Andrea has just left the room with Alan, my dwarf boyfriend. She is upset because she has just facesat Alan during the talk-through of our women's group pantomime.
She did it without panties and pulled Alan right into her cleft so that she was smothering him – in front of all of us and me. Alan was hidden under her skirt so no one realised what she had done.
I should be furious but I'm feeling sorry for Andrea. Her ex-husband is due out of jail soon, convicted of a series of assaults on her. She is worried. So am I. What was she thinking? It can't have been spontaneous. She knew Alan would have to pretend to kiss her pussy yet she had left her panties off. Why?
I hope Alan can find out why.
"Marie?"
"Yes, April."
"We should get on with the rehearsal. We can't without Alan."
"OK. I'll get him."
I sigh under my breath. What will I find beyond that door?
As I enter the main hall I find Andrea sitting on the floor with Alan's arms around her. She is crying. She sees me and shrinks against Alan.
"You!" she exclaims.
"Yes, Andrea, me. Who did you expect?"
"I've betrayed you," She wails.
"Rubbish!" I retort. "The only person who has a right to be annoyed is Alan. I'm sure he isn't. He doesn't look annoyed to me, not the way he is holding you."
"He's been great, Marie. I wish I hadn't..."
"But you did, and he's forgiven you, hasn't he?"
Alan nods with a faint smile.
"But..." Andrea starts to wail again.
"Andrea," Alan says, "I told you Marie wouldn't mind. She doesn't. I know why you did it. I can tell her. You don't need to. It's over."
"We need to get on with the reading," I add.
"I can't go back in there," Andrea wails again. "I can't face them."
"Why not?" I ask. "They don't know what you did."
"I just can't..."
I realise that Andrea is beyond reason at the moment.
"I'll get April to take you home. I'm sure we can get through the rest without you two. We need Alan. The read-through is pointless without him. He's still got to face Teresa and Julia."
"But they'll hurt him..."
"No they won't. I won't let them."
I go back into the rehearsal room and beckon to April. I ask her to take Andrea home. She agrees and gathers up her belongings and Andrea's. Alan comes back into the room a couple of minutes after April left.
This time I clap my hands for attention.
"April has taken Andrea home. Andrea found this too much for her. Can we get on?"
Teresa speaks. She has been very quiet all evening so far which was unusual and worries me.
"Marie. All of you."
She has our attention.
"I've had enough of this. The only reason we are here tonight is to see whether we can put Alan under our skirts and live with him pretending to kiss our cunts. Yes?"
There are several nods.
"I can understand that could be difficult for some of us. All of us have been victims of men but for fuck's sake we are not talking about some brawny jock with all his brains in his prick, are we?"
Nods again.
"Alan is our friend. He is a man. He is a kind, considerate, intelligent man, totally unlike the bastards who wrecked our lives."
Alan blushes bright red. Teresa stands beside him and rests her hand on his head. Then she kneels down beside him.
"Alan. You know I have good reason to hate men."
He nods.
"Yet I am proud to call you my friend. You have done more for me, and for the rest of our group, than many others have. Will you kiss your friend, please?"
Alan throws his arms around Teresa's head and kisses her. When they part both are crying.
Teresa stands up, holding Alan's hand.
"Let's get this over. Julia? Please come here."
Julia joins Alan and Teresa. She too has been very quiet this evening.
"Julia and I are nervous about this, aren't we?"
"Yes, Teresa."
"So we are going to get through it together. Julia, lift your skirt and let Alan get under it."
Julia hesitates but pulls her skirt to her knees. Teresa lets go of Alan's hand and grabs Julia's.
"Under you go, Alan."
Alan looks up at Julia and smiles at her. She gives him a weak smile in return. He ducks under her skirt. She unclasps her hand and lets her skirt fall over him.