Chapter 12
SUNDAY AFTERNOON, ELSIE AND BILL dropped in for coffee. Dana had heard the rumors about them and discounted them without concern. "Besides," he'd remarked to Bill, "what of it? Whose business would it be?"
"But I'm not convinced," Bill admitted. "The kid just isn't that nonchalant. It's just that he's absolutely confident."
"We think that tells us something," Elsie added. "We want you to come to another party at our house Saturday night." She dimpled. "There won't be any outsiders, because we're going to talk about what we've been doing."
"Sounds like it could be pretty boring," commented Ted.
"Could be, but it won't," Elsie promised. "Anyhow, not even Dana's going to have a chance to overhear. He's leaving on an overnight outing right after the big game."
"We'll be there," Ted assured her.
But after the Rosses left, he had his doubts.
"I don't like it," he told Rita. "It's bad enough lying about what we've done without going ahead and doing it some more."
"You're not suggesting we stop, are you?"
"Well, yes, I guess I am."
"Ted!"
"Honey, I tried to suggest it once before-that night when we got mad at each other."
"That's what you were trying to say?"
He nodded. "I suppose I'm old-fashioned as hell, but I ... well, I just don't like swapping. I get too goddamn jealous!"
Rita stared at him with an expression of regret. "Ted! Why couldn't you tell me that right at the beginning!"
"Hell, I don't know, I didn't want to ruin your chance for a little variety, I guess."
"I didn't want variety! Oh!" Rita jumped up and ran toward their bedroom.
Ted rose, then thought better of following her. She more than likely needed a little time herself. They'd have to let the Rosses know they couldn't make it to the party.
But Rita disagreed when he mentioned it to her. "We'll go," she said. "We've survived it this long, we're not going to hurt their feelings now. Besides, it's only fair to let them know ahead of time that it's the last time."
Privately, Ted was opposed, but he knew that he wouldn't make an issue of it.
"It'll be a little exciting," Rita remarked in the middle of the week. "Knowing that neither of us buys the idea but doing it anyway, I mean. I think I'll wear something real special!"
Ted groaned. He didn't want someone else taking something real special off Rita, goddamnit! If it was to come off, he wanted to take it off her himself!
But there was little time to sulk. Loren Thompson had managed the same expedited service on the film of the last Saints game-an easy victory over the last place Longhorns-and Ted and Al and Bill spent hours analyzing their play-off opponents. They saw powerful, conservative football and recognized the fact that they faced their toughest Saturday. The two boys who had been hurt in the game with the Broncos were clearly outstanding.
Still, the Raiders peaked sharply. Their timing was back and they bubbled over with enthusiasm. When game time arrived, they were impossible, pulling pranks on each other and their coaches that would have called for stiff reprimands at any other time.
For the first quarter of the game, there was no apparent advantage with either team. Micky continued for the most part to drive his attack against the opponents' interior line, varying only often enough to keep the Saints from bunching too tight
From the beginning of the second quarter, the tide began to flow for the Raiders. As if the Saints were tiring from the relentless battering, bigger holes appeared and downfield blocking improved. The Raider offensive picked up momentum and the question became not if, but how soon. By the end of the half, the Raiders had built up a two touchdown lead.
Ted was worried about a repetition of the Rebels game and he told the team that he was.
"You didn't play up to capacity in the first half," he said bluntly. "You put more into your practical jokes before the game than you have into the game. Now, this is the last game you'll ever play for this coaching staff. I expect to see a good one. Don't make me ask you again."
The second half was a disaster for the Saints. Before the end of the third quarter, Ted was rotating all three squads and the score was mounting. But the Saints recovered at the end of the quarter, with a thirty-five to zero deficit and the Raiders scored only once in the final quarter.
This time, there was no lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Oakdale fans. The Raiders were mobbed-coaches and players-and they returned the attention with vigor. But eventually the demonstration subsided and the football season was officially over.
Ted alternately fumed and tingled on the way to the Rosses' that night. Rita had promised to wear 'something special' and she'd kept her word. She had on a wool jersey dress that made him catch his breath. The material was accordion plea ted-with narrow, close-set pleats running vertically all the way around-and so soft that it clung indecently. The top was two broad panels that tapered sharply toward her shoulders, meeting at the back of her neck. Her back was bare down to the top of the skirt. In front, the panels covered her breasts but left a strip of skin exposed to her waist. The skirt simply clung, leaving no doubt that it lay next to her skin.
To his surprise, Ted discovered that the other two women were as extremely dressed. He resigned himself to this one more night of trading.
Over their after dinner coffee, Elsie proposed a toast. "Coffee's not the best thing to drink toasts with," she admitted. "But let's drink to a hell of a fine education!"
