her ablutions, constantly threatening to submerge from view. THE MERKIN: “She is beautiful…” THE DOWSER: “Yes. Very desirable.” THE GNOMON: “I wish to see her fully exposed…” THE MERKIN: “She will surely oblige us if we exhibit our masculinity.” THE GNOMON: “Perhaps… I am willing.” THE DOWSER: “Together, then?” Moving to positions evenly spaced about the pool, the men ritually unzip their pants and produce rapidly engorging genitalia to view. The woman smiles and rises slightly to show the promise of her hips. Water drips with obvious reluctance from her innocently roused nipples. She cannot suppress an interested expression as she surveys their virile presentation, eyes traveling a slow circuit from one man to another. THE MERKIN: “Will you oblige us with penetration?” The woman smiles and nods without hesitation, but makes no indication as to which man will occupy her first. Seeking to clarify their priority, the men advertise their intentions less generally. THE GNOMON: “I will enter you from behind…” THE DOWSER: “I will put you on your knees…” THE MERKIN: “I will spread your legs and rapture your vagina…” The woman acknowledges their promises with a sultry nod, but makes no move to approach them. Silence descends on the group again. THE DOWSER: “I am uncertain how we should proceed.” THE GNOMON: “Perhaps we should take turns?” THE MERKIN: “But that would grant someone the honor of first occupation. Who knows if there will be a second? Do either of you volunteer to cede the initial penetration?” THE GNOMON: “No… I do not.” THE DOWSER: “And neither I.” They lurk silently for a moment as the woman watches them with a subtly evaluative expression. Their erections begin to falter in the ambience of this unmanly irresolution. THE GNOMON: “Perhaps we could require her to make the choice?” THE DOWSER: “Which of us would begin this coercion? Shall we take turns or impose on her all at once?” They muse on his proposal for a little, but it is soon clear none of them are too happy with this protocol. THE MERKIN: “That is no answer. It would injure the masculine prerogative and reflect badly on the men chosen second and third.” NARRATOR: “The pressure to resolve this situation hangs heavily on the men. Then a new thought arises…” THE MERKIN: “We are all nominally equal in status, so we could vote on it; caucus until two of us can agree on a man to go first.” THE GNOMON: “That is interesting… The honor of sexual precedence would be countered by the power to determine who will have it.” THE DOWSER: “Let us try this.” The three men set to discussing the various choices and a long while passes as the woman continues bathing, listening without comment. And eventually an axis forms between the Gnomon and the Dowser; they take control of the group and designate the Merkin to go first. THE MERKIN: “It shall be myself, then?” THE GNOMON: “Yes. Then we will vote again to determine who shall go next, and so on.” THE DOWSER: “I can see no defect in this protocol. Let us proceed.” THE MERKIN: “Very well, then!” The Merkin’s erection straightens decisively and he wades into the pool. The woman smiles deferentially at his rigorously established authority. THE MERKIN: “Recline against the side of the pool and spread your legs.” She does so and he lifts her thighs to either side, hoisting her pubis above the waterline. NARRATOR: “And so the bathing beauty finds herself properly exercised on the Merkin’s erection. And when he is done with her flesh the vote is taken again to grant the next man his turn, and so on…”
The Merkin’s brow narrowed in dissatisfaction, and h is needle faltered . He reflexively smoothed the triangle of soft hair at his jaw, pondering the stitched words lacing the canvas. He knew it was not likely the foregoing scene would survive to opening night,