The seX files :Ep2 : HOW I MET ABBY - MY NUDE MODEL

HOW I MET ABBY - MY NUDE MODEL

by Melanie Kay

I often arrive at my life class quite early. By doing this it is

possible to set up my easel and reserve one of my favourite positions in the

studio by fastening my paper to the drawing board. Frequently there is

till time to go next door into the cafeteria to buy a coffee and

perhaps chat with some of the other students.

On the day in question, I was alone and just sitting down to drink

my coffee when the door into the cafeteria opened. At first I could see

no one; then the head of a young girl appeared and looked hesitantly

around. I didn¹t know her so I just vaguely smiled in her direction. With

the briefest smile in return, she walked over to my table.

³Excuse me,² she said nervously, ³Can you tell me where the life

class is held?²

I pointed to the door on the other side of the cafeteria. ³It¹s

just out through that door, turn right and the door of the life studio is

right in front of you.²

She thanked me and followed my directions. A minute later she was

back again. ³Er. . . there doesn¹t seem to be anyone there,² she

stated.

³No, it¹s a bit early. I was first to arrive this morning. You¹re

new aren¹t you?²

³Yes.²

³Well, just choose your position and set up your easel, ³ I

suggested.

³Um . . . I¹m not a student. I¹m the model.²

³Oh, sorry,² I repled. ³I didn¹t realise that. You¹ll want to have

a word with David then. He¹s our instructor. He¹ll be along shortly.²

I indicated the chair on the other side of the small round table.

³Have a seat and grab a coffee while you¹re waiting.²

She sat down. ³I don¹t think I¹ll bother with a coffee. I¹ll just

wait.²

³OK,² I replied. ³Come to think of it, David did tell us last week

that we¹d be having a new model today, but he didn¹t know who. What¹s

your name?²

³Abigail,² she replied.

³I¹m Melanie,² I returned. I noticed that she seemed rather

nervous and her thin small hands were clasped tightly into little fists

resting right on the edge of the table. It suddenly struck me that this

might be her first life modelling engagement, so I decided to help.

³This your first life modelling?² I asked.

³Yes,² she replied with a nervous laugh looking down at the table.

³It¹s the first modelling of any sort for me.²

³Are you nervous?²

She clasped her hands together and raised her eyes to look at me.

³Yes, I¹m very nervous. I don¹t know whether I¹ll be any good at it.²

³Belive me, I know exactly how you feel. I remember the first time

I did life modelling. I was scared stiff to think that a whole roomful

of students would be looking at me, completely naked.²

Abigail looked directly at me with surprised eyes. ³Yes, that¹s

just what I was thinking,² she said. ³You do life modelling too?²

³Well, I only do it occasionally when the model doesn¹t arrive.

But it doesn¹t worry me a bit now. Believe me, when the students are

drawing you, you might as well be a cabbage. All they are looking at is

your shape and the tones. We¹ve all seen so many naked girls on that

podium, the fact that you are nude doesn¹t mean a thing.²

This seemed to reassure her and her smile grew slightly more

expansive. She seemed to emerge from behind her defensive screen.

³Are you a student?² I asked.

³Yes, I started this week at the art college.²

I asked her where she lived and she told me that she had a small

room in a student house not very far from my own. While she was speaking

I was able to study her closely. She had a thin pale face with no

makeup and her blond hair was gathered up untidily behind her head as though

arranged in a rush. Her blue-green eyes were large and bright but had a

haunted look about them. She was huddled in a rough tweed coat that was

rather too large and had certainly seen better days.

She then looked directly at me as though she felt able to trust

me. ³Do you mind if I ask you something?²

³Not at all. Fire away.²

³Will I be paid in cash when I¹ve finished my modelling?²

I smiled at her intensity. ³Yes, just call in the office and the

Secretary will give you a small brown envelope. We pay cash in hand to

our models.²

³Oh, good.² She looked relieved but the intensity of her demeanour

did not vanish. Just then David breezed in through the door and I was

able to introduce him to Abigail. He glanced at his watch and asked her

to go into the studio.

I finished my coffee and a few minutes later I joined them.

Several more students had arrived and were busy getting their place set up.

I hung my jacket on the back of my chair and sat down to wait.

David briefly introduced Abigail to the class as she walked onto

the podium in her robe. She looked decidedly nervous, but as she caught

my eye, I winked at her and gave her the thumbs up sign which drew from

her a slight, nervous smile.

