THE SWORD AND SICKLE

PART ONE

CHAPTER THREE

LAIDA

"I do like this sex counselor, and she is a very nice young woman. I think I would love that very much. What do you think, Laida?" Levi was reminded of his encounter with Laida in college. Thinking about sex seems to bring his mind to a fixed point in the history of his life. His encounter with the Bastions' weird family sexual dynamics.

"Well, I'm all for it, at least for a few months to see how we get along. Daddy, what do you think of Levi? Is he good for me?"

"He's okay, I guess, but you know fathers. 

"Oh, dad, you are going to make me blush," as she cooed and slowly turned her back towards her father and coyly she placed her chin on her left shoulder. "Goodbye Levi, I have to bathe, until next week?" She looked up to him and they embraced engaging in a passionate kiss.

"Let me walk you to your car," said Mrs. Bastion. When they arrive at his car, the mother said, "Levi, I know Laida has told you about my husband's indiscretions with her, and it is his fault, because she is sexually active at such a young age. She deserves to know what a good man is like, and I know you were a good man for Ivy. You are not that much older than her, really, and she needs to know what it is like to be with a real man. Hell, your age difference won't seem that great in a few years, believe me. I know you are a healthy, God-fearing young man, but you dare hurt her!

"Yes, ma'am--I understand. May I ask you a question? What happens if she gets pregnant? What happens then?"

"Thanks to her father, she can never get pregnant. Not now, not ever."

"Does she know that?"

"No, and I don't want you to tell her, either. I have put her on the pill and forbidden my husband from ever touching her again, so as far as she knows, the pill will keep her from becoming pregnant. Good night, Levi, and drive safe. We will be in contact with you, perhaps next week. I know my daughter's cravings better than I should."

Levi drove home, satisfied, but the creepiness of the situation lingered. He went home to his apartment and immediately showered and fantasized about the encounter. He and Laida were together for about a year before he returned to Missouri.

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Levi, after returning from art class, knew in his heart that this Judy was his Laida Bastion from so many years ago. He stepped out of the shower and fantasized about their encounter.

As Levi prepared for his first private art lesson with Judy, he thought of the first time he saw Laida Bastion. Today, when they met in private, he would confront her. It was an hour trip from his place to Judy's house, and he had plenty of time to fantasize about the two of them; she greeted him at the back door, and she led him into her kitchen. Levi said, "Well, Judy, I see you are ready, as he looked at her art supplies set up on the dining room table."

"I am very excited to get started, Levi. Thank you for showing up."

"Well, after all, you are paying me," he said with a grin.

"What are you grinning about? You look like you just won the Lottery."

"Well I think I know who you really are. It was many years ago, you had a different name then, different color of hair, but I definitely believe we know each other."

"I wondered when you would figure it out. Yes, I am Laida."

"I thought so. This should be great 'art lessons' for both of us!"

"No matter what we do, I will not leave my husband, but I love him very much. I am sure we can explore some of our old antics, that's if you want to?"

"Of course. Where are your toys?"

"Come with me, Big Boy, we have a lot of catching up to do."

Levi continued to "teach" her for the next year, even after meeting another woman he believed would be a good wife. After a while, Judy's marriage to Jim ended, and she became very reliant on Levi for many things. He visited her every day when she moved to his town, and they would have sex as often as possible; she felt very secure in a relationship with Levi. Levi's girlfriend was jealous of Laida, but Levi said repeatedly that Laida was just a good friend and nothing was going on; those words seemed to calm his girlfriend down, and they went on with their lives. Laida and Levi stopped having sex with each other, and they became platonic friends for the intervening years. When Levi's marriage began to crumble, Laida was the first to come to his aid. This continued for a year, until her sister Ivy's MS worsened and she came to live with Laida. Then Laida stopped coming over, and her phone calls became less frequent. Eventually, Ivy passed away, and he went to the funeral to console his close friend.

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