Free One Hand On The Podium by John E. Harper

tears.
    “Well, alright then. I’d better go.”
    As he started out of the room she called out, “Tony?”
    “Yes?”
    “Don’t be too late, okay?” Her sad face got the message across to her husband.
    “I’ll try to get back earlier than last time. I promise.” Tony turned and left her alone with her doubts and fears.
    ***
    It took Tony ten minutes to drive to Forest Park, which was located just west of the downtown area, known as the Central West End. He found a parking space at the edge of one of the many baseball diamonds, got out and began jogging toward the bicycle path, which wove throughout the park. He slowed down when he reached an area overgrown with thick bushes and vines. He looked around, searching for something.
    “Michelle? Are you here? Michelle?” he called out.
    “Tony! I’m over here.”
    “Oh, there you are. I was beginning to worry that I’d missed you.”
    “Where have you been, Sexy Boy? I’ve been waiting for over an hour.”
    “Sorry,” he said, smiling. “Do you still like me?”
    “How could I not like you, especially with those gorgeous legs?”
    “Thanks!” he answered, offering a goofy smile as he looked down at his very hairy limbs coming out of the blue running shorts. Tony gave the young beautiful girl a hug, then planted a big sensuous kiss on her wet luscious lips.
    “Did you have trouble getting out of the house, Darling?”
    “Not too much, although Peggy complained about me getting home so late last time.”
    “Don’t worry. After I’m through with you, you can get back to her.” A devilish smile escaped her lips.
    “Oh?”
    “If it’s alright with you I’d just as soon not go to my apartment tonight, Tony.”
    “Why? Don’t you want to do anything?”
    “Oh, yes! I certainly do want to,” she smiled.
    “Where do you want to go?”
    “Here.”
    “What? Right here? Are you crazy?”
    She said, “Yes. The sun will be setting in a few minutes. It’s dark enough, don’t you think? While I was waiting for you I found a nice secluded spot right over there. Come on, follow me.”
    ***
    Michelle was only twenty-three years old and had all the bubbly energy of a child. She and Tony met at a party given by the Democratic committee during the primaries a few months earlier. Peggy wasn’t with him that night, which left the handsome politician alone to enjoy all the attention his supporters lavished upon him.
    Michelle worked the phones diligently to make sure her man got as much exposure to the voters as possible.
    At first, Tony thought it was odd that someone so beautiful and young would want to volunteer her time, giving up evenings with friends to run his campaign. But for some unknown reason, Michelle was right there with him from the moment he opened his campaign headquarters. After only a few meetings, the two had developed a relationship, which they both were smart enough to realize must be kept secret.
    ***
    She grabbed his hand and led him off the path to an area surrounded by trees and thick bushes. It was completely secluded.
    “I don’t think we should—.”
    “Stop talking Tony,” she demanded, “I have to make sure you don’t get home late to your loving wife. We don’t want your little Peggy to worry, do we?”
    “No, I guess not.”
    Michelle leaned back against a large walnut tree and pulled Tony against her body. His hands immediately made their way down the back of her cotton running shorts. Their bodies touched at all the important places as Tony kissed her with a passion he’d once felt for Peggy years before. “Oh, Michelle, I’m crazy about your little body.”
    He buried his face in her neck, then moved to kiss the soft tiny hairs that ran up the back of her shoulders. Her fingers tugged at her tank top that was tucked in her shorts. Tony released her as she quickly lifted the shirt over her breasts, letting it rest above them. Tony watched as the shadows of the rustling leaves on the trees moved over them. He leaned