Time Travellers from the 1960's Pt. 04

Chapter 8: Cheryl, The Modern Woman

(Part 1)

Ted was finding the modern women were all possessive. One lady, Cheryl, almost wanted him to marry her before she had let him do more than kiss and cuddle her. She looked him seriously in the eye and demanded to know that he was committed to her before they could let the relationship develop further. Ted believed he was an honest guy, and, although he wasn't averse to telling the occasional white lie, he wasn't keen on giving a false commitment, which was important to her. He could have embarked on a nice little relationship; it would have been so easy, but he did not want to upset the lady, so initially he tried to keep his distance.

The ladies of 'the future', as he still called it, reminded him of many women in the sixties. They were angling for the best man they could find, and when they found him they wanted to claim him. The 'straight' people of the sixties, and in the years before, felt the pressure of marriage dragging at them. Many had viewed marriage as necessary before they could be seen to be living with someone. Some, quite a large number even then, would not sleep with a man unless they were married to him, so the finding of the right partner assumed primary importance in their psychology. He could see, after being here in 'the future' for some time, that almost none amongst the 'modern' women would insist on marriage before sex, although he had heard that there was a big religious revivalist movement which held such an opinion, mainly in the south and the midwest. He had seen little evidence of that here in California so far, but he supposed that its impact might well be affecting those women he was meeting, making them less open to casual flings. The 'modern' women he found were quite prepared for sex before marriage. It was just that many of them wanted the real promise of marriage first.

Ted was finding it hard work with the women of his future. The slightest mention that he had a 'partner' was enough to dampen any possibility of a new relationship with most of these women. And yet, on the surface, a sexual revolution, of a sort, had occurred since his day. Sexual 'deviancies' such as being gay or lesbian, or being open to both possibilities were well understood and accepted by most of the population. The movements for a more open society of which the New Seminary was one, of his own time, had not persuaded the population of all their ideas, but they had encouraged a more liberated society. Now hardly anyone but a few oddballs insisted on or even thought desirable abstinence from full sex before marriage. No longer did couples wait until they were completely trapped in marriage before finding out whether they were sexually compatible.

That part of the future world was good. They were more relaxed about sexual subjects than the general society of thirty years before. In his own time the young were awakening to a new openmindedness about many things, including the sexual. Ted had fully expected this trend to continue, and it had, but in a conservative form. Sexual attitudes had changed very much, but basic social practices had not changed. Women and men flirted with fantasy, were quite happy to watch erotic scenes on telly or read about them in books. They were generally proud if they had had a few sexual adventures, but most wanted mainly to find the right partner for themselves and nice little casual flings were still frowned on. As in his own time there was a high degree of hypocrisy in the judgements of many.

Cheryl, the woman who had virtually told him she would not entertain him unless he was serious about marrying her at some point in the future, was someone he still ran into quite frequently at work. Every time he came across her he could not resist flirting with her in some small way, and she continued to be open to him. He could not help himself because her classy blonde looks attracted him very much. Perhaps he could ignore what she had told him about the prospect of potential marriage being necessary before she would entertain him. He decided he would try to risk starting a relationship with her after all, because he felt drawn towards her.

The next time he ran into her at work Ted suggested, "Perhaps I could take you out for a meal this evening." He just could not resist. This medium height blonde was so beautiful!

She beamed sweetly at him, "You would? That is so good of you. I'd love to." Her eyes glittered and mesmerised him. He couldn't wait to get his hands around her pretty waist. It was good looking. He knew this woman had given her last partner the push very recently. She had seemed to make it clear that she was searching for a new partner. This one was unattached, a career woman, intelligent, gifted. He had thought she might be interested in him but he had seen her flirting with other men. It was as if she was luring potential mates out into play so that she could select one. This response proved that she was interested.

