Chapter 1

Back at the end of the 19th century, and as late as 1915-17, the way most Americans found out about new medicines for the ailments that afflicted them, was through a show that came through town, that showcased new remedies for all sorts of medical problems and complaints. These shows, put together and managed by a smooth-talking huckster-style salesman, came through towns of a certain size several times a year. The slick talkers who ran these shows generally put on an actual entertainment show for the town, to draw in a big crowd, before hawking the latest miracle cure for backaches, cancer, diarrhea, pneumonia, obesity and “female problems.” Often, some of the girls and guys who were part of the show’s entertainment also came on stage during the medicine promotions and gave their own testimonies about how the product worked and had cured their conditions. Then, as now, some of the entertainers (usually dancers and singers) were cute, sexy teenage girls. And who could resist the pitch of a cute teenager touting the benefits of a remedy that was only available today and might well be the cure to your aching back, or whatever your complaint was.

Fast forward to July 2025, in the City of Fayetteville where a local former used car salesman and amateur healthy living and natural-supplement advocate had just set up his traveling show in a vacant lot he rented just outside of town. “Levon” Kirk had been selling cars long enough to learn a lot about human psychology, and what made people buy things, especially on impulse, that they really didn’t need or couldn’t even afford. He realized value was largely emotional and could be shaped through persuasive spokespeople or strong testimonials. He also knew that “sex sells,” as the saying goes. In other words, a pitch made by a sexy teenager, in a sexy or even slightly slutty outfit, could convince the most hard-hearted potential buyer that maybe he needed to reconsider his decision not to buy the miracle elixir, considering the scientific evidence presented by the girl.

And so it was, the third week of July, 2025, after preparing thirty cases of his magic elixir, which was mainly vodka, with some citrus and other flavors, including cucumber flavor, “Dr. Levon” Kirk, set up his third show of the 2025 season, in the tree-shaded lot. It was a troupe of some 10 people that he had brought together, along with two stages, two motorhomes, a pop-up tent-trailer, and an Airstream trailer that he towed behind his new F-150 pickup truck. There were several guys that made up the band, his girlfriend and fellow huckster, Jenny, and a group of three ‘approximately’ 18-year-old girls, who were traveling with their foster mother, Cheryl. In addition, there were two stagehands who did all the set-up and heavy lifting work. And then there was “Doctor” Kirk. He wasn’t a medical doctor, but he had received an advanced degree in psychology, from Arkansas State University, and he had been an herbalist and salesman for several vitamin companies, from Amway to Herbalife.

This time, Kirk was working for himself. He liked the idea of taking advantage of the looser regulatory attitude in Washington, and even the new HHS chief RFK, Jr.’s active promotion of “alternative” medicine. He liked the idea of putting on a show, like the shows President Trump had put on in many small towns and cities that he was planning to visit. He wanted to attract the same kind of working-class, white lower to middle-class families that filled the subdivisions, apartment complexes and trailer parks around Fayetteville and other Arkansas towns. After seeing how effective using the teenage dancers who danced to the band music during his opening act, come out later during his elixir demonstrations, he decided the girls would become a regular feature of his product demos. The girls enjoyed helping out and enjoyed the commission they got of $5 on every bottle of the $39 elixir that they sold during the time they were on stage, giving their testimonial story. The girls were good, and their stories were imaginative and clever, but Kirk knew that the shorter their skirts or shorts, and the more they flashed or flaunted their teen bodies, the more bottles of the “HerbalSolution” he would sell. They always encouraged buyers of the elixir to take a deep drink as soon as they bought the bottle, knowing that the vodka would make the buyer feel better almost immediately.

This quiet competition between Maddy, Logan and Riley led to the teens doing what they could to convince Dr. Kirk to let them be on stage when the biggest crowds were on hand, to maximize their income. No surprise, they used their sexy bodies to convince Kirk to give them the stage, and the girls became quite aggressive at trying to influence Kirk.