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Rewards of Virtue

By: SW_MO_Hermit



The screen door slammed open and Mrs. Fielding heard running footsteps then a young voice said, "MAMMA, MAMMA there's a new girl in school and the teacher made her sit by me. I think she's nice. She rode the school bus home tonight and sat by me and everything. She said her daddy was the new preacher. Can I have her come over sometime and play?"

Janice Fielding smiled and pulled her 6-year-old son into her lap as he slid to a stop beside her chair. "Slow down Son," she said. "I'm glad you made a new friend. Why don't you tell me all about her while we wait for time to make supper? After her parents have time to get settled in their new home we'll talk about having her and her family come visit." 

After Alex had run out of things to say about his new friend Janice asked, "Now, do you have homework you need to do young man?" When Alex nodded his head yes she said, "Well you know the rules. You have to do homework before anything else. Now get busy young man."

Alex's older sister Barbara wandered into the room to see her mother as Alex walked dejectedly into the kitchen to do his homework. Mrs. Fielding smiled at her 9-year-old daughter when she saw her rolling her eyes over her brother's antics. Janice began thinking about the new family. The moving van she had seen leaving town last Friday must have been the one they had used to deliver their furniture. 

She needed to go welcome the new folks to the area and help them feel at home. She was glad they had a child Alex's age. There weren't many children living near enough for Alex and Barbara to visit and play with conveniently. Janice decided she would just make a nice cake and she and Alex would take it down when they were finished with their supper. They only lived about two miles from town on the small family farm that had been in her husband's family since 1882. It would only be a short drive and she wanted to meet the people anyway.

Later that evening Mr. Fielding came rattling up on the combine as she was putting the food on the table. He was in the middle of harvesting their soybeans so she knew he wouldn't be interested in going with them. During the meal she told him she was going to town for a short time after supper. Before she could say why young Alex once again began talking.

"Yeah Dad. There's a new girl in school and Mama thinks they moved into that old house on the edge of town last week. That's where she got off the school bus tonight. My teacher told her to sit by me and she asked me to take care of her. She's real pretty. Can I have her come over and play?"

Donald Fielding looked at his wife and smiled. Then he turned to Alex and said, "Of course you can son but you need to remember she may not want to spend a lot of time with you here. After all, she may be a city girl and may not like to play the same games you do. She may want to do things with her girl friends."

Before he left to go back to the field Donald walked around the table and leaned down to give his wife a gentle kiss. She held his hand to her breast and looked deeply into his eyes as he started to stand. She felt her pussy moisten and smiled gently. Even after all these years this man could stir her so deeply just with his touch. She constantly prayed Alex and Barbara would one day find a mate that did that to them. She loosened her grip and watched him stand so tall. 

He said, "I'll probably be late again tonight. I still have almost 200 acres to cut and I'll work as long as it's dry enough. Have to get the beans in so I can get ready to plant the wheat. Janice was a little sad because she felt he was much too young to look as tired and worn out as he did. She knew he loved his life here on the farm but it was a hard one. Even with her help one man had trouble working the whole 1640 acres, especially during the busy parts of the year. She once again looked into his eyes as she whispered, "I love you honey. You be careful out there while we're gone. Please try to get in early. I don't want you getting hurt because you're too tired and get careless."

Alex could barely wait for his mother and sister to finish cleaning up after supper. "Come on Mom," he said. "It's getting late. Let's go."

Finally everything was done to his mother's satisfaction and she smiled down at Alex. "OK Honey. Go get in the car and we'll go. Do you want to come also Barbara?"

During her visit with the new family Alex's mother found out that Alice was an only child and that her father had grown up in the town. She had met and married Don at college and even after eleven years living in Steelville she didn't know everyone or the names of many of the children that had grown and moved out of town. 

Alice's grandmother still lived in the house Mr. Fowler was raised in. He had been pastor in a small church near where he went to college until his mother had told him that the town's only surviving Church was looking for a new minister. He applied and got the job. It didn't pay much because the congregation was small but he wanted to move back home so he took the position. He and his wife were looking for part time work to help support the family. They planned to stay in town indefinitely.

That was the start of Alex's long friendship with Alice Fowler. Like most young people their friendship waxed and waned as they grew and matured. Alex had the same thoughts about Alice as he did other girls. When he was younger they were fun to play with just like one of the boys. Then as she and he aged she became a "dumb ole Girl" for several years. 

Because her father was the minister of the towns' church she attended services with her family three times a week. She and her family were very busy with church business, visitation, weddings, and funerals. Reverend Fowler and his wife became honored and respected members of the community. They were always helping a family with problems. They used the church to foster many beneficial programs including an after school program for the young people in the area. At this program Alex and Alice became even better friends. They told everyone that would listen that they were going to marry each other. Then, of course, came the "dumb ole girl" stage and their "love" for each other cooled for several years. 

Many of the town's parents worked out of town because Steelville was so small. In fact it had became a bedroom community and most parents worked in factories or stores in one of the two larger cities 22 and 40 miles away respectively.

Mrs. Fowler decided she would open a day care center in the church for the children of the community. She would take a child on an ongoing weekly basis or occasionally as the parents required. Eventually she had so many children in her day care she had to hire help. Her income from this was more than enough to make life for the Fowler family very comfortable when it was added to Reverend Fowlers pay from the church.

One of the ladies she hired was Alice's Grandmother. This was where Alex met her. Occasionally his mother needed to run to town for something or she and his father wanted to go somewhere alone and they used the church's babysitting service. As he aged Alex didn't need much supervision but they sent him there until he was old enough to stay home alone. This is where he first met Hope Fowler. He adopted her as his honorary grandmother and she seemed to fall in love with him. Many times Alex would just go visit Hope on his own. As he aged they would play board games or occasionally croquet. Many times his friend Alice would join them.

Like most children as they aged Alice, Alex and their other friends of similar age became curious about the opposite sex. From time to time they would sneak away from the day care center to either Grandma Hope's home or one of the other houses and play.  

From that time on they played with each other regularly. Sometimes there were other boys or girls with them when they either went swimming in the local stream or sneaked away to be alone together. Alice always seemed to have many more male friends than she did female ones. In truth she was the most popular girl in school.

Just after they turned 18 Alice taught Alex how to play with a girl's pussy and tits. He had only ever touched a few of his other girlfriends through their clothes before Alice let him get her naked and taught him the way she liked to be played with. Alex was always very excited and very scared when they were naked together. The first time Alex gave Alice an orgasm he was scared he hurt her. "No you dummy," she said. "That felt wonderful. I screamed because you made me feel so good. Feel how wet you made my pussy," she said as she guided his hand to her pussy once more.

Alex was awestruck. He had never seen a girl's pussy that wet before. He began playing with it again and Alice began moaning and thrusting her hips toward him, trying to get more of his fingers into her little cunny. Alex felt good, almost like THE man. Alice had one more little orgasm then pushed Alex away. She took hold of his hard cock and began jacking it. Alex lost his concentration and quit playing with her. All his attention was centered on his cock and what she was doing to it. All at once he tensed up and felt his cock pulsing as he shot what little cum he contained onto Alice's hand.

Alex watched in awe as she raised her hand to her mouth and licked it clean. "Why did you do that Alice," he asked?

I have been watching some of Daddy's movies and all the girls in them do that. If they suck the boys they let them do it in their mouth and then swallow it. I just wanted to see what it tasted like."

"WOW," Alex said. "You mean they put... I mean I didn't know that you could do that. Will you do it for me sometime?"

"Well maybe. I'm not sure I would want that thing in my mouth but I might. I just wanted to taste it right now," Alice said.

Shortly after that evening Alice refused to go with Alex any longer. She had taken up that old pastime of many young girls-Prick Teasing. One evening when Alex was in town he saw Alice in a car with one of the older boys that lived in town. She was kissing him then later he saw her bend her head down and put it in his lap. The next day he asked her about it and she told him Jason was her boy friend. Alex was heart broken. He had been trying to take Alice on a date for months now. He felt so hurt when she told him that because he thought they were boyfriend and girlfriend.

Before long Alice quit going with Jason and went with another boy. Alex saw her with several boys over the next several months but none of the relationships seemed to last long. Rumors about how easy Alice was began to circulate through out the school and finally the town. Alex didn't believe them though because Alice was his friend and he knew she wouldn't do the things the boys said she did. The next time he found out Alice was without a boyfriend Alex asked her for a date once more. This time she said yes. He was so happy when she said yes. 

They started dating the spring of their senior year in high school. They went steady until the Christmas break of their freshman year of college. They played all the games young lovers do. On their first date while they were driving down the street in town Alice reached over and unzipped Alex's pants. She drug his cock out and before he could ask her what she was doing she had bent down and slipped her lips over it. He felt her head bobbing up and down while her tongue caressed his cock. Like most young men he shot off very fast. Alice swallowed it all then kissed the head of his cock and put him away.

When Alice sat back up in her seat she looked at Alex and gave him a little smile then licked her lips. After they cruised the streets a while they went out to his grandparent's resort and walked along the riverbank. They found a secluded spot and Alice let him unbutton her top and play with her bare breasts. Alex knew he was in love with Alice after that night. All he could think of was her and how much fun she was. 

Finally over spring break Alice had let Alex make love to her. This was his first time and he thought he had died and gone to heaven. He had sneaked out a key to one of the cabins in the family's resort and they spent their whole date there. Alice let him get her completely naked and lay while he worshipped her young body.

They began kissing and fondling then Alice pushed Alex's head toward her engorged nipples. She moaned and pressed her breasts toward him when he sucked on them. He was fingering her dripping cunt while he did that. Later Alice pushed his head lower and pulled him against her wet cunt. Alex tentatively licked her there then pulled his head back. It didn't taste bad but she was a little strong, acidic tasting. He didn't like the taste but he sure liked how slick it was. He licked her some more and when she began whimpering again he rose over her and moved his cock toward her treasure. Alice smiled as she guided him to her portal. She looked him in the eyes when he began thrusting, feeding his cock into her young tight cunt.

