The Lap Dancer

The Lap Dancer


Monday
Knott arrived at work an hour earlier than required, sat at his desk
and waited for the feeling to pass. When his secretary, Lynnell, said
hello at 8:20am, he felt better and put the gun he'd been stroking into
his briefcase. He worked on the accounts until 6:30pm and went home.
Sitting in front of the tv that night, he realised, unconcerned, that
he hadn't spoken to anyone that day. An hour later, Knott turned on the
tv to banish the roar of silence filling his apartment.



Tuesday
Clarke dropped in some accounts at 11:37am, clapped Knott on the back
and chirped meaningless banter. Clarke then flirted with Lynnell
outside Knott's office, leaning on the edge of her desk sharing a joke
as he touched her on the shoulder. He whispered into her ear and her
eyes flicked towards Knott as she laughed. After Clarke left, Knott
realised he was stroking the cold barrel of the gun in his lap; a thin
film of sweat broke on his brow.


Wednesday
Knott went to a meeting on expansion strategies at 2:00pm. A smart,
young brunette - Kate - led the meeting and Knott stared at the table
whenever she looked his way. Susan, his boss, asked Kate intelligent
questions, and Davidson and Ives reciprocated. Knott kept quiet,
studying the memo in front of him. Later, when most people had left
work, he masturbated silently in the women's toilets. He got confused
as Kate became Susan who became Davidson, so Knott focused on the neon
reflections on the walls until he came.


Thursday
Lynnell called in sick, so Knott spoke to no-one until 3:47pm when he
bumped into Simons in the toilets. Simons cracked a joke and Knott, not
understanding, nodded and smiled weakly. As Knott locked himself into
the cubicle, Simons said he needed to check Clarke's accounts, as
Clarke wouldn't be in today. When Simons left, Knott pressed the cold
steel of the barrel against the heat of his penis and shuddered. He
didn't sleep that night.


Friday
That morning, Lynnell arrived late. Knott watched her from his office
as she worked. He followed her on her lunch break into Chinatown.
Clarke accompanied her. When they kissed, Knott clenched the gun in his
jacket pocket and turned away. He waited for them outside, across the
road, and trailed them back to work. As they neared the office they
separated. Knott, his hand leaking sweat around the gun handle,
approached her and uttered hello. Lynnell flushed, composed herself
then spoke politely. In the elevator, he studied her reflection in the
doors, his finger gently applying pressure to the trigger. Knott
vomited in the toilets before going home sick.


Monday
Knott arrived at work an hour earlier than required, sat at his desk
and waited for the feeling to pass. By the time Lynnell said hello at
9:10am, he felt worse and, for the first time, loaded the gun he had
been stroking in his lap.


The End