Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 >The Pool Girl by Leto Armitage

   Chapter 49

   I assumed the party the following day would be awkward.  It wasn -(TM)t.
I woke up to Ji handing me a cup of coffee and telling me breakfast was
ready.  The table was set with oatmeal, pancakes with strawberries, and
chicken sausage.  Lavi and Melissa cooked as a duo and the kitchen was
filled with girls joking and talking over each other.  It was chaos and it
was lovely.  Grace acted as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened the
night before and talked to me about my winter plans for the herbs.  Melissa
and Coraline traded knowing smiles but otherwise seemed to have a mutual
understanding that this wasn -(TM)t the time for more of last night.

   As the day went the house became even more populated.  I shared grill
duties with Peter and Yussef and we made jokes about being manly men and
grunted like cavemen.  It was stupid but we had fun.  June and Sylvia
teased us constantly.  Mai and her husband stopped by briefly and she
behaved herself.  Ji left with them for a family evening and gave all three
of us hugs that made her dad frown but her mom waved bye with too much
cheer for it to bother us.  Coraline had a date but stole a kiss from
Melissa before she left and managed to surprise Lavi by grabbing her ass.
Lavi was very pleased by it.  Yussef and Zahra went home as well.

   As the day wound down I sat on the patio with Melissa, Lavi, Peter,
Sylvia, June, Grace, and Owen.  We weren -(TM)t quite ready to call it a
day so we decided to have dinner.  I made flatbreads while the girls and
Peter made chicken kebabs with veggies.  I had some chutneys in the fridge
that went with the bread.  June found the bottles of vodka because of
course, she would.  Drinks were made and I stretched out on a recliner with
Melissa behind me rubbing my muscles as I worked through some of the
exercises for my shoulder.

   Peter and Owen passed on the drinks, both saying they would be driving.

   June put her fingertips on a glass.   -You coming home with us Owen? -

    -Yes, ma -(TM)am. -

    -Then you can drive, - and she took up the glass.

   I took up my own glass.   -That means you stay over Owen? -

    -Yes, sir, Mrs.  June allows it. -

   June waved her arm.   -Better they -(TM)re in a good place than doing
something stupid.  I just need to know if I -(TM)m going to need my TV
headphones. -

   Grace was running her hand over Owen -(TM)s knee.   -You -(TM)ll need
them tonight mom. -

    -Oh, I figured. -

    -So, - Lavi leaned towards June,  -You have anything that makes her
use headphones? -

    -My boyfriend makes a nice hum but he doesn -(TM)t scream. -

   Lavi grinned,  -Maybe you could borrow Robert. -

   June smirked,  -Maybe, what do you think Melissa? -

   She snorted.   -That -(TM)s up to him.  I -(TM)m not his madam. -

    -The way I hear it you have veto power. -

    -Really. - Melissa stared daggers at Grace who suddenly found her
fingernails really interesting.

   June kept on,  -It is fine dear, I think it -(TM)s great you aren
-(TM)t bound up in all the bourgeoisie conformity.  People can love freely.
-

    -It isn -(TM)t like that. -

   Lavi,  -Except when it is. -

    -Not helping at all, Lav. -

    -Just keeping it real. -

   June pressed,  -I hear Ji making herself at home here. -

    -And she is a very close friend, - I said.

    -And it has nothing to do with being a cute hot teen piece of ass? -

    -Mom! - Grace looked appalled.

   June tittered and looked at her drink,  -Wow my filter is going fast!
-

   Everyone laughed, except Grace.

    -Ji is very attractive, - I said,  -And so are you. -

    -Bah, I -(TM)m middle-aged, I don -(TM)t work out nearly enough, at
least it -(TM)s given me some good weight up here if you know what I mean
but I... -

    -You could stay over tonight if you want. - That was Melissa and
whatever June was going to say was never said.  Melissa sipped her drink
with the poise of a queen.   -You -(TM)re a friend too, so I think it
would be all right.  Robert? -

   I knew the polite thing to do would be to stammer, be embarrassed, give
June an out.  Instead, I said,  -Sure. -

   I knew I should not have said it.  I knew it as soon as I said it.  But
no one remembered because June laughed it off and said,  -If I need to, I
-(TM)ll just see if Peter is available again. -

   There is an old-time southern expression that goes  -it is so quiet you
can hear a rat lick ice in the corner. - For the first time in my life
that expression made sense to me.

   Grace had her hand over her mouth.  Lavi wide-eyed just yelled, 
-Excuse me!? - She looked at her dad who was clearly embarrassed.  She
looked at her mother, who was ready to burst with amusement.   -MOM!? -

   Sylvia made a dismissive gesture with her hand,  -Oh come on dear, you
don -(TM)t think your ...  uh ...  energetic nature came from nowhere did
you? -

    -YOU WERE THERE!? -

   June, probably thinking she was helping, said,  -Well, my
battery-operated boyfriend does get old occasionally and every rare now and
then... -

   Grace finally found her voice,  -You said you watch movies and drink
wine! -

   Peter finally decided to say something,  -Oh we watch movies all right.
- That hit several people hard.  I just watched others.  A few minutes
passed.  Time moves really slowly in a quiet group of people.

   Finally, Grace looked at Owen.   -I think the mood is dead. -

   He rubbed her knee.   -No worries, babe. -

   Lavi was just staring ahead into empty space.  Melissa put her hand on
Lavi -(TM)s shoulder.   -Are you all right? -

   In a faint voice, Lavi said,  -It makes too much sense.  I am my mother
-(TM)s daughter. -

   Melissa hugged her.   -We all are. -

   Lavi looked at her parents.   -Anything else you want to tell me? 
Hookers?  Blow?  Cults? -

   Peter and Sylvia looked at each other.  Finally, the ever unflappable
Peter looked at his wife and they had some silent communication of their
own before he said,  -Nope, nope, nothing at all. -

    -Thank Shaddai for that.  You two, - she gestured to her mother and
June,  -uh... -

    -Oh, no, - Syliva said.

    -Well... - June grimaced a bit.

   Sylvia smirked,  -I mean nothing serious. -

   June accepted that.   -Right, night, nothing you know ...  just a bit.
- She made a motion with her fingers as if indicating a small amount with
a gesture would make it better.  It didn -(TM)t.

   I gave up.  I laughed and once I did Melissa -(TM)s resistance was gone
and she started laughing.  Peter, Owen, Syliva, and June followed after. 
It took a while but after Lavi eventually broke down, pointed at Grace and
started laughing.   -Oh my, your face. -

   That was the final straw and even Grace started laughing and as she
laughed said,  -Fuck you, Lavi. -

   Once we all settled down conversation became more mundane.  A few jibes
were made at Peter and June -(TM)s expense but June gave back as good as
she got at Lavi.  Once everyone finally left I found myself upstairs
settled in for the night nude.  I didn -(TM)t bother with any underwear
these days while the girls were wearing silk panties, more for exciting the
other two of us than modesty.

   Lavi was looking at textiles projects she had been working on in a
sketchbook.   -Mellie, have you talked to Robert about you know what? -

   Melissa was playing a game on her tablet.  Without taking her eyes off a
fight with some giant wolf she asked,  -Which one? - I enjoyed watching
her face as she concentrated when playing.

    -The one with Ji. -

    -I don -(TM)t think that -(TM)s legal in the states, Lav.  I -(TM)m
not sure it is anywhere. -

   Lavi sighed and reached over me to gently pop Melissa.   -I -(TM)m
being serious. -

   Melissa growled a little, ignored Lavi until she finished the fight and
then said,  -Fine, uh, the hospital thing? -

    -Yes. -

    -No, I haven -(TM)t. -

   I reached over and pinched Lavi -(TM)s nipple.

    -Ow!  What was that for? -

    -You could just ask me. -

    -I needed to know if it had already been discussed. - She pouted and
rubbed her nipple.  It was cute.

   I -(TM)d seen that what she was drawing looked like costumes.  Putting
two and two together,  -So, does this have anything to do with the
Halloween thing Ji does at the hospital? -

   Lavi looked shocked,  -Yeah.  Did she ask you about it already? -

    -No, I just know she does it.  She told me about it when I had sex
with her in the bunny girl outfit. -

   Lavi laid her hand on my thigh and squeezed.  Her fingernails were very
sharp.  Very quietly she said,  -You had sex with her in a bunny girl
outfit?  I haven -(TM)t had sex with her in a bunny girl outfit. -

   Melissa tapped my other leg.  I looked at her.   -Did you film it? -

    -Uh, no. -

    -So, let me get this right.  You had sex with a cute Chinese girl in a
bunny girl outfit and didn -(TM)t record it? -

    -Uh, yes. -

   She scrunched up her face.   -You are a bad husband. -

    -I... - Why couldn -(TM)t she have yelled at me.  She sounded
actually disappointed in me.  Fuck.   -I -(TM)m sorry. -

   Melissa pointed at me.   -You can do better - She spread her legs.  
-Start now. -

    -Yes ma -(TM)am. - I got between her legs and pulled her panties to
the side and inhaled her scent while running my tongue through her lips. 
She was already a little aroused.   -Someone liked the idea of me playing
around with Ji. -

   She turned her tablet off and put it aside and reclined against the
headboard making soft murmuring sounds.  I felt the bed shift as Lavi
scooted up.

