Chapter 10
Fred turned in his resignation at his new job the following morning. He and Janet had discussed it all evening and she was adamant that he had to devote all of his time to getting the working model of his computer program ready for the demonstration for George Haney. When he returned to the apartment house, Fred made a deal with the janitor to use part of the basement storeroom for his shop.
The janitor used the storeroom to sit and booze while he looked at porno books, but Fred's offer of twenty-five dollars a week for two weeks was too good to pass up. He moved some of the crates and luggage around and helped Fred set up a worktable with two sawhorses. Fred quickly found that one of his major problems was getting some of the machine parts he needed. These had to be turned out on a custom basis and all of the shops were loaded with work. He finally found a small machine shop down in the Beacon Hill district. The black that owned the shop was willing to take on the work and agreed to hire two part-time men to help. Fred's concern was tempered by the knowledge that this man was known as one of the best custom automotive men in Boston. "Look, man," the shop owner said, "you're putting together some sort of a pilot model, right?"
"That's right," Fred responded.
"And what works for you engineers on paper don't always work when you put the iron together. I've been that road enough times, man. You just give me a drawing of what you're trying to put together, and I'll make it work!" Fred made a rough sketch of what he wanted built and then gave the man a series of specifications.
"The tolerance here isn't too critical," Fred said, pointing to his drawing. "But on this side we have to hold to five thousandths." "That's pretty damned close."
"I know it, but this is where we hook into a computer and sloppy tolerance can be murder. Can you do it?"
"Sure I can do it, but don't put the squeeze on me for time, man."
"This week?"
"I think so, providing you don't hound me to death. Check back with me on Thursday about this time."
Fred stopped by Troy's office and took a long look at the computer while Troy cleared it with the office manager for Fred to borrow a board for two weeks.
"How's it look, Fred?" Troy asked as he brought the board up from the storage area.
"Like a hairy finish, Troy," Fred laughed, "but we'll make it. When George calls you, make the time for Saturday afternoon. I have a feeling I'll need every hour I can get."
Fred took the computer panel board home and began the time-consuming process of wiring the board for his project. First, he had to modify his diagram. His original charts called for the ability to prepare over one hundred different drinks, but for his demonstration he had decided to limit the computer to a total of ten different cocktails. Of these ten, six would be what he called simple drinks-Scotch and water, Scotch and soda, bourbon and water, gin and tonic, bourbon on the rocks, and a dry martini. The other four would be mixed cocktails-a vodka wet, a Manhattan, a daiquiri, and a brandy Alexander. Two of these mixed cocktails would use a blender and Fred gave this a lot of thought. He had incorporated blenders in his diagram, but he hesitated about making this a part of his demonstration. Yet cocktails requiring a blender were popular and he was sure that anybody seeing this demonstration would question the computer's ability in this area if he did not include it.
Fred went out and bought a commercial blender and took it to his makeshift workshop in the basement. There were both wiring and mechanical problems to be worked out on the blender and Fred began to wonder if he would be able to meet his deadline. Wiring the board alone would take a number of days. Then he had to tie all of the mechanical parts together and make a series of checks and double checks.
"Hi, looks like you have yourself a little shop set up here." Fred looked up from his work on the blender to see a young man dressed in slacks, sport shirt and sweater standing on the other side of his worktable.
"I'm Hal Coleman from seventeen D," the man said, extending his hand. "Just got back from vacation and had to put the luggage up. You know how small the closets are in these apartments." Fred introduced himself. He was certain he had seen this man before, but reasoned that it was probably in the elevators here in the apartment house. Yet there was something even more familiar about the handsome young man's face. Or was it his body?
"I'm a mechanical engineer," Hal remarked. "If you have a problem, maybe I can help. Tinkering is my hobby."
"I've got plenty of problems," Fred laughed, "but they involve more than tinkering. I'm working on a project and have to incorporate this blender into a computer. Electronics are my field and I can rig the relays to activate this thing, but somehow I have to bring a clean container to the mixer every time. That can be some type of turntable affair, and on the other side I can rig a washing device so that the same containers are in constant motion. But getting the container to move up into the mixer is something else."
"Why not bring the mixing unit down into the container?" Hal suggested. "That would be easier and probably more efficient. I work with the radio industry, so if it isn't in my line why not give me a general breakdown of what you're doing and I'll see if I can help. As I said, tinkering is my hobby."