Ted called Louise using the new mobile telephone he had recently acquired. "Hi Lou. I'll be staying out this evening. Hope ya don't mind the short notice." He knew she'd been expecting him home, because in their relationship, normally, plans to be apart were notified in advance. It was a practice they had got into over the years, although plans could easily be changed at the last moment. Both partners felt obliged to let the other one know as soon as there were any changes in plans.

"Oh, fair enough," said Louise. " Pity, I was lookin' forward to a quiet evening with you for a change. I'll just have to spend it on my own. What're you up to anyhow?"

"There's a woman at work, seems to have taken an interest in me. So I thought I'd take her out. Tonight was a convenient night," Ted revealed all this happily. There need be no secrets between them. Particularly when it came to sexual matters. They had swung with other couples and singles often enough before, back in their past. Theirs was an open relationship, the stronger because of its honesty and the diversity of their social and sexual experience.

"Is it that blonde woman you told me about the other day?" guessed Louise.

"Yeah, you guessed. That's the one," said Ted. "It's just a meal at this stage. You know what these so called children of the sexual revolution are really like!"

"You be careful," advised Louise, "don't let her start twisting you into someone you're not, before you have your bit of fun."

"I won't," he laughed.

"Still it's a shame I can't have you tonight," said Louise believably.

"Maybe you can later. If not we'll get together tomorrow," said Ted.

So Ted went on the date. The beautiful Cheryl was entertaining company. She embarked on long explanations of her personal history; the perfect childhood, model father, model mother, model elder brother. She had been, according to herself, an active learner, easily intelligent, plenty of female friends, singing, dancing, art and sports, holidays around the States, even to Europe, Canada and Mexico. She achieved high grades at school and decided to pursue a career in computer programming. In so many ways she appeared to match Ted in his interests and achievements. She was expertly sociable, and she chatted him up, flirtatiously and interestingly, asking about his own background and interests. In accordance with Future Investments' rules he revealed nothing of his formative past in the heady days of optimism and expectation of thirty years before.

Where it was appropriate he talked about his background, California, his parents, brother and sisters, schools, college, his love of music, particularly rock'n'roll. He even talked about his interest in computers. He had already learned plenty about modern technologies so he was able to be convincing as a modern man of his apparent generation. There was no reason for Cheryl not to buy it, although there were sure to be some references of modern culture he might miss. He was reminded how similar the 'western' lifestyle had remained. In many ways there was no cultural and attitudinal gap between them.

Cheryl suggested a weekend away, perhaps in a fishing village around Monterey, where they could go for pleasant walks along the shore. Ted knew Louise wouldn't be too pleased about that. He knew without having to ask that she would have been happy to share him with Cheryl for some time. She appreciated the kick he was getting from Cheryl's shapely body. But a whole weekend away from Louise at a time when she had no other lover or particular companion to spend time with did seem unfair to his partner, after the tough few months they had had getting used to this future society, which was not quite the same as they had imagined.

He knew Louise was finding the tough modern work codes demanding and was disappointed by the many changes for the worse which she had observed. As ever when he couldn't decide what to do, Ted prevaricated. He told Cheryl that he would love to go away soon, but now wasn't the time.

"Aw come on Ted, you've been sayin' that for weeks now, and it doesn't seem to be getting any closer. What's wrong? I know you want me, I can feel it when you make love to me. Well a full weekend away together will give us lots of time to make love, in between walks along the shore and romantic meals for two." They had been making love for some time now. Ted had passed Cheryl's tests, and was considered by her to be 'trustworthy' and a good candidate for an ever closer relationship, probably ending in marriage if Cheryl still thought he was ideal for marriage after a couple of years or maybe more. She already had two kids from an earlier marriage, so she could approach this one with dignity, and not rush. He had passed the sexual tests also with flying colours, it seemed, which made her urgency greater, if anything.

