As Kina opened the bathroom door, steam flooded into the
living room, rising sharply as it met the cooler air. Despite the large
bathroom window being opened there was still more than enough steam from her
long, indulgent shower to reach the high ceiling of her small apartment’s
central room. As she walked over to her record player her light, satin gown
hung loosely around her quickly drying body and a drop of cool water ran from
her hair down the back of her neck.
Lifting the lid of her record player she gently placed the
needle close to the edge of the 7”, letting go when she heard the satisfying
scratch of needle on vinyl. Following a short, quiet, gratifying hiss, the
first few bars of Parliament’s Agony of
Defeet sprung to life and George Clinton’s smooth voice rang out. Kina
slowly began to shake her hips as she walked the few feet towards her TV. She
turned it on but kept the volume on mute. Kina enjoyed the company of a
flickering TV late at night and it left light, fuzzy shadows all over the
apartment. Briefly looking at the screen she half recognized an old John Wayne
Western but wasn’t sure of its name. Turning to the drinks cabinet behind her
sofa she continued her slow groove across the room. She stopped half way and
turned as she heard a dull thud coming from the bathroom. Angry at herself for
not hanging up her towel properly again she continued to her cabinet, poured
herself a small scotch and used a set of polished silver tongs to pick out a
warm slice of lemon which had seen better days. Heading to the kitchen in
search of ice, Kina once more strut a funky walk across the room in front of
the closed drapes and towards the open kitchen.
