"Playing Dress-Up" (Part 2 of 3)
By Orestes
orestes007@hotmail.com ftp.asstr.org/pub/Authors/Orestes
*** This work is copyright (c) 2000 by Orestes. You may download and keep copies for your personal use as long as the author's byline and e-mail address and this paragraph remain on the copies. Please do not post this story to any web site without permission from the author. All other rights reserved. No alteration of the contents is permitted. ***
I wasn't quite sure how Maxine had found out about my date with Eric. It could have been through her friend at work, who had seen me with him. It could have been a neighbour who had seen me all dolled up, climbing into his car. Hell, maybe the condo queen, Rebecca Mitchell had started a rumour that had found its way to Maxine's ear.
That would be just her style. First, she coerces me into a date with her son, then she makes certain that Maxine finds out about it.
I'd been at it all night explaining it all through my tears, and boiled inside knowing that I'd let Rebecca Mitchell push me into the mistake of a lifetime. Even while furiously pleading for Maxine forgiveness, anger was burning a into through my chest. I swore I'd screw Rebecca up as badly as she was messing with me right now.
" Okay, Crystal even putting aside your stupid behaviour last night, which is far from over, by the way, I still don't get it, why would you let her bully you over some silly writing you do on the internet ? That's all she knows about, right? " Maxine asked firmly.
" Ooohhhh GOD. You didn't - blab about what went down with Lucy, did you? Jesus Crystal, please SAY you didn't..." Maxine blurted out in panic. The question would have been insulting before last night, but it still was not something we spoke of unless absolutely needed, being the shamefull little mess between us.
" NO, and I can't believe you'd have to even ask. Thanks you very much." I said pouting.
" So, you wrote some internet stories. Big deal. I still don't get how you could... " Maxine asked less to me and more no one, still reeling from the whole ugly mess.
These were the questions I dreaded most. I'd never wanted Maxine to see my writing. She wouldn't understand. I just knew it.
It's sick stuff, if I say so myself. Mostly emotional humiliation. The characters in my were a sad collection of neurotic, submissive women, who enjoyed being pissed on (figuratively and literally) by their lovers.
Fantasy stuff.
Except that if you read between the lines, it's all us. Maxine would see it in a second. She would see the recurring themes of a women dominating younger female lovers. Twisted little games of power and humiliation. Mother-daughter incest. And worst of all, the recurring clothing situations in my she'd recognize in a second.
She would smell who they're really about all right, and would be deeply humiliated and understandably by my betrayal of our most private sexual lives. My stories mirrored, in a strange way, the guilt and power that Maxine and I had played since the beginning, when I was a screwed up teen with self-esteem issues.
In reality, we had long grown past these beginnings. In my fantasy life, though, we were still suspended there, and all of my feelings of awkwardness, stupidity, and guilt were fresh on the page. But worst of all, the clothes stuff in my pointed to a darker real life secret, one that neither Max nor I could ever let Rebecca discover, no matter what.
The *Lucy* situation.
" She threatened to prosecute me for publishing obscenity, " I tried to explain. " She threatened that my reputation would be ruined, and no one would want me as an agent. "
Maxine shook her head. She knew I was holding something back. " That's just stupid, " she scolded me. "You aren't that naïve, Crystal. Are you ? You aren't dumb enough to put flush our whole relationship down the toilet over a few threats from the D.A., are you ?"
I shrugged. There was no way I could make her understand. Yes, I knew I was stupid. I was stupid for thinking that I could keep this from Maxine. Stupid to agree to go out on a date with her son. I was stupid to stumble in that night, with barbecue sauce on my clothing, and the taste of sperm in my mouth.
But my concern was real. I would have done anything to avoid digging up the buried emotions from the beginning of our relationship, and what happened before it. My stories would do that. If Maxine read them, I doubt if she'd ever trust me again, let alone our relationship.
Then her anger came, replacing the fear, I was relieved that it changed her focus. "That high and mighty bitch has crossed the line now. This is blackmail. It's prosecutorial misconduct. I'll have her disbarred. I'll have her fired. Hell, I'll sue the bitch. She can't just go around screwing with people this way."
This was the Maxine I loved. Fiercely protective. Even when I couldn't count on myself, I knew I could count on her. Yes, I would still be in trouble for my part in this, but her anger was now directed at Rebecca. I melted into Maxine's arms, and cried softly. Yes. I'd screwed up again, but she would make everything better.
