The invitation

"I can’t think! Promise?"

"Yes I promise."

"No matter what?"

"I don't follow you - what do you mean 'no matter what'?"

"Well, I'm going to have to make some arrangements and sort out costumes and stuff and so I don't want you backing out at the last moment."

"I won't back out - I promise."

"Good. That's settled then. We can go shopping for some clothes on Saturday."

"Nah - we can just make something up from around the house."

"Don’t be silly, honey," said Sally decisively. "If we're going to do this, we are going to do it right."

"Oh, come on," Jack replied. "I can just wrap a sheet around myself as a dress and wear a pair of flip flops. No-one is going to complain! And you can wear my old interview suit."

"No way. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing properly. We need to get you a real costume and something good for me too. What do you want to be? Slutty schoolgirl? Nympho nun? Come on - what?"

“ How about none of the above? I’m not going out dressed as a schoolgirl or a nun!”

“OK, perhaps that is a bit much. How about a nice little black cocktail dress then? Like the one I’ve got that you are so keen on me wearing! You will look fab in it, with a few curves in the right places! Please? For me?”

Jack laughed. “OK honey, whatever you say!”

“Good. That’s settled then. We’ll go into town tomorrow after college and pick up what we need. Now, what shall we have for dinner?”

The rest of the evening passed unremarkably. The two lovers had a light meal and watched some television until Jack announced that he was going to take a bath. “OK,” Sally said. “I’ll be up in a minute too.”

Jack headed upstairs to their bedroom and started to undress. He pulled his t-shirt over his head and dropped it into the laundry basket before unfastening his belt and unsnapping his jeans. He slid them and his boxer shorts down his legs and, as they hit the floor, hooked them up with one foot and dropped them into the basket too. Finally he bent down to pull off his socks.