CHAPTER 199: The State Of The Nation

 

ONE DAY IN SIM CITY

The day was just beginning as the people of the night shift exchanged places with those who lived and worked during the day.  Central Willow Creek was just gearing up for another fine, Summer day.  There was an optimism in the country right now:  The space programme was just starting to deliver results and, for the very first time, it seemed like America was just ahead of the Russians in getting to the Moon.  The war in Vietnam was going in the Allies favour as well.  On the cultural front the Beach Boys were riding high with their critically acclaimed album, Pet Sounds but word was that within weeks The Beatles were going to launch their next album and word was it was going to be revolutionary in sound.  Plus there was a tour by them in America soon after release of the record.

In Pack's Clothing, Barbara Dubois was doing one final stock check before opening the shop.  Business was going well; there was now enough money for her to hire a full time shop assistant and word on the street was that Pack's was the place to shop for all the latest Mod gear.

So business was good, very good, and it was certainly keeping her on her feet.  The choosing of what clothes to sell and putting outfits together for display was a real buzz but dealing with customers who wanted to be at the cutting edge of fashion...especially young people who wanted to look as cool as the top British Carnaby Street models...much like Barbara herself, made her feel like she was doing an important job for her community.

If she had any worries right now they concerned her boyfriend, Jeremy Saint.  He was always considerate, caring and loving towards her and their time together was a joy.  But he was clearly troubled by his thoughts.

Jeremy was leading a double life.  On the surface he was a conscientious employee at the Landgraab Corporation with a brief to raise the public profile of the company.  It was "yes sir, no sir" in public and he always handed his reports in on time and perfectly typed...

But he was also working to uncover the corruption and criminality of the very company he was working for.  The Landgraabs had brainwashed him to turn on his friends, they wanted to destroy his neighbourhood and they knew the truth about the tree just outside of his house that was a portal to a mysterious grotto that seemingly defied science.

He had been working with a colleague to gather that information but with the recent high security checks in the corporation building they had to be extra vigilant to avoid being noticed.

...because the Landgraabs were always just around the corner, an ever present threat...

There were moments when Jeremy felt his courage might desert him.  He just wasn't used to a life of intrigue and investigation...unlike his neighbour, John Action...

Like Jeremy, he wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on with the Landgraabs and their schemes.  He knew things about the mystery that Jeremy didn't; darker, more sinister intrigues but like Jeremy he too had been subjected to a form of brainwashing...someone had wiped certain, specific memories from his mind.  Two people were responsible but he only had the name of one...and she had completely vanished from view:  No one could find her but Action was certain she was out there, somewhere.

The other person was a barely remembered face but, like his cohort, he was proving difficult to find as well.

Action gave the punchbag one last, powerful belt before he hit the shower and got dressed.  He pushed thoughts of his investigations to the back of his mind as he headed into town to enjoy some time with his girlfriend, Katherine.  Other than she was rich, intelligent and stunning what turned him on about her was her doggedness and that she wouldn't take his crap about "keeping safe from danger".  She was the one person in his life who could speak frankly to him and keep his impulsiveness in check.

Action was getting known around town...he had his network of informants and his presence was well known in the bars and clubs in the inner city.  An undercover cop he was not...

Another man who was known all around town was Alan Cuffe.  He was keeping a watchful eye over his newest business venture, The Kitten Club.  A popular night spot for the young, not so young but definitely fashionable.  A physical, bricks and mortar representation of his magazine, Lothario, and the lifestyle it espouses:  Free, sexually liberal and with the veneer of sophistication.

There were others who disagreed though...some called him a pornographer and that his magazine, with pictures of naked ladies in them, was pure smut but Cuffe played by the letter of the law and had avoided a couple of attempts to have him put out of business.  Then there were the "Kittens".  If the club was the bricks and mortar incarnation of Lothario and Cuffe's ideas, then the Kittens were the living embodiment.  They were young, stunning women who adorned the pages of the magazine and who were a presence at the club in their figure hugging costumes; stylised cat outfits.  Again, the detractors claimed they were being objectified and exploited but every one of them were there out of their choice.  The life of a Lothario Kitten wasn't for every one of them...a couple had quit because it became too much, too intense and not what they hoped the experience would be...but the image of the Kittens seemed to embody the permissive society of today.

