The Brass Statuettes

By: Autumn Writer

Chapter 11 Fall from Grace

“Buenos dias, Señora Warner,” Juana chanted, “Chu are a-wake airlee dees morning.” She placed a coffee cup and saucer on the table where Gloria always sat and poured it full of the magic black elixir. She resumed humming her song and hurried to the refrigerator to get the cream; the sugar was already on the table. “What can I make for chu dees morning, Señora?”

“Don’t go to any trouble for me,” Gloria answered.

“Eet would be a plai-sure, Señora.”

Gloria stole a glance and Juana saw it. It was certainly true that the recent peace between them was a welcome change from what had been before the new Gloria came into being. Juana halted her singing. She expected Gloria’s acceptance of the proffered service as confirmation of the new order. Gloria reconsidered. “Alright; just a half-grapefruit, please. I have my workout in a little while. I don’t like too a full stomach for that.”

“Una toronga para la Señora,” Juana lilted as she made a song out of the breakfast order. She cut a grapefruit in half and carefully incised the wedges of fruit and set the bowl in front of Gloria.

“Take the other half for yourself,” Gloria offered.

“Muchas gracias, Señora. I weel save eet for later. Maybe for José, I teenk—eef dat’s okay.”

Gloria nodded but didn’t answer. Juana could see she was occupied by her own thoughts. Her mistress was already dressed in her exercise leotard. Juana realized Gloria didn’t really want the grapefruit as she watched her poke at it with her spoon. It confirmed that Gloria agreed to it because she knew Juana wanted to do it for her, and that satisfied the maid all the more.

Juana finished straightening up the kitchen and then shuffled off to the dining room to polish the furniture. The dining room furniture had to be the most polished of all those in the State of Texas. Juana gave herself a task in the dining room whenever she wanted the best vantage of the driveway. At that moment, it was as lookout for Raul.

Despite Juana’s contempt for the man—or perhaps because of it—she kept herself informed of his every moment on the premises. Her vigilance was born of instinctive wariness. “Algo peligro y pulido.” She couldn’t explain her feelings, so she told no one, except José, who reminded her that it was none of her business. She ignored the advice.

Had Raul been a gringo, she would have let the matter drop. Her failure to comprehend would not have alarmed her, because she had seen so much throughout the years that she and José were charged with care of the house. But, he was not an Anglo. He treasured money, like most of them. It was the way that he went about acquiring it that was most offensive to Juana. He didn’t toil, as did her José and even the peones who came to the estate to help him. His white linen pants and skin-tight polo shirt gave him an effeminate quality—at least in Juana’s eyes. “Como una mujere.” What sort of man takes his money from women, who pay him to soothe away their fears—of growing old, or fat, or unloved?

“Yo soy vieja y gorda.” What were these gringas afraid of? She thought more. “But, I am not unloved,” She thought of José; it had to be the difference. She resumed singing her happy song. But, as she sang she continued her vigilance, for her new understanding did not make her reconsider her opinion of Raul.

Juana was happy for Señora Gloria and Señor Alvin; and because of what they found, it was a happy house, so she was happy for herself, too. She knew, however, that her mistress had many fears and was not strong.

************

Gloria finished her grapefruit and then her coffee and rose from the table. “Tell Raul to come right out to the mini-gym,” Gloria called to Juana as she left by the back door and over the veranda. After she closed the door to the gym she took a clean towel from the closet and began her stretching.

Gloria bent carefully from the waist, slowly loosening her hamstrings and groin muscles. She felt them grudgingly give in. She glanced up at a mirror that was mounted on the wall. It was full length, designed to help her to perfect her symmetry as she slaved to stave off the effects of age.

She beheld herself in the skin-tight leotard. An evil premise passed through her mind. “Am I finally losing it?” She straightened up and looked closer. Everything seemed to be in place, but she sighed anyway and searched even more carefully. Perfection was a most difficult property to capture and couldn’t be discerned by a passing glance. She pinched the flesh just above her hips, searching for love handles. There seemed to be a little. In truth it was no more than had been present for at least several years. Still, it was never possible to be sure. She did the same to her belly. There might have been a margarita or two loitering there. She grimaced. She’d have to cut down even more, or perhaps, revert to unsweetened iced tea with vodka, flavored with mint leaves.

Finally, she cupped her hands upward and cradled her large breasts. She felt their weight and in the mirror she judged their shape. It enabled her to shed the grimace and smile. “Still pretty good!” The nipples began hardening and pressed through the material of her bra and the thin fabric of the leotard. They had always been her best feature, and their size made her waist appear smaller. “Brenda’s are probably better,” she admitted in a secret thought. “That’s for me to know.” She thought on it more and came to realize that by the time Brenda figured it out some other pretender would have surpassed her and thus, Brenda would never hold the title. “For me to know,” she repeated to herself.

