12 comments/ 42930 views/ 14 favorites Rob and Carol By: Dinsmore Why in the world had he taken a job teaching at this shitty high school? Oh that's right, his unit had been called up for Iraq; he'd come home eight months later and he didn't have a job any more. His fucked up former employer had used some legal loop hole to, "eliminate his former position". He'd talked to the JAG officer; he wasn't in a union or a non-exempt, he was classified as management. Shit out of luck. There was nothing they could or would do. Everyone thought that employers had to hold a job for a service member called back to active duty and sent off to a combat zone but many were using gaps in the laws to fuck folks like him in the military. Let's see, what other good shit had happened while he was in that fucked up cesspool of a country with those fucking sand rats trying to blow his ass up night and day? He'd had to sell his nice car; he couldn't afford it anymore on military pay. His rent controlled apartment, which he wasn't allowed to sublet? Gone. His girl friend, correction, fiancée? The absolute love of his life? She'd dumped him and moved, leaving no forwarding address. She'd also cleaned out their joint account, stolen most of his furniture and fucked up his credit rating by running up his credit card. The only part of that little bitch he would miss would be...well, her cunt...and of course her mouth...and she did love it up the butt. Semper Fi, mother-fucker, Semper fuckin' Fi. Fortunately his dad had gotten in touch with him and told him what was going on in time for him to take her name off of the other accounts or cancel them. He'd saved a little money in Iraq in an account that she couldn't get access to. He still had a little in his 401K and some stocks that she couldn't get her grimy little hands on. He paid off the damn credit card and after several letters back and forth, seemed to have gotten his credit rating back on track. He'd taken this crappy job because he needed to have some cash flow. Let's see, the previous year he'd made over eighty-grand. In the military, that had quickly dropped to around forty; he was doing just slightly worse than that as a teacher. Decent jobs were damned hard to find in this depressed part of the Midwestern rust belt. He had to thank his mom who had been a school teacher for over forty years for demanding that he get a teacher's certificate along with his business degree. It had been a pain in the ass carrying a double major. His student teaching in a broken down urban school like this one had convinced him he never wanted to set foot in the public school system again. Still, dear old mom had been right. You could always find a teaching job. He'd registered with the county's school administration on a Monday and provided them with his credentials. He had to go through a finger printing and a criminal back ground check. In spite of their inefficiency, thanks to the computer age, they'd cleared him to teach by the end of business on Wednesday. He had six calls to come in for interviews by noon on Thursday. Teachers got sick, took early retirement or just got fed up and quit. He was certified in secondary education and had the course requirements to teach math and science. With an MBA concentrated in accounting he could also have taught business, which was pretty much a complete joke in a public high school. The schools that contacted him were so desperate they would have let him teach anything and legally could have done so, at least through the end of the year. Hell, half the teachers they had weren't course qualified and a quarter weren't even certified. Why had he picked this one? The principal was an absolute bitch but she seemed to run a pretty tight ship. The assistant administrator who would be over him, a large and rather imposing woman who was, he was sure, unquestionably gay, had served in the Army as an MP. He soon learned that all of the other teachers were scared to death of her but he had hit it off with her on first meeting. Disciplinary problems were common at this school and a strong, no nonsense assistant administrator to back you up was essential. The Instructional Lead teacher, Ms. Linder, Carol he seemed to recall, was really sharp, very candid about the problems the school faced and a hot, tall, no nonsense blond that made his dick twitch. With the door closed in her office, she had a nasty little mouth, with, "fucked up" being one of her favorite expressions. He'd been quite taken by her, even smitten, and he thought there was a hint of interest on her part. He'd seriously planned to work on getting in her pants but she quit three weeks after he started to take a job one county over in a far better school system. Rumor had it that she was also getting married. If he didn't find something better and had to teach for another year, he was already on the waiting list over in the other county. Unofficially there was an opening expected due to a planned retirement in a nice suburban, middle class school with kids that wanted to learn and parents that gave a shit and were involved. His academic credentials were stellar; he had graduated from a top state university with honors and to his surprise, that county had a policy of giving veterans preference and veterans who had served in combat special preference. They paid a hell of a lot better, far above the state minimum and would also give him credit for his reserve and active duty military service toward pay increases and starting pay. It wouldn't come close to what he had been making in the private sector. Forty-five for nine months work was the same as sixty for twelve months work. Even with the hours any good teacher spends before and after school in preparation and administration, it would be less than the hours he used to put in at his previous job. During the summer he might go back to school for another degree, teach summer school, take a construction job or whatever. He hadn't decided. If he decided to work over the summers he'd damned near be back where he was. The only real problem was that he fucking hated it. He had to drag his ass out of bed every morning to come to this shit hole. His nights were spent grading half-completed homework and trying to put together decent lesson plans. By nine he'd finished off a six pack and fallen asleep on the couch in the crappy little apartment he was renting on a short term lease. It was the only thing he could find that didn't require a one year lease and he had no fucking intention of still living in this worthless town one day after the school year ended. He didn't really have any friends here. His friends from high school who had gone off to college never came back. The ones who had not gone away to school had stayed in the God forsaken town. The factory jobs they had depended on had dried up. Most were losers on welfare...or worse. His sex life...he had none, other than his left hand...he'd never figured out how to jerk of with his right hand. He'd had nightmares in Iraq about losing his left hand and never being able to beat off again. There were a couple of young teachers that were certainly doable but there weren't a lot of opportunities to strike up a friendship during the school day and most people ran for the exits as soon as the final bell sounded. No teacher in his right mind fucked around with students and even in that department there were only two he saw in a six period day that made his dick rise. There was one, a really bright and absolutely stunning senior that he certainly planned to keep track of...maybe look her up down the road. She was one of the few in this school going on to college. She had a scholarship and was going to a damned fine school miles from this dump. She was nineteen and he was twenty-eight...not completely out of reason. The apartment complex he lived in attracted mostly transients due to its month to month lease. He was pretty sure there were entire small families living in the same sort of two room dumps like the one he occupied. A couple of little hotties in town to open up some new chain fitness center gave him the eye one night. He was just about to invite them upstairs for a drink when he saw them kissing as they got out of their car. He'd gone out with an old friend who he'd known from high school and met a pretty hot little blond in a bar one night, but she wanted more than a one night fuck fest, so he passed. So why had he picked this school? The hard nosed principal, the tough no bullshit assistant administrator, the really neat and damned cute IL