Author: Thinking Horndog
Title: Second Best
Part: 096
Universe: Second Best
Summary: A full-length novel that follows several young couples and their
families through the period immediately preceding their Senior Prom.
Keywords: exhib

Keywords for full story:  F-solo, Ff-inc, M+F Ffm MF mf oral anal bd D/s Mg-
inc Fm-inc mm mmf rom MF-reluc

Chapter 96
Beautification and Advice

      They took three cars:  Trish drove Padma and Dolores, Helen carried
Jennifer, Mandi, and Jackie, and Merry drove Ellen, Dina - and Denise, who
was basically along for the ride.

      Companionable silence reigned in Trish's car.  As usual, once Trish
decided to support Padma, she gave said support wholeheartedly, allowing
Padma to overcome her shame and embarrassment and return to a modicum of
calm.  Over the past week or so, Trish had come to realize that her
daughter-in-law to be was quite a catch for Tim, and if she had a few avant-
garde notions about sex, well, it didn't hurt to shake things up,
periodically.  Trish had known Padma peripherally for several years via
Marcus' acquaintance with Bruce, but they had never been close until
recently.  Trish had discovered in Padma a capable woman of quiet integrity,
this morning's revealed antics notwithstanding.  In fact, the fact that
Padma was so ashamed over something that hadn't even happened yet, but that
might put her on shaky ground morally - despite the rewards - confirmed
Trish's opinion of her.  Trish now recognized the sadness that lurked in the
back of Padma's eyes, not as regret, or shame, or fear, or, as she had
suspected, an effort at hiding ongoing mistreatment by Marcus (she mentally
apologized to Marcus for that suspicion), but rather the longing of a woman
for the patter of young feet in her vicinity.  Her two boys were a source of
grave satisfaction to Trish, but, frankly, only one wouldn't have been.  As
horrible as little boys are, growing up (and they ARE, compared to little
girls!) one wouldn't have kept her busy enough to feel fulfilled.
Obviously, Padma had a serious capacity that had gone untapped, and it
caused her considerable pain.

      Trish reached out and patted Padma's hand on the seat beside her.
"So, this was all Dolores' idea?"

      "Oh yes!" Padma responded, wide-eyed.  "When she first gave?
Presented?  Presented it to me, I was shocked!  I told her she was
absolutely mad!  But the idea was...seductive.  It really is an...
elegant... solution.  And to have babies again..."  Padma's eyes went teary.

      Trish patted her hand again.  "Well, its sweet, if a little bit
outside the box," she said, catching the eye of a suddenly grinning Dolores
in the rearview mirror.  "But I think Tim's right - Marcus is going to take
serious convincing, and he's pretty militant in his views on race.  It's
going to be an embarrassment to him to have half-white kids, even if they do
get their momma's dusky complexion to confuse the issue somewhat."  She
glanced at Padma, and continued quickly, "That's not a slur - I think you're
quite beautiful, and your color is a part of your allure.  God knows Dolores
is a bombshell!  I'm just trying to be objective."

      "It's a major hurdle," Dolores admitted, "and I may have to resort to
dirty tricks.  But Tim has done a good deal of paving the way, just by being
Tim.  And Poppa thinks a lot of his father.  In fact, at one point, I
thought about asking you if we could borrow Bruce..."

      The car swerved a bit, and Trish's shocked and outraged "WHAT!?"
blended with Dolores' peals of laughter.

      Dolores mastered her mirth and presented a picture of innocence as she
continued, "Well, it wasn't my first choice.  But Poppa respects Bruce a
lot, and that would make getting his cooperation a lot easier.  Besides,
Poppa will pass his genes on through me, but they'll be Vincents.  Wouldn't
it be fair if the Browns collect some Vincent genes?"

      "I dunno..." Something basic about the idea bothered Trish.

      "Worried that you'll miss out on something?" Dolores taunted.  "Mama
could lend you Papa ..."

      "Oh!" Trish exclaimed.  The real shock to her system was the quick
flash of lust that burned through her at the thought of Marcus Brown
hovering over her. Turning to Padma, she exclaimed, "The ideas she has!"

      Padma returned a tight grin. "You have no idea!"  That was the closest
she intended to come to briefing Trish on Dolores' OTHER plans.

