It was in the middle of a Wednesday afternoon. I was busy at my desk and my desk phone rang. When I picked it up the call was from a friend of mine by the name of Jack Kendall. Jack had been a good friend since our orientation day as freshmen at the University.

During orientation, he sat in the seat next to me and we got to know each other very well. We became good friends from that day on and have been good friends all through college. We have remained good friends for the four years after we both got our Bachelor’s Degrees.

Jack began the phone conversation with, “Hey, Justin, do you have a busy weekend planned, Man?”

“No. I don’t, Jack. Not unless you call going down to get something to eat at that cafeteria down the street from me. And then maybe I’ll walk across the street to the bar feeding the juke box and inhaling several Dos Equis Dark.

Sometimes there are some cute looking chicks that come in there but, they generally don’t stay for very long and they high tail it out of there pretty quickly. Why? What da’ya have in mind, Man? You got something hot on the line?”

“No, not really, Man. I just wanted to tell you that the company I’m working for is going to have their annual picnic this Saturday and I thought you would like to come along with me. There will be plenty of food, sodas and lots of beer on ice, too.

They are supposed to have someone there who is going to cater the B-B-Que beef brisket, ribs and chicken as well. You might even be able to hook up with one of our cute office lovelies, too, but, you’re on your own when it comes to that.”

“Ok, Jack, it sounds like it could be a good afternoon. I always like to eat something that I haven’t had to fix for myself and I’m not about to pass up the beer either. What time do you want to go and do you want me to pick you up at your place or do you want to swing by here and pick me up?”

“Let me pick you up at your place and I’ll be there a little after one o’clock Saturday afternoon.”

“Ok, do I need to bring anything with me? And do we need to pay anything for the food and the drinks?”

“No, just bring yourself. That should be enough. And the company pays for all of the food and the beer.”

“Alright, Man, that’s too cool. I’ll be waiting for you out front when you get here Saturday afternoon.”

Saturday afternoon came and Jack’s car pulled up at the curb in front of my place. I jumped in and we drove to the park where his company picnic was to be held. Some of the other company employees were already there.

The guys were making plans for a softball game as well as some of the other activities for the women and children. Jack told me, “Come on with me, Justin, and I’ll introduce you to these guys. I want us to get in on this softball game. Do you want to get in on it, too?”

“Sure do, count me in, Jack.” As we walked up to where the guys were setting in the shade of a big old oak tree they were inhaling long necks. They were also planning for the softball game and one of the guys greeted Jack.

He said, “Hey, Jack. Who’s your buddy, Man? If you two guys came to join the game, you will just round out the teams.”

Jack said, “Yeah we came to join the game, Sam, and we came to get in on the fun of this game. By the way this is Justin Williams, a good friend of mine.” and he introduced me around to the rest of the guys that were going to be playing in the game.

Sam said to the guys, “Ok guys now that we have a full team assembled let’s start the game.” The team that Jack and I were on lost the toss and we took the field. We split the first two games. In the second game I hit a home run and we went one run up.

In the third game we were down two runs to one. I came up to bat and we had a runner on first and second. I came up to bat and I hit a home run with the two guys on board and we took the lead in the third game.

As I rounded third base and was coming into home plate one of the women yelled out, “Ok, guys, the food is ready for us to eat. Come and get a plate full while you can because it won’t last long if you don’t. The serving line is just up here at the head of the table.” She said pointing in the direction of the serving line.

All the rest of the guys wanted to call it a day saying they were hungry and wanted to go eat. Our team won two of the three games we played that afternoon. All of the guys stashed their equipment in the equipment box and we all headed to the food serving line. Jack and I were no exception either. As we were walking toward the serving area there were two shapely young women walking just ahead of us.

One of the girls turned around and said, “Hello, Jack. Erin and I watched your softball game. We were sitting in those lawn chairs underneath the oak tree watching the game as you guys played.”

Jack replied, “Hi, Shirley. Yeah, I saw you two sitting over there relaxing and lounging in the shade of that oak tree.”

She turned around again and asked, “Who’s your friend, Jack? We haven’t seen him around before.”

This is a good friend of mine, Justin Williams.” By that time we had reached the serving line and the two girls started through the serving line. Jack and I followed them through the serving line.

We were occupied getting our food but, when the girls had chosen and had been served their food, Shirley stopped and said to Jack, “We’re going to sit at that table over there in the shade, Jack. You and Justin are welcome to sit with us if you two would like to join us.”

Jack replied, “Ok, Shirley. We’ll be along shortly as soon as we are served our food.” The girls left to sit at the table as Shirley had indicated.