teacher who was now long gone and the fact that this school actually needed someone to teach Math and Science. Thanks to the departed IL, he also had one plum, one decent class to teach each day. After early mornings breaking up fights in the gym, lunch duty breaking up fights in the cafeteria, one "free" period which was never really free since he had work sheets to copy or students to meet with or hall duty or whatever, combined with five mind numbing periods during which maintaining a modicum of order was job one, he had his last period of the day. They'd tried to take it away from him. That cunt principal had tried to take it away from him. "They're really bright, they'll do fine with a teacher who is not as qualified, but you have a knack for dealing with the hard cases and..." He was one of the few teachers that knew how to control a classroom full of these little bastards; another teacher had been assaulted and quit and they wanted to replace his favorite class...his only decent class...with a high school special ed class full of felons with severe problems. Hell, there were felons in most of his classes, but the one they wanted him to take was all felons and most of them involved a weapon. "No. I'll take one of those felon classes for you, but it has to be one of my others that you take away from me. Seventh period is the only thing that gets me to come back here each morning. If you're really set on it, I'll resign right here and now. I accepted this position over other opportunities in the county partly as a result of being able to teach that class. I also believed you were the most competent principal I interviewed with and I love my assistant principal to death. But seventh period is the carrot your departed IL offered me which made me decide to teach here. There's a month left in the school year; you can find some retired cop or former drill instructor to baby sit that group of sociopaths" So he'd stroked her a little, but combat gives you that special look that says, I'm not bluffing, bitch. She knew he meant it. "Are you going to be reapplying here for next year?" "Not if I can help it." "You're very good at this, Mr. Thompson. Kids that I honestly believed were incapable of learning are learning in your classes. Ms. Marble tells me she never has to handle any discipline problems for you. You give them that 1,000 yard stare---is that what you call it? Anyway, they behave for you. My little spies come forward and tell me you're the best damned teacher they've ever had...they can't wait to get to your class. This is a tough school; it's a school that needs good tough teachers---like you." "Mrs. Stewart, I'm flattered; it's nice to know that I'm getting through to some of them. For the first six weeks I was challenged, energized, excited and terribly idealistic. Now I'm just tired and depressed and spending far too much of my paycheck on cheap beer. My military training is the only thing that gets my butt out of bed and in here each morning, plus I need the paycheck to buy more cheap beer. I don't even know if I want to stay in teaching but if I do, I want to teach, not maintain order." "Sadly, I hear pretty much the same perspective all too often. You can keep your seventh period class. I'm going to have to hire a sub for the seventh period class I have a problem with. It's going to be across the hall from you. If you could stick your head in every now and again, it would be much appreciated." "I'll be glad to help in any way I can...and, thank you." "No, thank you, Mr. Thompson." Two weeks before the end of the school year he got a call from the other school, the one in the next county wanting him to come in for a real interview. Baring a complete fuck up, he was in. The teacher in place had notified the school that he planned to retire. Rob had informed them that he had a full teaching schedule and couldn't come over during the day and that it was a good thirty minute drive. Not to worry, his situation was typical, so they would be conducting the interview process after school; just get his butt over there as soon as possible after school the following Monday. That Monday as his seventh period was coming to a close it occurred to him that he would miss these kids. "Are you coming back here next year, Mr. Thompson?" "What do you care, Rachel, you're going to be off at Georgia Tech on a full scholarship probably cheering for your team to win the national championship and waving pom-poms?" "Didn't you hear, Rachel? They're not going to offer this class next year. The class has already gotten too small for county standards and not enough juniors are interested in...or qualified for...an advanced, honors, college level math course. A lot of the other AP classes are going to be dropped, also." said Maria, another of his delightfully bright students. He was sure it was more than rumor. Most of his classes had over thirty-five students; this one had twelve. There was only one other teacher who was even qualified to teach it, a delightfully irreverent Nigerian who had retired from the Navy and had a friggin' doctorate in math. The two men had become good friends, sharing their irreverence over lunch but he had hinted that he too needed to move on. He would miss this class. They all had outrageously high SAT scores---particularly in math. They never goofed off or tried to get away with something. They all had first class minds and gave him hope that there actually would be bright people in leadership positions in the future. There were eight girls and four boys. Two of the boys were Asian, one was Indian and one was just a teacher's kid. Three of the eight girls were Asian, two were Pakistani and the other three, well, they were just terribly bright, amazingly mature, unreasonably long legged and devastatingly cute examples of good old fashioned, "marry and take home to meet your mother" Midwestern young womanhood. Those three, well they certainly provided him with more than a couple of late night fantasies. If, heaven forbid, he should run into any of the three two years down the road...two years was actually written into the state law...He'd hit on them in a New York minute. Hell, he'd probably propose. And while he wouldn't think of flirting with a high school girl, he felt confident that under different circumstances, any of the three would have been interested. "Okay, let's get back to work. No, I don't plan to be back here next year. I'm applying for another teaching job in another county. If it works out well, I may stay in teaching; if not, I don't know right now what I'll be doing." A few minutes later as the class was deeply engrossed in what could only be called a near grad school level discussion of probability theory, sweet Rachel's eyes told him a visitor had slipped into the room. It was Mrs. Stewart, the principal. Acknowledging her presence, he instructed the class to come to a conclusion and present it as soon as he got back and went out into the hall with Mrs. Stewart. "I apologize for keeping you waiting; we get very engrossed in these discussions and I didn't even see you slip in." "No apology required; I actually minored in math and remember enough to know that you've got those kids thinking way beyond a high school or even college freshman level. I don't want to take you away from them a minute longer than necessary. We discussed the fact that you're probably not coming back next year. You've probably heard that your AP math class is dead. In any event, I have spies everywhere...even in other counties. I know where you're going to be after school. I want to give you this. It's a letter of recommendation, a damned good one, if I do say so myself. I wrote it, but all of the assistant administrators also wanted to write addendums, which they did. We'll miss you here but where you're going, well, let's just say you'll be, I believe, happy. I hope you end up going home each day and drinking less cheap beer, but more than anything, I hope you get excited again and choose to stay in teaching. You're very, very good at this...please don't give it up. You were born to teach. Thank you. You need to go change before your interview; you're covered in chalk dust. Get out of here! I'll finish up your class...I'm dying to hear their conclusion!" And to his complete shock, she gave him a hug. The old bitch gave him a hug. And he hugged her back. Relieved to have a few extra minutes, he rushed to his shitty apartment to shave, give himself a quick wipe down and change into his best suit. He walked into the administrative office