Chapter 5

Kathy, a different look to her, a sway to her hips and a gleam in her eye, emerged from the bedroom and back into the living room where Mitch especially looked curiously at her. His eye met hers and she didn't drop the exchange of looks as she had previously.

Dale followed right behind her. He had a slight smile on his face and he went straight to the bar.

Mitch looked Kathy up and down obviously, "Thought you got lost in there," he said "Almost came into the John to dig you out."

The new Kathy flipped, "You know women and mirrors. But frankly I didn't know I was missed or I would have come out sooner."

"I missed you," Mitch said simply.

Kathy turned to Dale at the bar, "Fix a drink for me, will you, hon?"

Dale went very professionally about fixing the drink. Kathy watched then said, "Stronger, please." Dale poured more liquor and Kathy smiled approval.

Mitch, now on the prowl, walked to Kathy's side and said, admiringly, "Turn around."

Kathy seemed bewildered. "What?"

Mitch made a horizontal circle with one finger to demonstrate the order. Kathy dutifully turned slowly.

"Very nice," Mitch said. "Lovely dress and what's underneath is even lovelier."

Liz warned, "Mitch!" She was more concerned with protecting Kathy than chastising Mitch.

"Do I really pass?" Kathy asked coyly.

Mitch made a wolf sound.

Liz announced, "If he could, he'd have half the women in the Valley pregnant."

Mitch kept looking at Kathy and wringing his hands. He was very impressed.

Dale handed Kathy her drink and in doing so got between her and Mitch. "Excuse me," he said.

Mitch bowed.

Kathy took a long swig of her drink while Mitch continued to eye her.

"I feel like a young filly," she giggled.

Irv stepped in for a rescue. "Don't mind Mitch," he recommended. "He just digs pretty chicks and you are a treat for him."

Liz added, "They don't have to be pretty. As long as it's not a man or an animal."

Natalie amended cynically, "All men are like that. Take Dale here-I'll bet he pants after half the women in the Valley. Right?"

"Well," Dale said hesitantly, not yet a swinger, "I love my wife but I look around. That I do."

"I'll bet he does," Liz said. "You know, Natalie, there are men who don't go the route though. You should see my hairdresser. Whoops!"

Natalie primped. "I consider every fag a personal insult. Everyone who is against fags, say aye."

She looked around the room and then raised her hand. The others all raised their hands too, except for Irv. He said, "Upon inspecting this group I would say us men are safe tonight."

"Not so, Irv," Mitch said. "I've always had some doubts about you, Irv." Then he did an imitation of a screaming swish walking across the room.

"Come on, Mitch. I can testify that Irv is a man-and quite a man." Liz smiled.

Irv tossed Liz a gallant bow. "Thanks, Liz, for the words of endorsement. And may I add that I have earned them. But I appreciate your vote of confidence."

Natalie, who looked a trifle drunk already, said, "I toast a real man. Anything a les can do, Irv can do better-but not much better."

Kathy said, "I'll drink to that," and drained her glass.

It was apparent now that the six people in the room had a new compatibility. It was obviously a prologue to an event. No one acted like this was the thing. This was only the preamble. It was small talk only designed to break the ice. Kathy was a different Kathy. Dale was eager. The others were only looking for thrills that had become less strong over the weeks. The new couple would help-but not much. Someone had to think of something else. Or the Friday night parties would end in boredom.

One thing was apparent. Mitch wanted to latch onto Kathy. He stared at her, toasted her and tried to stay by her side. Dale watched and liked that. It could mean big business if Mitch came through. Dale hoped Kathy would be real nice to Mitch.

"Have another drink," Mitch said, and he poured Kathy another. "There's nothing worse than being a deadhead at this kind of a party. And the sure antidote for dead-headedness is liquor. Right?" Kathy stole a glance at Dale. He smiled and she took the drink.

"Thanks," Kathy said to Mitch. "One more won't hurt, will it? Dale likes me to get plastered."

"Sure," Mitch said, and lifted his glass to Dale who toasted him. Dale walked over to Mitch and Kathy. Dale thought to himself that maybe he could further help this liaison. What a coup that would be. Mitch's friendship could mean his future.

"Great house for a party," Dale said. "Everything done with taste too. Plush."

Natalie hearing this comment put in her two cents, "Isn't it a perfect background for Candid Camera? Now wouldn't that be something? All of us on television. Stars!"

Irv added, "Yeah and the next day the Candid Camera would be getting us with a different background-a jail cell. So how would that look on television?"

"Tell you what," Natalie said, "Let's make it a test case. We're over twenty-one. We're not hurting anyone. Just having fun. Should we make it a test case?"

Irv said good naturedly, "Ah, shut up. This is a secret society. We don't want to make any test cases."

For a brief moment Mitch took his eyes off Kathy and paid attention to Dale. He seemed to be sizing him up. "Come on, tiger," he said "you're not drinking your quota. Gotta watch that."

A word from Mitch was enough. Dale went to the bar grinning all the way.

"Good work, Mitch," Natalie said, "you see that Dale gets his quota. Somebody's got to protect the little man. What am I saying, 'little man.' I should have such a little man."

That was Mitch's sensitive spot. He spoke up loudly, "You're right Natalie. Somebody's got to protect the little man's rights."

Irv had no interest in things outside of his small, tight world, but he liked people to think he was interested. "Say Mitch," he said, "what about the A.C.L.U.?" But he had picked the wrong organization.

