Manny's Unexpected Visitor

The weeks seemed to fly by for Manny as May was fast approaching. He and Corrina had fallen into a routine. She would come by after he got home from work and she would spend evenings with him and Molly.

After their initial conversation on sex, Manny felt that he had to regroup and didn't bring the subject up again right away. He realized that she needed him to take his time. As hard as it was, he restrained himself from touching her other than kisses. He needed her to want him too, he needed her to be the aggressor sometimes. She never approached him, even for kisses.

Corrina didn't say anything with this change in his behavior, but he knew that she noticed it even if she didn't ask about it. Most evenings he relaxed with both her and Molly and once she was put to bed, he sat across from her in a chair as she sat on the sofa and talked to her or sat at the piano and played a song for her. He limited himself to just a goodnight kiss and that was hard.

He wondered how long it would take before she cracked. He wanted her to admit that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. He felt that she did, but he realized that there were things ingrained in her and she still did not trust him completely. He decided to hold off their final talk until a week before the wedding. He had no doubt that she was a passionate woman, she just had to admit it to herself.

It had surprised him the things that she had said her sister told her. He had decided to do some research. They were moving on to the 60's now and times were changing. He went to the library and read Ebony and Jet articles looking for something that would be useful. He found plenty of interesting articles, but not much on Negro sexual behavior.

The Mr. Bromide account was a great success and they were pleased with his advertising ideas. Mr. Thompson was ecstatic and decided to give him full control. He still worked with Sid as his assistant, but he kept it strictly business and Sid didn't protest. Manny had to admit that he missed his friendship with Sid. Well, he would just have to find another friend.

Manny had been given a larger office and his own secretary plus a raise. As he walked into the building he worked in, he saw Rodney who worked in the mailroom.

"Good morning, Mr. Singer." Rodney said nodding.

"Good morning, Rodney." Manny replied smiling.

"You have a package in the mailroom." Rodney replied. "I'll have someone bring it up to you a little later."

"Don't worry about that." Manny replied. "I'll walk with you down there to pick it up. I've been expecting something."

He followed Rodney to the mailroom which was empty.

Rodney smiled when he saw him looking around. "Most of the fellas are here by nine. It's only seven thirty. You're an early bird like me, I see."

"Well, I have been since I've been in charge of the Mr. Bromide account" Manny said.

He studied Rodney a moment. He was older than Manny by a few years. Manny had fought for Rodney to be promoted to head of the mailroom, though there had been resistance at first. Rodney had been there for years and knew more than anyone else. The company kept hiring young white men straight out of college that Rodney had to train. They would stay a couple of years and then move on to bigger and better things. Manny thought it was ridiculous and appealed to Mr. Thompson, who agreed. Rodney was then promoted.

Rodney and he and become friends after that, though they didn't see each other away from work. He had never thought about it before, but now he wondered why.

"Rodney, we have a few minutes can I talk to you a moment?" Manny asked.

"Sure, come on back to my office" Rodney replied.

Manny walked into the small confined space Rodney called his office and sat on the stool across from the small wooden desk.

"I guess you heard I'm getting married."

"Oh yes sir" Rodney said smiling. "The word has gotten around."

"What are they saying?" Manny asked grinning.

"Not much. No one seems to know who you're marrying, though I did hear through the grapevine that she's a colored girl. But like I said, that's just a rumor"

Manny was surprised that Sid hadn't totally spilled his guts around the office. "Well, she is colored. I love her. I'd like you to come to the wedding."

Rodney looked surprised. "Well thank you. I'd be honored, Mr. Singer. You've been a good man, helping me get this supervisor job and all. I really appreciate it."

"You deserved it, Rodney…and call me Manny."

"Well, when I'm off duty I'll do that" Rodney replied.

"Look Rodney" Manny said looking at him. "I'm doing some research…you know on colored people's sexual behavior…can you point me in the right direction. I'm having a little problem finding material at the library. I want to be a good husband, you know."

Rodney burst out laughing. "The library? I don't think you'll find much there. What are you trying to find out?"

Manny related to him some of what Corrina had told him.

"Do colored people really think that white people are different when it comes to sex?"

Rodney ran his hand across his head. He looked as if he was debating on sharing something with Manny.

"Well…man to man, Mr. Singer, sex is not something we talk about too much…other than pregnancy and girls are told to wait until they're married."

"Well that's what white folks do too." Manny replied.

"Yeah, but it's different with us. Your people have presented us to the whole world as beasts and our women as loose. So colored people are very conservative when it comes to sex, especially talking about it. You all talk about it more and the things you do. We don't talk about it except for the basics."

"Men talk" Manny said still unconvinced.

"Yeah, men talk. They talk about doing it, who they did it with, but very few talk about it in detail unless they're talking about the woman and what she does to them, not the other way around."

Manny was confused. "I don't understand."

Rodney leaned forward on the table. "Do you…you know, kiss below the belt?"

"Sure, who doesn't?" Manny responded.

"Colored men don't talk about that! We tell each other that we don't do that…even if we do. A lot of us really don't do that."

"Why not?" Manny asked surprised.

"Look, Mr. Singer…Manny, we don't have much manhood as it is. We are second class citizens, niggers to a lot of people…less than a man. You know this! We have to have something. We tell each other that what we have between our legs is more than enough to satisfy any woman…and many believe it. Those that do that kind of thing would never admit to it under any circumstances. Many more just won't do it because if they feel that if they can't satisfy with what they have in their pants, it's another kick in the gut and they just are not having that."

