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The Photo Albums

By: Ronnie Wachuka



Author's note: My thanks to Aussie_Bard who previewed the story and pointed out some problems that needed to be addressed.

PROLOGUE:

After the 2004 earthquake off of Indonesia and the subsequent tsunami which collectively killed more then 275,000 people, the public became aware of how much damage can occur if the earthquake strikes in such a way that it triggers a tsunami.

The coastal cities along the North and South American Continents which lie along the Pacific Rim have been aware of the danger for many years, but until recently there was little that could be done to limit the danger.

There have been two earthquakes and tsunamis of note which struck in the Americas in the 20th century. The great one was off the coast of Chile in 1960. The other one is described below:

Good Friday, 27 March, 1964 5:36 pm (local time)

The waters of Prince William Sound (Off the coast of Alaska) start to shudder as a shallow earthquake begins its deadly work. The quake will measure 9.2 (8.6 Richter scale) and depending where the shock waves are measured will last for 3 to 5 minutes. This was start of the second largest earthquake ever recorded in the Americas.

The quake creates what can best be described as a "hole" in the ocean as one plate slides under another and that plate then rises. Water seeking its own level begins to move, with the water above the rising plate moving into the "hole," the quakes rumbling, roils the waters, and a tsunami is underway as the shock waves send the water on its destructive path, ever outward from the epicenter of the quake.

The quake left a string of ruins from Anchorage to Kodiak including Seward and Valdez, all in the great state of Alaska.

The tsunami continued down the West Coast leaving a path of destruction in Port Alberni, British Columbia and several other towns in that province but thankfully with no recorded deaths. As it traveled South it hit the beach's and towns in Washington, Oregon and California.

There were 4 waves in this tsunami traveling at speeds up to 400 miles per hour with wave heights up to 21 feet. 4.1 hours later the tsunami slammed into Crescent City, California. . .

PRELUDE:

Friday 27 March, 1964 6:15 pm

Deputy Sgt. Pete Wilson (one of Del Norte County's finest), laid down his fork and moved over to pick up the ringing phone.

"Pete?" came the voice in his ear.

"Ya Jessie, it's me," was his response.

The Del Norte Sheriffs Office dispatcher went on, "There's been an earthquake up in Alaska and it's triggered a tsunami."

"Shi, . . oops sorry Jessie!" was Pete's reply.

Jessie completed her task, "Start at the Crescent City city limits, head North up Highway 101, and make sure the beaches are all clear."

"How long I got?" he queried.

"We think it'll hit Crescent City sometime after 9:30 this evening," Jessie answered.

"I'm on my way," he said putting down the phone.

Pete explained the situation to his wife as he headed into the bedroom to change into his uniform.

9:30 pm

Pete saw the campfire as his squad car moved slowly down towards the beach on a very bumpy washboard trail. For the first time he was able to see the huge RV's parked near the water's edge. Pete stepped up the speed as he tried to get close enough to use his speaker to warn the four people huddled around the fire.

Suddenly the four started to run away from the water's edge as the first wave struck.

The wave picked up the two RV's and sent them tumbling up the beach like little plastic children's toys.

When the wave receded nothing could be seen of the people and all that was left to view were the crushed hulks of the 2 RV's, as the 2nd wave hit. 

Pete pounded the steering wheel and let the tears roll as the 3rd and 4th wave ravaged the beach. In his mind was one thought, "If those God Damn kids hadn't given me such a hassle at the last stop I could have made it in time." . . .

THE STORY:

Monday 30 March, 1964

The unexpected ringing of the doorbell startled her. Rising from her desk she moved to the door and saw a policeman standing on the porch.

Opening the door she inquired, "Yes, how may I help you." 

"Are you Mrs. Carol Updyke?" was his reply.

"I used to be. Now I'm Carol Lewis," she said with a grimace.

"Do you know if Mrs. Marie Snyder is home?" The police Officer queried.

"As a matter of fact she is," Carol responded.

The officer then uttered a worrisome phrase, "I need to talk to the two of you. Would you mind coming with me, ma'am?" 

Naturally Carol's concerns were growing by the second, but the officer wouldn't say anymore as he headed to Marie's house with Carol almost running to keep up.

Carol rushed ahead to open the door, while asking the officer to enter, and hollered, "Marie come here."

The lady who appeared within an instant was almost a carbon copy of Carol, they were after all first cousins.

The officer then asked them to be seated as what he needed to say was for the both of them.

Puzzled and fearful, Carol and Marie sat together on the sofa and joined hands.

" I presume you heard about the Good Friday Earthquake in Alaska and the resulting tsunami? It is my sad duty to inform you both that Evan and Molly Force and Nathan and Erin Lewis perished in the tsunami. Please accept my condolences," the grisly old veteran said with a tremor in his voice.

"When did it happen, and where," came from Carol. "How can you be sure," from Marie.

The officer opened his notebook to verify the facts: " A Deputy Sheriff, Sgt. Peter Wilson, witnessed it. He had been ordered to clear the beaches North of Crescent City in Del Norte County, California and the beach where your parents were staying was the last one. He just plain got there 5 minutes too late. All he could do was sit there and watch in horror as the event that led to your parent's deaths unfolded."

By this time the tears and screams of anguish had begun as the horrible tale hit the two women with full force.

Though the sobbing continued there was more that needed to be said. "Sgt. Wilson called in his report and prepared to verify the identities of the victims but he was called back to Crescent City as half of the downtown area had been razed by the tsunami leaving over 10 dead. Boats were laying in the middle of the street, buildings had been torn asunder, and search teams were urgently needed, not to mention security against looting."

The officer continued, "Once Crescent City was secure, Sgt. Wilson started North with a team to check each beach and to make sure nothing was overlooked. It was Sunday before he got his team back to the beach your parents had been camping in. All items of value were inventoried and are on their way here. As soon as he'd determined the identities of the victims he notified his office, which informed us so that you could be contacted and told the sad news in person."

Finally the policeman asked the final question and made his final pronouncement; "Why were your parents staying there, do you know? Based on Sgt. Wilson's eye witness account, certificates of death will be issued by the Del Norte County Medical Examiner." 

In a still sobbing voice Carol told him about her dad's and uncle's forced retirement from the city fire department and their buying the RV's so that they could travel South in the Winter and that they were in fact returning home after wintering down near San Diego.

The policeman again expressed his regrets as he made his departure, leaving the two women holding each other and sobbing their hearts out in mutual agony and sorrow.

Suddenly a new crying voice broke their spell. Rising they both rushed up to the baby's bedroom to find out what baby Daniel wanted or needed.

In truth Daniel didn't want or need anything but it is a baby's job to cry and scream for mama's attention and he'd figured if mama was crying and screaming he didn't need the competition. As soon as the two women moved over to his crib he stopped crying and began to coo, flail his arms about in happiness, even as his face lit up into a smile that will always melt a mother's and cousin's hearts. 

Marie leaned over, picked her son up, and pressing him to her breast gave him a loving kiss on one cheek while Carol kissed the other.

When Jake Snyder came home from work he found his wife and their son sitting on the sofa with Carol. It was evident that the ladies had been crying off and on all day. Their eyes were swollen, the collars of their dresses were wet, and they wouldn't stop holding hands, even as the tears rolled down their cheeks.

Jake knew the news he was about to hear was not going to be good so instead of getting a cup of coffee as he normally would, he walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a generous brandy, and joined the women on the sofa.

When the women told Jake about the horrible way their parents perished during The Good Friday Tsunami he found that he wasn't able to hold the tears back either for he had truly loved hiss and the Lewis' as outside of his parents they were the only family he'd had. 

Rev. Day, the pastor at Trinity Presbyterian Church, conducted the memorial services. Bowing his head he started the service with a prayer: 

"Merciful God, we ask you to pass your hand of mercy over our loved ones this day. Relieve them of their sorrow and suffering over the deaths of family and friends. We also ask that you quell the grieving and bring peace to the families and friends of the other one hundred and twenty who perished in the tsunami on Good Friday past. Lead them and us to know that they are with thee in a better place, Amen."

The remainder of the service was a celebration of the lives and the accomplishments of Evan and Molly Force and Nathan and Erin Lewis.

Because no bodies were available, a table had been placed at the Altar railing with pictures of the two couples from happier days. The pictures had been pulled out of the family photo albums. Looking at the photos, Carol and Marie had the same idea at the same instant. Looking at each other they both smiled in mutual understanding, which drew disapproving frowns from several parishioners.

The next several days found the two women cleaning out a spare bedroom at Carol's house and moving in several tables, chairs, and a typewriter. The basics having been taken care of all of the photographs from the two households were brought in and laid down. Carol's went on one table and Marie's on another. The large table in the center of the room would be their work table. 

Some of the photographs were in several picture albums but the bulk of them were in large envelopes with the dates they had been taken and who and where were printed on each envelope. Carol and Marie were going to construct two pictorial family histories for posterity. The typewriter was there to label the photos and to record their recollections so that they wouldn't be lost with the passage of time.

On the first sort through, a dozen or so of the oldest photos and some new ones taken with a Polaroid Land Camera were set aside. The ladies had heard that photos taken by the Polaroid's tend to fade rather quickly and they needed to talk to an expert. 

The two cousins drove to the photographer who'd taken the photo's at their joint wedding four years earlier.

His photo shop was unique and extremely large for a small college town. There was a studio for professional photo work but next to it was a veritable museum of photography and a camera shop. The studio and shop were mutually attached via a large arched doorway.