Mitch scowled. "Say, that's one four-letter word I don't like. That damn American Civil Liberties Union is ruining America."

Mitch never scared Irv. When Mitch was serious he became good bait material for him. "Hey, Mitch," he said with coyness, "wasn't it the Supreme Court last week?"

But Mitch didn't get the sarcasm. His face was red. For a moment he had forgotten Kathy. "You bet your butt it was. It's gotten so goddamn bad now a cop has to consult a lawyer before he arrests some punk. The kids can't even say a little prayer in school anymore. What in hell are they trying to prove? You know what they all are-pinkos!"

Irv's reaction was a funny one. "Okay, Mitch, everything you say makes sense but why do you have to say it with your hand on my wife's ass?" Irv laughed.

Mitch wasn't even aware of it. He looked down, gave Natalie's behind one more squeeze, smiled and then took his hand away.

"Oh, don't stop," Natalie feigned a swoon.

"Now where was I?" Mitch asked seriously.

Kathy giggled and said, "I've never seen people like this before. You're all amazing." Kathy felt drunk. She found it hard to concentrate. "Let's see," she said to herself, "what am I angry about? And what am I supposed to do?" She couldn't remember but she felt good. She had a feeling Dale kept looking at her and she had no idea why. Was he worried about her? No, she felt fine. Nothing to worry about.

Liz decided to break Kathy in gradually. More subtly, more adeptly than the others could or would do it. She put her hand on Kathy's shoulder and said, "You know, we're not so different. It's just that we do what other people would like to do. That is, if they were honest enough to do it."

"Well put," said Natalie.

"Say," Kathy said, "that's pretty deep and I understand what you mean. You know I often want to do things but I don't. You know why? Because I'm too conventional."

"Do you still feel that way?" asked Natalie.

Kathy smiled. "Are you kidding? Of course not. If I want to do something, I'll do it. And you know what? I'd like to do things."

Irv sidled over to Mitch and whispered, "See. I told you there was nothing to worry about."

Through the buzz and the music in the room, Kathy overheard the aside. She had always been that way. Dale had often said it. She heard and saw everything. All the time.

She confronted them quizzically, as if sudden awareness had suddenly floated in on her like a cloud. "Say. What kind of a party is this?"

Irv took the ball. "Don't you know?"

Kathy shook her head negatively. Everyone looked at Dale and Kathy because Dale had taken her hand.

Dale felt the responsibility was his. He explained weakly to the others, "I explained that the party might get very wild." He smiled awkwardly at Kathy.

The drinks and the situation gave her courage. "An orgy?" she asked. There was only glee in her face.

It amused Liz. "That's just another name for group therapy."

Mitch tried to wrap it up so that everything was crystal clear.

"Now look," he said, "have you two ever swung before? Somehow you two have me puzzled. Dale here-well, I guess he'd do anything. But you, Kathy, you're the girl next door if you don't mind my saying so. Have you ever swung?"

Kathy looked at Dale as if she wanted him to answer. He didn't, so she answered, "Oh, lots of times. In fact we had a free love class at Berkeley."

Dale reacted to that. She had never told him anything about it. Well, women, they always puzzled him. Even Kathy still came up with surprises. Kathy was well aware that Dale was surprised. She shot him a crooked smile. "Well," she said, "that's something you didn't know about me. Right?"

"Oh, well," Dale stumbled, "I didn't know but I suspected." He was happy that she said that. They'd fit better into the crowd.

Natalie, a sophisticate, whistled and said, "Berkeley. Oh brother."

Dale felt as if he had to explain Kathy. He couldn't let them think she was wild. Just fun-loving enough to indulge in an occasional party like this. His explanation was, "Two drinks and Kathy becomes Elizabeth Taylor with a past."

Kathy wasn't sure she liked Dale explaining her away that way. She boasted, "You haven't seen anything yet!" She meant it.

But Dale reacted the wrong way for her. "Good. Wonderful!" He was all smiles.

Natalie looked at him and said, "Well, things are looking up. This handsome lad wants to play games. I'll toss you for him, Liz."

When Dale looked flustered, Liz said, "Take it easy Natalie. Slowly does it. Everything is going to be all right-Natalie appeared disturbed. "This is a party, isn't it? Isn't it true that I get my choice? Well, that handsome young man is my choice."

Because Natalie's voice had an undertone of unpleasantness, Mitch stepped in. He wanted nothing that would interfere with him and Kathy. She was delectable. He wasn't going to let this tired broad spoil things. "Listen, it's a party and everyone is to be happy. No problems. And the first one I want to be happy is Kathy." He took her hand "Come with me," he said. "There's a surprise waiting for you."

"I like surprises," Kathy said. If she had to play the game she preferred playing it with Mitch. He was vital and he was the kingpin and he didn't beat about the bush. When she thought of his hands roaming her body, she shuddered. But she thought maybe she'd get accustomed to it. She'd try. Somewhere under that blustering masculinity she sensed understanding and even sensitivity. That is where she had to dig.

She looked up at Mitch as they walked hand in hand. "You're beautiful," he said. "The kind of beauty that sticks in my gut. Christ, a guy can read anything into it."

Kathy liked that. She liked to be appreciated. Well, if it would help Dale....And then, too, Mitch liked her and she was drunk. There were reasons.

"Mitch," she said plaintively.

"Yes?"

Kathy went on. "I've never done anything like this before. You knew, didn't you?"

"I knew. Goddamn it, I knew!" They stopped in the hallway and kissed.