of what he hoped would be his new school just at four o'clock and introduced himself. "Mr. Thompson, welcome to Hillcrest! I'm Becky, the school secretary---you made great time. Mr. Stanley will see you first, he's our principal; he's just finishing up with a parent conference and will be with you shortly. Please have a seat; there's coffee, soft drinks and water in the corner." He watched people come and go; they were all smiling. They moved with purpose; they acknowledged each other. Before he had a chance to even look at his letter of recommendation, a man came out of any office guiding two parents, who were also smiling toward the door. It was if they were really good friends. He stood as the man turned, saw him, smiled and extended his hand. "Greg Stanley! You must be Rob Thompson! Welcome! Come on back! "Mr. Stanley, my pleasure." "Please call me Greg; we're very informal here once the kids go home." The office was warm, comfortable and friendly...and alien from where he had just come. Greg Stanley got right down to business as he indicated that Rob should sit on the sofa in front of his desk and joined him there. "So, Rob, how'd you get into teaching?" "Well, Greg, the short answer is, I needed a job." And he then proceeded to give him the long version, to include his mom making him get a teacher's certificate and the loss of his job, apartment, car and fiancée while in Iraq. He told him about his current job; he told him about his AP math class. He told him that he had lost his enthusiasm. He wasn't negative or dour, he just didn't pull any punches. "Greg, if you choose to hire me, I assure you I'll complete my contract but I can't guarantee you that I'll come back the following year. I enjoy the teaching part, I suppose in one form or another teaching is what I did in my private sector job---I was in sales--- and certainly an integral part of what I did in the military. But I can't go home every night feeling as if I didn't accomplish much, and other than my AP class and a few bright moments in which I knew I'd gotten through...well..." "Rob, I've sat in this chair for almost fifteen years interviewing prospective teachers and I've heard every bull shit 'educationese' fairy tale answer you can imagine to the question of why someone became a teacher or why they want to be a teacher. Yours is without a doubt the most candid and brutally honest one I've ever listened to. I'm going to tell you something. First, thank you---you made my damned day! But more important, hell, you're well over the hump! Why do some of these young people that waltz in here become teachers? Well, for one thing they're naïve, idealistic simpletons who haven't got a clue what managing a classroom is all about. Second, they shunned the academic rigor of a real education and got a damned Ed degree---because we're so desperate for teachers in this country that we've watered down the curriculum. Third, they think it's going to be easy, you know, short hours, nine months work, a union to protect them and no real need to compete." Rob and Carol Greg paused to sip from his coffee cup, but Rob knew he wasn't done so he shut up. "Look, Rob, you've been out in the real world in a job in which you had to compete every day, where your success was measured---publicly. If you didn't make your sales quota you didn't get paid. You've served in the military...in combat...And you just spent the last five months in, ah, hell, don't quote me, but a shit hole! You're not walking in here with pie in the sky expectations, you already know the truth---life is tough and teaching can be damned tough. Hell from what I gather from Becky..." "Becky?" "Not my receptionist, the other Becky, Mrs. Stewart. We've known each other for years. She not really the ice bitch she comes across as...she certainly has genuine affection for you...hell, she's a lot of fun when you get her away from work. Anyway she thinks you're the best natural classroom manager she's ever seen. You had no way of knowing; you didn't know the system. Normally the principal, the assistant administrators and/or the instructional lead live in your classroom for the first six months; did you happen to notice that after the second week they didn't bother? Did you notice that you never got called in to attend classroom management training----or any damned training for that matter? Did anyone ever bother to share any of the damned letters or personal comments they got from parents---parents whose kids were, often for the first time ever, interested in learning something? Hell Becky is heart broken to lose you but she knew it was inevitable. And Peg..." "Peg?" "Peg Marble, your assistant administrator, and no, contrary to popular opinion she's not gay, she's just adopted that bull dyke persona so no one screws with her. Anyway, Peg eats new teachers for lunch. After your first week, when she hadn't received a single disciplinary referral slip from you, she got worried...figured you must have completely lost control. She'd sneak by and peak in the window and everything was the epitome of 'couth and decorum'. She'd also sneak in from the adjoining classroom through the connecting storage room and just listen. And what did she hear? She heard learning...learning was occurring because a man who was born to teach was standing in that classroom. And then when you sent her that first referral slip, the first of many, in which you commended a student for their hard work and effort...well she damned near fell out of her chair. Damn Rob, they've been whispering about you over there for months...wishing they could clone you. Don't you see? You get it! You're damned good at it. It would be a crime to walk away from it...teaching I mean." He was speechless. When he recovered, he started to speak. "Mrs. Stewart gave me a letter...I haven't looked at it." "She emailed it to me...you haven't read it? Take a couple of minutes. Read it." A few minutes later, his eyes more than a little moist, he looked up. "I was so damned sure I wasn't getting it...I wasn't making a difference...I went home each day feeling crappy." "And as long as you teach there will be days when you'll go home feeling like crap. Bluntly, there will be fewer days here than over there. You'll feel crappy when one of your star pupils screws up the SATs, which is a lot different than feeling crappy when that kid your were so close to making a breakthrough with, that kid who can barely read at eighteen, that kid that smiled in recognition for the first time---gets gunned down in a gang battle. Look, Rob, everyone with a teaching certificate wants to teach here. I have the luxury of only hiring people who have been, 'on the other side'...who have seen the putrid underbelly of public education. Hell, they're so damned glad to be out of that environment that they work their asses off over here. Look...you've got the job. We've already drawn up the paperwork, plus I need to talk to you about... "Pardon me?" "Do you have plans yet for the summer?" "Not really." "Good! We have a slightly different problem than you faced over there. We have more kids who want and are qualified to take AP classes than we have qualified teachers or classrooms. We're starting an all AP program in summer school---and it's almost completely filled. I desperately need an AP Math teacher, are you up for it? We're also moving into a real high school business course, but not the typical merchandizing crap, something that will prepare kids that think they want to major in business for college level work. But you'll also have to teach girl's interpretive dance." "What?" "No, I'm just screwing with you. We have a Northwestern grad who does that. Look the worst class you'll have is a science class for kids who are damned bright but probably aren't headed for college but could do college work if they had a little more confidence. Look, here's the teaching contract, with salary, benefits and such. You get a spiff for teaching AP level courses. Here's another separate one for the summer school program. Sign the damned things and get the hell out of my office." He did so, without even reading them. "What branch of service were you again?" "USMC." "US Navy...most of four years as a gunner's mate on a frigate that never went anywhere interesting, how about you?" "I commanded a rifle company in Iraq...Al Anbar province...west of Iraq, my last assignment---what I was called back to active duty to do." "Shit. From this old swabby, thank you for your service. I can't imagine what you experienced....Semper Fi." "That means