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Age Not Always an Issue

By: Egmont Grigor



CHAPTER 1

Fired at the age of five-four as part of the vehicle assembly plant's downsizing to ride out the economic downturn, Carson Kline was living alone because his wife had gone to live with her eighty-seven year old mom. Sara had found Carson's increased demand for sex since being out of work intolerable, not that she'd been much interested way back when becoming pregnant for the third time. Anyway she was tired of him and called him 'over-active'.

Carson missed the sex and thought of buttering up some of his wife's friends but it was difficult to feel inspired when they all looked past it or almost ready for the final one. He went to the gym three times a week whereas exercise for most of them was walking to the bathroom and padding around the supermarket, library or doctor's clinic.

The supermarket? Carson thought about that. There would be wives there feeling romance and indeed excitement had gone from their lives. If only he could get his hands on those women. He knew that was frowned up, being called adultery, but that was just propaganda spread by religious zealots and used by husbands and wives to keep their spouses on the leash, He knew it was propaganda because he'd committed adultery a couple of times and hadn't fallen dead, pierced to heart by the enormity of his social 'crime'. His more immediate concern was the thought that it might drop off if he didn't use it.

A week later Carson was in the supermarket reading the notice board for opportunities for casual work, not really thinking he'd find one saying something like, 'Sexy woman wants man to mow lawns and fill all holes'... er in the lawn. But he did find the supermarket's own ad, '5-hour shift work for Parking Lot Security Officer. Uniform provided'. 

Uniform? Women had a thing about men in uniform didn't they, unless receiving traffic violation tickets?

He applied. The woman chewing gum with a bank of ten security screens on the wall in front of her asked, 'Do you know anything about security and keeping safe?"

"Yes ma'am. I was in the army for eleven years defending you and your country and retired as an E-7, er sergeant first class."

"Oh my, and you look like you have kept in good nick."

"Yes ma'am."

"Well bring in references and evidence of your work record and I'll probably hire you."

Her name was Debra. He was hired but the blue uniform he was issued with was a bad fit.

"I'm not wearing this."

"Well you are fired."

"Debra, please don't be such a bitch."

The gum flew around her mouth. "All right. We usually only attract scum for this work. She gave him an address of a back street tailor. "He's an illegal immigrant and knows we know so makes our uniforms very cheaply. Go to him."

"What can I give you in return Debra?"

She looked horrified and said her husband would kill her if he found out.

Carson pressed and she turned red-faced and admitted she preferred women.

On Monday Carson started on his new job, his two uniforms fitting him like gloves, not that he wore the two together. When asked Debra what his duties involved she asked him what did he think they were. 'Keeping an eye out for vehicle break-ins, shoppers being molested, the perimeter fencing being breached, shoppers with vehicle problems and show myself to your security cameras every half hour so you or your fill-in know I'm okay and am on the job 9:00 to 2:00 and I'll be required to work a double or even treble shift if other security guys fail to show." 

Her mouth had dropped open and she said, "How did you know that?"

"It's the minimum of what I thought would be required."

"You'll put me out of my job as head of security before too long."

"Nah, I desire to work outside. All my years working, my ass has only had short periods on a seat, like during meal breaks."

As soon as he'd been hired Carson had been to the police as part of registration as a security officer. He was already licensed to carry a firearm and was granted a license extension to carry a baton and handcuffs to deal with 'outrages' in the parking lot or in the supermarket but not, of course, two shoppers fighting over a parking space... unless they drew weapons.

At 9.09 on his first day Carson helped a partially crippled guy load his groceries into the trunk of the car. At 9:10 Debra radioed and said well done; Mr Meek shopped with them twice weekly. She then asked for a radio test with Carson calling her. There was no problem with that.

During that day Carson saw a number of tight assed-women bent over putting shopping into the trunk or heaving large bags through the tailgate of SUVs but by in large his offers of assistance were either ignored or dismissed with a slightly-frightened or tentative smile. After he signed off at 2:00 he went home to change and took both uniforms to the back street tailor after buying gold braid epaulettes and gold lanyards he'd picked up from a military surplus store. Jimmy the tailor attached them to the shirts while he waited. At home Carson sewed on three copper half-rounded buttons on to the shoulder straps that looked roughly like the stars on a lieutenant general's uniform and admired his handiwork with a satisfied smile.

Carson arrived next morning in his tarted-up uniform and wearing his highly polished ex-Army boots and a surplus store garrison cap from a South American army. Handcuffs and a larger baton were now attached to his military web belt. He snapped a salute at Debra who colored, tittered and said, "Oh god Carson, don't make me change my sexual persuasion."

He grinned and said she'd be more useful to him by keeping the operations manager off his back. Debra said he wouldn't like the uniform change from standard issue.

"Tell him you are experimenting to see if shoppers react more positively to a military-style security presence in the parking areas."

"Okay."

Carson put on his aviator sunglasses and marched out into his domain, feeling as if the parking lots of 400 spaces and those using them, were under his command, not that he intended acting officiously unless dealing with the enemy. His impact was immediate.

"Excuse me colonel."

"Yes ma'am."

The short fat blonde in her early thirties said she wondered if she had a flattie.

