Amanda's Maid

by

Anne Marie Bauer

© August 2005

 

Part II

 

"Ma'am, do you have a set of big hair rollers I could borrow, please? I really need to do something about my hair," I asked once we'd returned to the house.

"I've not set my hair in years. It's early still, why don't you go get what you need," she suggested. Without asking, Mrs. Buford opened her purse and took out sixty dollars.

"I said I would give you an allowance. It was my intent that it would be fifty dollars a week, Karen and you've not been here a week yet. That's it until a week from this Saturday." As I'd absolutely no expenses, I felt she was being more than generous especially in light of the large amount of money she had already spent on me. I still had the gift certificate and twenty-three dollars.

Following her suggestion, I drove to the strip mall and went into the pharmacy near the supermarket. There I bought rollers, styling gel, bobby pins and two hair brushes plus a couple of cans of hair spray. I shampooed and conditioned my long hair then, best that I could, I tried to match the pattern with the rollers that the beautician had used when I'd been given the perm.

Mrs. Buford invited me to breakfast when I came down; she'd already made a pot of coffee.

"You did a nice job with your hair, Karen," she complimented.

She pointed to a small folded rectangle of white and yellow fabric on the table. "That's one of my old swimsuits. I never liked it because I always thought it was too ... modest is a good word. It should fit you and I think you'll find the modesty I don't like to be assets for you."

Mrs. Buford set down her cup, shook out the suit and held it up. I smiled, "Let me guess; you didn't like the skirt?" Riding low on where the hips would be was a short flouncy, bright yellow skirt.

"And how high it is on top so that absolutely none of my cleavage showed. Some girls like to flaunt them if we've got them.

"However, there is nothing modest about back," she turned it around, "there isn't any." We both giggled. Even the skirt narrowed to nothing in the center and just a thin thong rose from the crotch. At the top, there were just strings to tie behind the neck. She placed the swimsuit back on the table.

"My cleavage there is certainly going to show, Amanda."

"As will your buns.

"I told you in the beginning that I wanted you to check with me before you make any social commitments. Between now and Monday morning I have nothing planned. If you'd like to invite Sandi over to use the pool and have a cook out on the patio, I've no objection."

She seemed to turn a bit more serious. "I don't want to keep bringing up money with you, but hear me through on this. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a first date being an afternoon sunning on the patio and splashing in the pool. There is also nothing wrong with just hot dogs and potato chips. There is a package in the freezer. Now this is important. There is nothing wrong with suggesting to your friend to stop by on the way over and pick up rolls and a six-pack.

"Remember, Karen, you are no longer the macho guy that needs to think he has to do everything big to impress a chick he's hot over."

"Thank you very much, ma'am. I'll remember." After I'd time to think about it, her talk was like a mother talking to her daughter. The last part about no longer being a macho guy had hurt my pride at first, but as I thought through everything, I concluded that was stupid – it was false pride; being short and thin, I never was very macho.

"Hello, this is Karen Thomas." I'd called after I'd finished my routine chores about ten thirty.

"Yes?" the woman questioned.

"May I speak with Sandi, please?"

"One moment." I heard Sandi called to the phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Sandi, it's Karen."

"Oh, hi. I was hoping you'd call."

"It's a nice sunny day. Mrs. Buford said we can use the pool and cook on the grill. Would you like to come over?"

"Great, I'm off today so that's super. What time. Karen?"

"Around one? I've still got to fold and put away the laundry after I get it in the dryer."

"Kewl. You need me to pick up anything on the way?"

"Just a package of hotdog rolls and a six-pack, if you'd like?"

"See ya?" she ended the call.

I found Mrs. Buford and informed her. "That's great," she smiled. She closed her book and invited me to her bedroom.

"You can borrow some of my things. We won't have many more nice days, so no need for you to buy your own until next season." From the bottom drawer in her dresser she took out a big yellow and green tie-dyed cotton triangle.

"That's a wrap skirt, is you haven't figured it out. You just tie the corners around your waist." From her closet she handed me short white terrycloth jacket.

"We teased about borrowing my jewelry. Stick out your left hand." When I had, she clipped a very thin gold herringbone bracelet on my wrist. "I want that back. Be sure to remove your watch."

When went down she sent me to her car to retrieve her designer sunglasses to use. Mrs. Buford made a point to tell me to put them back after I was done.

I was too nervous to eat lunch. Mrs. Buford came up to my room at twelve thirty just after I'd taken off everything but my bra and thong. She was carrying a roll of adhesive tape and pair of scissors.

"I came to help."

"Help with what, Mrs. Buford. I know how to get dressed."

"Just be quiet, silly. Hold your arms out." I did as she told me.

She pulled out a length of tape, cut it off then doubled it and lightly stuck it to my arm. When there were four pieces on my left arm, I had to ask what she was doing.

"Did you want to do this flat chested today?"

"No, I don't think so, ma'am."

"Good, neither do I want you too. You'll see." I should have guessed; she used the doubled tape to hold the breast forms in place.

"Now the fun part for you; especially when you go to pull it off. Remove your panties." Though I hesitated, I lowered them and stepped out. Mrs. Buford stared at my crotch, but made no comment.

"Hold the end of this, Karen. I was given the tape. She unrolled a long length and cut it. She pressed to my belly below my navel then knelt. "Spread your legs." She lightly slapped the insides of my thighs.

"This isn't very comfortable, ma'am."

"No, I don't imagine it is, but I'm not going to have you flopping out of your bathing suit either." She'd gently pushed my testicles up in the body cavity then folded my penis back between my thighs.

"There, I'm finished." Mrs. Buford stood and sorted out the swimsuit.

"Step in." As I did, she pulled it up and smoothed the stretch fabric. She did the tie behind my neck.

"Put on your plastic shoes, Karen, and take a look."

"Wow!"

"Wow is right." Mrs. Buford tied on the wrap-skirt then handed me the jacket.

She offered my purse then a bottle of pink nail polish and bag of cotton balls.

"One of the things girls do at the beach is paint each others toenails. Of course there is always massaging each other while pretending that what you are supposed to be doing is spreading suntan lotion," she giggled.

"It's nearly one, I've done about all I can for you; the rest is up to you. Good luck." Mrs. Buford really surprised me by placing her hands on the side of my head and giving me a light kiss on the lips.

Sandi's car had just turned in the drive when my employer yelled, "Wait!" She rushed to me and dropped to her knees. "I just remembered this." I felt her clasp something around my left ankle. When I looked I saw I was wearing a cheap plastic bead anklet in a hot pink color.

"One of my guests left that behind and I'd completely forgotten about it until now, Karen.

"Now you look perfect." She was grinning from ear to ear as she turned and walked away.

When the door chimes rang, I counted to ten, not very slowly, and opened the door.

"Hi, Sandi," I greeted with a nervous smile.

"Hi Karen. Beer's on the back seat of my car, wanna grab it, please?" She couldn't have carried everything in one trip; in addition to a supermarket bag and big purse, she had a very large, white vinyl carry-bag.

