Honeymoon Surprise!
By Webo
A lift and carry story


Chapter 1

Debby and Eric Templeton  sat nervously across the aisle from one another. Only 
married for a few hours, the couple couldn't wait to leave the reception and 
begin their honeymoon and their new lives together.  Eric thought back to last 
summer, when he had asked this picture-perfect woman for her hand.  Scarcely 
daring to listen to her response, he had held his breath, waiting, until she 
answered, "Yes, yes, darling, of course I'll marry you!"  Eric had squeezed her 
around the waist and swung her in a 180-degree arc in his thrill and delight.  
And she had laughed that bubbling laugh he had grown so fond of, and allowed him 
to hold her close, her legs dangling just above the ground as he leaned back to 
keep her floating against him.  
That had been the pattern of their courtship; Eric hugging her, picking her up 
in his arms, over his shoulder, sometimes even upside-down.  Debby had been a 
little surprised that first time, since Eric was just a little taller, and not a 
whole lot heavier than she.  In fact, one of their more interesting discoveries 
was that they could wear each other's jeans!  Although Debby's were a little 
short on Eric, and his were a little tight on her, that became a trademark of 
their relationship: as often as not, he wore her jeans, and she wore his.  
When they had met at his apartment swimming pool, he had been dumbstruck at her 
attractiveness.  Although his friends didn't agree entirely, they did admire her 
and were a little envious of their friend's discovery.  Eric had been almost a 
nerdy type: slender-skinny almost-glasses, not terribly coordinated, but a very 
good swimmer, nonetheless.  He had been swimming laps in the evening, just 
before sunset, when Debby had made her first visit.  She was staying with a 
girlfriend in the same complex for the weekend, and was a little shy about 
making her way to poolside in her modest, but very attractive white bikini.  At 
that time of day there were only a few people still at the pool, and they were 
mostly older, reading newspapers, magazines, and generally unaware of Debby.  
But not Eric!   As he dived under to begin another lap, he was aware of the 
newcomer and nearly lost his rhythm.    He tried nonchalantly to continue, but 
he did keep an eye on this vision.  He decided to make this his last lap.  When 
he reached the edge of the pool, he climbed up the ladder to where his towel lay 
on a lounge chair, and, coincidentally, where Debby was walking on her way to 
the diving board.  "Hello," Eric offered softly.  Debby smiled, but said 
nothing, continuing her pace.  As they passed, Eric couldn't help but notice she 
was just about the same height as his 5-9, 145-lb frame, and beautifully 
proportioned.  As his analytical mind always did, he quickly tried to calculate, 
and decided she must weigh in the low 130's.  He watched without staring as she 
stepped up to the diving board.  Her calves worked just enough to be 
interesting, but not intimidating.  He noticed her biceps as she pulled herself 
to the top step.  They were firm and taught, nicely defined, but as feminine as 
he had ever seen.  She walked confidently to the edge of the board and did a 
near-perfect jackknife with just a little splash.  Eric was hooked!
As Debby had walked past the strange little man, she was amused by his attempt 
to not look interested in her.  She knew she was attractive, and in fact, had to 
occasionally overcome a bit of ego at the idea that so many attractive men were 
hers for the taking.  She had a good head on her shoulders, and at the age of 24 
was ready, not for any more flings, but a promising, long-term relationship with 
a potential life-partner.  It was all she could do not to look back at this one; 
she did find him cute, if a little undersized.  She was careful to step slowly 
up to the diving board, and even more deliberately pull herself to the last step 
by using her arms.  "If he's intimidated by a fit woman," she thought, "he'll 
run off now."  As she surfaced, she noted that he was still there, pretending 
not to be too obvious.  She swam to the edge of the pool near where the little 
guy lay in his lounge chair, and said to him, "Nice pool."

Chapter 2
"It is a nice pool, isn't it," Eric replied.  "I like to come here when most 
people have gone in for the evening.   Looks like you do, too."
"Yes," Debby smiled, pulling herself up the ladder slowly, almost as though 
exhibiting herself to Eric.  "I like to swim to stay in shape.  Of course, the 
water can make for a lot of fun, too!"  With that, she tossed her wet head in 
Eric's direction, and doused him with the warm spray.
Eric was amazed.  "OK." he said carefully. "Watch yourself.  I just got dry, and 
I don't need another shower."  He feigned irritation, but Debby noticed the 
twinkle in his eye, as Eric intended.  She again tossed her head, spraying him 
some more.
"That's it!"  Eric started out of the lounge and ducked suddenly, catching Debby 
at the waist and carrying her toward the pool, not without a little difficulty.  