Once Jack and I got our food we walked over to the girl’s table and they were sitting across from one another. Jack sat down beside Shirley and I sat down beside the other girl. Both of the two girls were good looking but, I thought that Erin was a little better looking than Shirley.

They both had nice hour glass shapes and prominent, proud looking breasts. Both girls wore tight mid-thigh length walking shorts with tight blouses that accentuated their nice rounded very feminine figures.

As Jack and I sat down at the table Jack said, “I guess I didn’t introduce you all very well a little while ago. Shirley and Erin, Justin is a really good friend of mine and we have known each other since we were both freshmen in college together. Justin, this is Shirley Moore and Erin Adams and they both work in inside sales for our company.”

They both said to me, “Hello, Justin. It’s nice to meet you.” as I nodded to each of them and returned their greeting.

Erin looked at me with her pretty blue eyes and the sweet dimples on each of her cheeks and said, “Shirley and I watched and enjoyed your games and it was very exciting when you hit the home runs in the second and third games. You seem to be a pretty good athlete and you must play a lot of ball then, Justin.”

“No, this is the first time I have played softball since I got out of college. I played a little intramural sports when I was in college but, I’m certainly not a big time athlete. I thought about playing baseball in college but, I didn’t think I really had the talent and I really didn’t have the time either. I was always so busy working on my studies and getting my degree.”

Jack interrupted and said, “He’s much better than what he’s letting on, girls. That’s why I invited him to come to the picnic with me today. I wanted us to join the softball game and I wanted us to win the game.” We sat and talked among the four of us for about an hour and the girls got up and announced that they were going to have to leave and get home.

During the time we were talking I could see how gentle and kind they both were especially Erin and I wanted to see her again. I asked her, “Erin, I’d love to see you again and take you out. May I have your phone number, please? I’d like to take you out next weekend if you are free next Saturday evening, Erin.”

She started to tell me her phone number and I fished one of my business cards out of my pocket and handed it to her with my pen and asked her to write it on the back of the card. When she handed me the card and my pen back I wrote my home phone on the back of another of my cards and gave it to her. As I did I told her, “I’ll call you next week, Erin.”

Erin, with a broad smile on her face and in her eyes, very sweetly said to me, “I’ll be looking forward to getting your call, Justin.”

With that, Erin and Shirley left on their trip to return home. Jack and I continued to sit at the table and talk for an hour about the afternoon while we had a couple of more beers. Jack said, “I really enjoyed the softball game this afternoon and it was evident you did, too, when you hit your second home run. And the girls got a big charge out of it, too, Justin.”

“Yeah, I hadn’t really noticed or paid any attention to them until I heard them cheering for the first home run I hit. They were both really getting into the game.”

“Well, what did you think of the girls then, Man?”

“I thought they were both very cute and both of them have killer hour glass figures. Looking at them, I think that Erin is especially cute with those cute dimples on her cheeks. It’s hard for me to believe that some guy has not got her on the string by now.”

“Yeah, I noticed that you seemed to be making time with Erin before they left.”

“Well, can you blame me? I really like her and I got her phone number before they left. I thought I’d be a damn fool if I didn’t. I plan to call her in the middle of the week to take her out to eat and maybe take her to a club to go dancing after that.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that. I have been taking Shirley out for a couple of months now and she is always telling me that we need to set Erin up with someone. They have both been good friends for some time now and they are always looking out for one another.

When you decide on which club you are going to take her to let me know and Shirley and I’ll swing by there, too. I know that both Erin and Shirley would really like to see each other there, as well.”

“Ok, Man, I plan to call her Wednesday afternoon to set something up with her. I was thinking about taking her out to eat Italian or Chinese or maybe even Mexican or whatever she chooses.

After that I plan to ask her whatever dance club she wants to go to. Then I’ll give you a call afterwards and let you know.” I could see that they were cleaning off the tables and the beer was gone so I said, “It looks like they are closing up shop for the day so I guess we need to get out of here and head on home, Jack.”

“Ok, Brother, I’ll call Shirley and ask her to go out Saturday evening, too, after I hear from you.” Jack dropped me at my place and I thanked him for inviting me to go with him.

I told him, “I really enjoyed meeting the girls and I’m looking forward to seeing Erin next weekend and taking her out.”

Wednesday afternoon came and I called Erin. When she answered the phone I said, “Hello, Erin, this is Justin. I wanted to ask you if you would like to go out Saturday evening to eat our evening meal together if you’re not doing anything. After we have eaten I’d like to take you out to a dance club. I’ll let you choose the dance club we go to after we eat.”

