Jerry looked out the window as the girl bounced down the stairs.
She was dressed in a jogging suit, which clung to her every curve,
and her long brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail.  On the
end of a long leash, a large dog strained, knowing it was time to
get his daily exercise.  "Man, she's hot," he said to his roommate
Mike.  "I'd sure like to get to know her better."

Mike stepped from the refrigerator to the window, still holding the
carton of milk, and glanced out.  "You said it," he agreed quickly.
He stepped back to the fridge and replaced the carton.  "So why
don't you go talk to her?" he egged on his roomie.

Jerry glared at Mike, then stared longingly back out the window.
"I was just giving you a chance first," he said hastily.  "You know
once she meets me, you won't have a prayer."

Mike snorted, nearly spilling his glass of milk.  "Yeah, right!" he
spat.  "Like she'd ever pick you over me!"

Jerry leaned back in his chair, a smug look on his face.  "Okay,
then, hotshot," he retorted angrily.  "I give you my permission to
steal her from me."

Mike glared at Jerry.  Now he was on the spot.  "Okay," he finally
answered.  "I will."  He set his milk on the counter and stepped
boldly toward the door.

Within minutes, he was back inside, looking for all the world like a
whipped puppy.  "I see you got shot down," Jerry said mockingly.

"At least I know her name is Samantha," Mike answered
defensively.  "I got farther than you ever have."

**********

Jerry popped open another beer and sat back to watch the TV.
He and Mike and another friend, Tom, were camped out watching
the Daytona 500 race.  Jerry turned from the tube.  "You should
have seen Mike this morning," he said to Tom.  He ignored Mike's
angry glare.  "He tried to hit on Samantha, and he went down in
flames!"  He laughed gleefully, ignoring his friend's
embarrassment.

Tom stared through narrowed eyes at Mike, then he shook his
head as he laughed.  "No, I don't suppose you'd have made any
progress with Sam," he chuckled.  "You're just not her type."

Mike frowned.  "What do you mean, not her type?" he demanded.
"You mean, we're not California dudes or something like that?"
The two had only recently moved from the Midwest, and their
mannerisms and accents - or more precisely, lack of any
distinguishable accent - branded them as outsiders almost
instantly.

Tom chucked again.  "Calm down, man," he said.  "You guys don't
understand the way things work around here, do you?"

Jerry leaned forward.  "I'm not following you."

Tom shook his head.  "Look, it's not that you guys are from the
Midwest.  It's that, well, you're guys."

Jerry started to say something, then he stopped.  One could
almost see the gears in his mind turning.  "You mean, she's
a...lesbian?"  He sounded incredulous at the thought.

Tom smiled and nodded.  "Now you see why you'll never get
anywhere with her."  He sat back and took a swig of his beer.
"You guys need to learn the signs."

"Signs?"

Tom nodded.  "Look, she's a girl, right?  And she's out walking a
dog, right?"  The roommates nodded, puzzled.  "And it's not just a
dog, but a big hulking dog, right?"  Another pair of nods.
"Whenever you see a girl walking a huge dog, especially if it's like
a Doberman or Rottweiler, chances are very, very good that she's
announcing that she's a lesbian.  Kind of a sign to keep guys
away."  He laughed.  "And if the dog has balls, it's almost a sure
thing.  Girl, big male dog, no action for straight guys."  He took
another sip of beer.

Jerry glanced at Mike, and then he shook his head.  "This sure
isn't Kansas," he muttered.  "I'd still like to get in her pants.  She's
so  hot."

Tom glanced sideways at Jerry.  "Even if she's a lesbian?"

Mike glanced at Jerry and nodded.  "It'd almost be worth it to be a
chick for a day or two to get a chance to get in her pants."  He
laughed.  "Like that'd ever happen!"

Tom wasn't laughing, and it took a few seconds for Mike and Jerry
to see the look on his face.  "What?" Jerry finally asked.

"Are you serious about that?" Tom asked, his voice deadpan.

Mike felt a shiver; Tom wasn't joking.  At least, he didn't think Tom
was joking.  "Sure.  But that's impossible!"

