DEFICIT REDUCTION
Two women sat in the office lunchroom, both had salads. They had been sharing lunch and life histories for over a month now. Julia had bragged about her almost perfect marriage to her college professor husband. Sheila, the new girl, challenged the perfection of her marriage and got Julia to admit their sex life was getting stale. Sheila was still asking a lot of questions about the area and the social scene, but she seemed most interested in Julia's life and activities. Julia was only too happy to tell her about her life with Charles.
"Sheila, I can't believe how quickly you have caught on to your job. You've only been here a month and it's like you've been here forever. And I'm not just sucking up to you because you're my supervisor."
"Thank you. It helps that I'm doing pretty much the same job as I did in Detroit. It means everything to have competent staff like you."
"Thank you. I try my best." Julia looked like she wanted to say more but was too shy.
"Julia, is there something on your mind?"
"It's just that I never met a woman like you before. You're totally gorgeous -- face and figure. It's not a mystery that men are attracted to you. What I don't understand is that I've seen men hit on you several times. Even though their words are what I find vulgar and sexually inappropriate, it never seems to bother you. In fact, and I hope you don't mind me saying so, you are even as bad than they are sometimes. Aren't you worried about giving those men the wrong impression?"
"Who says I'm giving them a wrong impression?"
'Agast' would be the right description for Julia's facial expression.
Sheila continued. "If the right man comes along, he'll be getting the right impression. All the others can go beat off in the men's room for all I care."
"Sheila, you're incorrigible! You have been married before, right?"
"Twice actually."
"Did you act this way towards other men when you were married?"
"Pretty much. One husband and I had an 'open marriage' and the other one objected to my having boyfriends. I think I'll wait to find someone who will keep me from being tempted by other men. Until then, I'll go with the flow. The divorces, however, were amiable. Both settlements were simple 50/50 splits. No children to worry about. I still have sex with one of my ex's if I happen to have a meeting in the town where he lives when he can sneak away from his current wife."
"Well, I never."
"That's the problem. You've never tried to be anyone but Suzie Homemaker, I bet. You could use some horizon expanding experiences."
"You mean, like cheating on my husband? I couldn't do that. I don't want to do that. I love him and my marriage too much."
"There are lots of ways you can learn to pleasure and be pleasured by other men without 'cheating' on your husband. Come with me Friday to a club I found, and I'll show you. You'll have a good time and not feel a bit guilty."
"I've never gone out without Donald to a place like that. I don't know if Donald will let me go."
"And there's the problem. You don't need to ask permission. Look, does your husband ever do out somewhere with the 'boys?'"
"He goes fishing regularly. Friday nights and Saturday. Once a month or more when the season is right."
"Does he ask your permission to go?"
"No, but it's just fishing."
"Do you know that for sure? Maybe they take some women with them or meet them there when they go. Or maybe they sneak off at night to some seedy strip club. Maybe they are bi-sexual and enjoy each other."
"That's ludicrous. I don't believe for one minute he would do something like that."
"But, from a technical point, is it a possibility?"
"I guess."
"Then why don't you question him about it?"
"Because I trust him."
"Exactly. And shouldn't he trust you if you want to go out with the girls?"
"I guess."
"Then don't ask him. Tell him you're going to go out the next time he goes fishing."
"Well, he's supposed to go this weekend."
"Perfect. Tell him you've decided not to sit at home when he's out having fun with the boys. You are going to go out with some female friends, and you might even dance with some guys."
"What if he says I can't go?"
"Then don't go, sit your submissive ass at home, and think about what a hypocrite he is."
"I guess I could try it, but I'm scared."
"Julia, most of the good things we have learned to enjoy in life were once scary to us."
*****
Julia finally got up the nerve to talk to her husband. "Donald, you and the boys still going fishing this weekend?"
"Yes, dear. Is there a problem? Did I forget about something?"
"No, no problem. I just thought I might do something different this time while you and your friends are off having fun. Sheila, my new supervisor, has asked me to go to a club with her and some other girls from work. They mostly gossip, drink a little and dance some."
"That sounds like fun. Not my idea of fun, but fun nonetheless. I think you ought to go. You work hard and need to let off a little steam. At least it'll get you out of the house for a while. Just don't drink too much. You know you don't handle liquor too well. Maybe Sheila can help you watch your alcohol intake."
"You don't mind if I dance with other men? That is, if anyone even asks me to dance."
"Julia, you're a very attractive woman. Men will ask you to dance especially when they see how good a dancer you are. You know I'm a terrible dancer, so you're not depriving me of anything by dancing with someone else. Have a good time. You don't need it, but you have my blessing."