Without waiting for my answer, she walked around me towards the kitchen. Obviously she knew her way around the house. I walked out to get the beer. Sandi hadn't bought a six-pack; she'd brought a thirty-pack case of beer!

"I had hotdogs twice this week, so I got us things for burgers," she stated. In addition to the ground beef, she'd gotten several containers of salads from the deli department, rolls, big bags of chips and pretzels plus a half gallon of ice cream.

"Hi, Sandi," Mrs. Buford greeted when she entered the kitchen.

"Are you staying for a week? You've certainly brought enough food."

"Hello, Mrs. Buford. Mom and dad said to say, 'Hi'.

"I thought you might like to join our little pool party, so I brought enough for you too." She fumbled in her purse then placed her hand in back.

"Mrs. Buford, may I ask to stay the night in one of your guest rooms, please?"

"You're certainly welcome to."

Sandi brought her hand out and extended her key ring. "Please hide these some place, Mrs. Buford. I'll probably be over the legal limit by the end of our party."

My employer took them. "I am extremely pleased that you asked. That was a very responsible thing for you to do."

"Thank you, ma'am.

"Now, are you going to run upstairs, put on a bikini and join our party?" Mrs. Buford looked at me, as if asking my permission. I smiled and nodded.

"I'll join you on two conditions, Sandi ... both of you will have to forget I'm too old and you'll both have to address me as 'Amanda', until tomorrow."

"Gees, Amanda, I don't know ... that old part is sure gonna be tough..." we all laughed at my little joke.

"I'll run up and change."

"Amanda, do you need help?" I asked.

"No, but I'd like a word with you, please?"

Mrs. Buford walked to the base of the stairs and turned. Her finger poked me hard in the chest. "You've a polished gem there; you had damned well better not screw it up, young lady!" She went upstairs. More and more, I sensed her acting like a good mother to me and not my employer.

I helped Sandi finish putting the food away then carried the beer out to put it in the bar refrigerator on the patio.

Sandi's cover up skirt was a red wrap and her jacket was white India cotton; nearly gauze, it was so thin. The shoes she'd chosen were platforms and heels as high as mine in red vinyl with thongs that crisscrossed up her legs.

She chose her chaise and deposited her things beside it then started to undress to reveal a bright red bikini that wasn't obscenely tiny. It matched the color of the chiffon scarf she'd used to tie her black hair on top. The jeweled belly ornament through her naval sparkled in the sun.

After turning to show me all of her, she stared. "Come on, don't be a prude, Karen. You've seen the best I could do today; it's your turn.

Being sure to keep my body facing her I untied the skirt, unwrapped it then carefully folded it and placed it on a lounge. "What's the matter? Shy? Come on, stop stalling and let me see."

Slowly I undid the sash and played shy opening the front. Sandi wrinkled her lip. I jerked the front closed.

"If you don't like the front of my bathing suit there's no point in showing you the back." I pouted my lips and retrieved the sash.

"I'm sorry, Karen. You're suit's fine. It's just you're so covered up. I'm sorry. Let me see."

Amanda arrived at that moment in a black satin jacket and leather, high-heeled slides.

"What's the matter, Sandi?"

"Nothing, Amanda."

"Then why were you apologizing?"

"She doesn't like my bathing suit. She thinks I'm too covered up compared to her bikini." I kept the pouty look.

"Alright, let me see. I'll judge!" Mrs. Buford had caught onto my act and pretended to be stern. She stepped in front.

"Come on girl! Open this so I can see." I parted the terrycloth. She jerked it out of my hands and pulled it off of me.

Placing a firm grip on my upper arm she faced Sandi. "What's the matter with her suit, Sandi? ...Too modest? Be honest!"

"Yes, Amanda."

"Well, if you don't like the front then you'll definitely not like the back of it!

"Turn around, girl!" I turned.

"Back! What back? There isn't any back!" We all had a very good laugh.

"Let us see your suit, Amanda?" Sandi asked. "You've see ours now."

"You'll not like it, Sandi. It's really nothing."

"You're not wearing one! You're gonna skinny dip?"

"No, I'm not naked and I'm not going to skinny dip ... while the sun's out! ...I save that for after dark," she giggled.

"Then let us see?"

"Sandi, there's not much to it that you'll like."

"Come on. Amanda! The two of us will take off your beach jacket, if that's what's needed!

"Right, Karen?"

"Right," I answered half-heartedly. Mrs. Buford was playing her own game. Though I'd only been her maid a few days, I was getting to know her. I guessed there was far more to her suit than she was letting on.

"Amanda!" I said strongly. "Take off your jacket ... now!"

"My maid giving ordered to her mistress now, Karen?"

"There is no mistress or maid here! We're just three twenty-two year olds at a pool party! Take off your jacket!" I ordered.

"Humph!" She stamped her heel on the stone. "If you are going to be that way, but I've told you, my bathing suit is really nothing." Amanda turned her back then slowly slipped out of the black satin. All we saw was a thin black thong rising from the top of her crack to a ring in the middle of her back, another from it to under her blonde hair and one to each side from the same ring.

When she turned with a big grin, we saw a small, narrow diamond shaped piece of black leather in her crotch, thongs from the ring at its top rose to small patches barely covering her aureoles and a few more thongs. The miniscule assembly was all held up be a collar around Amanda's neck.

I turned away. "She was right, Sandi, there's nothing to it."

"Karen!" Mrs. Buford stamped her heel again.

Feeling very brave after the little game, I moved to face her. I placed my fingers on the nipple covers and pulled them a bit then let my fingers scratch her nipples through the thin leather.

"You know, Amanda, it's girls like you, flaunting themselves as you are, who turn other girls into lesbians," I cooed at her. Sandi had moved behind her and pressed her into me with her body. I guessed her hands were caressing her naked cheeks. That didn't last long! Sandi moved to knead mine, pulling us closer together.

The way I was all taped up tight, my body wanted to respond, but couldn't.

"Karen's right, Amanda," Sandi was blowing her whispers in her ear. "I've heard the same thing." I met her eyes and she formed an air kiss with her red lips.

I plunged my head towards Amanda and engulfed her mouth with my lips. Eyes tightly squeezed shut, she quickly parted and had her tongue entwined with mine.

As we kissed, I moved one of Sandi's hands under the scrap of leather trying to cover Amanda's sex. I got serious about fondling her nipples.

Not that she wanted us to stop, Amanda's initial struggles to get away soon became writhing and built until she had a violent orgasmic spasm.

"Let me up for air ... please?" she begged once she'd subsided. Amanda was still panting. Sandi helped her to sit.

I passed out a beer to each of us and sat next to her. Mrs. Buford pulled me close and kissed my cheek.

"You know, Sandi," she grinned after a sip, "you just might be right." Amanda pushed me.

"Go sit next to the girl in red, Karen.

"You two should put on lotion. You really don't want to burn." Amanda moved her chaise under an umbrella.

I retrieved the lotion from under the bar, took up one of the beach towels and spread it on the lawn. "Come, Sandi, let me do you first."

Following Mrs. Buford's earlier suggestion, I turned the application of suntan lotion into a massage and made it last three quarters of an hour.

