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I am a Correction Officer assigned to a maximum-security prison of some notoriety in Western New York and I have lived alone since my wife passed away five years ago. The term insurance that I carried on my wife paid off all my debts plus more but did nothing to console my loneliness. My home is a large three-story brick farmhouse and I also have two barns as well as a brick two-car garage. They are surrounded by stately and mature black walnut trees. I have stands of oak and hard maple trees north of my fields of clover and forget-me-nots behind the house and bordering the creek. Old stands of hardwoods predominate most of my property which afford me firewood, shade and privacy. I value my privacy and I bought my property knowing that my nearest neighbor lived two miles away.


One spring day I decided to convert the third floor of my house into a three-room apartment with a kitchen and full bath.

I had been toying with the idea for awhile because I didn’t need all that extra space. I am quite handy with my hands having learned carpentry, electrical and plumbing early in life which was mostly being self-taught out of necessity and I did most of the work myself. Soon the apartment was ready to rent and I posted a yellow file card on the bulletin board stating by appointment only and as it turned out I rented to the first person I interviewed.

Her name was Elizabeth Adamczyk and she had just started working a week prior as a secretary in the Personnel Office. My yellow file card was probably up for less than an hour when Elizabeth read it and put it in her purse to keep away prospective renters and thank goodness that she did. She left work early that day and drove to my house arriving an hour before I did which gave her the opportunity to really look things over. When I pulled into my driveway I could see an old beat-up red Ford sedan parked by the garage. She was standing outside on that beautiful sunny fall day waiting to see the apartment. While waiting Elizabeth had gathered a bouquet of colorful fall leaves and in this she reminded me so much of my Bea. Bea delighted in these simple pleasures as I loved and delighted in her. So much of me died along with Bea, things I used to care about or notice. I had forgotten how beautiful the individual leaves were until then, lumping them together as a mess to rake up. Looking at Elizabeth I remembered how good my black walnuts tasted roasted hot out of the shell or in Bea's turkey dressing.

That day for the first time in years I noticed the fall foliage was at its peak. The leaves on the trees were vibrant and proud displaying their rich shades of reds, oranges and yellows and overshadowing the pensive green of the few remaining stubborn leaves clinging to the past. Those green leaves afraid to change and move on and such was I then, pensive and melancholy since my beautiful Bea...my wife Beatrice died.

The official paper work describing Elizabeth Adamczyk that was contained in her impersonal personnel file; Race: white, gender: female, age: 35, Height: 5’-6 “, weight: 125 lbs., Eyes: hazel and that is how the bureaucrats in Albany see Elizabeth... black ink on paper.

But that is not what I saw that day. I saw a lovely woman with a nice figure, a clear complexion and youthful face. I saw intelligent hazel eyes, a small turned up nose and sensuous lips, kiss me lips. Elizabeth's hair was pinned up sensibly for work, neat and professional and her precious little ears were showing. She was wearing a white blouse and a dark gray skirt with tan stockings and black pumps that day. I got out of my truck, smiling and I was fascinated with this pretty woman and I was somewhat puzzled to myself as too why I was fascinated with her. Elizabeth walked over to introduce herself and her handshake was firm and sincere.

She was confident and looked me directly in the eyes when she spoke. The strangest thought or impression...feeling, perhaps all three came over me even before she told me her name.

“Beth...? Beth, if she were my lover, what a marvelous thought...yes, Beth it is.”

I liked Beth immediately and I broke my own rule because I was somewhat rigid about these things since my wife died and having no faith in anything besides my imposed self discipline to try to make sense of Bea’s loss. I showed her the apartment on the spot without an appointment. Two weeks later I helped Beth move her belongings from a small storage unit in Batavia with my pickup truck.

After Beth had lived above me for about 11 months I got to know her routine and schedule. Beth was friendly but reserved and mostly tended to keep to herself. She never had any gentlemen callers and seldom went out although she did bowl every Thursday night on a women's bowling league. When she first moved in she offered to help cut the grass and rake leaves. During the winter months if she saw me outside shoveling she would come out and help me. In the spring I taught Beth how to operate the old farm tractor that I used to mow the property. On the first day I taught her and without thinking I picked her up by the waist and put her on the tractor seat. What a surprised look Beth had on her pretty face. I immediately apologized and what was I thinking or not thinking for that matter and no doubt my face turned red and I am a man not easily embarrassed. The first time that Beth drove the tractor, I stood alongside on the step up talking her through the gears, the break and clutch and such. She was having trouble remembering the brake from the clutch and unable to stop Beth ran the tractor into the purple lilac bushes sending me tumbling into them. After that Beth pretty much took over caring for the perennial flowerbeds that my wife planted around the house. I pretty much had left them to go a little wild, the only disorder in my rigid and structured life.

As with the fall leaves Beth delighted in the spring time to watch the first buds appear on the plants. She would always come to me to get me when the buds appeared and then when they bloomed. Beth's favorites were the yellow daffodils as were mine. I would drop whatever I was doing to go with her to look. In the evening we often sat together under the walnut trees and made small talk or argued current events. Politically we are diametric though surprisingly our arguments are passionate but never contentious.

I would sit with my arms folded rooted in place like my trees and not giving an inch. Beth would circle my chair and then would stop in front of me with her hands placed firmly on her hips leaning slightly forward. Then Beth would make her point or counter with a passionate argument. Finally Beth would stand up straight and give her head a little toss after putting me in my place. When she did I often had the urge to grab her and kiss her mouth. Not to silence her mind you but because Beth was so damn stubborn...and pretty.

We seldom agreed about politics and most often agreed to disagree. We wanted the same good things for our country while approaching it from different directions and perspectives. On some nights Beth would sit with me until after dark and then we moved to the lighted front porch and listened to the radio. She would crochet hats, scarves, mittens and baby blankets that she donated to the needy. On those days Margaret might join us bringing the fixings for homemade ice cream, maple black walnut ice cream. Margaret was a neighbor lady that I first met when I was eight years old. Many nights Beth and I would sit outside together under the stars quietly enjoying each other’s company in unspoken agreement.

One fall morning Beth and I gathered bush after bushel of black walnuts and after they dried for a time, I brought out two pair of heavy neoprene rubber gloves and showed Beth how to remove the green husks because without the gloves ones hands would soon be stained yellow/brown for several days. I then showed Beth how to wash them and exclaimed why we discarded the floaters. Next we put them into wood and chicken wire racks to dry in the rafters of the barns. After two weeks of drying I fired up my charcoal grill and we roasted and shelled them. We sat together under the trees eating fresh hot roasted walnuts and drinking ice cold apple cider and I can assure you that there is nothing better and on this we both agreed. She never talked about her past personal life and I never talked about mine. Beth was a good tenant except for one thing, she was frequently late with the rent. Annoyed with this I decided to make some discreet inquiries and on my lunch break I went to the Personnel Office to speak privately with Margaret.

Margaret stored her 1967 Chrysler Imperial Convertible in one of my barns from November to May when the weather turned warm enough to drive it and I knew that Margaret would help me. The first thing that Margaret asked me when I walked into her office was as I closed the door behind me

“When are you going to find yourself a nice girl and settle down again?"

"I don't know any, Margaret."

"You have a very nice one living above you."

"I don't think that Beth is interested in a relationship."

"Did I just hear you call Elizabeth, Beth?"

"I meant to say Elizabeth."

“No you didn’t” and she was right; that tone of voice suggested that I not correct her.

"Have you ever asked her out on a date? Have you ever asked Elizabeth into your home for a nice dinner and I don't mean outside under the trees?”

"We talk politics and current events and she helps me with the flowers."

"I know all that! How about taking Elizabeth bowling; she loves to bowl."

"I don't know how to bowl, Margaret."

"You forget I have known you since you were a little boy, Ricky." Put your arms down and stop being so stubborn, I don't want to argue with you."

Margaret had over 40 years of state service and knew all the passwords to access restricted computer files. This enabled her to retrieve documents and information from the Central Office in Albany. She is well liked by everyone, especially the secretaries working directly under her and Margret refers to them as her girls. Margaret is like an old mother hen with connections and I spent a great deal of time at Margaret's house growing up. I found out that Beth was originally from the Buffalo, N.Y. and had never married. She attended Notre Dame College in Indiana to get a teaching degree having to work nights as a waitress to supplement her scholarship. When Beth's father died suddenly leaving her mother without savings or adequate insurance, Beth dropped out of college and moved back home to support her. In time Beth reluctantly placed her mother in a nursing home to receive skilled nursing care. After her mom's death Beth lost the house because of liens filed against it by the nursing home to defer the cost of her mother’s stay. The last occupation listed in her personnel records was J.C. Penny’s where Beth worked as a salesperson in the shoe department.

"That’s all you need to know, Ricky. Take my word for it, Elizabeth is perfect for you.”

Margaret has a way with people but has to have the last word and especially when she has a bee in her bonnet and today I was that obtuse bee and an apparent hindrance to her good intentioned matchmaking. Before I left Margaret reminded me again to find a nice girl. She hinted that Beth might be more then interested in me and was available. I was too obtuse….no to stubborn and rigid to acknowledge Margaret's hints.

When I described our first handshake Beth’s fingernails were short and sensible. Elizabeth had been gradually been growing them longer and on the day I visited Margaret they were painted with red nail polish instead of clear and I don’t like them that way. Come to think of it I noticed a lot of Secretaries with long painted fingernails. Maybe it’s the new style or something and on the way out I saw Beth had returned from lunch and was trying to ignore an outside repairman there to fix and service the photocopy machines. He was in his early to mid twenties and seemed to be pestering Beth, acting forward and over familiar. I didn't like the looks of him at all and I walked over to say hello to her and then scare him off.

"I won't be home right away, Elizabeth. I'm going to stop and get a new nozzle for our hose. Then when we water the flowers we won't get wet from the water squirting out at the connection.”

I also caught the man's eye and gave him a mean, hard look to intimidate him. I was standing between him and Elizabeth when this happened and he backed down and dropped his eyes as he went to get his tool boxes. Beth gave my hand a little squeeze and rewarded me with kiss on the cheek and I was thinking

“Perhaps I should buy a new hose as well.”

Then pointing to the door I said to him

“Come on Ace, I’ll personally escort you to your vehicle and see to it that nobody pokes you in the ass on the way out.”

The other three Secretaries within hearing distance were smiling and one of them had her hand over her mouth and was laughing. Romeo’s romantic aspirations were pretty much done in this office and the rest of the joint because news travels fast on the grapevine.

Beth had beautiful and thick long hair then. It was a rich dark brown with natural reddish highlights and was very long and reaching just below her waist. As I said, to Beth's credit she keeps it pinned up all neat and proper while at work. Although not as long as Beth's, my Bea had long honey blond hair and I remember that it fell exactly 3 inches past the bottom of Bea's shoulder blades.

It was long enough to wear up, or braid but not too long to hold a curl. That was how I liked it, 3 inches past Bea's shoulder blades,

and like Bea was, Beth is a proper modest Lady.

The background information out of the way, It was the first week of August. Beth's rent was overdue and she still owed me for June and July and she promised me a check on Friday for both months rent. I work the 7-3 shift and Beth the 8-4 shift and we both enjoy weekends off. It was hot and sticky that Friday with the temperature in the nineties. At the last minute I was mandated to work eight hours unscheduled overtime on the 3-11 shift. I telephoned Personnel and told Beth that I was working a double. I instructed her to get the spare house key hidden in the barn behind an old license plate and leave the rent check on the oak table in the foyer. At 6:00 PM the Chart Sergeant sent me home early which was alright by me. I pulled into my driveway at approximately 6:20 PM and parked my truck next her car in the garage.

Hot, sticky and in a foul mood, I found the front door unlocked and there was no rent check on the table as promised. Pissed off all I wanted were a shower and a half hour nap in my air conditioned bedroom and this was the only room in the house with air-conditioning because when the central broke down I thought at the time why it’s just me, why fix it. I walked up the stairs on the way to the bathroom thinking how good that shower was going to feel. When I reached the landing I observed that my bedroom door was closed and I could hear the window air-conditioner running. Suspicious, when I reached the bedroom door I slowly turned the doorknob and quietly pushed it open. I couldn’t believe what I saw. She was asleep on my wife’s side of the bed wearing only her bra and panties. Beth's beautiful hair was pulled back in a ponytail and held in place with a pink scrunchie. The walk-in closet door was open on my wife’s side. There was a pile of my wife’s dresses laid out on the bed next to her. It was if Beth had tried them all on before falling asleep.