She continued cradling them. Her hold was firm, but gentle—as it would have been for the babies that might have suckled there if some things had been different. As though they had their own thoughts her thumbs rubbed across the stiff nipples. She closed her eyes and remembered the pleasure of the night ended short hours ago when Alvin had lavished so much attention on them before entering her. It excited him, so she was sure that he loved her, at least in that moment. It had given her pleasure, too. The feeling had been absent so long. It was that elusive connection between nipple and clitoris which was so hard to find and even more difficult to command. It had, at long-last, returned and she let herself go—allowed the feelings to surround her. Alvin had, too, and it had been beautiful. After that, they drifted off in each others’ arm like honeymooners.

She opened her eyes, aware that Raul would arrive at any moment. She thought that she detected a faint scent of her musk. She hurried to the closet and took out a plastic bottle of scented talcum powder. She lowered her leotard, sprinkled the powder liberally in her panties and then hoisted the leotard back into place.

There was a time—not long ago—when she would have let the beckoning scent leak out as a signal to Raul. “No need for that today.” The shape of her life was molding into a form that pleased her more than the old one. She wondered to herself if it was real—but she dared not utter the doubt out loud.

She thought back to her past pleasure-seeking with Raul. It brought neither sting of guilt, nor remorse at its being in the past. He had been what had been provided to her at that time. She had always been determined to sate herself. It mattered little if it was with pleasure, food, drink or love. She was determined to always be sated. Things had changed; Raul would understand.

She started stretching again. There was a knock at the windowless door. “Señora Warner, I am here.” It was Raul. She straightened up, checked herself in the mirror. Her nipples were still hard. She draped the towel over her neck to hide them. She lifted her leg to check the space between her legs for telltale signs of her daydreaming. Finding none, she fluffed her hair.

“Just a second, Raul. I’ll be right there.”

***********

“Are you ready for a good workout today, Señora?” He set his gym bag down on the floor. It was the same one that he always carried and Gloria was sure that he was prepared with the usual accessories. He set it next to the full-length mirror. Gloria eyed it, thinking about what the bag contained and what the mirror had told her moments ago. “Señora Warner,” Raul called in a louder voice than usual, as if to gain her attention. He must have been repeating himself. Gloria spun her head in his direction. The volume of his voice returned to normal. “Señora Warner, ‘ave chu finished dee stretching?” Gloria thought she detected a faint smile—a sly one that said that he had seen her staring at his gym bag and thinking of the condoms inside that he brought for later.

Gloria shook her head. “Not quite,” she answered a halting voice.

“Very well, den. Finish up and then on to dee scales, and then dee bi-ceecle.” Gloria obeyed and was soon barely daring to look as Raul slid the merciless weights on the scale arms. He hesitated and then took a notebook from his bag and studied it. He shook his head slowly. “Four pounds of increase, I am afraid,” he announced.

“You know it was my time of month,” she pleaded.

“Maybe, too much dee lunch,” he countered. Gloria thought he gave his Mexican accent a little too much embellishment. He did that when he wanted to be blunt but retain the option of passing it off as a joke if any umbrage arose.

“Yes, maybe a little,” Gloria admitted. She could admit it to Raul without fear. He was her priest; the mini-gym the confessional.

“Ees okay,” he assured her. “I weel help you. Today we weel ‘ave a very good workout.” He paused as Gloria hopped onto the exercise bike without being told. “A very thorough workout,” he repeated, and Gloria knew at that moment what he planned.

She had four unwanted pounds. It was her fault. She had sinned and Raul would send her to purgatory. Soon she was laboring for breath on her bike ride to nowhere. “Dee bike ees good for dee heeps and upper legs, Señora,” he called out to encourage her. “Teenk about wearing dee bikini. Eet weel make you pedal faster.”

He was right, of course. It did make Gloria put out harder during the final minute. There was something about the way he mentioned ‘bikini’ that reminded her of the accessories in his bag. The rowing machine was next, and then the treadmill. Faithful to his promise he worked her harder than he ever had.

“How much longer, Raul?” she pleaded, gasping for breath.

“Only dee rolling pin,” he answered. “We’re almost done.”

She looked at him, trying to read his expression, but saw nothing behind the thin moustache and dark eyes. She laid herself prone on the massage table. Raul stroked the flesh with the dowel. He pressed down hard; it felt good. “Ees not bad, actually,” he said to her from behind. “Ees still quite smooth and firm.” She felt even better. He continued that way for a few minutes. It relaxed her—first one leg, and then the other. He shifted his attention to the cheeks pointing skyward from her hips. He stroked from the bottom, where they joined her thighs all the way to her lower back. It made her cellulite and tension disappear.

