At around 11:00am, one Sunday morning, Paul heard a knock on his door. Opening it, he saw Holly. There was a very upset look on her pretty face; she was concerned about something.

"Hi, Fred. Can I come in?"

"Of course, Holly! Would you like some coffee?"

"Actually, I'd like something a little stronger than that, if you don't mind."

"At this time in the morning?"

"Yes, Fred! Please?"

"Well, ok. Come on in."

"Thanks."

She entered. He fixed a whiskey for her and some coffee for him. They went into the living room and sat on the couch. She drank her drink rather quickly.

"There's a special favor I need to ask you. If you refuse, I'll understand."

"Of course, Holly! I'll grant anything you ask me, you know that."

"Well, maybe not this-oh, Paul!"

"Paul?"

She began crying.

"Ok, calm down, Holly! Perhaps I can massage your feet? I know that relaxes you."

"Yes, that will be nice!"

She took her shoes off and put her feet in his lap, and he began massaging them. This did relax her. "Thanks, Paul."

"Ok, what's your favor."

"I need money!"

This shocked him. "You do?"

"Yes, Paul!"

"What about your usual sources?"

"They've run dry. That man who gives me $50 to go to the powder room hasn't been around here in a few weeks. And the guys I usually rely on also haven't been around lately. Oh, Paul!"

She began crying. He got up and walked over to her. They cuddled, and he kissed her.

"I'll do anything for you, if you do this for me-anything!"

"Holly, don't say that, please!"

This made her sad. "You mean you're refusing?"

"I didn't mean that. What I mean is you don't have to force yourself on me like that! I care for you too much for you to do that."

This made her feel better. "Thank you, Paul!"

"Now, how much do you need?"

"I'd say...$100 should be enough. I should be able to get some more money sometime next week."

He got up and walked over to a table. He used this to write his fiction, and it also served as his makeshift office. From a drawer he pulled out his checkbook. She got up and walked over to him-still barefooted.

He wrote a check and wrote the information in his account book. Then he gave it to her. She looked at it in shock.

"I thought I'd give you a little extra."

"Oh, Paul!"

They hugged and kissed.

"Now, why don't we go out to lunch together, Holly? Then tomorrow we can go to the bank to cash this check."

"Yes, Paul! But let's relax a bit, first."

"Ok."

They went back to the couch. She put her feet back in his lap, and he continued to massage them.

While doing this, she undid the top buttons of her dress. Then she also took off her bra.

"Holly, I told you, you don't have to do that!"

"I want to, Paul! As a matter of fact, I would have done it even if you didn't give me the money!"

He smiled. "Oh, Holly!"