"What Shall We Do For Christmas ?"

"What shall we do for Christmas ?" asked Carol. They were sitting in her kitchen sipping coffee. They worked there as often as they did in the small office that Debbi had rented for their IT consultancy business and which they used primarily for meetings with clients. "The copper's going to take me home to meet his parents" replied Debbi. 'The copper' was how she referred to her new boyfriend James, the police inspector. "I wasn't talking about that. I meant us as a company. What are we doing ?" Carol corrected her. "I don't know what you mean ?" said Debbi.

Their consultancy had now evolved into a partnership. Debbi handled all the technical issues while Carol was responsible for promotional activities and admin. "Look" Carol continued. "We've only been going for three months. We've some clients but they're a bit precarious, kind of trying us out. And we could do with some more."

"Well, yeah, but so ?"

"So, Christmas is an ideal time to remind people that we're here. Have a promotional drive."

"I'm not getting my kit off" said Debbi. It was a reflexive response, remembering Secret Santa nightmares and other indignities at the company. Carol laughed. "What made you think it would involve that ?" she chuckled.

"It's not a bad idea though mum" remarked her daughter Charlotte who had come into the kitchen to make herself some toast. "Debbi always looks great with her kit off. You should make one of those calendars" she added. "That's a bit old hat these days isn't it ?" Carol was dubious. "It was" Charlotte agreed. "But now it has a kind of retro chic and is making a comeback if it's done in the right way. It's one of the projects we were talking about in our photography classes." Charlotte was studying art at the local technical college.

"I can certainly see it being a hit with our Japanese clients and with some of the local firms we have on board like the car repair chain" Carol agreed. "But some of our more staid targets like the law firms and accountancies might not go for it. They have quite a few women execs now" she worried. "Oh, I'm sure you could spin it that it's all about the empowerment of a liberated young woman with a healthy body image" Charlotte countered. Her mother could begin to see the possibilities.

"Don't I get a say in this ?" Debbi interrupted. "Of course. But it's not as if you've never taken your clothes off before is it " said Carol. "It'd all be in the best possible taste and for once we'd be benefitting from it." Debbi thought about it and then smiled to herself remembering the naked cross country trek that she and Carol had been subjected to. "OK" she smirked. "I'll do it if you will !"