Since it was a warm afternoon, the meeting convened beside the pool. Everyone bared all to the sun.
“I´ve been talking with Jim and Harry,” Anne said. “They both think we need to catch the wave in Europe. We´ve had some inquiries, and Iris, you say you´ve had a call or two.”
“Yes, Italy, and Germany.”
“Why don´t you go and take a look? See what the market´s like, check out distribution, get a feel for acceptance.”
“Okay. I´ll have to make it quick – I hate that. And I don´t know any languages. That´ll make it tougher.”
Sigrid said, “My cousin Kristin speaks German, French and Italian. Maybe she can help.”
“What does she do? Is she a translator or something?” Iris asked.
“No, just another Swedish college girl. They learn languages like we eat ice cream. But she´s smart and dresses well. Knows the fashion scene, at least for young people.”
“Sigrid, why don´t you go, too?”
“Try and stop me, Anne. I´ll call Kristin right now, before it´s too late over there.” Sigrid hurried off to a phone.
Jim said, “Things are really going like gang-busters in California.”
“What does that mean?” Saul asked.
“It means that we´re selling VeeCees almost as fast as we can ship them. Women seem to be wearing them routinely at parties and on dates. I was in L.A. last week with Iris, and we saw women in virtuals on the streets just about everywhere.”
“Anne, it´s still unusual, you don´t see it that often. But we did see one receptionist in a virtual blouse, and at lunch-hour there were a few women who took off their jackets when they went out to lunch. They were wearing virtual blouses. Can´t speak for parties, but we did see plenty of women wearing virtuals in the evenings. Denise and I decided, ‘What the hell?´ and went virtual after hours most of the time. Guess I don´t need to say the weather was great.”
“Surely there must be some backlash,” Anne said. “America isn´t going to change its body taboos overnight.”
“No,” Jim said, “but I´ve noticed that, every time a preacher comes out against us, it helps sales just a little. Remember when the Mormons came out against it? We hadn´t been doing anything in Utah, now sales are only a little below average ... Tell you what I think´s happening.”
“Go on.”
“I think America´s making one of its funny moral compromises. You´re supposed to cover your body, or you´re in trouble. Suddenly VeeCees come along, and now you still have to cover your body, but it´s okay if all you cover it with is paint.”
“So, even if it´s virtual, you´re dressed,” Anne said
“Right. And you know, Americans don´t touch each other in public any more. Makes it safe, too.”
“Man. That´s weird.”
Iris said, “Listen, all of you, it gets weirder. Remember when I talked about using Breastworks with VeeCees to cover the nipples?”
“And?”
“Now, I get a lot of reaction that Breastworks on VeeCees are not cool. That´s because the Breastworks call attention to the fact that you´re really bare. Virtual clothes may be virtual, Anne, but they are clothes and don´t you dare do anything that says they´re not. As long as you maintain the illusion, you can get away with it.”
“Oh, well. I guess we get to take that to the bank,” Saul said. “Will that hurt the Breastworks line?”
“Not really, Saul,” Iris said, “there are a lot of women who used virtual blouses to push the envelope. Now, they´re wearing nothing but Breastworks. It´s the new frontier.”
Anne got up and went across the deck. She stood looking toward the house, where Sigrid was returning to the meeting.
“Did you get Kristin?”
“Yeah. She´s game. I told her we´d let her know when we´re coming, where we´re going.”
Anne sat down again when Sigrid had settled. “Uh ... I´ve got news. I´m pregnant.”
“Hooray, Anne,” Sigrid whooped, and dragged Anne out of her chair to hug her.
“We figured something was going on,” Tom said. “Is it appropriate to ask who caught you?”
“Sure, but I´ve got no idea. Just that it´s either Saul´s or Will´s. That´s the way I wanted it.”
“Congratulations to all three of you,” Jim said, “I´ll tell Denise when I call later.”
“Um, just one thing. You know we haven´t been hanging around the Big Bed much lately, only just when I couldn´t get pregnant by anyone.”
“So?” Heather asked.
“Well, uh ... would you guys mind if I take Quickies next week?”
Mary laughed, “All right with me, I´m not here most of the time. But I don´t want to give up my Friday slot.”
Heather and Sigrid looked at each other, laughing too. Sigrid spoke. “I guess we can manage. It´s only a few days.”
“I´m going to have to try this.” Iris said, “It´s obvious I´m missing something.”