The first sight that came to the eye was a huge panorama of the city displayed on the back wall. It had been taken from the air and according to the sign below it, it had been taken in 1922, the same year that their mothers and grandparents had moved here from Minnesota. In it, way up in the upper right hand corner was the quay wall and its huge fishing fleet. In the center of the picture was the city center with the city hall, modeled after those often found in the Midwest and the South, a three story brick building nestled on a large grass covered, tree lined commons. In the upper left hand corner was the cities claim to fame, Western University, with the bell tower standing proud and tall next to the administrative building, surrounded by dorms and the various college buildings. The campus was surrounded by a grass covered, cedar lined mecca. To the right of the campus was the tall spire of Trinity Presbyterian Church.

Carol suddenly grabbed Marie's hand and pulled her over to a shelf on the left hand wall. Stopping the two took in the sight before them and burst out in a delighted fit of laughter. There before them was Grandma's old Kodak Brownie Camera. Grandma was a nut when it came to taking pictures. If she'd had any say in the matter she would have "Gone To Her Reward" with it in her hands so she could record the event. 

"How may I help you?" a voice behind them asked. Turning they saw the photographer standing behind the counter.

The ladies explained their proposed photo albums and showed him the photos they'd brought with them. The old faded photos could be retouched and yes it was true about the Polaroid photos but he could make copies of them for posterity's sake. He also advised them of the best way to mount the photos and showed them several albums that he recommended.

The purchases having been made the two cousins were ready to begin their project.

All the photos were separated into decades; prior to 1900, 1900-1910, 1910-1920, etc.

Next they were divided into their mother's family and their respective father's families.

The first picture to go in the albums was the only known picture of Great Grandma and Great Grandpa Otter standing in front of the old farmhouse which was on 80 acres about 20 miles NE of Mille Lacs Lake in central Minnesota.

"Looking at Great Grandpa Otter it's easy to see where our height came from. My God, he must be over 6 1/2 feet tall and huge, like a big grizzly bear," Marie commented.

"Yes and you can tell where the curse of the Otter women came from," remarked Carol with a giggle as they looked at Great Grandma Otter with her obviously braless, huge low hanging breasts, and wide hips pressing against and filling out her sun dress.

Next they each carefully pasted a section of a Minnesota map with an X showing where the family farm had been.

The next picture to go into Marie's album was one of Grandma and Grandpa Force, Carol put a picture of Grandma and Grandpa Lewis in her album.

Suddenly the two women started giggling and couldn't seem to stop as Marie voiced what they were both thinking, "It doesn't seem like the curse has to be put on just Great Grandma Otter," as they looked at the photos of Grandma Force and Grandma Lewis. Both ladies were also obviously endowed with wide hips and heavy pendulous breasts that no bra could confine. 

With another giggle Carol remarked, "Does it occur to you cuz that the men of the family all have a fetish for big floppy tits?"

Each of the ladies next added several pictures of Grandma and Grandpa Otter. Sure enough she had the same large pendulous breasts and wide hips as the rest of the families women had displayed, which brought a new round of giggles.

Marie suddenly wistfully remarked, " You know, it was nice though, to sit in her lap and rest your head against those big soft pillows." A remark which Carol echoed.

Marie reached into her pile and put several childhood pictures of her father, Evan Force, followed by several of her mother, Molly Otter, as a young girl. Meanwhile, Carol was busy pasting her pictures of her father, Nate Lewis, as a small tyke into her album followed by her mother, Erin Otter, in her younger years.

The cousins decided to put in the picture of Grandpa Caleb and Grandma Emily Otter, standing proudly together and call it a day. She was dressed in a beautiful summer frock with a wide brimmed straw hat. The bear of a man who was their grandpa was standing at attention next to her in his Marine Corps uniform with his right arm in a sling and with his left hand resting on a cane. On his chest were the Silver Star and a Purple Heart with a star on it, and on his upper arms his new Corporal Chevrons. 

He'd joined the Marine Corps when the United States entered World War I even though as a father and a farmer he was exempt from the draft. He'd been in the famous 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines at the Battle of Belleau Wood in June of 1918 where he'd done something heroic which he never talked about and had been wounded twice. The picture was taken when he came home on leave prior to his honorable discharge due to the wounds received.

The ladies stretched and started for the kitchen for a cup of tea before Marie went to gather a snoozing Dan up to head for home and get supper started.

After supper Carol found herself to be in a rather melancholy mood. Yes she was still grieving over the loss of her parents, aunt, and uncle, but the trip down memory lane had soothed her sorrow somewhat. She decided to relax in the tub with a glass of wine and try to soak away the hurt. As the tub filled she poured in her favorite lavender scent and lit several scented candles.

Shutting off the water she stripped and looked at herself in the full length mirror. What she saw was a 22 year old, green eyed, 5'10" woman, weighing 160 lbs, with long auburn hair tied in a ponytail streaming down her back and almost touching her buttocks. her mouth twisted into a rueful smile as she looked at her huge pendulous breasts which hung to just above her naval like two gigantic pears. Turning around slightly to look at what she considered to be her worst feature, (to her anyway) her fat ass. Disgustedly she smacked a cheek with her hand. The cheek was firm enough that it hardly jiggled, but as she turned back to the mirror her breasts did sway and wobble with quite a noticeable movement. Her last thought before she stepped into the tub brought a smile to her face; Her auburn pussy hair proved her hair color didn't come from a bottle.

Tying her hair up she slipped down into the frothy bubbles and reached for the wine glass as she leaned back to rest her back against the tub.

Mindlessly she squeezed a breast and rubbed a nipple with her thumb as she set the wine glass down and used her other hand to softly rub her pussy lips. The picture of her grandfather and grandmother standing together just before his discharge from the Marines kept coming back to her mind. 

For the first time in months, ever since that snake Gavin Updyke to whom she'd been married, took off, she found herself sexually aroused, but try as she would she wasn't able to release her sexual tensions with an orgasm.

She finally gave up, drank the last of the wine, and toweled herself dry as she headed for bed.

Crawling under the covers she closed her eyes in what she hoped would be a peaceful nights sleep for the first time since she'd learned of the death of her parents.

As Carol nodded off the picture of Emily and Caleb Otter came into view. Caleb took Emily's hand in his as they walked together up to the house on the family farm. Funny; Where was his cane and why wasn't his right arm in it's sling? Her big bear was walking without a limp, and even though he was wearing the uniform of the US Marine Corps he was walking with the proud purpose of the undamaged man she'd married in 1913.

As soon as the pair entered the house and closed the door Caleb took her into his arms and proceeded to kiss her with an ardor she'd long remembered and absence so long regretted. Standing on her toes she reached up to wrap his neck in her arms.

Caleb tried to bend over so that she could more easily reach him but she wouldn't allow it. Moving her arms to his waist she pulled him tightly into her body even as she thrust her hips forward so that she could feel all of him press against her. She wanted, no needed, to feel his manhood press into her stomach again, it'd been so long and she'd missed it so much.


The Photo Albums



Caleb suddenly growled, picked her up and carried her to their communal bed. His need was so great that he ripped her dress and under garments off of her even as she tried to tear his uniform from his body. Finally they each stood proud and naked before their beloved mate.

Caleb so loved her that he wanted nothing more then to worship her body as he sank to his knees to press his head to her stomach and kissed her while his huge hands reached behind her to cup her ass cheeks and pull her closer to him.

After a few seconds she reached down to cup a heavy pendulous breast and while lifting it she used her other hand to pull his head to the aroused nipple. Caleb eagerly sucked it into his mouth and began to try to nurse just as his children had done. In a few moments she pulled his head over to her other breast as it also needed his attention.

In the interim Caleb had removed one hand from her cheek and started using his fingers to gently rub her pussy lips. Emily's breath was now coming in short gasps as her pussy lips started to swell and leak her rich fluids and her inner lips began to emerge. Her lover took two of his gigantic fingers and slid them into her pussy as his thumb began to gently rub her still hooded clitoris. He was soon rewarded by the feeling of her little nubbin stiffening under his ministrations. By now Emily knew she was beginning the first of what would be many orgasms. Her body shivered and she began a familiar, long absent moan, as she surrendered to her beloved.

Caleb allowed her a few moments to calm down, then rising he picked her up in one easy movement and laid her on the bed. Normally this patient bear would have taken the time to pleasure her with his superb oral skills but his need (and hers) had been too long denied.

He quickly moved over her as she reached down to pull his huge steel hard penis into her needy pussy. Wrapping her legs around his legs and her arms around his waist she thrust her hips up to get it as deeply into her as quickly as she could. Caleb tried to be gentle but gentle was not on her mind. She was a lady and ladies didn't swear but mentally she was thinking that what she needed wasn't love. What she needed was a great hard fuck.

Caleb wanted to make it last but his little head overruled his big one as her hips began to rise and fall like a jack hammer. She felt her great need rising to a fevered pitch. When Caleb finally got into his stride so that their movements were synchronized he knew the end wasn't far off. As he thrust deeply into her tight pussy he felt her muscles start to grip him as she began a series of orgasms. The tightening grip of her pussy walls finally triggered his own great orgasm. His cum washed her and filled her which raised her to a new level of excitement that started her to orgasm at a level she'd never experienced before. She broke into a series of screams as she raked his back with her nails, and her muscles stiffened her body like a marble statue.

As they came down to their post coital glow Caleb tried to pull off of her but she pulled him tighter into her to hold unto her man, her lover, as long as possible. She had experienced that wonderful oneness of being and she didn't want it to end. She stroked his head as in her mind the thought kept repeating itself over and over, she was now carrying Caleb's baby in her womb, and her lips curled into a Mona Lisa-like smile.

From the time they'd entered the house until now not one word had been spoken. The need had been too great. The rest of the night was spent in whispered words of love and endearment, much kissing and caressing, and more sessions of great loving sex.

