Life had been good to Geoff.
He often thought that as he stepped through his front door. Starting with his looks, bright blue eyes and dark curly hair, tall dark and handsome. He'd sailed through school and university and landed a fantastic job thanks to his uncle Tom who treated him as a son and made him a partner in his practice. The only thing that Geoff hadn't been good at was having a girl friend. After a few dates they started making excuses and then he would see them wrapped around some other young man, nowhere near as good-looking or successful as him, Geoff couldn't understand it.
Life stepped in and handed him Celia, who was totally besotted with him, she adored him. She wasn't exactly what he'd have chosen, being rather plain, but she had a great figure and her devotion was very reassuring. They were married and had three children without him making any effort at all.
He stopped in front of the hall mirror and ran his fingers through his thick curly hair, checking there were no bald patches and admired the way his blue eyes twinkled back at him. He was about to call out to Celia and then remembered she was working late for Halloween. She'd got herself a little job, earning what she called pin money. She said she wanted to give something back to him, she wanted to be able to buy him presents. She had booked them two nights in a hotel with a luxurious spa for the half term weekend.
Geoff flinched when he thought of Caroline's reaction to this. She'd flown off the handle at work and told him it was over. Geoff was surprised to feel relief flood through him. Caroline had been very demanding lately and it had been the ideal opportunity to tell her that maybe it wasn't a good idea to have an affair at work. She should look for another job. Caroline had flounced off telling him where he could put his job.
While the children were younger Celia had been happy looking after them and saying how important it was that she was there when they got home from school. Her job working in the lunch hour was perfect.
Celia had told him she would bring back some of the Halloween buffet from work and they could have a romantic evening by the fire. The children were on half term. The two boys away at Scout camp and Emma was going to stay with her friend Nathalie.
Geoff could hear laughing and giggling from Emma's room and he marched towards it and flung open the door. There was a loud shriek and Emma slammed the door in his face, 'Dad !!' she called out through giggles, 'You should knock! We're getting ready for the Halloween party.'
Geoff felt himself redden and his heart was beating very fast. How did that happen? How did those little girls have women's bodies? The image of Nathalie in her underwear had shaken him up. He called out to apologize and heard more giggling.
He walked into the kitchen and flicked the switch on the kettle, ignoring the unwashed dishes in the sink and reaching for a clean mug. The local newspaper was spread out on the table and he put his coffee down, leaving a wet stain and spreading crumbs from his chocolate biscuit all over the pages. He started reading an advert for the new local lap Dance place.
The headline said, 'Special Happy hour for Halloween! Let our wonderful witches have their wicked way with you! All your wishes will come true with one sip of our magic brew!
There was an illustration of some pretty girls dancing round a pole decked with cobwebs and Autumn leaves. Geoff sighed. The episode with Caroline and now the sight of Nathalie had unnerved him, he needed some relaxation and light relief. He looked at his watch. He could go to the Happy Hour and be back in time for Celia.
Geoff had never been to a Lap Dance, he and his friends had had their stag nights doing outward bound courses and climbing mountains. He thought he deserved a treat after all those shocks. Maybe it would work out cheaper than having Caroline and there would be no danger of being caught out. Geoff knew from the men at work that no-one went to Lap dances in their own town, they all went up to the one near the motorway, near the hotels. He called out to Emma to have a good party and he'd help her with her homework tomorrow and set off.
As he entered the lap Dance venue Geoff felt a quiver of excitement. He felt daring and adventurous. The body guards dressed as men- in- black were smart and polite, they called him sir. The girls were dressed in skimpy costumes, with mini cobweb skirts and perky little velvet witch's hats, long gloves and cat's masks to cover their eyes and not much else. Some were dancing on a stage, winding themselves round poles and chanting and blowing kisses. Geoff felt slightly uneasy thinking one of them looked like Nathalie, with the same glossy, chestnut hair. The others were handing round the magic brew on trays and one of them came up to him and beckoned him to join her on a plush velvet couch.
She sat down beside him and slid her hand along his thigh. He felt alarmed but thought it would seem rude to remove it and he relaxed and took a sip of his drink. The girl told him her name was Irina and she wanted to fulfill his desires. He turned towards her and then let himself be lead away towards a secluded part of the room. They were just about to enter the Private booth when another couple came out of the one next to it. The man looked very happy and smiled at the wicked witch as she showed him where to pay. Geoff gasped and felt faint. It couldn't be? Underneath the cat's mask there was no doubt it was her. He felt sick. He was aware of a loud crack and a thump.
The doctor bending over him was shining a torch into his eyes. He called out, 'Nurse he's awake, he's all yours now. Tell him to take it easy for a few days and come and get the stitches out next week.'
Geoff felt as though his head would burst, the pain was terrible. He tried to move his arms and legs and then gently touched his head. There was a thick bandage. The nurse came up and smiled him.
'No harm done, you've had all the tests. You'll just have a bit of a bald patch because we had to shave your hair for the stitches. We had to keep you in overnight so I'm sorry you've missed Halloween. Your wife's coming to get you now.'
Did he imagine the burst of giggles from the Nurses' station? He felt numb and very shaken.
Geoff sat at the kitchen table drinking a strong cup of tea. Celia was busy washing up and had her back to him. The local paper was on the table. He glanced at the headline and froze.
Local Solicitor starts fight in Lap Dance club when he sees his WIFE walk out of a private booth.
There was a thump and a thud as Geoff landed on the floor.
