Girls Night Out
By Merz	
Adventures in the Fashion World


"Carmen, what do you think about this for Betty?"

"I think she won't like. The sleeves they will bother."

"Yes, I was afraid of that, but it is so fun and would look smashing on her."

"Maybe she could try for one night to see."

"A fabulous idea. It's about time for girls' night out with Betty anyway.
Perhaps she would give it a try. What else do we have that we can show her?
Have you seen anything we ought to order and trot out? Renee hasn't met Betty.
I hope she's available. They're the same body type, just different heights.
Perhaps Renee could model some things and let Betty get the feel for how they
drape and fit."

We started doing girls' night about the second year Betty Hunt shopped with
me. We pick a night when we can go over fashions and review what the celebs
have worn that will become fashion. Betty is picky and sometimes tough to
convince either for or against a look. She knows her mind, she just needs some
help sometimes to see things from the same perspective I do. It makes for
delightful evenings as we go back and forth over clothes. And men. And work.
After a few hours of private rag wars we all go out to dinner: Betty, me, and
whoever in the shop has been helping and is available. Usually we end up in a
hot tub or back at somebody's apartment. I know it makes my next day hell, and
must do the same for Betty's, but it's the most fun I have on a weeknight all
year.

We juggled schedules with Betty and picked a night. Carmen has a husband and
three kids so she never makes it. Renee could at least start out but was
unsure about the rest of the evening. Miko was in for the evening, though she
doesn't even work for me anymore. I brought in a couple bottles of champagne
and snacks. We laid out half a dozen major items for Betty to try and a few
others that we wanted her to see on other people to start her thinking in new
directions, and we borrowed some samples from other shops that would stay on
the mannequins. The last were what was just coming off the runways and from
the awards shows. These weren't for real people yet, and Betty was very much a
real person, but they would seep into everyone else's designs over the next
year or two. Like all good clothes shoppers Betty looks forward rather than
back so she is ready to jump when the appropriate new look comes along. Since
I swim in this stuff all day everyday, I tend to jump first and hope the
appropriate new look catches up with me before I look the complete fool.

How did we all come together? That's another story. I met Carmen who is from
Chile and has an amazing head for business. We worked together at another shop
and she agreed to come with me when I left to open Perfectly Fit. I met Betty
through her brother. He and I met in the gym and dated for a while, which was
serious cradle robbing on my part but who could resist? Ernie knew I was
serious about weight lifting and introduced me to Betty. I had seen her
working out with Ernie sometimes and knew she was out of my strength class and
nearly in Ernie's (who once held a couple national records). We became great
friends when I made some wardrobe suggestions to Betty and she began shopping
here. I hired Miko simply because I loved her exotic Asian look and was
delighted to find my instincts were right on her fashion sense as well as her
secret black belt in Karate. Miko brought in Renee after moving on to her
modeling career. Renee takes Karate lessons from Miko, although Miko says the
woman shouldn't need any help in the self-defense department because she is
apparently very strong for such a short person. Renee works part time and I
really don't know much about her background, but it isn't fashion or retail.

Somehow she has an uncanny sense for what appeals and what looks good on
taller women, including very tall ones. The rest will come if she wants to
stay in the business.

On the day of our big night I'm afraid I left more than their share of shop
work to Carmen and Renee. I'm not getting any younger and wanted to save my
energy for the main event. Renee didn't seem to mind that she was doing her
share and mine of shifting freight and shoving racks around. She actually made
it look easier than when I help with the heavy lifting so I couldn't feel too
guilty. I skipped my usual morning workout, I ate sensibly at breakfast and
lunch, and I even stole a nap in mid afternoon. At the end of the business day
I practically threw out the last shoppers who didn't appear serious about
making a purchase anyway. I drew the blinds and put up the closed sign ten
minutes early. I felt like a child anticipating Christmas morning. Finally at
five minutes past closing as I was setting up the drinks and snacks I heard
the front door open and Betty walked in.

"Kathy, come out come out wherever you are. The main course has arrived for
dinner," she called out cheerily. Carmen got to her first and they exchanged
big hugs. Carmen introduced Renee who came forward a little shyly and gave a
quick hug. Finally I got through the crowd and Betty swept me up and whirled
me around. When I touched down I repaid the gesture although I can't make her
seem nearly as weightless as she does when she lifts me. Betty folded up her
cane and stowed it away as we headed back to the fitting area arm in arm,
chattering happily about our latest misadventures. I poured champagne all
around and we toasted to good taste and good friends. Then I refilled the
glasses for a toast to bad taste and bad friends, which can be even better.
Miko hadn't arrived yet, but I had known she was busy and expected her later.
Miko shares a house with two other women. It has a hot tub so I was doubly
looking forward to her joining us.

