One Humiliating Friday Night 
by BeegBoy
Are all the females in Ken's life stronger than he is?

Ken Beaumont was just finishing up his homework when he heard his
mother and sister return home from their aerobics class at the
health center.  Getting an early jump on his school assignments
had allowed him to finish them all and he now had the entire
weekend ahead to relax and enjoy himself.  Maybe he'd take Sara,
his girlfriend, to a movie or they'd just crash on her sofa and
watch a few videos.

As he was putting his books away his sister, Stacy, passed his
room dressed in her sweats and called out a cherry hello which he
returned.  Soon Ken heard the sound of running water, indicating
mom and sis were taking their post workout showers before dinner.
He grinned to himself and gently shook his head.  About three
months earlier Stacy and his mother, Grace, has gone on a fitness
kick.  Ken respected their drive and determination, but couldn't
understand what all the fuss about getting in shape was. 

At 36, Grace was an attractive, if slightly plump, 5'3" woman who
very much reminded Ken of the actress who played Mrs. Cunningham
in the reruns of the show "Happy Days".  Even photos of her at 18
(her age when Ken was born) showed her to be a bit full-figured,
but well proportioned and attractive.  She and Ken's father had
divorced when he was 5, just after Stacy was born, and there
hadn't been a steady man in her life since.  Maybe, he thought,
she was just trying to get in trimmer shape to reenter the dating
pool and meet someone, but Ken felt she looked fine as she was.
Women, go figure!

Stacy, on the other hand, was a 14 year-old couch potato who had
inherited her mother's physique.  Initially, Grace almost had to
drag the girl along with her to the aerobics classes but after a
few weeks Stacy began to enjoy herself and was soon getting what
she called a "fitness high" from the workouts.  Ken could tell
his 5'2" little sister certainly had more energy, but while her
shape had gotten trimmer, her overall build was still on the
hefty side.  Guess there's no way to completely beat genetics,
Ken figured to himself.

Grace had asked Ken to join them at first, but didn't pressure
him the way she did Stacy.  This was probably due to the fact
that Ken didn't appear to be in need of conditioning.  Weighing
in at 170 lbs. and standing 5'9", he was trim and in good shape. 
He had dabbled in a few sports but was not what you'd call a
jock.  Nonetheless, he was solidly built and believed himself as
physically strong as any average boy his age.  In addition, he'd
flat out told Grace that aerobics was for girls, not guys - and
his mother hadn't pressed the issue.

At dinner, Ken was lost in his thoughts, thinking of ways he and
Sara could entertain themselves this weekend, while Grace and
Stacy rambled on and on about fitness ad nauseam.

"I weighed in at 135 lbs.", Grace sighed, "I don't understand; my
clothes are fitting looser on me, but I can't seem to get my
weight down." 
"Stop fretting, mom", Stacy assured her, "It's more how you feel
and look than how much you weigh.  I feel lots better and full of
energy even though I still weigh 120 lbs., the same as when we
started"
"But how can we be smaller and still weigh that much?"
"Because muscle weighs more than fat, so even though we're leaner
we still weigh the same, right Ken?" Stacy asked her brother.
"I don't think he heard you sweetie", Grace laughed.
"Hello Ken....YO KEN!!...earth calling!!!" Stacy teased as she
waved her hand in front of her brother's eyes.

"Oh...sorry", Ken smiled, "just lost in thought, I guess."
"Dreaming about Sara, your great romance?" Stacy teased.
"Wouldn't you like to know", he teased back.
"Anyway", Stacy continued, "I was just telling mom muscle weighs
more than fat, isn't that true?"
"It sure is", Ken replied, "but, I think aerobics is more for
endurance than muscle growth, it wouldn't really make you any
stronger physically."

"Oh", Grace said, "I guess we haven't been keeping you posted on
our workouts.  We don't just do aerobics anymore, we've added
tennis and swimming to our program, even...", she added
sheepishly, "a little light weight training."
"You and Stacy?  Pumping iron??" Ken snorted, "I'd love to have
that on video!!"
"Certainly not!" Grace laughed, "just small hand weights, though
I'm actually beginning to feel like I could handle more."
"Yeah", added Stacy, "and they say swimming really builds up your
arms, so I'll bet we are getting stronger!"
"Great", Ken mused, "now I can write a book on my life with the
iron maidens!"  Everyone laughed.

