It all began because of a parental concern for Alan.
"You know, he worries me, that boy," said Dan, his father.
"What worries you?" asked Delilah his mother.
"He's nineteen and as far as we know he's never had a girl friend."
"Why are you worried about that? He's got plenty of time."
"Yes, but as far as I can tell all the other boys his age have been screwing...I mean, they've been sexually active for years."
"I suppose he's not in a hurry. Not everyone wants to start their sex life young. I think it's disgusting the way they just...just...you know...so young. When we were young we..."
Delilah closed her mouth as she recalled that she had only been seventeen when Dan took her to the altar pregnant with Alan.
Dan gave her a meaningful look as he recalled the gorgeous girl he had impregnated in the back of his car.
"My God," he thought, "She's still a beauty at thirty seven. I'll have to remember to fu...to remember to let her know I still fancy her tonight."
"Del, you don't think there's anything wrong with him, do you?"
"Like what?"
"Well, you know, he can't get it...he's not interested in girls?"
"Of course not, he's just...do you think there's something wrong?"
"I don't know...but by the time I was his age I was..."
"Married," interrupted Del.
"Yes, well, we've never regretted it, have we?"
"Of course not, darling. But just let him find his own way, he'll be all right."
"If you say so. Shall we have an early night?"
"I'm not tired, but if you want to..."
"Yes, I want to."
"Lovely, lets have a shower and go to bed."
For all Del's confidence about Frank, Dan's words troubled her. "Suppose Frank really is...you know," she thought. "True Frank has his studies, but other young men with studies seemed to be able to enjoy intimate relationships with girls, so why not Frank?"
Del's younger unmarried sister Anna was worldly wise when it came to matters of male and female relationships, and moreover, she was Del's confidant. "I really must talk this matter of Frank over with her," thought Del.
Anna usually dropped in for a talk with Del on Thursday evenings. On the Thursday evening following Del's talk with Dan, she consulted her sister.
"Anna, he's nineteen and as far as we can tell he's never fu...been...er...intimate with a girl, and the way things are these days..."
"The way things were when you got married," interrupted Anna.
"There's no need to be nasty," said Del, "Dan and I were in love; it wasn't just casual sex."
"Humph," grunted the cynical Anna. "If he hasn't been with girls, perhaps he's been with boys."
"Anna!" exclaimed Del, "that's a terrible thing to say."
"Don't see why; but anyway, why are you asking me?"
"I just want your opinion. Do you think Alan is normal?"
"Well, may a bit unusual for these days, but perhaps he's got religion...wants to be a Buddhist monk or something; there's a lot of it going round these days and it can be very catching."
"I haven't noticed anything; you know...no incense or yellow robes, all he does is study and listen to classical music."
"Classical music! That's a bad sign Del. I've heard that during the Second World War prisoners of war used to take to classical music just before they went mad or tried to commit suicide."
"My God, you don't think he's going crazy, do you?"
"Well, not yet, but it's worth watching out for. Does he masturbate?"
"I think so; I've found handkerchiefs and tissues in his room that look as if they're got...got stuff..."
"Cum," corrected Anna.
"On them," finished Del.
"That's a good sign then, at least it shows his equipment is in working order."
"Yes, I suppose it is a good sign, but it's a bit like a soldier who trains and trains with his gun, but never gets sent to fight."
"Mmm," meditated Anna, "I don't think there's much you can do about it; sorry I can't be of more help."
"Oh well, I suppose we'll just have to await developments."
That ended the sister's discussion of Alan. They went on to talk about their mother's arthritis and what should be done about it.
During the following couple of months nothing further was said about the state of Alan's libido. Del continued to find sticky handkerchiefs and tissues in Alan's bedroom, and this consoled her to some extent.
Then during one of their Thursday confabs Anna complained about the number of house break-ins that were taking place.
"I'm doing this evening course on computer graphics and I really don't like leaving the place unoccupied."
"Aren't there people who do house sitting?"
"Yes, I suppose I could get on to one of the agencies and see what they have to offer; I might do that."
"Anna," said Del thoughtfully, "What about Alan?"
"What about him?"
"Well, he could house sit for you. He only stays home and studies in the evening except when he goes to the gym. If you wouldn't mind paying him something it'd help him out financially. He's only got his study allowance and what Dan and I can spare."
"Good idea Del, I think I'd trust Alan more than a stranger. Will you ask him or shall I."
"I'll ask him," replied Del.
On being asked Alan agreed readily enough. Of all his aunts Anna was his favourite. He admired her for her independence, her free spirit, and despite the doubts concerning his sexuality, he was sufficiently aware of females to note that Anna was rather pretty. "Besides," he said, "she's got a computer I can work on."
So began Alan's weekly task of guarding Anna's house from the depredations of the criminal classes. I add that it would have been a sad day for any housebreaker who tried to gain entry while Alan was there. He is a sturdy lad and well versed in martial arts.
He took with him to Anna's house any work he had to complete, together with a couple of CD's of classical music. Thus Anna's house reverberated to the sound of Bach and Mozart while Alan plugged away on the computer.
All continued in orderly fashion as arranged for four weeks. Alan arrived at 7 p.m., Anna departed some fifteen minutes later. Several Bach Chorales or Mozart Symphonies later, say around 10 p.m., Anna returned and Alan departed, slightly wealthier than when he arrived.
It was in the fifth week that things changed a little. Being a reliable fellow Alan arrived at the usual time. Anna departed at her usual time. The change came about when, only half way through a second Mozart Symphony, Anna arrived home.
"Lecturer's off sick," she announced. "That's sexy music," she went on.
"Ah...yes...well, I'd better go then," said Alan, and he went to remove the CD, but Anna stopped him.
"No leave it, sweetheart. I don't usually listen to that sort of stuff, but it sounds good, it makes me feel sort of tender inside. You can stay a bit longer can't you? We can have a drink."
Not averse to being in Aunt Anna's presence Alan agreed he could stay for a while.
"I'll just go and change then," said Anna, and departed in the direction of her bedroom.
Alan returned to the computer and continued working. He was tapping away on the keyboard when he heard Anna say just behind him, "Vodka and orange be all right?"