Many thanks to editor Fafhrd Stormwind for his help in making this story an easier read.
Lady V Part #4
The Halloween Party
Diane had asked Lady V and I to judge a costume party at her house on the Saturday just before All Hallows Eve. The invitation had come in early September with some costume guidelines.
The guidelines were interesting. They were, 'As Bare As You Dare, by the Pair, from the Grocery Store'. The first two parts were easy to figure but the last part was explained on the bottom of the invitation.
All costumes, in order to be eligible for the prize money, had to come from the grocery store.
"What an interesting idea" I thought out loud to just myself. I wondered how creative some of these pairs could be.
Lady V, never one to miss a challenge, headed to the grocery store. She didn't even ask me to accompany here or for any input. So, I headed to a different grocery store to compile my own list of suggestions.
You know the drill on grocery stores. To eat healthy, stick to the outside walls. Since I wasn't shopping to eat, I cruised all of the isles. I had a good time with some of the items and excluded lots of others.
I didn't buy anything but did make some comments on my phone's note pad with hopes that I might need them soon.
Nothing happened for several weeks, but the thought of the party rolled through my brain often. It was just days before the party and I asked
Lady V about the costumes.
"Don't worry." she said with a smile. "I've got it covered".
"Well, are you going to share with me?" I replied.
"No. You get to be surprised too. Don't you trust me?" she quizzed.
"Yeah I trust you. I've seen your style and you always look good. Well actually, you look great. So it's not a matter of trust, I was just curious what you had planned and had hoped that you would include me in the planning."
Her smile evaporated and she looked genuinely taken back.
"I am so sorry. I didn't even think. I got so involved, I didn't think of you"
As she spoke, she put her hand on my bicep and looked like she had just lost her puppy.
This was the first time that I can remember that she has ever touched me. I wonder if the ER parking lot incident had anything to do with that. I did get a hug one time but that was it.
She continued," I just assumed that you wouldn't want to be involved in that, but I should have known better. You are a great friend and an anchor that I have grown to rely on. I've just known too many guys that wouldn't even wear a costume to a party let alone a party like this one."
I replied in my best John Wayne imitation voice, "Ah shucks, that's OK, ma'm".
She shot back, "No! It's not OK. I didn't include you to what could have been a fun project for both of us. I think sometimes I just take you for granted." Her disappointment with herself turned very quickly to resolve.
"If you will allow me this total lapse of confidence in you, I will make it up to you, promise. Deal?"
Her extended hand and the confidence in her voice was all it took for me to shake her hand and say,
"Deal".
It was a good day.
Party day had arrived and the weather was typical Phoenix fall evening. The day had been bright and sunny but the fire had gone out of the sun and the rays were just comfortable.
I arrived at the dungeon just ahead of Lady V and the other two couples that were riding with us. We were all nicely dressed and I quietly asked Kim and Dave if they knew what the costumes looked like. Neither one had a clue. They were told the costumes were already at the party.
The rental van was quiet and comfortable as we made our way toward Diane's Scottsdale home. Kim drove and we easily navigated the security gate and pulled up in front of Diane's estate. Real grass and trees. Almost like being back in Seattle.
We walked past two cars in the driveway and Lady V rang the bell.
The gargantuan front door was opened by Frankenstein himself.
He was a seven foot tall character that welcomed us and then invited us inside.
Diane herself, dressed in a smart looking linen outfit arrived and escorted us to the bar where several other well dressed couples sipped their drinks. First name introductions were made all around and the extent of the decorations became evident.
Diane must have spent a small bundle on decorations. They were cool. Spiders of all sizes, webs, skeletons, ghosts and goblins, black cats, pumpkins, corn stocks, you name it, everywhere. The scent of mulled wine hung lightly in the air and I was on sensory overload.
The doorbell chimed and Frankenstein dutifully opened the door and a few minutes later Diane ushered in The Twins.
Identical twins, identical jumpsuits, except one was Safety orange and the other was Safety Lime. Blonde, slender, curvy, cute, and animated as they ,arm in arm, made their way to the bar and accepted the introductions.
