Chapter 61: That is What I Would Choose to Worship!

June 18, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

"What's involved?" I asked the HVAC technician who was at the house on Saturday morning to provide the estimate for installing the UV air-cleaning unit.

"It goes in-line, before the circulation fan. We'd remove a section of the ducting, install the unit, and seal the ducting. It's actually straightforward, and you have an electrical box to make the connection, so we won't need an electrician. No permits are necessary for this change, so it'll be the cost of the unit, about two hours of labor, and under $40 in additional materials."

"When can you do it?"

"Thursday, if that works for you."

"It does. I won't be here, but one of my housemates will. She'll have a check made out to your company for the amount of the estimate."

"Before I write it up, I suggest getting the upgraded model, which combines UV and electrostatic air cleaning. That will reduce dust in the house as well. It's only $50 more and well worth it."

"Let's do that, then."

"Great!" he replied.

He wrote up the estimate, I reviewed it, signed it, then shook hands with him.

"We'll be here at 9:00am on Thursday," he said.

"Thanks," I replied.

I showed him out, then went to find Kristy so I could ask her to be at the house on Thursday. She agreed, then Bianca and I left to do our weekly grocery shopping and make the usual trip to the dry cleaners.

"What did you decide to do about your date with Teri?"

"I decided it was tacky to cancel the day before when, from one perspective, nothing changed. I'll tell her tomorrow that I think we should stop seeing each other. That allows me to have the conversation face-to-face as well, which I think I owe her."

"She could be the 'last fling' Keiko suggested before she attaches the ball and chain!"

I laughed, "First of all, Keiko is not attaching a ball and chain! Second, Teri isn't interested in that kind of encounter."

"Are you?"

"I'm absolutely attracted to her, but I can't meet her terms, and I'm not about to lie to her to get her into bed."

"You have too much integrity to do that."

"I'd say that's true, though I believe a few girls might reject that idea."

"Phoebe and Clara?" Bianca suggested.

"Those were the two I had in mind, though I don't believe I lied to either of them or misled them. I think they both had preconceived ideas about what having sex meant, and reality didn't match those ideas. That was true of Lily, but she came to a new conclusion after we stopped being exclusive."

"There are plenty of girls who think having sex is a commitment, at least to an exclusive relationship, if not a pledge of marriage."

"And that's fine, so long as it's properly communicated. That is exactly what Teri did. While it did create tension, I knew exactly where I stood and what taking that step would mean. The situation with Violet is similar, though unstated, and for different reasons."

"I agree," Bianca said. "Going back to what you said, I think having that conversation with Teri face-to-face rather than over the phone is a class act. Too many guys would wimp out and make excuses over the phone, or worse, just not show up and not answer calls from the girl."

"That's simply unacceptable behavior," I replied. "Changing topics, what do you think of Spurgeon Capital so far?"

"So far, so good," Bianca replied. "On Monday, Phil will install SPSS, and the programming language 'S' on the IBM mainframe, and I'll be able to start running the regression analysis on large data sets."

"I look forward to that! What about the other research project you were assigned?"

"I think it makes sense for me to be the expert on computer and technology companies. With help from Tony, that won't take too much time away from programming. And that's going to help in the future when you start your own firm."

"That's only going to happen if there is some insurmountable conflict, and I can't imagine Noel Spurgeon doing something that would interfere with making money! In any event, I'd need an order of magnitude more capital to even consider it, and that would require all that money to go with me, which is no sure thing. Let's just focus on being successful at Spurgeon and worry about the future in the future."

"Logical and practical," Bianca agreed.

When we completed our errands, I ate lunch, showered, dressed, and then headed to the hospital to spend a few hours with Keiko. We had an enjoyable visit, and she was allowed to walk outside for the first time since she'd been admitted. She very much enjoyed the fifteen minutes outside before we returned to her room. As had become our usual practice, I scrubbed with the antibacterial soap and kissed her before leaving the hospital.

"What are we doing today?" Teri asked after she greeted me at the door.

"I think we've seen the movies we both want to see, and neither of us is twenty-one, which means we can't get into clubs. Obviously, dinner, but otherwise, I don't have any suggestions."

"There are evening shows at the Adler Planetarium," Teri suggested.

"That's fine with me," I replied. "What about Chinese for dinner? The Golden Bull in Chinatown is excellent."

"That works for me!" Teri declared.

We left her house and headed to Chinatown. After a ten-minute wait, we were seated in a booth and had placed our orders.

"I know we spoke about continuing to see each other until you leave for UofI, but with the direction my relationship with Keiko is going, I'm not sure that's the right thing to do."

Teri frowned, "I suppose it was inevitable."

"I'm sorry," I replied. "I mean that, too. I hope you don't feel I led you on."

"No, you were nothing if not totally honest and direct, and I appreciate that, even if things didn't turn out the way I had hoped."

"Thanks for not being upset with me."

"If you had been less than forthright from the start, I'd have reason to be. I'm unhappy, obviously, but not upset. Let's just enjoy our dinner."