Carol woke in a rather confused state the next morning. Her body was totally relaxed but she couldn't begin to explain how she became Grandma Emily in her dream. Feeling a dampness she reached down to discover her hands, breasts, stomach, pussy, and the bed were sticky and soaked with her pussy juice. From the amount of fluid there had to have been more then one bout of self-loving. 

The strange part was that she now knew some things she'd never known before, but she had no idea how she'd gained the knowledge. Grandma Emily had been pregnant before the birth of Carol's mother and aunt. It had been a boy lost through a miscarriage. The night Grandpa Caleb came home she'd again conceived a boy and once again miscarried. Somehow Carol also now knew that there is a small cemetery in Cromwell, Minnesota that was the family cemetery. In that cemetery there is a small headstone in the family plot, and engraved on the stone are the words; baby boy d: 1913 and baby boy d: 1918.

After Gavin deserted her Carol had needed to find a way to pay the bills. She fell back on the bookkeeping skills her mother and Aunt Molly had taught her and Marie as they grew into their teens. She had a great talent for it and by word of mouth her business grew slowly but steadily over the years. It also didn't hurt that when they were back in town from some jaunt or other, her parents, aunt and uncle, were able to suggest to friends in various businesses that Carol would do an outstanding job as their bookkeeper. She worked out of the house, using a first floor bedroom as her office. It saved on business costs and taxes. Along the way she'd also acquired a notary public license and seal which helped to make ends meet.

She was also taking evening courses at the community college which would hopefully lead to a CPA certification.

But try as she would, the morning after her strange dream she found that she could not concentrate on her work. It had all been so confusing. Throwing her pencil down in disgust, she went next door to see Marie and talk to her; not about the sex, she thought with a blush, but the other things.

Sitting at the kitchen table with her coffee cup in her hands she looked at Marie and began, "I had a very strange dream or something last night concerning Grandma Emily."

Intrigued, Marie urged her to continue.

"It concerns that last picture we pasted into the albums of Emily and Caleb; In my dream I became the Emily in that picture and I was standing alongside Caleb."

"Go on," Marie inquisitively urged.

Trying to put on her best poker face and at the same time to keep from blushing she responded, "All of a sudden I knew that Emily had become pregnant with a baby boy in 1913 and miscarried. . ."

To Marie's query of how she knew that, Carol could only shrug her shoulders and carry on, "She also conceived another baby boy the night that picture was taken and once again miscarried."

Marie's response was a simple squawk of, "What in the world?"

"Finally, there is a cemetery in Cromwell, Minnesota, and in the family plot in the cemetery is a small headstone which simply states a baby boy died in 1913 and it also says a baby boy died in 1918. I don't know how I know these things. I didn't know them before the dream and I didn't talk to Emily in the dream."

Marie suggested that she may have heard grandma or grandpa or even their parents talking about it because their mothers would have had to know.

"I thought about those possibilities all morning but I surely don't remember it ever coming up in any conversations. Do you recall anything ever being said about it," Carol asked?

"Not really," was Marie's reply. After a minute a thought struck her.

Moving to the kitchen phone she asked for long distance operator assistance. Finally after answering the pertinent questions she was connected to the Cromwell City Hall. Explaining her problem to the receptionist she was connected to the city records section as the cemetery was city property. The records clerk took a few moments to pull out the cemetery plot plan and verify that the Otter Family had plot no. _____ which Marie carefully recorded. Marie then asked if there where two unnamed males buried in that family plot. The clerk after a quick search declared that his records did indicate that an unnamed male child had been interred in 1913 and another unnamed male child in 1918.

Thanking her Marie hung up. The rest of the morning and afternoon were spent in discussion about what it all meant, with no resolution, but each thought that somehow Emily's thoughts had somehow connected from beyond time and space with Carol's mind.

The cousin's had agreed that Carol's need to work to earn her living took priority. They would do the photo albums on Wednesdays when Carol's work load was lightest and perhaps again on Sunday after church.

The cousins had agreed on some ground rules in the construction of what was not just a photo album but also a family history. People would be the most important thing and so the first pass through the album was to place pictures of people and the important date and event of the photograph. That would serve as a historical benchmark. The next pass would be to insert pages with picnics, reunions, etc. so that they were in proper context in the album. All people places and events would be properly noted and typed in. 

The cousins agreed that the next most important event was the family picking up and moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1922.

Their mother's had told them over the years that Caleb was somehow different after the war. He seemed to lose his zest for farming (The cousins wondered if the loss of the baby in 1918 had been a part of the problem). Because of his wounds he also lost some of his great physical strength, and that hurt his efforts to feed and cloth his family. Finally, after WWI, prices paid for produce and farm goods declined each year, which meant that Caleb had to work harder to earn less.

Sometime in 1921 Caleb was talking over the phone with his old Platoon Sergeant and the problems came up. The cousin's mothers had always said the next phone call came just before Christmas in 1921. Caleb's Platoon Sergeant and friend, Fred Mayer, told Caleb that there would be a job opening at Western University beginning with the Fall Term of 1922 and if Caleb was there in August the job was his because the university honored its war heros, especially when they were Marines and more so when they were Silver Star Marines. Caleb thanked him and sat down with Emily to talk it over. 

They both agreed that the way farm prices had been falling it was almost a certainty that they would lose the farm within two years and although they hated to leave friends and family this proposal looked like their possible salvation.

Caleb also talked with a neighboring farmer faced with the same situation. His solution was to increase the size of his farm and produce more. All was agreed upon, the sale made, and in the Spring of 1922 the family gathered its things and loaded them unto an old Ford flat bed truck to head West to the unknown.

The next picture to go into the album was taken with Emily's Kodak camera by one of the many neighbors who showed up at the farm on their departure day to wish them well and see them off. It showed the farmhouse in the background, the big truck loaded to the top of its bed stakes and beyond. Standing by the driver's door were the Otter family; Caleb, Emily, 7 year old Molly, and 6 year old Erin, all in their spring coats and hats as there was still a chill in the Minnesota Spring air.

Looking carefully at the picture it was plain to see that the young girls faces showed an uncertainty and fear for what lay ahead even as they tried to smile and put on a brave face. 

There were pictures of the journey but they would be added later.

The trip was rough as the roads were few and in horrible disrepair to say the least. There were breakdowns and many difficulties, especially when they crossed the Rockies in Montana and Idaho. It was dreary and depressing as they drove across the high plains of Eastern Washington. It again became exceedingly difficult as they ascended and then descended the Cascade Mountain Range into Western Washington and headed North to their new home.

As they descended the last hill of the Cascades their jaws fell and their eyes grew wide as they beheld the most beautiful piece of God's Land on Earth. Everything was green except where the flowers bloomed in literally hundreds of colors and variations. Trees were a hundred feet tall and more. They were so thick and plentiful that the sun couldn't touch the ground. That night they stayed at a small park. It was there they discovered that the base of those huge cedars were so thick that the four Otters couldn't touch hands as they tried to circle one of the tree trunks.

Caleb had to hold an umbrella over Emily's head the next morning to protect her camera from a light mist so that she could take pictures of their new found paradise. 

Passing through the farmlands and forests they finally pulled into their newly adopted town. Pulling into a gas station, Caleb shut down the engine to let it cool so he could gas it up and check its vital signs. he next placed a call to Fred to let him know they'd arrived.

Fred, gave directions on how to get to his house. Pulling up to the curb in front of the address he'd been given Caleb went to the door and knocked. The door was thrown open and a slender man almost equal in height to Caleb emerged. The two men hugged each other tightly as the Otter females stared in wonder. Caleb had never done that before to any male, not even his own father.

The wife and daughters were getting a lesson in what is now called male bonding. Bonding is largely caused by common experience. The more miserable and dangerous the experience the tighter the bond.

Both men turned and motioned the ladies to come into the house. Once inside Fred's wife took everyone's coat and invited all to have some breakfast in the kitchen. Caleb introduced Fred to his wife and daughters and Fred introduced his wife, Wilma. All adjourned to the kitchen for a hearty late morning feast.

After Wilma and Emily cleared the dishes the talking got serious. Fred told Caleb and Emily that there was a vacant house just up the street. The house belonged to the man whose place Caleb was taking at Western University. He'd had an offer from a shipyard in Seattle at more money and with greater benefits. He'd decided to accept it and they were now down in Seattle. The house was for sale but so far there had been no takers.

Fred said the house needed a new roof but it had a fairly new coal furnace, indoor plumbing, city water, and electrical power. It needed work but Fred thought that if the Otters wanted to buy it they could get it at a good price. Fred further stated that he was in contact with the owners as he kind of looked after it in their absence. He thought that if the Otters wanted to rent it for a month to look it over and make a decision the owners would go for it as right now they were paying for something that was sitting idle.

Emily and Caleb looked at each other and nodded their assent. That having been decided, Fred went over to the phone, talked to the operator, and pretty soon was in deep conversation with one of owners; the wife, as the husband was at work. When the conversation was finished he turned around with a smile and told the Otters that the owners had agreed to the proposal and Fred was authorized to give them a key immediately, and to make arrangements to get the phone, water, and power turned on. The owners also agreed to accept no offers for 30 days until the Otters agreed to buy the house or look elsewhere.

Fred reached to a hook next to the phone and removed a key ring. He told Caleb the house was three doors up, and across the street, and suggested that Caleb pull into the driveway. He and Wilma would meet them there.

When Caleb turned the truck key off once they were parked in the driveway, Emily got out to get a good look at her new neighborhood. The houses appeared to have been built in the 1890's during the boom. They were fairly large and each had a porch that wrapped around the front and one side of the house. The driveway led to what had once been a horse stable and barn for feed and the family buggy. Emily liked the overall appearance. Looking up and down the street she nodded in approval, The trees shading the street and lawns were mature Maples and above and behind each house she could see a large Cedar tree.

