After that fateful and memorable day when I first met Abby, I saw her twice for two short meetings between her college work and my painting activities. The first time was to give her a few hints on posing as a nude model so that the students would appreciate more what she was doing for them. So I looked forward with eager anticipation to the following Tuesday when she was due to model for David’s life class.
I called for her in plenty of time and we walked together, in the bright morning sun, chatting and joking all the way to the art centre. Abby looked at the drawings on the studio wall as I arranged my place and then we went into the cafeteria for coffee.
My mind went back one week to the last time we’d sat together in that same place. I looked now at the radiant, happy face of my young friend and realised that she had undergone a complete transformation. It truly is amazing what a little love and pampering can do. Pampering, and being pampered, are two of my favourite hobbies!
I noticed that Abby had brought along a floppy shoulder bag which she placed on the table beside her. I leaned forward towards her. “Is that for your toothbrush?” I asked in a conspiratorial loud whisper. She instantly hugged the bag to her.
“My toothbrush, my robe and a certain little surpise, especially for you.”
“Can I see it?” I made a grab at the bag but Abby hugged it even closer.
“No! No! Not now. You’ll see it much later this evening. It’s a special little treat I’ve planned for you.” She leaned across the table and looked me straight in the eyes. “And I guarantee you’re going to enjoy it.”
This filled me with curiosity. What on earth had she planned for me? I was looking forward to us spending the night together, but now I couldn’t wait.
When David arrived he walked over to us and said, “Do you mind if I separate you two bosom friends? I want to plan a few poses with Abigail.”
She stood up to go with him but I grabbed her hand, pulled her down towards me and whispered in her ear: “Remember what I told you about posing, and if you do any posing with your legs open, make sure you’re facing in my direction or you’ll pay for it tonight.” She giggled and hurried after David.
I suddenly remembered his words: ‘bosom friends’. Was he trying to tell us something I wondered. We most certainly were bosom friends in every sense of the words. I wondered whether he realised what was going on between us. Who knows? Perhaps he did. David is a real canny character.
David used his usual method in running the class: first came the quick three-minute poses. The difference in the way Abby performed was truly amazing. She was confident and fluent in her poses and the techniques I had taught her, such as twisting and unwinding poses, based on ballet techniques, drew murmurs of approval from around the class. Her longer poses, later on, were equally as good and, the longest pose, after the coffee break, I knew to be a special one for me. She was seated with one foot tucked under her other leg, ankles bent and the tips of her fingers delicately touching the podium on each side of her. She was looking right at me and from time to time gave me a meaningful smile.
After the class, we did a bit of shopping in the town centre and I bought a pizza for lunch. We went to my house where we cooked the pizza and some French fries. It was rather warm indoors so I suggested we eat our meal on my patio in the garden.
As we chatted, Abby looked all around her. “I love your patio, Mel.” she said.
“Me too,” I replied. “This was one of the first jobs Roger did when we moved in here. Then we put up the trelliswork on both sides so that it would be a bit more secluded. Now it’s covered with flowers it works really well.”
We went on talking about the morning’s class and I congratulated her on her improved posing which then led to a discussion about her course at the art college. I promised to help her in every way I could.
After we’d finished lunch we cleared everything away and did the washing up together. “Fancy doing a spot of sunbathing on the patio?” I asked.
“I’d love it,” Abby replied. “It’s a day made for sunbathing. Let’s be lazy for a couple of hours.”
“OK. We’ll push the table and chairs to one side and get out the loungers.”
I left Abby unfolding the longers while I went into the bathroom to get two large bath towels to cover them.