      Dolores sat back grinning like a cat.  She'd detected what Trish
hadn't said - that there was a hook here that, baited properly, could land
her mother-in-law to be.

      In the other two vehicles, curiosity ran rampant - and was just as
quickly squashed.

      "What was the big uproar in the den?" Jackie asked.

      Well..." said Jennifer.

      "Helen chopped it off.  "Just a little momentary upset over the
wedding plans." She favored Jennifer with a warning look.

      "Yeah," Jennifer amplified.  "These things are stressful."


      In the other car, Denise was a bit more persistent.  "Sounded like
Dolores' momma melted down.  What happened?

      Merry shared a look with Ellen.  "Well, Padma and Trish had a slight
difference of opinion over the wedding plans..."

      "Cool!  Let us in on the dirt!" Denise enthused.

      "I think that this is between Trish, Padma, and Dolores," Ellen
advised.  "They'll let you know if they want you to hear about it."


      The group arrived at the beauty parlor, and the girls settled in under
the care of the professionals.  Denise made the rounds, kibitzing, and the
women retired to the coffee shop.

      Ellen sipped her latte, and announced, "You gals are a bit wild for
me!  I can't believe what I've been hearing!  I came to you for advice,
but..."

      Merry crossed glances with Helen, and opened her mouth, but Trish beat
her to the punch.  "Hon, your whole problem is that you have no concept of
what's racy, and what's mainstream!  Sure, there have been some surprises
this morning, but you haven't even been up for the small stuff!"

      Padma piped up, "I don't pretend to be proud of my failings, but I
know how to please a man!  From what I can tell, even Jennifer does - she's
just out of practice!  On the other hand, you don't!"

      Merry shook her head.  "You need help, or you're gonna lose your
man... Why don't you check your preconceptions at the door, Hon - otherwise,
I don't see how we can help you!"

      Ellen turned to Jennifer, and rasped, "Are you going to pound on me,
too?"

      Jennifer shrugged.  "I'm the lightweight in this group; I don't know
if I really have much to add.  But I do know this:  You've been playing Mrs.
Grundy all morning, applying the rules of the nosy and small-minded to every
situation.  I don't really think that's you, but you might think it's a
defensible position.  From where I sit, though, people who claim to live by
Mrs. Grundy's rules come in two - maybe three - groups:  lying hypocrites,
and people for whom sex has had all of the fun leached out of it."

      This comment brought general laughter, while Ellen frowned in self-
examination.  Merry, still chuckling, asked, "What's the third possible
group?"

      "The ones who are so screwed up that they're lying, but they STILL
have no fun!" Jennifer replied, grinning.

      Merry sobered.  "I think I was in THAT group... recently!"

      "I think," Ellen said in a quiet voice, "I still am..."

      Jennifer regarded her gravely.  "Everyone here has been pretty open
and above-board this morning, and we've told each other things that could
make our lives ugly if they came out.  You don't have to hide behind Mrs.
Grundy with us."

      "I - I'm not sure I know any better!" Ellen wailed.

      "Well, were here to help, Honey," Helen soothed.  "Just try not to be
so judgmental.  Merry made a point a while back - the more things you're
open to, the less likely Paul will follow through on his threats.  But you
might need to start with baby steps, until you get a better feel for things.
Tell me, Dear, what HAVE you done with Paul?"

      "Uh, well, we've had sex..." Ellen stuttered.

      "Successfully, at least once!" Merry tittered, then composed herself.
"Sorry!"

      Trish took over.  "How, Hon?  Missionary style?"

      "I - I think so... Are there a lot of ways?"

      "Ellen, have you ever heard of the Kama Sutra?" Padma chided.

      "Yes!" Ellen announced, defensively, "So?"

      "It's a sex manual.  There are hundreds of ways, some of which are
absolutely ridiculous."

      "Okay, I knew that," Ellen nodded.

      "But you didn't believe it, did you?" Trish inquired.

      "Well, no."

      "Okay, so now you do.  Tell us about your standard method," Trish
prompted.

      "Okay.  Uh, let's see, me on my back, with Paul on top.  That's
missionary, right?" Ellen responded.

      Trish nodded, but Merry wasn't satisfied.  "Do you wrap your legs
around his waist?"

      "Um, no..."

      "Where are they?  Do you put 'em up over his arms, or on his
shoulders?" Merry prompted.