“Sure, Justin, I’d love to go with you Saturday evening. What time do you want to pick me up Saturday evening? I know that Jack and Shirley have gone out dancing in the past and I’d like to go to the same club that they go to. Shirley tells me it’s a really nice club with a live band and they always have a really good time there.”

“Ok, Erin. I’ll pick you up at seven o’clock and that should give us plenty of time to eat and get to the dance club. The band normally doesn’t start playing until about nine o’clock.”

That evening I called Jack and told him I had a date to take Erin out to eat Saturday evening and then we were going to go dancing after we have had our supper. Erin wants to go to the same dance club that you and Shirley go to, Jack. She didn’t know or didn’t say what club you two go to so you need to tell me which one it is.”

“Yeah, well, we generally go to the Sportsman’s Dance Club on route 51, Justin. I think that Erin would like to see Shirley there that night so we’ll probably drop by and meet you two there Saturday night at the club.”

“Ok, Jack. We’ll look for you two Saturday night when you get there.”

Saturday evening I arrived at Erin’s house at seven o’clock. When she came to the door she looked even prettier than she looked at the picnic. When she opened the door she said, “Hello, Justin. It’s really nice to see you this evening. Come on in while I get my purse.”

Her pretty blue eyes just sparkled at me and she had a very pretty smile on her face making her dimples stand out prominently. Her beautiful shoulder length blond hair swayed like a pendulum around her head with every movement of her head and body.

Erin’s make up looked like it had been done professionally giving her a radiance that I hadn’t seen before. Her dimples just made her look that much more pretty. She was wearing a beautiful pink satin blouse that clung to her body outlining her very alluring breasts.

She had on a light gray skirt that accentuated her small waist and her sensuous rounded hips. Her skirt came down to a couple of inches above her knees revealing the visual hint of her fabulous shapely muscular legs.

“Hello, Erin. It’s really nice to see you this evening, too. You look very pretty tonight and I know that you are going to be the envy of most of the women at the dance club tonight.

Every guy in the dance club will be wishing they could dance with you and take you home, too.” I stepped inside the door while she went to get her purse and then she said, “I’m ready to go, Justin.”

“Do you like Italian food, Erin? There is a nice little Italian restaurant downtown and I thought you might like to eat there tonight.”

“Yes, I do like Italian food and I suspect that you are probably as hungry as I am.” I walked her to my car, helped her get in the passenger seat and we left to go to the restaurant.

When we walked into the restaurant, the aroma of the Italian food permeated the air and made both Erin and me even more hungry. We were shown to a little table, sat down and ordered our meals along with a bottle of wine and we chatted.

During our meal Erin said, “Justin, I looked at the business card you gave me and it said that you are a Welding Engineer.” Nodding affirmatively to her, she continued, “What does a welding engineer do?”

“I’m assigned to manufacturing and when there are materials of new or different grades and a different strength level that needs to be welded I’m responsible for choosing and qualifying the welding process to be used on them.

It is necessary to qualify each new welding process to meet the material requirements of the welded joint. Then that requires the selection of a welding procedure for the welded joint and making sure that it is qualified in accordance with the customer’s requirements and the applicable welding codes.

There are several different welding codes that may be applicable to what we are welding at that time. If we don’t have a qualified welding procedure for that welded joint, I have to qualify the new welding procedure for that weldment.

So you can see the selection process for a particular weldment can be somewhat complex. In addition to that, each welder is required to be qualified for each weldment process they are to use for a particular welded joint, also.”

“Is that what your degree from the university is in, Justin?”

“Yes, it is. I have a BS Degree in Welding Engineering and it is another four year degree program at the university like most other Engineering Degrees offered by the university. Some guys even go on and get their MS Degree and some of them even go on and get their PhD Degrees also.

Of course, each of those advanced degrees requires extra study and extra time at the university just like other advanced Engineering Degrees do or other advanced degrees do in general.

Well, Erin, Jack told me that you and Shirley both worked in inside sales. How long have you and Shirley known each other and how long have you worked for the company?”

“Shirley and I are much like you and Jack are, Justin. We have known each other since we were in college together and we graduated together about three years ago. Shirley came up here and found a job.

I went back home and lived with my parents and looked for a job there locally for about a year. I couldn’t find anything like what I’m doing right now and Shirley would call me about once every month or two and tell me I should come up here and apply for a job here.

She told me that if management knew that she and I were friends I’d have a good chance of being hired to work in her department. At the end of the year she called me and said, “Erin, my department is looking for another inside sales representative like me.

You need to come up here and apply for that job. When you do you need to put my name down as a reference. If you get hired you can stay in my apartment and you can split the rent with me. I could sure use the help on the rent if you come up here and get hired.