"They look big enough and equal shape to me ma'am."

Turning crimson she said, "Oh no," and touching her breasts said they were real. Her car appeared to feel bumpy coming into the parking lot.

"Those are anti-speed humps to slow traffic ma'am. However I'll take a casual look at your tires. I really need a pressure gauge."

The tires looked fine but Carson reported the tread on the right rear tire looked almost dangerously worn. 

"Oh thank you. May we talk again soon?"

"I don't see why not. My name is Carson."

"Oh, what a beautiful name for a man. Bye."

In the next parking lot closer to the exit (Carson knew most brainless women parked nearer the entrance), he spotted a great ass bent over.

"May I help you ma'am."

"It's miss," she said, straightening up and scowling. "Please load those two heavy boxes of tinned fruit. Are you aware I'm the mayor's daughter?"

"No but I won't hold that against you."

"She looked at him suspiciously, "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying if Mayor Collins is unpopular you cannot be blamed for that."

"Oh really?"

Carson loaded the two cartons and then was off, touching his cap, no longer interested because her chest was almost flat. He walked learning women spent quite a bit of time standing at the trunk of their car or the tailgate of their SUV unloading from supermarket trolleys. He patrolled drawing admiring glances and then he saw a great ass.

"Ma'am may I help you?"

The redhead backed out of her trunk. Her sunglasses were askew and she looked at him without reservation, straightening her hem and sunglasses simultaneously with that ambidextrous manner most women seem to posses. She smiled, looked at his shoulders and said, "Good morning general. You are the highest-ranked supermarket trolley boy I've ever come across."

He smiled and said, "Call me Carson ma'am. I'm security."

The ample bosom shook in laughter. "Thank you but no thank you. I'm finished here. Some other time perhaps?"

"Maybe. Good morning."

"And good morning to you General Carson."

Well that one was close, Carson thought. During his lunch break he polished his boots and in the staff lunchroom noticed women packers and their supervisors were glancing him in awe. Unfortunately by virtue of their work they were lower ranks, to be avoided. After work that afternoon he took his two shirts to Jimmy and had him embroider the word 'Security' across the outer end of each epaulette and at Jimmy's suggestion, delivered in broken English, he wrote out his name Carson and Jimmy used his computerized machine to embroider that on the left breast pocket of each shirt.

"My wife over there. She want to surrender to you Mr General. No charge."

The woman looked scruffy so Carson smiled and said 'Great honor but no thanks' and paid for the work and tipped Jimmy. 

"Jimmy very pleased," Jimmy said, looking at the additional twenty bucks to the charge-out price of seven bucks.

Carson ended his first week without establishing carnal connection. He told himself: patience, it would come. During that week he'd reported changing a wheel for a useless university professor who wasn't even aware tires had air in them, broken up two fights between youths, dealt with four incidents of road rage and solved eight cases of reported stolen vehicles by finding them where the women had parked, up near the entrance (the exit was halfway down the building at the checkouts). He also took the descriptions from four women alleging molestation and in each case noted in his opinion two of the women appeared paranoid and two were drunk.

"A very good first week for you," Debra reported. "Management is well pleased."

"And um how did the operations manager respond to your explanation about my uniform?"

"Oh I decided not to raise the issue with him. Actually he raised it at this morning's management meeting, complimenting me for allowing you to have some flexibility with embellishments to your standard-issue uniform. His wife had shopped the previous day and you kindly helped her load her SUV. She told the boss the General of Security was so pleasant and with a name-tag identifying himself she felt the more secure she'd ever been in any parking lot. There will be a fifty-buck bonus in your pay packet when you collect it on the way out. Well done my action hero."

* * *

It was Friday night so Carson, still in uniform, went into Stella's Bar as usual. The premises were usually well lit, showing up beer stains, spittle blobs and cockroaches. And then action hero clicked into gear and accelerated as he'd been trained to do, his focus narrow-vision and drawing out his weapon, in this case his baton.

Stella was at the till being robbed.

Carson completed his charge, whacking the knife-wielding guy over his head and he dropped like a stone, knife clattering to the floor. Stella screamed and shot backwards, bringing down a display of whiskies over her, one hitting her head and she slumped forward.

"Cut! What the fuck are you doing you jerk," screamed a woman. The bright lights extinguished. Carson turned and saw a film crew gathered around a huge camera on a tripod and swore at them. The black-haired beauty with red, red snarling lips came forward and hurled her clipboard at him. He caught it and handed it back, saying politely, "This is yours ma'am I believe." 

She looked at him in disbelief. "What are you... I mean who are you?"

"Carson Kline ma'am, supermarket parking lot security officer."

"What, a three-star general."

"Look closely ma'am and you will see it's sheer adornment simply to impress the ladies. Do you like strange men approaching you in a supermarket parking lot, even if they're smiling."

"Certainly not."

"Well there you are ma'am. When I approach women and they see me dressed like this, the parking lot seems to become a whole lot safer and they smile at me confidently and allow me to load heavy items for them."

For a second the woman's mouth opened soundlessly and then it snapped shut and reopened as she snarled, "You've assaulted Guy my actor and knocked out Mrs Bennett."

