Chapter 23: Specialty of the House

"Well," Principal Krok helped the debutantes from the trunk, "don't you girls look special this evening. If you weren't already spoken for, I'd have you both myself."

Kathy blinked her eyes, after the long ride in the dark trunk the flickering torches that lined the Hood & Noose's driveway were positively blinding.

"Where exactly is this place?" she asked as she took Christi's hand and tentatively started up the stone steps to the entrance.

"That's a closely guarded secret, Kathy," the principal motioned the debutantes through the massive iron doors, "that's why you had to ride in the trunk. I hope it didn't inconvenience you too much."

"Oh, no! That's the nicest trunk ever," Christi gushed, "and I've been in a few."

"Me, too," Kathy chimed, "it was swell!"

A young woman with a thick rope noose tied around her neck greeted them in the lobby. She was wearing the ragged remains of an antique white dressing gown, her face and all visible skin was covered in ghastly blue makeup that gave her a freshly-dead look. In spite of her morgue-like appearance, the red-head smiled brightly and asked if they'd like the smoking or non-smoking section.

"Oh, I'm just delivering these young ladies," Principal Krok motioned to two distinguished-looking men sitting at the rear of the large dark-wood dining room.

"One last thing," he turned to the excited girls, "do you have signed parental permission slips?"

"Yes, Principal Krok," Kathy and Christi said almost in unison as they handed him the slips.

"Great," the principal put the slips in his jacket pocket, "now, girls, just follow the hostess, do what you're told, and have a good time."

"We will, Principal Krok," Kathy kissed him primly on the cheek. "I don't know how I can ever thank you."

"You'll find a way, Kathy," the principal smiled and tweaked the pearl stick pin that pierced her left breast, "you'll find a way."

Kathy tried to act worldly and unimpressed as she followed the hostess into the dining room, but she was drinking in every detail. Like the lobby, the dark stone room was dimly lit by torches mounted to the walls and centre posts, but she could see people dining at small tables covered with white tablecloths. At first she thought several men were eating alone until she saw women's high heels and, once in a while, pairs of black men's wing tips peaking from under the long tablecloths

They also passed a women who was bent over a table with her red-sequined gown raised to her waist. She was being served a large flesh appetizer from the pants of a black-hooded waiter. The smiling woman was face-to-face with her dinner companion and Kathy heard him say "would you like another when this one's done, Darling, after all it is our anniversary."

"Yes, please," the woman replied blissfully as they passed out of hearing range.

"Let's ask Michael if we can have our wedding reception here," Kathy whispered to Christi.

"That is if he marries both of us," Christi sighted. "I may just be here as your slave."

"He'll marries us both," Kathy soothed. "Remember, it's double or nothing."

The state Secretary of Education and Supervisor of Masochistic Instruction stood as the hostess ushered the girls to the table.

"Well, well," the secretary exclaimed. "Principal Krok said he'd send us two lovely companions and he most certainly has."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Kathy beamed as the secretary held her chair. He was a tall, fit man in his mid-40s with salt-and-pepper hair and flint-blue eyes. Judging by the flavours flowing between her warming thighs, she knew she would, indeed, have to find a very special 'thank you' to Principal Krok.