Fred considered the proposition for a moment and then decided that the risk was worth the gamble. He needed all the help he could get, and Hal's suggestion about bringing the mixer down into the container made sense. He outlined very briefly and very generally his project, then made some sketches of how the blender would have to be incorporated. "Sounds exciting as hell," Hal said when Fred finished. "And I wasn't kidding. I'll be glad to donate my spare time. Why not turn this blender problem over to me for a couple of days and let me see what I can come up with? I still have a week of vacation left. I can bring my tools down here and help you rig anything you need."
"You've got yourself a deal," Fred said. "And once this thing is off the ground, I'll see that you're paid for whatever you do." Don t worry about that," Hal laughed. This kind of thing is my bag. Just buy Alice and me a good steak dinner somewhere along the line." Fred felt that a burden had been lifted from his shoulders when he went back to the apartment to make a final run-through of his wiring before he actually began altering the board for the computer. The idea that he had seen Hal somewhere lingered with him, but Fred soon forgot about it as he became engrossed in his work.
Janet proved invaluable during this period. She encouraged Fred at every turn and kept all facets of their daily life off his back. She cleaned the apartment, did the shopping, prepared all the meals, including leaving a salad and sandwich in the refrigerator every day for Fred's lunch, and helped him wherever she could at night after spending a day at her own job. Whenever Fred sat staring at the wall, Janet would coax him back to work. And she insisted that he spend whatever money he needed to buy parts. Janet was convinced that this demonstration was the most important thing in Fred's future.
Thursday night he went to the metal shop in Beacon Hill and was pleased to find that the man had been good to his word. The first batch of parts was ready and fitted together perfectly. Fred gave the man the second series of specifications, promising a bonus if the parts were completed by the following Tuesday. Fred knew that he would need every hour from Tuesday on to assemble the units and make sure they worked perfectly. He bought seventy-five Japanese relays on the way home and went directly to the basement workshop. He found Hal soldering two arms to a small motor. "I think I've got it solved," Hal said brightly when Fred walked in. "This is a motor off an old record player. I geared it down to move slowly, and it will take the load I've calculated it will have to carry. Then I used a one-eighth horsepower motor from an erector set my neighbor's kid had, and that will raise and lower the containers. I substituted a large brush for the beater in a hand mixer and that will be our washing device. I really think that the damned thing will work, Fred." "Great!" Fred exclaimed, going over the work Hal had done and marveling at how ingenious it was. "How do we drain the container when it's washed?" "We don't," Hal replied. "We suck it up with this vacuum motor I made out of Alice's old hair drier. And that works. I tested it in our bathroom and really sprayed the ceiling, Alice didn't talk to me for hours after that," he laughed. "The vacuum idea sucks out and dries at the same time." "Perfect!" Fred exclaimed, realizing that Hal had made a major contribution to the project-one that he hadn't even hoped to work out before the demonstration. "Look, this calls for a celebration. Let me check with Janet when she gets home, and if it's okay how about you and Alice coming over to our place for a steak dinner?" "Sold," Hal replied. "Meanwhile, I've got about an hour to complete this." Fred went to work immediately wiring relays. He had worked the patterns out the night before, but it was still complicated work with the material and tools he had at hand. At six o'clock he took the elevator up to the apartment and found Janet entering the kitchen to prepare dinner. He told her excitedly of the progress they had made and asked if she minded if he invited Hal and Alice to dinner.
"Why not?" she responded, kissing him. "I'll run down to the market and pick up some good steaks. French fries and salad okay?" "Whatever," Fred replied. "And I nit you to know how much I appreciate everything you've done, honey."
"And we'll have lemon pie for dessert. I saw a delicious pie at the bakery on the way down the block. If it's still there, I'll get it. Let's make it eight o'clock, okay?"
"Fine, and I'll take the rest of the night off. You'll like Hal. He's been fantastic for me, I'll tell you."
Fred went back to the workshop and told Hal that they'd have dinner at eight. Hal ran up to tell Alice, then returned to the shop again and the two men worked in silence.
"Hey, look!" Hal exclaimed. "The damned thing works!" Fred went over to where Hal was working and saw a large turntable and another motor took over to raise the entire table four inches. "We have to wire some stops on this thing and we've got it," Hal remarked as he made the mechanism go through a complete cycle again. "I've got the relays right here," Fred said. "Let's do it now. I can't tell you how great this is, Hal."
"I'm as proud of it as you are, buddy. Here, I'll give you a hand." The two men wired the relays in and watched the turntable go through a complete cycle with just one impulse to activate it. They were as excited as two boys with a new toy.
"Hey, it's after eight!" Fred exclaimed. "We'd better get upstairs." "I told Alice to meet us at your apartment, so she and Janet are probably already roasting us over a fire."
When Fred opened the door to the apartment, they found the two girls sitting in the living room talking.
