The Bench
Harvey sat on the bench. Breathing heavily from the uphill grade, he gazed
into flowering shrubs nearby, catching the fleeting scent of its brilliant
colors on the wind. Forced to retire early while in the prime of his blue
collar profession, he was left with a pittance of a medical pension, and a
lifetime to consider his misfortune. With his dreams now distant memories he
watched his life ebb, and mourned for his childhood sweetheart turned wife, who
had just recently lost her brave battle with cancer. Their two offspring had
opened their homes to him at the funeral, but not their hearts, and he
gracefully declined rather than further burden them. The small house was paid
for, the taxes were affordable, and his cat loved him. The years of inactivity
had raised his blood pressure and increased his waistline, along with thinning
his hair and adding wrinkles everywhere. Still under fifty, he felt old and
spent, unable to do much more than maintain his routines, and collect wisdom
from the TV. His daily walks kept the doctor off his back, and offered him a
brief window on his corner of the world.
On this particular day it had begun to rain lightly, as Harvey made his way
through the abandoned park. Pausing at the rain slicked bench, he decided it
best to move on to a nearby BBQ pit where a rough hewn cedar roof offered
limited protection from the elements. Once there, he collapsed onto one of the
dark benches, and gasped at the moist air that filled his aching lungs. The
heavy overcoat combined with the umbrella had made the journey somewhat more
difficult than he was accustomed. As his body slowly returned to stasis, he
felt a spark of apprehension when he realized he was virtually alone in one of
the few arenas where he was nearly always surrounded by a crowd. The threat of
rain had sent the playful youth and their peers scurrying for their homes and
offices, leaving the park in an eerie silence. He started to rise, anxious to
return to the warmth of his home when he first saw her.
She was slender wisp of a creature, with delicate features and a face filled
with resignation. Without protection for her thin dark hair, it was matted
against her head, and the collar of her full length leather coat. Harvey was
drawn towards her immediately in compassion, and hustled towards her trembling
form under the temporary shelter of his black umbrella. When her eyes finally
rose to meet his, they whispered of her sincere gratitude before sliding back
into the emptiness from where they had originated. No words were needed as he
appraised her trembling form and the sorrow that enveloped her. He offered her
his hand, and after a moments hesitation, she took it cautiously, and they
slowly walked back to the warmth of his home.
Ignoring the questioning stares of his neighbors, Harvey guided her gently on
to the rain washed porch, and, after nervously unlocking the front door, into
the warmth of his cluttered living room. The warmth immediately clouded his
glasses and reminded him of how heavy his overcoat felt with the additional
burden of rainwater. She collapsed like a rag doll at his feet and he began to
panic. Using most all of his remaining strength, he shrugged himself free of
the burdensome overcoat, and grasped her under her frail arms. Dragging her
into the guest room, he tried to lift her on to the four poster bed to no avail.
His legs crumpled beneath him, and he sat heavily on to the carpeted floor with
her head and shoulders on his lap. As his heavy breathing began to subside, he
paused to assess his situation, and rose slowly, taking great care to disturb
her as little as possible. Pulling the dusty comforter off the bed, he covered
her tiny frame, and gently lifted her head to place one of the pillows beneath.
She awoke with a momentary frightened stare, then rolled slowly on to her
side in a fetal position, trying to preserve what little warmth that remained.
Harvey gently stroked her hair, and studied the delicate features of her pale
face, her large blue eyes and small upturned nose, her pale full lips and high
cheekbones with a fine sprinkle of freckles. He guessed her to be in her early
twenties and engaged by the small diamond chip she wore on the delicate fingers
of her left hand. She was thin and frail and dressed in designer clothes by the
labels he saw on her coat and shoes. She must have some story to tell he
thought to himself as he rose and stumbled to the kitchen to heat some water for
some tea. Hanging his coat up in the closet, he glanced back in the guest room
to see her stir slightly under the heavy down comforter, and turned to the
bathroom to run a bath for her.