*****
The next day at work, I had lunch with Kristina. She wore the most ridiculous looking bell-bottoms today, and carried around this big colourful backpack. Combined with her oversized wire-framed glasses, she looked more like she belonged in junior high than in a talent agency. Of course, she closed two deals before lunch, so I didn't really have a right to criticize.
" Eat up, Crystal. I'm paying, remember ? "
" Yeah. I'm just a little nervous. "
" What about ?"
" Rebecca Mitchell..."
My friend laughed brightly. " Oh, her. Just forget about it. I talked to her last night, and she seems to be all done torturing you. Just don't her off again. "
" You were talking to her ?"
" God, yes. It's just a little fact of life. As long as I'm living in her neighbourhood, I visit her every week. I suck up a bit, listen to her brag about her latest conquests. You know, just basically stay on her good side. You gotta know how to choose your battles. "
It's a bad sign when an aggressive negotiator like Kristina is ready to roll over without a fight. It didn't help my nerves. Maxine was going to call the bitch from her office today and give her an earful.
" What's up, kiddo ? You still look upset about this. I know it's humiliating to be beaten by Rebecca, but now that it's over, you can just forget about it. "
" I don't think it's over yet, " I admitted.
" What do you mean ? " she asked casually, crumbling some crackers into her soup.
" I think Maxine is going to confront her about it. "
She shook her head in disbelief. " Haven't you gotten your fill yet ? Get it through your head... Rebecca Mitchell is a nasty bitch, and you really don't want to fuck with her. "
" I'm not the one behind this. I mean, yeah, I'd like to get even with Rebecca eventually, but I've had my share of her for now. Max is the one who wants to hire a lawyer and sue. "
Kristina laughed out loud at this one. " Let me get this straight... after challenging Rebecca over a silly condo issue, and seeing how badly she punished you for it, you *really* want to escalate this onto her turf. She's a goddamned lawyer, Crystal. She's not going to be intimidated by legal threats. But can you imagine how pissed off she'll be ? You won't get off with a night on the town with l'il Eric this time. "
My face went bright red.
" You know about the date ?"
" Of course. I told you that Rebecca brags to me about her conquests. She tells me everything. So far, I'm the only one around the complex who hasn't pissed her off. "
" I can't believe you'd still hang out with her after what she made me do. " I said, giving her my best look.
" Come on, Crystal. You know I love you to bits, but there's no way I'm going to war with Rebecca Mitchell. Trust me, you're better off with me in her corner. At least I can give you a head's up if she's planning anything *really* bad. "
" uh...Kristina? How much worse could it possibly get ?"
I asked the question, but my nerves were already telling me the answer. Within the matter of a week, Rebecca Mitchell had dug up my erotic writings, and used them to force me into an act that made my stomach turn.
Now her sights would be on Maxine. I knew that she wouldn't stop. Not until she found out about everything. With that knowledge, she would destroy Maxine.
" If you really want to know how bad it can get, " explained Kristina, " all you have to do is look at Paula Brooks. "
" But I thought you said..."
" Yeah, that if you didn't Rebecca off again, that she would leave you alone. I said it, and it's mostly true. Paula is just in a vulnerable position. She has to rely on Rebecca's kindness because she can't afford pay her condo dues. When you saw Paula dressed in that stupid uniform to do work around the complex, that was just the tip of the iceberg. "
" But why ? I mean, she's doing what Rebecca wants. "
" Yes, but her husband is too proud to go along with it. He gets drunk, and calls up Rebecca with insults. Of course, he's just making it worse for Paula. "
The angry tone in Maxine's voice echoed in my ears. My god. She was going to make things a lot worse for us, too. " So how bad did it get ?"
" Do you really want to know ?"
" Yeah. "
" Well, when Paula was over to clean my house last week... "
" Wait a second... why was Paula cleaning your house ?"
" That's part of it, silly. I'm on Rebecca's good side. So she rewards me by making Paula do little chores for me. You know, to spread the humiliation around a little. " Kristina shrugged.
" But ...don't you feel kind of guilty? I mean, Paula *is* one of our friends after all, right? "
" Hey, she made her bed my agreeing to wear that silly little domestic uniform of Rebecca's to begin with, didn't she? Besides, were still friends. Ask her and she'll tell you, I promise. " Kristina smiled.
