Old Enough for Love (Details)
citation: McCall's, May 1962, LXXXIX(8):78-79, 142, 144-146
alias: None
teaser: Her age was her own affair, but it was no secret she preferred her men young
summary: Dan and Liz's next-door neighbor, Fred Gutmann, stops by one evening after dinner to say he may lose his job when his company merges with United Tool. Fred's position as Treasurer will not be needed by the new company after the merger. At forty-six, overweight, balding, and a widower, Fred's future looks bleak. He asks Dan and Liz's advice.
Liz reasons Fred's justified in lying about his age to find a job, or even changing his name and starting a new Social Security account. Fred's already started dieting.
Four weeks later, Fred stops by again, proud to have lost so much weight he had to buy new clothes. He informs Dan and Liz he is going to the hospital the next day for a face lift.
After his cosmetic surgery, Fred dyes his hair — an expensive process he must regularly maintain — and uses a wig to cover the bald spot. Contact lenses complete his physical transformation. He's also re-printed photographs of himself when he was much younger, and changed his name to Jack Goodman.
Jack (Fred) gets the first job he applies for. While Dan is having a business
lunch, he sees Jack having lunch with a spectacularly
good-looking girl.
Jack introduces the woman as Anita Morgan, a co-worker.
Sometime later, Dan and Liz meet Jack and Anita for dinner. Liz likes Anita so well, she hopes the couple will marry. When Dan reminds her Jack is not as young as he looks, Liz tells him it doesn't matter, as long as they're in love.
A few days later, Fred (Jack) tells Dan and Liz he's not seeing Anita any more. He feels he's too old for her, and can't keep up the pretense. Liz says she and Anita have already made theater plans for Friday, a ruse Dan goes along with. During intermission at the theater, Liz invites Jack (Fred) and Anita to a picnic. This leads to Jack proposing, and eventually marrying, Anita. For three months, Jack and Anita lead an active and successful married life.
One night Jack stops by, confessing he's been lying to his wife, and at work, pretending to be on a business trip or at home ill, so he can check into a hotel for a few days rest, and let down his guard. He can't live the life of the younger man any longer. He fears losing both his wife, and his job.
Liz now reverses her position, advising Jack to tell Anita the truth. She reasons Anita loves him, and won't want a divorce, and that since he's now known at work, he won't be fired.
Six months later, Fred (Jack) Gutmann (Goodman) has returned, hair-piece and dye-job gone, heavier, and wearing glasses. His job is going well, and he's still married to Anita, who has gained weight herself.
Only Liz knew Anita was not as young as she looked, either.
words: 6,070
genre: None
similar: None
people: Dan, Liz, Fred Gutmann, Jack Goodman, Anita Morgan
places: Unspecified (Marin County, CA): Mount Tamalpais; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA: Battery Street, Cappa's, North Beach, Enrico's Coffeee House, Broadway; Berekely, CA: Claremont Hotel; Sausalito, CA
comments: Forthcoming