"Your turn, Karen. Lie down," Sandi knelt. I admired her shiny oiled body and embraced her for a kiss.

I felt her hand on my left breast, but it left quickly. "I thought they were real," she barely whispered then pulled me much tighter. We hugged and kissed.

When we broke, I was lowered gently onto my back.

My arms were massaged with the fragrant lotion. Sandi started with my toes then slowly massaged her way up my legs. It took her some time to reach the top of my thighs. I made no attempt to stop her red nailed fingers from exploring my crotch; not even when she pulled the swimsuit away to see what she had only felt.

"Biological sex confirmed, but you're no male." I took it as the compliment it was intended to be. If behaving as I'd been, dressing in pretty cloths as they wanted, even uniforms and being a maid, was that I needed to do to be close to two great friends like Amanda and Sandi was all I had to do, I was never going to take off my makeup! She let the stretch fabric snap back then arranged it.

"Roll over." The way she pulled me, I'd little choice; not that I wanted to resist.

"With your permission, I want to do her back, please?" I sensed Amanda's legs kneel on each side of my head.

"As pale as her skin is, I don't think she's been in the sun for years. Karen is going to need two coats, Amanda.

"You do her back first while I do her legs then we'll switch for the second coat."

"You're on, Sandi.

"But I think we need to both do something about those pale cheeks first." She shifted and I felt her knees press down on my shoulders. Amanda smacked my bottom.

"Absolutely!" Sandi knelt on my thighs. "They do need color!" She started to smack me too.

It was all play and none of their spanks were hard. My taped down groin protested much more than my buns.

"Please, can I make a rule?" We'd all just climbed in the pool after our nap in the sun. Sandi had lain down next to me, wrapped her arm about my waist and pulled me tightly against her before we'd fallen asleep. It had felt so good!

"What's that, Karen?" Sandi asked.

"I spent three hours doing my hair. Please, let's try not to wet anyone's hair, OK?"

My request was answered by Amanda kicking the back of my knees and Sandi pushing me under. When I surfaced sputtering they did it again.

"OK, OK, I give. Bad idea," I managed only to be answered the same way once more.

Amanda pulled me up by my ruined hairdo. She turned me to face her. "Time out for just a second." She still gripped my hair firmly.

"I've lived here for twelve years and during that time, I've hostessed a lot of pool parties. One thing I came to really hate was the prissy, pissy, snobby bitches of some Misses Rich-Son-Of-A-Bitch women who had just dropped a couple of hundred at the beauty saloon that very morning to try and out-do everyone else for a pool party and didn't even go near the water for fear of ruining their look.

"Pool parties are meant, in my opinion to be wet parties. I had to pretend to tolerate it from our guests; in no f'in' way am I going to tolerate it from my maid!" I was dunked again as her leg kicked mine again and she pushed me under.

I swam as quickly to the edge of the pool and scrambled out. Wrapped in a towel, I'd reconciled all of it by the time they approached me. I stood and pulled Amanda into my arms.

"I understand. No, I'm sorries, no apologizes, just don't say anything, Amanda. I touched the wrong button. I really want this party to continue. No one is going to leave until I permit it tonight." I gave her another kiss

I guided her to the bar and opened three beers. It wasn't until we separated that I saw the red hand print on her left cheek and that her hairdo had been thoroughly soaked too.

*****

"Sandi, what time do you have to leave tomorrow?" Other than that incident, the fun resumed and we finished the day laughing together.

"Probably no later than four, Amanda. I brought my uniform and have to report by four thirty."

"Good." She looked at us in the torch light. "Please wait here for a few moments. I need Karen's help getting out of my nothing swimsuit and I'll send her right back, promise. OK?"

"Sure, Amanda." Sandi took her off guard by standing and pulling her in for a kiss.

"Thank you for a wonderful day. Good night!"

"See you in the morning. Good night, Sandi." I was pulled by my hand into the house and up to her bedroom.

"Borrow this," she thrust a sheer white baby doll top trimmed with marabou in my hands and went in the bathroom.

"You may need scissors and probably these." I stared in disbelief at the three-pack of blue foil squares. "The last guestroom on this side of the hall has a king-sized bed.

"I don't expect to see you until ten.

"Have a good night, Karen!" I was pushed from the room and heard her lock the door as soon as it closed behind me.

"Help me put the food away and we can leave the rest of the mess for the maid to attend to in the morning," I suggested.

She needed no argument. I couldn't stop her from scooping up the skimpy nightie and condoms from the bar.

"Amanda told me that we may use this room tonight, Sandi," I led her in. She pushed the door closed softly and moved to hold me, but not in a hug. We just stared a moment, before she spoke.

"Karen, I want you to share that bed with me tonight." Sandi kissed the tip of my nose. "I don't want to see you in this though." She pressed the wisp of thin fabric into my hand. "Go to your room then hurry back wearying something that covers you.

"We'll talk then." She kissed my nose again and smacked my vulnerable bottom. Until then, I didn't realize how sore it was.

I'd taken my purse and other things then filled it with things I might need: a big bag with my rollers and stuff then hurried back.

She turned from the mirror when I reentered and had changed into a short, red satin night shirt. "Sit, I'll be right with you." She finished her lips and sat on the bed next to me to wrap her arm me.

"Listen, little one." Sandi is five inches taller and fifteen or twenty pounds heavier than I. "I like you to the point I think its more love." She kissed my forehead.

"I don't want to see these," she poked her fingers into my fake, erect nipples, "until they are real." Sandi paused a moment.

"I'm out with my close friends and at work, so far. With you by my side and on my side, I think I can out myself to my parents.

"I don't want what's here," her hand skimmed my groin, "in me.

"Like that nothing of a nightie, I think the condoms were Amanda's idea, not yours." I gave a slight nod of acknowledgement.

She scooped up everything I'd brought, but my day uniform and its accessories from the bed. After peeking in the bag of hair stuff, she set it aside and handed me the rest. "Please, go in the bathroom and get ready for me, little one."

"Sandi, I think I'm going to need help getting off the tape that Amanda put down here."

She moved to face me, and placed her hands on my hips. "Can you pee?"

"Un huh. Amanda cut a little hole there."

"Karen, I told you I'm a lesbian, but you fascinate me. I've seen nothing but a one hundred percent girl. Right now this girl before is one who I think I'm falling in love with and I'd nothing I see to change that. I'm asking her to keep it that way. OK?" I nodded. I too wanted to be with Sandi. What she was asking wasn't too much then.

One of the nighties that Mrs. Buford had bought me is just like an oversized loose shirt that reaches to the middle of my thighs. It's very pale pink, thin cotton flannel with no adornments except sewn a pink bow below the collar. Because I'd brought no panties or bra and the way the elastic fabric held my breast forms in place, I kept my swimsuit on under it; by then it was dry.

The lights were out when I came out of the bathroom. I felt for the bed and climbed under the sheets with my friend. Sandi didn't wait for me to get settled before she pulled me tightly to her and initiated a sensuous kiss.

*****

"Run to your room and put on some other clothes, Karen, besides the uniform." She handed it to me. "I'll get us coffee then I'll see what I can do with your hair." It was past nine when we'd gone to the kitchen.