" Anyhow, Paula and I got to talking when she was over the other day. When we got onto the subject of our sex lives, she got really quiet. "
I waited for the punch line. Kristina was all too eager to deliver.
" You see, she doesn't have *permission* to have sex with her husband. She needs to phone Rebecca and ask. Rebecca uses it as a way to punish Paula's husband for his harsh words. Of course, that just makes him worse..."
" Oh my god... "
" Once, when I was over for tea, Paula even asked Rebecca for permission to go to the washroom. Rebecca made her wait until we were finished our tea, and she had cleared table. Once Paula was out of the room, Rebecca laughed about it, and told me that sometimes she even made Paula almost herself, just to prove who was boss. "
She watched me for reaction. All in all, she was still taking this rather lightly, as if we were discussing a the latest episode of one of those voyeur shows. She just got a kick out of watching the action.
" So you see, you just have to get on her good side. Suffer through her little humiliations, suck up for a while, and before long, you'll have Paula coming over to do your laundry and dishes. " Kristina paused, staring at me.
I was stuck on that guilty image of Paula parading around in her little outfit doing my laundry, when Kristina's words brought me back. " I really hope you can stop Maxine from making this worse. " She said firmly.
I hoped the same thing. As soon as we were back in the office, I tried calling Maxine. Damn it, she wouldn't answer. I had that sick feeling you get when you're just inching over the edge of that first long drop of a roller coaster.
I spent the rest of my day with that same suspended feeling. A part of me dreaded going home, but I just needed to know how bad the damage was. Nothing could have prepared me for the note on the door.
' I'm over at Rebecca Mitchell's condo. Meet me there. Love Maxine. '
This was bad. The previous night, there would have been nothing on earth that could have convinced Maxine to sit down with the 'Condo Queen Bitch', as we both called her now. There could only be one explanation for this change. Rebecca had something.
" Good evening Crystal. Why don't you join your girlfriend on the sofa, " Rebecca greeted me, with the same serpentine smile she had given me that day by the pool.
Max looked blank. I walked to her unsteadily, hoping that she would look in my eyes, but there was nothing.
" We've been waiting a while, little Crystal. I'm afraid we didn't have much to talk about. You see, I wanted to wait until you were here before we discussed terms of surrender. "
" Surrender ? " I repeated.
" Yes, little one. You know what that tastes like, don't you ? "
The taste was suddenly fresh in my mouth.
" Cut the crap, Mitchell, " Maxine said with false bravado. I could feel her hand trembling beneath mine. "What the hell do you think you can hold over my head ?"
" I handle all sorts of investigations at my office. Saddest of all are the ones where a teacher abuses the trust given by a student, don't you think ?"
The knife was already in place. It had been for years. Rebecca was just giving it a little twist.
" Please, " I began to beg. " You don't understand..."
" You'd do best to stay quiet, girl. Don't tell me you need another date with my son to remind you what your mouth is for. "
My face went red. I wasn't sure how many details Maxine knew about that evening, and I wasn't eager to reveal any more.
" As I was saying, Maxine, I view these cases with sadness. That's why I'm so diligent in tracking down the offenders, even when years have passed. Certainly, it can be painful to dig up the past, but then... there's nothing saying I can't enjoy my job just a little bit. "
I began to cry. Of course, this is exactly what Rebecca wanted. There was a little glow in her eyes as she watched me. My sobs intensified. If this is what she wanted, I would give it to her. Anything to make her stop.
" Now you're wondering what I want from you. Aren't you, Maxine ?"
There was a dark, hateful look in Maxine's eyes. " Yes. "
" That'll be, 'Yes, ma'am'. " Rebecca returned the cold stare to her adversary.
" ......yes, ma'am, " Maxine choked out bitterly.
" Nothing more, really, than I asked of your silly little friend. Just a little gesture of your goodwill toward me and my family. This time, I think I'll arrange a little something for my son, Eddie. "
Everyone knew Eddie. He was the contractor who did all of the maintenance work for the condo development. At just under thirty years old, he was and already had four children. His wife, Amy, was a shy little thing who no one knew very well.
