Jerry’s forward motion stopped. The girl tugged on his arm, but his height and size prevented her from moving him forward. “A fitting?” he asked.

“Of course, a fitting. A condom should fit you like a good suit. Snug, but not tight, and accentuate your best features.” She tried again to lead him to the back of the store, but Jerry’s resistance persisted.

“I’m not sure this is a… uh… good idea. This wasn’t supposed to be so—”

“Difficult?” The black lips parted to reveal paper white teeth.

“Overwhelming.” Jerry hadn’t come in just to investigate, he needed condoms. Or he hoped he did, given the date last night with Donna.  When they first started going out, she had been a bit stiff, uncomfortable with his tentative and respectful advances. The past few weeks, however, had shown a distinct turnaround in her attitude. He knew the “right time” was almost here and he wanted to be prepared, but was all of this necessary?

The girl studied him as several people of both sexes came down the prophylactic aisle and chose their armor. A young woman with spiked platinum hair and Buddy Holly glasses came up to them, whispered to the girl and left to take her place behind the counter.  Satisfied that sales were under control, Jerry’s attendant said, “Let’s start somewhere else, then …”

“Uh, Jerry.” He debated about giving her a false name, but lying wasn’t in his upbringing, either.

“Great to meet you. I’m Gel.” At his blank look, she added with a smile, “It’s short for Evangeline. I just don’t look like an ‘Eva’, do I?”

“Uh, no, you don’t.”  He returned her smile with his tremulous one.

“Follow me this way.” She indicated a short, well-lit hallway opposite the direction of the fitting rooms. He followed her black fishnets through a door marked, “Office”.

There was a small kitchen area with a circular plastic table where someone had abandoned an opened can of Mr. Pibb.  A refrigerator and microwave, suitable for the average college dorm, snuggled next to each other on the countertop. The scent of popcorn was faint in the air. Gel grabbed two bottles of water from the mini fridge and sat in one of the chairs and propped her booted feet up on the second. She sat the other bottle of water in front of the third seat.  “So, Jerry. Tell me what’s going on.”

Jerry sat and took a long glug from the bottle.  “Nothing. I’ve never been here and I had some time…” He trailed off; the story tasted false coming from him.

Gel’s face was serious as she turned the box around and around in her fingers and waited. Jerry rubbed his hand over his face and spilled the real story.  “Donna and I have known each other for years, but were never able to be together. First she got married, then I did. Now we’re both free and seeing each other. I’m getting the feeling it’s time for, well, you know. But it’s been a, uh, a while for me. That’s why I wanted to talk to a salesman.” He placed a touch of emphasis on the last syllable.

“You wanted some advice.”

Jerry nodded.

“What you might need, is a saleswoman’s opinion on this. Women have a lot of choices for boyfriends and you want to beat out the battery operated ones.  I can help you with that.” She downed the rest of her water and stood. “Let’s go.”

Jerry stood at the table so long Gel grabbed his arm again and pulled him from the cozy little kitchenette and led him back down the hallway to the main store. He’d just begun walking on his own accord, in time to Gel’s long strides when he froze. “Oh no…”

Gel groaned, “What now?”

It was Donna. And she was coming out of a fitting room with a big smile on her face.