Friday, March 17, 2006
Et tu, tu Brute??
Man, she got on his nerves! He didn’t know how much more of her he could take. Constantly talking about things that didn’t interest him in the least. And, of course, the things that were important to him held no interest for her. Despite being married for 23 years, it seemed like they increasingly had nothing in common except for their children. And since the children were almost grown, even that wasn’t much to hold them together. The kids weren’t home that much lately anyway—always off doing something with their friends.
Angie, on the other hand…..Angie was never too far from his thoughts these days. Angie was in her late 20’s, quite a bit younger than he. But from the way she acted around him, you wouldn’t think that his age was a turn-off for her. In fact, she always found ways to let him know how interested she was. They had actually had lunch together a couple of times, and he had to admit that it was exciting to be around a woman who made him feel powerful and attractive. Unlike his wife, she actually seemed to be interested in his pursuits.
Day by day he brooded on his misfortune. It wasn’t fair that a man of his looks, talent, and vigor should be saddled with a hyper-religious, boring, aging woman and two kids who didn’t act like they even knew he existed except when they wanted money. His wife simply refused to do anything to change, despite his broad hints and increasingly frequent veiled threats. Well, if she wasn’t going to get with the program, no one could blame him if he got his needs met elsewhere….
He and Angie were getting along really well and he had to admit that he was only inches away from acting on his constant fantasies. He had been talking to her about his unhappy marriage and she was entirely sympathetic. From the way she looked at him and “accidentally” touched him, he really thought that she felt the same way about him.
One day they had lunch together and on the way back to work, he kissed her when they were alone in the elevator. He couldn’t believe how exciting it was! He was in love again. This was what had been missing in his marriage and what he had been longing for. Now that he had experienced the excitement, the passion, he could never settle for anything less. His affair with Angie quickly moved to the next level. They found every possible opportunity to be together. How easy it was to lie to his wife about what he was doing. He felt very little guilt because he knew that his wife was responsible for his unhappiness and honestly, he felt that she deserved what she was getting.
As time passed, a new thought began to unfold in his head. Why continue with this double life, this lie? He was in love—why not show some integrity and come clean about it? He knew that there would be some fallout from his actions, but that’s life. He felt confident that he could weather the storm. Of course his wife would be hurt and his kids would be upset. But the kids were almost grown and could be expected to understand and take the news like adults.
He and Angie made their plans and when the time was right, he broke the news to his wife and kids. Their response was predictable. What he didn’t expect was the way his extended family, friends, and co-workers responded. Some of them were really happy for him, of course, but there were a few who had the nerve to tell him that what he was doing was wrong! He never dreamed that they would side with his wife. Everybody knew that he had tried his best to be a good husband. How could they blame him? The hell with them and his family! He wasn’t going to let a few jerks stand in the way of his happiness. They’d just have to deal with it. In fact, he was feeling so good since he had made his decision public, he wondered why he hadn’t done this sooner. It was crazy to have endured so many years of a boring, stagnant relationship.
When the divorce was final, he felt a freedom and elation that he hadn’t experienced in years. Thank God for second chances!! He was certain that the years ahead would be filled with all the happiness and excitement that he could grab.
Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. Proverbs 6:32
Angie, on the other hand…..Angie was never too far from his thoughts these days. Angie was in her late 20’s, quite a bit younger than he. But from the way she acted around him, you wouldn’t think that his age was a turn-off for her. In fact, she always found ways to let him know how interested she was. They had actually had lunch together a couple of times, and he had to admit that it was exciting to be around a woman who made him feel powerful and attractive. Unlike his wife, she actually seemed to be interested in his pursuits.
Day by day he brooded on his misfortune. It wasn’t fair that a man of his looks, talent, and vigor should be saddled with a hyper-religious, boring, aging woman and two kids who didn’t act like they even knew he existed except when they wanted money. His wife simply refused to do anything to change, despite his broad hints and increasingly frequent veiled threats. Well, if she wasn’t going to get with the program, no one could blame him if he got his needs met elsewhere….
He and Angie were getting along really well and he had to admit that he was only inches away from acting on his constant fantasies. He had been talking to her about his unhappy marriage and she was entirely sympathetic. From the way she looked at him and “accidentally” touched him, he really thought that she felt the same way about him.
One day they had lunch together and on the way back to work, he kissed her when they were alone in the elevator. He couldn’t believe how exciting it was! He was in love again. This was what had been missing in his marriage and what he had been longing for. Now that he had experienced the excitement, the passion, he could never settle for anything less. His affair with Angie quickly moved to the next level. They found every possible opportunity to be together. How easy it was to lie to his wife about what he was doing. He felt very little guilt because he knew that his wife was responsible for his unhappiness and honestly, he felt that she deserved what she was getting.
As time passed, a new thought began to unfold in his head. Why continue with this double life, this lie? He was in love—why not show some integrity and come clean about it? He knew that there would be some fallout from his actions, but that’s life. He felt confident that he could weather the storm. Of course his wife would be hurt and his kids would be upset. But the kids were almost grown and could be expected to understand and take the news like adults.
He and Angie made their plans and when the time was right, he broke the news to his wife and kids. Their response was predictable. What he didn’t expect was the way his extended family, friends, and co-workers responded. Some of them were really happy for him, of course, but there were a few who had the nerve to tell him that what he was doing was wrong! He never dreamed that they would side with his wife. Everybody knew that he had tried his best to be a good husband. How could they blame him? The hell with them and his family! He wasn’t going to let a few jerks stand in the way of his happiness. They’d just have to deal with it. In fact, he was feeling so good since he had made his decision public, he wondered why he hadn’t done this sooner. It was crazy to have endured so many years of a boring, stagnant relationship.
When the divorce was final, he felt a freedom and elation that he hadn’t experienced in years. Thank God for second chances!! He was certain that the years ahead would be filled with all the happiness and excitement that he could grab.
Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. Proverbs 6:32
// posted by georgia @ 18:59 
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very, very good. i'm gonna forward this piece to sanford, so he can add it to his adultery book. wow!
Hi Georgia! What I really like about this story is that it has so much room to grow. Right now, it's more like the framework of a story that could be fleshed out to be a full length short story (15-30 pg.) There are so many directions that it could take and so many places it could expand. Because it takes place over a period of time, rather than just one moment, it would be nice to see more details about where the marriage went wrong as more detail about what he saw in Angie.
Way to go, Georgia!
Way to go, Georgia!
You're absolutely right, Jeni. The story could stand a lot of expansion. Maybe I'll do it someday..... :)
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