Chapter 13: Personal Growth

Westinghouse Towers
New Pittsburgh, Mars
Sunday, February 14, 2151

“What did you think about Chili’s idea?” asked Mary.

Paul looked at his wife and smiled. Chili had spent the previous night with them, a most enjoyable experience, but had gone home for two days to visit her family. He looked around but the boys must have been in their bedroom. He sat down on the couch next to her and said, “It kind of reminded me of me when I was PJ ... Paul’s age.”

His wife stared at him. “You parents’ house bitch popped your cherry? Oh my God!”

Paul laughed. “Not exactly. We had servants, not house bitches. Close, though.”

Mary said, “What? You never told me any of this!”

He shrugged. “It’s not like we were virgins when we met. Besides, you know the kind of world I grew up in, but you really don’t know the details.”

“So?”

“So, the day before my thirteenth birthday, my father had one of the drivers take me to my doctor, where I had my fertility block activated. The next day, my birthday, he had me come over to his office after lunch. I was met by one of his mistresses, who took me up to her apartment and gave me a very personal introduction to the birds and the bees,” Paul replied.

“Wait... one of his mistresses?”

“It’s good to be the king,” he laughed.

“Paul!”

“Welcome to the good life, honey. You never really saw just how crazy it could be, but things happen at the upper end that never show up on the vids. The top floors of the bank building were a whole different world. The secretaries and assistants, they were all models and vidstar actresses. High heels, stockings, short skirts, and low-cut tops - and nothing else! For a thirteen-year-old guy it was heaven on Earth!”

“You are such a pig!” Mary laughed.

“Maybe so, maybe so,” Paul agreed, smiling.

“You said she was one of your father’s mistresses?”

“He had three or four secretaries and assistants. Most of the men at that level did. He was very generous, too. If me or my brothers needed to go to the office, one of the girls would greet us and take care of us.”

Mary said, “Take care of you? You mean...”

Paul nodded, grinning. “Exactly.”

“What did your mother think of this ... arrangement?”

The answer included a shrug. “It wasn’t a subject that came up around the dinner table. Looking back, I’m sure Mom knew about Dad’s secretaries, probably because she started out as a secretary herself. I do recall that Dad liked Mom to dress the same way. Don’t forget, she had to sign a prenup just like you did.”

“Wow!”

“I mean, when I met you, I gave up a lot. Just thought I would mention that,” he said, trying to keep a grin off his face.

“You are such a jerk! That’s why you liked me to wear high heels and short skirts around the apartment, isn’t it? Oh my God! Such a pig!”

Paul laughed at his wife. “So, what about you? When and how did you pop your cherry?”

Mary replied, “So gross!” A few seconds later, she said, “Well it wasn’t the day after my block was activated. Mom was a prude, really, and it was my doctor who activated the block at my next physical. I know a lot of people think that activating your block is an invitation to fall on your back with your legs spread, but it really doesn’t work like that, at least not in the middle class. I was fifteen when I met this good-looking, smooth-talking sixteen-year-old guy from school. Mom wouldn’t let me date, but he talked me into going to his house after school.”

“And you learned so much more after school than in school?” Paul teased.

Mary groped him through his shorts. “Oooh! I think this has you turned on.”

Paul groaned. “You are mean!”

“So, what was it about me that made you leave the good life in the penthouse suites?” She began manipulating his erection through his shorts.

“The boys could come out at any moment!” Paul said, though he didn’t try to stop her.

“Was it my tits? My legs? My ass?” Mary continued pumping her husband through his shorts.

It was too much, and Paul groaned as his shorts became warm and sticky. He gasped and said, “I am going to get you back for that.”

“I’m ready when you are.”

“Very funny! I need to clean up.” Paul stood up, looking down the hall where their sons were, and then went into the bedroom.

Mary laughed and followed him a minute later. She found her husband in the bathroom, the shower running. She undressed and joined him. “You were saying something about getting back at me.”

“Yeah, by not giving you what you want.”

She glanced down. “Your lips say one thing, but that is saying something else.”

Paul pushed his wife against the wall of the shower. “You wanted to know what it was that made me choose you instead of the good life? Maybe because you were as beautiful as any of those secretaries and assistants, but you weren’t a professional.” He moved closer and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Then he laughed and said, “But you were just as... proficient.”

Mary squawked. “Proficient! I’ll show you proficient!”

Westinghouse Towers
New Pittsburgh, Mars
Tuesday, February 16, 2151

“How was school, Paul?”

Paul Junior looked at Chili. She was in the kitchen with him after the two boys came home from school. Randy had headed off to their bedroom, but his older brother had gone to the refrigerator looking for a snack. “It was okay. How was your weekend with your family?”

“It was nice. I got to see my Mom and Dad, and play with my little brother. That is so cool! You were able to grow up with a brother. I couldn’t have a brother until after the Revolution. He’s four now and so cute!”

“Give it a few years. You’ll wish you’d drowned him in the bathtub!”

“You are awful!” Chili laughed. Paul simply shrugged and tried to look sorry. “So, did you speak to that girl yesterday or today? What was her name? Sammi?”

The young man blushed and shook his head, not speaking. He tried to move past her and leave, but Chili boxed him in. She placed a plate of brownies on the island and said, “Sit and talk to me.”

“Chili!”

“Sit! Talk!” She pointed at a barstool; Chili waited until he sat down before sitting next to him. “Now, talk to me. You’re at an age where boys start looking at girls. Have you talked to her yet?”

“No,” Paul said quietly. “I don’t even know what to say.”

“Start with ‘hello’. You’re in a couple of classes with her, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Do you actually have any chance to talk to her, like a lab or on projects?”

“No, not really. We have some projects, but she’s with one of her girlfriends,” Paul said.

“Well, after class, just go up to her and say hello,” Chili told him.

“I can’t do that!”

“It’s like I said on Saturday, Paul. Your parents didn’t show up at their wedding never having said hello. Everybody has to start somewhere.”

Paul had a panicked look in his eyes. “What if she tells me to go away?”

“Then you go away, but unless you’ve been rude about it, she’ll probably be polite. How do you know she doesn’t want to say hello to you, but maybe she’s scared?”