After dinner they cleared the table and Ken listened to Grace and
Stacy argue over who's turn it was to wash the dishes - Ken had
done them the night before.  Suddenly, Stacy got an impish gleam
in her eye and put her right elbow up on the table.

"Come on, mom, let's arm-wrestle for it", Stacy challenged, "the
loser does the dishes!"
"My darling daughter", Grace laughed, "I don't have to prove I'm
stronger in order to command you, I am your mother!"
"Oh, I see", Stacy teased playfully, "you don't wanna be shown up
by a teenage kid, I understand".
"OK, kiddo", Grace said with a wry grin as she put her arm up,
"you're on!!"

Ken watched in startled, but amused, disbelief as his mother and
kid sister locked hands and asked him to call go.  He shrugged
his shoulders, rolled his eyes and laughed out, "GO!!"

The contest started at once, and both women were indeed giving it
their best.  Ken found himself fascinated to see Grace and Stacy
testing their strength against each other, after all, girls and
women didn't do things like this, did they?

After holding briefly at the starting position, the combatants'
arms seemed to slowly sway back and forth slightly, with neither
one winning a clear advantage before the other pulled her arm
back.  Ken looked on and studied his mother and sister with
genuine amazement.  Since they weren't slender in build, Stacy
and mom had always had thick looking arms, but Ken had though
them soft and pillow-like.  But now their arms appeared almost as
hard and solid as polished wood.

Furthermore, both of their upper arms now clearly displayed
biceps bulges.  Not large, not "cut" or vein-filled, just small,
slight, but very noticeable bulges.  Ken couldn't help but admire
the effort they were both giving to the competition.  He still
didn't think his mother and sister were very strong, but he had
to admit to himself they were certainly stronger than he'd
originally believed (not that he'd ever though about it all that
much).

Still, the contest continued.  Grace and Stacy had their mouths
closed with their lips tightly pressed together, but their eyes
showed amusement and joy along with the strain of their efforts. 
They were each going all out to win and clearly enjoying testing
their prowess.  Ken again noticed his mother's arm.  The bulge of
her biceps still didn't look that big, but it was clear to see
the short sleeve of her blouse was pressed tightly against her
skin whereas it had been slightly loose-fitting when the match
started.

Finally, Grace got a slight advantage over Stacy and held onto
it.  Then she slowing starting forcing her daughter's arm down,
either because she increased her pressure or because Stacy's
resistance had started to wain.  Ken sat there and watched in
fascination as his mother finally brought his sister's arm down
and pinned it to the table.  Both women released their grips and
shook their right arms.  The match had lasted over two minutes,
evidently due to the near equal strength of the competitors. 
This hadn't been a quick five or ten second match like the ones
in Petaluma!  

"And now, sweet daughter of mine", Grace snickered, "your dishes
await!"
"Darn!" Stacy exclaimed, still shaking her arm, "guess I'm not
quite ready for you yet!"
"That's right!" Grace laughed, "I'm still in control of the
household and can kick butt around here!!"
"Sorry mom", Ken sneered playfully as he rolled up his sleeve and
put up his arm, "but you won't kick my butt!!  Pay attention, my
little sister, as I show you how to take mom down a peg!!"
"You can't be serious!!" Grace laughed, astonished.
"To be queen, you must conquer all your subjects!!" Ken replied
in a mock serious tone. 
"The queen's a chicken!!" Stacy teased, "She's a fraidy-cat!!"
"Alright, buster", Grace sighed and put her arm up, "let's see if
my big teenage boy is as strong as he thinks he is!!"

Stacy, who was about to get up and start the dishes, remained in
her seat.  She'd lost her match, and it was only fair she get to
see mom lose one, too.  Besides, she was really in no great hurry
to start the dishes.

As Ken and Grace clasped their hands together, his eyes widened a
bit in surprise as he felt the power of his mother's grip.  Grace
had noticed his expression as was equally surprised, since she'd
gripped Stacy's hand just as firmly as his.  In fact, it seemed
to Grace that Stacy's grip had felt tighter than his did, but how
could that possibly be?  But she merely shrugged it off, thinking
Ken was just taking it easy on her.
  
Stacy called out "GO" and the match began.  Certain she was no
match for her son, Grace initially only put forth a half-hearted
effort.  Besides, her arm was still tired from the lengthy match
with her daughter.  She knew Ken would beat her, but was a little
curious to see how long she could hold out against him.  Slowly,
Ken started to force his mother's arm down to the table.  He
tried to maintain a neutral, composed expression on his face, but
was truly amazed at the degree of resistance his mother was
giving him.  Was she actually this strong?  If she was, how had
Stacy lasted so long against her?

