once in a lifetime might be enough

Once in a lifetime might be enough

How to best describe the character and attributes of one Joshua Francis — Josh, as he is called by all those who know him, is the hero of this story.

Well let me give it a try.

First:

He is the only child of the late Jefferson Francis, a wealthy Wall Street player who was widowed when Josh was just 3 years old, leaving Josh with no perceptible memory of his mother. The elder Mr. Francis died 7 years ago willing to his son, his only heir, his entire estate a stock portfolio valued at twenty million dollars, more or less. 

So o.k., Josh at the tender age of 21 was rich.

Second:

He is a Yale grad with a degree in Computer Science. He graduated in the top ten of his class ,Summa cum Laude, but he never applied that expertise to work in the high tech world. Instead, straight out of college, he accepted a job offer from a close friend of his dad and went to work as assistant to the curator of the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan. He has been there now the past seven years.. He is a serious performer and loves his work, so much so that he works overtime, often ten hour days and six days a week, at no extra compensation (not that he needs the extra money) .

So o.k. Josh is smart, talented and dedicated.

Third: He lives alone in a one bedroom apartment in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village. He does not own a car and goes everywhere he needs to go using by subway . He rarely eats out, owns just one

suit , dresses casually and wears Nike’s to work. However, lest you get the impression he is a tightwad, he does spend a sizeable chunk of his wealth donating to more than a dozen charities. He closely monitors them and moves the money around when he feels it prudent to do so. 

So o.k. Josh is frugal but also generous.

Forth: Josh is physically blessed. He is lean, agile and athletic. He plays golf and tennis at a pretty high but is not overly competitive, works out at the gym and jogs a couple of times a week. .

So o.k. Josh is fit, healthy and active.

Fifth: Josh is a good looking guy. More than good looking, he is Hollywood handsome— a cross between movie star Tyrone Power with his amazing chiseled facial features, and coal black hair, dark eyes and thick brows— and football's Tom Brady with that captivating smile and boyish charm. When members of the opposite sex see him for the first time they invariably give him the classic double take look — asking themselves “Am I really seeing such a face” and then poking their companion in the ribs and pointing a finger in Josh’s direction-- "take a look at him"!

So o.k. Josh is super attractive.

Why am I telling you all of this mostly incredible good stuff about him? I’ll tell you why. Because Josh’s life ain't perfect. There is a major flaw. He is now a committed loner without a love partner in his life and according to his friends, with little hope of finding one. 

 He is straight but incredibly shy with women. He has been seeking the genuine feeling in his gut of what it’s like to be head over heels in love and to experience the deep attraction for a woman and the passion that goes with it. He had expected it ,longed for it, searched for it but never experienced it.

So O.K. Josh is romantically stuck. But so what, where is all this taking us you might ask? So let me tell you.

It all happened a week ago last Saturday. In just a few short hours a single event completely redirected the life of Josh Francis. let me see if I can find the right words to do justice to what took place.

The night before, Mel had been working hard on Josh trying to get him to go on a blind date for Saturday night, emphasizing the need for Josh to get back into the dating game and maybe, just maybe, winding up experiencing a new and enlightening encounter. "I'm telling you Josh" said Mel, "This Gal I'm fixing you up with is the real thing . She's smart, she's sweet and she's pretty, a total knockout.

It will be good for you, put some colour in your cheeks and maybe even bring back a smile to your face. C'mon bro give it a shot." Josh was lethargic and reluctant to accept, but finally told Mel he'd sleep on it and give him a yes or a no answer tomorrow when they were to meet for lunch to discuss plans for a new exhibit for the museum. Mel looked up at the ceiling shook his head slowly mumbling to himself, "This is hopeless," and then giving a sigh agreed to wait. So Josh went home and slept on it. 

But come Saturday morning Josh was still undecided. Off to work he went. 7:30 a.m. bright and early he took his usual stroll to the subway where he could catch a train to the museum stop. It took only 5 minutes to get to the station. He entered paid his fare and walked down to the platform.After a short wait the train pulled in and when the doors opened there was considerable pushing and shoving with people trying to get off the train colliding with those trying to get on. Josh got caught in this melee and was barely able to get inside just as the doors closed. Riders were packed in super tight like sardines in a can. Josh was sandwiched, squeezed between the door and a young women whose back he was facing. His back was pushed hard against the door and he was so close to her that he couldn't move. His face was pressed directly against her head. He could not help but smell and absorb the smell of her hair. As he continued to sniff for the next couple of minutes a strange sensation began to build up inside him-- sort of like being drugged and drunk at the same time. He closed his eyes and let the feeling continue to sink in. Then all of a sudden, boom, the train took a big noisy bounce as if hitting a bump on the tracks. This caused Josh's head to virtually whiplash forward banging his head into her head quite hard. With some difficulty she was able to slowly turn her head and looked directly at him. Their eyes locked. She opened her mouth as if to say something but she did not speak.