more than you know...thank you." "Well, let's get you down the hall to meet your assistant administrator; she's looking forward to seeing you. Let me point you in the right direction." "Gregg, this was an unusual and enlightening interview. Did you ever think about a career in sales? You're one hell of a salesman." "And you're one hell of a teacher. Go down the hall, the first door on the right, just go on in...she's expecting you. I'd take you down and make the introduction but I've got 'em lined up in the outer office." He was not prepared for who he saw sitting in that office. Actually he saw the legs first, turned to the side as she was finishing up a phone call and twisting her upper body to write something on her desk calendar. Those damned outrageously long legs, he'd know them anywhere. She hung up the phone and turned and smiled in recognition...my God Miss America would die for that smile...that full, almost pouting mouth, sparkling blue eyes, a few freckles, just, a glimpse of a lace bra under the silk blouse. No panty hose, no makeup, a delicate gold choker. Carol Linder. "Hi Rob, it's really good to see you again." She said as she effortlessly came out of her chair and took his hand warmly in her own. His smile was restrained; on the one hand he wanted to grin from ear to ear, on the other hand she had somewhat left him in the lurch. He was being too harsh and broke in to the grin that was in his heart. She was perceptive. "I'm sorry, Rob, I sort of left you hanging over there...not that you needed much instruction. I was planning to leave at the end of the year; this job was already in the works. It's a promotion and a nice pay raise and a damned fine school. My predecessor had a stroke and had to retire early...so here we are. I told Gregg that I didn't really need to approve you, if he was okay with it, I certainly was. The fact that you're here with me says you must have said yes!" They made small talk; they chatted. Was Carol Linder coming on to him, ever so slightly, or was she one of the very open, confident people who just comes across as very friendly, playful, even flirtatious? It had nothing to do with nervousness on her part, she was just, well, bubbly. "Where are you living, Rob?" "In a month to month dump, 'over there'. I plan to move as soon as school is out. How about you?" "I'm renting an apartment not far from the school; I'd really like to buy a house, it's real doable with the new salary....anyway, my complex is really nice and they will sign six month leases...maybe you might want to look there?" "Thanks for the tip. A house would be nice, someday; I've got some money saved from my overseas duty for a down payment and was close to buying a house before I deployed, but things didn't work out. With this new job I'll be getting back to a point where a house, on just one pay check is realistic." "Things didn't work out?" "Oh, Carol, that Carl Rogers reflective interview style really excites me!" They both laughed at his little joke. Rob told her the saga. "It's a long a sordid story hardly worth sharing. Let's just say my fiancée wasn't quite able to wait for eight months; in the immortal words of Toby Keith, 'she's gone', along with most of my furniture, the assets of one bank account and I just got through paying off the credit card she charged the airplane tickets on...notice I said tickets. Hey, no regrets, no bitterness...looking back, I saw all of the signs and should have known better. I guess since I was deploying to Iraq I wanted to have something...someone... to come back to and mistook passion and a physical attraction for love. And I've just told you far more than you wanted to know and far more than I've told anyone...even my parents. My apologies, Carol; you're very easy to talk to." "No apology needed. Trust me...I've been there...very recently." "I don't want to pry, but if you want to talk about it..." "Not much of a story to tell. We were from different walks of life. He was a great fuck. I mistook physical attraction for love. Unfortunately I wasn't the only woman who thought he was a great fuck and he was decidedly not interested in having just one woman." The way she had so casually said "great fuck" aroused him instantly but more, it intrigued him. Carol didn't mess around and she didn't play games. She let you know what was on her mind. "I know it sounds trite, but I guess we live and learn. I admit it; I wanted to get married and just figured that the sex was so damned good that we could have a life together...pretty stupid of me, I guess. I was ready for one woman...I just picked the wrong one." He said. It was Carol who brought both of them out of the dumps. "Hey! You're the only person I was supposed to see, do you want to get out of here and grab a drink and an early dinner? I can run you through the apartment complex after and you can take a look and see if you're interested. Why don't you follow me over to my place and you can leave your car there." "Sounds good, boss." Oh stop it! I'm not your boss...at least not yet. While I'd love to have you on my team, there are four assistant administrators and there's no firm assurance that you'll be under me. We've got a lot of new teachers coming in this year and Gregg likes to divide them up by skill level. You never know." At that moment he could think of nothing more pleasant than being under Carol Linder. "Carol, I don't mean to get personal, but, 'over there' when they said I was going to meet with the Instructional Lead teacher, I really expected someone that looked more like Mrs. Halstead my sixth grade teacher and..." "I'm thirty, Rob, and since I've seen your personnel file, I already know you're thirty two. Some people think I look younger. I graduated from high school early...I skipped my senior year and got my bachelors in three years. I took my first teaching job at twenty, got my masters a couple of years later and became ILT by the time I was twenty-six. Any more questions?" "None that won't wait, Carol." "Good! Let's get the fuck out of here. Damn! I've got to stop throwing that word around; I'm turning into a gutter mouth." He wanted to tell her that she had the prettiest mouth he had ever seen but didn't. In the parking lot, he opened her car door for her. Those damned legs; he tried not to look but as she swished into her car he got a fantastic glimpse of her soft, freckled thighs...an image that stayed with him as he followed Carol to her apartment complex. Since Carol knew the area, Rob suggested leaving his car and riding with her; she asked if he wanted to drive. He demurred. They ended up at one of those of nice chain Italian places where they write on the paper table cloth and provide fresh bread with dipping oil. God she was a neat woman, he thought to himself. Soft, short blond hair...that smile...that take charge, no nonsense style. He wasn't really trying to put a move on her; he just desperately wanted to get to know about her. "So, exactly who is Carol Linder and at the ripe old age of thirty, how did you end up here...not to mention, 'over there'?" "I interviewed with Greg for my first teaching job; he turned me down and sent me to the next county over to learn what teaching was all about. I was the typical naïve and idealistic young teacher; I was out to save the world. I stayed longer than common sense says I should have. Becky Stewart and I clicked and if she hadn't been there for me, I probably would have left years ago---might have even left teaching. Even with her support and guidance, I burned out just like everyone else ultimately does. She knew it and knew I had to go; she called Greg and the rest is history." "Where did you grow up, Carol?" "Not that far from here; my parents still live in a small town about fifty miles north; it's another small, Midwestern, rust belt town that's lost its industry. My mom was a school teacher, well, still is. My dad saw the writing on the wall and took a job with the county before the mill closed. They're doing okay but many of their friends really have had a hard time; a lot of them just moved on. What about you, Rob?" "I was born and raised one county over; it was a pretty neat place to grow up. It didn't become a shit hole until I was away in college. It was the same thing; manufacturing jobs drifted off shore, unemployment skyrocketed, crime increased dramatically and the infrastructure began to deteriorate. I signed up for the Marine Corps Platoon Leader Class---Officer Candidate School---and went through that program in Quantico, Virginia between my junior