He had underestimated her weight and her musculature; at 140, she actually 
weighed nearly the same as he, and was no wimp.  Debby was as surprised as Eric 
when she found herself being carried by this rather fragile-appearing, if 
attractive guy, helplessly back toward the pool's edge.  She wasn't sure how to 
handle this.  So far, she liked him, but she was sure she could take him in most 
tests of strength.  But what if that discouraged him?  She'd soon find out.  She 
allowed Eric to reach the edge of the pool, and as he bent forward, expecting 
her to fall backward into the water, she suddenly leaned over his back and 
squeezed him firmly around his waist.  Her weight and strength again caught him 
unaware, and he found himself falling with her, firmly held against her 
deliciously fit body, as they both splashed into the warm water, laughing and 
choking at the same time.  As her feet hit the bottom of the 4-foot depth, she 
maintained her grip and pulled Eric all the way out of the water onto her 
shoulder on his back.  Then, before he had a chance to react, she let go and he 
rolled unceremoniously back into the water in a rather impressive cannonball!  
Eric's feet hit the bottom of the pool and he jumped up to catch his breath.  He 
was delighted!  Had this beautiful young woman just tossed him about like a rag 
doll?  And was she still laughing?  She enjoyed it!  He enjoyed it!!  He turned 
and dived towards her from behind, ducked between her legs, and set her on his 
shoulders as he surfaced.  He held her thighs, and realized just how hard and 
strong this nicely built young woman was.  He turned and looked at her perched 
on the back of his neck like some dripping goddess.  She reached down and 
tousled his hair.
"Are you OK?" she asked him, smiling.  "I could see you are a good swimmer, so I 
knew you could handle yourself under the water, too."
Eric thought she was making fun of her "victory," but she didn't seem angry or 
mean.  "Yes, I'm fine," he smiled back.  "It's just that that hasn't happened to 
me for a long, long time.  Maybe 12 years."
"So," Debby thought, "I'm not the first girl to overpower him.  And he's not 
upset."  She spoke.  "Twelve years?  You mean it's been that long since you 
horsed around in the water?"  
"No, I like to have fun in a pool like this, especially with a girl as lovely as 
you!" he caught himself blurting.   "Oops!" Eric thought.  "Better not push it.  
I don't even know this girl's name!"  "My name's Eric.  You are.?" he asked.
"Deborah.  But my friends call me Debby.  I wish you would, too."

Chapter 3
Eric's heart jumped.  "Hi Debby.  Very nice to meet you."  Then he lifted his 
legs suddenly and pulled her under the water with him, backing out from under 
her.  As Debby surfaced and turned towards Eric, again laughing, she squeezed 
his offered hand warmly.  
"I hope you don't think I'm too forward, spraying you with water up there," she 
indicated the lounge chair where she had doused him earlier.   It seemed like 
several days ago to him.  "So if you enjoy horseplay in a pool, why have you 
waited twelve years since the last time?"  
"Oh no," Eric said.  "We have pool parties here about once a month, and it's 
horseplay galore.  I meant it's been twelve years since a girl handled me like 
that."  He thought back.  "Actually, it's been eleven years and a few months.  
We were sophomores in high school, and my girlfriend and I and the rest of the 
sophomore class were at a friend's house after the prom.  We were chicken-
fighting and Beth-that was my girlfriend's name-and I, had lost the first round.  
She blamed me, which was wrong, because she was the ticklish one.  The couple 
that beat us won because the guy grabbed Beth's leg and tickled her foot.  She 
fell off me backwards trying to escape.  But she was positive I should have 
pushed the guy away and not let him tickle her.  Anyhow, she wanted to prove it 
was my fault, so she said she could be someone else's partner and beat me with 
anyone else on my shoulders.  Now when I was 15, I was about the same size as I 
am now, but lighter.  I think I weighed about 130 then.  Beth was tiny, I think 
maybe 5-3, and about 105 lbs.  So she goes over to this other guy, Bob, and asks 
his partner, Diane, to switch with us.   Diane was a cheerleader and played 
volleyball.  She was kind of pretty, but very much a tomboy, if you know what I 
mean.  And she was at least as heavy as me, and the same height.  This was 
before I was into swimming; in fact, I got started that summer, for real, partly 
because of what I am about to tell you."
Debby interrupted, "I have to get out of this water before I turn into a prune."  
She smiled at him.  "But I do want to hear the whole story."  
As Eric followed Debby to the ladder and watched her climb out, he was again 
struck by how perfectly she was built, and how fit she was.  Her back, her hips, 
her lean, tan legs; all were defined, tight, strong, and-the only word that came 
to mind-perfect!  She had to be his!  Then he thought some more.  "What if she 
loses respect for me when she hears the rest of this episode?  Should I change 
it to appear manlier?  No!  I'm me and even though she appears perfect, if that 
might be a problem, then I need to know now!"  Eric pulled another lounge chair 
over close to his.  Everyone else had left the pool, and as dusk settled, they 
stretched out and he resumed the story.  