Ken now had Grace's arm halfway down to the table.  Stacy was
watching the contest closely and wondered why it was taking her
big brother so long to force their mother's arm down.  Suddenly,
she had a flash of female intuition that told her Ken was heading
for a bad fall.

Grace was also trying not to let her emotions show on her face,
but couldn't understand why Ken wasn't forcing her arm down
faster.  She was actually giving him a bit less resistance than
she'd given Stacy but his progress wasn't increasing.  His eyes
showed the strain of the contest and his bewildered confusion,
whereas her eyes showed a lesser degree of strain combined with
amused disbelief.  Was her son just toying with her and playing
games?  Or was it possible that Grace was stronger than she
herself thought?  She decided she wanted to know the truth; no,
she had to know the truth, even if she didn't really want to!

Grace increased her effort slightly and stopped Ken's downward
motion of her arm cold, then with an additional moderate increase
she easily forced her son's larger, more muscular arm back up to
the top starting position.  If her easy reversal of Ken's efforts
didn't crush his self-confidence, what he saw did.  As Grace had
forced his arm back up he'd again noticed the bulge of her
biceps, but this time her blouse sleeve wasn't tight against her
skin, it was still a bit loose!!  Seeing this made Ken realize
his mother was using less strength against him than she had used
against his younger sister, yet she had forced his arm back to
the starting position and now she was starting to force his arm
down, she was winning!!  How could she be winning!?!

Ken clenched his teeth and gave another desperate surge of effort
but failed to move Grace's arm back at all, in fact he barely
even slowed her progress.  As mother and son locked eyes, and
Stacy looked on, all three of their mouths dropped open in
various degrees of surprise, disbelief, and embarrassment as
Grace smoothly and steadily forced Ken's arm down to the table
with hardly any visible strain on her part.  Even more crushing
to the boy's ego, their match had barely lasted a minute.  It had
taken mom more than twice as long to beat his sister - his little
sister!

"My God, Ken", Grace whispered as she swallowed uncomfortably,
"please tell me you were just kidding around with me, that you
let me win.  You weren't really trying your best, were you? 
Surely you could have done better than that!?"  But even as she
spoke, the devastated look in Ken's eyes told her this was no
joke; she had bested her son in a direct test of strength, and
had done so with embarrassing ease.  She still couldn't quite
accept it, or maybe she didn't want to.

"Ken", she leaned over and whispered so only he would hear, "I
had a much harder time beating your sister - your little sister
for heaven's sake!!"  Ken didn't know how to answer, what could
he say?  The awkward silence was soon broken by an exhilarated
Stacy.

"Mom beat you!!!  She beat you!!" Stacy exclaimed gleefully, "and
she beat you faster and easier than she beat me - me!!!"  It was
obvious Grace needn't have whispered to Ken, Stacy had seen the
match and easily gleaned how much easier her mother had won the
second match.   

The second match!  The second match!  Ken thought to himself as
he considered the situation.  His mother's arm had been tired
from the match with Stacy and she's still beaten him so damned
easily!  How much faster would it have been if she'd been rested?
Grace looked sympathetically at her humiliated son but also
couldn't think anything comforting to say.  The poor boy didn't
even realize she'd been holding back at the start of their match;
she could probably have pinned his arm in seconds.  How could she
be that strong (or he so weak?).  Ken silently started to get up,
he needed some time in his room to mull this situation over.  As
he rose Stacy rapped him lightly on the shoulder.   
      
"Not so fast, big bro", Stacy chirped as she put her arm back up
on the table, "loser has to wash the dishes!!
"Stop it, young lady!" Grace said sharply, "You don't bully your
brother, you protect him!!"  Ken looked at his mother, wounded
and bewildered.
"Her, protect me??  Mom, that's crazy, why.......", Ken began.
"Oh, honey, what's the point in denying it", Grace said to him in
a voice both sympathetic and frustratingly patronizing, "I've
just tested you both, and...and...well, what can I say, as far as
I can judge, Stacy's clearly stronger than you are."
"No", he stammered, "No, NO - that can't be!!"
"Well", Stacy teased, offering forth her hand, "there's only one
way to find out!" 
"NO, Stacy!" Grace exclaimed, "I won't have...."
"It's alright, mom", Ken interrupted as he sat back down, "this
is the only way to know - and I have to know!!"