Without warning, he placed his hand on her inner thigh. She gasped slightly, not expecting it, but the touch was not altogether unwanted. She let his hand linger for a few seconds. “Open them up,” he commanded, “so I can do dee eenside.” She obeyed again, as she had the whole morning. Raul had a smaller rolling pin for that area. His teasing attention made Gloria think thoughts.

“Well, I can think them can’t I?” she demanded in silence. After all, the new Gloria was a complete woman, and she would save the peculiar tension for Alvin to release from her later that night. She relaxed as Raul found a rhythm and soon it wasn’t possible to tell if her pleasure came from her dreamy fantasies or from his practiced touch.

“Roll over, please, Señora; ees time for dee front.” Gloria promptly obeyed, and this time she was sure that she could discern that familiar, evil smile that he wore at certain times.

She had enjoyed the rolling of her flesh as she lay on her stomach and he had ventured so close to that special place that he and she knew so well. She could have enjoyed it for hours, wondering how close to the target he would dare touch her. She flipped over on her back without hesitation, however, because it was in this position that the delicious, dangerous game became especially interesting.

He started dutifully on the fronts of her thighs. Gloria grew impatient, waiting for the upward strokes that would approach her sex. She waited for his hand to press between her thighs to bid her open them. She considered opening them on her own, but did not because that would negate a crucial part of the game. She closed her eyes and let him do it all, of course. She enjoyed the slow approach, the anticipation, and the recall of times it had happened before. There was a droplet of sweat on her forehead and it ran down her temple; her breathing was rapid. His stroking with the rolling pin was probing higher—near that precious triangle that made everything happen. She was excited—she could smell her excitement; Raul could certainly smell it, too, but she didn’t care. He touched her, tentatively; she let it spur her expectation of touches that increased in their boldness with each repeated motion. She dared not open her eyes.

Then it happened; his hand stroked at her upper thighs. “Open here, please,” he whispered in her ear. She shuddered as she felt his breath on her earlobe and more as she spread her thighs and he slowly stroked upwards from between her legs toward her Mound of Venus. The pleasure tapped out the distant drumbeat of a forming climax, agonizingly slow and delicious. Soon he would tenderly move the rolling pin over her clitoris and ask her if she wanted the Deluxe Workout. She would have to say ‘yes’ after allowing him to proceed so far. It would be perfect; she would climax immediately and many more times before he finished her.

“I don’t think I want the Deluxe Workout today, Raul,” she forced the words from her mouth as she panted.

He stopped immediately. The emptiness of sensation nearly made her plead with him to let her change her mind. She opened her eyes. In his eyes there was something—she knew not what. It could have been rage or disappointment. Whatever it was, the eyes were dark. Raul drew a deep breath and stepped back from the table.

“Of course, Señora,” he said in a low, expressionless voice. “I only thought…”

“It’s my fault, dear Raul,” Gloria whined. “Please don’t be angry. It’s just that…” she hesitated, searching for an excuse.

“Ees okay,” Raul mumbled, excusing her from her duty to explain. “I teenk we are done for today.”

Gloria swung herself off the massage table. “He mustn’t be angry! He has to return!” She ran to her wallet and extracted a wad of cash. She was thinking hard—for something to console him.

“You know my friend, Brenda needs a personal trainer,” she gushed as she handed him the money. “Would you like me to ask her to join us next time?”

Raul stuck out his lower lip, mulling the possibilities. He said nothing, but shrugged in a ‘whatever you want’ expression. He turned for the door. “See you next week, Señora Warner.” He walked through the door of the mini-gym, not bothering to close it behind him.

Gloria sat on the edge of the massage table thinking about what happened. Her heart was beating fast. She was thankful that she had saved the virtue of the new Gloria—if in the nick of time. A double-edged blade of pride and disappointment clawed at the back of her mind as she thought about the satiation she had just foregone. “Alvin better be up to it tonight.”

She was drenched with sweat; could smell the aroma of her arousal. If she could smell it, certainly Juana would, too and she dreaded facing her disapproval. The pool was nearby. She walked over, opened the gate and jumped in, leotard and all. The sensation of the cold water excited her again, but it would be okay. All discernible traces were washed away and she would finish herself in the shower in a few minutes. She lingered in the water for a few minutes.

