Chapter 2: I Think They'll Accept

January 26, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

On Wednesday at noon, I went to the gym and spoke with the receptionist, who called a personal trainer to speak with me. A few seconds later, a perfectly fit blonde guy, perhaps three years older than I, came over to talk to me.

"I'm Tim Anderson, a licensed exercise physiologist and personal trainer," he said. "What are you looking to do?"

"Maintain my weight and muscle tone," I replied. "I have no plans to try out for any body-building competitions."

"Then I think the best thing for you is a circuit, including a mix of weight machines, free weights, and either a treadmill or elliptical machine. I'll set it for forty minutes, which will give you enough time to change beforehand and shower afterwards. If you're ready to start today, I can take you through a cycle and teach you to use the machines."

"I am. I have gym clothes in my bag."

"Do you have a lock for a locker?"

"I do," I replied, as I had the one I'd bought for the locker in the break room I'd used before I started as an analyst.

"Then let me show you the locker room. Get changed and come out, and we'll start with the machines."

He escorted me to the locker room, I changed, then joined him in the gym. I worked through six stations with each 'set' as he called them, lasting about five minutes, except for the elliptical, which lasted ten.

"What do you think?" Tim asked.

"It seems like a good mix of exercises," I replied.

"Three times a week should help you maintain your weight, as long as you eat decently, and it will also help tone your muscles. Do me a favor and step on the scale after your shower, and we'll keep track of your weight on a weekly basis."

"Sounds good," I replied.

"Then you're all set, and I'll see you Friday. Once more around, and if you're comfortable, then you just come in and do your thing and ask if you need anything. We'll do the weight checks on Fridays starting next week, and you can just let Kelly know so she can put it on your sheet."

"OK."

"The other thing you should do, if you haven't recently, is see a physician for a checkup. That's something you want to do on an annual basis."

"I'll do that," I agreed.

We shook hands, I went to the locker room, showered, put on my 'uniform', and headed back up to 29, where I ate my lunch at my desk while I did research. I was slowly working out my grading of the world situation with regard to war, trade, economics, and political stability, and decided on a Red/Orange/Yellow/Green/Blue scale, with a confidence factor of A through E. Figuring out what comprised each analysis, and how to grade it was going to take time, so I'd continue with my prose analysis and no ratings until I had worked it out.

Bev called mid-afternoon to say that she'd call me on Sunday before the Super Bowl from her friend Cathy's house, because she could have total privacy there. She didn't say anything more, and I didn't want to press her when she wasn't in a position to speak freely.

After the call, I resumed my work, and I found nothing that contradicted my analysis of the previous two days. Just before 5:00pm, Bill Wyatt called to say that he had another house to show me. I had limited free time, but I arranged to see the house first thing on Saturday morning before I went shopping. I asked about the first house I'd seen, and it hadn't sold, and so far, there hadn't been any offers better than the one I'd made.

At 5:00pm, I left the office and headed to Violet's house for dinner. One thing I needed to do was buy several pairs of shorts and T-shirts for the gym, as otherwise I'd be doing laundry three times a week so as not to have overly smelly gym clothes. That was something I could do on Saturday morning before I saw Clara.

Violet and I had our usual nice meal, did the dishes together, then headed to Circle for our classes.

"Are you doing anything Sunday?" Troy asked after we greeted each other.

"I'm having some people over for a Super Bowl party," I replied. "You and Teri are welcome if you want to join us. Speaking of that, where is she?"

"The ladies'. As for Sunday, we're having a party at my parents' house, so we can't really bail on that. I'm curious, but are you seeing anyone?"

"Not seriously," I replied. "But I'm straight."

Troy laughed, "Not for me! For Teri! I was asking because she totally has the hots for you!"

"Most brothers don't try to get dates for their sisters," I replied with a grin.

"Most brothers aren't twins! And she was worried you were seeing someone seriously."

Things were getting more and more complicated because Ellie wanted to see me regularly, as did Clara, I was seeing Haley a few times a week, and seeing Lily occasionally as well. I also had to reserve time for Violet, as well as Jeri's dinners and for Marcia, though I would have Sundays free after my weekend in Wisconsin with Marcia. I also wanted to see Beth again, and I was sure that Sophie, Ivy, and Deanna would be in touch, not to mention Esme, Katy, and the girls from Loyola.

As Deanna had put it succinctly, I was 'drowning in pussy', and something had to give. The question was 'what?', or rather 'who?' I'd eliminate, and if I wanted to see Teri. The fact that she had red hair and green eyes, as well as a nice figure, certainly factored into my thinking. I need some time to think things through, and I decided that given how busy I was over the next two weeks, I could delay a decision about a date with Teri.

"It's not that I'm not interested," I replied. "It's just that I've been super busy and will be for at least for the next few weeks."

