The Judge

“I’m glad you did; I’ve wanted that for a long time. And when I spoke to you last week and you told me you were not returning

to New Haven I thought it would never happen.”

I kissed her again before leading her to a couch. “Now, tell me how things went at Julliard.”

“Things went well; they will accept my transcripts, but after talking to you I’m not sure I want to change.”

“I would love to have you come back to New Haven, but I don’t think you should if it will impinge on your music training. That

should be the most important part of your life.”

“Right now, It’s second,’ she replied and squeezed my hand. “I’ve missed you so much and wanted to call you but Mother

thought I should hold off and perhaps my feelings would change. But, they haven’t.”

“Sweetheart, I have very strong feelings for you, too, but I had no idea you felt that way.”

“I know, I tried to play it cool and not let you know. But it’s been a long summer for me, and you didn’t call. Right now, I’m on a

cloud and don’t want to come down. If you want to make love I would break my promise to my mother.”

“No, Sweetheart, I don’t want you to do anything you might regret later. That can wait. We need to get to know each other

much better.”

“Then hold me in your arms and kiss me.”

We were in a clinch then that lasted many minutes and the kissing became very passionate. I finally had to say, “If we don’t

stop I’ll weaken and take you up on your offer. Let’s call it a night while we still can. What are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Mother told me to spend it with you, and I always obey my mother. Well, almost always.”

With that I walked her to her door, kissed her goodnight and asked, “Break-fast? What time?”

“9 o’clock?”

“Okay, bring your mother.”

“If she wants to come.”

* * *

In the morning I was in the restaurant shortly before 9 and waited less than five minutes before Vivian arrived, breathless.

After a good morning chaste kiss Vivian said, “Sorry I’m late but Mom wanted to talk before I came down. She wanted to

make a few suggestions about what we might do today, among other things.”

“Among other things?”

“Well, you know. Basically, she’s concerned that we might go too far. I think I convinced her that everything is under control, a

shaky control. As far as what to do today she suggested several museums we could take the subway to. I would like to begin

with a walk through Central Park. Would you like to do that?”

“Anything you want to do is fine with me but I would rather take a taxi than use the subway.”

“Okay with me, it’s your money.”

As soon as we finished breakfast Vivian called her mother to tell her we were going to Central Park first and then to the

Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art if we had time. She promised her mother we would be back around 5

so we could all go to dinner again before their theater that evening.

In the taxi on the way to Central Park I asked Vivian what her mother was going to do that day.

“Oh, she has a book or two to read and will probably go shopping. She likes the clothes she can buy here.”

We asked the driver to drop us off at an area of the park that was good for walking. He obliged us by driving to a beautiful

area. As I had never seen Central Park before I was amazed to discover how large it was and to see the density of the plant

life.

The first thing we did upon entering the park was sit at a bench and share a passionate kiss; which led to another, and

another. Following that we talked as we walked along a well cared for pathway, mainly about the decision Vivian had to make

between continuing at Yale or transferring to Julliard.

I encouraged her to make the change as it would be far better for a musician to attend Julliard than Yale.

“It will be more difficult for us to see each other but I’m sure I could come to New York every weekend if you wanted me to.

Now that we have really found each other, I want to see you as often as possible.”

After saying this Vivian had us stop walking and planted another passionate kiss on my lips.

“I’m going to discuss it further with Mother,” she said. “And I’ll include you in the discussion if you want.”

“Clear that with your mother first.”

We found a diner on the edge of the park and had lunch before taking a taxi to the Met.

All our discussions in the two museums we visited were about the works of art we saw. I was amazed at how knowledgeable

Vivian was about the masters and their creations.

We arrived back at the hotel in plenty of time to have dinner at 6, this time at a restaurant near the hotel. We chatted about

our day, how we liked Central Park and how impressed we were with the museums. Vivian and her mother carried on an

intelligent conversation about the various works of art we had seen while I listened and didn’t try to participate.

Again, at about 10:30 Vivian knocked on my door and greeted me with a long, passionate kiss.

Then, she unloaded a bombshell on me. “I don’t feel we’re close enough to each other sitting on the couch. Would it bother

you if we lay on the bed and cuddled?”

“I’m sure it will bother me but I’m not going to say no.”

We lay side by side for several minutes, our bodies molded together, with-out saying a word. The first sound I heard from

Vivian was a deep sigh. “I wish this could go on forever,” she said after a few more sighs.

“It can, but it would inevitably lead to more,” I cautioned.

“Not if we control our urges.”

“Easier said than done,” I said as I reached around her to caress her buttocks.

“You don’t think that will lead to more?” she asked, but didn’t remove my hand.

“Only when we’re both ready,” I answered.

“It feels like you’re ready now,” she said and pulled away from my hardness.

“You’re right. I want you so badly I’m afraid I might seduce you. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.” As I said this I removed

my arm from around her back and tried to rise but she pulled me back down.

Then I realized she was crying. I took her back in my arms and whispered sweetly in her ear. Soon, the crying stopped but

she began to tremble.

“I was ready too,” she said. “What are we going to do?”

“It’s a dilemma,” I replied. “If we don’t have sex we’ll both be unhappy but if we do, we’ll be sorry and so will your mother.”

With that we decided to call it a night and have breakfast with her mother in the morning.

“My plane doesn’t leave until 2 P.M.,” I said. “Perhaps we can talk about things with your mother before you leave.” She left

me then and fled upstairs.

That night sleep would not come. I lay in bed thinking about Vivian and how close we had come to having sex. I, somehow,

would have to convince her, and myself, that we needed to cool down, otherwise having sex was sure to happen. It would be

difficult, but if we loved each other, and I think we did, it would make being apart easier.