As Cuffe walked around his club, meeting and greeting the clientele and entertaining them with his anecdotes one would be mistaken for thinking he had reached the pinnacle of his life:  He's the man who has a successful business empire, a millionaire living in a mansion in the most exclusive part of Sim City and surrounded by beautiful women.  Yet his bonhomie was a facade:  He knew too many dark secrets and was haunted by what he had seen and knew.  There were things he discovered recently that almost drove him to madness.  His live in assistant and sometime lover, Madelyn, had kept his growing fears and paranoia secret from the world and effectively ran the company on his behalf whilst he sought ways to regain his sanity.  Few people knew that the slightly older Kitten, in her figure hugging outfit, was the one person Cuffe depended on but even she didn't know what his darkest secrets were.

In another hot nightspot in town, not too far away from The Kitten Club, another couple were dancing the night away but this couple had no secrets between them.  Travis Scott and Summer Holliday had recently become engaged and tonight was a double date with their housemate, Liberty and her boyfriend, Gary at the Orange Peel Club.

This was perhaps one last opportunity to spend time going out as a group before the serious business of wedding planning began.  Travis had been living with Summer for 2 years now and he knew, deep down, that he was always in love with her but it took him all that time for him to realise it.  For Summer, she had loved him from afar for even longer:  Back when they were in high school but Travis was that little bit older and was in an upper year from her so he never even knew who she was until they moved in together.

Marriage...he had only vague ideas what would be entailed on the day and then afterwards but he had resolved to learn on the job.  Summer, however, was brimming with ideas; ideas she had since she was 12.

The houseshare happened by chance and their third friend, Liberty, wasn't to be left out or be a third wheel.  She had found love with Gary; a young man with a romantic heart and a rich father.  Liberty's cool, scientific mind complemented Gary's poetic and gentlemanly style.  Would they go the distance?  Well, so far, so good...

One marriage that seemed to be going the distance was that of George and Edna Sneedley.  18 years and still together.  The late 1940s saw them emerge into the landscape of post-war America, where the rebuilding after the twin catastrophes of The Depression and WW2 began.  They had an austere wedding but after the Korean War and George's discharge from the US Navy they had thrived under Eisenhower's presidency in the 1950s.  The values of hard work, stable family life and love of community and country appealed to the Sneedley's and Edna's paranoia meant that she was kept busy trying to root out Communist spies wherever they lurked.

By the time of Kennedy's presidency the Sneedleys had it made.  They had Sneedley Burrow, their home, constructed out of their own money, in 1962...complete with underground nuclear bunker.  Edna adored the First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, and her style and modelled her wardrobe on hers.

And she wasn't the only one who admired the Jackie style...her husband, George, envied it as well (although he would never say so to Edna).  His transvestism was starting to take over his life.  Once an occasional hobby, he now had a fully fledged female alter ego:  Beulah Boutee.

Now he was working and living a double life.  As George he was a hotel chef, as Beulah he was a maid at the Landgraab mansion, working two days a week and no one suspected his real identity.  How long could he keep up this life?  He put that question well to the back of his mind.  He was enjoying being Beulah too much.

So too was Joanna.  She had her own secrets; once a streetwalker and now a college student.  She was just starting to get ahead in life so absolutely no one could find out about her background.  

But she had resolved to look forwards, not back.  She would earn her place in the world and she figured she had time on her side, just starting out and trying to find who would be good to have by her side as she progressed...

It would be a hard sell trying to convince young Jamie McGregor that time was on his side.  His parents would tell him that his life in high school was here today and gone tomorrow...that he had college, work and decades of life and opportunity ahead of him.  Jamie couldn't see beyond next week.  His social progress was at a snail's pace and he found that girls still struggled to remember his name or be impressed with him.

His main hope now was with his band, The Bluestones.  If he could get a set list, practice some and get some gigs he would crack it with all the girls.  They'd want to be with him and jocks like David Watts would envy him as well.  He just needed his own guitar and not having to rely on borrowing one.

It had been a long while since Suzy had picked up her guitar and played.  It sat there, in the living room, in between the TV and a bookshelf and it had more dust on it than either of the others.  There just wasn't time to play with everything that was going on.

"OK, keep still just a moment longer..." said her husband, Neil.

"My nose is starting to itch" she replied.

"Let it...I'm almost finished here!"

"Why are you painting me?  You specialise in landscapes, Neil."

"I want to branch out and try my hand at a portrait...and who better to paint a portrait of than the most beautiful woman I have ever met!"

"Awww, that's so sweet of you!"

"DON'T MOVE!"  