"Stella is hard as nails. After a couple of drinks she'll be laughing over this. Whisky being in heavy bottles will be mostly intact. But your gay guy will take twenty-four hours to recover.

"Gay? How did you know Guy was gay?"

"With a name like Guy plus being an actor, I rest my case ma'am."

"Hmmmm. That's a wrap guys. We'll re-shoot same time tomorrow hopefully with Action Hero here behind bars. Has someone called the cops?"

Stella, bleeding from a cut on the forehead, climbed to her feet and said, "Don't anyone call the cops. I'm on my second warning after recent disturbances. Hi Carson."

"Hi Stella. My apologies for committing mayhem; I honestly thought you were under attack."

"Of course you did. These Thickheads ought to have a sign up at the door saying filming under progress."

"We did have a sign up."

"Ah Ella?"

"Yes James?"

"The sign is in the van. You yelled at me to drop everything and attend to lighting."

Ella the pretty one said, "You're fired."

"Carson rapped his baton on his palm and said you can't do that. It's unjustified. It was you fault. Admit it or I'll wrap his stick around your backside."

"And I'll have you done for assault."

"Not in my bar you won't," said the unsmiling Stella holding up a canister of pepper spray.

"James, as you were. It was my fault placing undue pressure on you."

"Thank you."

Ella looked unhappy and complained to Stella, "That's fake spray in that can."

Stella said, "Oh yeah, well what's this one?" and picked up a second canister and displayed the word 'Prop' written down it in large black writing.

Ella turned white.

Carson took over. "Okay crew, pack up and return for drinks on the house. It's all Stella's fault for allowing her respectable bar to be used for filming purposes. Return same time tomorrow and I'll stay away. Come on Ella," he said, dragging her by the arm to a booth, "You look in need of a drink."

A call awoke Carson around 3:00.

"Thanks."

"Who's speaking," Carson asked suspiciously.

"Ella, Ella Cosgrove. I don't hold my liquor well so after three drinks last night on top of all that tension I flaked like a teenager."

"That's okay. I found your card in your handbag along with your keys, located your vehicle after trying to unlock several and drove you home. I undressed you but left on your underwear and wrote my phone number on the back of your card."

"Yes, the card popped out of my panties a few minutes ago when I went to pee. Did you sexually interfere with me?"

"No."

"Thank you."

"Bye."

"No wait Carson. Dinner tonight, my place at 8:00."

"No."

"Why not."

"I'm fifty-four. If you're lonely find someone around your age. What are you, thirty-six?"

"That's my bust and hips. My age is thirty-eight and I'm only lonely because I'm an abandoned wife and can't find men who are men."

Carson muttered was that so and she said yes.

"Please Carson. We won't fuck if you don't want that to happen."

"I thought the invitation was for dinner."

She giggled. The giggle got to him so he said okay.

CHAPTER 2

Ella Cosgrove awoke just before midday, feeling a little fragile but okay. She went out for breakfast and over low-fat milk and two scrambled eggs thought about Action Hero. She needed to have a guy as a companion and Carson fitted well apart from age. He was polite beyond belief and she knew she'd trust him with her life. He'd been an army man, holding the rank of sergeant when not signing back on, taking early retirement. He'd then struggled to find work and finally got a job fitting exhaust systems on a vehicle assembly line and within a year was made assistant floor supervisor of that line and less than a year later was promoted to supervisor and then laid-off just a few months ago. That profile fitted that of a stable and possibly thoroughly nice guy.

Walking back to her apartment in a warehouse above her business, Ella thought of herself as a thoroughly nice woman. She'd married young to a much older guy now somewhere with a woman whom she'd learned was closer to his age. She'd taken media studies at college and when she failed to get a position as a reporter joined a film crewed and worked up to become script supervisor, head PA, assistant film editor, script re-write editor and finally assistant director. With that background she established her own small unit, making short films for companies seeking to publicize their profile on the web and producing film clips for other clients who included charitable organizations and companies requiring commercial education for their people. When Action Hero had burst on to the scene, they were filming for the liquor industry an education film on best practice for bar staff during a hold-up.

A sudden thought seized Ella and she raced downstairs to the studio. Hank had downloaded yesterday's digital filming on to computer so she ran it and watched it in delight, knowing why it wasn't in the 'reject' archive. Hank would have wanted to show it to her. It was hilarious, with Action Hero coming out of the blue and dropping Guy like a stone. She'd screamed out, off camera of course, and Action Hero turned and staring at her grimly asked, "What the fuck is this carry-on?" 

When she finished wiping her eyes Ella thought she'd build this into the short film and get the commissioning executive to sign her the rights to that particular clip because she could on-sell it to 'TV Bloopers' for perhaps big money.

God, Carson had looked every bit a professional actor as he caught the clipboard she'd hurled at him and said gravely, "This is yours ma'am I believe." She'd set up the aftermath for the shoot in the studio with Carson repeating that line and handing the clipboard back to her. God it was so funny. But would he do it? Ella decided yes he'd cooperate and she knew he'd fuck her that night. Ella was good at predicting how people would react. As insurance she'd act like a woman in great need and Action Hero would feel obliged to nail her to the sofa.

