Canterbury Confessions
By Dawn R
A weekend-long pool party turns into a unique writing competition. All references are to people who are over eighteen.
Chapter 1 How it all began.
The original invitation had read, "Come for a weekend of sun, fun and relaxation". The email reminder said, "Bring your notebooks or tablets as the weather forecast is not that great."
My childhood friend Janice and her husband Seth had invited me and a number of friends for the weekend to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. Seth is thirty-six; he took what the English call a 'gap year' before university and was a senior when we arrived as freshmen. They have been married for six years now. As I say Janice and I are childhood friends although I'm a bit older. My Mom used to be their cleaner and Janice's mother was always very nice to us so I would spend time at their house. I dated Seth before Janice did.
In fact, in my first year at university he took my cherry. During the Christmas break there was this nine-day trip to Egypt that was a really good deal. I noticed him on the first day as we toured the museum and then again at the pyramids, but we did not speak. He would look at me and smile. In retrospect it was probably like a predator who has found its prey or is that just my revisionist imagination at work. On the boat on the Nile, we were at the same table for meals, and he would sit next to me while engaging the whole table with his scintillating conversation.
It was inevitable I would end up in his bed after drinks in the moonlight on the upper deck were interrupted by a flash of lightning followed by a deafening clap of thunder and a sudden downpour. I wondered briefly where his roommate had gone for it wasn't a quick fuck, it was an all-night seduction and ravishment that left me forever under his spell. In the morning it became clear his roommate had hooked up with mine. It wasn't supposed to be romantic just a giggle as they watched the seduction of a young innocent. However, by night three they apparently decided it would be fun to fuck too and as soon as we checked into a hotel when the cruise ended It became clear where each of us would be sleeping and nobody was complaining.
Of course, I thought we were a couple but once school began again, I only saw him occasionally. I was in an all-female residence hall and because we were in different years we did not share classes. Every now and then we would run into each other and if the opportunity was there, we would fuck, sometimes in highly risky places, but I couldn't get enough of it. By then I had already worked out I was probably one of many, but I would go with the flow. I hadn't met anyone else, so he was like a drug.
I am not sure if he first met Janice through me or quite by chance. Neither of us remembers. But it was well after we had all graduated that they started seriously dating and then married. He, like me and many around Washington, found employment with the Federal Government. Janice on the other hand teaches Creative Writing at a private adult education school for those who missed the university bus.
It turns out there are many exceptionally talented, in some cases truly gifted, individuals who don't run on the same tracks as the rest us whether from childhood or adolescent illnesses, the trauma of broken homes, or numerous other causes. The school she works at is for exactly these people, as they give up on the jo-jobs life has shuffled them into. It helps if they come from money but there are also scholarships.
So here we all are at their Canterbury Cottage within easy reach of Falls Church, Washington. I say cottage because that is what the sign at the end of the drive calls it. In truth it's a two-story mansion built by Janice's grandparents with seven bedrooms. It's massive compared to their Georgetown townhouse. The one where my mother used to clean, and Janice and I would play.
I wasn't sure from the invitation what to expect but it turns out the other five invitees, like me, are all female. If Seth is around, he will be seriously outnumbered, but from what I know of him that is unlikely to phase him. In fact, although we are all friends of Janice, I wonder if this whole weekend is his idea.
I have previously met three of them, only Monique and Karine are new to me. Karine is a teacher at the same school as Janice, although I believe she's been there longer. Janice as I say is about to turn thirty, three years younger than me by about a month or so. Beatrice who strangely prefers to be called Betty is I believe also a year or two older, married but I've never met him. Nicole is thirty-one but does not look it; like me, she is single. Although I've met Dania before I don't know much about her. She is stunningly beautiful with a Mediterranean, possibly Arabic, complexion and features. I think she may be the youngest, either her or Monique whom I've only just met. Dania really stands out although looking round the table I think we all look pretty good.
The table we are sitting at is on the patio by their large pool and in the shade of a large awning. So far, it's a gorgeous late June day. Seth is absent. I think Janice said he's off playing golf and she introduces us with a brief explanation of how she knows us all. After we help ourselves to the early lunch of cold cuts, salad and sandwiches and before we get too drawn into the 'What do you do?', 'Are you married/dating/whatever?' conversation, Janice says, "I saw this interesting thing on the internet this morning."
We all pause and look at her and she surprises us by saying, "It was some report that said the majority of exhibitionists are male. What do you ladies think?"
"Of course," replies Betty, "I expect we have all been confronted with an unwanted glimpse of a penis at some time, and I'm sure pedophiles are predominantly men."
There are some nods and I feel obliged, if only for fun, to say, "I think it all depends on what you mean by 'exhibitionist'. If you are talking prosecutable offenses, I imagine it's true, but leaving paedophilia aside, just talking 'adult to adult' aren't women equally guilty? If guilt is the right word?"
Janice smiles as she tops up our glasses chilled rosé wine and I know she approves. Nicole says, "Do you really think so?"
Janice laughs, "Come on Nicole. Look at what you're wearing. It's a skirt that when you're standing barely covers your bum. Right now, that you're relaxed, I bet if I could see through this table, I'd be looking at your pantie-covered crotch, probably very flimsy panties."
Monique who is sitting beside her looks down and bursts into laughter.
"I just like to be fashionable," is Nicole's retort, but she's blushing, "There aren't any men present, or I'd be more careful how I sit."
"Okay," continues Janice, "Will any of you admit to wearing something deliberately revealing or even something more provocative when men, or a man, was present?"
To my surprise it's Dania who speaks up. She is the most conservatively dressed in slacks rather than the sundress or shorts most of us are wearing on the assumption we will swim in due course.
"I often don't wear a bra..."
"You don't need one," interrupts Betty.
"...I like to wear blouses or even dresses where if I position myself correctly, I can catch men looking at my...my tits. She giggles guiltily, "It makes me feel naughty and I enjoy it."
The girls look at each other.
"I remember this time, maybe five years ago, I was trying on bikinis in this store and there was a young guy helping me," admits Karine. "Sometimes I didn't fully close the curtain and knew he was watching as I changed. I mean I kept my very scanty panties on, it's required."
"I've done that when there is a male customer nearby. Of course, just to tease them with a glimpse of flesh," says Monique.
"This young guy, probably twenty-three at most, was pretty hot," continues Karine, "I asked him into the changing area to get his opinion. He started to bring me things to try on. I would dive in and out of the cubicle as I tried them. The store was otherwise empty and pretty soon I just began to change in front of him. At first with my back turned but then full frontal and all. He was positively salivating, and I could see his erection in his pants and realized he wasn't the only one who was very aroused. Of course, I pretended to suddenly realize it was inappropriate and began to close the curtain firmly. He was still blushing when I checked out and he wrapped the two bikinis I'd chosen. By then I could have used a change of underwear, for mine were soaked."