The steam from the bath water clouded the mirror as he reached in to secure
the frothy spray and lay out a fresh towel for his guest. Harvey had used some
of the remaining bubble bath he had given to his wife for their last
anniversary, and the bubbles were threatening to overflow the tub. As he turned
towards the guest room, he was met by her beautiful blue eyes, and clumsily
stepped to the side as she gracefully wandered over to the steaming bubbles and
tested the temperature with her delicate toes. Without words he slowly closed
the door, just catching a glimpse of her creamy smooth shoulders as her coat
fell away from her. The tea kettle was screeching its high pitched tune in the
background as he wandered out into the small kitchen and prepared the chamomile
tea.
Harvey could hear her humming a soft melody, as he placed the scalding cup of
aromatic liquid on to the night stand. He turned to the comfort of his over
stuffed chair and the evening news as his body began to slowly recover from the
afternoons efforts. Sometime after eleven, he awoke to a dark house and the
sounds of gunshots on the TV. With a groan, he secured the "brainless box" and
sauntered off to the comfort of his own bed, glancing casually at the slightly
opened door of the guest room. He suddenly remembered the delicate flower he
had left humming in the tub and he quickly turned to peer into the darkened
guest room. Her barely discernable figure lay shrouded in the warm comforter.
Somehow the old house felt complete tonight, and he smiled quietly to himself as
he completed his journey down the dimly lit hall.
Harvey had just begin to doze when he felt the unmistakable tug of someone
lifting the covers and sliding into the cotton sheets. A thousand thoughts
smothered him as he turned to her, and felt her forefinger touch his lips to
elicit silence from him. Her gentle hands began to slowly caress his weathered
face, exploring the lines and wrinkles of age with a tenderness he had never
known. His hands reached up to her nakedness, touching the cool silkiness of
her youth with the nervousness of a twenty year old virgin. She calmed him with
her sensuality and brought him to a new level of unexplored eroticism as her
gentle fingers continued to explore his age-tempered body. As her hands
descended to the furry stem of his manhood, he quivered with her tenderness, and
tried to remember just how long it had been. . .
The delicate temptress slowly positioned herself astride his aroused manhood,
gently guiding him into the warm recesses of her intimacy. Harvey dared not
move for fear of disturbing the delicate balance of the moment, and sighed in
thanksgiving as she gently began to move herself over his throbbing erection.
His one hand found her small developing breasts, and began to explore their
taught fullness while his other hand slid to the smooth full rounds of her
buttocks, reveling in their firmness as the silkiness of her womanhood coaxed
his seed from deep within. He felt the walls of her vagina began to draw him
deeper into her with firm contractions, announcing her approaching release. Her
head rolled back and her mouth opened slightly as her first orgasm was
telegraphed through her frail body. Her back arched sharpley, pointing her
nipples directly towards the ceiling and brushing her fine hair along his legs
as her fingers dug painfully into his soft midsection. She gasped and trembled
as the orgasm ebbed into the twilight and began to undulate her hips slowly as
she renewed her efforts to satisfy her partner.
Several more times she climaxed violently, clawing at Harvey with the
voracity of a lioness. His torso was now bathed with the fragrant nectar of her
youthful arousal, and her features were aglow with the fulfillment of her
longings. Somehow he new that to her, he was her lover, not the middle-aged
overfed gentlemean that had offered her his home for the night. Yet somehow he
was content in knowing that she had chosen him to fulfll her needs, and savored
the harmonious display of her youthful energies. It wasn't until she appeared
fully spent that he allowed his seed to erupt into her belly, bringing one final
gasp from her as she collapsed onto him. He kissed her gently on the forehead -
a kiss of fulfillment and peace. She slept there silently, reminding him of
years gone by, and the contentment that was laid to rest with his departed wife.
Silent tears slid down his cheeks of foregone memories, and a life he had tried
to forget.
