A Forbidden Love

Chapter One-5

“Yes,” she said. “I don’t want to get you in trouble with your professor.”

I got out of bed and got dressed. She did not make any effort to move from her supine position. Once I was completely dressed, I leaned over the bed and kissed her. She put her hand behind my head and pulled me toward her. She gave me a very passionate kiss.

“I’ll let myself out,” I assured her.

As I was walking to my dorm, I kept having this incredulous thought. “I just had s*x with my literature professor.” I was now intimate with three women and they were all older than me. I knew that I had a lot to learn about having s*x. I was also determined to be a good student. I spent the rest of Sunday working on assignments and writing papers. I took a short break to have dinner. Then it was back to the room. I continued my work until midnight. In my opinion, I thought my paper for the literature class was really good. It was important that I impress Professor Surino. I did not want our personal relationship to persuade my academic one. It was important to me that she recognizes my intellectual ability.

Once again, my alarm went off at six o’clock. I was showered and dressed in a half hour. By six thirty, I was on my way to the dining hall. I saw Greta having breakfast in one of the cubicles and she was alone. I looked in and asked if I may join her. In her typical body language, she motioned for me to sit in the chair opposite hers. As I looked over the menu, I could feel Greta staring at me. I looked up. She began to inquire as to when we were going to get together again. I took a slight pause, and then I said, “I didn’t think that you were in a big hurry. I have noticed you walking around with some guy on several occasions. The two of you had the appearance of an item.”

She took a moment as if to collect her thoughts. Then she said, “That’s my friend, Jim. He’s a senior. We’ve known each other since my freshman year. We study together sometimes. We’re just friends and have never been physical.”

I could not tell if she was lying or not. I did not know her well enough. “I want you know that I am not trying to get into your personal life. I just thought that you were distracted by another relationship and you wouldn’t have time for me. I told you the other night; I am as busy the next few weeks as one can be. I would still like to see you when I have more time. Are you alright with that?” I asked her.

“Let’s keep it casual,” she suggested. “When it’s convenient for both of us, I’ll have you over for an evening.”

We finished our breakfast. I excused myself telling her that I had an eight o’clock class that I had to prepare. I took her hand and kissed it. She smiled and I left for my dorm. When I arrived, I looked over my literature paper one more time. I was confident that I would get an “A”. The time was now seven fifty and I decided to leave for class. It was a good five minutes to the fine arts building. I wanted to arrive early. When I walked through the door, I saw Professor Surino sitting at her desk grading papers. She looked up and smiled. There were two other students in the room who had arrived before me. I took my place at a desk. I opened my literature book to the section we would be going over for today’s lesson.

Within the five minutes after I arrived, the other students had wandered into the class. At exactly eight o’clock, Professor Surino stood from her desk and addressed the class.

“Let me see a show of hands of those of you who saw the campus play this past weekend?” About half the class raised their hands. “Does anyone have any questions about the play and its meaning?” she continued. One young woman raised her hand.

“Yes, Sarah, what is your question,” the professor asked.

“I have a statement more than a question. I thought it to be very dated. I don’t think young people today get that involved with a love relationship,” she stated.

“I disagree with you,” the professor said. “Love is a very strong emotion. There isn’t a limitation on experiencing it in any time frame,” she said. The professor looked right at me and said, “Even people my age can capture the feeling of love. It’s a wonderful thing.” After a slight pause, she continued along with her class.

At the end of the class, she asked everyone to deposit their papers on her desk before leaving. I was the last one to leave. As I put my paper on her desk, she said. “I had a nice time yesterday. Can we do it again next Sunday?”

“Sure, why not,” I said.

As I began walking toward the door, she said, “David, get a copy of the play ‘Tea and Symphony’ by Robert Anderson from the library. I would like you to read it. We can spend some time discussing it when you come over.”

I made a note of it in my copy book and left for my next class. After my last class that Monday, I stopped by the library and pickup a copy of “Tea and Sympathy”. I read it as soon as I got back to my room. I found myself getting so absorbed in the play, I nearly missed going to dinner.

Once again, the week went by in a flash. Before I knew it I was sitting in my dressing room applying my makeup. There was only going to be two more performances after this weekend. I was going to miss doing the show. But, it was going to be nice to have some free weekend time. The cast had its expected standing ovation after each performance. Right after the show, the cast and crew went to Professor Surino’s for another cast party. A good time was had by all. At one point, I got to dance with the professor. She inquired if I had gotten a copy of the play. I told her that I read it three times. I thought that it was a wonderful play. “Although,” I said, “the play was produced in the early nineteen-fifties, I thought that the message was still relevant today, twenty plus years later.” She agreed and said that she was looking forward to discussing it with me on Sunday afternoon. I was looking forward to that as well as some other things.