Grace watched with maternal concern as Ken and Stacy locked hands
and prepared to test their prowess against each other.  There was
no doubt her emotions were mixed over the situation.  She hated
the idea of her son's feelings being hurt and his ego getting
bruised, but why should she and Stacy deny themselves the feeling
of being proud about the benefits of their exercise regimes?  She
had initially asked her son to join in their workouts and he'd 
refused; and now it was Ken who was insisting on accepting little 
Stacy's challenge, so he'd have to deal with the consequences -
if he could.

Even as they settled in, it was clear Stacy had the advantage
mentally.  After all, she'd seen how Ken and been vanquished by
mom with less effort than had been used against her.  Ken had a
determined, but concerned expression on his face that made his
sister's look of secure confidence glow even brighter.  They both
nodded they were ready and Grace gave them the go.

Without hesitating, Ken pulled at Stacy's arm with everything he
had; leaning forward and closing his eyes to concentrate as he
produced a mighty surge of power.  But, when he opened his eyes
their arms were still at the starting position, he hadn't moved
Stacy an inch.  He looked at her brother in wide-eyed delight and
started to giggle uncontrollably and he pulled at her arm again
and again and again without any visible effect.

"That's it!?  That's all you've got, big brother??  That's the
extent of your big, manly muscles??"  Stacy rambled on and on as
she started forcing Ken's arm down relentlessly, "If that's the
best you can do, then tha-tha-that's all folks!!!"  Ken's hand
was thrust down to the table with a solid thump.  Ken pulled his
hand away and shook his arm vigorously, then placed it on the
table again.

"Once more!!" he stammered, "One more time!!"
"Anything you say, muscle man", Stacy teased as they clasped
hands again.  Grace couldn't understand why Ken was fighting such
a futile, losing battle, but she decided it was his choice and
remained silent.
The second match was even worse. Stacy was in complete and total
control with all of Ken's best efforts having no effect on her
whatsoever.  She rested her chin on her left hand and looked
almost bored as she casually moved her arm back and forth, back
and forth.  She'd let Ken take her arm down to within inches of
defeat and watch him apply all the strength he could muster to
force her arm down that last final bit, then she'd easily force
his arm up and over and almost all the way down to the table,
stopping just shy of pinning his arm.  She finally just got bored
and slammed his arm down again, gaining her second clear victory.
Now Ken really felt like he needed to mull this over in his mind. 
He quietly got up to go upstairs to his room but Stacy blocked
his path.

"Sorry, Kenny, but we had a deal", she chirped, knowing he hated
to be called Kenny, "you have those dishes to wash!"  
"What?" Ken asked, dazed and momentarily distracted, then his
voice sharpened as he fully understood what she'd said, "and what
did you call me?!"
"I said you have dishes to do, Keennyyy!!" she hissed out his
last name.  Then she stepped forward and, placing her hand on his
chest, shoved him towards the sink.  It was a gentle shove, and
Stacy laughed aloud when she saw how far it forced him back.

"Stacy, stop that", Grace interjected, "nobody likes a bully, so
don't pick on your brother!"
"But we had a deal, mom", Stacy complained, "why should I do the
dishes?"
"You don't have to do the dishes, Ken will, but there's no need
to push him around."  As she spoke, Grace noticed Ken glanced at
with an appeal in his eyes, but she merely shrugged, "What can I
say, son, you accepted her challenge and she beat you fairly, now
you must do her chores."

Ken looked to Grace again, but she just shook her head sadly and
sternly, letting him know she wouldn't intervene.  "If I were
you, I'd think long and hard about wagering your servitude on
tests of strength against your sister in the future.  Stacy,
let's go upstairs and give your brother a little private time, I
think he needs it."

They left him alone in the kitchen, Stacy looking back at him one
last time with a wide grin on her face.  As they walked up the
stairs, Grace and Stacy talked quietly amongst themselves.  Stacy
tried to talk seriously and sympathetically about her brother,
but it was hard to conceal her pride in her new found ability.

