This is an entry into the 2018 Halloween Story Contest.
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This was going to be Kim's first date in two years since her ugly divorce. It wasn't the idea the her ex-husband was fucking escorts or spending their savings. The worst thing that happened was that he caught genital herpes from one of the sleazy hookers he visited. Kim was lucky she noticed the signs, the sores and the rash. She wasn't sure what kind of STD he contracted but she wasn't going to take any chances. She even slept in the guest room until he went away.
Carl had not dated in a little more than five years. He lost his wife to ovarian cancer. They had been high school sweethearts and she was the only women he had sex with in his fifty-one years. Certainly, he lacked the confidence to approach women. His blind date for a Halloween party was the friend of Nancy, one of the other attorneys at the law office where Carl practiced. Nancy had convinced Carl that he needed to get a life besides working day and night trudging through the nuances of corporate law.
Nancy had a wild imagination, so the party she planned had to have a unique theme. She decided on a jungle scenario, bring out the animal instincts in her guests was her intention. She wasn't certain it would be well received for all her guests, especially for her co-worker, Carl, and her friend Kim. She knew both of them were shy, introverted and socially inexperienced for the festivities Nancy had in mind.
Halloween evening arrived. Nancy had arranged for Carl to pick up his blind date, Kim, and suggested they have dinner before going to Nancy and Jim's house. That way they could get to know each other a little. Hopefully, shed a little of the awkwardness.
Carl pulled up to Kim's house, parked on the street and nervously made his way up to her front door. He rang the doorbell and waited anxiously for it to open. Carl was pleasantly surprised at the shy figure standing in the doorway. Kim was a five-foot-four, thirty-eight year old curvaceous woman. Her long black hair flowed, framing her round, olive skinned face with deep brown eyes. Carl put out his hand to greet her.
"Hi," he said meekly, "I'm Carl. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Kim," she replied, softly shaking his hand. The man who stood before her had an average build. He stood at five-foot-nine with dirty blonde hair. Carl had the strong facial features of his Germanic heritage including his striking blue eyes, which added to his allure.
The drive to the restaurant started in an awkward silence as both Carl and Kim wondered how to start the conversation. Finally, Carl figured they could talk about the person who had arranged this date, Nancy, the person they had in common.
"So," Carl began, "how do you know Nancy?" he asked.
"We were college roommates," Kim answered. "We've been good friends ever since."
"You work with Nancy, I think she said," Kim went on, knowing very well that Nancy had described Carl extensively to her. But, she was at a loss to keep the conversation going.
"Yes. Nancy is really one of the sharpest lawyers I have ever met," Carl responded. "She also has a little bit of a devilish streak," he added.
"I know," Kim sighed. "I am a little nervous about the party tonight. Especially since she said not to wear a costume and she was going to provide them."
"I had the same reservations," Carl confessed. "I hope she's not planning anything too risque."
"I wouldn't be surprised, though," Kim lamented as they arrived at the restaurant. Their conversation during dinner was pleasant. Kim was reluctant to bring up anything about her past, especially her ex-husband except that she had been married right out of college and had a divorce a couple of years ago.
Carl didn't dwell on the past either, just to say his departed wife had not suffered too much as the cancer quickly took hold and she passed a short time thereafter. Carl talked about working too much and was grateful that Nancy gave him this opportunity to break out of his shell. Carl was becoming smitten with Kim's alluring smile.
"Was Nancy a bit wild in college?" Carl asked Kim as they drove to Nancy's house.
"You could say so," Kim replied. "She worked very hard for her grades to get into law school, but when she had the chance to let her hair down, she did with enthusiasm."
Carl had figured as much about Nancy's past. Carl remembered that when Nancy married Jim a few years ago, the wedding reception was lively due to Nancy's creativity in engaging all the guests. She tried to match Carl up with her single cousin then but it was too soon after Carl lost his wife and he wasn't playing along very well. Carl hoped tonight would be different. Kim was very attractive, which rustled up feelings Carl hadn't experienced for a while.
Nancy had gone all out decorating her house, not with the usual Halloween ghosts and goblins, but with tropical plants and hanging vines to replicate the feel of a jungle. The scariest prop was a ten foot long rubber python. There was the sound of jungle noises coming from the speakers and a continuous display of wild animals, lions, giraffes, baboons, etc. on the fifty-inch screen on the living room wall.
"Welcome to my jungle," Nancy greeted Carl and Kim gleefully. "I think you know most of my guests, Carl, but Kim doesn't so I'll introduce both of you around," she offered.
Nancy introduced the couple to Alice and Kandy. Carl knew Alice from the office; she was Nancy's para-legal assistant. Kandy was a beautiful buxom African American young woman who lived conjugally with Alice. The two young lesbian lovers were like salt and pepper, Alice a fair-skinned blonde. Next introduced was Allen and Cheryl, a middle-aged couple who Carl knew to be good clients of Nancy's and they were often seen at the office. Allen and Cheryl owned a commercial real estate development company and were always having Nancy draw up agreements with their contractors.
It was a small group, just the four couples. They sat around the living room eating the light snacks Nancy prepared. Jim tended the makeshift bar. The couples engaged in light conversation getting to know each better. That's when Nancy dropped the bombshell everyone was curious and anxious about. Where and what were the costumes Nancy promised them all she would provide.
"I suppose you are all curious about the costumes for tonight," Nancy announced. She brought out a box of jars and paintbrushes. "We are going to paint our partners into jungle animals," she told them holding up a paint brush and a jar of latex body paint.
The room was silent for a moment.
"This stuff is really cool," Nancy went on enthusiastically. "It's the same paint they use at Cirque du Soliel," she affirmed. "It sticks to your body like a second skin. It's flexible and it feels marvelous."
"But, how do we paint it on our clothes?" Cheryl asked timidly.
"You don't, silly," Nancy answered. "You paint it on your skin."
Nancy's guests looked at each other astonished.
"Look," Jim piped in to support his wife. "We're all adults here. We have all seen naked men and women. When Nancy proposed this idea to me I was not ready for something so over-the-top but when we painted each other, it was the most fun I have ever had. You will enjoy it. I promise."
"There's pictures of jungle animals scrolling on the screen for ideas," Nancy said. Then Nancy and Jim took off their clothes, stripped naked in front of their guests and began to paint. Nancy began painting Jim first. She made a simple design of black and white zebra stripes beginning on his back.
Alice and Kandy were the first to relinquish their fear and inhibitions. When they were both naked Alice started painting orange tiger stripes on Kandy's dark skin. Carl and Kim still stood there amazed at the scene unfolding in front of them. Carl didn't know what to do, his embarrassment grew along with his manhood which was visibly bulging his pants.
