The Erotic Costume Ball

After three years of marriage, the spark has gone out.

It's not that you don't love your wife, or your life. It's just that the combination of work and stress has pretty much destroyed your sex life.

The two of you have sex every few months, birthdays, anniversary, valentines day. It's unadventurous but still nice enough. You were a little adventurous when you were younger, but those days are gone.

So it surprises you when your wife, while paging through your city's free paper one October morning makes a suggestion.

"We should go to the Erotic Costume Ball" she says with a little shy spark in her eye. The Erotic Costume Ball has a reputation in your city. Started ten years ago, it's been known to get out of hand. Police turn a blind eye. One whole city block is shut down. Parents keep their children far far away. You suspect your wife might not realize what she's getting into.

"Are you sure?" You ask. "I mean, I'd be okay with trying it, but you know it has a bit of a reputation."

"I'm a big girl." Your wife says, "I can handle it." She gives you a determined look and you realize you're not the only one whose been unsatisfied with your sex life for a while. "Maybe it'll help spark things up," she says hopefully. "It'll be like old times. We'll go shopping for sexy costumes and just go nuts."

In all the years you've been with her, you're not sure you've ever seen your wife "go nuts" and you're not really sure she knows what it would truly mean to go nuts. She's cute, nice, and a little shy. Still, you agree. How could you not?

October 31st, you're waiting in line outside the Grand Ballroom.

You're wearing a football jersey, your wife a cheerleader's costume, her top a little low cut, showing just a hint of cleavage, her skirt short, naturally. She wears a pair of knee high socks, heeled shoes and her short brown hair is in pigtails. This was your idea. You didn't know each other in high school so you thought it would be fun to live the fantasy.

Surrounding you are a slew of other costumed people. You and your wife immediately notice how little clothing everyone else is wearing. Women are walking around in thongs and paint on their breasts. Some have tassels, some are bare breasted. Men too are in nothing but underwear. A lot of people are in S&M getups. People have collars, leashes. Across the street, up against the wall a man is fingering a woman. She's completely naked except for a pair of cat ears.

After a few minutes it's clear that your wife is uncomfortable. You realize that you probably shouldn't have come at all, that this was a big mistake.

"You're uncomfortable, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"We can go if you want. I know this isn't exactly your scene."

"No, no, it's not that..."

"What is it then?"

"Well actually, I feel kinda overdressed. I mean I don't want to be the prude in the group."

"Oh," You're a little shocked, "Well what do you want to do about it?"