She noticed two teenagers pushing lawn mowers at the house next door and the one next to it. Turning she saw Fred and Wilma approaching. When Fred drew abreast he hollered at the two boys to come over as he had a job for them. Emily started to object but Fred laughingly said they could use the work. 

The boys arrived just as Caleb joined them. Fred introduced the boys as Nathan (Nate) Lewis (the boy next door) and Evan Force (The one two houses down). He laughingly said the two 16 year old thugs had just finished their Sophomore Year at Western High School which caused the two teenagers to break into embarrassed grins.

While Wilma showed Emily around, Fred took Caleb on a separate tour, while Evan and Nate made preparations to bring in what remained of the Otter family's worldly possessions.

The house was still furnished as the owners were renting until the house was sold and they were able to buy their new home. They would then have the furniture freighted down to them.

The upstairs contained three bedrooms, a bathroom, and a stairway to the attic. The first floor had a large living room with a fireplace, a beautiful dining room, a bathroom, and a spacious kitchen and pantry. Emily was ecstatic to find the kitchen stove was fueled by kerosene. No more having to chop wood to cook. She opened the icebox and was surprised to find it cool. Wilma told her that Fred kept the ice delivery going as he didn't want anyone to have to clean an icebox that had been sitting for a long period of time. Emily checked the drain pan under the ice box and pulled it out to empty it in the sink.

When the tour was finished and all were gathered in the kitchen Fred explained that the water and power would be turned on that afternoon but the phone wouldn't be turned on for another two days.

Molly and Erin had stood and watched as the men and the two boys emptied the truck while the women put things away. Finally the women turned the mattresses on the beds and made them up.

Caleb gave each of the boys $2.00 (an amount Fred objected to as being too much), and they left after thanking Caleb profusely.

That night dinner had been at the Myers' house with Emily and Wilma doing the honors as they quickly bonded in a life long friendship.

Midway through the month Caleb and Emily agreed to purchase the house as Emily had fallen in love with it. Because of the need for a new roof and a few other necessary repairs they got the house at a good price leaving enough money to replace the furniture and pay for those other expenses that arise when establishing a new home.

Carol and Marie slowly came back to the present with a smile of fond remembrance at the many hours they'd sat entranced by Erin and Molly as they talked about those days long ago in an era that most have forgotten.

Silently and without a word the two cousins placed a picture of the house in the album. Emily had waited for several weeks until conditions were exactly right to take that picture.

Somehow those pictures and those conversations from so long ago brought them a little peace and quieted the hurt in their hearts somewhat. 

Following church services on Sunday Carol returned home, changed cloths, made lunch and waited for Marie to come over to work on the albums. When Marie knocked, Carol opened the door to find that Marie was alone.

"Where's Dan," she asked

"Jake took him to the park to play," Marie answered with a smile.

The two cousins poured themselves a cup of coffee and repaired to the "Album Room," to add more pictures and memories to their albums.




The Photo Albums



The first picture was of Evan and Nate standing in front of Western HS in their graduation gowns and mortars in 1924. Each standing in a self-conscious pose with their diplomas tightly held in their hands.

The next picture was a group photo taken in 1926 of the two friends standing with their comrades in front of the fire house. They'd been accepted into the city fire department and this photo showed the firefighting battalion standing in front of the fire engine and ladder truck which were carefully parked in front of the firehouse. 

The ladies sat back to sip their coffee and discussed what photos needed to go into the album next. After a short discussion it was agreed that the next benchmark was the graduation of Molly and Erin from Western HS; Molly in 1933, and Erin in 1934. The graduation pictures were duly pasted into the album side by side.

Having completed that task Carol and Marie sat back to look at their work. Each had a smile on their lips as they remembered the various conversations their mother's had about those days which ultimately led up to their marriages.

Molly and Erin used to talk about how they would sit cross-legged on Molly's bed in their nightgowns and discuss the two gorgeous men living next to them. Molly simply adored Evan and it was equally plain that Erin was head over heels "in Love" with Nate. Puberty had set in with all of its problems, difficulties, and repercussions. 

The problem simply put was; how were two young teen-age girls going to attract two older "men-of-the-world?"

Fortunately, nature stepped in and solved the problem for them.

In their respective Sophomore years their bodies began to develop. From long legged young colts, their bodies grew until they each stood 5'9" tall. Their hips began to widen so that they began to look like young women instead of just plain girls. Most of all they both began to develop breasts. Their breast development was the envy of every female in their respective classes and the wet dreams of every boy. There was no way that the girls could hide those enormous beauties that stood out for the whole world to see. They jiggled, bounced, and swayed so much that Emily finally had to have each of them fitted with custom bras to rein them in but to no avail.

This spurt in development caught the attention of Evan and Nate who watched in amazement as the girls matured. At church on Sunday they made sure that they got together with the young ladies. At church socials they paired off with them.

Finally they approached Caleb and Emily to ask their permission to "court" the young women. Permission was granted but only under strict supervision as was proper in those days.

In the Summer and on holidays the two friends would take the two sisters to the Wednesday night movie matinee at the Ritz theatre. Why? Wednesday night was "dish night" when the theatre gave away a plate, cup, saucer, etc. If you attended regularly you could conceivably end up with a complete set of dishes. This was a very smart move on the part of Caleb and Emily. How frisky can a man get when his lap is full of fragile chinaware?

Human nature does find a way in spite of all obstacles. The two men would occasionally find a way to get the girls alone and they would get in a little cuddling, kissing, and groping. The sisters did keep the groping within strict limits. They had every intention of marrying Evan and Nate but they also intended to go to their wedding beds as virgins.

Molly graduated from Western HS in 1933. After graduation she relaxed for the Summer and in September took a clerking job at the S. S. Kresge department store across from city hall. She now paid rent to her parents and was responsible for her own clothing and entertainment expenses.

In 1934 Erin graduated and after relaxing for the Summer took a clerking job just up the street from Molly at the J. C. Penny store. Like Molly she too paid rent and paid for her clothing and entertainment expenses.

The romance between Molly and Evan and Erin and Nate was now in full swing and it was getting serious. So much so that the two men approached Caleb just before Thanksgiving in 1934 and asked his permission to ask the sisters to marry them.

After discussing it with Emily, Caleb assented to their request and on New Years eve each man got down on his knee before his intended and made his request. Of course the requests were granted. The years long dreams of Molly and Erin were about to come true.

That Summer Evan's and Nate's parents seeing the way the wind was blowing with their sons and having long ago decided they no longer cared to live in the wet and cold Pacific Northwest had decided to move. They sold the houses to their respective sons, got on the train, and headed South to Chula Vista, California (a town just South of San Diego) to take up their retirement residences.

After their official engagement the women began to prepare the two houses as they wished, for after all they would soon be "their nests." Evan and Nate were now bemused "gophers," as the ladies arranged this and rearranged that.

There was a lot of hanky panky during this nest building but the sisters were resolute in their determination to go to their wedding beds as virgins. A breast was felt but the bra was still on. A thigh was caressed but the panties stayed on and no touching of the panties was permitted. A penis was groped but only through the pants. There was a lot of kissing, hugging, and endearments passed back and forth and a lot of cold showers taken much to the frustrations of all concerned. 

Caleb and Emily watched it all take place with much amusement as they fondly remembered the days of their youth, and watching the antics of their children got their own motors racing, so there was a lot of sex, but it was all on the part of Caleb and Emily.

Emily now stepped in. She had explained the facts of life to her daughters when Molly's menstrual period began, but it was time for part two. Emily had sent for two books on marital sex that some of her friends highly (and blushingly) recommended.

When they arrived (in plain brown wrappers) she talked to the girls about marital sex. Unlike a lot of women who thought that sex was sinful, dirty, and a duty to be gotten out of the way as seldom as possible, and as fast as could be accomplished, Emily loved her sex life with Caleb. She wanted to prepare the girls so that they enjoyed an active and enjoyable sex life as much as she did.

She talked about oral sex and how to use their hands, lips, and tongues to pleasure their mates. Most of all she impressed on the two sisters the need for communication. "After all," she said, "how will a man please you if you don't know what gets you aroused and satisfied. When you know what gets you sexually excited, then by proper communication you can bet he'll do it because men live to please their women. Ladies you have all the power but you need to learn to use it." That having been said she gave her daughters the books and concluded her talk with, "Learn and enjoy."

Carol and Marie were deeply lost in thought as they both remembered the talks they'd had with their own mothers as they'd explained all of this to the cousins before their weddings.

By mutual but silent agreement the next pictures that were pasted into the album were of Evan and Molly Force and Nathan and Erin Lewis standing in front of Trinity Church in their wedding finery. The picture was taken by Emily with her trusty old Kodak Brownie. The second picture was taken at the photographer's studio. It was the official wedding picture of the happy couples.

Carol went to bed that night after a nice long soak in the tub. As she drifted off to sleep that night she found herself focusing on the wedding picture of her mom and dad. As she nodded off she became Erin cleaning up and donning her negligee in a hotel room in San Francisco on her honeymoon at last.

She was slightly worried about the pain when Nate took her virginity but Emily had assured her that it hurt, but only for a moment, after that it would all be good and pleasurable. She checked herself in the mirror. Her white lacy bra did little to conceal her heavy saggy breasts. She hoped Nate wouldn't be too disappointed. She checked her filmy white silk panties, her garter belt, and her silk stockings to make sure they were straight. She checked her hair, carefully applied several drops of her favorite perfume in strategic spots, tied the negligee closed, and opened the bathroom door.