In the morning, as we had breakfast, the three of us discussed Yale vs. Julliard and all its complexities. Mrs. Randolph agreed

with me that Julliard would be a better choice, but she wasn’t adamant about it.

“It’s your decision, Vivian,” she said, “I know you two wouldn’t see each other as often, but you probably need to cool down

anyway.”

I glanced at Vivian causing her to blush. Mrs. Randolph noticed the look and the blush and said, “I’m going upstairs to finish

packing.” She looked at her watch and added, “You have about an hour before we leave for the airport.”

She turned to me then and said, “Charlie, it’s been such a pleasure meeting you. I hope we meet again.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Randolph, I hope so too.”

When she left I moved to a chair closer to Vivian and took her hand. “I wish we had more time, but we’ll have to make do with

what we have.”

Vivian squeezed my hand and said, “Let’s go sit in the lounge. We’ll be more comfortable and it will be more private.”

We found a couch and nobody else in sight. We settled in with no space between us and I brought up the subject of cooling

off when we were together. “I’m sure you agree with me that last night was beautiful but made both of us uncomfortable.”

“I agree,” she replied.

“Will you discuss it with your Mom? She seems to be aware.”

“Definitely, she’s aware, and I’m sure we’ll have a long conversation about everything.”

By then it was time for Vivian to leave and with the privacy we had we shared many long, passionate kisses before she broke

away with the promise she would call me every night.

* * *

I flew home that afternoon with many thoughts going through my mind, determined that I had better sleep that night or I would

be a wreck in the morning.

Monday morning I checked in with Andy and Fran and found everything going smoothly. Andy informed me she had a great

vacation in northern Maine, camping out and swatting mosquitoes most of the time. “The fishing was slow but the camping

was restful.”

I next went looking for the judge and found him puttering around in the garden with Tony. I needed someone to confide in and I

thought Judge Summers would be a good choice.

“Can we talk?” I asked.

“Of course, my boy.” He put down the hoe he was using, took off his gloves and led me to a bench in the shade.

“Do you have a problem of some kind?” he asked.

“You might say that,” I replied, then told him about my weekend.

“It sounds to me like you’re in love,” he said. “Is that a problem to you?”

“I’m concerned that it will have an impact on the work I’m doing for you. I had hoped she would be returning to Yale for her

senior year but she is seriously thinking of transferring to Julliard, in New York.”

“Why is that a problem?” New York is only an hour by shuttle.”

“I know, but that leaves only weekends.”

“My boy, when I was in college I was able to keep up with more than one at a time. I had one in Boston and one in Philly. One

should be easier to handle; or are you planning another Paris trip?”

“Paris is finished; I think I’ve finished with my wild oats. I guess you’re right about being able to handle it; I’ll work it out. I’d

better get to work; the girls are getting way ahead of me.”

I returned to the office and began by reading the excerpts Andy had compiled since my last reading. There were a half dozen

or so that would be excellent for use.

One was about a farmer who had bought a bull that seemed to be sterile and was suing the farmer he had bought it from.

When the defense attorney suggested he give the bull Viagra Judge Summers suppressed a chuckle and cited the attorney

for contempt.

Fran was already into December of 1975 with her typing and seemed to be working better since she began taking the

breaks I had suggested. I suggested to Andy that she do the same.

She replied, “I don’t feel the need to, my work day is shorter than Fran’s (Fran worked from 8:30 to 4) and I don’t like to break

off in the middle of some-thing. Besides, I’m finding the files fascinating to read.”

I agreed with her logic and told her that if she ever felt the need for a break she didn’t have to ask.

That evening, shortly after 8, Vivian called me. “I’ve decided that both you and Mom are right, I’m going to transfer to Julliard.

I told her I thought she had made the right decision; then she added, “Mother and I had a long talk about passion today. She

said she knows what we went through Saturday night. She went through the same road blocks. She’s a brick. I hope you can

get to know her better soon. Speaking of soon, I hope I don’t have to wait until I’m in New York to see you again. Mother

asked me to invite you down for a weekend. When can you come?”

“Is this weekend too soon?”

“No, I was hoping you would suggest it.”

“Okay, I’ll make arrangements to come Friday evening and call you when the arrangements are made. Should I fly into

Pittsburgh?”

“Yes, I can pick you up there. But let me call you, instead of you running up your phone bill.”

“What about your phone bill?”

“I have my own cell, with unlimited hours.”

“Great, I’m already looking forward to Friday. Good night, my love.”

She replied, “I love you,” with a tremor in her voice.

“I love you too, good night.”

The rest of the week was busy and productive. My office ladies were zipping through the files while I seemed to be standing

still. Fran was well into 1977 in her typing and Andy had collected an assortment of humorous items that either were stories in

themselves or suggested a story that could be developed from it. One was a trial about a new car that was demolished in an

accident. This reminded me of an old Burma Shave article I had read some time in the past and a jingle from it:

Around the curve

Lickety split

Beautiful car,

Wasn’t it?

* * *

On Friday I flew to Pittsburgh, arriving at 7:30. With only a light carry-on for luggage I didn’t have to go through baggage

claim. I was at the departure exit in a few minutes and found Vivian waiting for me. She put her hand in mine and led me to

her car before planting another of her passionate kisses on my lips.

On the way to her home, which she said would take about a half hour, she had me sit as close to her as possible without

being in her lap. It’s a good thing the car didn’t have bucket seats; I would have been quite uncomfortable.

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