Widowsmate

a Novelette by Kellis

January, 2000

 

Chapter 3:Exposure

 

Excerpt from the Daily Clarion for Sunday, September 9, 1934:

Positions Wanted, Female

(Rates .01/wd/wk, max 25 wds, apply in person at newspaper office, cash in advance)

Companion for elderly:WF 37 yrs, asking .25/day with r&b.References.Box 427

Companion for anyone:WF 24 yrs, .75/day with r&b.Box 431

Companion:WF 28, pretty, social skills.50�/hr.Phone 7118

Maid:WF 42, sober, careful, willing..80/day or .25/day with r&b.Box 377

Gentleman�s escort:All services, $2/nt.Phone 7402

Housekeeper:WF 50, recent hotel mgr.40�/day with r&b.References.Box 716

Escort Service:All ages, conditions and talents.Our girls are trained hostesses and entertainers.Large staff, bargain rates.Phone 6884

Companions:Mother and two grown daughters, must stay together, $1/day with r&b.Box 426

Special companion:WF 30, skilled actress and contortionist, $3/nt.Phone 7197

Poseuse:WF 27, ballet exp., artistic figure, $2.50/nt.Phone 7809

 

 

He parked in the driveway beside the kitchen door as usual and led Beatrice up onto the short stoop.Through the gauzy curtain he could see Laura seated at the kitchen table, so he decided to knock instead of simply using his key.

Laura came to the door immediately and pushed the curtain aside.Her eyes rounded in wonder at sight of his face, then narrowed as they peered beyond him.She opened the door.

�Morning, Laura,� he said.

�Good morning,� she responded, stepping back.One side of her lip rose in a crooked grin.�I hope this ain�t your wife.�

He allowed Beatrice to pass him and closed the door behind them.�Laura Willis, this is Beatrice Wallingsworth;Beatrice, Laura Willis.�

�Hello,� said Laura, raking the neatly dressed newcomer up and down while pulling the tattered housecoat, presently her only garment, tighter about herself.

�Pleased to meet you,� intoned Beatrice without smiling.�Then you�re not his wife, either?�

Laura chuckled wryly.�Not unless he said different.�Her gaze cast around quizzically at the man.�What�s going on, Justin?�

He sighed.�Nothing good, I�m afraid.�

�What do you mean,� Beatrice demanded belligerently, ��unless he said different?��

Laura again exhibited her crooked grin.�I�m his wife if he said so.�

Beatrice was baffled, but only for a moment.She seemed to lean forward.�We saw another woman.�

��We?�� Laura repeated.�Not this morning, you didn�t.She�s still abed.�

�Is the other one your wife?� Beatrice demanded of Justin.

�I told you, I don�t have a wife.�

�You really don�t?�Laura turned her gaze fully upon him.�You never said that before!�

�You never asked,� he retorted.

Beatrice demanded in accusing tones, �You�ve been making love to him thinking he was married?�

Laura peered shrewdly at the other woman.�Haven�t you, too?�

Beatrice flushed and her eyes fell.

Laura asked, �Justin, who is this?�

�A � friend of mine.�

�Why�d you bring her here?Oh.Is she the one Tilly mentioned ��

�No!To tell you the truth, I don�t know why.�

Beatrice sniffed.�He brought me because I would have come anyway.�

Laura regarded her without smiling.�So what do you want?�

�I wanted to tell his wife what a snake he is.�

�A snake?�Laura grinned, looking curiously at Justin.�What makes him a snake?�

�He�s � a two-timing snake.With another woman besides you and me.�

�Oh.Well, he�s a man, ain�t he?�

Beatrice frowned.�What do you mean?�

Laura shrugged.�I never met a man worth a damn who wouldn�t poke any skirt that was half-way willing.�

Beatrice stared at her.�But he�s been two-timing you, too!�

�You bet!�Laura grinned.�With my best friend, at that!�

�Don�t you care?�

�Care?You mean, do I mind?No, he leaves plenty for me.�Suddenly a frown replaced her smile.�What�s the matter with your side?�

Beatrice replied apologetically, �I have terrible cramps sometimes.�

�Your monthly is on you, ain�t it?�

�My �Yes.�

Laura raised her hand.�Hold on.They bother me, too.I found just the thing.�

She extracted a large brown bottle from a cabinet and passed it to Beatrice, advising, �Take yourself a big slug of this.In five minutes your cramps won�t bother you a bit.�

�What is it?�

�Lydia Winkham�s.Let me tell you, it�s powerful stuff!�

Beatrice extracted the cork and passed it under her nose.�Licorice?�

�Take a mouthful � two or three good swallows.�

�If it�ll stop these infernal cramps ��Beatrice turned the bottle up to her lips and imbibed generously.�Too sweet!�She made a face as she recorked the bottle.�Can I have some water?�

Laura drew her a tumbler of water which Beatrice drank thirstily.Lowering the glass, she said, �Thank you.I�ve heard of Lydia Winkham�s, of course, but never tried it.Doesn�t it contain laudanum?�

�Probably.�Laura shrugged.�All I know is it works better than anything else.Only problem is, it can stop up your bowels.�

Justin intercepted the bottle on its way back to the cabinet.Reading from the colorful label, he said, ��Lydia Winkham�s Elixir of Life / Sovereign for all temporary female maladies / Dosage two tablespoons twice daily as needed.�Two tablespoons?God, Bea, I saw you swallow at least three times!�

Laura nodded.�A good slug.That�s what it takes.�

�Where�d you get it?� wondered Beatrice.�I haven�t seen it on the shelf in years.�

�That�s because men passed a stupid law against it!�

With the creak of hinges the door to the hall opened and Tilly entered, hair wrapped turban-like in a towel, otherwise stark naked.She started to grin at Justin but stopped suddenly at sight of Beatrice.�Oops!� she exclaimed.Then her smile widened.�Who�s this, Justin � your new playmate?�

�Ah �Tilly, this is Beatrice Wallingsworth;Beatrice, Tilly Jones.�

Pleased to meet�cha!� Tilly declared, looking Beatrice up and down.

A wide eyed Beatrice observed, �But you�re naked!�

Tilly smirked, �Nothing you ain�t seen before, honey, just less of it.And you don�t even have a coffee cup.Where�s your manners, Justin?Here, let me pour you one.�

As Tilly tilted the coffee pot, Laura confided through her crooked grin, �Beatrice has brought us some news.�

�What�s that?� asked Tilly.

�Justin�s been two-timing us.�

Tilly chuckled and glanced up at the visitor.�With her?�

�And another woman, too.�

Tilly leered at the man.�You rascal, you!�

Beatrice frowned.�You�re not his wife, either.Are you?�

Stretching, Tilly took down a saucer from a high cabinet.�He didn�t say I was, did he?�

Beatrice�s eyes rounded indignantly.�What�s the matter with you two?Don�t you know?�

Tilly held out saucer and cup, explaining, �The way I understand it, in this state if you live with a man for six months and he claims you in public as his wife, you are.How long we been living in your house, Justin?�

�Hmm.Going on seven months.�He grinned.�But even the common law doesn�t allow two!�

She laughed.�Always a catch!Beatrice, don�t you want this coffee?�

Laura suggested, �Maybe she wants cream and sugar.�

�I�m sorry,� said Tilly.�Don�t have any.We drink it black.�

�So do I,� Beatrice admitted, taking the cup at last.�Thank you,� she added after an appreciative sip.

�Right,� nodded Tilly.�Only lukewarm drinkers want cream and sugar.�She smirked at Justin.�Another hot-lipped one, eh?�

�I do have hot lips,� Beatrice agreed.�Don�t I, Justin?�

�Ah � yes.�

�At both ends?� wondered Tilly.

Beatrice�s eyes widened again.

�Not just now,� said Laura with her crooked grin.

Tilly cocked her head.�But what�s this about Justin two-timing everybody?What�s your trouble, Beatrice?�

�He did.He does!Can I sit down?I feel a little weak.�She added apologetically, �It�s that time of the month.�

�Sure.�Tilly pulled out a chair for her at the kitchen table.�Justin, why don�t you fetch one from the parlor and we can all take a seat?I�ll pour you a cup, too.�

He shrugged tolerantly and obeyed.Walking down the hall, he heard the women�s voices behind him, Tilly�s dominant, Beatrice�s raised in petulant accusation, but the tone overall was remarkably amiable.When he returned, the three were already seated around the small table.He placed the fourth chair in front of his usual mug of steaming coffee and took his seat between Tilly and Beatrice.

�So I decided that he shouldn�t get away with it,� Beatrice was saying.�I went and told on him.�

�Told this Betty?� asked Tilly.

�No.Betty�s the one who told me!Whom I told was his boss!�

�His boss!� breathed Laura, eyes widening.