Nate had preceded her in cleaning up and was now pacing the room nervously, dressed in a light dressing gown. He was probably nervous about the first time and not wanting to cause Erin any pain. Erin lovingly looked at the 6'4" brown eyed and dark brown haired giant she'd loved for so long and was finally married to. 

Erin slowly walked toward him in her high heeled pumps making her hips sway more then usual as the radio played a soft gentle waltz.

She accepted the glass of wine Nate handed her and together they sipped to the future.

Putting the glasses down, Nate turned the radio off as he put his arms around the woman he loved so desperately and pulled her into his chest. She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck as her hands softly pulled his face down toward her. Their lips slowly parted as their tongues began to softly tease each other. Nate's hands began to softly stroke her back in ever widening circles until his movements were also leaving goose bumps as they rubbed her beautiful ass cheeks.

As he moved a hand to cup a breast she moaned softly and her hands began to make soft strokes on his neck. Nate stepped back and began to untie her negligee, allowing it to fall to the floor in a silken puddle. Taking his time he once again embraced her with one arm and hand while his other softly squeezed a breast and ran his fingers over the deep cleavage created by her bra. Reaching around her he quickly opened her bra and removed it.

Erin was worried that her ugly breasts would disgust Nate and turn him away, but the look on his face was not disgust, but rather the look of a young boy in a candy store who had permission to sample all of the goodies, and that is exactly what Nate did.

Using both hands he lifted and cupped them as he squeezed them ever so gently. Her nipples began to stiffen as she started to softly purr. Bending slightly he ran his tongue over the nipple and then his lips clamped softly around it as he started to try to nurse milk from it.

Nate slowly sank to his knees and her breasts followed him. She spread her legs slightly as she felt her lover gently pulling her panties down. With one hand she lifted a breast to his lips and with the other she pulled his head towards the nipple.

He noted that her panties were damp at the crotch and by the scent he knew that she was aroused. With the palm of his hand he began to slowly rub up and down her slit which was beginning to swell and open.

He tried to remove her garter belt and stockings but she stopped him even as she moved his lips to her other breast and for the first time spoke, "Darling, put a finger in me," she said in a soft hoarse whisper.

Nate suited action to words and pushed his finger slowly into her pussy. When it bottomed out his thumb was rubbing against what he assumed was her clitoris. The action of his thumb and finger rubbing her erotic zones made her body shudder involuntarily in a minor orgasm. 

She was about to ask him to put another finger in when he reached around her, locking his arms under the cheeks of her ass, and began to stand up (he wasn't a fireman for nothing). He carried her to the bed and slowly sank to his knees again, gently lowering her to a sitting position. Spreading her legs he softly licked her pussy and then slid a finger into her as his tongue rubbed her clit until she was all but screaming.

The need was now upon her as she grabbed his arms to pull him up to her as she croaked, "Sweetheart, I want you now."

She scooted back as he moved above her. Spreading her legs with his knee he moved between her thighs. When he was in position he rubbed her pussy lips with his penis and slowly pushed the head into her love canal. Sliding it in very slowly so she could adjust to its size he soon felt the obstruction that was her hymen. He withdrew and pushed it in and out several times as his hands began to squeeze her puddled breasts and rub the nipples. When he had her moaning from her sexual arousal he withdrew his penis and sharply thrust it into her until her hymen was a memory. As soon as he felt it give way he stopped and began to kiss her as his hands continued to make love to her puddled breasts. 

The pain slowly ebbed to be replaced by pleasure. She patted his back and whispered, "I'm alright. Make love to me honey." He began to slowly push deeper into her until the head of his penis bumped into something just as his pelvic bone touched hers.

Leaving it bottomed in her pussy he began to rock back and forth which put pressure against her clit. Finally he started to withdraw but her pussy tried to clamp tight against it and hold it inside her.

By the second stroke Erin was again moaning and finding it hard to breathe. Every nerve in her body was now on fire as she felt his penis slide in and out and round and round. She suddenly had to feel all of him in her. She raised her legs until they were wrapped around his waist and she found herself thrusting against him as he plunged deeply into her. As he withdrew she clamped her muscles to try to hold him deep. Needing more she screamed at him to squeeze and pull her breasts and pull on the nipples. The breast action and his thrusts put her over the edge. When he was all the way in her she began to climax. Nate pulled out one last time and thrust as hard and deeply as he could all the time feeling his muscles starting to move his sperm towards its inevitable exit from his body to hers. As he plunged into her the final time she began to wail as her climax intensified. Her pussy walls closed around his penis but he was not to be denied. Finally reaching the depths his penis erupted in a cum bath of her cervix This triggered another series of spasms as Erin began to shudder and shake. She wrapped her arms around him and locked her legs to keep him inside her.

As they came back to earth they lay locked together softly kissing and whispering endearments until the next round of loving and being loved

Carol woke the next morning and found herself wet and sticky all over from her self-loving and wondered why and how the dream had occurred.

At the Snyder home Marie dreamt that she was Molly. Molly and Evan had also honeymooned in San Francisco, but they stayed at a different hotel so that each couple had a modicum of privacy, but they were also close enough so that they could sight see and shop together.

When Marie woke from her dream it was because she was wet, she was horny, and she knew how to spell relief. J-A-K-E!

Jake was having a fine sensuous dream. Suddenly he realized it wasn't a dream. Looking towards his groin he saw Marie on her knees her great pendulous breasts rubbing against his thighs and a hand grasping his penis as she tried to suck it into hardness. The sight of her sucking him and the feel of her nipples dragging up and down his thighs did the trick. Jake was awake. Jake was hard. Jake was horny.

Marie took no prisoners that night. She knee-walked up the bed, kneeled down and pushed Jake's peter as hard, fast, and deep into her as she could. As soon as her favorite bone was properly buried she began to ride Jake like a woman gone mad. If her ass had been a whip the night air would have been filled with the sounds of cracking as she snapped her ass in every direction that it would go and as fast and hard as she could. Jake was holding on for dear life. Finally she leaned forward, pulled his head up and stuffed a milk filled breast into his face yelling at him to empty it as there was another one that needed draining and he'd damn well better bite the nipples and not to be a wimp about how he squeezed her tit and pulled and twisted it.

It didn't take too long for her to explode into a tremendous orgasm when Jake emptied his balls deep inside her. But that only seemed to take the edge off as she scooted off of Jake and began to try to suck Jake back to life for round two.

Jake was up for round two as their love making had taken a serious hit with Dan's birth and the tragic death of her parents. This time he took her from behind. As he deep stroked her he reached around her to maul her tits at her command. She screamed at him to really hurt them. When they came she still wasn't totally satisfied.

It took awhile after round two to get Jake up for round three but he finally managed to answer the bell. This time she once again got on top of him but this round became one of love making as she kept him deep within her and jacked him off with her muscles clamping and releasing him even as he used his muscles to twitch and clench his penis. They were literally jacking each other off.

The words became more tender and each felt an indescribable love for the other. She breast fed him with her still full breast telling him he was a great lover and that mama was going to make him feel good but he had to keep emptying her breast like her good man and her good lover should. When they came each had a mild orgasm but it was long and soothing, like watching a distant Summer storm, the mutual climaxes just went on and on. She kept him deep inside her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Suddenly he felt her tears running down his chest. 

Alarmed he started to move and asked her what was wrong? She smacked him on the chest and merely said they were tears of love and joy as she held him close and continued to let the tears roll. Her emotions had finally come to the forefront but her release had been complete. At this point she felt so in love with her two men it took possession of her whole being, pushing any other feeling or emotion away.

After a few hours of work the next morning Carol decided it was time to take a break. She headed over to Marie's. She sat at the table while Marie moved over to the stove to do the honors. Watching Marie's bowlegged waddle and the way she kind of dragged her feet as if she was sore, Carol doubled up with laughter as she screamed out, "You and Jake have a good time last night?"

Marie stopped dead in her tracks and Carol knew that if she could see her cousin's face it would be beet red. Marie poured the coffee, placed the cups on the table, and sat down, her face still flushed.

Looking at Carol still giggling helplessly she couldn't help it and soon they were both laughing their heads off.

Carol had to ask the next question even as the tears of laughter were running down both of their cheeks, "How did Jake look this morning?"

It was several minutes before Marie could control herself enough to reply, "Like a freight train ran over him. He was looking at me all morning with a funny expression because I was so hot and horny that I attacked him last night, and before I was done he was a sniveling shriveled wreck of a man."

That was it, the ladies mental image of a 6'4" bear like Jake sniveling and begging for mercy set them off again.

What had started as a coffee break extended into lunch as Carol made Marie tell her every naughty detail.

When Marie got to the first part about becoming Molly, Carol froze. Her face turned white for an instant, and then she blushed a deep red. Marie noticing Carols reaction stopped her tale but Carol motioned for her to continue.

When Marie finished telling about last evenings events, Carol had to tell the whole story about her becoming Emily and then about last night becoming her mother, Erin.




The Photo Albums



The ladies were mostly silent at lunch as they tried to absorb what had happened and more importantly how and why. Neither cousin was able to offer any explanation.

Wednesday the ladies gathered in the album room after lunch to resume the work on the scrapbooks.

They had just agreed that the next important event was Pearl Harbor and Evan and Nate joining the Navy.

As they got ready to go to work Marie stopped and said, "Wait. There's something just as important that happened the year before."

Carol paused and thought, but nothing came to mind.

"When our Dad's bought the new cars," Marie remarked.

Carol raised an eyebrow in query, and Marie responded, "Don't you remember our mother's both saying those cars saved their bacon during the war?" 

The cousins sat in remembrance of Emily, Molly, and Erin sitting and talking while sipping their tea. Both family cars were on their last legs, and Evan and Nate thought that if they bought both cars at the same dealership they might be able to get a price break. The best deal turned out to be from the Ford dealer so they ended up buying two 1940 Ford Deluxe four door sedans, one maroon and one blue.