In the house Juana saw Raul leave and her Señora in the pool. Raul bore a strange manner as he shuffled through the house to the driveway and his waiting car. Juana had never seen the Señora swim after the workout, especially in her exercise clothes. She tried to sort through the possibilities but there were too many to fathom. They were less complicated in earlier days. She chose to decide nothing and keep watching.

**************

Gloria stepped out of the shower feeling better. She’d been oh-so-close to giving in to Raul, but in the end she hadn’t and that’s what counted. She’d let him go further than was proper, but it was not far enough and she was certainly excited, even after the shower. Alvin would be the benefactor, so why should he complain that she’d received her prompting from another. He’d never know, anyway. It was fun to be the new Gloria and just a little naughty, too.

It was time to start preparing for the secretaries’ pool party later that day. She toweled off her breasts, and then her mons. She looked out the bathroom window. It had been cloudy. The forecast said sunny later. She hoped it would come true, because if it rained she would have to move the party inside and that would be a poor second-best. The secretaries were women like her, after all. She was sure that if she could get them scantily clad by the pool, ply them with drinks and fancy seafood canapés and break their hearts with little children’s stories and artwork they would have to go along with her plan. What woman wouldn’t accede under those circumstances—whether it had to do with donating hours doing office work or giving in to anything else? Gloria had seen it work more than once.

It looked like the sun was starting to burn through the clouds, which meant that her plan was beginning to work. Raul’s admonition about the four extra pounds made her reconsider her bathing suit choice. She had a number of bikinis. She wondered if a mere four extra pounds would show all that much. She finally decided on a prudent one-piece. It strategically held her tummy in check, but showed plenty of breast to remind all who had the best tits in the place. Over that she put on her loose cropped-pants and a billowy blouse.

Besides, she knew that most of the secretaries sported more than four extra pounds and would certainly wear tank suits. Gloria could be a buffer between her guests and the trio of body-honed co-hosts: Brenda, Ashley and Darlene. They would surely be wearing bikinis. Trudy would be on hand, too—still the X-factor. She might show up in anything.

“Juana, when the guests come show them where they can change into their swimsuits.” She had set aside the four guest bedrooms for that purpose.

“Si, Señora Warner. Do chu want me to serve dee food?”

“No, Juana,” Gloria answered. “That won’t be necessary. The caterers will do all that. Just be ready to help them find anything they might need like water and electricity. Your job will be to make sure that our guests are comfortable and find everything they need. After that, help yourself to a nice lunch.”

Gloria’s next task was to arrange the display of the children’s artwork and the photos of the school. She needed a place that was in clear view and easy access, but out of the line of traffic at the same time. She set about her task humming a tune. She was finding that she was enjoying her hostess role for this party more than she had in quite a long time.

The caterers were arriving. Gloria had worked with them before and she stepped aside as they went about their business. She looked at her watch, though, wondering why Maddy wasn’t yet on the scene with all the things from the school. She reminded herself that it was a long drive and traffic in the middle of the city could be unpredictable. At the same time, she pondered a little about Maddy. She was a sweet thing, of course, but more at ease with a room full of children than a pool full of secretaries.

“She’s a bean-sprouts kind of person,” Gloria thought, “quite unused to the more sophisticated ladies that will be here. It probably explains why she’s devoted herself to teaching little children. I’ll give her some help getting her feet on the ground with this crowd.”

Two of the workers from the caterers distracted her and she moved aside to make room for them as they carried a long table into the pool area. Her thoughts returned to her imagined protégé.

“She’s cute as a button, though. When things settle down I’ll have to find a young man for her that will bring her out of her shell.”

Gloria was satisfied that the caterers knew what they were doing. She lost herself for a few moments looking out over the gardens. José was not in sight, but she noticed how perfectly he’d prepared the grounds for anyone who wished to see them. No doubt more than a few of the secretaries would want to take a tour. She was startled when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

It was Maddy. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I set the artwork and photos over there,” she said, pointing to a corner of the veranda that seemed out of the way. There were easels in the pile, too.

“Oh, how long have you been here?” Gloria asked.

“Long enough to unload those things from my car. I didn’t want to bother you while you were looking at the gardens. I can see why you love them so.”

Maddy was dressed in her usual rustic style—the ankle length canvas skirt with the peasant-style flowered blouse and sandals. She wore no makeup but her face was beaming with a broad smile that gave color to her cheeks. She had loosed the bun on her ashen-colored hair and it highlighted her shoulders as it draped over them. She was quite petite—perhaps five-two. Gloria noticed that she wasn’t wearing a bra, which was a minor faux pas. It was a party for women and soon there would be more bare breast on display than the wobbly suggestion under Maddy’s top. The nipples just barely pressed against the cotton fabric. Gloria wondered just how they would rank when she had them on display in her bathing suit.

