“True,” Mia said. “I’ve wondered occasionally what would have happened if George and Lacey hadn’t been transferred when they were. Anyway, we’re safe either way but Abbey is concerned about Robin and herself.”
“So what’s the plan?” I asked.
“Abbey, Robin and I are going to have a discussion and see what has to be done,” Mia said.
On Saturday two weeks later, we were all gathered on the patio. I was grilling chicken and ribs and sharing beers with Jim and Donte. The women were huddled further down the patio and talking in hushed voices.
After eating, we had planned to gather for an evening pool party but it started to rain. Robin suggested we come over anyway and we’d play a game she and Donte had for a while and had never opened.
While Mia and I were cleaning up and getting ready to head over to Donte and Robin’s, I asked Mia what the women had been talking about. “Abbey’s proposal,” she shared, “and the concern about unwanted side effects.”
“Nobody wants to get pregnant,” I stated. “Did you agree on a solution?”
“We did,” Mia confirmed.
“So we’re on?” I asked.
“We are but not tonight,” Mia said. “You and I are safe, Robin can’t have children and Jim is shooting blanks like you. That leaves Donte and Abbey at risk. If either one of them solves their problem, we’re a go.”
“I assume condoms, birth control or other devices are out of the question,” I stated.
“True. None are 100% effective,” agreed Mia. “Everyone wants absolutely risk-free activity.”
“So, a vasectomy for Donte or tubes tied for Abbey,” I concluded.
“Either one,” agreed Mia.
Mia started to get dressed to head over to the Bennetts. She was putting on a blouse, slacks, appropriate underwear and sandals. It was a warm night. I thought she might wear something more appropriate and mentioned it.
“You should get dressed too,” she said.
I was mystified. Since when was t-shirt and shorts not dressed.
“Donte and Robin have a new game they want to play,” explained Mia.
“So?”
“Robin described it as a ‘adult’ game,” Mia said.
“What does that mean?” I asked although I was beginning to understand.
“Clothing is part of the game,” Mia said. “Or rather, losing clothing is part of the game.”
“Interesting,” I commented.
“Robin is setting expectations,” Mia added.
“Assuming either Donte or Abbey achieve safety,” I said.
“Robin hopes the game will provide some incentive,” Mia explained.
Robin’s game was an adult version of Candy Land with activity cards that included tasks such as kissing your neighbor and removing an article of clothing. By the time Jim reached the castle and won the game, Robin’s breasts were on display and the rest of us were wearing at least two articles of clothing.
We were undecided about whether to continue to play. Robin wanted to play on. She’d lost the most and was ready to risk more to see someone else, or everybody else, naked. The rest of us were ambivalent and nobody had a reasonable suggestion on how to continue to play. After all, Jim couldn’t continue without some unfair penalty and Abbey reminded us that everyone getting naked was an opportunity for something more and she wasn’t ready for that.