I was just anxious to get the hell out of there and find a place where I could get a proper glass of water.
   “Ok, you’re up,” The director said.
   I sighed and licked my pinky tongue.
   “Young lady? It’s your turn.”
   Milo laughed and said, “Oh, she’s not auditioning. She’s just here for moral support.” And that’s when I looked up, realizing he’d been talking to me.
   “Oh, you’re kidding! With hands like that! Oh, no way. C’mon, get up.” He was waving a hand at me motioning for me to come with him through the door.
   I looked at Milo, who shrugged.
   “You want me to audition?” I asked the director.
   “Hell, yes. Now come on! Time is money.”
   “I don’t know…” And I really didn’t.
   “Free ice cream,” Milo smiled, showing me a cone of chocolate chip.
   It sure looked good. “Ok,” I said, getting up. “What the hell, right?”
   “What the hell, indeed,” the director agreed.
   I followed him through the door and to an extremely fake looking set pretending to be a suburban kitchen. “I don’t have a portfolio either, you know,” I told him.
   “Eh. Who cares? It’s always a good excuse to say that to some people though.” He grinned at as if we were best friends and I had to suppress a gag.
   There were a few people hanging around the set, camera, light and sound people by the looks of them. The director told me to go sit on a stool at the fake counter and face the camera, which was easy enough. Then someone handed me a bowl of ice cream.
   “Ok,” the director said, as he sat in his special director’s chair. “Now just act like you’re enjoying it. Like you’re really loving the shit out of that ice cream. It’s the best you’ve ever had in your entire life.”
   “Umm…ok.” I picked up a spoonful of ice cream, put it in my mouth and made a face of ecstasy.
   “No, no, no,” the director said, “use your hands.”
   “Excuse me?”
   “Your hands. The tongues on your hands?”
   “But…they don’t really taste that well. Only if something is really strong—”
   “Do I give a shit about that? No! How is anyone else gonna know if you can’t really taste with them, huh? They aren’t! So, just act like you can and what they’re tasting is delicious. Go on now, stick your tongues right in there.”
   I looked around at the whole crew staring at me. “So…uh…how much would I get paid if I got this thing anyway?”
   Five seconds later, I was sticking all ten of my tongues in that bowl and enjoying every bit of it.

25

   I got the job and Milo took the news much better than I had hoped.
   Gus, on the other hand, was extremely unhappy when I told him I’d have to stay in LA for perhaps as long as a week. “No way,” he said firmly. “I won’t allow it. Who knows what kind of trouble you could get into on your own. These people are vultures! Absolutely not.”
   I told him how much I’d be making for the work and he whistled. “Holy shit! Well, I can see why you’re tempted, Sky, but the answer is still no. I need you here. We still have the whole pacific coastline to do. Maybe I can send you back once we’re done, but—”
       “ What?” I exclaimed. “You think they’ll just wait for me? They