Gloria pointed to Maddy’s materials. “I was just trying to figure out the best place for them.”

“What about right where they are now?” Maddy suggested, except a little farther out toward the sunlight. They’ll be close at hand, but not in the way. I’ll set them up after the caterers are finished getting ready.”

Gloria nodded. “Such a smart young girl!” She was more convinced that all she needed was a knowledgeable young man to bring her to life in the fullest sense. She made a note to herself to see to that later.

“You have some time while you’re waiting,” Gloria said. “Why don’t you change into your suit?”

“I’m not much for bathing suits,” she answered. “I brought some shorts and a tee shirt that I use when I go swimming. I think I’ll wait and put them on later.”

Gloria was temporarily taken aback. “Everyone else will be wearing their suits,” she explained. “I have mine on under these clothes,” she said, pulling her blouse aside to prove it. “Why don’t you change now? There may not be time later. You can use the mini-gym.” Gloria pointed to the door of her sanctum and Maddy shrugged and picked up a tote bag from her pile of things and made her way to where Gloria had directed her.

As Maddy disappeared behind the mini-gym door Gloria began thinking about her new project. “A nice young man; experienced but not too much so; slightly older than she—he would need to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. It wouldn’t have to be anything permanent—just intimate enough to bed her for a few months and teach her the ways of the world.” That would complete that part of Maddy that Gloria judged was still missing and would allow her into full membership in the fold.

As Gloria was just settling deep into her pondering she saw Trudy walking toward her from the veranda.

“Hi! I came early—thought you could use a hand getting things set up.”

“Trudy—how thoughtful,” Gloria called to her as she approached. “No need to trouble yourself, really. The caterers have it well in hand.”

“Juana showed me where to change into my suit,” Trudy answered back, seeming to ignore Gloria’s reply. Trudy was wearing what might have passed for a bikini. At least the suit was in two pieces, but not very revealing. Over that she wore a light cover-up made of cotton seersucker that she left unbuttoned. Of course, the suit was in her favorite royal blue color.

At first, Gloria was uninterested in Trudy’s swimwear. She had no reason to covet the tall woman’s clumsy figure. She took a second glance, though, because men seemed to like Trudy and there must be something there that attracted them. It was so hard to rate Trudy’s figure against hers. Gloria’s form was classic; an hourglass sculpted under Raul’s tutelage, topped by award winning breasts. Trudy was lean, it was true. Gloria searched through the open panels of her cover-up for stretch marks—since she had two babies. To her dismay, she found none.

Gloria re-judged Trudy’s figure to have a gazelle-like quality, and that was good for her. She need not worry, for Trudy was modestly endowed, so Gloria would never need fear being matched in that department. Brenda’s ranking was probably safe, too. Darlene and Ashley weren’t so secure, Gloria deduced, so they’d better take note. She’d instruct them in a private moment. Gloria wondered to herself why Trudy didn’t flaunt her figure more often.

At that moment Maddy emerged from the mini-gym. Gloria gasped and then let the breath out slowly, as if she could take back the expression. “Oh Maddy, dear,” she said as she recovered. “You remember Trudy from the school the other day.”

“How can I forget?” Maddy replied and extended her hand to Trudy. As her two guests embraced, Gloria looked more closely at Maddy’s legs, now bare under cutoff shorts. They were unshaven. A coating of fuzz covered them from knee to ankle. Gloria also noticed that she was still braless under the tee-shirt she’d changed into. She started thinking that her new project would prove more complicated than she first thought.

“Thank goodness she has light-colored hair. Maybe only a few will notice.” She wondered if Maddy had some Mexican ancestry because many of those women didn’t shave their legs. She’d find out later. For the moment, she hoped that Maddy hadn’t heard her gasp, or, at least, understand why she had.

There was no time for figuring that out because the guests seemed to arrive all at once. The secretaries were mostly middle-aged women, who wore modest suits. They were excited to be invited to the mansion and immediately dove into the luxurious food and drink. They knew why they had been invited—their bosses had given the word. It didn’t matter very much. The setting was right and they were in a party mood.

Brenda, Ashley and Darlene arrived, too. Their bikinis were noticeably much less modest. Gloria shook her head. The immaturity of her co-hosts was showing. She knew that they chose their bathing suits as a way to show up the older women. It was a stupid maneuver, but Gloria admitted to herself that she would have done the same in her younger days. “It’s my fault. I should have told them ahead of time.” Gloria smiled at herself. The new Gloria was kind and forgiving.

“Someone’s missing,” Gloria pointed out. “Who could it be?”

