Concert Enhanced And Romanced

Authors Note: After reading the feedback and after Oatmeal1969 mentioned the The The concert at Massey Hall, which I am going to, I felt I owed a fellow The The fan a rewrite.

The original version was planned to be just 750 words. This one is much longer. I wanted to keep to the concert theme. If you haven't read the original, read it first. I think if you read this one first, the original will lose something.

Thank you to Harga, GamblinLuck and BumblinFool for their feedback. Particularly to GamblinLuck for the excellent title suggestion for this story.

I hope you like this revised effort. Read the Authors Note at the end for a couple of notes on the story.

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Here I was. Six months after my wife of 30 years passed. I was sitting alone at the amphitheater waiting for the Pixies to come on stage.

We bought these tickets ten months ago and looked forward to seeing them again. The band came on and I had to wipe a tear as the first song started. This was my first real outing by myself since she passed. My kids had been keeping me company, but after six months, I had to start doing things on my own and this concert was a way for me to start on that road.

As the band took to the stage I felt myself going through stages of mourning again. For the first few songs, I was going through a denial that she wasn't here standing beside me. I then started to tear up for the next few as the realization that we never would go to a concert together again hit me. Then it was tears of happiness for the middle part of the show as I remembered all the great concerts that we enjoyed together. For the last part of the show, I was able to lose myself in the music and start to move on.

Towards the end of the show and before the encore, I noticed a woman a few rows in front of me. She was wearing a The Specials jacket. The Specials are another of my favorite bands.

She turned to her side and looked down at the empty chair beside her and I saw a tear in the corner of her eye. She looked similar in age, mid to late fifties, as me.

Now I am not looking to start a new relationship, but I had a feeling I would regret not connecting with this woman.

I pulled out the notepad that I carried with me in the event a Literotica story idea struck me. I quickly scribbled. "My name is Ted. We look similar in age. I like the Pixies and The Specials." And my phone number.

I didn't know if I was going to be able to talk to her, but maybe at the end of the concert, I could get her attention in the crowd and pass her my note.

As the show ended, I saw her leave. After a few frantic minutes, I managed to catch up to her. I got her attention and passed her my note before she disappeared into the crowd.

I looked to see if I could find her after I finally got out of the venue, but I couldn't find her. Well, at least I tried.

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A week later, I was preparing dinner for myself when the phone rang.

"Hello?" I said.

I heard a tentative woman's voice on the other end of the line. "Is this Ted?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"You passed me a note. I was wondering why?"

"You know, I don't know why exactly. I was alone at the show, and you appeared to be alone, I saw that you were wearing a The Specials jacket. They are one of my favorite bands and I just felt that I should reach out to you." I said. "I'm sorry if that wasn't appropriate."

"Why were you alone at the show? She asked.

I sighed. "My wife passed six months ago."

There was a sniffle on the other end of the phone. "My husband passed five months ago. He would have loved being at that show."

Over the next ten minutes, Rose and I talked and decided to take the chance and meet. We picked a food court in a mall that we both knew.

She texted me when she arrived and we found each other. I went and got us coffee. It became like a therapy session. She told me about her husband and her family. I told her about my wife and my family. I asked her how she and her husband met.

She said. "Well, it was over thirty years ago. I met him waiting for a bus outside of the Opera House, you know that dive that shows bands?"

I nodded that I knew the place.

"The Breeders had been playing that night. After the show he found me crying. He asked me what was wrong and if I wanted to go for a coffee to talk about it. During that coffee, we talked and just connected."

"Why were you crying? I asked.

"Well, I saw this guy at the show. He was kind of cute and wearing a Ramones t-shirt. I got up the nerve to say 'hi' to him. He acknowledged me, did some kind of sign language, and then walked away. I was devastated. I was shy back then, and it took so much for me to approach him. I ran out of the place and that is where George found me." She said.

I thought. "Wait. Were you wearing a Ramones fanny pack?"

She looked at me astonished "Yes."

"I'm sorry, but that was me. The sign language was me trying to indicate a wedding ring on my hand. I just got engaged."

We both sat there silently for several minutes.

She finally said, "Wow, well at least things worked out well for both of us." She smiled and we continued talking.

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We got together for dinner several times over the next months and went to many concerts together. We never needed to go to a concert alone again. I introduced her to Bad Religion at the Danforth Music Hall and she introduced me to PJ Harvey at History.

Then things got a little complicated. I was on the phone coordinating the next concert with Rose. I heard a knock at the door. I was expecting my daughter, so yelled come on in. I then said goodbye to Rose and hung up. I turned around and my daughter was staring at me with a concerned look on her face. "Who is Rose?"

I tried to explain but was getting nowhere. She wasn't reassured when she left. I called Rose and she thought that she might get a similar reaction from her kids. It wasn't that we were hiding our relationship, we were just friends going to a concert. However, it wasn't a year yet since our spouses had passed, so thought we should get everyone together to get them on the same page so that they wouldn't think we were hiding anything from them. They lost a parent, after all, so they were also still grieving.