Alex felt indescribable. It was so hot and wet and tight. This had to be the best feeling in the whole world. Now he knew why all the older boys and some of the girls talked about it so much and loved it so much. He felt his balls drawing up near the base of his cock. He tightened his muscles and drove harder and faster into young Alice. Then it happened. He knew it was happening and he groaned out in pleasure then felt his spunk spew from the end of his cock as it contracted and released over and over. He held himself tightly against Alice as he spent himself. Alice was moaning and thrusting her hips against him, pulling him tighter to her with her heels locked behind his thighs. 

Unfortunately, like most young men he didn't last long enough in this, his first time. While he was grunting out his orgasm Alice looked up at him and hit him on the shoulder. "NO, Not yet. Oh, Alex how could you? I'm just barely getting started. I'm not there yet. Damn you why didn't you wait for me?"

Alex was so embarrassed he could have died. He blushed and began apologizing while his now limp cock slipped out of Alice. "Honey, I'll make it up to you. Just give me a minute or two to rest."

She sat up on the edge of the bed and glared at him. "No Alex. Just take me home. I'll take care of it myself. Why I believed you could take care of me is beyond me. You didn't learn anything from those other girls did you?"

"What do you mean? How was I supposed to learn anything from them," Alex asked.

"Well most girls try to teach their lovers how to take care of a woman. You mean none of them told you what to do for them or to hold back until they were ready to cum? You didn't even remember much about what we did when we were younger. I just can't believe you."

"Alice, honest, there weren't any other girls," he said. 

Alice looked at him in shock and said, "Yeah, right. Don't feed me that line. I've seen you out with several girls from school."

Alex blushed a little and replied, "Well yeah, but you're the first one I've..." Alex said.

"Oh my GOD you mean I got your cherry?" Alice screamed. "Oh my gosh. I can't believe you haven't done this before. Oh, this is just too good."

By now Alex was feeling upset and embarrassed. He just got out of the bed and began dressing. While Alice dressed he straightened up the room then, again without speaking they walked to his truck and he took Alice home. He didn't even try to kiss her when she jumped out and ran into her house. He called her three days later for another date but she refused. She said she had to do a church thing and maybe next time. Alice did date Alex twice more before summer but she didn't seem nearly as anxious for him to take her out. She didn't let him make love to her but she did let him play with her pussy and breasts. She was telling him what she liked and guiding him while he touched her.

The couple did not date during the summer and fall. The week before Christmas Alex called to see if Alice would go out with him that Saturday. Alice told Alex she couldn't go out then because they were busy at the church getting it ready for Christmas services. Alex was upset but this was not something new. Lately when he called Alice she had been refusing a lot. She said she had been helping her parents a lot more frequently with church business. She said over and over that between studying and helping her parents she just didn't have time to date. She said now that she was older they trusted her more and wanted her to help with the important holiday preparations.

Since he didn't have a date the Saturday before Christmas Alex just went down town to hang with his friends. They were walking from the pool hall over to the small quick pick store. They cut through the church parking lot and heard shrieks coming from one of the cars parked there. They walked up and looked in the window. Alice was in the back seat and Jason, one of her first boyfriends, was slamming his cock to her. She was moaning and groaning loudly.

The boys watched while her hips thrust up against Jason when he thrust downward. Her heels were locked behind his thighs and her hands were rubbing and clawing at his back as she wailed. They heard him groan and say, "Unhhhh. Oh GOD you are so good. I can't believe you called me back though. I thought you said you were going to get Alex to marry you and were done with us guys?"

"Oh, I am going to marry Alex honey. He just doesn't know it yet. I just needed some of your loving because Alex is the absolute worst fuck in the world. I've been trying to teach him something but I just have to have some on the side at least until he learns how to satisfy a woman."

Alex was heartbroken. He listened to the slap, slap, slap of Jason's and Alice's bellies coming together. Tears began to course down his cheeks. He turned without a word and walked away from the car. His friends looked first at him then through the window, then back at him. It was obvious they really wanted to stay and watch Alice get fucked but finally they decided to go with Alex and try to console him.

When they caught up with him Jack, his oldest and best friend said, "Hey man. She's a skank. Always was and always will be. Hell, she has fucked almost every boy in town and most of them in our class. I thought you knew and were just trying to get some too."

Alex turned to him and snarled, "Just shut up. I thought she was special. Now I know I was just a mistake. Well fuck her. She can just die and go to hell." The boys went back to the pool hall and shot a few more games then all went home. 

Alex never called Alice again. After three weeks school started for spring and he saw her in the hallway their first day back. She tried to talk to him but he just walked around her and kept going. Alice stood in the middle of the hallway and stared after him. She looked shocked and there were tears in the corner of her eyes.

Her girlfriends watched in silence too then one of them asked, "What was that all about Alice? I thought you were going steady with Alex? He doesn't know about your dates with Jason and the guys does he?"

Alice was crying when she replied, "I don't know. We've been careful to not go where he is and I never let them take me anywhere we might be seen. I just don't know what's wrong." 

That evening after class Alice was waiting beside Alex's truck when he walked out to go home. He tried to get into the truck without talking to her but she wouldn't move. Finally he looked at her and said, "What do you want?"

"I want to know why you haven't called me and why you just ignored me today? I thought we were going steady?"

"I don't think so Alice. I heard what you said to Jason before Christmas. I saw you fucking him in the church parking lot and I don't want anything else to do with you. Now will you get out of my way so I can go home? I have a lot of work to do before I can finish my homework". 


Rewards of Virtue



Alice collapsed on the parking lot and held her head in her hands. She was crying and wailing at Alex. "Oh Alex please don't do this. I want to be with you but I need a good fucking once in a while. I know I can be your woman after you learn how to take care of me. I really don't like the other boys but you just need to learn how to make love. I'll teach you but honey ..."

Alex broke in and said, "NO! I don't want anything to do with a SKANK. I had heard rumors but I didn't believe them. I thought you were a nice girl and I wanted to be with you. Now I don't. Just get the hell away from me." He reached down and pulled Alice up from the ground. He guided her over to the sidewalk and returned to his truck to head home. 

Alice drove home dejectedly, tears streaming down her cheeks. As she was passing her grandmother's home the old lady saw her and waved. For some reason Alice went around the block and pulled into her grandmother's driveway. When she stopped her grandmother called out to her. "Child what ever is the matter with you? Come in here and tell me about it."

Alice slowly walked up to the porch and inside the old house. Her grandmother led her to the living room and sat down beside her on the couch. "Now tell me what's wrong honey."

Alice looked at her and began crying again. She said, "Alex saw me and Jason at church the Saturday before Christmas and he broke up with me today. He called me a Skank and said he didn't want anything else to do with me."

Mrs. Fowler looked at Alice a moment then said, "Alice what do you mean he saw you at church Saturday before Christmas? I don't remember having church that day. What were you doing there?"

"Oh grandma. Jason and I were in his car behind the building talking and..."

"Alice Fowler what were you doing going out with Jason again. I thought we all told you to stay away from that young man. Why would Alex call you a skank because you were talking to Jason... Alice are you sure you were talking to Jason? I've been hearing some pretty unflattering things about you lately. Did you maybe do something Alex didn't think his girl friend should be doing?"

Alice looked at her grandmother and then ran from her house crying once again. The old lady watched her leave and said to herself, "I'm sorry boy. I know my granddaughter is a Skank and I'm sorry you got hurt by her."

That evening seemed to be a watershed for Alice. She became less careful to hide her screwing around. It became common knowledge that any boy, any man for that matter, that got her alone could fuck her. If rumors could be believed she became an exceptionally good piece of ass too. She seemed to have a natural talent for fucking and loved men. Many times she let it be known that the more men she could have that night, the merrier. She almost became a gangbang queen.

Alice always had a wonderful singing voice. For years she had sang in the church choir. Many Sunday's during the service she sang a solo. When Alice sang anywhere people would stop to listen in rapture. All were amazed and uplifted by the pure clear sound coming from her mouth. Over the years the choir became so good that they traveled to perform. Slowly rumors began to circulate about Alice and some of the men in the choir and some of the men and boys she met during these trips. Wives, girlfriends and mothers began to complain when they saw their husband, boyfriend or son talking to Alice. They knew she was on the prowl again and wanted to protect their men from her. One Tuesday night just after choir practice the wife of the choir director caught him and Alice having sex in the church.

This was the last straw. Alice was excommunicated from the church and her father was asked to keep her out of the church building. Eventually the people in town turned away from Alice and her parents. Attendance at the services declined. Her father had to give up the ministry and her mother got fewer and fewer children to watch at the day care center. The consensus of opinion was that if they couldn't raise Alice better than they had no one wanted them influencing their children. In fact, several of the local men began wondering if, perhaps, Reverend Fowler was just a little too friendly with their wives.

Of course the wife of the Choir director divorced her husband and named Alice in the filing. The pictures she had of Alice and her husband somehow got circulated all over town. Since Alice's parents couldn't make a living in the small town they finally moved away. Eventually her father found another church to pastor but he never got another church even as large as the one in Steelville. Alice stayed with her grandmother part of the summer then when college started again she moved into a house in town with some friends. Her few remaining weeks in town were not very pleasant because none of the women and few of the men would talk to her. The men that did talk to her made it obvious they were only interested in one thing.

Alex didn't speak to Alice again after that evening at school until his third year in college. One evening he was walking back to his apartment after studying in the library when he heard a woman screaming and crying. 