"You remember how proud Emily was when Molly and Erin got their driver's licenses that Summer," Carol asked? With that the girls reached into their stacks and pulled out the photo of the two cars side by side in front of Western HS where the ladies had learned to drive in the parking lot behind the sports stadium under the less then patient tutelage of Evan and Nate. The ladies were leaning against the front fenders holding their brand new licenses up as Emily snapped the picture. The pictures were pasted in the albums.

Sitting there looking at the picture the cousins remembered Emily proudly telling the daughters that they might be the first women in the family to have licenses but they weren't the first to drive. She had learned to hitch the horses to the buggy and wagon and drive the teams by the time she'd hit her teen years. Later Caleb had taught her to drive the tractor and the flat bed Ford truck. When the family made their trek to Washington she'd relieved Caleb from time to time but only when they were in isolated areas as Emily didn't have a license and there was less chance of being stopped by the police, she'd always concluded with a laugh.

The cousins sipped their coffee as they looked at the pictures of their fathers taken by Emily after Navy boot camp, recalling their mother's remembering how it all came about.

The three families were sitting in church on Sunday 7 December, 1941 and the 11:00 am services had just began when a police officer rushed into the church and up to the minister's pulpit. He whispered something into the minister's ear and handed him a piece of paper. The minister read the paper and interrupted the service to announce that the Japanese had just bombed Pearl Harbor resulting in a great loss of life and much damage to the Naval fleet. The minister then gave a special prayer and dismissed the parishioners with the announcement that the president would shortly be addressing the American public on the radio.

They all rushed home and turned the radios on to listen to the speech. From the talk they gathered that the United States was now at war.

Molly and Erin had always said they'd never seen their men so angry and upset. They'd gone over to talk to Caleb. 

Afterwards Emily told them that Nate and Evan were intent on joining the Marine Corps, but Caleb had talked them out of it by reminding them they weren't teenagers, that kind of warfare was for the young, and that it was a dirty business. He'd also pointed out that it was going to probably be a long war and a large part of it would be at sea. He concluded by somberly remarking that there was a good chance of dying and it would be better to die clean then in some muddy rat infested battlefield.

The three families had gathered together after lunch when Evan and Nate announced their decisions to join the Navy. The worried women of the family tried to talk them out of it by reminding them that they were married men in their thirties and draft exempt because of that status and their jobs as firefighters. The two men shut off the talks by informing their wives for the first and only time in their marriages that this was not an item open for discussion and that it was now time for the men to step up to the plate.

Early Monday morning found the two men beating on the door of the Navy recruiting office and enlisting. Shortly afterwards they were on a train headed for boot camp in San Diego, California.

Following boot camp the men came home on leave. Carol and Marie sat sipping their coffee remembering the pride in their mother's voices when they talked about their tall handsome sailors. One remark had always attracted the two daughter's attention when the mother's mentioned in passing the swagger in their husbands walk.

Into the scrapbook went the photos from boot leave; Evan and Nate standing with their arms on each others shoulder, a bottle of beer in the other hand, cuffs of the blue blouses turned up, blue "donald duck" flat hats pushed back on their heads. The mother's were right, they were so handsome in those blue bell bottom trousers with the thirteen button fly.

The other picture was a group photo of Evan and Molly, Erin and Nate. Each couple standing with their arms about their mate's waist and so obviously in love.

The sex must have been torrid Marie thought with a smile on her lips. When the men left for the San Diego Naval Receiving Station Molly and Erin were pregnant and just before Christmas Carol and Marie were born, three days apart.

During a coffee break during the week Marie broached something she'd thought about, "Wouldn't it be nice to put some of our father's and mother's wartime letters in the albums?"

Without thinking about it Carol quickly responded, "Good thinking Cuz, wonder where they're stored?"

A search of the two houses proved fruitless, until Carol remembered the steamer trunks up in the attic, and sure enough in the trunks were several shoeboxes full of letters, neatly bundled by year. Laying on top of the boxes was something just as precious; her mother's diploma from Maritime Vocational School, her notary license, and her city business permits. Carol informed Marie and she likewise found her dad's letters and her mother's diploma, business permits, and notary license. The letters, diplomas, permits, and licenses were added to the photos on their tables.

The cousins changed the rule and Friday found them pasting the diplomas, permits, and licenses in the albums. Sitting back and looking at their handy work they remembered Molly and Erin teaching Carol and Marie bookkeeping as they passed into puberty.

The two mother's found themselves getting ready to face some financial problems with their husbands in the Navy. Navy pay didn't begin to cover expenses as the firefighters wages had. After talking it over with Emily and Caleb they decided to become bookkeepers. That would pay far more then their old sales clerk jobs had paid.

They signed up for the Winter Quarter at Maritime and with diligent work and study by June they were ready to start their own at home business. When the boys came home from boot camp the ladies had worked it out with their instructors to work at home and submit the assignments after their husbands left.

The fact that they had business permits came in handy because the gas stickers on the car windows were changed to reflect the businesses and so their gas rations were increased.

The mothers explained to their daughters they'd seen too many woman fall into a financial abyss because they had nothing to fall back on when their husbands went into the service and especially the ones who became widows as a result. This can happen in peace or war and their daughters were damn well going to have a skill to fall back on.

After the war was over and the men returned, Molly and Erin closed their businesses down but they kept current on bookkeeping practices, state and IRS rules and regulations. They also did this with their daughters until they got married, "Just in case." In Carol's case it had sure come in handy, she thought thankfully.

Saturday found Carol and Marie reading their father's letters and they learned many things about their fathers that they'd never known.

It was kind of strange when they started because each letter and envelope had a big black "Censored" stamp on it and occasionally something in the letters would be blacked out.

They learned that the two fathers were Fireman 2c (second class) when they came home on boot leave.

When they reported to the San Diego Naval Receiving Station they were sent out as part of a large draft to the USS Hornet (CV8), CV meaning that the ship was a carrier. On arrival the two of them were assigned to the "Black Gang" as water tenders in one of the fire rooms.

The Damage Control Assistant had reviewed each incoming engineering-type sailor's service jacket. He was a little puzzled about Evan and Nate because they were much older, being in their mid-thirties. Reading further he got a happy shock when he discovered here were two men with over 16 years of experience each as firefighters.

The DCA immediately headed to the Engineering Officer's office to show him his discovery. Within two hours Nate and Evan were packing their seabags to move from the "Black Gang" Berthing into the Repair Department Berthing as Carpenters Mates.

Carol and Marie knew all about the Hornet's battles until its being sunk by a Japanese submarine's torpedo at the battle of Santa Cruise on 26 October, 1942.

Both Nate and Evan must have acquitted themselves well in their respective Damage Control Parties although they never talked about it. What was known was that when they came home on survivor's leave in November they wore 3rd Class Carpenter's Mate "crows" on their left arms and several battle ribbons on their left breast. Later it was learned that each of them had been recommended for the Bronze Star for actions performed after the torpedo struck and for their disregard for their own lives by heroically taking off their life jackets while they treaded water while waiting to be rescued, and putting them on two badly hurt shipmates who didn't have the strength and were too badly injured to stay afloat without them, even as the Hornet plunged to her watery grave.

When the boys returned home they were greeted by two very large and very pregnant wives. Emily had a hell of a time trying to get the women to pose with their men in their pregnant condition and the husbands finally had to put their collective feet down so that Emily was finally able to get her photo which Marie and Carol were only too happy to paste into the album. The cousins agreed that the men looked even more handsome and heroic somehow with their new petty officer crows on their arms and their ribbons proudly displayed on their chests.

Unfortunately the men's leave was up before the babies were born which caused the two hormonally challenged wives to chip their enamels somewhat, but in defense of the two husbands, the Navy's response would have been; "The men have to be there for the keel laying but they don't have to be there for the launching."

The husbands were ordered to the pre-commissioning crew of the USS Princeton (CVL 23) in Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (CVL means Carrier Light). Their wives were ecstatic because that meant their men were out of harm's way, for awhile at least.

A week before Christmas in 1942, Erin gave birth to Carol and three days later Molly gave birth to Marie. Both babies were born in St Joseph's Hospital. A week later Emily was able to get her picture of two proud mothers holding their babies as they sat on her sofa. The youngest subjects of the photo laughingly put the photo in the albums.

By now the cousins were going through the letters that Evan and Nate wrote while on the Princeton. They found out that their fathers had been promoted to 2nd class petty officers. This happened shortly before their Bronze Star Medals caught up with them.

The next picture was an official Navy photo of the Commanding Officer of the Princeton pinning the medal on first Evan and then Nate. There was another official photo of the two standing side by side. The two sailors wore their Service Dress Blues with their white hats on (Down by the bow with a list to Starboard), and my God; there was a row of ribbons on their chests, and a 2nd class petty officer crow on their left arms. Looking closely, they noticed how tired the men looked and how sad their faces and eyes were. They'd definitely been tested. The photos were duly pasted into the albums.

The next pictures that went into the albums were the two baby girls at Christmas sitting first on their mothers laps and then their grandparents. These were followed by a picture of the girls laying under the Christmas tree.

At the next album session the girls lost it and almost abandoned their project. They remembered their mothers talk over the years about the phone calls they'd each received one November night in 1943. It was their husbands calling home. The Princeton had just pulled into Bremerton Naval Shipyard for some repairs and upgrades to some equipment. 

In an effort to let as many men go on leave as possible the ship had set up two leave parties The first would get two weeks that covered Thanksgiving and the second one would cover Christmas. The ship was getting underway shortly after New Years Day so everyone had to be back by New Years Eve.