    -So, how does he compare to  -~mouse girl -(TM)? -

    -Mmmmm Coraline was good but it -(TM)s not the same. -

   I pressed my nose against Melissa -(TM)s clit as I languidly made
swiping motions with my tongue.

    -Do you like her, - Lavi asked.

    -You mean, like,  -~like like -(TM) her? -

    -Yeah. -

    -I like her well enough, she -(TM)s nice and fun. -

    -Those glasses and the fact she always has a book in hand though? -

    -Mmmm hmmm... - I glanced up to see Melissa had one hand on Lavi
-(TM)s breast.

    -Maybe you and she should be school girls who come to get some
tutoring from Robert. - Melissa -(TM)s legs wrapped around me and
tightened.   -Maybe professor Rober t then makes you suck the taste of her
off his dick after he fucks her raw on his desk. -

    -Oh my god, - Melissa panted,  -Me too.  Make her suck me off him
too.  Fuck, why does she have to have a boyfriend? -

   I lifted my head up and lightly vibrated my thumb against her clit.  
-Maybe it -(TM)s not cheating if he watches.  Maybe he can lick Lavi
-(TM)s boots. -

   Lavi snorted,  -If I -(TM)m going to keep a bitch boy occupied while
you get laid you -(TM)re buying me some nice leather boots. -

    -In this highly theoretical circumstance, sure, I would buy you
knee-length leather boots. -

    -And a corset. -

    -And a corset. - I returned to licking Melissa.

    -Fuck yeah, - Melissa panted,  -I love that!  I didn -(TM)t realize
it would be so hot but him kneeling and watching while you fuck his
girlfriend, that is so hot! - Her voice suddenly became strangled as she
came and I got to lick more of her sweet juices.  Her legs relaxed and I
got up.

   Lavi laughed,  -I think we found the first trace of sadist Mellie! -

   Melissa scooted around and Lavi climbed over her face while I returned
between her legs but this time slowly sank myself into her and she gripped
me with her muscles.  Lavi was holding Melissa -(TM)s hands as she rubbed
her pussy across Melissa -(TM)s face.

    -Didn -(TM)t you want to talk about Ji -(TM)s Halloween thing? - I
asked.

    -Later.  Much later. -

   In fact, we forgot to talk about it that night.

   It was Tuesday and we were sitting at the kitchen table.  Lavi was
sketching costumes with Melissa commenting.  I had retrieved the mail and
was sorting through it.  I looked at a black and silver envelope.  Had it
been a year already?  I put it aside.

   Melissa -(TM)s unerring eyes locked on the envelope, looked at me, and
then started furiously patting Lavi -(TM)s arm.  Lavi looked at her,
clearly annoyed, and followed the pointing arm.   -A third pile? -

   I glanced up.   -What are you two going on about? -

   Melissa supplied the reply,  -You just created a third pile. -

    -So? -

    -Sooooo, - Lavi said,  -you are a creature of habit dear.  Tidal
patterns are affected by your habits.  Any variation is notable. -

    -I -(TM)m not that bad. -

   Melissa eyed me.   -One pile you set aside as things to deal with.  One
you set aside to dispose of.  Everything is opened with that pen knife you
carry and carefully unfolded and uncreased.  If paper sizes vary you
arrange from smaller to larger.  However, you put anything with names or
identifying information on the very top above that for shredding. -

    -Well, it -(TM)s just logical sorting. -

   Lavi,  -Logical, precise and unvarying.  Variant, - she pointed,  - -
one envelope, pile three, one item, a black envelope with metallic shiny
silver bands, unopened. -

    -Fine, I get your point.  I -(TM)m a nutter. -

   Melissa got up and came over.   -Don -(TM)t be grumpy, love, - she
kissed me.  Her hand shot out to the envelope but my hand was already on
top of it.

   She harrumphed at me but I pulled her closer and said,  -I thought we
were kissing. - She gave a light laugh and we kissed again.  This time
when we finished she pulled up the chair next to me.  Lavi was still
sketching but watching us as well.

    -Seriously, - Melissa said,  -what has gotten your feathers so
ruffled? -

   I sighed.   -Fine, read it for yourself. - I picked up the envelope,
tore it open with the penknife, unfolded the paper, and handed it to
Melissa.

   Lavi,  -What is it? -

   Melissa -(TM)s face furrowed.   -There -(TM)s not much here.  Our
address, no name.  The sending address says  -~Ackworth & Reverte
Productions, LLC. -(TM) It just gives a web address to submit renewal at
and says to supply a current scanned copy of a driver -(TM)s license and a
reminder to update waivers at the office.  It doesn -(TM)t say what the
renewal is for or anything. - She turned to show the mostly blank paper to
Lavi.

   Lavi had a thin smile,  -Dramatic envelope, boring letter, very sus.  I
love it. -

   Melissa was already on her phone but looked annoyed.   -Can -(TM)t find
the production company I assume? -

    -Nope. -

    -Well, they only produce one thing as far as I know.  They run a
little club downtown, Masquerade. -

   Melissa -(TM)s and Lavi -(TM)s eyes went wide.   -Are you fucking
kidding me? - They echoed each other.

    -You know it? -

   They looked at each other and somehow decided that Melissa would be the
representative.  She scooted her chair closer and her hand over mine.  
-Dear, Masquerade is the hottest club in town and has been, well, forever.
It -(TM)s ridiculously exclusive.  I -(TM)ve never heard of membership for
them. -

    -You -(TM)ve been in? -

    -Once.  We -(TM)ve gone a few times but usually, the lines are so long
that by midnight we gave up. -

    -Huh. -

   Lavi stared at me incredulously,  -You sound like you don -(TM)t even
know this. -

    -I -(TM)ve never been to Masquerade itself. -

   Lavi,  -How the hell do you have a membership to a club you haven
-(TM)t even been... -

   Lavi trailed off as Mellie began tapping the table excitedly.  
-Masquerade has the Backroom, the club in a club.  You don -(TM)t get in
there except by invitation.  There are a lot of rumors about it. -

   I nodded,  -And if the rumors are that it is a BDSM swingers club then
for once the rumors are true.  And technically I would say Masquerade is an
add-on.  The place was originally opened as the lifestyle club but by
popular demand, they expanded the dance area into the neighboring building.
Mary and Mark found it profitable and gave it the Masquerade name and the
original club became known, unofficially as the Backroom. -

   Melissa eyed me.   -Mary and Mark? -

    -The owners. -

    -You know them? -

    -Yeah.  When they started Masquerade their original audience was the
local lifestyle community.  My ex was really good friends with Mary.  Back
then you just had to be part of the local circle they knew. -

   Melisa -(TM)s hand continued tapping the table,  -Are you telling me,
your wife, who loves you dearly, you Robert Christopher Carlo, are telling
me that all this time you could have taken me to Masquerade and never did?
-

    -Uh, is there an answer that won -(TM)t get me into trouble? -

   Lavi bore down on me.   -And are you telling me, Lavi, your wife who
loves you just as dearly that you could have taken her to a super exclusive
BDSM swingers club and never did? -

    -I didn -(TM)t think about it. -

   Lavi,  -I -(TM)m sensing Jordyn stuff here. -

   I rubbed my eyes and sat back.   -Yeah.  After Jordyn and I split, Mary
let me know that Jordyn was still going.  Apparently, she went a lot and
played and hooked up a lot.  I didn -(TM)t want to be around for that show.
She eventually moved but at that point, I guess my inertia kept me from
going.  I always said I would get around to going back. -

   Melissa squeezed my hand.   -But you didn -(TM)t. -

    -No.  Going by myself would have felt weird.  I didn -(TM)t want to be
the creepy guy looking for fresh meat.  Besides, I didn -(TM)t identify
with the lifestyle as a part of me the way some people did so I missed
having fun with people but it wasn -(TM)t like I felt incomplete or
something. -

   Lavi looked ready to say something but I was saved by the phone ringing.
It was my lawyer -(TM)s number.  I hit answer.