Betty took off her blazer, a double-breasted striped one with big buttons and
wide shoulders. I knew it had no padding in the shoulders, it just showed off
the width of Betty's own as few of her working clothes do. I try to steer her
toward fashions that draw attention away from the width and thickness of her
upper body and certainly never show her arms. We could get away with the
shoulder line in the blazer because the cut was deliberately extravagant with
a sharp taper from shoulder to waist, then straight to the hips. On most women
it would just seem like a fun, cartoonish affectation but that is what Betty
really looks like. Disguising her to look like what she actually was seemed a
cute private joke we both appreciated. She had paired the blazer with a
pleated gray skirt of a knee length, conservative cut. She has a pair of
pleated pants that go nicely with the blazer and give a sort of Guys and Dolls
costume effect for work or a night out. The lavender silk blouse with the
little string tie made for a very pleasant outfit for a lawyer, reassuringly
establishment without being intimidating. For years I have dreamed of a chance
to dress Betty for intimidation at work, but she insists that simply isn't her
style in clothes or business.

Carmen took a couple quick measurements and compared them with our records to
be sure Betty's size had remained the same since her last visit. When she came
to Betty's upper arm I saw the muscle tense and swell, stressing the fabric
over a great hard ball. As she did every time, Carmen giggled with delight and
exclaimed " Ay, diosa!" and gave Betty's bicep a quick rub and a squeeze.
Betty gave her a little kiss on the forehead. Then Carmen had to go to tend
her home fires. I don't think she is all that comfortable with some of what
goes on at girls' night out, but she is indispensable for running the shop and
especially totting up costs and bills after one of these events.

Betty removed her tie and undid the top three buttons on the blouse and
prepared herself for work. "So, what are you wearing, Kathy? It felt like
leather pants? And isn't that top just a teeny bit short?"

"Feel this," I told her, putting my leg up on a chair next to her. "Alligator
skin. Not endangered, in fact I'm told they are taking Florida back from the
tourists. These are dyed black so the texture only shows when the light hits
it just so. Visually, natural alligator gives the same texture as what you're
feeling, but done in matte black like this the pattern is usually subtle.
There's a matching jacket, hip length, that I left in my office "

Betty rubbed my thigh and felt down to the calf. Then she examined my boots.
"This is what . . .three inch heels? With metal buckles and toe caps? My,
don't we look naughty today!" she exclaimed with pleasure. Then she turned her
attention to my top. "I thought you were strutting your abs. Hmmm, nice as
always. The other day I heard one of the men at the gym watching you comment
that no matter how hard he works his, he can't match your washboard. I imagine
he'd look a little silly with your navel piercing. Same waist size as your
thighs, still? Long and lean as ever."

"I owe the thighs to mountain biking. The same with my youthful complexion:
the mud baths I get on the trails keep my skin young. I wish I could get you
to try it."

"No thanks. If I want to work my thighs I can stoke on the back of Cicarelli's
tandem for a hundred miles. If I want to ride a pogo stick I'll do that. I
don't mix my sports," she replied with a laugh.

When she completed her examination of my oufit I asked Renee if she would mind
a similar inspection. "Betty, Renee is something of a shorter version of you,
broad and well developed upper body, large thighs and calves." I stepped back
to catch my breath and regain a little composure after the thrill of Betty
running her inquisitive hands over me.

"Hi Renee. You really don't have to if it bothers you in the least. How long
have you worked with Kathy?"

"It's fine, go ahead. Just tell me what you want me to do. I started about
three weeks ago, half time."

"Renee prefers athletic style clothes with lots of freedom of movement. She's
wearing stretch pants and a turtle neck, both in black, with a dashiki over it
with lots of brilliant yellow and threads of green and red," I described for
Betty. I don't want to say she visualizes colors because there isn't anything
visual going on. But she can relate color names and shades to other sensual
equivalents. Red is hot like direct contact with heat, yellow is warm like
sunshine on her skin. Greens relate to a variety of plants and leaves she
seems to have mentally cataloged. Blues tend to conjure up sounds for her.
Sometimes I have to struggle to be precise enough for her in my descriptions.
She knows what things go together in her imagination so I have to precisely
match my words with her concepts of the color. Pairing a muted trumpet jacket
with a winter sunlight blouse can be a little tricky until you learn her
system, and I'm still learning.

