The second task had turned up better for Cassie than the Jacksons.
They had tried to win points with Mrs. Jackson's grandfather by making Cassie strip as a birthday present for him. Instead they had provided her a building full of new friends and admirers.
What's more because of a favor she did for JB's best friend Archie, Cassie had been given the means to buy her first car.
However despite how well the second task of six had turned out Cassie knew the Jacksons were undoubtedly plotting something else to torment her. And she was correct.
Monday evening Cassie was studying in her room when Madeline Jackson called. So with a heavy heart Cassie picked up the phone.
"Cassie, dear, how great to hear you voice," Mrs. Jackson said hypocritically. "Doug and I were hoping you could drop by tomorrow for a chat."
Knowing she didn't have the option of refusing Cassie agreed to come by after school.
Usually Tuesdays at college crawled by for the students, but for Cassie the day went by in blur. All to soon she found herself standing on the porch of a house she had come to loathe.
Mr. Jackson answered her knock. Before inviting her inside he paused in the doorway and carefully surveyed her body. Only after subjecting Cassie to this embarrassing examination did he step aside and motion her inside. As she entered he reached his arm out and slapped her ass.
Slapping his hand away she said furiously, "There's only so far I'm prepared to go to keep those pictures and videos secret and you're pushing the limit. Keep you hands to yourself, mister."
Any retort on his part was quashed by Mrs. Jackson walking into the room. Sensing the tension she asked if there was anything she ought to know about.
Her husband quickly said that it was all a misunderstanding.
Cassie neither confirmed or denied what he said. However she suspected he would be in for a detailed cross-examination after she left.
Pressing on, Mrs. Jackson invited Cassie to take a seat in the living room. Cassie choose an armchair to ensure Mr. Jackson would have to keep his distance.
"Dear," Mrs. Jackson began. "Friday the three of us are going to the Beef Barn restaurant for dinner. Won't that be fun."
Cassie was thinking that place is rumored to be very expensive. Why would they invite me there.
As if reading her mind, Mrs. Jackson continued, "However it's a very expensive restaurant and we really can't afford to eat there. Therefore you'll be treating us to dinner.
"WHAT?!," Cassie exclaimed.
"Yes, dear, you'll be treating us to dinner at the Beef Barn."
"I don't have any money," she protested. They didn't know that Archie had bequeathed her a check for $10,000.00 which she was keeping in her locked desk at home.
"Oh, silly girl, we don't expect you to pay for our dinner. We expect you to get naked and cause such a scene that they throw us out. After dinner of course."
"You want me to strip naked in a crowded restaurant and get the management to throw us all out without charging us?" Cassie asked uncertainly.
Turning to her husband, Mrs. Jackson said, "See, dear. I told you she would understand and you thought she might say no. Especially not when she wants to keep our little secret to ourselves."
"Do you have any suggestions how I'm supposed to get naked short of doing a striptease act and at the same time avoid being arrested? Not to mention at the same time create such a scene so, so, so something that we'll all be thrown out?" Cassie asked. In Cassie's asking the Jacksons knew she would be doing it.
"Oh it won't be that much of a challenge. You only have to get us thrown out. You can stay and do dishes to pay for our meal if you prefer," Mr. Jackson said snidely.
"You'll figure something out, Cassie. I have faith in you. We'll pick you up around five o'clock. That should put us at the restaurant about six. You should have a nice crowd for your performance. Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." And with that Cassie took her leave.
That night she didn't sleep at all. The next morning borrowed her mom's car and went over to the assisted living center where JB and her new friends lived.
Once in JB's room she told him what the Jacksons wanted her to do.
When she finished JB said, "So you're going to the Beef Barn. I may have an answer. Give me a day to see what I can arrange."
Following this discussion they talked about others things including JB's recommendations for what kind of car Cassie should buy. Just before lunch was served Cassie took her leave telling JB she'd be waiting for his call.
When she got home Thursday evening there was a message for her to call JB. Since she had the number in his room she dialed him direct.
"Please tell me you came up with a solution," she implored once he was on the line.
"When the three of you get there tomorrow night tell Madeline that you'll speak to the hostess. Tell her that you are the Buff party. She will know what to do. When the check is presented excuse yourself and go to the bathroom. Once inside take off your clothes and hide them in the trash can. That way even if someone walks in after you leave you'll know they'll still be there. Go back to the table and take your seat. The waitress will undoubtedly summon the manager and he'll throw the Jacksons out."
"But what about me," Cassie asked obviously concerned.
"It gets a little murky there, but everything will be okay in the end. I promise," JB replied. Then he added, "Do you trust me?"
"JB, I am so scared about this I just don't know what to do. Still I believe that while you might orchestrate some stunt like you did at Archie's funeral, you won't let anything bad happen to me. So yes, I'll trust you and do what you said. Thank you for your help."
"Don't thank me yet. You don't know how this is going to turn out," JB advised.
All day Friday Cassie was on pins and needles. She couldn't concentrate in school and flubbed the answer to a simple question in chemistry. Her instructor's remark to the effect that she needed a brain to go with her body didn't help.
She borrowed her mom's black dress to wear. She told her mom that she liked it's elegant simplicity. Truthfully she picked it because the open back design meant she couldn't wear a brasserie. That way there was one less article of clothing to remove when her big moment arrived and it avoided leaving bra marks on her skin. She might be going to end up naked tonight, but she wasn't going to be walking around the restaurant with lines in her skin.
After making that decision it struck her as hilarious the things to go through one's mind when in a stressful situation.
Adding to her anxiety the Jacksons were ten minutes late arriving at her house. Mr. Jackson came to the door to get her. After telling her mom good night she walked to car. When they reached the halfway point he reached down and patted her butt again.
Cassie whirled around, put her finger in his face, and said, "You touch me one more time and I'll break your fingers. And then I'll tell you wife the shit you're pulling."
Her warning that she would break his fingers didn't seem to bother him, but the threat to tell Mrs. Jackson shook him up. He quickly promised not to do it again.
The drive to the restaurant was quiet as everyone was occupied with their own thoughts.
When they arrived Cassie told Mrs. Jackson to let her out at the door and she would talk to the hostess while they parked the car.