We arranged for my daughter and my two sons to meet Rose and her son and daughter for dinner. We wanted a straight discussion, so we asked for the spouses and grandkids to be left at home.

We told them how we had met, and assured them that this was just so that we could go to concerts with someone, and the fact that that person was also still going through the grieving process, gave us some therapy as well. I think after the dinner was over, our kids started chatting with each other and by the end of the meal, realized that there wasn't something nefarious or untoward happening.

I saw them exchange contact information. We didn't need their blessing, but Rose and I were happy that we shouldn't get any grief from them over this.

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We both were fans of The The and were looking forward to their show at Massey Hall. I had heard their new song Cognitive Dissident and was looking forward to hearing their other new songs off their new album. It had been almost 25 years since their last one.

In the week leading up to the show, I got wind that the Specials were touring in the UK in March. I had always wanted to follow a band through a tour and as it was only six nights, it was something achievable. I also really needed a vacation. I thought I would offer the idea at dinner before The The.

She paused as I mentioned it. "I think it would be fun to go, but how would that work?"

I asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well, sleeping arrangements?" she said.

I thought for a minute. "Well, to save some money, we could find hotel rooms with two beds. I think we are adults, so can handle us sleeping in the same room."

She was quiet for a minute. I think this was a big step for her. Technically, this would be the first vacation for both of us since our spouses had passed and this trip would be two months after the anniversary of my wife's passing and a month after her husband's.

We went to the show, but she was a bit quieter than she had been at other concerts. Towards the end, she did get back to normal and enjoyed the rest of the show.

As we left the venue, she turned to me smiling. "Let's do it."

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We arrived in London the day before the first date of the tour. We both found the trip exhausting, so after getting our bearings in London we crashed early for the night to get some needed sleep.

The next day we did a bus tour of London. We saw places like Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the Tower of London.

The show at the Roundhouse was amazing. The Specials had the crowd all energized. As we left the show, Rose grabbed my hand due to the crowds and we held hands all the way back to the hotel.

The second show was at the Engine Rooms in Southampton. Before we went to bed that night, she gave me a good night kiss on the cheek.

The third show was at the Academy in Birmingham. Again, an amazing show. We recognized a few other people who were also following the band and went out for drinks with them after the show. We swapped stories about seeing The Specials over the years. When we got back to the room, we exchanged a good night kiss on the lips. She turned red in embarrassment. I think it was the first kiss on the lips for either of us since our spouses had passed.

The room was a bit cold. In the middle of the night, I felt someone shaking my shoulder. She was standing by my bed.

I asked. "Are you OK?"

Rose said. "It is a bit cold. Do you mind?"

I think I knew what she wanted but was afraid to ask. I opened the sheets and she crawled into bed beside me.

In the morning, we both woke with the alarm. I noticed that she had a hand between my legs and she noticed that I was cupping one of her breasts.

We both jumped out of bed and started to apologize to each other at the same time. Realizing the silliness of the situation, we both laughed and gave each other a quick hug.

We got ready for the trip to Liverpool.

The show at the Olympia was as amazing as the venue. Another great show. We got back to the hotel room. There were no questions, we just climbed into the same bed together. As we faced each other, looking into each other's eyes, I reached forward and gave her a kiss. It was an amazing long lingering kiss.

I then pulled her in close. We continued to kiss and hug each other. I ran my hand down her body and with my hand on her ass and I pulled her closer. We continued to make out as we freely let our hands explore each other's bodies. Eventually, we parted lips, looked into each other's eyes, smiled, and with us in each other's arms, relaxed into a deep sleep.

The next day we were off to Manchester to see The Specials at the Victoria Warehouse. We had a few extra drinks that night and I had a little liquid courage in my system when we got back to the hotel.

As we settled into the room, I turned Rose around to face me. I then leaned down and gave her a kiss. She pulled me into a hug and kissed me back harder. I grabbed the bottom of her blouse and started to lift it.

She grabbed my hands and stepped back. "No" she said.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She turned red. "I'm not a spring chicken anymore."

I smiled, "But I find you very beautiful."

She frowned. "But I'm old."

I pulled her close. "Come here. I know someone who can give an independent opinion." She looked at me questioning as I then took one of her hands and pressed it against the erection in my pants.

She giggled, paused, and then nodded her head tentatively to give me approval.

I slowly pulled her blouse over her head and then pulled her in for another kiss.

I then stepped back and stared at her. She was wearing a black bra. She looked beautiful. I nodded to her and she looked at me confused. "Your turn." I said.

She realized what I meant and pulled my shirt over my head. We again embraced in a kiss.

We eventually got down to just our underwear. I gestured to the bed and we climbed in.

We made out and explored each other. We eventually removed the last of our clothing.

We realized that we were at that moment and she said. "Let me drive."

She crawled on top of me. After a few attempts, I finally entered her and we made love for the first time.

The next morning we woke in each other's arms. Something passed between us and I reached over to the phone to call the front desk. I asked if the room was available for another night. We did get dressed for meals but always retreated back to the room to enjoy each other's naked company.

