The following is an excerpt from my new book entitled "Silver Bullets"

Queenie was the last to arrive for the baby shower.  There were a little over a dozen women gathered for the shindig, but neither Connie nor Yolanda were nowhere to be seen.  Queenie was amazed at how gorgeous the room was decorated for Connie’s party. 

Yolanda had outdone herself.  In the middle of the room sat a large, winged chair, draped in lavender toile and blinged to the max with colorful rhinestones.  The chair was evidently for Connie, as it was fit for a princess or in her case, a bride-to-be.  In a prominent corner of the room, a beautiful floral arrangement composed of calla lilies with white hydrangeas, sat on a round, three-leg mahogany table with intricate designs carved on its legs.  But what got Queenie’s attention was the table that was covered with vibrators and other sex toys that sat off to the side on one wall.

            Seeing Emma, Queenie rushed to her side.  “Girl, what’s going on with the table over there?”  Queenie pointed in the direction of the sex toys.

            Yolanda is having a Passion Party.  She’s using the shower for Connie as a disguise for what’s really on her mind—sexing that new boy toy she’s been seeing.”

            Queenie grabbed her chest and began to laugh.  “Emma, you are wrong for that, but I don’t blame Yolanda.  That new man of YoYo’s is so phine; he’d make a bulldog break his chain.”

            Emma boiled over with laughter.  “Q, get away from me.  I only put one panty liner on today, and my weak bladder won’t be able to put up with too much of your crazy antics today.”

            “You better go and see if Yolanda has something stronger because I can guarantee that this is going to be a jaw dropper of a day.  There’s Jackie.  Lord, she’s going to die when she sees all that filth YoYo has laying on that table.”

            Emma couldn’t contain her laughter.  “Q, bye.  I’ve got to make a bathroom run.”

            Queenie laughed at Emma as she rushed to the bathroom.  Out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted First Lady Jackie O’Neill and moved across the room to talk to talk to her. 

            Jackie leaned into Queenie.  “Have you said anything to Connie yet about you know what?”

            “No, but if I’m going to say anything, I’m going to have to do it today.  She’s getting married next week, and it’ll be too late if I don’t.”

            “If you get up the nerve, wait until the shower is over, Q.”

            “I’m not crazy, Jackie.  Yolanda would be some kind of pissed off if we ruined all of her hard work.”

            “Yolanda does have it decorated real nice.  What did you get Connie?”

            “Something she can wear with the next man in her life after she gets over Preston.”

            “That’s so sad,” Jackie lamented.  “She may never wear your outfit.”  The ladies laughed.

            “Finally, here are the ladies of the hour,” Queenie whispered to Jackie, as Yolanda and Connie entered the room. 

They were both dressed in sun dresses—Connie in an all-white strapless number that hit right at her ankles and Yolanda in a lavender and white floral print sundress that hit just below the knees.  Their feet and hands were well groomed, each with French tips on both.  Yolanda’s short, silver mane was gorgeous and sculptured to her face, while hints of gray were sprinkled throughout Connie’s short bob.

            “Where’s Emma?” Jackie suddenly asked Queenie.

            “I sent her to the bathroom.” 

Jackie looked at Queenie with a puzzled look on her face.  “Is Emma sick?”

Queenie began to laugh as she thought about her conversation with Emma about the Passion Party.  Queenie decided against telling Jackie about the other part of Connie’s baby shower.  She’d find out on her own. “No, she’s not sick.  Yolanda is waving for everybody to gather around.

“Thank you all for coming out to this special occasion for my sister, Connie,” Yolanda began.  She blew kisses to Connie who sat in the blinged-out chair.  “My sister is getting married, y’all.”  There were claps all around while Queenie and Jackie pinched each other.  “I see the gift table is filled with gifts, and I’m sure Connie is anxious to open them.  We’re going to have a couple of games to see how well you know Connie and her intended.

“Uhm,” Queenie whispered to Jackie.  “Connie doesn’t know her own man.”

“Amen to that, sister.”  Jackie slapped Queenie’s hand.

“After the games, I have a special presentation for you.  We want to make sure Connie is well prepared for her life with her man.  And, you, Connie’s friends will also have a chance to take advantage of the special gifts that I’m blessing my sister with.”

There were ooohs and ahhhs throughout the room.  Some of the ladies were slapping each other. 

“What are they talking about?” Jackie asked.

Emma sat in a seat next to Jackie and Queenie.  “Sex toys,” Emma said.  She couldn’t contain her laughter and gave Queenie a quick wink.  Emma pointed to the table that sat next to the wall.  “See that table over there?”  Jackie shook her head.  “Girl, it’s full of stuff to help you get your freak on.”

“I’m going to leave right after Connie opens her gifts.  As a First Lady, this isn’t the kind of setting I should be in.”

“You aren’t going anywhere,” Queenie admonished Jackie.  “You’re going to sit your butt down and get a little education that’s going to keep the fire burning in your happy home.  Role playing as Samson and Delilah can get a little dull.  Delilah needs some new tricks.”

“You all are full of the devil,” Jackie said with a huff.

Before Queenie could qualify Jackie’s statement, Yolanda passed out paper and pencils to play the first game. The questions were created to see how well Connie’s friends knew her and her fiancé, Preston.  Some knew the couple well, while others didn’t have a clue.  The next game consisted of breaking into groups and creating a wedding dress with a roll of toilet tissue using one of the persons in the group as the model.  There were some very creative creations, and Connie picked a winner from the four groups. 

Instead of having Connie open up her shower gifts, Yolanda made an announcement.  “It’s time for the special presentation.  If you haven’t been to a Passion Party, you’re in for a real treat.”

            “What’s a Passion Party?” Jackie whispered in Queenie’s ear.

            “First Lady, you’re getting ready to find out.  Sit back and relax.  This is the real show.  Connie may not open up her shower gifts after this.”

            “What are we going to do about Connie's situation?”

            “We may have to let her find out the hard way.  After all, my job is on the line.  If I say anything and it blows up in my face and I know that I'm sworn by this confidentiality clause that I signed twenty-something years ago, I won't have any retirement money to support me until I leave this earth.”

            “Dang, Q, you are messed up.  Connie is having a good time anyway.  Why spoil it for her?”

            “Exactly my point, First Lady.  Now shut up.”