�At Mellon Bank.I went right down there and told him Justin was pretending to pay my mortgage and Betty�s, too.�

Tilly and Laura stared at their visitor.�I can�t believe you did that!� Tilly declared.�What happened?�

�Nothing.Justin�s too smart for them.Covered it up somehow.�Beatrice shivered and took a sip of her coffee.�Cold in here!�

�Cold?� Tilly repeated incredulously.�You�re cold?�

Laura explained, �I gave her a slug of Lydia Winkham�s.�

�Oh.And she�s not used to it, I bet.�

�It�ll still work.�

�Oh, yeah, and how!Beatrice, that�s the dumbest thing I ever heard.Why�d you tell his boss?You trying to ruin all of us?�

Beatrice squinted at her owlishly, then nodded slowly.�Sure.�

Laura smiled.�Like she said, she thought he shouldn�t get away with it.�

�With a little fucking?�Tilly glared at the drooping woman.�She wanted to ruin him for that?My god, what else is she good for these days?�

Beatrice declared solemnly.�For fucking all you others.Oh!�Her hand went to her mouth as her eyes widened.She stared accusingly at Tilly.�You are a foul-mouthed woman.�

�You ain�t heard the half of it,� Tilly proclaimed.�Didn�t you say you got two kids?Where they gonna live and how you gonna feed them now?�

Beatrice turned her eyes to Laura.�May I have some more water?�

�Sure.�As Laura refilled the tumbler, she said to Tilly, �Remember, Beatrice is having her monthlies.Maybe she�s another Linda Bang.�

�Linda who?� asked Justin.

�Bang,� Laura answered.�Friend of Tilly�s that went nuts every month.�

�No friend of mine!� Tilly protested.�Pushed her own mother out a window.�

�Did what?�

�Judge let her off because it was her time of the month.�She grinned at him.�Heaven help us if we ever get women judges!�

Beatrice took a long drink.At last she lowered the tumbler.

Tilly asked, �I still want to know how you plan to live now that you�ve done for Justin.�

�Done for him?� Beatrice repeated, looking wide-eyed at the man.

Tilly explained, �I mean, now that you�ve run him off.�

�I didn�t run him off,� Beatrice corrected, still studying his face with a puzzled expression.�Did I, Justin?�

He smiled.�Well, I�m still here.�

�Thank you, Justin.�

He smiled and stroked her arm.�It�s okay, Bea.�

She sagged toward him, propping her chin in her hands, and announced, �I�m glad I�m not mad with you any more.�

He chuckled.�So am I!�He glanced around at Laura.�It�s hitting her hard, isn�t it?�

�Maybe she drank too much.�

�My mother used Lydia Winkham�s a lot.I remember it here when I was a kid.Where�d you find it?�

Laura laughed and looked away.�I went plundering, Justin.�

�You found it in this house?�

�In the attic.Two whole boxes and part of another.�

�No kidding!Dad thought Mom was addicted to it.He must�ve bought it for her when they outlawed it.�

�I learned about it in the orphanage.Works good for monthly cramps.�

Beatrice�s head sagged to her arms folded on the table.

�Too good!� said Justin.�How long will it affect her.�

�Hours,� Laura replied.

�That won�t do.Her kids will be getting home from school about three.�

Tilly suggested, �If you take her home, maybe they can take care of her.�

�Maybe.If they find her like this, though ��

�Won�t hurt �em.How old are they?�

�I�m not sure.I�ve hardly met them.Adolescents, maybe.�

�That�s old enough.She can tell them she took some medicine.�

He sighed.�I�d better give Betty a call.�

�Your other widow?�

�Umm.On second thought, she�s got a kid in school, too.�

Beatrice raised her head.�It�s all right.Mark�ll be there.�

Justin�s eyebrows rose.�Mark?What Mark?�

�Husband�s brother.Came Sunday.Rode downtown with me.Going back to keep the kids company.�

�Why would he do that?�

�In case I got in trouble.�

Justin glanced around at the others, who returned his gaze with interest.He shrugged.�I didn�t know about brother Mark.�

Beatrice added, �He wants to be sweet on me.�Her head fell back into her arms.

�Another string to her bow,� Laura observed, eyes twinkling at Justin.

Tilly snorted.�Now we know why she was willing to toss her meal ticket.�

Laura nudged the collapsed woman.�Gonna let him be your man?�

�He�s too young,� was the response, emitted from between the folded arms.The woman added, �Makes him too quick.�

Laura sniffed.�She�s already let him.�

�Stayed a week after Harry�s funeral.Made me feel lots better.�

�I�ll bet!� agreed Laura dryly.

�Wanted to marry me, but he�s too young.�

Tilly asked, �Has he got a job?�

�Works for the railroad.�

�And he wants to marry you?You ought to ��Tilly broke off to look askance at Justin.�What would you advise her?�

�Well, I don�t know ��

�Thinking with your dick, eh?�

He cleared his throat.�If this Mark is reliable, I�d advise her to take him seriously, regardless of age, especially if he likes her children.�

�And I�ll show you how to slow him up,� promised Tilly.

Beatrice mumbled, �Loves m�children.And they love him.But, Justin ��She raised her head.A tear brimmed at one eyelid.�I can�t give you up.�

Tilly snorted.�Oh, yeah?You tried to get him thrown in jail just this morning.�

Beatrice�s face brightened.�I would�ve visited him every day.�

�Linda Bang!� Tilly cried.