Eventually she had to but only after another half an hour of standing still for Neil.  For there was something that was weighing heavily on her mind, maybe the culmination of months of work that began with a torn page from an unknown book that promised all the secrets of Sim City.  She now had the book the page was torn from but she approached reading it with trepidation.  She had been threatened, chased, had her career attacked and had discovered many unsavoury things about certain citizens of the city.  Scandals involving crime, drugs and even murder.  There had also been a hint that Soviet or some other foreign power was meddling in the affairs of Sim City.

So many questions that needed answers and they lay in that book.  She picked it up, sat down and began to read...The Hidden History of Sim City by Patrick Cornelius.

CHAPTER 173: Ways Of Keeping Fit

 

"Now, Mother, Darrin's got an important presentation to make and I don't want you to ruin things for him!"

"Oh I'll be good, Samantha dear...heh-heh-heh...eye of newt and toe of frog, let's give that Durward the head of a dog!"

"I can predict the rest of how this episode is going to go" said Liberty, as she watched the show on TV.

"You know 'Bewitched' is meant to be just a bit of fun, Libs" said Summer as she finished up the dishes.

"Yes, but it's the same thing every week!  All these sitcoms are like that and don't get me started on 'I Dream Of Jeannie'...I mean, the way they depict the space program is highly inaccurate!"

"I won't!  Anyway, food's ready...who wants some?" asked Summer.

"I'll be fine with just a coffee...I'll eat later" replied Liberty.

"Did someone say 'food'?  I'm there!" said Travis, bounding into the room.  "So what's happening?" he asked.

"Libs is down on Bewitched" said Summer, handing Travis a plate of food and Liberty a mug of coffee.

"Oh, that's a shame...hey, who do you think would win in a fight?  Samantha or Jeannie?" Travis said.

"Television's so boring...why don't we do something more active instead?" suggested Summer.

"I'm up for that!  I agree about the TV; it's all depressing news about Vietnam or dumb sitcoms at the moment." said Liberty.  "How about hitting the gym, perk ourselves up?" 

"Excellent idea, I really want to burn up some energy!  Are you coming too, Travis?" said Summer.

"What, exercise?  Running on machines that don't go anywhere?  Lifting weights that don't need lifting?" said Travis.

"Oh come on, it'll be fun...we can be together having a work out" said Summer.

Travis thought about it and leaned in closer to Summer.  "Will you be wearing your leotard?" he whispered to her.

"Yes" she said.

"Count me in" he replied.

After they'd gathered up their keep fit gear they headed to central Willow Creek to the gym.  The girls were keen and raring to go...Travis less than enthusiastic.

Inside was busy but after getting changed Summer found a free treadmill and proceeded to do an endurance run.  On the next treadmill was the senior gym instructor; Clinton, who had a reputation of being a hard taskmaster if you hired him as your personal fitness trainer.

Liberty decided that her reflexes and upper body strength needed working on she opted for the punching bag.

...and Travis checked out the gym's other facilities.

Meanwhile, back on the ground floor, Summer was getting into the groove but next to her Brent Hecking was struggling.

"Brent, lift your feet up more...and remember your breathing!" said Brant.

"It's alright for you to say that!" gasped Brent.  "You were in the Army and sometimes I think you've become your old drill instructor!  I'm strictly civilian!" 

Travis, in the meantime had actually managed to get his fitness kit on and was trying out a punch bag.  He figured it would be easier to manage than the treadmills or the weights.

Liberty watched Travis' punching technique.  This wasn't about self-defence, although he had a weird moment a few months ago when he wanted to get a gun to protect the home, but fitness and Travis was exerting a lot of effort for not much gain there.

"Trav...try throwing a punch more from your shoulder than just jabbing with a fist.  It'll work your muscles a lot better." Liberty said.

"OK...more shoulder...and....FIST PUNCH!" he yelled.

"Trav...you don't have to say 'fist punch' when you're boxing" she advised.  On the other side of the room a young lady, who was also doing boxing training, looked at Travis and shook her head in disapproval.

Meanwhile, back on the treadmills, Summer was getting some grief from the instructor.

"You call that running, little lady?  You need to pick up those feet and BREATHE, not flail about like a rag doll...PICK UP THOSE FEET!"

"I'll have you know that I competed at cross country running at school, and won trophies" Summer replied, indignantly.

"This ain't no cross country run at an all girls' school....THIS IS THE GYM!  NOW HAUL ASS, SISTER!" he bellowed again.

At that moment Travis strolled in, looking exhausted.  He saw the stand off between Summer and Clinton and walked over to intervene.

"OK, buddy, reign it in a little..." said Travis but when Clinton stepped off the treadmill he stood right next to him, his muscles bulging.