Chapter 4
	"OK. As Paul Harvey might say, 'and now.the rest of the story.'"  Eric 
recounted that day nearly 12 years ago when he had discovered he liked being 
lifted by a girl.  To this day he didn't know why, but he knew just the thought 
of a girl lifting him off his feet, especially an averaged-sized girl, was 
exciting.  Unfortunately, he had found very few girls, and later, women, who 
understood this eccentricity, much less catered to it.  Perhaps Debby was one!
	He began again, "Bob was only too happy to have Beth sitting on his 
shoulders.  After Diane, I'm sure Beth felt like a little kid on his neck.  So 
Diane swims behind me and puts her hands on my shoulders to boost herself up and  
I scrunch down to help her.  Only problem was, when she got seated, it was all I 
could do to straighten up again!  And her thighs, noticeably bigger than mine, 
hung over the edge of my shoulders.  The difference between Beth and her, felt 
to me like about 50 pounds!  I think she knew I was having trouble when she 
asked me, 'Can you hold me?  I am a little heavier than Beth.maybe about 30 
pounds.'  'So,' I'm thinking, 'she does outweigh me!  Great!'"  Eric stole a 
quick glance at Debby who was listening intently and smiling a sort of amused 
half-smile.  He smiled back.  She didn't seem to be uncomfortable or 
condescending toward him, at least not yet.  He continued.
 "So I told Diane, 'Ahhh, I'm fine.' Which she knows is a flat-out lie, cause 
I'm sort of jumping to move her thighs up higher on my shoulders, cause my 
shoulders are getting a cramp!  But she ignores this and says, 'OK, if you say 
so.  Let's get 'em!'  Diane leans forward to go on the attack, and as she 
reaches for poor little Beth, my girlfriend grabs Diane's arm in both her hands, 
and pulls hard.  Now Beth may have been little, but she played  tennis, and was 
pretty strong for her size.  Diane can't pull her arm from Beth's grip, and the 
only thing that can happen, does: between Diane leaning forward, and her 135 
pounds, I go under, Diane winds up on Bob's chest, straddling him with her arm 
firmly in Beth's two hands' vise-like grip.  I come back out of the water, 
nearly drowned, or at least it felt that way to me, and everyone, and I mean 
everyone is just laughing their heads off!  Someone even took a picture!  In 
fact, it's in my yearbook.  I'll show it to you sometime.  There's Bob with both 
Beth and Diane riding him and me looking like a drowned puppy." Again, Eric 
looked at Debby.
She chuckled out loud and said, "So, Beth was right, it really was your fault?"  
She was laughing that teasing laugh Eric had later grown to know and love.
"I thought maybe she was right, you know?"  Eric asked.  "I mean I had maybe the 
strongest girl in the class, and remember, we were all about fifteen years old.  
OK, Bob was a pretty big guy, but little Beth, for gosh sake!  She had all the 
proof she needed that it was my fault she and I lost.  As it turned out, Diane 
was the one who saved my pride.  'Two out of three,' Diane tells Bob and Beth.  
'That was my fault.  Beth caught me by surprise.  She's pretty strong, but now, 
I'm ready for her.'  I couldn't believe it.  I had to try to carry this amazon 
again, and this time, she would be ready,  which meant I would be responsible 
for sure when we lost.  Diane slid off Bob and swam over to me.  She stood up 
and whispered in my ear, 'Don't worry.  You'll be fine, and I like to win!'  I 
had no idea what she had in mind, but I smiled back at her, and told her 'Sure!'  
Not that I believed it.  'Scrunch down again,' Diane ordered, and I did.  This 
time though, she jumps onto my shoulders, and locks her legs behind my back, 
gripping my waist tight. She leans down and whispers to me again, 'When Beth 
reaches for me, move as close to Bob as you can.'  Then she looks at Bob and 
Beth and says, 'OK you two-look out!'  She nudges me with her feet in my back 
and I start to move towards Bob and Beth.  This time, Beth again reaches and 
grabs Diane's wrist but we're ready!  I'm more used to Diane's extra weight now, 
and when I get close to Bob, Diane has better leverage, and she reaches out and 
puts her other arm around Beth's waist, while using Beth's grip on her left 
wrist to keep her off balance.  As Beth starts to lose her balance, she lets go 
of Diane's wrist, and Diane grabs her leg and just picks her up off Bob's 
shoulders into the air!  Bob gives me a little shove backwards, thank goodness.  
Otherwise, I'm down again, but that little shove gave me a chance to get my 
balance back, and I back away from Bob.  And this time, and boy do I wish there 
were pictures of this, It's me who's got both girls!  Diane is firmly planted on 
my shoulders, holding the struggling Beth in her arms like Beth was 9 or 
something!  Now it's all I can do to stand up straight cause remember, there's 
about 235 pounds on me, and bless her heart, Diane's aware of this, so she just 
plain drops Beth in the water.  
"Sounds to me," Debby interrupted, "like you didn't even need the third 'fall.'  
Was Beth mad?"
"Was Beth mad?" Eric echoed.  "She was furious!  She had always been a bit self-
conscious about being little.  She was the one who always had to prove she was 
as good as anyone else, cause she felt her size worked against her, you know?  