Eddie did enough talking for the both of them. He was loud, ignorant, and had a reputation for screwing around. He spent his days hanging about the complex with his work buddies, drinking beer and leering at the young women.
The thought of Rebecca forcing Maxine into any sort of a situation with this guy was revolting.
" Please, " I tried again. " This is my fault. Let me..."
" Sush, girl. You'll learn to mind your manners yet. "
Maxine squeezed my hand. " Okay. I'll do it. "
She was defeated. I knew the feeling. Rebecca Mitchell had done it to us both now, and all I could think about was getting through this without losing Maxine. If Rebecca wanted to, she could make this very ugly.
" Good. Eddie is having a few friends over to watch a football game tonight. You can go over and provide them a little half-time entertainment. "
Maxine stood. Dropping my hand. This was sick. Maxine wasn't the kind of these would want. She had the full figure of the nearly middle-aged woman that she was, and though I loved every curve of her, she wasn't the kind of woman that Eddie's twenty-something work friends would drool over.
They might even cruelly mock this conservatively dressed figure who was forced to lewdly parade her body before them.
I looked pleadingly at Rebecca again. It should be me. Crude clods like these would like my slimmer body, even with my modest B cups. Of course I'd be revolted by what they'd probably do to me.
But just please not my Maxine.
Rebecca held me in place with her eyes as Maxine slumped out the front door. I desperately wanted to follow her. I wanted to stop her. Or help her. Or something. I even began to stand, my heart racing, before Rebecca's voice cut me off.
" No, no, my dear. They only need one tonight. Don't you worry. If you keep me off, you'll get your chance. But tonight, let's be friends. Nice and civilized. Go and make us some tea, will you ?"
This was insane. The woman I loved was being forced to 'entertain' a group of men, and I was supposed to drink tea with the woman who arranged the whole thing.
She was smiling at me. Just begging me to resist.
I stood and tried to catch my breath. I so desperately wanted to walk towards this smirking woman and beat the living shit out of her.
Instead, I turned and walked to the kitchen.
Who was the last one to serve this bitch tea, I wondered. Paula Brooks, probably. Wearing her silly little smock. I wore no costume today. Not that I didn't know the feeling I fumed furious at the thought.
Paula wore hers for Rebecca. I wore mine for Maxine. But I was nothing like Paula, was I?. That poor was in much lower class in Rebecca's mind, I stubbornly pouted. The ugly similarities, somehow, while I was boiling water for tea, burned hot behind my face. When I climbed into those clothes for Maxine, and tied my hair up into little pony tails, and...
god, the lisp...
the humiliation washed over me.
Now, as I set up a tray of tea cups and biscuits, I could feel that same sense of repulsed regression, of furious surrender... only this time from Rebecca. And so much stronger.
Goddamn. The way my body reacted, I might as well have been playing dress up with Maxine. I hopelessly fought to erase the lurid images flashing through my mind. Of those damned fucking clothes, and the nightmarish joke I became while parading around in them.
I swallowed my anger and struggled to hold the tray steady as I crept back into the room. I was so afraid that I would drop something. She would punish me further for that. For anything. I just needed to please her. Get on her good side, just like Kristina said.
" That's a good girl, " Rebecca said in a condescending tone that made my skin crawl. " Set it down and pour me a cup. "
She could see my nerves. That twisted little smile of hers never left her lips. She just kept on talking. God, how she enjoyed her little conquests.
" I guess you're wondering how I know about your lover's little indiscretions in school, hmmm ? Oh, come on, Crystal... I'm sure you want to know. "
I nodded weakly.
" It was your stories, actually. You didn't think I spent all that time digging them up, and then not actually read them, did you ?"
I frowned.
" Sick little details. / themes. Quite a little kink. At first, I thought Maxine might actually be your mother. Too literal an interpretation, I'll admit, but you do ramble on about it quite a lot. No, it's just a substitute relationship. Age difference. Power exchange. Am I getting warm ?"
My body was. I had never shared these with anyone in real life. Not even Max. My sick little fantasy life had been safely tucked away in cyberspace, until Rebecca Mitchell came along. Just hearing her talk about them gave me little shivers of humiliating arousal, despite my pure hatred of her.
" Then there was the student/teacher theme.... " she continued.
And then she paused.
