"What're you gonna do," asked Annie, tall and blond and strikingly beautiful, "when everybody's insane?"

"Everybody's insane?" asked Disha skeptically. "Could you narrow it down a little?" She smiled, her perfect teeth white against her swarthy complexion.

"Well," said Annie, "the men in my life, all my relatives, the people I work with, my friends and everyone I ever meet."

"That's more like it," remarked Disha sardonically. "You wouldn't want to paint with too broad a brush..." Annie nodded in agreement. "Now, how does this insanity manifest itself?" asked Disha.

"It's a mania, an obsession," cried Annie. "Everyone is crazy for sex." Disha only stared at her. Annie continued, "All anyone ever talks about is sex. All the guys I know want to get laid and then brag about it. The girls are the same way. All they can talk about who's got the biggest wanger and who can bang all night. Like that's something to be proud of! Excessive endurance and physicality is sexually dysfunctional if you ask me."

"What's really bothering you, Annie?" asked Disha.

"Barry and I broke up," replied Annie. 

"What happened, babe?" asked Disha, leaning forward on the sofa. 

"I got dumped, again," admitted Annie. 

"Why?" asked Disha gently.

"Because he says I'm no good in bed," blurted Annie unhappily. When Disha didn't say anything, Annie went on, "He's so physical, you know? It's like, I don't know, he's one of those men who can go all night and he likes it rough. He really puts me through the wringer. He leaves bruises," she complained. "Some women would call it rape," she said tearfully.

"Annie, I'm so sorry."

"I've always felt this way," said Annie. "A lot of the girls I meet say the same thing."

Disha maintained her silence.

"You," said Annie, pointing an index finger at her roommate almost accusingly, "never talk about sex anymore. Why not?" she wanted to know.

"I'm in a committed relationship," said Disha. "I'm quite satisfied with Chaila and see no need to broadcast the details.

"Is this the mystery man you just met?' asked Annie.

"We've been seeing one another for three months," replied Disha. 

"But, don't your ever feel the temptation to stray, to sample other...you know."

Disha shook her head no. "I do not." 

"Why?" Annie arched her beautiful brows.

"I told you why: I'm satisfied. Chaila is everything to me; I'm completely satisfied."

"I've never met Chaila," said Annie. "Tell me about him," she invited.

"Chaila," said Disha simply, "is all I need."

Annie scowled impatiently. "Is he tall, short, medium sized?" asked her friend. "Gimme details."

"Very tall," replied Disha.

"Ooh," said Annie, who liked her men tall.

"How old?"

"25--like us."

"What's he do?" Annie asked next.

"Student; again, like us. Pre-med."

"Umm," purred Annie, who aspired to marry a doctor, when the time came to stop fooling around. Maybe Chaila had a friend, she thought.

"Is he fit? Athletic?" asked Annie.

Disha smiled. "Chaila is a specimen, Annie. But, don't get any ideas," she warned her friend teasingly.

"What's Chaila like in bed, Disha? What kind of lover is he?"

Disha regarded her long-time friend speculatively. Annie was really hurting and needed something to restore her confidence in others and in herself.

"Chaila is the best lover I ever had, Annie," Disha found herself saying. "Attentive, skilled, thoughtful and gentle." Why was she telling her gorgeous friend these things? Because she loved her, she decided. What Disha said next surprised even her. "Do you think that you might be interested in...a group situation?" This was unlike Disha and she immediately blushed.

Annie frowned. This was something she hadn't expected from her best friend. "I...I'm not sure how that would work out," she said a little uncertainly. "Aren't you afraid that you might lose him...to a better woman?" asked Annie in a playful voice.

Disha shook her head. "No," she replied. "We are rock solid." "You and I share everything, Annie, we always have." They had known one another since junior high school, through myriad boyfriends and failed relationships.

"Are you sure he would go for it?" asked Annie.

"Chaila will love you as much as I do, Annie."

Desperate for self-validation, Annie became convinced. "We'll make a night of it, girlfriend. I'll even cook dinner--before." 

"Let me speak to Chaila, and I'll let you know when, okay?"

­­_______

That Saturday night the apartment was redolent with the savory aroma of roasting beef and vegetables and the smell of freshly baked bread. On the stove, a pot of gravy softly simmered and Annie had prepared a magnificent green salad. Upon the dining room table, a taper was softly flickering. Annie had gone all out, thought Disha. Her roommate, beautiful though she was, had suffered repeated disappointment romantically and was a lonely woman. Disha hoped that her friend wouldn't be disappointed by how the evening turned out. She hoped also that she wasn't setting herself up for a fall. But, she trusted both her roommate and her lover implicitly.

Suddenly the doorbell chimed. Together the women answered the summons. Annie pushed her top back into place. When Disha opened the door, she introduced her best friend to her lover. After only a flicker of uncertainty, they both smiled warmly. This, thought Annie good-naturedly, is a bit of a departure for me.

During dinner, the ice was broken and the three discussed everything: politics, sports, college life, personal issues and silly things. Not forgotten was the fact that they would all be intimate that evening. Throughout the meal, Annie couldn't help but smile in anticipation.

"I hope you don't mind my saying so, Annie," said Chaila, "but you are a beautiful woman."

"No, I don't mind," murmured Annie. She blushed.

Disha's bedroom had a queen-sized bed, which proved large enough to comfortably accomodate everyone. They disrobed and stood naked in the light from the sputtering candles that Disha had lit. Disha eased onto the mattress, followed by Chaila and then, hesitantly at first, Annie. The quilt feel cool against their skin.

After a few tentative kisses, they relaxed and made love for what seemed at once like hours and but a fleeting moment. Annie was beside herself; she had never experienced such intimacy, such fulfillment and such pleasure. Chaila was, as she'd been told, a wonderful lover. Annie had never known that sex could be like this. Most striking to Annie was the gentleness which Chaila displayed. Annie could well understand the thrall which had overtaken her friend. Annie's thoughts wandered wistfully to what the future might hold in store for her in her friends' lives. Through the night they held tight to one another and slept deeply. Chaila, thought Annie, was unlike any lover she had ever had but despite her earlier hesitancy, she was glad she'd gone through with it.

The next morning, Chaila declined Annie's offer to prepare breakfast, saying studies awaited. They all dressed for the day. Annie was delighted when, after Chaila kissed Disha good-bye, Annie was rewarded with a passionate kiss as well. Disha seemed fine with it, which made Annie's heart soar. 

Things proceeded apace and Annie's relationship with both Disha and Chaila deepened until a month later, when Disha brought up an idea and Annie readily agreed that Chaila would move into the empty bedroom and share the apartment and the expenses with them. The next weekend, as they lugged Chaila's effects into the apartment, Chaila paused and again expressed appreciation for their generosity.

"The pleasure is ours," said Disha.

"That's right," agreed Annie. "We love you, Chaila."                                       

 "Thanks, girls, I love you too," said Chaila. He smiled and, leaning clear of his walker, gently embraced the women with his two prosthetic arms.