"My goodness you're firm. Just solid as a tree. Kathy, have you felt this?
Would you flex for me? My word. How much do you weigh? May I lift you?" Betty
seemed quite impressed by what she was discovering about Renee. Holding Renee
at the elbows her sleeves tightened as she exerted until Renee lifted off the
floor an inch or so. "Wow, I wouldn't have believed it. One-sixty? More? And
you're about five feet even? Where do you work out? Perhaps we could get
together and lift sometime."

"I don't really lift any more. Mostly I swim to stay fit, play basketball, and
I do a little tumbling. I'm taking Karate with Miko for self defense, and that
has lots of exercise benefits." Renee seemed a little nervous about the
attention, but also pleased by the scrutiny Betty was giving to her body.

"She needs exercise and self defense like an army tank does," said Miko. " I
can't guess how many times stronger than me she is. And quick!" Just like her,
she had come in absolutely silently despite the bell on the door and the
squeaky floor boards out in the shop. I doubt even Betty heard her enter. "
You know, Renee, you might be better off just getting some boxing instruction
from Betty. The time we sparred I found it very difficult to get through her
guard and she was able to launch some terrific combinations at me. With your
strength you might be able to use the same defense and set up for your
punching if you need to."

While she moved silently, Miko liked to dress with a bang. Today it was layers
of crimson in ascending tones from a snug silk body suit to a looser linen
vest to an enveloping silk coat. She had clipped her long black hair back with
a matching crimson butterfly pin. Renee was the only one of us to have seen
Miko in weeks, and it had been months for Betty, so we had lots of hugging and
catching up to do. We all babbled happily at the same time we passed champagne
and canapés. We also had lots of ground to cover so meanwhile I was finishing
my preparations in laying out the specific things I wanted Betty to try.

It only took me two minutes to prepare the first three outfits I had in mind
for Betty to consider, but when I turned around she was already stripped to
her panties and lace bra, and was demonstrating her boxing posture for Renee.
"Miko, you and Betty should do a rematch, and video tape it this time. I've
heard it was the most exotic thing with those bells you wore on your ankles
and wrists making an otherworldly accompaniment to the action."

"That is SO not ever going to happen" Miko responded. "Betty really rang my
bell for me a couple times. You couldn't pay me enough to go through that
again."

"And my ribs hurt for a week. I was sure you had broken something, even
through all the pads. By the end you had figured out how to confuse me so I
couldn't defend against both punches and kicks. No way will I start out with
you already knowing my weaknesses." Being blind, Betty learned to box with her
brothers wearing bells on their gloves so she could anticipate their punches
almost as well as seeing them. With Miko using hands and feet, they had agreed
on the bell system for all her limbs. They sparred with gloves and full
padding after hours in the gym Betty goes to, where there is a regular boxing
ring. From the stories I've heard Betty was relentless in pushing Miko into
corners where her mobility would be limited, while Miko kept exploding with
high kicks and kicking with punching combinations. The match was declared a
draw when Betty caught Miko in mid air and couldn't figure out what to do with
her except just hold on tight so Miko couldn't get away.

We marched through the official business of the evening. Betty dutifully tried
on the various outfits I had picked to show her. Some she loved and agreed to
buy, some she liked but could not find room in her budget for, some she hated
and suggested I donate them to the pet shop down the street. Betty and I get
along so well because we have strong opinions, even if hers are sometimes
wrong. After Betty had tried everything on I had Miko and Renee showed off
some other things that weren't quite right for Betty, but which might be
developed into something more suited to her size and taste. Then all three of
us paraded some things that I figured would influence design in the near
future. Some of these showed a military influence because so much of the news
recently has been dominated by people in uniform. I figure we will be seeing
designers turning out uniform-based designs along with variations of Arab and
central Asian costumes and wanted Betty to get an idea of what to expect. I
finished the show wearing a set of firefighters turn- outs, again because so
many people have seen the outfit in the news and because fire fighters now
occupy an honored niche in the national psyche. Adults are as prone to play
dress-up as children and I am betting many of us have accepted the outsized
boots and huge coats as a normal wardrobe. They aren't for me, but just wait
and you'll be seeing those themes crop up in the catalogues and on the runways
soon. Then we finished examining a set of mannequins dressed in the latest
formal wear. I don't carry that sort of thing and wouldn't let myself be
buried in some of what we saw, but I wanted Betty to get the total fashion
overview.