I quietly walked to my dresser and observed my alarm clock was on the left side instead of the right. I picked it up and upon closer inspection I observed that the alarm was set for 10:00 PM, one hour before my overtime shift was supposed to end. Opening my top dresser drawer I removed a pair of stainless steel Smith & Wesson handcuffs and I quietly walked to the bed and snapped the handcuffs on Beth's wrists before she had time to react. Beth looked up at me with surprise and confusion and then she took a deep breath as if to say something. Before Beth could get it out I slapped her buttocks, once, just hard enough to sting to get her attention.

"Don’t you dare say a damn thing to me?”

I took the end of her thick shiny ponytail and wrapped my hand around it until it was tight with the scrunchie, while taking control of the handcuffs with my free hand I made Beth stand and then pulled her close. I put my face up to her ear and Beth's scent was that of my wife’s perfume. Whispering harshly in Beth's ear with my breath on her face, I said.

"You know what you did wrong so here is the deal. I will forgive everything including the past rent if starting right now until Sunday night, midnight you are mine. You will be my surrogate wife since you like to wear her dresses, and you smell like her because obviously you are wearing Bea's perfume. I in turn will act like a good husband should and we will make love as Bea always allowed. You may have the run of the entire house and you will allow me to take you places as I did with her and in consideration

you will concede to dress the way I request. You will fix your hair the way I want it fixed just like any good wife would to please her husband. Tugging on Beth's ponytail for emphasis I asked

“Yes or no, do we have a deal?"

Beth did not answer.

"I'll assume that we have one then, Beth, you didn't say no."

Releasing Beth's hair, I removed the handcuffs.

"I am going to take a shower and then put on some steaks for us."

I took a longer shower the usual and I knew I was wrong having overreacted but then she didn’t say no and the police hadn’t kicked my door down yet. I was angry at first but that had passed and while I stood in front of the mirror mentally chastising myself.

I decided to shave off the handle bar mustache that I grew after Bea died and I ran my hand over my short-cropped blond hair wondering if I should let it grow out. Bea loved to run her fingers through it when it was longer. As I was putting my aftershave which was something I hadn’t used in years, I planned our weekend and undressed Beth in my mind like I often did when we sat under the trees. I returned to the bedroom with a basin of warm water, a washcloth and nail clippers. I made Beth stand facing me while I gently washed the makeup from her face. I hated seeing Beth wearing that much makeup when lightly applied was so much nicer. Beth was far too pretty and when I finished I commented.

"That’s better, Beth and I see that you are still here and you are beautiful you know? You are far too pretty to be wearing so much makeup."

I took her face in my hands and then closed my eyes and I lightly kissed her sweet lips and sighed, thinking

“They are more luscious then I ever imagined.”

At my request Beth cut her nails shorter and encouraged I asked

“Wife, please take off your bra and panties.”

I couldn’t believe it, Beth actually complied.

"Wonderful, now take the scrunchie out of your hair and shake your head.”

She dropped her bra and panties on the floor and then reached back and removed the scrunchie shaking her hair loose and free.

I inhaled sharply holding my breath momentarily and was unable to speak and at that moment all I could think was

"My God, she is so beautiful........."

Looking back I am sure that Beth must have seen my reaction from the look on my face.

”Well, my incredibly sexy wife, would you do the honors”.

Beth knew what to do next, she knelt down in front of me on some pillows and gave me a blowjob while I played with her silky long hair and after I achieved my explosive orgasm I kissed her cheek and it was like I was in a marvelous dream.

"Beth my dear, you are incredible. It will be my pleasure to be your surrogate husband and I will certainly return the favor to you later and with your permission of course. You are welcome to use the bathroom, just help yourself to anything you need. There are plenty of clean towels as I did the laundry yesterday. You know what I mean so just make yourself at home."

Beth picked up her things and went into the bathroom closing the door behind her. I walked over and put my ear on it and I heard Beth slide the shower curtain closed and then turn the water on. After ninety seconds Beth called out sarcastically.

"I know you are standing by the door, and why did you have to use all the hot water? That’s no way for a husband to treat his wife.”

I got dressed, put Bea's dresses away in the closet and then made the bed. When I finished, Beth was still in the bathroom.

I knocked on the door and said

“Beth, there is one of my white tee shirts for you on the bed”

And I fondly remembered how Bea liked to wear my tee shirts with nothing but panties in hot weather.

“Would you fix your hair in another ponytail for me?”

She didn’t answer, so I went downstairs and then outside to start up the grill, bringing out two steaks that were dry rubbed with coarse black pepper and fresh garlic earlier in the day. Then I went back upstairs and straightened up the bathroom after Beth left to go in her apartment. I went outside again to grill the steaks and about 15 minutes later Beth came outside. She was barefoot and wearing my tee shirt over her panties and fixed her hair in a nice ponytail.

"You look cute with your hair in a ponytail. As a matter of fact, you are the prettiest liberal that I have ever met. Can we at least agree on that?"

She stood there quietly watching me cook and Beth had a thoughtful look on her pretty face and after a few minutes

May I ask you a question, Richard?"

"Of course you may, Beth.”

“Why are you cooking, I thought that was my job?”

“Because I’m hungry, Beth and I thought you might be too and there are tomatoes and potato salad from in the fridge if you wouldn’t mind getting them out.”

"You cleaned the bedroom and the bathroom and now you are cooking?"
"And"

“But I thought that was my job as your wife to cook and clean?"

"I’ve been married before, Beth and I know what it is like and I miss it. Besides that we both work and the deal was for a surrogate wife, not a slave.”

"May I ask you another question then?”

You sure can, Beth."

"Why did you shave off your mustache?"

"Oh, that!"

And I started laughing...remembering…. and then I told her thinking “why not she is mine for the weekend”.

"Months before I asked Bea to marry me I grew a mustache trying to look older and more distinguished. Bea did not care at all for that mustache while I thought that I looked sophisticated and dashing. Bea had short hair in those days because her mother liked it that way and made Bea keep it short. It was a compromise, much like sharing the housework after she returned home from work at the Bank. I remained clean-shaven for Bea and she grew her hair long for me.

“What about the sex part?”

I paused a moment to think....

"Well, I’m sorry about the handcuffs. I was way out of line and I over reacted. You really caught me by surprise and I am funny about my wife's things. I am sorry I slapped your... ah, bottom, although I did slap it just hard enough to get your attention and not to hurt you but that was wrong. I have to tell you, Beth, as bottoms go yours is a perfect ten. I promise I won’t hit you again if that’s what you are worried about. Oral sex, I will leave that up to you and it was nirvana. I won’t demand it and I will be happy to return the favor and I will not force myself on you. I am a man, Beth and you are a woman...no, make that a beautiful woman.

Men have urges...needs and I have not been with a woman since my wife died… I mean in the bedroom...I'm sure you know what I mean. I guess I just wasn’t ready and I’m not used to talking about these things. Until you came along I had not even thought about being with another woman. They just don't measure up to you.... well, maybe Margaret does. I have been thinking about you since I first saw you under the black walnut trees. Maybe I’m still not ready, I really don’t know. When I was married this used to be our house and then with Bea gone it was just mine. What I do know is that I caught you in my bedroom with my wife’s things and sleeping in our bed. That’s the main thing in my mind and for the next few days this house can be a home again.

May I ask you a question, Beth? Why were you there? Can you answer that question?”

Beth remained silent.

Do we still have a deal, Beth or perhaps you want out? Just say so because I was out of line and I really can't blame you if you do.

I apologize again for the handcuffs and I want you to know that I'm not into that M & M thing. I really don't know what came over me.

Yes I do know I was angry but I'm not angry now and you may leave right now although I wish you wouldn't. I’ll keep my part of the deal and not think anything less of you. Do you mind that I call you Beth, Elizabeth, I love that name… Beth."

"It is BDSM, Richard, not M & M."

Beth then turned and went back into the house.

When the steaks were ready I brought them into the house and put them on the kitchen table. Beth had sliced the tomatoes and set out the potato salad and there was also homemade chocolate chip with walnut cookies, the black walnuts were from my trees. Beth must have baked them in her apartment earlier in the day. Bea and I used to look forward to our walnuts every fall putting aside enough bushels to last until next season and we always gave Margaret and Linda a bushel each. I lost all interest in that after Bea died as I did with most things until Beth entered my life. There would never be another Beatrice, but the table was set for two as it used to be and Beth was here with me. Most importantly Beth answered one of my questions. She was sitting at the table, waiting.

"The steaks are ready and one of them is rare and the other medium rare. If they are not to your taste I will put one back on the grill for you."

"The medium rare is fine, thank you and your apology is accepted.”

We ate a quiet dinner and I noticed Beth studying me and not saying anything. I told her where everything was and again encouraged her to look around because nothing was off limits. I made us a pot of fresh ground coffee and then made a big fuss over the cookies which were absolutely delicious.

While Beth was doing the dishes and picking up the kitchen I went outside with my cell phone to telephone Linda. Linda was my wife’s best friend and her hairdresser and is a kind, gentle person while her ex- husband is a no good self-centered, mean and cowardly bastard. He is doing five-to-twenty time in Clinton Prison for rear-ending a motorcycle at a stop sign and killing the rider.

He was drunk at the time of the accident and while in prison he refused to give Linda a divorce. I made a phone call to Clinton and I talked to a Sergeant I went to the academy with. The next day Linda's husband was given an attitude adjustment and after things

were properly explained to him, he graciously agreed to the divorce and signed the papers and then mailed them back immediately upon receiving them. He was also told never to contact Linda again in his lifetime.

Linda vowed at the time never to have anything to do with men again, however her current boyfriend, Sam, is a great guy and thinks the world of her. Her ex-husband ruined Linda's credit with his gambling, drinking and expensive toys and fortunately, Linda had the foresight to secretly save money. It was in an account in her maiden name that her then husband knew nothing about.

Linda planned to open her own Beauty Shop someday. I cosigned a loan with her to buy the building and then became a silent partner while Linda used her savings to remodel. Linda now has 6 employees, a thriving business and stellar credit rating.

Linda insisted that Beth would get all of her services pro bono and I made an appointment for Beth on Saturday morning. The shop was closed two weeks for her employee’s vacations but Linda agreed to open up just for us. I told Linda most of the story leaving out the sensitive parts. I explained ahead of time exactly what I wanted done saying it would be a surprise for Elizabeth.

Linda thought it would be fun.

Linda first met Beth when she came over once a week to bring what Linda called her leftovers; actually she was cooking extra for me during the week and freezing mine. Linda wanted to make sure I ate at least one good meal each day. She liked Elizabeth from the start and thought Beth could be good for me and would often tell me.

“It is not good to live alone, Richard. Beatrice has been gone for almost 5 years now and you must move on because Bea would have wanted that and Elizabeth is so nice.”

When I went back into the house Beth was at the sink finishing the dishes and walked up behind Beth and put my arms around her waist and rubbed her tummy. Then I finished helping Beth wipe them and put them away.

“It is my bedtime, Beth and I am going upstairs to read awhile. Do what you normally do before bedtime. Eventually I hope you will come upstairs and if I am still awake I may want something."

I then picked Beth up off of her feet and spun her around.

"Richard, what are you doing, put me down! Can't you at least wait until I get up there?"

"We need to get something straight about your bottom, I misspoke and it is a perfect ten thousand!"

I kissed Beth on the lips before I put her down and then I ran up the stairs like I did when I was eight years old again.

In the morning I woke lying next to her with my arm around her waist and Beth was wearing a simple white silk nightgown and best of all was snuggled up close to me. If anything happened I didn’t remember, but what I did know it was the best sleep that I had in years. I went downstairs and made coffee and returned with two cups and woke her up and handed her one. She sat in the bed with her legs folded underneath her while sipping her coffee and she looked so domestic yet sexy sitting there with her hair starting to slide out of the ponytail.

"I thought you said you wanted something when I got upstairs."

"I said that I might want something, Beth, and I got it. I woke up next to you didn't I and what could be better than that?"

I sat on the bed looking at Beth and wondering if she could swim. I would love to show Beth the small swimming hole that I made for Bea in the creek. She finished her coffee and as she got up Beth touched my face.

"I like you better without the mustache."

Then, Beth went into the bathroom and closed the door.

"Beth, honey, please don’t use all the hot water."

When it was my turn I took the cold shower and afterwards I found Beth downstairs in the den. She was wearing her terry cloth robe and had a towel around her damp hair and Beth had my wedding picture in her hand. She turned to me and said

"You look so young in this picture, Richard. How old were you here when you were married?"