      "God, no!" Ellen replied, "They're stretched out!"

      Merry nodded tightly.  "With his on the outside?"

      "Well, yes..." Ellen replied, puzzled.  She glanced around.  Jennifer
was poker faced.  Padma looked puzzled.  Trish frowned and rubbed her
forehead.

      Helen locked eyes with Merry.  "Thanks, Mer - I'd have never thought
to ask..."

      Merry looked positively grim.  "I pulled that stupid shit with Robert
for longer than I care to think about!"

      "What?!"  Surprise warred with irritation at Merry's vehemence.

      "Honey," Helen said gently, "How long is Paul's cock?"

      "Oh, I don't know...Erect?"  Ellen held up her hands, index fingers
bracketing a space a bit over six inches. "I don't see it much..."

      "Under the covers, in the dark, right?" Merry rolled her eyes.  Ellen
nodded, sheepish.

      "How much of that do you figure you've ever felt inside?" was Helen's
gentle rejoinder.

      "Um.  We've had problems, periodically," Ellen replied.  "I gather
something isn't right?"

      "Honey, if you lift your legs and let him in between, he'll get 2 or
three more inches in.  It'll be better for BOTH of you!" Helen offered.

      "Really?" Ellen asked dubiously.

      "Really!" Merry confirmed.  "In fact, if you pull your legs up, he can
get into more of a push-up position, and he can get better traction.  He's
holding your shoulders or something now, isn't he?"

      "Yes."

      "Does he hurt your shoulders, sometimes?"  Merry asked gently.

      "Uh huh."

      "Well, that's because he can't get any decent penetration.  The more
your legs come up, the better he can get at you, and he doesn't have to lay
on you and pull to do it.  If you let him, he'll come up on his hands,
and..."  Merry started moving her hands around, ineffectually, then
shrugged, looking at Helen.  "I can't figure a way to explain properly!"

      Helen chuckled, "Well, don't look at me!  I'm not that limber!"  She
looked around.  "How about if we move to that booth in the back..."  After a
concert of shrugs announced everyone's willingness, Helen led the move.
"Okay, let's see... Thank God it's nice and wide...  Um... Padma, Ellen, and
Trish along the wall; Jennifer, myself and Merry facing.  Trish, you keep an
eye out for gawkers - I've got a feeling Merry's going to have to get
graphic."

      Trish tittered, "Okay!"

      Merry shook her head.  "Not good enough.  Ellen along the outside.
She'll draw attention trying to look under the table!"

      "Get that chair!" Padma suggested.  "Ellen can sit in it!  Jennifer
can sit between us, which will give Merry more room!"

      "Good plan!" Helen exclaimed.  Everyone shifted around.

      After everyone was settled, Merry looked at Trish.  "Okay?"

      "Wait a sec, we're still interesting."  Trish favored a curious teen
with a hard stare, and he looked away guiltily.  "Okay."

      The first thing Merry did was flip up her skirt, baring her crotch to
the waist.  Ellen gasped, and Helen crooked an eyebrow.  Padma covered her
mouth to keep from giggling.  Merry offered a challenging stare.  "She's GOT
to see!" she insisted.  Helen shrugged.  Merry turned her attention to
Ellen, who had basically regained her aplomb.  She slouched down and
straightened her legs.  "Okay," she began, laying her palm flat along her
pudenda, "This is what you've been giving Paul."  She dropped her middle
finger so that it lay along her slit.  "It's tough to get all the way to the
opening from here," she continued calmly, "which makes it a poor position."
She raised up a bit and lifted and spread her outside leg, placing her foot
on the seat, which left her outrageously exposed, and continued calmly,
"What you WANT to do is present yourself more like this, which allows him to
shift to a position that places him against you like this..."  She laid her
palm flat along her labia.  Ellen watched, entranced, as she curled a finger
and obviously slipped it deep inside her vaginal opening. "See how much more
gets inside?" she asked.

      Ellen, beet red, gasped, "Uh huh!"

      Merry caught Trish's eye.  "Are we okay?"

      "Yeah," Trish nodded.