Normally one in Josh's position would say "Excuse me, I'm sorry" or simply turn away being embarrassed for so roughly startling a total stranger with whom you have been virtually embraced for several minutes. But Josh also said nothing. Neither did he turn away. He kept staring at her face. She was a beauty with long flowing chestnut hair, the smell of which had virtually intoxicated him and dark blue eyes. She had a turned up nose, full lips and an olive skin complexion. She was drop dead gorgeous. He could not stop staring, and she did the same. She had obviously been startled by the head bump but she too was captivated by his handsome face and could not turn away. They stayed still, their torsos still tightly together with their faces so close that a wisp of her hair brushed against his nose. Time seemed to stand still. The train seemed to not be moving. The other riders seem to have disappeared, leaving them alone in the car. And then she smiled at him. He smiled back at her. And their eyes kept staring.

Then reality crept back in. The train began to slow down and the squeaking brakes brought it to a stop. They had arrived at the 86th street station and the doors quickly opened. The mass of humanity struggling to exit the car literally pushed them both out as they had failed to move and had stood frozen blocking the door. They were now physically separated from their previous tight bond but their eyes remained locked and they continued looking at one another. And then totally oblivious to the tumult and the subway surroundings , Josh instinctively put out his hand reaching towards her, as if he were trying to pull her back to him . She did not immediately respond. He held it there. She stood still , hesitated a moment longer, and then reached back and grasped his hand. Not a word was spoken. Not a word needed to be spoken. Some inexplicable magnetic force had magically pulled these two strangers together. The mutual physical attraction was too powerful for either one of them to overcome. He squeezed her hand. She squeezed back and they walked together to the stairway. They climbed the stairs and exited the station. It was cold and the wind was blowing He let go of her hand and put his arm around her shoulder. He gently brushed his other hand across her cheek. The spark had been struck within him. The fire was lit. He was helpless to let go of her. And she responded by leaning her face against his hand and patting his shoulder. They looked once more at each other and both simultaneously smiled again. He guided her across 86th street and took her to the museum side entrance door. He was nervous and his hand shook as he fumbled for his keys. She sensed this and tightened her grip on his arm.

It was 8:00 o"clock. No one was in the museum. Supporting staff would not arrive until 11. The museum was not open to the public until noon. They were alone. Once inside Josh turned on the lights and closed the door. Still not a word was spoken.

They were still standing close together at the door when he leaned towards her and ever so lightly kissed her cheek. She looked at him, and put both her hands against his face and gently guided it to her face, so close that their lips touched. He moved his face from side to side brushing his lips lightly against hers . Then he pulled her in close, and ran his hand through her hair. They kissed. This time a real kiss. They held on to the kiss and tasted each other. Inside both of them the fire was burning intensely. They were trapped. There was now no escape. Their mouths  would weld together separate and then reunite. They were fearful of letting go. So what followed was inevitable-- it had to happen. And still not a word was spoken. Not a word yet needed to be spoken.

