The Class Menagerie

couldn’t disappoint me if you worked at it.“
    “Mel, I’ve been in a time capsule for nearly twenty years. I don’t know anything about... about having an affair. I don’t have the underwear for it,“ she added with a nervous laugh. “I don’t remember how to dance. I’ve only had sex with one man in my life, and he was a pretty unimaginative man. On top of all that, I’m too old for you.“
    He was grinning. “No, I think you’re probably too young for me. But I don’t care. I don’t like to dance and I don’t judge anybody by their underwear. And I’m damned glad you’re inexperienced.“
    “What would I tell my kids? I’ve been trying to convince them that sex is only all right for married people.“
    He laughed. “I’ll tell you a secret, Jane. They probably don’t believe you. And what you tell them is that when they are thirty-seven—“
    “Thirty-nine.“
    “—thirty-nine, they can do anything they want. Les Misérables or The Fantasticks?“
    “What?“
    “Which would you rather see?“
    Jane put her head on his shoulder and didn’t say anything for a long time. Her mother-in-law would have a fit if she went away for a weekend with Mel.
    “ The Fantasticks “ she finally said very softly.

    Todd came hurtling through the French doors a few minutes later to tattle on his brother. “Mom, Mike says—Oh, iiiccckkk! Kissing!“