"Mom, will Ken be OK about this?"
"I'm think so, honey, but he'll need some time to adjust his
thinking and accept it."
"Maybe he can start working out with us."
"He could, Stacy", Grace sighed, "but I doubt it would make any
difference.  I've just this minute realized something.  I know
I'm stronger than before I started going to the gym, but I also
know how much stronger I've become and I've a fairly good idea
how much stronger you've become.  Can you keep a secret?"
"Sure, mom, what?"
"Stacy, I could have beaten your brother months ago, before I
even started working out - and I think you could have, too!"
"Really??"
"Yes, really.  I doubt he could catch up to us now, much less
surpass us.  We can be proud of our strength and don't need to
hide it - but there's also no need to rub his face in it, OK?"
"You mean don't tease him or call him Kenny anymore?"
"Yes, that's what I mean!"         

After they went to their rooms Grace sat on the bed and though
about what had happened and how everything had changed so much in
the course of a half hour.  She thought long and deep - then she
reached for the phone on her nightstand.
 
Ken washed the dishes in silence and then sat down at the kitchen
table again, still trying to analyze how rapidly things had been
turned upside down in his world.  True, he'd never considered
himself to be a superman, but he'd also never doubted for a
minute he was stronger than his mother, not to mention his kid
sister.  Maybe he had a mild case of the flu he though, or maybe
he should pick up a set of weights a second voice in his head
said.  

Soon, Ken was again so lost in thought he almost didn't hear the
tapping at the back door.  Looking up, he saw through the glass
that it was Sara, his girlfriend, and he waved her inside.  As
she entered, Ken saw she had her little sister, Monica, with her.
At 17, Sara was a slender 115 lbs., standing 5'6", with the blue
eyes and blonde hair that came with a Scandinavian heritage.  Her
sister Monica, 12, at 5', 95 lbs., was a smaller, but stockier
version of Sara.  They came over to the table and stood by Ken.

"Something on your mind, babe?" Sara asked, "you were a million
miles away."
"Nah, just thinking about things in general", Ken responded, for
the time being forgetting the evening's earlier events.
"Boy, it's a little warm in here", Sara remarked as she removed
her jacket.  

Ken's eyes were immediately attracted to her arms and shoulders
and it soon occurred to him why.  They'd started dating during
the winter months and he'd only seen her in long sleeves that
whole time.  Sara had fairly wide shoulders, and her arms, while
not muscular, appeared thick, almost as if they were slightly out
of proportion with the rest of her body.  Reaching for Sara, Ken 
caressed her arms as he pulled her down on his lap and found them
to be firm and solid, not soft or cushy.  The evening's earlier
events rushed back into his head - was Sara as strong as his mom
and Stacy?  She couldn't be, he reasoned, she didn't exercise or
workout, and with her figure she didn't need to!
"So, what say he go back to your house and watch some videos?"
Ken suggested, "we'll pick up some soda and chips on the way."
"I'd rather go to the movies", Sara counter offered, "we haven't
been out in a while."
"Aw, I'd rather stay in at your place, the flicks are so crowded
and noisy on friday nights", Ken said.
"But I'm sick of staying in all the time!" Sara griped mildly.

They argued softly back and forth for several minutes and then
Sara got off his lap and sat down opposite Ken at the table.  

"I know how to settle this!" Sara teased, and put her arm up on
the table, "I saw this on Wide World of Sports once!"  As she
said this, Sara grew concerned when she saw the color drain from
Ken's face.  "Are you OK, babe?" she continued, "you look like a
ghost who's been scared by another ghost!!"
"Uh, yeah, yeah, I'm OK - why is your arm on the table?" Ken
asked, fearing the answer.
"Oh that, yeah, I saw it once on TV - let's arm-wrestle!  You win
and we stay in, I win and we go to the movies!"
"That's silly", Ken responding, trying to hide the shaking
uncertainty in his voice, "if you want to go to the movies that
badly I'll take you, OK!"
"Oh come on!" Sara goaded, grabbing his hand and putting their
arms in position, "just for fun!!  If you wanna stay in, you've
gotta me fight for it!!"

Before Ken could pull his hand free or otherwise react, Sara
started pulling against his arm and trying to force it down.  Ken
fought back out of sheer panic, afraid that losing to his own
girlfriend would be the final blow to his already fractured ego.
He looked at Sara's arm as they struggled and saw only the
slightest, small bulge of biceps appear, but then she started to
force his arm down.  