      "Now," Merry continued pedantically, as she laid back across Helen's
lap and lifted the other leg, "you can put your feet flat on the bed like
this..." She spread her feet as far as she could on the seat.  Ellen was
staring directly at her crotch, blushing brightly. "Obviously, this offers
him several positional options... Trish?  Can you demonstrate without being
too obvious?"  Trish signaled Padma to take the watch with her eyes, then,
pretending to be collecting something from Helen, laid herself across Merry,
first prone, then rising to nearly vertical. "See?" Merry's voice came,
somewhat muffled.  "On the right furniture, he can even stand up!"

      Ellen managed another strangled "Uh huh!" and Merry continued, "With a
little imagination, you can see that the higher your legs go, the deeper he
can get.  If you drape a leg like this..." She raised her outside leg a bit
and draped it over Trish's forearm, "it makes it pretty easy to bring the
flat plane of your pussy against his pubic bone.  And if he goes too deep,
you can just push him back with your legs!"  She demonstrated, and Trish
backed off and went to sit down.  Merry rose up again.  "Understand?"

      "Yeah!"  Ellen had moved beyond embarrassment, and was managing to
think about the whole thing.  "I see!"

      "You and I - and Jennifer," Merry observed, "are thinner and probably
a bit more flexible than the other girls.  It's actually possible to put
your legs over his shoulders - and you can still control his depth by
straightening your legs!"

      "Okay!" Ellen responded. "Yeah, I get it!  That's the way?"

      "That's A way," Merry corrected, "A much better way than you've been
using.  But it's not the only way, by any means!"  She got up on her hands
and knees, and looked back at Ellen over her shoulder, winking. "Personally,
I like doggy style.  Once again, with the right furniture, he can stand up!
He can grab your hips and really go deep!  Trish?"

      "Okay!" Ellen waved her off, "I get it!  No need to demonstrate!"

      Merry seated herself. "We haven't even talked about things like
reverse cowgirl..."

      "Huh?" said Ellen.

      "Well, let's start with cowgirl," Merry amplified.  "He lays on his
back, and you climb astride him and, well, sit on it!"  Ellen's eyes glazed
and her mouth made a silent O as she visualized it.  "The benefit is that
you're in control.  The drawback is that you do all the work."

      Trish grunted.  "My husband can drive that one from the bottom,
believe it or not!"

      "Really?" Ellen asked, surprised.

      Helen supplied the answer.  "Really.  Remember, you're setting off his
most basic instincts, which are to try to drive that thing right through
you!  You'd be surprised!"

      "Um," Ellen grunted.  "And reverse cowgirl?"

      "Same basic position, only you face his feet," Merry supplied.  "You
can do this stuff in a chair, too."  She smoothed her skirt.  "Questions?"

      "Don't the blankets get in the way?"

      Merry rolled her eyes.  "Yeesh!  NO BLANKETS!  And leave the light on
- it helps him to see you!  Close your eyes, if you've got to, but let him
see what he's doing!"  She caught Trish's blush out of the corner of her
eye.  "You're kidding!  You don't!"

      Trish ducked her head.  "I get embarrassed."

      "Honey, if he loves you, he wants to see you all flushed!" Merry
insisted, "Guaranteed!"  Helen nodded agreement.

      "Okay, what else am I missing?" Ellen asked.  Gone was the finger
pointing, shock and surprise.  Ellen was in learning mode.

      "About a thousand things, apparently," was Merry's sarcastic
rejoinder.  "But I think we need to go slow.  If you try two dozen new
things simultaneously, you're bound to screw a bunch of them up - I did!  If
you do one or two right, however, things will go much better.  It's too bad
that you can't take lessons - it would help if you were confident..."
Merry's eyes glazed over.  She was looking at Helen, and the evening's plans
with Ann popped into her head.

      "Merry?"  Ellen's glance turned quizzical.

      "Huh?  Sorry."  Merry leaned forward.  "Look, I can't really dangle
this without my master's approval, but would it help if you DID get lessons?
If you got to see it - maybe got help?"

      "Well, uh, yeah, maybe," Ellen replied, frowning in thought.  "I don't
know if I could stand the embarrassment..."

      "Yeah, well, it was just a thought..." Merry replied.  "If the idea
grows on you, have your husband call my master and maybe they can work
something out.  We're not swingers, or anything, but Robert likes to
capitalize on new opportunities."

