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It Could Happen

By: Harry Twist



Although the present Administration has overlooked us in many ways here lately, the upper middle class citizen isn't doing too badly. I live in a very nice house in one of the City's exclusive neighborhoods with my parents and my older sister, Jackie. My name is Perry and I have just completed my first year at State University. I am home for the summer, and I plan to concentrate on doing a whole lot of nothing for three months.

For example, I am lounging by the pool and thoroughly enjoying my leisure. Then I noticed my tall, slender sister slinking across the deck toward me. She is attractive even if she is my sister, and when she smiles the way she is at this very moment no one can deny that fact. She didn't slow her glide until she arrived at the edge of the pool where I was lounging.

"Mind if I join you, L. B.," she purred in her sultry voice. She called me L. B. for little brother mainly because she knew I didn't care for being the second rung on the family ladder. She had called me this for years now so I was pretty much used to it. In fact, it had become something special between us.

"Are you sure you want to get that bathing suit wet?" There was some friendly sarcasm in my voice, but Jackie knew I meant no malice.

"I could take it off if you like," she said with a wicked look in her eyes.

"Be nice," I replied casually. "I'm just a kid, you know."

"Kid, my ass," Jackie teased as she slipped into the water. Before I knew what was going on I felt her hand cupping my crotch gently. "That's not the package of a kid, buster."

"Please," I begged in a most affected manner. "That thing is loaded."

"Have you been getting much target practice lately, L. B.?" she asked with that wicked smile still prominent on her lovely face.

"This is not what I would consider a proper conversation between a brother and a sister," I said. "do you?"

Jackie worked her way closer to me in the pool and draped her arm over my shoulders. "It depends," she said thoughtfully. "I've noticed especially since you have returned from school that you have developed into quite a young man. I just don't want it to go to waste."

"Well, I think my sex life is doing all right, Ma'am," I said jokingly, "but if I complained about not getting any lately, what would my old maid sister suggest?"

Jackie took my hand closest to her, and moved it in its submerged position over to her crotch. "If you ever get real horny, L. B.," she was using her sultry voice again, "there's one wild pussy beneath that patch of fabric."

"My God, Sis," I exclaimed, "you're making me as hard as a rock, and my jock strap is giving my cock a difficult time."

"Maybe this will help," she said as she deftly reached inside my briefs and fished out my growing pole. "My, you have grown some here lately." She squeezed my rod and rubbed her bra against my arm.

My hand was still at her crotch as all of this was happening, and both arousal and reflex caused me to work my fingers behind her panties and into her twitching pussy hole. "I've never had one chew on my fingers before," I admitted in a husky voice. Her pussy lips were actually grappling with my fingers.

"My little kitty will do the same thing to your tongue, L. B." Her voice was raspy and her breathing was heavy. "My lovers at school call it a snapping pussy. You like?"

"You bet. In fact, a little more nibbling by your kitty and I will shoot all over the place."

"Let me know when your volcano is going to erupt, and I'll show you another one of my tricks."

"Feel my balls," I groaned. "They are churning up some molten lava as we speak."

"See ya," she said as she sunk beneath the water. In seconds I felt her mouth cover my throbbing dick. A couple of seconds later I was pumping my juices into her mouth. She stroked my shaft vigorously, and sucked like she was giving CPR plus. It was a full two minutes before she burst into view again. She was smiling from ear to ear, and still massaging my dwindling cock. "How was that?"

"I think we should go swimming every day," I said honestly.

She laughed a deep, hearty laugh. "I'm just as good on dry land."

"I'll just bet you are," I said.

Jackie gracefully hoisted herself out of the pool and onto her feet. "I have to go clean up the mess you made," she said smiley at me sweetly. "By the way, Mom and Dad have some sort of to-do at the club tonight. Come by my room after they leave, and I'll show you the finer points of eating pussy. I'll even fix up something digestible for you afterwards if you like."

There's nothing like an underwater blowjob to change a young man's train of thought. Mine, for example, went from nothing in particular to what a nut-cracking blast I would very likely have in Jackie's room this evening. I've always been conscious of the fact that I had one foxy sister, but the thought of romping up and down in her playground had never entered my mind. I headed for my room and a cold shower.

I thought my folks, all decked out in their country club finery, would never leave. Finally, I watched their car ease out of the driveway and onto the street. When it disappeared around the corner, I disappeared up the stairs and suddenly appeared in front of Jackie's bedroom door. I tapped lightly.

"Come," the soft voice said.

That's exactly what I plan to do, I thought to myself hoping my smugness was not reflecting in my expression. I eased open the door and peeked inside. It was difficult to believe that the vision of loveliness lying on top of the covers stark naked was my sister. My cock was totally ignoring kinship of any it. It was fighting to get free from my gym shorts.

"You rang?" was the only dumb thing I could think of to say at the moment. Jackie's legs were slightly spread giving me a clear view of her womanhood, and if her poolside remark was sincere, my appetizer for the evening. 

"I take it they are gone," she said in a sexy voice that I was not accustomed to from my big sister. 

"Up, up, and away," I replied foolishly. I was taking suave to a new level. Unfortunately, the direction was not upward. "I watched them disappear into the night."

"Well then," the voice from the bed said, "make those disappear." Those, in this instance, was my gym trunks. 

Free at last, my cock was seeking higher ground. When Jackie spread her legs wider, I felt my biological after-burner kick in and I was at full attention.

"Nice."

My chest swelled a little.

"Want to kiss my titties before you go muff-diving?" Jackie asked demurely. "We have lots of time."

And she has lovely boobs, I thought to myself. I will devour them tenderly while my snack is warming up. I crawled up on the bed. Sis reached out and pulled me to her breasts. It was amazing how that tiny morsel of flesh put me in contact with such a wonderful world of excitement. 

Her breasts were full, firm, warm and delicious. My mouth covered one boob while my hand gently caressed the other. My throbbing cock was lying across her belly with us in this position. She gripped it firmly with her hand and squeezed gently.

"Let's take care of this big boy first, L. B.," she gasped. Her breath was heavy and her lips were brushing my ear. "I can make it behave until it is time for it to play some more."

I was momentarily confused until she unplugged me from her breasts and maneuvered her beautiful nude body to a position between my legs. Without ceremony she took my cock in between her thumb and forefinger, and guided its bright red head into her mouth. The last time this happened under water at the pool. This time the action was before me, and in living color. I lay back, closed my eyes, and pretended I was in a land of enchantment. Pretended, Hell! I was in paradise, and I wanted to stay here rest of my life.

Jackie's voice interrupted my dream.

"Perry," she panted, "let's come together. Okay?"

Before I could respond, or before I realized what she was suggesting, Jackie swung her body over mine positioning her crotch directly over my face. This was as close as I had ever been to my sister's pussy. Not bad.

"Eat my pussy, Bro," she almost demanded in her husky voice. "Show me how wicked your tongue can be. Please." Her mouth was back on my cock now, and her pussy was undulating enticingly over my face. I had no choice.

She moaned approvingly as my tongue began traveling up and down in her slit. Her animation intensified when my tongue found her vaginal hole, and proceeded to penetrate and withdraw in rhythm with her undulating ass. Then there was a popping sound as her mouth abruptly broke free of my cock. She squealed gleefully, and went back to her cock sucking with renewed intensity. 

I had penetrated her asshole with my forefinger and then with my index finger, and pressed them to their limit. Her once undulating ass was now pumping against my face. It was extremely difficult for me to seek out and caress her clit, but when I did her reaction was almost uncontrollable.

In our aroused madness, I had rolled over on top now, and I was pumping away at her mouth like it was a sex-starved pussy. My mouth was now exclusively in contact with her clit, and my fingers had relocated to her pussy hole. Jackie was trying to express her feelings, but my cock was of a size that demanded most of her mouth. Speech was not possible. Just as she was about to break free, my semen made a house call. Jackie regrouped and started sucking my cock like she was trying to suck a golf ball through a garden hose. She almost succeeded. I was drained.

"Oh God, Perry," she screamed, "oh shit. Here it is." She gasped. This is number two. You smart bastard. Correction; you wonderful man." She lay back and playfully pushed her pussy toward my face. "Can you hear my kitty purring?" 

We lay there for a while without saying a word.

"Perry," she said after a considerable silence, "once you have recovered, I think you should use that probe of yours to explore my cavity to check for damages. I may have blown a gasket or two."

"Are you still horny?" I asked.

"Absolutely not." She said adamantly. "Just planning for the future." With that she snuggled up and asked, "Hungry?"

"I've already eaten."

(chuckle and giggles)

It Could Happen to Anyone



We were getting dressed for my university course reunion party. I was in a white lace bra and thong with black thigh high stockings. I was moving the brush slowly through my hair, which caused me to thrust my chest out as I reached the end of each stroke. Steve had stopped getting dressed and was just looking at me.

I could see an erection forming in his underwear so I continued to brush my hair even though I didn't need to, accentuating my breasts more with each stroke. It never ceases to amaze my how easily he gets aroused watching me do the most mundane things. I have looked after my body but I am no spring chicken. Then again, neither is he and I still love to see him in just his shorts or underwear. Also, lying snuggled up against his chest on the sofa when watching a film just can't be beaten – except, of course, for making love with him.

I looked down at his erection, now fully formed and poking out of the top of his boxers, then moved my eyes up his body to his face until I was staring into his eyes. When our eyes met he seemed to come back to reality so I moved my eyes back down his body, opened my mouth slightly and ran my tongue over my lower lip.

He walked across the hotel room and gently ran his fingertips down the exposed right side of my neck as I completed another stroke with the brush. I couldn't help but shiver with pleasure at the sensation and could feel myself getting damp between my legs. Steve moved up against my back, pressing his erection against me. I turned around, still brushing my hair and ended up staring almost directly at his crotch.

I put my brush down and ran my hands up his thighs and across his crotch. They met in the middle over his very erect penis, which was already leaking some pre-cum. What is a woman to do? I eased his boxers down so that his erection pointed towards me. Then I leaned forward and took the tip into my mouth. I ran my tongue over the head, removing the pre-cum and eliciting a groan from Steve. I them pulled his boxers back up over his penis, patted it and told him that I would attend to him later. The look on his face was priceless.

He obviously decided to try to convince me to take it further before the party. He reached down and cupped a breast with one hand, then closed his thumb and forefinger over its nipple through my bra. I could feel even more moisture between my legs as both of my nipples became erect. Steve dropped to his knees with his hands on my thighs. His hands moved up my thighs to my pubic area. He ran his hands gently over the top of my thong. I decided that I might as well go along with it so I leaned back against the dressing table, effectively present my crotch to him.

Steve slipped a finger under the front of my thong then moved it down towards my vagina. He lifted the thong from between my lips and gently ran his knuckle across my clitoris and through the lubrication at my opening. I had no choice but to open my legs wider and push my crotch at him. That was all the encouragement he needed. He moved the thong to one side then leaned in and ran his tongue from the bottom of my vagina, through my now prominent lips and up over me clitoris.

I groaned in pleasure as he continued tonguing my clitoris and used a finger to part my lips. There was one thing for certain, he would know how aroused I was by the amount of juices his finger would encounter. He eased one, then two fingers into my opening and started rotating them clockwise and anti-clockwise, stimulating the nerves at my entrance. My arousal increased quickly and I thrust my pelvis towards him then the pleasure overcame me as an orgasm washed over me. 

He continued tonguing me but moved his fingers out of my vagina. He then gently caressed my lips with his fingers, spreading my moisture over them. Periodically he would insert a finger into me and before I knew it, I was orgasming again. I had no choice but to push his head away from between my legs so that I could come down from the high I was on. He then edged forward on his knees and straightened up so that he could kiss me.

I took pleasure in tasting myself on his lips as we kissed and held each other. As I was getting my breath back the 'phone in the hotel room rang. It was reception telling us that our taxi was here. Steve recognised the futility of trying to complete what had been started and we both giggled as we rushed to get ready and leave for the party. 

I thought I might try to give Steve a treat at the party so when I finished dressing I removed my thong but didn't tell him. Although I was wearing a shortish black skirt, I checked to make sure that I wouldn't be exposing myself to all and sundry in the general course of events – although I might have to be a bit careful getting into and out of the taxi and it remained to be seen what the seating arrangements would be at the party.

As I thought, getting into and out of the taxi without revealing myself was difficult. I think I gave the doorman a quick flash judging by the smile on his face as he closed the door. Steve commented on the doorman's smile but just assumed it was an indication of the general high level of service at the hotel.

The journey to the party took twenty minutes and all the time I was trying think of a way I would be able to get Steve on his own and give him the reward he deserved. During the trip in the taxi I reached over a couple of times and stroked his crotch, ensuring that he was kept in a state of arousal. 

When we arrived at the venue I was surprised at just how many people had turned up. The organisers had done well, ensuring there was plenty of seating, a large dance floor and a temporary bar.

