Two decades ago on an early September night, Hank and I were in our college's Union basement scanning the crowd for likely targets. We were two horny upper classmen looking for companionship possibilities in the new crop of freshmen women. When we spotted two nice looking candidates just sliding into one of the wall booths, I gave him a questioning look and he nodded saying.
"Definitely the alligator wrestler story."
I added.
"I'm Galt, you're Rearden."
As we approached the girls we were still arguing because he wanted to be John Galt this time. We stoped bickering as we got to their table and asked to join them. I introduced us as John Galt and Hank Reardon. Hank immediately interrupted me and said.
"No that's not true. I'm John Galt and he's that worthless playboy Francisco."
"Excuse me Hank but I'm never Francisco. Ragnar maybe but not Francisco."
One of the girls, the blonde on the left spoke up.
"Enough! I'm Dagny Taggart and I know dam well you are both charlatans. Just tell me, Who is John Galt?"
When Hank and I continued that we were both John Galt the brunette on the right raised her voice and said.
"Bullshit."
Pointing at Hank she said.
"This worthless slug is obviously Hank Rearden. I can't believe that he doesn't recognize his own wife Lillian."
There was a pause in the charade and we began laughing because it was obvious that we all had read Atlas Shrugged.
I filled the conversational gap with.
"And so it goes."
To which the blonde said.
"Fellow Tralfamadorian's I see."
I offered my handshake to her and as she shook it she said.
"Ann Shepards, formerly Dagny Taggart. I have a brother that's a big fan of Vonnegut. I read Slaughterhouse and liked it. But now I'm being rude, this is my roommate Lillian Rearden who sometimes goes by Elizabeth Traynor or just Beth.
Hank then got engaged and revealed that he was really Henry Richards and told them that I was John Gibson, not Galt. Straight on the names?
Several Cokes, a little more serious conversation and several nice slow dances later we walked the girls back to the freshman dorm, got their phone numbers and promised to be in touch. It wasn't until we were walking back to our dorm that I realized we had forgotten to use the alligator wrestler story.
I called the Freshmen Girls Dorm on Monday night and asked for Ann Shepards. When she came on I identified myself as John Galt. We chatted for a bit and she said she'd love to do the pizza and movie deal with me. On Friday night I picked her up and as she came into the waiting room she gave a little start as she saw me but then smiled and took my offered arm. We had a good first date as did Beth and Hank the next night. Time went on and after I had been dating Ann for about a year she told me that she and Beth had mixed up the John Galts the night we met and when I called for our first date she actually thought she was saying yes to Hank. That's why she had that little surprised look as she came down that first night. We laughed about it and when I offered to swap her for Beth she hit me in the arm and said.
"Not on your life asshole. You have defiled my pure little body and stolen my precious virginity so don't go thinking you can get away that easy."
She ended up keeping me around and Beth did the same with Hank. We were in each other's wedding parties and remained friends through Grad School, the Military, childbirths, tragedies and all the other ups and downs of modern life. We did this even though we lived hundreds of miles apart and sometimes only got together physically once or twice a year. However, one thing did stay constant in our relationship was the Atlas Shrugged connection and the iconic phrase, Who is John Galt?
The four of us were all from upper middle class families and we made the parental units happy by doing well in school and over achieving in our chosen professions. We were fit, reasonably affluent and had well groomed kids headed on the same path we had followed. Physically Hank and I were healthy, racketball trim and had all our hair. Ann now was a tad blonder than when we first met, was gym rat fit and still turned heads at age 40. Hank's wife Beth was by no means overweight either but had that soft and cuddly look that made you want to take her in your arms for a hug. In fact, whenever I met her or said goodby it was with one of those full body hugs and a kiss in that sexy pocket at the base of her neck. I would inhale her scent and whisper things like.
"I love that perfume." or "Run away with me you sexy bitch"
She would blush, laugh and push me away but the way she fussed and fixed her hair told me she enjoyed our embraces as much as I. In all other respects we acted like and were just old friends.
I was confident that our marriage was on solid ground even as friends and relatives around us went through separations and divorce. One of the keys I felt was that we communicated well. We aired out our issues and really tried to resolve any problems. Humor was also part of our relationship and as we headed into our third decade together I was certain that we were on solid ground. That's why I was surprised when one day she hit me with.
"Honey, you think about having sex with other women, don't you?"
I thought for a moment carefully weighing my options as a loving husband. I opted for the lie.
"Of course not babe. Why would I when I'm married to the sexiest woman east or even west of the Mississippi."
"That's the bullshit dutiful husband answer. Give me the truth."
"Sure I think of other women. All men do and I'm sure all women think of having sex with their gender of preference. However, thinking about it and actually doing it are two vastly different things, aren't they?"
"Exactly. That's what the marital vows are all about. We promise to forsake all others till death us do part. It's a contract made between us and witnessed by our friends and relatives."
"Somehow I think I hear a 'but' coming."
"You know me so well O wise one. What if the couple modifies that oath or contract.?"
"Well technically I suppose that any contract can be amended if the parties have an arms length understanding. It really needs to be arms length though because if one of the parties has any reservations, is being blackmailed or cuckolded it ultimately won't work."
"I agree, both parties have to be 100% on board with any modifications."
"So who are you proposing as your fuck partner and as a secondary question, does your extra curricular fuck entitle me to one also."
"What makes you think I've got someone picked out?"
"I know you too well. You wouldn't have opened this can of worms without someone in mind."
"And who do you think I have in mind and don't say that hunk new trainer at the Club. Word has it his dick is spectacular but his brain is pea sized."
"I've seen the dick in the men's shower and Its not all that big. He does however like to parade around showing off his muscles. You were right though about the pea sized brain. He openly talks about member's wives and girlfriends so he's begging to be either fired or knee capped."
"Back to your question. I do have someone in mind and as long as you got to have his wife I don't think you'd have an issue with me spending a night with him.."
"So you want to finally connect with Hank Rearden. What makes you think I want to make the two backed beast with Lillian?"
"Oh I don't know. Maybe because you've been giving her orgasms with your neck kisses for 20 years."
"Giving her orgasms? Where did you ever get that?"
"Just watching you give her that patented hug and neck kiss. A girl knows sexual arrousal. Besides, she hinted at it after a couple of drinks one night. She asked me not to say anything to you but she wanted to assure me that it was innocent on your part. It was innocent, wasn't it?"
"Do you have to ask? I'm not cheating on you and I never have. Can you say the same?"
With that question she got a concerned look on her face and hugged me tightly.
"Yes I can say the same. You are the only man I have ever slept with and until you say otherwise I will take that to the grave. Please believe me."