* * *

Carson arrived dressed in black and wearing orange shoes. Carson felt her thighs tremble as she looked at him. "Hi Action... I mean Carson. Welcome, please come in."

"Jesus!"

Well that was a novel greeting. Ella was wearing her tightest dress -- white and gathered with a halter neck. She couldn't allow her biggish breasts to wallow free so had them in a demi-bra and knew she was partly spilling into sight. Mr Not Interested Kline licked his top lip and Ella wondered if her panties were already damp at the crotch. Ah yes, she could feel it.

She just didn't hold her head up to be kissed. She kissed him. He didn't pull away so she kept right on kissing him and opened her mouth. He opened his; he did what was expected of him and as their tongue tips touched she left her body sensors respond and possibly a slight electrical shock on her damp vulva. She felt exhilarated so pushed him away and said, "Come on, you need to eat first." She'd not added the next bit, knowing he was an intelligent man and she was already aware his breathing rate had stepped up. Ella was wondering about the thickness and coloring of his dick -- oh she was in such need -- when he pulled her back and she realized he'd just saved her walking into the doorframe.

"Oh what am I doing? Thank you."

"You are doing very well. I've never had such a fantastic greeting arriving at a near stranger's home."

"Please sit yourself comfortably in there," Ella said vaguely, pointing to the lounge. "I'll get you a drink. Beer or white or red wine."


Age Not Always an Issue



"Red wine thanks."

She hurried off fretting heavily. He thought of them as being near strangers. She had no hope of having sex. This was so terribly tragic. She reached for the red wine opened and 'breathing' on the bench and knocked it forward and only by lunging just managed to catch it toppling off the bench. Panting, red-faced and in despair she thought she'd be a maiden for the remainder of her life.

A maiden?

She giggled helplessly on the brink of crying. She'd never been good at handling frustration. She knew she was probably 500 times away from being a virgin. What the hell had she been thinking?

"Steady on Ella, take hold of yourself and no clutching your vulva. Keep calm and you might manage something, even just a grope with a fellow stranger. Yes -- he had kissed her, fulsomely. That must have stirred up his dick a bit.

Ella poured two wines, checked the dinner in the oven and went into the lounge confidently, not feeling like an over-wrought teenager any longer. She was a mature adult, totally in command and her expectations had been unreasonable. She should just get on with it and enjoy having someone for company.

Carson stood as she entered the lounge. Ella's mind roared off again. He stood so straight and looked so fit for a man almost old enough to be her father. Into her mind jumped a vision of her mouth been around the purple head of his fat dick and...

Carson was looked at her, slightly flushed and took his wine from her. She stepped back and looked at him. Now he was looking at her a little nervously.

"Are you wearing panties?"

Roaring sounded in her ears as her blood pressure soared. "Yes," she squeaked. "Why?"

"I wanted you to pull up your skirt and show it to me."

Shaking but determined not to back away or be overcome with excessive emotion, Ella said, "W-what is IT?"

"Your pussy."

"Y-you want to see my pussy?"

"Yes."

"Before dinner?"

"Yes."

"May we wait until after dinner?"

"I suppose so."

"I'll remove me panties now. Actually it's a good idea because all of this suppressed sexual undertone I feel surrounded by has made me dampen them."

"Here, allow me to hold you wine."

They both knew a woman removing her panties was rather an inelegant sight but they both may have known a man attempting to remove them was like watching a film clip of Charlie Chaplin removing his braces with the film running backwards.

He held out her wine and as Ella reached for it he kissed her and said, "You performed that very difficult maneuver very credibly."

"Thank you. I had visions of my worst nightmare."

"What was that?"

Ella's face turned crimson but she knew to reply, knowing this would establish intimacy between two near-strangers in the best possible way.

"That I'd fall over, my left leg flying out to expose myself and pussy juice flying everywhere."

He nodded like a bishop but then said, "That's funny; I had a similar vision except your legs flew up higher than your head and you did the splits."

Ella started it... her rumble of a laugh building to a hee-hawing bellow that had him in near hysterics, both of them fighting to keep their wine in the glass.

"God that was funny," he said, taking both glasses and putting them down, noting that Ella's shoulders were still shaking. He held out his arms: "Want to come over here and allow me to dip for pussy juice for an aperitif?"

"Yes, providing you share your aperitif," she gurgled, gliding to him.

Never again would they feel there were near strangers.

The cunning swine, she thought. He's manipulated me. 

They ate the beautifully cooked and presented chicken roast dinner appreciatively, chatting sensibly and drinking sparingly. When they'd cleared away Ella suggested they walk a couple of blocks and return via the river walk to settle their dinner.

They walked hand-in-hand, finding out a lot more about one another. They stopped occasionally to kiss but made no attempt to touch genitalia. 

Unlocking the door Ella walked in and as Carson turned from closing it she slammed him against the door and bit him quite hard on the shoulder.

"Ouch," he said. "What was that for?"

"Just a reminder I want to be fucked, not teased and especially not lectured about our age difference."