Evan and Nate chose the second leave party so they could be home for their daughter's birthdays. Emily and Caleb watched the girls while the women drove down to the train depot to pick their men up.

It was a typical blustery Pacific NW Winter night when the car pulled into the depot parking lot. The two sisters impatiently waited inside the waiting room for what seemed like days, yet was no more then half an hour, before the train pulled in. The women rushed out to look for their men. Suddenly they saw two sailors stepping down from a car near the end of the train.

They were going to run down to greet them but they had to watch as their Dear Hearts walked towards them. They were witnessing something they'd never seen before, and you old salts will know exactly what I'm talking about. Their peacoat collars were up, their donald duck hats pulled down almost touching their eyebrows. One hand was in the peacoat pocket the other grasped their AWOL bag. That wasn't what the ladies were looking at. It was the way they walked.

It has been described by some as a rolling gait and it comes from a long period of time of walking the decks of the ship at sea as it pitches and rolls. 

An aside- If you haven't been there you couldn't possibly do it but as an old salt in his sixties, give me 10 steps and I could show it to you even now after all these years. The way the shoulders roll also imparting a "Fuck You! I'm here, if you want to try to kick ass let the dance begin," to the whole scene. . .

The ladies were sensing something in their men they'd never felt before. Walking towards them were two sailors who could be mean, nasty, SOB's if they so desired, and no quarter would be asked or given. Frankly, the women were a little nervous about the eminent reception.

Evan and Nate finally stood before their wives. They carefully put down their AWOL bags and gathered their wives into their arms. They kissed the only women in the world they desired to be with, slowly, lovingly, and with a great deal of desire. Finally the women broke the kiss to look into the eyes of their husbands.

What they saw was disturbing; Here were men not yet in their forties and yet their eyes were surrounded by worry lines. Their eyes would be hard one second, show a sadness that was indescribable the next, and yet as they beheld their wives they showed a deep love that transcended time and space. The women knew their mates were mentally different now and they most urgently wanted and needed to reach out and try to sooth and comfort them.

When they arrived at their grand parents house their two daughters shrieked in terror at the sight of the men in blue that appeared before them. They each clung to their mother's in terror as they beheld the giant's that were, unbeknownst to them; their own fathers.

It took awhile, but the babies finally allowed themselves to be held and cuddled by their proud fathers. 

Several days later Emily overheard a conversation between Caleb and the two husbands as she made a fresh pot of coffee. 

The three of them were sitting in the dining room sipping their coffee. Caleb looked at the two sons sitting around him. He put down his cup and softly began; "Boys I'm seeing something that bothers me. Your hurting. You've seen and done things that no man should ever have to see and do. Your trying to hold it in to protect your women and children. Your wives are walking on egg shells because you scare them and yet their scared for you. When I came back from France I was the same way. I was home two days when I looked in Emily's eyes and saw the same look I see in your wive's eyes. That night Emily held me to her breast as I cried like a baby. That was the night the healing began. It took a long time to heal. It was over for me but you still have more fire to walk through 'cause it ain't over yet. If you don't start to let it go now it'll destroy you, your wives, and your marriages. Boys, I'm asking you as an old jarhead to give it up."

Emily couldn't help it. She quietly stepped into the pantry and began to cry as she remembered that night those many years ago.

That night and the next there was no sex, but there was loving as the women held their men while they cried like hurt little children. The women held them to their breasts and soothed and comforted their once again gentle giants while they released the devils inside them that they'd kept to themselves for so long.

The rest of the leave went well as Evan and Nate began to slowly heal and find an inner peace. Molly and Erin clung to them with a loving attachment and closeness they hadn't known since the war began. Their daughters demanded their attention and refused to leave them alone for even a second. For the whole leave period the fathers would be seen walking about with their daughters in their arms.

The pictures that so disturbed Carol and Marie were the pictures of them being held by their fathers. They were standing in front of the Christmas tree in their dress blues with Carol and Marie in their arms and their mothers standing next to their fathers with their arms lovingly wrapped around their husbands waists. It was the most vivid illustration of all that they had lost in the tsunami and the two cousins were soon sobbing in disconsolate sorrow. 

They found they had to leave the albums alone for awhile. That picture was too raw.

The cousins were finally able to get past the photo and resume their construction of the albums. The next photos were of Nate and Evan once again home on survivor's leave. 

It had been a hard year for the Princeton. She was in many battles in far off places the public had never heard of and it all led up to the Battle of Leyte Gulf.

Within two days of the anniversary of the Hornet's sinking, the Princeton was hit by a bomb on 24 October, 1944, For hours the damage control parties fought the fires and the flooding. Finally the Commanding Officer had to make the most difficult decision any skipper ever has to make. The Princeton could not be saved. Boats were brought alongside to take the crew off. When the ship was cleared of all living personnel a US Navy Destroyer dispatched the Princeton with its torpedos.




The Photo Albums



Nate had always laughingly said that was the only time he had a ship sunk under him that he hadn't even got his shoes wet as he abandoned ship.

After the crew was assembled on land somewhere and debriefed all were sent home on 30 days survivor's leave.

Once again the ladies went to the railroad depot to gather their men up and bring them home.

Molly, Erin, and even Emily used to talk about the differences they saw in the men. The two wives first noticed it in the way they walked up the platform. Yes the roll in their gait was still there but the belligerence was gone. The worry lines around their eyes were still there, the hurt and sadness still present, but the anger was no more, and the love for their wives almost swamped the ladies in its intensity.

Molly and Erin blushingly admitted that the men they saw were mature versions of the men they'd married and they both found themselves to be very horny indeed and had no greater desire then to jump their bones at the first opportunity. Emily blushed with fond remembrance of that nights activities with Caleb.

The two mothers used to talk about their daughters refusal to be separated from their fathers and that any attempt led to a general rebellion by the daughters until the girls were so tired they had to sleep.

The pictures taken before the November Thanksgiving table showed two First Class Petty Officers in their Service Dress Blues with one arm around their wives and the other holding a peaceful and contented daughter.

During this leave period Caleb once again got together with his sons. He knew that his time might be short but he also knew that this talk was necessary.

What he didn't know was that the ladies of the family were gathered together in the kitchen and heard the whole conversation.

"Boys, he began, I'm so proud of you that words almost fail me. When you were on leave the last time I saw two angry men who were trying to take on all of the pain and hurt that war generates. You were trying to protect and shield those you loved and cared for. You learned that it was destroying you and all that you loved and those you cared for and were able to lay it aside.

Now I see two men who've learned to accept that which they cannot change. You are men who've learned that what they have witnessed and participated in is not their fault, it is what is, and you've learned to live with it and to not make it personal. Boys, if you were my own sons I couldn't be more proud of you and the job you've done. From an old jarhead, Bravo Zulu (well done)!"

Following Caleb's remarks the three ladies found themselves in the pantry crying and hugging each other. The tears were tears of love and regret for all that their men had to endure and the willingness of the men to try to shield their families from the horrors that had almost engulfed them. Emily said it all when she remarked between sobs, "Ladies we have been truly blessed. We are fortunate enough to have married and to love real men."

The war was not over yet and the two men still had a few more horrors in store. For the first time the team was broken up. They were each assigned to destroyers home ported in Pearl Harbor. Thankfully the two ships were in the same squadron so they were able to get together occasionally. 

While waiting for the return of the squadron the men were billeted in the Navy Receiving Station when they were presented with their second Bronze Star for their efforts following the bombing of the Princeton.

The picture the cousins were looking at was an official US Navy photo of the men standing in front of their comrades in their service dress whites as the Commanding Officer of the Naval Station presented them with their Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster to pin on their Bronze Star Medals. The men had their 1st class crows on the sleeve but there was also a "hash mark" below it denoting at least four years of active service, and the ribbons on their chests had also increased by another row.

The men joined their ships which immediately deployed to the Western Pacific in time to take part in several battles. For the first time the men took part in Naval Gun Fire Support missions and to experience the terror of the Japanese Kamikaze attacks. They were fortunate that none of the planes hit their ships but several of the other ships in the squadron were not so fortunate.

Finally on 15 August, 1945 the Japanese surrendered and the war was over. The squadron was ordered to anchor in Tokyo Bay for the surrender ceremonies but they didn't see much as they were too far away from the ceremonies on the USS Missouri.

Evan and Nate were home and in "civvies" for Christmas. The many years in the Navy and the points they had accumulated ensured their discharges in the first group to be demobilized. For the first time in a long time Emily captured a picture of Nate and Evan standing in front of the Christmas tree in "civvies" with their daughters in their arms and their wives hugging them in loving gratefulness that the war was finally over and their men were safely home.

The Navy photos and the pictures of their fathers holding their daughters and hugging their wives in front of the Christmas tree were added to the albums.

Evan and Nate had been rehired by the city as firefighters. Because of their extensive experience in fighting shipboard fires while in the Navy they were transferred to the fireboat the city had bought just before the war began. The city council in its exuberance had even passed a bill which credited all honorable military service at full credit towards retirement and job seniority.

The cousins were again sitting in the album room deciding which pictures should go into the album next. Marie looked at the stack and remarked, "I guess the next big event was Grandpa and Grandma moving to Chula Vista with the Mayers.

The year was 1947 and Fred and Wilma Mayer had talked to Evan's and Nate's parents several times on the phone and decided to move away from the cold damp Northwest Pacific Winters and join them in Chula Vista. They had also been talking with Caleb and Emily who reluctantly agreed that the cold Winters made their old bones also ache.

The two families hated to leave friends and families but they could always come up for the Summer, so the two houses went on the market. During that period of time housing was at a premium as there was a nationwide housing shortage due to the GI's returning from the war. They were able to sell the two houses, each at a handsome price that would enable them to pay cash for decent housing in Chula Vista.

