Young at Heart.
"Harry, quick, come here."
Harry joined his wife by the window. There outside was an ambulance in the road with lights flashing.
"Oh, no - it's David and Mary's." Maggie said as they both watched the paramedics rushing next door.
They both stood at their front door in their dressing gowns shivering in the night air. They both watched as a stretcher was brought out ten minutes later. Harry caught sight of David;
"David, what's going on? Is Mary ok?"
Harry then saw David look up at him and just shake his head solemnly as he followed the medics.
The funeral service was upbeat and well attended. Mary had been a stalwart of the local community centre, and had been well liked by all.
Maggie walked up to David when she could see he was free;
"David, if there's anything we can do, anything at all."
"Thanks Maggie, it is a great relief to know you are both next door."
"Great buffet David." Harry said devouring another sausage roll.
Over then next few weeks, Maggie would drop round some meals and cake and see if there was anything they could help with. Harry saw David in his garden more often as the spring weather broke the winters grip.
"How are you bearing up David?"
"Oh, you know, slowly getting used to it. I guess it will take time."
"I can't imagine what you're going through, I really can't."
"Thanks mate, it is good to know you two are nearby."
"I saw you talking to David in the garden earlier. How's he doing?"
"Oh, putting on a brave face, you know David."
Maggie paused, whilst stirring the stew;
"Ask him around this weekend. Friday, Saturday, whenever. We'll get some steak in and open a bottle of wine. Cheer him up. Mary would have wanted him to go on; I know that as a fact."
"Good idea, I'll catch him tomorrow."
"Hello David." Maggie said before hugging him as he walked over the threshold.
"I bought a bottle of plonk." David said holding up a chilled bottle.
"Splendid, that makes two bottles; it's going to be a good night." Harry chipped in.
David walked into the dining room to see a sizable spread of starters.
"You shouldn't have gone to any trouble Maggie."
"Nonsense, why ever not? I'm damn sure Mary would be looking down smiling to see you out of the house."
"Perhaps." David said toasting his glass skywards.
The three enjoyed the meal and after the second bottle of white was opened they all started to relax. They reminisced over the holidays they'd had last year and the Christmas dinner that hadn't actually happened. They were all laughing at an amusing anecdote that Harry had conjured up from nowhere when David suddenly became very quiet.
"I miss her so much."
Maggie got up, moved over to him and held his shoulders.
"We know, and we miss her too."
They all stayed in silence for a few moments before David spoke again.
"I actually really miss the sex too."
Harry and Maggie looked at each other in utter confusion. Eventually David realised he'd just thrown a hand grenade.
"Sorry, guy's it's probably the rare steak or the wine."
"Not a problem chap." Harry said trying to diffuse the situation.
"It's alright for you guy's. I tell you, enjoy your bodies while you still can."
Maggie then spoke up;
"David, I'm really pleased you and Mary had an active sex life, but in all honesty Harry and I gave that up a while ago now."
David looked at her bewildered.
"But you're only, what, Sixty three? And you Harry - Sixty five?"
"Yes, but you know." Harry said somewhat reluctantly.
"Don't you miss it?"
"Oh yes." Maggie said a little too enthusiastically. "But things stop working like they used to."
"You've not been to the pharmacy recently? They have magic tablets that make me better than I was when I was twenty-five. They have lube that will open more doors than you can imagine. There is a whole world of free porn out there, and yes I've seen your club magazines circa 1996 in your shed Harry."
"I, I..." Harry stuttered.
"I'm just saying don't give up yet. I bet you two had a fucking great sex life."
Maggie was more shocked by the language than the reference to their intimate private life.
"It was very good." Harry said staring off into the distance with a big grin on his face.
"It was great to see David earlier."
"Yes, lovely." Maggie replied.
"It's a shame he's missing Mary, you know, in that department." Harry said.
"I know, it did make me think when was the last time we did it."