When we arrived Steve went to the bar to get a couple of drinks while I looked around the room and tried to recognise the faces. Steve came back to say that it was a free bar, courtesy of the funds left after the organising costs had been removed from the proceeds of the tickets. The party progressed with periodic free rounds being called by the bar staff. Over the night Steve and I separated to talk to different people, would get together for a dance and a chat and then do the same with others.

The bar staff called another free round and I decided to sit this one out. I looked up to see a decent crowd gathered around the bar but no sign of Steve. I then saw him making his way over to the bar looking around for someone – I assume, me. His eyes seemed to lock to someone and he headed off in the opposite direction. I moved to follow and saw him approach someone who was dressed in clothes very similar to mine and even had hair that looked like mine. I realised that it was Lisa, a good friend from the course but someone I hadn't seen since we graduated.

Lisa was leaning forward and slightly bent in order to reach for her drink. She was talking to someone who I couldn't see. As I watched, Steve moved up behind her and reached across her to get a drink. But what had really caught my attention was when I saw him as he pressed his crotch area up into Lisa's backside. He then just started to slowly push it upwards even more into her ass. I wondered what he thought he was doing, then I realised that in his slightly merry state he thought that he was behind me. Where they were was a slightly darker area and I could only see what was going on because I was about ten feet away in an even darker area.

I considered tapping Steve on the shoulder but then I decided to see how far things would progress. I thought Lisa might turn around and say something but perhaps she liked being felt up by strange men. Then again, she might also have been slightly the worse for wear from the drink and, perhaps, did not even notice him pushing his crotch up against her.

As I was watching, I saw Steve turn his head around some and look to see if anybody was watching. I assume that with the bar being so crowded with other partygoers and the reduced lighting, no one could really see what he was doing. I saw him turn his head back around and look downwards at Lisa's backside, which was covered in a black skirt that was slightly shorter than mine. Obviously Steve could not see the difference. I then saw him reach into the top of his pants, lower his hand down into his crotch area and reposition himself in his trousers. I could now clearly see that his erection was sticking out a little from the front of his trousers. 

Another round of drinks was set on the bar and everybody once again reached over each other for their free drink. Sure enough, Steve reached over Lisa's shoulder to get his drink. When he did this, I saw him lower his legs a little. He then carefully eased his covered erection between Lisa's cheeks and kept it there. Again, I was surprised that Lisa had not turned around and said anything and couldn't help but feel a thrill when he started to slowly dry hump up against Lisa's cheeks.

After watching him do this for about 2 minutes, I saw him starting to push his erection upwards into Lisa's bum a little harder now. I thought to myself that she had to feel what he was doing behind her now but when I looked at Lisa, I saw that Lisa was still just talking to the woman next to her. I was pleasantly surprised to see Lisa raise her bottom up just a little to meet his crotch. She just pushed her bottom back some and slowly slid it down over Steve's crotch area. Steve started to dry hump Lisa's bottom even harder now. 

I then saw Lisa reach behind her and under her skirt. I assume she was stroking Steve's tool but I now wanted to see exactly what was happening so I approached them. Initially I walked up behind Steve and pressed my pelvis against his, forcing him forward and into Lisa. Steve looked around to see who was pushing against him and his mouth opened in surprise when he saw that it was me. I moved to his side to ensure that everything that was happening has definitely hidden from the rest of the room them turned Steve's head to me and gave him a soft lingering kiss.

When we broke apart I put my fingers to his lips. I then reached under Lisa's skirt and found Lisa's hand stroking up and down Steve's shaft. She had managed to loosen his trousers and free his penis from his boxers with one hand – very impressive. Steve's prick was leaking pre-cum as if it was going out of fashion.

I stroked my hand up Lisa's stocking and reached the top of her thigh where the stocking stopped. I then worked my hand between her legs as she adjusted her stance to give me space to work. This woman was hot. I took hold of Steve's hand and put it under my skirt and onto my naked crotch. He reached down and rubbed his fingers across my slit as I moved Lisa's panties aside and did the same to her. She was as wet and leaking juice as I knew I was.

I felt Lisa adjust her stance again then I felt Steve's penis against my hand. I moved my hand out of the way as Lisa eased Steve's penis across her lips. Steve bent his legs slightly, moved forward then straightened up. I assumed that he had just slipped inside her. I reached under and between Lisa's legs and, sure enough, Steve's penis was wedged inside her vagina. Because motion was limited, Lisa was using her fingers on the portion of his length that was outside of her as she rocked her hips gently.

I looked past Lisa and saw that the woman she had been talking to was Wendy, another good friend. She was asking Lisa if she was okay and Lisa was just nodding her head. Too right she was okay, she had my husband's penis embedded well inside her and was definitely enjoying the sensation. Wendy looked across and saw me and commented that Lisa seemed quite flushed. I agreed and said I'd take care of her. I took hold of lisa's hand that was resting on the bar and moved in front of her so that I was facing her.

I moved in close and that forced her further back of Steve's prick. She opened her eyes in surprise and, I think, saw me for the first time. She staggered slightly and groaned. Wendy asked if I needed a hand but I told her that my husband and I would be able to manage. Lisa then looked behind her and saw Steve, at which point she turned back towards me and started to apologise. I just shushed her and told her we'd take her to get some fresh air. Steve took the opportunity to withdraw from her and she whimpered slightly in disappointment. He moved to the other side of Lisa as I turned her around and we walked to the doors.

As we exited the hall, Lisa was explaining that she hadn't had sex for six months and couldn't believe her luck when someone started feeling her up so she'd just gone with the flow and decided to make the most of it, not caring exactly who it was. I told her that I didn't mind but that I thought we ought to finish it off properly.

Outside we made our way through the garden to a table at the far end, away from the light spilling from the hall. I moved to the far side of the table and encouraged Lisa to bend down and place her hand on the table. I then reached forward and started undoing her blouse. I reached in and took a breast in each hand, pinching her nipples between my thumb and forefinger in the same way that Steve had done to me earlier in the evening. Lisa moaned her pleasure. 

I looked over her shoulder and saw Steve approaching her. He then flipped her skirt over her bum and took hold of her panties. Lisa was too far gone now. She closed her legs to let him ease her panties down her legs and lifted each foot in turn so that they could be removed completely. I saw Steve fiddling with his trousers and I knew he was freeing his penis. He took hold of Lisa's hips and moved right behind her, embedding himself inside her completely. He then withdrew slowly and as he did Lisa tried to move backwards to keep him inside her. I took a firm grip on her nipples and prevented her from moving too far.

When Steve's penis was just at her entrance again he thrust forward and then started a rhythm. I could hear the juices squelching, giving testament to how aroused Lisa was. I released Lisa's nipples and placed my hands so that her motion backwards and forwards with Steve's thrusts caused her breasts and nipples to rub across my hands.

After a few minutes Lisa was moaning loudly and as I didn't want anyone coming over to investigate I moved forward and placed my lips over hers. At first she resisted slightly but then she opened her mouth and allowed my tongue to invade. We had a quite passionate kiss and I continued to hold her breasts as Steve's rhythm continued. Lisa then groaned into my mouth and her legs almost gave way as she came. That encouraged Steve to increase his pace and within another couple of minutes he was coming inside her. By that time our kiss had finished but I was still holding her breasts.

Once Steve had stopped coming he leaned forward over Lisa and rested his hands on the table. He commented that her vagina was still contracting around his penis. Eventually her contractions stopped and he was able to ease out of her as his penis softened. At that point Lisa's legs almost gave way and she scrambled to find a seat. Steve came around to my side of the table and we hugged. Lisa looked over at us as we embraced and thanked us for a wonderful time. We all embraced then Lisa and I headed to the Ladies whilst Steve went to get us some drinks.

Once Lisa had cleaned up she joined us at a table back in the hall and we spent the rest of the night talking about our lives since graduation. Steve was sitting between us and periodically his hand would stroke my thigh and then move across my slit, keeping me aroused and ready for another session when we got back to our hotel. From the expression on her face and the difficulty she was having keeping track of the conversation at some points, I assumed he was doing the same to Lisa.

Lisa was staying at the same hotel as us (a special deal having been arranged by the organising committee) so when the party ended we shared a taxi. On the way back the taxi driver got an eyeful as Steve continued with his ministrations of both Lisa and me. Once we arrived back at the hotel we all went to Lisa's suite where Lisa made up for her recent abstinence and Steve did me proud by maintaining an erection long enough to satisfy both of us women again. Eventually we returned to our own room and managed a few hours sleep before breakfast. 

At breakfast the next morning Steve cheekily offered Lisa her panties back but she said he could keep them as a souvenir. Then she used a marker pen to write her 'phone number on them. I am sure we will be inviting her over for dinner sometime soon.



It Could Happen to You



A brief introduction:

Here's another loving wives story. Let's begin with the usual admonitions. First, don't obsess if there's something that sounds mildly political; it's just there to help the story. And again a reminder: if you're in a hurry you should go someplace else. I always take the long way home. 

*****

Prologue: 

Devon Buchanan looked out across the Starbucks and saw an old friend; a fellow named Michael Sullivan. Devon had been out of town for some time. Michael was sitting alone at a table nursing a coffee. Thinking about him and what he'd heard Devon thought he'd drift over and see what was up. They'd been good friends once; maybe, he figured, he could offer some insight. Devon paid for his coffee, picked up his brew and walked over. 

As he crossed he took in the appearance of his old friend. He certainly looked different from what he remembered; the skinny, almost frail boy had filled out. He wasn't fat; just well built. It looked like he spent time in the gym. He was wearing what was clearly not a Walmart tie, his slacks and white shirt shouted not rich but 'moderately upscale'. The sport coat hanging on the back of his chair looked good, not new, but well maintained. He saw Michael was fiddling with what he recognized as one of the newer almost but not quite 'state of the art' portable computers. Devon wondered if it was true; had Michael started to come into his own?

As he got to Michael's table, it had been Mike when they were in school, he saw him look up.

Michael exclaimed, "Devon! Jesus I haven't seen you in like it seems forever. Where've you been?"

Devon kept his coat on. He sat down, "Oh here and there. How've you been?"

Michael said, "Oh pretty good I guess; the usual, school, marriage, a kid."

Devon took a sip of beer, "I heard. They say you married the Campanaris girl. Celine was her name. Right?"

"Yeah, that's right, Celine Campanaris. Say did you ever get married?"

Devon took another sip, "No I've been around though, he shifted in his seat, "Heard it hasn't been all sunshine and light for you; had some ups and downs. What happened?"

"Oh you know. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, get married, have a kid, another guy shows up, things get complicated."

Devon didn't smile. He took another slug of his java, "What're you drinking there. Looks like a Latte. Looks cold. Want another?"

"Sure," Michael replied, "as long as you're buying."

Devon smiled, "I'll buy, but if I do, I'd like you to fill me in."

Michael eyed his old friend. Devon had always been one of the good guys. He'd been gone for some time; he'd probably leave again, maybe for good. What the hell? Mike said, "It's not real pretty. I mean not all hearts and flowers, but some things haven't been too bad."

Devon waved at the waitress and pointed toward their coffees, "Go ahead Mike. I'd like to hear it."

And so Michael began...

~~V~~

"Devon I did marry the Campanaris girl. I'd always liked her, and when my brother moved out to join the navy I took my shot."

"That's right," said Devon, "Celine and your brother, David wasn't it, they were an item back in the day."

"Yeah they were. First love and all, you know. She and My brother dated off and on in high school. David's two years older than me, and three years older than Celine. She was crazy about him; it tore her up when he took off."

"So you stepped in?"

"Not right away. Oh I'd always had a thing for her, but she was David's girl. I guess you'd say I had a crush on her, but to her I was 'the kid brother'."

Devon commented, "But you did marry her?"

"Celine was lonely. She kept coming by the house. You know she'd stop in and see my mom and dad to find out if they'd heard anything, but David never wrote or called. He was off seeing the world, or at least that's what we all thought. And let's not forget Devon; I married her, but she married me too."

"What David wasn't seeing the world?"

"Couldn't say. Still not sure. I only know he was gone. We never heard from him, but Celine kept coming around. She was in a panic. I was a senior, she was a junior. She had her junior prom and I had my senior prom. Now you know I never had a lot of luck with girls, not like David."

"Yeah, I remember your brother."

"Doesn't everybody? He told me once dating girls and getting in their pants was like looking for a job. You just kept asking till someone said yes."

"Celine said yes to your brother."

"No, not exactly. Celine said yes she loved him. She said yes she'd marry him. I'm convinced she would've quit school and gone with him if he'd asked her, but Celine was a good Catholic girl. You're Catholic; know what that means."

"Oh yeah," responded Devon, "no premarital sex."

"Yeah to the say least; she was insane. I mean she was crazy about him, but I was pretty sure Celine held my brother to it. I suppose he got tired of waiting. I know he liked her, even gave her his class ring, but he was cutting out on her too. He was eighteen, and he'd found himself a bored housewife. Sometimes I think that's why he skipped out."

"You mean the husband found something out?"