“Jeannette,” answered Doris, who was Alvin’s secretary. “Frank kept her later than the rest of us. They were finishing something up.”

“You better set Frank straight when you see him,” Gloria joked to Trudy. Trudy just laughed.

“If it takes that long for Frank to finish up, he must be pretty good,” Ashley blurted out. Darlene and Brenda giggled at the joke.

Trudy shot an angry glance Ashley’s way, but then looked away. For a moment the guests were silent. Trudy found one of the student’s self-portraits that she liked. “Look! How cute,” she exclaimed and pointed at the picture on the easel. The crowd heaved a sigh of relief and went back to chattering away.

Gloria had a drink in her hand. In fact, everyone did and for most it was their second round. The trio of co-hosts sunned themselves at poolside in chaises sipping on margaritas. The secretaries mostly congregated around the school exhibit, asking Maddy questions. Trudy stayed with them and Gloria stood on the fringe listening to what they were saying.

The afternoon wore on and another round of margaritas wore on the women. The sun was low in the sky in late summer, but it was warm enough and the alcohol provided a special glow.

“Jeannette’s here!” one of the secretaries yelled out.

“Hello, everyone,” Jeannette said in her low voice. “Sorry I’m late. I changed in the house.” She walked across the veranda in her bathing suit, carrying her cover-up, and made her way to the pool. “The water looks wonderful.”

She walked slowly. At poolside Brenda, Ashley and Darlene ceased tittering among themselves and watched her approach. Except for Trudy, Jeannette was the tallest woman at the party, and lithe to a fault. She wore a simple white bikini, with no shoulder straps, that cast narrow, bright bands of fabric across her smooth, café skin. If she ever had an ounce of cellulite or telltale pound or two, it was long-gone. Her breasts were round and rightly sized for her frame. They held up the bikini top without effort.

The muscles of her legs flexed, just slightly, as she walked. It was like watching a cat walking; the slow gait conserving energy while anyone who saw her move knew that she could spring in an instant. The trio in the chaises smoothed their hands over their own legs in subconscious rechecking.

Jeannette was neither ginning broadly nor frowning. Her face bore a serene expression. She slipped off her sandals, stretched her leg out to its fullest and dipped her foot into the water. She leisurely moved it back and forth a few times, and then turned and smiled pleasantly at the three, who had been watching her from behind their sunglasses.

“Mmmm; just right,” she commented to them. She set her cover-up on a chair, climbed down the ladder and slowly entered the water and then pushed off the side of the pool. She glided unhurried to the far end and then turned and returned to her original place.

“I haven’t seen Jeannette in a long time. I’ll go over and say hello,” Trudy said as she made her way to the pool. As Trudy stepped through the pool gate Jeannette was climbing out of the water by the chrome ladder. Trudy extended her hand. “Jeannette, it’s so nice…”

“I can see why Frank keeps Jeannette around,” Ashley interrupted.

Trudy’s smile disappeared and she stood facing Ashley with her hands on her hips. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well you know,” Ashley answered, not trying to hide her smirk.

“I don’t think I do,” Trudy replied and clenched her teeth. “Why don’t you explain it to me?” Ashley said nothing and Trudy didn’t move. “I want an answer!” Trudy demanded.

“It’s okay, Trudy,” Jeannette soothed in a low voice. She touched Trudy’s arm at the elbow as a signal to come away. Trudy didn’t move.

“I want an answer!” Trudy repeated.

“Well… if it isn’t obvious,” Ashley giggled, “Jeannette is a version of you, only better. It looks like Frank likes his women tall and lean.”

“Ah’ll say!” Darlene agreed. She and Ashley looked at each other grinning. Next to them Brenda rolled her eyes and then buried her face in her hands.

“I won’t stand for that,” Trudy spat back. “Take it back.”

“It’s okay, Trudy,” Jeannette repeated to Trudy, still standing alongside her. “Let’s go down to the veranda.”

“It’s not okay!” Trudy insisted. “Take it back, Ashley—and apologize to Jeannette.”

“I won’t,” Ashley replied, not bothering to get up from her chaise. “Why should I apologize to…” She stopped herself and gave the two tall women a disgusted look.

Gloria hurried to the pool when she heard the disturbance. “Trudy, I’m sure whatever Ashley said was all in fun. Let’s forget it.”

“I want her to apologize,” Trudy muttered.

Gloria glanced at Ashley who had remained seated and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I doubt if Ashley has said anything serious enough to have to apologize,” Gloria said.

“Yes, she has,” Trudy insisted in an angry voice.

“Trudy, really…” Gloria said in a frustrated tone.

