Joe thought this was the year I’d lose this bet. I’ve known Joe for a long time, we’ve been friends since childhood. He bet me a thousand dollar... that his team would not only win. But they’d cover the seven-point spread they were favored by.Well. His team lost. And by twenty-four points. Would’ve been higher, if we’d not given up so many garbage points in the last quarter.That following Saturday I stopped by Joe’s place to collect. Joe wasn’t there, but Dianna was. She knew I’d be there to. "Hi, mind if I join you? Looks wonderful with the bubbles and steam," I said, using the universal hot-tub greeting from some stranger who is about to invade your space.Both opened their eyes briefly, then he replied, "Sure. Come ahead." [Little did I know that a double entendre was involved].I waded in and eased into the water, sitting half-way down the right side. I didn't want to crowd them but I was pissed that I couldn't get to my favorite spot. I closed my eyes and leaned back to enjoy the. Like the slave whose picture i had partially seen in the studio, this slave had a grossly distended belly and it suddenly struck me that he was pregnant. Of course, i would learn later that the development of an artificial womb several decades earlier had drastically changed child-bearing responsibilities in this Matriarchal society. For centuries, males had been subservient to Womyn here, but in the last 20 years or so technology had also allowed childbirth to be added to their long list of. Carl was sitting in the living room working on the computer when she walked in and sat next to him. He had sent Marie out shopping when she threw a minor tantrum, telling him that she was bored and if she didn't get out of the suite she was going to jump out of the window. Becca did not speak right away and he continued to work to give her whatever time she needed."Carl, can I talk to you," she asked."What did you want me to do now? You know that I can never repay the money Howard stole from.