"That sounds good."

We did enjoy our dinner, and after I paid the check, we left the restaurant.

"Still want to go to the Planetarium?" I asked.

"I think you'll reject my alternative — take me home and take me to bed."

"I bet this will sound strange, but as attracted as I am to you, I like you too much to do that."

Teri laughed softly, "It does sound strange, but oddly enough, I believe you. And it makes a perverse kind of sense."

"Planetarium, then?"

"Yes. Will you promise me something?"

"If I can."

"If something changes, you'll get in touch?"

"I wouldn't count on it," I replied.

"I know."

We enjoyed the show at the Planetarium, and after it ended, Teri and I had dessert at the diner near Circle, and then I took her home.

"I enjoyed our time together," Teri said. "And I'm sorry about the fights."

"I enjoyed our time together as well," I replied. "And what you call fights helped me clarify my own thinking."

"I suppose I'll just say 'good night'," she said.

"Good night."

I walked back to my car, happy with how things had turned out. Thirty minutes later, I arrived home to find only CeCi there.

"You're alone?" CeCi asked after greeting me.

"Obviously," I chuckled.

"Sorry, I didn't know any details about the girl you were out with tonight."

"No need to apologize."

"I have to ask again — will being with Deanna and me mess things up with Keiko?"

"No. I have complete freedom until we exchange rings. The limits are those I've imposed on myself."

"OK. I'm not a prude, obviously, but I draw the line at cheating."

"Me, too. Keeping your word is key, and if someone is lying about their relationship, that's the last person I want to be involved with."

"Mind if I ask what you would do if you discovered a girl was cheating?"

"Break off the relationship, and likely never trust them again. With anything. In our training materials at Spurgeon, there's a Latin phrase that made the point about always telling the truth to clients and the SEC — falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus, which means 'false in one, false in all', Fundamentally, once you're known to be a liar, you can't be trusted."

"I thought all the guys at work cheated on their wives."

"There is strong evidence that many, if not most, of the guys we call 'Suits' do that."

"By your logic, none of them can be trusted."

"That is the fundamental conflict with which I have to wrestle. That said, truth is vigorously enforced with anything to do with business. I honestly don't care who sleeps with whom, but I do care about integrity, fidelity, and truthfulness. Whatever else I can say about Noel Spurgeon, he runs a clean shop, at least from the standpoint of the SEC, IRS, CFTC, and other regulatory agencies, and with regard to clients. His personal life is a different story. That said, I know his wife has lovers, so maybe there's some kind of agreement between them."

"How do you know that?"

"Rumor, mostly, but also because she hit on me when I drove Mr. Spurgeon's car to his house not long after I started."

"AND?"

"Nothing. No way. That would have been a foolish mistake."

"What would you do if a spouse cheated?"

"I would hope my judgment of their integrity and fidelity never led to that, but if it did, it would sunder the relationship. How could you ever trust that person again?"

"I'm not sure how you'll react to these concepts — confession and forgiveness."

"I understand the Christian concepts, at least in a general way, but I think 'karma' is a better concept. You can't expect to commit some grave transgression and assume everything will be OK because you admitted it and promised not to do it again. Our legal system is based on the theory that the punishment should fit the crime, and I think the consequences of a transgression should fit the transgression. And that applies to all transgressions, not just the ones we call 'crimes'. And, by the way, in Illinois, both adultery and fornication are crimes."

"NO WAY!" CeCi gasped. "Screwing is a crime if you aren't married?"

"Or married to someone else. As I was told, those laws are no longer enforced, but they're still on the books."

"They'd have to arrest half the population, at least! I mean, seriously, how many people are both virgins when they marry? I can't imagine it's a huge number. I mean, I know girls who were devoutly religious who had sex as teenagers."

"Hormones have more earthly power over our lives than any god in his, her, or its wildest dreams! And if we follow logically from what I hear Christians say, their god created the world out of nothing and directly created human beings with strong sex drives, then told them not to do it except in certain limited circumstances, long after those hormones are flowing. He is then shocked, shocked, that they do it anyway!"

CeCi laughed, "That is one way to put it! The usual explanation is that lust is a product of the Fall, not part of the design."

"I call BS! Doesn't the concept of omniscience mean that the Christian god knew what would happen before he created everything? If so, there is no way to escape the conclusion that he knew what would happen and decided to do it anyway! And they maintain their god is all-powerful, so he could have created humans differently. But he didn't. So, how is it even remotely possible that he can punish people for doing something he knew they would do?"

"The usual answer is 'free will'."

"This god supposedly creates a set of rules, then supposedly creates people with a propensity to break those rules. Why? A loyalty test? I mean, seriously? That sounds more like Nixon than god!"

CeCi laughed, then asked, "Care to put those hormones to good use?"

I took her hand and led her up the stairs.

June 19, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

CeCi and I slept in on Sunday morning, having a late breakfast around 10:00am. Once we'd eaten, she, Deanna, and I went up to Deanna's room so we could discuss their request.

"I think the first question has to be what you meant by 'every configuration'," I said to CeCi.

