The older woman-younger man scenario has been the fuel of many a young boy's fantasy. It goes something like this: The somewhat naive, painfully inexperienced young boy who doesn't have many friends and isn't appreciated by girls his own age (but is nevertheless witty, ironic and wise beyond his years) meets an older, more experienced woman.

She usually looks like Sofia Vergara, or maybe Charlize Theron.

She appreciates his sensitivity and caustic humor and takes him under her wing, and eventually into her bed. She initiates him into the world of sex, teaching him to be a thoughtful, skillful and generous lover. In the process, he learns how to be a good man.

He goes out into the world a confidant young man, no longer just a shy little nerd. Even his acne has cleared up! He drives the girls wild. When they say, "There's something ... different ... about you," he just smiles that secret smile of his, and says a silent "thank you" to that generous older woman who taught him everything he knows.

There are no repercussions from his dalliance.

But in real life, acts have consequences, sometimes grave ones, sometimes ones that last forever.

Matt says his experience with an older woman goes back when he was 18 and Diane was 36.

"We both worked second shift jobs. My job was time keeper for a construction company that was installing air conditioning. Her job was on the assembly line for a can manufacturing company."

Matt says on most evenings, he would pick her up after midnight. They'd find a dark place to park and then have sex.

"Next stop was a tavern that we would close up. Then I drove her to her sister's house where we had sex again. Then I drove to my home and went to bed."

Matt says this pattern continued for a little over a year.

"Then she broke it off, much to my surprise."

Matt didn't know if he'd ever hear from Diane again, but some months later, she called him with some shocking news. She told him that she'd recently given birth to his son, a baby boy. The baby was going to be raised by her sister.

"That was our last contact. I've never met our son. That is regret."

When Matt thinks about that time and about Diane, he remembers that she had severe carpel tunnel syndrome in both wrists from her work in the can factory.

"Now I think that the orgasms she had with me were her way of relieving her pain."

Matt is now 72. Diane — if she's still alive — is 90. The baby is 53.

How long is the statute of limitations on family secrets? Ten years? Twenty years? Fifty years? Fifty-three years?

How difficult would it be for Matt to find his son? It probably wouldn't be that hard.

Should he look?

Would you?

If you were the baby, would you want to meet Matt?

Are you keeping a family secret? Have you revealed one? Send your tale, along with your questions, problems and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. Send your tale, along with your questions, problems and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my e-books, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front" and "I'll Call You. Not."

Photo credit: at Pixabay