Simone isn't really my niece. In fact, we are not even related by blood. Actually, she is the step-daughter of my cousin Rita. Rita is 2 days shy of being one year younger than me. During high school and college we were like brother and sister, getting together regularly to talk and smoke grass together. I had lusted after Rita ever since she was about 15, when we had gone swimming together.
Rita had married Simone's father when Simone was about 2, and our family had assimilated Simone and her father as part of our family. Over the years, Simone became more of a niece than the step-daughter of my cousin's husband. Simone was now working on a PhD at a local university. I hadn't seen her since a family reunion when she was 16. She was now 24, and lived a few miles from me.
I received an email from Rita, asking if I would do some mentoring for Simone, as both she and Simone were struggling with an issue between Simone and her father. There were no details other than that. A few days after I received the email, Simone called me as a follow-up. Being very vague on the phone, Simone asked if I would meet her for dinner near the campus, as she wanted to discuss it face-to-face. The mystery surrounding the issue aroused my curiosity, and I agreed to meet her at a pub near her apartment.
Simone was already there when I arrived. I had come straight from work, dressed in my usual Dockers and a shirt. Simone was dressed as a student; jeans, sweatshirt and sneakers. Simone was, in a word, beautiful. She had olive skin, stood about 5' 7" tall, with an oval face framed by long straight black hair. The large sweatshirt hid her figure, but her loving hug upon my arrival allowed me to feel her large breasts against my chest.
We chitchatted as we perused the menu. Simone had already ordered a pitcher of beer, and we caught up on recent history while we awaited our food order. As curious as I was, I figured, she'd get around to the reason we were meeting when she was ready.
Our food arrived, and after a few bites, she finally started in, "I'm sure you're curious as to why I've asked to meet with you.
"Well, yes, since both you and Rita have been strangely vague about the reason."
"There are several reasons for the vagueness, but principally it's because I'm a bit nervous about talking about this issue with you. But Mom said that you're pretty liberal, fair and understanding. And I don't need a parental lecture on this. But that is what my Dad would give me, and even before I finished talking."
"Ok."
"Well, I want go get into the phone sex business. Mom can accept it, but I know that Dad would probably lock me away for twenty years and throw away the keys. He is so chauvinistic. Mom says she knows he's used phone sex services, but we all know that he would never allow his daughter to work in the trade."
"Why?" I asked.
"You know Dad. He's from the sticks, and ..."
I interrupted her, "No, why do you want to get into the phone sex business?"
"Oh, that. Well, three reasons, really. First, I am going into psychiatry with a focus on sexual dysfunction, and this will give me a lot of insight into how men think about sex. Secondly, I understand that if one is good at it, one can make quite a bit of money at it. And, thirdly, I learned last summer how much I enjoy phone sex, when my boyfriend was spending the summer back east." Even in the dim light, I detected a bit of blush in her cheeks with the last comment.
I offered, "Having phone sex with a complete stranger for money isn't the same as intimate conversation with the one you love. And besides, how would James react to you having phone sex with strange men."
"And women, too, I hope," she added. "James's opinion no longer counts. We broke up a few months ago, so I'm currently unattached. He definitely had issues with my desire to pursue a sexually focused career."
"Oh, sorry 'bout that."
"That's all right. It was my choice. He was too demanding, jealous, and closed-minded. As much as he was willing to talk about wild sex, he would only do it with me missionary style, no matter how hard I tried to open it up. And I'm not ready to settle down yet."
"Ok, so how can I help you? It sounds like your mind is already made up."
By now we had finished our meal, although we were still working on the pitcher. "Well, a couple of things. Mom said that if I could convince you that it was a good idea, a good plan, and that I'd be safe, she'd help me convince Dad to accept my doing that kind of work. Secondly, I want somebody to help me make sure I am doing it smart and not getting screwed. And, thirdly, I'm hoping you can help me get some contacts to get started in the business."
"Whoa, that's some pretty high expectations. I really don't want to get between you and your Dad or Rita. That's asking for trouble. And I try to avoid staying out of family issues. That's part of the reason I so seldom showed up for family reunions. Perhaps I can help with the second reason, and what makes you think I can help with the third."
"Well, Mom told me how liberal you were, being a hippie and all in college, and how she used to tease you all the time when you were teenagers."
"That was a long time ago."