----- Friday Morning

I was getting a gallon of milk out of the refrigerator when I shut the door, turned and bumped into Julie's naked butt with my face; I didn't see her come into the kitchen. She turned around.

"Good morning.", I said to her crotch, not bothering to look up.

"And a good morning to you too.", Julie said from somewhere above my head.

"Would you like some cereal?" I was still speaking to her pussy.

"Sure. Want me to get the bowls?"

"Please.", I requested, still looking straight ahead. Yes, I was having a conversation with Julie's pussy. But the replies came from above.

I grabbed her sugary, fruity, circle cereal -- we kept the boxes of cereal in the bottom cabinets -- and brought it over to the table. I eat wheat flakes; always loved that stuff. I like to put a spoon of sugar on top and sometimes blueberries if we have some, but no blueberries today.

I felt like a kid, stretching up to reach things on the table. I can't reach the middle without getting up on the chair anymore.

Julie set the bowls down and put her right foot up on the table and her hands on her hips. It was like a foot stool; easy for her since the table was just above her knees. Her crotch was again right in my face.

"What'cha have planned today?", she asked.

"I'm going to get a treatment again. I'm bringing Jill with me."

"You are?", she asked, surprised at the news. "Why?"

"I don't know. She wants to go."

"She seems a bit preoccupied with you little people."

"Little people? I guess that's what I am now: little people.", I nearly screamed into her vagina.

"I didn't mean anything bad, Sam. What else am I going to call you guys with the shrinking virus?"

"I don't know. It's just hard being labelled. What if I called you the jolly green giant?"

"I see what you mean. I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It was fair."

"How long are you going to be talking into my genitals?"

"As long as you want to talk."

"What if it decides to bite you."

"Ooo. Kinky."

"It figures you'd say that.", she said right before snatching my bowl of cereal which I was just about to start eating. "Want this?"

"Give it back." She held the bowl out of my reach.

"Come get it."

I stood on the chair and couldn't reach. So I got up on the table. She held the bowl over my head. I still couldn't reach it. So then I climbed up onto her knee -- her leg was still up on the table -- and leaned onto her left tit as I reached up to get the bowl. She let go once my hand touched it, then with her hands free she grabbed me around the waist.

"Gotcha!"

I was now being held with my back against her chest. I slid back snuggling right into her cleavage, resting both of my arms and bowl on her gigantic tits. It made a nice shelf.

"Now you can talk to me rather than my crotch.", she said.

"Let me finish my cereal then I can turn around and see your face."

"I can still hear you better than way down there."

"Fine. It's not so bad down there. But I can stay here for a while."

Julie smirked and rolled her eyes. "Would you like to come with me to work like this?"

"I'd love to. But I have to go. Remember?"

"So, you're trying to get out of coming with me?"

"I wouldn't think of it. Believe me, I love it being here. Maybe we can go out tomorrow like this; get some ice cream or something."

"Don't you think people would stare?"

"They stare anyway.", I said with a mouthful of cereal.

"Do ya' think we make a peculiar couple?"

"It's not us. They don't see me, only you."

"You're not that much smaller than me."

"I'm sure some will take exception to that. But that's not the point. They're all staring at your beauty."

"Trying to butter me up?"

"But it's true. I'm the luckiest guy in the world because I'm in love with the prettiest girl in the world."

"You're the luckiest guy because of all the girls I let you go to bed with."

"That too. By the way, Cindy's coming over tonight. And probably Sue."

"What about Marie and Joe?"

"It's likely, but I'm not sure yet."

"Anyone else?"

"I'd like to get Gail to come over for you to meet her, but I doubt she'll make it."

"Well, I guess we'll find out tonight."

"We've had quite a few wild Friday nights.", I said.

"It's becoming a thing."

"I know. The weekends are also good."

"You like running around buck naked, don't you?"

"You do too."

"It's because we always end up naked."

"So? It's my house, we can do whatever we want. Besides, it all started with Erin. I should have known the first time I let her come over."

"Don't blame Erin again."

"No way. She got naked first. Remember?"

"I remember."

"You two were drunk."

"You were too."

"I was not. You guys got me drunk last week and that was the first time since college."

"Oh, yeah. I guess you're right."

"You bet your ass, I'm right."