(Part 2)

Because she feared that Ted was being sucked into that woman's seductive orbit Louise felt the trepidation of jealousy for the first significant time in their partnership. In their earlier life sexual matters had been entertainments, diversions, pleasant adventures. Other partners were like friends, non threatening, sometimes to be shared, other times to be a part of their personal space. This one held none of the progressive ideals of their earlier circles. This one was a modern woman who was traditional. It seemed that possession, acquisition, selfishness and competition were still as much the order of today as they had been in their own time. As in their own times perhaps they would need to look hard to find the people who would share their progressive ideals. There was no doubt that sexual attitudes had changed, but they had not changed in the ways they had expected. Sexual partnership rules, while looser among the young, and attitudes being largely less rigid, still supported a jealous and possessive monogamy for most people, despite an obvious acceptable fascination with 'sexual fantasies'.

Louise knew that Ted disagreed with possessiveness. Her rational logical mind knew perfectly well that their old arrangements suited him better, but emotionally she felt Cheryl's attempts to pull him away from her and imprison Ted. She appreciated the seductive power of the woman and knew Ted was very attracted by her. If the woman had been a 'progressive' type she would have trusted her to give Ted a good time, and might well have become her friend also. But the woman lived by competitive rules, had decided Ted was a suitable man for her, and was going all out to win him. Ted had kept up the pretence that he had no long term partner so that he could be free to enjoy himself. Louise now thought it might be necessary to introduce herself to Cheryl as Ted's partner. She feared the effect of that revelation. Either Cheryl would be annoyed with Ted and spurn him, which would upset Ted because he certainly was not finished with this beauty yet. Or she would make a play for him - try to take him over and cut Louise out. Louise knew Ted would not want that, but he just might play along with Cheryl for a while until he grew tired of her. In the meantime Louise would be sidelined for some time, and she would feel lonely and deserted. She would have to talk to Ted about it, or maybe she should make her presence and her prior claim felt with this woman. She did not believe she could ever lose Ted, after all they had been through time together. Rationally she knew it was not possible, but emotionally she feared that her actions might annoy him too much and she might pay for this some time ahead. It was hardly possible that he might forsake her for the kind of relationship Cheryl wanted. Ted's love of variety made that unlikely.

"Hi Lou," said Ted as he returned home. He wanted to broach the subject of Cheryl with Louise, but was uncomfortable about doing so. He suspected her attitude would not be so positive. Louise had begun to show jealousy towards his growing relationship.

"Let me guess where you've been?" she said sarcastically. He was unused to this serious undertone in her humour. Normally she was amused and open about his flings, as he was about hers.

"I have been out with Cheryl again," he shared openly with her.

"Did you go back to her place?"

"Yes," he said.

"And was it good?"

"Yes it was. I enjoyed it. We've done it before, as you know." He wanted to say something about Cheryl, to ask something, but Louise was getting her questions in first, making it seem as if he was not volunteering the information, making him feel that he was keeping something back. She was making him feel guilty.

"You know what she's doing don't you?" Louise argued. "She's trying to take hold of you. She wants you to belong to her. You're going to have to ask yourself whether that's what you really want. She's not some casual swinger. She doesn't want a fling. She wants to take you over, and tie you down."

"I know that's what she wants, but that is not what I want, so what's the problem?" he retorted.

"She's trapping you. You keep seeing her and one day soon she'll find out about me and tell you to give me up. I worry that you will follow her instructions."

"Louise I would never go along with that. I fancy her, okay. Yeah, she's beautiful, and the sex is good. But if you think I would ever desert you, or let a 21st century woman control my freedom you've got it wrong."

"Well how far are you gonna take it with her?" asked Louise. "I'd take a bet she'd drop you immediately if she knew about our relationship. These 21st century women are mostly possessive. Just like women in our day. I don't think they've come much further forward."

Lou's feelings were out in the open. It was just as well, Ted thought. They had to have these conversations sometime. She was right that his own requirements from the opposite sex were on a collision course with Cheryl's rules. In the long run he would not keep her, unless she dramatically changed her views, which seemed unlikely. He did not really approve of many of Cheryl's attitudes, and her character was hardly the same as his own. Sexual attraction, mainly, kept him interested in her. Her looks were good; she could have had as many men as she liked. He would eventually tire of her, but for the moment his relationship with her was exciting and passionate. Why should he forego that for Louise's jealousy. He was disappointed by Cheryl's shallow attitudes.

