Yep, not dead yet. Sorry that I had you wondering. I attempted to spread the word as best I could. New chapter posting this week. And from there, I expect to be back to my regular weekly posts.

Blair

Bottom line, no ‘Jessa Meets Her Match’ this week.

Life’s been busy. The good part is that I spent much of today traveling — on an airplane, no less — first time in God knows how long. I’m now in California for my daughter’s college graduation. I’m very proud of her and delighted that she’ll get to walk in front of a live (albeit socially-distanced) audience that includes my wife and I. The simple pleasures really are the best. Something Covid reminded us of, right?

Yes, there is more written, I’m just going to take a breather and enjoy this event, the trip in general, and the time with family.

Next week is a possibility, but not Wednesday. That just so happens to be the day of our return flight.

My apologies to those who came here today looking for Jessa and Cather’s continuation and went away empty handed. Both women will be back very soon. Indeed, Jessa’s about to lose her panties (and eternally-naked Catherine must be there somewhere).

Blair

RM,

I’ll have to grant you most of your argument. I guess it comes down to the meaning of ‘real.’ Catherine certainly meets quite a few of the criteria.

Blair

Indeed. Jessa does kind of have the power to bring Cathers to life. She just has to peal off her clothing and then something wonderful happens.

And yet, it’s not real. Sadly so. Even Jessa knows it’s an illusion.
 
I disagree. It’s very real. Not real in the sense of a flesh and blood body, that’s obvious from her ghost form. But the actual spirit of Cathers literally comes to life for Jessa when she peals off her clothes. Not just that Cathers feels more alive to talk to someone in real time, but because she is actually there. Her spirit form. They can share thoughts and feelings. It’s a real relationship. Not only can Jessa see her, she can hear her as well. That’s quite a lot and deeply contrary to an illusion. An illusion doesn’t make you laugh and cry, or save you from drowning. An illusion doesn’t motivate you strip off and chase a killer – with naked fury.

Hi Molly,
 

Ya know, you can put an “ie” on this word to try to make it sound cute, but it’s still an ugly word. (cunnie)

I’m sure you and Jessa see eye to eye on that. She’s only making an effort here because she gave Catherine a hard time about her reluctance to use the word, ‘pussy.’
 

 Oh, how nice.  I so rarely hear this sentiment expressed, not even in fiction because the naked girl is usually either (a) embarrassed or (b) initiating sex. I like having it happen early in a relationship when they are not yet ready to actually have sex.

I’m going to take that as a compliment.
 

Hmm, why am I suddenly thinking of a character named “Jill”?

And not Dale? All my women get to hike nude at one point or another. Even Bongo Girl hikes — not nude, but then it’s not an enf story — maybe it should have been.
 

You mean “taut.” Great scene though. (And good chapter overall — I usually forget to tell you that.)

Taught vs. taut. I’m not sure how I missed that. I’m not (usually) one to mix up those homophones. And thank you for slipping in the compliment!

Blair

Thanks RM,
 

Indeed. Jessa does kind of have the power to bring Cathers to life. She just has to peal off her clothing and then something wonderful happens.

And yet, it’s not real. Sadly so. Even Jessa knows it’s an illusion.
 

But nothing! You are in a B P. Clavel story Jessa!

Exactly right! All my girls hike nude. It doesn’t start out that way (well, once it did), but sooner or later, they all have to.
 

Atta girl!

Yep, given the context, that’s definitely buy in. That “Kiss me” gave Nick permission. She may as well have said, “Okay, take the panties.”

Blair

“Whipping a dead horse” implies futility, nothing to gain. Your earlier stories may have been improved with judicious editing, but each chapter had great feelings that were worth the tiny price of admission. I read them as they were written, as a serial. Us witnessing one character recounting an event we just saw in a previous chapter was both a recap and an opportunity to be in the mind of the other character.

Cave,

Thanks for the richness of your comment.

Aren’t there missing people reports? Well, I guess it could have happened over several decades.

I’m sure there are missing people reports. Catherine was one of them. But a great number go unsolved. Sadly, that’s the way of the world.

The sex history thing. You’re giving free education on how it should be done.

If so, I hope I’m doing it right — providing a good model.

Good move, Jessa. You need to guard your sanity.

I’m so glad you agree.

Wow, lucky Jessa, to get this opportunity thrown into her naked lap.

Lol! It almost sounds as if someone might be jealous.

Thanks for your many compliments, Cave.

“Yes, you were born on her birthday. When you were a baby, mom and I used to talk about you being Catherine’s reincarnation.”

Well, at least we are inching closer to some kind of explanation (besides a general resemblance) as to why Jessa can see her. Not literally “reincarnation” as we have imagined it, but maybe you are coming up with something that will better explain the fundamental conceit of the story.
 

“You like being naked, don’t you?”

“There’s something almost addictive about it.”

 Yes, Jessa, there totally is. Careful though; once you get addicted . . .

“Cunnie”

Ya know, you can put an “ie” on this word to try to make it sound cute, but it’s still an ugly word.

“I’d just like to draw the line at ‘cunt.’”

 Yes, thank you. Personally, I’m not crazy about “slut” either. 

It seemed very odd, but I actually felt as if I wanted it to continue – just one of us naked – me.

 Oh, how nice.  I so rarely hear this sentiment expressed, not even in fiction because the naked girl is usually either (a) embarrassed or (b) initiating sex. I like having it happen early in a relationship when they are not yet ready to actually have sex.  

Re AIDS: “If you weren’t a gay man, you didn’t have to worry too much about it.”

Well . . . except for all those women who didn’t know their guy had secretly had sex with other men.

What was surely also true was that the police maintained relationships with informants by guarding their identities carefully, probably representing information received from such sources as ‘anonymous tips.’

Yes, but this isn’t the kind of situation where a mob underling is secretly talking to the cops. In this particular case, the cops would want to question anyone who somehow knew where a murder victim’s body was. So Nick would have to lie to his superiors and claim it was a truly anonymous tip.

saying that he had a particular hike in mind

Hmm, why am I suddenly thinking of a character named “Jill”?

“I set this up so that you would be able to hike naked.”

Called it.

It went taught as he pulled.

You mean “taut.” Great scene though. (And good chapter overall — I usually forget to tell you that.)