Chapter 5

Hazel watched the developing scene with relief. She'd worried when she decided, less than 10 days ago, to delay exposing Lily to the chips in the hope Lily would expose her friends. Things had worked out better than she'd dared hope. Not only had Lily, Edith, Sharon and Anne been exposed, they'd in turn exposed others. By briefly passing on one hottie, Hazel had earned herself access to ten. Investments didn't payoff any better than that.

And the pussy they'd managed to find! Sharon had arrived first with Melissa, the sister of Sharon's (ex) boyfriend, followed almost immediately by Anne and her two co-workers, June and Alix. Hazel had watched June closely. Once the fun really began, that's where she was going first. She'd felt a twinge of worry when Edith arrived with her teenaged plunder, Keesha and Mia. Hazel had set out a fair amount of booze and she didn't like the idea of underage drinking in her place. But the two teens seemed perfectly content with their Diet Sprites and they were both just so mouthwatering. The last arrival had been Lily with the exquisite Juliet.

Hazel worked the crowd, playing the good hostess. Innuendo was thick in the air; they'd all agreed to hold off until the mystery guest had arrived and said whatever needed to be said. The agreement stopped no one from flirting, touching each other and letting their fingers a little longer than necessary. In the room's far corner, Keesha and Juliet raped each other with their eyes. Very slowly everyone was working themselves into a frenzy. The smell all these women gave off tickled Hazel's nose, she prayed her final guest would arrive soon.

Right on queue, there was a knock on the door.

Everyone's gaze swept across all the others in the room. Edith stared at Hazel, eyes wide, until she motioned towards the door as if to say "Answer it". Hazel took a steadying breath, crossed the room and opened the door.

The man standing before her was average height, pear shaped and conspicuously bow-legged. His thick hair was cut short and bristly, sitting right atop his head. He wore a plain green sweater over a button down shirt, the sleeves to both reaching all the way down to his wrists. The small amount of skin showing on his face and hands was smooth and pasty white, as if it had been grafted from a hairless cat. He smiled broadly.

"Hello Hazel."

"Bob?"

"How are you?"

Hazel shook her head, "Fine, thanks... look, I'm sorry to be rude but I'm expecting some company so I can't really chat right now."

"I know," he said and motioned towards two near bursting garbage bags. "Help me with these, would you?"

They pulled one of the bags into the apartment. Hazel peeked into the second as they dragged it in. Both were filled with chips. Bob crossed the room to the bar Hazel had set up.

"Do you have any Maker's Mark?" he asked.

"No."

Bob poured himself a small glass of Jack Daniel's, "This'll have to do, I guess."

"Hazel, who is this guy?" Sharon asked.

"It's..." Hazel paused, as it occurred to her she didn't know, in any important way, who this guy was, "he's Bob. He lives in the building next door."

"And you ladies are very lucky to know Hazel," Bob tipped his glass as if making a toast, then took a small sip. "But you didn't tell them the relevant part. What do I do for a living, Hazel? Do you remember?"

She wracked her brain, "You're a chemist, or something."

"Very good. That's what I like about you; every time we talk I can tell you're paying attention. You see ladies, I know what I'm like. I know people think I'm a little WEIRD," Bob's voice became low and deep as he said the word. It was followed by an ejaculation of giggling, "but Hazel always acts like she's listening to me and not just being polite. That's why I decided to give her this gift. And if you're all friends of Hazel's, well, then you're okay in my book."

"What gift?" Mia asked.

"Why, the chips, silly," Bob giggled again then clamped them down, creating a harsh silence in the room. "They're very valuable, and they're going to change the world. With your help, we're all going to change the world... for the better, of course!"

Bob jerked his way through another round of giggles.

"You see, sisters, I know how hard it is for you... I know! I know about your struggles, how you try to make it in an unfeeling, male dominated world," he spoke earnestly, his eyes filling with tears. "My Mom was a single mom. My Dad took off before I was born... uh-huh, he sure did... and she struggled. I know it's your struggle also."

The tears streamed down Bob's cheeks. Another round of giggles burst from his lips, "That's the gift I've given Hazel, the one I am giving to all of you. You don't need men anymore, and with the chips, we'll make it so no woman needs a man anymore. And when THAT happens, the men will look at you as equals, and they'll start treating all of you like equals.

Bob's eyes gleamed, though not from the tears. His voice was louder and firmer now, "This is an historic day, an important day. The eleven of you are on the vanguard of the most sweeping paradigm shift in the history of the world. You'll all be remembered as liberators, as heroes! That's my gift to you!"

The eleven women stood perfectly still, staring at Bob. For the longest time no one said a word. Then, from the back of the room, Hazel heard a snort. One of the women, she didn't know which one (though she would have bet her life it was Edith) was trying desperately not to laugh. She succeeded, for the moment, but the spell was broken. A laugh burst from Hazel before she was aware it was on the way, and then Anne began to laugh, then Alix, and then all of them.

Their mirth was like water against a rock, slowly wearing down the sharp edges of Bob's righteousness. Hazel collapsed onto the couch, and when she looked up to see Bob's hurt and confusion, she couldn't help herself. Her laughter redoubled.

"I'm sorry, Bob, I'm... ," she had to stop as another wave overtook her, "really I am. But I don't think you've thought... this... through!"

Hazel's observation provoked another gale of laughter.

"But don't you see..." Bob tried.

"Look, just because I don't want to be with my ex anymore doesn't mean I don't want him to never get laid again," Sharon said. "That's just mean!"

"Well, no one is saying never..."

"How long?" Keesha yelled.

"I don't know, but..."

The crowd shouted him down.

"I still want my son to get married and have children someday," Alix pointed out.

"And where are the babies going to come from?" Edith asked.

"Excuse me?" Bob replied.

"The babies," Edith repeated. "If we do like you say, there won't be any babies anymore. We'll end up like the dinosaurs."

"Well, again, I'm not saying never," Bob sputtered, "and there's always cloning..."

Even Bob seemed to realize how weak that sounded.

Hazel stood up, taking care not to look at Bob sooner than she had to, afraid if she did she'd dissolve into another fit of laughter. She placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.

"Bob, you obviously feel very deeply about this and I'm sorry things aren't going your way," she said, "but I think it's time for you to leave."

He sighed and started for the door. As he passed them, he reached for the garbage bags.