Drama Dolls: A Novel: [Dark, Suspenseful, Fast-paced, Exhilarating] by Jason Tanamor Page A

gas station’s clerk called and wanted someone to check up on you.” Spinning the flashlight’s glow into the car’s interior, the officer leaned in closer to Lena.
    His eyebrows lowering, his bottom lip dropping open, he said, “Are you wearing a cheerleader uniform?”
    In the backseat were pom-poms. The accessories’ feathers fanned out like a peacock to show their full form. Stuffed into the space behind Lena’s seat, on the floor mat, were empty bags crumple stacked on top of each other.
    Her eyes bulging, shifting rapidly left to right, Lena, quick thinking, said, “Yes. I coach cheerleading for a local high school squad that is competing in a national championship.”
    The cop pulled his head back. The flashlight swirled around the automobile. Using the overhead alien glow as guidance, the police officer moved his head left to right to see into the car.
    Channeling her inner cheerleader, Lena said, “Back to back champs.”
    Eyebrows furrowing, the cop, waving the cheerleader out of the car, said, “Ma’am, please step out of the automobile.”
    Stepping out of the car, Lena struck a pose.
    Alarmed, the officer reached for his gun in its holster, ready for action.
    Arranged to begin a routine, she put her finger up, signaling the public servant to wait. “Hang on,” she said. “Don’t shoot.”
    Reaching for her pom-poms, her body half in the car, Lena grabbed the accessories and then slid back out. Standing erect, holding a pom-pom in each hand, she returned to form. Her legs spread, feet even with her waist, she raised one arm out. Stretching her closed fist out high, her other arm rested on her hip. Lena said, “This is known as the ‘go’ pose.”
    Backing up slowly, one step at a time, the police officer stayed prepared, pointing the flashlight toward Lena while his free hand stayed close to his gun.
    Inside the gas station, the clerk working the register watched the entire ordeal. He laughed behind the glass, jerking his head down and shaking his head at the sight.
    The cop slowly craned his neck toward the lighted store window and then back toward the posing cheerer.
    “Ready?” Lena said, body straightening, her arms falling to the side. “OK.”
    Shaking the pom-poms in front of her, her arms straight and parallel to the pavement, Lena cheered. “Who’s the best squad in the whole wide world?” The peppy cheerer twisted her hips to the right. Her left leg kicked up. Her raised knee bending. Lena’s arms shot up into a high “V” and then fell back down to the front of her body. Holding the pom-poms stiff, the plastic feathers shook from the movement.
    Pulling down her leg, returning to her body’s original “ready” pose, Lena screamed, “Bayside High! Bayside High!” She clapped in rhythm as she continued screaming, “Bayside High, Bayside High!”
    With the police officer stunned back into his heels, Lena proceeded into a stretch of cheerleader poses she’d practiced with Jeffrey.
    Pumped up, her adrenaline rushing, Lena did the low clasp, opposite the high “V” but with her hands clasped together pointing down toward the ground. Instead of the high “V” above her head, the position was mirrored, lowered below the waist.
    Twisting her hips, Lena groaned from the sudden movement. Bending slightly, knees were soft. Lena’s one arm still in low clasp position, the opposite arm shot up high into the air. Lena, she said, “This is referred to the ‘K’ pose.”
    In the store’s window behind her, the clerk pointed out toward Lena. His other hand was covering his mouth. He jumped up and down in excitement, his body recoiling inward at the same time.
    Returning to low clasp position, instead of the low “V” to the concrete, she crossed her arms together. Breathing heavily, Lena said to the cop, “Do you know what this pose is called?”
    Shrugging his shoulders, his mouth curling down into a frown, the police officer said, “It looks like you’re making an