It was about 12:15 and Sally should have been here to pick me up about a half hour ago. She took the opportunity to drive me to the office. I wanted to do some work I was behind on, and Sally was going to do some shopping. She was supposed to pick me up just before noon. I walked outside and stood on the steps expecting her to show up any minute. Another half hour came and went, still no Sally.
We lived 25 miles away from town in a small community in the foothills. It was at the 4,000 foot level, and I didn't think Sally would go home without me. I decided to start walking. Being a small community, everyone knew each other. I figured it wouldn't be long before someone came by and offered me a ride up the hill. I walked about a half mile, when someone stopped and offered me a lift.
About twenty minutes later, I was let off in front of the house. I went inside, and Sally was nowhere to be found. It didn't appear that she had been home yet either. I checked the answering machine, and there were no messages. I decided I would call around to some of our friends. Maybe Sally had spoken to someone after she dropped me off at work.
On the fourth call, I found out most of the guys were over at Dave's house just hanging out. Not unusual, as that was the normal weekend routine. The guys usually found someone's house to spend Saturday afternoon. I called Dave's house. When the phone was answered, it wasn't Dave, but Billy. Billy lived about a mile down the road and was a friend we hung out with as well. I asked if anyone had seen Sally. He told me to hang on and he put Dave on the line.
When Dave came on line he said that Billy and he were in town and ran into Sally at the grocery store about 9:30 that morning. Dave told me he got a ride back up the hill with Sally after she went to the lingerie store. In fact he said Sally was still there with the guys playing some games. I knew Sally was going to shop for some new lingerie so that didn't surprise me. Sally had all kinds of pretty lingerie and loved to tease the guys when they were around. I asked Dave to tell Sally I was already home. I didn't want her go back to town to pick me up when I was already home.
Dave said he would relay the message, then asked if I was going to come by. I told him I was still working on the other car, and Sally had the van. If I was going to come by, I would have to walk the four miles. I didn't think I would be by. Dave told me Sally bought a real nice piece of blue lingerie. He said Sally had tried on about ten different pieces and showed him each one, getting his opinion on each. He was surprised the sales lady let him go in the dressing room.
Sally knew all the guys at Dave's place,. She met most of the guys when they stopped by our house. Our door was always open. Everyone knew we had liquor, beer, or some sort of drugs on hand all the time.. Last but not least, Sally usually would have on some sort of lingerie to help inspire everyone. When Dave said they were playing games, I assumed it was the same as when everyone was at our place. Sally would play a variety of games, but her rules were always the same.
Sally would play for an outfit, a certain amount of time, (usually 5 minutes) or a rearrangement of her existing outfit. The guys would have to put up a twenty or forty dollar bag of crank or weed, or something of equal value in order to play. Win or lose, Sally got to keep the guy's bets. That worked out good for us. Sally was really a good game player, and we didn't have to buy drugs for over three years!
Sally seemed to be more inhibited when I was playing with the guys. I never could understand why, but that was the way it was. Several times one or more of the guys would tell me that Sally seemed to enjoy herself more when I wad not there. I never understood why, but that was the way it was.
A little while later in the afternoon, I decided to walk over to Dave's and check out what was going on. I got lucky and caught a ride most of the way there from a fellow neighbor. He let me off about two short blocks away. The sun was beginning to set and I was able to approach the side of Dave's house. The side window gave me a good view of the entire front room and a partial view of his guest room. A few minutes went by, and the lights came on, giving me even a better view.