I first asked Bea's father's permission to marry her. At that time the man absolutely hated me but his wife was kinder, she merely tolerated me and referred to me as a loser. Bea's father agreed with his wife and told me that I would never amount to anything. He told me that he would never allow his daughter to marry a long haired, ponytail wearing, no account heathen hippie and that was polite for him. They already had someone in mind for Beth at the Bank where his wife worked. He told me Beth’s future husband was a deacon in their church while I was a no family, shit for brains motherless bastard and I thank my lucky stars that Beth’ dad didn’t tell me how he really felt. I was eighteen and Bea was sixteen and when we eloped and there wasn't anything that her father could do about it as Bea was of legal age.

"You had a ponytail, you... Mr. Conservative, I don't believe it!"

Beth said, rubbing my head.

"I have pictures and can prove it. I had to cut off my ponytail when I became a Correction Officer. You know the department has regulations for hair length for men but not for women."

"You would look so much better if you grew it longer, Richard, especially since you shaved off your mustache. Tell me more about the Bea's father."

"He laughed in my face, Beth and then pointed a loaded 16 gauge double barrel shotgun at me and started counting to ten.

One, ten and then boom, the first loaded of buckshot sailed over my head and….” Beth interrupted.

"What did you do then?"

"I ran like hell and we were married for 22 years when the cancer took her.”

"Is Bea short for Beatrice, Richard?”

"Yes, Beatrice Louise...my Bea"

"You have never told me anything like this before, Richard. Your Beatrice Louise was a very beautiful woman."

"You have never been my wife before, Beth. And, well you know Beth... you are too.... beautiful and smart. Bea and I told each other everything. Beatrice was the only woman...Bea was, well...I mean the only woman I have ever known."

"Do you mean made love to, Richard?"

Yes...you have never told me anything either, Beth.

"Did you have any other girlfriends, husband?”

"Just Bea, I had known her since kindergarten. Did you have any boyfriends, Beth?"

“Quite a few when I was in high school but none serious except for my last one, Sean O'Brien. I met Sean during my first semester in my Political Science Class at Notre Dame and we agreed about everything. I thought Sean was so sensitive and a free spirit. He was a charismatic leader in all the environmental or worthy political causes on campus and there were no roots growing up under his feet, and Sean was very wealthy coming from old Boston money. Sean took me to places I never could afford or even knew about. We went to the Bahamas on winter break for a week and the Room Service where we were staying brought us Champagne and Iranian Sevrvga Caviar every day for breakfast. I was twitter pated with Sean.

"You mean twitter pated, like Bambi was, Beth? I loved that movie and as a matter of fact, that was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. Margaret took me to see Bambi when I was eight."

"Why didn't you go with your mother, Richard? My mother took me to see my first movie when I was three.”

"My mother left when I was four years old, and it was just Dad and I along with various housekeepers until I was five and old enough to start school. Not that Dad treated me badly, but for the most part as I got older he just ignored me. Dad was always working and his job required him to work late most nights. That was how he coped for Mom leaving us and I guess that I reminded him of her which pretty much left me to fend for myself.

When I was 8 years old I wanted to see that movie but I didn't have the money. I earned the money feeding Margaret's chickens, gathering eggs and cleaning out the coop and I got to hold them, especially the little yellow chicks. Margaret was first married then and she her husband Dan bought the house across the road from us. Margaret couldn't have children and she sort of unofficially adopted me.”

"Margaret had chickens?"

"In those days Margaret did."

"Why didn't Margaret just treat you to the movie?"

"Well, Margaret tried, but I wouldn't let her. I told Margaret a man has to stand on his own two feet and work for what he wants."

"You told Margaret that when you were 8 years old."

"Yes"

"Like you are doing now with your arms folded across your chest?"

Beth said, touching my face a second time and smiling.

"You smell nice, like Aqua Velva. Are you wearing cologne for me?"

"Ah...yes I suppose so.

I answered putting my hands in my pockets, embarrassed and enjoying it.

"What ever happened to Sean, Beth?"

"We were engaged to be married and Sean gave me a 3-carat diamond engagement ring and to celebrate my parents threw us a lavish engagement party that was much more than they could afford. All my family and friends were there and Sean’s family refused to attend. I come from a very large family and Sean's mother interfered at the last minute forbidding them to go to it, Sean included.

"That is not right Beth and I think I get the picture, the bastard. It sounds like Sean didn't even have the sand to tell you himself."

“He didn’t and I never saw Sean again. His mother called my mother from Boston on the telephone to break off the engagement. Sean's mother, Mrs. O'Brien was brutal and right to the point. Mrs. O'Brien said no son of hers was ever going to marry a lower middle class polack and a Catholic to boot. My cousin Stanislaus didn't like Sean from the start and tried to drive to Sean's parent's mansion in Boston. He said he was going to give Sean a piece of his mind, followed by a piece of his right fist and then his left fist, and then both feet. Fortunately for Sean, Stanislaw’s 1965 Harley panhead broke down half way there and our fathers were able to stop him in time. Stanislaus is more like a brother to me then a cousin and we are the same age. All my boyfriends from high school were afraid of him and so they should have been. Stanislaus liked to fight and was good at it. He wouldn't back down to anybody and spent more time in detention then he did in class. God help any of them that didn't treat me with respect because when they answered to him they didn’t like it.

“Would you like me to braid your hair for you? We have an 11:00 AM appointment but first I thought we might go out for breakfast."

"You know how to do that, how to braid a woman's hair?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Never mind, Ricky” Beth said, smiling.

"You must have talked to Margaret. Nobody else would dare call me that.”

I surprised Beth by showing off and styling her long brown hair in a six-strand braid.

"You look lovely with your hair that way, Beth. Would you please go to your apartment and pick out a nice dress, because I have plans for us afterwards”

Beth returned in a pale yellow summer dress with 3/4 length sleeves. It was light muslin cotton material and was soft as the petals of a daffodil and it came down to her knees. Beth was wearing sandals and her makeup was lightly applied and perfect.

When she turned spun in a circle to model the dress for me and the soft light material moved like a pale yellow cloud with her as she turned.

"I wandered lonely as a cloud that floats on high o'er vales and hills, when all at once I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils beside the lake, beneath the trees, fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine and twinkle on the milky way...and there she was standing, my beautiful Beth in a yellow summer dress.

"William Wordsworth never said there she was standing, my beautiful Beth in a yellow summer dress".

Beth said, smiling and obviously pleasantly surprised.

The next line to the poem is "they stretched in a never-ending line along the margin of a bay, ten thousand saw I at a glance

tossing their heads in a sprightly dance."

"You are right but I like my version better."

And then I kissed her cheek and offered Beth my arm.

"Richard, what happened to your father is he deceased?

"He packed up and left, no warning, no nothing. I was sixteen years old and was never much at home anyway. After school I worked any odd jobs that I could find saving my money to marry Bea. I have no idea what happened to Dad and have not heard from him since. As for my mother, I don't remember her at all. I loved my father, Beth, and I am sure in his own way he loved me too. Dad taught me three important things. If you can't pay cash don't buy it because you can't afford it. If the playing field isn't level don't snivel and cry foul, and demand special privileges or a handout, do something about it yourself. Never back down or be scared away if you feel that you are in the right or feel strongly about someone or something.”

I then walked over to my desk and removed the watch from the stand under the glass dome and the yellowed page torn from a book that was folded and tucked underneath the stands wood base.

"Before he went, Dad left me my Great-Grandfather's 25-jewel Elgin pocket watch and then I handed it to her.

I also unfolded and read her the poem written by Edmund Vance Cooke (1866-1932) "How Did You Die"

Did you tackle that trouble that came your way with a resolute heart and cheerful? Or hide your face from the light of day with a craven soul and fearful? Oh, a trouble's a ton, or a trouble's an ounce, or a trouble is what you make it, and it isn't the fact that you're hurt that counts, but only how did you take it? You are beaten to earth? Well, well, what's that? Come up with a smiling face. It's nothing against you to fall down flat, but to lie there -- that's disgraceful. The harder you're thrown, why the higher you bounce; be proud of your blackened eye. It isn't the fact that you're licked that counts, it’s how did you fight and why? And though you be done to the death, what then if you battled the best you could, you played your part in the world of men, why, the Critic will call it good. Death comes with a crawl, or comes with a pounce, and whether he's slow or spry, it isn't the fact that you're dead that counts, but only how did you die?

We had breakfast together at a local restaurant famous for their sourdough blueberry pancakes choosing coffee as our beverage; Beth’s with a splash of milk and 1½ teaspoon of sugar and mine black. I sat next to Beth and stroked her braid telling her not to be nervous about her haircut. Beth seemed quite relaxed and snuggled close to me and told me more about her past. I found out that Beth never dated much after Sean dumped her. As a matter of fact I was the only man Beth had even spent the night with since college. Finally, in all the time that Beth was with Sean and even after he gave her the engagement ring, he never once told Beth that he loved her. After a wonderful breakfast we drove to Linda’s to keep Beth's appointment. When we got there Linda greeted us warmly and then locked the door and closed the shades.

"We are closed this week for vacations and I opened up especially for you, Elizabeth. I am glad that after all this time you decided to come to me for your hair, especially now that you and he are finally an item. I always knew that it would happen and I’m so happy for the both of you”

She said, hugging Beth.

“Richard told me that you wanted your hair cut shorter, but not too short and made the appointment for you.”

Beth looked at me and smiled sweetly.

“Yes, Ricky is so thoughtful."

Linda turned and gave me a look before taking Beth to sit at the manicure station and then removed the remaining color, filing and buffing Beth’s nails and finishing with a coat of clear nail polish. When this was done, Linda had her go to the chair at the cutting station.

"Did Richard braid your hair for you?"

"Yes, Ricky did a wonderful job. He is just full of surprises."

"I thought I recognized his work because Beatrice only came here for trims and when he retires, he is going to come and work for me, right, Ricky?"

Linda added teasing me and laughing with Beth joining her and they both had a good laugh at my expense.

“Just wait until I see Margaret” I thought to myself.

Linda took Beth's hair out of the six-strand and redid it in a simple three-strand braid. She then placed a second rubber band on Beth’s braid and handed me the scissors.

“Would you like to do the honors, Richard, cut just above the second rubber band?"

“Sure, thanks, Linda."

Leaning over I kissed Beth's cheek and whispered.

"Remember, you agreed to this Beth."

I will never forget the feel and sound of the scissors while I cut off Beth's thick braid or the look on her face when I held it in front of her like I just won a blue ribbon at the fair and it was time for Linda to finish the final cut. She had Beth get up and sit down at the shampoo station and then washed and conditioned Beth’s hair, returning to the cutting station for a comb out.

Beth’s hair had gone from waist length to four inches below her shoulder blades and it looked thicker and fuller than ever.

“Elizabeth, I am going to cut off another inch to even up the bottom and I will cut it straight across like you had it, but I will layer the bottom ever so slightly so it curls under naturally."

When Linda was done, Beth’s hair fell three inches past the bottom of her shoulders blades exactly like Bea’s.

Linda took me to one side and said.

"I have an idea and want to do something special for Elizabeth and I’m going to curl it first."

She combed a light setting lotion in Beth's hair and then rolled it up in, long, round curlers. While Beth was under the dryer, she brought out homemade pound cake and coffee. Linda makes the best pound cake in the world, just as Beth makes the best cookies and I told them so.

"Linda, you make the best pound cake in the world.... but Beth makes the best walnut, chocolate chip cookies in the universe!"

Soon the timer on the dryer went off and Linda removed the curlers from Beth’s hair while arranging the curls into sections. Long sausage curls now kissed Beth's shoulders and caressed her back while framing Beth’s beautiful face. Pulling the curls away from Beth’s face in the front she pinned them up on the back of her head. Linda fussed with Beth's curls and when finished Beth had a curly bun with a few curls caressing her neck. Before we left Linda presented me with Beth’s cut off braid secured with a ribbon and when we got to the truck I tied the braid to my rear view mirror.

“You look absolutely elegant, Beth. I am the luckiest husband in the whole world with the most beautiful wife as well."

We decided that we would hit some of the large shopping malls in the area and spend the day and it was gratifying to see all the admiring glances from the men as I walked past them with Beth on my arm. We spent the afternoon window shopping and attending a couple of movies in the cinemas in between window shopping. She suggested that we each select a movie or movies but not mention them out loud but instead write them down on a piece of paper and then we each drew the folded papers out of Beth's purse and she won both times which was fine with me. I couldn’t care what the movie was as long as I was with her. I was good during the movies and kept my hands out of Beth’s curls being content to just hold her hand.

