{note: compare with “naked for one day” version} ## They were sitting on the bed again. Mary had grabbed half a freezer’s worth of food from her house, after securing her mother’s somewhat baffled but pleased blessing for the sleepover. Supper had been microwaved, bad for you, and intensely satisfying. Gwen sat, almost prim, legs crossed, on the edge of the bed. Mary had picked up the silver hairbrush, and was twiddling it around in one hand. She was leaning back on her other hand, against the mattress. Let me brush your hair, she said. Not until that moment realizing she had been longing for such attention, Gwen said okay. Mary scooted over closer, but the angle still wasn’t right. She put her hand on Gwen’s shoulder, which melted a little, and Gwen eased back toward the warmth of Mary. Mary let her left hand rest on Gwen’s shoulder as she brushed with her right. Each long, slow stroke tugged Gwen’s head back a little, and sent hypnotic tingles around her ears, along her jaw, around her mouth. Her hair was shining. The tangles melted away {crackling of tangles subsided} and now the brush flowed through with no resistance, but Mary didn’t stop. Gwen’s whole upper body began to relax. The bedroom was quite warm. The strokes got slower and slower, the brush’s bristles grazing Gwen’s neck. Mary leaned closer. The bed made a noise which seemed to integrate into the tingling sensation in Gwen’s face and scalp. You’re so pretty, Mary said softly. Instantly the tingles swirled and centered around Gwen’s left ear.