“So, what shall we get Kate for her birthday?” Jennifer asked her husband over breakfast.
“Oh, the usual: a box of those Belgian chocolate truffles she likes and a card,” he replied airily, without putting down his Sunday newspaper. “Your sister’s always been a chocoholic.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Barry!”
The paper was lowered. “How come?”
“Because, my dear, next Friday happens to be my sister’s ‘Big Five O’. Don’t say you haven’t heard her moaning about it for months?”
He snorted derisively and returned to his reading. “Can’t see what all the fuss is about. Mine went by without any special celebrations.”
“It’s alright for you blokes, but for women it’s a major milestone. Many of my friends consider they’re over the hill when they turn 50, certainly as far as sex is concerned. And what with Kate being divorced, I dare say she’ll be thinking the same way.”
“There’s always the internet.”
“For porn or for dating?”
“Either.”
After a pause, Jennifer confided: “I know she visits some sites to chat with guys, but I honestly couldn’t see her ever arranging to meet anyone.”
Her husband lowered his newspaper once more, as the conversation seemed to have taken an interesting turn. “Why ever not?”
“Well, from what I’ve read – mainly in women’s magazines – there are an awful lot of predatory weirdos out there. And don’t forget she lives on her own.”
“Couldn’t you do a bit of… match-making, Jen?”
“Where am I going to conjure up an eligible male by next Friday?”
“What about that dishy fitness instructor at the health centre you both go to? You’re always going on about how attractive he is.”
“Matt? He’s gay.”
Silence descended on the kitchen as they both considered various options for entrapping a likely man that sister Kate might spend the night with celebrating her big birthday.
As she poured her husband’s second cup of coffee, Jennifer Lewis gave a big grin. “I’ve GOT it! Why didn’t I think of it before? The solution, my dear, is staring me in the face!”
“It is? Well, would you care to share this pearl of wisdom?”
“You!”
“What about me?”
“YOU! You can be Kate’s special birthday present - but only for one night!”
He sipped his coffee thoughtfully. The suggestion certainly had merit as he’d always fancied Jennifer’s sister, particularly her trim hips and shapely legs, which were usually clad with tantalising black stockings. Memories of the American dancer Cyd Charisse often flashed through Barry’s mind when he saw Kate cross her long stockinged legs. He was abruptly dragged from his sexual reverie by his wife: “Well, what do you think?”
Diplomatically, he felt he should play hard to get. He slowly shook his head. “I’m not sure it’s… such a good idea, Jen.”
“Why ever not? A one-night stand. WITH your wife’s approval. Give her a really good seeing-to!” Jennifer had suddenly become uncharacteristically course.
“You wouldn’t be jealous?”
“Not so long as it’s JUST a one-night stand.” With a sly giggle she added: “I’d probably be very upset if you kept popping round there to fuck her!”
“So a one-night stand next Friday gets your ‘green light’?
“Certainly.”
The scene was set and within 24 hours Jen had tactfully outlined the plan to her sister.
“What will you be wearing for your chivalrous night out?” Jennifer asked Barry.
“My grey pin-stripe suit?”
“Idiot! You’re not going to the golf club’s AGM! You’re going to give my sister a seeing-to she’ll remember.”
He shrugged. “Ok. Point taken. How about my pale blue chinos and that Hawaiian beach shirt you bought me in Florida?”
“Now you’re talking. And don’t go easy on the after shave!”
That evening, Jennifer fussed around her husband like a mother hen as he prepared for his special birthday night out with her sister. They pecked each other affectionately on the cheek and he set off to walk the quarter mile to sister Kate’s bungalow, carrying a bottle of champagne and the Belgian truffles.