It might seem like we were just partying, but when we had talked through the
last offering loaned by a friend who owns a more up-scale shop, it was nearly
nine and we were famished. Miko changed back into the Woman in Red, I offered
Renee a turquoise silk "Crouching Tiger" pajama outfit for the evening, and
convinced Betty to try out the piece that had started this whole girl's night
out. It had a Lord of the Rings feel, with gray tights and a black hooded
pullover jacket that was interwoven with multicolor threads that shimmered
when the wearer moved. The sleeves were long and full but could be rolled back
quite a ways, or used Mandarin-style with hands tucked in opposite cuffs. It
may never become anyone's fashion, but makes perfect sense as play clothes
when one has the legs for tights, and Betty looked positively heroic. I
changed back into my alligator-in-boots outfit and we were set to make an
evening of it.

I suggested a spot I had been recently across town. The food was good and they
had a Zinfandel that was to die for. The music was raucous, but we could sit a
room away from it so we could jiggle to the beat while still carrying on
several conversations. We agreed that I would ride with Miko and Betty would
go in Renee's little sports car. Her car is another part of Renee's mysterious
background. It's rather expensive, and she seems to have a good stash of money
that she refers to as fresh-start funds. We don't really know where any of it
came from or what she needs a fresh start from. She doesn't talk about her
past. It's like she was born last month and just showed up one day in the
shop.

Crossing town we had to go through a scruffy warehouse district. Because I had
to lock up Miko and I were a few minutes behind Renee and Betty. Past a
particularly awful block cratered with potholes we came upon the most amazing
sight. Renee evidently had had a blow out after hitting one of the deep
hazards, so the two women were calmly changing the tire. Except Renee was
holding the rear of the car off the ground and Betty was fumbling with the
wrench, getting the tire off. I'm not sure which seemed odder, that a little
woman like Renee could pick up a car or that a blind woman like Betty knew how
to work a lug wrench. Renee seemed in no hurry for the job to be completed and
was patiently advising Betty. Reluctantly I took over the wrench from Betty
and we had the spare on in no time. Both women had respected my loaner clothes
so on top Renee was down to the sport bra she had worn under the silk jacket
while Betty began covering up her lace bra. I had seen Betty's displays of
brawn many times, but Renee had me mesmerized. Maybe she looked like any woman
who can lift cars, but from my view it seemed her physique had been pumped up
with steel. Now I appreciated the fuss Betty had made earlier and I was having
a hard time restraining myself from running my own hands (at least) all over
that splendid sculpture.

Perhaps I would have made a spectacle of myself, but our luck took an abrupt
turn at that moment. Through the whole tire changing affair this miserable
street had been deserted, but now a motley herd of the urban underbelly
rounded the corner and stopped at the sight of a group of women in seeming
distress, two of us modeling our underwear beneath a flickering streetlight.
Their decision-making ability impressed me. They instantly decided which four
would peel off from whatever mission they had been on and focus their
attention on us. The other two continued in search of more sport,
reinforcements or just some cheap wine. We women congealed into a mass,
shoulders touching as we watched this ominous horde approach. In whispers we
described the situation to Betty, which was that the happy group stood between
us and Miko's car and were moving to block us from the door to Renee's as
well.

"Well, lookee here. Mom and her kids - two little girls and a little boy," the
largest of the pack sneered at us. I noticed he managed to combine insults to
Renee for her muscles and to me for having a few years on the others into a
single sentence. Clearly a mastermind in this crowd. "I believe it's about
party time," he continued, giving his pants a hitch.

After our first moment's surprise at meeting anyone on this street and seeing
our situation could quickly bring trouble, my companions began asserting their
more natural combativeness. Miko stepped out a bit to give herself some room,
Betty finished pulling on the jacket and braced herself with her feet apart,
the right slightly in back of the left and her hands up at waist level. Renee
just stood next to me muttering, "I don't want to hurt anyone again", over and
over.

Clearly it was time for "mom" to take charge of the situation. Before I got
into the rag business I had spent years in grimier gutters than this one. This
mess called for some specific action right up my line, not Betty's Marquis of
Queensbury or Miko's fists of fury or whatever Renee might apply. First I
addressed my brood. "You are all much too nicely dressed to mix up with the
likes of these." I told them. "Besides, two of you are wearing my clothes and
I refuse to let you spoil them until they are paid for. Renee, please get
dressed and quit showing off for these boys. Betty, as our lawyer do you feel
the situation justifies self-defense on our part?" When she said loudly enough
for the gang to hear that it did I stepped toward the mouthy one. As I
approached I undid my jacket to show a little flesh to get their mouths
watering: my abs which Betty noted are the product of endless hours in the
gym, and my cleavage which is more the product of ingenious wire construction
than of mother nature.