Once out of my nightshirt and bathing suit, I had to take off all the tape; it had become just too uncomfortable by then.

With my head still wrapped in the big towel, I returned to the kitchen with all my hair care things wearing a white blouse, the plain denim skirt, knee socks and sneakers.

Sandi handed me coffee. "There's a lot more light here and I'll be able to work better. Is there a big mirror we can bring in here so you can watch what I'm doing?"

"There's a cheval mirror in the bedroom we used, but I don't think we should work here in case Mrs. Buford wants to use her kitchen. How about outside by the bar?"

We carried the mirror there and I sat on a stool so she could begin by combing it out. "This is really long," she commented. I'd not cut it for nine years, except for split ends and my hair reaches to within three inches of my waist.

"I really like the way you had the hair on each side of your face, Karen, I'd like to see how you'd look if they were thicker and curled, but it means I'll have to cut a little."

"I liked them too. Sure, go ahead."

I guess she was about half way finished creating the new style when Mrs. Buford came out to watch. "I really like what you're doing, Sandi. Can you tighten it on the side and fully expose Karen's ears?"

My friend turned the side of my head to face Mrs. Buford and experimented with the brush and her fingers. "Like this, Amanda?"

"Yes. I like that." Sandi replaced the bobby pins to hold it then did the other side.

When I was done, I was sent to my room to put back all my things and get my white maid's hairpieces and mobcap, so Mrs. Buford could judge them with the new hairdo.

"Very good, girls. I like it very much.

"Karen, are you going to be able to duplicate that look until we decide on something different?"

"I think so, ma'am. These hanging in front should be easy enough, as should be the sides. The curls hanging all from the top and the tight French twist thing below them in back are going to be the hardest. It's going to take some time every morning, though."

"It would be better if you put the sausage curls in rollers every night and set them, Karen. The ones you have are too big. You need to get ones only about three quarters of an inch in diameter," Sandi instructed.

"Time or not, that's the look I want to see on you, Karen."

"Amanda, you're not giving her any choice and making it an order?"

"Quiet, Sandi, it's OK. As a maid, I'm required to wear the uniforms my employer selects to present the proper appearance to her and her guests. My hair, my makeup and my jewelry are all parts of my uniform."

"Your girlfriend is one hundred percent right, Sandi, and it is no different at the restaurant you work at. They told you that you'll wear this uniform and you'll adhere to their grooming standards. If you don't want to do that then go work someplace else."

"I never thought of it that way, Amanda."

"Amanda was fine for our little party. I'm sure you'll both agree that it's time we return to a bit more formal behavior, girls.

"Anyway, I didn't come out here just to watch Karen get a new hairstyle." She unfolded a letter.

"This announcement came this morning. The country club is holding its annual Halloween costume party and ball on Saturday the 3^rd of November. I'd like to enter the costume contest and want to ask both of you to help us win. The grand prize is a five day shopping vacation in New York."

"What did you have in mind, Mrs. Buford?" Sandi asked.

"For some time since I saw a scene in a play, I've wanted to play an animal trainer. I've a wild idea for my costume."

"Sounds like fun, ma'am; especially if your wild idea looks anything like your nothing bathing suit," I giggled.

"No, I'd be a little more covered then that."

"Did you catch her emphasis on little, Karen?

"Where do we come in, Mrs. Buford?"

"Well," she grinned and shifted her eyes to look at both of us, "an animal trainer will need animals to train, don't you think?"

"Kewl! You want us to be lions and tigers. I wanna be a tiger."

"No!"

"No, Karen?" my employer stared in question. "Just like that? It would be just in fun."

"No to lions or tigers, ma'am. They are too big and strong. Even the lioness and tigress have muscles that ripple when they walk – toss in panthers and leopards."

"Picture instead, a cheetah. In nearly all the documentaries, you usually see more pictures of the female with her cubs then you do the male. Add in that cheetahs are nicely sleek and slender with narrow waists. I think I could do a better costume for one and play her part a lot better than some stupid lion with a perpetual bad hair day." They laughed with me.

"What do you think, Sandi?"

"Karen makes a really good suggestion. Cheetahs really don't perform at a circus, but no one will care if we don't sit on our haunches, yawn or jump through hoops.

"We could be on leashes and walk around looking really sexy all night."

"No." Mrs. Buford laughed.

"OK Last time you said, no, to Sandi's suggestion, you offered a really good one. What is it this time, Karen?"

Using my college dance experience, I slid off the stool onto the flagstones and went into the act of one of the stage girls from the play Cats. I slowly crawled around for a couple of minutes and ended on my haunches pressed against Sandi's leg. Her fingers scratched behind my ear as Mrs. Buford applauded.

"Puuuuuuuuurrrrrrrr..."

"I think our little theater major friend found a use for her education, Mrs. Buford."

Sandi helped me clean up from our party and restore the patio to its proper appearance.

Before she left for work, Mrs. Buford measured Sandi for her costume.

After we'd kissed good-bye, I was told go up and change into one of my black uniforms, prepare supper and set the table for one. She came in and sat at the table while I was working at the counter.

"I like to talk with you," she began. "I think we all had fun yesterday. Even though you told me not to, I want to apologize for my overreaction to your request not to get your hair wet.

"Anyway, I want your honest opinion regarding being my maid. Tell me your feelings, please?" I turned to face her.

"My feelings include a lot more than just being your maid, ma'am."

"For now you may drop the formalities. Go on."

"No, for what I'd like to say, it will help me express it by being formal, ma'am.

"Up until last Friday night, I think I'd reached a really low point. I drank too much, I didn't eat right, I lived like a slob and, even worse, I was just a low life bum. I had no respect for even myself and wasn't respecting anything else.

"Then I met this very wonderful and attractive lady. She offered me a place to beautiful place to live and not just in a flop house. Hey, would you like to live in a gorgeous mansion instead of a stinking rat hole in exchange for keeping it clean? I'll even feed you, let you use a car and even pay you.

"What the heck, sure, I'll give it try for awhile. I can always return to the gutter in the future."

"Ah, there's one little matter you've got to agree to though. Fer shure, what's that? You've got to always remain in your stage costume and in character.

"This woman's crazy! No one outside the theater is going to believe my character is real? No way!

"Then a thousand people stood up cheered and shouted at me for even thinking anything that stupid."

"Thank you for sharing that with me, Karen."

"Wait, please, you asked to hear my thoughts and feelings, ma'am." Mrs. Buford nodded.

"This crazy woman then starts treating me not as a bottom of the totem pole employee, but like I'm a member of her family, quite specifically, her teenaged daughter. At least that is how I think about it, ma'am.

"What's really weird ... I starting to like dressing as a girl... I like looking in the mirror to freshen my makeup and this ... well rather attractive girl smiling back at me. Clothes are another thing, I didn't want to admit it even to myself, but when Trish and Connie dressed me the night of the contest, I was looking forward to it, especially Connie's boots...

"Now, I like getting dressed and changing into different outfits, even if they are maid's uniforms." I expected, Mrs. Buford to say something after I'd confessed something so strange. She nodded for me to continue.