God, this was killing me. It was torture. She expected me to listen to her little of glory, all the while, it was killing me not knowing what those pigs were doing to Maxine. Just finish your goddamned story, I wanted to yell at her. I needed to know how she found out about Lucy.
" I had a stressful day at work today. As I imagine you did. Nothing quite compares to making a court appearance. For me, the stress always gives me sore feet. "
She stretched out her long legs, as if to display her high heels, and watched me expectantly.
I flashed on my little costume. In the bedroom. With Maxine touching me for the first time... again... and again.
I dropped to my knees in front of her.
" Oh, goodness. Are you going to rub my feet, dear ?"
" Yes, Mrs. Mitchell, " I said, as calmly as I could manage. " please, don't let me interrupt your story. "
Fuck. Why was I suggesting stuff, adding even? I was even acting like this was voluntary! The arrogant bitch! Like I really enjoyed being on my knees in front of her, I fumed as I stared at the shoes sadly.
" Oh yes... I was telling you how I figured out about Maxine and her student. The student/teacher theme appeared again and again. I thought it might be you. The student, that is. But, do you know what I found ? Maxine never taught classes in your school. Isn't that strange ?"
I bit my lower lip as I pulled off her shiny black shoes, leaving her bare feet in my hands. I just wanted to know how much she knew. Had she actually tracked down Lucy ? I urged her on with some gentle rubbing.
" But the details in your stories... they're so specific. A in ponytails. She speaks with a lisp. And her teacher is very much the physical match with Maxine. Well..."
I rubbed harder, as if trying to squeeze the information out of her.
" Mmm... that feels good. My lovely little Crystal. You were just born to rub feet. "
My face went red. She was delaying again.
" Then it struck me. It's not you at all. Of course, you write the in first person... almost in excessive detail. What she wore. The way she braided her hair. The way she talked. She kind of shoes she put on. It was too specific... like a sexual fetish. This was Maxine's lover, not yours. "
God, she was so close to the truth. But not quite there...
" I don't know who she is yet, Crystal. It might be difficult to track her down. Does it surprise you that I was bluffing a little ? That Maxine is probably letting my son do unspeakable things to her right this moment, on an empty threat ?"
I wished it was empty. We both knew different. The fact that I kept rubbing her feet, with a tenderness that I rarely even gave to Maxine, was proof of that.
" Of course, you know I'll track it down. It's just a matter of time. "
I felt the last of my anger melt into submission as I nodded my head passively as I rubbed her aching feet. Did Paula do this for her, I wondered. Did she feel as dirty doing it as I did ?
" It would probably make it easier for me if you told me all about it, hmmm Crystal ? There's so much detail in your stories. The clothing especially. Does Maxine have a little bit of a clothing ?"
" ...do you? "
My heart was beating out of control. She was so damned close to the answers. I knew that I wouldn't be able to resist her for long. If she asked me enough, I'd eventually tell her the answers.
Right now, I was hers.
Then I did the only thing I could think of to stop me from revealing our secret to her...
anything to take her mind off of Lucy...
Slowly, while she watched with that devilish smile, I brought her foot closer to my face...
and the first of her toes into my mouth.
*****
I must have been shaking pretty visibly, because Kristina took this look of concern, and helped me in to her apartment.
" I guess it didn't go too well..."
" God, I need your help, Kristina. Please help me out of this. "
She looked down over her glasses as I spoke, with a serious, almost owl-like expression.
" I haven't told you everything. Maxine and I have a secret. We've always had this secret. Rebecca is so close to the truth, she can smell blood. It could be *really* bad if she finds out. "
" Just let it out, " Kristina said, with an understanding tone.
" I first met Max when I was quite young, " I told her.
" I know that. You already told me. What were you, eighteen ? " she asked.
" No. Much younger. Illegally younger. "
"Uh...okay.....*how* much....younger? " she cautiously asked, the tone of her voice thickening.
" Fifteen," I blurted out. I waited for that crisp laugh that Kristina always had at her disposal, or the sound of her sigh of relief that she was OKAY with it, with me, with the whole dark ugly mess. Wanted for that sound -
- but didn't get it.
Kristina looked down as if carefully gauging her words. I could tell she disapproved, and I felt like I'd been kicked in the stomach. Telling her felt like a mistake. I just needed someone to help me through this. Someone on my side.