When he got closer to the center of a courtyard he found the sound was coming from the center of a large clump of bushes. He heard a vaguely familiar voice saying "NO, don't. That hurts. I don't do anal. PLEASE STOP IT. PLEASE."

Alex broke through the hedge and bushes. He saw a tall black man trying to get his cock into the ass of a very cute white coed. Without thinking Alex pulled the black student up and pushed him away. "The lady said stop. You going to get the hell out of here or are we going to have trouble asshole?"

"Hey man. Stay cool. Dis HO been doin' all the team. It jus my nite and now she doan wanna put out tha bootie. I wasn't a gonna hurt her none. Hell most of da Ho's like it once they start takin it inna ass. Shit. Fuck yo Bitch." He pulled his pants up and walked off through the bushes leaving Alex and the girl alone.

As Alex was turning around he heard the girl say, "Thank you. I thought I knew... ALEX? OH MY GOD, It is you. Thank you so much."

Alex got a good look at the girl for the first time and saw it was Alice. "Well Alice, if I had known it was you I might have just gone on by. Still fucking around I see. You really need to be more careful. You could get hurt sometime or catch a serious disease. Bye." Alex turned and walked out the way the colored boy had gone. He heard Alice sniffling in the background but never looked back.

Two weeks later when he got home from class he found Alice sitting on the steps to his apartment. He started to turn away when Alice said, "Alex, please can't we just talk? That's all; I just want someone to talk to. Please?"

Alex sighed and said, "I suppose. Come on in."

Alice said, "Thank you. And thank you again for what you did that night on the quad. It seems like all my boyfriends lately have been real assholes. None of them are anywhere near as nice as you were. I really miss just having you around to talk to. Remember all those conversations we used to have?"

Alex thought back to their childhood and smiled. He remembered the little girl he first met in grade school and all the fun they had. As they got older he remembered all the times they were at one house or another studying and just hanging out. He looked at the beautiful woman now sitting on his couch and smiled. "Yes," he said. "Sometimes I remember those days and wish we could go back to them. But we can't."

"Alex, I know I screwed up with you and I'm sorry but please, can't we just visit sometimes? I am so lonesome here and I don't go home much. I don't seem to get along with people back there very well and not many of the girls here will have anything to do with me."

Alex didn't say so but he was sure her problems were caused by her willingness to fuck anything with a dick. Naturally no woman would want her around their men because they would be afraid she would try to steal them. Of course her causing the choir director's divorce didn't endear her to people in Steelville either. In any event, he did feel sorry for her and agreed to visit with her if he could find the time.

Alice jumped up and said, "Oh, thank you." She gave him a kiss on the cheek and started out the door. "Oh, here are my phone number and address. Please call me?"

She turned once again and left him standing there watching her bounce down his sidewalk. He thought again she was so beautiful and had such a nice personality. He wondered how she could be such a skank.

That was the beginning of their time together at college. They never dated and never even thought about having sex with each other. Their relationship was as near platonic as a male and female could be. Alex decided it was at least good he could have Alice in his life as a friend.

One night after ten p.m. Alex heard a banging on his door. When he turned on the light he saw Alice sitting on his steps. She was huddled over crying. Alex opened the door and walked out to Alice. He gathered her into his arms and helped her up and into his apartment. He said, "Alice what's the matter? Are you OK?"

Alice looked in his face and said, "Oh, Alex I did it again. I just couldn't help myself and went dancing with a boy from one of my classes. My fiancé caught us at the bar and followed us to his apartment. He waited for me and when I came out he took my ring and told me to forget about him that he didn't need a cheating bitch for a wife."

Alex held her until she quit crying then he asked, "Alice honey. You know running around on your boyfriends is wrong. You know it always ends up like this. Why in the heck do you do it?"

"Alex I just can't help it. I don't care how much I like the man I'm with. After a while I get bored. The sex gets to be the same every night. I know what he will do to me and how he will do it. I just need more. I need the excitement of a different lover from time to time. I know it's wrong but I just can't help myself. When a really hot guy comes onto me I don't even think. I just feel the excitement of the new relationship and before I know it I go out with him."

Alex sighed and held her until she fell asleep. He laid her back on his couch and covered her with a blanket then went back to bed. By the time Alex got up the next morning Alice was gone. He found a note on his refrigerator. It said, "Alex, thank you for being a good friend. I'm sorry I bothered you again. We will graduate soon and I won't see you again probably so thank you. I think in my way I love you. I think I love you more than I ever have any other man. If I can ever beat this affliction I have I will look you up once more. Love, Alice"

Although Alex had dated some during his college years he never found the right girl. Some of them came close and there was one he thought was special until she found he had to do 4 years Active Duty with the Navy when he graduated. When she found that out she left him. About two weeks after he found Alice on his doorstep during his last semester of college it came to a head. 

When Alex told his girlfriend he had been selected for active duty she looked at him and said, "Alex you know my father was in the Navy. He was gone all the time. He was never home for mother and us kids. He spent 20 years and retired. I watched my mother die inside every time he deployed. I heard her cry night after night because he was out drinking and whoring around with the other officers. We heard several times that when he was over seas he went to the bars and did the bar girls. Mother loved him and put up with it. I won't. I will never marry a military man. I would have made an exception for you if you had been selected for reserve service but not active duty. I'm sorry. We might have had a chance except for that. Every nice man I have ever seen in the Navy is at risk and the mercy of the B Girls. I know a lot of them never succumb but I won't take the chance. Good bye Alex." She gave him a gentle kiss and walked away, never even looking back. She refused to take his phone calls after that. A couple of weeks later he saw her out with one of their classmates and finally gave up on her.

Alex had some trouble keeping his mind on his studies for a couple of months after Petra dumped him. Finally, after mid term grades were posted his Professor of Naval Science called him into his office. What started out as a dressing down quickly became a combination of dressing down and commiseration. The PNS said, "Alex I know this hurts right now but you have to snap out of it. If there is a bright side to this it may be you found out now instead of after you were married. You could have a bright future ahead of you but you have to buckle down and study now. I have been divorced and I am sure my career was a big part of that. Not all women are like your girl friend or my first wife though. All I can say is for you to keep looking. Now get back to your apartment and do some studying. Good luck."

That little pep talk helped and Alex began doing better. He studied hard and passed all his courses that semester. He graduated Cum Laude with a degree in Agribusiness. He was commissioned in the Navy Supply Corps when he graduated. He went home for two weeks after college then went away for four years of Navy service. 

One of the last stops he made before he left was to "Grandma" Fowler. Even though Alice had treated him so badly she still looked at him as one of hers. When she hugged him good bye she said, "Alex you're one of the good ones. You always treated me so nicely and took better care of me than my blood relatives did. I pray I am still here when you come back but if I'm not, remember me and that I loved you like one of my own." Alex looked over his shoulder when he opened her yard gate and saw the tears running down her cheeks. She stood with her hand raised waving good-bye until he was out of sight.

After Alex left his home to see the big world there were many women in his life. Most of them were one-night stands and yes, like many Navy men there were a lot of Bar Girls but he was always careful and used a rubber. Aids was nothing to take a chance with. By the time he was separated from Active Duty Alex had at least a Masters Degree in plain and fancy fucking. It had been years since a woman had left his bed unsatisfied.

Alex took his time returning home from his last duty station. He drove his new SuperCrew F250 Powerstroke across country. If he saw something he wanted to see he stopped. If he found a place he liked he stopped for a while. He met so many friendly people he lost count. If truth be told he was looking for a place to light. He knew his parents were getting older and really wanted him to return to the family farm but he just wasn't sure what he wanted. None of the women he had met were what he was looking for and none of the places he saw were where he wanted to stay so he kept moving, getting ever closer to home.

Finally, just after noon one Thursday he topped the rise that had hidden his hometown of Steelville from sight. He slowed down as he rolled into town. He had only been home once in the four years he had been in the Navy. He hadn't been home at all in the last three years. As far as he could see not much had changed. The pool hall was still open but the quick pick and café were closed. There were some new houses but some of the old ones were gone.

Alex slowly drove through town and out the road toward his parent's home. He was looking forward to seeing them but...

When he got home his father was in the field like he normally was during much of the season and his mother was sitting in the sunroom with her ice tea. She hadn't seen him drive up and when he opened the door to enter the house she called, "Don is that you? Is something wrong Honey?"

When she saw Alex step into the room she sat her tea down so hard it turned over and spilled. She was out of her chair and running to him before she even noticed it. "Oh, Alex. You're home. Why didn't you let us know you were coming home? Your father is out somewhere. Are you out of the Navy or is this just a visit?"

"I'm out Ma. I thought about staying but... Well, like I have told you in my letters I like the Navy but some of the Bullshit I just can't put up with. I am going to stay in the reserves though. That will be a nice little income every year and if I can stay for my 20 years it will be a pretty nice retirement check when I turn 60. Now if I can just decide what I want to do..."

"Well, Honey there's always the farm. I know your father has always wanted you to have it and to keep it in the family for at least another generation. He was talking to me about that just last week. It is getting harder for both of us to do everything as we get older. He's 58 now and with the hard life he's led he is getting around a little worse every year."

"Your cousins and Uncles are still busy with the Feed and Farm Supply store as well as the resort but none of them are interested in helping around here. They had to close the little lunch counter in the store because they needed the room for a higher profit stock. We all got to going there after the café closed when Bessie got too ill to run it. No one in town wanted to put in a café or bother with the little coffee shop so they were just closed. Other than that I guess everything is about the same as when you were here last."

"We'll see Ma. Lord knows I like it here. I have been out almost a month now and just took my time driving home. I was looking for a place to live and a job I wanted to do but nothing jumps out at me like this place does. I think I have enough money stashed away to be able to take my time finding a position. Of course the few shares I have in the business will help with income if I need it."