"More good things happened. I met a very wonderful girl that loves my stage character and if I slip out of it, that will stop. It doesn't even bother me that I was told in no uncertain terms that I was forbidden to have any male orgasm with her." I saw her eyebrow raise in question.

"That's right. She made me stay taped up all night, ma'am and I'd no objection in a sexual way.

"At this minute, what I need... What I would like you to do, please, ma'am, is for you to be much more formal with me for a few days so I can work to perfect the role you want me to star in. I want to become very good at it.

"You've been allowing me to neglect my chores and I'm not going to permit that any longer, ma'am."

She laughed, "Are you telling me how to conduct myself, maid?"

"Mostly I'm sincerely asking, but the true answer is, yes, ma'am." I even curtseyed and she smiled.

"I expect my dinner at seven o'clock, girl!" She chuckled quietly and left the kitchen.

*****

Mrs. Buford gave me everything I'd asked for and much more. She became very strict with me starting when I served her meal.

She took exception to everything starting with my appearance. She would find a wrinkle in my apron and I missed supper that night because I had to iron it ten times before it passed inspection. Once it had, it was my makeup she picked on and sent me upstairs to my room redo it. Next on her agenda, were spots on the glassware then it was spots on the kitchen floor.

Neither of us slept that night. I wasn't permitted to and she chose to keep on my butt about everything.

Friday morning, I was sent to my room to bathe, fix my hair, apply new makeup and change into a clean uniform. Of course, my pinafore didn't pass wrinkle inspection.

I was given a long list of chores to perform with very strict orders that I had better have all properly completed when she inspected. I didn't see Mrs. Buford until evening that day and I assume she'd slept.

My exhausted body drew its strength from somewhere and my mind was in a heavy thunderstorm.

As I had the very first night, I awoke as the sky brightened. I was fully dressed in my evening uniform that time and had been wrapped in bed covers on a couch in the den. At least my body had rested and my mind was refreshed.

Scooping up everything, I hurried to my room to clean up and present the required appearance.

While curling my hair, Mrs. Buford entered unannounced. "Your quarters are an absolute mess!" She began all over. She kicked my discarded uniform out of the way and sat on my bed. I was near to tears.

"Have you had enough of me being strict with you? Just like you asked me to? Are you ready to go back to letting your mother bring up her daughter as she thinks fitting, Karen?" she asked the last in a soft voice.

"I believe that my mother knows much better than her daughter, mom ... oops, ma'am." As I'd hoped, she giggled.

"Oops? You said that intentionally, you little maid.

"OK You've hopefully learned that I can be so strict with you that I'll have you begging me to stop. I'll go out this morning and buy the whips and chains for you if needed, but I doubt either of us wants that scene; I certainly don't with you.

"Karen, we both want you to perform perfectly. That isn't happening overnight. In the beginning things were hectic for you. That was wrong and I've not rushed you since.

"I gave you a taste of just what the standard of perfection might be like and you've hopefully learned how nearly unattainable it might be."

Mrs. Buford came behind me and removed her curling iron from my hand. "Let me do this for you this morning.

"It's Saturday and that means shopping. What are you going to wear?"

"My pink day uniform and all of the accessories, as soon as I iron it, ma'am. Even though you've called off the strict training, I'm still going to try to do the best that I can. I want to, please?"

"Add industrial strength hair spray to the shopping list when we go down, Karen." She tossed the can she'd emptied into the wastebasket.

"Where's your mobcap?" I told her and she placed it to capture all of the sausage curls that were formed from high at the back of my head.

"Look at me a moment." I turned my head and she placed her thumb and finger to the point of my chin and moved it side to side.

"Since you are starting to mature, you may start wearing more makeup."

"Would it be OK if I get used to this look before I do, mom?" Mrs. Buford smiled.

"Yes, OK and, no, I want to see mascara on your bottom lashes. Give it to me and I'll show you what I'd like, Karen."

She applied it so that my lower lashes were very prominent then added a lot more to the top ones too. My eyes really stood out when she'd placed the tube back on the vanity.

After looking at the bottles, she uncapped one and dabbed a bit on the inside of my wrist then moved it under my nose.

"There are ten different fragrances there. If you don't like that one, pick another. You're old enough to start smelling pretty."

"It smells like wisteria blossoms." She laughed and showed me the label. I giggled when I read that is what it was named.

"I'd like to try this one." Mrs. Buford showed me all the places to apply it starting behind my ears.

"Experiment, but start wearing a fragrance all of the time."

After I'd ironed my uniform and pinafore then put it on, I was given an inspection and deficiencies pointed out, but that was all.

The weather had turned suddenly cooler after our party and I was cold until the heater had warmed her car. "I was going to wait before I invested anymore in you and buy you more clothing," she said, "but as I believe that isn't going be a risk any longer, I think we need to do that this morning. You need some warmer things to wear."

"Mom, if you don't want to spend the money, may I have just a sweatshirt and jacket?"

"Stop the, 'mom', bit now." She wasn't being stern. "On second thought... Anyway, when you're in uniform, 'ma'am' or 'Mrs. Buford' will do. OK?"

We went to the nearby mall and I was fearful of encountering any of my former acquaintances. Our first stop was a place that sold dancewear: leotards, tights, shoes and the like.

"Girl-in-costume-designer mode, Karen," she joked. "Look around and give me ideas for my two cats." We laughed together.

I found nice beige leotards in a silky stretch fabric then matching tights for Sandi and me. After explaining to Mrs. Buford how they would be painted, she agreed. There was a picture of a model, all in red, advertising a brand of dancewear and wearing with a waist nipper that I pointed out would work, but hadn't seen anything like it on the racks. She called over the clerk.

"Do you sell these?" my employer pointed and asked.

She chuckled, "We've had so many inquiries since we put that ad up in July that the owner decided to. The shipment just arrived from England. Would you like a ribbon corset, Ms.?"

"Yes, but it is for my maid. She and her girlfriend are going to be cheetahs for Halloween."

"Neat," the clerk smiled at me and I returned hers.

"The corsets are one hundred and seventy-five dollars each, Ms. Would you like black or white?" Mrs. Buford bought two black ones after I'd chosen the color.

It was late afternoon by the time we returned to the house. I was sent up to change once I'd put all of the groceries away. We resumed a formal, mistress and maid relationship and she resumed pointing out areas I needed to improve.

*****

Tuesday morning, I'd been told to invite Sandi over on her day off, Wednesday, so we could work on our costumes. I was wearing my leotard, tights and the corset. With the gap closed, my corset reduced my waist a full six inches and I had insisted that Mrs. Buford lace it closed after I'd worn it for a few hours. I admit that I wanted to show off before Sandi, but it also wasn't that comfortable. I could tolerate it for the day. Buckled and locked about my neck was a bright red, wide leather collar with long spikes around it.

When Sandi rang and I opened the door, she burst out laughing. I was sitting up on my knees with my front paws folded down in front of my shoulders.

"Oh my god! You've got six boobs!" she exclaimed when she spotted them on my chest. Mrs. Buford had thought that up to add realism since human females were the only mammals we could think of with only one pair.

