"Yeah. And telling you about my panties, because you can't see them, unlike, you said, everyone else."

"It's a quiz!" she insisted, her smiling face peering up at me as she hung herself precariously off the front of my shopping trolley. "Are you up for it?"

"Ahh... Do I get to ask you who the hell you are first?"

"Nope. Yes or no." She had the kind of smile a man can't say no to, not just her mouth, but her eyes, her cheeks, her whole face. Short curly brown hair bounced with the trolley.

"I guess as I'm already giving you a free ride around the supermarket..."

"That's a yes, right?"

"Yes."

"Carly."

I was stuck already. All chances of witty banter gone. "Huh?"

"My name, silly."

"Oh. Oh, right. Carly. Nice to meet you."

"Yes?" her grin was infectious, and even survived having her butt impacted on a breakfast cereal display. Short skirt. Pleated. Denim. "And?"

"Sorry. Nathaniel. Nat."

"Oh, I prefer the full version."

"You do?"

"Yes. Listen, I'm running this quiz. You drive the bus."

"Drive... Okay."

"Good. Righto Nathaniel. If you were going to be stuck on a desert Island for... Oh, this is crap. Marriage status?"

"I'm not married."

"Of course you're not, Nathaniel. Last name?"

"Oh, Bane."

"Leicester. Bain with an 'ai'?"

"Leicester?"

"That's mine. It's..."

"Carly Leicester, right?"

"Yeah. 'ai'?"

"Ah. No. B A N E."

"Are you looking at my tits, Mr Bane?"

"Oh, no, I... It's just the way you are crouched over my trolley." I was. She had a striped tank top that suited her somehow, multiple random colours. The shirt was cut low at the front, and I could see her royal blue bra straps, a bit of the bra itself, and some tidy firm young cleavage.

"You don't like them?"

"No, no, they are wonderful."

"You were looking at them!"

"Listen, isn't this my trolley?"

"Sure it is. Thanks."

"Huh? Did you escape from somewhere, Carly?"

"Yeah, boredom."

"What did you say thanks for?"

"You said my tits look wonderful. Here, what about like this?"

"Hey, listen, someone might see you doing that, you know."

"I was hoping you would see. That was the idea. Anyway, they were still covered and all. Shoe size?"

"Oh.... Well... thanks for showing me, then. Umm... Twelve."

"Twelve? My God!"

"I've got..."

"Yeah, big feet. So, Mr Nat Bane, is it true, what they say?"

"What who say?"

"You know. About the correlation. Shoe size."

"Correlation with what?"

"Bend down."

"Huh? Carly, you're not making lots of sense."

"Ooh, hey, get some of that? No, the peanut ones. Yeah. Another one. You want one too?"

"No, thanks. Hey!"

"I'm just bending you over, silly. I want to whisper something to you. Oh, God, you think anyone can see my panties?"

"I can't, but I bet everyone else can."

"They're clean. Can you hear me?"

"Yes. Why are you whispering though?"

"The correlation is foot size to penis size. I didn't want to talk about your penis out loud."

"Oh, thanks. What?"

"Well? Oh, stand up. That's better. You wouldn't be any good as a spy, would you? I'll just say it, should I?"

"You already did, sort of."

"Well? The panties, by the way, don't match the bra, okay. They're white."

"You're asking me how big my penis is?"

"Yeah. And telling you about my panties, because you can't see them, unlike, you said, everyone else."

"I'm not telling you."

"It's little then?"

"Huh?"

"Well, if it was huge, surely you'd say so."

"I would?"

"Hell Nat, I would!"

"You're a girl."

"Yeah, but I can imagine."

"I'm sure you can. Listen, can you grab a carton of that milk?"

"Sure. This one? There you go. Music?"

"No thanks."

"No, what do you like?"

"Ummm..."

"Blues, Nathaniel?"

"Some, yep."

"Not country, right. Tell me not country, Nat."

"No, Carly. Not country."

"What else?"

"Rock music. I like some classical."

"What about sex?"

"What are you asking now, Carly?"

"Oh, no, not that. I mean, what kind of music do you like with sex?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"The partner."

"So it's not been just the right hand then, eh, Mr Bane?"

"It's... No. No, it hasn't. Listen, do I get to quiz you?"