Over the next couple of weeks Alex made the rounds. He renewed old acquaintances and reconnected with his extended family. From time to time when he drove to the family store he would look at the old quick pick store and the large unused building next to it. Part of that building had been the local café before it closed. The rest had been a feed store at one time. It almost made him sick to see those buildings and the pool hall next door falling into disrepair. 

Several days when he was in the feed store he would hear locals complaining about not having anywhere close to buy emergency grocery items or get a quick meal in town. They kept asking his Grandfather if he would put his lunch counter back in. A small idea began to form in his mind. He had a degree in Agribusiness and had been a Navy Supply Officer. He had been in charge of the Navy Exchange and Shoppettes on one duty station and had been Food Service Officer on a ship. He knew he could run a business. In fact he had almost been ready to take a position in the family business part time and help his father with the farm the rest of the time. What if he opened a small store, café and service station?

Alex didn't discuss his thought with anyone in the family. He stopped one day and walked around the buildings. They needed a face-lift but they seemed to be structurally sound. They were in a pretty good location. They were only about a block from the feed store and were across the street from the post office. They were on the main street through town so some traffic would pass by every day. He found out who owned the buildings and called them to see if they were for sale. After some negotiation Alex bought the two empty buildings for a very good price. The owner kept the pool hall and told Alex he was crazy to buy the two empty buildings because the town was dieing. 

Still Alex didn't tell anyone his plans. He just told his parents he had taken on a project and would be able to help them some if they needed it but most days he would be busy in town. Of course in such a small town it wasn't long before everyone figured out Alex was remodeling the old café and quick pick store. Finally people started dropping in to see the work in progress and questioning Alex on his plans. He admitted he was probably crazy but he was going to reopen the quick pick and café to see if he could make a go of them. He obtained a license to sell liquor in the quick pick and by the glass in the café. 




Rewards of Virtue



The buildings came with a small acreage behind them. After he got the buildings remodeled he was going to put in a small truck garden on the acreage. He thought he could sell produce to the people that lived in town and worked elsewhere.

Alex worked most of the winter on his buildings. He borrowed his father's machinery to plow his eight-acre vegetable patch and was ready for spring to plant his vegetables. He opened his store and café in late February. Business was slow but steady. After the first month he was breaking even. 

One day he got a phone call from one of the Chief Petty Officers he had known in the Navy. She had retired and was looking for a place to work and live. She had a small child and no husband. Alex remembered she had been an excellent cook and had a great idea. "Chief," he said. I don't..."

She cut him off and said, "Sir, it's not chief any more. I'm retired remember? My name is Marian. Now what were you going to say?"

Alex laughed and said, "Well, Marian I guess two things now. One, I'm not Lieutenant or Sir. I'm Alex. Two, I have opened a small café and quick pick store here in Steelville. I have also promised to help my parents on the farm and I am raising vegetables to sell commercially. If you are interested I could hire you to cook and run the café, to sort of be my right hand woman here in the business while I am gone. I can't pay much but there would be living quarters for you and your daughter. The local school is a good one too. I know you would fit in real well here in town. What do you say?"

"Well you know sir... Unh Alex, I've always wanted to move back to a smaller town. I grew up in one you know but, well. Tell you what. I'll come and see what it looks like. Hell I might even try it for a while. It sounds interesting and you sure made Steelville sound nice when we were talking about our hometowns. I can be there in about three weeks. Is that OK?"

Alex heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Great. That'll be fine. I'll get busy working on your quarters."

Alex had been thinking about turning the unused part of the café building into one or two small apartments and that is what he started to do. By the time he was finished he had two apartments of about a thousand square feet each. He lived in one and Marian and her daughter lived in the other. 

While he was working on the apartments the owner of the pool hall had approached him about buying that building. He wanted to retire and the building wasn't even paying for insurance and expenses as a pool hall. Alex looked it over and made an offer. The owner didn't even blink before taking the offer. As soon as Alex finished his and Marian's apartments he began turning the pool hall into apartments. There were already two apartments in the upper floor. The upper apartments hadn't been rented in years so they needed a lot of renovation. Alex put two more downstairs. By the time he had them finished he already had all four of them rented. The rent on the apartments paid the utilities and insurance on all the buildings as well as leaving a little left over for living expenses. Things were looking better and better and Alex was enjoying his life. He worked long hard hours in his businesses and on the farm with his father but it was fun.

Of course there was one thing missing. He hadn't found a woman yet. Almost all of the young people his age were either married or they had left town. He had never been fond of the idea of picking up a permanent partner in bars. He did go to the larger towns to find female companionship for an evening or two but he was too gun shy to let himself get serious about one of them. Alice and the women he had met in the Navy had cured him of that failing.

One hot summer morning Alex was sitting in the café visiting with the farmers and few town residents that were either having breakfast or taking a morning break. He heard the door tinkle and looked up to see the most beautiful woman he had seen in months walk into the building. She turned left and entered the café. When he had remodeled he had made the café door and quick pick door the same. That way one clerk could handle both businesses. The cash register was centered on the door with the café on the left and the quick pick store on the right as you entered the building. 

The woman walked up and sat at Alex's table. Just before she sat down Alex saw it was Alice. "Hey stranger," she said. "How ya doin'? It's been a while."

"Hello Alice," he said. "I guess it's been almost five years now hasn't it? You doing OK? I heard you got married. What are you doing back in town?"

"Well, right now I am staying with Grandma. I guess you could say I got a dose of my own medicine. I was married but I caught the bastard cheating on me so... I'm waiting on the divorce to be final then I guess I'll have to go somewhere and find a better job. I work part time right now at the YMCA. Staying here with Grandma I make ends meet. How about you? Still in the Navy?"

"No Alice. I got out almost a year ago now. I really didn't want to do anything away from here to I came home. I help Dad on the farm and have some rental property here in town. I have been trying to make a little extra here in the café and store. I guess you could say I just get by but at least I am living where I want to be."

They continued talking and before they knew it the lunch crowd began crowding into the small café. "Alice, I'm sorry but I have to get busy now. Marian needs help handling the lunch rush. It was nice seeing you again."

That first visit got Alex thinking about Alice once more. He had to admit he really enjoyed the conversation and felt very comfortable with her. Somehow she seemed more mature and relaxed than she had before he went into the service. Two days later Alice once more came into the café for morning coffee. Once again she and Alex visited and he was sorry to see her leave.

The next time she was in Alex was filling in for Marian because she was enrolling her daughter in school. He didn't have time to talk to Alice. They would visit in passing. It was frustrating. During one of his short stops at her table he did what he had sworn he would never do again. He said, "Alice I've really enjoyed visiting with you these last few weeks. Would you like to go to Centerton with me Friday evening for supper?"

"OK," she said. "What should I wear?"

"There's a really nice French Restaurant there with a night club attached. Why don't you wear something nice and we will eat there."

When he arrived at Mrs. Fowler's home to pick Alice up Hope met him at the door. She looked at him as she let him in and said, "Boy are you sure you know what you're doing here? Alice is my Granddaughter and I love her but... Well, anyway it's good to see you again. I've missed our talks since you got so busy over there at the store. Come on in. She's being fashionably late as usual."

Alex and Alice dated the rest of the fall and he was falling for her like a ton of bricks. He was getting very frustrated too. She would make out like the hottest babe in town but wouldn't put out. Just from that he was convinced she had turned over a new leaf. He was impressed with her resolve and the way she had turned her life around.

Valentine's day finally arrived and Alex had a date once again with Alice. He had made up his mind. This was the night. When he picked her up, before they left her grandmother's home he said, "Let's do something different tonight. Instead of going right out to supper and dancing how about we go shopping first?"

"Shopping," Alice yelled. "It's Valentines Day for gosh sakes. Why do you want to go shopping today?"

"Well honey. I thought if you wanted to get married you might like to go pick out an engagement ring?"

Alice's mouth dropped open and her eyes bugged out. She stood silently for a moment then wrapped her arms around him. As she was leaning in for a kiss she said, "YES, Oh, Yes. I think I would really love to go shopping with you tonight."

Alex looked over Alice's shoulder and saw her grandmother looking at him. She looked into his eyes and frowned then shook her head from side to side. She said nothing, just walked back into her den.

The day after Alice's Bachelorette Party Alex's sister Barbara drove back to her hometown to see him. She walked into the café about 3 p.m. and gave Alex a serious look. She cut straight to the chase too. She said, "Alex let's go to your apartment. We need to talk."

Alex felt a surge of fear and his stomach began to hurt. He knew that she had taken their mother to the doctor the day before. She had not been feeling well for almost a year and he feared the worst. Before they even sat down Barbara grabbed the Glenlivet and two glasses. She poured each of them one and began to talk.

"Alex," she said. "I don't know how to say this but it needs to be said. Have you lost all your sense? What in the hell possessed you to ask Alice to marry you? You know what she was like when we were younger. You know she is divorced for cheating"

Alex was getting more and more angry as his sister talked and he broke in when she said Alice had divorced because she was cheating. He said, "Hold it right there Barb. I know she used to be pretty bad but she has changed. Hell, I was pretty bad when I was in the Navy but I don't do things like that now. Besides, she said it was her husband that caused the divorce."

Barbara looked at Alex and sipped her drink. She took a deep breath and said, "Now, let me continue. I wasn't invited to her Bachelorette Party and as far as I know none of the women from Steelville was. I made it a point to find out where it was and I went to the bar uninvited with David. Alex if she has turned over a new leaf I'm the Queen Mother of England. She danced every dance and in my opinion none of her dances would pass the husband test. She let the men touch her inappropriately and kissed them all. I never saw her do anything else but there were many times during the party when she was out of my sight for thirty to forty five minutes. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she had gotten royally screwed during those absences. Alex I really think you should rethink this decision."