"Get away from the door, Kitty," my employer was hidden behind the it and pulled on the heavy chrome leash, which caused me to be easily slid across the marble floor on my knees.

"Oh, Hi, Pussy. Come in?" Mrs. Buford greeted cheerily. Sandi was still laughing.

"Too much, Mrs. B! Hi. Thanks for letting me come over.

"Love your outfit," she complimented. Mrs. Buford was wearing a crisp white blouse, tight cream colored riding breeches and regulation black riding boots with tan cuffs at their tops.

"Leave your things by the stairs; my maid will attend to them later, Pussy." When she started towards the kitchen, my leash audibly snapped taut and I crawled behind. We'd planned and rehearsed, so her actions were no surprise to me.

"Please get yourself a soda and sit with me a moment; I'd like to review what we want to accomplish during your stay, Pussy." I sat up and pressed myself to Mrs. Buford's leg after she'd sat.

"Sit there," I heard her direct. Carefully arranged at that place were an identical collar, leash and open padlock.

Sandi must have fingered the engraved tag on the front ring causing the bell fixed to it also to ring. "Is Pussy my new name, Mrs. B?"

"Yes, my maid helped me pick out suitably sounding names for my cats and I selected Kitty and Pussy. I rather like them. We'll ... since Kitty doesn't have one yet, you're named Pussy by default." Sandi laughed at our little joke.

"Do you want me to put on my collar on now?"

"No, but I think Kitty might like to do it for you though?" Sandi chuckled and met my eyes.

"Do you want me collared, Kitty?"

"Purr," I responded.

"OK Please collar me then?" I waited for the tug on my leash. This entire scene was a tremendous turn on for me.

Sandi shuddered and purred too as I wrapped the leather about her throat.

"Whenever you are wearing your collar, Pussy, I want you to practice being in your role for the party. That means only cat-like behavior. It will be necessary for you and Kitty to talk to each other for her to do what is planned today. Please, when she asks you to go into character, no more talking until I tell you that it is permitted?" She responded with a purr. I snugged the collar as tightly as mine and locked it to capture the ring at the end of her leash, I handed its red leather loop handle to Mrs. Buford.

"Kitty is going to take you to her quarters, get you suited up then to the garage to paint the costumes. You two may talk up there. I'll be in the garage to assist her with the painting, but Kitty will be in charge.

"Pussy, I expect you to cooperate fully with everything Kitty wants you to do."

"I will, Mrs. B."

"A purr will suffice for OK and a small snarl or growl will do for no." My leash was tugged and she handed me both.

"Stand up." I did. "You know what to do. Go."

Sandi waited to speak until we were in my room.

"This is kinky as hell, Karen." She tugged my leash chain.

"We're not permitted to swear. Please remember that, Pussy, and tell Sandi too.

"I want to give you a kiss, but I'm really afraid we'll stab each other." The sharp spikes radiating around our necks were six inches long.

"I kinda agree; almost as if they're designed to prevent that."

"No almost about it, Mrs. Buford told me that if they don't, they will be replaced for ones two inches longer, but we can try, if we tilt our heads."

"Mmm..."

"You must get undressed completely then I'll put on your other breasts and help you into your suit, Pussy." I pointed to her costume on my bed when we'd parted. She had no problem letting me help her undress. Her other two pair of breasts were cheap foam falsies and Mrs. Buford and I had already prepared them with adhesive tape. I positioned them and pressed them below her real ones.

We put on her tights and leotard and it took me a moment to carefully work the turtleneck of her leotard up under her collar.

Rejoining Mrs. Buford, I gave her our leashes to take us to the garage. I'd prepared it for the task by backing out her cars and covering the floor with newspaper to protect it from overspray. The new compressor and airbrush were all set with white fabric paint.

"Stand up against the post, Pussy, please? Spread your arms out," Mrs. Buford asked softly, as she tugged her leash. We had gotten on all fours to be led there. My leash had already been locked to a longer chain on an opposite lolly column.

"Into bondage games, Mrs. B?" I turned from my equipment when I heard the crop meet flesh hard and Sandi's yelp.

"No talking." Pussy's leash was wrapped around the column and locked to the collar. My employer then tied the ropes from the joists to her wrists to keep them outstretched.

Mrs. Buford shielded her face and collar with cardboard as I started to spray her front and instructed about what and how I was doing it. When finished, her chest and belly were solid white that faded as it reached her sides.

"Spread your legs, Pussy ... wider," I instructed. Her ankles were tied to keep them in place. I'd left her crotch and below the corset until the front insides of legs had been colored then sprayed there too. White on the front of Pussy's arms completed the job.

"Your turn, Kitty." I went to the column and was secured just like Pussy.

"Mrs. B, how long do I have to stay like this?"

"Until I finish painting on your spots and all the paint is completely dry. It's going to be several hours. No more talking until I permit it, Pussy, or I'll leave you like that until it's time for you to leave tomorrow." Mrs. Buford winked at me.

Since she had no experience using an airbrush, my employer applied the white paint with caution and took much more time until she was satisfied.

"I'll fix you cats a snack then have my lunch. I'll get started on your spots after. No talking." We were left alone, but she returned carrying a tray.

"If the paint didn't need to dry without messing it up, I really should train you two to feed properly from your dishes on the floor. Maybe it will be dry by supper so you can," she teased.

We were hand fed a granola bar then pieces of melon followed by a bottle of water.

Using different sized brushes, black spots were painted on. Mrs. Buford alternated between us so we'd both be dry about the same time. When completed, we had the largest and most spots on our shoulders and backs. Our spots became smaller and further apart as they progressed down our legs and arms and wrapped around our sides with just a few very small ones in the faded white edges. Mrs. Buford finished by carefully painting six black aureoles in the proper places with white nipples on each of us.

"I'm going to leave you here for an hour to be sure the paint is dry, cats. You may talk until I return." Pussy and I were left alone.

"You look incredibly sexy, Karen."

"Thank you; you look pretty good too, but I think she wants us to use out cat names, Pussy."

"I've had enough of being tied up like this." Sandi again tugged at the ropes without success.

"The paint really does need to dry. A lot of work went into our costumes and it would be a shame if we ruined them."

"I know, but this really isn't my scene, Kitty." She tugged again and looked down at her chest then back at me, ten feet away.

'The three pairs of boobies is really kinky. I wonder what it would be like?"

"Probably very frustrating since we've only two hands," I joked.

She laughed, "Or we had group sex all of the time.

"Kitty, have you ever thought of growing real ones?"

"No, I haven't."

"Well start to," Sandi giggled. "When we slept together last week, I started to. I wanted to fondle you and turn you on.

"I'm a committed lesbian, but I started to think it might be really kewl if you had nice big boobies and your little boy part. You'll need to get your tubes tied before I'm going to let that in me. I don't want either of us getting pregnant."

"I don't think I can get pregnant." I laughed.

"Yeah, you're a girl just like me and there are millions of unwed mothers who said that too, before their bellies started to blimp out." She laughed, but her expression turned serious.