"You're fun when you're drunk. You should drink more often, Sam."

"No, I shouldn't. Aren't I fun even when I'm sober?"

"Meh, I guess so."

"Guess so.", I said shaking my head and mocking her. "Want fun? How about you dance with the girls next time?"

"Uh, I don't think so."

"You'd be so much fun.", I said, mocking her using my rendition of her own voice.

"Oh yeah?", she said as she grabbed the bowl from my hands. It was empty anyway. Then she lifted me up to the ceiling. "You wanna see me dance?"

She started spinning around holding me out at arms length. Around and around we went. She was laughing like a little girl. We both became dizzy and she fell down with me falling on top of her.

"Thanks for breaking my fall.", I said rolling off of her. I stood up and wobbled, only to fall over on my side yet again.

"Oh, no. You ok?"

"Yeah, what about you?", I said. "You hit the ground pretty hard then I fell on top of you."

"I'm fine. Give me a minute for the kitchen to stop spinning."

"Let me know when it does."

"Are you two drunk or something?"

"Oh hi, Erin."

Erin greeted us, "Good morning. I'm glad I'm not the only one naked."

"We were just talking about that.", I said.

"Why are you two on the floor?"

"Julie was dancing."

"I missed it?", Erin asked, disappointed.

"Nothing to see really. Unless you like seeing whirling dervishes. We got dizzy and fell over."

"Your fall woke me up."

"We're sorry. Go back to bed. We'll be quiet now."

"We have to get ready to go to work anyway.", Julie added.

I asked when Erin had to work. It was another late night for her but Fred was going to take her.

"Hey, another weekend with Fred. I bet you're excited."

"I am. We might go out this weekend."

"I'm sure you two will have lots of fun."

"I know, I can't wait for this weekend."

"Me too. Julie's going to take me out for ice cream in her cleavage."

"You wish; little pervert.", Julie said.

"But I though you liked ice cream?"

"Ha ha, very funny. I'm not going to break your fall next time."

"Uh, oh. Falling from that height could be dangerous."

Then Julie picked me up; all the way up to where my head was touching the ceiling.

"Whoa. Don't drop me!"

"And what if I do?"

She let go but I was holding on to her right arm. She was holding me up with little effort, smirking.

"If you put me down I'll lick your kitty.", I said, hoping to persuade her.

"Oh, now you're nice to me."

"I was nice before."

"That's debatable."

"Well? And what are you laughing at, Erin?"

"You look so pathetic being held up by Julie. It's hilarious."

I rolled my eyes.

"Here, I'll put you down.", Julie said as I was lowered to the floor. I gave her a kiss, you know where.

"Mmm. Thanks, Sam."

"Now aren't you two glad you're naked?", Erin said to both of us.

"Whatever.", Julie replied. "I can't go to work like this though. I have to get ready."

"If you keep growing, Julie", I said, "you won't be able to find clothes that fit and you'll have to go to work naked out of necessity."

"I'm not that big, yet."

"How big are you now? Have you measured?"

"Not lately. We don't have time to do that now; let's do it tonight."

"In front of everyone? Sounds good to me."

"Yay!", Erin said.

"I think everyone has seen us all nude anyway. We might as well."

"I hope I haven't shrunk anymore. I guess we'll see tonight."

Erin and I hung out talking for a while before I had to get ready. I never did too much work on Fridays anymore anyway. But I had to get ready before too long. I was picking up Jill to bring with me today.


----- At the clinic

To my surprise, the folks who ran the trials were happy to have Jill stop by. They showed her around and let her have run of the place except for the rooms where they actually pumped the meds into our arms and took blood from us.

It was just after the first round of blood taking and med dosing and we were all in the big break room again.

"Hi, Sam. I see you brought Jill with you.", Cindy was saying.

"Yeah. She wanted to come. I'm not sure why."

"I think it's great she's showing an interest."

"Yeah, she's ... oh shit. There's George over there with Gail. Let's go."

Before Cindy and I could reach them Jill got between the two.

"Hi, there.", Jill said to the both of them.

"Hello.", Gail said to her. George was just staring wide-eyed up at Jill.

"What's your name?"

"I'm Gail."