"Maybe, I don't know. All I know is David split and left poor Celine with a broken heart. Her parents were frantic. They thought she was suicidal. Look, I admit it I loved her. I was crazy about her, but she'd been my brother's girl."

"So you helped her out."

"I hadn't planned on it, but I guess that's how it worked, off and on anyway."

Devon took a sip of coffee, "I see."

"I didn't understand things back then. I didn't understand her or me. Wished I had, then again. I don't know. It's tough you know? Me being a worrier and all; I couldn't sleep. I kept thinking how she needed someone; a man who'd hold things together for her."

"So what happened? I mean what really happened?"

~~V~~

Michael sat back in his chair, "Get me another coffee and one of those scones and I'll tell you the whole story."

Devon waved at the waitress, went over, got the stuff and came back...Michael began.

~~V~~

"Well David took off, joined the navy, or so he said, and that was the last anybody saw or heard from him for years.

Celine was devastated. She was crazy about my brother. Hell most girls were, but Celine was different. She was sort of delicate; an exemplary student she shied away from sports or the sports kids. Sure she played a little volleyball and stuff, but Celine spent more time in the library and in church than anything. Other kids wore provocative clothes. Tight jeans, short skirts, the 'come see me' blouses. Not Celine, she was always prim and proper. 

Well right after David disappeared she started coming around to see my mom and dad. She'd hang around and talk. Pretty soon she and I were talking. I was a nerd like her; we had a lot in common. I thought so anyway. 

It was funny how she'd act. Whenever she saw me her face would light up; she'd get real excited, and she'd giggle and run around like she was a squirrel. 

I might have been mistaken but it was like whenever I saw her out someplace on her own she'd be wearing what I'd call frumpy stuff, like too large sweat shirts and sloppy looking sweat pants, but whenever she came over or whenever she knew she'd be seeing me she'd have on something real pretty. By pretty I don't mean necessarily sexy; I mean cute and perky. She'd have on a cute miniskirt and some kind of soft looking button up blouse. The blouses were all casual, but they were kind of what I'd call innocently alluring. I mean they looked...they like made her breasts...well...you know... 

Celine had the longest, blackest, thickest, sleekest, shiniest, waviest hair I'd ever seen. I'd see her out and it'd be up in some functional toppy thing, but around me it was either down and combed out or in some long braid that showed off her long neck and pretty ears. 

All men are egoists, but I really think she dressed to impress me. I know I liked being around her. She could be so funny and cheerful. That cheeriness was almost all the time. The only times I ever saw her get morose or sad looking was when someone mentioned my brother; then she'd get quiet, her eyes would get extra-large, and she'd act like someone just ran over her dog. I know I really liked her. I wished I'd have met her first. Anyone could see she was carrying a torch for David and it tore me up. 

Oh and I loved the way she smelled. She had these odors. I know I'm not good at this. She wore some kind of perfume; Chanel or something, and her hair was always washed and it smelled so...I can't say, like fresh, and then her breath. I think she had one of those squirt things that people use to spray their mouths. I know she did because I saw her turn around and squirt her mouth. I know when we started dating and I kissed her she always tasted good. She had the softest moistest lips. Man she was sweeter than a sugar cookie.

I can't help the way I am. I'm just a little obsessive compulsive. I thought about her night and day. I dreamed about her. I did everything I could to help her. I wanted her to be happy. I wanted her to forget my brother and fall in love with me."

~~V~~

It was wintertime. I was in my senior year. I'd always liked Celine. Hell I admit it; I'd been day dreaming about her from day one. I was crazy about her, but I was the little brother; older than her, but still definitely second string if I was on the team at all.

Like I said it was wintertime. Celine had plenty of opportunities to date, but she kept hanging around my house. What the hell, I asked her out. She agreed.

That's how it began. I was madly in love. She saw me as her window into my family, and maybe a friend like a playmate. 

We dated all spring. Nothing happened; maybe some light petting, a few furtive gropes over the blouse, a casual rub on the outside of her panties, but nothing serious. 

We went to her junior prom, and then my senior. To the casual observer we looked like we were deeply in love, but a closer look might have revealed a slightly different picture. For me it was Celine, Celine, Celine, but for her it was more 'down boy', 'watch it', and 'keep your distance'. I wasn't discouraged because that's the way she'd been with David. Celine was a good girl.

I graduated and got accepted at the local four year commuter's college. It was and is an excellent school. I had always been good at math so I went right after a double major; one in business and a second in technology. For sure the math wasn't some kind of automatic springboard to success, but I learned math required more than just analytical thought, any subject required that. No math required a steady diligence, a day to day persistence not as important in the liberal arts. 

I was smart. I was good, and I was determined. I also was still head over heels in love, and I still lived at home. 

Celine kept coming around, but by the time I'd started my freshman year in college I was convinced she was coming around more for me than for news about my brother. 

Celine graduated right on time, and I took her to her prom. By then nobody could've missed the connection. Big brother looked like old history. 

My freshman year had been the result of three years of accumulated savings, but during the summer between my freshman and sophomore year I had to work extra hard to have enough money for the fall. I just didn't have the time to date and run around with the kids. Celine wanted to date around. This was her time. She was a damned fine looking girl; two piece bathing suits were made for her. 

I have to admit it; things were as much my fault as hers, but she just wanted to run and I had to work. I found one of the things I was good at was tutoring. I picked up some tutoring gigs; girls mostly. I mean it was strictly business for me, but Celine might not have seen it the same way. She told me she wanted to date other boys.

A lot of guys are like my brother; they're in the hunt all the time. I've never been like that. I thought with Celine I'd found the girl of my dreams; the girl I would spend the rest of my life with. It's like this; some dogs will go with anyone who has food, others would rather starve than leave their master. I was a one woman dog. It was Celine or nobody. 

So about the time I was tutoring she broke things off and started to date around. Shit, pretty soon when I wasn't working I was home moping around. If I did get out, which wasn't very often, I'd invariably see her. I think she knew; hell I knew she knew my habits. Wherever I was she seemed to show up. Talk about gut wrenching; she'd be out with last year's football star or the current college big shot. He'd be kissing and hugging and squeezing all over her. I couldn't handle it; I'd end up walking out, just leaving. My friends told me whenever that happened she usually cooled toward the guy she was with and went home early herself. That's kind of what kept me going; I mean kept me on the line. I believed she loved me; she was just being shitty. 

Well to make a long story short I guess I sort of gave up. I figured if she didn't know why I was working, and who I was working for then she could forget it. Oh I was working for myself, but I also felt like the better I did, and that meant college, then the better it was for her. I was serious about the little tart.

I started looking around; if she could date I could date. To my surprise there were lots of girls who were interested in me. It sure didn't take long and I had a new girlfriend. Her name was Marge Vogel. She was pretty, she was smart, and she was a little bit serious about me. In fact she told she'd been interested in me since we were both in high school. I did think that was kind of strange since we'd attended different schools, but she explained that she'd met a friend who knew me and she'd been eyeing me ever since.

I was just twenty and still cherry. Marge wasn't, and she showed me what life was all about. We were in my car one night and she and I were in a clinch. She reached down, pulled open my fly, and fumbled around in my underpants till she got my penis out. I was rock solid hard. She took it in her hand and started to stroke it. Before I knew what was happening she had her head down and was sucking me off like crazy. I shot my load right in her face. She didn't complain or pull away or anything. She just kept sucking and licking all over me. Even as I started to wither away, I mean lose my hard on, she kept licking and kissing on it. 

Well what did I know? Before I knew it I was up again. She sat up and said, "We can't stay here."

I asked, "Where do you want to go?"

Marge said her sister was married and they had a house. We could go there, and that's where we went. Her sister had a pretty nice place; three bedrooms and a club cellar. We went to the cellar where Marge pulled out a day bed and that was that.

Marge and I stayed together the rest of the summer. She didn't pressure me about work; we hooked up whenever I was off. Often I ended up sleeping with her right at her sister's. 

I liked Marge; I thought she was a lot of fun, but I knew she wasn't really the one for me, not for the long -term. When the summer ended Marge told me she was off-back to Ohio State. I felt bad. I told her I'd miss her. She said she'd miss me too, and with that she was gone.

~~V~~

Marge did a lot for me. In the ways of women and sex she'd become my teacher, but school was back in and I had to get on with my life. I thought of Marge a little, but it was Celine who I really missed.

Celine had graduated, but never went on to college. She got a job selling tools at Lowes. I knew that was where she worked because she still stopped by my parent's house once in a while. When she did we didn't talk, and from what I heard from my mom she never asked about David either. Mom told me Celine kept asking discreet question about what I was doing and if I was seeing anyone. My mom also told me Celine told her she was seeing some guy who worked in the electronics department at Sears and that he was a real catch.

~~V~~

That's when some funny stuff started happening. 

I was in college, it was my sophomore year, the grades were good and I had a part-time job, but my mom decided she wanted someone to repaint the house. My dad couldn't do it because of his back so the honor fell to me. Mom said I could do it part-time while I wasn't studying or in classes. To keep me from working she started giving me money from her paycheck. I quit my part-time job. I was supposed to paint the house.

Painting the house meant buying paint and supplies. There was a local Hardware, but mom never liked the guy who owned it. Mom said even though his prices were a little cheaper we weren't to buy anything there. She said he'd tried to corner her once back in the day. Mom was also dead set against Home Depot. She said they had the wrong colors. We ended up going to Lowes. 

Of course all those stores, Lowes, Home depot, whatever, are laid out the same way. Right across from the paint department was the tool section where Celine worked. Mom and her must have had it planned since the only time mom had time to go to Lowes to look at the colors was when Celine was working. I'd drive mom over. She'd start looking at and talking about colors with the paint guy, but not before she told me to just take a break and walk around the store. I never got very far before Celine was at my side. 

She must have always gone on her break when she saw me because it was like she was always available. We'd talk a little. She'd show me the good buys, and tell me about who she was dating. Then one day; it was me and mom's third trip when Celine got me beside the power saws and told me she'd stopped dating around and was ready to settle down.

She said it like this. Fiddling with a concrete blade for a circular saw she said, "You know Michael I'm through running around. I'm ready to settle down."

I walked down to where the files were. She followed me, and standing beside the electric sanders she said, "Did you hear me. I'm ready for you now."

I picked up a sander and answered, "I was ready before but you ran off. How do I know you're sincere now?"

She turned me around. I was skinny and that was easy. She put her hands on my elbows and said, "Oh I'm ready Michael. I really am."

I wasn't sure. I guess the big question was David so I said, "What about my brother?"

She said, "What about him?"

I said, "Oh come on I know the only reason you dated me before was because you wanted to be nearby in case he came back. I don't think you loved me then, and I'm sure you don't love me now."

She squeezed my elbows. She leaned up and whispered, "OK I did date you because you're David's brother, but it's you I love now."

I told her, "I don't believe you."

She said, "Honestly I did used to think about David when I was out with you. And to tell the truth I still think about him sometimes, but Michael it's like I just said. I love you now."

I still wasn't so sure, "You know for me to believe that I'm going to need a real commitment; something that shows me you really do love me."

She answered, "Take me out and I'll prove it to you."

I said, "OK, how about next Friday night?"

She leaned up and gave me a quick kiss, "Friday night," she said, and just like that she scampered away.

I went back to where mom was. She'd already finally ordered all the paint she wanted. I asked her, "Did you pick the colors you wanted?"

She smiled and said, "Yes sweetie I did. They're all right here."

I looked down and she had four five gallon pails of white paint on a cart. I said, "Mom they're all white."

She asked me, "Did you and Celine patch things up?"

I looked at her and just said, "Shit." We loaded the paint and went home. I started painting the house but never really finished. 




It Could Happen to You



~~V~~

Celine and I started dating again, but she wasn't into making the kind of commitment I wanted. I'd had Marge and knew what I wanted. Finally after our third date I confronted her, "Celine I want more than just a tit. I want something I can really enjoy."

She smiled and said, "How about a hand job?"

My first thought was fuck that. I wanted the real thing, but then I thought where did that comment come from? I told her, "Hell no! I want more than that, a lot more."

She got all befuddled acting and said, "I could maybe suck you off?"

The red flags went up then. I said, "Celine if you love me you'll give me what I really need."

She whispered, "No I can't do that."

I said, "Why not?"

She said, "Not before we're married."

I was getting pissed and told her, "No I can't wait."

She broke down then, "If I gave it up to you then you'd know."

'Shit,' I thought. I said, "Know what?" I watched her as she started to cry. I wasn't sure. I didn't think they were real tears. I'd learned that much.

She was crying, or pretending to, when she said, "I can't let you have it. I don't have it anymore," then she really did start to cry.

I said, "What is this big 'it' you don't have any more?" I knew what 'it' was, but I seriously didn't believe she'd sold out. 

She collapsed, "Tommy Sheldon got me."

"Got you?" I wasn't giving in an inch.

She wailed, "Oh Michael you know. Tommy Sheldon took my cherry this past summer," she started talking fast, as fast as I ever heard her, "I was so mad at you. You started dating that whore Marge Vogel. I knew what you two were doing. I swore I'd get even, but the only way I could was...was to...you know..."