Alex sat and stared at his sister. He had never been so angry with her before. "You spied on Alice? Now you tell me I should dump her? Damn it Barb she is the only woman I have ever found that I love enough to ask to marry me. I know she was a little wild but she's over that now. Hell, I saw you sometimes in a bar before you got married. You got pretty wild also. Should I tell David about how wild you used to be and that he should watch you because you might cheat on him? I don't want to hear any more about this." He got up and walked back to the café.

Barbara sat there for several more minutes then sighed and followed Alex back into the café. She stopped beside his chair and said, "Alex, I'm sorry. You won't hear another thing from me about Alice but I felt I had to make the effort. I love you and I really, really don't want to see you get hurt. You don't know how much I hope and pray you are right and I am wrong." She bent and gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek before she left for home.

Alice and Alex had a June wedding. They took a week off for a short wedding trip but he had to get back fast so he could work his vegetable patch and do the summer work on the farm. Alex had hired Pablo the year before and he was a big help but he and his father still needed Alex there during the busy part of the year. Alice wasn't too happy with such a short trip and complained about it incessantly. Alex wondered where the sweet woman he had dated had gone.

Alice continued to work part time at the YMCA in the town about 20 miles away. She didn't want a more responsible job but she and Alex did enjoy the extra money she brought in. She also said she really needed the contact with her friends there. Alex told her if that was the only reason she was working he could find her something to do in the café or store. Alice refused to consider that. She said she wanted to keep her job so she could visit all her friends that came to the Y. 

Alex began worrying about the way she worded that statement. He dropped by her work unannounced from time to time to see her. After being there several times he decided there was nothing to worry about. He had noticed the hours she worked most of the customers were women of all ages. He did notice when college started there were a lot more young men using the weights but they were mostly 6 to 10 years younger than Alice so he felt they would be no bother.

Time went on and their sex life was good. In fact it was better than good. At times Alex thought Alice was going to fuck him to death. She was an excellent lay and didn't seem to ever get enough. If he was not totally exhausted she would fuck him twice a day for over an hour. He actually looked forward to her periods so he could get some sleep! He admitted to himself that the old rumors were right. She was fantastic in the sack.

Time progressed and Alex was happy. He and Alice were doing well. Marian and he had fine-tuned the menu and on Friday and Saturday nights they began serving some continental cuisine. They got so busy they hired a young woman named Brandy to help in the café/restaurant and the store. More and more often they noticed people were coming to eat from Centerton, a city that was almost 70 miles away. Sometimes people would wait for over an hour for a table! Alex's sister had a friend that lived in Houston Texas. She sent him a newspaper clipping from the daily paper in Houston giving a very favorable review of his restaurant. More business developed as his establishment became better known.

Alex redecorated the unused part of the building behind the small café, expanded it and opened a restaurant. He put in a patio and paved it. There were three huge old shade trees on it and put some tables out there for patrons to use during nice weather. He got so many requests for reservations he began taking reservations, then people began asking if they could come down during the week. He finally hired more help and they became a full service restaurant open from 6 in the morning for breakfast to ten in the evening. 

He always kept the original section of the building set aside for local walk in customers. It was still called the Steelville Café. The café was separated from the restaurant, which was called Alex's Place by a partial partition. It was not as fancy as the restaurant and was open only for local customers. The restaurant served supper only but the café served all three meals and had a separate entrance. There were separate menus but any meal could be ordered in either section if the restaurant was open. Many times Alex would leave people without reservations waiting even if they had driven a long distance so he could seat his neighbors in the café part of the business.

The busier he got the more he had trouble with Alice. She wanted him home in the evenings and she wanted SEX. Finally he began making sure he was home two evenings a week and they quit serving the evening meal Monday and Tuesday.

Alex routinely drove to Centerton and shopped at Sam's Club and some of the other supply houses for his groceries and the ingredients for the meals he served in the restaurant. He could buy the items retail at those establishments and bring them back to Steelville himself cheaper than he could buy them off the delivery trucks. That way he could keep his prices low enough that many of the town's residents would buy the majority of their groceries from him instead of going to town for them. He had to expand the store and put in freezers and another cooler for his produce and meat.

His next project involved taking orders for produce then delivering it the days he went to shop for the store. He could actually charge more for the produce delivered than the people would pay in a local grocery store. They didn't mind though because it was fresh from the farm and it was delivered to home or office. It was very convenient for his customers and Alex didn't mind doing it-especially since it enhanced his bottom line so well. Alex had a minimum amount that he would deliver and many times people would buy more than they wanted just so he would deliver. By now Alex was making almost as much as he made while he was in the Navy and having a ball.

After Alex and Alice had been married almost two years Julia came along. Alex thought she was the most perfect baby he had ever seen. Alice however didn't seem as pleased. She seemed to resent the time it took to care for her. She complained about being a dull, boring Mommy now. A year later came Samuel, another perfect child. Alice insisted on having her tubes tied after that. She said there was no way she would tie herself down with any more children.

Alex was hurt at her attitude but decided to let it pass. She did seem to be a good mother and he loved his two children to death. Within a very few months after Sam was born Alice was once again the slim beautiful woman he had married. She made exceptionally good use of her free access to the machines at the YMCA where she worked. 

Alice began complaining she was bored and wanted more to do. She began badgering Alex to let her buy his supplies and deliver his produce. She said there was no reason she couldn't go to Sam's for him and buy his inventory or deliver his produce. She said that way she could meet people and have a social life as well as help Alex. Besides she had friends in Centerton and the other towns he delivered to so she could visit them when she went to town.

Alex decided this was a good thing and agreed to let her make the trips. Unfortunately from time to time he was out of stock and needed her to get back rapidly on market days. There were times it was late in the evening before she would return. Finally he decided he would have to make the trips himself. He said, "Alice this just can't continue. There have been too many days when I needed something you were buying and you didn't get back from town until too late for us to use the item or I missed some sales because I was sold out. I think I will begin making the shopping trips again. I'll go back to leaving at 630 a.m. then I can be home before the lunch crowd hits the café."

Alice became angry and said, "Why? If you are out just use something else. You know I always get home before dark. I admit sometimes the girls and I lose track of time but everybody does that from time to time. It sounds to me like you just want to keep me down here on the farm. Well I'm going to town a couple of days a week to visit my friends whether you have me buy your stock or not." She turned and stomped out of the business and left the parking lot in a cloud of smoke from her burning tires.

Alice began going to town around ten in the morning to visit with her girl friends and sometime she wouldn't get home until after 6 in the evening. At first it was once a week, then twice. Next, she began going on Saturday sometimes. She began coming home with alcohol on her breath and he was sure she had been drinking more than a drink or two at lunch. Alex began to worry.

Finally Alice's actions became so blatant he couldn't ignore his fears any longer. He was coming out of the Sam's parking lot about 1030 one morning and saw Alice's car pull into the Holiday Inn parking lot. The Holiday Inn was across the street from Sam's parking lot. Another car had followed her into the lot and parked beside her. Alice walked from her car to the driver's door of the one that had followed her. A tall well built man got out of the car and Alice grabbed him, hugged him then gave him a deep, long kiss. The man rubbed his hands up her sides and flicked her nipples with his thumbs.

Alex sat in his truck at the stop sign and stared in shock. When the couple turned they walked arm in arm into the Hotel. Alex was almost T-Boned when he tromped his accelerator and shot across the road to park beside Alice's car. He walked into the hotel in time to see the man sign the registration. When they turned, once more arm in arm Alex saw the man was Jason, one of Alice's first boy friends. Part way to the elevator Alice stood on her tiptoes and gave Jason another kiss. This time his hands fell to her ass and he pulled her tightly against him.




Rewards of Virtue



Just to be sure Alex watched until they entered the elevator. He turned and left the building sadly. All the way home he kept telling himself he should have known and stayed well clear of Alice. Barbara and Hope had tried to warn him. He got what he deserved for ignoring the fact she was a Skank. Leopards don't change their spots.

Alex had a couple of friends that were enforcement. The next morning when they came into the café for coffee he sat with them. He said, "Guys I have a problem I would like your help with. I know you both take security and investigative jobs from time to time and I think... No, I know I need your help. Yesterday I was leaving Sam's and I saw Alice and Jason checking into the Holiday Inn. I followed them into the lobby. They kissed several times while I watched. They got on the elevator and went up to a room. I'm pretty sure the Skank side of Alice has come back and she is cheating on me. I need proof."

Three weeks later at coffee one morning the two friends handed Alex a large manila envelope. Jack said, "Alex you were right. I'm afraid it's worse than you even suspected. We have pictures and a written narrative but... Damn Boy you just better give it to your lawyer and never even look at it. The Skank is doing gangbangs. Most of her men friends are her old boyfriends. You know many of them because they grew up with us. Some of them are from college too we think. One day she had seven different men from the time she and Jason checked in to the Holiday Inn until she left at about three. Most of them did her more than once. Most of the time she didn't use condoms either. You had better get yourself checked for diseases fast old man."

Alex had already talked to an attorney named Steve Jensen. He had been the family friend and attorney for nearly 40 years. That evening he called Steve and told him he had the documentation for the divorce now. "If you don't come by for coffee in the morning I'll bring it to your office." He said.

The next morning Steve dropped into the café for coffee and picked up the envelope. He said, "I'll look this over and make any changes I need to in the paperwork. Do you still want her served as soon as possible?"

"Yeah. I'm going to kick the Whore out of the house the evening you serve her. I don't want to do it before hand in case she splits," Alex said.

It was two days later when Steve once again came into the café for morning coffee. Alex sat with him for a few minutes and Steve said. "We're serving her at the YMCA this morning just after she gets to work. Good luck Alex."