Laura shook her head.�Don�t you get it?That way she�d know where to find him and know he wa�n�t fooling with nobody else.�

�But how would she eat?�

�The brother-in-law.�

�Oh.Okay.�Tilly chuckled.�Had it all figured out, eh?Well, don�t worry.By now I�m a pretty good judge of men.Justin�ll still meet you, even if you do marry Mark.Won�t you, Justy-boy?�

He cleared his throat and grinned at Tilly.�If a woman wants to see me, I�ll at least hear what she has to say.�

Beatrice shook her head.�Mark�s just like Harry about that.He�d shoot you.�

�Then don�t tell him,� Tilly advised.

�He�ll find out.�Beatrice straightened up and took a deep breath.�Ooo, it�s hot in here!Unbutton me, Justin.�She turned in her chair to present him the back of her dress.

He glanced at the two leering faces then stood up.�I think I�d better take you home.�

�Mark�ll handle all that,� countered Tilly, eyeing Beatrice covetously.�She can sleep it off in my bed.�

He said, �You do know she has her period?�

�Women get that, Justy-boy.�Tilly stood up.�Come on.I�ll help you.�

Together at her armpits they raised Beatrice out of her seat.Her head wobbled but she said doubtfully, �Go to bed here?�

Tilly�s eyes glittered.�And I�ll show you the best way to get rid of monthly cramps.�

Laura sniffed.�If she didn�t drink too much of Lydia�s.�

�I can walk,� Beatrice protested, leaning heavily on Justin.

�You have to decide,� he declared.�Either lay down here or let me take you home.�

�You�ll stay with me?�

�No.I must get back to the office either way.�

�Oh.�She sighed.�I�m so tired.Can I rest here, T-Tilly?�

�Of course you can, sugar.�Tilly opened the hall door.

Justin slipped his hands into Beatrice�s armpits from behind and bore much of her weight as they proceeded down the hall to the only bedroom in use.

Standing before the bed, Tilly ordered, �Turn her around.�He held the almost limp woman erect while Tilly removed her dress, shoes, slip, brassiere, stockings and garter belt.

�Not these, too!� Beatrice protested feebly when Tilly rolled down the silk panties, but she stepped out of them without complaint and said nothing even as Tilly unhooked the belt holding the soaked menstrual pad.

�Lay her down now?� he asked.

�Not yet,� was the answer.He maintained the woman�s erectness, despite her lolling head, while Tilly wet a washcloth in the night stand basin.Returning, she knelt just behind Beatrice and first pushing her knees further apart, applied the washcloth gently to her pubes, looking up with cocked head to gauge the effect.The cloth immediately turned reddish brown.�A real bleeder,� she commented.�Is this a hot box, Justin?�

�Ah, uh ��

�Bleeders often are.�

�By the way:just what is this �best way� to get rid of cramps?�

Tilly chuckled.�The last time I told it to a man, he got sick as a dog.�

�Good god!You mean ��

�That takes care of the old stuff.�Tilly got to her feet, grinned at him and brazenly lifted one of Beatrice�s heavy breasts, directing the large nipple toward him.�Love this thing, do you, Justy-boy?�

�Well, ah ��

Releasing the jiggling breast, her hand darted to the front of his britches and squeezed.�This says yes.I do, too, only I love this just as much.�

�I knew that.�

��Cause I don�t have either one, I guess.Let me smooth this sheet, then stretch her out here.�

He guided Beatrice onto the bed, laying her back with legs and arms straight.She sighed, closed her eyes and immediately turned on her side, drawing up her legs.Tilly got into bed behind her, slipped arms around her and pulled the bodies close.

�What�re you going to do?� he demanded.

Tilly�s eyes sparkled.�Ease her cramps.Don�t you have to get back to work?�

�You won�t hurt her.�

�I don�t hurt plump gals, any more than you do.�

�Yeah.You don�t hurt them the same way I don�t hurt them, is that right?�

�Almost right.If you want to help, take your clothes off and get in the bed.�

He took a deep breath.�I do have to get back.I�ll leave money for a taxi with Laura.Will you get her home before supper time?�

�Laura will,� Tilly answered absently.She was kneading Beatrice�s belly from behind with both hands.