Jill crouched down and offered her hand to Gail. Gail took it and Julie told her, "My name's Jill. It's a real pleasure meeting all of you. I'm Sam's friend."

She wasn't talking to George. This was good since she prevented him from talking to Gail.

"Excuse me, miss. I was talking with Gail.", George finally spoke up in exasperation.

"And who are you?"

"I'm George."

"Hello, George. Marie was telling me about you."

"You know Marie?"

"Oh yes. We had lots of fun this weekend. Did she tell you about me?"

"No, she didn't."

"Let me see if I can find her."

"NO! You, uh, don't need to do that. I just wanted to talk to Gail alone."

"I just wanted to meet Gail; you shouldn't monopolize her time, George."

"Look, lady. I don't need anyone telling me what I can and can't do. You butted in."

Jill stood up and moved close to George so she was looking almost straight down on him.

"Well, I'm sorry, little man. Why don't we see what Gail wants. Gail? Would you like me to go away?"

"Oh, no, Jill. I'd like to finish our conversation. The one I had with George is over. Right, George?"

"Uh, sure.", he said, in a timid voice as he walked away.

"I know Sam and Joe. They told me about you, and I figured that that was George who was bugging you. Sam told me about him too last week. Gail, I hope you're ok."

"I'm ok, thanks to you. You're Julie's sister, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am."

"Sam was telling me about you too. Oh, hi, Sam."

"I'm sorry we didn't intercept George for you.", I was saying to Gail. "But it looks like Jill got here in time."

"Yeah. Thanks, all of you."

Jill was wearing blue jeans and a tight, black, long sleeved shirt. She had on boots, the heels of which made her just tall enough to put Gail's face right at her crotch. I suspected Jill was enjoying this encounter with Gail.

"Joe and Marie came with us last week.", Cindy was telling Gail. "They spent a lot of time with Jill."

"They must like you, Jill.", Gail said.

"Are you coming over to Sam's tonight?", Cindy asked her.

"I don't think so."

"I'll be there, and of course, Jill."

"Maybe. I have a feeling I'll be meeting all Sam's friends real soon."

"You'll like them. They're all nice. Except when they get me drunk.", I said.

"You were drunk?"

"Yep."

"Shame on you."

"Hey. It's not my fault."

Gail was giggling. That was the first time I can remember her laughing. "Who's fault is it, then?", she asked.

"They were all trying to get me drunk."

"Oh, come on, Sam. You don't get drunk unless you want to."

"I didn't want to. I swear. They kept making me drink their wine."

"Poor boy. They held you down and poured it down your throat?"

"No. They tricked me."

"And how did they do that?"

"I don't remember. It's all fuzzy. But they definitely made me drink when I didn't want to."

"I can't believe Cindy and Jill would do such a thing.", Gail said.

Cindy and Jill were in stitches at this point.

"But you hardly even know Jill, Gail."

"I suppose we'll have to get to know each other better.", Gail said and her and Jill went off to another corner together. I noticed Jill crouching down to talk to her the whole time.

"That was strange.", I said to Cindy.

"What?"

"I didn't think Gail would even talk to someone so big."

"Jill saved her from George."

"She did, didn't she?"

"As long as those two are together George won't be bothering Gail."

"It's a good thing I brought her then."

Things went as usual the rest of our time, except this time treatments ended a bit early which meant we did calisthenics together. Most didn't like this part. Jill joined us though. It was a little funny watching her with all of the little people around.

I spent some time socializing toward the end until Doctor Sarson had a free moment. We were ready to leave but I needed to talk so I had Jill and Cindy wait.

"I have a friend that has recently been diagnosed with the virus.", I told the doctor. "I was wondering if there is anything you could for her?"

"Has she seen a physician?"

"Yes, but I don't believe her's is too knowledgeable about the disease. I've sent her to my doctor."

"We'll need a referral from a physician first. Even so, you understand she won't be able to join your group."

"Aw, she won't?"

"Don't worry, Mr. Cook. Other clinical trials are part of the ongoing series. In fact, I believe another one is starting soon right after this one ends."

"Great. Can we get her in on that one?"

"She needs to follow protocol. Have her see the doctor and get a referral. Then we will evaluate her case."

"Ok, I'll make sure she does the right thing."