About eight the café phone rang and Marian answered it. She pulled the receiver from her ear and looked at it in anger. Everyone in the room could hear the yelling coming from the receiver. Alex looked up at her and said, "Well, I guess that call's for me isn't it?"

Marian looked at him and said, "Yes, I guess it is. Whatever it is Alice is sure pissed at you. What did you do to make her this angry?"

"Well Marian, I imagine she was just served with divorce papers."

"What? Why are you... I didn't know you were having any trouble. But it's none of my business. I'm sorry I asked."

Alex took the phone and just let Alice run down. After she quit yelling he said, "Alice I never should have married you. The only good thing I have left from our marriage is the children. I knew you were a Skank and convinced myself you had changed. I found out three weeks ago you hadn't. Don't come home. I changed the locks and I have stopped the credit cards."

When he hung up Alex went into the kitchen where Marian and the help were working. He said, "I guess most of you heard part of that. All I will say is I caught Alice cheating and I filed for divorce. From now on I don't want anyone telling her anything about the business or doing anything she says or asks you to do. I'll try to keep you all out of the line of fire but we all know what Alice is like when she gets angry."

Everyone walked up and either patted him on the shoulder or gave him a small hug. Most of them told him how sorry they were.

Later that evening Alice showed up in town with Jason and another man. Alex got a phone call from a neighbor that someone was trying to break into his house. He grabbed his coat and drove home as fast as he could. He called the sheriff in route. When he got home Alice and one of the men were banging on the door of Alex's house trying to get inside. Just as he was opening his truck door Jason pulled his foot back and tried to kick the door in. Alex said, "Just go on and do that asshole. I'll have the cops arrest you so fast for breaking and entering that your head will spin."

Jason turned and started for Alex. He said, "You little pipsqueak. You never were much in school and you're not much now. You open that damn door right now or I'll kick your ass so bad you'll be in the hospital for a week."

Alex reached under his coat to the small of his back. He pulled his hand back out just as Alice looked at him. Her face blanched when she saw he was carrying his pistol. She put her hand on Jason's arm and said, "Stop Honey. He'll do it and he has a gun."

Alice turned back to Alex and said, "Since you're being such an asshole I've decided to take my things and move to Grandma's. Now are you going to open this door or do we have to do this the hard way?"

Alex looked at the three and said, "Stand back from the door. I'll let you in Alice but I won't let you take a damn thing that isn't your personal property. We'll let the court decide what else you get."

Alice smirked when he mentioned court. The three were moving over to the side when a sheriff's car pulled into the drive. The deputy got out and said, "What's going on here? We got a complaint of a possible burglary?"

Alex and Alice began talking at once. Alex stopped and Alice continued, "...divorce and this asshole won't even let me in to get my clothes."

The deputy looked over at Alex and said, "Is that true Alex?"

Alex said, "No, not entirely. I caught her cheating and filed for divorce. I changed the locks on the house and was coming over to let her in to get her clothes. I got here just as Jason over there was trying to kick the door in. There is his footprint on the door. I was making them move over there so I could unlock the door to let her get her clothes and personal items when you drove up. I would appreciate it if you would stay until that is accomplished."

Alice and her two friends went through the house like a buzz saw. They made no effort to leave it neat. By the time they had all the items Alice felt were her personal property the rooms were a mess. The deputy watched until they drove away then shook Alex's hand. He said, "Alex I'm damn sorry to see this but I'm not surprised. If you need us again just call."

Alex drove back to the restaurant to finish the evening. He was driving past Mrs. Fowler's home when he saw her standing in the door with a shotgun. Alice and her two friends were standing there with their arms full of her clothes. Alex pulled to the curb and walked into the yard. He heard Alice say, "But Granma. You have to let me stay with you. Alex kicked me out of the house and I don't have any place to stay."

Mrs. Fowler looked up to Alex and asked, "That true Alex? Did you kick her out?"

"Yeah, I'm afraid I did. You were right Hope. A leopard doesn't change it's spots." Alex said.

Hope turned back to her granddaughter and said, "Caught you cheating again did he? Well I don't need your kind living here with me. You can just take off with your two friends here. I don't suppose there's anyplace here in town for the likes of you."

Alice was crying as she and the two men walked back to their truck. Alex and Hope watched as they got in the cab, Alice in the middle. Jason was shotgun. As soon as the door closed Alice scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. They drove off taking the road toward the nearest town.

The case worked its way through the courts and finally came to a hearing. Alex and Steve entered the courtroom full of confidence. They thought they had everything dead to rights. Testimony and evidence was presented and the judge recessed for lunch, to convene again at two in the afternoon. He was using the hour from one until two to go over the case.

Finally two p.m. arrived and court began again. The judge leaned back in his chair and began speaking. "I find in favor of the defendant Alice Fielding. She is awarded divorce on the grounds of extreme mental cruelty levied on her by her husband Alexander Fielding. Never in my long career have I seen a case such as this. Mr. Fielding a man does not own his wife in this day and time. No one has a right to restrict travel like you tried to do to Alice. No one has a right to say who can be their spouse's friends either."

"Custody of the two minor children is awarded to Mrs. Fielding. Mr. Fielding may visit his children under supervision one afternoon a week. If at any time he is found to have a weapon in his possession during this visitation he will be denied further visitation with his children. Additionally Mrs. Fielding is awarded half of the business and sixty percent of the savings and investments. She is awarded the house currently owned by the couple and the 100 by 140 foot lot it sits on. Each person will keep the automobile currently in their possession and their personal property. I award $800.00 per month child support to Mrs. Fielding and $500.00 per month alimony. Mrs. Fielding's maiden name of Fowler is restored to her effective today."

Alex and his attorney sat in shock as the Judge droned on. This was amazing. In rough figures Alice was getting about 75% of the couple's assets and half of Alex's net income. They did not question the child support because Alex had the DNA of his children tested after he found out how many lovers Alice had. The children were definitely and fortunately his so he wanted to provide for them. The rest of the settlement was completely unfair though. Steve shot to his feet and said, "Your Honor, I have to protest. This award is unconscionable. You have bankrupted Mr. Fielding. If you award this amount to his ex-wife he may, nay, he will definitely lose his business and his livelihood. He is the innocent party here."

The Judge looked at Steve and said, "Objection over ruled. Councilor I purposefully made these awards harsh. Mr. Fielding and other's like him have to learn that mistreating a spouse is not condoned in my jurisdiction. Court adjourned." 

Alex and Steve left the courthouse in total dejected shock. Steve told Alex they could file an appeal but it would take a couple of years for it to be heard. In the mean time he had to make the transfer's as required by the Judge.

Over the course of the next week Alex began transferring money, stock and property to Alice as required. One of the hardest things for him was missing his children. Alex had to borrow heavily to give Alice cash for her share of the business. Finally Alex had made all the required transfers. He had to move into a small room in the business he had been using for storage. He installed a bathroom and a small bed and chair. His income was now barely enough to pay his personal expenses. The week after the divorce was final Alice put their home up for sale.

About three weeks after the divorce a strange car pulled up in front of the café. A man no one had ever seen before came into the building and asked for a cup of coffee. He sat drinking and looking around. Finally he asked the waitress, Brandy, for Alex.

Alex walked up to the table and the man stood and offered his hand. He said, "Mr. Fielding I don't know if you want to talk to me or not but I thought I would come down and see you, perhaps commiserate with you for a moment. I heard about your divorce and thought probably you would need a friendly person to curse with. You see, I was Alice's first husband. She and her pet Judge nearly bankrupted me like I heard they did to you. She was awarded a little over 80% of our assets when I caught her and Jason cheating and divorced her. I didn't have the money to file an appeal so I just paid and went on."

"I have to admit I was happy when she married you so I could quit paying alimony but I really wish I had the guts to talk to you before you married. She took me for almost a million dollars and in about eighteen months managed to spend it all as far as I could determine. By the time I got the money to file the appeal of the divorce settlement there was no reason to do so because all the money was gone. At times I think she may have moved it offshore but I have never been able to prove that."

"I believe she and the Judge are fuck buddies. I never caught them together but about three months after our divorce she took a cruise. I did find out the Judge made a cruise at the same time on the same ship. I thought that was a little fishy but other than verify she and the Judge did talk some on the ship I could not prove they did anything else. I think she probably paid for his passage though. I had a friend in the bank that said she withdrew a very large amount the month they took the cruise. She spent almost $100,000 that month. Shortly after that money began draining out of her accounts here until it was gone. She then moved back here with her Grandmother and you know the rest."

"I'm sorry you got caught up in her web but there's nothing I could do. I was pretty sure you wouldn't have believed me if I had contacted you and I admit I wanted her to marry so I could quit paying alimony. For what it's worth Mr. Fielding I am sorry." 

The man stood and left three dollars on the table. He said, "Use that for the coffee please then let the waitress have the rest. Good luck."

Alex was disconsolate after the divorce. He let himself go, wearing smudged clothes, shaving very rarely. He missed Alice but most of all he missed his children. His employees began watching him with worried expressions on their faces. They seemed more solicitous of him and more protective. Brandy took it on herself to keep his little hovel of a room clean for him. 

Brandy told him that since she was only a part time helper she had the time and he needed the help. She had been living with Mrs. Fowler for almost two years in her maids' quarters. Since she worked part time at the café she kept house for her in lieu of rent. She said, "Alex Mrs. Fowler doesn't care if I help you or come home later than I used to. I still have time to cook her supper and do the cleaning I agreed to do for her. Now you just let me be. I have work to do." Alex decided it was easier to leave her alone than argue so he walked outside and never brought it up again.

Mrs. Fowler began coming into the café more frequently. She always talked to Alex when she did. Shortly after the divorce she had come in and when Alex sat with her for a cup of coffee she had said, "Alex I'm only going to say this once but I have to say it. I'm sorry she did you this way but I'm not surprised. I think that Alice makes her living taking from the men in her life. I prayed she would not hurt you but I guess my prayers weren't answered this time. You know you're special to me and if you ever need anything all you have to do is ask. I mean anything too. Help, money, you name it. If I can help you I will."