So yeah, I guess you could say she was mad, yeah.  Now, she's ready for the 
third 'fall' and Diane is still sitting proudly, it seemed to me, on my 
shoulders.  Diane says to her, 'Are you sure?  I think you two are at a 
disadvantage, since you're so light, Bethie.'  Beth hated that nickname, by the 
way.  Diane knew it, too.  That's why she called her that.  'Bethie,' Diane kept 
at it, 'maybe you should rest and let Eric and me fight someone else.  Maybe 
you're the weak link.'  So now, Beth isn't just determined, she wants to 
humiliate both Diane and me.  I give Diane's thigh a squeeze as if to say, 'Cool 
it.'  Beth tells Diane, 'He's not the reason you guys won.  You are!'  Now, I'm 
gettin' a little upset myself.  I tell Beth, 'I don't know, babe, I lost with 
you and so far I've won only with Diane.  Let's finish the third fall, and see!'  
By now, Beth has calmed down a little, and she swims over to Bob.  I see him 
whisper something to her, but I don't have any idea what they're up to, so I 
look up at Diane, and she grins and says, 'We can do it again, easy!'  I'm still 
a little skeptical, you know, but what the heck.  I'm starting to like Diane up 
there, so."

Chapter 5
Debby stretched back in her lounge and Eric almost groaned out loud as he 
observed that incredible body, displayed in its perfection next to him.  He 
reached out and softly stroked her stomach with his fingertips.  She tensed a 
little.  "Ticklish, I bet," thought Eric.  He poked a little harder, and 
suddenly Debby grabbed his wrist in her hand, sat up and put her other arm 
around his neck, pulling his mouth to hers.    They kissed deeply, and she let 
go of his neck.  Eric rolled back into the lounge, again catching his breath 
from her sheer physicality.  "Careful," Eric told her, "I'll lose my train of 
thought."
She grinned at him.  "Don't do that, Eric.  I really am interested in the 
outcome."  Debby leaned back again and waited expectantly.  Eric sighed and 
continued.
"So Beth is calming down a little, and after some secret strategy with Bob, she 
swims around behind him, he ducks and comes up with her on his shoulders.  They 
approach us this time, and suddenly, Bob reaches out and grabs Diane right 
behind her knee and pulls her forward.  I follow, of course, and Diane reaches 
out to grab Beth's shoulders for balance.  But Beth leans to her right, and kind 
of ducks away from Diane.  Now Bob reaches up to grab Diane around the waist, 
but she's ready.  Apparently this was a plan they had used before, together.  
Diane grabs Beth's foot and kicks out with her own foot against Bob's shoulder.  
He loses his grip around Diane's waist, and once again, little Beth suffers the 
consequences.  Diane has hold of her right ankle with both her hands, and pulls 
her off Bob.  Beth is suspended upside-down over the water, as Diane holds her 
by her ankle high overhead.  Beth reaches for me and grabs around my waist to 
keep from being held face head down in the water, and Diane lets go of her 
ankle.  Once again, I have Diane on my shoulders, and Beth upside down sort of 
across Diane's left thigh.  Unfortunately, once again, no picture!  Now everyone 
except Beth is laughing uproariously, including me!  As Diane slips off my 
shoulders and into the water, she reaches up and grabs Beth around the waist, 
pulling her off me and holding her out of the water, under her arms, like she 
was a 6th-grader or something.  'Poor Bethie' or something like that, Diane says 
to her.  'I guess you really are the loser.'  Then Diane carries Beth to the 
edge of the pool like a mom might carry a little kid, sets her on the edge with 
her feet just dangling in the water, and tells her, 'On  your way, little one.'  
I thought Beth was going to cry and explode at the same time.  I never saw her 
so mad.  Needless to say, that was the end of our relationship."
Eric paused, and Debby asked him, a little enviously, Eric thought, "So, did you 
and Diane hit it off after that?"
Eric looked Debby straight in the eye and said, "Actually,  we did date a few 
times after that, but not what you might call 'hitting it off.'  But before 
Diane left the pool that night, she did something I'd never had happen before 
and only a few times since, till tonight.  After she sent Beth on her way she 
came up behind me and grabbed me around the waist and picked me about a foot off 
the bottom of the pool and whispered in my ear, 'That was fun!'  And I really 
think she meant it!  I felt funny being picked up by a girl, even though she was 
about my size and everything, but I liked it!  I said something stupid to Diane 
about how light people are in the water, kind of hinting why she could hold me 
easily.  She evidently took that as a challenge, though, cause she started 
walking towards the shallow end of the pool still carrying me.  When we got to 
the steps where it was only about two feet deep, she set me on the first step 
and grabbed my arm and spun me around to face her.  She grinned up at me from 
the pool floor, and said 'Now you hold still, and trust me.'"  

