Two weeks after the talent show, around dinner time, Emily's phone rang. It was Sierra.
"I'm so bored. Want to go to the beach with me? It's almost deserted because it's getting too cool for the tourists."
"Sure, that'd be fun. Anyone else going?"
"Nah, just you and me. I had an idea though."
"What?" Emily knew if Sierra had an idea, it would be full of mischief and possibly risky.
"What if we invited Mister Ted to come? Get him away from his wife for a couple hours and let him be a teenager again?"
Emily's heart raced. Going out with Ted in public was only a dream, but if he were with more than one person, would it seem out of place? Ted sometimes gave youth members rides home after activities, and sometimes even stopped at an ice cream shop, or a Starbucks, but it was always at least three people, and usually mixed genders. When he took her to and from church he sometimes went through a drive-through for fries or a drink, but they had never gone anywhere in public as a separate thing. Both thought it was too risky if they were seen by someone from the church.
"Haha, that'd be fun, but I doubt his wife would let him." Emily was quite right there.
"I'll text him and see," answered Sierra, and she hung up.
Emily raced to text Ted first.
Emily: Sierra is about to text you, wait a second to reply
Ted: Just got it, she wants to go to the beach??
Emily: Yeah, she called me first and then said it'd be fun to kidnap you and bring you along. I told her there was no way you'd be able to.
Ted: Yeah, I was about to tell her that.
Emily: Okay
Ted: Unless...
Emily:??
Ted: Hang on...
Ted texted Sierra back with an idea.
Ted: I'm sure it'd be fun to get out, but I don't know if my wife would think it appropriate if I went out on a date with two of my class members, haha. (big smile)
Sierra: Awww c'mon...you know you want to... (wink)
Ted: Actually I'd love to get out for some fresh air, but you know there's no way I could do that without catching crap from my wife. However...
Ted's adventures with Emily had turned him into a schemer, and each day he thought of bolder, more risky things to do. Since Sierra had sent him the nude pictures, Ted knew she would be a willing partner in a secret scheme, if it was fun.