Chapter 16.
In which our hero renews binding old friendships.
I look at my cell to see that I have a voice mail, and after listening to the message, I discover it is from Mike of Mike and Alice, chapter 12. It has been almost two months since the memorable party and show with Ted. I have not seen or talked to any of the participants of the party save for Officer B who I have seen a couple of times in the park. Officer B has tried to recruit me for another party but I have declined. I call Mike and he greets me fondly, telling me that Alice has not stopped talking about the party. Mike goes on to tell me that he is having a social event at his home and wants to know if I would be interested in attending. He adds that he hopes Ted would also attend and that Alice was very impressed with the show Ted and I performed. I tell him that I would need to review my schedule and talk to Ted. We discuss the financial issues and come to terms with roughly the fee Ted and I left the party with. I make clear that it is all up-front and we leave it that I will get back to him as soon as possible.
I have Ted's number; we exchanged before going into the party in case we needed to text or contact each other during the event. I call and leave a voice mail. And call again the next day and the next. I finally reach him and he is at first wary of why I am contacting him. Eventually he calms down as I describe the proposition from Mike, the dates and finances. I learn that his affection for Officer B has waned as that good man has attempted to recruit Ted for diminished wages. Ted suspects that the issue is B trying to get a larger percentage and Ted is reluctant to continue his association. Ted confides that he was fond of the occasional low-risk easy money. I reassure Ted that the money for the job I am proposing is all up-front and that we will spilt the fees. Ted agrees in principal, pending some additional detail about the job and the dates.
I call Mike back and confirm that Ted and I are available but that we want some understanding up-front about the job and the expectations. Mike is delighted and tells me that there will be two or three couples at most including he and Alice. There will only be Ted and I and he wants a show similar to what Ted and I did at the party. He suggests that there would be requests for private sessions with both of us and reassures me that Alice is very much looking forward to a renewal of our friendship. I confirm and I call Ted to confirm and fill in the details. It remains only for party day to arrive.
It turns out that I do not even need an excuse for party day as my wife has a trip planned to New York with girlfriends. I see her off Saturday morning and wish her a wonderful time with her chums. I manage to make it to the start time for my Saturday morning training ride and have a wonderful time myself. Some food, a nap, and some grooming places me on my motorcycle in the early evening on the way to the party. Ted and I have agreed to meet nearby and arrive together. We roll into the driveway at the appointed hour and Mike greets us fondly, welcoming us into his home. We are escorted into a home office and Mike is all business on the financial side where we are all quickly satisfied. Mike advises that there are three couples including he and Alice. While he is not certain how this will play out after the show, he expects that two of the couples will want a session, one with each of us and that the third may leave or may just want to watch. He asks if we would have any objection to their watching. Ted and I reassure him that we would have no objection.
We meet and mingle for some time, all of the guests getting relaxed with various drinks. Ted and I confine ourselves to club soda as it promises to be a long night of work for us. Ted helpfully gives me a performance booster and takes one himself. Better to be safe than embarrassed for a refund as Ted advises. Ted and I spend a few minutes reviewing the show from last time and talking through the event upcoming. He also asks me about the session I did with Mike and Alice. I learn that his sessions were rather pedestrian so he is impressed with mine. We speculate as to the events of the evening. And then it is show time.