Low-Key Affair

Even though we had set out some pretty good beer for the party, none of that thirty rack nonsense freshmen keep buying, there never was any real concern about this turning into a drunken throw-down. Not only had my mom promised their parents we'd keep it reasonable, none of these girls were irresponsible enough to get trashed, at least not while in the presence of their friend's mom. But the party was a lot of fun. Board and card games were broken out. As the girls got progressively tipsier the games got significantly bluer.

During intermissions, the girls took turns focusing their attention on Gwen, Beth, and Farah. Jun was telling the twins how as much as she liked to be an exhibitionist, and how she was always looking for ways to stretch decorum, she was always able to dress appropriately when the situation called for it. And even then, she found ways to get a thrill, even if no one else would ever know. Taylor told stories about how at particularly big swim meets, the rising heat she felt while swimming drove her to swim even faster, if only because it meant she'd get to the showers quicker. Naomi was in the same boat as Taylor, recalling how once she turned eighteen the desire to immerse herself in her roles could seem all-consuming at times, but she was always able to break character when she left the theater. Even Jane, who as a New Zealander basically just had two huge erogenous zones where most people have legs, talked about how even when the feeling of fabrics could drive her crazy sometimes, she didn't let that control her world.

Farah was holding a court of her own. I couldn't hear all the conversations she was getting dragged into, but they often seemed to be hushed, with plenty of surreptitious peeks over at me. All the girls, even Jane, seemed to take to her quickly. Can't say I blame them, she's pretty amazing. I did notice that after speaking with Farah, each of the girls would seem to stand a little closer to me, and they were all asking me questions about my college and its campus, even Taylor who had her pick of schools across the country, and Naomi who might have been heading to California to become an actor.

Even my mom was engaged with the group, probably in part due to my direction to be "Super Mom". None of us let her try to serve us on hand and foot, but everyone was happy to talk about their college plans, or what they planned to do over winter break and all the normal gossip.

What was amusing to me was that at first, neither Farah nor Mom were zapping each other. I couldn't prove it, but I suspected that while I was outside cooking some sort of detente was reached. For the sake of decorum, neither would zap the other. So... I moved things along. When neither was looking at the other, I zapped them both simultaneously. My mom almost dropped her slice of cake, and Farah had to cough as she had been drinking when it hit. I was barely able to contain my laughter at the suspicious eyes they were shooting at each other. From then on, they were off to the races. It was a good thing the high schoolers were a little drunk, as they completely missed the jumps and squeaks that came with each buzz.

Once all the food was devoured and the beers were consumed, the girls helped me clean up, and then they trooped downstairs to the TV room. This wasn't their first sleepover, they knew the routine. Once the girls were out of sight I told Farah and Mom they were allowed to take the eggs out. As they both reached down to extricate them, I gave them each a prolonged buzz. Instantly, they both figured it out.

My mom just had a sly smile on her face. Farah on the other hand didn't take it quite so quietly. "Oh, you fucker. That was you all night?"

"Actually no. Just the first one. You too were playing it like some sort of mutually assured destruction. I just had to initiate the first strike, and then all restraints were off."

After we finished laughing at the awkward noises and jolts they had both been subjecting each other to, we all decided that it was time for bed. With the big event tomorrow, or more accurately later today, we agreed that it was for the best to get some sleep. We were going to need the rest. Today was all about Gwen and Beth.