I stared at the invitation from my boss. Tara was a trust fund baby of the highest order but that didn't mean she was lazy, quite the contrary. She operated the five hundred acre complex that provided my housing and employment. Her great grandfather was a heck of a businessman with interests from logging, mining, land development and was even the governor of our state for two terms before he retired. The park where I lived and worked was centered around a huge lake that was essential for migrating water fowl and her great-grandfather set it aside as a park to save it from development. Maintaining it costs money and Tara had utilized the property to create a campground and an area with pavilions that people could rent for weddings, birthday parties and other events. Instead of the family having to pay to keep up the property, there was a healthy income that got pumped back into the family trust.
I really liked her, I did. She was a fantastic boss and had given me my dream job. As a twenty-one year old senior in college studying forestry management, to be given the task of overseeing not only the park but other properties in the Shoner Trust was an honor and a privilege. Most of my duties revolved around keeping the trees in perfect health as well as trimming them to avoid broken branches that could fall and hurt someone as well as maintaining the families pecan farms. The wood harvested would go into a large steel building to cure and eventually end up as firewood for sale in the park general store. If an entire tree had to be taken down, the oak was offered up to local artisan furniture builders. Two hundred year old trees don't grow on trees, oops, well maybe they do.
The problem was is that I'm gay. Not, oh do you think she's gay? More like, damn that girl is gay! I get my jet black hair from my dad's Italian ancestors and my slender, muscular frame from my mom's Icelandic parents. My daily dress was cargo shorts, hiking boots, and a button down shirt over an undershirt, no bra. My hair was cut in a butch lesbian style and I never wore makeup. I got my legs lasered because they were gross, but I didn't trim my bush, my eyebrows, my underarms or my nipples. Even the small shadow on my upper lip was left alone. I was not going to beautify myself for a man or woman for that matter. In the lesbo world, chicks like me are in demand and I could get laid in a minute, if I wanted to, that is. My problem was that I am a hopeless romantic. I never had a one night stand and probably never will. Sleeping with someone takes time. For me usually two to three months of dating and getting to know someone. However, most lesbians want to fall in bed if not the on first night, the first week and I just can't do it.
Tara's parties were the stuff of legend. Always a theme and always catered. No frat keggers for this girl. Full on over the top parties. I had heard the stories. Pirates of the caribean where every guest had to dress like a pirate with hired 'wenches' delivering rum, grog, and from what I have been told, blowjobs for not just the men, but the women too. 2022 would be the first time in eleven years that April first would fall on a Saturday, and the theme was 'Lingerie'. Every guest had to wear lingerie and that included the men. Take it or leave it and no cameras or cell phones please. I do not, repeat do not, own any lingerie. My panties were sensible cotton and with my little tits, a bralette was all I needed, thank you very much.
Looking at the big picture, I got a salary, benefits, vacation, and a place to live on the property. After three months with the park, Tara herself showed me the spot she had picked out. Water, electric, sewer and all I had to do was buy a travel trailer if I wanted to live there rent free. I bought a twenty seven foot Winnebago and had been living on site for a year and a half. If I turned down her first invitation to a party, would she consider that a snub? I didn't think so but how could I be sure? Besides, sometimes it's best to keep a little distance from your employer. From the gossip I had heard that these parties were pretty racy and no other staff member I knew of had ever been invited, so why me? I'm a butch gay chick with little or no social skills and a surly attitude. I like to be left alone and don't have much luck socializing. At our local lesbian bar it's easy for me. I order a beer and within twenty minutes some lipstick lez is chatting me up. I'm no damn good at beating around the bush so I made a grave mistake and called Tara.
Hello?
Tara, it's Gail.
Hi, Gail, how are you? Did you get my invitation?
Yes, that's why I'm calling. I'm not really good with parties and strangers and I wanted to thank you but respectfully decline. I'm flattered that you would invite me so it's hard for me to tell you that I can't be there.
Is it the theme? Lingerie?
I took a breath. Maybe a part of it. I'm a social nerd and have never worn lingerie before. I would not fit in.
She laughed. I know I'm an ass but aren't all bosses to some degree? Listen, the people that come are a little, how should I say, eccentric and a lot of fun. No one will judge you and in my opinion, you are a beautiful person. I would really consider it a favor if you would come. About the lingerie. Come over in street clothes and I'll take you upstairs to my bedroom and let you pick out something of mine to wear, we are nearly the same size and shape. I have some very modest pajamas that no one would feel out of place in. Please, Gail, pretty please?
Damn it Tara, why do you have to be so nice?
Okay, I'll come.
Thanks, sweetie, see you then.
On the day of the party, I stood looking at myself in the mirror. I decided to try and dress up a little to show some appreciation to have been invited. With yoga leggings, sneakers and an athletic top with built in boob support I looked a little less like an angry lesbian as usual. Then I did something that I hoped I wouldn't regret. I put on some eye shadow, some mascara to make my lashes a little longer and fuller and changed my butch earrings for two pair of diamond studs. And some pink lip gloss.
One of the trees that had been felled had a wild orchid growing in it that I rescued. Now it had settled into it's new home it had flourished and had just started to bloom. That would be my thank you present to Tara for inviting me to the party.
The cars were scattered all around the front of her house and I could hear live music coming from out back. I didn't bother to ring the bell and let myself in. Through the house and across the floors of travertine, I admired the expensive furniture, artworks and photographs. Stepping out back I saw Tara talking with some guests and when she saw me, she squealed, ran over and stopped short of giving me a hug because of the two foot orchid I was holding.
"Oh. My. God! Platanthera integrilabia. Please, tell me you are not kidding! Is this a real monkey-face orchid?"
The white fringeless orchid is also known as a monkey-face orchid and indeed this was one. "Yes, Tara, it is.
The white fringeless orchid grows in the wet soils of bogs, marshes, fens and swamps and is one of the rarest orchids in America. I knew Tara had an orchid house dedicated to preserving wild orchids but had never actually seen it, but she took me there now to hang the monkey-face in it's new home.
She stood looking at it in wonder. "I've never seen one in person before. Oh, dear, is it for me or were you bringing it to show me?"
It was my turn to smile. "It's for you. I got it on your property anyway, so it was yours all along."
As she hugged me I could feel her tears on my cheek. I was not really into straight girls but when I put my arms around her, I was starting to think about expanding my horizons.
Shit, snap out of it girl, this is your boss.
I hadn't really been looking around because I was being so careful with the orchid but now I got to see the guests in all their glory. Everyone was wearing lingerie including the men. With my limited circle of friends, mostly other gays from the PFLAG club at school, I didn't recognize a single person. There were no other employees from the park, I was the only one that I could see.