A wry grin spread over Tom's face.  "Maybe not."  He watched
disbelief spread slowly over Mike and Jerry's faces.  "I picked up
this strange box at the junkyard a couple of days ago.  Figured it
would be good for a sculpture I'm working on.  Anyway, it's not
just a simple box.  It's like, some kind of alien technology, and it
can change people."

Mike's eyes narrowed, then he glanced at Jerry.  He started
laughing.  "Sure.  Good one, Tom."  He shook his head.  "Alien
technology.  Changing bodies.  Sheesh!  We didn't fall off the
turnip truck yesterday!"

Tom shrugged.  "Don't believe me if you want.  But I can prove it."

"Okay," Jerry snapped.  "Prove it, then."

**********

The trio stood in Tom's apartment beside a tall box.  It was
silvery-gray, and had no apparent seams, like it was made from
one solid piece of metal.  On one side were what appeared to be
the controls - a black panel, a reddish crystalline pad - roughly
hand-shaped but with only three digits, and a purple crystal.  Jerry
and Mike circled the box slowly.

"Okay, so it's some strange box," Jerry finally said sarcastically.
"So what?"

Tom smiled.  "This is what."  He touched the reddish plate, and
almost instantly, the display lit up.  Within seconds, he had
Samantha's form displayed, perfectly copied down to the last
detail - except that the form was nude.  "See?"

Jerry snorted.  "So it's got some fancy computer that lets you
display a girl's body.  You've got to do better than that."

Tom laughed.  "Skeptical, aren't we.  Okay."  He touched the
purple crystal, and as if by magic, an opening appeared in the
side.  There was no motion, no sliding panel, no folding door.  The
opening just appeared.  Tom smiled as he stepped inside.  "Back
in a flash," he grinned.

From his angle, Jerry could see what looked like another purple
crystal inside.  Tom touched it, and the door vanished.  A few
seconds later, the door reappeared.  Jerry was starting to think
this was a good trick, when Tom stepped out.

Jerry's jaw hit the floor.  It wasn't Tom.  It was Samantha.  In
every detail, it was the girl he and Mike had lusted after.  He felt
himself starting to get aroused; she was naked.

She smiled, holding her hands out and twirling to display her
magnificent nude form.  "So, do you guys still think I'm joking?"

"Tom?" Mike stammered incredulously.  He wasn't sure he
wanted to believe that this beauty had just been Tom.

The girl grinned.  "In the flesh."  She dropped her arms, then
shivered.  She glanced down and noted that her nipples were
getting hard.  "It's kind of cold in here," she complained.  "If you
don't mind, I'll change back."  She stepped to the panel, and in a
few moments, had Tom's form back on the display.  She stepped
back inside, only to have Tom emerge a few seconds later.  "So
do you guys believe it now?"

Jerry's head spun.  This was incredible.  This box had just
changed Tom into Samantha, and then back.

Mike wasn't completely convinced.  "Cute trick.  And that gag
about Samantha being a lesbian to help convince us."  He shook
his head.  "I'm not buying it."

"But we saw him change," Jerry protested.  He was convinced,
even if his roommate wasn't.

Mike shook his head slowly.  "Just a good magician's trick."

Tom shook his head.  "Okay, mister skeptic.  How about if you
give it a try?"

Mike stepped to the plate.  It took a few seconds to get control of
the display, but in moments, he had Samantha's body displayed
again.  Then he gave Tom a glance and concentrated.  He made
Sam's tits bigger - much bigger.  G or H cups if one were paying
attention to that sort of detail.  He narrowed her waist, made her
hair longer and changed it from blonde to auburn, then made her
hips a little wider and her ass rounder.  He stepped back.  "That
should prove it," he said.  "Let's see you produce that from this
box."

Tom grinned and shook his head.  "Nope.  You're the skeptic, so
you go ahead and prove it to yourself."  He gestured to the purple
knob.

