April McDonald stared at the notice posted on the bulletin board. "Sign-ups for the Columbus Day Pageant in Room 207 today after 7th period."
"Whatcha looking at?" asked her tall friend, Lilah Littlefeather. Her stealth-like walk, and long raven-black hair that extended down her back, made her remarkable. However, her sudden appearance made the eleven-year-old jump. "Sorry to startle you, April."
"Just looking at the audition notice. I was thinking about signing up. Maybe I could make some new friends. What about you? You've been moping around ever since your encounter with Troy."
The older girl, almost fourteen, had her dream date with the television actor and hunk only a couple weeks before and was just now getting over the encounter. Still, she shook her head. "I wouldn't mind trying out, but…" She paused for a moment to see it anyone was listening. Sensing no one, Lilah continued. "I suppose it will be one of those traditional propaganda scripts that praise the sailors and forget about the natives they met. That I cannot support. I almost wish Columbus hadn't come across the sea."
"Well, then we wouldn't have met," said April, giving her friend's hand a squeeze, the most PDA allowed inside the school.
Ignoring the hint, Lilah added, "Now, if they told the whole story, not the sugar-coated one, then I might consider it."
April grinned at her friend. "Do you think you could do a better job?"
"Undoubtedly."
"So why don't you? Just ask Mr. Wylder at the audition. He won't bite your head off."
Lilah chuckled at the thought. "Maybe I will. That way I could widen my circle of friends, also."
With a wink, April said, "I'll see you later. Don't chicken out on me."
About a dozen girls and exactly three guys sat in Room 207, waiting for Mr. Wylder. The eighth grade English-teacher-turned-drama-coach showed up a few minutes later. "Good afternoon, students and would-be thespians. I'm sorry I'm late. I got called to the principal's office. Yes, even at my advanced age."
That brought a giggle from a couple of the girls. They knew him as being only 32 and yet prematurely bald. Even so he was considered the one hottie in the school. Several of the older girls tried to seduce him, unsuccessfully, before moving on to high school.
Mr. Wylder glanced around the room. "A small turn-out this year. Lucky for you, I'm not afraid to use female seamen." That brought out more giggles. "It's more about quantity, not quality. No, it's just the opposite. Sorry."
He blinked a couple of times, trying to get his mind out of the gutter. The three girls sitting in the front row had decided to spread their knees, giving him a view of their panties. This gets harder every year, he thought.
The door opened, and a small girl entered. She appeared too young for middle school. "May I help you?" he asked.
"April McDonald," she said. "I'm here for the play tryout."
"Aren't you a little…"
"Young, yes. I got bumped up twice. Don't worry. They say I'm mature for my age."
He gestured to the empty fourth seat in front. "No problem. I just started." At least, I won't be distracted by her.
While April settled at the desk, he passed out the scripts. "Take a minute to peruse the first two pages. One by one, you will come up and perform the lines which I direct you to emote."
"Do I have to?" said the long haired brunette with equally long legs and a blossoming chest sitting next to April. "I was the lead last year."
"Cassie, I don't care if your father is the head of the school board or what you did last year. Everyone auditions. Even that actress, Dame What's her name with all the Oscars, did when she was in school."
April raised her hand. "Mr. Wylder."
"What now?"
"Dame Thigby never auditioned. I read in her autobiography that at age twelve, she began on the casting couch and slept with directors until she was in her mid-forties."
That brought riotous laughter and wolf whistles from the students, both genders.
"Settle down, settle down. Let me assure you there will be none of that for this play. It would be quite…inappropriate. So yes, Miss Cortez and you too, Miss…McDonald was it? You will have to audition, just like everyone else. Any questions?"
No one raised their hands, but the front row again spread their knees. This time, it was three panties…and one bare pussy. He stared, mouth open. I'm so getting fired this year. I might even have to give up teaching. I'm getting too weak to resist this for much longer.
Reluctantly, he made his way to the chair in the back of the room. Safe, he thought.
Each student had their chance to perform. Sadly, no Olivier, not even a Shatner stood up. Cassie Cortez was the best, but hardly star-material. His bias against the new girl kept April from winning the lead. In fact, he dropped her from performing any parts. Perhaps she could work as his assistant stage director.
After Mr. Wylder dismissed the students, April hung back. "I'm sorry I disrupted the audition," she said.
"It was just an audition," he said with a smile. "Why were you late?"
"I was waiting for my friend, Lilah. She wants to fix the script so it's more correct."
"I know," he said shaking his head. "That's the script the school board approved back in the age we believed Columbus walked on water to find the New World. I'd be happy to work with your friend, but we'd have to get any changes approved by the board. Even so, there's not a lot of time."