"She's not seeing anyone right now," he said. "So a few weeks will be OK."

Teri returned just then, and class started, so there was no real chance to talk, though until I had a chance to work through everything, it was better not to ask her out. When class ended, I said 'goodbye' to Troy and Teri, then headed to meet Violet for our usual coffee and pie.

"You seem preoccupied," Violet said about ten minutes into our time together.

"Sorry," I replied. "I was just thinking about how busy I am and that something has to give."

"Not our dinners or coffee, right?" she asked apprehensively.

"No," I said with a smile. "It's more about dating as well as time with my other friends."

The strange thing was that of all the girls, I enjoyed my time with Violet more than anyone else, and only Marcia actually came close. That was weird because sex wasn't a factor in either relationship, and as far as I could see, I would never be with either of them. Marcia, because we simply weren't compatible, and Violet, because of what had happened to her while she was growing up.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that I preferred being with Shelly and Bianca, though sex was a major part of that relationship. It wasn't that I didn't like Ellie or Esme or Clara or whomever; it had more to do with how the relationships worked. In a way, my relationship with Marcia had replaced my relationship with Anala, though Marcia wasn't nearly as wise or as well-read as Anala.

"How many girls are you seeing?" Violet asked.

"Several," I replied. "It's all just casual. But I don't have time to see them as much as they would like. And please do not think I mean you when I say that. I prefer spending time with you to pretty much everyone else."

"You really mean that?"

"I do."

"Even though I can't..." she let the word hang for a minute, then said, "uhm, be your girlfriend?"

By pausing mid-sentence, she'd conveyed the meaning of 'girlfriend', which was always going to be a challenge for her — intimacy. I wondered if a different counselor might make a difference at this point, now that she'd come out of her shell, at least to the point of hanging out with Lily occasionally, as well as doing things with me. I had no clue if Violet could ever truly recover, and Doctor Lochner had certainly implied strongly that she couldn't.

"I certainly hope I haven't given you the wrong impression," I said.

Violet smiled, "You haven't, but ... I'm worried about losing you."

"I promised you that isn't going to happen and that any girl I have a serious relationship with will have to accept and understand that you and I are close friends."

"Sometimes I wish ... wish that I was normal," Violet sighed.

"You are a wonderful young woman to whom something terrible happened. That doesn't make you 'abnormal'."

Violet smiled, "That's sweet of you to say, but if I was normal, we could ... be boyfriend and girlfriend. That's what you thought could happen when we first met."

She was struggling with something Doctor Lochner had suggested would very probably be a challenge for the rest of her life and one she might not be able to overcome.

"I don't know exactly what to say to that," I replied. "I made assumptions that weren't correct, and I learned some important lessons."

"I just wish I could be like everyone else..." Violet sighed. "But ... well, you know."

I nodded, "I do. I wish there was some way I could wave a magic wand and make what happened go away, but I can't do that. What I can do is be your friend and help you in any way it's possible for me to help."

Violet smiled, "Thank you."

We finished our pie and coffee, and I walked her home, where I received a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek before she went into her house. Once she was safely inside, I walked quickly to my car and headed home.

January 29, 1983, Chicago, Illinois

On Saturday, I was up early, as were Bianca and Shelly, so we could see the house Mr. Wyatt wanted to show us. Thursday and Friday had been routine at work, as had class on Thursday evening. Jack, Kristy, Haley, and I had a fun evening on Friday, with dinner at Connie's and then the concert at Loyola. I had taken Haley home afterwards, not wanting to move forward too fast, especially in light of trying to figure out what to do about my limited time.

Part of the problem was taking classes, but I felt that had to be a priority, even if it wasn't strictly necessary for my job. At a minimum, I needed to complete the math class and the statistics class, and beyond that, most of what it would make sense to take would cover things I was already learning at work, namely business and finance classes. I'd need to give it some thought over the Summer, as I'd concluded that no matter what happened with Bev, I didn't want to tie up two or three nights a week with class and set aside time for homework.

What I'd concluded was that the challenge was really with the girls who wanted some kind of deeper relationship — Ellie, Haley, and Clara. I wasn't sure about Clara and wouldn't make any decisions about her until after our date later in the day, but, in the end, I felt seeing two girls was workable in the short term, but three was not. Haley would, at least in the short-term, get the most time — lunch twice a week, plus Friday nights when we went out with Jack and Kristy. Saturday would be for the second girl, whoever it was, and Tuesday and Sunday would be open for friends or hook-ups.

There was one problem and one challenge with that plan. The problem was Jeri planning things for Friday nights, but I'd heard Gary say that his wife wasn't thrilled with them, and I was positive we could move them, preferably to Tuesdays. That was something to discuss with Jeri, and there was plenty of time before the February dinner to change the day. I made a mental note to do that.

