Zeb was almost feeling better after two hours of intense exercise. Aside from banishing his hangover, his exertions had enabled his humiliation and anger to abate. He had resolved to consummate his visit to the health club with a leisurely sauna and soak in the hot tub just to delay going home.
Zeb was shampooing his hair when he saw the penis walk into the shower. Few men admit that they look, but he was convinced that all men checked it each other out. Most did so for reassurance while only a few others did so to confirm their right to gloat. The owner of the penis was one of the very few men who had a right to gloat. Zed would have recognized that penis anywhere. The menacing mahogany hose dangled between a pair of powerfully muscled thighs. It was the only black penis that Zeb had ever seen that truly conformed to the stereotype that few black men could really measure up to.
Ordinarily; Zeb would have been pleased that the owner of that penis was joining him in the shower. He would have welcomed him and perhaps questioned him about his latest conquest. Leroy was a friend, or used to be a friend. However; Leroy had become a adversary last night at the holiday banquet. Zebulon's wife had become Leroy's most recent conquest.
Zeb struggled to keep his head bowed in an effort to remain anonymous while Leroy showered, but Leroy recognized him. "We need to talk, privately," he said.
Zeb obediently wrapped a towel around himself and followed Leroy to the sauna. The wooden room was mercifully empty.
Leroy was quick to the point. "I owe you an apology. I should not have seduced your wife last night. Not only are you my coworker, you used to be my friend."
Zeb was shocked that Leroy was contrite rather than confrontational. He was even more shocked to find himself being conciliatory. "Perhaps I have no right to be angry. I've always gotten a vicarious thrill out of hearing about your conquests and observing the preludes to the seductions. I used to think that it was funny that you could so easily persuade respectable, married, white women to surrender to you. It is not so funny now that it is my own wife who has parted her pale thighs for you."
Leroy was conciliatory, "I'm sorry that I let things get out of hand. I didn't think that it would go beyond just dancing and innocent flirting. You didn't make any effort to interfere. Unfortunately; your wife is a sexier woman than either of us realized. She inflamed my lusts and I took advantage of her while her judgement was compromised. If it makes you feel any better, I envy you. Your wife is a wonderful woman."
Zeb asked, "what makes you think that my wife is a wonderful woman? She isn't ugly, but she was no Miss America even in her youth."
Leroy explained, "that's an example of the complacency that enables me to seduce so many married, white women. You white husbands simply do not appreciate your wives. Rachael's belly might not be flat or firm and her breasts have become flabby and saggy. However; she has birthed and nursed four babies. You have no idea how sexy that is."
"If you think that a married mother is so sexy, why don't you get married and have babies with your own wife."
Leroy was silent for a while before he answered. "I don't get married because I'm black and because I measure up to the stereotype. You would understand that this is a good reason if people weren't to hung up to talk honestly about race. The stereotype of the unwed, black mother is no racist illusion. Welfare reform has motivated black women to have fewer children and have their children later in life, but the percentage of black women giving birth out of wedlock continues to increase. Do you remember that Saturday Night Live sketch of Eddie Murphy spoofing Mister Rogers? Remember that line 'can you spell bastard?' We've gotten so politically correct that not even a black man could get away with asking that question. However; about three quarters of black babies born today are bastards."
Zeb stared at Leroy in amazement as his former friend continued. "It wasn't always this way. There was a time when black people had lower divorce rates and lower out of wedlock birth rates than white people. We honored your Judeo Christian morality even more than you did because of racism. We were at a disadvantage simply because we were black. As my grandfather once explained, getting married and staying married was the only way we could give our children a chance to succeed. Unfortunately; the liberals invented welfare. It was a program that had the effect if not the intent to motivate black women to ditch their husbands. It didn't effect white people much at first because the average white guy could earn a wage that was better than a welfare check. Unfortunately; blacks and especially black men, suffered from discrimination which made it difficult for us to earn a living that could compete with a welfare check."