I saw something in a jewelry store window between movies that caught my eye and during the second movie I pretended to get up to use the restroom, but instead left the theater and ran to the jewelry store to buy it. When I got there I stopped to admire my soon to be purchase through the plate glass window. It had to be the lighting or a reflection or something, but it wasn't.

My beautiful Beatrice's reflection was looking back at me in the glass and Bea smiling and nodding her head in approval and I could smell Bea's perfume. Bea, I whispered as Bea reached up to blow me a kiss...and then she was gone. I kissed my hand and put it up to the glass where I saw Bea's face.

When we were in elementary school Bea rode the bus while I walked or rode my Frankenstein bicycle, something that I put together from used and/or discarded parts found at the curb with the trash. I always stood outside and waited with her after school and then I walked her to the bus and when the bus pulled away Bea would blow me kisses through the window. Boys didn't blow kisses unless they were sissies and I would kiss my hand and put it on the bus window near Bea's face. Then I would leave for work at my various after school jobs.

On the way home we stopped and I bought a case of oil and an oil filter for my truck and as an afterthought in the parking I went back and bought a filter for Beth’s Ford as well. We had dinner in a fine sit-down Chinese restaurant at Beth's suggestion and to make her happy I attempted to eat with chopsticks and frustrated made a fool of myself by spearing my food while she could pick up a single grain of rice with hers. We spent the remainder of the evening under the walnut trees and talked about everything but politics.

At bedtime she came to bed wearing her silk nightgown and Beth took her hair down and shook her head without me asking.

When Beth got on the bed I buried my hands in her hair caressing all those luscious curls. I put red silk sheets, Christmas sheets on the bed for Beth and she didn't fail to notice. This was tradition that Bea and I had, different silk sheets or flannel sheets and each with a story behind them for a special day spent together. Beth ran her hands along the sheets enjoying the luxurious smooth texture and then pulled the nightgown over her head and she was wearing nothing underneath, she was so beautiful and sexy that I could hardly control myself. I was very gentle with Beth, holding her as if she was a fine porcelain doll while I kissed Beth's mouth many times and I was lost in those sweet inviting lips, those lips I wanted to kiss the first day I met her.

I kissed softly and lightly to start, followed by her cheeks and then the base of her throat and the sides of her neck. I kissed the lobs of her small precious ears and behind them, lifting her hair and blowing softly and I watched Beth shudder with pleasure as the goose bumps rose on her slim arms. My need for Beth was great and my heart was pounding in my chest with desire for her.

But I held back my urgent need, as I did the first time I made love to Beatrice.

We lay on the sheets facing one another and I kissed Beth's mouth long and deep as I ran my hands lightly down Beth's back my fingers caressing, touching and probing and lingering. I could sense, and feel and smell Beth's need as well and feel her wetness, the maddening musky smell of her wetness. I rubbed and lightly squeezed the round firmness of her marvelous ass cheeks and

Beth returned my kisses and pulled me to her so that my rock hard penis was pushing up against her.

"I am not going to break sweetheart and I want you to hold me closer to hear your heartbeat.”

Beth said, kissing me and pushing her little tongue in my mouth in search of mine and I buried my hands in Beth's curls, returning her sweet kisses. Beth then pushed me onto my back and straddled me and impaling herself on my rock hard cock while leaning back with her back straight and Beth's hair fell forward over her face, neck and breasts. I reached up and caressed and stroked her firm round breasts as Beth rode me and her eyes closed in ecstasy. This was new to me, a woman on top and I liked it so I lay back and enjoyed her panoramic view.

I moved along with Beth, matching her rhythm and thrusting upward while helping to support her weight. My beautiful Beth was as light as a feather or so it seemed at the time. I waited for Beth's orgasm watching Beth's little hand was covering her mouth to muffle her screams as Beth's orgasm washed over her. This gesture was so endearing to me, so precious… my Beth, always the lady. I could not hold mine any longer as I held her waist and pounded her. Beth's hands were in her long hair holding it out of her face and she was smiling and watching me as I came in her sweet little cunt. She collapsed on top of me kissing my mouth and stroking my very short, cropped hair. I held Beth for a time, she on top with my arms around her waist and bottom and Beth still felt as light as a feather. Exhausted, we fell asleep and woke up that way in the morning and then made love that way all over again.

Resting from our morning love making as we lay there cuddling Beth asked if we could just hang around the house and I agreed.

I got a cold shower again and didn't care while Beth made me a delicious western omelet, substituting jalapeno cheese for cheddar. We then went outside to putter around the house as if we were an old married couple and she watered the garden and I changed the oil in my truck. I was underneath Beth's Ford removing the old filter when the wrench slipped from my hand. The filter hit my nose and covered my face and neck with dirty motor oil.

I crawled out from under her Ford swearing a blue streak and I banged my head on the bottom of the bumper on the way out causing me to start all over again just in case that I left out any bad words the first time. Beth was standing by waiting to add the oil as soon as the new filter was in place and she had her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing while I just glared at her with my arms folded.

“I suppose you think this is funny. Sorry for the bad language, you didn't need to hear that, twice."

Beth composed herself and stood there smiling with her eyes shining with mirth.

I took my white tee shirt off and wiped my face with it and she just lost it and laughed hysterically. Being alone with Beth and hearing her laugh stirred feelings in my heart that I hadn’t felt since Bea died. I laughed along with her and then picking Beth up and kissing her and then put her in the back seat of the Ford sedan and then pulled up her green gingham print summer dress and removed her panties. I went down on Beth, licking and probing with my tongue while making her moan with pleasure. Beth had her legs up in the air and was bracing her little bare feet against the roof of the car. My little lady's hand was over her mouth, as her orgasm took her so precious, so ladylike...my God how I loved her.

We heard a car pulling up the driveways and we both sat up...it was Margaret. I stood up and started walking toward her but Margaret drove right past me and parked next to Beth's car. Margaret got out of her convertible and was grinning ear to ear.

"What happened to you, Ricky? Why is there dirty oil all over your face and hair and where is Elizabeth Susan?"

Margaret asked, knowingly.

"Did you two loose something in the back seat?

"I'm right here, Margaret, I found the ice scraper, Richard here it is!”

Beth said, holding up the ice scraper as evidence and getting out of her car.

"Elizabeth Susan!" Why do you need an ice scraper in August? Is it the heat, or are you blushing?”

Beth didn't answer............

"Well, never mind, I have all the fixings for vanilla ice cream this time and would love some mint iced tea. Richard can finish changing the oil and you should go into the house and get out of the heat.

He really should get his central air fixed."

Beth was standing with her back to me when I walked into the kitchen

I walked up behind her and put my hands around her waist and blew on the back of her neck.

"You are giving me goose bumps." Beth whispered, taking my hands and squeezing.

"I know that I am; where is Margaret?"I whispered.

"She is in the bathroom...why are you whispering. Beth whispered.

"I don't know, Beth, why are you whispering. I'll get the bowls down."

I got a slap on the ass and a hug as I was reaching for the bowls.

That Sunday evening Beth and I were sitting in the kitchen having tea and the rest of her cookies.

"In fifteen minutes our deal is up and you met your obligation with dignity and grace, Elizabeth. I offered you an out and you didn’t take it. You kept your word.”

I handed her a large manila envelope.

"This is for you."

Beth accepted the envelope and opened it without comment and then sat there looking at me with that funny look on her cute face again.

At 12:00 AM, Beth got up from the table and started to walk out and had just reached the back door. Spinning around, Beth returned and stood in front of me, and slapped my right cheek, hard, storming out of there and slamming the door even harder.

Inside the envelope was a receipt for her rent paid in full until the end of December. What the hell did I do wrong!

I went to bed alone that night I did not sleep well at all, thinking...”stupid, stupid...stupid, I am so stupid.”

Beth was gone before I went to work Monday and the same for Tuesday. On Wednesday evening I was sitting underneath the trees waiting for Beth when Margaret pulled up in her convertible looking very angry. The first thing that Margaret said to me was.

“Richard! Are you out of your Goddamn mind? Why did you put handcuffs on Elizabeth? I taught you better then that!"

I knew I was in trouble when Margaret called me Richard and especially in that tone of voice, because if I had a middle name that would have followed "Richard!" The first time Margaret blasted me like I was ten years old and thank God she didn’t find about some other risky things that I had done growing up. Margaret reprimanded me in no uncertain terms for climbing up on the water tower with my binoculars. I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, however I knew enough to keep my mouth shut and agree with Margaret. I was not allowed to watch television for one month and that was a big deal because I didn’t have one. Margaret made me promise not to do that ever again and I never did keeping my word to her. And then Margaret hugged me, kissing my face and she was shaking and crying, calling me her dear sweet boy.

Margaret told me that Beth didn’t have the money for the rent because of the new administration at the nursing home illegally put a lien on Beth’s bank account. There was hell to pay when Beth found an attorney and even then it was months until things were straightened out.

"Did it ever occur to you dummy, that Elizabeth liked you, perhaps even more then liked you?” She was crying when she drove to my house to see me. So the lady looked at some dresses, big deal, Elizabeth was just curious. I know you are smitten with her."

I thought to myself...”smitten, now there is a word I have not heard in a long time. Of course I was smitten with her, I loved Beth.”

I was also thinking how Beth cuddled up to me in bed and those goose bumps, and how she would stand with his hands on her hips and then give her head a little toss, and….

"Will you please wipe that goofy smile off of your face? Are you listening to me, good, that is much better? You look at her like you always looked at Beatrice and I can tell by the way you look at Elizabeth and talk about her that you love her. You gave her the keys to your house for God sakes. What was the poor girl supposed to think you big dummy? Do I have to draw you a map?

I told her to surprise you since obviously you were not going to make the first move and then you go put handcuffs on her.

Your wife is dead, Richard and like it or not, life goes on. You do not have a bedroom closet, you have a shrine."

“You are right about everything, Margaret. Bea would have wanted me to move on."

I said, my voice starting to break.

Margaret's tone softened and then she hugged me. Margaret hugged like she did when I was eight years old and I was crying in the theatre when Bambi's mother was killed. She hugged me and stroked my hair and face until I stopped crying and then we went for ice cream which I bought at her suggestion with an advance on my wages for taking care of her chickens and I felt so grown up when I paid for our ice cream and talked. We then returned to see the movie to see it from the beginning and although I was sad Margaret held my hand and I was also happy because Margaret told me that I was her son now.

"I'm sorry that Beth was angry about the rent Margaret.

"It wasn't that you big dummy...honestly Ricky?" Margaret said kindly.

"If you love the girl and there is no doubt in my mind that you do then just come out and say it. God knows you are like a son to me, Ricky, more than a son because we got to chose one another. You can try the patience and best efforts of all the angels in heaven.... and Elizabeth can as well. I have some cardboard boxes in the car and I was hoping that you would finally come to your senses. Now let’s go upstairs and clean out the closet and dressers because it is time to put things to rest.”

Margaret left with boxes of clothes, shoes and cosmetics but of course leaving behind Bea's jewelry and when she wasn’t looking I took Bea's bottle of perfume and put it in my pocket.

The last thing Margaret said to me was when I was standing buy her box laden convertible.

"Give Elizabeth some time, I'm sure that she will come around eventually."

It was the middle of December and I was still watching Beth come and go. We were polite to each other as if we had just met or were cautiously starting over. I resigned myself to the fact that I might never have her again. In January Beth brought me the rent check on the first day of the month and Margaret was right I just had to give Beth time. Beth was making the first move again because I was such a big dummy and she had fixed her hair for me exactly like it was when we left Linda's plus her nails were as I liked them and I was sure that Beth knew how I felt about her so I decided to be a gentleman and take it slow. I invited Beth into my kitchen for coffee and pound cake.

"You look lovely, Elizabeth, would you like to come in and have coffee and a piece of Linda's pound cake?"

Beth came and sat down in the kitchen while I ground the coffee beans getting them ready for the pot and while I was filling the pot with water, Beth was filling out the rent check and signing it. Soon the coffee was ready and I brought us both a cup.

"The coffee is just how you like it, Beth, strong with 1 ½ a teaspoons of sugar and a splash of milk."

"Is there something that you want to tell me, Richard?"

Beth asked, leaning forward and taking my hands in hers.

"No, nothing special…well, as a matter of fact there is. I know the reason why you were late with the rent and it wasn't your fault and I’m sorry that I insulted you. Would you like butter or jam for your pound cake?"

"No thank you, I'll just have coffee because I have to save room for dinner. Stanley will be here in about an hour to pick me up and I have to finish getting dressed."

"Who is Stanley?" I asked, squeezing my coffee cup and not liking him already.