Chapter 6
As Eric was remembering what had happened that night, twelve years earlier, his 
pulse quickened, and his breath got shorter.  He watched Debby carefully for any 
negative indications that his excitement at being picked up and carried by a 
girl was displeasing to her, but seeing none, he continued.  "Now remember 
Debby, I'm this kinda skinny 15-year-old high school sophomore in front of all 
my buds.  Diane is standing about 6 inches below me, when she grabs my arm, 
ducks her head, and pulls me right over her shoulder, then she stands up and 
carries me up the next two steps, and over to where my towel is.  That was about 
30 feet, I think.  Everyone there cheers her on.  I'm kinda helpless, flopped 
over her shoulder.  I do remember she had really strong-looking legs, though!"
At this, Debby burst out laughing.  "You remember she had strong-looking legs?  
This girl is carrying you all around her friend's yard, in front of all your 
classmates, and that's what you remember?"  She laughed again.  "Oh, Eric, you 
are a character!  So, how long did this amazon hold you?"
Eric looked at Debby, and wondered if he had gone too far, or maybe misread her 
feelings earlier.  Was she disappointed or did she disapprove?  Was she making 
fun?  He wasn't certain.  He thought to himself, "Oh well, might as well go all 
the way."
"She put me down right where my towel was, then she gave me another hug and 
swung me around while she kissed me on the forehead.  But she was so nice, not 
making fun or shaming me at all, just, you know, being her!  But then, Beth 
decided she wanted to show off a little, too.  And Beth was definitely in a mood 
to embarrass me.  I didn't pay her any attention after her little hissy when 
Diane had subdued her.  Suddenly she was behind me.   Remember, Debby, she 
played a lot of tennis, and her arm strength showed it.  I didn't see or hear 
her, but suddenly I was locked in this bear hug from behind!  I felt this little 
wet head in the middle of my neck, then I could hardly breathe.  Now when Beth 
and I were going together, we almost never did anything real physical, like 
wrestle, or anything.  She always seemed too concerned about her feminine image-
didn't want to be a tomboy.  But that night, apparently she didn't care.  Slowly 
she leaned back and lifted me just a little off the ground, and walked awkwardly 
to the edge of the pool, with me firmly trapped in her arms.  Oh, by the way 
there is also a picture of that in my yearbook!  I couldn't believe she had that 
kind of strength, but she did.  She stood right on the edge with my feet 
dangling over the water and then just fell in with me.  As we came to the 
surface, she looked at me and said for everyone to hear, something like, 'Are 
there any girls here who can't throw you around?'  I think I must have turned 
beet red, cause the laughter was more restrained this time, as though the others 
were embarrassed for me, you know?  But really, I wasn't so embarrassed as they 
might have thought.  After all, that's no big deal, when you don't weigh much, 
so what?  Actually it's healthier, right?"
Debby looked  at Eric, still with that quizzical smile and said, "And how many 
of the other girls did throw you around, after that?"
Eric looked sheepish.  "Most of them," he answered.  "There was this tall, 
skinny one, I think her name was Barb.  She said she wanted to try, cause her 
little sister, who was only 11, weighed the same as her, and was always showing 
off  to her friends that she could pick Barb up in her arms.  It got to be kind 
of a contest.  All the girls that wanted to try, and that was all but two, I 
think, got in line by height.  Barb went first, cause she was the tallest.  It 
was comical, because she didn't know how to do it.  Diane wound up being the 
'instructor,' demonstrating for everyone who wanted, on them, as they waited in 
line.  She showed them all the over the shoulder way, cause she said it was the 
easiest when you knew how.  For the first four girls, cause they were all taller 
than me, I had to stand on this little stool, about 8 inches off the ground, so 
they wouldn't hurt their backs.  I don't know if it was peer pressure or what, 
but don't you know, every girl in line picked me up and carried me about 30 or 
40 feet!  Not one would quit.  Of course some had no problem.  There was a girl 
named Karen who was about 5 feet tall, but she had to weigh 185 pounds!  She 
scared me!  She just scooped me up in her arms, a lot like Diane had scooped up 
Beth, and held me and kept tossing me up and catching me.  I think she's in 
Roller Derby now.  But the biggest surprise of all was this really quiet girl, 
Donna.  She was the last one, cause she was the shortest.  I don't think she was 
more than 4® feet tall, and I'll bet she didn't weigh over 90 pounds; in fact, 
my baby sister who was 9 at the time was bigger than Donna.  But Donna was a 
gymnast.  And, being short, she had all the leverage, you know?  Next to Karen 
and Diane, she had the easiest time.  She just pulled me into a fireman's carry, 
and walked all the way around the pool!  When she let me back down, she wasn't 
even out of breath!  Then, because she was so pleased, she went to her 
boyfriend, who was also a gymnast, maybe my height, but much more muscular and 
at least 20 pounds heavier.she picked him up over her shoulder and paraded him 
around in front of the others.  She also got the most applause, by the way."  