"I remember it clearly - it was a long time ago and I lost my erection half way through. It kind of dented the old confidence."
"Good god, was that the last time?"
"Yes."
The next day the sun was properly out and number 124 and 126 were out in the garden getting ready for the planting season. David saw Maggie digging over the vegetable patch in her shorts and a t-shirt.
"Hiya, thanks so much for last night, I really enjoyed myself - first time in a while."
"You're so welcome David, we enjoyed having you."
David smirked and Maggie caught it;
"What's funny?"
"Oh, nothing. Look have you thought about what I said? Talked it over with Harry perhaps?"
Maggie was a bit taken aback; she knew full well what David was referring to. She had thought it was the alcohol talking...
"Err, as I said that's all in our past now."
"Maggie, you're still a very attractive woman. As we get older, we just need a little stimulus to get things going. I'd hate to think of the pleasure you might be missing out on."
Maggie was lost for words, firstly she hadn't realised men might still find her attractive and the fact David was talking about her 'pleasure'. David realised he'd gone a bit far;
"Sorry Maggie, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable. Its just Mary and I were always out in the open with sex."
"Not literally I hope!"
They both laughed.
"Have you got a laptop Maggie?"
"No."
"Well, I think you should consider getting one."
"And why would I want one?"
David paused for thought for a moment.
"Would you mind popping over to mine to check something."
"What, now?"
"Yes please, just tell Harry you'll be twenty minutes or so."
Maggie knocked on the back door a little nervously. David shouted;
"It's open."
Maggie walked in to see David sat at the dining room table. David then patted a seat next to him.
"Trust me Maggie, I'm not trying it on or anything - I promise."
Maggie made her way over until she was standing behind him. David was on his laptop. She immediately saw what he was watching. The two naked bodies were covered in sweat and clearly in the throws of a passionate love making session. David then un-muted and the room was then filled with grunting and moaning. Maggie watched transfixed.
"See, this all free - there are millions of images and videos on the net. And the stories are something else."
Maggie was still intently watching the screen. She'd hadn't even fully realised David had said something.
"Sorry, what did you say? Oh, look at the time; I'd better be getting the dinner on."
With that she dashed out apologising on her way.
David saw Harry in the garden reading his book. Evidently Maggie was busy doing something else or had popped into town.
"You like your books don't you?"
"Yes, gotta keep the mind busy eh?"
"Absolutely, I've just finished this one, and it's a cracker."
David then leant over the fence and held out a soft back book.
Harry got up and walked over to him.
"Its short stories, but they are very good. Oh, by the way, I'll have it back when you're done, probably best not put this one in the charity shop pile..."
Harry looked at the cover and quickly put it behind his back.
"Well, thanks for that."
"You could always put a different cover on it..."
Next day, David heard a lorry reversing up their narrow road. He looked out to see it was an electrical products supplier. He smiled to himself and crossed his fingers.
"David, would you mind popping over tomorrow, say between two and four?" Maggie said.
"Sure, no problem."
At two on the dot, David pressed the doorbell.
"Oh, thanks David. I'm sure it won't take you long."
David played innocent;
"What can't Harry do?"
"Set up a laptop."
"Oh."
David sat down at their kitchen table. The laptop was already unpacked and Maggie had made an attempt at plugging it all in. David played around for a few minutes, trying to waste a little time before asking;
"Where is your internet connection?"
"My what?"
David then explained how thing worked in 2025.
"So how long is that going to take?" Maggie said feeling herself getting emotional.
"Leave it with me, shouldn't be more then a few days."
Maggie sat down on a chair ashen faced and looked out of the window. David knew exactly what was going through her mind.
"Look, I've got to pop into town to do some banking and stuff. Why don't you pop round mine and you can figure out how it all works on my laptop?"
"If you're sure." Maggie replied keenly.
David set her up at his table.
"Are you happy, you know what's what?"
"Yes, yes dear, I'm a fast learner."
"I'll see you at four then."