Six months ago, my life changed so much that I just had to write it down. Even now, I still don’t believe how much. I’m a 45-year-old guy. I’ve been married for twenty-one years to Susan. The first fifteen years were good; the last six tolerable. I have a twelve-year-old son, Mark. Susan and I have drifted apart, and we’ll probably divorce when my son gets older. She’s had her own bedroom for about a year. I led an utterly boring and predictable existence until Sam came into my life.
I was sitting on the evening MARC commuter train reading the newspaper. I heard a pleasant female voice say, “Is this seat taken?”
I looked up and saw this smiling older woman, maybe in her sixties. I smiled and said, “No.”
She sat down, and we talked for a while before she pulled out some knitting. Most people sit silently on the evening train, so I appreciated having someone to chat with. It turned out that we got off at the same station, so she followed me down the aisle to the exit. The station has a low platform, and I have a little trouble getting down the steps. When I got to the platform I turned around, and noticed that the older woman is still at the top of the steps. I offer her my arm, and she takes my hand and comes down the steps to the platform. I wave goodbye as she walks over to the car that’s waiting for her. Another older woman is driving. I walk over to my car, and head home.
A couple of days later on the evening train, I see the older woman walking in the aisle. She sits down next to me, puts her hand out, and says, “Hi, I’m Sam.”
I shake her hand, and say “I’m Gilbert.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
We talk for a couple of minutes, and she pulls out her knitting. I finish reading the paper, and we just sit for the rest of the trip. I help her down the steps and wave as she walks to her car.
I’d see Sam on the evening train once or twice a week for maybe a month. I found out that Sam was short for Samantha, and she was traveling into Washington to help out her daughter and visit her grandkids. She lived on a farm with her sister, Olga, who picked her up at the train station. I enjoyed the train rides home when I talked with Sam.
One evening we were sitting on the train talking when she asked, “Would you come over and visit with us this evening? You could follow us to our house.”
I was a little surprised. Susan wasn’t working this evening, so I didn’t need to get home. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Sam smiled, said, “Good,” and picked up her knitting.
I followed them to their house in my car. It was an older farmhouse, in fairly good shape but in need of a painting. Corn was growing in the field, and I figured a neighbor was farming the land. Sam introduces me to Olga, who’s a couple of years older than Sam, and we go inside. The furniture is all old, nearly antique, and we go into the living room. I sit down in a wooden rocking chair, while Sam and Olga sit on the sofa.
Olga tells me about some of the paintings on the wall, which her late husband had done. Sam gets us some tea. The teacup was real china, and I was careful with it. I’m not a tea or coffee drinker, so I didn’t know what to expect. The tea had no lemon or sugar, but it wasn’t bitter. It had a bit of a woody taste, and a pleasant aroma.
Sam tells me about some of the furniture. She’d never married, so most of it was Olga’s. I was sipping my tea and listening. The stories behind the furniture and paintings were fascinating. As I was sipping my third cup of tea, I looked out the window and noticed that it had gotten dark. I looked at my watch, and realized I’d been visiting for over two hours.
I turned to them and said, “Excuse me, but I really have to be going.”
Olga looked at me and said, “Can’t you stay a while longer?”
I got up and answered, “I wish I could, but I have to get up for work tomorrow. Maybe we could get together another evening when Susan’s home.”
Sam looked at me and said coolly, “I think you’d better sit down.”
I opened my mouth to protest but a feeling came over me that told me to be quiet and sit down. I sat back down in the rocker.
Sam offered me another cup of tea. I took a sip of the tea, and waited. She said, “You’ve been so nice to my sister and I. We’re so glad you took the time to visit with us. We don’t get many visitors. Most people ignore us, especially when we’re in Washington.” She took a sip of tea and continued. “We know that your life hasn’t been pleasant lately. We know all about your wife, and what a bitch she’s been to you the last couple of years. You shouldn’t have cheated on her, but now she’s cheating on you out in the open in front of your son. You’re a nice man and you don’t deserve the life you wound up with. We’re glad to help you.”
I almost spit out my tea when I heard Sam say bitch. How in the world did Sam know I cheated on my wife? I never told her that. Sure, I’d told her that Susan and I were estranged, but I don’t think I ever mentioned Susan’s boyfriend.
Sam continued. “I can see the confused look on your face. My sister and I can read minds. We know all about your sham of a marriage, your cheating and your wife’s cheating. We decided we wanted to help you have a better life. We added a potion to the tea you’ve been drinking. From now on, any woman that looks at you will become, er, highly aroused.”
I choked on the tea. Olga leaped up and slapped my back a few times until I started breathing. Sam was giggling. “I’m sorry we surprised you like that, but we’re pleased with your reaction. Many men would get excited and arrogant if a woman told them they were irresistible; you were shocked. We feel that in time you will recognize and live up to the responsibilities that go along with this gift.” Sam stood up and took my hand. “Thank you for visiting with us. We hope to see you again.”