Eric looked at his watch.  "Good lord," he exclaimed, "it's nearly 10.  I've 
been boring you for over two hours with these stories of my youth.  And you seem 
to be still awake!"
Debby looked at this unusual man before her, chuckling.  He was attractive 
enough, seemed reasonably intelligent, could speak well and was socially 
comfortable.  Most importantly to her, he was happy with his 
manhood, even was admitting to this fetish of sorts, with little self-
consciousness.  Maybe this would work out.  
	She thought back to her last relationship.  Dan had been such a sweet guy, 
but then, wrestling around one afternoon, she got him off balance, and put him 
into an airplane spin.  Debby would never have imagined he would get so angry.  
It was as if he had become someone else, someone she didn't know, and wouldn't 
want to know.  Why were some men so fragile, in a matter of speaking, about 
strong women?  Why did they feel that a strong woman made them appear weaker?  
And now, what about Eric.  Was he too good to be true?  Only time would tell.

Chapter 7
	Debby looked Eric over again, and decided this relationship might be worth 
pursuing, at least to the point of a couple of dates.  If he turned out to be 
comfortable with what she thought was her physical superiority, maybe.well..
"So, you said that experience got you more interested in swimming?  How did that 
happen?"  Debby asked Eric.
	Eric squirmed a little on the lounge.  How candid should he be?  So far, 
Debby seemed more interested in him for the candor he had already shown, so he 
thought he might as well continue being totally honest.  "I had never done 
anything athletic, but I always liked swimming for fun.  I think part of that 
was because swimmers didn't need a great deal of strength, and truthfully," he 
stole a quick glance at Debby, "I think strong, fit women are the most 
beautiful.  I loved the sight of the girls on the team."  Eric held his breath a 
little, waiting for the laughter, or the snicker that would indicate Debby 
thought him weird.  He was surprised at her response.
	"You are so refreshing, Eric!  The last guy I dated for more than three 
months was furious cause I could give him an airplane spin."  Debby stood up and 
began to move towards Eric.  "Would that bother you?"
	Eric was amazed!  This girl not only didn't mind his eccentricity, she 
seemed to encourage it!  He stood up and they locked hands.  He began to push 
against Debby with little success.  They seemed to be about even in strength, 
and he knew they were only a few pounds apart in weight and close in height.  
"Wait," he said, "let's move into the grass before one of us gets hurt on this 
concrete."  It was now nearly dark, and they were the only ones in the pool 
area.  Eric knew the patrol would be around soon to chase them away and lock the 
gates.  What if this girl could take him, and the guard saw them?  He'd never 
live it down!  Then he realized he didn't care a whit!  He could fall in love 
with a girl like Debby!  They positioned themselves in the middle of the grassy 
area, and again resumed the "attack."  
They locked hands and although Eric couldn't gain the upper hand, neither did 
Debby.  They circled for a minute or so, then he tried to duck under her and 
grab her knee.  Debby, however was too quick and darted back, then fell on him 
as he was on his knees, and forced his head onto the grass with his butt in the 
air.  As she sat back, she wrapped her arms around his middle,  and as she had 
done in the pool earlier, pulled him upside-down.  That was all she could do 
however, and although he was uncomfortable being stood on his head, he also was 
turned on at being held against this warm, strong, delicious woman!  Suddenly he 
pushed with both hands on the ground and forced her to her own back, as he 
rolled to the right and back on to his feet.  Debby was up just as quickly and 
they faced each other again.
"That was pretty good," she told him.  
"Thanks," Eric replied.  "You are pretty strong, more than you look."  
"Good.  I wouldn't want to scare men away."
Eric smiled.  "You don't scare me, babe." Then he faked the same move he made 
before.  Again, Debby backed up, but this time, she felt the privacy fence 
behind her, and stood up straight.  It was what Eric had planned.  He ducked his 
head and pinned  Debby against the fence with his shoulder.  He got his right 
hand behind her knees and pulled her feet off the ground, expecting Debby to 
fall and he to pull her off the ground over his shoulder.  Instead, Debby 
straightened her legs and since they were a little wet with sweat, she slipped 
free.  Suddenly it was Eric who was off-balance.  She grabbed his wrist and 
ducked, and it was all over.
"Ha!"  Debby was delighted.  "you're mine!"  She stood up straight and Eric hung 
there. She held tightly to his right wrist with her left hand, her right arm 
behind his right knee as he dangled over her shoulders, totally helpless.  She 
slowly paraded in circles around the grass.  He could do nothing but laugh.  It 
felt so good.  He looked down at her from his vantage point high off the ground.  
Her beautiful arm, back, legs!  And she liked him!  She spun slowly, and kept up 
that bubbly laugh.  
"Hey!  What are you guys doing?"
Debby stopped and Eric looked across the commons to where the voice had come 
from.  Who the hell was this?  Not the guard, thank goodness, but who?  Debby 
made no move to put Eric down; in fact, she started walking, still carrying him 
over her shoulders in the classic fireman's carry, toward the voice.