In the kitchen he found Laura sipping reflectively on another cup of coffee.As he approached she glanced up with mixed curiosity and mirth.�Wha�d you think of Tilly�s cure?�

�Cure?�He stopped beside the woman, taking out his wallet.�What I saw was enough for a hard-on but �Will rubbing the belly cure menstrual cramps?�

�No.�She eyed the three one-dollar bills he laid on the table.Her hand swept from his knee up to his crotch.�Maybe you left too soon.�

�I think I got the idea, though.Tilly said the last man she taught about it threw up.�

Laura laughed.�Lots of men have weak stomachs.� Her hand deftly opened enough buttons in his fly to bring him out into the air.She commented, �It�s a start.�

�The belly?�

�That, too.�She ducked and took him in her mouth.

�Laura, what are you doing?�

She released him and raised up in surprise.�You mean you can�t tell?�

�That money isn�t for this.�

�I know:it�s for groceries.But this is to say that some of your two-timed gals think they�re lucky you noticed them.�Her mouth re-enclosed him.

�Laura �I don�t know what to say � except god, that�s sweet!�

She chuckled nasally.

He took a breath.�But I have to tell you:that money is to pay a taxi for Beatrice when Lydia and Tilly let her go.�

The woman shrugged then opened more buttons without releasing him.Both hands entered his britches.He caught his breath and leaned down over her head to part her robe and take a smooth breast in each hand, using thumbs and forefingers on nipples as she did on testicles.

He found the spectacle of his position, bent over a fellatrix beside the familiar kitchen table, her head bobbing below his belly, to be irresistibly stimulating.With a groan he released her and sagged to an elbow on the table.Suction ceased and her cheeks ballooned instead.She withdrew until her lips enclosed only the head.Tongue stroked the tip while one hand milked the shaft vigorously and the other squeezed his scrotum.Several times she swallowed audibly, resuming gentle suction only at the last, which also drew another groan.

He rose from his crouch as she backed away.�Oh, god, Laura!�

As she had done the few times before when they were alone at such a time, she raised her face to ask, �Want a taste?�

He bent down and kissed her.As before her mouth was wet but no differently flavored.When they parted, he declared, �I can�t believe how fast you popped me!�

�Fast.But was it good?�Her eyes were bright above vein-laced cheeks.

�Incredible!�He shook his head.�No one else can hold a candle to you.�

Her expression was solemn.�Maybe you�ll keep Tilly and me around.�

�Long as you�ll stay.�

�We�ll stay.Here we�ve got each other.Out there they�re always splitting us up.Here we�ve got your big porch to sit on.And your nice dick to play with.I love your dick, Justin.I think I love to suck it best of all.�

�What?Excuse me, Laura.That doesn�t make sense.�

�Why not, because you think it don�t feel good to me?�

�Well, yeah.�

�You�d be surprised.Anyway, Tilly is what feels good that way.�

He shrugged.�I guess I don�t have to understand it to enjoy it.�

�And it�s neat,� she added, �the neatest way to fuck a man.Look, not a drop spilled.�She turned the softening organ up.�Well, maybe one.�She bent, licked its eye clean, then stuffed it back into his pants.She buttoned his fly and grinned up at him.�There you are!Now he won�t be so raring to go.�

 

��������������������������������������������������������� ****

 

�Excuse me, sir.Macy said to go right in.�

�Right.Make sure that door is shut tight, will you, Justin?�

Turning back to shake the door, Justin smiled, trying to remember the last time Dillon had used his first name.

�Pull that chair next to my desk, Justin, and have a seat.�

�Thank you, sir.�

�Did you pacify the irate widow?�

�I believe so.I gave her a ride and we had a very long discussion.I feel confident you won�t hear from her again.�

�That�s good.�

Dillon leaned back in his chair and studied his visitor thoughtfully.�I believe I understand your game with these widows, Justin.�

�Do you, sir?�

�Yes.You seem to be doing your part to fight this depression.�

To Justin�s surprise, he heard humor instead of sarcasm in the officer�s voice.�Ah, thank you, sir,� he responded cautiously.

�Put another way, you are availing yourself of certain opportunities opened to you by the current crisis and by your position of influence.�

Justin gulped.�But, sir, even you yourself said earlier ��

Dillon held up a hand.�You don�t need to present a defense, Justin.I find irregularity neither in your books nor in your intimacy with these women.The law in this state has more of a western than eastern flavor.It prohibits adultery, but adultery requires the condition of marriage for at least one party to it.These women are widows and you are divorced.So far as I can determine you have broken no law.

