27
Saturday, April 21st, 1984, 2:23 P.M.
“Well, what do you all think?” asked Mr. Tudball, addressing everyone on the couches.
There was a slight, undecided silence that permeated throughout the group, as the girls all looked at each other for reassurance.
“They’re pretty,” Jane managed to eke out.
“Yeah, I like em’,” Belinda agreed.
Mr. Tudball seemed interested in getting an opinion from the one member of the group that acted like the leader in these matters.
“What do you think, Charlotte?” he asked.
Charlotte was carefully non-committal.
“Weeell, it’s definitely a nice departure from T-Shirts and baseball caps, I’ll give you that.” she opined. “But.. don’t you think it’s a little, too.. intimate?”
This item was largely Ginger’s brainchild so she was quick to interject, but was careful not to reveal that it was her idea.
“Oh, no, not at all,” she defended, as she strolled across the floor eager to help out. She picked up one of the towels and began to support her opinion.
“They’re soft, they’re luxurious,” she explained. “They make a great gift… Plus, they’re symbolic,” she added.
“Symbolic?” asked Jane, quizzically.
“Sure,” Ginger continued. “When people get out of the shower, what are they? They’re clean and fresh. Just like the Go-Go’s. Clean and fresh.”
Just like moments before, the girls all looked at each other with befuddled looks on their faces. Clean and fresh? Is that what we are?
“Oh, come on, you know what I mean,” Ginger suggested. “That’s what the public thinks of you. That’s your persona,” she added.
Charlotte decided to act as the temporary spokesperson.
“Uh, I think we all appreciate that you think we’re all “clean and fresh.” It’s just that we’ve never gone down this road before. We’re starting to branch-off into obscure territories, aren’t we? Honestly, Ginger, who do you think is gonna buy an item like this?” asked Charlotte.
“Anybody,” said Ginger, confidently. “Any Go-Go’s fan. Like I said, it makes a great gift.”
While everybody agreed the towels would make a great gift, there continued to be an air of skepticism in the room.
“And who is the contract with?” asked Jane.
“Macys,” informed Ginger. “In fact, we have quite an advertising campaign all set up. I think you’re all gonna love the idea.”
“Oh?” continued Jane. “You sure about that?”
“Absolutely. I was talking with Tiffany Oleksiak from their advertising department, and we came up with the idea of having the five of you wear nothing but the towels in a group photo,” explained Ginger.
“Naked?” asked Belinda.
“Well, everything would be covered up, Belinda, don’t be silly,” explained Ginger. “In fact, we also came up with the idea of having the five of you wearing cold cream all over your faces and towels on your heads, so that no one would know who was who. Doesn’t that sound like fun?” she asked.
In what started out as a slow nodding of heads, eventually became a unanimous agreement that the idea did indeed sound like an intriguing concept. The girls especially liked the idea of anonymity in covering up their faces. And, at the center of it all stood Ginger, looking more pleased than anyone else since it was her baby.
“Would any of you like a free sample to take home?” asked Mr. Tudball. “If you do, just come up here and take one out of the box,” he added.
“Kathy, you’d better take two,” stated Gina.
“Why?” asked Kathy, cautiously, knowing there was probably a wise-crack coming from Gina after that suggestion.
“Cuz, it might give you some incentive to bathe more often,” she followed.
“Oh, ha-ha-ha, you’re so funny, Gina,” Kathy mocked. She felt that Gina had crossed the line with that last one and was determined to let her have it in the same fashion. “And we better get you some fuckin’ Raid to take care of all the flies that are buzzin’ around your crotch.”
“Okay, ladies, jeezus, do I have to say it again? Let’s all try and keep things on a mature level here,” cautioned Ginger. Although her duties had been reduced ever since the network basically took over the Go-Go’s lives, Ginger always liked to act like a buffer between the band and anybody wearing a suit.
After everyone grabbed a towel and sat back down again, a lively conversation about the virtues of having a “clean and fresh” image ensued. And, while there were laughs aplenty, Charlotte couldn’t help but think to herself that these merchandising campaigns were running out of steam. Bath towels? What on earth would they come up with next?
She was about to find out.
Copyright 2020
by Clark Wright