points by looking at Helen's undies rather than the ball, but it was worth it. She appeared to sense what I was doing, and seemed to encourage me in my interest.

The mixed doubles tournament was held in a nearby city. Helen had an aunt who lived there alone in an apartment, and we arranged to change clothes there before the tournament. I waited with the aunt while Helen went into the other room to change from her light blue skirt and blouse combination into her tennis clothes. We were in a hurry, and she came tripping out very soon.

"Better hurry it up", she said, "We're due at the courts in fifteen minutes." I grabbed my bag with my tennis slacks, and went in to change, closing the door behind me.

In her hurry, Helen had left her things scattered around her aunt's room. Her skirt and blouse lay sprawled across a chair, her shoes where they had been kicked off. I quickly undressed, and sat down on the bed to take off my shoes. Something warm and soft brushed against my bare body as I sat there. It was a lovely pink chemise, with laced edges and a ribbon around the waist. Intrigued, I picked up the dainty satin in my hands. It was as if I held the quintessence of Helen.

Why I did it I don't know. But as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if it were something I did every day in my life, I held the delicious pink underthing in front of me. Then I slipped first one foot, then the other foot into the satin chemise. Never had I felt such a deliciously cozy feeling. I put my arms through the shoulder straps, tied the ribbon around me, and luxur- iated in its soft, smooth warmth.

H

Suddenly Helen was knocking at the door. "If you don't hurry, we'll lose by forfeit. I was frantic lest she open the door. I ran over, and pushed against the door, which she had started to open.

"I'll be right there," I called.

I pulled on my slacks and sport shirt, put on my tennis shoes, grabbed my racquet, and ran with Helen out to the waiting taxi. Only when I settled back in the seat, with Helen next to me, did it dawn on me that I had forgotten to take off the pretty silk chemise. "Are you nervous?" she asked.

"Why, no.

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