the first pajamas

"The thing we know about the pajama scene is that it's physical and it's sexual."

Abbie nodded. "Charlie and I make out in the scene, and at least the way it's staged now, we both have our hands on each other a lot."

"Charlie's a bit chaotic, isn't he?" asked Paula.

"I think he's a bit of an idiot." Douglas spoke for the first time in a while. It seemed that both costumers were showing some jealousy about Charlie -- being that Charlie is the one guy who was basically instructed to simulate a sexual scene with Abbie.

"Aw, he's okay," said Abbie. "We're just figuring it out."

Paula sighed. "Anyway, we have three different pajama plans here. One is a satin two-piece. One is tank top and shorts. And the third is lingerie. Where do you want to begin?"

Douglas answered, "the satin."

"Not you, you dolt," said Paula. "Sorry, Abbie. I get punchy this late at night."

Abbie laughed. "It's fine! And the satin is fine." She reached for the edge of her dress and was about to pull it off when she remembered that she had no underwear on. "Oh wait. Two things, I guess. I don't have any underwear on, and two, should I, for this costume?"

Paula glanced at Douglas, and then back at Abbie. "If we're being honest here, you probably either shouldn't wear underwear, or you should wear something soft, thin, and skin-colored so it looks like you're not wearing underwear."

Douglas chimed in, "Is there nudity in the play?"

Paula smacked Douglas's arm. "No."

Abbie said, "No, but wouldn't wearing some kind of body stocking or whatever just look stupid, if it wound up showing to the audience?"

Paula smiled. "Would you rather your actual body showed to the audience?"

Abbie considered this. "Well, kinda. It's more real, isn't it?"

Paula shook her head. "Whatever you say, Abbie. You want to be naked, let's be naked."

"Wait, you mean for the pajama scene, I should be naked? Wow, that would be a bold choice!"

Paula laughed. "That's not what I meant. But good to know how you think!"

Abbie giggled. "Well, I don't know! It's my first show, I don't know how you theater folk do this!"

Paula held out the satin pajamas. "I know you're naked under that dress. If you want the changing room, have at it. At this point, I almost feel like we should just have a threesome and forget the costumes." Douglas's eyes lit up. "Except this dummy here would probably get in the way."

Abbie laughed again. "I feel like we've all gotten very close tonight, and it would be against everything I've said so far -- even the things I regret -- if I went and hid in the changing room. So unless you have a major objection, I'm staying here."

Douglas and Paula looked at each other and shrugged.

"Then here goes nothing." Abbie pulled the dress over her head. In one smooth motion, the dress was off, and her entire naked body was on display. At first, she moved her hands as if to try to cover her breasts, but then didn't bother.

Douglas just gaped at her. "I --" he began.

"Yes?" said Abbie.

"I'm single and straight and young and stupid and you're just standing there naked."

Abbie laughed. "You know, weird things happen sometimes." She reached for the light blue satin pajamas and put them on. The top buttoned in the front, and the bottoms were long with an elastic waist.

Paula looked her up and down. "Simple. Plain. Boring. Maybe totally fine for the show. How do they feel?"

Abbie shrugged. "Fine? I mean, I like satin against my skin. So they're comfortable."

Paula continued. "What do you have to do in the scene?"

"Well, other than stand and walk and talk, there's one moment where Charlie comes up behind me and holds me, and then the embrace kind of turns into something more intense, and we get on the bed."

Paula sighed. "Okay, Douglas. Be Charlie. Abbie, is it okay for Douglas to be Charlie here?"

"Sure!"

"Be Charlie, but don't be stupid." Paula waved Douglas in Abbie's direction.

Douglas stood behind Abbie, and she instructed him. "Put your arms around me ... no, your left arm under mine, and then your right arm over. You can clasp your --" Douglas had put his arms around her, but inadvertently grabbed her breast with his right hand. "No, not that. Clasp your hands together." He finally did it right.

Abbie began to play her part of the scene, which was to stroke Douglas's arm. She leaned her head back into him. "Now he comes around in front, and we're facing each other." He did, less awkwardly than before. "Then he touches my face, and his hand kind of goes down onto my chest."

Douglas touched Abbie's cheek, then drew his hand downward to her chest. He got to her breast, and once again took hold. Abbie smirked. "My chest, here --" She moved his hand. "Not my breast, which is here." She put his hand back on her boob. "Do you know the difference?"

Douglas smiled. "Nope. But I like the lesson!"

Paula smacked him again. "Douglas!"