If I ever had my own style show, I'd tear into a suburban style-challenged participant's closet and throw out anything pastel, floral, or rhinestoned and replace it with bloodred tones, acid hues, and morbid blacks.
Today was different from anything I'd experienced when consulting Becky. From her auburn-topped head to her lime-green-painted toes, I got to transform my aunt from a flower child to a lady of the night.
While one hand soaked in lavender water, I painted her other hand's fingernails bat black.
"So, tell me all about the date!"I prompted her like a professional cosmetologist.
Aunt Libby giggled as if we were best friends as she described her dinner date with Devon.
"He is unlike any other man I've ever met. He's very patient and intense. He listens to everything I say.»
"Do you have a picture of him?»
"We've only had one date. Besides, he doesn't like to have his picture taken.»
Curious, I thought. While Aunt Libby's nails were drying, I toned down her warm glow and sun-kissed face by applying a soft, pale white powder. I drew her heavy eyeliner to a point and spread coffin black eyeshadow on her lids. I overapplied her mascara and finished off with two-tone vampire red matte lipstick.
I dolled her up with a hemlock lace choker necklace, rose dangle earrings, and chunky black bracelets. Then I zipped her into her recently hemmed Crucible dress.
I quickly unpacked my clubbing clothes and felt like I spent more time getting ready in my aunt's bedroom than riding the bus to Hipsterville.
"I think I'm melting out here,"she hollered, knocking on the bedroom door. "Hurry, I want to see what I look like, too.»
I sprayed my hair and opened the door.
"Wow! Get a load of you!"she exclaimed.
I twirled like a model in front of her, wearing a black minidress with a violet and black stretch bodice and jagged skirt, midnight-colored fishnets, and Demonia black leather buckled-up monster boots. I felt confident in my skin and clothes. I'd passed for a vampire in the Dungeon and a young adult in the Coffin Club and I was just being myself. It was electrifying that I had the opportunity to return as myself-much less with my aunt Libby.
Only she didn't think so. "Next to you I look like I could be your grandmother!»
"Get out! We look like sisters.»
"As long as you give me props like that, I'll hang out with you wherever you want. Where to next, the cemetery?»
"Now, are you ready to see yourself?"I asked.
"For like an hour….»
"Drumroll please…"I began, and presented her in front of her full-length bedroom mirror.
When my aunt saw her reflected image, she didn't recognize herself. She gasped as if she'd just seen a ghost.
"You look beautiful, don't you think?"I beamed.
"Well…it's certainly different from what I'm used to.»
"I made you look like me,"I said with admiration.
There was dead silence. Then, as if she thought she'd hurt my feelings, she said, "No one can look like you, Raven. You are unique and beautiful.»
"I can tone it down.»
"Don't you dare."She grabbed a handheld mirror and fluffed her hair. "This color is very slimming."She puckered her vampire red lips like a morbid Marilyn Monroe. "Black is a girl's best friend.»
9 Ghouls' Night Out
Look at that line!"Aunt Libby shrieked when we arrived at the Coffin Club. "It's as long as a New York hot spot's! This will not do-follow me.»
Aunt Libby headed straight for the entrance and right up to an unfamiliar bouncer.
"Excuse me, my name is Libby Madison. I'm with the Village Players and…»
"Libby?"the bouncer asked skeptically.
My aunt scrutinized him. "Jake?"she asked, suddenly recognizing him. "What are you doing working here?»
"It's just part-time while I go to school,"he said, taking the five-dollar teen-night admission fee from a girl in line. "I almost didn't recognize you.»
"Well, I'm out clubbing tonight. Do I look the part?»
Jake smiled and stamped a fourteen-year-old who had more piercings than I had. The stamp barely fit on her tiny hand.
"Raven, this is Jake,"my aunt began proudly. "Jake, this is my niece, Raven. Jake played Lenny in the Village Players production of Of Mice and Men.»
"It's nice to meet you."He stamped a bat on each of our hands.
"Don't we need bracelets?"I asked.
"Not tonight. The bar is dry until eleven oh one.»
"How did you know about the bracelets?"my aunt whispered.
"Uh…I saw it in a movie.»
Jake hopped off his stool and, like the valet at a five-star hotel, kindly opened the coffin-shaped doors.
My aunt and I paraded through the doors like we were royalty.
"When I grow up, Aunt Libby, I want to be just like you!"I exclaimed.