"Now what have we here..." said Clinton, menacingly.

Travis looked up at Clinton and gulped.  "Ah, you're kind of big...well, this is my girlfriend and I think she's doing just swell there" he said.

"You look like you could enrol in some of our classes as well.  Get some muscles on you" said Clinton to Travis.

"I've been working on my muscles...look, here's one right here" Travis said, pointing to his arm.  "A work in progress you might say"

Liberty in the meantime had finished her workout and had headed upstairs to get a drink and take a breather.  As she turned a corner in the narrow confines of the changing room she had quite literally bumped into Brent Hecking, who was wearing just a towel and had to quickly grab on to it before it fell completely to the floor.

"Oops, my mistake, Brent!" said Liberty apologetically.  "You know how all fingers and thumbs I am!"

"I think I've retained my modesty" chuckled Brent, nervously.  He tightened the towel around his waist.  "It's as much my fault; my head in the clouds as usual."  He seemed a little downcast.

"Is anything the matter, Brent?" asked Liberty.  He sighed.

"Nothing serious...it's just that Brant is always on a health kick.  Drink this, eat this, excercise more...some days I find it hard to keep up with him.  I'm worried though that if I don't keep up with him and let myself go a little he might....oh, I think I might have said too much!  Erm, let's say Brant might find another housemate." said Brent, embarrassed.

"I know you and he are gay, Brent" said Liberty.  "We all do...well, except Julia.  She hasn't picked up on the hints yet.  But you can talk freely with me about you and Brant being a couple."

"Phew, that is a load off of my mind...wait, everyone knows?  Oh, not important right now...oh yes, well you can see my problem:  Brant's into the whole body beautiful and peak fitness ideal and I'm worried I'm not measuring up to that and if I don't...well...he might find another who does measure up."

"How realistic is that thought, Brent?" asked Liberty.

"Not really, but it creeps into my mind sometimes...like today." said Brent.

"Try not to let fear affect your judgement or trust in Brant..." said Liberty, sympathetically.  Brant still looked unsure but then their conversation ended abruptly as Brant entered the room.

Back downstairs Travis had managed to bluff Clinton into thinking he was a lean, mean fitness machine and the overbearing instructor backed down and walked away from him and Summer.

"My hero" said Summer, appreciatively.  

"Well, you know, it's about knowing when to stand up to someone and having an escape route worked out" replied Travis.

"Always the joker" Summer said.  "But you're a cute joker, I'll give you that."

"So, are we done here?  Would you like to take a walk by the river?" he asked, suggestively.

"Sure thing, sugar!" replied Summer, flirtatiously.

It was a warm, bright day with a light breeze which cooled the young lovers as they watched the wide, winding river.

"Hey, Summer...we timed this well...here comes the Delta Lady!" exclaimed Travis.  The Delta Lady was an old 19th Century paddle steamer that had been refurbished and travelled up and down the river as a pleasure boat.  It was very popular with tourists visiting the city and was an impressive sight whatever time of the day.  In the evening it was all lit up to further dazzle onlookers.

"Do you know, I've never been on board" said Summer.

"Really?  Never?  Didn't your parents ever take you on it when you were a little girl?  Haven't you been on it since?"

"When I was a girl it was still being repaired from that time a Japanese submarine torpedoed it." 

"Yeah, that was a weird one...considering the war had already ended when that happened.  Anyway, I should take you on a date on it.  It's got a nice restaurant on the upper deck."

"Sounds great" replied Summer.  "Let's move a little closer"

"Now you seem to be in a romantic mood today, Trav" she added.

"And you seem to be in a very energetic one" he replied.  "How about we combine them both?"

"I like the sound of that!" said Summer and the two of them drew ever closer together until...

At that moment the Delta Lady passed right by Travis and Summer and the passengers on the deck let out a cheer when they saw the kiss.  Travis waved back at them.

"That will give them something to talk about with their friends" said Summer.  "But that was wonderful, Travis.  I'm so lucky!  And that kiss just makes me want to spring right up into the air!"

Summer got up and did precisely that.

"Wow, you are bouncy today!" said Travis.  Summer sat back down beside him and they were about to snuggle again when they were joined by Liberty, who was still in her exercise clothes.  

"I wondered where you two had got to" she said.  "Aren't you going to go back in the gym?"

"We're done with the gym for today" said Travis.

"Aww, I feel really raring to go" said Liberty.

"Well, how about we head on over to Blue Velvet for a bit of dancing?" said Summer.