"Thanks." April turned to leave. "I'm not sure this cast can pull the play off."
The man chuckled. "Every year, I say that exact same thing. This time…" He rolled his eyes. "I'm sure if they had confidence in themselves, it would be no problem."
April smiled. "I know someone who could help with that. I'll ask him. He might be able to assist with other things too. See you tomorrow."
She took two more steps toward the door when he spoke up. "One more thing, Miss McDonald."
"Yes?"
"Do you know you're not wearing any underwear?"
April retraced her steps. She then lifted up the hem of her skirt and peered under it. "You are so right, Mr. Wylder. I wonder how that happened."
He didn't respond, his mind freezing at the sight of the bald slit of the preteen two feet away from him. He wasn't going to survive until Halloween. Not with her or the others around.
The knock at my door startled me. I hadn't had an after-school visitor in weeks, not since the school year began. I was actually getting my real work done, though I missed my "nieces."
So with April and Lilah standing on my porch, I felt both glad and a bit nervous. "Uncle Dave, we need your help."
With those pleading doe-like eyes batting at me, I knew I was in trouble. "Come on in and have a seat. Make yourself at home." Just like you always do anyway, I thought.
With the girls ensconced on my couch, they laid out their entire scenario for the play. I listened intently, hoping their next project didn't involve me assisting in taking over the world. I'm not sure I could pull it off, though April undoubtedly could.
After they finished, I reflected for a moment. "That is rather ambitious."
"That's why we need you, Uncle Dave," said April, again with the eyes.
"It would make a statement," said Lilah. "One this town has a voice to say."
I nodded. "I've never been one for the status quo. However, I see three issues. First, getting confidence instilled in the cast. That I can help with, probably right here on the couch. Much the way I got you firedogs over your shyness. Second, if the students are as raw as you say they are, we might need a ringer, at least to play the part of Columbus. I have an idea, but it would be a long shot. And the third is how to get the script approved. Assuming we put in your suggestions, Lilah, I doubt Cortez and his board would approve."
The tall girl smiled at me. "Then there's the fourth," she added. "If we put it on, how do we avoid a lifetime of detention or even jail time?"
I thought for a few minutes. Were these girls worth the risk? Of course. I'd go through hell and back for one more night in the sack. But I was used to a much smaller audience. I did however know of a person who handled more than a handful at a time.
"Do you think we can pull it off?" asked April.
I nodded. "It might ruin us all, but if it works, I could retire a successful man who changed history. Even if we could never tell a soul what we did."
"When do we start?" asked Lilah.
"Introduce me to your teacher. As soon as possible. If he's not on board, we stop planning. And let me make a few calls. Lilah, fix the script, but have two sets of stage directions. One for the working scripts and another for performance night."
The girls looked at me quizzically.
"I can convey my commands through the written word. At least I think I can. It will be like I'm speaking directly to them."
"Once we have the green light, see if you can get the other cast members here after school, the more prominent ones first and especially Miss Cortez."
"Thanks, Uncle Dave," said April giving me a hug.
"I don't know what to say," said Lilah.
However, I knew. "Just say 'Bravo!' after we pull it off."
I watched as the girls disappeared down my road, thinking to myself, "So much for getting my work done. Here's to nothing going wrong."
The knock at the door did not surprise me as much as the day before. However, the people on my porch did. Instead of the teacher I anticipated, April stood with four students, a nerdy boy in glasses and three fetching young ladies. "Surprise, Uncle Dave," she said with a smirk. "These are our lead actors."
"Welcome. You can call me Dave. I'll be helping you today. Why don't you take a seat on my couch while I have a word with my niece?"
While my new guests ogled my Great Room, I pulled April aside. "A change of plans, eh?"
"Mr. Wylder had a staff meeting, but he'll be by tomorrow. I thought these guys could use all the help they can get."
Sending April off for refreshments, I joined the other guests, pulling my ottoman in front of the couch. "Hello. As I said, my name is Dave, and Mr. Wylder recommended you for a confidence building session. That's what I hope to do for you today. Before I get started, I'd like to get to know you a little. Who'd like to start it off?"
All four students sat firmly on their hands, almost afraid I'd bite their heads off. Finally, the girl with curly brown hair spoke up. "I'm Henrietta Hudson, but everyone calls me Hen. My dad's on the school board and pushed me to be in the play. I thought it would be fun, but I was scared to death being up on stage."
"Most people feel that way at first, until they find out there's nothing to be scared about." I said those words as she shivered on my couch in fear. Perhaps this Hen really was part chicken.
