"Do you mean, Betts, that the only man who has ever fucked you is Johan?" Barbara Jean asked incredulously.

"Oh, yes, Babs," Betty Sue said. "I could never dream of… of being unfaithful. Of committing adultery. It's just too awful to contemplate."

Barbara Jean laughed and opened up another can of beer, pouring some of it into Betty's glass to cool hers off. "You're so naive, dear," she said. "This is 1978, you know. No one but no one thinks that way any more."

"I do," Betty said, taking a sip from her glass and letting the foam roll around in her mouth, tasting it before she swallowed.

"Christ, you need some loosening up, dear," Barbara Jean said. "And if I can help you out while I'm here, I'm going to do it. I can't stand the thought of you missing out on so very much, all because of some antiquated sexual hang-ups. Why, when we were still kids we even used to…"

Barbara Jean stopped and laughed, her own memories of their all-night balling causing her loins to heat up and a twitch snap at the mouth of her womb. "Hey, Betts, do you remember how you used to squeal when I'd suck on your…"

"Oh, Barbara," she said, quickly interrupting. "We were just children then, really. We didn't know what we were doing, that it… well, incestuous."

"Incest my ass." Barbara Jean said. "And we were well into our teens. Relieve me, Betts, I knew what I was doing, and you're five years older than me."

"I count time differently now, Babs," Betty said. "I think that'd make me just two years older than you."

They laughed together. For the first time since Barbara had arrived, just after noon, Betts saw her smile. Perhaps, she thought, there really is a chance for Betts after all. Now if I can just get her fucked. But how? That's the problem.

"Then that'd make you five years older than me, sis," Barbara Jean said, "because I started counting backward too."

"Oh, Babs," Betty Sue said, "it is good to laugh again. You made it happen, too. Thank you."