Wrapped in an embrace they walked to his office just a few steps down the hall. There they disentangled and took off their coats and shoes. Josh walked with her to his office closet, opened the door and reached up to the top shelf for a blanket. Then with his arm around her waist he literally picked her up and carried her over to his visitors couch, put her down and opened the couch. They sat down and gently assisted each other in undressing. It all unfolded so easily, so naturally as if they had been lovers before and knew each others ways. They laid down together in a full embrace. What followed was natural and unforced. The mutual desire was overpowering and unstoppable. With arms wrapped around each othe they moved together vibrating together, breathing together.  He was loving her, stroking her hair, sniffing her body, gently feeling and kissing her breasts . He had never been with someone feeling such a sense of closeness. He could not seem to get enough of her. They paused and remained perfectly still. Then resumed their motion. This sequence repeated itself until a scream, burst from her and she dug her fingers into his back. The scream subsided and her breathing slowed, but sensing he was close she continued to kiss him, his hair, his cheeks his mouth. She reached down with her hand to feel between his legs.. She too was hooked and seemingly could not get enough of him . This hightened the intensity of his desire. He could not be stopped and released his all of his pent up sexual energy. He had never experienced  this incredibly powerful connection with any other woman. And she lovingly continued her kisses until his movement stopped. They lay there motionless. She pulled the blanket to cover them. Again time seemed to have stopped as they drifted off to sleep. But in fact time had not stopped .It was still running as Josh opened his eyes and glanced at his watch. It was 20 minutes after nine . they had been lying there together in that make shift bed for over an hour and she still had her eyes closed. He rolled off the couch right on to the floor. This moving around awakened her and she opened her eyes. Seeing him on the floor with her face so close to his she reached out, touched his chin and spoke. Words were finally spoken. At this moment words needed to be spoken. With a slight foreign accent she said, "My name is Isabel, who are you"? Josh was still so overcome by everything that had transpired he couldn't immediately respond. He just looked at her. She was slender and so beautiful, so desirable, so sexy. He was at a loss for words. But finally he was able to mutter, "I'm Joshua Francis, Josh for short and I work here at the museum." She rose up to a sitting position and said," Darling precious Josh mon cher, mon cherie, please do not say anything more. Please, please remain silent. I need to dress and go. I must catch a plane tonight for Paris to rejoin my family.. Josh, you have reawakened in me feelings that I thought were gone and for that I will have you in my heart forever, but I must go. There is no other choice . I thank God for giving us this moment but I beg you not to speak. Words will only make things harder for me." She leaned towards him, kissed him on the forehead and reaching for her clothes she rose from the couch. Josh continued to sit on the floor but did as she asked and said nothing. She finished dressing and eyeing the bathroom connected to Josh's office she walked into it. 

The rest of this story is uneventful. Isabel waited for Josh to dress. She hugged him and gave him a goodbye kiss, walked out through his office door giving him a farewell wave and let herself out the rear entrance door. Josh sitting on the couch had said nothing. There were tears in his eyes.

Mel showed up at precisely 12:00 noon as promised and went straight to Josh's office ready for them to do lunch. When he opened the office door he saw Josh stretched out on the couch with one hand folded behind his head listening to Maria Callas singing an aria from Madame butterfly. There was a half filled glass of wine on the table next to him. He had a smile on his face as he turned toward Mel and was rhythmically tapping the fingers of his other hand on his chest humming along with Callas to the strains of 'UN Bel Di". Mel took one look at Josh and burst into a wide grin. "Hey man you look great and it looks as if you're feeling pretty great as well. I can't even remember the last time I saw you like this. Was it something you ate?" Josh laughed. Mel continued, "So with regards to tonight I hope your answer is yes. You know Josh if I was your shrink I couldn't emphasize more strongly that there is only one thing still missing to round out your life, which I believe you might get --that is if you agree to go on the blind date I set up for you. You just might get lucky and encounter some truly gorgeous gal with needs like yours and with whom you can discover and experience some unbelievable great and emotionally satisfying sex." You just got to do this for your health and your sanity. Josh, slightly annoyed but quite calm, quickly responded, "Mel, good buddy,I know that what you are trying to do for me is in my best interest . I get it. I do get it so there's no need for you to keep explaining it again and again." Then smiling he said, So it's o.k. for you to set up a date for me tonight. I think I've turned the corner, I'm ready and I promise to give it my best shot. And let me thank you in advance regardless of how it turns out." Mel nodded and the two just looked at each other and remained silent for a while. Then Josh said, "Mel, we've been good friends for a long time so let me ask you a question." Josh hesitated , trying to gather his thoughts, then spoke slowly and in a low voice," Have you ever had an experience in your life or even in a dream that was so profound, so intense, so moving that you could recall the memory of it in every detail, like you were watching a movie in living colour, and sense that you are reliving it with all the same feelings -- and does that memory sustain you?

 Have you ever had that?" Mel just stared at Josh for a few seconds and said, "wow, Jesus what a heavy duty question? Where did that come from? Man, you must have had a hell of a dream last night. One hell of a dream to conjure that one up. But I don't know, I can't off the top of my head give you an answer so if it's o.k. with you" then he stopped ,hesitated a moment, broke into a smile and continued, " I'd like to sleep on it and give you an answer tomorrow. Now, let's go to lunch."