"Okay," Carson said calmly and Ella relaxed. He took that opportunity to seize her and carried her kicking and punching him to the sofa where he threw her on her stomach, lifted up the back of her dress and as Ella spread her legs she felt his tongue against her pussy and a finger rimming her asshole. She creamed herself. Carson unzipped and it was up into her vagina like a snake before she'd completed pulling down her bra to free her breasts for him... er and her.

They went at it slowly, finally gaining beautiful rhythm until she creamed again, this time powerfully. He then pulled out and creamed over her face and hair, she turning on to her side, knowing what was coming. Ella then took the dripping dick and sucked it, signally she accepted him fully and hoping like fuck he was disease free.

"I forgot a couple of things," he said.

She scowled and said, "Well one of them would have been foreplay."

He grinned and said three things. He should have asked did she want him in a condom and he ought to have asked was she 'safe'.

"Yes, yes and yes."

"What's the third yes for?"

"I believe I have no STDs. I had a general medical check two months ago, was clear and have not had sex for three months."

Carson confessed, "I had my annual medical check at the plant a week before I was laid off and it's been two months since I've had sex except with my own hand. Sorry I didn't..."

"It's okay. With that declaration you have my confidence. I had my tubes tied six years ago after a big row with my husband and he punched my around the room. I was determined never to have that bastard's child."

"Wow."

"It is reversible, perhaps. Let's clean up and have coffee. Then I'll crawl on to the dinning table for you to lick me into a rousing climax. That is one of the great pleasures I have in life. I suppose your desire is to give it to me backdoor?"

"No, we'll both know if we want that. I'm rather partial to a well performed sixty-nine."

"Oooh."

Carson accepted the invitation to stay the night. He was open to more sex of course but he also wanted to be alongside Ella when she awoke in daylight beside a much older man than what she'd have been used to. There was no problem. Ella kissing both his eyes awoke him slowly in the morning and after they'd exchanged greetings with delight in their voices she sat down with her pussy over his mouth. Carson didn't have to be told what to do.

An hour later they both headed off to work.

* * *

Debra greeted him and said nervously. "We've had three complaints about the wives of army men about your masquerading in military uniform.

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Don't make it tough for me Carson."

"Do you mind if I go out and make a call?"

"You mean to another supermarket?" Debra said anxiously.

"I just want to make a call."

"Okay."

Ella answered the phone, yawning. "Oh hi darling... er, am I allowed to be that affectionate."

"Be what you wish Ella but be happy."

"Oooh, you are a real tonic for me."

"Ella, think carefully. If you can't answer now then give me a call back. Would you like me to move in with you indefinitely?"

Ella had only one answer. "Oooh Carson. You've made my day. How about moving in tonight?"

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely. I have been very lonely Carson and your arrival has given me a great uplift."

"I like hearing you say that. But aren't you worried about what your friends will say. I'm much older than you?"

"My husband is fifty-one Carson. He's a couch potato compared with you. So what do you think about that?"

"Pleased."

"I bet, with a grin on your face about as big as that when you were pushing into me for the first time last night."

"Thanks for saying that Ella. I find you exhilarating."

There was a pause and Ella said tentatively, "Are you sure about that Carson. I though this was all one sided."

"Oh yeah. Baby, you have given me new meaning to life."

"Oh darling."

Carson drove home, changed, and took his two uniforms back to Debra. He found the operations manager with her. Derek said, "Debra tells me you are digging in about changing back to general issue uniform."

"No longer. Here are you uniforms sir and I'm out here."

"But I've just found our customers have voted you employee of the month although you've only been with us a week. You are streets ahead of anyone else."

"Well isn't that interesting sir. You are the second employer in succession who hasn't stood by me in face of outside pressures. So I quit, as from this minute and you'll not get my resignation in writing."

"But Mr Kline. I insist you stay with us and you may wear your ridiculous uniform."

"Ridiculous? I suggest you ask your wife about that sir. It's not wonder you haven't risen higher in life at your age than running a big supermarket. But there we are. Kiss me Debra and please put your husband out of his misery and give him a second chance."

Debra kissed Carson and sobbed he was by far the most impressive employee she'd ever hired."

"There are other prime candidates out there Debra, believe me."

Carson walked off and walked around his area of command for the last time, women at their trunks and tailgates looking at him furtively, as if fearful of being molested. He saw the short fat blonde loading his vehicle and helped her.

"Thanks Carson. I say, my husband is out of town at the moment, would you like to call this afternoon when you finished here."

"Thanks ma'am but some other time. I have other priorities. Have a lovely day."

Arriving home the first thing Carson did was to call his wife.

"Sara, it's Carson."

"What do you want?"

"To talk to you. How's your mother?"

She only addressed the first point. "What about?"

"Selling the house."

"Sell it for the best price you can get but I want to see the offer when it comes in."

"Okay."

"Sara said she wanted to split their investments and then he would be out of her life.

"Fine Sara. Bye."

"Next time don't call when we're having lunch."

Carson didn't bother replying, knowing there never would be the right time to call his wife. He'd not mentioned divorce because she'd probably say not\. The best tactic was to wait until she suggested they divorce because that way she wouldn't be digging her toes in. Anyway there was no hurry. Ella had mentioned her husband was not seeking a divorce and she had no compelling wish to be rid of the grumpy bastard... er those were her words.

