3gownz

Three Gowns

As the clock struck four, the three women finally collapsed.
Pools of clear liquid collected on the floor and sofa. Their breathing, ragged and hoarse, inflated their chests in short bursts just enough to take in the rapidly-cooling air around them. Goosebumps dotted their skin and sweat dripped out, soaking every part of themselves. Their lips quivered, muttering unintelligible noises, reaching out for any word that can describe the feeling that crested over them. And all the while, they could only look at the ceiling, now hazy and spinning, wondering how the three of them got to this point: exhausted from the effort of giving pleasure to each other.

Not twelve hours ago, they weren’t even in the same car.
Pia was the fifth to arrive at the venue. Unsurprisingly, Kim, Jan, Frankie and Jesse were already there. The early birds had always been consistent in showing up ahead of everybody else, but to have them here for Sophie’s party is quite a surprise. Although I suppose I shouldn’t be, Pia thought. The organizers could use extra hands.
She saw Jesse and Jan up ahead help the other grunts out in fetching and carrying the chairs, arranging them to every table, and setting up part of the sound system. Turning her head left, Pia found Kim and Frankie as they passed around ribbons and streamers to decorate the hall. When she turned her gaze to the right, however, someone tugged her arm. Startled, Pia spun around.
“What’cha starin’ at?”
It was Sophie, the belle of the ball, wearing a blouse, bloomers and makeup base. And she couldn’t have been happier at that moment to see her classmate and friend around.
“Great, Pia, you’re just in time. You brought the letters, right?”
Pia held up the blue cloth bag filled with the home-made decorations. “Yep.”
“Nice!” Sophie exclaimed. “Alright, go to Frankie. Tell her it’s here.”
“OK, I’ll head there now.”
Before Pia can skip off, however, Sophie nabbed her shoulders. “Ready for your number?”
“Yeah. I rehearsed. My bandmates will be here soon”
“Good. Jan’s at the back setting up the sound.”
“I thought you were gonna make him move the chairs.”
Sophie’s cheery expression dropped slightly. “He insisted, but I told him to go set up his equipment instead. Can’t tire him out —” she gulped some bubble team “— you know him, he parties hard.”
“Oh, right. He said he’d be doing a DJ set, isn’t he?” Pia remembered.
“The one he told me to curate. He mixed them just right,” Sophie remarked. “How about your bit?”
“Got them all lined up for you.”
Sophie hugged Pia tight, careful not to squish the bag. “Thanks, Pia. Now go to Frankie.” She cupped her hands to her mouth. “Frankie! Pia’s got it!”
So Pia did as she was told: she stapled a few more of the fancy cardboard letters to the wall where the debutante’s throne is located.
Jan, for his part, was busy with “pre-flight checks”, according to his meticulous digital planner. His Launchpad, Seaboard and mixing equipment were finally configured to his liking, and after testing to ensure that the visuals worked, he sat down to get some rest, gulp down a quarter-litre of water, and call Kate. She’d been out of reach for half an hour now, and he was starting to grow worried — and impatient.
Fortunately, the phone finally crackled to life with the bubbly voice he was waiting to hear.
Kate’s voice, however, was breaking. “Oh, no. Sorry, I got in a bit of a bind.”
“It’s okay. But we don’t have much time here. Where are you, anyway?”
Just outside Wilson Boulevard, Kate turned her head. “I’m just waiting for the car to pick me up. I’mvery close by.”
“Just be sure you have them here, alright?” Jan reminded Kate.
“Understood.”
“And stay safe.”
“Sure thing, Jan.”
With that, Kate put her phone back in her pocket. Just in time for the Bloop Troop to arrive, too.
Aunt Meredith rolled the windows down.