How do I get my self into these situations?
A few days ago, Janie came bounding into the den. She had made a new friend from down the street. I had lived here for twenty years and she found a friend in the only family I had never met. Family isn't quite right. "Most Infamous Crime in the City" family is more correct.
The tragic story filled all the papers six years ago. A big violent abusive man was living with a woman. Their affair had driven her husband and their two daughters away. I had seen the police cars in front of the house several times when they were called out because he had beaten her. She never pressed charges. The neighbors close to them complained about all the yelling, staying up all night, loud music and unsavory characters who came and went. It all came to a head one cold foggy morning when the ambulance came with the police cars. He had really done a job on her this time.
The story unfolded while Peggy Wendt went through surgeries, survived intensive care and recovered at home over a few months. The papers made a point that he was a 250 pound ex-felon with a drug problem and that she was a petite mother of two. He had beat her with a length of pipe, cut her and burned her with a lighter. She didn't have to press charges. He was convicted and with parole violations would have to do twenty-five years before being eligible to taste freedom again.
Anyway, one of Peggy Wendt's daughters was Janie's age and she was now living with her mom and going to the college where I taught. Janie wanted to go too, even with out her high school diploma. I helped and she got approved to attend on a conditional basis. She had been whirlwind happy about that but now she was sucking me in again.
"Cindy and I want to go out this Friday night. Will you go stay with her mom for a while?"
"What for?"
"Cindy doesn't like to leave her alone at night. She is a great cook, we can get her to cook you a great meal. You will have a great time. Please, just for a few hours."
"Why do I feel like a patsy? OK, but you owe me."
"I like the way that sounds. Are you going to think up something kinky and take advantage of my sweet, innocent, young body?"
"Sweet and young anyway."
She hit me in the arm to show her disapproval of me leaving out innocent.
That evening I called Peggy. "I understand that according to the girls, we are not old enough to be left alone. You are supposed be my babysitter this Friday night and I'm supposed to be yours."
"I heard something about that. It sounds pretty silly to me."
"Let's humor them anyway. Janie says you are a great cook. How about we plan something, I buy all the food we need, show up early and we can cook together. That should keep us out of trouble while the kids get out."
"Sounds like fun, what do you like to eat?"
We worked out all the details and talked for a while. At least on the telephone, she was easy to talk to.
Promptly at four Friday afternoon, I rang Peggy's doorbell. I looked pretty good, according to me anyway. Her daughter, Cindy, opened the door and gave me a little whistle and a wink, "Not bad old man."
"You are in need of a good spanking, young lady."
"Promises, promises. Like the one you gave Janie?"
I was shocked. I did not think Janie had told anyone we were lovers.
Cindy led me into the house and introduced me to her mom and then disappeared.
"I'll go get the food from my car. Where do you want me to put it?"
"Let me show you around first and then you will know." Her house was well cared for. A little dated. The back yard must have been her hobby. Not a blade of grass was out of place. It looked cool and inviting.
The tour gave me a chance to look at her. Initially, I was a little shocked and didn't want to stare. Her right eye was damaged and the area around it was scarred. The scars pulled the undamaged skin. She had a slight limp and was self-conscious. Peggy had to be about my age and had really taken care of her shape. With clothes on she was firm, about 34-22-32 and maybe five-two. I've never been a foot-man, but she could change my mind. I was struck by her small perfect feet and straight manicured toes. I looked too long. She caught me but said nothing.
Peggy just flowed in her kitchen. I poured us a nice light white wine and set out some cheese, crackers and grapes for us to nibble while we cooked. She had me chopping celery when Cindy dashed through, kissed her mom, said her goodbyes and let the door slam behind her.
"I sometimes wonder if I ever had as much energy as Cindy and Janie have."
"Cindy is always like that. Into everything. Half the time I can't figure out what she is talking about."
"She has been a really good influence on Janie. Janie wants to go to school now. I'm happy they have found each other."
"It's been good for Cindy too. Gets her out of the house and stops her from thinking she has to take care of me."
"If I pry or cross the line, just tell me. For a male, I am easily trainable. Why does she think she has to take care of you?"
Peggy was remarkably open and comfortable with her words. She told how she had chosen the wrong man to put excitement in her life, paid for it and spent a few years in fear of everything. How she still struggles but is far stronger than her daughter thinks she is. She told me she hasn't dated any since the bad times.
"I cannot imaging so much pain and betrayal. You seem healthy and content now. Your house is beautiful. It fits you. You have life around you. You even have a neighbor sponging a meal off you."
She had a nice warm laugh. She followed it with the first smile I had seen from her. I wasn't a novice in the kitchen, but I asked for her directions and help a few times. When the game hens when into one oven, everything else was staged so all parts of the meal would be ready at the same time – vegetables, rice, rolls and salad. We sat in the small kitchen nook and talked the forty-five minutes until the buzzer went off.
When she stood, she accidentally turned over my wine. She apologized, her hands started to shake and there was fear in her eyes. I guess she was having a kind of flash back. I stood too, taking hold of her shaking clasped hands, opening them, then wrapped my arms around her. I felt her tremble and begin to relax.
In a minute or so, I set her back down, tilted her face to me and lightly kissed her lips. "You sit, have some more wine. Let me put our dinner on the dinning room table."
She had set the dinning room table earlier. I was almost finished when she brought in a basket of wrapped hot roles. They smelled wonderful. I pulled out her chair sat her down and shifted my service closer to her at the table. Things were too quiet. I started her off with some nice conversation about where she would travel, if there were absolutely no restrictions.
Peggy relaxed and warmed back up. We continued discovering each other dragging out the courses. It was nine when we finished the entrée. She offered a wonderful suggestion. I'm absolutely stuffed. Let's have coffee in the living room. She set up the coffee while I cleaned off the table. I notice she had brought another bottle of the wine and glasses also.
"Cindy tells me you are a professor at the college."