    -Hey, you -(TM)re on speaker. -

   A gleeful voice came out of the phone.   -Robert, do you like good
news? -

    -I do. -

    -Then get comfortable, we have something to discuss. -

   Friday was a home game for the high school football team.  I was
standing in an area outside the locker rooms that the cheerleaders and
football team were using while above me students and families were gathered
to watch the game.  A long hallway headed out to the field and I looked
around.  The style was government functional mixed with someone -(TM)s
attempt to hang school motivational posters in the poor lighting.  Owen
stood carefully at my side between me and the football team.  As usual, I
felt like I was standing next to a horse.  He had a physical presence that
triggered a flight urge in anyone with a reasonable survival instinct.  I
identified Melissa -(TM)s ex among them and he pointedly kept his eyes away
from us at all times.  The team looked at me with varying expressions but
if anyone had considered violence Owen ensured it wasn -(TM)t happening.

   One guy took a step towards me but Owen just looked down at him and
said,  -Freddy, we good, man?  Ready for the game? -

   He glanced back as if wondering if anyone would stand with him.  They
didn -(TM)t.   -Yeah, man, I -(TM)m good. -

   Melissa squeezed my hand and whispered in my ear.   -Chris -(TM)s
buddy. -

   She and Lavi had debated for hours what to wear.  If they hadn -(TM)t
played dress-up, involving a lot of time in just underwear, it would have
driven me nuts.  If I ever get tired of looking at a beautiful woman you
can just start digging my grave.  In the end, they decided on something
simple but coordinated with Zahra, Ji, and Grace.  All wore black jeans and
loose blouses in varying silvers and greys.  In front of me were Ji and
Grace but for some reason Zahra had decided to stand behind Owen and me. 
On the other side of the football team were the cheerleaders.  Coraline
waved and I waved back, earning her a glare from Xinya.  Amber came over
and talked nicely with Melissa, hugging before she went back while another
black girl stared daggers into me.  I recognized her as T -(TM)wana.

   Principal Escobar and the lawyer Oxburn stood off to the side with a
fellow that Melissa reminded me was the football coach.  After what seemed
like forever I saw Richardson emerge from one of the hallways.  She spoke
with Escobar.  I couldn -(TM)t hear what they said but her face was less
than happy while Escobar handed her a piece of paper.

   Richardson took a deep breath and stepped into the center of the area to
address everyone.  She turned to look at me and then looked past me to a
spot over my shoulder before looking down at the paper.   -I would like to
thank everyone for coming together today before tonight -(TM)s game.  Uh,
we have had a very challenging year already but I -(TM)m proud of everyone
-(TM)s resilience to get through it.  And, uh, - her finger ran along the
paper tracing the line,  -Earlier this year we had some events happen that
created some ...  friction among us.  But the hallmark of our institution
is that every occasion is one of learning and excelling.  I admit I said
something in the heat of the moment, concerned about the well-being of you
students.  Whatever my personal opinions are, as an educator my primary
concern is the welfare of the fine young men and women here.  I allowed my
compassion to affect my views, based on input I had been given, and that
caused a less than professional response.  I want to make it very clear
that Mr.  Carlo is a respected member of the community and it is as a
community that we build our best possible future. -

   Richardson looked at Escobar.  Escobar made a tiny gesture with a finger
as if to say  -and the next thing. - He tried to be discreet, so
naturally everyone noticed.  Richardson set her jaw and folded the paper, a
tad violently clearly not saying whatever was still remaining.  She was
quickly joined by Principle Escobar.

   Escobar straightened his tie.  I swear if I ever ran into that man in a
dark alley I would cut his tie to ribbons.   -Thank you Coach Richardson,
you are a sterling example to our students.  I would like to expand just a
little on what you said by saying that I -(TM)m thrilled that out of those
challenges have come a phenomenal new competitive team.  Working within the
umbrella of the Gentleman -(TM)s -

    -Gentleperson -(TM)s, - Melissa corrected.

   Escobar nodded,  -Gentleperson -(TM)s Society, thank you.  Working
within it is our new dance team with its inaugural captain, Grace Combes
who has branched out of the cheerleading team to take on this new
opportunity for the school.  Thank you Ms.  Combes. - Escobar clapped his
hands which had radically different levels of enthusiasm from different
people in the room.  Fucker made it sound like she had done him a personal
favor.   -The synergy of having these two similar but distinct team
efforts, the dance, and cheer, can only bring wonderful new things for us.
Now, let -(TM)s go win! -

   The cheerleaders suddenly let out a whoop and jumped up and down
cheering.  A few genuine smiles erupted from the football players and they
jogged out to the field.  I watched them file out and were followed by the
cheerleaders.  As she passed T -(TM)wana stepped away towards us but like a
whip Amber grabbed T -(TM)wana and pulled her along.  Both coaches followed
them.

    -Too bad, - I said.

   Melissa,  -Why? -

    -I was going to tell T -(TM)wana to say hi to her dad for me. -

   She grinned.   -Probably for the best then. -

    -Yeah. -

   Oxburn walked up.   -So, can we put this behind us Mr.  Carlo? -

    -Absolutely.  Not quite an apology but a retraction by way of
self-contradiction will have to do. - I reached out to shake his hand.

   He shook it.   -Now, if you will excuse me, my wife is waiting. -

    -Good evening. -

   Escobar didn -(TM)t bother to say anything as he headed towards the
game. As soon as everyone was gone Grace and Melissa were holding hands and
jumping up and down giggling.  The dance team was back.  Ji and Lavi
watched with amusement.  I bumped Lavi with my elbow.   -Okay, where did
Zahra go? -

    -You mean she -(TM)s not here?  Oh my! -

    -Lavi... -

   Lavi didn -(TM)t get a chance to respond because that was when Zahra did
reappear with two small pieces of cloth.   -Got  -~em, - she said.  She
held up two pairs of panties, one green and one black.

   Lavi pulled on my sleeve,  -Come on, while those two, - she pointed at
Melissa and Grace,  -are distracted. -

   I followed.   -What are we doing? -

   Lavi opened the door to the boy -(TM)s bathroom.   -Well, we had
planned to have you cum on their panties and put them back but then Ji
pointed out that would leave DNA so we want you to piss on them. - She
tossed the panties into a sink and from a small purse pulled out disposable
gloves and a tiny travel hair dryer.

    -You want me to pee into a sink on their panties? -

    -Yep. - She snapped the gloves on.

    -Does Melissa know about this? -

    -Nope, she would have nixed it.  Ji and I thought this up. -

    -This is juvenile and stupid. -

   Ji walked up to me and stood, putting her head down and twisting around
on one foot like a little school girl.   -Mr.  Carlo? -

   I sensed a trap.   -Yes, Ji? -

    -If you do this then it -(TM)s really not your fault, it was because
we were bad girls and bad girls should be punished. -

   I looked into her eyes.  I was fucking trapped.  Sometimes you just have
to admit when you -(TM)ve lost.  I walked up to the sink but had a thought.
I looked at Lavi,  -Why don -(TM)t you do this? -

    -I -(TM)m not crawling up on a sink. -

    -Use the floor. -

    -Ewwww, that -(TM)s gross! -

   I wasn -(TM)t sure what to say to that.  I shook my head and tried to
relax the muscle that would let me pee though I was now half hard from the
girls watching me.  I finished, shook dry, and walked out.  I passed Zahra.
 -You should not be enabling this. - She giggled.

   When I got back Grace and my beloved, Melissa, looked at me.   -Where
is everyone? -

    -Don -(TM)t ask. -

    -Seriously? -

    -Seriously.  Want to watch the game and have plausible deniability? -

   Melissa shrugged.   -I -(TM)ve never just watched one of our games, I
-(TM)ve always cheered at them. -

    -Hell, let -(TM)s check it out.  Those three will find us. - So, we
did.  We found a space in the stands and I tried to watch the game but I
wasn -(TM)t really interested.  Grace and Melissa fell into watching the
cheer squad and making commentary.  After a while, the other three joined
us.

    -Proud of yourselves? -

   Lavi was all grins.   -Uh-huh. - Melissa had an eyebrow raised.  All
she said to answer the unspoken question was,  -Later. -

    -Ready to go, - I asked.

    -Mind if we see the half time, - Melissa asked.   -I -(TM)m curious
what they -(TM)re doing.  At this point they should be practicing whatever
they -(TM)re going to take to competitions. -

   So we stayed and watched, or at least they did.  Honestly, for most
intents and purposes I was a completely near-sighted buffoon walking
through a gallery with art scholars so I just stared at the pretty things
while others commented.

   We were partially through the halftime and a routine started with big
thumping music played through the field -(TM)s public address system.  The
cheerleaders lined up and began synchronized clapping and moving into a
diamond formation that then moved inward.  Girls took standing jumps and
leapt into hands that helped propel them upwards to climb on shoulders.  I
could see the biggest girls were at the bottom.