I drove up here and applied for the job and got hired right away. I think that was because of Shirley’s good reference for me. She and I have been good friends ever since we were in college much like you and Jack.

We have been very close to one another all through college and now since we are both working here and rooming together. We tell each other just about everything and I know just about everything she does and vice versa.

Then she started dating Jack and I know that she has been asking him if he knew of anyone he could introduce me to. Jack told her he had a friend that I may like and he thought that you would like me, too.

As it turned out it has worked out for the both of us. I guess that’s probably the big reason he invited you to come to the company picnic last weekend. And Shirley made sure I came to the picnic with her that weekend, too, Justin.”

“Well, Erin, I’m really glad he did. Otherwise, we may not have gotten the chance to meet each other like we did that weekend.”

“Yeah, I’m glad he did, too, Justin. When we left the picnic Shirley asked me what I thought of you and I told her you had taken my phone number and you were going to call me to go out.

Then she asked if I was going to go out with you and I told her sure but, that depended on you calling me. When I told her you called and asked me to go out I think she was more excited than I was. Shirley is kind of excitable and you may have already observed that.”

“I could see that she is a very pretty girl and it isn’t hard to see how any guy would like to go out with her. It was easy to tell that she isn’t quite as calm as you are and I can tell why Jack was interested in going out with her in the first place. I think you two are both very sweet; although, I think you are a little prettier than she is, Erin.”

A slight blush spread all over her pretty face and the look in her eyes told me how much she liked my remark about her. By that time we had finished our meal and I paid the check.

Then we left the restaurant to go to the dance club Jack had told me about. As we were leaving the restaurant Erin said, “Thank you for taking us to the Italian restaurant tonight, Justin. I really enjoyed the meal and our conversation, too.”

We left for the dance club since it was approaching the time for the band to start playing. When we arrived at the dance club there weren’t many people there yet and we started looking for a table to sit at. We both saw Jack and Shirley sitting at a table right next to the dance floor. Jack raised his hand and motioned us to come on over and join them.

When we got to their table Jack and Shirley said, “Hey guys, we just got here and we kind of thought that you two would be here before us. But, we’re glad that you two have gotten here anyway.”

Erin and Shirley greeted each other and hugged each other while Jack and I shook hands. The waitress brought their drinks to the table and took our order, too. She hurried off to the bar and quickly brought our drinks back.

Erin and I sat and sipped our drinks and when the band started playing, we all went out onto the dance floor. I really didn’t know just how good a dancer Erin was but, she soon made a believer out of me.

The last couple of songs were slow songs and Erin really cuddled up in my arms like we had been going together for a very long time. I sure loved having her warm soft body pressed tightly to me. When Jack caught my eyes he gave me a wink and a big thumbs up. Then he began to whisper in Shirley’s ear.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out what Jack was saying to Shirley especially from the smile that slowly spread across her face. Shirley turned her head looking in our direction and by that time she had a huge grin on her face, too.

She began to talk into Jack’s ear like she was saying, ‘I think Erin is going to feel very good before this night is over.’ Erin wasn’t able to see the expression on Jack’s and Shirley’s faces because she had her head laying on my chest during our slow dance.

At the end of the song Erin and I went back to the table and Jack and Shirley both had big broad smiles on their faces. Their smiles told me what they had been talking about and what they had on their minds. Erin and I sat and relaxed during the second set of songs the band played as we finished our drinks.

During the third set Erin and I went back out on the dance floor and danced. The band played several fast songs followed by two slow songs. During the slow songs Erin cuddled up in my arms like she had done before. I know that she really liked being cuddled in my arms and I loved having her cuddled up against me, too.

Again she laid her head on my chest as we danced and I really enjoyed feeling her soft breasts and her warm soft body pressed tightly against mine. She had a sweet pleased smile on her face which made me lower my head to her and kiss her on her forehead.

When I kissed her she raised her head with a bright smile on her face and then she kissed me very tenderly on the lips. Before she could lay her head back on my chest again I had to kiss her back as tenderly as she had just kissed me.

After I kissed her on the lips Erin laid her head back on my chest again and I softly said in her ear, “I now know you are as sweet as I thought you were earlier and I want to see you more often if I can.”

Erin just wiggled a little in my arms, shivered a little and looked into my eyes with a sweet loving look in her eyes. I could smell the sweet fragrance of her hair mixed with the pleasing fragrance of her very alluring perfume.

When the song ended, Erin took my hand and led me back to our table where we sipped on our drinks and chatted with Jack and Shirley until the girls went to the ladies room. While they were gone Jack said to me, “It sure looks like you two are really getting along well with each other, Man.”

