"I'll be there in 10, numb-nuts," said Roger, before pressing the 'End Call' button on the steering wheel, hanging up on his partner in crime.
He was already a few minutes late leaving the house this morning, and now had one additional stop to make before arriving at the office. No doubt, he'd have some catching up to do before trading opened for the day.
"Fuckin' Jerry," he said calmly while shaking his head then glancing over to the passenger seat and eyeing up his lady. "Looks like I won't be needin' ya today."
He took a quick look at the digital clock on the dash and realized he needed to make tracks. He wasted no time jumping into the left lane and stomping on the accelerator, all in an effort to make up time.
The parkway was usually flooded with traffic at this time of the morning but by some stroke of luck, the volume was lighter than usual. Even with the last-minute pick-up, he'd probably be fine. But that was no measure of comfort considering his high-strung personality, and his obsessive nature. If he had to cut his mental pre-game checklist short before the opening bell, he would be rendered ineffective for the first hour of trading, and that would set the tone for the rest of the day.
"Get in, get set, get go... Get in, get set, get go," he repeated, as if in a trance, while navigating in and out of traffic in an effort to buy himself more time. "Fuckin' Jerry."
A short time later, he exited the parkway and sped down a side street, driving more than a few miles over the posted speed limit while keeping his eye on the clock. He rang Jerry to give him a heads up.
"Dude, two minutes... Be ready."
Roger clicked the button and hung up, then cursed his friend a few times under his breath before pulling up to the house and coming to a screeching halt in front of Jerry's driveway. He unbuckled his seatbelt and began fumbling around with his passenger as Jerry and his companion walked down the driveway and towards the car.
"Hey man," Jerry shouted through the half-opened passenger side window to his friend. "No need to put her away. We'll ride in the back."
Roger leaned forward and saw Jerry standing there, in full get-up, with a short little brunette attached to his side. She sported a pixie cut and was wearing a tight, yet skimpy sequined outfit that was thinly veiled by a mesh purple robe. He opened the door and got out of the car, taking a few steps forward to get a much better view of the circus act standing before him.
Jerry was already dressed for his performance under the big top: red nose, wild orange wig, floppy red shoes, oversized, obnoxious jump-suit, face painted white, and a smoldering cigarette wedged between his cherry-red lips. His companion, all four feet ten inches of her, stood next to time with an innocent yet devious smile on her face.
Roger eyed her up and down, marveling at her tiny, yet tight little body. He threw a glance back at Jerry and said, "What the fuck is this? You stakin' out the local grade school again?"
"Dude, get serious. She's fully grown. She just looks like she's ten. Be nice and say hi to Miranda. She's a contortionist... and was my entertainment last night."
Jerry dismissed her by waving his hand and nodded his head. "We gotta roll," he said as he got back into the car and grabbed his passenger with both hands. "I'm gonna be late."
"No need to stash Brittani in the trunk, man," said Jerry. "We'll ride in the back."
Miranda couldn't help but wonder what stumbled onto. She curiously eyed Roger's passenger as Jerry stepped around her and opened the door for her. "Um, why's he got a blow-up doll in the front seat of his car? And why did he give her a name?" she asked quietly as she stepped into the back of the sedan.
Jerry scooted her over in the seat and sat down next to her, closing the door and whispering in her ear, "He always drives to and from work with Brittani riding shotgun. Uses the HOV lanes on the highway. Have no idea how he gets away with it but he does."
"This is too weird," she replied.
"Seriously?" he asked. "We're sitting in the back seat of this car dressed as a fucking clown and a slutty sequined gymnast, and you think this is too weird?"
They both were driven back into their seats as Roger slammed the accelerator to the floor. "Buckle up," he said while eyeing them through the rear-view mirror. "This may get unwieldy."