Looking at Abigail, David explained that we would start off with

several quick three-minute poses. She removed the clip from her hair,

took off her robe and stood there, naked. Her long blond hair cascaded

down her narrow back, then she turned to face in my direction. She had a

shy beauty I have rarely seen before. Her breasts were quite small but

were firm with pink delicate nipples. Her skin looked smooth and her

pussy was completely shaved. As she moved from pose to pose she reminded

me of a fragile butterfly that was trying to settle on a flower. She

had long slender legs and her rib cage showed quite clearly. I also

noticed that they had several bruises on them; there were also a few on her

legs.

I¹ll be honest. I was more than a little interested in Abigail.

We then had a long pose of some thirty minutes before the coffee

break. When it arrived, I went over to her. ³You were great!² I

enthused. I really enjoyed those quickie poses. Come and have a look. She put

her robe on as I led her over to my easel. ³See?² I said. ³You¹ve

inspired me!²

She looked at my drawings and, for the first time, she gave me a

real smile showing lovely white teeth. ³Oh, Melanie. They are good.

You¹ve flattered me.²

³I loved drawing every one of those. I¹m sure David will be

pleased. He¹ll probably book you up for the next month or two.²

Abigail suddenly stiffened and the smile disappeared. I didn¹t

know why at the time, but I wanted to cheer her up so I said I¹d buy her a

coffee. As we reached the door she almost stumbled and held on to the

door post for a second. As she looked at me I noticed how pale her face

was. The standing poses obviously hadn¹t helped her. I put my arm

around her thin waist and looked straight into her wide eyes.

³When did you last eat?² I asked.

She looked embarrassed at the question but I think its suddenness

made her answer truthfully. ³Dinnertime yesterday,² she replied looing

down at the floor.

I suddenly decided to take charge of her. ³Right! I¹ll not only

buy you a coffee but something to eat as well. I can¹t have my model

collapsing right in the middle of a gorgeous pose can I?² I tried to appear

flippant, but I was serious.

I told her to grab a table while I stood in the queue. I bought

her a coffee, a large meat pastie and a chocolate-covered roll. As I

placed them in front of her I said, ³Now, put some meat on your ribs.

You¹ll be easier to draw.²

She smiled as she tucked into the pastie. I could tell she hadn¹t

eaten for some time. ³This is lovely,² she said. Then she downed the

choc roll and finished the coffee.

³How do you feel now?² I asked.

³Full. Really full. Thanks Melanie. You¹re a real pal.² She

grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.²

I asked David if we could have one long reclining pose for the rest

of the session. He agreed. Abigail lay down on the podium with her head

resting on a large cushion. From my position I could see her face and

noticed that it now had a slight blush. I hoped the food and coffee had

helped.

When the session ended I took rather longer than usual to pack away

my things, then hung around waiting for Abigail to emerge from the

changing cubicle. I walked down to the office with her and waited while she

talked with the Secretary. A few minutes later she emerged with her

envelope. She checked the contents and half murmured, ³That¹ll do.² I

didn¹t attach any significance to the remark at the time.

As we turned to leave, we almost bumped into David as he came down

the stairs. ³Ah, Abigail, are you OK to model for us next week? You did

really well today. I¹ve heard a few complimentary remarks.²

Her reaction surprised me. She looked blankly at him and then

stammered, ³Er . . . um . . . I don¹t know whether I¹ll be able to. I . . .

I . . . just don¹t know.²

She moved towards the door and I followed. David called after us,

³Let me know tomorrow. Try to persuade her Melanie.²

Something about Abigail¹s behaviour alarmed me. It wasn¹t natural.

I decided that I needed to have a long chat with her. An idea occurred

to me. ³I¹m going to pick up a Chinese for my dinner. Would you care to

join me?²

She had that defensive look again. ³I . . . um . . . I need to do

some shopping,² she said.

³That¹s OK,² I returned. ³I¹ll come with you to do your shopping

and then we can get a Chinese.²

³No. I can¹t do that. Well . . . alright. I¹ll come to your place.

I can do my shopping later.²

We went to the Chinese and picked up a dinner for two. Abigail

seemed to relax a bit then. When we arrived at my house I invited her into

the kitchen and she helped me to get the dinner ready. While we sat at

the kitchen table I started my probing.

³And how did you enjoy your first life modelling session?² I asked.