      There was a bit of shocked silence, and Merry belatedly realized that
she had shocked ALL of her companions.  Helen was the first to recover,
looking thoughtful.  "You know, it's not as if the idea is THAT wild!" she
ruminated.  "We were pretty limited by this public setting.  A little all-
girl show and tell at someone's house some afternoon wouldn't hurt - and
might be beneficial!"

      "Well," Ellen temporized, "I'm not a lesbian..."

      Helen looked around at the others, then grinned.  "I don't think
anyone else here is, either.  We can keep it male-oriented - just without
males!  A couple of toys as teaching aids...  We could get a little better
look at some positions..."

      "I think it's a grand idea!" Jennifer announced.  "There's a lot of
stuff I've never done, and I'm pretty sure I'm done doing without... I need
some pointers!"

      This addition to the student body made a big difference to Ellen, and
she began to display some enthusiasm.  "Yeah, okay.  When?  Where?"

      Helen frowned. "Well, today is pretty packed.  I'd say sometime next
week.  At my place, I guess - I've got toys..."  She grinned.

      Jennifer blushed scarlet.  "Do they include a soft rubber vibrator,
about six inches long, that looks remarkably like the real thing?"

      Helen's eyes twinkled.  "That's Mandi's!"

      "Um," Jennifer continued diffidently, "Jackie apparently borrowed it
and left it for me!"

      "And?" Helen quirked an eyebrow.

      "Wow!  I had NO IDEA!"  Jennifer exclaimed.

      "Huh?  What?  I'm missing something..." Ellen complained.

      Jennifer looked around, and leaned forward murmuring conspiratorially,
"Vibrators!  I'd never... I laid it alongside my..."  She stopped, unable to
get it out.

      Helen chuckled.  "What Jennifer is trying to say is that if you apply
a vibrator to your clit, you're going to notice the effect, right away!"

      "Clit?" Ellen repeated stupidly.

      "Good God!" Merry hissed, "You don't know what a clitoris is?  What
about labia?"

      "Well, I think I..." Ellen stopped, blinked.  "Labia?"

      Merry rolled her eyes.  "Trish, is that little shit over there
looking?"  Trish shook her head, and up came the skirt.  Merry raised her
leg, and opened her crotch to Ellen's examination again.  "These are labia,"
she announced, pulling on her nether lips.  "There are another, smaller set
inside.  The clit is here..."  She laid her finger along the clitoral hood.
"Actually, this covers it - it's the little bundle of nerves inside.  The
hood pulls back..." she demonstrated, drawing back on it with the finger,
"when you get excited during sex.  It's a source of intense sensation - the
easiest way to get off when you're masturbating."  She paused abruptly and
eyed Ellen.  "You DO masturbate, don't you?  You know - frig yourself?"

      Ellen hung her head.  "No," she husked, "I was taught that it was
dirty..."

      Merry looked at Helen, sighing in exasperation, "I don't know if we
can WAIT a couple of days!  What a case of arrested development!"  She
gathered herself.  "Does Paul touch you there?"

      "No, not much," Ellen sighed, "Only while he's putting his - thing -
in."

      "He doesn't?  Why not?"  Padma was incredulous.  "How does he get you
hot?"

      "Mostly, he kisses my titties," Ellen confided, "I like that.
Actually, he doesn't mess around down there because I was pretty adamant
about it.  He probably would if I let him."

      Merry shook her head.  "The way things are going, I think we'd better
confirm the basics.  Hon, have you ever had an orgasm?"  She assumed a
skeptical expression at Ellen's nod.  "Describe one."

      "Okay," Ellen replied, "It's when the sensations get really intense.
My nervous system seems to short-circuit, and I kinda lose control while the
waves wash over me, and my... pussy ... pulsates.  Paul likes that."

      "Okay, sounds like you managed to get there, somehow," Merry allowed,
"Do you do it often?"

      "No," Ellen sighed, "hardly ever.  I nearly scared Paul to death the
first time.  Then he tried real hard for a long time, but after a while, he
seemed to give up.  I'd feel good, but after a while, I'd start to get sore,
and then it would go away."

      Merry nodded, and Helen interjected, "Well, Honey, we're going to try
to suggest some ideas that will help you get there more often.  Okay?"

      "Okay."

      "All right!"  Helen smiled.  "The first thing, we've already talked
about.  We want you to change your position and let him between your legs.
Get 'em out of the way, off to the sides, and lift 'em if possible.  That
gets him a better shot at getting deeper inside.  You can cross your legs
over his back or thighs - that'll help you keep 'em there, and if you find
that you like it really deep, you can help pull him in!"