"Kitty, please, please never spoil what I've started to feel for you, by every saying anything or denying that you're anything other than the pretty girl I'm stating to fall in love with?" She struggled with the ropes again.

"Damn! ...Oops, I'm not allowed to swear anymore.

"Darn," she giggled. "I want to snuggle and kiss you so badly right now."

"Ready to call this off, cats?" Mrs. Buford asked as she came in.

"Yes, ma'am. Please untie me?" Sandi immediately answered.

"OK, But, I've got to do Kitty first."

"Stay upright; both of you go back into girl mode." Still leashed we were let back into the kitchen. She unlocked our collars and removed them. Sandi moved to hug me, but was pushed away.

"Save that for later when Karen goes off duty, Sandi, OK?

"I want you to go up to the guest room you used last week and carefully undress, Sandi. Karen told you to pack a dress. Put it on then fix yourself pretty. Bring your leotard and tights here and leave them on the table. Karen needs to put your costumes in the washing machine to set the paint. Join me in the living room when you're ready." She turned to me.

"Go up to your quarters and change into an evening uniform. You are on duty, Karen.

"Before you embarrass me in front of guests, I want you to practice serving and learn what I'll expect from you under those conditions with Sandi here this evening, when we can correct mistakes, and I want Sandi to learn how to properly behave towards a maid.

"If all goes well, it will be an early evening and you can have fun together after.

"Sandi and I will decide what we'd like for supper and you can call out for it, so there won't be any need for you to cook.

"Are you OK with this? Tell me if you've any objections, Karen."

"I'm fine with it, ma'am." I curtseyed.

"Good, run along, girls." Sandi walked to the foyer and I climbed up the back stairs to my room.

It was almost an hour before I removed all of the paint that had seeped through the thin fabric from my body, put on my uniform and redone my makeup as Mrs. Buford had instructed me. Before going to the living room with my tray, I'd put our costumes in the washer and turned it on.

"Good evening, ma'am," I curtseyed.

"Karen, properly, you are to remain silent. You come into the room where you are expected, curtsey then just stand still until you are acknowledged. Go back to the kitchen and do it again, please?" she instructed. I was made to wait at least five minutes while she and Sandi talked quietly, seated side-by-side on the couch. Sandi looked nice in a little black dress, hose and pumps.

Mrs. Buford glanced at her watch then up at me with a stern expression, "You're late, girl! You were told to be on duty and hour ago!"

"I'm sorry, ma'am."

"I don't want to hear your excuses, girl! I'll teach you later what you have to be sorry about!" Sandi giggled. I wasn't sure, the way she addressed me, if Mrs. Buford was serious or not.

She held up her hand to me and turned to my friend, "As to your impoliteness, you do not show your lack of good breeding by displaying your amusement over another's mistake or when a servant is being admonished."

"Yes, ma'am

"Hi, Karen."

"Hi Sandi," I curtseyed. Mrs. Buford sighed audibly.

"This may take more time than I'd thought.

"Sandi, you do not speak to servants like one of your close friends and the only time you exchange greetings might be when she opens the door to admit you on your initial arrival.

"You may speak to them to give instruction and to make requests, note, requests not orders. 'Please' will never be out of fashion.

"When she serves you, say, a cup of coffee, you may or may not wish to say, 'thank you'. There is no need to thank her for just doing her job.

"Karen, even if a guest impolitely orders you to do something, you acknowledge with a curtsey then you'll remain quiet and do it, if it a reasonable request.

"Get me a refill!" she snapped. "That was a reasonable though impolite order. You just curtsey and do it.

"As I told Sandi, you should have no expectations of being thanked for anything, especially when just doing your job.

"Back to your verbal exchange. You don't know Sandi and my guest arrived while you were upstairs. You wait until you are introduced formally then use only their honorific and last name.

"Karen this is Sandi Martin." I only curtseyed and didn't speak. "Very good, Karen. Just your curtsey is sufficient.

"Sandi this is my maid, Karen. If you ever have servants, make sure your guests are informed of their role in your household.

"Hi..."

"Wait. You've no need to acknowledge or greet her unless you wish to, but drop the slang. 'Hello', will be better.

"Hello, Karen."

"Good evening, Ms. Martin." I curtseyed.

"Right, Karen, because she spoke to you, you properly reply politely."

"There is a lot more to being a maid than I ever thought, Amanda," Sandi observed.

"Yes.

"Sandi, would you like a drink?"

"I'd love a beer, Karen."

"No, you do not answer to her; I asked you the question."

"Yes, thank you, I'd love a beer, please, Amanda?" Mrs. Buford looked at me. I stood still.

"Why didn't you go to the kitchen and bring my guest a beer?" I signaled 'time' with my tray and hand.

"Ma'am I'm not sure if that is an instructional question or you meant it as legitimate."

"Instructional," she smiled.

"I have no knowledge that your guest even spoke to you. I'm not to listen to your conversations.

She giggled and clapped her hands, "Excellent! There's real hope for you, Karen!"

"I missed something, Amanda?"

"As my maid, she is never to listen to private conversations. Now, we all know her hearing is fine, but she, in no way, is to let on that she had overheard and been listening. Karen just demonstrated that I've no need to instruct her on that.

"Karen, my guest would like a beer, I would like white wine, please?" I went to the kitchen, poured the beverages then returned, served each with a curtsey and returned to stand where I'd been.

"There are menus for the take-out restaurants in the drawer by the sink. Get then," Mrs. Buford said.

"So long as you are soft and polite, you needed say 'please' with every request, Sandi," I heard as I curtseyed and walked from the room.

With the handful of menus, I brought a pad and pen too on my tray, curtseyed and placed them on coffee table.

"While my guest and I select our meal, please set the dinning room table for two, very formally, as if for a five course dinner, Karen?" I was forced to signal timeout again.

"Yes, Karen?"

"I don't think I know how to, ma'am."

"OK Two lessons here, girls. First, speak in a positive fashion, Karen. Either you do know how to do it, or you do not; there is no 'think' in the statement. Now, which is it?"

"I do not know how to set a table for a formal five course dinner."

"Much better, Karen. Say what you need to and do not leave it a guessing game. Only a fool knows everything.

"Now, more importantly, the maid is an extension of me. The guests with judge how they enjoyed their evening on the performance of the hostess, not on if my cook is any good or my maid knew how to pour wine. 'The meal Karen served was horrible, George.' 'That dumb maid wouldn't know how to sling hash in a soup kitchen.'

"Those are their proper thoughts; not 'I've seen more properly dressed street whores than that Karen'. Instead it is, 'You'd think Amanda would know enough to insist that her maid wear a proper uniform, not expose that racy black panty every time she bends over, George. Really!' It all about the hostess.

"Karen, if you ever wonder why your uniforms reach your knees; you just heard the reason." I curtseyed.

"OK, but what's that got to do with Karen saying she didn't know how to set the table, Amanda?"

"Really, Cassandra, you would think that before Amanda had invited us all over that she'd at least have taught her maid how to at least set the table properly."

"Quite," Sandi giggled.

"See, all comes back on me."