"I'm Donny Drake," said the lone boy. "My mom's also on the board. I got drafted to play Columbus though I just wanted to be a sailor." He pushed his glasses up his nose. "I just don't want to make a fool of myself."
I smiled at him. "You won't," I lied. While miracles can happen, my gut said this was not one of those opportunities. However, he didn't have to know that.
I turned to the blonde girl with the pale skin. "And you are?"
"I'm Emma. Emma Erickson. Like the others, my dad's on the board. Mr. Wylder assigned me to the Crow's Nest. I was too scared to tell him I don't like being off the ground."
"I'll help you face your fear, at least the one about heights." I shifted my focus to the remaining student. "And I guess that just leaves you."
"Okay," she said with a big sigh. "I'm Cassandra Cortez. My father's the head of the school board. I'm not at all uncomfortable on stage and don't know why I had to come. After all, I was the lead last year." The girl with long auburn hair spread her knees, giving me a nice view under her skirt. She stared at my eyes, trying to gauge my reaction.
"We can all use a little help sometimes. In your case, it might be about how to sit like a lady. By the way, your white panties look very nice, especially the camel toe. If we had more time, I might have taken you up on your offer. Perhaps later. I enjoy a pretty yet slutty teen now and then. But right now we have more important things to do."
The four guests blushed at my candid remarks. I didn't worry they might relay my words to their parents. That would all be taken care of in a moment.
April entered the room with the refreshments and handed them out to her classmates. "Go ahead and drink the punch she prepared. It will help with the lesson."
The four exchanged glances and then downed the liquid. "Good, you can take direction. Now I want you to stare at the fire. Pick out one flame, then concentrate on it and nothing else."
I gave them a few moments to find their focus point. "Listen to my voice. You are going to a new place, one with nothing to fear. There is always a safety net waiting to catch you. Keep staring at the flame as your eyes grow weary." I continued on that same vein until their eyes glazed over. Between my skills and the spiked drink my assistant prepared, I had them.
While April sat on my lap, I pulled out my index cards and recited the commands I wanted to enforce. I repeated them several times, in the same order, hence the cards.
"Are they going to accept your commands?" asked my niece. I forgot she'd never seen this before, at least without being in a trance herself.
"Let's test it. Students, rise and remove your clothes."
I usually had girls at least a year younger under my spell. What a difference that extra time made. At fourteen, all three girls had budding breasts and a smattering of pubic hair. "Tonight you will shave the pubic hair and maintain a smooth pussy. It allows for your lover to taste your pussy better."
I turned to Donny. He was certainly not Columbus, not yet at least. "Donny, jerk off into your boxers." The boy picked up the discarded underwear and did just that.
"See, they're under," I said to April. "Now students, redress and prepare for going home, more confident in both being on stage and in your lives. Cassie, leave your panties for me. This is your punishment for being insolent."
The girl handed me her white underwear, and I stuffed them in my pocket.
"When I snap my fingers, you will wake, forgetting all that I did to you. You will show your confidence everywhere. If I say the phrase, 'Blue Parrot', you will come under my control until again released." With that I snapped my fingers.
"So when are you going to teach us something?" asked Cassie. She sat back again, spreading her knees.
I looked up her skirt at her bare pussy. So tempting, but not today. Instead I said, "That's all I have for today. I wish you luck at practice and your performance."
With that they left. As they crossed the threshold, a gust of wind went up Cassie's skirt. I saw the expression, one of glee as the air caressed her bare nether region. This was going to be fun.
The next day, I sat in my great room with my guest and talked about the play. As we spoke, I realized the man on my couch, Wylder, was the first adult I hosted, alone, in a long time.
"I appreciate your efforts, Mr. …er, ah, sorry but how do you say your last name again?"
"Just call me Dave. I'm never sure of the correct pronunciation for it myself."
He grinned at me. "All right, Dave. Little Miss McDonald said you were a funny guy. Anyway, I noticed an improvement in the four leads after your session yesterday. Even if their performance level jumps like that every day, they're not going to be ready to carry the play. I have half a mind to cancel the show."
I nodded my agreement. "I've met Donny, and he's no Columbus. I can instill confidence, but I never signed up to teach acting. I do have a solution. If I can get one or two actors, just to save the production, would you use them?"
Wylder thought for a moment. "A stronger Columbus would go a long way to avoid humiliation. Maybe even enough to support the other parts. At least enough so Cassie and the others could muddle through. Who did you have in mind?"