Before lunch Carson called two Realtors and arranged for each firm to appraise the property. One could send someone at 2:15 and the other would send someone around 5:00. Both managers he spoke to appeared interested because the house was near schools, a mall and was near the edge of a stable rock face directly overlooking the river. 

"I think I know your property," said the agent sending someone at 2:15. "A top shelf property and should sell quickly."

"Aren't we amid a recession?"

"Not for buyers of top residential property. The astute people with good money protect themselves from changes like economic recessions and local government changes in policies."

Carson was almost asleep listening to a Japanese violinist from his collection when Ella called.

"Is that Midori I can hear in the background?" she asked in surprise.

"Yes. Well now we have not yet discussed out interests apart from work and the bedroom."

She giggled. "Ah yes. I have that CD... Midori Live at Carnegie."

"Correct. I suppose that an ex-soldier likes classical music is a startling revelation to you?"

"Well if it were I'm still rather pleased," Ella said. "Over the moon in fact. It adds dimension to our association. May I take you to dinner tonight? There is something I need to asked you."

"Ask me now."

There was a slight pause. "We'd like to shoot one more scene of that filming of you in the bar. I want you filmed catching the clipboard and then saying what you said to me. We have the sound but nothing of me because I was behind the camera. I wish to work that 'take' into the film for our client and then to see if I can sell it for good money for screening on a TV Bloopers show."

"Okay, when?"

"Tomorrow morning so perhaps it's best you sleep with me tonight."

Carson laughed. "What an incentive to cooperate."

She laughed and was told Carson has quit his job and called his wife who'd agreed they should sell the house and divide the money. "I'll buy an apartment."

"You can share with me."

"I'd love to do that. But I'll buy an apartment as an investment in case you get sick of me or your husband comes back to reclaim you."

"You can forget the later and I hope like blazes the former does not occur."

"That sounds encouraging."

"Oooh, I like the sound of that. Drop by sevenish. I must go. Make sure you wear the clothes you had on when filmed the other night. I really was hoping you would shift in tonight."

"Shit."

"What's wrong?"

"My supermarket uniforms. I've handed them back in."

"Fuck!"

"Hold on, my ex-manager had a soft spot for me. I'll ask to borrow it back. Best I call now in case why gaudy uniforms go out in the refuse today. Bye, sevenish it is."

Debra said yes he could have both uniforms. They were in her office ready to be tossed out.

"Thanks, I'll stay and have coffee with you. You're a good sort Debra."

"Thanks. If more men were more like you I could have stayed interested in men."

Ella's PA answered the cell phone so Carson gave his name and asked her to pass on the message that he had the uniform for tomorrow morning's filming. 

After visits by the two real estate appraisal teams Carson called both firms and organized the house to be advertised for sale for an asking price at the top of the suggested price range. If it sold for or near that the house would sell for around $320,000 more than what he and Sara had paid for it nine years ago. It was now mortgage free. 

Carson arranged times to be home when the listing inspections would be made and said yes he understood his estranged wife would have to co-sign the listing agreement and all documentation thereafter. He was sad about quitting the house, sadder than when Sara had announced once again she was leaving him but that last time she'd added 'for good'. Her bad moods had begun after the youngest of their two daughters and her favorite of the three children, Sally had left home and her moods positively darkened after Sally was caught in a drug bust three years ago and received a five-year jail term. Despite efforts by both parents Sally refused to see them or to write. At least Pete the guy she'd been living with had stood by her and continued to do so. 

Dealing in drugs -- what a stupid, sad girl who was not interested in redemption, Carson sighed. He believed he was receiving the backlash of the guilt Sara had about Sally's behavior. Both were stubborn women so nothing would change. His attempts to persuade Sara to seek counseling had failed. It really was time to move on. Carson knew it was now easy to say that because he'd found someone else. He spent the rest of the afternoon loading his vehicle with junk from around the property and taking it to a landfill to dump.

Carson arrived at the apartment and Ella greeted him with a huge kiss, told him she'd missed him and took him into the kitchen.

"Here, sit down for coffee and I've bought you this lovely piece of pumpkin pie.

Carson's heart leaped... she knew! She knew the decision to sell the house would be a regrettable milestone in his life. Oh the little darling... not that she was short, she was as tall as he was. The thing was she felt for him!

"You are such a beautiful lady," he said, enjoying how she had stopped in her tracks to stare at him and blush. He couldn't ever remember Sara reacting like that. Whenever he'd attempt to pass compliments to her Sara would either find a job for him or tell him not to be silly. But enough of Sara.

Ella told him about her day, just the interesting stuff or stuff he knew she thought might interest him and she then said, "Poor boy, ending your job and putting your house up for sale in the one day... that is enough to rattle your timbers. Come I've run a bath."

"What to watch you?"

"No funny man, to..." She stopped, catching his look and now the shuffle of her feet.

"Oh god darling, you're never bathed with a woman have you?"

"Um, with my mom before school age."

"But you've showered with wenches?"

"Yes but bathing is different."

"I want it to be different darling. Grab a beer. You may undress me if you wish."