Mike frowned, then he touched the knob.  Again, the opening
appeared.  He glanced at Tom, seeing his mocking grin, and
stepped with determination into the box.  "So what - I just touch
the knob thing in here?"  He saw Tom's nod, so he touched the
knob.

When the door opened, Mike emerged - as a perfect match for
the girl on the display.  His eyes were wide with amazement, and
his dainty little hands were cupping his massive boobs.  "Holy
shit!" he exclaimed, and his eyes widened even further at the soft
sound of his voice.  "This thing really works!"  He let one hand
slide down, across his flat tummy, to the tuft of hair in his crotch.
His jaw hung open as his fingers made a quick confirmation that
he indeed had a woman's sex between his legs.  "This thing really
works!" he exclaimed once more.

Jerry was staring at the newly formed girl.  His eyes displayed
both astonishment and pure lust at the sexy naked form before
his eyes.  The fact that the girl had been, until moments before,
his male roommate was lost on him as he felt himself growing
horny.

Mike glanced at Jerry and saw how Jerry was staring at him.
"Whoa," he said harshly.  "It's still me in here," he warned.  He
tried to cover himself, suddenly feeling naked and ashamed.

Tom stepped between Jerry and Mike.  "Change back, Mike," he
said quickly.  "While we can still control Jerry's hormones."  In
mere moments, Mike was restored to his original form.

Tom laughed at the two men.  "Okay, so who wants to change to
get in Sam's pants?" he asked with all sincerity.

Mike glanced at Jerry, then both answered.  "Me."

Tom laughed again.  "Mike had his shot this morning, so I
suppose it's Jerry's turn to try."  A few moments of argument
ensued; both men wanted a shot at Sam.  But Tom's logic held
the day; Jerry would get the first chance.

Tom stepped to the control.  In a few moments, he'd sculpted a
very attractive brunette on the display.  "That's the type she goes
for," he said to answer the unspoken question.  And then he
continued, "We're friends, so I know what she likes.  And doesn't."

Jerry gulped, then he stepped inside.  In moments, he emerged,
transformed.  "Wow!" he said in a new husky and sultry voice as
his hands explored his new body.  Tall, about five foot eight, he
was athletic and trim.  His brunette hair was styled short and
sassy, perfectly framing his ultra-feminine face with his new
sensuous full lips.  His eyes were no longer hazel; the machine
had given him soft brown eyes.  Below his neck, his chest was
now adorned with perfect and perky breasts, B or small C cup,
capped with big dark nipples.  His waist was trim but not waspish,
and his rear was rounder and fuller without a trace of fat.

Jerry finally looked up at Tom.  "There's a problem here," he said
softly.  "I can't go out like this."

Tom laughed.  "Got that one covered, too."  He took Jerry's hand
and led him toward his bedroom.  Jerry was confused, but
followed obediently.  His mouth dropped in shock as Tom opened
one closet to reveal an entire wardrobe of woman's clothes.  He
turned in shock to Tom.

Tom merely smiled.  "You guys have a lot to learn about the big
city, don't you."  He glanced at the wardrobe.  "Yes, I'm a cross-
dresser.  In fact, I'm gay."  He watched as the words sank in.
"That's right.  And you farm boys never suspected, did you?"  He
turned back and began to take clothes from the closet.  "Now let's
get you dressed, okay?"

Jerry emerged from Tom's room stunningly attired.  It might have
been a bit much for mid-afternoon, but it was going to make an
impression on Sam, of that Tom was convinced.  Mike stood,
totally in awe and confusion.  Jerry was wearing makeup, too, and
was an absolute knockout.  "Well," Jerry said nervously, "wish me
luck."  He turned and walked unsteadily out the door.

With growing amusement, Tom watched poor Mike and his utter
bewilderment.  Somehow, Tom had women's clothes in his
apartment.  And he was good friends with Samantha.  Tom raised
his eyebrows.  "Why don't you touch that plate and design your
dream girl," he finally said, tugging Mike's arm and guiding him to
the machine.  He watched as Mike, still confused, allowed his
mental image of a perfect girl to shape the image on the display.