Monica cheered her big sister on as she moved Ken's arm a few
inches off center towards defeat.  Ken concentrated his eyes on
their locked hands, trying desperately to reverse Sara's edge
over him.  He couldn't believe she had taken the advantage,
couldn't believe his non-athletic girlfriend was that deceptively
strong.  Ken quickly glanced up at Sara and saw she was also
staring at their hands with what, he thought, appeared to be a
look of genuine surprise with a touch of mild contempt.  Then,
she raised her eyes and met his, and when she did her expression
changed and her strength appeared to fade.  Ken quickly took the
initiative, forcing her arm back up to the starting position.

Monica continued cheering for Sara even as Ken gradually started
to force her big sister's arm down towards the table.  He began
to smile happily even as Sara grimaced and clenched her teeth
while she fought back.  After he'd slowly forced her arm halfway
down Sara managed to hold him off for a few more seconds before
her resistance failed and Ken slammed her arm down.
"Ouch!!" Sara whimpered, "You didn't have to take me down so hard
you big ape!!"  She pulled her hand free and started to massage
it. 
"Oh man, sweetie, I'm sorry", Ken quickly said.  His concern
sounded genuine enough, but inside he was cheering to himself. 
Mom and Stacy had been a fluke!  Maybe his blood sugar had been
down or something.  Even if it was from their working out, Ken
was now confident he'd catch up to them and surpass them if he
started pumping some iron.  Average girls like Sara were clearly
no match for him, Ken thought to himself as his ego structure
started to reassemble itself.  He was on such a high he failed to
notice the quizzical, doubtful look little Monica was giving both
him and her big sister as she looked back and forth at them.  

"Apology accepted, babe", Sara mock pouted, "I guess we go back
to my house for videos."
"No, my dear", Ken exclaimed cheerfully, "I am a kindly conqueror
and will happily take you to the movies, even Monica can come
along if you want!!"
"Great!" Sara brightened, "Just let me use the bathroom and then
we'll go!"

Leaving Ken and Monica in the kitchen, Sara went out towards the
bathroom but passed it by and went over to the stairs, where
Grace was standing waiting for her.  

"How'd it go, Sara?" Grace asked quietly.
"Well, he seems to be a lot happier than he was when I arrived,
Mrs. Beaumont", the girl answered, "thanks for calling and giving
me the heads up about this.  I think his ego's on the road to
repair."
"Good, thanks for playing along", Grace paused, looking at Sara
quizzically, "is something wrong, dear?"
"Well, to be honest", Sara began, sounding embarrassed, "when you
called me on the phone and told me what happened I figured Ken
would beat me easily and everything would be fine and back to
normal, but....."

"But?...." Grace questioned again.
"Well, gee, Mrs. Beaumont - I really had to ease off to let him
win!!  I mean, you work out and you're an adult.  I'm just an
average teenage girl and even I could have beaten him easily!  I
really like Ken, but I don't know if I want a guy I'm stronger
than as a boyfriend.  Does that sound, you know, mean?"
"No", Grace sighed, "You're only being honest about it.  What
happens next is up to you.  But please, if you do break up with
Ken, don't tell him the true reason.  Knowing he's weaker than an
average girl would be devastating.  I want to help rebuild his
ego, but I can only hope a small bit of self-doubt will remain so
that he'll shy away from testing himself against any other girls
this way."

"Oh, I'd never tell him!" Sara declared, "as I said, I do still
like him a lot." 
"Thank you so much, Sara", Grace said relieved, "if you'd seen
his face after both Stacy and I defeated him you'd......"
"Stacy!" Sara interrupted, "Stacy beat him, too!!  You didn't
tell me that on the phone - STACY BEAT HIM, TOO!!!!"
"Why....yes" Grace answered, stunned, "I didn't thing it was
important to tell you his younger sister had....."
"Monica, oh no, Monica!!" Sara cried as he headed back towards
the kitchen with Grace following closely. 
 
Sara and Grace reached the kitchen doorway and looked in, but it
was already too late.  They arrived just in time to see little 12
year-old Monica slam Ken's arm down to the table in defeat.  When
Monica saw Sara she smiled and said, "That was three in a row!!"

Ken sat there dejected and nearly crying, he wouldn't (or
couldn't) take his eyes off the floor - he couldn't look at
Monica or Sara or his own mother as he sat there steeped in his
humiliating embarrassment.

"When I asked him why he thought you let him beat you, he laughed
at me and claimed that he had really won", little Monica chirped,
"but I knew you let him win, so I took him on and showed him even
I'm stronger than he is, and I'll bet any girl is!  I really
showed him good, didn't I sis?!?"

Awkward silence filled the room, it was gonna be a long night!!