Scent of a
Superheroine
By Daphne Orgone
Bethany Chambers buried her
face in her computer screen, trying not to stare at the collection of bizarre
young women who sat waiting for an interview.
Ironically, sheÕd planted
the seed of all this into her bossÕs head, and now she was seriously hoping it
wouldnÕt cost him his job. This was going to be a serious problem if they
didnÕt get better applicants, especially since theyÕd made a publicity thing
out of this latest and greatest search for a superheroine spokeswoman. All of
the better ones were clearly already taken, and theyÕd milked the whole idea
until it was virtually impossible to find a decent fit for most clients.
ÒSend in the next one,Ó
said JonathanÕs voice in her earphone.
Bethany looked up and
called out:
ÒToadGirl!Ó she said,
glancing at the short, round and slightly green complexioned woman with a
swollen neck, ÒyouÕre next.Ó
ToadGirl looked about and
nodded as she somewhat awkwardly walked on her bowed legs through the door.
ÒYouÕve got to be kiddingÓ
said a slender silver haired young woman with glassy green eyes. ÒTheyÕre gonna
pay her to model their logo? She looks like a frog!Ó
ÒAww shut up, Intoxia,Ó said
a tall, big boned dark haired woman.
ÒAnd what are you going to
do, if I donÕt, Flatulgirl?Ó replied Intoxia, even as Bethany suddenly started
to feel a bit dizzy and the words blurred on her screen.
ÒStop that, now Tox,Ó said
MongooseWoman, looking up from her magazine in disgust before turning back to
Flatulogirl and adding.
ÒAnd youÉ donÕt you even
think about it. You think passing super-gas in the waiting room is the way to
get a job?Ó
Bethany was starting to get
a slightly green complexion, even as TunaTart stepped into the room and tapped
her fingers on the desk.
ÒBethany,Ó she said
impatiently, ÒI need to see Jonathan right awayÉ NOW!Ó
Bethany looked up in alarm.
TunaTart was their most successful placement, a ravishing young merwoman whoÕd
virtually built the success of the advertising company thanks to her incredible
looks, natural acting talent and perfect fit for Sunburst Tuna. On screen she
was delightful, where you couldnÕt smell her. Unfortunately, in person, her odor was just as disagreeable
as her personality.
ÒHeÕs busy, maÕamÓ Bethany
said, Òbut it...Ó
ÒShouldnÕt take long with
the toad,Ó said Metalligirl as she stepped out of her seat and approached
TunaTart.
BethanyÕs computer
immediately started flickering and she grabbed the container of paperweights as
it slid across her desk towards the newcomer.
ÒSit.. please.. all of
you...Ó Bethany said.
They did, although the
tension was as thick as the scents coming from Intoxia, TunaTart and
Flatulogirl.
A moment later, everyone in
the room drew a deep breath and held in. The game was over and they all knew
it.
The girl was a little
thing, with long black hair and a silver streak running down the middle. She
was dressed in black slacks and a tight black sweater, quite a contrast to some
of the elaborate costumes. Despite her size, she walked with confidence towards
Bethany and handed over her card.
ÒSkunkChick?Ó Bethany said,
her mouth open.
Toadgirl burst out of the
room and Jonathan came in a moment later, grinning.
ÒThe rest of you can go home. I think that Glaive Air Freshener has just found its new superheroine spokeswoman."
He picked up a clothespin as he led her into the office.