"Stanley is just somebody from the old neighborhood.

We are going out for dinner and then see a movie and then talk about old times."

"I was thinking that perhaps you and I could go bowling sometime, Elizabeth, I have never been bowling before and you can teach me."

"That would be nice, you could bowl in my ladies league, I’m sure that there is no rule against it. I'm sure the other ladies wouldn't mind."

"I was thinking more in the line of private lessons."

"Will you look at the time?" I didn't realize how late it was.

Do you mind if I take my coffee with me?

“No, but” and then she interrupted.

Thank you, you're such a dear."

After Beth left I sat there thinking for about 10 minutes letting things sink in.

“You big dummy you, why didn't you tell her, I thought, stupid...stupid and STUPID! “

Looking down at my spilled coffee I noticed that my hand was bleeding and somehow I managed to pull the handle off of my coffee cup.

Stanley was ten minutes early and instead of getting out of his vehicle and waiting for Beth the idiot was honking the horn. I just happened to have my red plaid hunting coat on and my green insulated rubber boots and was outside shoveling snow and I walked up to the car with a snow shovel and said.

"What the hell do you think you are doing, Pal?" I asked giving him a mean and hard look.

"I have a date with Elizabeth."

And he returned my stare unfazed and meeting my eyes he was up to the challenge and I had to give him that, he couldn’t be cowed.

As soon as Stanley called my Beth, Beth, I wanted to punch the bastard in the mouth.

"Who the hell are you, Buddy and what business is it of yours?”

"I'm Richard Adams, Ms. Adamczyk's landlord and you are making an unnecessary racket in my driveway!"

"Oh, sorry, I just wanted to let Beth know that I was here."

“Damn him, I thought, the bastard said it again.”

"Get out of the car."

I said, opening the driver's side door.

"Hey, what do you think you are doing?"

"Ms. Adamczyk is a Lady, Pal, and the proper way to treat a Lady like Ms. Adamczyk is to meet her at her door and next to escort the said Lady, Ms. Adamczyk to your vehicle and help Ms. Adamczyk in the said vehicle. That is what a gentleman would do, Pal, not sit in the driveway honking, manner less and clueless like an ignorant oaf.

"Who do you think you are you, her father or something?"

Stanley said, trying to pull the door shut with the inside door handle and that not working, trying to pull on the top of the doorframe to get leverage…perfect.

I pulled him out of his car and that was not an easy thing to do because is a big, strong, son of a bitch. We were grappling in the snow-covered driveway each trying to get the advantage and I managed with some effort to put him in a wristlock and applied just enough pressure to get him up on his toes....

"I said Ms. Adamczyk is a Lady, chump and if you do or say anything to upset her, I'll”…..

As bad luck was mine lately, Beth came walking out of the house and I let him go of him taking a step back.

Stanley immediately rushed to Beth, and taking her arm escorted her to his car.

"I would have met you at the door but your landlord waylaid me in the driveway while I was trying to get out and my foot slipped on the icy floor mat. I must have accidentally hit the horn. Then he came charging up to me like some kind of a nut case making crazy accusations.”

Stanley said as he helped her in and was about to close the passenger door, when.

"Richard, you should be ashamed of yourself!”

I picked up the snow shovel and walked over to the passenger door and she continued dressing me down.

"I would appreciate it if from now on if you not bother Stanley or any of my gentlemen friends. My rent is paid in full and I will date anyone I like. Accidents happen, Richard and I surprised at you

“I, I......” and then the bastard closed the door before I could finish. He was smirking at me as he walked by and said in barley a whisper

"See you later, Rickey.”

Stanley was still smirking when he got in on his side and closed the door and Beth leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

They then drove away leaving me speechless and I had I had a death grip on the snow shovel with my knuckles turning white and I was thinking

“What good would it do now to tell Beth that I loved her? She had already had found someone else. Or maybe she was trying to make me jealous. Beth is so damn stubborn…I, she...the hell with her then.”


I waited up for Beth to make sure that Stanley walked Beth to the door when he brought her home. They returned after midnight and he helped her out of his car and walked her to the door. Beth kissed the bastard’s cheek and then he kissed hers and hugged her…that bastard hugged her before walking to his car. He paused looking at my house and he was smirking still and I was just about ready to run outside into the snow my bare feet and wipe that smirk of his face. Stanley got in his car beeping the horn repeatedly when he reached the end of the driveway.

For the next two months Beth was hardly ever at home nights and I always waited up by the window to see that Beth made it home safe. Every Friday Stanley would pick her up and the perfect gentleman now Stanley always brought Beth flowers. The bastard probably knew somebody who worked in a funeral home or cemetery. On the last Friday in February, Stanley spent the night with her. In mid-March Margaret told me that things were getting serious between Beth and Stanley. Margaret was very fond of Beth and only wanted the best for her. They were quite close now both attending a Christian Women's Knitting circle on Tuesdays.

I could tell Margaret wanted to ask me something and finally she did.

"Ricky, would you be upset with me if I were Elizabeth's Matron of Honor. That's if Elizabeth asks me of course and I am pretty sure that she shall.

I choked the words out... thinking, "first Bea and now?”

"Of course not, Margaret”

"I am so relieved that you are taking this so well, dear. Take my word for it everything will turn out for the best."

Margaret was wrong for once and I was not taking it well and nothing was turning out for the best.

"Where is Beth now, Margaret?"

I said forcing a smile.

"I want to congratulate her and wish her luck."

"Elizabeth is back in Cheektowaga staying with some cousins for the weekend and they are going to throw Elizabeth a little party this evening to celebrate her upcoming engagement."

"Do you know the address, Margaret? I should pick up a little gift for her."

Margaret gave me the street address in Cheektowaga, NY, a large town just west of Buffalo. The party was to be held at the Polish Falcons Nest, a social club in a predominately Polish neighborhood and I had no trouble finding it for all the cars parked outside.

I could faintly hear the Oberek Polka playing inside and people laughing and a having good time. My heart was breaking. Was I too late?

I knocked on the door and was let in by two very large men. Was this Margaret's idea of a little party? They immediately handed me a bottle of Zywiec beer and a shot glass of Krupnik vodka and insisted that I drink to the health of their cousin Beth & her fiancé to be. What else could I do? I raised my shot glass and said

“To Elizabeth and her true love, may they never be apart."

I threw down the shot of Krupnik and then quickly downed the bottle of beer and another even bigger man joined us with a bottle and filled my glass with another shot of Krupnik vodka. We went through another few round of toasts, each cousin toasting the health of Beth and her fiancé. I finally got away from them, or so I thought, working my way quietly through all the people. The place was packed with men, women and children and no doubt Beth's family and friends, Beth said that she came from a big family, all good, solid, working class people, the backbone and all having a well deserved good time. My only real family was Margaret now and now I was certain that I blew it with Beth.

I could see Beth and Stanley sitting together from across the room and Margret was sitting there with Linda on her right and Beth to the left, while I never got an invitation.

Beth's hair was styled exactly like it was on the day we left Linda's Salon and she wearing the same yellow pale dress that moved with her like a cloud. She was so beautiful and looked so happy sitting there and I would never hold her again or kiss her lips and blow on her neck to give her goose bumps. I would never see her tousled hair in the morning when I woke up next to her….

I started walking toward Beth to tell her how I felt, maybe there was still a chance for us and I almost made it to the table when the music stopped. People were gathering behind me on the dance floor as if waiting for some kind of announcement. Those three large men were now standing next to me and behind me. If need be I was sure that I could not knock at least one of them out and another down so I had a chance to tell Beth that I loved her, before I was beaten senseless.

The happy couple stood up and everyone raised their glasses and I took the pin out of my pocket, the pin that I bought for Beth on the day I snuck out of the movie theatre. It was a cluster of leaves.... the leaves from the oak tree and the reason that it caught my eye was because the leaves fanned out like a bouquet, like the bouquet Beth had in her hand when I first saw her under my walnut trees. It was set with numerous vibrant semi-precious stones: yellows, oranges and reds set with great skill in 18-karat gold. There was one green stone that I had the jeweler place there that was not original to the piece and unfortunately it was not ready the Sunday evening when Beth left me.

"Beth, wait”

I shouted as I stepped forward and walked to their table.

"You can't marry him."

"Richard, I knew you would show up and disrupt things. Linda, you were absolutely right about him, he would show up uninvited”

Said Beth and Linda just nodded and smiled. I couldn't believe what I was hearing, what I was seeing. Linda was betraying me, Linda?

“It is a good thing that we took precautions."

Margaret said, nodding and smiling as well.

"Margaret how could you?"

And then I felt her cousin's strong hands on my shoulders.

"How could I what, dear, you were saying, Richard?”

And ignoring my betrayers I said

"Beth, you have to understand something, I am not that stubborn green leaf that I was before I met you… Beth...I"

"What is he talking about? What is all this nonsense about leaves?” Stanley interrupted.

"Beth, I bought you this pin when I left the theatre. Do you remember, Beth? I said that I was going to the Men's Room and then I was gone a long time, missing the ending of the movie?”

"What are you trying to say to me, Richard?"

"I saw you standing under my walnut trees with a bouquet of leaves before I showed you your apartment.

Red ones, and yellow ones and orange leaves and you looked so beautiful then Beth and you look so beautiful now. I was a green leaf then and you helped me change, the green stone was to remind..."

I was about to say us, but there was no us, just Beth and Stanley.

"Will you at least accept my present, Beth?"

She walked over to me and I handed Beth a red, heart shaped Swarovski Crystal Box and when she opened it she took a deep breath before taking the pin out.

"I'm sorry that it was not ready on our last day together, because I should have given it to you then. “I should have told you then…… and Stanley stepped in front of me, interrupting again.

"Well, chump, it looks like the better man....

I broke away and knocked Stanley down and Beth's cousins were right behind me and quickly tackled me to the floor. They picked me up and stood me on my feet holding me in a death grip and there was no way I was breaking loose now.

But I will be damned if I was not going to put up a fight for her and I didn't care if I was about to be pummeled. I was going to tell Beth that I loved her before they carried me out unconscious.

"Richard that is enough, Stanley, are you hurt? This thing has gone far enough! Beth exclaimed.

Stanley got up from the floor smiling and I thought for sure I was going to get as good as I gave him. I couldn't blame the bastard if he did because I had it coming, but Stanley just stood in front of me with a big smile on his face. He must be some kind of a nut case or liberal pacifist because I would have clobbered me. I could see the start of a bruise, a black eye starting to form around Stanley's right eye. Stanley walked over to the microphone stand and turned the microphone on.

"I have an announcement to make, will everyone please settle down?"

And things got very quiet.

"Beth!” I shouted trying to break free. I stepped forward, once, twice dragging Beth's cousins along with me.

"You can't marry him!"

"Thank you for the beautiful pin, Richard”

Beth said, pinning it on her dress.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn't.

"You shouldn’t because I love you, Elizabeth Susan Adamczyk.”

Beth's cousins let go of me and they took a few steps backward and I was thinking; "Now I'm going to get it."

I turned to face them with my feet planted and was ready to fight and those big bastards actually took a step back with their hands up and palms out

I could hear a little girl somewhere in the crowd ask.

"Did he tell her yet, Mommy?

"I love you Elizabeth Susan Adamczyk!" I shouted, finally, beating Stanley to the verbal punch for once.

Beth walked up behind me and put her arms around my waist and whispered in my ear and I could feel Beth's sweet breath on my face.

"I love it when you call me, Beth, sweetheart."

I reached up to take my Beth's hands and she then snapped one side of the blued peerless handcuffs on my right wrist while the other cuff was already on her left one

"I'm not going to let you get away from me a second time, you big stubborn sweetheart you."

I turned and pulled my Beth as close as the handcuffs would all and kissed her mouth.

"I still have to make to make an announcement."

Stanley said over the microphone.

"Richard loves my cousin, Elizabeth."

I could see Margaret and Linda sitting at the table hugging one another and crying and I should have known better. This big, happy dummy was hoodwinked...and big time.

"He is your cousin, then you...he...them...I, but” was all that I was able to stutter.

"Never mind, sweetheart, who would have thought that an avowed Conservative like you would ever have been at a loss for words? This is so romantic and I just wanted to hear you say it.”

"Just wait until I get you home, Beth."


"I want to introduce you around to my family now that we are officially engaged. A ring would have been nice, but I love this beautiful pin so much better than any old diamond ring and compared to this pin they are worthless. Besides, this party is for us after all."

Beth said, touching my face.

"My cousin Stanislaus and Margaret are paying for everything."

"All of this is so wonderful Beth, and perhaps now I will finally have a church wedding."