No I didn't know. I told her, "That's bullshit. You let Tommy Sheldon fuck you because he had a membership at the swim club. He fucked you because he had a new car. Besides I know the truth. David got you before he left." 

She stopped crying, "No Tommy sort of got me, and yes it was because I wanted to go swimming every day, but David never got me. Oh Michael you hate me now don't you? I'm so sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll be your girl from now on. I'll do anything you want."

We weren't far from her house when all this went down so I said, "You'll do anything?"

She wiped her eyes and said, "Anything. I'll do whatever you want." She leaned forward to kiss me, "I love you Michael, only you."

I said, Anything?"

"Anything Michael. You can even have my ass."

I thought, 'What the fuck?' I said then, "If you'll do anything," she was nodding her head yes, I said, "Then get the fuck out of my car and never speak to me again!"

She stopped, "Michael?"

"Go find Tommy Sheldon, or whoever you last fucked. Fuck everybody at Lowes, fuck that guy at Sears, but just get the fuck out of my God damn car!"

She leaped back and away, "Michael you don't...you can't..."

I yelled at the top of my lungs, "Get the fuck out of my car!"

She got out and I burned up the street getting away from her. I found an older friend. He bought me a fifth of Jack Daniels and I proceeded to get as drunk as I could. I realized what I'd done. I'd done the one stupidest thing no guy should ever do. I'd saved the stupid whoring bitch for somebody else. All those God damned times we were so close and I pulled back because she'd whimper or say something. Good old fucking Tommy Sheldon never pulled back. No sir! And I bet a dozen other guys never pulled back either! I was one stupid moron. Never again! I'd never let that happen again. I'd find and fuck everything I could. Fuck Celine. Fuck Tommy Sheldon. Fuck my mom, well not her, but fuck everybody else, and for sure fuck David wherever he was. 

I went to work; not just at school, not on painting my parent's house, not on some shit assed part-time job, and for sure not for Celine, never Celine. I started my great quest. I was going to find and fuck every girl I knew, had known, or would ever know. I thought about that big dead black guy who played for that NBA team who said he'd fucked 20,000 women. No wonder he was dead. Well shit! I never played basketball, not that well anyway, but I bet I could fuck a measly 20,000 women.

From that day forward I made it my mission to 'get' as many girls as I could. It didn't take me long to find out how easy it was. First, as it turned out I was pretty popular. Maybe Marge had left a note on a bathroom wall somewhere? Maybe the girls actually liked me, or maybe all the women out there were just as horny, just as promiscuous, and just as amoral as Celine. I did what my brother told me. I treated dating and fucking like I was looking for a job. If one turned me down I just moved on to the next. 

Pretty soon I had a bevy of regulars; girls, and some older women who I could count on. Some liked it slow with lots of affection, others liked it hard and fast, while a few others needed to be wined, dined, and told how special they were. I didn't care. I did them all. 

Disease? Was I worried about disease? Sure. Wasn't everybody? That's why they sold rubbers. I was careful. For me it wasn't so much the sex, or the fun of it, it was mostly about getting even. I didn't know or care who I was paying back; I only knew I had to spear as many twats as I could.

This went on for weeks, months even. However, even the most licentious man, the worst libertine gets tired after a while. Sex that is the fucking, the blow jobs, the jamming my dick up girls' asses gets tiresome after a while. I had to admit it; I was kidding myself. Still I would've have probably gone on until I either caught something or some husband or boyfriend caught me. 

What stopped me was Celine. Well not exactly Celine, but my mom and a late Friday night phone call. I'd been to my classes and already stopped at the bowling alley where I'd picked up a girl I knew. Who it was didn't matter; we both got off in the back of my old Chevy S10 Blazer. I'd taken her home, kissed her goodnight, and driven to my parents to clean up for work the next morning.

I was upstairs taking a shit when I heard the phone ring. I didn't know where my cell was. I think it was downstairs someplace, but that time of night phone calls were usually for me. I was wiping my ass with the Charmin when my mom called upstairs. She said I needed to get out to Bear Creek Road pronto.

I yelled down and asked her why.

She yelled back that Celine was out there and needed a ride home. I yelled down and told mom to tell her she could find someone else.

Mom yelled back up and said that she was crying, she sounded almost hysterical. She said some guy took her out there and tried to rape her, she'd fought him off, but that she was pretty messed up and her parents weren't home.

Celine was an only child, and a spoiled one at that. If her parents weren't home, and she was desperate enough to call my parents then she must be in a pretty bad fix. I yelled down and told my mom to tell Celine I'd be out as soon as I could.

My mom yelled back that I should hurry since it sounded like Celine was really off.

Well I'm not going to say I didn't hurry because I did, but I sure didn't want to. It was pretty lonely out around Bear Creek Road; it crossed several streams, and I knew of at least one old bridge that had been brought down by flooding a few years back. I had no idea where exactly I was going. It took me about a half hour to get to the road, and I must have driven around for twenty minutes before I found her.

Brother was she a mess!

Bear Creek Road is one of those old country paths that carve up the back country around the southwestern part of our state. The region is lightly populated, heavily forested, and not the best place for a city girl like Celine to be lost. 

I found her. She didn't look like she was hurt much; mostly her self-esteem I guessed. I asked her, "What the hell are you doing way out here?"

She was behaving all confused and disoriented but she managed to tell me a little. She said, "I don't know exactly. I'm sure glad you came. I knew you would. I can't remember. I think I was with Tommy and he wanted to show me a fishing spot he'd found."

I couldn't believe any of the shit she was piling on me, "Celine that's all bullshit. You hate fishing. Christ I can't think of the times I begged you to go with me. You always had some excuse."

She looked all bewildered, "I don't remember. We were at a dance. Tommy belongs to a club or something. He wanted me to go with him. There were a lot of kids at first, but then I looked around and all the girls were gone. It was just like five or six boys. We weren't at the dance. I don't remember going any place. They all wanted me to dance for them. I got scared and started yelling I think. I really can't remember."

Celine's not a very good liar, and she sounded garbled and all at odds with herself. I asked her, "Did you have anything to drink. Did you eat anything?"

She was sitting on her ass in the mud on the side of the road. She didn't act like she wanted to get up. She said, "I think I had some wine. I might have had something else. It tasted sweet. They gave me some food too. I don't remember what it was, but it tasted garlicky." 

That's when I saw the unmistakable traces of semen on her blouse. Jesus that made me mad. She wasn't being helpful, but it sounded like either Tommy or one of his friends had given her something. If this had been the Celine from a few months back I'd have sworn she'd never have taken anything, but this girl was like no one I knew. It sounded like someone had loaded her up with Ecstasy or worse that Molecular stuff, that Molly. Ecstasy would have been enough, but had it been a good dose of Molly she, or I should say we'd be lucky she was still alive. 

I leaned down and helped her up. She didn't seem any the worse for wear except for a few scratches, some torn clothes, and a little mud. I could see where someone had tried to get her bra off, and her slacks had been torn. I guessed she must have put up a pretty good fight; a good enough fight to scare off the likes of Tommy Sheldon. I looked around and found her purse. I used my cell phone to call hers and found it near a puddle in the ditch beside the road. 

I was no linebacker or anything, more a skinny fully equipped Lance Armstrong I guess, but I managed to pick her up and carry her to my car. I laid her in the back and covered her with the comforter I'd just used myself with another girl a few hours earlier. I took my handkerchief, spit on it, and wiped the grime off her face. By the time I'd done that she was already fast asleep. I hopped in behind the wheel and drove her back to my parents. 

My mom was up waiting for us when I got back with Celine. Mom took one look at her and nearly got hysterical. Dad was up; he calmed mom down while I brought in Celine and put her on the living room sofa. She was still fast asleep. It was then I got really worried. 

I told my mom, "I don't know what's wrong. She was out with some guys and I think they gave her something. Maybe we should take her to the emergency room?"

Dad agreed, and the four of us piled in my car. Mom and dad in the front I got in the back holding what I considered a comatose Celine. The hospital was close by, and we got there in just a few minutes. I wondered how long she'd been in the condition she was in, but she had been talking when I found her. I kept thinking about all the girls I'd read about who'd been drugged and ended up dying someplace or spending years in a coma.

Honest to God I was scared. Let's just say I had a come to Jesus moment. I didn't care who'd fucked her I only knew that I loved her and she could be in some serious danger. I also knew what a spoiled self-centered little twit she'd always been. Good Catholic, good student, well behaved girl or not, she'd always been able to get whatever she wanted. I was as guilty of that as anybody I guess. 

We got her to the hospital. I told the Triage nurse what I thought, and they took her right in. I asked them what they would do, but got nowhere. They just told me to go sit down. They let my mom and dad go back, but not me. 

Damn it! I suddenly realized what the medical people thought when they saw me. I was at least as muddy as Celine, we were the same age, and I bet they thought I'd given her whatever it was that was making her sick. Jesus they were even calling the police! 

I sat down with my cell phone and started calling around. I was going to find that mother fucker Tommy Sheldon and beat his ass. And if Celine died I was going to kill him. 

It took me several tries but I found a friend who knew Sheldon's cell phone number. I called and got him. The son-of-a-bitch was home watching TV! I told him where I was, who was with me, and how if he didn't get his cock sucking ass down to the hospital right away I'd kill him. He started in with all this bravado bullshit about 'he wasn't afraid of me and how he could kick my ass. I told the bastard that it didn't matter since there was spunk on her blouse, and that I bet it was his, and if she died they'd haul his stupid ass in. The dumb shithead hung up his phone. Meanwhile the doctors and nurses were in and out. They kept looking at me like I was Albert DE Salvo or something. 

The police arrived and one of the nurses pointed at me. There were two of them, a man and a woman. They walked right over. I held up my hand and said, 'I'm an ex-boyfriend. She called my parents and I found her. I didn't do this, but I can tell you who did."

It was just then some foreign doctor came out and said something to one of the nurses. She came over to us and asked, "Are you Michael Sullivan?"

I nodded.

She said, "Celine's awake. She's been delirious and crying. She's been asking for you. She keeps saying you saved her life. She's groggy, but we think she'll be all right."

I looked at the police, "We all right? Can I go in?"

The female policeman said, "You have a name?"

I told them Michael Sullivan.

The woman policeman said, "The name of the person who might have accosted her."

I said, "Oh, Tommy Sheldon." Then I realized what an asshole I must have looked like. I could tell she thought I was some kind of idiot or something. I got my shit together and said, "My name's Michael Sullivan. She was out with a creep named Tommy Sheldon. He's been taking advantage of her for months. I think there's semen on her blouse. It might be his."

The female cop looked at her partner, "Try to find this Sheldon. She looked at the nurse, "Could we have her blouse?"

I asked the police person again, "Can I go see my old girlfriend?"

The policewoman nodded; I didn't need a second vote. I was on my way.

When I got to her cubicle I saw she was only barely awake. I walked up and stood beside her. 

Celine saw me with half opened eyes. She reached for my hand. I held it out. I could barely hear her when she said, "I love you."

I stood there and held her hand for like I guess a year. It was only a couple minutes actually. Then this doctor I could barely understand started talking to me. He told me Celine was lucky. They didn't know how much of what it was they'd given her, but mixed with the alcohol and her diminutive size it could have killed her. He said she might be all right in a few days, she might not. He said the stuff the kids are using nowadays is frightful; it's as bad as heroin, maybe worse. He said she might walk out of the hospital tomorrow completely well; she might be permanently brain damaged. He said if there was brain damage it wouldn't necessarily impair her motor skills but it could affect her ability to make reasoned judgments. 

The doctor scared the living shit out of me. Celine had always been a nice girl, a sweet person. Sure she was stupid. More silly and immature than anything. She was someone I could have killed a hundred times. She'd really hurt me in the past, and she almost always pissed me off, but I never wanted her to be hurt. I knew she and I would have to have a long talk. 

~~V~~

They got a hold of Tommy Sheldon. He denied everything. The sticky stuff on her blouse did turn out to be semen and he admitted it was his. I was pissed at Sheldon and privately vowed to get his ugly ass, but I was relieved Celine was all right. 

Celine was back home by Monday. I was at her house Monday evening after classes. We had some things to talk about. Her mother and father were home when I got there. They were glad to see me.

Celine's dad shook my hand, "God I'm proud of you Michael. She could be dead now if it wasn't for you." 

Her mom expressed the same opinion.

We three sat in the living room while Celine waited for me in their club room downstairs. I told them, "Celine's someone I've always had feelings for. You guys know that, but the truth is we're like oil and water. I think she cares about me as much as I do her, but we just can't get along."

I was mistaken. Celine wasn't downstairs; she was in their kitchen. She hollered in, "That's not true. We both love each other; the problem is we're too much alike."

I got up, "Mr. and Mrs. Campanaris would you excuse me please. I'd like to go talk with your daughter if you two don't mind."

Both mother and father nodded at each other than at me. Mr. Campanaris said, "Be our guest."