   Melissa leaned into me.   -Most of those on the bottom are new. 
Richardson must have recruited them.  I recognize a few from around the
school. -

   They then moved.   -Woah, - Lavi breathed it out but given their faces
I think she spoke for all the girls.  The girls in the pyramid were
clapping and chanting something about kicking ass.  They moved into a  -~V
-(TM) shape and Xinya who had been in front of everyone else doing kicks
and cheers did a double somersault backwards into the air and was picked up
and flipped up to the third tier.  I had already been amazed the ones on
the shoulders didn -(TM)t fall but as the ones on the bottom moved but that
looked like magic.

   Ji was on her feet.   -No! -

   Melissa,  -That is dangerous as fuck. -

   The crowd was on their feet, impressed.  We remained seated except for
Ji who only joined us once she safely saw her little sister back on the
ground.  We left then, quietly.  I thought about it as we walked.  The
girls had been dismissive of Richardson but she had trained them.  We had
pushed Richardson into a corner and she had come out swinging to show her
value.

   We got in the car with Melissa driving.  She buckled her seat belt.  
-Are you all right, - I asked.

    -Yeah, just ...  someone is going to get hurt doing that. - I didn
-(TM)t ask what she meant by that.  I knew she wasn -(TM)t talking about a
sprained ankle or broken leg.



   Chapter 50

   Weeks passed and life was work, beekeeping, gardening, reading, music,
food, love, and friendships.  I was busy, exhausted, and happy.  However,
always on the edge of my thoughts, like cancerous background radiation, was
the HOA.  They re-elected Fred as President after satisfying the judge that
they were doing everything correctly again.  I had fantasies of Linda or me
running for president and staging a campaign that won the hearts of the
neighborhood over to us.  Linda flatly told me that the bylaws said that
you had to attend a number of consecutive meetings to become an officer
which disqualified both of us.  In fact, the only ones eligible all
supported Fred.  So, he was re-elected, and once again I was notified of
their intention to send me packing.  This time Fred hand-delivered it with
a smile on his face.

   I would have to vacate the house unless my lawsuit accomplished
something.  That also began to look like a fantasy.  Clarence had hoped to
work out a deal with their attorney using our lawsuit as leverage.  But,
they played for time.  The HOA asked for extensions and the court
co-operated.  A judge wouldn -(TM)t hear the case for months though
Clarence was pushing for an earlier date.  The harassment case was not
sufficient to delay the HOA from exercising their powers.  We could deny
the order and then the HOA would sue us.  Short of a judge having the
sheriff forcibly kick us out, they couldn -(TM)t make us leave but it would
weaken our standing in court.  I was talking to a realtor about renting a
house near the high school that we could live in while we fought the
lawsuit.  After all, the HOA just said we couldn -(TM)t live there under
their family rules, not that I couldn -(TM)t own it.  However, the idea ate
at me.

   But the world moved forward.  The dance team practices started up again
immediately.  The Gentle Person -(TM)s society kept going too and for three
hours each afternoon, the house was a hive of teenage girls.  While the
others worked on components of the formal dance and teas I would help Lavi
practice chess.  Some nights Ji would stay late to cook and Zahra began to
do the same for baking.  Despite my protestations that I was not qualified
to teach anyone patisserie, I was told that I was the tutor and to suck it
up.

   After a few weeks, Zahra had made three kinds of sweets that we felt
would be nice at a high tea.  One was a sweet and tart raspberry macaron.
The second was finger cakes of moist vanilla sponge covered by a dark
chocolate mirror glaze supported by a semi-soft cookie base.  The third was
a classic almond tea cake.  Ji, Grace, Lavi, and I gathered around with tea
to test them but both Melissa and Coraline had disappeared.  Melissa had
left a bit ago to clean the pool and Coraline had gone outside a few
minutes later.

   Lavi,  -It is too dark, it is jade. -

   Zahra,  -It is my headscarf and I think I know what turquoise is. -

    -If you did you -(TM)d know that isn -(TM)t it. -

    -Gah, you -(TM)re impossible! -

    -And you -(TM)re color blind. -

    -I -(TM)ll go look for them, - I said.  If I had to listen to more of
that I was going to go insane.  Besides, it was clearly sea green.

   Sure enough, neither was in sight but the door to the garden shed where
supplies were kept was ajar.  I approached and peered in.  Melissa -(TM)s
shorts were hanging off one ankle as she sat on a table, one leg on the
ground and the other outstretched.  Coraline stood, her hand moving in
Melissa -(TM)s sex as they kissed.  Melissa -(TM)s hands had moved Coraline
-(TM)s shirt up and bra down in order to play with her nipples.  They broke
their kiss and leaned foreheads against each other, panting.

    -Fuck, fuck, fuck, I -(TM)m close. - I heard Melissa from the
doorway. I waited until Melissa -(TM)s breath quickened and was followed by
a squeal.  She caught her breath and ran her hands through Coraline -(TM)s
hair.   -You -(TM)re next. -

   I coughed into my hand to get their attention.   -Um, I hate to
interrupt but Zahra is waiting.  She baked. -

   Coraline yipped and hurriedly covered herself while Melissa slid off the
table and stretched.   -Yes sir, Mr.  Slave Driver sir. - Melissa -(TM)s
fingers danced on Coraline -(TM)s shoulder as the girl straightened her
shirt.   -Rain check? -

    -Yes, please. -

   I wasn -(TM)t shocked to find them together.  Coraline sometimes
disappeared with Melissa.  Sometimes it was Lavi or Ji but usually Melissa.
I was never a part of it and not invited to watch.  Coraline had told
Melissa she already felt bad hiding her lesbian relationship from her
boyfriend but that anything with me would cross a line into cheating.  I
was a little jealous but also understood that it was jealousy so I did my
best to put it aside.

   Coraline scooted out first and Melissa came up and took my hand after
sliding jean shorts back on.   -Thank you for waiting. -

    -You saw me? -

    -Yeah, I liked you there watching. -

    -You probably should have told her. -

    -You should have said something as soon as you came in. -

   I harrumphed.   -It is our house. -

    -So, if you have a right to not say anything because it is our house
then so do I. -

   I like to think I would have come up with a good counterpoint but we
were at the kitchen door.  I opened the glass to hear Lavi -(TM)s voice.

    -It is definitely more than three people. -

   Zhara replied, looking at her phone.   -The dictionary Lavi, right
here, I -(TM)m looking at it, an excess or abundance, so it could be two
people! -

   Lavi scoffed.   -An orgy can not be two people, how are two people an
abundance? - She held up fingers.   -One person is masturbation, two are
a couple, three is a threesome and four is a foursome.  Thus it stands that
the minimum size for an orgy is five, clearly. -

    -By that logic that could just be a, what five-some? -

   Lavi rolled her eyes.   -Have you ever heard of a five-some? - Grace
and Ji had retreated to doing things on their phones to avoid this
conversation.   -Robert, settle this. -

    -Zahra, in terms of denotation you are right, Lavi in terms of
connotation you are right. -

   As if on cue they stuck tongues out at each other and then laughed.  
-Jinx! - Zahra yelled.

   Soon we were sipping tea and discussing the cakes and cookies.  I was
just glad the orgy talk hadn -(TM)t turned into another chance for Lavi to
ask when I was going to take them to Masquerade.  I didn -(TM)t mind the
idea of taking them to a lifestyle club.  I knew that neither wanted to try
anything really extreme or swing with other men.  It was going there,
having them ask me about Jordyn or bring up stories about her.  I just
wanted the past to remain there.

   Later everyone had left except Coraline.  Melissa stepped onto the front
stoop with her.  I was seated on the couch and Lavi took the floor at my
feet to trim my toenails and remove dead skin.

    -Bloody hell Robert, how do you get so much dead skin on your feet? -

    -I walk around barefoot a lot. -

    -Yeah, but if I wasn -(TM)t removing it what would happen?  Would you
just end up with big clubfeet that became armored like a mutant in a bad
kung fu movie? -

    -I think I -(TM)ve seen that movie. -

    -Men. - She said it as if it were an insult but I could hear the
amusement in her voice.

   Melissa came in and plopped down next to me.  I leaned over and gave her
a peck on the cheek.   -Hey, babe.  Everything okay? -

   Melissa shrugged,  -I guess. -

   Lavi looked up.   -You guess? -

   Melissa sounded ...  odd.   -Well, Cors wanted to chat.  I thought she
might have been about to say something weird and she did but not what I
expected. -

    -Weird like...? - I asked.

    -Like declarations-of-love weird. - Oh.

    -But she didn -(TM)t? -

    -No, she ...  well, it started because she was asking about you
watching in the shed. -

    -Sorry, I went brain dead.  Girls having sex kind of short circuits
the homo sapien male brain. -

    -I must be a man, - Lavi said.

   Melissa playfully poked at Lavi -(TM)s leg with her toes.   -Be
serious. -

   Lavi didn -(TM)t look up but replied.   -Mellie, she is seriously
intense.  She -(TM)s got a hardcore crush on you. -

    -I know and -

    -You have one on her, - I suggested.