"No, that's okay," Carson said resolutely, like an ex-military guy under attack.

Carson watched Ella undressed as he undressed and was forced to admit, "I'm developing a boner."

Ella trilled, getting into the water, "I would have been disappointed if you hadn't."

Once they had settled and Carson took his first swig of beer, Ella said gently, kissing his foot, "Now tell me about what upset your relationship with your wife."

Carson's eyes rolled but he began and manfully stuck to the task, telling her everything including all about Sally.

Almost an hour later Ella smiled and said thank you. "That's off your chest; we'll never have to talk about it again unless you want to."

Carson agreed with that and admired her for offering no comment about what she'd been told or fussing over him. Instead she told him what he wanted to hear: "Let's go to bed and fuck before we go out to dinner." In one hit she'd mouthed the two big interests in his life. Ah, but she'd not mentioned work. He must find a job to keep busy and the income would be handy.

Remarkably -- or was it destiny -- that third major factor in Carson's life called work came up over dinner.

"Choice steak."

Instead of replying Ella said casually, "Do you like me well enough to want to work with me, to be hired by my company?"

"Yeah."

"Um could you sound rather more convincing than that?"

"I need a job and if you have a vacancy then we should talk. My only concern would be working with you all day and being with you all night."

"That's a management problem. Besides, during setting up and post-production you wouldn't see me for hours on end."

"You mean on some days I'd loll around waiting for something to come up or even being told to take the day off on pay?"

"Bright boy. That's exactly it. I hire outside people but maintain a core of key personnel like the other night in the bar -- all those people are my core and we can make a small film, particularly under closed conditions such as in a studio or office, without outside assistance. As sole owner of the business I'm the producer/director and have an AD, called an assistant director, whose name is Mollie O'Keefe. In effect she runs my business while I concentrate on finding new work and the creative aspects such as filming, giving close attention to conceptualizing the storyline and then controlling post-production work. Although Mollie is happily married you may feel tempted to have sex with her... men find her adorable."

"Then why ask me to work as part of your crew?"

"There are other considerations beside casual sex. You would be teamed with Mollie to ease her workload. Not only is she involved in business management but looks after the day to day running of our operations, scheduling, catering -- you name it. I've spoken to her and she suggests your duties cover being principal driver, assisting with locations once she'd found them, and during filming of small productions being second boom operator, assisting with cables which is called third man and being an assistant gaffer to hold reflectors."




Age Not Always an Issue



"So a multi-task workman?"

"Yes, I'm afraid so. Being a camera operator takes long training and being a sound technician or working in post-production require formal training."

"Yeah I knew that but what about working on logistics, set design and choosing locations?"

"Have you worked on filmmaking?"

"Now but I have expert knowledge of those things I mentioned having been tutored in the army for many years. I worked in logistics for two years and for three years was involved in training new recruits and after their basic training was completed we had to put them through more varied challenges that mean placing them into new positions against the 'enemy', requiring them to work out where they should position themselves defensively and from which to launch counter-attacks. We build entire dummy villages that looked realistic at night and we had to be skilled in choosing locations so we could sucker them into received heavy casualties -- mock fighting, of course. And then those of us experienced in field ops had to help the geeks set up challenging computer games for senior recruits still under induction and immersion."

"Ohmigod."

"Thought you might be interested."

"I'm interested because I wish to expand and win contracts from larger advertising agencies to do some of their filmmaking."

"Expansion will require capital and banks will be touchy about loaning money to filmmaking operators in this poor economic climate."

"And don't we know it!" Ella spat. "Mollie and I worked hours and hours building a rock-solid presentation and what did those grinning monkeys at three banks and a finance company do?"

"That's been tough on monkeys."

"They said thanks for coming and practically laughed us out the door."

Carson rubbed his chin. "Um, can you give me that documentation to read?"

"Yes sure. It's mostly about financials so will be boring reading for you."

"It will also be about strategies won't it?"

"Sure, oh I see... you were a strategist so will be interested. That being so you ought to take Mollie out for lunch and chat her up about this. She knows more about my business than I do. She was a bored financial consultant before she came to me five years ago."

* * *

Next morning Carson was in the warehouse with its 20ft stud that Ella had told him was ideal as a filmmaking studio when she arrived back behind him and said, "Carson Kline, meet my right hand Mollie O'Keefe."

Carson turned and looked as if he'd been ambushed. 

Mollie laughed and said, "Ohmigod, your lover is Mr Nice from the supermarket parking lot."

Yes, Mollie was the short, fat blonde who'd thought she had a flat tire. Within hours Carson would know she was a dynamic personality with killer wit and who told jokes unbecoming for a lady.

"Ah, I'm glad you two have had a passing acquaintance," Ella said. "Mollie I'd like you and Carson to go out today and have a long lunch together on the company. Each passing hour seems to tell me Carson will become more to us that principal driver. Obviously if he impressed you in a parking lot he achieved something, you being hard to please."

"He was so polite and helpful and when I took in his general's uniform I almost had an orgasm on the spot."

Carson was embarrassed even further when the two women clasped each other in laugher, squawking like two hens. Perhaps that comment was funny. 

