Welcome to Chapter Nine of my still-developing story, all of which is completely true. This story won't make any sense unless you read the first eight chapters first. Click my profile for the link to those chapters.
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I'd been having a personal trainer over the house three times a week for close to two months. Of course, Nate complained about the expense- but who cares. I was looking good, and I needed to, as I was wearing skimpier outfits and consistently exhibiting my body to John and his digital camcorder.
I had considered offering John an apology for the remark I'd made in the closing part of Chapter Eight, but I decided not to. I really did want to see if he had something up his sleeve that was more creative than making DVDs of the two of us fucking.
It was Thursday, and the mailman arrived, carrying a package that needed to be signed for. When I opened it, I was astounded. Inside was a bright red bra and panty set, a pair of black stiletto heels, a white button down blouse...and a skirt that had to be seen to be believed. It was dark red, with a back and yellow checker pattern, and was incredibly short. I measured it with a ruler- it was exactly eight inches long. There was a note in the envelope which read:
Hi Julie:
You and I have a big date on Saturday. Call me as soon as you get this package.
I frantically called John at work (who else could the package have been from?). I explained that if I wore a skirt like that in public, I'd likely get arrested. John told me not to worry, and instructed me to wait at the corner of an intersection in a Portland, a small city close to where we lived. He strongly told me to wear everything in the package, and nothing else.
Since the episode I had with Nate in Chapter Six, we'd been more distant than ever. I'd avoid many of his calls when he was away in New York, and I'd come up with excuses for us not to do things together, even with the kids. I felt bad about that for my kids and, but I was that angry with him. Nate would walk through the door on either Thursday or Friday evening, and the kids would be thrilled to see him. Me...I just wished he'd stay in New York. Awful but true.
This time, Nate came home on Friday evening and had a big surprise -- we were all going to Boston to see the Red Sox on Saturday night- the night I had my date with John. When I told my family that I couldn't go, I had to deal with three sad, disillusioned faces staring back at me.
Of course, Nate had to be confrontational while asking where I was going. I had to make up a lie, and fast. I told everyone that I had made a commitment to my friend Caroline attend a scrapbooking party with her.
My son asked why I couldn't "blow that off", and I told him that wouldn't be fair to Caroline...I had promised I'd go. I made a commitment.
Nate asked why I'd put Caroline in front of my family, and I exploded. I started screaming at him- and I mean SCREAMING.
"Nate, what the fuck am I supposed to do -- never make plans with anyone ever again because you may miraculously want us all to spend time together? Every Saturday night since -- I can't remember when -- you've sat on that fucking chair and gotten sloshed while watching sports on TV. You should have called me and told me you had tickets!"
Of course, Nate couldn't see what he had done wrong. He played "Mr. Good Dad" and re-iterated that he wanted it to be a surprise.
I couldn't control my rage. Through clenched teeth I told him "The only surprise is that you're showing interest in doing something with the three of us. It is beyond ridiculous that you expect us to have our schedules cleared for tomorrow night. You could have easily called and told us there was a surprise for Saturday night without telling us what it is. But no, you walk in here like King Shit and expect us to drop everything! You know what, Nate? FUCK YOU!!"
And to think, he hadn't even been home for five minutes.
I grabbed my keys and stormed out the door. I heard my daughter Marcy trying to catch up to me, crying and telling me not to go. I drove off anyway. I'm not proud of it, but that's what happened.
(Note: two days later we all had a big "family meeting" and I apologized to everyone for the way I behaved. I was TOTALLY WRONG for berating Nate in front of the kids, and I truly regret having done so).
*******
The next day, Nate found a buddy to take the extra ticket. I condescendingly told my husband that I thought it would be a good idea if his friend drove. The shot went way over his head, as without thinking he said "oh yeah, he is". They all left early on Saturday afternoon, leaving me plenty of time to prepare for my date with John.
I put on the outfit, and while I adored John, I questioned his fashion sense. The red bra was a push up and did a great job making my breasts look good, but the color showed right through the white blouse. The blouse was short and tight, but not overly so. But that skirt...wherever we were going, it was going to be an invitation to trouble. It barely concealed by rear end and private area. I looked in the mirror and noticed that no matter how I stood, sat, or walked, the red underwear was apparent. The red underwear clashed with the darker red skirt. When I walked, I noticed that the shoes were very loud, emitting a loud "CLOP!" sound with every step not taken on a carpet.
As I put the outfit on, did my makeup and looked in the mirror, I had a revelation. There were times in my life where I would have loved to have done something as daring and adventurous as going out dressed like...well, dressed like a slut, or a prostitute. But I'd been too shy, too nervous. I would never do it for Nate, because there was always a chance he'd act as if I were doing something indecent, or worse yet, laugh at me. Even if he asked me to, I couldn't, as I'd be betraying the "model home maker" role I'd been cast into. It was as if my face had changed to fit that mask.
With John, I didn't have to worry about "being a lady" or anything like that. I didn't have to decide whether or not to do what he asked, I just did it. It made things a lot easier, and a lot more exciting.
I drove out to Portland, parked my car, and walked toward the intersection where John had told me to meet him at 6:00. I was fifteen minutes early.
As soon as the first car of teenagers passed by that honked their horn and hooted at me, I realized that John intentionally had me waiting on a street corner dressed like a cheap hooker.
A car pulled up with two men in it, one asking me "how much, how much for two blow jobs?" I stared straight ahead and told him I was waiting for my boyfriend.
Several cars honked their horns with their passengers screaming things at me, asking if I needed a date, etc, but I looked off in the distance and waited patiently for John. I was scared and humiliated -- what if someone I knew drove by? Time passed....6:15...no John. 6:30...no John.
Things bottomed out when a police cruiser showed up. Two cops got out of the car, and asked me why I had been standing there. I told them that I had been waiting for my date, and this is where he wanted to meet me. The officers shook their heads in disbelief over my story.
One officer asked if he could look through my purse. I knew I could refuse, but I figured if he saw that I didn't have any drugs, condoms, or whatever in it, he'd get off my back. So I agreed.
The two cops looked through my purse, looked at my license and saw where I lived (a well-to-do suburb), then gave each other a look that said "I don't get it either". There was nothing in my purse that even hinted that I might be a prostitute or a criminal.
One cop noticed my wedding ring -- which John insists that I wear -- and asked why I said I was waiting for my boyfriend there. I took a deep breath, and told him that this is where he asked that I meet him. They both kind of laughed under their breath.
Finally, the older cop told me that he didn't think I was looking for trouble...but if I stood out on this street corner long enough -- dressed like that -- I'd find it. I assured him that if my "boyfriend" didn't show up soon I'd go home. They accepted that and left.
Of course, I would have stayed out there all night, until the next morning, waiting for John. He said to wait, and wait I would.