"You know as well as I do that Cheryl will never take over from the position you hold in my life," argued Ted. "Cheryl's mind is not the same as mine, or yours. She is possessive and jealous, thinks she's more intelligent than she is. She loves possessions and furnishings, and clothes, far more than ideals. She will do far more than she should merely for money, and she'll spend money because she loves the act of spending. She's like so many women, of the past and of today. She thinks she's an intellectual because she's well educated, but all her ideas are borrowed. But if you think her 'faults' or differences make her unsuitable as a bed partner for me you're wrong. Her body turns me on right now, and her high class act is enjoyable. I don't ever see me wanting to live with her; that would ruin it. I don't see it lasting too long, because we're different, and because she's looking for a Mr Right who's unattached and is willing to take her on exclusively. But while its happening I want to be free to explore this relationship."

"You are dishonest, you naughty man," laughed Louise, sarcastically. "Don't you think she's gonna be angry when she finds out she's been duped? It's dishonest."

"This ain't the first time you've seen me bed a woman who saw me as a potential marriage partner. You didn't object then, because you accepted that a lot of conventional types don't entertain the possibility of promiscuity. Often they don't know themselves what they think. Many of them probably prefer it that way. It's just they're so conventional they don't like to admit it. There are women who've wanted a piece of me but they wouldn't really want the full me if they knew what it was. That doesn't mean they regret having a piece of me. The same applies to Cheryl. She's been married before; she doesn't need a copy of what she's had before. She says she's looking for that, but a relationship with me for a while is probably what she needs for now. She can keep on looking after I've gone, but I doubt she'll regret what she had with me."

Chapter 9: Cheryl: Competing For Love

Cheryl had previously asked Ted for his home address and wanted to be invited back, but Ted had always made excuses, and said the apartment was a bit small, or he would rather take her out. Instead Ted had become a regular visitor to her apartment. She had been getting curious about where he lived and his secrecy was making her suspicious. Cheryl, like most of her female friends, believed there could be no secrets between lovers. So, after repeated evasions, she managed to follow him back in a taxi after he dropped her off one night.

She sat outside his apartment block and observed people coming and going. She returned at another time, during daylight, to observe the place, this time from her own car across the avenue. She observed Ted's return from work, saw him pull up in the car and go into the apartment block. Observing from the car she saw him emerge at the window. As it was a warm day he opened the sliding window and emerged onto the small balcony. Combing his hand through his handsome head of hair, he leaned on the balcony gazing out towards the bay. A smaller figure, female, still in the prime of life, as she and Ted were, eased herself through the balcony window/door out onto the balcony, and placed her right arm around Ted's waist.

Cheryl screamed inside her head. It was as she had begun to suspect. Her lover had another woman, an imposter. How could this be? Was she his wife, or just another girlfriend? Cheryl felt slighted. Her lover had abused her trust, taken her for a ride. She felt anger towards Ted, but she did not know the facts yet. She knew she wanted the tall man. His masculine intelligence and his cool good looks enticed her. There were not many men she knew who did it for her in the way Ted did. She would find out more, and possibly she would fight for this man. He was probably worth it. Being a good looking woman by most people's estimation, and her own, she knew well she could have her pick of men. She had had a few in the past, and well understood her power over men, which made it all the more annoying that there was another woman in this man's life. She prided herself that she was a good judge of men, and she knew this one was kind, intelligent, charming and had many other qualities

"Hi Ted," she said as she opened the door of her apartment to him, "Won't you come in." She looked very beautiful indeed, in a tightfitting blue dress which showed off all her most delicious curves. The tidy flesh of her pretty arms, sculpted and muscular, and the unbroken smoothness of her upper chest, drew Ted's fascination instantly. "Sit down here darling, and what can I get you to drink?"