Cougars

by Earl Sewell

  “He’s okay. He’s hooked on Viagra though. He said it’s the greatest pill that man has ever invented. Hell, I have to admit, I even use it from time to time.”

  “You have to be careful taking that. In fact, if you don’t have to, you shouldn’t use Viagra because it happens to have a spillover effect. It blocks PDE-5, but it also has an effect on PDE-6.”

  “Okay, you just talked way over my damn head with all of the PD shit. You need to just speak plain English. You’ve got to remember that simple motherfuckers like me don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “Okay, let me break this down for you. PDE-6 is used in the cone cells in the retina, so Viagra can have an effect on color vision. Some people who take Viagra notice a change in the way they perceive green and blue colors, or they see the world in a blur for several hours. Since you’re a pilot you really shouldn’t take that stuff, especially within twelve hours of a flight. Lots of young guys who take Viagra recreationally may not realize that they can become dependent on it. In other words, they can’t get it up without taking the pill and I know you don’t want that to happen.”

  “Hell motherfucking no I don’t want that to happen. The only thing I heard about the pill was that you can’t get an erection that lasts too long and so far that’s never happened to me,” Alex said.

  “Dude, Viagra can fuck you up if you’re not careful. You could develop headaches. In some men, Viagra opens up arteries in the brain’s lining and causes excess pressure. It can also cause a heart attack. Matter of fact, heart attacks are one reason why Viagra is a prescription drug rather than an over-the-counter drug like aspirin.”

  “Well, if the pill can fuck you up like that, why even put the shit on the market?” Alex asked.

  “Because, regardless of the risks, consumers are willing to pay through the nose for it,” Travis said with brutal honesty.

  “You see, it’s mad scientists like you who design these drugs and get people all hooked. Do you realize that in some respects, your profession is probably worse than a mobster who sells drugs because chemists are the people who design the shit to begin with.” There was a long moment of silence.

  “You know, I’ve never looked at it that way. I’ve always felt as if my profession was about finding cures and helping people live longer. I never thought about the darker side of the industry.”

  “Yeah, your profession most certainly does have a darker side. You know it’s been rumored that the HIV virus was engineered in a lab to kill black people,” Alex said, absolutely convinced of this.

  “Alex, that’s not true.” Travis dismissed Alex’s strongly held belief.

  “Okay, hotshot. Hang with me for a second here while I attempt to help you take off your blinders. What lab did they engineer marijuana in?”

  “Marijuana wasn’t engineered in a lab. It’s a plant.” Travis laughed.

  “Exactly. It’s a natural part of the earth. Now, where does crack cocaine grow?”

  “You can’t grow cocaine; it has to be made.”

  “And who came up with the idea to make it?” Alex let his question linger in the air.

  “It was probably designed by a chemist,” Travis reluctantly admitted.

  “Exactly. Just like all kinds of other biomedical germs like the flu virus. I swear to you, man, insane scientists are in labs creating a new strain every year just to make money off of the public. And you know what? The government scientists know about it. They have labs underground where they do secret experiments on animals and people. I’ll bet you they’re even quietly cloning humans.”

  “Alex, don’t you think you’re reaching with that one? The government doesn’t have any hidden labs, and they’re definitely not conducting any unregulated experiments on people or cloning humans.”

  “You ever heard of the Tuskegee Study? The government injected black men with syphilis between 1932 and 1972. Now I know you heard about that shit?” Alex was certain he’d made his point.

  “Of course I’ve heard of the study, but you’ve got it twisted. The government never injected the men with syphilis; the men already had the infection. When the study began in 1932, the standard medical treatments for syphilis were toxic. Part of the study goal was to determine if patients were better off not being treated with such toxic remedies. Researchers wanted to understand each stage of the disease in hopes of developing a suitable treatment. The tragic part happened when penicillin became the standard treatment and the men were never given the drug.”

  “Okay, you’re getting all technical on me, but regardless…you can never say that the government has never experimented on people before.”

  “No, I can’t say that,” Travis admitted.

  “You can be so straight-laced sometimes, Travis. I’m just trying to get you to understand the bigger picture.”

  “Point well taken, Alex.”

  “So, if you get this job are you going to be making more money?” Alex asked.

  “I should be or at least that’s the goal. I don’t want to sponge off my parents forever. A man has got to cut his own path in life.”

  “Amen to that, brother. Look, I’ve got to run. I’ll give you a buzz later,” Alex said, sounding suddenly rushed.

  “Okay. Talk you later.” Travis hung up the phone.

  Chapter 9

  Jasmine

  Jasmine and her team of scientists walked into the small auditorium at her workplace. She placed her notepad on the seat. In the corner of the room on a separate piece of furniture there was a breakfast buffet with bagels, pastries, fresh fruit, coffee and a selection of juices. She picked up a plate and placed a small vine of grapes on it, then grabbed one of the miniature bottles of orange juice. Just as she sat down, more members of the executive management team and employees entered. The president of the company, Helen Holmes, decided to approach Jasmine before she could take her seat.

  “Good morning,” Helen greeted Jasmine with the customary pleasantry and a smile that never fully formed.