    -Yeah, I do. - She smiled and was gorgeous.

    -But you know your -(TM)s is a crush.  Does she? -

    -I don -(TM)t know.  I mean, I like her too, she -(TM)s nice you know?
I haven -(TM)t pushed her to play with you Robert because I know she -(TM)s
serious about her boyfriend.  But she started asking about if I -(TM)ve
ever recorded anything or if you -(TM)ve watched before. - I started to
say something but Melissa didn -(TM)t let me.   -No worries, I put the
record straight.  I know that was an accidental one-time thing but she
-(TM)s the one who followed somewhere you didn -(TM)t have a chance to know
what you were walking in on.  I mean, that -(TM)s why we use the guest room
and close the door.  And I let her know, if she -(TM)s going to be
spontaneous like that, I mean this is your house. -

   Melissa picked up one of the coarse boards Lavi had been using and
started filing her own fingernails.

   Lavi went back to trimming my toenails but also spoke,  -I sense there
is more. -

   Melissa sighed.   -Yeah.  She was like  -~why don -(TM)t we go out
sometime? -(TM) And I was like  -~you mean like see a movie or something?
-(TM) And she -(TM)s like  -~Yeah, and maybe a motel afterward, just us.
-(TM) And I was like  -~Uh, no. -(TM) And she got upset, not like mad-mad
but disappointed-mad.  Hanging out with friends is one thing.  That though,
even if I told you and you were fine with it, I mean it is like every
cheating clich(C) ever.  It just wouldn -(TM)t feel right. -

    -And? - Lavi prompted again.

    -And, I told her that.  Then she said she was tired of hiding things,
like hiding them from her boyfriend.  She asked me about having a threesome
with her and him, saying then she wouldn -(TM)t have to hide being with me
anymore.  I just said no.  I was surprised, I mean, I haven -(TM)t asked
her to make squelches with you Robert and I was surprised she would ask me
that.  And then she got like,  -~well, Robert wants to fuck me, right!?
-(TM) and I was like  -probably -, and she couldn -(TM)t believe I didn
-(TM)t know and I said you -(TM)d never asked about fucking her and never
butted in and just told me you were glad I was happy and she looked at me
like I -(TM)d slapped her and walked off. -

    -I think there is some unpacking to do there, - I said.  I didn
-(TM)t verbalize the other half of my thought.

   Lavi said it though,  -Women are fucking nuts. -

   Melissa looked at her.   -Really, Lav? -

    -Hey, I was pretty confident I was going to live my life as a lesbian
unless some prince came along.  I accepted reality.  Men fundamentally
probably are off their crackers too, but are too simple-minded to really
excel at it. -

   I glared at Lavi.   -I -(TM)d be offended but I -(TM)m too
simple-minded to figure it out. -

   She patted my foot.   -That -(TM)s nice dear. -

   ...

   It was a Saturday when I was outside picking up a meat delivery when I
noticed that my neighbor had put up a realtor -(TM)s sign.  Tragically it
was the little old lady, Mrs.  Sarah as she liked to be called, not my
other neighbor Fred the HOA president.  Mrs.  Sarah combined the three
traits I had valued in a neighbor - mostly absent from my life, nice when I
ran into her, and easy going when I had to deal with her.  Her tree falling
on my fence had been an example of the last.  But my yard crew had cut it
up and installed the replacement fence boards she bought and so it was all
done and dealt with.  She was a lovely lady.

   I saw Melissa as I came in.   -Mrs.  Sarah is moving. -

    -Yeah, to Florida to live with her daughter. -

    -You probably know the daughter -(TM)s name. -

    -Andrea. -

    -Of course. -

    -We -(TM)re helping her load up one of those shipping container things
with her boxes next week. -

    -We are? -

    -Uh-huh.  I know your arm is still rough but I -(TM)ve been over and
checked it out.  The boxes are dishes, old clothes, knick-knacks, and
mostly pretty light.  No boxes of books or anything.  And she -(TM)s just
selling the furniture.  She is moving in with the daughter so she doesn
-(TM)t need it. -

   She turned to face me.  She put her arms around my neck and did a head
flip to send hair flying.   -And after we are hot and sweaty from helping
her move I want you to bring me back here, stretch me out in the grass and
make me the hottest mess of sweat and cum you -(TM)ve ever made. -

   I grinned.   -I -(TM)ve made some messes before. -

    -Outdo yourself. -

    -Yes ma -(TM)am. - I kissed her.

   We broke apart and started on the prep for lunch.  As we moved around
the kitchen we compared notes for the week.  She was busy with school,
competitive dance and planning a formal dance.  She asked about me.

    -Ji wants to try something new so we -(TM)re going to try -

    -Deep throating. -

    -I was going to say some seafood dishes. -

    -I vote for lobster and shrimp.  And her practicing the other thing.
She needs to get better. -

    -We -(TM)ll see if we fill up on shellfish.  Oh, and Tuesday I -(TM)m
doing a movie with Yussef again but we might be a bit late.  He said he
knows a good sports bar that isn -(TM)t crazy on weeknights and has pool
tables. -

    -That -(TM)s cool.  You used to play a lot didn -(TM)t you? -

    -Yeah, I -(TM)m probably rubbish now but I enjoyed it. -

    -And Wednesday, are you still doing the Krav Maga class with Lavi and
her dad? -

    -I don -(TM)t think Lavi will let me chicken out.  But I -(TM)m not
doing anything physical yet.  I -(TM)m learning about paying attention to
my environment and moving away from threats at this point. -

    -Jesus, if you have Thursday night scheduled too I -(TM)m going to say
you have a social calendar. -

    -Uh, well, Ji is coming over to watch that movie by the guy who
directed Your Name. -

    -That was really good. -

    -Yeah, I thought you and Lavi would be down for it. -

    -Totally. - She walked over and put her arms around me.

   I ran my hand through her hair and looked into her eyes.   -For lunch,
I -(TM)m going out with Sylvia.  She likes to do that tea place on Thursday
and when we run into people who know her she introduces me as her
son-in-law and step-son-in-law. -

    -What does she do when they -(TM)re confused? -

    -Revel in it. -

    -You -(TM)re not a hermit anymore. -

    -I don -(TM)t feel any different. -

    -You are, though. - She looked into my eyes and I lost myself in
hers.

    -Is that bad? -

    -No, you -(TM)re just more of you. -

   She put her head to my chest and I held her to me.  I don -(TM)t know
how long we stayed like that but it was long enough that Lavi found us like
that when she got home and then we decided to shelve the lunch plans.  We
heated up leftovers and just spent the rest of the day in bed.

   The three of us plus Ji sat around the table on Monday night, stuffed
full of shrimp linguine.  Lavi had decided upon smelling the food and
finding out that the shrimp was from a farm and not wild that they were
spiritually kosher if not technically so.  Yet again I found myself
doubting the logic but since this could make shrimp a staple again I once
again kept my mouth shut.  I did promise to only buy farm-raised shrimp.

   We talked about the hospital where Ji volunteered.  They never had as
many people as they wanted, but they were particularly short-handed this
year so we would be a big help for putting on the party for the kids.  Then
the topic changed to anime.  And then to blowjobs.

    -So, - Melissa said,  -I told Robert you should practice deep
throating. -

   Ji smirked.   -I can take him just fine. -

    -Taking him down your throat and deep throating is different.  Can you
put your nose to his pubic bone? -

   Lavi turned to me,  -Can she? -

   I sipped my vodka and cranberry juice.   -I don -(TM)t recall. -

   Lavi peered at me with exaggerated attention.   -He -(TM)s lying. -

   Ji,  -Why do you say that? -

    -Men don -(TM)t forget who can deep throat them.  I mean, maybe if
they were tiny and every woman could but Robert, no, he remembers. -

    -I can, - Melissa said cheerily.

    -I usually can, - supplied Lavi,  -though sometimes I gag.  And you
know that.  I see you smile when I gag on you. - She was pointing at me.

    -Hey, it -(TM)s like you said, I -(TM)m a male and therefore
dim-witted.  My poor masculine brain probably just can -(TM)t hold onto the
memories.  You want to know, you find out for yourselves. -

   Ji laughed.   -I see your cunning plan. - I grinned at her.

   Lavi,  -Fine, we -(TM)ll just have to test it empirically.  You just
sit there, but get your dick out. -

   Ji,  -I was going to go home and watch that vampire movie Byzantium. -

    -We can put it on here and do both, - Lavi offered.

