12 TIT FOR TAT ** 1990 SANDY THOMAS

Yes, I was threatened. They played tennis, a few even played polo. Most were tall, smart, virile men. This caused many a fight between Tana and I. I'd catch her smiling at some fellow and get jealous.

Jealous of what you'd say? Jealous of what they had. . .not money but breeding. I had the best car money could buy, but Hank (one of Tana's admirers) had a red aluminum-bodied blown Bentley roadster that he drove to play tennis on Sundays. Tana and every person who saw it swooned. It was class ---something money couldn't just buy. Tana seemed happiest when she and Donna spent their time shopping for clothes. She was still buying those flirtatious sexy dresses. The harder I tried to stop her, the shorter the skirts got. I spent more and more time at the club bar.

1113

I was jaded. Other than Victor, I didn't really have any friends. One night we were all drunk and Victor was bragging about his new, top of the line Mercedes. A lawyer overheard his boasts and yelled, "Vic, if my father had left me a million dollars, I'd have a Mercedes too."

The room got silent, Victor sat there for a minute, then in a calm voice bragged, "My father left me ten million. . .I plan to turn it into one million."

I liked Victor, he was my kind of guy. No pretense. I was out of place eating crepes, quiches, pates, and goat cheese. I was rich and still couldn't stomach sushi, brie cheese and couldn't taste the difference between Gallo and Chateau Talbot 1949.

At times I caught my self daydreaming about being back at school with Tana. Those delightful days of splitting a coke, or sharing a salad for lunch. Those days when we were just friends, best friends.

GREAT IDEA?

One day in late September, Victor and I were out shopping with the girls. The exclusive women's clothing stores take good care of the men while the women are busy trying on clothes. THE PLUSH HORSE caters to a high brow clientele and was by appointment only. They had a pool table and bar for the men.

Tana and Donna came out wearing the most luxurious mink coats. The rather uppity sales lady started her pitch, "They are made from the finest pelts from. . ."

TV FICTION CLASSICS -13

Victor and I looked up from our pool game and in unison proclaimed, "We'll take them." To that, the clerk ran to find more goodies to sell us.

Tana came over and gave me a big kiss and said, "Donna and I have been discussing an idea for that 'Debutante' party at the club. You know what we think about these 'Deb' parties, how they are such a relic of the past. Well, what say, you and Victor attend as 'debs'? We'll dress you up in fancy dresses, jewels and diamonds, you know, like something out of Dynasty."

"It would be a blast," Donna said, "I bet no one would even know who you are. Tana and I hated those 'coming out' parties when we were in college and this would be a great way to 'make a statement' about their worth.”

The 'Debutante' party was a formal party that was for the club member's wives to dress up and relive their youth. Like young ladies of eighteen, these older women dressed to the 'hilt' and created a most elaborate private ball. The younger wives in the club hated it and this was Tana and Donna's idea to sabotage it.

Donna said, "It's time this outdated social custom was exposed. I bet no one would even know who you are. You could go as our out of town sisters."

I tried to think of some quick comeback, but to my surprise, even Victor thought it was a good idea.

He said, "Jerry, you have to be outrageous to get respect around the club. Besides, what's the worst thing they could do...throw us out??? Big loss."

I tried to think of some other way out but couldn't. Even Victor thought it was a good idea. I didn't want to do it but Victor said, "It's about time we had some fun with those stuffy bastards."

He was right. I'd heard many stories about the rich old duffer that had the lake drained the night before a big tournament. He made several big bets that he'd not be in the 'water' and won them all. The club respected originality. "Leave it all to us," the girls harmonized. The party was several months away; by then I would think of a good reason not to participate or the girls would have grown tired of the idea.

"In fact," Donna boasted to Tana, "I bet I can make a prettier girl out of Victor than you can of Jerry.”

"Oh yeah," Tana said, “How much? $10,000.00?” "Hey," I said, "That's a lot of money."