" Look, that's in the past. It doesn't matter what I, or anybody else, thinks. You two are a legal couple now. let's just forget about it, all right? " she said, mustering up her best false compassionate smile.
" That's not all. I'm telling you this because I need someone I can trust. If Rebecca got a hold of this, she could have Max thrown in jail, even after all this time. There's one more sick little secret. Maxine was involved with one of her school students, long before she met me. The was young. Max knew it was wrong. It was a violation her trust as a teacher. "
" They had a passionate fling. Then Maxine got transferred to another district, and she forced herself to break things off with Lucy at the same time, " I revealed to her. Kristina stared in shock at what I was telling her about her prim and proper neighbours.
" Max used to teach a special education class, and the girl has a lisp when she spoke. I never met the girl, but I could tell that Maxine still held a place for Lucy in her heart. We sort of....well....she never got rid of some of the girl's things. Clothes and stuff. I know, it sounds a little weird, but she just sort of drifted into it, over time..."
" Crystal, are you telling me you dress in her clothes? " she asked incredulously.
" No, no, nothing like that. Well, sometimes. Not all of them. I know, it seems strange, but it helps to get Maxine aroused. Just sort of role playing. And we don't do it every time, I promise..." I said my voice trailing off.
" It's a bit...well.. odd... for a woman would have a clothing thing, isn't it? That sounds more like something would be into," she said. I could just about see the brand new images of me flashing through her eyes as she avoided my gaze.
" It's not about the clothes Kristina. It just a way for Max to work through her guilt over her lover, and if that helps her..." I tried.
" Honey, that's bull. It's a way of being cruel to you, that's what it is. She isn't even there with you, she just pretending you're another of her teen aged conquests, doesn't that strike you as pathetic? Doesn't it make you outraged and hurt? I mean, Christ, it sounds like she really is a bit of a pedophile. "
I said nothing, tears forming in my eyes.
" Kristina, it's my idea sometimes. She doesn't *make* me either. It just helps me to excite her."
" God Crystal... I don't want to sound harsh, but this is really sick! It's unhealthy for both of you. " she continued. " I'm not going to even get into Maxine's pattern of preying on girls, let alone abusing mentally handicapped students for her own selfish sexual gratification! "
" Lucy wasn't mentally impaired, she just lisped, that's all." I said desperately.
" Well, excuse me. That makes it all right then. " Kristina said. " Don't look at me like that. If you didn't want my opinion, you shouldn't have told me about this. You can't expect me to approve of her actions."
" Kristina, we've known each other for years now. I know you don't understand, but if our relationship has meant ANYTHING to you in the past, then....I need, WE need your help. The only person I've loved since I was 15 years could be sent to prison, all 'cause some bitch wants to turn our lives upside down, and you're the only one who has any leverage with her. Will you.....help us? " I tearfully pleaded.
Kristina looked at my watery face, and I finally heard that sweet sound of her sigh, the one I'd longed for from the beginning. She looked piercingly into my eyes, holding me by either shoulder.
" Okay, Crystal. You know I'm on your side. But this is damaging. Really damaging. You're totally right. Rebecca would destroy Maxine with this information. But if you want me to help you, you have to tell me the truth...
...all of it. "
I nodded, all of my defences gone by now.
" If I'm going to go to Rebecca Mitchell, and tell her that I'm on your side, I don't want any surprises. I mean it. If she digs up one detail... from your stories... wherever... that you don't tell me, I'll walk away."
" It's too embarrassing, " I began. But I needed her so badly. I needed someone to be strong for us. "When Max... dresses me up... and reaches up my skirt... and fingers me... she wants me to lisp, like Lucy did. "
This was dirty. No one should ever know this. I felt dirty, and uncontrollably aroused, just revealing these details to Kristina.
Could she see it ? Could Kristina see how just saying the words was affecting me ?
I began to speak again, telling her how Maxine explores my body. How she likes me to pretend that no one has ever touched me before. I told every detail of the little conversations between student and teacher that we had rehearsed so many times.
It wasn't until I was half way through telling her that I realized that I had begun lisping...
like Lucy...
and it felt so good, that I didn't want to stop.
***
Look for part 3 of this coming within a week
Check out this and other twisted tales at my ASSTR ftp site at: ftp.asstr.org/pub/Authors/Orestes Comments can be forwarded to: orestes007@hotmail.com
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