“If that’s the way it is, then I’m leaving,” Trudy told her. She turned abruptly and headed for the house without saying a word.

“I think I better go, too,” Jeannette said, and followed Trudy to the house.

Gloria stood speechless by the pool. Ashley began laughing. “What’s the big deal?” she asked to her two companions. “Touchy-touchy,” she said as she laughed and shook her head. Brenda and Darlene had stopped laughing, looked at their silent mentor.

Gloria said nothing. All pleasantness departed her face. She poured herself a drink and walked quickly inside the house.

**************

After the scene at the pool, the party lost its ambience and the secretaries soon left. They would have thanked Gloria, but she wasn’t to be found. Ashley and Darlene left right after the secretaries. Maddy stayed behind to take down the school exhibits and Brenda stayed, too. The caterers began working to pack their equipment.

“Leave that behind,” Brenda instructed them, referring to the punchbowl full of margaritas. She poured herself a big one and resumed her place by the pool, out of the way of the workers. She was pretty sure Gloria would come out to the pool when she was sure everyone had left. Soon, Maddy was done packing up and joined Brenda with a drink of her own in the chaise next to her where Ashley had been sitting.

True to form, Gloria appeared at the door leading from the house to the veranda when the coast was clear. Brenda saw her look out toward the pool and then fill a glass and walk slowly toward them.

“You’re the only ones left?” Gloria said it like a question, but knew the answer already.

“It was a nice party, for a while,” Brenda answered.

“I knew Trudy would be trouble sooner or later,” Gloria sighed. “You tried to warn me; I didn’t listen.” There were tears welling in Gloria’s eyes. “I don’t know what Ashley could have possibly said that would have set her off.”

“It was an innuendo about Jeannette and Frank,” Brenda said.

“That’s all?” Gloria asked in disbelief. “It’s probably true, anyway.”

“Trudy looks at things differently than we do.”

“No one walks out on me and gets away with it,” Gloria declared. “I’ll get even, I swear it. She ruined my party—and our chances at getting the secretaries to work for us.”

“I don’t know how you’re going to get even. I doubt you’ll see much of Trudy very soon,” Brenda cautioned.

“I’ll find a way,” Gloria vowed. “No one walks out on me, my parties or my Foundation.”

“I don’t think it’s worth worrying about,” Maddy offered, but Gloria ignored her.

“I’ve already got an idea that will more than get even,” Gloria went on, but Brenda thought she was talking more to herself than to her and Maddy.

“Maybe you will,” Brenda conceded, “but nothing will happen today. Let’s have a swim while we have some daylight left. We could use some cooling off.”

“And some sobering up,” Maddy added.

Gloria gulped down her drink and stepped to the pool. She sat on the side and slid into the water. She started to paddle away. Maddy jumped in behind her. Brenda was right after them. They swam to the far end of the pool and then swam back and rested in the deep end under the diving board. Gloria hung onto the side of the pool, catching her breath.

“Ah, that was refreshing. Good idea, Bren.” Gloria looked happier and refreshed.

Maddy swam up beside Gloria. She wasn’t out of breath, but she remained at the side of the pool.

“You know,” Gloria said to Maddy, “Maybe Brenda and I could find a few young men for you to date. Would you like that?”

“I’m not interested in having sex with men anymore,” Maddy answered. With surprising boldness she thrust a hand under the water and clutched Gloria’s sex. She threw the other hand around Gloria’s shoulder and pulled the older woman to her. After she inserted her tongue deep inside Gloria’s mouth she began to kiss her.

Brenda looked on as Gloria’s eyes opened wide in a startled expression. Her body looked rigid and stiff. As Maddy’s foray became more insistent Gloria closed her eyes and relaxed. She let out a soft murmur of delight from deep in her throat.

“I already spoke to Maddy,” Brenda explained as the kiss finally ended. “I thought we could relax you.” Maddy raised her tee shirt to bare her breasts and placed Gloria’s hand on one of them. She began kissing her again. “We better go in the mini-gym before someone sees us,” Brenda warned.

The three of them climbed out of the pool. Once in the gym they dried themselves off. Brenda and Maddy began stripping Gloria.

“Just relax,” Maddy whispered. “This is a special treat just for you.” They pulled the stubborn fabric of the suit from Gloria’s shoulders and then down her body. Gloria’s eyes were closed all the time and she didn’t speak. Once she was nude, her pleasurers kissed and squeezed her breasts and then her center. Gloria moaned at each sensual assault.

“Let’s get her over to the sofa,” Brenda said to Maddy. “It’s a fold-out.” She threw the cushions off and pulled out the folding bed.

