The phone was ringing insistently, although Claire was amazed that she could even hear it over the crying of her two small children. She was feeling rather frazzled - a typical Wednesday evening emotion for the parent of a two and a three year old. Alex, her husband, was out working in the yard. She finally made her way over to the newest source of noise - the handset was buried underneath a newspaper - and answered it.
"Claire, pack your bags," came the familiar voice of her best girlfriend, Susan. Claire sighed wistfully. The two had much in common, including graduating from the same high school and college, many shared experiences, and an abiding love of good times. Physically they were not quite so alike. Claire had easy to maintain medium length hair, dyed ash blonde, and was relatively tall at 5'8". She was also quite busty, sporting a heavy pair of 38D breasts capped by large, dark nipples. Susan was and always had been petite at a slender 5'3" with a firm set of fake 34C boobs. Her current hairstyle was a blonde, short, fun look that took quite a bit of work to maintain.
"Sorry Susan," Claire quipped. "Those of us with children to take care of don't just get to pack up and go away simply because their newly divorced best friend is enjoying her freedom."
A snort greeted her at the other end of the line. "Fuck that. You're 35 going on 50! Alex will take the kids. You and I are going to Rio for Carnaval!"
Claire sucked in her breath. She had been fantasizing for years about going to Brazil. But still... "Oh God, Susan, I really would love to. You know I would. But Alex and I can't afford it, and besides, there are visas and everything else to arrange..."
Susan squealed with delight, loudly enough that Claire had to pull the phone away from her ear. "Don't worry about a thing. My stupid fuck of an ex paid for the whole thing in the settlement. I've already bought you a ticket - it's all expenses paid. And the travel agency arranged the visas. We're all set to go and we're leaving tomorrow night. No excuses! Your husband already told me he would take care of the home front."
Claire peeked out the window to see Alex giving her a big grin and a thumbs-up. Her body felt warm and tingly all of a sudden as she realized it was really going to happen, and she found herself eagerly discussing plans with her friend.
***********
The next twenty-four hours passed quickly, consumed with packing and errands, including a hasty trip to the salon during which Susan insisted on full bikini waxes for both of them. "Those Rio beaches don't let you cover up much," she giggled. While they were at it, they got matching French manicures and pedicures.
Their flight was an overnight and then some, from Dallas directly to Rio - just over 10 hours of flying time. At the airport Claire had a brief tearful goodbye as she kissed each of her children in turn, and then her husband. It was the first time she had gone away since the babies were born. Alex told her not to worry about a thing, to have a great time, and to come back without any tan lines on that sexy body of hers. She playfully swatted him in response.
Unfortunately, due to modern airport security restrictions, the family couldn't accompany them to the gate, so Claire and Susan made their way alone through the large international terminal to await their departure. Both had magazines to read during the time before boarding and on the flight.
However, unsurprisingly after their frantic day of preparations, the women were sound asleep moments after takeoff, cuddled in against one another for comfort.
**********
"Bon dia, good morning!" came the chipper voice of the American Airlines flight attendant over the intercom system. "In preparation for landing, please return your seats to their full upright position..."
Susan slowly lifted her head from Claire's chest, wiping the sand from her eyes. "God, I could really use a cigarette right now," she grumbled irritably. Claire nodded in agreement.
"We should be on the ground in about 20 minutes or so," she said, pointing out the window for her friend to look. Suddenly Susan was alert and smiling.
"We're here? We're really here?"
Claire grinned widely. "Yeah. I woke up about half an hour ago when we started the descent. I was so excited I couldn't get back to sleep."
The remainder of the flight passed uneventfully. After a long taxi, they arrived at the gate and shortly thereafter found themselves in an outdoor baggage claim awaiting their luggage. Susan reached into her purse and withdrew a pack of cigarettes. She lit one and inhaled deeply, passing the pack to Claire who took one for herself. The two blondes smoked quietly and watched the passers-by as they awaited their luggage.
The crowd seemed to be a fairly even mix of American tourists, mostly a bit younger - in their mid twenties, perhaps - and native Brazilians. Claire gasped as she took them all in. "My God Susan, they're all beautiful. The women, they're perfect - those bodies, and that dark skin! And the men...if I weren't married I think I'd make a complete fool of myself here."
Susan blew out a thick stream of blue smoke and smiled wickedly. "I'm not married anymore my dear, so you'll just have to live vicariously through me. I promised myself I wouldn't leave here without fucking one of these delicious men."
"When did you promise that?" Claire laughed.
"Just now when I saw that hunk over there." Susan gestured with her cigarette at a well-built man with a fabulous smile. He winked at her in response.
Then their luggage came, and they found themselves bustled off to a taxi stand and towards their hotel.
**********
The next three days were action packed for the ladies. They saw the sights. They shopped. They took in amazing dinners in the city. And they went to the famous, clothing optional beaches of Rio to work on their tans. Suddenly, as if without notice, it was Tuesday. Fat Tuesday - Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Carnaval in Rio. By mid-afternoon the crowds in town were already growing immense and the women headed back to their hotel to freshen up.
"How does this look Sue?" Claire asked innocently.
"Provocative as all hell!" her friend exclaimed. "You look hot. Is that the outfit you bought yesterday?"
Claire nodded, lighting a cigarette and checking herself critically in the mirror. She had on a spaghetti strap cobalt blue tank top, cut in a way that denied the possibility of a bra, and a tight black miniskirt that she would never have considered wearing back home. She rocked on her toes for a moment, examining the way her heavy breasts jiggled unsupported in the top.