"You can bring her with you for the next session. I can spend some time talking to her a little about the disease and show her around. Perhaps we can build her hope. While she won't be part of this study, she is still welcome."

"I'd love to take you up on that but I'll have to convince her first."

"Let us know ahead of time. We hope to conclude the series of studies within a year, which means that we'll know enough such that we can get government approval and physicians can start writing scripts."

"Cool. Thanks."

Now I had some good news for Teagan. Maybe she wouldn't think so but I couldn't wait to tell her.

"I have another question.", I told the doctor.

"Yes?"

"I've lost a couple inches recently. How much is the treatment supposed to help?"

"It cannot completely stop the shrinking, if that is what you are asking. It does slow it quite a bit to the point where it is almost unnoticeable."

"Great.", I said. "It doesn't seem to be working."

"You do, however, need to keep yourself in good health. The medications can't do their work when the body and immune system are compromised."

"Compromised. That sounds so, ... official."

"Ahem, yes. Not getting enough sleep or eating right, having a sedentary lifestyle, abuse of drugs or alcohol, emotional difficulties, illness and injury will all lessen the benefits of the medication."

"Wait, you said alcohol. Could getting drunk make you shrink?"

"Indeed, it can negate some benefits of the drugs you're taking. It is possible that one episode can lead to loss of some stature, but generally chronic severe alcoholism almost totally negates the desirable effects of the medication."

"I see.", I said to her. "Shit!", I said to myself. I was wondering if last week's episode of inebriation caused me to lose that inch.

"I hope you didn't imbibe.", she said.

"I don't like to, it's just that everyone kept feeding me alcohol last week."

"I see. And now you see firsthand how damaging alcohol can be. Sometimes it doesn't appear for a few days, but this can affect the functioning of the drugs acting on the virus."

"Damn!"

"Perhaps we weren't clear enough when we talked about this before. I will make these things more explicit when we talk about it next time. In the meantime you can tell your story to others."

"I will."

We were about ready to leave. I invited Gail to come over this Friday night, but as suspected, she declined. Joe and Marie wouldn't be coming tonight, but Cindy and Sue would be staying at least Friday night, if not all weekend.

Zoe had told me that she would be at Mike's, but not her boyfriend: he had to work.

On the way over to Mike's I got a chance to talk with Cindy and Jill about them getting me drunk.

"So, you see why we shouldn't drink alcohol."

"I'm so sorry, Sam. I had no idea."

"I don't think anybody did. But I hope next time people will respect my wishes."

"I will, Sam. I promise."

Cindy wasn't in the best of moods after this. But singing at Mike's helped.

I was able to convince Sharon to come up with me for exactly one song: the one we did at home last week -- Two Ten, Six Eighteen. I could tell she was nervous but she enjoyed it nonetheless. I thought she was great. Apparently, so did everyone else.

The gang ended up at the house again.


----- At the house

This time I wasn't touching anyone's drink but my own iced tea, and I was guarding that with my life. I must say that they tried again to get me sloshed, despite my and Cindy's protests. I needed to tell them.

"Erin, Julie, can we talk?"

"Sure.", they said.

I wanted to talk with them first because I felt they were the ones who could sway others.

"Ok guys, here's the deal. You know that for those of us with the virus we need to stay healthy, otherwise we shrink faster. Right?"

Their heads were nodding and they were saying, "Oh, yeah."

"I found out from Dr. Sarson tonight that being healthy means staying sober. I've lost another inch or two in height from last week and I'm pretty sure it's because I was drunk."

"Are you sure?"

"Yep. According to the doctor, even one night of drunkenness could do that and I lost that inch pretty quickly."

Now the girls were looking pretty upset. Julie especially.

"I'm sorry.", Erin said.

"Are you the one who planned getting me drunk last week?", I asked her.

"We all did. I think Cindy was the one who brought it up first but I wanted it too."

"Well, see what it's led to?"

"I feel so bad now.", Julie said.

"Well, it's done. I can't get that inch back. Just please don't do that again. And Julie, try to keep others from feeding me alcohol."

I got a chance to tell Sharon too. When I saw Sue she had already been told.

"We're sorry about last week."

"I know you are."

"If you want, I'll get real drunk tonight so I can become closer to your height."