  “Good morning. It’s good to see you,” Jasmine answered.

  “Be sure to come by my office, let’s say around one this afternoon. I have a few things I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Sure. I’m looking forward to it,” Jasmine said as she headed back to her seat. Once she was situated, Monica, a member of her team, leaned toward Jasmine and whispered, “What do you think this surprise meeting is about?”

  “I have no idea. Helen wants to see me in her office later on today though.” Jasmine plucked a grape and ate it.

  Helen was a driven woman in her fifties. Her hair had turned silver instead of gray. She had blue eyes and pale white skin with rosy cheeks and thin lips. She was a straight-no-chaser kind of person who didn’t calibrate her words when speaking. Jasmine had learned how to speak her language early on. Helen wasn’t one for casual conversation; she was into formulas, calculations and had killer business savvy. She never married nor had any children, only a goddaughter who lived in California, but whom she was very fond of. She rarely took a day off and if she did, it was generally to take care of some task or household chore that required her attention or direct supervision. Helen could be so uptight at times that many of the women gossiped about how a big dick, a good fuck and a strong orgasm would do her crotchety disposition a world of good. The company was Helen’s life; started by her great-grandfather in the 1940s and had remained in the family ever since. Helen and her slightly older brother took over when their father passed away ten years earlier.

  “Okay, everyone have a seat so that we can get started.” Helen stood at the podium and waited for the modest number of employees to get settled. “As you know, the primary purpose of this company has been engaged in the discovery, development and commercialization of drugs in the areas of infection, cancer, respiratory disease and other areas of medicine. Sometime ago— I can’t remember exactly when because it’s been so long—I gave Jasmine Sallie and her team the task of developing a new antibiotic
for the treatment of respiratory tract infections. She and her team worked tirelessly to develop a new formula. From the discovery stage to the preclinical trials, and in every phase thereafter, Jasmine has made this product a reality. We are now at the brink of commercialization for this medicine, and I am both excited and confident that it will soon be available for use by practitioners around the globe. So I’d like everyone on Jasmine’s team to please stand up and be recognized by your peers.”

  A large smile formed on Jasmine’s face as she and her team rose to their feet and listened to the applause of their colleagues.

  “Thank you, Jasmine, and every member on your team for a job well done. Jasmine’s team isn’t the only group that is worthy of adoration. Jim Williams and his team were charged with developing a new drug to help battle pneumonia. He and his team have also worked tirelessly to develop a formula. I am happy to announce that his new drug has just passed a critical Phase Three test. Let’s give Jim and his team a big round of applause,” Helen said.

  Jasmine, along with everyone else, rose to their feet and clapped. As she sat back down, she felt her cell phone vibrating. She removed it from her hip holster to see who was calling.

  It was Harrison. Jasmine ignored his phone call. A few seconds later, she felt her phone vibrate again. This time Harrison had sent her a text message: I need to see you. Please! Jasmine exhaled a disgruntled sigh before shutting off her phone. She’d have to deal with Harrison later.

  Jasmine listened as Helen gave everyone a status report on the direction of the company. Then the director of sales and the director of marketing gave updates as well. An hour later the meeting ended. Jasmine went back to her office and shut her door for some privacy. She powered her phone back on and noticed that Harrison had phoned her several more times. She was about to return his phone call, but couldn’t because of an incoming call from Tiffany.

  “Just the woman I need to speak to,” Jasmine answered.

  “Are you sure? Because I haven’t heard a single word from you since you told me about that young yoga instructor. I was calling to see if he’s allowed you to come up for air yet?” Tiffany laughed.

  “Girl, I let him go,” Jasmine said as she plugged in her earpiece.

  “You let him go? Damn, that didn’t last long. What happened?”

  “It’s a long story,” Jasmine said.

  “I’ve got time. I’m on my lunch break.”

  “You mean to tell me you don’t have some young guy trying to sweep you off of your feet?”

  Jasmine chuckled as she walked over to her office window and glanced at the few gray clouds in the sky. She wondered if the area was going to receive some much-needed rain.

  “Nah, not today. I’m hiding out. You know my shit attracts young men like bees to honey. I’ve got that sweet, sticky stuff they just can’t seem to get enough of. The minute I’m spotted on the floor, the young guys flock to me, and the other librarians have a problem with that. But that’s another issue that we’ll discuss at a later time.” Tiffany coughed, then cleared her throat. “Seriously though, what’s been going on with you?”

  “A lot,” Jasmine replied.

  “Nothing tragic, I hope.”

  “No. Everything is going well at work; it’s my love life that’s gotten kind of twisted around,” Jasmine answered honestly. She began to think about ways to help Harrison get over her.

  “How did it get twisted around? I thought you liked this Harrison guy.”

  “Yeah, but just for a friendly fuck. He got a little confused about the nature of our relationship. Plus, I was getting tired of him,” Jasmine admitted.

  “What did he get confused about?”

  “Well, first of all, let me start by saying that I totally forgot how young he was. I called him up one night when I was leaving work late. I was on fire and wanted it in a very bad way. Now mind you, he’s never been to my place, and every time we’ve hooked up he’s always gotten a room. So I’m thinking, hey, I’ll just come by your place this time so you don’t have to spend extra money. Then he says to me, ‘Okay, let me make sure my mamma is asleep though.’”