Finally after two months Marian had all she could stand and she cornered Alex after they closed. "Damn it Alex when are you going to snap out of it? I divorced a cheating bastard and I know how it hurts but I didn't let myself wallow in self-pity like this. Hell, you fall down you cry if it hurts then get up and hit the trail again. Right now you are more of a problem around here than help. I know this is your business but it won't be much longer if you don't get your shit together, SIR! I know the booze we serve is yours but that doesn't mean you need to try and drink it all before we can sell it. Now why don't you get some sleep for a change instead of crawl into your nightly bottle? Take a few days off and go to the resort or take a trip. Forget that damn Skank then come back and take charge again."

Alex felt himself begin to cry again when Marian lit into him. He looked at her and said, "I know you're right Marian but I just can't. Sure I miss Alice but it's the kids. God how I miss them, not seeing them unless Alice is standing there watching, not able to do anything with them that a father should. Knowing Alice is feeding them a line of bullshit about me. Three weeks ago Sam asked me why I tried to shoot Mommy's friend and was I going to shoot them? It just hurts so damn bad!" After that statement Alex got up and walked into his little dimly lit room. Marian saw him reaching for his bottle as he pushed the door closed.

The next morning Alex did show up in the café in clean clothes and cleanly shaved. Marian and Brandy heaved a sigh of relief. Brandy brought him a fresh cup of coffee and placed it at his favorite chair beside the cash register.

Later that morning Pablo, his hired farm hand came into the café. He walked up to Alex and said, "Patron I have done much for you because you have done much for me but I cannot keep on like this. My wife, my family, they need time too. I have worked many weeks without time with them and they sadden. We know you have lost your family but this is not a reason to stop living and doing. A man must hold his head up and do what is expected of him, No? My missus, she wants to go see her family. It is not so busy a time now and we ask if this can be done Patron? I have talked with Jose and he say he can do much of my work for you while we are gone if you would allow it."

Alex looked at Pablo and pushed a chair out from the table for him to use. "Have a seat Pablo. Please." He turned to Brandy and said, "Brandy please bring Pablo a cup of coffee."

Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out his billfold. He took out a check and began filling it out. After he was done he handed it to Pablo and said, "Pablo I'm sorry I have let things go like I have. I know you have been working much more than I should have required of you. My parents and I appreciate what you have done and are doing for us. You and Marian and Brandy and all my other friends have taken good care of me. Now I will try to live up to what you should expect of me. Here, take this check and tell your wife you and she have two weeks to visit her family or do anything else you want. Have a good trip my friend."

When Pablo looked at the check his face blanched and he said, "But Patron. This is too much. I know how much of your money Miss Alice took and you should not give me this."

Alex smiled and said, "Yes I should Pablo. I have taken advantage of you and the others and I intend to make it up to all of you. Take the money and go. Kiss your children for me and have a good time."

Later that afternoon Pablo's wife came into the café. She marched up to Alex and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. She looked into his eyes and said, "Thank you Patron. You are much too good to us but thank you." There were tears in her eyes when she turned to leave the café.

Brandy had only been working at the café for about a year but she, too had taken much of Alex's work onto her shoulders. That evening when she was getting ready to go home he asked her to sit with him for a short time. He handed her 3 one hundred dollar bills and told her, "Brandy by now you heard what I gave Pablo. You haven't been working here long but you also deserve a bonus for all your help and concern. I hope you will take this money and buy yourself something nice. I wish I could give you more but..."

Brandy just stared at the money then Alex saw her eyes moisten. She was smiling when she said, "Thank you Alex but you really shouldn't have done this. I know you don't have the money. Please won't you keep this?" 




Rewards of Virtue



Brandy tried to hand the money back to Alex and he stood from the table and jumped back. "NO," he said. "I won't keep it. You deserve that and more. All of you deserve a bonus for the way I have moped around here and taken advantage of you. I am going to try to do better but at least I can do this little thing for you to show I know what you have done and that I do appreciate it."

Throughout that day and the next Alex gave all his employees a bonus of varying amounts. The last one he had to talk to was Marian. He asked her to sit with him after they closed up that evening. They were both drinking a beer. Marian sat in the chair quietly and watched Alex. She was afraid she knew what he was going to do and she didn't want him to do it. She knew everyone he employed but her had gotten a bonus of one amount or another. The ones that had been with him the longest had gotten larger bonuses. She had been with him longer than anyone except Pablo so she was afraid he was going to give her even more money he could not afford to give out.

Alex leaned back in his chair and said, "Marian I expect by now you know what I want to talk to you about. You know I have been giving everyone bonuses and now it's your turn. I couldn't decide what to do about you. Without you I would have never been this successful and I would not have this fine establishment. For someone of your caliber and ability I don't think mere money would suffice to show how important you are to me."

Alex reached into his bank bag and took a document from it. He placed it on the table in front of Marian. "I have decided to give you a potentially unlimited amount of money. That paper in front of you is a contract signed by me already that increases your salary here. It gives you a 10% share in any profits either the café or restaurant generates for as long as you care to work here. It is in addition to your agreed upon salary and formalizes your position as manager of the establishment."

Alex continued to progress and slowly got back nearly to his former level of happiness. Everyone noticed though that when young children were in the business or playing outside he became very morose. He would stare at them with such longing everyone could feel his despair.

Fifteen months after his divorce Alex was opening the café when he heard sirens. An ambulance flashed past the building and turned left onto the next street. He walked down the block and turned toward the now stopped ambulance. When he saw where it had stopped he broke into a run. He got to the front door of Mrs. Fowler's home when it was thrown open. He stepped back as the attendants wheeled a gurney out with Hope laying on it. She was pale and breathing heavily. An IV was already dripping its life-giving potion into her vein.

When Hope saw Alex standing there she made the attendants stop and took his hand. He stood looking down on her while the attendants stood bouncing from foot to foot in a hurry go get moving again. Brandy walked up to the head of the gurney. She was dressed only in a very thin gown, her nipples tenting it out nicely. She was crying and trying to shush Hope.

Hope looked at Alex and pulled him closer to her. In a faint wavering voice she said, "Alex you were the grandson I never had. I'm so sorry for everything but now it's time you moved on. You and Brandy should..."

Hope's hand fell limply from his and her head turned slightly on the gurney. One of the attendants roughly pushed him aside and began working on Hope. They ripped open her gown and began CPR. They tried everything but it was no use. Finally they stopped and covered her face. They gently placed the gurney into the ambulance and drove away. By that time there was a small crowd gathered to see what was going on.

Alex had tears running down his cheeks as did Brandy. He noticed how she was dressed and reached for her. He gently guided her back into the house and to her room. She was crying so hard she could hardly stand. When Alex started to leave her she grabbed him and said, "NO, Alex. Please stay with me. What will I do now? I loved that woman like my own mother and now she's gone. How will we get by without her?"

Alex stayed with Brandy and gently held her until she stopped crying then he rose to leave. When he was leaving he turned to her and said, "Brandy you don't have to come in today if you don't want. We'll understand."

"NO," she said. "It's my job to be there and I won't desert you. Besides I promised... Don't worry; I'll be there soon. Now go while I clean up and get dressed."

Most of the town was sad when the news circulated about Mrs. Fowler. She had lived there all her life. There were very few people still living in Steelville that were older than she had been. Everyone missed her wit and cheerful greetings. All agreed though that if she had to go the heart attack was best for her. She went fast. She had been much too vital a person to sit and wither away with an illness like some people are forced to do.

The day of the funeral Alice and the children arrived in a small pick up truck. The bed was loaded and covered with a tarp. After the services she drove the truck to Mrs. Fowler's house and began unloading it. She was taking their belongings into the house. When Brandy walked into the house Alice turned to her and said, "What are you doing here in my house? Oh, yes, you're that little tramp grandma was letting stay with her. Well, get your things and get out. I don't need you here."

Brandy ran from the house crying. She found Alex in his room at the café. She pounded on the door until he opened it and fell into the room and his arms. After she had calmed down she told him what Alice had said then said, "Alex I wasn't supposed to say anything to you for a while but... Alex I need your help and we need to call Mr. Jensen right now. Would you please help me?"

It took them almost an hour to get Steve Jensen on the phone. Brandy took the phone when Alex handed it to her and looked over at Alex. She stared at him until he took the hint and left the room. He heard her and Steve talking for only a short time then heard the phone hang up. She walked out into the patio and sat with Alex at one of the tables from the restaurant. "Steve and a sheriff will be here shortly. Can I sit here with you until then please?"

In a few minutes they heard two cars drive up. Shortly Steve walked back onto the patio and saw Alex and Brandy sitting there. He had some papers in his hands. He looked at Brandy and said, "Brandy if you and Alex are ready let's get this over with."

All four of them walked down the block to the Fowler house. Brandy looked at the three men with her, took a deep breath and opened the door to walk in. She was no more than two steps into the room when Alice came out of the kitchen. When she saw Brandy she said, "What are you doing back here? I thought I told you to get your things out of your quarters and get out of my house?"

Steve Jensen and the Deputy Sheriff were inside then and Steve looked at the Sheriff. The Deputy walked up to Alice and said, "Ms. Fowler?"

Alice nodded her head and said, "Yes. What do you want?"

The Deputy handed her a piece of paper and said, "Ms. Fowler that is a restraining order. It orders you to keep at least three hundred feet away from this residence and the residence or businesses of Mr. Fielding and/or the person of Mr. Fielding or Ms. Brandy Hoover. I understand your Grandmother has just passed away but it was her wish that the only persons that enter these premises from the time of her death until after her estate is settled be Mr. Fielding or Ms. Hoover or any person that they choose to admit."