"Sounds good...I'll go back and get changed and meet you there." said Liberty.  "Oh, and have you got a quarter?  I'm going to phone Gary and invite him along too"

"Sure" said Travis, fumbling around in his pockets for a quarter he could give to Liberty.  "The more, the merrier"

The Blue Velvet was packed and swinging and the music was blaring out loud...so loud they couldn't hear themselves talk; all that was left to do was drink and dance.

"Wow, this place is really happening!" said Liberty.

"Yeah, this is the best it's been in ages...shame I have to go to work soon" said Summer, at the top of her voice.

"What?" said Travis, suddenly.

"I...HAVE...TO...GO...TO...WORK!" replied Summer.

"WHAT?  NO!" said Travis, looking sad.

Summer sidled up to Travis' side and spoke directly into his ear.  "Yeah, sorry babe.  We've been having so much fun I almost forgot I had to go myself."

Summer went to leave but had second thoughts.  Maybe just stay to the end of this song... she thought.

But leave she had to, not before having a long and protracted kiss with Travis...and another...and another (the last one right in the doorway of the club).  That left him and Liberty dancing, although not together.

"Hey, when's Gary going to get here?" he said.

"Anytime soon?  Why, you seem keen to see him too!" she said, teasingly.

"He's a good guy, an honorary member of the Foundry Cove Gang" 

"Oh, there's a gang now, is there?  And why is he only an 'honorary' member?"

"We don't just hand out membership to any old guy, you know!" said Travis.  "His membership is pending"

"And do you have little laminated membership cards as well?"

"Right next to my Lothario Club membership...oh, look, here comes Gary now"

Gary entered the bar and Liberty went right up to him to say hello and give him a kiss on the cheek.  

"Hey, sweetie, good to see you" she said.

"You too...I tell you, it's good to get out of the office:  Work is just blah, blah, blah these days.  Too much waffle and inaction." he replied.  "So, you guys been hanging out here?  Cool!"

"Let me get you a drink, Gary" said Travis.

"Thanks...a beer would be great.  So, let's sit and have a chat, Libs" said Gary.

"What's happening in Foundry Cove...give me the latest" asked Gary.

"Apparently there's a Foundry Cove Gang that has membership cards" replied Liberty with a chuckle.

"Is there an application form?"

"I'm trying to get one for you" she replied.

"Ooh, you think I'm eligible?" Gary said, with interest.

"In more ways than one, sweetheart" she said, blowing a kiss.

"Sign me up then!" he replied.

Travis returned with the drinks.  Liberty spoke up.  "I've told Gary about the Foundry Cove Gang...have you got a membership application form he can fill in?" 

"Buy the next round and you're automatically in" said Travis, raising his beer bottle.

"Deal" said Gary.

As they sat there in the Blue Velvet, Liberty and Gary were fliting with one another and having playful chats.  Travis was beginning to feel like a third wheel and was missing Summer's company.  He knew she had to work but in social situations like this, having her by his side would make him feel less self-conscious.

"I'm going to head back to Garden Essence" he said, eventually.  "Got some work to catch up on.  You two have a great time"

He left but Gary and Liberty were feeling that the main bar area was getting a little too crowded so they stepped out into the garden terrace at the back.

"I think I'm in the gang now" said Gary to Liberty.

"Just one more entry requirement to go" she replied.

"And what would that be?" he asked, his face being drawn ever closer to hers.

After they had kissed Gary said "Did I pass the entry requirement?"

"With flying colours" she replied.  "I'm hungry, how about we head on to my place for a bite?"

"To eat?" asked Gary.

"That as well..." she said, flirtatiously as she kissed him again.

They headed back to Garden Essence, both giggling like kids, where Liberty grabbed a couple of plates of something Summer had made earlier.  Their chef friend was a fantastic cook and there was always plenty in the fridge she had made to tempt the tastebuds.

"That's one of the things that makes me always want to come and visit" said Gary.  "The other being you, of course" he said to Liberty.

"You romantic, you.  You're always welcome; I know Summer and Travis really like you too."

"I hope so...it must get tricky around here trying to co-ordinate everyone's romantic life. Who's in, who's out"

"Oh tell me about it!" said Liberty rolling her eyes.  "Well, I haven't heard from Travis so I'm not sure he's home and Summer's still at work which leaves us here on our own." she said with a smile.

"Coffee?" she added, suggestively.

"I'll take it with milk" Gary said...also suggestively but what he was suggesting was anyone's guess.