Chapter 8
	"Hi, Kim!"  Debby called softly.  "You were right.  This is a fun place.  
Eric."  she looked up at her willing 'captive.'  "Kim is the girl I'm visiting 
for the weekend."
	Eric was appalled.  Now, the whole complex would be aware of his 
'weirdness.'  He had seen Kim around but didn't know her name.  She was pleasant 
enough, and certainly attractive, as most of the single women in the complex 
were.  He also knew her to be a busybody.  "You can let me down now," he said 
softly to Debby.  
Debby appeared not to hear.  She continued towards Kim and said to Eric,  "I 
want you to meet Kim.  She's really a nice person."  As they neared each other, 
Debby looked up at Eric and said, "This is my best friend, Kim.  Kim, this is 
Eric.  I'm thinking of taking him home with me."
"I've seen you around," Kim said to Eric.  "You're always so quiet, and I always 
wanted to meet you.  Guess you had no choice, huh?"
Once again, Eric had to laugh.  "Well, it was pretty even for awhile, then Debby 
just plain outsmarted me."
"Well!"  Kim exclaimed.  "That's refreshing!"  It was the second girl that night 
to tell Eric that, he noted.  "You're not less of a man, cause your girl can 
pick you up.  Can I try?"
"No!"   It was Debby speaking.  "I found him, I'm keeping him.  Besides, you 
don't work out that much, Kim."
"And he's not that big," Kim replied.  I don't want to steal him, just try to 
pick him up.  Is it OK with you, Eric?"  
For the third time in one evening, Eric was speechless.  Were there more girls 
like this than he ever had guessed?  That certainly seemed to be the case at 
this moment.  "I don't care if  you want to try Kim, but Debby's right, you do 
look a little less, uhh. athletic than her."  Secretly, Eric hoped this would 
challenge both girls to let Kim have a chance to pick him up too.  He mentally 
held his breath.
"OK," Debby suddenly, easily, set Eric back down on the grass.  "Go ahead, try, 
Kim."
As she stood next to Eric, Kim looked at him, and asked, "Do you mind telling me 
how much you weigh, Eric?"
"One forty-five," Eric told her.
	"Well, I can pick you up, Deb," Kim said, "and that's only a little 
heavier than you, so.   " She ducked down, but instead of the fireman's lift 
Debby had done so easily on Eric, Kim just grabbed him around the thighs and 
stood up flopping him over her shoulder, and without a lot of extra effort.  She 
bounced gently a little, testing his weight, then to Eric's total disbelief, 
scrunched down again, and this time put her left arm around Debby's thighs and 
slung her over her left shoulder.   
Debby started laughing again.  "I knew you were going to show off, Kim."  Then 
Debby looked at Eric.  Still over Kim's shoulder, she said,  "When we were all 
in high school, Kim was a cheerleader, and she was always carrying me, or some 
of the other girls around like this.  Now I don't mean to make fun of you, Eric, 
in fact, I truly like you a lot; but let's face it.  Most of the cheerleaders on 
my high school team are heavier than you.  For Kim, this ain't a big deal."  
Kim stopped and set the two of them down.  She smiled brightly at Eric.  Softly, 
she said, "I wish I had known you were so sweet, and so well-adjusted about this 
kind of thing.  It's really hard to find a guy who isn't embarrassed cause his 
girl, or any girl, can carry him.  I have really liked several guys.  I always 
try early on to test them this way.  Not one has been interested in me, once he 
found out I enjoy picking him up.  You and I could have been having a great time 
the past 9 months we have lived in this complex."  Kim stole a look at Debby, 
who was glaring at her, but with a twinkle in her eyes.  "Looks like Debby beat 
me to you," she said.  "It's OK Deb.  We'll still be good friends, I hope."
Debby grinned at Eric and looked to her friend, Kim.  Then she ducked and put 
her into the same airplane spin she had given Eric earlier, so quickly that Eric 
could hardly see what she had done, and Kim had no time to react.  She just 
shrieked.  
"OK everyone, quiet down now.  Time to close the pool."  The guard shined his 
light on Kim as she laughed and dangled helplessly over Debby's back.  "Put her 
down, miss," he said.  "Gettin' late."
Debby spun Kim one more time as fast as she could and set her down.  Kim 
immediately sat on the grass, and leaned dizzily back and forth.  "Looks like 
she needs a little help," Debby looked at the guard.  Then she looked at Eric 
and asked, "Maybe you should carry her back to her place."
Eric was only too happy to perform the 'natural' role and scooped the swaying 
Kim into his arms.  He was surprised at how light she was, he was sure she 
weighed less than Debby.  "She's littler than you," he told Debby.  "How could 
she hold both of us like she did?"
"I told you, she was a cheerleader for ten years, from third grade all the way 
through high school.  I think she also had some gymnastics." Debby led the way 
to her and Kim's apartment.  