She smiled as she said, ³Once I¹d been doing it for a few minutes,

I quite enjoyed it.²

³I thought so. You seemed a natural. You held all the poses really

well. I could tell that David was pleased too. He¹s a real dear, but he

doesn¹t pay compliments for nothing.²

³Yes, he was very kind,² she replied.

³One thing I noticed as you were posing,² I said, ³ was that you

had a few bruises on your ribs and on your legs. How did you get those?²

Abigail stopped eating and just looked down at the table. ³Oh, it¹s

nothing.²

³Something must have caused them,² I pursued. ³Have you had an

accident or something?²

My persistence paid off. She looked me quickly in the eyes. ³Do you

really want to know?² she asked.

³Of course I do.²

³You might think less of me.²

³Nonsense. Why should I?²

³OK I¹ll tell you. I got them at home.²

³At home?² I queried. ³But how?²

She looked sadly down at her plate and started playing with her

fork. ³I think it¹s usually referred to these days as Œchild abuse¹.

Now I stopped eating too. ³What!² I exploded. ³What do you mean?

How did it happen?²

³My dear mother.² She almost spat the words out.

³You mean your mother gave you all those bruises?² I said with some

heat.

³That¹s right.²

³But how did she do it, and why did she do it?²

Abigail put her hand up to her forehead as though shielding her

eyes. ³The way she always does it. By punching me and kicking me.² Then

she grew heated and looked at me. ³Why? She doesn¹t really need a reason,

but on the last occasion it was because she said I kept some of her

change when she sent me shopping. I didn¹t! I swear to you, I didn¹t. It

was just her way of picking on me. Just an excuse to hit me again.²

By now I was livid. How could anyone mistreat a sweet, vulnerable

kid like this. I just wanted to get hold of her mother and strangle her

with my bare hands. ³But, d¹you have a father?²

³He¹s my step-father².

³Didn¹t he try to stop her?²

³Oh yes, he tried. He always tries when he¹s there. Not that it did

him or me any good. She used to attack him as well. She threw boiling

chip oil over him on one accasion.²

I winced. ³What did he do?²

³He went to casualty and said he¹d had an accident.²

I could see that she was getting upset telling me about this, so I

went around the table and put my arms around her. ³But what about the

social workers? What about the police?¹ I pursued.

³They always believed my mother. Oh, she was so plausible and nice

with them. On one occasion my step-father phoned the police and told

them she¹d attacked him. When they arrived she said he¹d started it and

that he¹d been violent to her for years. The police believed her,

arrested my step-father and then she managed to get an exclusion order

against him to stop him living in the house.²

Abigail started to cry. I could hardly believe my ears. How could a

mother, of all people, be so cruel? She must have read my thoughts.

³You¹re surprised eh?² she asked. I nodded.

²I thought it was something unusual until I looked at a book

published by the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

Their figures show that 64% of child abuse is by women.²

³What?² I held her closer in my arms. She was as taut as a violin

bow and was starting to shake.

I managed to calm her down and led her into the lounge where we

both sat on the settee. She then told me that as soon as she was old

enough she applied to go to art college as a way of getting out of her

mother¹s grasp. A grotty room in a student house was a better option for

her. She explained that the other three girls in the house were close

friends and didn¹t seem to want her there. She had felt utterly lonely and

unwanted.

I knew I had to do something. I remembered my training in

aromatherapy massage. ³Look. You need to unwind and relax. I¹ll run you a bath

with one of my favourite oil mixtures in it.² She just nodded.

I started to run the hot water and then mixed the oils. I put a new

towel on the radiator to warm it. When I returned to the lounge,

Abigail was walking around looking at my paintings. ³Are these yours?² she

asked.

³Yes.²

³You¹re really good aren¹t you?² We talked about the paintings for

a little while. I thought it would help to calm her down.

³I expect your bath is ready now,² I said as I led her in the

direction of the bathroom. She stopped as she noticed a picture on my desk.

She picked it up and looked at it, then looked directly at me in some

surprise.

³This . . . this is your wedding photograph?²

³Yes.²

³Oh, I didn¹t know you were married. Not that I¹m surprised. What¹s

your husband¹s name?²

³Roger.²

³He¹s working is he? When does he get home?² She put the picture

down and followed me.

³I don¹t know whether he¹ll be coming home,² I replied, and before

she could say another word, I added, ³Come and get in your bath and

I¹ll explain.²

As I watched her undress she had a much greater effect on me than

she¹d had just posing nude in the art class. She got into the bath, held

her hair above her head and lay back with her eyes closed.

