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It also has a thee every month This month it’s a forest, and like toadstools, a curated collection of bright rubber dildos rise frorass One even has a squirrel ht be funny, except for the fact that plenty of people I know see thisregularly, and I have to endure lurid, snickering co businesses--and nearby ho proanic restaurants, and art studios Most of our cul-de-sac contains old Victorian houses like ours that have been sectioned up and converted into apartment units Not exactly the place you’d expect to find sex for sale

My dad says a place that sells "irl" The toular basis They are the Hatfields to his McCoy The Hahbors are the Enemy, and we do not fraternize with the Mackenzies Oh no, we do not

My mom used to be on friendly terrees with ht in the middle The whole situation just stresses me out It’s complicated Very, very complicated

Pink walls and the synthetic scent of silicone envelop me as I duck inside the sex shop It’s not quite noon, and only a couple of custo--a relief I divertcrops as I make a beeline toward a counter in the middle of the store, behind which to I’et shot

"It wasn’t Alice Cooper," a woth hair says as she lifts a suy married to the redheaded talk show host What’s-her-nareen-eyed and fair-skinned, leans against the counter and scratches a heavily freckled nose "Ozzy?" she says in an accent that’s a soft blend of American and Scottish "I don’t think so"

"I’ll bet you a cupcake" Brown eyes dart over the counter totireet her freckled wife: "Mac"

"Sweet glasses," Sunny says, giving a thu

I have a dozen other pairs, all different styles and colors I buy them dirt cheap fro with crazy bright lipstick and a love for all things plaid, cool glasses are eek, but I a it Not for the first ti with these woo that they felt like my second family

The entire time I’ve known Sunny and Jane "Mac" Mackenzie, who have lived directly across the cul-de-sac since we hborhood, they’ve insisted that I call them Sunny and Mac Period Not Mrs or Ms, or any other titles They don’t like formalities, not in names or clothes They are both quintessential Californians You know, just your average forrrrl lesbian sex-shop owners

"Help us out We’re playing Rock Star Urban Legend Gah with silver away from her face "Which heavy e? Back in the sixties"

"The seventies," Sunny corrects

Mac rolls her eyes humorously "Whatever Listen, Zorie We think it’s either Ozzy Osbourne or Alice Cooper Which one?"

"Uive this up so I can get what I caed, that I still come over for Sunday dinner every week Like my father didn’t threaten to bust up their shop with a baseball bat for driving away his clients and they didn’t tell hio screw himself while dozens of people looked on froe was uploaded to YouTube within the hour

Yeah Fun times Dad has always disliked the Mackenzies, when they were just the "weirdo" neighbors across the street But after their sex shop opened last fall and our clinic started tanking, that dislike turned into soer

But okay, if Sunny and Mac want to pretend as though everything is still norets me out of here faster "Alice Cooper, maybe?" I answer