      "O-okay!"  Ellen looked a bit glazed as she absorbed this.

      Merry took up the thread.  "The change in position has another
benefit:  Your current position has him dragging his cock along your pussy
lips like this, right?"  Since her right foot was still on the seat, Merry
demonstrated by sliding her finger up and down between her labia.  "That's
actually not too bad for stimulating the clitoris, but you're not well-
lubricated there - so you dry out and friction gets painful.  Right?"

      Ellen's eyebrows rose and she nodded briskly.  "Uh huh!"

      "Okay, if he comes at you like this..."  She demonstrated by extending
her middle finger below the flat plane of the rest of her hand and sliding
it into her vaginal opening until her palm was flat against her labia and
withdrawing it a couple of times.  "... you're better lubricated inside, and
you avoid the friction problems.  He'll be bumping your clit, but not
sliding against it so much, which will improve your chances of avoiding
friction burn."  Belatedly, Merry dropped her leg from the position which
had been exposing her for the past several minutes.  "Got it?"

      "Uh huh!"  Ellen nodded, all attention.

      "You can hedge your bets by buying a tube of K-Y jelly to help extend
your lubrication, if you find you need it," Helen pointed out.  "There are
other, sexier lubricants at sex shops, but K-Y is readily available and
works fine."

      "But there is another, better method you should try first," Merry
asserted.  "You can let Paul play with your pussy!"

      "Huh?"

      Merry grinned.  "The way I understand it, right now you've got Paul
kissing you and playing with your tits for a while, then climbing on in the
dark and trying to get his.  Right?"

      "Well, yes," Ellen admitted, "That's a little harsher than I'd put it,
but..."

      "Okay," Merry continued to grin, "What I recommend is that you allow
him to fool around with you down there.  If he has ANY idea what he's doing,
you'll get wetter - and hotter - and the chances of you enjoying the whole
thing go up a lot!"

      Ellen looked to Helen for confirmation, and she nodded, but it was
Trish who said, "If he has any idea what he's doing, you'll be halfway to
orgasm before he slides his cock into you.  Add the lubrication, better fit,
deeper penetration... You're gonna be pleasantly surprised!"

      "Okay," Ellen said dubiously, "but he's used to doing it the old way.
How do I get him to change?"

      "Well, you could tell him," Merry chuckled, "but old habits die hard.
On the other hand, if you leave the lights on and the blankets off, and let
him know one way or another that it's okay, I guarantee he'll act like a kid
in a candy store.  You might even get a little tongue ride!"

      Trish snorted and nearly choked on her coffee, laughing.  Ellen
blushed.  "Really?"

      Helen nodded.  "Oh, yes!  And if he offers DON'T stop him!  I
guarantee you won't want him to stop if he gets started!"

      "Wow!  Okay!  Thanks, Helen, Merry  - or is it Marilyn?"  Ellen
enthused.

      "Well, it's complicated, but to people who know WHAT I am, WHO I am is
'Merry'."

      Trish shook her head.  "I guess I don't get it."

      Merry took a breath.  "Okay, it works like this:  The name on my birth
certificate is Marilyn.  But my master, whose opinion is the only one that
counts, has temporarily hung the name Merry on me.  By the way, that's not
M-A-R-Y, it's M-E-R-R-Y, as in Merry Christmas!  Robert says he calls me
that because it's my job to make him merry.  Strangers call me Marilyn, but
I like it if people who know my secret call me Merry in private."

      "I think I'm part way there, but..." Ellen murmured, perplexed.

      "Let's try this:" Merry began, "Let's say you bought a horse - or a
dog, maybe a terrier.  The dog has a pedigree, and papers from the AKC that
say his name is 'Johnstone's Red Avenger of Nyack'.  From a breeder's
standpoint, that's his name.  But if you're teaching him to sit, he can't be
'Johnstone's Red Avenger of Nyack'; by the time you get all of that out,
he's asleep at your feet.  So you call him Spot.  If you decide you don't
like Spot, you can call him something else next week - it's purely a matter
between you and him."