I said, wiping the happy tears from Beth's face.

"I can't wait to finally meet your cousin Stanislaus, and thank him, Margaret too.

I said looking for Stanislaus to step forward.

"Sweetheart, you already have, and you just knocked him down.

"Stanislaus, I mean Stanley! Stanislaus is Stanley? Of course Stanislaus is Stanley” and I was thinking

“I really am a stupid dummy to miss something so obvious”.

"Stanley isn't angry and he likes you, sweetheart and he will be performing our marriage ceremony, isn’t that wonderful?”

"Is Stanley a minister?"

"No, he is a Catholic Priest.”

"I just knocked a Catholic Priest ass over teakettle, why didn't you stop me, Beth?"

"Well it's not like we didn't try and my cousin's assured me they could handle you. Stanley was having such a good time playing the heavy. I guess that he just got carried away. Stanley was bound and determined not to like you at first and I had no idea that you would pull him out of the car like that, but Margaret wasn't surprised at all when I told her. When you confronted Stanley in the driveway and pulled him out of the car he changed his mind about you immediately."

Beth raised our handcuffed arms above our heads and shouted.

"I want everyone here to meet my true love, Richard Adams! I won't ever let him get away from me a second time” and then Beth's family and friends descended upon us offering us their congratulations…….

After returning home from the engagement party Beth is lying next to the sleeping form of Richard.

She is wide-awake and her mind is racing.

"How peaceful he looks when he is sleeping, my big stubborn sweetheart and my love. I'm so happy, I won't get a wink of sleep at all tonight.... my mind is just racing...isn't it wonderful... Poor Stanley, how did Margaret put it… yes that's it, she said, "Hum dinger!" and "smitten, Richard is smitten with you." Stanley is going to have one hum dinger of a shiner, a black eye when he says the early Sunday Mass. Dear Margaret, you were right, he just needed a little push and then he came out swinging.

He finally said it, "I love you. I love you, Elizabeth Susan Adamczyk." Then he shouted it for all to hear, "I love you Elizabeth Susan Adamczyk!"

That was so romantic and I can be such a bitch. My poor sweetheart.... sweetheart, it feels so good to think that and to say that... sweetheart... I promise I will never do anything like that to you again.... I will never doubt your love for me... especially after what you did at our engagement party. I just wanted to hear you say it... although in your own way you showed me, darling.

I hope I can be as good a wife to you as Beatrice... I pray that I can... Sean never did any of those things or would ever do any of those things. He would pay somebody to do it, that rich spoiled bastard that he was and most likely still is... he couldn't even stand up to his own mommy for goodness sake. I was so young and so naive... a virgin. I was smitten by him and with everything about him, his politics for example. He encouraged me to join the debating team and we were partners; double-teaming people to join our liberal causes or to shout down the opposition, ad hominem attacks if it suited our purposes because we were right and they were wrong.

I was so popular in high school, an honor student, a cheerleader.... the homecoming queen.... a big fish in a little pond. Sean told me I was special to him and I believed him... I wanted to believe that he loved me or in time that would he learn to love me.... I loved him, or I thought that I loved him. He never loved me... I was merely convenient... I can't believe that I cut my hair short for him and agreeing to that stupid pixie cut! I hate my hair short and I hated that haircut, I looked like a boy. There I go again making excuses for my own stupidity...I did it because he was handsome and not just handsome, he was drop dead gorgeous and I wanted him and the things that his money could buy...I can't believe that I was so shallow then. I will never cut my hair that short again.... except for my Richard and he wouldn't ask me to because he loves my hair long. I want to grow it waist length for him if he will let me...and I will keep it like this length because it pleases him, however I am sure that he would let me grow it longer if I asked.

Sean and I always agreed on everything... though of course he agreed with me, so that he could get into my pants.

The places we traveled to together and the expensive exclusive restaurants, plus the expensive gifts that he bought me. They were impressive I will admit to that. It was like I was in a fog... of course, a fog! Because that is what you are Sean, disingenuous and insubstantial you polluted water vapor. You were in love with yourself, the reincarnation of Narcissus admiring his own reflection in a stagnant shallow pool and destined to be transformed into skunk cabbage by the gods for your vanity, your self-love. As for the causes that you championed, I was so impressed at the time...it is obvious now that you never believed in them like so many of the people of the in-crowd... symbolism instead of substance.

I know exactly where my Richard stands and he means what he says and he lives it. He has never been afraid of anything, not even when he was a little boy. And the caviar, no big deal, they are merely salty fish eggs. I didn't like caviar then and I don't like it now. I just ate it to please you Sean and because we were engaged and because it was expensive. Give me a good hometown beer batter fish fry any old time.

I don't hate you any longer mamma's boy...you forced me to grow up and to mature and to realize what is important in life.

Family.... my family was there for me, especially my mom. Dear Margaret, you are so much like mom and Sweetheart, you are my family now and my true love and my anchor. Caviar & champagne cannot compare to the hot roasted walnuts and cold apple cider that we shared. (Beth touches Richard's face and smiles while wiping a tear from her eye) That evening after our feast and then after spending the day together; you walked me to my apartment door like you do every night.... to make sure that I am safe.

I wanted you to kiss me that night.... or for you to just hold me. That was the night that I realized that I loved you.... I was afraid of being hurt again.... afraid of telling you.... perhaps a little stubborn myself. Perhaps more than a little stubborn... I was waiting for you to say it.

Well maybe I will still tease you just a little to keep you on your toes. I shall tell you I want keep my maiden name after we are married.... just teasing my love, my man. My man...a real man, not a Sean! I adore thinking that because I am your woman now.

I wouldn't dream of changing you because you are so damn stubborn and so patient and so kind and gentle, and oh... so frustrating at times...but full of surprises, like poetry, our daffodils, our special love poem to be sure. (Beth sighs, rolls over and snuggles closer to her love) I would have never imagined that you knew poetry when we first met underneath our trees.... did I just think that, under our trees? When you wake up I shall tell you that, our trees, Sweetheart, our trees.

When I first saw you my impression of you was no nonsense and so spit and polish in your uniform. Solid and formidable, unyielding with your feet firmly planted, much like your trees, our trees now! And then you shook my hand, firmly but gently…. such strong hands, tough and callused hands; but warm, like the sun kissed bark of our lovely trees.


Dear God, I'm so horny, I can't wait until you wake up so we can make love again and then you will touch me with your hands.

You make me so horny.... should I wake you? Your hands are so unlike his which were cool and soft... like a woman’s; what was I thinking?(Beth takes Richard's hand and kisses it, careful not to wake him)You noticed the leaves in my hand and I didn't have time to put them in my car. I was afraid that perhaps you thought I was silly and wouldn't rent to me. When you smiled you didn't look so stern or mean and then you let your guard down a little, yes just a little.... and the more time I spent with you the more you smiled. All the girls in my office noticed that and Margaret certainly did.... my twitter-patted love. ("I hated your mustache," Beth whispered to her sleeping love.)

You shaved off that terrible mustache just for me and I can't wait until your hair grows out. And then there is my beautiful pin.

I found out what the leaves in my hand meant to you... I.... I'm going to start crying and wake you for sure.... stop it Beth!

When I first saw your house, now our house, and the barns and the trees and fields, I knew that I wanted to live there.

I felt as if I belonged there, as if benevolent hands were pushing me towards it, well...that's just silly, isn't it? I hadn't lived in a real house since Mom died and then I moved from place-to-place, job-to-job and never putting down roots. As to the few men that I dated.... duds... and to label those duds a dud is an upgrade. I had just about given up on men in general when out of the blue Margaret gave me your yellow file card advertising the apartment and told me to put it in my purse and not tell anyone. I'm so glad that you put that repairman in his place. Lucky for him you didn't hear what he said to me for you would have been angry with his lack of respect and his lack of manners: “Hey girl, what’s up? Guess what? It’s your lucky day. Out of all the girls here, I picked you to talk to, and baby you look like my size," what a dud!

And our discussions, you never took the ad hominem attack, never belittled my opinions or shouted or even raised your voice to bully me. If we didn't agree you always said, "Well Elizabeth, I guess we shall simply have to agree to disagree.... Often I took the devil’s advocate just to get a rise out of you. You sat there with your arms folded like you do and calmly listened...my God you can be so frustrating at times.... you would be surprised to know that we agree on most things.

Would you like butter or jam on your pound cake, Elizabeth?” you said... when you should have said that you loved me and saved us all the trouble. Instead, you pulled the handle off your favorite coffee cup and didn't even know it. I can be such a bitch, but it was so much fun.... I knew that you loved me and so did Margaret, Linda too. You were waiting for me to return home one night when I was with Stanley and you pulled the curtains down when you saw me kiss Stanley's cheek... you were so angry, even Margaret laughed at that one and then you waited up for me every night to make sure I made it safely home.

I love it when you pick me up as if I weigh nothing... and the tractor...ha, ha, (Beth laughs quietly) you were so embarrassed and then you turned beet red, as you did when I mentioned about the cologne you were wearing for me. That was so precious, both times, blushing and you didn't get angry when I ran the tractor into the bushes and you were so patient with me and you are always so polite and always a gentleman. I'm sure that Margaret saw to that, your good manners...it seems few people have good manners these days. Margaret told me everything... darling.... how you brought Bea home from the hospital because that was where she wanted to be on her last days on this earth, home. You took an unpaid leave of absence to care for her and did everything yourself.... I know how you broke down and cried when Bea died, like you did in the theatre with Margaret...the only two times that Margaret ever saw you cry.

I know that when you were a little boy you would stand toe to toe with the older boys, bullies, who made fun of your clothing and the way you looked and how you lived, calling you a motherless bastard. I know that you often came home with bruises and your clothing was torn. Sometimes you were battered and bloody and few times you needed stitches (sutures) because you were too stubborn to give up or stay down. Margaret said that you never cried or even complained. You told her that only sissies cry and that a man has to stand for himself no matter what.... you drove Margaret crazy with worry but she admired you for it. Margaret also told me that you refused to tell her who those bullies were or the Sheriff for that matter. And then when you got your size you hunted them down and they got their "come-up-ins", especially the one that smashed your binoculars. Nobody messed with you after that. Margaret has such a way with words; "Come-up-ins".

(Beth put her arm around Richard's waist, snuggling closer still, and Richard stirred, smiling in his sleep)I saw the field of blue forget-me-nots that you planted by the creek in Bea's memory. Bea never got to swim in the pool.... I pray that her soul finds peace and happiness in heaven. (Beth made the sign of the Cross) I know how ill she was with terminal cancer. I know that you carried her through your fields and that you held your wife in your strong arms to show Bea your gift to her.... Margaret assured me that you loved me as much as her. I was a little jealous of Bea at first. I accept that you still love her in one part of your heart and will always love her, my green leaf....

I woke up to find Beth cuddled up next to me and she was crying softly. I assumed that she wasn't upset and that she was happy because women sometimes cry when they are happy and that's OK. I pushed Beth's long hair behind one ear and kissed her face.

"It's alright, Beth, cry all you want, I love you too."

I lay there hugging her and stroking her beautiful hair which was wavy now that the curls had relaxed.

"You know why I'm crying?" She asked, somewhat surprised. "I'm sorry I woke you, how did you know?"

"I just know...see you have stopped crying" I kissed the tears from her face. Let me tell you what else I know and it is not up for discussion, my lady. I will tolerate no disagreement or broach any argument. You are smart and you are pretty and sexy..."

"Them I’m just pretty?" She asked, interrupting me.

"Make that beautiful, and exasperating, plus you are obstinate...."

"Obstinate as in stubborn” she asked, teasing me and kissing my chest while stroking my manhood and making me instantly hard and ready.

"That's not fighting fair, Beth." I said, lying back and enjoying the attention.

"What's not fair, Sweetheart? I'm not arguing with you, I'm agreeing with you."

She continued working her down kissing and licking my stomach.

"You make me so horny and I want you now."

I have only been with two women in my entire life, Beth being the second. I suppose you can say that my actual experience in this venue is limited, yet not so my imagination. Bea never initiated sex, being quiet and passive and somewhat shy, she was a virgin on our wedding night...but then so was I. I took both of Beth's hands in mine and kissed them, and then I slowly slid out of bed taking her with me...she didn't resist and besides I always wanted to do it that way. We stood facing one another and I put my arms around her waist and I kissed her mouth and squeezed her shapely ass and said.

"Put your arms around my neck and hang on tight."

I picked her up by her ass and then slid my erect manhood past her swollen lips into her moist pussy greeting her sweet flower.