"May we please just cut to the chase? We are four women traveling through the
neighborhood and would appreciate it if you boys would be on your way so we
might be on ours. Right. I must conclude you refuse to be peaceable about
this. Since you elected me to play mother to these women, I propose you and
your friends step this way with me and I am sure we can come to an
understanding. Just to be sure our side has no thoughts of flight during our
discussion, you can leave one of your acolytes to watch over them, and I will
instruct my friends to wait for our return. Agreeable? Let's go." And I began
walking through the midst of the band.

As expected the leader fell into step behind me and motioned for one of his
goons to stay put. I walked toward the one standing furthest from us and he
turned to lead the way across the street as I approached. The final fellow
walked alongside me and a bit to my rear. I picked up my pace as soon as my
troop had formed to my satisfaction so I was a short step behind the man ahead
of me. "May we do this one at a time?" I asked over my shoulder and received
only a gap-toothed grin in reply from their leader.

"Very well, number one," I said as I kicked the man in front of me with
everything my long legs could deliver. My boots not only have shiny metal caps
on the toes, the toes come to a severe point in contrast with the boxy looking
square shoes that are all the rage now. I really have no idea how much damage
I caused between the poor fellow's legs, but I was satisfied he would cause no
more difficulty this evening. The head honcho was right behind me and
immediately reached to grab me, as expected. Coming up against me brought his
balls right into my waiting hand, which I clamped on with all my strength.
"Two," I said. As the third member of my escort party stepped into range I
leaned my weight onto the hand holding gap-tooth's testicles so I could launch
a solid side kick into the knee of the approaching man. He stopped but didn't
go down as planned, so I moved quickly to free my full attention for him.
Gap-tooth was clawing at my squeezing hand with one of his and beginning to
batter my back and head with the other. I stomped on his instep with all my
weight, driving a wicked heel well into his foot and adding to his agony. Then
I released his balls, spun and brought my knee up to finish my rearranging of
his masculinity. Down he went as the last man hobbled up. I faked with another
kick, then punched him in the nose when he tried to protect his throbbing
knee. That made him mad as well as foolish so I delivered the kick to the side
of his knee he had expected. This time he did have the sense to fall down.
"And three," I said as I walked quickly back to my group before any of this
bunch could gather himself together.

Looking at the one left on guard who was now surrounded by his charges, I said
to Renee, "That lug wrench there in your trunk. Do you think you could change
its shape to impress our friend here?"

Renee smiled and picked up the tool. "I could bend it over his head, but how
about across my leg instead?" And with a fair amount of straining she made
good on her word, putting a second right angle into the half inch steel
handle. Our audience of one was having trouble keeping his eyeballs from
leaving their sockets as he stared at this feat of strength while I felt
myself getting a bit moist watching the fabric of Renee's jacket and trousers
stretch and inflate from her exquisite muscles.

"Miko, take Betty to your car and drive away right now. Renee and I will be
right behind. You, my new friend, will leave first running as fast as you can
back the way you came." I clapped my hands for emphasis and he obliged by
taking to his heels right on cue. Miko and Betty left only a moment after him.
The three fallen comrades were beginning to look ready for round two, but
weren't close enough to stop me vaulting into Renee's roadster or daring
enough to interfere as Renee started her car and hit the gas.

"Now then," I said to Renee when we reached reasonable pavement again, "just
why is it you don't bother carrying a car jack like everyone else? And are you
such a helpless little thing that it always takes two to change a tire?"

* * *

"Well, they were only men," I explained to the group when we rejoined at the
restaurant. "I had to conclude the business quickly before one of you really
hurt them." I had a bit of trouble talking because my lips were numb from the
hard kiss I had planted on Renee in the parking lot before we entered. We had
our first bottle of wine in front of us; Renee sat opposite me and seemed
quite responsive to the rubs I was giving her leg under the table. Betty and
Miko still seemed a bit subdued by our adventure but were quickly recovering
high spirits.

"Now that I'm away from work, tell me all the gossip the others got to hear
back at the shop," I demanded of Betty. "New loves? Old loves you've been
keeping a secret?"

"Well, I've discovered rollerblading, and there is a guy who so far comes
along with that," Betty began a little hesitantly. "He is a few years younger,
but if I've learned anything from you, Kathy, it's that we owe it to
attractive younger men to give them the benefit of our experience. I like to
think Michael is getting some great benefits," she said with a blush.

With that I sat back stunned to contemplate that any friend of mine was still
capable of blushing. We had the evening ahead of us where I could continue my
task of getting her past that stage in her development. We would hit the hot
tub about eleven where all secrets might be revealed. It was shaping up to be
a fine evening indeed.