Janette bids on a massage

Janette stood up and peered over Kayla's shoulder. "I want that." Janette pointed to an entry on the app screen. "A massage. I want to bid on that. What do I have to do, Damien?"

"Ah, the massage!" said Damien. "Classic item. Always in the list of lots at every auction."

"So what's the catch?" asked Terrence.

"No catch, really," said Damien. "I mean, except ... well, except two things, I guess."

Kat smiled. "Two catches. Nice."

"The first one is who else will be there," said Damien. "And the second is not knowing whether you'll be getting or giving the massage."

Janette chuckled. "Ah, leaving a few values up to chance. I like it."

"Right," said Damien. "There are always a handful of massages up for bid. Very popular item. Folks get taken in pairs -- one to give, one to receive. But you don't know which you win until you go off to the massage room."

"You know what?" said Jan. "I'll do it. What do I have to lose?"

Terrence looked at her side-eyed. "Well, what if you get some creepy old man you have to rub down?"

Jan snapped back. "What if I get some hot hunky man who rubs me down?"

"What if it's a woman?" said Kat impishly.

Janette raised her eyebrows. "Ooh, I'd take that, too. I'm cool with whatever happens. Let's go."

Damien showed Janette how to bid on the app, which she did. "Okay, these go on all night, so it looks like this next one will conclude in just ... well look at that. It's about five seconds left for this one. Good timing, Jan!"

Jan smiled. She turned to Terrence. "I'm off for a few. Gonna get comfy and cozy, feel good about myself. I'll see you losers when I get back."

Damien showed Jan the app screen, which indicated that she had indeed won a massage option. "Now you just head over there, tell the guy at that door your code, and you're good." He showed Jan the screen again, this time pointing out the code.

Janette memorized the three-digit code and walked across the room to a door. A man there with a tablet greeted her. "Are you here for the massages?" he asked.

Jan nodded and told him her code.

"Very good. One moment, please." He checked with his tablet, and then opened the door and ushered her inside. They followed a hallway along which were several doors.

"How does this work?" asked Jan.

"First time?" the man said. He smiled at her. "You'll love it. This is a great gateway to the auction house. Easy stuff. I'm sure you'll enjoy it."

"But ... what if I have to give a massage and I don't know what I'm doing?"

The man laughed. "Then you'll have to be convincing, won't you?"

"Or else what?"

The man's expression changed to one of much more solemnity. "Oh, did you not read the user guidelines? If you're not fully cooperative in the room, you'll be ejected from the venue. And that goes for whether you give or receive. You absolutely must cooperate with your partner."

Jan swallowed and felt her heart rate increase. "I, um ... I guess I didn't read the fine print." Nervously, she continued. "But if everything goes well, I should have nothing to worry about, right?"

"Right. Ah, here we are." The man stopped at Room 9. There was a digital clock outside the room, and the timer on it was counting down toward zero. As they approached, it had about forty seconds remaining.

"This will be you. Your partner will join you through a door on the other side of the room. You'll learn whether you're giving or receiving the massage when the colored lights go on. If the light on your side goes on, you're giving. If it's on your partner's side, they're giving. The massage lasts fifteen minutes. You'll find all the necessary supplies and such inside. Do you have any questions?"

Jan was a bit frozen in mild confusion. "I think I have a lot of questions. But ... whatever, let's go for it!"