"Healthy, isn't she," Tom observed with a grin when Mike was
done.  Then he smiled at Mike.  "Wait right here."  He touched the
knob and stepped into the box.  In moments, Mike's dream girl
stepped out.  Tom was cradling his huge knockers.  "How's this?"
he asked seductively in his new alto voice.  He glanced at Mike's
pants and saw the rising bulge.  "Oh, I see you like this body."
Tom grasped one of Mike's hands and placed it on his boob, then
drew closer and began to nibble on Mike's ear.  "How about we
put that," Tom patted the bulge, "to good use?"

**********

Jerry slammed the door shut, muttering under his soft breath.
"Tom?  Mike?"  There was no answer, so he stepped gingerly into
the living room, to the box.  Nothing.  Then he heard a soft moan
coming from Tom's bedroom.  He followed the noise, and his jaw
dropped as he spied the two.  "What the...."

Mike turned his head, glancing toward the door.  He was on his
back, sprawled on Tom's bed, with a very busty and gorgeous
woman finishing up giving him a blowjob.  A very contented grin
was pasted on his face.

Tom finished cleaning Mike, then turned to Jerry with a smile.  "So
how was she?"

Jerry's face clouded.  "I don't know," he snarled, clearly unhappy.
"I think she was interested, but her damned dog wouldn't let me
get close."

Tom frowned, cute in his feminine body.  "Shit, I forgot about
King."

Jerry looked like he was about to cry.  "So I change, and get
nowhere, while you two are busy screwing like bunnies?  It's not
fair!"

Tom carefully stood, his huge knockers bouncing all over.  "Okay,
I think I've got an idea to fix that one."  He grasped Mike's hand
and tugged his contented lover off the bed.  The trio, two of them
naked and smiling from their sex, walked back to the box.  Tom
pressed his hand to the plate.  Within moments, the form of a
large dog appeared, a perfect match to Samantha's hound.

Mike snapped out of his reverie as Tom nudged him toward the
door.  "What?  You want me to change into a dog?" he asked, his
voice slowly gaining strength.

Tom nudged his nude female body against Mike, his big boobs
rubbing on Mike as he reached up and nibbled on Mike's ear.
"Please," Tom pleaded softly.  "For me?  I'll make it worth your
while when you turn back."

Mike gave in to the ministrations of the girl.  He grinned and
stepped into the box.  The door vanished, then reappeared in
moments.  A large dog emerged, and it looked up at Tom and
whined.

Tom scratched the dog's ears.  "Good girl," he purred.  "That's
perfect."

**********

Jerry, leading a large dog on a leash, nervously pressed the
doorbell.  Inside, a dog barked loudly.  The door opened, and
Sam's face peeked out through a crack.  "Oh, Jeri, you came
back," Sam said as she recognized the girl.  "I was afraid that
King scared you off."

The door closed again, then after the safety chain was unhooked,
Sam opened it wide.  She was wearing her sports bra and short
shorts, remnants of her morning exercise, with her hair still in a
ponytail.  "Please come in," she said invitingly.

Jerry glanced inside, and saw King straining, his collar held in
Sam's hand.  "I couldn't stay away," Jerry said softly, still glancing
nervously at the dog.  "I was hoping that maybe, if I brought my
dog, King would have someone to play with so we could have
some time to get better acquainted."

Samantha looked surprised, then she smiled.  "Oh, that's so
thoughtful.  What's your dog's name?"

Jerry gulped.  "Uh, Lady.  Her name's Lady."  She reached down
to pat Lady's head, only to have the dog try to back away.

Then King smelled Lady, and began straining, tugging.  King was
snarling at Lady, who backed away, trying to keep Jerry between
it and King.

And then King sensed something.  He quit snarling, and began to
sniff actively at Lady, working his way down Lady's flank, trying to
sniff at the her rear.  Lady, for her part, looked nervous and was
trying to get away.  And then she got tangled in her leash,
wrapped around Jerry's legs, leaving Lady stuck, wedged
between Jerry and the door.  King got his chance.  He leaped on
Lady's back and began to hump furiously.

