TheYearOfMyLifeVR.com Continuum Multiverse

Working In The Shadows Of The Strip

This is the continuing story of the Continuum book TheYearOfMyLifeVR.com. Once the Wattpad story catches up with the Vella story, the two stories will diverge into entirely different plots. Readers of the Wattpad story will be able to influence the direction of the storyline. Text me with your input: (702) 799-9377‬. And now, back to the Continuum....

For my money, pun intended, the Las Vegas Strip is one of the most unique places on earth. People travel here to experience the experience. Some people come here for the first time, while others keep coming back because the experience is always changing. To the people who work on The Strip, it doesn't matter whether you're a tourist or a local. Everyone visiting that three-mile stretch of road is a guest.

The first time I visited Vegas was to write an article about the World Series of Poker being held at the Horseshoe Casino in the area known as downtown. I never left that area in the three days I was there. But while I never set foot on The Strip, I wasn't deprived of the Las Vegas experience. There's always been a healthy competition between the two areas, but there really is no reason for them to compete because they are two entirely different personalities. Both have grown and evolved into versions of an adult Disneyland, complete with a unique cast of characters roaming around.

On this night, The Strip didn't disappoint. There was the usual assortment of tourists, street performers, and the occasional person having a loud argument with himself. It was a microcosm of the weird and wonderful. It was difficult to tell whether Victoria could appreciate the madness of it all, but she was sucking it into her own personal cloud server.

We moved past the Bellagio fountains and headed south toward Allegiant stadium and the adjoining plaza. For the last several years, the southern part of the Las Vegas Strip had become the happening part of the LVS.

"Is she a street entertainer?"

Victoria was focused on a young girl in her late teens or early 20s, wearing skintight clothing that accentuated every curve of her body.

"In a sense," I answered as I wondered how to explain her appearance when the weather was not exactly conducive to a minimal amount of clothing.

"She's not entertaining, she's working."

"From what I understand, work means doing something. She is not doing anything."

"On the contrary, she's doing a lot more than you think she is."

"Is this what you were talking about when you mentioned another point of view?"

"Kinda, something like that. I'm trying to think of the best way to explain this to you. I tell you what, let me tell you a story."

"Is this story a fairy tale?"

I had to laugh at the way Victoria took everything literally. Apparently, her research had taught her that stories were fairy tales. I could see that teaching her about human life was going to be a full-time job. She saw everything in black and white. It was my job to teach her about the many shades of grey.

"No, this isn't a fairy tale. It's about something that happened to me when I was a much younger man. I was living in Los Angeles when a buddy of mine and I decided it was time for a Vegas weekend. We decided to stay at the Tropicana hotel. You'll see it in a few minutes. Anyway, we decided that it would be fun to look the part of well to do tourists, if only for the night. We both dressed in our best suits.

After checking out The Strip, we came back to the Atrium lounge to listen to the lounge act and have a drink or two."

"But you do not drink alcohol beverages."

"People change. I got on a health kick later in life."

"Back to the story. I've always been a night owl but Dave, not so much. Around 1:00 AM, he decided to call it a night. I stuck around to listen to the last set and finish my drink. While I was waiting for the duo to come back on stage, I heard a sound behind me. It was someone trying to get my attention. When it turned around, there was two young women, dressed to kill. I turned around and smiled and they suggested that I come join them instead of sitting there alone. They looked to be in their early 20s, a few years younger than me. I decided it was a good idea. Hey, it's Vegas.