My aunt took a moment to take in the Coffin Club, beginning with its neon tombstones.
"I love it!"she blurted out.
I, however, was taken aback. The mood of the club had totally changed from the previous nights I'd visited. It was like a cryptic sweet-sixteen party. No amount of white powder or Graveyard Gray lipstick could hide the pimples, braces, and bubble gum attached to the teens running amok throughout the club. Sure, some teens were bopping to the macabre music or experimenting with a darker fashion palette, but for most it seemed a chance to be away from Mommy and Daddy and play dress-up for the evening.
Aunt Libby couldn't have cared less, even if she'd known. She was absorbing her surroundings like a tan addict enjoys the sun.
"This club is amazing!"she said. "I didn't realize there were so many of you.»
"Neither did I,"I said.
"Who is this singing?"she asked, swaying to the music.
"The Skeletons.»
"I'll have to get this album,"she said. "I mean download it. Whatever.»
As we made our way farther into the club, I did notice an older group of goths dancing and partying. They, like me, seemed to gaze at the younger set with disdain. Perhaps I should have been more open-minded.
"I want to quench my thirst,"my aunt said when she spotted the spiderwebbed, bottled bar.
"Sure. My treat,"I offered.
"Absolutely not.»
The same woman from last night waited on us.
"Hey, didn't I see you before?»
"Uh…no.»
"I swear I saw you in here last night.»
"I'm afraid not.»
"You were here with your boyfriend. He's tall and really hot.»
"It wasn't us.»
"Sadly she was at home,"my aunt confessed. "I had her chained in all night.»
"Well, you must have one of those faces.»
"My niece? She's as original as they come.»
My aunt read the virgin drink specials, etched out on a gravestone next to the cash register.
"We'd like two Insane Asylums, please. No alcohol.»
"That's all we're serving tonight. We don't make much at the bar on teen night.»
"Well, we'll remember that when we leave a tip,"my aunt said. "I was a waitress for longer than I care to tell you. I understand completely.»
Aunt Libby had a way of talking to anyone like a friend.
Just then I spotted Romeo out of my peripheral vision.
He came over to get some cherries from the plastic condiments container in front of me.
I ducked, hiding my face by rooting around aimlessly in my purse.
"He's cute,"my aunt said, nudging me.
"Aunt Libby!"I said.
"Don't be shy. But what am I telling you for? You've got a boyfriend. By the way, when am I going to meet this Alexander Sterling?»
"Shhh!»
"What. Did I say something wrong?»
Romeo stopped in front of us. He pointed his finger at me as if trying to remember my name.
"Didn't I see you…?»
"You have her confused with someone else,"Aunt Libby said. "C'mon, let's dance.»
And with that we finished our drinks and hit the dance floor.
I was surprised that Aunt Libby danced as well as she did. But after all, she was an actress and spent most of her life onstage. I'm sure she had to tap, twirl, and jitterbug her way through various parts in her career. The Coffin Club's dance floor was just an extension of my aunt's performance art, and she was rocking as if she were dancing for an audience of thousands.
Aunt Libby was exhausted before I was and asked if we could take a break. We sat for a few moments on the coffin-shaped couches, catching our breath, then hit the mini-flea market on the other side of the club. Aunt Libby was in artsy heaven. She didn't know which seller or reader to approach first.
"Let's buy you some jewelry."Aunt Libby cased the rows of rings, pendants, bracelets made from pewter, crystals, and beads.
"You don't have to buy me anything.»
"But I want to…I'm your aunt. Everything here is handmade. Pick something you like.»
A bracelet did catch my eye. It was a skinny beaded bracelet with a charm-a petite bottle of love potion.
I placed it on my arm, along with my hidden plastic club bracelet, and gave my aunt a huge "Thank you"squeeze.
Then something caught her eye. "Tarot cards!"she exclaimed. "Let's get our cards read.»
"Sounds like a great idea. You go first.»
When my aunt sat down, I realized that this was my chance to revisit the underground club. I hated to ditch her, especially after she'd just bought me a special gift, but it would only be for a few minutes-no more time than it would take to go to a crowded restroom and back. I knew if I ever wanted to see the club again, this was my only chance. The secret door was hiding somewhere in close proximity and I had to investigate the club further. It would take only a few minutes, and by the time my aunt finished having her future and past lives read, I'd have already returned.