"So can you hazard a number? Yeah, if you pass."

"A number, Carly? Of sexual partners?"

"Is it a hearing thing, or you have a problem?"

"I've never been questioned about my sexual performance in a supermarket before. It's a little unnerving."

"But more than one, right?"

"Uh. Yes, more than one. Satisfied?"

"How would I know if they were satisfied. Were they?"

"Listen, I'm going to go through this checkout, are you staying there?"

"Yeah, you passed. Aside from the last question."

"Oh. What do I win?"

"Win? Oh, me."

"I win you?"

"If you want."

"I get to take you home?"

"Yeah. But only if the idea turns you on."

"It does."

"I know."

"How do you know?"

"While you were staring at my breasts, I sneaked a look at the bulge in your pants. Could you hurry through the checkout? Everyone is ogling my panties."

"I thought you liked that."

"Not now you said 'yes'. Now I want you to ogle them."

"Oh. I'm not at all sure I can keep up with you."

"I'll help you out. Think I should ask that boy at the checkout to scan my ass?"

Oct 2008
That is one cute story. I loved it and had several good laughs

Jun 2008
'I'm all lost in a supermarket, Can no longer shop happily, Casme in for a special offer, satisfaction guaranteed...' (The Clash) 'Nuff said.

May 2008
Hee hee, that was really funny. I've also heard of the shoe size and penis size being the same. But from what i've read, it's not true. Or is it? :-)

May 2006
Droll.
      GBF: So you mean that in a good way?

Apr 2006
Funny story - made me smile. Thanks!
      GBF: My aim in life!

Nov 2005
Not what I had expected from you but hilarious. Maybe I should try giving surveys.
      GBF: Just let me know how you get on!

Oct 2005
Very amusing, and strangly enough, I've met a couple of Carly's in my life. They're great fun, but don't tend to stay too long. Or maybe it's me.
      GBF: Could be both! :-)

Aug 2005
What a cute lite hearted sexy story! I'm off to the store!
      GBF: :-)

Aug 2005
Love this one - so full of energy, such a ditzy young lady, wish I could meet her but I doubt I could keep up!
      GBF: We ALL feel that way!

Aug 2005
Carly is priceless! Nat is caught up in a human hurricane - and in the end he'll feel shaken, stirred, befuddled, and more alive and vibrant than he ever has before in his life. *grin* I'd love to take lessons from Carly!
      GBF: Take? I suspect you could give some. :-)

Jul 2005
roflolol... fun times at the grocery store!! ENJOYED!!. is there a continuation on this one?
      GBF: Nope sorry. Not this one. You'll have to imagine what happened... :-)

Jul 2005
*SIGH* I recall a time in my mid-twenties when I desperately wanted to seduce a man at a convenience store.
      GBF: Only once? :-)

Jul 2005
My comments are the same for both stories: Great! I love stories told primarily through dialogue, especially when they still work *as* stories on paper (or screen). It's one of my favourite things about Robert Heinlein's style, and you've captured the sam
      GBF: You have no idea how much this paragraph pleases me. You've made my entire week! If there is just ONE person I'd like to base my work on, it's Heinlein. I'm over the moon! Thanks very, very much.

Jul 2005
you mad thing
      GBF: Where did that come from? :-)

Jul 2005
sounds like conversations i had with one or two guys in college. heeheehee.... i like these characters!
      GBF: Lucky guys!

Jun 2005
I liked it very much, sex SHOULD be fun.
      GBF: Pleased to hear it, and in full agreement.

Jun 2005
Was delightfully easy to follow the dialogue. I think you used to follow me around when i wuold go out LOL. I think i've snagged up a couple young guys in my day with dialogue very similar !
      GBF: I'm sure I would have said something... Alright, maybe not! :-)

May 2005
love to meet carly in the supermarket anytime-like you to write the followup
      GBF: Yeah, yeah. :-)

May 2005
Quite amusing. It reminded me of the dialogue between Stevie and Martin in Albee's The Goat. You have some potential as a possible playwright.
      GBF: Never heard of it, but thanks.

Apr 2005
Good one. What are you smoking? Or do you just like laughing at your readers getting caught in your stories? I'm wondering how old she is and what color hair she has and ... ?
      GBF: First off, thanks. Not smoking anything. I just have a rampant imagination. And I'm laughing with you. The third paragraph tells you about her hair, and her age is something for your imagination to deal with.

