I used to be a shop chick in a small bookstore in The Rocks (the oldest European part of Sydney). It is a small & lively area, with the Museum of Contemporary Art (where I also once worked), lovely old buildings, nice shops & restaurants, and the best French Patisserie outside of France. (La Renaissance, Sydney readers. Go there.) It also boasts the oldest pub in Australia, as well as the longest continuously serving pub. It is a popular street for drinking alcohol and being rowdy on a Friday night, with our little bookstore an oasis of calm.
One Friday evening, early in the street's long night of booze, a brace of young men came into the shop. They had started on their evening's consumption, but were at the maleable, cheerful stage of proceedings. I suggested that perhaps they'd like to continue their festivities out in the street, at a place which served alcohol, rather than books & chocolate (Haigh's).
One young blade suggested that I "get nude".
He then generously included all the shoppers in his invitation. "We should all get nude," he shouted. I proposed that, rather than taking all our clothes off, he & his friend might like to leave, and the rest of us might continue our quiet browsing. Our heroes agreed it was rather a good idea, though the Get Nude Boy was more reluctant than his companion.
As they reached the doorway, I was congratulating myself on keeping the mood jolly & avoiding any trouble. It was at that moment, standing in the doorway of the store, that the reluctant one turned and took his stand. "Get nude!" he cried, and demonstrated the procedure by pulling his trousers and underpants down with one swift, almost professional, gesture. He posed in the doorway aflame in the glory of his youth.
And it was rather glorious, as well as being the most non-sexual, non-threatening and rather sweet flashings ever in the history of public nudity.
The assembled browsers and I chuckled for many minutes after the two Knights of Sydney had gone on their way, reclothed. I hope they stayed as cheerful and fun for the rest of their evening. However, the shop's closing time of midnight meant I had witnessed Friday's alcohol aftermath too often to be more than faintly hopeful.
7 comments:
Only thing that wouda been more glorious is if evryone within earshot o th command had simultaneously complyd witout question.
Oh yes glorious indeed. Something like this perhaps?
I'd never have thought that a bookstore would attract such activities.
Oh, the things I've seen ...
love that ring!
When we lived in the city I'd go to a used/new bookstore in a busy square filled with restaurants and bars; the store stayed open till 11 because there was lots of foot traffic. It was a big university area, and the entire night staff consisted of college kids who were far more likely to do things like that than the customers.
I believe that purple hair and at least three piercings were a requirement to work there after 6 pm.
I do miss the city, sometimes...
You mention the word 'nude' (or 'chocolate' perhaps) and suddenly everyone has something to say.
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