�But you are advised to take care.If one of your beneficiaries should come forward, claiming that you extorted sex from her as a condition of maintaining her mortgage, a jury is very likely to take her word for it.If that woman this morning � Mrs. Wallingsworth � had declared that of you, I expect you�d be out on bail right now, because you have absolutely no factual defense against it.�

Dillon stared.�Had you thought of that, Justin?�

Justin shook his head.�There has been no extortion, Mr. Dillon, of any kind.�

�I�m confident of it, Justin.But what will you do if one advances such a claim?�

�I don�t know.Go to jail, I guess.But it would be a lie.�His back straightened.�In fact, sir, I�m not worried.All the women I�ve helped are honest women.Even Mrs. Wallingsworth reported only what she believed to be true.�

�You told her you were marking her account falsely paid?�

�No, but I let her believe it.These women are invariably angry, terribly angry, with the system that took their husbands and now threatens to take their homes.It helps them � decide to accept my proposal if it seems to be cheating the system.�

�I see.That�s a clever point, Justin.�

�Thank you, sir.�

�Exactly how do you present it to them?�

�I tell them that as an Investment Director, I�ll mark their mortgage paid each month without them actually paying anything, until they are able to resume paying it.�

�In other words, you don�t say who does the paying.�

�Nor that any money will actually be paid.But I don�t say it won�t be, either.�

�And then they jump to the conclusion you want.�

�So far every time.�

Dillon grinned.�You lucky rogue!�

�Ah � thank you, sir.�

Dillon cleared his throat.He moved a paper from one spot on his desk to another.He took up a pen, then laid it down.

�Is that all, sir?�

�No.Not quite.See here, Justin, you must have a way with women.�

�Must I?I never used to think so.�

�You�re clever enough to pay your paramours� accounts in cash.Even the two confessed have no trail back to you.I don�t suppose you�ll tell me voluntarily how many you support of the several widows� accounts you manage.�

�What�s your point, sir?�

�That�s my evidence of your � skill in dealing with women.I need ��

�Yes, sir?�

Dillon sighed.�I�m about to put my career in your hands.�

�I don�t understand, sir.�

�With what I�m about to tell you, you can ruin me.�

�Then don�t tell me.�

�Good advice!Unfortunately I am determined to ignore it.But before I hazard myself, let me point out that I won�t be entirely helpless.Our President, Harris Mellon, is a devoutly religious man.One word to him of the � arrangements between you and your widows will have you out on your ear.Do you believe that?�

�If you say so, sir.�

�So if you tear me down, you�ll go down with me.�

�I never doubted that.Are these threats necessary, Mr. Dillon?�

The officer sighed.�Perhaps not.All right, Justin.�He took a deep breath.�My wife is afflicted with an incapacitating disease called chorea.She�s been in a sanitarium for five years.Because of her disease I�ve not lived as a normal man lives for a long time.

�I turned fifty last month and realized that I�m missing out on a part of life that is very important to me.If I don�t do something about it soon, I may be deprived forever.But because of my prominence here, in the community, in church, I am prevented from pursuing the usual approaches.

�When you and that woman left my office this morning, I sat here in the grip of these considerations.Your beneficiaries are all widows.I was glad to hear you say just now, in effect, that they are women of integrity � which is of course to be generally expected of widows as opposed to � other elements of the female population.

�Justin ��The man hesitated.He coughed wetly behind his hand.�I am almost desperate for female companionship. I can hardly think of anything else.I am going to do something foolish very soon, I know.I wonder � if just possibly one of your genteel widows ��

He trailed off, staring helplessly at his visitor.

Justin�s eyes narrowed.�Sir, are you asking me to procure you a woman?�

Dillon�s eyes dropped.He took a deep breath.�Justin, I told you:I�m desperate.And Mellon doesn�t believe in entertainment committees.�

�A genteel widow,� Justin repeated.�Such a woman wouldn�t dare risk herself at late hours or in a slum.How would you arrange to meet her?�

�Where do you meet them?�

Justin hesitated.At last he admitted, �I visit them.�

The man nodded.�As I thought.I have a Ford that I drive myself.It�s the kind of car that doesn�t attract attention�Justin, I don�t want you to procure me a woman.I�d prefer to think of you as a mediator, a go-between, which in romantic affairs has always been an honorable position.�

�A �go-between,�� Justin repeated dryly.

�Exactly.For example, if you know of a widow who might entertain my suit, you could propose it to her and relay her response.�

�I see.�

�And, Justin �I�ve been out of this game a very long time.What gratuity would be appropriate?Flowers?Gloves?�

Justin smiled grimly.�Keep in mind: these are women who can�t make their mortgage payments.�

�Yes, yes.I see what you mean.�Dillon�s eyes brightened hopefully.�Do you know one who might be suitable?�

�Maybe I do.Do you have a private line at home?�

For answer Dillon quickly scribbled the number on a scrap of paper and passed it across the desk.He licked his lips.�When will you call?�

�Is tonight too soon?�

 

��������������������������������������������������������� ****

 

�Hello!�

�Hello, Adele.This is Justin.�

�Oh.Hi, there!�

�You sound cheerful.�

�I am.I�m having fun!�

�Fun?� he repeated cautiously.

