Late one evening in October, Karl's phone flashed to show he had a text from Lucy. He checked it, to find that Beth had decided to hold a party, just like had she announced when they were leaving London. He phoned Lucy to find out more.
"Hi Lucy, I wanted to check out the details of this party."
"Hi Karl, yes, it's next weekend, at Beth and Jules' place. There's just one thing."
"Yes?"
"Watch them two, just a gentle warning."
"Why?"
They're lovely, but they can get a bit carried away, so if you feel uncomfortable, just say, yeah?"
"Sure. I know they like a bit of banter..."
Lucy interrupted,"- Yes, but they can get into daft games."
"Well, I will have a drink, so I won't care."
"Fine, if you can stand it, ... then roll on over. Come over to mine first, as it's within walking distance to theirs."
Karl thought about the tone of the gathering. "Any dress code? Should I bring anything?"
"Just be yourself. And bring a nice bottle of wine."
So at the weekend, Karl got the train down to Nottingham and called in at his sister's. Lucy greeted him at the door in a short white skirt and top.
"Hello, gorgeous."
"You're not too bad yourself. You scrub up well." Lucy was referring to Karl's new dark green shirt and black jeans.
"Shall we head over?"
"Yep, I'll just grab a brolly," and once provisioned with an umbrella they set off through the streets of neat terraced housing of Lucy's neighbourhood. It was a mild evening, and there was a hint of rain in the air. Lucy was also carrying a wine bottle in one hand as she walked happily arm in arm with her brother.
"I am so glad it is the end of the week."
"Me too."
"Had enough of work, I want to let my hair down a bit."
"Should be no problem with Beth and Jules, eh?"
"Ah, the gang. Pair of minxes, those two."
They turned a corner, and Lucy led the way down a quiet street before walking up the garden of a large terraced house with big bay windows. She rang the doorbell, and it was soon answered by Beth. Immediately Karl noticed that Beth was wearing the long, dark flowing pink dress that was her impulse buy back in London. Her long auburn hair covered her shoulders, her curves were complemented by the long flowing chiffon, and a faint drift of sensuous perfume drew in his attention; for a second, he drank in the view of her.
"Hey both!"
"Hey Beth, good to see you again -- oh, that dress does look good on you!"
"Thanks Karl." Beth kissed Lucy and the cheek, and gave Karl a brief hug, before beckoning them indoors to the living room. They joined Jules who was occupying a large rocking chair, the music system playing classic 70s rock. The lights were dim, with two candles in the centre of a coffee table.
"Hey up, you two!" Jules sprang up, and kissed Lucy on the cheek and patted Karl on the shoulder.
"So what have you been up to since London?" asked Beth.
"Not a lot," replied Karl. "Job's ok, parents nag a bit. The usual."
"Parents are always fussing," added Lucy. "Checking that I'm eating ok, where I'm going, and all that."
"Sounds like my boss," Beth sighed, opening a bottle. Karl handed his wine over to Jules.
"Good choice," said Jules putting the bottle down on the table.
"You didn't even look at the label," Karl protested.
"Good choice anyway," Jules grinned.
"So what is it that you do for work?" asked Karl.
"Graphic design for landscape," replied Jules.
"Nice."
"It can be, when we are allowed out."
"And Beth?"
"Research scientist on social trends."
"Interesting. Very current eh?"
The girls swapped stories about work before Jules announced that it was all a bit dull, and it was time to liven things up a bit. Lucy shot Karl a quick glance.
"I've got this classic game," Jules began, grinning like the Cheshire Cat.
"Oh no," groaned Lucy in a half mocking tone. "Here we go: ritual humiliation and embarrassment."
"Ah, so you have played it already," countered Jules.
"Of course. It's that bloody Truth or Dare game isn't it?"
"So?" Jules responded in an affected pained voice. "Look, I'm not playing fucking charades if that's the only other option."
"What else have you got?" enquired Lucy.
"How about Jenga?" offered Jules.
"What's that?" asked Karl.
"It's where you pile all these wooden blocks to make a tower, and then you each take one out, and try not to let it topple over." There was a short pause.
"Ok, Truth or Dare then!" Lucy had no patience for balancing bits of wood, and submitted to the original suggested game on the premise that she had warned her brother.
"Great!" Jules reached down under the coffee table and brought out a board game in a box. She pulled out a spinner and two deck of cards, placing them on top of the table.
"So, how we play it, we spin the spinner which points to a person, and then ask a question from the deck. If you don't want to answer the question, you have to do a dare." She looked round at the others for assent.
"Ok, here we go." Jules took hold of the spinner and twirled it, and a few moments later the arrow halted, pointing at herself. She took a card.
"'What is the meanest thing you have done?' Hmmm." Jules checked that she had the others' attention. "Easy enough. I once told my colleagues that a team leader stank."
"Really?" Lucy was vaguely curious.
"Yep. She never got over it. Deserved it though. Tret me like an idiot for too long." She waited a second before launching on the next question. "Next!"
The arrow span again and stopped at Beth.