"I have a friend of a friend who owes me a favor. I won't tell you his name, so you don't get your hopes up. And you can't advertise a special guest star just to boost ticket sales. I'll have enough problems with the auditorium half filled."
The teacher nodded his approval. "If I let you bring in this ringer, the least you can do is give me a demonstration of your confidence booster."
With a smile, I opened the bottom panel on my grandfather clock. "Just watch the pendulum until it turns blue."
"It's going to turn blue?" he said looking doubtful. "All right, if you say so." He sat forward in the couch and focused on the metallic silver disk.
Twenty minutes later, he said, "So when is anything going to happen?"
"Perhaps you aren't susceptible to my humble skills. A small percentage of people don't fall under a spell. I'm counting on no one in the audience having that issue. Fingers crossed."
Wylder rose from his chair. "I guess I better get going. Fuck, I didn't realize it was so late. Tonight is a school night." Then he stared first at the chair and then at the couch. "Did I just swear? I never say the f-word. And wasn't I sitting next to you on the couch? I'm losing my mind over this play."
I shrugged, though I couldn't quite hide my smile. His hidden hedonistic tendencies had been enhanced without his even knowing it. This school play was about to get a bit more adventuresome.
Over the next ten days, I met with all of the students associated with the play. From actors to stagehands to those handing out programs and refreshments, all had visited my great room. April proved very dependable on recruiting potential teens and preteens into the fold.
My phone calls paid off. Andrea from the boutique down at the shore agreed to supply the costumes, suitably altered to fit with our production. They'd be ready for the dress rehearsal. A call to Vegas made a new contact with a professional mesmerist. She gave me pointers about handling a large crowd. Payment for the service was still in negotiations.
Best of all, my third call booked two actors for the night of the performance. I sent the finalized script with all of Lilah's modifications.
My part appeared solid.
On Saturday afternoon, I heard a knock on the door. Since most of the visitors came after school, I was surprised to see Cassie Cortez standing on my porch. She wore an old sweatshirt with a plaid woolen skirt a couple sizes too short.
"What can I do for you this morning?"
"Mr. Dave. I have something to ask you." She peered back over her shoulders as though looking for someone. "It's a little embarrassing."
"Would you rather ask inside?" The girl nodded. "Then come in."
Cassie's head swiveled around, examining the great room. "I've never seen anything like this place. Not even at castles my family visited."
I chuckled at the thought. "It's just got a lot of stuff I inherited and never have the time to sort out. Now what's on your mind?"
"You see," she started as she nervously shifted from one foot to the other. "When I got home, I found out I didn't have any panties on. It happened on the day we visited your house. And I don't remember taking them off."
I looked at her with my puzzled expression. "That's strange. I see no reason you would have taken them off here. Could you have wet them at school and removed them to dry?"
She shook her head. "I asked Hen and Emma, and they don't remember it. And they had theirs on when they got home."
"Well, you are welcome to look around." We searched around the great room to no avail. I spent more time watching the girl than looking. I knew exactly where I stored them.
"Did you use the bathroom upstairs?" I asked.
"Maybe," she said. "Shall we look?"
"All right. You can go first."
I followed her up the stairs, getting a view of her thin uncovered thighs. I do like a young girl in a skirt. At the second floor landing, she stopped. "I don't remember being up here."
"Not even that picture? What's painted there?"
"Duh. A horse by a barn."
"I thought it was a Blue Parrot." I watched the trigger word jog her memory. "What do you see now?"
"It's a beautiful girl without clothes. She looks a lot like me."
"And how does she feel?"
An evil grin covered her face. "Naughty. I feel naughty."
"And how do we cure your naughtiness?"
"Sex?" she said shyly. "We have sex. We have fucking sex."
"Then follow me." I led her into the spare bedroom and sat on the bed. "Take off your clothes while doing a sexy dance."
Without music, Cassie gyrated to an internal tune. Soon she wore nothing but her birthday suit. "I'm sorry I'm so fat and flabby."
"Whoever told you that was blind. Cassie, you are beautiful just as you are." I held out my arm to invite her into my embrace. I showered her with kisses as my hands massaged her body. Gently I placed her on the bed before removing my own clothes. After a thorough licking of her lower lips, I inserted myself into her body. I barely let her recover from the pain before continuing. My technique proved rougher than with the younger girls, but I saw in her eyes the appreciation. As I showered her insides, she quivered in my arms.
I had wondered if our queen would be a virgin on the night of the performance. This left no doubt.
When Cassie left the mansion, she wore her missing panties. However, the other pair, the pink ones she wore when arriving at my mansion, remained with me for inclusion in my collection.