“Yeah, she is really sweet and very affectionate, too. I couldn’t ask for a nicer, sweeter girl, Jack, and I think she has the same opinion of me or at least I hope she does anyway, Man. I’m glad you introduced us at your company picnic, Jack. I think she is a keeper and she is well worth pursuing and taking out again.”

“Well, Shirley and I are really glad you two are so much into each other. Shirley had kept saying that we need to find and introduce her to someone and I was just waiting for the opportunity to introduce you two and it didn’t really look like it was a set up.

Shirley was about to pee her pants wondering if you two would get along together. And then when she saw you two out there on the dance floor I know she was beside herself. She was really elated that you two appeared to be hitting it off so well together, Justin.”

“Yeah, I really like her and I hope we can take this a whole lot further than we have already. I think if things continue to go like they have been she could be a really sweet wife and a very loving woman, too.”

At that time, the girls returned to the table and sat down. I asked Erin, “Do you want another fresh cold drink before the band starts playing again or do you want to finish the one you have here even though it is not really cold anymore?”

“No, Justin, I think I’m going to finish this one and pass on this next round of drinks. Then we can go back out on the dance floor when the band starts playing again and maybe get another drink after that.”

We sat and talked as we finished our drinks until the band started playing again. When the band started playing again, Erin and I went out on the dance floor. Of course, Jack and Shirley went out on the dance floor, also.

I noticed that they appeared to be having a great time with one another on the dance floor, too. As we were dancing to the slow songs Erin said to me, “I have really enjoyed dancing to these slow songs with you, Justin.” as she looked deeply into my eyes.

“I have really enjoyed dancing with you, too, Erin, and I want us to do this again when we can get together. I just had to stop and relax for a bit and get something to drink. The important thing is the drink is wet even though it wasn’t necessarily ice cold.”

During the next set of songs the band played, Jack and Shirley wanted to switch partners for that one set of songs. As Shirley and I were dancing to the slow songs she said to me, “You and Erin seem to be getting along very well and appear to be having a lot of fun with each other tonight, Justin.”

“Yes we have, Shirley. I have really enjoyed dancing with her since she is a great dancer and she is such a very sweet girl, too. I think that she feels the same way about me and that makes me feel very good about her. You and Jack appear to be having a lot of fun with each other tonight, too. We saw you talking and laughing with each other while we were out on the dance floor earlier.”

“Yeah, Jack and I have come here to dance several times in the past since we have been dating and we have both really enjoyed it. Are you and Erin planning on coming back here again anytime soon, Justin?”

“Yeah, I’d like to when we can arrange to get together again like this maybe in a week or two.”

“Maybe Jack and I can share a table with you two again the next time you and Erin come here to dance again, Justin.”

“I’m sure that Erin will probably tell you when we plan to come here for dancing again, Shirley. I know we both would like for us to share a table with you the next time we come here for dancing, too.”

“Yeah, we think it is a lot more fun when we can share a table with friends to talk with when we come here and dance.”

At that time the band finished the song we were dancing to and we went back to our table. Erin and Shirley left for the ladies room and I ordered another round of drinks for us. When they returned from the ladies room we all had a cold drink waiting for us. The girls were happy to have something cold to drink after having been out on the dance floor.

When the band started playing again Erin and I went back out on the dance floor. She seemed to be getting tired as her movements were a little slower than they were earlier in the evening.

When the slow songs started she cuddled up to me, laid her head on my chest and I thought she was going to go to sleep. I softly said in her ear, “I think you are getting pretty tired, Erin. Is it time for us to call it a night for me to take you home?”

She raised her head, looked me in the eyes and kissed me very tenderly, “Yeah, it is, Justin. I have really enjoyed tonight but, I’m just about worn out. Would you take me home after this dance and we can say good night to Shirley and Jack?”

“Ok, I’m beginning to wear down, too. We’ll stop by the table, say good night to Shirley and Jack and then I’ll take you home.”

When the song ended we walked back to the table and I said to Jack and Shirley, “Hey guys, Erin and I are both pretty tired and we’re going to call it a night. I’m going to take Erin home. We’ll catch you two the next time we’re here. Good night to you both.”

We got to Erin’s place and I told her, “It was fabulous going out with you tonight Erin and I’d like to take you out for a meal next week and then take you to a movie afterward.”

“Ok, Justin. Give me a call next week and we can make plans for next weekend then.”

I had been hoping that she would invite me to come in but, seeing how tired she was I knew that was not going to happen tonight. I wrapped my arms around her soft warm body and held her tightly to me.