When the wife’s away, the man will play, or try to

My wife was away for a three month trip to visit her parents with our newborn son.  I had moved to another city where I had a new job.  I rented a one room apartment in a student building while I searched for something larger for her return. 

It was a very lonely time and I longed for the love and intimate closeness I had when I was with my family.  While she was gone, I drove to my home city every weekend to touch base with old friends and visit relatives.  I usually stayed with my parents.

I kept my loneliness under control for the first six weeks.  Or, from a woman’s perspective, I managed to keep it in my pants for six weeks.  Although not everyone would agree, I considered this to be quite an accomplishment.

Then, after six weeks, I was called upon to write a make up exam in a subject where I had been sick for the original.  I needed this in order to receive my final accreditation and to continue in my job.  It was very important and I was very nervous.

I had been almost depressed for most of the time leading up to the exam.  Then, the week before, I started to prepare myself.  This mobilization of energy seemed to have a strange effect on me.   I became almost manic.   I made jokes with everyone and started flirting with my female boss who did not object.

When I visited my home city, I now went folkdancing and made passes at as many of the young women as I could.  They however, knew my wife and tended treat me as if I had leprosy.  

“Watcha doin after the dance tonight?”

“Nothing with you.  You’re a married man.”

And so it went.

The day of my exam, I was particularly ennervated.    I wrote the exam in two hours and then, in leaving asked the administrator where some of my old classmates (all women) were.  Most, unfortunately were working in other cities.

She asked me why I wanted the information and I said, “oh I just want to say hello.”

She told me where my classmates were and I set out to phone them.

But as I was walking out of the building, I met a young, tall blonde woman who had been a year behind me.

“How are you?” I enthused.  “What are you doing this summer?”

She smiled and answered, “Oh I have a placement at the Hospital on University Avenue.  And one of my classmates is there with me.  I wonder if you remember her.”

Of course I remembered her.  She was the dark haired beauty who I had shared a kiss with during the year, although nothing further developed at the time.

To the blonde I said, “I think so.  Wasn’t she the girl from Montreal?”

“Yes, that’s her.  She seemed to remember you well when we were talking about your class last week.”

“Oh, well I was the only male in the class so I was probably easier to remember.  You remembered me enough to say hello.”

She blushed slightly, saying, “well, yes.  You’re right.  It was easier to remember you than all the girls who flocked around you.”

“As you can see, there are no girls flocking at the moment.  How about you?  Do you have any males in your year?”

“Yeah, as a matter of fact.  You should remember Jack.  He’s married and his wife is taking the course too.  Speaking of wives, wasn’t your wife pregnant towards the end of the year?  What happened?”

“The ususal.  I am the father of a baby boy.  But my wife is traveling with the baby for a few months while I organize our life in the city where I found a job.”

“You must feel lonely that they are gone for so long.”

“As a matter of fact, I do.  Which is why I am trying to have as much fun as I can – to keep myself happy.  Speaking of which, what are you doing tomorrow?  Any chance we can do something together?”

She seemed a bit taken aback and answered hesitantly, “well, I am pretty busy this weekend but I do have some free time tomorrow afternoon.”

“Great.  I know you love to play tennis.   Want to play tennis tomorrow afternoon at 1 or 2?”

Again she hesitated but said, “sure, but give me a call tomorrow morning just to confirm.  Here’s my number.”

I left her and walked over to the hospital where she said the dark haired girl was working.

She looked more beautiful than ever.  

She ran up to me and gave me a warm embrace and kiss on both cheeks.

“It’s so good to see you,” she said.  “I was just talking about you the other day and wondering whether we would ever get to see you again.  What brings you to town?  How are you?  And how’s your wife and baby?  I heard you had a boy.”

I told her the tale of my wife’s travels and my activities in the other city.   At which point I asked if I would be able to see her that weekend.

“Oh,” she said, “I guess you don’t know.  I’ve met this wonderful guy and we’ve been going out for a month.  I’ve never been happier.”

“Well, don’t you have time for an old friend?   We could just get together over a coffee, a glass of beer or a little wine and talk more.  Your choice.

She hesitated for a moment, “I don’t know.  It feels a bit odd.  Your wife is away and my new boyfriend is Montreal.  Isn’t that sort of cheating?”

I took her hand and looked her in the eye.

“Did I ask to sleep with you?  I just want to spend some time with a friendly face, with someone I have had some warm conversations with in the past.   How is that cheating?”

She blushed a little, smiled and said, “when you put it that way, I guess we could get together for a beer after work today.   I’ll meet you at the bar around the corner from the school at 6 pm.  Here are my work and home numbers in case something comes up.”

“Fabulous!” I exclaimed and kissing her on both cheeks I said I’d see her.

As I was walking past the offices in the hospital, I heard someone call my name.

I turned around and saw the red headed woman who was in my class and who I had had sex with about six months before.

“Hi!” I said enthusiastically, “how have you been?  I wondered where you ended up working.  They didn’t have the information back at the school.”

“They’re such idiots.  I talked with them last week.  How could they not know?  They were just trying to keep us apart.”

“Why would they do that, pray tell?”  I asked.

“You know.   After we went to bed together, I think the electricity between us was pretty obvious.”

“You think so?  It seemed you weren’t that interested at the time.”

“Well, your wife was expecting and you were very preoccupied with all that and passing the exams…we just never had the time to be alone again.  What are you doing here now?”

I told her about my exam, the travels of my wife and the fact that I was looking up old acquaintances.

“Well then, it’s good I ran into you.  Listen, I’m at work right now but maybe we could get together for a beer later at the bar around the corner from the school.”

“Great idea! what time?” 

“I’m through with patients around 5 but then I have to clean up and put things away so I can be there by six.”

“Any later?” I asked.

 She put her arms around me and pressed into me and kissed me lightly on the lips.

Without letting me go, she said, “why later?  I thought you were eager for company.  Besides,” she lowered her voice, “maybe we can do something more later.”

I was feeling a little aroused so I said fine, I would see her later.   I left her and walked to a phone booth where I phoned the dark haired woman to explain that something had come up but could we get together later that weekend?

“No,” she said, “I am busy this weekend.  But if you are coming again next weekend, give me a call and we can get together.   I want you to tell me all about your job and how you are getting on by yourself in another city.  Is it a deal?”

“It’s a deal,” I said and hung up.

I met the red haired woman for a drink at the bar.  Luckily the dark haired woman did not show up.  We shared memories of the year and she joked that she always thought I was like a dominant male with females in a troupe.

I laughed even though it was partly true.   I had slept or made out with 4 or 5 of the women in our school, including her.

Her face moved closer and closer to mine as the evening progressed and eventually, she kissed me softly inviting me to come to her place at 8.

I did and ended up spending the night with her.   Not that I was particularly attracted to her.   It was just the way things worked out. 

As for the blonde girl, she called me the next morning and cancelled our date, giving as her reason that she never went out with married men.   After my night with the red head, I was too tired to argue.   As for the dark haired woman, we never did speak again and I wonder where she has ended up.  I felt a deep kinship with her, something I never felt with any of the other women I was approaching.

Only in my fantasy do we ever meet and exchange our deepest feelings and our bodily fluids.  Given the shortness of our life, that will have to be enough.