   Ji rolled her eyes.   -Lavi, I can -(TM)t suck dick and pay attention.
-

    -Wimp.  Learn to multitask. -

   Melissa intervened.   -This shouldn -(TM)t take long.  Plenty of time
for a movie afterward.  We need to put time limits on it anyway to be fair.
-

    -Two minutes, - Lavi suggested.   -If you can -(TM)t get it down in
two minutes you -(TM)re not going to. -

   Ji,  -The one of us that takes him deepest wins?  What do we get? -

    -Bragging rights.  And house points. -

   I stood and headed to the living room.   -Where are you going? - Ji
asked.

    -To get comfortable. - I made my way to the living room and got
settled on the couch.

   I shucked my pants and underwear in the living room and then because I
felt silly in just a shirt I took it off, twirled it on my finger, and sent
it flying as well.

   Lavi clapped and yelled,  -That -(TM)s it, baby, take it off.  That
-(TM)s what we need, to train you up as a stripper.  We need entertainment.
-

   Melissa put her arms around Lavi.   -I kind of like him when he -(TM)s
just watching us.  I like watching him unable to take his eyes off us. -

    -That -(TM)s pretty much all the time, - I replied.

   Melissa kissed Lavi -(TM)s neck,  -I know. -

   Yeah, I was staring again.   -Now, - I pointed out,  -to be fair, I
need to be hard first so I need a fluffer. -

    -Wouldn -(TM)t that be unfair if someone gets to loosen up their
throat first? - Ji asked.

    -You -(TM)ll have to use just your chests.  Let -(TM)s see you ladies
take them off. -

   Once upon a time Ji would have felt resentful about being topless with
Melissa and Lavi but our genuine affection for her small perky breasts had
been rewarded with confidence blossoming in her.  In short order all were
topless.  The girls got distracted as they formed a circle and started
playing with each other -(TM)s chests.  They all giggled.  Melissa and Ji
each took one of Lavi -(TM)s heavy tits.  I cleared my throat.

   Ji pinched the nipple and Lavi moaned.   -I -(TM)ll come back to this,
- she said.  She moved on her knees between my legs and held up her tits
for me to see.   -You like these?  You want these schoolgirl Asian tits to
rub against your dick? -

   I was well on my way to getting hard already.   -He likes you. - I
shifted forward and rubbed the hole at the end of my dick against her
nipples.  I was rewarded by a tiny shudder from her.  Ji leaned forward and
spit on my dick and rose up and down her muscular thighs letting my dick
slide all over her chest.

    -He -(TM)s ready, - Ji said.

    -You -(TM)re already there, - Lavi said.   -Go for it. -

   Ji leaned forward and spit on my dick more.  She took the head and a few
inches in her mouth and moaned around it.  Lavi moved behind her and was
rubbing her ass.

    -How -(TM)s she doing, - Melissa asked.

    -It feels good. -

   Melissa snickered.   -Duh, it -(TM)s a blowjob. -

   Ji made a gagging noise and pulled off and spit on my dick more.  She
moved her jaws and produced saliva and coated my length with it as she
licked me.  Lavi glanced down at her phone.   -30 seconds. -

   Ji focused and pushed forward but I hit the back of her throat again. 
She did well but as one thirty-second mark was called she was pushing
harder and harder.  She started gagging almost constantly and spit went
everywhere.  Then she stopped and tried just straining her neck forward. 
Melissa then scooted over and used a little thing of lipstick to mark where
Ji -(TM)s lips were as Lavi called,  -Time!  Sluts remove dicks from
orifices, himbos reset! -

    -Lavi, you missed your calling as a master of ceremonies for x-rated
circuses, - I said.

    -Trust me, I know. -

   Ji sat up and caught her breath.  Lavi was rubbing her back.  Melissa
inspected the mark.   -All but a few inches, not bad.  I think at the end
there you got the right idea but it -(TM)s not easy is it? -

    -Definitely harder than I thought.  This is a bad angle too. -

    -Excuses, excuses, - Lavi said.  She reached around and played with
Ji -(TM)s nipples but was looking at Melissa.  I saw one of those silent
communications they did.  Over time I -(TM)d learned to look for the tiny
micro-expressions they used and had grown organically between them.  I
still didn -(TM)t understand them but I was at least learning to recognize
them.  Lavi slapped Ji -(TM)s ass.   -Move.  Melissa is now going to
demonstrate. -

   Ji harrumphed,  -It isn -(TM)t like Robert has complained. -

   Melissa smiled, benevolently,  -Men don -(TM)t complain about a good
meal either, it doesn -(TM)t mean they don -(TM)t remember the truly great
ones.  And this little guy is mine to take care of. -

   Ji crossed her arms.   -And what does that mean? -

   Lavi,  -It means call her the bus driver because she -(TM)s about to
take you to school. -

   Melissa moved between my knees and took my still-hard dick in her hands.
She caressed it.   -Hey baby, - she was talking to my dick not me,  -I
-(TM)ll show the pizza-making slut how to take care of you. -

   Ji and Lavi were both sitting, Ji between Lavi -(TM)s legs.  Lavi had
returned to wrapping her arms around Ji and playing with her.  Her head was
resting on Ji -(TM)s shoulder watching us.

    -Big talk, - Ji said.

   Lavi snorted.   -You don -(TM)t get it yet do you? -

    -What? -

    -You and I are competing for second. -

   I saw a slow realization cross Ji -(TM)s face.   -Oh god, you mean it
-(TM)s like when we had to learn splits? -

    -Yeah, and in a week she was showing us how to do them. -

   Without additional preamble, Melissa lowered her mouth and took me to
the base.  Her nose snuggled against my pubic bone and she hummed.  Her
tongue vibrated on my underside and I felt myself in her throat.

    -Goddamn, - Ji said,  -Does she not have a gag reflex? -

   I leaned my head back, my fingers intertwined in silky blonde hair.

    -Yeah, - Lavi replied,  -but she practiced until she learned to
suppress it. -

    -I should have arched my back like that to get a better angle with my
throat. -

   I started to tune them out.  I didn -(TM)t give a damn about the
mechanics, I just wanted this to continue forever and ever.  My body
betrayed me and started pushing my hips back and forth.  In response,
Melissa pulled back and lunged forward.  Soon she was simulating me fucking
her mouth.  I didn -(TM)t even have to move.

    -Hey, we are past two minutes, - Ji said.

    -That... - I lost track of what I was going to say ...  oh yeah, 
-was the time to get it down.  This is just finishing what she started. -

   Ji asked,  -Seriously? - I couldn -(TM)t see her face because I closed
my eyes to just enjoy Melissa taking care of me.   -Show off. - She
sounded petulant.

   Lavi,  -You just have to accept it, we may be great fucks, truly great
fucks, but Melissa studies. -

   I was being milked and suddenly laughed and started going  -Mooooo...
-

   Melissa must have gotten the joke because for the first time technique
faltered as she started to laugh with my dick in her throat.  Ji just
asked,  -What the fuck? -

   I didn -(TM)t hear if she got an answer because I started cumming.  My
fingers tightened in Melissa -(TM)s hair and I released what felt like half
a liter of sperm going down her throat.  I fell back against the couch.

   Melissa turned around, showed something to Ji, and smacked her lips.

   Lavi,  -We are just disciples who study at the feet of the great
vacuum. -

   Ji,  -Well, you -(TM)re next. -

    -I forfeit. -

    -That -(TM)s not like you. -

    -He should last a good time now, I want to get fucked. -

   Ji was laughing,  -Okay, that is like you. - Lavi got on her hands and
knees and wiggled her ass at me.  Ji smacked one of Lavi -(TM)s ass cheeks
which vibrated enticingly.  Ji spread Lavi to show both orifices.   -Which
hole do you want?  We have a discount sale. -

    -Lavi, on your back.  I like to see those big tits while I fuck you.
-

   She did so and spread her legs.  She lifted one breast and licked her
own nipple.   -These?  You want to see these big things bounce around
while you slam me with your cock? -

    -I do.  Want to see if I can break you? -

    -Please try, that sounds like fun. - Lavi grinned.

   Melissa was stroking Ji -(TM)s hair.   -What do you say we have a
little fun while they are indisposed? -

   Ji turned.   -I -(TM)d say yes. -

   We did watch that vampire movie but it was hours later.  Ji ended up
spending the night but used the guest bedroom and said goodnight to each of
us with a soft, lush kiss.

   Another week passed.  My South American project continued to do well and
large contracts were signed.  My boss informed our team that we would start
looking for a couple of new people and that we were likely to have a very
pleasant Christmas bonus this year.  No progress happened with the HOA
except that the clock moved closer and closer to doomsday.

   Sylvia decided she didn -(TM)t need her big SUV anymore and replaced it
with a sporty hatchback.  Lavi inherited the SUV which Peter said he would
continue to pay insurance on until Lavi was done with college, which I
thought was very kind of him.