"You'd do that?"

"Sure. I mean, we're all going to shrink more anyway."

"No, Sue. I don't want that for you."

"I might just get plastered anyway. I really feel bad about this."

"Don't. I mean it. I'd rather you be sober."

"I think Cindy might."

"She's been drunk before. I wonder why it hasn't affected her."

"I don't know. She didn't seem too drunk last week. Except when she saw you to bed."

"Oh yeah? What happened then?"

"You were asleep. Cindy tried to pick you up to bring you to the bedroom. You should have seen how funny that looked. It was clear that she was looking out for you, but there was no way she was going to carry you. Julie had to pick you up. You were so cute, like a little sleeping child."

"Cute, huh?"

"I didn't mean that in a bad way. You look so peaceful asleep."

"Was Cindy drunk then?"

"I'm not sure, but think so."

"Were we naked?"

"No, not then."

"She must have undressed us in the bedroom."

"She never came back out. Did you two make love?"

"Last Friday night? I don't know. I can only remember Saturday morning."

"We should talk to Cindy.", Sue said, looking around for her. We found her talking to Sharon.

"Hi Sharon. Cindy.", I said, butting in on their conversation. "Can we talk with you guys?"

"Sure.", Sharon said. "We were going to come see you anyway, Sam."

"Cool. We just wanted to ask Cindy something."

"What did you want, Sam?"

"We wanted to know how much alcohol you had last week.", Sue asked. "Wait. Could you stand up for me, Cindy?"

When she did, Sue went to stand next to her, measuring her relative height against Cindy.

"You know, I think you do look a little shorter. Have you measured your height lately?"

"Not lately."

"You did have quite a bit of alcohol last week, didn't you?"

"No, not much.", Cindy said. A little moment passed and she admitted, "Oh alright, I had a buzz going, ok? So sue me."

"Nobody's faulting you, Cindy. But I think it might have made you shrink a little.", I said.

"It doesn't take much, does it?", Cindy rationalized.

"I know, But we need to measure you."

It seems everyone came over to the 'height measuring' wall where we made all the marks. Of course, I'm sure that had nothing to do with the fact that Cindy shed her clothes.

Sue did the honors. "Four foot even. Maybe just a tad bit over. But definitely below the earlier mark."

"See, Cindy.", I said.

"Ok, your turn, Sam."

"Ok.", I said. They all looked at me.

"Well?"

"Well, what?"

"Get naked.", Erin said.

"Fine."

I was measured at four feet and two inches.

"Whew. I thought I had lost some more."

"Let's measure Julie now.", Cindy said with a little bit too much enthusiasm in her voice. Everyone else thought it was a good idea too. So, off came her clothes. I got up on the step ladder and made the mark. It was above the last one, nearly to the ceiling. Big surprise. Julie stretched the tape.

"Seven feet eight inches.", she said.

"Damn, Julie. When are you going to stop?"

"I hope when you stop shrinking, Sam. The sooner, the better."

Erin said, "We need to measure me. And Jill."

"We don't need to measure you, Erin.", I said. She stuck her tongue out at me. Fred agreed.

"But we need to do Jill.", she demanded.

"Oh, alright.", Jill conceded. She moved with her back to the wall.

"Unh unh.", Erin admonished. "Clothes!"

Jill reluctantly got naked. The measurement stood at six feet and two inches for her. Man, she was growing fast.

"Jill, you're going to catch up with Julie soon.", Cindy said. I think she really liked hearing this from Cindy. Jill was smiling now, having forgotten all about her nudity. Both Cindy's head, as well as mine were far below the bottom of Jill's boobs -- boobs that I swear were growing out of proportion to the rest of her, just like her sister. Jill was eating this up.

Jill also realized that she passed a milestone. She was over six feet tall now.

"How about you, Sue?", Cindy asked.

"Yeah, get naked." Leave it to Erin to yell that out.

At first Sue looked a bit embarrassed. But then she smiled as she shucked her clothes. Erin and Cindy were rubbing off on her.

"Ok. I'm ready.", she said as she stood against the wall.

"Four feet six inches.", Julie announced.

"It looks like the meds are working for you.", Cindy said.

"That's because I didn't get drunk."

"I saw you with wine last week, Sue.", I said.

