Chapter 2
At the inn, Norma, Elsa, and Harriet were getting themselves ready for the disco party. They had changed into elegant dresses, and applied heavy makeup to their faces.
"All right, girls!" Norma called. "Are we sexy or what!?"
The girls stood side by side and assumed a sexy pose. "Oh yeah..."
"Are we ready?" Norma asked.
"Ready!" the girls replied.
"Let's party!"
They left the room, then went downstairs to the B1 level of the inn, where the dance was taking place.
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After it had gotten dark, Will sat in his living room reading a book with a single lamp lit beside him. When he heard a knock on the door, he stood up to answer it. The rest of the party stood outside with Arnold Alcott.
"What's wrong?" Will asked. "You all look distressed."
"I'm afraid so, Will," Arnold said. "My daughter has gone missing."
A look of concern spread across Will's face. "Come on in."
The group stepped inside and gathered around to discuss the situation.
"Arnold, what did you and Elsa last talk about?" Will asked.
"She was interested in an all-night party at the inn tonight, but I refused to let her go," Arnold explained.
"Yes, I told Harriet not to go myself. But Norma was really eager to go."
"I wonder if Elsa might have snuck out to that party?" Arnold tried to shake off the thought. "That would be odd, because she's never disobeyed me before."
"Norma was desperate to take someone with her," Will said. "You don't suppose she talked Elsa into it, did she?"
"Don't be silly!" Chloe jumped in. "Norma would never do something like that!"
A moment of silence passed as everyone thought better of it.
"Oh yes, she would!" they called in unison.
"She was trying to convince Harriet to go as well," Will added. "So that must mean..."
Without finishing his sentence, Will jumped up and ran upstairs to Harriet's bedroom. Upon flinging the door open, his fear came true. The room was dark, the window was open, and Harriet was gone. The curtains were gently blowing in the wind.
Will sighed and clenched his fist. "Harriet..."
He turned around and went down into the living room again. Senel instantly read the expression on his face.
"Harriet's gone, too?" he asked.
Will nodded. "Yes."
"So they all must have gone together," Chloe said.
"They're probably doin' a Girls' Night Out or somethin'," Moses added. "Come on, Will, just let 'em have their fun! I don't see any harm in goin' to a party."
"A party full of drunks isn't exactly my idea of fun," Will told him. "And the people are supposed to be 15 or older. The girls may be picked on by the older folks."
"No way," Senel said. "You'd have to be crazy to pick on Harriet."
"But I'm worried about Elsa," Chloe said. "I don't think she's as strong-willed as Harriet."
"Maybe we should go to the party to keep an eye on them," Shirley suggested.
Will shook his head. "I refuse to go to that party."
"Then I'll go."
"I'll go, too," Chloe said.
"All right!" Moses yelled. "Y'all can have your own Girls' Night Out!"
"It might be prudent to disguise yourselves," Jay finally said. "We don't want the girls to know that we're onto them, do we?"
"I suppose not," Will said. "If they knew we were watching, they'd be on their best behavior. I'm curious as to how they would act without our supervision."
"Since Norma, Elsa, and Harriet make three girls, we should find one more girl ourselves," Shirley said.
The party looked at Grune, the only remaining girl in the room.
"Oh my, a party sounds like fun," she gushed.
"Nah, you can't take Grune," Senel said. "Norma would recognize her in a heartbeat."
"Yes, that's true," Will agreed.
Moses grinned ear-to-ear. "Why don't we have Jay go in Grune's place?"
Jay snapped at him. "Of all your stupid ideas! I'm not even a girl!"
"C'mon, Jay!" Moses nudged. "Nobody will recognize you if you dress up like a girl!"
Jay stumbled a few steps backwards. "You expect me to dress up like a girl!?"
Shirley giggled. "That sounds like a good idea to me, too."
Jay turned to her and dropped his head. "Shirley, don't encourage him..."
