By Wednesday Reed, STAR Writer

Mark looks hungrily at Josie as the two prepare to get intimate. Shot directed by Rosie Murray. - Anthony Minott

Mark finds comfort in Josie's arms. It is a mutually beneficial relationship which he does not have with his wife.

Mark lay sprawled on Josie's tiny bed in her tiny room. A standing fan continued to fight a losing battle with the night's heat. The walls were covered with magazine cut-outs of movie stars and other women wearing ela-borate hairstyles that must have made sleeping a technical skill. A white plastic chair in the corner of the room was laden with clothing. His own lay in its own little pile at the foot of the bed, everything but his socks.

Rose hated when he kept his socks on during sex, and so he delighted in doing it with Josie, his anti-Rose. What he liked most about her was that she seemed to be quite honest with him, no games, no trying guess exactly what's on her mind then spending how many hours trying to make it up to her for guessing the wrong thing. They both had compatible needs. He helped her out financially, and she took care of him. Her three children were nice anyway, so he didn't mind helping to ensure that they go to school regularly. He could hear Josie stirring in the small kitchen. Every now and then he got a little glimpse of her as she moved about.

"Josie, you not comin?"

"Shh! Hold down the noise, Britney dem sleeping already. I setting up dem breakfast fi a mawnin, a soon come."

"Josie come no man?"

"You stay deh, a have to make sure dat my pickney dem ready fi school a mawnin."

A few minutes later she came to the doorway and stood. With the light from the kitchen illuminating her from behind, she almost seemed like a voluptuous piece of the night. She walked deliberately over to the bed. "You ready fi mi." It wasn't a question, she could see he was.

Some time later he felt her rousing him.

"Mark, is time fi you leave."

"What, a get you a try get rid a me?"

"You not planning to go home tonight?" He avoided the question.

"How the cosmetology class working out?"

"Lawd, you wouldn't know Mark. I take to it like fish to the sea."

"Come here," he said pulling her closer to him.

"Lawd massa, you hungry sah. Suppen get inna you t'night?"

He could feel himself starting to rouse to attention once more. It had been a long time since he was able to go twice in one night. He rubbed himself against her.

"Mark?"

"Hmmm," he said around a mouthful of ear while his hand snaked toward an exposed breast.

"Go home to you wife."

Next: Dennis plays basketball with Copper but his mind is on his troubles.

Tell us what you think about the story so far by sending an email to star@gleanerjm.com or a text message to 467-2165. No calls will be accepted on this number.