The challenge was time for Violet, which revolved around hockey and baseball schedules. I could probably make sufficient time for those, but on occasion, I might have to use one of my 'date' nights for her, and that was OK with me and would actually give me an idea of whether or not the girl who was 'bumped' would be able to handle my friendship with Violet.

Of course, all of that might be upended if Bev came to stay with me in June or July.

"Lost in thought?" Bianca asked as we neared the house we were going to see on Morse Avenue.

"Just trying to figure out how to do everything I want to do with limited time. Classes are really the main blocking factor, so I'm taking the Summer off, which will help."

"Too many girls, not enough time?" she asked.

"Yes, but I also need to make time to see Dustin, Trevor, Tom, and Stuart, as well as my other friends. I think, after next Fall, I'm going to stop taking classes, at least until things sort themselves out."

"You mean having a steady girlfriend, right?"

"Yes. I mean, I could effectively do that without doing it now, if you know what I mean."

"But you don't want to give up access to all the awesome pussy!" Shelly teased.

"Something like that," I chuckled. "Obviously, at some point, I will, but I don't think that time is now."

"I'm still with Ellie on this one," Bianca said. "Why give it up? You aren't bound to some stupid religious moral code, and so long as you don't try to legally marry more than one woman at a time, nobody will give a rat's ass. Just ask a few girls to move into the house you're going to buy, and make it clear that you'll have other girls, too. Heck, even set a schedule! I guarantee you Juliette, Julianne, and Deanna would move in with us in a heartbeat!"

"Deanna?"

"I saw how she looked at you, and it wasn't the same as Sophie and Ivy. To them, you're just a good fuck, and if you aren't available, they find someone else and don't even think about it; Deanna sees you differently."

"As in, she wants to be my girlfriend?" I asked.

"I'm not saying she's ready to settle down because I'm sure she isn't, but she sees a possibility for the future that Sophie and Ivy don't see. Don't take this the wrong way, but to them, it's basically that you have a big dick and make them cum, and nothing more. I'd compare them to Lucy or Sylvia, whereas I'd compare Deanna to Julianne. She's another one who, in a few years, would likely be amenable to a long-term thing with you."

"And you? And Shelly?"

"Obviously, though, Shelly wants a traditional monogamous relationship."

"And so does Jonathan," Shelly said. "You keep trying to talk him out of it!"

"Obviously!" Bianca declared. "That doesn't suit my desires!"

We turned up the walk of the house, which meant the conversation had to be put on hold. That meant I'd have some time to mull over Bianca's suggestion, though something deep inside me still insisted on a traditional marriage. I pushed those thoughts aside and rang the bell. Mr. Wyatt came to the door and showed us into a house that smelled of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies.

"Nice touch!" Shelly exclaimed. "Baking cookies to make it smell like 'home'!"

"It's a standard seller's gambit," Mr. Wyatt said. "These sellers are motivated as they have a contract on a house being built in Naperville. As I said on the phone, this is comparable to the others you've seen, though with the added benefit of an attic bedroom or study, in addition to five bedrooms on the second floor. The owners previous to the current owners finished the attic when they had their sixth child."

"Count me right out of that!" Bianca declared. "I'm Catholic, not crazy!"

"According to whom?" I teased.

"OK, not THAT crazy!" Bianca declared.

"The other advantage this house has is a finished basement. And the listing price is only five percent more than the house on which you made the offer."

"How much work does it need?" I asked.

"The floors need to be stripped, sanded, and finished, and the boiler will need to be replaced in the next few years. The appliances are all about fifteen years old, and they're that avocado green that was so popular back then."

"Let us take a look, and I'll tell you my thoughts right away."

Bianca, Shelly, and I decided to start in the basement and work our way up to the attic. The basement was divided into two parts — about a quarter of it was the mechanical plant — boiler for forced hot water heat, the water heater, and the electrical distribution panel. The washer and dryer were in the same room, segregated by a half-wall and with shelves above them and a full bath next to them. The rest of the basement was a rec room, complete with a wet bar that would be perfect for entertaining. The current owners had a projection television set and a large screen for the projection at the far end, with couches and chairs arranged to make it almost like a movie theatre.

"If upstairs is even halfway OK, this is the place," Bianca declared. "Nothing else we've seen has an area to entertain like this one."

"So far, so good," I agreed.

We went up to the first floor, and the kitchen was functional, but the avocado green appliances just HAD to go. The dining room was large enough to accommodate a table that seated eight, the front room was cozy, and there was also a living room with a fireplace. We walked down a short hallway past a half-bath and went out into the reasonably sized backyard. There was a two-car garage, which was common for the area, and it was big enough for both my car and Bianca's, as well as yard tools, snow shovels, and the like.