Apr 2005
Very witty dialogue--I loved it!
      GBF: Great!

Apr 2005
this was absolutely great!!! I love humor and sex together. I've read everything you have written so far and long for more.
      GBF: More? Damn! Hey, you must owe me some serious feedback then!

Mar 2005
The Quiz, The Shower, The Swap, Next Time and Twas the Night are
      GBF: More? Well, so long as I hear back! :-)

Mar 2005
I need to go shopping more often........sure wish that would happen to me......chuckle...... GREAT writing Gentle......wonderful.
      GBF: Clean up in aisle 7

Mar 2005
Really, very nice, slightly arousing and very amusing.

Mar 2005
Fun and sexy. You have a gift for banter.
      GBF: Yeah, but it's a LOT of work! :-)

Mar 2005
Wonderfully written dialogue!! Skipping back and forth you successfully captured the skittish banter that many of us actually do. *giggle* I adore Carly and wish her and Nat the best! What a great way to meet someone..... I'm still single, perhaps I sho
      GBF: Why not try it now?

Feb 2005
Cute. Not full on, not sexually exciting, but cute as hell. And yes, things like this do happen, though normally it has been My experience to do this to a submissive Myself *grins evily*. Well done gentle. Please keep up your refreshing work.
      GBF: I can handle cute.

Feb 2005
Wonderfully silly, and it brightens up my day nicely. And Gentle, like many others have said, Thanks much for sharing your writings and talent with us. It is so nice...
      GBF: I'm so pleased I could help. I wish you'd left your email address, so I could thank you properly.

Feb 2005
too much dialog.....boring
      GBF: You wanted to get straight to the bonking, right? Sorry for slowing you down. :-)

Feb 2005
I'm still laughing as I write this. I give it a 10 for humour alone.
      GBF: Hey, what about the sex? Oh, yeah, that's right! :-)

Feb 2005
I can't imagine anyone having trouble following along with this. It's very sing-song and highly entertaining. Best thing I've come across in awhile. Kudos. Oh- and I think the white panties were a good touch. The fact that they don't match makes her all t
      GBF: Are you a bit hyperactive then? :-) Thanks. I'm pleased someone understood!

Feb 2005
I cracked up, very well written. My g.f thought the same. A cute little piece of entertainment and well enjoyed
      GBF: Hey, no sharing unless I get email from both parties! :-)

Feb 2005
good but too short..
      GBF: Sorry about that.

Feb 2005
hahhaha, this one's funny...
      GBF: Whew!

Feb 2005
Very clever and funny.

Jan 2005
I like it, frankly, but, you know, I just don't think it works. ... In short, my reaction is great dialogue, implausible context and motivation.
      GBF: Sorry to bleep out the middle bit, but I didn't want to give anything away. Sorry you feel that way, but thanks for being honest.

Jan 2005
Very clever dialogue with great transition of subjects. Just not enough sex. needs more personal or intimate questions between the Nat and Carly. You could get really raunchy and make it more hysterical.
      GBF: Thanks... And no thanks. It's deliberately not raunchy, just flirty!

Jan 2005
I like it - it's witty, slightly criptic the way it works in real life and it reminds me of some times in my early thirties when I picked-up married twenty-something girls on lazy Thurdsay afternoons in the produce section of the Fresh Market in Charlotte
      GBF: That's the weirdest feedback this week... :-)

Jan 2005
I didn't know you shop at the same supermarket as me! *grin* *twirl* Where's part 2?
      GBF: Listen, it's F I N I S H E D. Gottit? :-)

Jan 2005
Super funny! Now to get a woman to do that with me
      GBF: That is, of course, the trick. Having said that, I've had two comments from girls who want to know who told me about them... :-)

Jan 2005
Stories are an insight to our own desires, I'm thinking... and you possess such a delightful imagination. One could get lost in that mind of yours. Looking forward to the next story.
      GBF: Thanks. Your optimism is contagious.

Jan 2005
my friend just read this with me and she seems to have liked it a lot. It reminded her of one of our friends. Maybe we will get our friend to try something like this lol.
      GBF: You read erotica in groups where you are? Cool! I hope your friend is going to write to me too!