³Mmmmm. . . This is lovely. What a gorgeous perfume! No one has ever

done this for me before. Thank you so much.²

³I think you need a bit of pampering,² I said. ³Let¹s take a look at

those bruises.²

I lifted her legs out of the water, one at a time, and ran my hands

gently over the blue patches on her wet legs. ³Let¹s see your ribs.²

She arched her back so that her ribs came out of the water. As I ran

my hands over her bruises I noticed that the nipples on her small

breasts were becoming erect. Things started to stir inside me. She opened

her eyes and looked directly at me.

³You said you were going to explain,² she said.

I sat on the side of the bath and started my story. ³Roger and I

were married four years ago. Both his mother and my mother are widows and

are now living in France. That is how I came to meet Roger. He is a

freelance typographic designer and has a good job designing for the

publishing trade: book adverts point-of-sale design and so forth. We were

very happy living here. I quite like the north of England. The folk are so

friendly. We bought this house and were very happy living here. We used

to drive down to France to visit our mothers. They live about 80 miles

apart but it meant we could visit both when we went over there.²

³Then, about two months ago Roger¹s mother fell ill. I won¹t go into

details but it was quite serious. We both visited a few times but this

took up a lot of time and Roger¹s work began to suffer. So he suggested

that we move to France and stay in his mother¹s house until she

recovered. With his type of work it means he is able to work anywhere and keep

in touch with his clients by phone and by supplying artwork on disks.

But for me it would have meant leaving my art training and earning money

with my commissions. Also I had just started writing erotic stories

which I was about to put on some internet sites I had seen. We had quite

an argument and I just refused to go with him.²

³It¹s not that Roger is the jealous sort. Perhaps I should explain,

Abigail, that I am bisexual and that he is quite prepared to accept

that. He realises that I need to spend some time with my female friends

just as he does with his male friends.² At this, Abigail¹s eyes opened

wide as she stared at me.

³Now you know the danger you¹re in. Naked and alone, in the bath of

a bi-woman.² I laughed.

³Well,² she replied, ³It would be a change for me to be loved by a

woman instead of being beaten up by one.² She smiled and closed her eyes

again. I carried on talking.

³I decided to go ahead and publish my erotic stories on the web. It

was rather ironic, because the webmasters all ask for a profile, so I

had a long debate with myself as to whether to say I was married or not,

so I finally decided to describe myself as Œbi¹. I started receiving a

great number of fan emails and was kept busy for hours answering them.

All this and my painting is keeping me fully occupied, which is no bad

thing as it stops me from having time to dwell on my half-married

predicament.²

³Do you sometimes think you will go to join your husband?² she

asked.

³An hour never passes without me thinking about it,² I replied. Just

lately I¹ve been thinking that I¹m being really selfish. How much of my

life is my own, and how much is Roger¹s?²

³It must be pulling you in two directions,² she said in a

sympathetic voice.

I looked at Abigail¹s small, vulnerable naked figure relaxing in my

bath and noticed that there was now some colour in her cheeks. Her pink

nipples just broke the surface of the water. I had never seen a more

sexy sight. I felt a definite stirring between my legs. I moved further

along the bath so that I was sitting close to her head. I put my hand on

the other side of the bath so that I was leaning over her. ³How do you

feel now?²

She opened her eyes and seemed startled to see me so close to her.

She arched her back again as she stretched her body. ³I can¹t remember

ever feeling so relaxed before,² she said in a dreamy voice.

I bent down further and kissed her lightly on the forehead. ³Time to

get out. But I haven¹t finished pampering you yet. Get dried, but

don¹t put your clothes on. Oh, and leave the water in the bath; you¹ll need

it later²

I left her in the bathroom while I went to the bedroom to get my

massage table and oil. It suddenly struck me that the last time I had

unfolded the table was when Roger and I had given each other a full erotic

massage. I looked at my favourite photograph of him which I kept on my

bedside cabinet. My longing for him surfaced yet again, together with a

feeling of guilt.

When I returned to the lounge I found Abigail standing there waiting

for me, completely naked. The bath had definitely put some colour into

her cheeks and her damp hair clung to her bare shoulders. She looked

alluring as she gave me a shy smile.

³Now, that¹s what I call a relaxed Abigail,² I commented. Her smile

broadened, so I went on, ³So, now, how about a nice relaxing massage?²

³Sounds good to me,² she replied.