As I pounded her, Beth arched her back thrusting her hips forward and her long hair was moving to the rhythm of my lustful thrusts, her long hair turning me on all the more. She was moaning loudly unable to cover her mouth to keep from falling...perfect.

Beth was open to new experiences, experiences and other things for us to share together. I pounded her until she came violently and vocally as her sweet orgasm washed over her. I swear I could almost feel her orgasm through my rock hard cock and my legs were dripping wet with her sweet juices. I held back my own urgent need until my Beth was satisfied.

Having satisfied my woman, I continued thrusting with renewed vigor and my explosive orgasm caused Beth to hold on tighter and lean forward to passionately kiss my mouth and face, and she was crying again. I sat down on the bed and Beth put her head on my shoulder and I held her until she stopped, thinking

“My woman.... she is mine, so precious, so darn precious...stupid, stupid and stupid, why the hell did I wait so long to tell her that you loved her? I never dreamed it could be like this. Beatrice, Bea, my first love, my angel in heaven thank you for understanding.”

As he held her, Beth was thinking – “My God where did he come from? I can't believe we just did that? Richard held me so effortlessly and I've never come like that before, it was wonderful, it was indescribable and I was practically screaming when I came and I didn't care because I was with him. He was so wild, and then so gentle and thoughtful holding me like as if I were a priceless porcelain doll and I loved it, cuddling...he loves to cuddle...a man who actually likes to cuddle. Richard has finally let his guard down all the way.... how can I possibly deny him anything?”

"Race you to the shower"

I said, kissing Beth lightly on the lips. Then I let go of her and jumped up from the bed and I got there ahead of her and closed the door purposely not locking it. Beth turned the doorknob but didn't come in right away, she went to her apartment. I was hoping and I was right. I waited until I heard her coming up the stairs before I got in the shower because that was something else I always wanted to do, shower with a woman. She reached in through the shower curtain and turned the water on

"You were waiting for me weren't you? Just give me a second."

Beth got in next to me with a small plastic tote with various soaps, shampoos, conditioners and other stuff like that.

"Is this your first time, too?" I asked her, causing her to blush for a change.

“It is my first time, so never mind, Beth my love, I have already guessed and I leave myself in your capable little hands."

The first thing that she did was to shampoo and condition my hair, followed by washing my face with an exfoliating cleaner on a little round white abrasive cleansing pad, saying,

"This is gentle enough to use twice a week and will do wonders for your skin and I bought you a Gillette Fusion Razor and extra blades. It's on the vanity with Nivea Shaving Gel and Nivea After-Shave Balm; they don't contain alcohol and won't dry your skin..."

Beth explained the benefits of each product, accessorizing and replacing everything I used to date, (any deodorant soap on sale) from head to toe. I agreed to use them, for even if they didn't work miracles, nevertheless they were a thoughtful gift and it made her happy to pamper me. I was wondering when she bought them.

Beth finished by washing me with an organic PH balanced peppermint soap using her little hands and paying special attention to my manhood, which was proudly standing at attention I may add, while kissing me long and deep while she was doing it.

I wondered what she was thinking and it’s not like I'm a wild man. I can control myself and I have done so since my wife died, nevertheless I would love to go down on her. What does a bald pussy taste like, I think I will just come out and ask her.

Beth was thinking "It's my turn next and then we will both smell like peppermint. He can be so reasonable at times and he gave in so easily. I'm sure that he will notice the improvements to his skin now that he is taking my advice, my not quite so stubborn Sweetheart. I want to suck on his cock...I'm so naughty, I can’t believe I am thinking that... yes I can, I love him. (Beth smiles)

His hair down there tickles my nose and it would be so much better if.... I wonder?”

I shampooed Beth's hair rinsing it well to remove all of the shampoo and then massaged the conditioner in starting with the tips and working my way up to her scalp. Then Beth handed me a large claw- type hair clip and instructed me to twist her conditioner-saturated hair on top of her head before fastening it in place with the clip. I soaped Beth down with the peppermint soap, kissing her lips and hugging her every chance I could get. While the conditioner working she shaved her legs, under arms, etc, while I was shaving with my new razor. After Beth rinsed the conditioner from her hair she got out and I dried her back with a towel.

Beth was facing the mirror with her beautiful hair wrapped up in a towel.

"Richard, what would you think if I cut my hair short?"

"You are not going to cut your hair short, Beth. I wouldn't like that at all so stop kidding."

"What makes you think that I am kidding?"

She asked, turning towards me with her hands on her hips and trying to look serious.

"I don't mind the devil's advocate up to a point, my love. I said, pulling her close and then kissing her luscious lips.

"Our debates have been very interesting and you have caused me to think, however..."

"I'm being serious."

She interrupted, but not pulling away, so I kissed her again.

"All right you win, I'm not being serious” she said as she put her arms around my neck, “how did you know?"

"The corners of your mouth turn up ever so slightly when you are fibbing and especially when you are trying to keep a straight face. When you did that in the past I always wanted to kiss your luscious lips and I should have."

"You knew that I was playing the devil's advocate!" "You, you..."

"Sweetheart”, I suggested, smiling “Your man, perhaps.”

"You can be so frustrating at times, you really can."

Beth said, taking my face in her little hands.

"Will you braid my hair for me? I was thinking a French braid would be nice."

"Beth, I have to say this and then I will never bring up the subject again. You are not Bea and I'm sorry that I had your hair cut like hers because it wasn't fair to you. You are my woman now and my thoughts are only for you.... my eyes are only for you. You deserve a fresh start, and a home of your own, a place that we purchase together. If you ask, I will sell this house, this property and everything I own and I will never look back, I..........."

I put my hand over his mouth and I loved him more than ever with his selfless offer leaving me almost speechless. I know how much of himself that he put in this house and his barns and fields. As I said, Richard absolutely means what he says.... he would give up everything for me and I knew at that moment how truly I was blessed.

"No Sweetheart, no" I told him, putting my head on his chest. "I ask only one thing, and you have to promise, do you promise?"

"Anything for you Beth, I promise."

"But first, I want you to braid my hair because I have two surprises for you."

He did a wonderful French braid for me and it was much better than I do myself and I'm pretty good at it and when he was done I sent him downstairs to wait for me by our fireplace while I took care of his first surprise in the bathroom.

When his surprise was ready, I then went right to the fireplace wearing my white silk nightgown looking for his wedding picture on the mantle and it was missing.

"Where is your wedding picture, Sweetheart?"

"I put it in the closet. It is just you and I now and.....

"You promised me Richard and I’m going to hold you to it."

"I don't understand? What does my promise have to do with my wedding picture?"

"Please go get it, Sweetheart."

Richard returned with his wedding picture and handed it to me and I put the picture in its place on the mantle.

"I want you to promise me that you will always keep that picture out on display in our home and further when we have our wedding picture taken we will put it on the mantle next to it. There is no place that I would rather be then here with you in this cozy brick house. Besides I have already picked a spot for my Grandmother Clock, it will look perfect the top of the landing. I have put a lot of work getting my flower gardens in order and we have walnuts to gather and cider to drink the trees under and I drive that old tractor pretty good now."

I walked over to the window to look outside at the light dusting of snow that fell overnight.

"Elizabeth Susan, please come here.”

He said in a quiet and commanding tone that I have not heard him use before. Keep in mind that I have lived most of my adult life as an independent woman, and as I have said, I can be a bitch at times. I have never allowed myself to be ordered about and I will always speak my mind, but I was drawn to that part of him, that no nonsense, unyielding discipline that he imposed on himself.

I walked over to him and put my head and his chest while he stroked the fine hairs at the nape of my neck. I actually enjoyed giving in to him. He was holding me so gently with his strong-callused hands and he was giving me goose bumps.... he made me feel so safe and secure. I could let my guard down and be myself with him and tell him anything now. He said something else that surprised me and his confession gave me another peek at his soul.

"I saw a lovely woman with a nice figure, clear complexion and youthful face with intelligent hazel eyes, and a small turned up nose and sensuous lips. Her hair was pinned up sensibly for work, neat and professional and her precious little ears were showing.

She was wearing a white blouse and a dark gray skirt that day, with stockings and black pumps. I got out of my truck, smiling and I was fascinated with this pretty woman. She extended her right hand for me to shake and her handshake firm and sincere and her

was confident and looked me directly in the eye when she spoke. The strangest thought or impression...feeling, perhaps all three came over me as if an invisible hand was gently pushing me in her direction. Beth, yes Beth I thought I would call her if she were my lover, what a marvelous thought...yes, Beth it is. That is what I thought when I first saw you, Elizabeth Susan...my love... my Beth, before we were introduced and you told me your name."

"My father was an atheist therefore I considered myself one as well and then Margaret took me to the Methodist Church on Sundays. I learned there that I was not an atheist but an agnostic since I could neither prove nor disprove the existence of God and I stopped going to church until I married Bea. I attended the Lutheran Church with her but mostly for social reasons and the good people attending. The good Pastor and I agreed to disagree about the existence of God although in my grief after her death I blamed God, cursing him and I turned my back on Bea's church and the good people there. You see my love in my arrogance I confirmed God's existence and then turned my back on him, the hypocrite that I was then.

Pastor Fisher from Bea's church always described heaven as the absolute communion with God and where all people are spiritual soul mates with God, as the Angels always were. Then I saw you that day under our trees, my gift from an Angel. I would say soul mate, however that word is overused. It is coarse and banal in describing how I really feel about you, Beth.... God made the glorious daffodils and then my beautiful Beth in a pale yellow dress that moved about her like a cloud of yellow daffodils."

Richard sighed and continued holding me, his Beth, and we stood there for a while, neither of us speaking.........finally I broke the silence.

"May I have permission to grow my hair waist length for you, Sweetheart?"

"You don't need my permission for that, my love."

"I know that you prefer my hair long and I will never cut it short without your permission."

"You may grow your hair waist length and you are right, I much prefer your hair long, furthermore, you are forbidden to ever cut your hair short with my permission."

"Thank you, Sweetheart... Richard, I love going down on you but your hair tickles my nose, would you consider...."

"Only if you will let me shave your first, wait a minute.... was that my surprise?"

And then he gently stuck his hand under my nightgown and lightly caressed my Mons pubis, giving me goose bumps again.

"Marvelous, I can't wait to go down on you, my love. I was going to ask you if you would do that for me."

I was thinking "Wonderful, he approves and I love it like this, I feel so clean and fresh and so will he when I taste him."

"May I shave you now, darling, for you know what comes next?"

"Yes you may, after we put up our Christmas tree."

"How can we have Christmas in March?

"If I wasn't so stupid, stupid and stupid, I would have told you that I loved you instead of talking about pound cake. If I had told you, when I should have we would have spent our first Christmas together on Christmas and I can't wait that long. I called work and made the arrangements while you were making yourself taste delicious, however that will have to wait. We both have a week off and after our engagement party I thought you might like the time off together. Besides, when I helped you move I saw several boxes marked Christmas ornaments and they are still in the barn, untouched. I have Christmas decorations and between the two of us I am sure we will have a beautiful tree. I have a stand of blue spruce trees, Christmas Trees and I know where to get a fresh turkey, and by fresh, I mean fresh! I have a friend who raises them.”

We got dressed and then went out for breakfast, bagels with cream cheese, medium poached eggs and coffee and I sat close to him in the restaurant and we planned our Christmas dinner writing out our grocery list. Richard called ahead for the turkey on my cell phone. I was excited when we left the restaurant and the spontaneity of my big Sweetheart. I should have told him that I loved him first when he crawled out from under my car swearing and covered in dirty oil, I would have saved his favorite coffee mug from sudden death.

As he always does, he opened my door for me and helped me in and this time before he closed the truck door, he leaned in and kissed me. My love was absolutely beaming because he was so happy.... Christmas in March and our presents to one another were simply each other.... God bless you, Sean, you Symplocarpus foetidus.

We were grocery shopping and I was in the can goods section trying to decide whole cranberries or cranberry jelly. Richard came up behind me unnoticed and wrapped his arms around my waist and then kissed my cheek, nuzzling my neck with his cheek and he whispered.

"I have everything on my half of the list, beautiful, are you almost done?"

"I have to get the heavy cream for the pumpkin pie, whole or jelly?"

I asked, turning to face him and holding up the cans. He put his arms around my waist and kissed my mouth.

"Sweetheart, wait until we get to the truck"

I whispered, not pushing him away and enjoying his show of affection.

"Well, I suggest you that you two buy a couple of ice scrapers, just in case. You never know when one will come in handy."

Margaret said, standing there smiling........

