"You'll see." Ashley said, enjoying knowing something I did not.
Everyone moved to a tighter circle at Phoebe's feet. Roger handed Phoebe the deck, bowed his head, and said. "Your wish is my command, your majesty."
"Sit down." she ordered,
"I'd like to know what it is we're playing." I told Phoebe.
"Everyone gets a card, one card each round," she explained. "The one with the lowest in value has to reveal a secret, and if we don't think it's much of a secret, he or she takes off an article of clothing. As you can see. I'm at a big disadvantage since I'm the only one still in a bathing suit."
"Who can say if someone's secret isn't much?" I asked.
"Are you suggesting we would all be unfair? Besides, it has to be a unanimous rejection, so don't worry about it, Grassy."
"I don't like to be called that. It makes me sound like a pothead." I declared.
"You're far from that," Phoebe agreed. "Okay, I'll think of a new name for you."
"What's wrong with my name as it is?"
It sounds too goody-goody. Grace." she spat disdainfully. "Don't worry about it. Let's begin." She dealt each of us a card. "One additional rule. If you don't think you have the lowest card, or even if you think you do, you can refuse to show it. Someone can challenge you If yours isn't the lowest, you get a pass when you get the lowest. If it is, you have to reveal two secrets."
"What happens to the person who challenges?"
"No one ever asked that before," Wally said.
"She's smart," Ashley said. Phoebe glared at her, and she looked down.
"If you don't have the lowest, that person has to reveal his or her secret even though he or she doesn't have the lowest card. So there's risk on both ends."
"The person challenging should have to reveal two secrets. too." I said. "To make it logical and fair."
"All right. two. Satisfied? Damn, This isn't some school game."
"Forcing people to tell secrets can backfire on everyon
e," I advised them.
"Oh, please, stop being such a... a Grace," she said, and gave me those narrow eyes again, dark brown streaks of suspicion. "I bet you're still a virgin."
"Hey, that could be one of her secrets," Roger chimed in.
"Right. Only one look at her, and see it's not much of a secret." Phoebe quipped. "So don't try to use it," she warned me. "All right, check your cards and make your moves. Who is confident?"
"I am." Wally said, and put a king on the floor.
"Lucky creep," Roger said. He revealed a seven of spades.
Phoebe looked at me. "Tell you what. Grace," she said. "I'll challenge you and make the game exciting right away."
"But I haven't refused to show my card."
"That's all right. I threw a challenge anyway, and like I said. if I have a higher card than you have, you reveal a secret even if you don't have the lowest card in the group. If I don't, I have to reveal a secret."
I don't remember being able to do that," Ashley said. "You always had to wait for someone to refuse."
"We can make up new rules as we go along. That's the fun of it," Phoebe snapped at her. "Well?" she asked, looking at me, "Accept or decline the challenge?"
"It doesn't make any sense." I said If I had the lowest card in the group. I'd lose, I would lose either way,"