Jerry glanced up at Sam nervously, and saw that Sam was
giggling.  "I think that'll keep King occupied for a while."  Then
Sam licked her lips.  "And King is kind of giving me ideas."

**********

Jerry lay in Sam's bed, feeling absolutely wonderful.  She saw
Sam lying peacefully, her nude form glistening with their mingled
perspiration.  Sam's magnificent breasts heaved and jiggled with
her every breath.  Jerry sighed.  Sam had been fantastic, and
Jerry had gotten a first-class education in woman-to-woman sex.

He heard a small whimper, and he glanced to the end of the bed.
Lady had her head perched on the bed, and if dog's eyes could
express any emotion, Jerry guessed that Lady was one very
unhappy dog.  King was asleep; from the noise of the dogs, King
had humped Lady numerous times while Sam and Jerry had been
pleasuring each other.

Sam stirred, purring as she awakened.  "Mmmm," she mumbled
as she rolled over and grasped Jerry's boob.  Her lips pulled to
Jerry's and the two began a deep kiss.  "You're yummy," Sam
purred as she broke the kiss.

Jerry smiled, feeling himself getting warm inside again.  "So are
you," he agreed.  His hands started wandering over Sam's hot
body again; slowly, he kissed his way down her chest, dawdling
on her fabulous breasts, then slowly continuing down toward her
crotch.  Sam started to moan with pleasure yet again, but the dog
snarled at Jerry.

Jerry glanced at the dog.  "Hush," he whispered insistently.
"You'll get your turn."

Sam heard, and she misunderstood.  She put her fingers to her
lips and whistled.  "King!  Here, boy!"  King bounded into the
room, panting happily.  Almost at once, he was beside Lady, then
he was sniffing her backside again.  Jerry could see his penis
extending from its sheath; Lady had a pleading, almost pained
expression in her eyes as King mounted her once more.

**********

Jerry sank into the chair with a heavy, very pleased sigh.  "Damn,
but she's good!" he exclaimed softly.

Tom, restored to his male body, smiled.  "You liked sex with her?"
he asked with a wink.

Jerry grinned.  "She was fantastic!  That might have been the best
sex I've ever had."

Lady growled at Jerry, her teeth bared.

Tom laughed.  "Let's get you back to normal, girl," he said in a
soothing voice.  He grasped Lady's collar and led her to the
booth.  "Hmm, let's try something."  He lifted Lady's paw to the
plate.  The display began to change, until it was Mike's old body.
The alien machine could read Mike's thoughts, even though he
was in the body of a dog.   "Well, what do you know?" Tom
exclaimed.  "Okay, girl," he said enthusiastically.  "In you go."  He
touched the crystal and let the dog into the box.  Inside, Lady
lifted a paw and touched the second purple crystal.  The door
vanished, only to reappear.  Mike emerged, looking none the
worse for wear.
 
Except, that is, for the murderous expression on his face.  "I
oughta kill you," he snarled at Tom and Jerry.  "That wasn't very
funny!"

Tom laughed.  "Look, you needed to keep her dog occupied,
right?  What better way than a bitch in heat?"

Mike turned on him, his face reddened by his humiliation and
anger.  "You bastards tricked me!  It wasn't funny!  Let's see how
you guys like having a dog fuck you!"  He moved threateningly
toward Jerry.

Jerry backed away quickly.  "It was Tom's idea," he protested
weakly.

Mike spun back to Tom, only to see that Tom had vanished.  He
glanced around, angry but confused, only to see the door open
and his dream babe emerge from the alien box.  His expression
softened as Tom began to saunter toward him, his big boobs
jiggling seductively.

Mike saw something moving from the corner of his eye, and he
spun to Jerry.  "Not so fast!" he snapped.  Jerry was moving
toward the box, to the control plate.  Jerry froze, looking with a
nervous expression at Mike.  "You can both pay for what you did
to me," he snapped.  He grabbed Jerry's wrist, painfully, and
began to drag the protesting girl to Tom's bedroom.  Tom, held by
Mike's other hand, was coming along, but without protest.  "And
the first thing, I'm going to do you," Mike hissed to Jerry, "doggy
style!"