We didn't have sex all day. We didn't have the stamina for that, but just wanted to enjoy the closeness that we achieved.

We did talk extensively about how this could work when we got home. We thought we figured out something that would work.

We never did get to the last show in Leeds.

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We were met at the airport when we got home by our kids and grandkids. I saw the glances between our children as they saw us holding hands and smiling as we came through the doors in arrivals.

We lived on either end of Toronto and if you know the city, you know that in the mornings and evenings, it can take more than an hour to get from one end of the city to the other. Since we both helped out when needed with the grandkids during the week, an hour's commute for one of us would have caused chaos for our kids. So, the solution that we came up with was to stay at each other's homes on weekends. One weekend at hers, then next at mine.

Sundays were the worst as we had to say goodbye until the following Friday.

Our kids started to notice and started to schedule events to disrupt our weekends. They must have been co-ordinating because they were alternating weekends, just as we had been doing. Except the latter brought us joy and the former was starting to piss us off. We decided that it was time for another dinner.

We met at the same restaurant and we drove the discussion.

"Look. "I said, "We aren't teenagers, but we aren't over the hill either."

Rose's son spoke up. "But we are concerned that you are moving too fast."

Rose laughed, "You and Jerry got engaged after what, six months?" He got silent after that.

My daughter spoke up, "But dad, what about mom?"

"OK." I said. "Rose and I talked about this extensively before we came back from the UK. We did make a few decisions about our relationship if it goes further."

Rose started. "First, if we ever get to the point of moving in together, we will keep finances separate. Also, if there is shared assets, like a house, we will sign a contract so that it is clear that assets are split fairly to us and as our kids, to you."

I saw a few heads nod. That must have been a concern that they talked about. I can't blame them. After all, we talked about it.

Rose continued with a wink at me and that sense of humor of hers. "After all I have more money than Ted, so he is the gold digger in this relationship." That got a few chuckles. I turned a bit red in embarrassment.

After that settled down, I then continued. "We also agreed that we would never marry." I looked at my kids. "Your mother is the only person that I will call wife."

Rose looked at her kids. "Your father is the only person that I will call husband."

My daughter spoke up, "Then what will you call each other."

I cleared my throat. "Well, we haven't really figured that one out yet." I then winked at Rose. We both then said at the same time. "Fuck buddies?"

Our kids looked mortified at us. Rose and I just cracked up and started laughing hysterically. Eventually, our kids figured out that it was a joke and started laughing as well.

I heard Rose's son murmur. "They even have the same strange sense of humor."

Things settled down after that dinner. The interference stopped and they realized that we were actually good for each other.

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I decided to hold a barbeque on the Labour Day weekend. I invited Rose, our kids, and our grandkids.

We were having an amazing time. After dinner, however, our kids decided that it was time for I guess you could call, an intervention.

Her son started. "Mom, look, we see the same thing in both of you. On Mondays and Tuesdays, you are both depressed and then as the weekend gets closer you have this mood swing of happiness. If we were an outsider we would think you two had some kind of bipolar disorder."

My daughter stepped in at this point. "So, we think you two need to make a change."

Rose and I gave each other a nervous glance.

She pulled out some papers. "We found a 3-bedroom condo in the middle of the city. It has enough bedrooms to host the grandkids when they stay with you and is close enough that we can deal with any delays in morning grandkid emergencies, but this current situation isn't healthy for the two of you. You need to be living together."

I looked at Rose and she had tears in her eyes. We hugged our kids and thanked them.

Over the next month, we bought the condo and sold our homes. There was plenty of money left over to give some of it to the kids to help them with their finances.

The biggest decision for us was to shop for our new bedroom suite. We let our kids take what they wanted from our homes. The old bedroom suites that we shared with our spouses found homes in one of our kid's homes, so they were still there as reminders.

We held a party the day we moved in, and after everyone left, we went to our bedroom to break in the new bed.

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It was almost 20 years to the day of that Pixies concert when I was faced with having to say goodbye to Rose.

The difference this time for me is that I was the one in the hospital. The cancer had spread through my body and it was terminal.

By this point, we were Mom and Dad to all of our children. As we promised, we never got married, The subject had been brought up by our kids, however, neither of us could think of taking the title of husband and wife from our first loves even though they had gone so many years before.

A few days later, at the hospice, I asked my kids to take good care of her. She was losing someone for the second time.

I felt that tonight would be the last night and I asked Rose to sleep with me one last time.

I fell asleep for the last time with her in my arms. Her one hand between my legs and my hand cupping her breast.

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Authors Notes: I hope you enjoyed.

Spotting the woman in a The Specials jacket at a Pixies concert about a month ago did happen. For some reason, it did remind me of an event over 30 years ago when a woman at, I think, The Breeders concert at the Opera House, did try to pick me up. I was wearing a Ramones t-shirt and she did have a Ramones fanny pack. I had just gotten engaged to my wife a few months earlier. It was so loud that you couldn't hear the person next to you, so I tried to indicate to her that I was already taken. My apologies, but I don't know what happened to her after the show.

Funny where story ideas come from.