Russell Twyce

Chapter 12

Becalmed in Political Doldrums

Like a buyer at a stock auction, Brian Bain carefully looked over the boy who’d responded to the employment ad. A very good looking young man he was with a face and body that would have housewives squirming to pee themselves. Their moderately jealous husbands would buy a life insurance policy simply to prove they were responsible providers. Brian had started in the business that way so he knew very well how a lad like this could produce. Still, it took more than visuals to be a top life insurance agent.

“Why,” Brian glanced back at the résumé, “have you left your previous employment and come to Ohio to seek work?” Not actually reading anything on the paper, it made the interviewer appear to be studiously evaluating.

“I was in a dead-end rut and wanted to change my prospects. My friends there were working class guys and being unfettered will make my transition to white collar work much easier.”

“Why are you interested in selling insurance?” Looking up from the application form he watched to appraise the apparent honesty.

“I believe in the product and I can sell anything that I’m sold on. My father died without coverage some years ago. His unexpected death left my mother in difficult circumstances. I also want a career that builds as I work and pays me compound interest for my efforts.”

[Content protected for Chevron members only]

“You’re an exceedingly attractive man.” Judith observed. “Supposing I was to indulge my libido and invite you to my boudoir. This is just a hypothetical question.”

“Then you and I would play the beast with two backs under a blanket.” Allen smiled and then added. “Of course that’s simply a theoretical answer too, until you choose it to be otherwise.”

“Young men don’t jump into bed with old women unless there’s a compelling reason for it.” Judith dangled the bait. His response to this one could be the crux, unless he evaded the issue—again.

“When you were younger, did you never entertain speculations towards a much older man? A strong societal precept discourages that behavior and perhaps you missed an enjoyable encounter in the flesh.”

“I had a number of adolescent crushes and you’re correct about the reason being the taboo. But that one exists to stop people from making mistakes at an impressionable period in their lives.”

“I could debate its true intent and its value but that’s a sideline issue. I suggest that if you had succumbed to the temptations, then even if the tryst turned out fully gratifying, you would’ve still felt a remorse because in societies eyes you’d been shameful.”

“That’s correct. I would’ve felt terrible. But those societal precepts as you called them, are also a beneficial basis to extend outwards to form the rule of law.”

“I don’t want to discuss the footing of the law either. That’s another tangent.” He paused to demark the shift back to his crux. “You allowed society to decide your morals but that was your choice and I can’t fault you for it. I’m the reverse. I have my own rules of honor and I’m comfortable with them. If I wanted to do something that fit with my personal ethics but didn’t because a group though it unmentionable, then I’d feel I’d let myself down just as strongly as you would if you’d lustily banged your chicken-hawk.”

“That sounds vaguely libertarian but what’s your main point?”

“The core lurking beneath the surface,” he grinned knowingly, “is that I’ve eluded another probe because you wrongly discounted the possibility that pure allure, in whichever its form, could be that compelling reason for a virile man’s ardor. This is still hypothetical.”

“Touché!” Judith laughed heartily. The crafty little shit got me again and it was a good one. He’s been wise to my explorations.

“There’s really only one succinct question remaining.” Allen took two relaxed breaths to allow suspense to build before lighting the fuse. He looked into her eyes and asked. “Shall we have sex?”

[Content protected for Chevron members only]