I set up the massage table, covered it with a large bath towel and

patted it with my hand. ³OK then. Lie down on your tummy.² She got onto

the table and stretched out with her arms under her head.

I lifted her long blond hair off her back and let it rest around her

head like a halo. ³Don¹t want to get your hair covered with oil do we?²

I remarked.

I poured some oil on my hands and rubbed them together to get them

to the right temperature. As I did so, I decided not to get too heavy

with her first experience of my hands on her. I hoped this would be the

first of many such events. I decided to use my kiss-to-prepare method. I

remembered using this the first time I massaged Roger, and he loved it.

It involves just lightly kissing the part you are going to massage;

it¹s a kind of warning to your partner that the part kissed is next to be

massaged. They can then look forward with pleasurable expectation to

your next stage.

I gave her three light kisses along the back of her shoulders and

her neck, then I worked the oil across with my hands. I kneaded her

muscles right along to the edge of her shoulders and as I did so I kissed

her down the centre of her back; my hands followed, spreading the warm

oil. Abigail gave a quiet groan. ³Mmmmmmmm. . . Melanie that feels great

,² she muttered in a sleepy far-away voice. As I moved further down her

back I kissed both cheeks of her butt. To heighten her enjoyment I ran

one finger very lightly in a tiny circle right at the bottom of her

spine where her cleavage started. Her buttocks started to twitch and she

giggled. ³Oh! That tickles!² she said. I knew this was the reaction to

expect just before you turn someone on. But I must admit it was turning

me on as well.

I next kissed the back of each of her thighs eventually

concentrating on the backs of her knees. I used both hands on each thigh in turn

and described little circles at the backs of her knees which drew from

Abigail little moans of appreciation. Kisses on the backs of ner calves

eventually took me down to her ankles. I took one in each hand and

opened her legs so that her feet were about two feet apart. Then I worked

with both hands on each leg in turn swiftly from ankle to the inside top

of each thigh. The sighs of pleasure from Abigail told me that, without

any doubt, she was now getting aroused.

I bent down and whispered in her ear. ³How¹s that, my love?²

³Absolutley incredible,² she replied. ³I¹ve never had a massage

before.²

³So now you know what you¹ve been missing,² I said with a laugh.

³But so far you¹ve only had half a massage. Just turn over and I¹ll finish

you off.²

She turned over immediately. I arranged her hair over the end of

the table and placed her hands just abover her head. I noticed that her

face was quite flushed. Good! I evidently had not lost my touch.

Abigail¹s smile showed me just how much she was enjoying her first

massage experience. I thought I¹d better prepare her for what was to

follow.

³Just close your eyes, relax, and be prepared, in part two, to be

seduced by a terrible bi-woman,² I threatened in mock heroic voice as I

rubbed more oil into my palms.

She chuckled happily. ³If it¹s as good as part one, I shall

thoroughly enjoy it.²

I bent over her and lightly kissed her closed eyes, the tip of her

nose and her slightly open mouth. I followed this with a light facial

massage. As I slowly drew one finger across her lips, I bent down and

kissed her nipples. Now, some of my friends say I have a predilection for

hard nipples. I always correct them and say it¹s not a predilection but

a prediLICKtion - if you know what I mean! One of the treasures on my

computer is a file containing photographs of friends displaying a

gorgeous collection of erect nipples. You¹ll have to take my word for it,

because the title of the file is ŒFor my eyes only¹. I had the feeling

that some pics of Abigail would shortly be included in it.

I used both hands on each of her small breasts in turn placing a

thumb on each side and running it up to her nipples and squeezing them

upwards between my thumbs, then back down again. I moved my thumbs around

about an inch and repeating the process like the spokes of a cartwheel

and by the time I had finished, her nipples were sticking out like

little organ stops - just as I like them. Abigail¹s moans and her arching

back assured me that she was really enjoying my ministrations, and my

moistening pussy assured me that I was riding alongside her.

My kisses then flowed down her abdomen and on to her flat tummy

which I followed with oily hands and, as I explored her navel with one

finger, my lips attended to her smooth slim thighs and the insides of her

knees. As I reached her ankles, once again I took hold of them and

pulled her legs apart - wide apart. I slowly spread the oil right up the

insides of her legs and, as I did so, I bent forward and placed my eager

lips around the open moist lips of her vagina. A light kiss on her

erect clitoris told her what to expect next.

