"I cannot figure out what happened to my sock," Dennis said in an exasperated tone, "I had both my socks
during the game didn't I?"
"Of course, you did, Dennis," Mr. Conrad said, "I'd have noticed if you were missing a sock. You were
properly dressed, and I recall you put your socks in your shoes before closing your locker. Check to see if
anything else is missing. Your wallet, credit cards, cash?"
"You think someone broke into my locker and stole my sock?"
"Well, I've heard of more perverse things. My daughter Jenny had her panties stolen from her dorm room.
Fortunately, she had left her web cam on, and they arrested the 40 year old janitor. But I think it more
likely, that they were after your watch or cash, and may have knocked the sock out of your shoe or taken it
out. I usually put my watch in my shoe, so they may have been looking for that."
"Nothing else is missing - at least I don't think so. I've got $68 in my wallet, but I thought I had 4
twenties. My wife sometimes takes out a $20 though, and she said that she might this morning?"
"More than likely the thief figured you wouldn't notice $20. And if they hadn't taken your sock, you might
not have noticed it. I bet they can make a nice haul, if all they do is take a twenty from each locker. Let
me check my wallet too."
"But why the sock? You're not missing one are you?"
"No. But you're younger than me, Dennis, maybe you're their type?" he shrugged.
"You mean his type?"
"Armando," Donald said calling over one of the locker room attendants, "My friend here is missing a sock that
I saw him lock in his locker earlier, and he's also missing a $20."
"Sir, I - wait - but no it couldn't be. A white sock?"
"Yes, just like this," Dennis said holding up his remaining sock.
"Uh, well, Mr. Bouvier's son was in here, but I didn't see him change, but I saw him shove a sock into his
pocket. I really didn't think anything of it at the time."
"Bouvier," Donald Conrad said shaking his head, "I heard some rumors about him. Goes to the same college as my
daughter. Something about him and his coach - he got booted from the team. Coach is about your age, I think.
Must have an Electra Complex."
"You mean Oedipus?"
"No, he's fixated on father figures in an unnatural way. Wonder if his old man, uh, well, you know," he said
putting a finger to the side of his nose.
Dennis ran his hand nervously through his fingers. He wasn't sure, but what if Jeff had been his sock. What if
pervy Bouvier had taken him?
"Now, Dennis, it's only a sock. Don't get so upset," Donald Conrad said in a soothing tone.
"Uh, yeah, only a sock, yeah. Uh huh," Dennis muttered in a distracted tone.
"I understand. Even though it's only a sock, it could have been something else. You feel violated, but you've
done nothing wrong. My daughter went through the same thing when that creep stole her panties. Don't give into
those emotions, that's making him the winner. You're fine, all your clothes are there - except for the sock,"
Conrad was trying to be sympathetic. He knew how his daughter had felt, but this was his subordinate, this
was a man, and- suddenly, Donald Conrad got angry. This was his man, his employee, his guest at the Country
Club. His rival's son had burgled and stolen from his man, his guest. He clapped Dennis on the shoulder,
"Don't worry at all. I'll take care of everything. You just go home and relax. Take Monday off. Put this whole
unseemly incident out of your mind, Dennis."
He walked over to Armando and whispered, "You don't have video surveillance in here do you?"
"In the locker room? No way, sir. Oh, wait, we do in the lobby, and when I saw Bouvier he was going through
the locker room door. There's a chance you can see him stuffing the sock into his pocket. I'll take you to the
security camera monitors," Armando said.
Dennis was distracted as he dressed hurriedly. He had to get home. Maybe Jeff was the sock he still had, but
he didn't think so. A father knows. Oh, why had he worn Jeff? Why - how had Jeff changed? That computer!
Dennis had to get home to see if he could reverse Jeff's transformation. He dashed out of the locker room with
one shoe untied and his shirt tail hanging out. He tipped the valet one of his three twenties, and raced home.