and senior year. I was commissioned a second lieutenant the day I graduated. I opted for a delayed entry so I could attend grad school. The military helped pay for that a little bit. I was still in high school during Desert Storm in 1991. I got my undergrad degree early and by the time I finished my masters in 1997 things were pretty quiet. I went to TBS---The Basic Course---back at Quantico and was assigned, "to the fleet" as a line officer, the 1st Marine Division out at Camp Pendleton in San Diego. With my reserve time while I was in grad school---and I guess I was a pretty good young Marine officer---I made Captain and was offered augmentation---that's like getting tenure for a Marine officer. When Iraqi Freedom came along in 2001, I didn't have enough active duty commitment left to deploy with the Division, so I stayed at Pendleton as part of the rear party. I still owed the Corps a reserve commitment; for an officer, you owe them a total of eight years from the day you start TBS." Rob paused to take a sip of his wine. "I came back to this area and was accepted by a Marine reserve unit made up of kids from all around here. I took a sales job with a nationally known company. The pay was excellent, you know, commissioned sales; I learned quickly and was pretty good at it. I ended up getting a command, commander of a reserve Marine rifle company. With just over a year to go in the reserves, they activated my company to go to Iraq as part of the 1st Marine Division. We deployed the unit to Twenty-nine Palms out in the California desert and went through three months of intensive training. I was sure there was no way they'd let me keep the company when they deployed; I was a reservist and there were lots of sharp young career type Captains just itching for a command. I figured I'd go to Iraq but in some sort of staff job." "To my surprise, the old man---the battalion commander---took a shine to me. We'd done a pretty good job as a unit in the training run up. While my company had been augmented with new recruits, a handful of senior NCOs and a bunch of new first and second lieutenants, I knew most of my folks better than anyone else could have. The battalion commander decided that for the sake of unit integrity, I should lead them in combat." "We deployed to a real hell hole in Al Anbar province---west of Bagdad, primarily Sunni and very nasty...lots of IEDs---Improvised Explosive Devices---and snipers. I was determined to bring my kids home in one piece. That didn't happen. I lost eighteen Marines and another twenty received career ending injuries. My kids fought well; we accomplished our mission; we killed a hell of a lot of insurgents and brought a modicum of stability to our AO---Area of Operation. When we got home eight months later, I had a chest full of ribbons and, well, you already know the rest. Look I'm proud to have served; combat is a mind altering experience, looking back, I wouldn't trade places with anyone but I never want to see that shit hole country as long as I live and barring World War III, I'm done with the military. I fulfilled my commitment and exited the reserves. And, I've just told you more about what I did in the war than I've told anyone other than my dad...he did the same damned job in Vietnam...he gets it." Carol had tears in her eyes. "Rob, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service. There are too many people who have no idea what you went through---and what they owe you as an American citizen. I guess it explains a lot about who you are and why you were up to the challenges in another shit hole one county away over the last five months." Carol continued. "You know, in the teaching world, there are a lot of really sensitive, 'touchy-feely' guys and after the years I spent in a broken down school system I don't have much patience for them...as a woman or as an educator. I like strong men; unfortunately I've too often mistaken macho posturing for strength. I've dated...damned near married...one too many muscle bound ass holes with tats...because they turned me on. Like I told you, the sex was often great but afterwards, well, you know what I mean." She was not done. "The trials and tribulations you faced when you got back...your job, your fiancée...it would have broken a lesser man. I mean, for Christ's sake, you've done something...a Marine in combat...it doesn't get much more macho than that, yet you aren't remotely a macho shit head. I guess that's the difference between, 'wannabes' and, 'been there, done that'. I've got to ask...do you ever have bad dreams...nightmares?" "Do I see the faces of every kid that got shot or blown up? Sure. Do I second guess my decision making at the time? Absolutely. Look, I went and visited every wounded Marine under my command and their parents. I went to every parent of a fallen hero and apologized for letting their boy get killed. Not one of them blamed me; all of them thanked me for my efforts. It gave me a degree of closure. My dad was a rock; without him I wouldn't have fared as well. He'd been there too. I only have one recurring bad dream and, in retrospect it's so funny, in a very black sort of way..." "Do you want to talk about it?" "I'm not sure we know each other that well, oh, hell, what the fuck. I still occasionally dream that I lost my left hand in Iraq...the hand that, I, ah, beat off with and could never, ah, jerk off again. Pretty weird, huh?" Carol laughed, a deep, throaty woman's laugh, an unbelievably sexy laugh. "Well, Rob, this is a first. Everyone knows that all men masturbate, but you are absolutely the first one to admit it to me." "I've never even told my dad that one; you have an uncanny ability to make me blab, Carol." Rob and Carol "You're pretty easy to talk to, yourself, Marine. I haven't felt this comfortable with a man...anyone...in a long, long time...if ever." Rob and Carol finished dinner and drove back to the apartment complex. She got the keys from the front office and showed him the models, then gave him a tour of her apartment. He wanted to spend the night; he was sure she wanted him to stay. He wanted to make love to her. They dropped the model keys back at the front office and walked back to Carol's apartment. At the door, she turned and kissed him, just a brush of the lips and then their arms were entwined and their kiss became more meaningful. She gently broke away first. "Rob, right now there is nothing I'd like to do more than drag you into my bed and fuck your brains out...all night. And I'm not proud to admit that I've done that on occasion with a man who excited me....and you do excite me. I don't know what you're looking for...in a woman...in a relationship...this time, I need to slow things down. Which doesn't mean I don't want to see you again. Are you okay with that?" "On both counts, Carol. I've been guilty of letting my dick do my thinking and I am definitely attracted to you. Taking our time makes good sense but I definitely want to see you again." Rob and Carol hugged and kissed again; this time Rob broke the embrace and headed back to his car for the thirty minute drive back to his dump in the next county. He was smitten; she was a very sexually enticing woman...but she was more and he didn't want to do anything to fuck up the possibilities. The week went quickly; Rob and Carol exchanged emails and even a quick phone call or two. Rob went back over and signed a lease with Carol's apartment complex, spent a little bit of his savings on some decent furniture and he and Carol again had dinner together and got to know more about each other. It was very relaxed...very easy. They went back to her apartment and made out on the couch; somehow, they both had the will power to stop before things got out of hand. She'd touched his cock; he'd fingered her little blond pussy and nuzzled her astounding freckled breasts. "Rob, I'm not trying to string you along. Making out with you was the most erotic thing I've done since I was sixteen...it's just..." "Carol, you don't have to put out to get me to come back. You'd have to get a restraining order to keep me away. I'm very okay with the pace; it's different than anything I've ever experienced before. I'm not just looking to get laid, well I am looking to get laid, all men are, but being with you even when you're not half naked and I've got my hand in your pants is the best thing I've done in longer than I can remember." She embraced him at the door, and fondled his still painfully erect cock through his jeans. "Nice cock." She whispered, her deep blue eyes sparkling