Jan 2005
Oh, gods... that was funny. I thought I was going to fall out of my chair, I was laughing so hard.
      GBF: Good. That was the plan!

Jan 2005
Better characters than most stories. Most stories period. Very few games, movies, books, anything, have even OK characters, and most are quickly forgotten, but this girl I will remember. Don't think I'll remember the guy, though. Didn't really have
      GBF: Thanks a lot. Nat's a nice guy. He deserved her.

Jan 2005
cool story, like the climax, very arousing; female, 30y

Jan 2005
this is great!!!!!!! lol i don't think i could ever do something like that. its kewl
      GBF: Thanks. You are kewl too!

Jan 2005
I finally got a chance to read Quiz. I liked it. Your comment about pissing people off went over my head. The girl reminds me of my ex-wife. She used to play verbal gymnastics - I'd ask a question, she'd talk about something else, then answer the ques
      GBF: Pleased you liked it. I think most people would be a LITTLE scared of Carly.

Jan 2005
I rather like the young lady, and look forward to meeting her :) I was a little disipointed in the lack of sex, but hey, that's just one hedonists opinion ;)
      GBF: Yeah, yeah. Heard it before. Imagination is the key! :-)

Jan 2005
Idiotic !! Loved it.
      GBF: After the first word, I was a little worried.

Jan 2005
WOW such a refreshing story that tickled my "kitty" and no sex involved
      GBF: Meow :-)

Jan 2005
heehee. she sounds like me, even when i'm not frisky. or, umm, i sound like her... thanks, i don't feel so alone now.
      GBF: Oh, and no email address?? :-)

Jan 2005
Now that was a fun shopping trip!!

Jan 2005
pure fantisy, but very enjoyable. Thanks
      GBF: Waddaya mean? This doesn't happen to you? :-)

Jan 2005
A wonderful romp through the supermarket! Delightfully told and so brief that I'm going to clammer for more! You're use of dialogue id first rate and I do hope you try this venue more often. I know I've said this before, perhaps a few years ago, but y
      GBF: Thanks, but your work is far from churning!

Jan 2005
Kind of off the wall. She definitly don't have both oars in the water. But sounds like she would be fun to be with..
      GBF: Agreed.

Jan 2005
Gentle,Please hurry up,and finish this story.You have got to have at least one more follow up............please,please with a little pussy on top;-)
      GBF: Waddaya mean? It is finished! Oh, and how rude! :-)

Jan 2005
Huh? Why do I get the feeling of feet-swept-from-under-me on reading this? Totally mismatched dialogue on one level and total understanding on another? Worth reading any day, and twice on the worst.
      GBF: Hey, it's supposed to to that! Thanks.

Jan 2005
I love this story!!! Very well done. It would be fun to see a follow-up. Great read!
      GBF: Follow up? Nah.

Jan 2005
Just one question, where's that supermarket ? I need some milk too.
      GBF: I already told the other guy. Just around the corner! :-)

Jan 2005
Loved it. Made me think. Of being the guy that is! And those anonymous flirty encounters that sometimes happen. Love to see this girl have more stories!
      GBF: Hmmm...

Jan 2005
No, didn't piss me off, but what supermarket was that???? Lol
      GBF: The one around the corner from you, of course.

Jan 2005
That was a cute story. You love it when a woman is in heat. They really get agressive and men love it when it happens to them.
      GBF: I do? You mean you do, right? :-)

Jan 2005
White panties? She's conducting a pseudo-survey to snag a guy and she wears white panties? She didn't put much thought into that, did she? Guess who.
      GBF: I have no idea! And what in hell is wrong with white panties?

Jan 2005
... picture big burly guy seeming to chortle mightily, but straining so hard that no sound comes out. That's my reaction. Oh, well! Thanks for the story, man!
      GBF: Pleased you liked it. I chortled writing it!

Jan 2005
As usual - [I think I've written you at least twice, now three times, saying the same thing.] - You get me hooked on your people and then bang, it's over. You always leave me wanting more - are you an entertainer?
      GBF: Well, I try to be!