I strolled back in the kitchen, and found Celine seated at their kitchen table. She was sipping a glass of wine. I glared at her, "What do you think you're doing?"

She glared back, "I'm having a glass of wine, why?"

"Damn it Celine if you hadn't been half drunk the other night Sheldon wouldn't have been able to pull the shit on you he did. Jesus Celine he could've killed you."

She took another sip and smugly replied, "I'm not with Tommy Sheldon now am I? I'm with you, and you'd never take advantage of me."

"Christ Celine," I hollered, "you're one stupid broad. I've been screwing girls and taking advantage of them at every opportunity ever since you pulled the 'oh Tommy got me' trick."

She got up and dumped the rest of her wine in the sink, "First," she said, "don't talk so loud or my mother and father will hear you. And second I lied about Tommy Sheldon. Nobody's ever gotten me. I made it all up to make you mad." 

I didn't believe her. I wanted to, but I knew I couldn't. I told her, "You sure were convincing when you told me he did. I find it hard to believe now."

She came over and sat in the chair right beside me. She took her two hands and held my right hand, "Do you want me to prove to you I'm a virgin?"

I smirked, "Look that's not possible and you know it. You're almost twenty, and you haven't been living in a bubble. I've seen you horseback riding. I've watched you play field hockey, and soccer, and volleyball. You've done too many things. If you've got a hymen I've got three balls."

She used her right hand to stroke up and down my arm. She wasn't looking at me; a dead giveaway that what was coming next wasn't true. She said very quietly, "Oh I may not have one of those, but I'm telling you nobody's ever got inside me. I mean deep in." then she added, "in either place."

I wasn't buying, "Yeah well how many guys have you sucked off?" How many hand jobs is it, fifty?"

She pulled her hands back, "Not that many, and I only sucked off Tommy. I would've sucked off David," 

I looked at her; there was that faraway look again, "David," I said, "It's always about David in the end isn't it?" I watched her cringe at that one.

She still had that 'woebegone' look, "He was my first boyfriend," then she brightened up. I saw the Celine I always wanted, "But you're going to be my last. I mean it, no more Tommy's or David's or..." 

I saw the look and the hesitation. She was going to mention at least one more, but stopped short. I provided the name, "And Gerry, right?"





It Could Happen to You



She looked surprised. She recovered quickly though and replied, "Yeah and Gerry too, but he only felt me up."

I shrugged, "I'm so reassured," I had to hit home with her or I knew everything else, if there ever was going to be an everything else would be a waste of time, "See here Celine. You know how I feel about you. I've been with other girls..."

She cut me off, "Yeah like that Marge Vogel..."

Then I cut her off, "Yeah her and others too. But! I say but I've always loved you, and I didn't see Marge until after you decided you wanted to run around. You remember that?"

She wanted to fight, "Yeah what about those tutor..."

I held up my hand to keep her from interrupting, "Listen Celine I'm doing very well in school. I'm way ahead of the curve with the tech stuff right now. I've got a good foundation from my classes on business management. When I get out of college I think I'll do pretty well. But I've got to stay in school. If you want me you're going to have to stand beside me. Not behind me. Not hiding someplace around the corner, and you've got to be there for me. Just me! I've got to be able to trust you. Right now I don't."

She sat back, "OK. I understand. So Michael I have an idea."

I was slightly incredulous, "You do?"

She got up and went to the sink. She got a glass, filled it with water, and drank it down, "Let's start over. I'm still only nineteen. I've only been out of high school a few months. So I've been stupid. I've been immature. I know I'm spoiled. So I'm guilty. I've been a bad person, but I'm still the same girl you fell in love with. You're the same boy."

I got up then too, "You mean start over, like from scratch?"

"Yes," she said, "Go home. Wait a few days and call me up. Ask me out. It'll be a brand new start. Michael I promise you won't be sorry."

I smirked. I took my right index finger and pushed it back and forth between my left thumb and left index finger, "And what about..."

She didn't move. She watched my finger action and then said, "A first date's a first date. I won't be easy, but I promise you Michael Sullivan I'll give you everything you want."

"Everything?" I asked.

She looked at me, and I could tell she was dead on serious, "I mean it. Don't push it, but you'll get everything you want...and more."

I wondered what that meant. I started toward her to give her a kiss. She backed away. She put her hands up, palms out, "No. You haven't even asked me out yet."

I stopped, "OK. I'm going home. Starting tomorrow it's a fresh start."

She nodded, "Fresh start."

I walked out of their kitchen, through their dining room, into their living room, through the foyer to the front door. I looked back at the Campanaris's. I waved and said, "See you soon."

They looked back and forth at each other. Mrs. Campanaris said, "See you soon Michael."

I opened the door and left.

~~V~~

I went home and waited a week before I called for our 'first' date. I had some things on my mind. 

First, we'd known each other for nearly four years. Oh we'd been acquaintances earlier, but direct first hand intercourse only dropped us back to my junior year in high school; she'd been a sophomore. I was halfway through my sophomore year of college now. We'd had our share of arguments, make ups, and day to day good and bad times. I wanted to pack all that away in a mental folder and leave it. If we were going to make a go of this we sure couldn't dig up or dig at old wounds. I sure wouldn't.

Second, we both had our ghosts. Celine had already brought up Marge, and there were other girls she could've mentioned too. I had my ghosts to contend with also. Guys like Tommy Sheldon and Gerry 'Asshole' Myers had been hanging around her like two buzzards the last few months, and I had to put them out of my mind. Of course, the real ghost wasn't any of her current crop of suitors; it was my brother. His past presence haunted me like a dark shade. I loved my brother, but honestly, I hoped he'd never come home. 

Then last there was the big question; did I love her enough to try to make a new start work? The answer to that was easy; yes I did love her. I loved her with all my heart, but I was still a man. I'd work to make things good, but this was a two way street; she had to pull her weight too, and that meant for me no competition. We were two about to become one; there wouldn't be any room for anybody else. 

~~V~~

I called her up, and set a date. I kept it as light as possible. I said, "Hi, is this Celine Campanaris?"

She answered, "Yes, is this Michael Sullivan?"

I said, "Yes it is. I thought I'd give you a call. I have these three twenty dollar bills, and they're burning a hole in my pocket. I was wondering if you'd like to help me spend them."

Celine answered, "I can spend money Michael. That's one of my favorite hobbies. How would you like to waste it?"

"I thought maybe a light dinner, and perhaps a spin around the ice rink?" Celine liked ice skating. She was good at it.

"I'd like that a lot. Did you have a day or time in mind?"

I replied, "This Friday night, say I pick you around 6:00."

She exuded, "Sounds great, see you then."

I hung up and thought, 'Well that went well.'

And so began my second courtship of Ms. Celine Campanaris. We did all the things I knew she liked. We went skating. I took her to the movies. We stopped in at the college student union for snacks and talk. We went for long drives in the country. We spotted an owl once and made regular trips back to keep tabs on him. We both kept everything light and airy.

Long about the time spring semester began we were moving into phase two; the more intimate stage of our second courtship. I was careful. I didn't want to push her. She was good with this, and didn't fight me off when I did get a little intimate. 

Along with the increased physical intimacy came other things. We talk about the future. We talked about what we both wanted, what we wanted to see happen. We talked about kids, and family, and God. Celine was deeply religious. She confided once she'd even thought about becoming a nun and going to some distant land and doing good deeds. To me that was mildly disconcerting since Celine's always been someone who's easy to read. 

Like I said I could always tell when she was dissembling; she hadn't been fabricating anything when she talked about becoming a nun. I realized she was a lot more complicated than I thought; the comments she'd made about Tommy and her being sexual and then her later retraction. I could believe her. Celine was more than just another pretty girl. No she wasn't just some cute little coquette; there was substance there. But the David thing; that had been real too, and I still worried about that. 

Celine had changed in other ways too. Over the last year she'd filled out more. Her boobs were more fulsome, and her thighs more meaty. I loved it. She'd grown an inch too; I figured she was closer to 5'5" maybe 5'6" now. I loved her hair, that she'd continue to let it grow, and what she did with it. Her complexion was liked melted butter. By that I mean she had a soft yellowish olive glow, no freckles, no pimples, just that perfect clear complexion only girls who could trace their ancestry to southern Italy had. Physically she was perfect.

Personality had always been her strongest point. The sweet bubbly Celine I'd fallen in love with in high school never left, but now there was a polished maturity. If I made a misstatement or said something crass, stupid, or brash she seemed to find a way to take a bad thing and refine it, add a level of feminine gentility to things she'd never done before. Oh the fiery temper burst through frequently, but the flames didn't smolder and stink up the environment. She'd blow up at something, and then just as quickly burst into gales of laughter about her, or my, silliness. She'd always been fun to be around; now more than ever I found her more than just fun, she was warm and sensitive. My Celine was becoming a true woman. I only hoped I was keeping pace. By then I realized she was the more mature one. 

She'd kept her job at Lowes, but now instead of spending her money as fast as she made it she was putting some aside. Me, I was in school studying all the time; she gave me my space. She supported me in my school work. I found her more than just a girlfriend; she'd buy me supplies, new electronic equipment, and she was doing as much studying about the newest technologies as I was. 

She was more than a girlfriend; she was a help-mate. Together we were becoming a real team. Near the end of my sophomore year I decided we were ready for the next step. There'd been no real sex. Sure there'd been some petting, and we'd put the 'friends with partial benefits' idea to good use. 

We learned we could make each other happy without risking a baby. I loved diving down into her black furry forest. Sliding my tongue up and down her pink velvety crease was reward enough for me. I nearly suffocated with rapturous delight when I plunged my face between her breasts. Talk about ecstasy; holding her in my arms, nesting my face in her thick luscious black hair, having her soft lips wrapped around my manhood, what could've been better?

It could be unpleasant too. One time something happened that I found pretty stressful. I dwelt on it far longer than I should have. We'd been out. I'd had my wallet out and had inadvertently left it on her mom's kitchen counter. It was late and her parents were in bed. 

Celine scooped up my wallet and laughingly asked, "What have we here?"

I chuckled, held out my hand and said, "OK, hand it back."

She said, "Not yet,"

Next I knew she was going through my wallet. She had all my cards out. There wasn't anything unusual, Triple A, Visa, driver's license, library card, the usual. Then she flipped to the sections where I kept my pictures. Sure there was mom and dad, an old picture of me and David. What threw her off was a whole bunch of pictures of her. I guess maybe six of them from times and places she never knew I was around. 

She handed me my wallet back and quietly went on to talk about something else. Not me though. I reached over and grabbed her purse. I found her wallet and went to work. I didn't fool around with the cards. I went straight for the pictures. There were the usual mom and dad things, pictures of some cousins, and a set of grandparents. But when it came to me I didn't see anything. I remembered I'd given her one of my graduation pictures, but it wasn't there. There was one somebody's picture there. Yeah, she had David's and it looked well used, like somebody'd held quite a lot. There was something written on the back, but I never got a chance to read it because she yanked it out of my hand.

Then something occurred to me. She'd been to our house a lot. She'd been in my room; she'd seen all the stupid shit I had, the magazines, the model planes, the stacks of cds. and stuff, but I'd never been in her room, not once.

I didn't think. I reacted. I jumped up and went straight for the stairs. I took each step two at a time. Celine was right behind me. I pushed right into her room. It was like someone had stabbed me, stabbed me right in the stomach. It was pretty much the way I thought a girl's room should look; dolls, trim, doilies, lots of feminine things. There was a picture by her bed on her bedstead too; it was an old picture from years past, it was a picture of her and David. I made a brief look around; not a single picture of me, not one anywhere. 

I turned. She was standing behind me. I saw the look. I recognized it. Nothing had changed; it was David, it had been David all the time. I sidestepped her and made my way downstairs, out the door, out to my car, and then home. It was over.

~~V~~

I couldn't have been in my parent's house more than five minutes before I heard a car pull up. I was in full almost cry, depths of despair mode when I looked out the front window. Celine had followed me home. She clamored up my parent's front, across the wooden porch, into the front room and right in front of me.

She was crying, "No," she said, "you're wrong. It's not him." She had a bunch of pictures in her hands. She threw them at my feet. They were all of David, "OK, it was stupid. I never thought." 

I didn't get a chance to respond. She rushed into my arms. She pulled my arms so they were wrapped around her waist. I tried to back away. I really tried. She wouldn't let me. She pulled my face down to hers and started kissing me. She pushed and marched and back-pedaled me into my parent's living room and together we fell on their sofa. As we fell backwards I glanced at the clock; it was quite late.

Celine had my shirt open and over my head before I realized what was happening. My belt buckle was unhitched and my pants were being pulled down. I went for her blouse.

Two minutes later we were naked on my parent's couch. She started out on top, but pretty quickly she had me on top. We were face to face. I never saw her eyes quite like that; all I saw were pupils. 

Three seconds later I was inside her. She was so incredibly tight! I had to push really hard to get in. As I went in I heard her; it wasn't a gasp, or a cry out, it was more a powerful intake of breath, like a bunch of big deep breathy whooshes in and out. It must have hurt; I saw the tears, but she never cried, at least not right away. 