lasciviously. Rob softly stroked her breasts. "Nice tits, lady." "Oh you have no idea...and they're not even my best feature." When he got back to his dump he finished up packing his few belongings and then, well he was very glad he still had that left hand. Rob had hoped they would spend time together over the weekend but Carol had to go to a weekend training conference out of town. It worked out for the best; Rob got moved in his new apartment, stocked his refrigerator and bar and settled in to his new and much improved environment. Carol had flight problems due to weather and didn't get back until late on Sunday. They spoke on the phone but did not see each other. The following week was tough for both of them. It was the last week of school, there were lots of parent conferences, final grade sheets to prepare and for Rob, an extended commute each day. He and Carol exchanged emails and talked briefly on the phone but hardly saw each other. She called him Thursday evening, still at school. "Do you have plans for the weekend, Rob?" "Hopefully, if I do, they involve you." "Oh, that's very sweet, thank you! Well, you just don't strike me as the fancy resort weekend kind of guy but it's time...time for us to spend our first weekend together...and kick things up a notch. Now I hope this doesn't bring back bad memories of Marine field training exercises but I used to really enjoy camping and I haven't done it in years and a man and a woman out in the great outdoors, naked under the moon light has all sorts of intriguing possibilities. Are you up for it?" "I used to go camping all the time when I was younger---with my dad. I really enjoyed it and the vision of your naked body---which I can only imagine since I really haven't seen it---under the stars, well, what man could say no to that? But I have no camping equipment." "Well, I do...sort of. I have some friends, a couple that teaches here that went out a few years ago and bought the whole kit and caboodle. They went camping once and didn't really like it. They offered to let me borrow their stuff and hope that I'll buy it, at a substantial discount, of course. It's all top of the line stuff. You don't need to bring anything but yourself and a change of clothes and good hiking shoes and if things work out well, you may not even need the change of clothes." "Where are we going?" "I have an aunt and uncle who own a farm about two hours from here. They've got several hundred acres of woodlands and even a small mountain. It's all private land and it's all ours if we want it. Does your truck have four wheel drive? I want to camp out, more than hike and the terrain can be a little rough up there. If we can drive to the top of the mountain, there is a small potable spring and a tiny clearing, well we can get naked a hell of a lot sooner than if we have to hike in." "Food?" "Oops, I forgot about that." "Let me take care of that part. When do you want to leave?" "As soon as possible after school on Friday; I've already got all of the camping stuff in my, 'not four wheel drive' SUV. We can switch it over to your truck and be on our way by five. It stays light longer now, we should be able to make the camp site before dark." "We're done early on Friday; I'll pick up some stuff to eat and drink on my way home." "Sounds like a good plan. Tomorrow then...and don't use that left hand for the next twenty four hours, if you get my drift." "Got it!" "With growing excitement, Rob stopped at a home improvement store and a big sports outlet to pick up a decent ice chest and ended up leaving with a small camping generator and a unit which could be cooled with either ice or electricity. He also stopped at a small upscale market and picked up an assortment of fresh and prepared food, some wine and even some beer. Returning to the apartment complex, his changed into shorts and hiking shoes and threw some toiletries and such together. He was just putting things in the back seat of his truck when Carol whisked in. They kissed; she nipped his lip. Stealing a glance, she touched his cock. "Okay, Marine, I'll go change and grab my clothes, not that I'm bringing much to wear and you can load the stuff up...Christ, is that a generator?" "Yea, I went overboard. I've also got enough food and beverage for more than the two of us." "Always faithful and always prepared, huh?" "Something like that." Carol returned in less then ten minutes in excruciatingly tight shorts that only made her impossibly long legs seem even longer and a tight tee shirt sans bra. Rob grinned and kissed her. "Nice tits, lady." "Anything else, you find appealing?" "Well, yea, the whole damned package, but turn around for me. My God, you have an astounding set of buns; what you wear for school doesn't do your back side justice. I had no idea." "A bit of an ass man, are we?" "Without question." "Well, it looks even better, uncovered...it may just be my best feature." "No, that would be your incredible eyes, those magnificent, wide set, piercing, deep blue eyes. You got me with those eyes the first time I met you." Carol kissed Rob softly, darting her tongue inside his mouth. "That was very, very sweet. Thank you. You knew you were going to get lucky this weekend...tonight...you didn't have to...but you did anyway...and I believe you really mean it." Soon the two of them were on the road making excellent time in their trek north. They talked, they bantered and they joked. With every passing mile they got even more comfortable with each other as if they had been together forever. As they got closer to their destination, both were very sure that they were on to something...that they were right for each other. Both wanted to say it...both were sure that they would before the weekend was over. Both had been burned in previous affairs of the heart. They had been cautious, taking things one step at a time. This would be a big step as the two of them would spend every hour together over the weekend absent the electronic distractions of modern life. And they would finally fuck. To date it had been more like an old fashioned courtship, alien to both of them and as much as they both yearned to be naked and in each others arms, they both felt a great deal of satisfaction in the way they had allowed their relationship to grow. The camp site was nothing short of amazing, with a view that stretched for miles as the sun began to set. The tent and other gear truly was top notch and quite easy to set up. In no time at all, Rob and Carol were completely, "moved in". They briefly explored the surrounding area, finding the ice cold, fresh water spring and a small creek. Someone had even excavated the stream bed to form a small pool which offered interesting possibilities for the following day. The weather was comfortably warm as was common for late spring in this part of the country. There was a soft breeze and no sign of pesky biting insects. Without comment, Carol removed her tee shirt and exposed her firm young breasts to the warm spring breeze. Smiling seductively at Rob she stood up and unzipped and removed her tight shorts. Rob was in awe as he perused her lean young form. "See anything you like?" Carol said, as she caressed her hard nipples with one hand as her other fell to her sparse blond patch. "Show me some cock." She commanded. Rob was naked in a flash, his proud organ standing at attention. "Get that bad boy over here." Carol slipped to her knees and pulled Rob's muscular body toward her willing mouth and began to tantalize the bulbous head of his fine cock with her talented tongue while softly stroking his hard balls with her hand. She began taking more and more of his fuck tool in her mouth, slathering its smooth surface with saliva. When she was satisfied that he was adequately lubricated, she briefly removed her mouth from his cock, smiled, looked up at him with those amazing blue eyes and then engulfed his cock, pulling it to the very depth of her throat. Rob felt her warm breath as her nose nuzzled his pubic hair as she held his cock motionless inside her. She teased this way for several minutes, working her tongue around the head then taking all of his length in her beautiful mouth. When he assumed that she had decided that she was ready for her reward, she began to bob her head, accelerating her pace, swirling her tongue and increasing the suction of her mouth as a trim finger snaked back to find his tight anal ring. Rob felt the agonizing and excruciatingly pleasurable build three times and each time, Carol slowed her pace, squeezed below the head of his