It was complicated: his older sister was a friend of my mother. He had two careers. He was an artist – which, as most people know, can be rather precarious. He was also a nurseryman – with can be rather more profitable.
When I was 18 or 19, he invited me to spend a weekend with him at his beach cottage. He was excellent company and an even better cook. On the first night we ate and chatted about art and literature and films and probably drank more wine than we should have. ‘I’m a bit pissed,’ he said. ‘I need sex or a swim.’ We grabbed a couple of towels and went skinny dipping in the ocean.
The following night, we again ate well and drank well, but, before we got too pissed, he said: ‘Why don’t we get naked and just see what happens?’
What could happen? Apart from us both falling about laughing. And soon after that I think I fell asleep.
A month or so later, I realised what he had been suggesting. But, by then, it was too late: I was on my way to a new job in London.
A year or so later, I made a brief return to the coast. We had a very pleasant evening together, but he wasn’t well. And, six months after that, he had a bad asthma attack and died.
Would life have been different if I had reacted differently to: Why don’t we get naked and see what happens?
When I was 18 or 19, he invited me to spend a weekend with him at his beach cottage. He was excellent company and an even better cook. On the first night we ate and chatted about art and literature and films and probably drank more wine than we should have. ‘I’m a bit pissed,’ he said. ‘I need sex or a swim.’ We grabbed a couple of towels and went skinny dipping in the ocean.
The following night, we again ate well and drank well, but, before we got too pissed, he said: ‘Why don’t we get naked and just see what happens?’
What could happen? Apart from us both falling about laughing. And soon after that I think I fell asleep.
A month or so later, I realised what he had been suggesting. But, by then, it was too late: I was on my way to a new job in London.
A year or so later, I made a brief return to the coast. We had a very pleasant evening together, but he wasn’t well. And, six months after that, he had a bad asthma attack and died.
Would life have been different if I had reacted differently to: Why don’t we get naked and see what happens?
The details I shall keep to myself . Sorry. 