�Oh, yes.The male sex, all of it, is so nice!�

�All of it, eh?Is this a recent discovery?�

�My husband allowed me only a few male friends.Of course, he was a lot older than I.�

�All husbands are like that, only more so.�He took a breath.�I�m almost afraid to ask what else has happened to you.�

�Oh, you�d�ve loved to see �Dicky, where are you going.�

Justin heard an oddly androgynous voice in the background say, �To deliver the rest.�

The woman protested, �But look at you!You�re thing is straight out.�

�You�re busy on the phone.How about I come back in an hour?�

�No need for that.You�re a nice, strong fellow.Come sit in this chair.�

Justin could picture her telephone bolted to the kitchen wall just beyond the door from her bedroom, with the straight chair positioned beneath it for the convenience of users.He asked, �Who is that, Adele?�

�Richard, my newspaper boy.�

Justin suppressed an exclamation of his own as he heard the strange voice complain, �Do you have to tell her everything?�

But the woman was distracted.�Can you bend down just a little?I�ll put my foot on your knee and �Ooh, that�s it!Dicky, you have learned just the right place.Now add a couple of fingers ��

At silence on the line Justin asked, �Adele, have you actually taught your newsboy to lick your cunt?�

�What teach?I think he�s a natural.And I want to thank you so much!�

�Thank me?�

�For showing me that men like to do it.Ooo, Dicky.That�s getting good!Do it faster, honey.�

�Have I got the picture?� Justin wondered.�You�re standing on one leg with the other raised up and his face between them?�

�That�s right, except he�s got two fingers going below his tongue.This is so marvelous!I do love men!�

�I�m glad to hear it, but Adele, have you thought what can ��

�Oh, god, oh, god!I�m coming, you little shit.Lick me hard, you cunt-slurping, big-dicked little son of a bitch!More fingers!Put more in.More, damn you!�

Justin�s lips parted in fascination.He had noted that frenzied tone in her voice twice before.Silence resumed except for heavy breathing.Then he nearly dropped his telephone receiver when he heard her cry, �My god, Dicky, did you put your whole fist into me?�

The voice declared, �You made me do it.�

�I made you?� she asked incredulously.

�You cussed me out.�

�I wouldn�t curse you.Did I?�

�You sure did.Ask her if you don�t believe me.�

Justin wondered, �Is another woman there, Adele?�

�No.He thinks I�m talking to a woman.�

The boy cried, �You mean that�s a man?Good god, let me up!�

�But, Dicky, aren�t you going to fuck?�

�Not while no man is listening, I ain�t.�The voice receded.�Where�s my britches?�

�Dicky, honey, we haven�t finished.�

�I�ll come back when you�re off the phone.�

�I don�t understand what�s the problem, Dicky.Mr. Ross doesn�t mind.He�s not my husband or anything.If I tell him what we�re doing, it�ll make his thing as hard as yours � and his is almost as nice.�

�How do you know his dick is hard?�

�It is, isn�t it?� she asked directly into the transmitter.

�Probably not as hard as his,� Justin retorted, unable to suppress a note of petulance.

�He says it�s hard, Dicky.�

�I don�t care.I need to deliver these papers before it gets dark.�

�All right, honey, if you have to.Will you come back after supper?�

Justin spoke up.�Tell him tomorrow afternoon.�

�Or tomorrow afternoon,� she added immediately.�Why?� she asked the transmitter.

�You might have something else to do tonight.�

�Oh.Are you coming over?�

�Wait till Richard leaves and I�ll tell you.�

He heard a thump as she released the receiver to dangle at the end of its cord.Her voice receded, �Dicky, your hair is going every which way.Come into the bathroom and let me comb it.�

�You ain�t my mother.�

�I should hope not! � You don�t want to go on the street looking like that.Quit arguing and come with me.�

Justin waited patiently.Activity in the open cubicles beyond his closed door was a distant hum.In the telephone receiver he could hear unintelligible voices and finally a slamming door.He listened in vain for approaching footsteps.

�I�m back,� Adele announced.�Sorry it took so long.He wanted to put his fingers in me to sniff on his paper route.�

�Didn�t he have his whole fist?�

�Oh, I made him wash that.�

�Did he really put the whole thing in you?�

�Up to the wrist!I didn�t know you could do that.Of course, his hand is smaller than yours.�

�Did it hurt?�

�No.It just surprised me when I saw it.I started to say, �Where are your fingers, you silly boy?�Then I felt silly!�

�You�re naked, aren�t you?�

She chuckled.�Why do you think so?�

�I didn�t hear your footsteps.�

�That�s because I�m wearing slippers.My floors need mopping.But that�s all I�m wearing.Would you want to fuck me?�

