"Dear
Kerri
You are cordially invited to dine with Mr & Mrs Augustus Porter on the occasion of their 30
th
Wedding Anniversary.
Gift: optional
Bottle: compulsory
Dress code: cocktail dress
Please arrive at 8.30pm for aperitifs -- dinner will be served at 9pm prompt.
Augustus + Penelope Porter
RSVP"
-
Kerri had only moved in across the street from the Porters three weeks ago, but had been grateful for Penny's immediate friendship. She'd helped her unpack, brewed her endless pots of tea, and even come round with a helping of home-made lasagne on that first night.
Since then, they'd become bosom buddies despite the 25 years between them. Kerri had come here to escape parties and excitement, and the homely, simple friendship of the spritely older housewife and her enigmatic husband had been exactly what she was after: safe, quiet, danger-free. Penny and Augustus were unobtrusive but reliable; they always seemed to be there without being in her face or prying.
Now Kerri was settled in her new job, her new home and her new life. Penny had subtly enquired about Kerri's lack of social life -- surely such an attractive young lady should be having all sorts of fun and adventures -- but she had accepted Kerri's stated desire for a quieter life with an understanding smile, and a promise that one night, soon, they would spoil her.
Kerri read the little card, with her name handwritten at the top, and smiled. This was Penny and Augustus spoiling her: a formal invitation and stops pulled out for a very quiet dinner between the three of them. The Porters had no children, and seemed to socialise almost as sparingly as Kerri, so just the three of them to celebrate a marriage milestone.
She went to her wardrobe and selected a cocktail dress from her collection of one. It was a good one though: black, short, sheer -- and very flattering. She took it out of the wardrobe and looked at herself as she held it against herself, remembering just how good she looked in it, how it hugged her curves beautifully, how it stopped right at the top of her long legs, how it gave just enough of a glimpse of her breasts below her pretty, olive-skinned face. She smiled to herself, replaced the dress in the wardrobe and went to run a bath.
-
"Kerri! Glad you could make it!" Augustus beamed as he opened the door.
Kerri laughed. "Hi, Gus!" She kissed Penny's smart husband on both cheeks. "Here you are," she said handing him a bottle of fairly pricey Rioja.
He regarded the label.
"Penny!" he called, "it seems our guest has excellent taste." He winked at Kerri. "I'm sure she's going to love what we've prepared for her!"
Kerri followed Gus through into the house, his black patent shoes clicking on the tiles.
Penny looked stunning in a longer royal blue dress and classy silver jewellery, her blonde hair elegantly gathered in a bun. She was probably six inches shorter than Kerri, but her petite frame looked equally curvy now it was dressed up. Her eyes lit up as she saw her friend.
"Wow, honey -- look at you!" She too kissed the brunette on both cheeks and then held both her hands in her own as she looked her neighbour up and down.
"My, my, Gus -- everyone else's loss is our gain." Her eyes lingered a moment on Kerri's slim waist before she looked down at her long legs and high, black wedges. "Nice shoes, sugar," she smiled again, and slipped a hand round her waist.
"Cocktail, honey?"
"Ooh -- yes please, Penny."
"Gus! Two Long Slow Comfortable Screws!" They both giggled as Penny led her guest through to the veranda.
The two women chatted and giggled together comfortably, and Augustus -- two inches shorter than Kerri himself -- made three cocktails and brought them through to join them. They discussed Kerri's job, skirted round her lack of boyfriend ("or girlfriend?" Penny enquired slyly), and had just got onto Augustus' surprising former career in show business when the little man checked his watch and announced that it was time to go through to the dinner table.
"We're so glad you're here to help us celebrate this evening, Kerri," Penny smiled as she squeezed Kerri's left hand as her husband took hold of her right. "Come and see what we've bought!"
"Ta-da! What do you think?"
It was a table. A massive, polished, rectangular wooden table.
"Very nice," she smiled, because it was.
"Cost twenty-four hundred, it's 4 feet wide, 8 feet long -- and it pulls out to 12 feet," Gus said proudly. Kerri glanced at Penny who rolled her eyes at her. "It can seat eight like this or twelve when it's been extended." He placed both his hands on the table's surface. "But we haven't tried that yet, and tonight: just the three of us."
"Will you help us set the table, honey?" Penny said.
"Of course -- what do you want me to do?"
"You're such a sweet girl, Kerri," Penny smiled, her blue eyes sparkling as she stared deep into Kerri's dark ones. She clasped both of Kerri's hands in her own. "I'm sure we'll have a wonderful evening."
"I'll try my best," Kerri winked.
Penny smiled kindly at her again.
"Open wide, sugar," she said.
"Sorry?" Kerri said, thinking she'd misheard.
Suddenly, she felt something large and firm press against her lips.
"Wha...?!" she started to say, and unwittingly opened up for the large rubber ball. Augustus pulled on the straps from behind her and the ball forced its way in, opening her mouth wide and settling snugly behind her teeth. Penny's husband fastened the strap tightly under Kerri's long dark hair at the back of her neck.
"Mmmph!" was all Kerri could manage. She tried to pull her hands clear, but Penny's grip strengthened. "Oh honey, I won't enjoy it as much if you struggle."
"I will," said Augustus as he fiddled at the table behind her.
"Shush, Gus!" Penny snapped before returning her bewitching gaze to Kerri. "This is your gift to us, Kerri."
"Mmmphh?"
"Oh -- did you bring something else, sugar?" Penny asked innocently. "I didn't see anything -- did you, dear?"
"No, just the wine and herself."
"Thank you, Kerri," Penny cooed, "it's very generous to give
yourself
to us, honey."
'What the hell is going on,' Kerri thought. She tried to pull at her hands free again, but Augustus came over and clapped some police-issue cuffs around her wrists.
"Mmmph?" Kerri's eyes darted about; she tried to turn, to twist, to see if there was a way out of this astonishing situation.
"Come over here," said Augustus. His hands firmly clasped her hips and steered her over to the table, Penny walking backwards with her hands still gripped on Kerri's.