"But I hardly had two sips."

"What do you mean? What happened to it?"

"You drank it, Sam."

"Me?"

"I'm really sorry.", Sue said. She gave me a hug. I was staring at her chin.

"Wait a second.", I said, moving away. "Sharon?"

"What?"

"I ... nevermind. I just figured something out."

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

I realized that I was looking into Teagan's chin the other day talking to her, which would make her as tall as, or rather as short as, Sue. That meant Teagan was 4'6". Poor thing. She shrunk more than she thought she did; more like a whole foot.

I looked around and realized that beside Sharon, only Erin and Fred were dressed. I had to tease her.

"Want to be measured, Sharon?"

"Not especially."

"If you take off your clothes that would only leave Erin and Fred."

Erin started to take off her clothes.

"No, Erin. We don't need to measure you. You have to stay dressed."

Others caught on and joined in.

"Yeah, Erin. You're always five eight. No need to measure you. Stay dressed.", they were all saying.

"But."

"No buts."

"I can still get naked, right?"

"Nope."

"Aw, please."

"Gotta stay dressed, Erin.", I told her.

Poor Erin was really suffering.

"You guys have all the fun."

"Sharon's still dressed.", someone said.

"But she doesn't want to undress."

"She's not getting measured."

"What if I got measured?", Erin said again.

"No, Erin. You're not growing or shrinking."

"I think your boobies are shrinking.", I said.

"Oh, no. They are?" Erin was getting worried.

"Actually, I thought they were getting bigger."

"Sue!", I said. "You're supposed to play along."

"Sam?", Erin was asking, "Are you teasing me?"

"Yes, Erin. I'm teasing you. At least I'm teasing about your distaste for clothes and not about your stature."

"Oh."

"Erin, it's such a silly thing. You can lose the clothes if you really want. Nobody is going to get mad."

"Well, maybe I'll just stay dressed.", she said in denial, her arms crossed in front of her chest. A still ample chest, I might add, despite my earlier comment.

But we were all left speechless. Erin not wanting to get naked?

"Okaaay.", I said. Everyone else was staying naked and we were all just waiting for Erin's will to break. We were counting down the time.

I interrupted Jill and Cindy talking.

"What do you guys think: will Erin's clothes stay on all night?"

"No.", Cindy said.

"Yes.", Jill countered.

"So, a definite maybe. I should take bets."

"What will the winner get?", Jill asked.

"I don't know. This one could have multiple winners and multiple losers. Any ideas?"

"The loser has to stay naked all weekend.", Jill said.

"No, that's the winner.", Cindy added.

"You better get this straightened out before Gail comes over.", Jill said.

"Gail?"

"Didn't I tell you, Sam?"

"Tell me what?"

"I assumed you'd be ok with it so I invited her over this weekend. She said she'd come tomorrow. I meant to tell you."

"Yeah, I'm ok with it, but I had no idea."

"Wouldn't you want to see her naked too?", Cindy asked.

"Who? Gail? You guys are crazy.", I told her. "She's probably scared enough just coming over to meet Julie. Let's not make her too uncomfortable."

"Why would she be scared of Julie?"

"Her size."

"Oh, that's right, she doesn't like big people."

"I was nice to her today. I think she likes me.", Jill said.

"You saved her from George."

"What's the deal with him?"

"He's creepy.", Cindy said.

"Sue told me he's a pedophile."

"Really?", they both said.

"Sure. Ask her yourself."

We went to talk to Sue about George.

"Little girls?", Jill said. "Like what? Ten, eleven?"

"Younger.", Sue answered. "He likes them before puberty. He told me."

"We have to watch out for Gail.", I said.

"And Cindy."

"Why Cindy, Sue?"

"Have you seen how he looks at her? We all know Cindy looks young. No offense, Cindy."

"None taken.", Cindy said. "I consider it a complement."

"How old are you, Cindy?", I asked her.

"Thirty one."

"Jeez, I had no idea. I didn't think you were any older than me."

"I've always looked kind of young. But now, well, you know."

"I consider that a perk.", Sue said.

"You two look like you're in your teens.", I said. "But, other than being short, Gail doesn't look any younger than you two. I wonder what George sees."

