Returning home from work for the third time since this latest odyssey had started, found me nervous with anticipation. What had been the itinerary today? The house was unlit when I arrived, after a particularly gruelling day of meetings bloody meetings. Alice's car was present but not Madeleine's. Madeleine's couple of days were already 50% over estimate. Part of me would be only too pleased to see the alchemist depart. Yet, and yet, there was no denying our sorceress had brought untold excitement into our lives. I recognised I was turning into something of a voyeur, living vicariously on Alice's adventures. But they were exciting so what's not to like about that?
Car locked, key found, door opened and entrance made, I was engulfed by noise and light: party time! Surprise, surprise the gangs all here. I looked round and could see Mel, Kathy and of course Madeleine. There was subdued lighting, bottles, glasses and lots of eats. But no Alice. And again of course it was Madeleine who spoke first
"Alice will be ready in a minute. You know Mel and Kathy (We all "Hi"ed each other) and Sue is upstairs with Alice."
"Sue?"
"A very, very good friend of us all. She too is studying: a bit of a swot but life and soul."
"Well that's alright then."
"Now, now Les, this is a party, so let's party."
Kathy pushed a glass of what suspiciously looked like my best Burgundy, into my hand and promptly dropped an ice cube in it. Whilst I stared aghast at such sacrilege Mel handed me a plate with a lot of shop bought nibbles on it. Both hands occupied I was now trapped. Rap started rapping on the sounds and I headed for a seat. Whilst still stooped about to descend, Kathy decided to renew our bestest friends status and hooked her arm in mine, hauling me upright.
"Les, so good to see you again."
"Yes, parting is such sweet sorrow." "Gosh, the bard and so appropriate. Well what have you been up to?"
"In a word, work. Busy, busy but it keeps the wolf.."
"From the door? Come on Les have how have things been going since we last met?"
"After the summer you mean? Well we have been working solidly until the arrival of Madeleine."
"I know that. I'm thinking of what happened when you two got home from the summer; from the adventures; from the excitement."
"Well, I guess we calmed."
"What! I don't believe that. Surely you..."
"Yes, well, of course but, well, I mean."
"Lost for words, I love it. Anyway tonight we start again, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"She means another adventure, Les. Where would you two be without my organising skills?" Madeleine smiled sweetly. But I knew the smile was supposed to and indeed I had detected more than sweetness. Again I was faced with a choice. Ride the horse 'till it stopped running or get off now. I sat tight.
"Are you ready?" Madeleine called up the stairs.
"We're ready" a stranger's voice replied. This was followed by the movement of two down the stairs. Kathy did the entrance:
"Ta da!"
Sue appeared in the dress down Friday garb of jeans and denim. She was over weight and crew cut but with a dazzling smile which accompanied her "Hi Les, I'm Sue."
"Hi Sue, I'm Les."
"And here's Alice..."
Alice came down the stairs with a repetition of one of Madeleine's earlier adventures; paint. The design was of an open zip: one part was affixed to her left nipple and the other to her right. They joined together low on her abdomen where the done up zip flowed down between her legs. Alice's face was made up glamorously, with nails scarlet, hooped ear rings and a small but effective clutch of feathers forming a fascinator on her head. Once again the gold mules made an appearance. All the rest was a light tan skin. She looked exquisite. The silent growl started in my throat. We had been in this scenario before; we had wandered around Whitby and coaches with Alice so attired (though one would have to say there was more paint then).
"So, Madeleine, what's the idea this time? Have we not done this before?"
"In a way, yes and yet, in another no. You see then we were just wandering around. Now there is a firm venue; there is a clientele; there is a purpose."
"And that is?..."
"You keep asking me these questions Les. Let's ask Dee; let's see what she has to say. Dee?"
"Please, you tell."
"No, not this time sweet: you tell your husband where you are going and more importantly, why. I tell you what, come on girls up, let Alice and Les sit on the sofa (it is there's after all) so that they can discuss this together. We will leave you both here; we'll go and make a drink. Ok?"
We both nodded and sat together. As Alice walked past me to sit down I noted that the "zip" reappeared round the back, travelling up the cleft and ending, where it ended. The rest of Alice was completely unadorned except for the makeup and nail varnish. Alice sat carefully and turned to me. But I spoke first.
"Are you happy with this? Is this what you want?"
"Happy isn't a word I would use. Content is closer. It's more a case of, well that's to say I feel it, no I was right first time, it's more a case of excitement. I wouldn't, couldn't, even shouldn't do this off of my own bat. You know me; I'm the last to be immodest. You know, you started it with that silly dare in the woods. Now since Madeleine got involved I feel freer; I don't feel shy because it's not me doing this, it's her. That's what makes it so exciting; I don't have control, d'you see?"
"I understand that but are you ok with the risk? We aren't in Yorkshire any more we are now back home. There are friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues; we have a lot to lose. You are the one out on a limb. Are you ok with that?"
"Yes, I'm ok. Madeleine has promised to keep me safe and I trust her."
"We are old enough to be her parents, how can you be sure?"
"Because she has promised and I trust her, don't you?"
"If you do, then so do I. I shall hold your coat, and I love you."
"Me too, lovely man, me too." And with that she leaned forward and ever so gently and lovingly, kissed me. I also was now content.
"Can we come in?" Kathy's impish face peered round the kitchen door. "We have drinks and biccies."
"Yes come on in everyone" I replied. They trooped in laden with hot drinks for everyone. After settling themselves down around the room they all spoke at once.
Sue was the loudest "What do you think, Les?"
"I'm stunned at the accuracy of the zip and shocked by the shortage of costume. I'm proud that Alice is so bold and also so beautiful. I'm a little frightened and very concerned where all this is leading, which is where exactly?"
"We're going to a party," Madeleine interjected, "private and very exciting."
"Where and when do we go?"
"Umm this is a different series of adventures Les, you see, it will be us, only. It's not to exclude you. It's just that this will only work all girls together. Anyway, someone has to keep the old home fires..." Her eyes twinkled to signal the wit.