After we returned from shopping we put the groceries away and then we then took the tractor (I got to drive it) out to the stand of blue spruce and picked out our first Christmas Tree together, a perfectly wonderful and fabulous 8-foot tree. Those trees were so fragrant with their pine scent and the carpet of pine needles was soft and yielding beneath our feet. Richard brought two heavy wool blankets, a heavy canvas tarp, rope and a small lightweight chain saw with us. He spread the canvas on the ground and then showed me how to make a blanket roll and it was obvious what my Sweetheart had in mind.

We were shielded and secluded in our sanctuary of pines on that brisk spring day with the temperatures in the low-forties and fortunately we were shielded from the wind. We undressed and then lay down together in between the blankets, the canvas protecting us from the damp ground. I could feel his rigid and unyielding manhood pressed up against me as he kissed me while holding me in his strong arms and my tongue was soon desperately seeking his.

"My God, he makes me so horny." I was thinking.

His strong hands were everywhere, touching, probing, while lingering and caressing and his tongue was driving me crazy with desire for him. Finally he went down on me, licking with his tongue, and licking me in places were there once was hair and now there was none.

"You taste scrumptious, my love and it is so much nicer like this."

I had my hand over my mouth and I was moaning and pushing his head down between my legs with my other to my welcoming flower. He was driving me wild and bringing me to the brink of orgasm, and then backing off to start all over again.

I was burning with desire for him; I wanted to come so bad.... he knew exactly what he was doing to me and I was getting frustrated in a good way. I had to remove the blankets and lie on top of them because I was getting so warm.

Twice he had to pull me back onto the canvas because I was sliding off for all my squirming, and I was fanaticizing about sucking on his shaved cock and balls while wearing his handcuffs.... I couldn't believe I was thinking that.... but only with him would I even consider it. I am generally quite reserved and will always comport myself as a proper lady. If someone told me one short year ago that I would be doing this at my age I would have not believed it and I would have been indignant and offended...and yet, I was doing it here with him, my Sweetheart and I loved him because he will always treat me like a lady and he will never speak of our intimacy to anyone.

Finally he rolled me over on my stomach and entered me from behind, ravishing me with his rock hard cock and just as my orgasm was starting to peak for the final time, he wrapped his hand around my long braid and pounded me even harder. I buried my face in the blankets to muffle my screams as my orgasm washed over me, and Richard came soon after, rolling off and covering us with a blanket. We took a short nap together cuddled in each other's arms and it was wonderful because of the little sleep I had the night before.

After our nap and we were dressed, Richard showed me how to operate the chainsaw and then let me practice with it on some fallen dead trees. We cut down our special tree and double- wrapped it in the canvas tarp and then slowly dragged it home behind the tractor with the rope. Once home, we unwrapped it and then Richard cut the bottom straight and level with a fine- toothed handsaw. He then shaped the bottom with a fine wood rasp so that it would fit tightly in the tree holder before tightening the screws. We then went inside to set the dining room table together and I finally got to use my Mother's and Grandmother's crystal, silverware and china as well as the embroidered linen napkins and one of the embroidered tablecloths from my cedar hope chest, putting the rest away in one of the empty but well dusted and polished China Cabinets. Richard gave Bea's Mother's & Grandmother's china, crystal, and sterling silver tableware to Bea's younger sister, Susan, to make sure that it stayed in their family were it belonged.

Once our Christmas Table was set, we brought the tree inside and secured it in place on the stand we played Christmas music while decorating our tree, each using our favorite ornaments from years past and looking forward to buying more together in the years to come. While we sat on the couch together admiring our tree and sharing a platter of cheddar cheese, crackers, apples and pepperoni, when the telephone rang, and the call was from Richard's friend, Amos, advising us the turkey was ready.

We then left together, bringing our snack with us for the one- hour ride to get our turkey.............

Elizabeth thought that Amos was quite the character, he being a wizened little man of indeterminate age and he was barely five foot tall. He was dressed in clean but threadbare faded blue bib overalls, a green plaid flannel shirt, worn knee high yellow rubber boots and a full head of white hair under a new green John Deere ball cap. He was tanned a deep nut brown and his face was a roadmap of wrinkles from all the time that he spent outdoors with his free-range turkeys. He had such striking clear blue eyes looking out from his face of hills and valleys with perfect white teeth when he smiled and he reminded her of a gnome in disguise.

Amos lived alone in a small run down trailer; however his turkey sheds were new and pristine with spotless concrete floors, plenty of light and ventilation and plenty of room for his small flocks and Richard told me that Amos was a confirmed bachelor who made his money in real estate and was actually quite wealthy. He also told me the he would be surprised if Amos broke even selling turkeys. We went to his small office where he was waiting for us with a bill of sale. As we entered, Richard made the introductions.

"Amos, this is Elizabeth Adamczyk, my fiancée. Elizabeth, this is my friend Amos Goldberg, the purveyor of the finest kosher turkeys or turkeys in general anywhere in the world."

Amos stood up and took off his hat when he saw me, and he was smiling as walked over to us and then he took my hand and kissed it, saying.

"I am very pleased to meet you, Elizabeth and it is seldom that such a lovely Lady visits me. I recognized you for a Lady the minute you walked in. Don't let my appearance fool you my dear, for I have experience in such things and I am never wrong. You must stay for tea, I insist, do you like Earl Grey?"

"Yes Earl Grey would be lovely, thank you, Mr. Goldberg."

“Call me Amos my dear, it’s Amos among friends."

And then he offered me his comfortable overstuffed office chair while getting hard metal folding chairs for Richard and himself. He then left and returned with a small teacart and on it was a complete sterling silver tea service, plus three fine bone china teacups & saucers. He served us our tea as if we were in his New York City Mansion instead of a tiny office in the corner of a turkey shed with turkey chicks in a brooder on the other side of the wall.... yes he was quite the character and I liked him immediately.

Amos was charming and witty and immediately put me at ease, making me laugh at his funny stories, especially the ones about turkeys. Before we left he packed our turkey with block ice inside of a new Styrofoam ice chest and I promised him that we would stay longer when we picked up our Thanksgiving turkey.

We had a pleasant ride home listening to the radio and we stopped along the way for ice cream cones, strawberry for me and chocolate cone for Richard and we shared, passing our cones back and forth. While we were sitting in the booth at the dairy store sharing our ice cream, Richard said

"You should be honored because Amos is an impeccable judge of people."

He grumbled jokingly that Amos always served him tea in a paper cup of barely hot water with a generic tea bag and grumble or not that fact was true. Further, he pointed out that Amos served me imported Earl Grey tea, strained and piping hot in a fine porcelain cups & saucers poured from a sterling silver tea service.

"Yes my Lady and my love, you made quite an impression on him and did you notice that before he returned without his hat and that he combed his hair? I have never seen him with his hair combed."

When we arrived home I put the turkey in the fridge and then looked for a roasting pan while Richard cleaned up the Christmas tree mess, saw dust, needles and such before he put everything away in the barn. I found the nicest roasting pan I had ever seen.

It was made of blue & white speckled enameled cast iron with a stainless steel rack in the bottom and it was heavy and substantial. It would hold a turkey almost twice of the one we brought home and our special turkey weighed 25 pounds an engagement gift from Amos.

Now that I found it, the pan could wait until tomorrow when we would have our Christmas dinner. While driving home from Amos’s we listened to the radio and the weather report called for a heavy lake effect snowstorm with up to three feet of snow by morning.... welcome to Western New York in March. With a week off it did not matter because we have plenty of food, firewood for the fireplace, a gas stove, candle lanterns and a diesel generator for electricity if need be... no doubt Richard heard the weather report long before I did, bless his heart.

It was already to snowing when my Sweetheart came into the house and he had snowflakes and melting snowflakes stuck to his red plaid wool-hunting coat. He reached up and hung it on the rack by the door and I put my arms around his waist and hugged him putting my face next to his and he smelled faintly of Aqua Velva.

"You smell nice and the tree smells nice and I love you, Sweetheart.”

Richard took my hands in his and squeezed them but didn't turn around... perfect.

"Richard, I have been thinking, so please keep an open mind about this. I've decided to keep my maiden name after we are married."

Wow, he let go of my hands and I felt him tense up and then take a deep breath and I put my hands on his chest and kissed his neck.

“You are keeping an open mind, aren’t you?”

Then he let it out and sighed and I felt his stomach and chest relax as he slowly turned around to look at and he had the start of a smile on his face.

"You almost had me there for a second, Beth. Please repeat what you just said, so I can watch the corners of your mouth turn up?"

"No!" I replied, turning my back to him and folding my arms, like he does.

He put his arms around my waist and nuzzled my neck with his cheek and he was giving me goose bumps.

"What if I really meant it, would you let me?" I asked, reaching back and touching his face.

"I wouldn't like it and that's a fact, but I certainly wouldn't forbid you or issue an ultimatum with conditions attached if that's what you mean. That is no way to start a marriage and we are getting married. If you really meant it, and I do not believe that you do, I would marry you regardless, my Lady."

He then started taking my hair out of my braid.

"Richard!"

"Stand still and stop squirming, little Lady."

He said in the same quiet and commanding tone that he used earlier... and I complied, thinking about the handcuffs.

Richard finished by smoothing my long hair, wavy from the braid over my shoulders and back with his strong-callused hands and

I wanted to go down on him, right here in the kitchen. He then put his hands on my shoulders and gently turned me to face him, burying his hands in my long hair, my hair that I grew long for my future husband, the man who loved me and respected me and now the man who forbid me to cut my hair without his permission and not that I wanted too and yet knowing that I could cut it if I chose.

"You knew about the snowstorm didn't you?"

I asked, as he continued playing with my hair.

"I was listening to the radio while you were making yourself taste delicious."

He made a ponytail with my hair and then twisted it into a bun, holding it in place with his hand so that he could kiss my neck and nibble on my ears.

"Would you please fix your hair in a bun before you shave me?"

He asked letting go and allowing the bun drop into a sort of loose ponytail down my back and then arranged my unbound hair over my shoulders, back and breasts.

"Yes, waist length will be perfect for your hair, my lady if that is what you prefer. It shall be your crowning glory and a delight to my eyes."

"And a delight to your hands, lover"

I was thinking, as he was arranging my tresses and I enjoy having my hair touched and fussed over, particularly when he washes and braids it for me, such a simple, yet intimate pleasure. Richard took my hand and we went upstairs to the bathroom to make him taste delicious. Once there we undressed and I gave him my hairbrush and asked him to brush my hair. My Sweetheart smiled and took the brush from me, and then he brushed my hair with a practiced hand, not tugging or pulling and he patiently unraveled one small snarl expertly with his fingers.... it felt so good to have my hair brushed, make that erotic and intimate pleasure as I was watching him in the vanity mirror brushing my hair.

"You have done this before haven't you?"

He just smiled.

"Then no doubt you know how to put it up in a bun as well. When Linda made the comment about you working for her she said it tongue in cheek."

"I thought you would never ask, Beth, wait a sec.”

Richard went into our bedroom and returned with a large padded mailing envelope that he removed from his bottom dresser drawer.

He removed six packages of hairpins, each package containing 30 hairpins that were different from the ones I use. Because my hair is so thick and heavy, I have always used a traditional large black steel hairpins that here flat. These were just as long but wider and molded round in a brown tortoise shell plastic that would blend with my natural hair color. Apparently I wasn't the only one interested in accessorizing my significant other.

Richard explained

"I'm sure that you will find that these hairpins will not only be gentler on your hair, you will also find that they hold better because of their shape and the color will blend in to be hardly noticeable."

Richard twisted my hair up as before making a neat and tidy bun, tucking the ends underneath and pinning it in place with just eight hairpins.

“I generally use a dozen or more, plus an elastic hair tie to hold my ponytail and bun in place, may I ask you a question?"

"Of course Beth, that is what husbands are for.”

"Why didn't you use the elastic hair tie?"

"For now you won’t need one because your bun is temporary, although I recommend that you use one at work and especially when your hair gets longer though I suppose you already know that. I'm going to take a quick shower and then we can get started.

Check out the envelope because there are other surprises for you inside."

While he was showering I removed my presents, two large and one-purse size natural bristle hairbrushes with stained and polished wood handles. I always wanted a quality natural bristle hairbrush but could not justify the price and now I had three of them.

They were obviously expensive and they were very well made and what thoughtful and intimate gifts. I wondered when he bought them for me. I would certainly use them from now on and nothing else would do.... I would let him spoil me. When he got out of the tub, I just about
jumped into his arms and I showered him with hugs and kisses.

What a marvelous two days this had been and the best was yet to come………..

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