**********

The dog whimpered as her mistress led her down the hall.  The
girl stopped and glared at the dog.  "Shut up, Jerry.  I did it for
you, so now you're going to do it for me."  Mike was in body of
Sam's fantasy girl, while Jerry was now the dog.  Mike was
dressed in a nice evening dress; Sam had invited Jerry out on a
date, and now, Mike would get to take advantage of that.  He
straightened, then pressed the doorbell.

He saw Sam's shadow block the peephole, then the door opened.
Sam looked lovely in a clingy red dress, and before Mike could
react, Sam grasped her and gave her a deep, passionate kiss.
Mike found himself getting very warm in his crotch, and he
grinned to himself.  "Sorry it took so long to get ready," he said
lightly as he and Lady stepped into Sam's apartment.

Sam licked her lips seductively.  "You're worth the wait," she
purred.  She grasped her purse, then clutched Mike's arm.  "You
want to leave Lady here while we're out?"

Mike smiled.  "Why not?"  He tugged Lady into Sam's apartment,
then bent over the dog.  "You be a good girl now, you hear?  You
be nice to King."  Mike straightened, and for a moment, he
thought he saw a bit of fear in the dog's eyes.  He allowed Sam to
lead him out of the apartment.

**********

Mike woke with a start; the sensations flooding into his brain were
all wrong.  He almost bolted upright, but he felt a weight on his
arm.  Slowly, his brain began to digest the situation.  The weight
on his arm, with the silky hair, was Samantha.  The sheets, feeling
strangely wonderful, were the pink satin sheets of Sam's bed.  He
was in bed with Sam, and a quick glance confirmed the early
morning sun trying to peek through the lacy curtains.  Mike felt
something moving on his chest, tugging oddly; his hand moved up
and confirmed that it was indeed a breast.  Slowly, the events of
the previous day came back to Mike - the romantic dinner with
Sam, the dancing, the wine, Sam's hot body squirming against
him, their mutual caressing and kissing, the long night of making
love to each other.  Mike smiled at the memories of the pleasure
Sam had brought to his body; his entire body tingled at the merest
thought of the wonderful orgasms he'd had.  Sam was a wildcat in
bed, he decided, and she was very skilled at loving a woman.  He
sighed contentedly.

Sam slowly awoke, sensing somehow that Mike was awake.
"Morning, lover girl," Sam purred.  Her hand reached for Mike's
breast, and Mike felt his body arch at the marvelous sensations,
pressing his boob deeper into Sam's grasp.
 
Mike turned and kissed Sam deeply.  He let his body revel in
every delicious sensation as their tongues fenced, their lips
pressing insistently together, while Sam lovingly caressed Mike's
breasts.  Finally, Mike stopped.  "I need to catch my breath," he
teased.

Sam grinned.  "I just can't help myself around you," she purred.
"You make me so...hot!"  She lowered her head and licked Mike's
nipple.  "I can't control myself around you."

Without warning, Sam lurched upright.  "I know we just met and
all, but I really would like you to think about my offer.  Move in with
me."

Mike felt torn.  If he were a guy, he'd have taken Sam up on this
in an instant.  But as a girl?  True, Sam was a great lover.  But he
was a guy.  "I'll think about it," he said, trying to sound convincing.
"You make a pretty tempting offer."

Sam smiled.  "I know you said you're only visiting your cousin for
a few days, but I really want you to stay.  This is a nice city.  Jobs
are good, it's friendly."

Mike felt a tinge of guilt.  "Are you trying to tell me something?" he
asked cautiously.
 
Sam dropped her head.  A tear started to roll from her eye.  "It's
weird, and I don't know how to explain it."  She looked up at Mike.
"But it's like you're everything I've ever wanted.  Like my dream
girl.  I think I'm falling in love with you."  She looked down,
embarrassed, then tried to laugh.  "I know it sounds silly."