Kim looked at Eric.  "The real question Eric," Kim said, looking up at him as he 
started up the stairs with his delightful burden, "is where are all the other 
guys like you?"

Chapter 9
	As the band packed up their instruments and other equipment, and the 
caterer's staff finished the cleanup of the food, Eric's parents came over to 
the table where he and Debby were seated.  "Well son," began his dad, "I hope 
you two have a wonderful and fulfilling life together."
	"Yes, Eric," his mom continued.  "You two seem so happy and delighted with 
each other.  May it continue forever."
	Debby walked around behind Eric's mom and gave her a hug.  Debby was about 
an inch taller than Sara, and although Sara was a bit stocky; Debby squeezed her 
and lifted her off the floor.  "'Mom,' I love your son this much," and Debby 
swung her all the way around in a complete circle, setting her feet back near 
where she started.
	Bob, Eric's father, smiled at Sara, still trapped in Debby's warm hug.   
"I don't know if I've ever seen a couple who so often only have two of their 
four feet on the floor.  You two won't need to spend much on shoes," he smiled.  
"I guess all of our physical affection for each other had a good effect on you, 
Eric."  He smiled at his son.  "I remember how surprised you were that first 
time we went to the park and your mom gave me a piggyback ride.  I don't think 
you expected girls could carry guys until then.  How old were you, then?  Nine?  
Ten?"
	"I remember I was in the 5th grade, so I guess I was ten then," Eric 
answered.  "I guess what surprised me was that you enjoyed it, not that Mom 
could do it.  Remember, Mom and you and Kathy and I had always roughhoused in 
the yard, like that.  I remember, even though Kathy was a year older than I, she 
was littler since I was about 7, and she could give me piggy-back rides all the 
time.  She used to show off to her friends when she was a freshman and I was 
still in the 8th grade.  One time she won a bet from these boys that she could 
carry one of them all the way around the yard.  Remember Tom, that kid who lived 
across the street from us?"  Eric looked at Debby and explained, "He was this 
tall skinny kid who used to make fun of me and Kathy cause we were shorter.  He 
used to take our winter caps and hold them up too high for us to reach and tease 
us like that.  He was a year younger than me but he was about a head taller, and 
more than that over Kath.  But he was real skinny, probably didn't weigh over 
100 pounds.  Anyway, Kathy made this bet with him that she could carry him all 
the way around the yard.  Well, she was so much shorter than him, he couldn't 
believe it, so he bet us ten bucks.   You've never seen a kid so surprised and 
embarrassed.  Kathy had been picking up older kids for years, so she just put 
him over her shoulder so easily, and then he started struggling.  But every time 
he tried to straighten up, she just let go of his legs, and his body just fell 
over her shoulder again!  It was hilarious!  Finally, she got him back to where 
they started, and she made him promise never again to tease us with his height 
or take our hats again before she let him back down.  He never did again, and we 
were even friends a little later."
	"Yes, that's something I'm glad your father and I taught you kids," Sara 
said;  "Never take advantage of someone just because you can.  Always treat them 
with respect, cause there's something they are better at than you."  Sara turned 
around and gave her new daughter-in-law a hug just like she had received from 
her, both feet off the ground, and a 360-degree turn.  She set Debby down, and 
said, "Take care of Eric, I'm sure he'll take care of you."
Eric came over and stood next to Debby with his arm over her shoulder.  She put 
her arm around his waist, and bumped her hip against his, lifting his feet off 
the floor, and set him back down.  "Let's always save our shoes," she smiled.  
It was late as they pulled up to the honeymoon cottage in Paradise Valley, in 
the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.  They quietly got out of their car and 
found the keys in the envelope where the reservation had said they would be.  As 
promised, the photographer and her assistant were waiting for them to arrive to 
take the photo of the new bride being carried across the threshold by her groom.   
As she focused the camera, and composed the shot in the dim light, she let out a 
sudden gasp, as she saw it was the bride doing the carrying!  She fired off a 
quick six shots, and called after them, "Would you two mind repeating that?  
That will be a great shot for our next year's brochure."   The beautiful bride 
returned to the doorway, her groom grinning insanely in her arms.  "How can you 
do that?" the photographer asked Debby.  You're so, so, regular looking!  You're 
normal sized, and he isn't some midget.  How can you carry him?"
"You could carry him, or better yet, you could carry your assistant!" Debby 
laughed, indicating the young man holding the auxiliary flash unit.  "This one's 
mine!"
The photographer looked around doubtfully at Billy, her assistant.  He was a 
fully grown, if young man, 6 feet, maybe 175 pounds.  She was in her early 30's 
and although healthy, only average size at 5-6 and 130 pounds.  She turned back 
to this lovely, if a little overconfident, bride.  But the new bride and groom 
had disappeared.  "Billy." she called softly, "set that stuff down, and come 
here a minute, please.

End