"I’m going to collect Sally," Lon announced, heading for the door.
"Hey, can I ride along?" Rick asked. "I need to get Teela…"
"Yeah, okay." The pair went out and got into Lon’s car.
"Are you pissed at me, Man?" Rick asked when they were out on the road.
"Aaaah," Lon waved it off.
"About the whole Fred Carter thing?" Rick amplified.
"It was Teela’s idea, more or less," Lon grumbled.
"Yeah," Rick agreed. "She went in to see if the thing would work, and she supported Sally…"
"I know," Lon groused. "But she didn’t have to spread herself for that guy…"
"No, I guess not." Rick sighed. "I guess I was — I don’t know — jealous? Worried that if she got a comparison, I’d come up short?"
"You know, Man, it’s not how long your dick is," Lon grunted, "It’s whether you two have a relationship. I figure you do. Besides, you’ve got NOTHING to be ashamed of…"
"I know," Rick sighed. "Everybody says so. But you guys and your donkey dicks…"
"It’s all about the girl, Man," Lon argued. "I figured that it kinda wasn’t fair to let some strange fucker do my girl and leave out my friends, so I let Toby do Sally. She hasn’t dumped me — and you KNOW what HE’S carrying!"
"Yeah…" Rick sighed. "Teela says that her mom was kind of, well, wild — put horns on her dad all the time. He put up with it — I talked to him about it — but I don’t know if I can … I just don’t know if I want to open the box, you know?"
"Might be better to learn now, rather than after you two get married and have a couple of kids," Lon mused, then added, chuckling. "You’d look cute staying at home in an apron feeding a half-dozen kids while Teela chases down daddies for new ones…"
"Jeezus, Lon!" Rick howled.
"Hey, do what you want, Man," Lon papered over the image, "but if she isn’t made for monogamy, you aren’t going to control it from your end. She’s pretty dependent on you, emotionally — you need to step up and take control, Man — be her anchor. If she can’t rely on you to support her, then she’s gonna come unglued at some point…"
"Guess I’ve been acting like a baby," Rick grinned ruefully.
"I don’t know about that," Lon replied, "but you took her on and you made commitments. If you can’t follow through, she’s going to get scared and hide. You two don’t have what Sally and I have, because Sally’s got this submissive thing going that Teela would never buy into — but you’re supposed to be her rock. You need to get anchored."
"You’re right," Rick agreed. He’d been vacillating — and that was bad for Teela, who wanted to do all of her exploration using him as a safety net. She couldn’t do that if he couldn’t keep his shit together…
"Today’s the day, Man," Lon continued. "You guys really have to come out with a plan for how you’re going to do the group. And that’s REALLY up to you…"
Sally wasn’t ready. "What should I wear, Sweetheart?" she asked Lon, when she met him at the door. "I just don’t know…"
"What you’re wearing is probably fine, Hon," Lon murmured, eyeing her tank top and shorts. "Bring your bikini, but I don’t know if we’re gonna swim — it’s too damned hot."
Eleanor hovered in the background, and there was a man present — one who had come out of the den, surprised at the sound of male voices. "Who are you?" George Harkness asked, adjusting his glasses.
Lon flicked a glance at Sally’s mother and made assumptions. "Lon Carpenter, Sir." He stepped forward and tentatively stuck out his hand. "This is my friend Rick Flanders."
George took the hand after a glance at Eleanor, who returned his gaze enigmatically. "Sally is going somewhere with you?" he asked, again glancing at his wife for confirmation.
"Yes, Sir. We’re having a little party at my house. There is plenty of adult supervision — it’s a family thing. My mother and Rick’s are there…" Lon explained. Thank God Mr. Harkness had no idea what went on at family get-togethers…
Eleanor stepped into the breach, "It’s not their first date, George. I … didn’t know quite how to tell you…" Sally stood by, her glance shifting anxiously between her parents and her man.
"Family thing, huh?" George had no idea how late he was getting into THIS game.
"Yessir," Lon nodded. Turning to Eleanor, he said, "Do you still have my Mama’s number? I can provide it again…"
Eleanor nodded. "I have it." She stepped around a bit so she could get a better look at the other boy. "So this is Rick…"
"Yes, Ma’am," Rick replied. "Pleased to meet you. We’re picking up Teela, next."
George’s eyes popped. "You’re dating Teela?"
"Yessir," Rick nodded.
"Forgive my surprise."
Rick grinned. "You wouldn’t be the first, Sir. I think maybe Teela was — but it could have been me…"
George chuckled and stepped back, glancing at his daughter; interference in her social life would NOT make him popular… "Have fun, then…" He retreated uncertainly toward the den.
"Come on!" Sally grabbed Lon’s hand, dragging him upstairs, "Let’s get my suit…"
Eleanor glanced at the den doorway to ensure that her husband had cleared it, then back at Rick, "So, are you sleeping with little Teela?"
Rick went distinctly grey and shocky. "Uuuhhh…"
"Does her father know?" Eleanor had her answer to the first question.
"Yes."
"You boys…" Eleanor didn’t know how to finish the admonishment, exactly.
"It’ll be all right," Rick assured her. "Nobody wants Sally or Teela hurt. Nobody." Eleanor pursed her lips and nodded; the horses were gone — closing the barn door was a waste of time.
Sally and Lon thundered down the stairs; Sally waved and yelled, "Bye, Mom!" as they hit the door. Rick backed out behind them. Eleanor sighed and headed for the den.
"When?" George asked.
"When what?" Eleanor countered.
"When did it start? And when were you going to tell me?"
"It’s been about two weeks, I think," Eleanor replied. "There was something or other before that, but it wasn’t serious. Or maybe it was, because it led to the current situation…"
"What IS the current situation?" George prompted.
Eleanor shrugged. "They’re an item."
"Serious?"
"Apparently."
"He seems like a nice boy…" George opined cautiously.
"Is that all you can say?" Eleanor opened up. "Did you get a good look at him? He’s a young god — that’s what he is! I was scared to death!"
"Now, now, Dear, Sally…"
"Sally is Grade B for his bunch — and maybe worse!" Eleanor ranted. "I really, REALLY can’t see this going on for any time at all. I tried to stop it, but…"
"But?"
"The boy is incredibly sincere! He’s a silver-tongued devil, or totally, inexplicably, on the up and up! Besides," she sighed, "it’s too late, anyway."
"Meaning what?" George asked, frowning.
"They’re sleeping together already."
"WHAT?" George’s eyebrows headed for his bald spot.
"You heard me. There was no stopping her. I made myself the enemy, anyway, pushing her to be cautious until she screeched at me that I was trying to destroy the best thing that ever happened to her. Teela apparently gave her similar advice — but Teela and that Rick are an item, too, now…"