Here's a short one I wrote yesterday. Sadly, I have like sixty stories unfinished, including endings to some multi-part series. I swear I'll get to them sometime. Thing is, I've been in development with a team who are bringing one of my works to life, and that's been keeping me busy. Some day soon, I hope to announce it where it is appropriate.
Once again, I am unsure which category to place this. Comedy? Sci-Fi? Exhibitionism?
*****
I discovered it when I was young, but the first few times it happened, it didn't really dawn on me. The very first time it happened, my brother and I were visiting home from college and I was just coming out of the shower. Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced movement behind the door, which was perhaps an inch ajar. I thrust it open, and sure enough, I busted my brother Jeff standing behind it.
"Are you fucking peeping on me?" I yelled, trying to throw a towel over my bits.
Most guys, when busted this way, would likely deny, saying they were just passing by or coming to the bathroom, or some such nonsense. Instead, my brother shouted back, "Yes! I've been watching the whole time!"
Of course, the fallout from that wasn't particularly great, but we made amends. Jeff admitted he'd peeped on me naked before, too, and promised he wouldn't do it anymore. I was gracious he fessed up, upset he would do such a thing, but willing to look past it.
A year or so later, I was laying in bed naked with my boyfriend and asked him, rather jokingly, in some stupid conversation, "Have you ever cheated on me?"
He instantly started bawling and confessed he had, with his ex, at the beginning of our relationship. Of course, I broke up with him, but it wasn't until I was naked with another potential boyfriend that it clicked. It was our third date, things got heated and clothes came off. Perhaps because of my previous experience, I asked him, "Have you ever cheated on a girlfriend?"
The man hung his head and said, "I'm sorry to say I have. I'm not proud of it." The man had no reason to tell me the truth, really, and seemed shocked that he'd done so. He quickly looked to me.
"You didn't mean to tell me that, did you?" I asked.
"No. I never would admit that to anyone, especially a potential girlfriend."
And that's when it all clicked. When I am naked, people are compelled to tell the truth. I had been studying Law at Georgestown when I made this discovery and I approached my mentor, Professor Wes Bolden, in his office to discuss it with him.
"Got a moment?" I asked.
"Jennifer Tiles, of course. How's my favorite intern doing?"
"Hey, you're not supposed to have favorites." I laughed, closing the door behind me.
"If it's any consolation, I say that to all my interns. So, how may I help you today."
"Um, I'm not exactly sure you can. This is going to be difficult to explain, but let me ask you something. What if I told you, I think I discovered a way to extract the truth from any individual, without pain or misfortune upon them."
"Like a truth serum?"
"Like I said, no pain or risk of harm. No drugs, no torture."
"I would think, whatever the method may be, it would be very valuable. To attorneys, detectives, law enforcement, you name it."
"That's what I thought," I sighed.
"And what would this be exactly?"
"You're not going to believe me. I just have to show you." I dropped my purse and began unbuttoning my blouse.
"What are you doing?"
"Please, trust me, Professor Bolden. I wouldn't do this, unless it was absolutely necessary. Could you please turn around?"
Perhaps because I was undressing so fast, he did exactly as requested, while he protested. "I must say, Jennifer. I am not comfortable with one of my students getting undressed in my office. It is unethical and unprofessional, and-"