dick and denied him his release. Finally assured that she had asserted her mastery, she finished her task, finally bringing him off with very short strokes of her hot little mouth on just the head of his cock. She moaned in anticipation as she felt his seed rise from his balls, gulping down his profuse discharge of sweet cream and continuing to suck him until he could take no more. She fell back on her fine haunches and smiled up at him. "Say it Rob." "Say it?" "I need to hear it. Tell me I'm the best little cock sucker you ever met." "You are without a doubt the best little cock sucker I ever met." "I believe you. Now let's see how talented you are in the oral department." Needing no further invitation, Rob got down on the soft grass, pushed Carol's legs up, rolled her up on her back and descended on her dripping little slot with every intention of teasing her in payback as he teased her treasures with his own talented mouth and tongue. After a suitable interval he felt and heard the sign that said Carol was ready. "Finger....put it in my...ass...shove you finger up my ass...I'm so...yes...un, huh, right there...fuck my ass with your finger...don't stop, oh, uh, uh, ,uh YESSSSSS!" Carol was only beginning; she was anxious to move quickly to stage two. "Oh, good, you're hard; oh shit, I'm not on the pill right now...my diaphragm is in the...oh, Rob...I hate rubbers. Oh yes, great minds do think alike! That's it work that tight little hole with you mouth...get me good and wet...let me help get you get good and wet...that'll do...yeah, that's fine. I'm ready, baby, slide that big cock in nice and slow...put that big prick...uh, huh, there...in my ass!" All Rob could think about was how beautiful she was, how neat, fun and wonderful to be with she was, how good he felt when he was with her...what an incredible little cock sucker she was...and...she wanted him to fuck her up the ass. She liked being fucked in the ass...and what a hot, tight buttery little ass it was. As Carol worked her slim fingers through her little blond patch, Rob proceeded to adopt a slow deep rolling assault on her tender little hole. He nuzzled her firm breasts and kissed every inch of her face. As her breathing increased and he sensed that she would soon cum, he increased his pace, his own breathing becoming more ragged as the sheer eroticism of fucking this wonderful creature in the dimming light of the setting sun had completely consumed him. With perfect timing he came; an instant later Carol did also. They both screamed, then giggled then laughed and then held each other tightly for dear life. "Nice cock, stud." "Nice...." "Yea, I get the picture." They laid together for some time; Carol rose first indicating that she had to attend to nature and, moving a few feet away from the camp site, squatted down in full view of Rob, grinned at him as she let pass her amber fluid. Equally uninhibited, she released Rob's slippery load from her back door, making a soft farting sound as she did so. There she was, the prim and proper school teacher, expelling his spunk from her ass as she grinned mischievously at him. He found nothing remotely gross about it, it in felt made him feel closer to Carol. Carol spoke. "It always seemed odd to me that a couple will do all sorts of nasty things during sex, including putting their mouths and tongues in the most personal places, and then one or the other will run off to take a pee or whatever and decide to close the door modestly. You put that slippery stuff in my ass---with your cock. You sure as hell shouldn't get grossed out watching it come back out again. Are you, Rob, grossed out?" "Carol, I can't imagine anything you could do that would gross me out. In fact, lying here watching you pee and shit my cum out of your precious little pooper is about the most erotic thing I could ever imagine." It was hours later after a couple of bottles of wine and a filling dinner that Rob and Carol decided to retreat to the tent for the remainder of the night. It was there soon after they moved against each other that they first made love. They were very good together moving in almost perfect harmony. Rob knew it was all over for him; he never wanted another woman and could not imagine a life without Carol. Over that weekend they did a little hiking and a lot of fucking and made love tenderly several more times. Late Sunday evening as they drove back to the city they were blissfully in love. Over the summer they spent a great deal of time together, certainly every night at one or the other's apartment. They ate together during lunch at school. They shopped together; they read the Sunday paper together. The three months of that summer were for both of them the happiest days of their lives. Rob loved his new school and adored his students. He couldn't wait to get to class each morning. As good a teacher as he was, he became even better as he received the positive feedback from kids hungry to learn. Rob's six month lease would be up before Thanksgiving; he wanted a house. Carol agreed to go house hunting with him. Thanks to the money he had saved overseas and his new paycheck he would be able to afford something decent rather than having to settle. Carol had been quite excited about the house he finally made an offer on; it had unquestionably been her favorite. It was more per month than he had originally planned on, but he had no other bills or expensive hobbies. When the discussion of Rob and Carol buying a house together came up, Carol would change the subject. When he hinted at marriage she would all too often turn away. When they went and looked at rings together she went from excited and playful to distant. She wanted to leave the store and did so. When Rob caught up to her outside, she again seemed to be her playful self. Rob went back the following day and bought the ring she had admired. A week later, sitting on Carol's couch, Rob started to move the conversation toward his goal. He wanted to ask Carol to marry him. Before he got too far, she started to cry. Without saying it, she was saying, no. Rob was terribly confused. "Rob, I really like you a lot. You are the most wonderful man I've ever met. Why don't we just live together for a while? Marriage is such a big step." "Look honey, I'm sorry if I rushed you. I love you and I know you love me. We've talked about family, kids...we were made for each other. Your lease is going to be up at Christmas. I love your folks, they seem to like me. My folks adore you." And before he knew it, somehow they were having their first fight and it was a major fight. After it became apparent that, while things had simmered down, neither was feeling particularly warm and fuzzy, Rob left and returned to his own apartment. The following week at school, Carol managed to have a daily conflict which prevented her from joining Rob for lunch. She seldom called him at home; she seldom answered when he called her. They went out together but hardly more than once a week. They slept together, although not as often and the sex was as if nothing had changed...but something had changed and Rob had no idea what it was. Greg noticed and invited himself to join Rob for lunch. "I don't mean to pry---oh, hell sure I do! You're like family. Something is definitely amiss. Talk to me." Rob blurted it out. Greg smiled knowingly. "Rob, as long as I've known Carol you are the first man she's ever dated that is remotely good enough for her. She's gone out with some real losers and even accepted a ring from a couple of them---thank God she saw the light on those occasions before it was too late. She'll come around, be patient. I also, as a man, understand that no man can wait forever in these situations. I think you two are great together and, in my heart, I believe you will be man and wife. Don't give up on her; hold on as long as you can." Rob closed on the new house during the first week of November and was moved into his new home by the end of that week. His class schedule for the fall was excellent; work wise, he was a new man and it was only the satisfaction he garnered from teaching that kept him from turning into a love sick puppy. Rob and Carol were into a routine, of sorts. They spent the night together...sometimes. The sex was as amazing as it had ever been. Occasionally she would join him for lunch. Carol seemed to have no interest in dating anyone else; he didn't either. She did not seem interested in spending the night with him at the new house. Rob and Carol As he sat down in the school cafeteria the Friday before