It was over almost as fast as it started. I had no control. I didn't know if she did anything or not. I never asked, not then, and not later. For several minutes I lay on top while she held me. She had her arms wrapped around me so tight I found it hard to breathe; it was as though she was afraid to let me go.

Eventually she loosened her grasp. I sat up and she rolled over next to me. I was a nervous wreck, and though she looked the most disheveled I'd ever seen her she seemed in total control. She was deathly quiet when she said, "You're mine. Understand?"

I nodded.

She got up, got dressed, and left. 

We never discussed that little interlude. In fact nothing like that happened again for months. Over the following days and weeks she was just as determined to keep me at bay as ever. It was like it never happened. 

I remember after she left I spent several minute trying to clean up the mess on the sofa. A normal person I suppose would have been convinced. I wasn't a normal person. Her behavior didn't make me feel more secure. I felt less secure. 

But we moved on.

~~V~~

At last in June, right after sophomore classes ended I managed to arrange a full clan meeting. I got my mom and dad, Celine's parents, and hers altogether one afternoon at the local diner. It was my treat. I think everyone but Celine knew what the real reason for the food was. We were just finishing dessert and having a coffee when I reached in my pocket and pulled out the tiny box that held the ring. I was seated between her mom and mine. Celine was across the table. 

I didn't get up and do the big 'on the knee' thing, not yet anyway. I just quietly, and I like to think nonchalantly, placed the little box on the table and slowly used my index finger to slide it toward Celine.

At first she didn't realize what it was; then she did. She didn't jump up and down. No one heard a lot of oohs and ahs. There weren't any mushy tears. She recognized the box for what it was and just smiled this beautiful sweet gracious smile at me. She reached across the table and, ignoring the box, placed her tiny hand on mine. She emitted a barely audible whisper, "Yes."

It was then that I got up and walked around the table. I knelt on the floor beside her, opened the box she now held in her hand, took out the ring and placed it on her finger. My mom started clapping. Celine's mother had her handkerchief out and was crying. 

Celine, well Celine, looked at the minuscule quarter carat solitaire, turned, and smiled and kissed me on the cheek. She murmured, "I love you."

I kissed her back, but on the lips. I said it then, "You'll make me happy and marry me?"

She smiled some more and said, "You know I will."

Then her father hailed the waitress, got a bottle of some kind of red wine, and we all had a toast. By then her mother and my mom were chattering away about the wedding. Her mother said they'd probably have to let her wedding dress out since Celine was a little more buxom than she'd been. 

I'd never thought of that, but it seemed to be a foregone conclusion; Celine would be wearing her mother's wedding dress, it had been her grandmother's years before. Celine's grandparents on her mother's side were both dead. Her grandfather had fought in Vietnam. He'd married Celine's grandmother just before he'd gone away. Celine's mom had worn the same dress; now it was Celine's turn. 

My mom said she had some jewelry that had been in her family a long time, and that Celine would get it. I thought of David. He was the older brother, but he wasn't around. Maybe I was being selfish, but I wanted my mom's jewelry for Celine-fuck David.

The afternoon dinner broke up. Celine and I drifted off to my car. We went for a ride. We talked about my college, buying a house someday, how many kids we'd have, none of it was new. 

Celine was an only child; she said she wanted a big family. I didn't care. I told her we'd have as many as she wanted. I felt so good. We held hands in the car. I hated the modern motor companies; I hated their bucket seats.

That summer was stupendous! I found a great job that made a lot more than minimum wage. Celine was a supervisor in the tool department. Lowes was promoting women, and Celine was at the right place at the right time. She was starting to make pretty good money. Junior year loomed ahead. We seemed to be on our way.

~~V~~

What's that old saw? 'We make plans and...

We got pregnant.

Celine had a problem with birth control pills so we relied on her diaphragm and spermicide, and it worked. We got married the very end of July. We went on a short honeymoon to Niagara Falls, and we came back home. Her parents and mine got together, bought us some used and some new furniture. Mr. and Mrs. Campanaris had a small apartment above their stand-alone garage. When we got home we were all set up to play house; it was wonderful. Celine went back to work, I had another decent summer job. We started saving for my fall tuition; everything was great. 

Fall came and Celine and I were like the perfect team. I was back in classes with and, thanks to Mr. Campanaris, a good paying part-time job in the evenings that required few real 'on the job' hours. I was at a job site just fifteen minutes from home. I had so much free time I was able to get most of my studying in before getting home. The teachers assigned a lot of research for several projects, but Celine was right there on the Internet day and night filling in the gaps and helping me out. 

At Lowes Celine's top supervisors had fallen in love with her, and she was soon in line for another promotion and more responsibility. Her supervisors were good people; one an older man, the other a youngish woman so I wasn't worried about any job site coercion or any of that other hanky-panky husbands sometimes have to contend with. 

Yes things looked rosy for the young Sullivan family. Things looked so good that one evening we all decided to get together for another one of those warm and friendly family dinners at the local diner. Celine and I were so excited we thought we'd have a 'quickie' before her mother and father came for us. We were just finishing up when we heard them downstairs outside the garage. Celine did her thing with the diaphragm and off we went. Of what a night, what a beautiful April night! I ordered Haddock and Celine got Lobster. Life was good! 

Shortly thereafter we finished my spring semester; grades were excellent. Celine got a raise, and I, again with Mr. Campanaris's help, got a really good summer job. One more year and I'd have my diploma. Companies in the area were already talking to me! 




It Could Happen to You



When Celine missed May we didn't think a thing of it, but when June rolled around and Celine started feeling a little off her oats we knew something was brewing. She and I talked it over; it had to have been the night we went out with our parents. Celine had been careful, but careful is a tricky word. Careful meant diaphragm and spermicide; not just diaphragm. We were about to become, heck we already were, a growing family. 

There was never any question about keeping the baby. Sure we could have gone the abortion route, but we'd get to think about it for the next fifty years. We knew we'd never be able to handle the 'what ifs'. 

Both sets of parents were moderately pleased; they approved of our decision to keep the baby, but they weren't so happy that we'd been a tad careless. 

Celine and I did the numbers. With luck we'd get through the fall of my senior year, but it looked like that last semester would take a little longer. The way Celine mapped it out I'd be done all my undergraduate work about six months later than the original plan. That of course included babysitting from both soon to be grandmothers. 

So we marched through the summer. Celine set up the Lamaze classes. She reorganized our tiny apartment. Together we hit the yard sales and used furniture shops, our grandparents looked through their attics, and pretty soon we had the all the baby stuff we'd need-right down to the diapers. Oh did we scrimp and save, but it was for a common cause. We were living the 'purpose driven' life. Man it was great! 

Fall came and I was back in school. We fixed it so I'd have a heavier load; anything to get the job done as soon as possible. 

Those were some wonderful times. I guess it's a little egotistical, but I was really proud to be attending the Lamaze classes. Celine was such a pretty pregnant mother-to-be I just burst with joy. I remember the first sonogram, the first kick, the time we found out our baby was going to be a girl. We went through a million books trying to decide on the perfect name. Celine even started talking about saving for the baby's college education. What a great time!

Celine was pregnant, and she never looked more beautiful, she really blossomed. I'd loved her before, but with the baby coming I was walking on air. She was a wonderful wife and the greatest daughter and daughter; I knew when the time came she'd be the best mother ever! 

I'm not saying it was all pink and rosy; there was the morning sickness, the crying jags, trips for the store for odd food choices, fears regarding birthing problems, uncertainty about birth defects, and her uncertainty about her weight and post birth shape. Yeah we worried about all the things pregnant families worried about, but we did it together and didn't miss mass, not once. For sure, I hadn't been a Catholic, but changing denominations was a small thing for me. Celine wanted everything to be just right, and if that meant doing it Catholic then I said 'go for it'. Come on, Celine Sullivan, nee Campanaris was my little goddess. I worshiped her.

The blessed day came; our baby arrived at 11:03 a.m. January eleventh. She was our precious little Cira Angelina Fiametta Sullivan; she came in at 6lbs. 7ozs. She was nineteen inches on the nose! A perfect brand new baby, a clean and fresh new human being! I looked at Celine holding our perfect adorable little bundle and I was the happiest man alive.

~~V~~

My brother David had been gone about four years when Cira arrived. That was just about how long one term of enlistment was in the navy. I never gave it much thought. David had been gone so long, and nobody'd heard from him. I'd almost forgotten I had a brother

Mom called me around 1:00 in the afternoon. She was all excited, "Guess what Michael!"

"What mom? Did we win the lottery?"

"No David's home. He just got in!"

My mind did a tumble-sought. Old ghosts and old worries started to resurface. What was I going to say? What would Celine say? How would she feel? What would David say? I didn't think he had any claim on Celine; he was the one who'd run off-not her. Yeah, I was the one who'd stayed around. I was the one who'd picked up the pieces, applied the balm, bore the pain. She was my girl. She was my wife! 

More bad vibes started to hatch out. At the time we'd started over Celine had assured me she was a virgin; that there'd never been a Tommy Sheldon. I knew that was most likely a lie: I'd known it from the first time. Well I guess I did. Oh I was sure whatever she'd done hadn't been much, but I thought I knew uncharted ground from a previously plowed field. She may not have been plowed much, but I knew I hadn't been the first. But then who really knew...or even cared?

So David was home; where would that take us? Celine was just getting out of the shower; it was near time for her to go to work. I called back, "Hey Celine!"

She shouted out, "Yes sweetie?"

"That was my mom; guess whose back?"

She came in wrapped in a terrycloth robe with a towel swimming around her long black hair, "Who? Do tell."

I was careful. I tried to be casual, but I don't think I quite made it, "David's back." I saw it; the look. 'Jesus,' I thought, 'she's still carrying a torch.' I'm not much into music, but I've always enjoyed country. Until they retired Alabama had been my all-time favorite group; that song, "Old Flame" just jumped out at me. 

Christ! I remembered the lyrics! "There's an old flame burning in your eyes. That tears can't drown and make-up can't disguise. Now that old flame might not be stronger but..." I felt like I was going to be sick.

Celine's split second response disappeared. She replied, "Really? When did he get back?"

A stone had fallen on my soul. I answered, "Don't know. Mom just said he was back."

Celine started walking back to our bedroom. As she walked back she said, "We'll have to invite him over.

You better check the baby I think there's something in there. Smells like it."

I heard her shuffling around getting dressed. She'd be gone in a few minutes. I got up, "I'll check her now." While I checked the baby and pretended to be busy Celine got ready for work. 

Ten minutes later she was gone. This was her 2:00 to 10:00 shift so she'd be home about 10:30. Most employees left at 9:00, but she was a supervisor and usually stayed a little longer. I had almost nine hours to fret and worry. Thank God it was a Friday; she'd be back in at 8:00 the next morning. My work schedule had me in a little later at 9:00 right after mom Campanaris came over to keep an eye on Cira. We'd just started the spring term; I was taking two classes, and tonight was to be my night to study. After these two spring classes I only had a few more and I'd be done, and now David...what was I going to do?

That problem was partly solved about an hour later. David showed up at our apartment. He was armed with a case of some kind of expensive beer. Of course, what with the baby we didn't allow alcohol in the apartment. I invited him in, but...

"Dave," I said, "Mom just called and told us you were back."

He grinned. 

I didn't like the grin. 

He said, "Yeah, just got out and thought I'd come home," He held up the beer, "Look at what I've got."

I looked at the beer and smiled, "Looks great, but Celine doesn't like booze in the house...you know...the baby."

Dave pushed right by me, "Come on Michael. It's me. Celine won't mind." Beer in tow he walked on up the stairs to our place. I followed.

We went to the kitchen. He went ahead and pushed two six packs in the refrigerator. He unpacked a third, slipped the lid off one and handed it to me. Then he slipped the lid off another and dropped it down his throat in what we used to call a torpedo. I thought, 'Thank God Cira was asleep.'

David sat back, "So what's up little brother. I hear you married my girl; even got a kid of your own now. Tell me how'd you do it?"

I watched him as he finished a second beer before I'd had a sip of my first. My mind was going a mile a minute. I didn't like his look. Well maybe it was the navy, but other guys had been in the navy and didn't come back well...looking like... Shit! What's wrong with me? He's my brother! I should be glad he's back. Yeah I should be ashamed, but I was prejudiced. 

He didn't know it, he was my enemy now, but still, he was my brother! Yet there was something about him; he didn't look just right. I'd seen the look around town. He had the look of...of...he had the look of an addict! He had that 'lean and hungry' look Shakespeare described. 

I remembered David was always kind of cavalier about and around to other people, but I think I saw a meanness in him now. I tried to remember; had it always been there? 

He was thinner than I remembered, and I saw other things too. He had tattoos, but they were black tattoos, not the kind a professional artist would ink. Sailors had tattoos; in fact tattoos were a fashion statement now. But I knew his tattoos; they were jailhouse tattoos. I wondered if he'd ever been in jail, if he'd even been in the navy. 