**********

Mike led his dog up the stairs.  The dog periodically snarled at
him, then walked silently.  Mike knew what poor Jerry was going
through - yesterday, it had been his turn to be the dog.  Now,
Jerry had suffered the humiliation that Mike had.  "That King is a
friendly pooch, isn't he, girl?" Mike joked.  The dog snarled, and
Mike laughed anew.  "I know how you feel, girl.  Remember, you
and Tom did it to me, too.  So you can't get mad at me."  They
took the last few steps, then Mike knocked on Tom's door.

Tom opened the door, and immediately, Mike sensed that
something was wrong.  Tom's face was ashen.  He ushered them
inside quickly, then shut the door.

"What's wrong?" Mike demanded immediately.

Tom glanced at Mike, then at Jerry, then back at Mike.  "It's
broken," he whispered hoarsely.

Mike's paled.  "Broken?  Are you sure?"

Tom nodded.  He led them to the box, and demonstrated by
pressing on the pad.  Again and again, he touched the control
plate.  The alien machine, however, made no response.  All that
appeared on the display were rows and rows of strange alien
symbols.  Even touching the purple knob did nothing.

Mike sank slowly into a chair, feeling like the wind had been
sucked out of himself.  "You mean...we're stuck?" he finally asked,
glancing at the dog.

Tom slowly nodded.  "I'm afraid so," he whispered.

The dog bounded at the control plate, pawing frantically at the red
crystalline panel.  It barked and snarled, but all to no effect.  The
machine wouldn't respond.

Tom patted the dog on the head.  "Oh, god!" he whimpered, "I'm
sorry Jerry.  I'm so sorry!"  Tears were flowing down his cheeks,
expressing his regrets for having gotten the two roommates into
this mess.  And of the two, Jerry's was the worse situation.

Tom sank into the couch.  "What are we going to do?" he asked
glumly.  "You guys are stuck, and you don't have anything.  No
ID, no jobs, nothing."  He started crying again.  "And it's all my
fault.  If I hadn't been playing with that damned thing..."

Mike sighed.  "It's not all your fault, Tom," he tried to sooth.  "We
were part of it, too."  He glanced at Jerry, lying on the floor and
looking thoroughly miserable.  "We can't go back to our
apartment.  Not now.  There are going to be lots of questions
about the two guys who disappeared.  And without any money or
ID, I can't get a job or anything."  He shook his head.  "I guess we
could go live with Sam," he finally realized.  "At least we'd have a
place to stay."

**********

The two women were jogging happily, their dogs running by their
sides.  Tom smiled.  "Hi, Sam, Jeri.  How's it going?"

Samantha smiled.  "Great," she answered enthusiastically.
"How's the puppy?"

Tom winced, but forced himself to smile.  He glanced at Lady, and
saw the angry look in her eyes.  "She's growing fast."

Mike, going by the name Jeri, had a pained expression as well,
but he kept Sam from seeing it.  "I'm glad we found homes for all
of them," he said sadly.  He reached down and unclasped the
leash, letting Lady run free.  The dog bounded across the park.
Sam let King follow.

Sam shrugged.  "I'm glad we got her spayed, though," she added.
"I don't want to go through that again."  She got a quizzical look
on her face.  "Funny thing, though.  Even though she's been fixed,
it seems like she's always in heat."  Sam didn't see Mike and Tom
both wince at that observation.  Evidently, the machine had
interpreted their desire to have the dog in heat as a permanent
state; even without reproductive organs, Lady perpetually gave off
the scent of a bitch in heat.  She glanced at the dogs.  "See what I
mean?"  Mike glanced, then started to go, but Sam stopped him.
"I'll get her," she offered.

Tom followed the gaze, and saw that a Great Dane was mounting
Lady.  "No luck yet," he reported softly.  "It still won't work."

Mike sighed.  "Well, I can't complain.  Sam's great, and I found a
decent job.  She even helped me set up some ID.  But I wish we
could do something for Jerry."  He glanced to where the dog was
screwing his ex-roommate.  "Still, sometimes I think he's starting
to like it."

FIN