of the good that each of us has. We have traded some of the good we have with each other, and the result has been the affection we feel. Now, if we traded the very best that we have inside, don't you think the degree of love would increase, too?'
Four faces got thoughtful for a few moments before the sun of understanding, of knowing, illuminated them. Bingo.
I went on, saying, 'What is valuable to each person, and how valuable it is, is something that only they can decide. And each person must decide for themselves whether or not they are getting enough value in return for what they offer of themselves. Love isn't just an emotional state; it's the instant total of a lot of the intellectual values that you have, too. These can include respect, honor, trustworthiness, integrity, intelligence, caring, and a lot more, in varying degrees. Now, when you see how other people react to each other, you can understand what values they are exchanging, and know how much love there is between them by how much they value what they offer and receive. And most important, you can
With this new understanding, the four of them looked at Jan and Kelly.
It was Kelly who spoke first, telling them 'NOW you know, at least a little bit, how Jan and I can share Dan so easily, and with so little difficulty – not just with each other, but with you, as well. The three of us can share so easily because of the tremendous trust we have for each other, and the integrity and caring that each of us possesses. I trust Dan with Jan because I know that both of them will give ME the trust that I give them, and I care about both of them because I know that both of them care about ME, to the same degree.'
Jan added 'We know that we can trust Dan with you because of HIS integrity and honor, as well – we KNOW that his judgment is good because he values US for OUR judgment. So if it happens that any or all of you happen to gain the affection of one of us, you will have the other's affection, too, for the same reasons. If that affection is physical, too, then all the better – but it isn't a necessity with us. I'm not upset or jealous when Dan is with Kelly, and Kelly isn't jealous or upset when I'm with Dan – and Dan isn't upset or jealous when Kelly and I are together.'
It took a few seconds before that last part sank into their consciousness. When it did, all four of them couldn't help but stare, their gazes moving between Jan, Kelly, and me.
'You mean… You two have…really?', from Candice.
Jan and Kelly both smiled, and Jan told them 'Yes, us two, really.' I simply sat there with a 'So, what's the problem?' expression.
It was Sandra that spoke next, saying 'Eeeeewwwww! How could you?'
Kelly responded by saying 'Easy. When Dan did it, it felt good. After he's used his mouth on me, we've kissed, and I've tasted myself and it wasn't gross or disgusting or anything.'
Robyn spoke up, saying, 'Yeah, but you're both GIRLS, and Dan's a guy!'
Jan answered with a challenge, telling her 'Maybe so, but I'll be that if you were blindfolded and Dan kissed your body, then one of us kissed the same place, you couldn't tell the difference!'
'I'll bet I could, too!'
'Want to try it, then?', Jan asked, with a grin.
Robyn paused a bit, and then said, 'Okay, I will!'
Here, I spoke up, saying 'And if you're wrong, and can't tell the difference?'
That made her think it over before telling us 'If I'm wrong, and can't tell the difference, then either one of you can do what you want to with me, and I'll do the same thing to you. But if I CAN tell the difference, then you have to admit that what you did was wrong.'
Kelly and Jan looked at each other, and smiled, before Jan accepted the challenge: 'Deal.'
Kelly followed her by saying 'Do any of the rest of you want to take the Pepsi Challenge, too?'
The other three looked at each other for a bit, and by mutual accord, accepted. Looking at me, Susan asked, 'How do we do this?'
'Simple. The testee gets blindfolded. The other three are witnesses while any of Jan, Kelly, or I do the kissing.'
'Why all three of you?', Robyn asked.
'Easy – if it's me and one of them, you've got a 50-50 chance of being right, even if you guess. If it's any of the three of us, you have to KNOW, like you claim you can.'
It was a valid point, so they agreed to it. Since Robyn was the most vocal about it, she was the first to be blindfolded, after Jan went and got one of the large bandanas I wore when doing yard work.
Once Robyn's eyes were covered, and it was established that she couldn't see through the bandana, we were ready for the test. Jan, Kelly, and I had moved down to the floor so that the sound of us getting up wouldn't betray who we were.
The first kiss was from Kelly, who elected to kiss the upper slope of Robyn's left breast. A few seconds later, I did the same.
Without removing the blindfold, Jan asked Robyn to say which kiss had been by which sex.
Robyn turned her head from side to side as she thought about it for several moments. Then her head stopped moving, but she still didn't answer the question. Another minute went by, and it was Susan who repeated it, asking 'Boy or girl, Robyn? First or second?'
After another couple of minutes, Robyn finally spoke, admitting, 'I can't tell for sure. I think it was Dan that kissed me first, but I don't know who kissed me second.'
With that, she removed the blindfold, and with a little uncertainty on her face, asked what had really happened. Candice broke the news to her that it had been Kelly first, then me.
Next up was Susan. Blindfolded, we gave her several seconds to get used to having it on before Jan kissed her on the cheek, and a few seconds later, Kelly.
Susan, too, turned her head for several seconds, but finally admitted she had no idea.
Once the blindfold was removed, Robyn told her what had happened.
Then Candice volunteered, and was duly blindfolded. Again, she was given time to get used to it before the test began. This time, I went first, kissing her softly on the throat, and a few seconds later, doing it again.
No head movement from her, but it was nearly a minute before she told us 'I think it was the same person both times; but boy or girl I couldn't say.'
Off with the blindfold, and Sandra told her that it had been me both times – earning me a rather significant look from Candice.
Finally, Sandra had her eyes covered, and got the time to adjust to the blindfold. This time, I went first again, kissing her on the point of her shoulder. A few seconds later, Jan did the same. Sandra moved her head from side to side for a bit, and finally ventured a guess: 'Uh, girl first, boy second?'
Her eyes were uncovered, and Kelly told her that it had been me, then Jan.
In light of the results, all four of them sat there for a couple of minutes, thinking about what had just happened, and what it meant.
Finally, Robyn spoke up, saying, 'Well, a bet is a bet, and I lost. I learned something, but I still lost. Who wants to start where?', with a wry grin and determined look on her face.
I quickly spoke up, telling her 'Robyn, it's not a contest where anybody loses anything. You just learned something, and that was the whole point of it. I don't think anybody here is going to make you do anything you're not comfortable with.'
She smiled at what I'd said, and replied 'Yeah, I did learn. And I appreciate the not-forcing thing; but I really want to find out if it means as much as I thought it did.'
I smiled back at her, and told her 'Okay, then. Close your eyes, and keep them closed until I tell you you can open them.'
She did, and I leaned in to give her a kiss on the lips – and with only a little prompting, one that expanded into a mutual tongue-massage.
When the kiss broke, I sat back, and said, 'Now keep your eyes closed while you think about whether or not you liked that.'
She did, and a minute later, Kelly leaned forward, collecting her own kiss. Hers lasted a little longer than mine had, but both of them broke apart readily enough.
When Kelly had sat back, I told Robyn 'That was the second kiss. Think about whether it was better, worse, or