Manny sat there stunned.

"I'm only telling you this, because you're marrying a colored girl and you have been good to me, stuck up for me when nobody else would. I appreciate that.

Manny stood up and extended his hand to Rodney. "Thanks, Rodney. You've answered a lot of my questions."

Rodney laughed. "I doubt if you would find what I told you in any book, Mr. Singer."

Manny left the mailroom and returned to his office. His secretary, Janice was waiting for him.

"Mr. Singer, I was wondering when you'd be in. I called you house and a man there told me that you had already left for work."

"I was in the mailroom retrieving my package." Manny replied putting the box under his arm. "What's the problem?"

"There's a woman waiting for you in your office. She was quite persistent!" Janice said. "I tried to get her to leave, but she insisted on waiting."

Manny walked past her and went into his office and found Jenny sitting across from his desk.

"Manny, "she said jumping up.

"Jenny" he said as she quickly embraced him. "This is a surprise. What can I do for you?"

"Manny" she said sitting down and smiling. "I had to come by here and set things straight between us. I don't think we ended our conversation the other week on the right note."

"You were quite clear to me" Manny said taking out a cigarette. He knew this irritated her, but she didn't say anything.

"Manny, look. I was upset. I mean, I thought things were going good between us."

"You've been a good friend, Jenny. I appreciate all you've done, but I'm in love with someone else."

"I know. I've asked Cheryl who it is and she doesn't know. Sid avoids me and when I corner him, he won't tell me and just says to talk to you…so here I am."

Manny looked at her. "Why is that so important to you, Jenny?"

"I just need to know. It's closure for me. Were you seeing both of us at the same time?"

"I was seeing her, before I met you Jenny, though we weren't involved then. I was still mourning Annie."

Jenny stood up. "I saw your former maid, Katrina driving your dead wife's car when I was at my aunt's house a few weeks ago. What's that about?"

Manny stood up. "Jenny, what has that got to do with anything?"

"She works for my aunt as a maid, Manny. You have her driving your wife's car to do her maid duties!"

"Jenny, that's none of your business!" he said trying to hold his temper.

"It's her, isn't it? You're fucking your maid! "She leaned on the desk facing him. "Your neighbor, Mrs. Murphy confirmed it! I figured it all out. You're fucking her on the side and you knew I wouldn't put up with that type of behavior. You wanted me on your arm and her in your bed. You've found some poor fool to marry you so that you can still fuck your colored whore!"

She pointed her finger in his face.

"I'm going to find out who that gullible girl is Manny. You can't keep her hidden forever! I thought you were a decent man. You could lose custody of Molly with this type of behavior, you know. I have friends in high places."

Manny came around the desk facing her. "Are you threatening me, Jenny? No one will ever take Molly away from me!"

"You can lose her and she'll end up in foster care because of your deviant behavior, Manny. You probably have been fucking her right there in front of the child. A few well placed rumors can make things hard for you. You could lose everything."

Manny wanted to slap her, but restrained himself. His voice was like ice.

"You self absorbed witch!" he hissed. "Get out! Get out of my office right now. No one is going to take Molly from me. I'm marrying the woman I love. The rest is none of your business! Now get out!"

"Alright Manny. " she said putting on her gloves. "But you'd better think about it. Think long and hard about the consequences. I'll find out eventually. I know that Sidney knows…he's just trying to cover for you. The truth will come out. "

She walked to the door and opened it. She turned and looked back at him. "No one insults me and gets away with it Manny Singer."

She then turned and walked out of the office.

Manny sat down and lit his cigarette. He was surprised that Jenny didn't know that it was Corrina he was marrying. Well he had to give Sid some credit.

Just then the door opened and Sid stuck his head in.

"She's gone, right?" he asked.

"Yeah, she just left." Manny replied.

Sid came into the office. "Sorry about that, old man. But I didn't tell her anything. I didn't even tell Cheryl who the lucky girl was because I knew she'd tell Jenny."

"I appreciate that Sid. After that thing with Mr. Thompson, I thought you had shouted it to the whole world."

"Well actually, a part of me was hoping that it was just a phase you were going through…you know something you had to just get out of your system."

He saw Manny's face frown up and threw up his hands.

"I know, I know. I get it now. You're in love with her." He said sitting down.

"So what's the plan? Jenny looks like she's going to make some trouble for sure."

Manny smashed the butt in the ashtray. "The plan is that I'm marrying Corrina in a couple of weeks and there's not a damn thing Jenny can do about it."

"Well I want you to know that I know it's late and all…but I support your decision." Sid said.

"I appreciate that, Sid" Manny said sincerely.

"So, who's your best man?" Sid said looking at him.

"I don't know…I was going to get Corrina's brother in law to stand with me-"

"I'm crushed Manny!" Sid said jumping up. "I thought we were friends!"

"I thought so too." Manny said grinning. "What will you tell Cheryl?"

"You know I'm the man of my house. She'll just have to adjust! Times are changing! Now am I your best man or not? I'll have to go home and spill my guts to Cheryl if I am and then you'll know that Jenny will find out for sure."

Manny looked at Sid with new found respect. "Yes, Sid. You're my best man. Now as for being the man of the house, that's questionable."

Sid stood straight and tightened the knot in his tie. "I'll have you to know, Manny Singer that I'm the man in my house because my wife says so. Don't you ever forget that!"

He chuckled and Manny laughed.

"Thanks Sid" he said.

"You bet" Sid said walking out of his office.