   Linda returned from her vacation and the divorce proceeded, which would
take about a year.  Melissa was informed that unless something changed she
would not need to testify.  Ryan looked likely to plead guilty on reduced
charges, but he would have to register as a sex offender.  Linda only heard
from his lawyer.  She agreed to return half of the joint account for his
cooperation with the divorce and to hire a third party to sell the house.

   Saturday came again and I had gotten a good workout moving boxes for
Mrs. Sarah.  She had spent months packing but the weather had turned to
Fall so it wasn -(TM)t very hot.  Still, I was tired.  Once the container
was full, Melissa and I took a breather on her front porch.  As she looked
around Mrs.  Sarah said,  -Well, I guess I -(TM)ll see if I can sell the
rest of this crap I didn -(TM)t pack. -

    -Crap? -

    -My daughter wants it all but honestly, she has a condo in North
Beach. This stuff won -(TM)t fit in her place but she insists.  So, I
-(TM)ll let her go through it and figure it out for herself. - Mrs.  Sarah
had a nice southern accent.   -But it was so kind of you folks to help
out. - She handed both of us glasses of ice water in tumblers that looked
like they were about forty years old but the water was gloriously cold. 
Okay, I had worked up a bit of a sweat but I felt awkward because for
Melissa it didn -(TM)t look like it had taken any more effort than walking.

   She looked at us.   -I know I say this every time I see you, Melissa,
but I can remember when you and that brother of yours were wee little
things running around the neighborhood makin -(TM) a ruckus. -

    -Well, I think I may still be causing trouble. - She glanced towards
Fred Benson -(TM)s house.

    -Nah, it -(TM)s that old dog causing trouble dear, not you.  He -(TM)s
just angry because he -(TM)s been constipated since birth. - I shouldn
-(TM)t have laughed but I did.

    -So you didn -(TM)t vote with Fred? - I asked.

    -I wouldn -(TM)t agree with that man if he said water was wet.  Truth
be told, once upon a time I might have seen it that way but I -(TM)m past
eighty.  Twenty or so years between you two doesn -(TM)t seem like as much
to me as it once did. -

    -I think it -(TM)s the number of us, really, that really set him off,
- I said.

   She waved her hand as if dismissing what I said.   -Oh, it -(TM)s been
done plenty of times, just with a sort of don -(TM)t ask don -(TM)t tell
attitude.  I -(TM)ve known at least one or two cousins who stayed with
folks who I -(TM)m pretty sure weren -(TM)t cousins if you catch my
meaning. It wasn -(TM)t my business then and your business isn -(TM)t mine
either.  Oh and I nearly forgot, speaking of business, I have something for
you two if you want it. -

   Melissa,  -What -(TM)s that? -

   Sarah had turned and started walking behind her house to a detached
garage and motioned us to follow.  There was a chain and old lock that she
slowly turned the combination for.

    -Well, I -(TM)ve noticed that you only have two cars and three of you.
My late husband said everyone should have their own car, if not two or
three.  Mick was a gearhead and after he passed I sold his cars, all except
this one.  It was his favorite and Fred Benson has been trying to buy it
from me for 15 years.  I figured if you need a car it might give me one
last chance to piss him off before I move. - She pushed the door open and
fumbled for a light.   -It -(TM)s going to need some work though. -

   I think my mouth dropped.  It looked like shit.  Animals had nested in
the upholstery.  It desperately needed new paint.  It had sat so long the
tires were completely flat and gone.  But underneath the dust and grime was
a distinctive shape.  I walked around back to read the model badge and
confirm it.  It was a 1970 Ford Torino GT convertible.

   After a moment of standing there like an idiot, I managed to form
sounds.  -Do you mind if I look at the engine? -

    -Go right ahead. - Sarah sat down on a chair that was inside the
door.  -It probably needs a lot replaced; certainly battery, belts, and
spark plugs.  Mick bought it brand new with the 400-something cubic inch
engine, 7 liter V8. - I found the release and lifted the hood.  I -(TM)m
not a car guy but that engine was sexy.

    -I don -(TM)t know what it would take to get this running again but it
-(TM)s amazing. -

   Melissa looked inside,  -A four-speed manual.  Dash is rough but the
dials seem fine.  Why don -(TM)t you drive it? -

    -Well, as I got older newer cars had much better handling.  And the
manual is rough on my arthritis. -

    -I, uh, Sarah, I gotta say, you can probably sell this for good money
to someone who would want to restore it.  I don -(TM)t know if I can pay
that much and I don -(TM)t even know what I -(TM)d be getting into. -

   Melissa was looking under it with her phone -(TM)s light.   -Robert,
the body is in perfect shape, no rust. -

    -Melissa, do you know how to fix up cars like this? -

    -I -(TM)ll learn. -

   This couldn -(TM)t be a good idea but I had to ask,  -Sarah, how much
do you want? -

   She looked thoughtful.   -I figure I -(TM)ll give you one dollar to
take it away. -

    -Excuse me? - I couldn -(TM)t have heard that right.

    -I -(TM)ll give you one dollar to take possession and take it away. 
That way I can tell Fred I not only didn -(TM)t sell it but paid you to
take it.  That should make him shit an ostrich egg out of his wrinkled ass.
-

    -I...   - I laughed.   -You really, really don -(TM)t like him do
you? -

    -When Mick was still here, Fred complained constantly about Mick
working on cars in the driveway, running his air compressor and so on, and
now he desperately wants that car.  Mick had to build this garage because
they passed some damn rule about how long a car can be on a set of ramps in
a driveway.  And you -(TM)ve been a good neighbor.  I remember when my tree
fell on your fence, when was that, three years ago? -

    -Maybe five. -

    -Anyway, you had the tree cut up and repaired your fence and didn
-(TM)t even bother me about insurance. -

    -It really wasn -(TM)t a big deal. -

    -Well, it was kind of you.  My daughter isn -(TM)t a car person.  I
-(TM)d like it to go to someone who appreciates it and can put it back to
how Mick had it. -

    -Dark red, black seats, - Melissa said,  -I -(TM)ll put it back
exactly. - And with that, it was decided because I like to make my loves
happy.  Before we left I called a tow truck company and hired them to move
it to my house and then walked home with Melissa.  She held my hand as we
walked.   -Lavi will shit herself when she gets home. -

    -You know what this is, right?  An expensive, long-term project. -

    -True. - She squeezed my hand.   -It might also be where some of our
future children get conceived. -

   I will give Melissa one thing, I felt a bit better about it at that
point.  And it was making her smile, which definitely made it worth it.  Oh
well, if the rental house didn -(TM)t have space I could rent one of those
big storage units and put it in it.  I was saving enough off having paid
off the house though I might have to rent one soon too.  I could manage it.
Still, I had hoped to be saving money, not barely breaking even.

   I sat on the patio and enjoyed the breeze.  I heard a chair move nearby
getting closer to mine so I opened my eyes.  Melissa was there and nude. 
She sat next to me and I watched her sit, her legs crossed and she leaned
back and let her hair drape over the back of the chair.  Her legs ran to
her hips, to her flat stomach, to her breasts which shifted down just a
bit. Fuck, even her shoulders looked nice.

    -Enjoying the mild weather? - She didn -(TM)t answer but smiled.  Her
foot lifted and languidly touched down on my chair.  I was wearing khaki
shorts and I got goosebumps where she rubbed against my leg.   -Is it
silly to be excited about that car? -

   I paused.  That hadn -(TM)t been on the list of things my mind had gone
to.   -Uh, no.  It is, or at least could be, mind-blowingly fun. -

    -It isn -(TM)t a practical car. - Her foot moved up and down my leg.
Her thighs shifting was hypnotic.

    -Since it doesn -(TM)t run?  That is true but it can be fixed. -

    -No, since it isn -(TM)t a family car. -

    -We have some time to figure out family transportation.  And we have
the SUV. -

    -I guess. - She was pouting which was cute in its own way.

    -Melissa, babe, it is a car that will sound like thunder when you put
the pedal down.  And that feeling of the motor as it shifts gears and when
the wind is in your hair ...  you will love it. -

   She lifted an eyebrow.   -I did not expect you to get all romantic over
a car. -

    -There is a reason my own car is nearly as old as I am. -

    -Mmmm. - She hummed as she moved her foot higher and higher on my
leg.  -You -(TM)re sure it -(TM)s not me being a silly girl? -

   I grabbed her foot and massaged it.   -I think that you would struggle
to be silly, even if you tried.  I think that you are a vibrant gorgeous
woman and that car matches you perfectly, or at least will once it is
restored. -

    -I guess I did come over here so that I could save up for a car
originally. - I saw a pull at the corner of her mouth, the beginnings of a
smile.

   I stood up, held out my hand and she took it.  I pulled hard and she
came up out of her seat.  I grabbed her ass cheeks in both hands and walked
us to the grass where she lay down.

