Chapter 6: Like Daughter, Like Mother
If you read my last collection of stories about Pleasant Street, you probably remember that I mentioned an attractive woman named Ann Truro, who lives just down the block from me. The story in my last collection was about her lovely daughter, Katy, who showed up at my house one night, and shared an evening with me that still causes tingling in my groin when I think about it.
Katy surprised me that night by telling me she thought I ought to seduce her mother. The lovely girl said she thought her mother needed sexual release she wasn't getting at home, and apparently thought I was the one who could give it to her.
Well, despite Katy's encouragement, and even blessing, I never did manage to seduce Ann. I'm not exactly a practiced master of seduction, and I don't see that much of Ann, so the opportunity hasn't really presented itself. After all, I can't just go to her house and say, "Ann, we need to go to bed together, your daughter thinks you need a good fuck," can I?
I've got to go. I have an appointment with Ann, who's coming over to discuss an article I'm writing for the local newspaper. I'll let you know if anything interesting happens...
SHE DEFINITELY ISN'T FRIGID
-1-
My neighbor Ann Truro, who had recently been elected chairman of our town's beautification committee, called me a few days ago and asked me if I'd write a piece on the committee for the local newspaper because she knew I did feature stories for the paper from time to time.
I agreed to do the article, and was waiting for Ann to arrive so we could do the interview. The doorbell rang, I got up and went to the door, opened it, and found Ann standing there.
"Come in, Ann" I said. "You're right on time."
Ann, who happens to be an attractive woman in her mid-forties, walked into my house. I took a good look at her as she walked away from me, into my living room. She had an incredibly lush body and wore her shoulder-length black hair lightly styled. Snug jeans encased her strong, athletic legs, and a pink Oxford-style blouse hung over the jeans.
"Have a seat," I said as I followed her into my living room.
Ann sat down on the sofa and laid her purse down beside her. For some reason, Ann appeared uncomfortable, and I almost thought a saw a trace of sadness in her eyes. "Ah, well," she murmured. "I'm sorry," she continued, " I...I should have called and re-scheduled. I'm...I'm not really in the mood for an interview today. Walter and I had, ah, an argument this morning, and..." She shrugged.
"I thought you looked upset," I observed sympathetically. "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Ann shrugged, then shook her head. "I doubt it," she said. "And...and you certainly have nothing to apologize for. It isn't your fault I'm upset."
"Look, Ann, we're friends. If you want to talk..." I said, smiling gently. "I'm a pretty fair listener." I paused. "And I promise I'll keep our conversation off the record."
Ann gave me a tentative smile and looked around. "Where's your wife?" she asked.
"Visiting her folks at the shore," I replied. "They have a condo down there."
"Why didn't you go, too?" Ann asked. "If you don't mind my asking."
"I really don't like the seashore," I said. I smiled. "I hate getting sand in my swimsuit."
Ann nodded. "If I had a choice, I guess I'd go to the mountains," she said. "but I'm not sure I'd pass up a chance to go to the shore, though."
I decided we'd shared enough small talk. "So what is it that's got you so upset?" I asked.
Ann took a deep breath. "Well," she said softly, "I guess you could say the romance has gone out of our marriage."
"I see," I said, "Do you think the damage is irreparable?"
Ann looked at me, studying my face. "I...I don't know," she said. "It...sometimes it seems that way, but what point is there in our talking about this? My personal problems have nothing to do with the beautification committee."
"We're friends. I don't like to see my friends upset," I replied.
Ann shrugged again, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. As she did, I noticed that her chest moved wonderfully when she inhaled. "I...I probably shouldn't do this," she began, then she paused again. After a bit, she took another deep breath. "Walter, he...he says I'm...I'm frigid," she said softly. Her eyes filled with tears and she looked down at her hands which she had folded in her lap.
I was stunned. I found it inconceivable that Ann could be lacking in sexual capacity. If her husband was right, all the fantasies I'd had about her over the years had been wasted. On the other hand, Ann's daughter Katy, who I occasionally slept with, seemed to think the problem was with Ann's husband, not Ann. In fact, Katy once told me she thought it would be good for her mother if I had an affair with her.
Ann took a deep breath. "Our sex life is...well, it's really, um, awful," she murmured, her voice very soft. "Walter has never been one to, you know, take a lot of time when we make love. Sometimes...sometimes I feel as if he just wants to get it over with."
"So your sexual relationship with Walter isn't very gratifying," I commented. "And he's blaming you for that?" I was surprised how open Ann was being. I'd always seen her as a bit repressed, yet here she was, discussing the most intimate details of her marriage with me.
Ann looked at me, her eyes flashing with anger. "Gratifying!" she snorted. "That's a joke! My sex life is anything but gratifying! That's the whole problem! It's driving me crazy! It's made me physically ill. I have headaches and backaches, I can't sleep, and I'm miserable most of the time. I asked our family doctor about it, and I told me it's all tension and suggested that Walter and I have couples counseling. Walter...he...he said he wasn't crazy and didn't need to see a shrink. He...he said I was the one with a problem, and I should get off his back and get help."
"I can see why you're upset," I said softly, "I wish I could help, but I'm not a therapist. On the other hand, I do know a little about stress reduction. Do you know any relaxation exercises?"
Ann shook her head. "I've never heard about that," she said. "How can I learn to reduce stress without having changes take place in my marriage, which is where all the stress comes from?"
"I'm not sure I can explain," I said. "I do know that learning how to relax can help, even if the problem that's making you tense isn't fixed. It seems to help give you the energy to deal with the problem, you know?"
Ann looked at me, interest in her eyes. "Where can I find out about these relaxation exercises?" she asked.
"I only know the ones I use," I said. "I can explain how you to it. It's really simple."
"I...I guess, maybe, it wouldn't hurt to try, would it?" Ann replied, a bit hesitantly.
"No, and there's always the chance it might help," I said. "If you want to learn the technique I use," I said. "I'll be glad to show you."
"I...I'd like to try," Ann said.
"First, close your eyes, then take a deep breath and hold it," I said.
Ann did. I watched her impressive chest expand delightfully. It suddenly seemed to be getting warmer in my living room. I let her hold the breath for a few seconds. "Now, exhale through your nose," I said.
She did.