The morning bounded forth in a dazzling array of brightness and fresh smells
as yesterdays storm faded into memory. Harvey awoke alone. Not surprisingly,
she had left him to silently deal with her memory, taking the time to
straighten up the house before disappearing. He eased himself from the
disheveled blankets still moist with the nectar of his nubile partner. As he
sat on the edge of the bed, he tried to brush away the loneliness while reliving
the erotic memory that would surely never pass his way again. After a time, he
sauntered into the kitchen to start his morning coffee and take his daily
regimen of pills. Once complete, he turned towards the showers to wash away the
evidence of last nights fulfilled fantasy.
The day continued uneventfully, and Harvey even opted to make the usual
circuit through the park; pausing silently when he passed the bench and the BBQ
shelter just beyond. The bench was now dry and inviting, but Harvey felt strong
enough to continue his journey through the kids and the playground and back
across the busy highway to his little home nestled in the suburbs. When he
arrived, there was a large luxury sedan parked in his driveway with smoked
windows and gleaming chrome. Half intimidated, and half scared he hurried up
his walkway and slammed the door behind him before the unwelcome visitors could
follow him. His heavy breathing was eclipsed by the loud knock at the door.
Slowly he opened it after securing the chain lock and peered into the largest
example of an ex-football player he had ever seen. He spoke with an aire of
forceful authority;
"Have you seen this woman?" he asked as he jabbed a picture of the beautiful
young creature into his face.
There comes a time in every mans life, when fear becomes the primary
motivational factor in his existence, and now was Harvey's time. He shook his
head without making eye contact and closed the door.
Another forceful knock; and Harvey turned from the frightful scene and
stumbled down the hallway into his room where he locked the door and hid his
head under a pillow. He could feel his heart racing dangerously, and envisioned
a multitude of serious consequences about to unfold. Suddenly there was a
rapping on the glass of the opened bedroom window, and Harvey froze; accepting
his fate while begging the Creator for forgiveness. It was a the voice of a
woman this time; clear and inquisitive, and he slowly rose to meet the amused
gaze of a lovely woman peering up to him.
"Have you seen this girl recently?" she queried.
"Yes ma'am, she spent the night here but I meant her no harm and I don't know
where she went to as she left this morning before I awakened and. . ." he
checked himself before he babbled any further. Heaven knows, he was probably
in over his head already.
"Good," she responded, then turned to the football guy and said "We've found
him!" in a voice suggesting relief. "Would you mind giving us a few moments of
your time?"
"Uh, no," Harvey responded, "I'll get the door." He slowly rose and unlocked
the door to his bedroom, pausing to ask himself if he was doing the right thing
before dismissing his fears and strolling up to the front door to open it for
this lovely visitor. As he swung the door open, he could have sworn that every
one of his neighbors was watching him expectantly, especially when the frail
little angel that had given him the most wondrous night of his life emerged from
the car. His heart sank as she walked up to him with even steps and gently
kissed him on his unshaven cheek. Her smile was sweet and genuine, and Harvey
wondered if he had just encountered his Judas.
"My daughter informed me that you cared for her yesterday. We are extremely
grateful for your kindness and want to repay you for your efforts," she stated
as she held out a handwritten check for twenty five thousand dollars.
Now most men would have taken the check, and most would have thought of it as
payment for services rendered, but Harvey could not, and he just shook his head
and turned away.
"Do you require more?" she implored reaching into her purse to withdraw her
checkbook.
"No, dear lady; please!" he mumbled, "What I did, I did for love."
Something beneath the expensive designer apparel changed in that moment, and
her dark seasoned eyes met his for the first time in a gaze of both respect and
approval. He reached his hand out to shake hers, and she grasped it with the
same gentleness of her daughter, and slowly walked into his home, appraising the
unique sights and smells of his history. Soon she was seated in his over
stuffed chair with a cup of soothing tea in her hands, and they continued
sharing the experiences of their lifetimes long into the evening. When she
parted, she kissed him gently on the forehead, and wiped an unwitting tear from
her eye. It would prove to be the beginnings of a lifelong love.