"All the possibilities!" she declared.

"Doing the math in my head," Deanna said. "I think physiology requires multiple sessions."

"Mind clueing me in?" I asked.

"You do each of us in the butt while the other girl does you in the butt," CeCi said. "Then you do each of us in the pussy while the other girl does you in the butt. Then you and one of us double penetrate the other, once each way. By my math, that's eight times. And, of course, Deanna and I take turns doing each other both ways, but that isn't blocked by male physiology."

"That's a bit more extreme than I thought," I replied. "I figured once each. I mean, doing me."

"We obviously don't want you to be uncomfortable," Deanna said.

"I think that's a given knowing where you intend to put the dildo!" I chuckled.

"I meant mentally or emotionally, obviously!"

"Obviously!" I replied. "In order to do what you suggest, we're going to need two separate sessions to ensure we don't run into problems with recovery time or the outside chance of no recovery at all. And we have to work around both your shifts at Venice."

"What about next Saturday evening and Sunday morning?" Deanna asked. "I don't have a Saturday shift, CeCi only works until 5:00pm, and neither of us have a Sunday shift."

"That would probably work," I replied. "I don't have to leave to see Violet until around 2:30pm. The only caveat is that Keiko comes home on Friday, and I need to be available for her."

"Then Tuesday and Wednesday?" Deanna suggested. "We both have day shifts on those days. Those are our usual nights, and if we come upstairs right after dinner, you'll still get enough sleep. Four times in one night is easy for you!"

"Part of it will be easy!" I chuckled.

"If you don't want to do it, please say so," Deanna said. "As much as we want to do it, you have to be comfortable with the idea if not the sensation."

"I did promise," I replied. "And I admit that I have this morbid curiosity similar to yours."

"Be happy I didn't buy a Jonathan-size dildo!" Deanna smirked. "Think about THAT!"

"I'd rather not!"

The phone rang, and I excused myself to answer it.

"Kane."

"Hi, Jonathan; it's Katy Martin!"

"Hi, Katy. How was your semester?"

"All A's and plenty of sex!"

"So a perfect college experience!"

"Pretty much, though I avoided getting drunk."

"I'm not sure being drunk is part of a 'perfect college experience'!"

"I agree, but it is pretty typical! Anyway, I wondered if there's any chance I could see you? Esme said that Bianca told her that you and Keiko were going to be a couple, but you still have a bit of freedom before that happens."

I did, but I'd also resolved to stick to the girls in the house. I did have an 'out', if I wanted it, in that Keiko had not only suggested, but encouraged, a 'last fling', and if I was going to use that exception, Katy and Esme would be the perfect choice.

"I do," I replied. "I just hadn't planned to make use of that freedom."

Well, beyond CeCi, Deanna, and Bianca, and possibly Juliette, but I didn't want to say that to anyone outside our small circle.

"I obviously don't want you to break any promises, but I would really like to see you one more time. I'm free every night this week."

I considered the idea, and it did fit within my commitment to Keiko. And it would be the absolute last opportunity. Neither Katy nor Esme were interested in anything other than having fun, and I'd enjoyed being with them. If I was going to do it, though, it had to be before Keiko came home, as that was the hard deadline I had in my mind.

"It would have to be tomorrow evening," I said. "I'm busy the rest of the week, and Keiko comes home on Friday."

"Tomorrow would work."

"Just you? Or you and Esme?"

"Esme is in Texas visiting her paternal grandparents and her cousins on that side of the family."

"OK," I replied. "Why don't you show up around 5:30pm for dinner."

"Great! Are you open to a suggestion?"

"I'm a financial analyst! I'll listen to any proposal, even one that seems crazy. I evaluate everything that is presented and decide if it's there's a reasonable expected value."

Katy laughed, "Now you sound like my stats prof! We spent an entire week on expected value. I now understand how badly casinos are rigged against the player!"

"You'd have to be a real moron to lose money running a casino, given the little I know about the odds!"

"I had no idea! Of course, the real stumper was what's called the Monty Hall Problem."

"The Let's Make a Deal guy?"

"Yes. It turns out that when playing for the grand prize, you should always trade. You'll win two-thirds of the time."

"No way!" I objected. " It's 50/50 because he shows you one door! You trade Door #1 for Door #3, or whatever."

"Ah, and that's the thing! You're trading your door for two doors. Showing you one is deception. Imagine trading without seeing what's behind Door #2. You're trading Door #1 for Door #2 and Door #3. Every single time. Showing you one doesn't change that; it only reveals what's behind the door early. We ran simulations to prove it. You'll win the car 2/3 of the time if you switch. There are any number of ways to show that to be true, assuming truly random distribution and logical behavior by Monty Hall when choosing which door to open."

"Interesting. I'll have to ask in my stats class in the Fall. What's the suggestion?"

"Have you ever been with a Cherokee girl?"

"Sweetening the pot?" I asked with a grin Katy couldn't see.

"I have a friend who I could bring. She's eighteen and starts at Princeton in the Fall."