I placed my thumbs at the base of her moist vagina lips and worked

outwards in small circles gradually moving upwards. When I reached her

clitoris I held it briefly between my thumbs before spreading then

along the hood and then back again. A sweep around her outer well-spread

lips took me back down, and once more I started circling upwards. I

noticed this was having the effect I hoped for as her juice started running

down and her thigh muscles grew taught as she pointed her toes down the

table. After several minutes of this, Abigail started to pant and I

noticed her mouth was open as she gasped from time to time.

Then I decided it was time to stop the massage and get her to

climax, so I thrust two fingers inside her vagina and at the same time

started slow licking movements on her clitoris. Gradually I increased the

pace which drew a series of ³Ahs!² and ³Ohs!² from Abigail which got

quicker and quicker. Then she pushed her head back onto her arms and arched

her back in a quick cry of pleasure as she experienced what she later

told me was the most fantastic orgasm of her life.

I pulled the towel around her and went into the bathroom to run

some extra hot water. When I returned, Abigail was lying motionless. She

opened her eyes as I approached. ³Time to wash that oil off,² I said.

She swung her legs off the table and we went into the bathroom. She

dropped the towel and got into the bath.

³D¹you mind if I join you?² I asked.

³I¹d love it!² she returned with some enthusiasm.

Thirty seconds later we were both naked and locked in each others

arms. She gave me a long, intense kiss and said, ³Thanks a million

Melanie. That was the experience of a lifetime!²

³My intimate friends call me Mel,² I said.

³And the few close friends I have call me Abby,² she replied.

³Well, we can¹t be any closer than this can we?² I murmured as I

hugged her naked wet body close to me.

³The closer the better,² she replied.

At my suggestion, we dried each other and then we got dressed. I

made a pot of tea and some sandwiches and we sat close together on the

settee chatting as though we¹d known each other for years. Abby stood up

and looked at her watch. ³Gosh! Doesn¹t time fly when you¹re enjoying

yourself?² she said.

When I also stood up, she drew closer to me and put her slight arms

around my neck. I noticed tears start to well up in her wide eyes.

³Thanks Mel! Thanks for saving my life!²

I gave a little laugh. ³Eh? A bit of food, some chat and a massage?

I don¹t really think that can be called Œsaving your life¹.²

Abby¹s face puckered up and the tears flowed freely down her

delicate face. She held me close in a firm grip and put her head by the side

of mine. ³Yes it can! Yes it can! You see, the reason I came to model

today was just to get the money. On the way back I was going to go to

the chemist¹s to buy an overdose, and when I got back to my room, God

forgive me, I was going to end it all.²

After this outburst she sobbed uncontrollably. I could feel her

body shaking against mine. I lifted her head back and looked at her

tear-stained face. ³What! You were actually going to . . .²

³Yes!² she broke in. ³I was going to end my life. But you stopped

me Mel. Your kindness stopped me.²

By this time, the tears were streaming down my cheeks as well. We

both hugged each other as though we would never let go. ³My God!² I

blurted out. I almost lost you.²

Then a few things which had passed earlier in the day fell into

place with new meaning. ³So that¹s why, when David asked you to model for

us next week, you said . . .²

³Yes,² she broke in. ³I thought I would no longer be alive.²

I dried my eyes with my handkerchief and then dried Abby¹s. I

looked seriously deep into her eyes and said, ³So, can you model for us next

week?²

³I¹d love to,² she replied. ³I¹ll phone David first thing tomorrow

morning.²

³No you won¹t,² I replied with some vigour. ³You¹ll phone him right

now. there¹s a phone over there.² I dialled the number, gave her the

phone and listened while she told David that she would be available for

modelling next week.

When we reached my front door, Abby turned to say goodbye. I took

her face in both my hands and said, ³I want you to promise me something

Abby. If ever you get into a state like that again, you¹ll run straight

over here to see me.²

³I will, Mel. I will. You can rely on it.² And I knew I could.

She turned to go. ³Oh, there¹s just one other thing,² I said. ³When

you model for us next week, how about coming back here for something to

eat?²

³Mmmm. Yesss!² she replied.

³OK,² I added. ³We¹ll make it supper and breakfast.²

She laughed as my meaning drove home. ³Now that is something I

would really love.²

I waved goodbye with a parting remark: ³And all you need to bring

is your toothbrush!²