�Fucking is what I called about.�

�Well, I�m here.�

�And in the mood?�

�Oh, boy, am I in the mood!�

�Adele, we need to have a long talk about this new career you seem to be starting.How old are you?�

�I�m 26.�

�As young as that?�

�I told you my husband was lots older.My mother picked him.�

�Your mother?�

�He was pretty well off until Black Friday.�

�I understand.My dear, what I wanted to tell you is that you�re wasting your talents with these repairmen and newspaper boys.�

�Oh, I don�t know.�He heard her grin.�Dicky is a lot a fun.�

�But dangerous.�

�Dangerous?�

�Don�t you know how boys brag?�

�Mr. Ross, are you planning to forbid me to see him?�

�How can I forbid you?And will you please call me Justin?�

�I made Dicky promise not to tell anyone.�

�Adele, in some ways you are very naive, even if you weren�t �born yesterday.��

�Maybe I am.Until last week I never fucked anyone apart from my husband.�

�I believe you.Listen to me:promises not to tell only work when the teller would get hurt, too.�

�What do you mean?�

�For example, if you were fucking a married man who�s wife would cause him a lot of grief if she found out.�

�Oh.Like you?�

�No, not me.I have other reasons to keep quiet.�

�Because you�re cheating the bank?�

�They�re good reasons, Adele.But I was thinking of a different man.�

�You mean, besides yourself?One that you know?�

�Yes.�

�To fuck me?�

�Ah, yes.�

�M-Mr. Ross, are you tired of me already?�

�No!Absolutely not.I am � trying to help you with your new career, that�s all � to make sure you get it started right.�

�He wouldn�t take your place?�

�No, no.I claim Friday afternoons for myself.�

�Oh.You�re talking about a customer!�

�Like the plumber and the carpenter, except this would be a formal arrangement with a man who�ll be very grateful.�

�Who is he?�

Justin glanced at his crib sheet.�His name is William Smith.He�s about fifty, just getting gray at the temples, slim, medium height.He smokes cigarettes.Is that a problem?�

�No.My husband smoked, too.It helped kill him.He sounds like my husband.�

�One difference.He has a lot of money.�

�Oh.Oh, oh!�

�Think you could stand to entertain him?�

She chuckled.�You mean kneel or lie, don�t you?I�ll surely give it a try!Where can I see him?�

�At your place.How about tonight?

�At my place?You know this isn�t a rich man�s house.�

�He understands.Dil �I mean, William � won�t be driving a rich man�s car, either.Adele, it would be safer for you if he comes to you, at least for the first meeting.�

�I guess.What would he want me to do?�

�The usual. You�re an articulate woman.I suspect he�d enjoy talking to you, more than those repairmen did, at least.Most any subject will do.The main thing is to be kind to him.I think you�ll like how he repays it.�

�Two dollars the quickie.�

�Don�t mention money to him, Adele.Let him surprise you.How about nine o�clock?�

�That�s too soon.If he�s rich, won�t he expect me with a new hairdo and manicure and all the trimmings?�

�Not tonight.Maybe another time, if you hit it off.Just be neat.Be yourself.What you wore the first time I came to call would do.As I remember, you got out of it easily enough.Nine o�clock?�

�Okay.Nine o�clock.I�ll be on pins and needles.�

�Huh!He�s the one who�ll be nervous!�

 

��������������������������������������������������������� ****

 

�Mr. Dillon ��

�Call me Bob, in private.�

Justin shook his head.�No, sir.In private your name is Will:William Smith, in fact.�

The man frowned.�What do you mean?�

�Can you drive your Ford to the Southwood section tonight at nine o�clock?�

Eyebrows flicking upward, the officer snubbed out his cigarette.�I can do that,� he agreed.�Why should I?�

Justin laid a sheet of paper on the desk, orienting it for the man to read.Dillon studied it.�Adele Thomas is her name?�

�Yes.And that�s her telephone number, house number and landmarks.At the bottom is the name of the man she expects to call on her tonight at nine o�clock:William Smith.�

Dillon took a breath.�Fast work, Justin!�He looked up.�Tell me about her.�

�She�s 26, blond, pretty, about five four, just getting plump with a figure that Ruebens and I favor.She has no children.Her husband was a much older man, who taught her some odd quirks in the bedroom.She�s oddly naive but has just discovered her own joy in sex.Until last week she had never lain with a man other than her husband.�

�She told you that?�

�Yes.�

�And you believe her?�

�Ordinarily I�d laugh.But only a fool would tell such a lie.�

Dillon stared into the distance.�Good god, Justin!�

�What is it?�

�She sounds � incredible, perfect!�

Justin smiled.�Well, you might want to suspend judgment.But in fact she�s a fine woman.I told her you�d be generous.�

�Oh, I will!You can be certain of that.