"I haven't started the steaks yet," Janet called. "So you have time for a drink if you want one. Fred, you haven't met Alice, have you?" Fred came into the living room and greeted Alice. He introduced Janet and Hal, who hadn't met, and then asked Janet to make cocktails while he washed up. Fred was preoccupied as he went into the bathroom to wash his hands and comb his hair. Alice was even more familiar than Hal had been. Yet Fred was certain he had never seen her around the apartment complex. She was so pretty he would certainly have remembered her. Alice had a heart-shaped face and long black hair that fell almost to her waist. She had a set of tits that stuck out like beacons, and Fred had the feeling he had seen her in the nude. Ridiculous, he told himself as he went back to the living room. Yet the moment he saw her again, Fred was positive he had seen her before-and he still felt he had seen her in the nude. "Haven't we met somewhere?" Fred asked Alice, sitting down next to her on the couch.
"I don't think so," the pretty brunette replied. "I'd certainly remember a good-looking man like you," she added with a smile. "Fred," Janet said quickly, "give me a hand in the kitchen, will you?"
"Sum," Fred replied, following his wife to the kitchen.
"Where is that magazine from the swinging club?" Janet demanded.
"In my drawer," Fred responded. "Why?"
"I could swear the Colemans are swingers and that we've seen their photos in the magazine," Janet said. "I felt it when Alice came, and then when Hal arrived I was positive. I can handle dinner. You run in and look at the magazine."
"Okay," Fred replied, draining his glass and making fresh drinks for him and Janet. He took his drink and made his way quickly to the bedroom and opened the drawer beside the bed. Then he sat down and began flipping through the pages of the swinging magazine. If Janet was right, it would explain his feeling of having seen both of the Colemans before. Particularly his nagging idea that he had seen Alice in the nude.
He found them on the next to last page of ads. The photos were clear and there was no mistaking Hal and Alice. Especially Alice with that fabulous set of tits! Fred felt his cock come alive as he stared at the photo of Alice's bare chest. Maybe they could work out a swap tonight, if Janet was willing. Putting the magazine away, he went back to the kitchen. "You were right," he said to Janet softly. "And they're damned attractive people."
"I was thinking the same thing. And convenient, right here in our own apartment house."
"Interested?" Fred asked.
"Might be," Janet smiled. "Let's see what happens." Over dinner the four people discussed items of shared interest about the apartment house, local politics, and their jobs and aspirations. Their friendship was accelerated by the fact that Hal and Fred had been working together, as well as the fact that they shared somewhat similar backgrounds and interests.
Hal went to his apartment and brought a bottle of brandy back, and after dinner they sat in the living room drinking and talking. Within an hour all four were in varying stages of intoxication, but it could not be said that anyone was really drunk.
Fred had been eyeing Alice all evening. Whenever she shifted positions and casually exposed more thigh above the hemline of her skirt, Fred felt his pulse quicken. Her large tits fascinated him. If he hadn't seen her photograph in the magazine, he wouldn't have believed they were real. Every time Alice caught him looking at her she smiled, and this made Fred feel that a swinging arrangement was possible if they wanted it. But he also knew that the Colemans would be cautious, and that it was up to him to let them know he knew about them. "You know, I could swear I've seen you before tonight," Fred said, speaking to Alice and then turning to Janet. "Yes, I think so, too," Janet said. "And I've seen Hal before." Fred smiled to himself. This was Janet's way of telling him she was willing.
"In fact, I think it was in a magazine," Fred commented with a wide smile. "Well," Alice replied, "if you saw us in a magazine, you must be swingers yourselves."
"Learners," Janet said, "but enthusiastic with the right people."
"The experiences we've had have been great," Fred remarked. "So have ours," Hal said. "We only began about six months ago, but we've had a great time."
"The swinging philosophy makes sense to us," Alice added. "It relieves a lot of nasty hang-ups." She scooted forward on her chair to take a cigarette Fred offered, and she didn't bother to pull her hem down this time. Fred could see her pussy, and she wanted him to. Alice had been attracted to him since she first saw him, and she was sure he felt the same way. Why don't we put on some music and dance?" Fred saw the logic of her suggestion immediately. Dancing would serve to break the ice and would allow them to pair up and split. He selected several cassettes and chose an Andy Williams album for openers. As soon as the music filled the room, Fred took Alice's hand and pulled her to her feet.
After a moment, Hal rose and asked Janet to dance. She flowed gracefully into his arms and felt her excitement rise as she felt his hard cock rubbing against her belly.
At the end of the fourth number, Alice placed her lips against Fred's ear and whispered, "Why don't we vanish to our apartment?"