"What do you mean by that? This is my house. I am the only living relative of my grandmother and since she is dead this is my property. You cannot keep a person from their own property!"

Steve said, "Alice I'm afraid this is not your property. I am the executor of the estate and responsible for seeing the last will and testament of your grandmother is executed as she desired. The ownership of this property will not be decided until Ms. Fowler's will is probated. Until then it is her desire, upheld by the Probate Judge I had to get away from his daughter's birthday party today, that the only persons allowed on this property are as the deputy stated. You need to load your belongings back into your truck and go back wherever you came from."

The deputy and Steve stayed until Alice and her truck were only a small speck on the highway. Steve turned to Brandy and Alex and said, "Well, if she gives any more trouble let me know. I don't know when we will start probate but it is usually around a year before these things are settled. I will be in touch." He and the deputy left.

After that day life settled down for the citizens of Steelville. Finally one day both Brandy and Alex received a letter in the mail telling them they had to be present for the reading of the will of Mrs. Hope Fowler. On the appointed day and time they arrived at the Judges chambers. As they were being greeted Alex saw Alice's first husband walk into the office also. When the three of them entered the conference room they saw Alice and Jason already seated at the table. Alice shot to her feet and screeched, "What are they doing here. I thought we were here to award me my Grandmother's belongings?"

Steve had just started to answer her question when the Judge walked into the room. He said, "No Ms. Fowler. We are here to comply with the terms of your late Grandmother's will. We will distribute her property as per her desires."

The Judge took a seat at the head of the table and began speaking. He covered a lot of arcane minutia then said, "OK, the legalities are out of the way now. All of the known debts of Mrs. Fowler have been satisfied and it is now time to distribute the remainder of her estate to her heirs. First, Ms. Fowler I have a letter for you from your Grandmother. In her will she says it will explain her reasons for distributing her property as she has. I have been instructed, however, to paraphrase the contents of this letter for everyone now present."

"Mrs. Fowler feels that not only were you a-and these are the words I was instructed to use in this instance-Skank of the lowest sort but you were a despicable, dishonest and morally lacking person. She loved you as a grandchild but abhorred you as a person and human being. Your actions from puberty until this time were not those of a Christian or moral person. She is trying to make some of the things you have done to others in your life right with her bequests in this will."

"First, to Mr. Thomas Senseny, Alice's first husband she bequeathed $750000.00. This is to partially repay him for the damage done him in the divorce. Secondly to you Alice she bequeaths only those monies and belongings you have surreptitiously taken from her premises and bank accounts during your life. As you know she never complained or filed charges against you for writing checks on her accounts or taking jewelry and other valuables out of her home. All those possessions and funds are now legally yours."

When the Judge spoke Alice jumped angrily to her feet. She shouted, "WHAT? How dare you? I never stole anything in my life. I lived with that old woman and cared for her occasionally. I may have written some checks for necessary things but that is all. What..."

The Judge broke in on Alice's harangue and said, "Ms. Fowler if you do not comport yourself properly I will ask security to escort you from this room. I have more business to conduct that may or may not be of interest to you but as long as you are a party to these proceedings you WILL comport yourself properly."

"Now, to continue," the Judge said. "Ms. Brandy Hoover is awarded the sum of $100000 in cash and the right to continue living in the Maid's Quarters of Mrs. Fowler's prior residence until such time as she marries or chooses to leave. The only stipulation for this request is that she continues to provide the same services to the new owner of the property that she did to Mrs. Fowler. Those services are spelled out in this document." The Judge handed a legal paper to Brandy and to his surprise to Alex.

"There is one bequest that Mrs. Fowler has made that she demands be kept secret until certain future events occur. Other than that, the balance of her estate with an approximate value of $1.06 Million goes to Mr. Alex Fielding. Once again" With a screech of pure rage Alice launched herself at Alex. She was upon him and had hit him twice and scratched his face deeply before the bailiff could stop her.

The Judge looked at her and said, "Bailiff. Place this woman in custody and charge her with contempt of court, assault and battery with intent to do bodily harm upon the person of Mr. Alex Fielding. While you are at it escort this...gentleman that arrived with Ms. Fowler out also please."

After Brandy had cleaned Alex's face the Judge said, "Now, if we can continue once again, as I was saying, the balance of Mrs. Fowler's estate goes to Mr. Alex Fielding. Once again there were instructions to make it known her reasoning for this award. These reasons are as follows: Mr. Fielding, even as a child treated Ms. Fowler as one of his family. For the entire time he resided in Steelville he would voluntarily come to Mrs. Fowler's home and perform maintenance, repairs, mow her yard and run errands for her. He never asked for or accepted payment for doing this."

"Also, as with Mr. Senseny, Mr. Fielding was treated shabbily by his then wife Alice Fielding and was unjustly denied a fair division of assets when they divorced. She further stated that she felt like Mr. Fielding was the grandson she was never lucky enough to have and she wanted to let him know in a tangible way how much she loved him. The only encumbrance on the property she is willing Mr. Fielding is as previously stated. Ms. Brandy Hoover is to continue living in the Maid's quarters and provide the same services to Mr. Fielding that she provided to Mrs. Fowler."

Alex and Brandy sat in stunned silence when the Judge finished his talk. As he was putting his papers in the proper folders the Judge once again spoke. He said, "Mr. Senseny, Mr. Fielding, I know it is too late but I do want you to know Mrs. Fowler had hired a private investigator. Somehow she formed the opinion that the Judge in your divorce proceedings was not exactly unbiased. Unfortunately he died before she could make her information public. She did want me to let you know that what she had discovered was enough to get him disbarred and perhaps some jail time. It appears he had been a secret lover of your wife almost from the time she got into college. There was evidence she traded sexual favors for lenient judgments shall we say? I hope you all have a good day and that these bequests go a long way to righting the wrongs done you." 

After the title to his new home had been properly recorded Alex moved his meager belongings from the small room he occupied in the back of the store to his new abode. The very next morning he hired a contractor to enlarge the apartment he had been living in. He added a small kitchenette and one living room and bedroom. Every one wondered what he was doing and why but he would not say.

Finally the additions were completed and he called all his staff into the café in mid afternoon. Jose was there in his threadbare but clean work clothes. He looked around and then said, "You all have been my very good friends for a long time as well as my very good employees. Jose has not worked for me long but he is a very good hard working man. When I was feeling sorry for myself after my divorce I hired him to give Pablo a hand. He is a hard working man and a good man. He and his wife have just had a new baby and I cannot in good conscience let them continue to live in that old trailer they are renting from George Jones. Jose I have enlarged the rooms I was living in and it would honor me if you and your family would move into them. As part of your salary I will furnish those quarters rent free just as I now furnish the apartment Pablo and his family occupy."

Jose stood staring at Alex while all the other employees smiled and patted him on the back. Finally he got his voice back and stammered, "Thank you Patron. You will not be sorry you have honored me and my family in this way. If ever there is anything we can do for you that we are not you just have to ask. If I may Patron I would like to go tell my Margarita of this generous thing you have done?"

Alex smiled and said, "By all means. Here are my truck keys. Why don't you and Pablo go and begin moving your things into your new home?"

"Oh, Senor, we could not. We are still working," Jose stammered.

"Yes, you are Jose and this is my order to you. Move your things into your new home and take all of tomorrow to enjoy it and help your wife arrange things to her satisfaction."

The next morning when Alex came into sight walking from his new home to his business he saw a smiling Margarita standing on the patio. He walked to her and said, "Good morning Margarita. You are up early. Is your new home satisfactory?"

Margarita handed Alex a cup of coffee in one of the café cups and said, "Oh yes Senor it is magnificent. We thank you so much. How can we repay you?"

"You cannot Margarita. Your husband has been a good and loyal employee and worked hard for me. That is repayment enough. That and knowing I have provided your little one a safer and more healthy place to grow up in."

Over the next two weeks Alex noticed Margarita working in the kitchen. Then one morning he came into the café and saw the menu had changed. Now there were Mexican entrées offered as well as the traditional American fare. He walked into the kitchen and saw Margarita once again there. She was happily cooking and bustling about while Marian watched. Margarita's daughter was happily chattering away in a small playpen just inside the door to Jose's quarters.

"Ok. Do you mind telling me what is going on here? I have seen you in the kitchen now for two weeks. This morning I find the menu has changed. What do you think you are doing here? I don't remember hiring you to do this."

Margarita looked nervous and hung her head. She said, "No Patron but you have provided such nice rooms for us. Jose and I decided we needed to do more for you than we were so I cook now. I was cook in Mexico before we got our green cards and moved here. I can cook now and help pay you for the fine place you gave us to live in."

Alex looked at Marian and said, "What did you have to do with this?"

"Well Alex the first week I let her cook a few meals to see how good a cook she was. I gave them free to some of our regulars. They started coming in and asking for the things Margarita had cooked. We decided to expand the menu and I told her if you did not want to pay her I would pay her out of my share of the profits. In case you didn't notice our breakfast and lunch traffic has picked up since she started cooking. We are now getting more of the local Mexican workers eating on their way to work or taking lunch with us. She has already increased our profits by almost what I had agreed to pay her. Besides it will be nice to have more help so we can slow down some."

Alex laughed and said, "OK, you all win. Now how about you bring me Special no 3 for my lunch. I want to see just how good this new cook of ours is."

Once again things returned to a smooth operation and Alex was enjoying his life. He and Brandy walked to work many mornings. In the evenings if she did not have a date they talked and watched TV or read together. Like many people sharing a house they became comfortable with each other. From time to time one or the other would inadvertently see the other partly dressed. On the occasions that occurred they would each think what a fine and good-looking person the other was.