Gloria settled down on her back. Her eyes were still closed; her breathing was rapid. Maddy and Brenda pulled off their own suits.

“Eat me!” Maddy commanded. She climbed onto the bed and straddled Gloria’s face, looking out toward her feet. “We’ll sixty-nine.” She bent low and hugged Gloria’s thighs and dipped her tongue into her cleft. “That’s real good, Gloria,” Maddy assured her as she pressed down. Gloria tilted up her hips to give Maddy better access

As Brenda watched them she dipped a finger inside herself. Gloria bucked like a wild animal under Maddy’s practiced body. Brenda heard the muffled scream as Gloria’s orgasm struck her. The younger woman straightened up, remaining atop Gloria’s face. She was raising and lowering herself; the pleasure etched a surreal expression on her face.

“Hold up a minute while I put this on her,” Brenda ordered. She had a waist harness onto which a long phallic-shaped dildo was fastened. She slid it over Gloria’s knees. “Raise up Gloria, so I can get this around your waist,” Brenda yelled loud enough for Gloria to hear as she lay under Maddy. Gloria bent her knees and planted her feet flat on the mattress and pushed up. Brenda slid the belt into place and fastened it. She poured a glob of lube onto her hand and coated the dildo. “I’ll be right with you,” she assured them.

She climbed onto the mattress and hovered over the erect tool, which pointed straight up from Gloria’s center. She balanced herself with one hand and opened her lips with the other. She made a final calculation and sank directly down, implanting the silicone phallus all the way inside herself.

“Ahhh,” she let out a moan of delight. Brenda had waited a long time to get out Gloria’s harness. She could already feel the tension building. It wouldn’t do to climax right away. She fought it off. A look into Maddy’s face told her that she was eager to resume.

Maddy reached out and grasped Brenda’s breasts. She let her fingertips examine the nipples. “Nice,” she sighed. Brenda reached out to Maddy and did the same and the two leaned forward and kissed.

The silicone object pressed her from inside out. Brenda rose up and then relaxed back down on it with her hands still clutching Maddy’s breasts. Maddy nodded, and the next time Brenda rose up Maddy rose with her and they descended upon Gloria in unison. They found a working rhythm, never relinquishing their hold on the other.

“Let’s try to come together,” Maddy gasped as they drew close to the horizon.

*************

When it was over the three of them lay nude together on the mattress. Gloria had removed the harness. Brenda was beside her. Maddy was on her stomach with her head resting on Gloria’s stomach. With one hand, she reached across Brenda’s closest thigh and diddled leisurely in Brenda’s sex.

Gloria appeared used and spent. A sheen of Maddy’s fluid coated her face; to Brenda, she had a satisfied look. “Thanks, girls,” Gloria said, almost in a whisper as she searched for the strength to push out her breath. “That’s just what I needed.”

“See, it turned out to be a swell party after all,” Maddy quipped. “We’ll have to get Trudy and Jeannette in on it next time. That would be perfect.”

Brenda winced at the suggestion. “Trudy!” Gloria growled as she gritted her teeth.

Brenda understood that Maddy had gone too far. “Gloria, relax. Maddy was just kidding.” Maddy shrugged, and Brenda knew it was an excuse that lacked substance, so she was glad when Gloria didn’t challenge her.

“The new Gloria died this afternoon,” Gloria told them.

“Nonsense, Gloria,” Brenda consoled her. “Alvin need never know; and besides, what we girls do for fun has nothing to do with him.”

“That’s not why,” Gloria explained. “I crossed back over to the old Gloria this afternoon. I should have taken Trudy’s side. I knew it then, but I couldn’t because I didn’t want to risk driving Ashley away. I drove Trudy away instead and the new me went with her.”

“Talk to Trudy,” Brenda pleaded. “Maybe she’ll understand.”

“I should have tried harder; I know that now,” Gloria whimpered. “I should have known it then. I could get another chance, but what would be the use? Sooner or later I’d use up all my chances—and, I’ll be back to what I am now.”

“You can be what you want to be,” Brenda said. She’d listened to Gloria condemn herself to hopelessness; she couldn’t accept it. She wondered if Gloria would oblige her to descend alongside her. Brenda fought with herself; the necessity of dealing with the morality would not dissolve as it usually did.

“No, I can’t,” Gloria answered in a languid sigh. “Some things are meant to be, and some aren’t. Maybe if things had been different when I was young…” Gloria paused a second. Brenda thought she might retract the horrible verdict. “No, I should have known I could never do it,” Gloria uttered in a weak voice. “I’ve spent too much time being the old Gloria. I’m stuck with her.”

**************

TO BE CONTINUED