Thanksgiving week, another young female teacher joined him. Her name was Dennie; she had flirted with him on occasion but backed off when she realized that he and Carol were a couple. Now she wasn't so sure. Rob was cute, single and a very good teacher. Dennie was cute, single, a very good teacher and had decided that she would make a run at Rob. Dennie wasn't sure that marriage was on her mind but fucking was. She had known Carol for some time; they were friends. She hadn't asked Carol's permission but then the relationship between Carol and Rob seemed to be fading. Dennie knew Carol well enough to know that she loved cock and had dated some guys that were damned good fucks. She certainly was in need of a good fuck. Before Rob realized it, Dennie had invited herself over to see his new house after school. He knew he loved Carol, but increasingly had come to believe that it just wasn't to be. He wanted to be married; he wanted to have children, He wanted to settle down and be in a committed relationship and Carol seemed unwilling or unable to do so. Dennie showed up an hour after school and was dressed to fuck. Brunette rather than blond, fuller in the rear than Carol but not remotely unpleasantly so; as a matter of fact she had a delicious ass---and he got a damned good view of it in her skin tight stirrup pants. To make a long story short, in half an hour Dennie and Rob were making out on the couch having progressed to some serious through the clothes groping. Either Dennie was going to unzip his fly and suck his cock in the next five minutes or Rob was going to peel off those ski pants and drill her steamy little cunt from behind over the end of the sofa. And then, inexorably, he stopped, and pulled away. What was he thinking; she was a delightfully nasty little bitch and she unquestionably wanted to fuck him. As enticing as the prospect of exploring Dennie's fine young body was and in spite of the growing distance between Carol and Rob he just couldn't cheat on her. "I can't do this. I know it sounds weird but as much as I'd love to jump your bones, I just can't; it would be cheating on Carol." "I understand...I guess. Things were moving a little fast. Fuck! I came over here to fuck you! I'm such a slut! I just thought that you and Carol had cooled...that...you're hopelessly in love with her, aren't you?" "Yeah, I've got it bad...tried to propose...even bought the ring...now she's pulling away from me...it's breaking my heart." "Rob, I've known Carol for a long time; she has the worst taste in men I've ever seen. She's damned near married more than one fucked up loser. Then you come along and you're too good to be true. She's scared...afraid to commit...afraid of fucking up again." "Dennie, I'm sorry. You are a really neat woman and a great teacher...if it wasn't for Carol and the huge chunk of my heart she still holds...I'd..." "Understood, big fella! Look, no harm, no foul. I like you and want to be your friend. If things are different down the road..." "Without question." "I need to get out of here. You're a great guy! I'll see you tomorrow at school." Dennie did not go home directly; she drove around aimlessly for the next hour. She ended up parked in front of Carol's apartment. Storm clouds were gathering; she hesitated at Carol's door and then made her decision. "Dennie! Come on in...pardon the mess...what's up?" "We need to talk, Carol, or more accurately I need to talk and you need to listen." "Okay..." "An hour ago, I left your, what is he exactly, boyfriend? Fuck toy? Whatever. Anyway, I came on to Rob at school, during lunch. I wanted to fuck him...probably a lot more...I usually get exactly what I want in that department. I thought you two were on the outs. I showed up at his house dressed to fuck...I kissed him...we groped a little...not enough, actually. And then he said, "No!" The dear sweet, magnificent, wonderful, lovely man said, "No...I can't fuck you Dennie...I'm in love with Carol...I can't cheat on her...she has a major piece of my heart." Now Carol, I'm not one to tell you how to lead your life but you owe it to yourself, to that amazing man moping around alone over in the house he thought he would share with you, and to me and every other woman who would say, 'I do' in a fucking nanosecond to that man, to either love him, hold him, marry him and have his babies---or let him go. What's it going to be?" "Dennie, I..." "Carol, your taste in men has always been for shit! And then, Prince Charming rides in on his fiery white steed and he wants to spend the rest of his life with you---and I know you love him! What is your fucking problem?" "I'm scared...I love him...my princes tend to turn into toads all too often. What if...? "Oh for Christ's sake Carol, this one hasn't got a wart on him. He's the one all little girls dream about...dream about falling in love with...dream about growing old with---and he wants to grow old with you! Get your head out of your ass and run to him as fast as you can. Apologize for being such a huge pain in the ass and let him put that ring on your finger. You two were made for each other! Or let him go! But if you do that you are the biggest fool on this fucked up little planet. I'm done. I didn't come to chat...just to speak my piece. You're my friend and I care about you. Don't fuck this up." Carol wept softly following Dennie's departure. She was sliding into self pity, unsure of where her head was but knowing full well where her heart had been for some time. She walked to her car, not bothering to change out of her old sweats or put on makeup. She owed it to Rob to do the right thing...to give him a modicum of peace. She arrived in front of the house they had selected together a few minutes later. She tried to compose her thoughts and frame her words. As she exited her car the clouds opened; she was soaked to the bone by the time she reached his door step; her hair was plastered against her face. She pushed the door bell, still uncertain as to what she would say to him...to Rob...to the man she knew she loved. "Carol! Jesus! You're soaked...you look like a drowned rat, albeit a very beautiful drowned rat. Get in here and let's get you dry." Carol stood speechless and compliant as Rob removed her wet clothes and replaced them with a soft terry bathrobe. He undressed her as one would a young child, not erotically but lovingly. He dried her hair with a towel; he kissed her softly on the neck. He'd made fresh coffee...he guided her to the sofa...he sat next to her. "I love you..." She began haltingly, pleased that he understood that she needed to talk and resisted the urge to interrupt. "I've been a real jerk...I'm sorry...not always had the best taste in men...scared...afraid to commit...afraid of forever...afraid it will change...you will change...I will change...unlucky in love...frogs...toads...warts..." Rob moved close to Carol and softly kissed her face...her forehead...her cheek...brushing against her lips...he smiled...he remained silent. "You are the best thing that's ever come into my life...I've been a fool...I'm so sorry...please forgive me...I know you are right for me...we're right...we can make it...I..." The lightening flashed and the thunder rumbled and it was in that instant that Carol knew what she had to do. No more self pity...no more weak, simpering idiocy. "You don't by any chance still have that ring, do you? And assuming you do, would you be willing to try that part again, that part where you say, "Carol, will you marry me?" Give me a second chance to give you the right answer this time?" Rob had the ring clutched in his hand. "It's never far away...keep it in my shirt pocket...next to my heart...the part you didn't steal quite a while back. It's your size; it's your ring...if you won't wear it no one else can...marry me Carol, grow old with me, baby, have children----our children---forever and ever. I want you to be my wife...no one else...please..." "Yes. A thousand times yes. You didn't give up on me...by all rights...I pushed you away...any other man...oh God how did I get so lucky...I love you so much!" "I'm not any other man Carol...any other man you've known...I'm your man...I've been looking for you my whole life...we were meant for each other...meant to be...I love you." "So I guess that makes me your woman?" Carol said, regaining her normal confident playfulness. "uh huh." "I really like the sound of that. By the way, where do you keep your fiery white steed?" "Huh?" "It's a long story for another time, my prince. Just hold me in your arms...now and forever."