A sixty-year-old woman, facing emotional distance and sexual dissatisfaction in her marriage, becomes increasingly restless and aroused while her husband is away on a fishing trip. As her fantasies intensify, an unplanned backyard encounter with her neighbor Tom leads to a flirtatious and ultimately sexual experience. Despite the potential risks and guilt, she embraces the thrill and contemplates future affairs, finding excitement in breaking her previous boundaries.
It was five o’clock in the morning when the alarm went off. Normally, I would roll over and cover my head and elbow him slightly to get him to shut it off, but he was already up and gone; he’d forgotten to shut off the stupid alarm, that old bastard.
Luckily, it’s still somewhat dark out, because I didn’t really want to get up. And I was annoyed at having to reach across the bed to shut off the alarm myself.
And now I’m wide awake, well, mostly…
The lights glare as my eyes adjust, and I reach for the shower knobs to turn on the water. Standing in front of the mirror, I slip the shoulder straps off my tattered old nightgown, letting it fall to the floor. I pause, gazing at myself: my large, fleshy breasts sag just a bit more these days, and my stomach has a slight pooch I can’t seem to lose. Yet, my hips still look good–I still have that girlish V-shape that most men find attractive. And as I twist my hips side to side, I’m pleased that my butt hasn’t drooped much more since turning sixty last month.
But as I straighten up and stare into the mirror and I could swear I’ve lost an inch because I seem shorter somehow. Getting to be this old really sucks.
After my shower, I rummage through my top drawer for something to wear. And in the midst of my despair over my aged-out wardrobe, I hear my phone chime from across the room…
“Hello, dear,” I answered.
“Hey, sweetheart, did I leave my watch on the dresser?”
“Ummm, yes, it’s here. I can see it sitting right next to the new one I got you for Christmas that you also forgot to wear every day since.”
“Oh, ok, I was afraid I lost it when I realized I wasn’t wearing it. Thanks, dear.”
“Yeah, well, glad I could help.”
“Ok, I love you. See you next week when I get back.”
“Yeah, ok, you and your buddies have fun showing your poles to each other out on the ocean all alone, where no one will ever know.”
“Funny Kate, Your just jealous because wives aren’t invited.”
“No, not really… Four men out there alone, and all they want is to dip their poles in the ocean. Boring… Then again, if I were invited, I’d go and just pin a sign on my back that says ocean on it.”
“Yeah, you’re on speaker, sweetheart. They all heard you, so…”
“Yeah, Kate, we all heard ya. You’re invited next year,” said four additional voices.
It made me a little tingly to know they got my meaning, even though they think it’s just a funny comment, but I think a part of me meant it, well, sort of.
“You boys have fun, think of me when you’re holding your poles,” I retorted.
“Thanks, Kate, we will,” said the men’s voices, laughing.