  “Oh my God!” Tiffany gasped and then started laughing.

  “‘Oh my God’ is an understatement. Reality slapped me hard that night. I never even thought about where he lived because he always talked about home as if he had an apartment.”

  “Well, did he recently move back home or something?” Tiffany asked.

  “Hell no! He lives in the basement of his mother’s house.”

  “So did you go over there for some sneaky, quiet sex, or did you take him back home with you?” Tiffany joked.

  “Neither. I told him that I wasn’t coming. He offered to drive over to my place, and when I told him no, he got upset with me because as he put it, I was playing with his emotions.”

  “Don’t tell me he started falling in love with you.” Tiffany eagerly awaited Jasmine’s answer.

  “Girl, yes! He started whining about how he thought about me all of the time and how he wanted to always be near me. He said that he’d never felt that way about anyone before, and he wanted to do whatever it took to make me happy and to make our relationship work. He even said he was ready to move out of his mother’s house and into mine.”

  “Oh shit. It sounds like you blew his damn mind.”

  “Well, you know, a sister does have some killer skills.”

  Jasmine and Tiffany both joked about her comment.

  “But that’s so sad, yet kind of flattering that he wants more out of the relationship.”

  “Tiffany, you know as well as I do that it wouldn’t work with someone that young. He doesn’t have enough life experience on him yet. And I’ll be the first to admit that being with him did make me feel very young and carefree.”

  “So what happened next?” Tiffany asked.

  “I took a few deep breaths, thought about it for like half a second and told him that it was time for him to move on. I suggested that he find a young girl and blow her mind with what I’ve taught him.”

  “How did he take that?”

  “He acted as if I were crushing his heart,” Jasmine said.

  “That is so precious,” Tiffany said with a sentimental tone.

  “I knew that he was in over his head with me from the jump start. The first time we did it, he had this look of amazement on his face. I knew then it was the best pussy he’d ever had.”

  “Sounds like you opened his nose up wide,” Tiffany said.

  “Yeah I did. He admitted that I was the first mature woman he’d ever been with and he never knew that it could be so good. Anyway, now he won’t stop calling me and I may have to change my damn phone number. So I wanted to ask you, have you ever had one of your boy toys get a little too hooked?”

  “I can honestly say no, that hasn’t happened,” Tiffany answered. “It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that we’re just having fun. In fact, I tell the young men flat out I’m a Cougar who likes to play. College guys understand that and take it for what it is: A mutual agreement to have intimacy without intricacies. But it sounds like your friend is totally sprung.”

  “Well, I’ve sprung his ass in another direction and the hell away from me,” Jasmine said with all seriousness. “So have you heard from Millie?”

  “Yeah, I talked to her the other day. I’m surprised she hasn’t called you and filled you in on all of her drama.”

  “Did something happen?” Jasmine asked.

  “Shit, a whole lot has happened, she—”

  “Oh shit!” Jasmine interrupted Tiffany. “Girl, I’ve been on this phone with you for too long. I have to rush off to a meeting with my boss. I’ll call you back later.”

  “Okay,” Tiffany said, fully understanding Jasmine’s urgent departure.

  Jasmine grabbed her ink pen and writing pad and rushed out of her office. She decided to run up the two flights of stairs to Helen’s office instead of waiting for an elevator. When Helen’s assistant saw
Jasmine approach her desk, she hung up the phone.

  “I was just about to call you,” the assistant said.

  “Sorry about that. Is she waiting for me?” Jasmine asked.

  “Yes. Just go on in.”

  Jasmine walked into Helen’s office and found her sitting at her desk reading documents.

  “There you are. I thought you’d forgotten about me,” Helen said as she got up and closed her office door for more privacy.

  “No, I didn’t forget. Time just got away from me, that’s all,” Jasmine explained.

  “That’s because you enjoy what you do and time seems to fly when you’ve found your passion.” Helen sat back down at her desk.

  “I want to thank you for recognizing my team and the work we’ve done,” Jasmine said as she clicked her ink pen and prepared to take notes.

  “There is no need for that. This meeting is more informal. I have two things I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Okay.” Jasmine listened attentively.

  “As you know, we have an open chemist position that we need to fill. I’ve received a number of inquiries and selected the resumes of four applicants.” Helen handed Jasmine a folder filled with the background information on the candidates. Jasmine took a moment and glanced at the contents of the folder.

  “One guy is from Berkeley. They have an excellent chemistry program out there,” Jasmine said as she flipped the page and looked at another person’s qualifications.

  “It’s funny you should mention that one. He comes highly recommended from a close friend who teaches there. However, he doesn’t have as many years in the field, but if he passes the grade and we discover he’s the best pick of the crop, I want you to assign him to your team.”

  “Oh really,” Jasmine said, trying not to sound surprised.

  “Yes. Whichever candidate is hired, I want them to work under your direct supervision. I believe that you have a certain flare for nurturing young talent. You have a unique gift for bringing out the best in a person. I also want you on the hiring committee.”

  “When do I start?” Jasmine asked.