Part Three
The dinner table arrangements were male-female-male-female all the way around. As dinner was served, Jerry scanned around the table for another woman that he might be attracted toward or to see who else might be attracted to him. Conversations with the women on his left and right were cordial but there didn't seem to be any sort of magnetism - not that he could feel, at any rate. He looked down the table at Lisa, who was very busy with the men sitting next to her on both sides. She was, indeed, very popular with the other men. Men are like bees with an attractive jar of honey between them.
Jerry felt the twinge of jealousy he had no right to feel. Still, there was something special with Lisa that he couldn't put a finger on. To put it simply, the word "automatic" came to mind. In a way, he had been looking for a woman like her since,... well, he thought he was finally adjusted. He automatically liked everything he knew about her, so far. How would he get to know her better? Maybe they would be scheduled for some of the same classes, lectures, or workshops. Perhaps, this wasn't their destiny. Then again, if she were his visiting therapist, this one-week of treatment exercises would be all he might ever see of her again. At first blush, that would be a shame.
As dessert was being served, an official-looking gentleman came into the room and held-up the bell that Clark had rung earlier and gave it a couple of clangs. The room fell quiet.
"Ladies and gentlemen. My name is Jeremiah and I'm the director here. Please, continue to enjoy your meal. I just wanted to informally stop-in to be sure you're all enjoying your dinner. You are, aren't you?" The crowd applauded. "That's good. While you are here, I hope you will enjoy all your meals with us without the burdensome tasks of preparations, cooking and dish washing." The crowd laughed and applauded that too.
"Tomorrow morning, we shall begin our Retreat into Your Sexuality. As you know, this is a couple's retreat, but from your submitted applications and questionnaires, we have devised a week of activities that groups of you will share, while also working with each couple individually to address your specific sexuality goals in other sessions. Your days will be full, fun-filled and sexy, while your evenings will be burdened with... shall we dare say it? Homework! There was a gleeful, yet subdued response to what homework assignments may be like.
The official dress code for our program is very simple. Simply wear your minimum level of underwear under your robes and slippers. Consider it your uniform of the day. This is not only comfortable for you but helps save time with some of the exercises you will be doing. We all know how long it seems to take to get undressed when you're highly motivated." The crowd laughed again. "We'll do everything we can to make this week as carefree and as fun as possible. We are here for your success. It is the main goal of this week's planned activities.
Jeremiah concluded his speech with, "So, for the rest of the night, this will be a meet and greet with the other people you will be sharing classes, sensory sessions and work sessions with while you're here. For those of you who still have alcohol coupons, feel free to take advantage of our bar, if you wish, but it closes at 9:30. Our work begins shortly after breakfast in the morning. Your room phones will ring twice only as a wake-up call and an hour later for breakfast. We don't want you to worry about clocks, busy schedules or anything else, except your partner, yourself and your sexuality. If there is anything specific that you desire, want or need, simply make that known to any member of our staff. We are all here to serve you, nurture you and protect you. This is a safe place. Now, please enjoy your evening, but remember the provisions of your individually signed Participation Agreements. We shall see you again in the morning. Goodnight."
The crowd applauded and looked around at the other smiling faces in the room as if to assure them that they were all on the same page and comfort level. It seemed so to Jerry, but then, what about Lisa? Jerry really wanted to know. As Jeremiah answered a few questions from the few people-types who like to talk to teacher after class all the time, Jerry put down his silverware, wiped the corner of his mouth with the linen napkin in his lap and laid it down on his plate as he stood up and excused himself from the table. His eyes constantly locked on Lisa - watching her to see what she would do. Wondering if she would be looking for him, too. Painfully waiting for some eye-contact from across the room. Eye-contact that he worked to get during all of dinner but constantly escaped his notice. Hers was the only face that seemed to matter.
Jerry took a chance and walked over to her as she finished her dessert. Apparently, the men at her sides during dinner were already paired elsewhere. This was a good sign of relief for Jerry. Quietly, he approached her from behind and tapped on her shoulder. "Excuse me. My name is Jerry. Do you come here often?" He tried a smile to see if that might work.
Lisa carefully blotted her full lips and looked around to see him standing there with a broad smile on his face. Coyly, Lisa softly spoke, "That pick-up line must be circulating the room. Some other guy named Jerry is using that same line at the reception. How's it working for you, sport?"
The gleam in the corner of her eye told him that she wanted to play. The couples had all left the dining room as the staff cleared the dishes. Jerry and Lisa were alone. Jerry had always spent too much time in his head. He was trying to think ahead, looking for reasons why or why not a good thing could still go wrong. Trying to put another smile on Lisa's face, he reached into his robe and pulled out the green paper alcohol coupon. "I have a drink coupon. Wanna share a cocktail with me?"
Lisa smiled, reached into her pocket and pulled out her green alcohol coupon. "Wanna share one with me, too?"