      "Similarly, my birth certificate calls me Marilyn, as does the
government and other strangers.  But I'm not a 'person' in the formal sense
- I gave up my civil rights when I submitted myself to Robert.  So I'm
property, or, at best, livestock, owned by Robert.  And he chooses to call
me 'Merry'.  Next week, it might be 'Faith', and it might be 'Shithead';
whatever it is, I'll answer to it with 'Yes, Master?'"

      Helen frowned.  "What's this about civil rights?"

      "Robert is pursuing legal means to make my legal status as close to
the reality as he can get it in this country - with my approval, as if that
matters.  One of the lawyers at work is putting together the pieces - I
expect it will involve wills and power of attorney and such.  But the
reality is that HE knows I'm a slave, and I know I'm a slave, and nobody
else's opinion really counts for much!" Merry announced.

      Trish, Padma, and Ellen were obviously perplexed, but Helen raised her
hands and shrugged.  "Hey, I've been all through this with her.  Bottom line
is that she LIKES it this way, and it's what she WANTS.  Isn't that freedom,
by some definitions?"


      Inside the beauty parlor, Denise waited impatiently until Dolores came
back from her shampoo, then proceeded to assuage her curiosity.  "Hey, Do,
what was the uproar in the den this morning?"

      Dolores shrugged and grinned.  "Tim's mama was a suspicious sort when
we first met her, so we told her a couple of stretchers in order to get our
way about the wedding plans," she related, more or less honestly.  "Mama had
an attack of conscience and got all blubbery about it.  Trish is a tough act
when you start out with her, but she's really a pussycat, so all's forgiven.
In fact," she simpered, "she's offered to help us overcome some balky man-
type problems..."

      Denise chuckled.  "When you've got 'em by the balls, their hearts and
minds will follow..."

      Dolores stifled a guffaw as the beautician, a blowsy woman named
Alexis, started evaluating her hair.  "What are you thinking, Honey?" she
asked.

      "Well," Dolores replied, "it usually stands straight out like this...
It'd be nice if for once it was under some kind of control..."

      "I'd give a lot to have this stuff," Alexis observed, "but I can
understand why you'd want something different.  Total control might not be
the thing either.  Let me see what I can do."

      Mandi was well along, her team having managed to accentuate the red
highlights in her somewhat mousy brown hair, then coif it into an upswept
style that bared her neck and de-emphasized her size by making her look
extremely vulnerable.  Having cross-checked the powder blue color of her
dress, the manicurist was busy creating a nail design from it, silver, and a
hint of red.

      Jackie, on the other hand, was getting somewhat the opposite
treatment.  Her hairdresser was applying some streaking in a somewhat
darker, auburn color that de-emphasized some of the more brassy red elements
in her mane and creating a conical pile of curls designed to increase her
apparent height while leaving a single, carefully calculated wisp to hang
like a relaxed spring straight down along her cheek.  She would get a bit of
glitter here and there to emphasize the silver stars appliquéd onto her
dress.

      Dina's chosen look was startling, and would not please her mother, not
that she cared.  Her beautician, Peggy, a wispy item with spiked hair and a
number of piercings was busy straightening her short dark curls so that they
stood straight out in a broom-like fluff around her head - not straight up,
but rather outward in a very wide cone.  Added to this was an application of
stark white makeup with black shadows over her face and upper body patterned
after a 'Farscape' character and providing a sultry, alluring look augmented
by the illusion of somewhat more rounded, sensuous curves.  If a male eye
tracked across the shadows artfully applied between her breasts, for
instance, it would be caught and held by the illusion of much larger,
plumper orbs that it presented. The only highlight - bright red lipstick
applied thinly OVER a layer of black, made her look like a cross between the
character in question and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.  The problem was
that it was actually quite fetching, and combined with her somewhat
revealing black dress, it was bound to attract quite a bit of attention.
Dina and Denise chattered with Peggy as she worked, Denise ensuring that she
understood the techniques and could make any necessary repairs on the body
paint for Dina.  "Your Mum is gonna shit a brick!" Denise chuckled.

      Dina laughed, nodding.  "Fortunately, I know her.  There's no denying
the effect, so even though she screams bloody murder, she won't make me take
it off."

      "When are you going to alter the top?" Denise murmured
conspiratorially.

      "I already have!" Dina chuckled. "I'll flip down the unnecessary parts
on the way to the Prom - or maybe after I've been there a while, and the
initial sensation wears off."