I asked him, "We haven't heard from you in four years. So tell me, how was the navy?"

He smiled, no it was more a snarl, "Oh the navy. It was great, but I had to get out, time to move on...you know."

I pressed a little, "Come on Dave, four years. What'd you do? Were you on a ship?"

He opened another beer, "Yeah I was on a carrier. Maybe you heard of it, the Ronald Reagan," then he changed the subject, "Mom told me you and Celine got married. Got a kid too I hear. When'd you get married? What I guess she couldn't wait. Bet you had to didn't you."

I thought, 'Where did that come from?'

I changed the subject back to the navy. He'd driven up in what looked like a brand new car. I knew next to nothing about the type except that they were way out of our price range. I said, "Well you must have done pretty well in the navy; that's a classy car you've got."

He turned his head; he wouldn't look at me, "Yeah I did all right. So mom said you got a baby girl." 

I took my second sip of beer, "Want to see her?"

He smiled, no it was more a smirk, "Sure, show me the baby."

I got up, and he did too. I said, "Leave the beer here."

He put the beer down, "Sure buddy."

He followed me into the bedroom. Our bedroom doubled as a nursery. Celine and I wanted to be close to Cira all the time. Celine was extra careful with the crib and stuff. We'd read up on things like SIDS. No sir, no thick plastic liners or anything like that around our baby's head, no chance of an accident if we could help it. I walked David in and showed him our baby. 

He leaned down and looked at her. He looked awkward, uncomfortable. I could relate to that. He gave me an evil, I'd say malicious grin. I couldn't relate to that. He asked, "She yours?"

That took me back! I was surprised he'd even think something like that. I tried to smile, but I know it didn't work, "Oh she's mine all right."

He glanced over my head at our computer, "Mind if I smoke?"

I was aghast! I answered, "No, not here, not a chance. Celine and I don't smoke, and never allow anything like that around our baby" I put a little extra emphasis on the 'our' in our baby. 

He stepped back, "No shit! No booze, and no smokes. What's this a prison?"

I grinned, but didn't mean it, "No it's our nursery." Thank God Cira was didn't wake up. I took my brother's arm and steered him back to the kitchen. He offered no resistance. I felt his arm. I'm no muscle man; in fact I'm skinny. Celine says I'm too skinny. She said once if a big wind came up she'd lose a husband. Well it might not be that bad, but for sure David's arm was nothing but bone! He felt emaciated. I walked him to the kitchen. I couldn't help but notice something else; I bet he knew more about what little we owned than I did. It was like he was casing the joint!

We went back in. He asked me how I'd managed to swing it with Celine. I told him our story, but I left out the parts about Tommy Sheldon and our arguments. Then near the end of my sanitized version of our story David said something that really floored me. 

He said, "Yeah I remember Celine was a hot little piece. I'm glad you got to tap into it."

I didn't say anything. He didn't say anything for a minute or two either, but by then he'd figured it out, "Hey Michael I was just...hey nothing happened between me...and...you know...nothing happened."

It was my turn to smirk; this wasn't my brother, "Yeah I know she'd have told me if it had."

He looked around at the refrigerator. He was on the last beer from the six pack he'd first opened. I hadn't taken more than three sips from my first beer. He looked at me, then at the refrigerator, then back at me, "Mind if I?"

I smiled, "Yeah you should take it with you. Celine would blow her mind if she saw it in there." He figured it out. I'd sent him on his way.

He gave me another of those not really a smile smiles, "Mom says you're a college boy."

I replied, "Yeah, nearly through too. In fact this is my study night." That had to be enough message.

He got it, "Yeah I better blow," he got up and went to the refrigerator, "want me to leave you a couple?"

"No," I said, "Celine would kill me."

He laughed then, a genuine laugh, "Yeah she could be a bitch, I mean she could..."

I interrupted him, "Yeah I know."

My 'one time' brother got his three six packs of beer, tipped his hand in mock salute and started for the stairs, I walked him down and saw him off.

I hurried back upstairs to check on Cira. She was still asleep. I leaned in real close just to make sure she was OK, she was. I went back to where I kept my books and sprawled across the bed. I needed to study, but I wanted to stay close to my daughter too. I guess the old protective instincts, the old guard the household, were kicking into overdrive.

I laid there across the bed and tried to read and study, but thoughts of my brother kept intruding. I wondered what it had been like when he was in the navy. I wondered if he ever was even in the navy. I saw through him; he was a troubled man, a dangerous man. How could he have changed so much? Then again; had he really changed or was it that I didn't see it when he was home when I was so much younger. I was less aware back then. He did things that, back then, seemed adventurous; things I'd been too scared to do.

It came through stark and clear; I couldn't trust him. I was confident Celine would see through him too. I reassured myself; nothing to worry about. Cira started to squirm. I checked the clock; yeah soon be time for a feeding. I got up. 

Celine got home her usual time. She saw the beer cans in the trash. That was my fault; I'd at first thought to throw them out, but then I thought I'd let Celine see them. Well that was kind of smarmy, but she needed to see. 

Celine saw the cans, "Where did those cans come from?"

"David stopped by; he brought them."

She gave me a quizzical look, "You let him drink...here...with the baby?"

"Honest," I said, "he kind of just slipped them by. I didn't get a chance to stop him."

She gave me a cross look, "I thought we agreed, no alcohol after the baby came."

"He jumped me Celine. He got them in before I..."

She was tired and in no mood to argue, "We'll have no more of that OK?"

"Sure honey," I said, "You're tired. Want me to give you a back rub?"

She half yawned half frowned, "No just get the trash out. I'm tired. I'm going to bed." 

I took the trash out. Came in and checked on Cira. She needed to be changed and I did it. By the time I got undressed and ready for bed Celine was already down. We usually cuddled a little before we went off, but I guessed not tonight. She wasn't asleep though. She said something to me.

Celine was lying on her side under the covers with her head on her pillow facing away from me, "Your mom asked me to call her today."

"She did?"

"Yes, so I called her on my break. You've seen David; your mom's worried about him."

"Yeah, you know I saw him, but I didn't see anything to worry about."

Celine rolled over, "He's got Brucellosis. Your mom said he got it while he was in the Mediterranean. They shipped him out on a medical. He could die."

I thought about the guy I'd seen. He looked sickly, but I doubted if it had anything to do with whatever it was he might have told mom, "Mom said that?"

"Yes and she's worried. She wants us to help look out for him."

'Damn', I thought, 'the bastard's up to something. I whispered, "OK."

~~V~~

The house phone rang. It was a Saturday and in spite of the fact it was probably some telemarketer I picked it up. It was my mom, "Hello Michael?"

"Hi mom, what's up?"

"David's got Brucellosis."

I yawned. I hoped mom didn't hear it, "Yeah I heard. Celine told me last night."

"We've got to help him," My mom replied.

I'd looked the damn disease up on the Internet earlier before Celine left for work. I showed her it was a bogus disease. David had pulled it out of thin air. Celine refused to believe me. I didn't expect much more from my mom, but I tried, "Look mom this Brucellosis thing is all in his head. I'm not saying he's lying; I'm saying he's mixed up. He's got other problems."

"Oh Michael...he's your brother. He should be getting veterans benefits. They should be treating him. They won't though. Haven't you been following the news; veterans all over the country are getting the shaft. Now it's your brother."

Mom was right about the veterans, but at the moment I wasn't sure David was a veteran. He'd run away four years ago. He said he was joining the navy, then no one heard from him until the other day when he came back looking, to me anyway, like a heroin addict, and claiming he got something while serving our country. It didn't add up. That's not what I said. I told mom, "Mom you know we'll be here for him."

"OK Michael," said mom, "He's going to need a lot of TLC, at least until he gets back on his feet."

"Not to worry mom. We're here. You know me."

"Thanks honey. Look I've got to go. Your brother's staying with us for now. He's back in his old room. I think he had a tough night. I hear him upstairs now so I'm going to hang up and fix him some breakfast. Bye, bye."

Mom hung up so I did too. 'Shit,' I thought, "I bet he had a tough night, He left here with three six packs. There's no beer in my parent's place. They don't drink the stuff. Oh yeah, I bet he had a tough night. He's more than likely hung over, or coming down off a high. I know what I've got to do. 

With just a little energy anyone can find out almost anything about a person's past military record. If David's telling the truth it'll be there. I'm not interested in the disease; just if he was honorably discharged. If he was then I'll be there for him. If I can't find it, then well...' Oh shit I realized if I didn't get a move on I'd be late for work. 

Mom Campanaris was walking over now. I loved that woman. She caught me while I was coming down the stairs, "Michael we heard your brother's back."

I said, "Yeah, he was by yesterday."

She looked kind of funny, she said, "You're not worried...you know...about...," she kind of hinted toward our apartment. I knew what she meant. I smiled, "Of course not. Celine and I are married."

She smiled back, but I didn't think she was sure. That scared me, just a little anyway.

~~V~~

Well I'd done what I'd planned. I went to work, did my duty, came home and found Celine fixing something for dinner. David, my poor innocent brother was in 'my' living room holding Cira; that caused me to involuntarily shudder. I walked in, "Hey gang how's it going?"

Celine was trying to coax some olive oil over the bottom of a fry pan. She smiled at me, "David's joining us for dinner. I thought we'd have some fried eggs and bacon."




It Could Happen to You



That's when I noticed the microwave was on; guessed that's where the bacon was. I hollered in the David, "Where's your car? Is that your bike out there?"

David held up my Cira and kissed her. He called back, "Sold the car, bought a used cycle. The car was a mistake anyway."

I didn't like the way he was holding Cira, but didn't say anything, over-protective I guessed. I thought about the car for a second. The car he'd been driving the day before had Indiana license plates. Gee, if he'd bought it out there wouldn't they have been temporary tags? Selling an almost new Audi for a grungy old motorcycle? It didn't add up, but then David didn't add up. 

"Looks like a swell bike," I quipped.

He hollered back, "Yeah, I always wanted one, but being at sea so much, what in the navy; it would have been in storage most of the time."

"Hey Dave," I yelled back, "What did you do in the navy anyway?"

He shouted in, "Missile technology. I was on a missile frigate most of the time."

'Uh oh,' I thought, "I thought you said you were on a carrier, the Ronald Reagan?"

"I was, but they needed someone who understood the missile tech, so I got switched."

"I see," I shouted back. 'Well that was bullshit,' I thought. I looked in at Celine; she'd broken a couple eggs, not something normal for her, "Need any help?"

She happily replied, 'too happily,' I thought, "You can get the bacon out and put another batch in, and honey could you finish the eggs? I want to change Cira."

I went in the kitchen, "Sure darling," I kissed her head and patted her behind as I walked past. 

She brushed my hand away as she went toward the living room, "Cut it out Michael. David might see."

'Shit, in my own house.' I finished the eggs she'd broken and dropped in a couple more. They broke too. They say if the eggs are real fresh they're more likely to break. I heard Celine and David leave the living room. They went back to our bedroom. I don't think David knew I could still hear.

I heard him murmur to my wife, "I missed you..."

Then I heard her, "I missed you too. We all missed you."

"I thought about you all the time," he added. "I guess I could've written."

Celine whispered, "A letter once in a while would have been nice."

Then he seemed to mutter, "I couldn't. After basic they sent me to a special school. It was kind of incognito."

Celine quietly asked, "Like a secret mission or something?"

In a low tone he said back, "Something like that. I can't discuss it, hush, hush you know."

I heard Celine again. I knew they didn't want me to hear, "Gee no one knew..."

What he said next was garbled but I got some of it, he said, "They've sealed my military records. No one's supposed to know what I've been doing. I might be recalled..."

I missed the last, but I'd heard enough. Even if I did find anything on the Net he could say it was planted to throw people off. Damn this wasn't the Dave I remembered; then I thought, 'maybe it was.' The Dave I remembered never worried about schoolwork, he never worried about getting anywhere except into some girl's pants or except...other stuff. Yeah, I remembered, Dave did toy around with the 'druggies'. He wasn't always 'Mr. Perfect'.

I'd gotten several eggs done, and the second batch of bacon was up. I yelled in, "Dinner's ready!"

Celine called, "Be right there."

A minute later we were all at the kitchen table. Celine had Cira's bassinet beside her; she was cooing and drooling, and giggling. God she was beautiful. I glanced at Celine; she was the model of domesticity. Then I looked at Dave; he was looking at me, and I could see the jealousy. 

He smiled sweetly at Celine, "You're a lucky girl."

She looked fondly at our baby, then at Dave. She didn't look at me. She smiled back at my brother, "I think so." 

I had to break the spell, "Hey Dave you remember in your senior year and you had your license suspended?"

He looked from me to Celine. I didn't think she'd heard this story. Dave mumbled, "Uh huh."

I added, "Remember you bought Gary Upton's old Pontiac, but you couldn't get insurance so you couldn't get tags, and how you and your pal went into the city and found a car with some simple letters on the tag, and you guys stole the tag and you repainted the letters so it was like a new set, and then how you used it to drive at night." 