"Because she's shorter, I guess. George wants her to pretend she's younger too."

"Pretending's ok, right?"

"Except George creeps Gail out. He won't take no for an answer."

"It's a good thing Jill was there today."

"We'll have to figure something else out for next time."

"Tell him Gail has herpes."

We all looked at Sue.

"What?", she said.

"I don't think that's going to work, Sue."

"Do you have any better ideas?"

"I don't know. I'll think of something."

Jill asked if she could come with me again next time. We all decided it would be a good idea and I told her I'd check about it on Monday. That got our spirits up.

"So where did Erin run off to?", I asked them.

"Over there.", Julie said, pointing in her direction. She was with Fred.

"Looks like you lost, Jill."

"What did she lose, Sam?"

"The bet."

"What bet?"

"She bet Erin would end up keeping her clothes on.", I told Julie.

"Bad bet, Jill.", she said.

Yes, it was true. Erin was undressing. I bet you're surprised. Cindy was laughing.

"Looks like you have to stay naked this weekend, Jill."

Everyone was now laughing. The look on Jill's face was priceless.

"I was just kidding, Sam. Besides, Cindy said that the winner would be the one naked."

"But you said first that the loser would stay naked. Don't try to weasel out of this."

"But Gail's going to be here."

"I'm sure she's seen naked girls before.", I said.

"Gail's a girl herself.", Sue said, catching on.

Julie told her, "Yeah, she won't mind, Jill." Julie caught on too.

"Looks like you're not getting out of this one."

"What will Gail think of me?"

"I'm sure she'll understand."

"But..."

"Ah, ah. You'll have to stay naked the whole weekend."

"The whole weekend?"

"That's what you agreed to."

She was pouting. I gave her a kiss on her belly.

"Don't worry. I'm sure others will be naked too."

"Really?"

"I think she should be the only one nude.", Sue said, winking. "You might like it that way, Jill."

"I don't think I can go through with this."

Jill was serious. I wasn't. I wanted to see where this was going but I was going to wait until the morning. I wasn't sure about the others.

"I told you, Jill.", Sharon started saying, "This house is haunted. Every time we're here someone gets naked. It not everyone."

"Don't you want to get naked yourself, Sharon?", Cindy asked her.

"Hey, she sang with me tonight.", I told them. "That took every bit as much courage, probably more, than undressing here. You shouldn't tease Sharon like that. In case I didn't mention it before, Sharon: thank you for singing with me at Mike's."

"Thanks for standing up for me, Sam.", she said. "If you want to spend the night with me tonight I'll get naked for you."

"Hey, what about me?", Jill complained.

"You'll just have to share me with Sam."

"Don't I get a say in this?", Julie said.

"Guys!", I said. "Stop arguing."

"So, what do you want, Sam?", Julie asked.

"What are Cindy and Sue going to do? Spend the night with you, Julie?"

"I don't know."

"Well, if they do then I'll spend the night with Sharon and Jill, ok? How about you, Cindy? Sue?"

Both agreed to be with Julie and me with Sharon and Jill.

And so it was settled. When we retired I talked a little about Teagan with Sharon and Jill.

"Yeah, I know her, Sam.", Jill was saying. "It's mostly through Sharon. I know you talked to her the other day. I hope she's alright."

"Whether she's alright or not is up to her at this point. She asked me not to tell anyone what's bothering her but I will tell you two that she needs help. Whenever she decides to get help I hope you guys will be a friend for her. She's really going to need it."

They both agree they would. Even though Sharon was still mad at her, she was worried about her friend.

"Look guys, she needs my help right now and I'm doing what I can. So, just stay cool for the time being and wish her luck. I'm sure you all will find out soon."

"I wish she wouldn't shut me out.", Sharon lamented.

"Well, you kinda shut her out for a while, didn't you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah. You were mad at her and wouldn't talk to her."

"I was mad for a good reason."

"I know. But how do you think she feels?"

"But I never really talked anyway. She was the one that always did all the talking. I doubt she even knew I was mad at her. Is that what this is about?"

"No, it's not. She's not mad at you. But what she's going through she doesn't want anyone to know. She has every bit as good a reason for that as you did for being mad at her."

"Ok. I'll trust you, Sam."

"Good. Now, get naked."