    -How much do I pay you, - I asked.   -That car restoration will be
expensive. - I stripped as she watched me and played with herself.  She
wetted a finger with her mouth and pushed it inside.

    -Such a shame.  Can I apply for any other positions here? -

    -Any experience as a satyr handler? -

    -I learn well on the job. -

   I joined her on the ground.  It was fast and urgent and we kept at it
until I couldn -(TM)t cum anymore but I stayed hard and we coupled not to
release anything but just to be joined together.  She later jokingly called
it the best job interview ever.

    -NO WAY! - That was screamed and followed by a screech from Lavi
roughly three minutes after she walked in the door and thirty seconds after
the news about the car was shared by Mellie.  Melissa for her part just
grinned and nodded in response.   -I have to see it now! -

   They ran ahead of me as I accompanied them back over to Sarah -(TM)s. 
The tow truck would be here in about fifteen minutes anyway so I figured I
might as well be there.  To my surprise, Sarah was still in the garage.

    -I want to thank you again, this is just too kind of you, - I said.

    -Don -(TM)t worry about it none.  By the way, here is the one dollar.
- She handed me a single US dollar.  I chuckled and put it away.   -I was
looking to see if I still had any tools you could take with it but I think
I sold those ages ago. -

   Over my shoulder, I heard Lavi saying she could figure out how to
upholster it.  Owen -(TM)s brother could paint it.  Melissa was looking up
tires on her phone.

    -You -(TM)re smiling. -

   That snapped me back.   -Oh, sorry.  I was listening to them. - I
indicated with my head, Lavi and Melissa.

   She put her hand on my arm,  -You are smitten aren -(TM)t you? -

    -Yeah. - No point in denying it.

   - -I don -(TM)t understand it but I think it -(TM)s sweet.  I used to
sometimes just blather on about stuff and Mick would be looking at me like
that.  I -(TM)d ask him what he was smilin -(TM) at, and he -(TM)d say, 
-~you. -(TM) -

    -I wish I -(TM)d known him. -

    -I think you would have gotten on.  He was an easy-going soul.  So
were Jan and Amy, who you bought that place from.  On Sundays after church
Mick and Jan would go down to the sidewalk and sit out drinking beer and
cooking off a little grill.  They -(TM)d give a hotdog or burger to anyone
who walked by.  They called themselves the Social Committee.  Used to drive
Fred over there right up the wall.  Inappropriate, vulgar, he had lots of
words for it.  Never seen someone so mad about people just being nice
before and Mick was a contrary sort so he just got nicer. -

   I snorted.   -I -(TM)m surprised Benson didn -(TM)t just pass some kind
of HOA rule to stop it. -

   She laughed,  -Oh, he did, there -(TM)s a whole section of rules but
they just moved it onto Jan -(TM)s yard and there wasn -(TM)t a thing he
could do. -

   Jan -(TM)s?  That would be my house.   -What do you mean? -

    -Well, homeowner association rules don -(TM)t mean nothing if you
-(TM)re not part of it.  Seems to me the worst thing you did was join that
group of harpies.  Jan and Amy refused.  Benson pushed saying they got
benefits, the landscaping on the roads and all that but they pointed out
their house was built before the HOA was drafted up with a previous
developer and they weren -(TM)t signing on and that was that. -

   I froze.   -Sarah, uh, I just realized I really need to check on
something.  Melissa! - She looked to me.   -Talk to the driver when he
gets here, I gotta go. - I turned and began walking back home.

   I heard feet jog up behind me.   -Everything all right? - Melissa
sounded worried.

   I turned quickly, kissed her nose, and smiled.   -It -(TM)s something
Sarah said.  I really need to check this right now. -

   She smiled back.   -Okay, so long as everything is fine, go, I -(TM)ve
got this. -

    -Thanks! - I moved into a jog, went inside, climbed down the steps,
went straight to my filing cabinet, and took out the house papers.  I
cleared space off my desk and started carefully making piles.

   An hour later I had made a good dent but had a long way to still go. 
Melissa came in carrying a glass of mango lemonade.  She put it next to me.

    -Thanks. -

    -Everything is fine? -

    -Might be great. - I kept skimming.  The paperwork was so dense and I
had signed so much that day I had ended up with a cramp.

   She leaned against the desk.   -Want to tell me about it? -

    -Need to focus.  If you want to help take that stack, - I indicated
what I had gone through already,  -and start from the bottom.  Look for
any mention, any at all, of the homeowner -(TM)s association. -

    -Uh, all right.  What are these? -

    -The paperwork from buying the house.  Be precise. -

   She nodded and dug in.  A while later I heard Lavi come down.

    -I wondered where you two disappeared to.  Ready for a break? -

    -No. -

    -Come on Robert. - She tied back her tee-shirt to create a very
impressive cleavage.

    -Not now Lavi. -

   She pouted.   -Come on... -

    -Help or get out.  This is really important. -

   She paused.   -Oh.  Uh, I -(TM)m sorry.  What can I do? -

    -Triple check. - Melissa began filling her in as I returned to
reading page after page after page of boilerplate legalese.

   We lost Saturday afternoon doing this.  It was nearly five but
everything was triple-checked.  There was nothing.  I stood up and
stretched.  I looked at them.

    -I need to step out.  I -(TM)ll be back in a few. -

   I walked out and went to Mrs.  Sarah -(TM)s.  We spoke and I got a phone
number, made a call, and a short while later returned to the house to find
the girls in the kitchen.

   Melissa looked at me.   -I am going to fucking murder you if I don
-(TM)t find out what is going on right now. - Lavi nodded in agreement.

    -I went to see if I could get the contact information for the previous
owners.  Turns out that one of them, Jan, is still alive and living in
Nantucket.  I gave him a ring and he answered right away.  Jan confirmed
that they never signed anything and he will write that up and get it
notarized. -

    -So, - Melissa said,  -what does this all mean?  I mean you paid HOA
dues for what, like a decade, but didn -(TM)t have to? -

    -When Jordyn and I bought the place we were told there was an HOA so
when Fred Benson introduced himself and arranged for the monthly payments I
didn -(TM)t think anything of it.  You buy a house in an HOA and you
inherit an HOA.  But the house predates the rest of the neighborhood and
the owners didn -(TM)t sign up. -

   Mellie,  -Why would the realtor tell you that? -

   Lavi supplied the answer I was thinking,  -The only house in the
subdivision that isn -(TM)t, easy mistake to make. -

    -Does that mean they can -(TM)t do anything? -

   I rubbed my eyes.   -Maybe.  I need to make sure we didn -(TM)t make
any agreements directly with the HOA to join it after we moved in. -

   Melissa -(TM)s face went unreadable.   - -~We -(TM) - meaning you and
Jordyn. -

    -Yeah. -

   Lavi,  -so, what now? -

    -We need to get dressed.  You wanted to go to Masquerade -(TM)s
Backroom? -

    -We do, - they said in harmony.

    -Good.  We -(TM)re going tonight. -

   Melissa asked,  -Why? -

    -Mary is the half owner.  It -(TM)s Saturday night, barring something
major she will be there.  She -(TM)ll know how to get hold of Jordyn if
anyone will. -

    -You don -(TM)t have any other way, family, anything? -

    -I deleted every account, wiped every contact.  Even if I wanted to
reach out it has been too long.  I just need an email address for her.  I
need to know if Jordyn signed anything. -

    -Is it likely, - Lavi asked.  She was sitting there calmly watching
me.

    -That she did?  No.  Jordyn was meticulous.  If she had, she would
have put the paperwork here and it is the sort of thing she would have
talked to me about. -

   Mellie,  -Why not just make the HOA cough up the documents?  If they
can -(TM)t then you -(TM)re good to go. -

   I shook my head.   -We already went through this when Clarence tried to
get copies of their stuff.  Turns out they had a fire years ago and no one
ever digitized stuff. -

   Melissa nodded her head.   -I remember that.  They used to have an
office in the clubhouse by the park.  Some kids about four years ago
thought it would be fun to play with fireworks there and burned the place
down.  Somebody even thought Tommy was one of them but he had been at
football practice at the time. -

    -Clarence and I didn -(TM)t push it.  I mean, it didn -(TM)t change
anything but now we can argue it wasn -(TM)t just boilerplate we had to
sign but that we never did. -

   Lavi and Melissa looked at each other.

    -Saturday, Earth Angel is probably open past five, - Lavi said.

   Melissa,  -Let -(TM)s roll. -

    -Be back by eight! - I yelled as they all but ran out.   -And get
something to eat! -

   I faintly heard a  -we will. - I ordered Thai and put the vodka bottle
and shot glass on the table.  I thought to myself,  -~I will have a good
time tonight because there is no reason not to, along with finding her.
-(TM) Then I pushed the thought through my head again and again.  Maybe I
-(TM)d believe it by the time the Pad Thai got here.  Probably not though.


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