Jan 2005
Damn that was disjointed but rather ammusing. Had to stop and reread parts several times, I guess I was just like the guy, not catching on very quickly. I have known a few women who werelike that, well except saying I could take them home ;-)
      GBF: It was SUPPOSED to be disjointed! Oh, and you're not alone!

Jan 2005
funny one
      GBF: Whew!

Jan 2005
Funny. What's funnier is that I once knew a girl that was crazy enough to do exactly that if she'd thought about it.
      GBF: You are not alone!

Jan 2005
Great!! Absolutely hilarous - great dialogue, great ADD skip conversation...Very funny - very up-front. Good job - Thanks for your time and effort.
      GBF: Oh, thanks Jaybee. I'm pleased it worked.

Jan 2005
Hoo-wee! You started the new year off right with that one, Gentle. Thanks a bunch. Wonderful grabber of a story.
      GBF: Thanks.

Jan 2005
I LOVE IT! girls like that drive me nuts

Jan 2005
I would snigger - but I'm laughing too hard.

Jan 2005
laughing, that was cool. thanks you have made my day, a regular miricle worker :D thanks again. Dave
      GBF: Pleased I could help.

Jan 2005
LOL that's nuts! she sounds crazy, definitly escaped from the local asylum. Made me smile. Natasha
      GBF: Thanks Natasha. Next time give an email address. I won't publish it.

Jan 2005
Loved it, GBF. Just loved it. Glad to see someone other than just me gets inspired by the thought of a supermarket encounter!!!
      GBF: Thanks. Where else do you get that close to strangers?

Jan 2005
Not hardly. Pissed off, that is, not my penis. LMAO
      GBF: Thanks. Whatever works for you!

Jan 2005
Not your usual but very believable. Maybe Carly needs a few more stories about her adventures.
      GBF: Hmmm... Hadn't thought of that. She's a bit of a loose cannon, you know.

Jan 2005
OK but just OK, I have to be in the certain frame of mind.
      GBF: I can cope with that!

Jan 2005
pissed off anyone with this story? not likely! that was fun. thanks.
      GBF: Thanks.

Jan 2005
ROFL. As usual, I love your dialogue. Carly's just a scream (or is that a 'hoot', these days?) -- I kept having to go back, reread, get it the second time, and laugh.

Jan 2005
This was a gas. It reminds me of a Tape I have of a guy filming a sweet young gal in a Supermarket & all she is wearing is a long T-shirt that drops just past her crotch. Well done, thanks.
      GBF: We'll be around for the video evening!

Jan 2005
This was a little surreal. Not the being picked up part, but the way the young lady asked the rapid fire questions, and made it just as confusing to us the reader, as it was to the poor (lucky) guy getting picked up.
      GBF: Hey, I'm glad you saw it through!

Jan 2005
Very nice story. Not quite what I expected but it was a fun, quick read.

Jan 2005
Weird, but enjoyable. Unique for what is implied not said. Hope Nat gets some Carly.
      GBF: That's a given, surely!

Jan 2005
Well for one, it needs more dialog. And a better idea of what she looks like, beyond the curly brown hair, a face that can't be refused, the short denim skirt, royal blue bra and the (aledgedly) white panties.
      GBF: More? I'd get in so much trouble. Oh, come on. You know someone like this. Everyone does. She's the girl you never dared to ask out. The neighbour you wife doesn't want you to speak to. The girl you always want to sell you a milkshake, a beer, or a new

Jan 2005
Why do you call this stort "The Quiz"? Do you realize there are 58 question marks in this short story??????????????? But I have to admit the dialog was cute and did make me laugh.
      GBF: Well, quizzes always have lots of question marks. Thanks.

Jan 2005
You wrote "I hope I haven't pissed anyone off!" How in the world could you piss anyone reading SOL with this lovely piece? The world, and the genre of erotic writing, and SOL would all be better if more people lightened up (an Americanism, I think - m
      GBF: It was just that stories with no sex aren't generally well received at SOL. I was getting in first! Thanks for that.

Jan 2005
Your Quiz sure had me guessing. I will study it when I have not had a stinker of a day at work. May only read it three or four times, but I have a sneaky suspicion it could actually tickle my funny bone. (Not that one, the one in my elbow!)

Jan 2005
Definitely good for a laugh, and good advertisement for the wonders of ritalin.
      GBF: Thanks, and congrats on being first!