"So how does Karen handle it, if you make a request that she can't comply with?"

"When she curtseys, she says, 'Ma'am, I need to speak with you privately for a moment, please?' then stands there and waits for me to make the next more.

"If I'm too stupid to not to excuse myself and attend to it, then, shame on me, I really am a bad hostess. I'd motion her out and listen to what she has to say and deal with it."

"OK, Amanda, you've a houseful of eight couples, the cook is preparing the feast and you learn at the last minute that your maid can't set the table. What would you do?"

"One thing I don't do is try to shift the blame to my maid. It is not Karen's fault, in any way, that she never learned how to set the table. Again, the hostess is to blame. Never pass it down on your servants. It is my fault, so I accept the blame."

"Amanda, how would you deal with it? You have sixteen hungry guests and the meal would be ruined?" She stood up and motioned me into the kitchen.

"Just play your part," she whispered and left.

I heard, "Sandi, excuse me, but may I see you a moment please?"

"Certainly, Amanda." She came in the kitchen.

"Sandi, it's all my fault; I hired Karen less than two weeks ago. She is working out quite well as a maid, but I've completely forgotten that she had made me fully aware that she'd no formal training. I really need help and am hoping that your extensive experience in the hospitality industry can help me overcome my oversight tonight."

There was a pause and Sandi caught on that she was to respond only when Mrs. Buford motioned her to do with her hand. "Certainly, Amanda, how might I assist?" My employer explained the situation Sandi already knew.

I was told to go to the dining room. "Linens, china, crystal and sterling, Sandi," Mrs. Buford motioned to the cabinets. "Make full use of this to set a very formal table for two. I sit there and you on my right, Cassandra."

"Karen," she addressed me. "This is instruction. Please just do as your friend tells you to?"

Setting a formal table involved far more than I could have begun to imagine! Each place setting had more than twenty separate pieces of crystal, sterling and china!

While Sandi taught me how to set the table formally, they selected their Chinese food. Mrs. Buford instructed me how I should do the call and, in front of them, I placed the order.

"Good evening, I'd like to place a take out order, please..."

Though I'd seen no problem with how I'd ordered, Mrs. Buford said that my phone etiquette needed improvement and that she would work with me on it later.

"Amanda, if you've plum wine, I'd like that with dinner, please? If not, would you request your maid pick up a bottle when she picks up the food?"

While I'd accepted being in my pink uniform to do the grocery shopping, I was not mentally ready to deal with the help in the Chinese restaurant snickering at me or with the men in the crowded liquor store. I survived ... my, mostly, self imposed ordeal; I'd made more of it in my head than I should have, but I felt very exposed and vulnerable in my black and white uniform.

Sandi instructed how to serve and continued to correct me throughout the meal.

"Karen?" I faced Mrs. Buford and curtseyed. "End of the lessons for tonight.

"The dirty dishes can wait. I'd like you properly in uniformed and on time in the morning, please? I'd like to continue your lessons then.

"Sandi, I'd like you to resume a formal guest role then too, please?

"Right now, I want to go up to the guestroom and enjoy a relaxing, enjoyable and restful night.

"You are off duty and both of you are dismissed for the evening." We bid 'good night' and heard her go upstairs after she left us and Sandi took my hand.

She gave me a light kiss on the lips. "I'll start to clean up while you eat then you can help me finish, Karen. We can't leave all of this." Sandi offered.

Once we had, I went to my room to change. It was after ten when I entered the guestroom wearing my same nightshirt as before. Sandi smiled at me, "Is that the sexiest thing you have to wear?"

"No, but you said sex was off limits, Sandi?" I was tired and no way understood.

"I asked for that, didn't I?" she wrinkled her lips. "OK Get in bed."

She pulled me to her for a deep kiss. I'd kept on my bra and 'breasts' and, despite her previous statement, my girlfriend began to play with them.

"I want you to find a doctor soon and get started on making these real."

*****

Mrs. Buford was just starting to make coffee, when I entered the kitchen just before seven. She greeted me and moved to sit at the table.

"I'm very pleased that you take being on time seriously. Please go get the paper while that brews? I'd like that to become routine without my asking, please?"

Sandi was sitting when I brought back the newspaper. "The table should already be set, before we arrive, Karen."

"Hold off on the lessons Sandi; there will be plenty of time soon. I usually use this time to sit with her and talk.

"Get the cups and pour then sit with us, please?" I was handed the paper. "Put that on the counter, please?"

"How was it last evening with the lessons? I wasn't too hard on you?"

"No, not at all, ma'am. I learned a lot and I'm thankful you took the time to instruct me.

"Thank you for teaching me to set a table and serve, Miss Martin."

"I thought I heard Amanda say this was conversation time?" Sandi responded.

"It is, but I really want to learn to do my job properly. I can practice being polite while we talk." I smiled and heard my employer chuckle.

"Certainly, Karen," she assured.

"May I set the table and start breakfast?" I asked after I'd emptied my cup.

"Yes, but continue to participate in the conversation.

"I found these really neat masks on the Internet last night. They are actually more like half hoods with cat's ears that leave your eyes exposed along with the lower part of your faces and noses. I ordered them for your costumes."

"What about our shoes, Amanda?"

"Yes, I need some ideas there, Sandi. I'd like it if neither of you can stand up that night, but haven't figured how to accomplish that."

"Maybe if they were taped up, but I don't know how," Sandi suggested.

"I've an idea, ma'am," I said after thinking on it.

"For one of the college skits we needed the character to have a deformed foot to make him a cripple. They used a shaped strip of aluminum that wrapped around his toes then bent the foot back, came over the back of the heel and ended on his calf. It was all taped then. Poor Ralph couldn't put any weight on it and had to walk with crutches."

"I'm not following?" Sandi questioned.

I crouched to unbuckle my shoe then arched my foot and traced the path on my foot.

"That might work.

"Cassandra, after your breakfast while Karen gets started on her chores, why don't you drive down to the hardware store and see if you can find anything that will bend easily and get some duct tape too?"

*****

While I spent much of my morning making up the rooms and doing laundry, I saw neither Mrs. Buford nor Sandi. My employer entered the laundry room as I was folding bed sheets.

"Come down in the basement, Karen, I'd like your opinion about how we've experimented with your idea."

It surprised me that the house had a large entertainment room complete with a bar, several wide-screen TV's. Wearing her panties, bra and pair of black tights, Sandi was on all fours on the pool table.

She waved here taped fist. "You and your crazy ideas, Karen. You're going to know just how much fun this is when Amanda fixes you like this too. We're scheduled for cat practice when I come over next week.

Her hands had been tightly taped and bent back. "We expanded your idea to place the metal under her hands so they can't be straightened, yet she can use them to walk."

"I not only can't straighten them I can't move them. I can't even wiggle my fingers." Sandi held up her paw to demonstrate. I giggled.

"I see."

"You won't think it's funny when you are like this."

"No complaining," Mrs. Buford said. "Part of it was your idea too.

"Your girlfriend even thought to buy some foam to pad your knees, since you'll not be able to stand.

 

End of Chapter II

  

  

  

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