      "Okay," Ellen announced, "I've learned MAYBE enough to be able to
start pleasing Paul - now what do I tell him?"

      Helen frowned in thought.  "Well, I think that the first thing on the
agenda is to announce that you recognize that you have lost the right to
deny him sex - ever, under any conditions."

      "What?" Ellen queried, shocked, "That seems pretty extreme..."

      Jennifer piped up, diffidently, "I hesitate to mention this, but it
might be relevant.  Terry once spoke about what he considers serious issues
in a relationship.  The subject of withholding sex was mentioned, and while
I don't think he mentioned any names, his tone was... venomous.  If Paul
puts you out, don't expect any sympathy from your son."

      "You're in serious trouble, Honey!" Merry insisted, "Everything you've
said tells me that he's ALREADY made up his mind; he's just granting you the
courtesy of being able to change it!  You're seriously out on a limb!  If
you don't think you can take serious measures to recover, you might as well
kiss your current situation goodbye!"

      Ellen's eyes got huge, and her mouth dropped open.  After a moment,
she sputtered, "What do you think I should say?"

      "I don't propose to tell you exact wording," Merry declared, "but you
need to make it clear that for the foreseeable future, if he wants sex, the
most resistance he's going to get from you is 'Honey, can you give me 20
minutes for the Excedrin to go to work on this headache?', followed in
nineteen minutes and thirty seconds by the splat of your panties hitting the
floor!"

      Padma burst into giggles.  "Oh, my!" she exclaimed, wiping her eyes,
"You DO have a way with words!"

      "It WAS pretty colorful," Helen smirked, then turned serious, "but I
think she's right!  The things he's said - especially the cool divorce talk
- says he's not fooling around, and, frankly, he doesn't expect you to step
up to the plate.  You need to come big, or stay home.  Maybe leave home is
more accurate..."

      Fear was writ large on Ellen's face.  "Do I stand a chance?"

      "Well, I think so, or he'd have just kicked you out.  I think he WANTS
you to deliver - he just doesn't expect it," Helen theorized.

      "Okay, so, anytime he wants it, he gets it.  What else?" Ellen asked.

      "Well, if it was me, I'd let him know that the old rules are out the
window - that you're trying to adjust, learn new things," Merry offered.
"And if it was me, I'd let him know that, while he needs to take it easy and
give you some time to work up to it, no reasonable request will go
unserviced."

      "That's a pretty broad mandate," Trish observed.  "How do you define
reasonable?"

      Merry's eyes were like gun barrels. "Don't knock it until you've tried
it."  She backed off a bit, visibly. "Of course, he needs to understand that
the two of you need to conquer the basics before moving on to advanced
stuff.  And you may think that this is too broad a scope, and want to set
limits.  But I don't think they're a good idea, and, frankly, you've proven
that you don't know enough to set intelligent ones!"

      Helen grimaced, but Ellen nodded, "That's fair."

      Helen added, "If things go well, you may never have to worry about
limits.  He'll be happy with the improvements and not push too hard.  Not
that you should EXPECT to get away with it..."  She paused, then: "Actions
speak louder than words, though - and in case you haven't noticed, tonight
will be primetime - a Saturday night that you'll be home all night with Paul
and WITHOUT Terry!"

      Merry nodded.  "Talk's cheap - you'd better plan to deliver.  So,
what's the plan?"

      "Um," Ellen blinked.  "Get some K-Y.  Present the plan."  She stopped.
"What if he doesn't like it?"

      "Then you're screwed," Trish advised.  "The next possible offer is
Merry's condition - and I doubt that THAT has occurred to him.  If he won't
take what you're offering, he won't take anything!"

      "Okay," Ellen drew a shaky breath, "we assume success.  Bedtime,
lights on, encourage him to play with my p-pussy, spread the legs so he can
go deep.  Tell him if there's a problem..."

      "You can tell him he's doing it right, too, Hon," Helen advised.  "Oh,
and get happy!  Nothing will work if you act like you're going to the
gallows!  Don't fake it - expect things to go well, and they will!"

      "Yeah," Ellen replied, then after a moment with greater conviction,
"Yeah!  Why shouldn't they?  Look at all the improvements we'll be working
on!"

      "Good girl!" Merry encouraged.  She looked around.  "Hey, shouldn't we
go check on things?"