Shirley gently took him by the wrist. "Let's go, Jay."
Jay sighed and let Shirley drag him upstairs. "Oh bother...why do I always get suckered into these things?"
Moses rubbed his hands together. "Heh heh heh..."
Will glared at him, then gave him a bonk on the head.
"Ow!" Moses cried out.
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Up in Harriet's room, Shirley was dressing Jay in a silky lavender dress. Currently, she was lacing a corset around his upper body, and pulling the strings tight. Additionally, his ponytail had been taken down, releasing his long fine black hair.
"Ugh...do women ever breathe in these dresses?" Jay asked.
"It takes some getting used to," Shirley replied. "Just take a few deep breaths when we're finished, and you'll be fine."
After she finished lacing up the corset, she fastened the top of the dress. "There. How do you feel?"
"There's a lot of pressure on my torso," Jay told her.
"It's all right. Just take deep breaths, like I said."
Jay inhaled deeply, which only made the corset feel tighter against his torso.
"Is that better?" Shirley asked.
"No..."
"Great. Now it's my turn to get dressed, so I need you to step out."
"What? You want me to go out there...wearing this?"
"Jay, remember, you're going to the party wearing that."
Jay dropped his head. "Oh bother..."
He stepped out of the room and headed downstairs, already hearing the inevitable laughter from the other guys, Moses in particular. However, they remained silent upon seeing Jay...but only for a moment.
"Jay...you look good," Senel said, trying to keep a straight face.
Jay pointed a finger at him. "Don't start with me, Senel."
"C'mon Jay, you don't have to be so nervous!" Moses called. "Why, you're the most beautiful girl in here!"
"Oh yes," Grune agreed. "Jay is a very pretty lady."
"Grune...please..." Jay whined.
Will and Arnold were just speechless. Jay sat on the sofa and buried his face in his hands.
A few moments passed while they waited for Shirley to finish. When Shirley emerged, she came downstairs, placing her hands on her hips.
"I'm ready!" she called.
Senel, Will, Moses, Jay, and Arnold turned to face her...then their eyes nearly bulged from their sockets. "Whoa..."
Shirley stood, now wearing snug blue jeans and a pink T-shirt that exposed some of her midriff. Her luxurious blonde hair had been collected and clipped to the back of her head. She looked like an entirely new person.
"Shirley?" Senel asked in disbelief.
"Yes, Senel, it's really me," Shirley said.
"Damn, she's really cookin' tonight," Moses remarked.
"You look...stunning," Will added, "like a new woman."
"Do you really think so?" Shirley asked.
"Sure," Senel said. "You're my own sister, and even I don't recognize you."
"Okay, Chloe, now it's your turn to get dressed," Shirley said.
"Uh..." Chloe snapped out of her shock as well. "Oh, right!"
She ran upstairs into Harriet's room as well.
Jay hung his head again. If they're going to dress me up as a girl, they could at least let me wear jeans...
A few more moments passed before Chloe emerged in her disguise. She wore a long blue dress with a matching veil.
"All right!" Moses called. "Lookin' good!"
"You look nice, Chloe," Senel said.
Chloe smiled behind the veil. "Thanks."
"All right, ladies, it's time to make your move!" Moses sat next to Jay and gently wrapped an arm around him. "Jay, that includes you."
Jay stood up. "I will not take this abuse!"
"All right, I'm sorry."
Jay went to the front door and opened it. Moses danced his way across the room and out the door, singing.
"I am a pretty girl, a little pretty girl..."
Jay calmly turned to face the group. "You should all know that he's a dead man. Oh Moses..." He left the house, closing the door behind him.
"We should get going, too," Shirley said.
"Remember, keep a close eye on them," Will instructed.
Shirley and Chloe nodded, then left the house as well.
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Moses received the title of Dead Man
A man becomes a man when he dies like a man.
Author's Note: Don't worry, Moses isn't really dead.