They got up and sauntered over to the coffee machine where Liberty brewed a fresh pot.  "It's very quiet here" she said.

"Very" Gary replied.

"We could just tip toe into the bedroom for a coffee...and a chat...and some..."

"Exercise?" he said, whispering into her ear.

"Well, something like that" she replied.

"Let's skip the coffee and move straight on to exercise part" he added.

The two of them skipped down the hall to her bedroom and proceeded to get undressed.  Then they quickly dived under the bedcovers for a bit of WooHoo.

Meanwhile, Travis had returned from a cycle ride and went into the kitchen to get a glass of water but the faucet immediately sprung a leak.

"Oh no...it's gushing everywhere!  Just spurting out!  I'll have to find the stopcock and shut it off.  That's going to leave a mess on the floor..." he said, tutting and unaware of what was going on in Liberty's room.

After they had made merriment, Liberty and Gary were giggling like silly teenagers.  "So are you sure your housemates are out?" said Gary, gently running his index finger over Liberty's breasts.  

"Almost certain" she replied, smiling at him.  "Shall we have a peek?"

"If they see us they'll know what we've been up to!" he said.

"They're my housemates, not my parents!" she replied.  "I'm getting peckish, I want to raid the fridge!" she said, leaping out of bed.

"I need the john but I can't go out there in these underpants!  Hang on, I'll put some clothes on first...wait, Libs!  You can't go out there like that!" he said, noticing she'd put some panties and a bra back on.

"Catch me if you can!" she replied, playfully, as she scurried out of the door.  Gary, in a panic, chased after her.

In the hall they were silently tip-toeing to the kitchen when they heard Travis' voice.  "Hello, gorgeous, good day at work?"

"It was OK but I'm glad to be back home" replied Summer.  Liberty stopped dead in her tracks and quickly shoved Gary into Travis' room; which was largely a study these days as Travis slept with Summer.

"We can't hide in here!  What if Travis or Summer want to get a book?" whispered Gary.

"You hide under the bed, I'll hide under the desk...It'll be fine" replied Liberty.

That lasted all of 2 minutes before Gary piped up:  "I really gotta pee!" he squeaked.  "I'm going to make a break for the bathroom...wish me luck."

"Gary...nooooooo!" said Liberty, but too late; he was gone.  Gary tip-toed down the hall, quietly opened the bathroom door and closed it...silently...with a gentle lock.  Then he relieved himself in peace and quiet.  It was only on the return journey back to the study when he bumped into Travis.

"Oh, hey Gary...so you and Libs decided to head back here?" said Travis.

"Yeah...I hope you don't mind..." began a nervous Gary in response.

"Look, man, you and Liberty are cool.  If you want to get it on you go for it!"

"I meant, I hope you don't mind me using your bathroom"

"Oh, what?  Sorry, man.  Yeah, sure, that's cool too....but you know, if you want to go ahead with Liberty in the bedroom then don't worry about Summer and me:  We're totally cool with that."

"Erm, we already did that." said Gary, meekly.

"Ahhhh, well....I'll just leave you two to chill out, man." said Travis, lightly punching Gary on the arm in approval.  As Gary made his way back to the study, he was surprised to see that Liberty wasn't there but instead was Summer.

"Oh!  Sorry...erm, have you seen Liberty?" he asked.

"She said she's gone back to her room and will see you there." Said Summer, matter of factly.  "So did you guys have a nice time this evening?"

"Yes, thank you." replied Gary.

"You must tell Travis and I all about it" said Summer, cheerily and patting the empty space next to her on the bed.  Gary took the cue and sat down.

"Not that much to report....we danced, had a few drinks..." he said.  Fortunately for him, Travis entered the room.

"Hey, Summer...can I have a word with you for a moment?" asked Travis.

"Sure, babe, what is it?" she replied.

"Listen...Gary's on a date with Liberty and they'd like to be left alone, if you catch my drift" he whispered.

"I thought we could all hang out..." said Summer, innocently.

"Summer....they'd like to be alone.  In Liberty's bedroom" Travis said, raising an eyebrow.

"But surely....ohhhhh, I see what you mean.  Yes, how silly of me" she said, suddenly realising what was implied.

"And how about you and me, hanging out in our bedroom?" said Travis.

"Sure, shall we can have a catch up about our respective days, talk about what we'd like to do on the weekend and all kinds of neat stuff..." she said, perking up.

"Summer...we could do other things in the bedroom as well" said Travis, hoping the penny would drop.

"Ohhhhhhhh, I see" she said, suddenly realising.  "Now that would be fun!"