“Are you all right? I thought you'd collapsed.”

Danielle was waiting for Monique outside the bathroom.

“It's nothing... I'm just constipated,” Monique replied, blushing.

The two women were due to spend the late afternoon and evening at Danielle's; Monique had packed her overnight bag. When they arrived, Danielle offered.

“I've got some glycerine suppositories if you want to sort out your constipation problem... you'll feel better than having a tummy ache.”

Monique was embarrassed, but agreed it was a good solution. Armed with the medicine, she slipped away to the bathroom.

“I've still got a few things to pick up for dinner. Would you like to go to the mini-market with me?

But “a few things”, even at the mini-market 400 m away, takes a while. So Monique hurried home and immediately went to the bathroom. Danielle smiled as she heard the characteristic “plops”. The cork was gone!

Monique felt a little embarrassed when Danielle presented her with some prunes at the end of the meal... She'd seen her buy them but hadn't made the connection. She felt a little like a little girl being made to go to the potty...