Ted glanced at Rita in time to catch the sudden quirk of her mouth. Evidently she felt that she could drink to that.
"And then," Elsie continued, "let's admit that mate-swapping's too damn dangerous with teen age kids around."
Ted squirmed. Elsie sounded brittle and unnatural.
There was something phony as hell in what she was doing and saying.
Rita spoke up. "I don't give a damn about the teen-age kids. I'm just plain torn apart every time I see Ted making love to anyone but me!"
Elsie shot a startled look at Rita. Her lip quivered. "I ... That's how I feel, too!" Her voice rose to a wail. "Oh-h-h! I feel so old-fashioned!"
Bill put his arm around her shoulder and let her lean against him. "I'm afraid I'm just as bad," he said. "I'm not nearly as liberal-minded as I thought I was."
Cora and Al exchanged glances. "What a bunch of goddamn squares!" muttered Cora. Then she grinned. "I guess I'll have to be satisfied with you, Al."
"You mink!" he said. "You found out it didn't feel a hell of a lot different, no matter who was behind it, didn't you?"
She nodded. "You push it just as good as any of the rest of 'em, honey." She sighed.
"Let's go into the living room," suggested Elsie.
When they'd found comfortable spots, she said, "I did want to have one last orgy, just to sort of put the icing on. Would it be too awful if Bill made love to me right now?"
"Here?!" asked Bill.
Elsie stared into his eyes and nodded silently.
"I think that's a good idea," Cora said. "Come here, baby!" She pressed against Al.
"Wait a minute!" Elsie sprang to her feet. "We're not going to spoil it by being selfish! On your feet, Cora and Rita!"
"Now!" Cora unfastened the shoulder straps of her dress and let it slide slowly to the floor. She stood naked in the soft light and waited.
Cora giggled and bent to catch hold of the hem of her sheath. She tugged it up and peeled it off over her head, to join Elsie in her nudity.
Rita smiled at Ted and unclasped the top of her dress at the back of her neck. She let go and the panels slid off her breasts and let the skirt slither to the floor.
"Now, darling," she whispered to him. "Now!"
Ted reached up to cup his hand over her breast. Her skin felt cool and dry to his touch. He sniffed at her fragrance, conscious of it for the first time that evening, as if only the shedding of her dress had released it. He squeezed and Rita laid her cheek on the top of his head.
"I'm going to like this!" she murmured.
"A couple of hours?" he asked.
"At least!"
"I guess so. We're celebrating, aren't we?" He sucked her nipple between his lips.
Rita held his head between her hands, her fingers caressing the sides of his neck and leaned toward him.
"Honey?" she said.
"Mmm?" He liked it when her voice was soft and intimate like that.
"Get undressed, honey. Please?"
Ted released her breast from his mouth and sighed. He wished he'd worn as little as the women had.
"That's it, Ted!" exclaimed Cora as his shirt same off. "Come on, Al. You too. I don't want to waste time later."
Al grinned at Ted and started to follow his ex ample.
Bill watched them for a moment, then disengaged himself from Elsie and stood up.
"Hm?" said Elsie. "Hm? Where are you going?" he looked round her with a dazed expression. "Bill?"
"Just getting undressed, baby."
"But ... but there ..." She hugged herself and shrank against the back of the couch. Then she laughed and sat up. "God! I'm regressing! I got all wrapped up in what Bill was doing to me and forgot the rest of you. When he stopped and I saw there was a second when I forgot about all that's happened. Remember the dreams when you were out in a crowd, naked? Br-r-r!"
"You wouldn't have forgotten yourself a few weeks ago," Al commented. "No matter what Bill was doing to you."
Elsie studied him thoughtfully, then turned to look at Ted. She began to smile. "No. That's true. I'd have been poised and alert." She gave an exaggerated imitation of the composed dignity that was her most memorable characteristic.
"I like you that way, too," Ted offered. "I'd hate to see anything happen to that dignity. But I will say you're better without it when it comes to sex."
Bill grunted. "Damn sight hotter, too."
Elsie shivered and rubbed at her gooseflesh. "Bill! You've got to stop talking like that!"
Ted stretched. Maybe he was an exhibitionist. He enjoyed being naked with these friends and he was going to have fun making love to Rita in this room with them. He put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She reached out to grasp the shaft of his penis in her hand.
"Careful, doll!" he warned her. "That thing's loaded!"
She squeezed. "Then stop standing there dreaming and do something about it! No one's going to be helping you to keep me satisfied, now, you know."
"You're damn right I know!" He dropped beside her and scooped her to him. Damn right he knew. And that was the way he wanted it!