He shrugged, "Yeah I remember."

I went on. I could see Celine hadn't heard this story, and I could see she didn't like it, "You remember how you had like twenty gallons of stolen siphoned gas in your trunk, and how you thought you needed new tires, so you and one of your pals picked out a car with good tires, and then how late at night you and he were going to jack up the car and steal the tires, but it was dark, and when you opened your trunk you couldn't find the lug wrench so you lit a match, and then..."

David was sitting there stiff as a board. He hadn't touched his eggs, "Yeah, but that was a long time ago and..."

I interrupted, "Man they said flames shot twenty feet in the air. I remember all the hair was burned off your face. Dad was so pissed..."

Then Celine interrupted, "I thought you got burned when you pulled some woman out of her burning car...that's what you said..."

Dave interrupted her then, "Well I lied about the car and the woman OK?"

Dave started shaking then. He said, "I need one of my pills," He looked at Celine, "Honey they're in my medicine kit, the green ones, would you bring them here?"

Celine's demeanor had changed from suspicious curiosity to well-meaning former girlfriend. She jumped up and ran for his bag in the living room.

While she was out Dave looked at me, "I don't need your shit OK?"

I smiled, "Gee, just reminiscing." 

She came back with the pills and handed my brother the bottle. He was shaking while he opened the bottle and took three out, "I need these to control my nerves. After what I did in the navy...it's too...terrible...," He looked at Celine, "Thanks Babe."

She smiled at him and frowned at me, "You shouldn't bring up those old stories from high school; that was all so long ago. We were all just kids."

'Yeah,' I thought, 'just kids.' My memories were starting to clear; the 'hero' across from me had feet of clay. I was just too young and dumb back then to see it.' I looked at my wife; she was still in full worship mode. What was I going to do?

We finished dinner, and shortly after Dave left. Celine had to work the next afternoon, but I didn't. Mom Campanaris would watch our baby. Celine and I would go to mass in the morning. I'd study in the afternoon while Celine put in her time. It was late winter, and they were prepping for the spring. Her being a manager meant extra work. 

We got baby tucked away, and we climbed into bed. Celine crawled over and we cuddled. I put my arms around her, and we kissed. I loved her smell. She'd washed her hair and it was so thick, and wavy, and fragrant. Her boobs were right up against me. 

I rolled over on top. She curled her arms around my neck, and I slowly slid in. She was warm and wet. It didn't take long; we both did it at the same time. That was something that happened almost all the time; it was as though our bodies were synchronized. 

Don't know about other men, but I always seem to be slow to shrink. We can have sex, and I can still be pretty hard several minutes later. That's a great feeling to lie side by side, with me inside and her all cuddled up, me with my head squished between her boobs. Sometimes just me being inside like that gives her a second thrill. When that happens I especially like it. It's satisfying for me to know I can please Celine that way. 

When she finished her second 'go' I whispered, "I love you."

She squeezed up even closer, "I love you too." Then she added, "Let's have another."

I murmured in her ear, "Give me another minute sweetie."

She kissed my cheek and whispered, "No I mean let's have another baby."

I stopped feeling amorous and leaned up on one elbow, "You mean like now? Make another one right away?" 

She sat up then too, "Cira's still a baby. If we wait she'll be older and they'll be farther apart in age. If we did it right away they'd be closer, not just in age, but in everything."

I rolled on my back and put my right hand behind my head, "Well you may have a point. I'll be done with school by Christmas. I'm pretty sure something's already lined up. Your company's been pretty good about Cira and all. Let's check the money thing in a couple days. We should talk to our parent's too. I mean our moms are the daycare." 

She snuggled up under my left arm, "My mother's already said something. I checked our finances. Even if you didn't pick up something right away I'm doing really well at work. We could wing it, no sweat."

I felt good. Another baby? Why not? Then...wait...uh oh. Why now? Why now when Dave's suddenly back? No, Celine's not that devious; she wouldn't. I turned my head and kissed her soft cheek, "OK, when do we start?"

Celine jumped up, "I'll take my diaphragm out now! Let me clean up. We can start tonight!"

The nascent erection I had collapsed. Oh well I thought, 'He'll come back.' It did, and we did, and then we sent to sleep.

~~V~~

And then...it was like a nightmare. All my fears and anxieties came home.

We'd gotten through Sunday. Celine was off Monday. I worked all day, and had a class Monday night. It was that time of year, late winter when anything could happen. The weather lady said there'd be some precipitation. It had been unseasonably cold and the ground was still hard. 

I was about halfway to school, the rain was falling and turning to ice when it hit; that's when the man on the radio announced classes were cancelled. I came to a stop; got my bearings, put my vehicle into four-wheel, like that would help? I turned around.

I slowly drove back home. When I got back I parked and saw Dave's motorcycle was over on the grass near our garage apartment. 'Oh,' I figured, 'he's back for some more sympathy.'

I went inside, took my wet shoes off at the bottom of the stairs and started up. I got about three quarters the way up the steps when I heard them. 'Oh no,' I thought, 'this can't be happening. Celine and I meant so much to each other; all our plans, our hopes...the things we said...'

I continued up the steps and got to the kitchen. I started through the small living room toward our bedroom. Cira had to be asleep. I heard everything...,

Dave was whispering to my wife, "I'm so sorry I never wrote. I missed you so much."

I heard Celine whisper back, "I love you David. I've always loved you."

"God," he said, 'you're so warm. Your body's so soft. You're so sweet. I love your hair. Your lips are so full they're like blossoms. I can't get enough of you."

'Jesus,' I thought, 'everything I loved about her, and she was sharing it with him.

Then I heard her say, "We can do it Dave. We can do it."

My brother responded, "He went for it? We can?"

"You know I can never leave him," my wife answered, "it would destroy my parents, but it's you Dave it's always been you." 

"We can do it then," he believed you."

"Oh Dave I feel so guilty. Michael trusts me so, but I so want to have your baby. What the DNA, you being brothers, he'll never..."

I couldn't take it, not another word. I yelled, "NO!" I pushed open the door! I had to stop this shameful thing!

The next thing I heard was Celine, "Michael! Michael! Wake up!"

I rolled around. I almost tossed my dinner. I sat up, "Oh..."

Celine was holding me, "You must have been having a nightmare. Wait here. I'll get you some water," She looked over at the bassinet, "Thank goodness, we didn't wake the baby," she slipped on her robe and scurried quietly into the kitchen.

I was bathed in sweat. It was dream, only a dream. Thank God!

Celine was back, "Here sweetie, drink some of this."

I took a sip and handed her back the glass.

She looked at the clock. It was late. She reached out and pulled me into her bosoms, her soft warn bosoms, "Come here my darling. Let me fix it," she started to stroke my head. She kissed me just above my left ear, "It's all right. I'm right here."

I hugged her close. I didn't say anything for several seconds, then I said, "I love you Celine. You know that." 

She kept stroking my head, "I know you do. I love you too. You're my hero. Did you know that?"

I closed my eyes. I felt safe. It was only a dream, just a bad dream

~~V~~

Dream or not the next few days and weeks turned into a nightmare. David, poor pathetic, sickly David was at my parent's, around my wife, and up my ass day and night. 

He was right when I looked on the Internet; there was no record of his ever being in the navy, or any other branch of the service. On the other hand over time and with some ingenuity, and some money, I found out someone could uncover all manner of military matters. I mean, if I wanted to I could obtain the specifications to almost any type of military vehicle from the most primitive Humvee to detailed specifications about our best tanks and artillery. Oh I realized some content was classified, but for the casual investigator say from some third world country interested in learning how to build the stuff, it was almost all there. Of course knowing how and actually delivering a weapon were two different things. I guess the big thing was the rare metals that were needed; not to mention the availability of competent manufacturers.

I wasn't into weapons anyway. I wanted to find out about my brother and I did. He'd never served in anything except a couple prisons. My brother had a criminal record; nothing overwhelming, just a bunch of minor things, mostly involving controlled substances like cocaine and heroin. Like I originally suspected my brother was an addict.

I didn't worry about his drug troubles; how he got that way wasn't my problem. What was my problem was how to break it to mom and dad, and more important how to let Celine know without her getting all defensive.

Some people are actors; they see something and they take action. Others are worriers; they see a problem and they worry, they stress, they obsess; damn it - that was me, the classic obsessive compulsive. Throw in being a coward and my dossier was complete. 

Celine's a good girl; always has been a good girl, but she's also a bleeding heart. Any other time and place she'd have been a Robert Kennedy liberal; the type that's always looking for some cause. Me I'm more on the moderate conservative side. Sure I see somebody hungry I'll fix them a fish, but while I'm fixing it I'll show them how to catch their own. After that they're not my problem. 

So David was an addict; he needed help, but that didn't mean more money to feed his addiction. I needed to talk with my brother, but I had to keep mom, dad, and Celine from knowing. 

I finally got him cornered one afternoon at the local tavern. He was in the corner with some other guys. Like always; he was bullshitting. I got him on the side and said, "Hey Dave I need you for a minute."

He gave his pals one of those, 'little brother can't make it without me' grins and agreed to walk to a corner booth.

We both sat down, "Dave I know."

"Know what," was his reply?

I answered, "Don't be so fucking insouciant. I know about you."

He said, "What the fuck is insouciant?"

I got a little pissed, partly because I thought he was a little smarter than that, but second because I knew he was and he'd deliberately fucked with me on my choice of words, I replied, "It means you got a great big I don't give a shit attitude about everything, and you're a total bull-shitter who's never been anywhere or done anything except get high, get in trouble, and go to jail. In fact I'm surprised you haven't been harvested by the 'three strikes' laws." 

He rocked back in his chair and laughed, then he leaned forward. He got real close and said, "Well fuck you little brother. Been checking up have you? OK, well fuck you. Fuck your wife too."

I said, "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Look stupid," he said, "I got her long before you ever did. She was my little whore back in high school. And you know what? I'm going to fuck her again. Yeah, I'm going fuck her, knock her chunky little ass up, and then I'm ditching this fucking shithole."

I knew he hadn't got her in high school. How did I know? Well that was obvious; I got her that night at my parents. What I did think was she was still carrying a torch for the cocksucker, and with her gooey, 'oh he needs my help' attitude to everything he just might get into her britches. If he did I knew what I'd do. I'd kill this son-of-a-bitch, and yes I'd have to leave her.

I gave my brother my very best glower, which I dare say wasn't much, and I told him, "I want you to leave. I promise if you leave I won't rat you out to mom and dad. I won't ruin Celine's childish fantasies, but you've got to leave."

He scowled, "Or what? They wouldn't believe you. Mom and dad are convinced I got sick serving my country, and Celine? Shit you stupid fuck; she still loves me. She married you because you were her second choice. All I have to do is snap my fingers," with that he snapped his fingers, "and she's in my bed, legs spread wide, and my dick deep inside her cunt."

I hated the word cunt; it always sounded vulgar and dirty to me. Sure there were women who had cunts, but not my Celine. My girl's vertical cleft with its thick warm lips was a holy place; a place where I worshiped. Sounds stupid I know, but that's how I felt. I would've punched David in the nose right then and there, but that wouldn't have accomplished anything except get me in trouble. Plus knowing the slimy bastard across from me who used to be my brother he'd only use it to garner more sympathy. For all I knew he'd probably get me arrested and then sue me. I didn't know what the fuck to do.

I sat back, "David you're still my brother. I remember us growing up, the good days. Don't ruin it. Don't fuck up mom and dad's good memories. Celine sure doesn't need this shit. Do us all a favor and leave, just leave. Make up some story and pull out."

He got up, "I'll leave after I've fucked your wife, and not until," then he walked away and out the door.

Damn this was getting hairy.

~~V~~

Celine was working odd hours, and my mom and hers were babysitting Cira when I wasn't working or in classes. Like I said, I was down to my last two classes, and though I had what I thought was a pretty sure

thing lined up as far as jobs were concerned I was still interviewing. 

Celine and I had agreed we'd get pregnant again, and around Thanksgiving Celine missed a month so it looked like the stork would be making a visit sometime in the late spring. What scared me about the whole thing was, while I'd been working and attending classes I knew David had been lurking around in the shadows. I mean the son-of-a-bitch was a determined so and so.

Then Celine was looking pregnant; was the baby mine? 

About that time, around and right after Thanksgiving mom and dad seemed to be acting funny; it was like they were trying to hide something from me. 'God,' I thought, 'Celine had slept with my brother, my parents knew it, and were trying to protect me.' That worried me.

Worse, David's behavior since he'd come back had always been on the 'over-confident' side, but lately he'd been acting downright arrogant. That really worried me.

Even worse, maybe I was over-sensitive, but it seemed like Celine was behaving differently; it was as though there was this veil of secrecy, this thin curtain, like a shroud of subterfuge that covered many of the things she said and did. In fact the only things that seemed good were our conversations about a new baby, our mutual love for Cira, and what we did in bed.