* * *

Mollie had asked Carson to go and possess the table she'd booked; she had to wait to receive an important call from the company's attorney about a contract. He was on to his second wine when she arrived, not at all flustered. She kissed him and said not many men stood for her because she was short and fat.

"Your inherited genes are not your fault Mollie, but you have personality to burn so just don't worry."

Mollie gaped. "That's what my husband, who's a physician said to me shortly after we first met when he was a senior med student."

"Well he had to get the panties off you somehow Mollie. However I have no such motive."

She laughed loudly and kicked his shin.

"God, you bitch," he whispered, rubbing his shin.

"Oooh, aren't we getting to know one another very well," she said, ordering a bottle of French Chablis.

During talk about the company, Carson asked how much of her own money had Ella invested in the company.

Mollie said Ella had instructed her to be open and frank about company business but that request for information was a bit over the top.

"This is business Mollie so reconsider your position on this."

"Why, Ella is bending over for you? Why would you want to invest money in the company?"

"Because I'm convinced in my own mind Ella is prepared to enter a long-term relationship with me. 

"Then don't invest in the company; that could rear to sour the relationship between you two."

"Do you mean Ella would be to blame for that?"

"No that would be you. Ella is as straight as they come and within is the most beautiful person I know apart from my own mom."

"In that case it's even more important you tell me."

"I don't carry that figure in me head but it's a shade over $200,000. Our premises and much of our equipment is leased."

"Do you believe this expansion is the right thing to do?"

"Yes, without doubt and I'm the one pushing. Ella is nervous about the current economic climate."

"People will be cutting back."

"What a wonderful time to push your nose in."

Carson grinned and said that was good strategic thinking.

"Ella is taking home a copy of our document prepared for financiers. Read it well; there are well argued comments that you call strategic thinking."

CHAPTER 2

Sara and Carson's property sold despite several mild attempts at sabotage by Sara but even she knew the price was too good to decline; two keen buyers had wanted it and the Realtor of the real estate firm had joined the saleswoman to work through Sara's contrived issues.

On that evening of settlement, Carson took Ella to dinner. Their relationship was blossoming beautifully and their joint interests were expanding. Ella had been delighted to find although the core crew knew Carson was 'the boss's boyfriend', just as with her they accepted him as one of them, a member of the team. Carson had worked on that, knowing it was so important to Ella for that to happen.

Sipping champagne she said, "Would you like me to help you look for an investment apartment?"

"I've gone off that idea. One of the reasons why we are here tonight is Sara asked me this afternoon to agree to a divorce. She said, correctly, our marriage is dead."

"Oh Carson, I am so sorry. It would have been devastating for you to hear her say that."

"I admit being shocked but already I'm grinning, thinking I've taken out the enemy."

"God Carson, that's callous."

"I expect you to think like that Ella, because that's how you are. But consider my point of view, that bitch came close to ruining my life."

Ella nodded. "Yes you have cause to feel aggrieved. But look, do this for me. Call now for early morning delivery of a really expensive bouquet of flowers."

"Why?"

"She will be grieving for her dead marriage. Here, give me your credit card."

Ella made the call and then said, "Message? Oh yes, just write 'Thanks for everything. Carson'. Just a minute I'll get the address off Carson."

Ella slid her phone shut. "Does that make you feel better?"

"Surprisingly it does. Way back we did have good times. Um, that message reads a little ambiguously."

"It was meant to. You did call her a bitch."

They smiled and had their glasses topped up.

"One of the other things on my mind concerns my daughter I told you about who is in jail. Would you join me in two attempts to get her to accept us as visitors?"

"Visit her in jail you mean?" Ella said, turning pale.

Carson eyed her steadily. "Yes."

"Oh god... well yes I'll do that."

"She may be curious about you so might agree to see me."

"I thought that was your tactic."

"Thank you Ella," Carson said, taking her hand. "Sally is only twenty-three; I can't abandon her, at least not yet."

"That's how I want you to think darling. My brother Bruce is a very successful defense lawyer in Chicago. Would you like me to talk to him about Sally and attempting to get an early release under our supervision? He may have contact here and came make recommendations?"

"That would be most appreciated but first let's see if Sally will allow us to visit."

Carson squeezed her hand and she squeezed back firmly.

"Let's try to do everything we can for her Carson."

He nodded and sniffed. "Um now to business."

"Business?"

"Yes, I'd like to advance your company a loan of $200,000."

Ella looked shocked and squeaked, "$200,000?"

"Yes."

"Oh Carson, you've overwhelmed me. Look I was preparing to go anyway but I'm off to the restroom to think about that. Oh god."

She returned and pulled her chair around to sit against him.

"If I am to have that money I want it as capital, with you as my partner."

"A partner?"

"Yes."

Carson lapsed into thought, tugging at an ear.

"Okay, but on these terms: It will be as a silent partner with only you, Mollie and your company attorney aware of such an arrangement."

"Oh excellent. That means your relationship with the core crew will remain unchanged."

"Yeah, good strategic thinking huh?"

"Carson."

"Yes."

"I really think we were made for one another."

He grinned. Who am I to argue against that? We could last together for quite a few years. Let's enjoy them."

THE END