The invitation

“Excellent,” he heard his girlfriend say. “Well done honey. Honestly – it won’t kill you. I’ve eaten enough of it,” she laughed.

“Well, they seem to fit perfectly madam. Would you like him to try on the other set?”

“No, I think we can safely say they are the right size. We’ll take them as they are.”

This mystified John – why would he need two sets of lingerie if they were only going to one party? Even if there was another party later he could always wash them.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?” Emma was now completely ignoring Jack and directing all her comments to Sally.

“No, I think that’s all, thank you very much. You’ve been very helpful. He might as well keep them on because we have to go and look out a dress in Topshop. Could you just take the tickets off?”

“Of course madam. Your boyfriend can just take the tickets to the checkout and they will take care of everything.” And with that Emma reached into her pocket and brought out a pair of scissors with which she quickly cut each of the sales tags from the wispy garments and handed them to Jack. She smiled at Sally and let herself out of the cubicle.

“Actually, sweetie, I think I will take them off. What if I was in an accident?” Jack laughed.

“No darling. Keep them on – it will save so much time later. OK? Pop your jeans and sweater back on and I’ll put your boxers and t-shirt in my backpack.”

Before Jack could say a word Sally had swept up his boxers and t-shirt and shoved them into her bag leaving just the lamb’s wool sweater and his jeans as well as his socks and shoes.

“Hey wait a minute,” Jack started, but Sally abruptly cut him off.

“Come on sweetie. And leave the bra on or you won’t get the right size dress. Hurry up now.”

With that she opened the door, stepped through it and left it open behind her.