They knew the group that was there before us, but we, Lady V, myself, Kim and Nancy, Dave and Mary, were new and they seemed truly happy to make our acquaintances. They were Jennifer and Lynette.
A few minutes later two more couples arrived followed by another couple and three single ladies. Introductions and drinks all around. I was enjoying the party so much that I had forgotten that there was an additional element, the costumes.
Diane used a small brass bell to get everyone's attention. She addressed the festive crowd,
"Welcome to our Halloween party. We're going to change into our costumes now." She paused.
"Remember to eligible for prizes the costumes must have come from the grocery store. Judging will be done by Lady V and her escort Igor.
There will be NO bribing the judges, please."
"There are three categories. Best costume by the pair. Most daring, by the pair, and most creative, by the person. Decision of the judges is final."
"So that everyone has a chance for a grand entrance. We'll change by couples. Frankenstein has everyone's costume in a separate bag.
When I draw your name from the cauldron, get the bag with your name on it from Frankenstein and go down the hall and change. There are hangers for you clothes and closet space to hang them. Use the first or second door on your right."
With that, Diane stepped up to the cauldron and drew out a piece of paper. She unfolded the paper, and read her own name aloud.
She danced up to Frankenstein and was handed an elegant shopping bag with her name attached. She grabbed the bag and headed down the hall.
Frankenstein faced us and said,
"Please continue. Diane will return in a few moments."
The conversations resumed and Diane was moved to the back of my mind until Frank, aka Frankenstein, rang the small brass bell and announced, " Ladies and gentlemen, "May I present, Diane."
She came out of the hall wearing her costume.
It was a very mini length dress made entirely out of small pieces of cardboard boxes. The boxes had been stitched together to form a collage of color and pattern.
Everyone stopped and looked, OOOOd and Ahhhed, and then added a small polite round of applause.
She did a small curtsy and a little blush.
Diane thanked everyone and then stepped up to the cauldron and drew Nancy and Kim's names. They got their bag of costumes from Frank and headed down the hall.
The party resumed and in a few minutes Nancy and Kim returned and were announced by Frank,
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Nancy and Kim.
They had a bunch of ZipLoc bags, filled with signs of some sort, tied to strategic places. The OOOOh's and Ahhhhh's, the polite round of applause and Diane stepped up for another name draw.
"Deb, Debra and Debbie". (The three single ladies) They grabbed their drinks, the shopping bag and giggled their way down the hall.
As soon as they had disappeared, Diane drew another name from the cauldron, Lady V and Igor.
"This is going to be interesting", I muttered to myself as I headed toward Frank and Lady V to get our bag of costumes.
Lady V grabbed the bag and headed down the hall and into the first door.
I followed and closed the door. Lady V already had some costume parts out and laying on the bed. She handed me some material and used my arm to turn me around and said, " You face this way and dress and I'll be over here."
Damn, I thought at least I'd get a strip show out of the short one.
I undressed totally and used a hanger for my pants and shirt.
My costume was, a rice bag, a fuck'n rice bag, converted to a vest, skirt (kilt?) and an extra large jockstrap. The waist size was just right, but the tool room was big enough for a donkey dick and a couple of softballs. I guess real friends see you as "Bigger than life".
"OK", I thought kind of out loud,
"At least I'm not stark naked. But that means she isn't either. "
I turned around just as Lady V was facing me and slipping back into her sandals. She was wearing a mini dress that was also made out of an empty California Rice bag. It hung delicately on her little tits and extended down to about an inch below where the crotch of her panties would be. Being over six foot tall, I have a distinct disadvantage for panty spotting on short girls.
"You look good", she said upon straightening up to her full 5' 1" height.
"How do I look?" with palms up and a slight knees to the side dip.
"Hey, you always look good, your dress looks good too." I replied and continued,
"We look like bookends, 'cept I'd hold up more books than you, lightweight."
"Well I've probably read more books than you've ever held up, so give me a break. Are you ready?"
She was right about the books, I was ready to go and she ushered me out the door ahead of her in spite of my attempt at ladies first.
