Touch Me

Janie’s apartment is festooned with streamers and empty champagne glasses.  There is barely enough elbow room in her small apartment for the party, but fortunately she had kept her guest list small.  Her party has been going on for a little over two hours, when she taps her wine glass to get everyone’s attention.  She turns the stereo down, winks at me and says, “As you might have guessed by now, I’ve invited you all here for more than just this little party.  I’ve known each and every one of you for quite a few years.  We’ve partied together, gone on roads trips together, and told each other our little secrets.  And it’s those secrets that have been driving me crazy. That ends tonight.  Before I tell you what I have in mind, I would like you all to sit on the floor in a circle.  Leave enough room between each other so that you can’t reach the next person.”

I tuck my skirt around my thighs as I sit down, and look around at the others.  Everyone, myself included, has a look of trepidation.  I shoot Janie a look that could fry an egg.  She responds by sticking her tongue out at me.  I hope to hell she isn’t going to spill everything I’ve told her.  I’ll disown her if she does.

There are ten of us; five guys and five girls, including Janie.  Janie, a tall brunette, has been the leader of our little group for quite a few years.  I’ve known her since our college days together.  She says, “Hey, get those grim looks off your faces.  I’m not going to tell your little secrets.  You are.”

Fat chance of that.  By the looks she’s getting, I can see that they are all thinking the same thing.

“At one time or another, every one of you has told me that you really like someone else in this room, but have been afraid of approaching them.  It sounds incredibly silly when I say it like that, but I’ve been as guilty as the rest of you.  As each of you came in, I made sure that you followed my instructions not to wear cologne or perfume.  Then I had you take off your shoes, and handed each of you three playing cards with the same number.  Please take the cards out now, but don’t show them to anyone.”

I pull out my cards, a nine of clubs, hearts, and diamonds, and put them face down in my lap.  Where the hell is she going with this?

“Here’s what’s going to happen.  When I tell you, I want you all to close your eyes.  When I call out your card number, get up and walk around the inside of the circle.  You will touch the head of someone you really like, then put one of your playing cards face down in front of that person.  You can put down cards in front of one or two people, but keep the third hidden in a pocket or something. Remember to put them face down, and please be as quiet as possible.  That and the soft music will help hide your identity.”

I look around the room.  Brad, Emily and Tony look excited.  Sharon & Greg look determined.  The rest look like they’re ready to bolt from the room.  I feel an odd exhilaration.

“Is everyone ready? OK, everyone please close your eyes now, and keep them closed.  You may open them only during your turn.”

I close mine, and after a moment I hear Janie say, “Ace.”

Although I hear someone get up, I can’t tell who it is.  It seems that Janie’s preparations are working.  I feel like I did back in grade school when teams were being picked.  What if no one picks me?  That would be a complete drag.

The person walks around the circle twice, and I hear rustling and one startled feminine gasp, but whoever it is doesn’t pick me.  Ugh, it’s grade school all over again.  Then the person sits down, and Janie calls out, “two”.

Several more people make their circuits, and on number six I’m startled to feel a hand on my head.  It feels like I’ve been hit by a bolt of lightning.  Holy crap; someone has picked me.  I’m on a team!  A shot of exhilaration shoots through me.  Then I hear the same person put down a card in front of someone else too, and I feel a bit deflated.  Oh well, at least he picked me first.

“Nine.”  Oh, boy, here goes.  I open my eyes and look around.  A universal look of anxiety seems to be fixed on everyone’s faces.  By now everyone has at least one card sitting in front of them, and some have two.  I guess no one is going to feel left out.  Apparently Janie knew this going in, but I sure didn’t.  I quietly stand and look around.

I walk around and stop in front of Brad; the guy I’ve been fantasizing about for two years.  He’s tall with curly black hair, an olive complexion, and a dreamy build.  And he’s been a really good friend.  Can I do this?  Do I want to do this?  Hell yeah.  I put my hand on his head, and he jumps just as I had.  I put my card down on the floor next to the other one already there.  Then I get up and walk around to Tony.  Tony’s shorter than Brad, has blond hair, and usually treats me like a close sister. I can see myself with him, but the chemistry’s definitely not as strong as it is with Brad.  I decide to hedge my bets, so I touch his head and place my second card down in front of him.  Then I walk back to my spot and sit down.

“Ten.”  The last person gets up and makes a circuit.  I’m telling myself that at least I got one card and that’s enough, when another hand touches my head.  Holy crap again, two admirers!

After that person sits down, Janie says, “Ok, everyone can open their eyes now.”

I open my eyes and look around.  Without exception, everyone is smiling.  Presumably that’s because they all got at least one card.

Janie says, “Okay everyone, now comes the fun part.  Please take your last card, the one with your number on it, and place it face up on the floor in front of you.  Then pick up the cards that were left for you, and look around the circle for those card numbers to see who picked you.  To avoid hurting anyone’s feelings, I suggest that you keep it to yourself for now.  What you do with that information is, of course, completely up to you.”

I look down at my cards.  As expected, a six and a ten.  Looking around, I am startled to see that Greg is number six.  I didn’t pick him and I try to hide my surprise, but fail miserably.  He sees my expression, and his smile falters.  I smile back to reassure him, but it’s too late.  In any case, from his cards he can see that I didn’t pick him.  I’ve never thought of him as more than a friend, but he’s nice enough.  It’s always a possibility.

My second choice, Tony, was the ace, and he didn’t pick me back.  That’s just as well, but now he thinks I like him.  It’s true I do, sort of.  Obviously we weren’t meant to be more than friends though.  In any case, he and Emily seem to be sharing significant looks.

I look around for number ten, and am overjoyed to find that it’s Brad.  He must have noticed my thousand watt smile, because he turns one on me that’s just as big.

I turn to Janie and see that she’s made a startling realization of her own.  I mouth the words “thank you” to her, and when I turn back to Brad I find him standing right in front of me.  He helps me up off the floor, and I’m suddenly shy and have no idea what to do with my hands.  I shove them into my pockets to keep them from flying away.  With my heart in my throat, I say, “So Brad, now you know the truth, huh?”

He grins, and says, “Yup, and so do you.”

“We’ve been friends a long time Brad.  Are you sure you want to risk it? I mean, what if it doesn’t work?”

“There’s a risk with any relationship, but we have one thing going for us that most new relationships don’t have.”

“Yeah?  What’s that?”

“We’ve already been through a lot together, I know who you are, and I like you a lot.  Otherwise I wouldn’t have picked you.”

“So then, we switch from being just friends to, what, lovers?  Just like that?”

“Yes, just like that.” He takes me in his arms and the question becomes moot.  My oh my, thank you Janie…..