The next picture was of Emily and Caleb beside Fred and Wilma, standing in front of the Otter patriarch's home for a final photo with Molly doing the honors. Then Wilma took one of the all of the family including the two rambunctious cousins. The pictures went into the album.

Fred and Wilma Mayer sold their home to a young ex GI and his wife. The family's name was Updyke and they had a three year old son named Gavin. 

Caleb and Emily sold their home to another recently discharged GI and his wife. The family name was Snyder. They also had a three year old son named Jacob (Jake).

Steamer trunks were bought. Things to go South with the families were taken to the Railway Express Agent at the railroad depot for shipment. Everything else that was wanted was put in steamer trunks and stored in Nate's and Evan's attics. The furniture was left behind as part of the sale.

Marie and Carol thought they remembered riding to the train station when Grandpa and Grandma and the Mayers made the trek South. They could faintly remember crying as their grand parents boarded the train after hugging everyone in sight and promising to be back when the weather warmed up. 

The next picture that went into the album was of Carol and Marie dressed in their new dresses on the morning of their first day of school in 1948. Gavin Updyke and Jake Snyder were in the same class. Pictures would be added to the albums as the class worked its way through the school system over the next twelve years.

In 1950 Caleb Otter died. His 65 year old system shut down. He fell asleep in his easy chair one day and never woke up.

Molly, Erin, and their families went down for the funeral.

There was no picture to be put in the album so the cousins typed up a biography for Caleb, had the photo of him with Emily when he came home from the war cropped to show his face and chest, mounted it to his biography, and pasted it into the albums.

In 1955 Emily Otter went to her reward at the age of 69. She'd missed Caleb so much she'd just plain lost the will to live.

Once again Molly and Erin along with their families made the sad trip to Chula Vista.

The cousins made a biography of Emily's life as they'd done with Caleb and mounted a head shot of her on it and it too went into the album. 

While mounting Emily's bio the girls talked about Evan's and Nate's attempt to retire in 1955 after Emily's death. The fire department finally convinced them to stay until the mandatory retirement age of 55. To convince them they sweetened the pot with healthy promotions for both of them.

1960 was a banner year and Carol and Marie were very busy pasting the pictures in the albums.

First was the one of Evan and Nate in their fireman's dress uniforms as they retired with due form and ceremony, along with a picture of the two of them standing with their arms around Molly and Erin. 

Carol looked at Marie and asked her if she remembered their parents sitting around the table plotting out a Summer trip to British Columbia?

"I sure do," was the reply. "Do you remember the bombshell they dropped on us when we asked how they planned to do all that traveling?"

Carol smiled with fond remembrance, "Were going to buy RV's and travel," they'd answered with a smile.

"Remember how your dad told us to get hold of Gavin and Jake and have them here for supper and after supper all would be explained," Carol asked? 

"How can I ever forget those conversations after the supper dishes had been cleared," Marie responded. 

Marie went on, "Our fathers were standing up while everyone else was seated, when dad said that he'd appreciated Jake's asking permission to ask for my hand in marriage after last Thanksgiving's Day Dinner. Everyone looked at Gavin who hadn't bothered to ask and just sat there stone-faced. Dad then asked Jake what his plans were as far as earning a living and Jake told him that he had a job lined up as a fork lift operator which he'd be starting right after the honeymoon. Then your dad asked Gavin the same question and his reply was that he was looking at his options."

Carol cut in, "When Gavin made that statement, I think that was the first time I had a doubt about marrying him. Until that night I'd never realized that he'd asked me to marry him without asking dad first. I knew that none of the parents, including yours, were very happy with my choice of a future husband but I was making decisions with my emotions and not my head and I think that night I began to understand why they disapproved."

Marie laughed as she went on, "Your dad and his wicked sense of humor was what got to me when he went on to explain that Evan and Molly and He and Erin were selling the houses and buying RV's so they could travel. I was in a total state of shock. I hadn't thought about the houses we'd been raised in being sold so they could pay for and travel in their RV's."

"As was I," Carol enjoined, "I couldn't bear to think of not being able to live in this house or to come visit mom and dad in it. Then dad broke into a big smile as he outlined the plans. They'd sell the houses to us on a land contract, buy the RV's, stay in the houses until we were back from our honeymoon's and then they'd be off."

"I remember how much trouble they had explaining what a land contract was and how it worked until mom said that all it meant was we'd pay money into their accounts each month just like we were renting. The rent was actually our monthly payment for the property only it went to them and not the bank. We would be responsible for the insurance, taxes, utilities, and upkeep. I remember looking at Jake and we both nodded in agreement," Marie said with a smile.

"Yeh, I looked at Gavin and all he did was shrug his shoulders," Carol ruefully replied. 

Next was the graduation pictures of Carol and Marie from Western HS. As they pasted them into the albums Carol couldn't help but think, "How smart I thought I was and how ignorant and dumb I really was."

Following the graduation pictures were the wedding pictures of Carol and her new husband Gavin Updyke standing next to Marie and her new husband Jake Snyder shortly after their joint wedding in Trinity Church. At that point they decided to get a cup of coffee and call it a day.

After Marie left and Carol did the dishes following a supper of left overs she found herself to be in a depressed introspective mood. She walked into the album room and slumped into a chair and let her eyes wander to the pictures of her wedding to Gavin.

She somberly thought about how it had all started to go wrong that night that her parents and Marie's had informed them about selling the houses to them and buying the campers. If she'd been half-smart she'd have called the wedding off right then, but her pride had gotten in the way.

From that point on it had all gone downhill like an avalanche. Gavin had hurt her terribly when he took her virginity and didn't seem to care. Each time he had sex with her he was only interested in getting his rocks off and had no regard for her. In the year they were married she'd never had that glorious orgasm her mother and aunt always talked about.

Six months into the marriage he'd been fired from two jobs. Then she'd found out he was smoking marijuana. By the time their first anniversary was approaching he told her he was heading for San Francisco as he'd heard that there were groups down there living a life style more in tune with his wants. No apology, Nothing! Out the door and gone just like that. Of course she'd divorced him for desertion and everything belonged to her, but it was a hollow act.

The tears started to roll down her cheeks as she sat there looking at that wedding picture. Her final thought as she rose to go to bed and cry the night away was that she'd married a hippy before anyone knew what a hippy was.

Marie also found herself in an introspective mood as she headed towards her house. She set aside her thoughts because she needed to get supper going and feed and bathe Dan.

After supper she put the dishes in the dishwasher as Jake put the butter and leftovers into the refrigerator and wiped the kitchen table clean. 

Together they walked up the stairs, he heading towards the bedroom to strip and get ready for his shower, and she to Dan's room to feed him.

Gathering her son in her arms she sat down in the rocker, opened her blouse and bra front. Carefully she placed her nipple in Dan's mouth and gently rocked as he drew his supper from her body. Dan's sucking on the nipple rarely failed to sexually excite her but at the same time it gave her time to think in contented peace. She knew Carol was thinking about her marriage to Gavin. She'd seen her expression as she looked at the wedding picture. She remembered how disappointed she'd been after returning from her honeymoon. . .

Stop It, flashed through her mind; Think about your honeymoon and how great it had been. Forcing herself to focus she recalled how patient and kind Jake had been and what a lover she'd drawn in the lottery of life. Her mind went through the things they'd done to excite and pleasure each other. 

With Dan sucking on her nipple and squeezing her breast with a tiny hand and her thoughts of Jake making love to her she suddenly found her self aroused. She could feel the dampness in her panties. Jake was going to be a lucky boy tonight she thought as her face broke into a lurid smile.

When Dan was finished feeding she burped him and laid him in his crib. Knocking on the bathroom door she entered at Jake's invitation. She whistled with a low throaty whistle as she looked at Jake standing under the shower soaping himself. 

With a leer she all but whispered, "I'd join you if I didn't have to bathe Dan."

Jake gave his own version of a leer as he replied, "I can wait."

"No honey, finish up 'cause I want to take a bath tonight," she replied.

Filling two pitchers with warm water she returned to Dan's room, bathed, rinsed, powdered, and clothed him. Hugging and kissing him she carefully placed him into the crib with a Thank You God because she only had to get up once a night to feed him anymore.

She stripped as the tub filled, poured rose scented bath suds in, and slowly immersed herself. Leaning back she let her mind wander back to her honeymoon and how much joy Jake had given her. She knew she loved him before they wed but after the honeymoon she knew she Really Loved him. She slowly stroked her pussy and squeezed her breasts as she thought of all of the times that she and Jake made love and the different ways they had enjoyed each others bodies. Finding herself well into a state of arousal, she pulled the plug, dried herself, and dabbed here hers and Jake's favorite scent here and there. She put on a garter belt and nylons, slid into a pair of high heeled pumps, and headed towards the bedroom.

Very quietly she stepped into the room and leaned against the door jamb. Jake was laying against the headboard, naked, and totally engrossed in a book. No doubt the latest Nero Wolfe she thought as a smile formed on her lips. If Rex Stout wrote it he would have a copy of it in his back pocket, reading it at every opportunity. 

In her best Lauren Bacall imitation she throatily asked in a sultry low voice, "See anything you like sailor?"

Jake looked up from his book and gawked at the sight before him. His lovely 5'10" bride was leaning against the door jamb with one knee pushed slightly forward, one arm lifted, with the hand behind her head. Her beautiful auburn hair framing her face, her green eyes shining and her lips curled into a sultry leer. Her heavy pendulous milk filled breasts swaying slightly, the nipples stiff from her arousal, centered in the dark sea of her areolas. Her pussy covered by a thatch of auburn hair was nestled between red nylon clad thighs, held up by a matching red garter belt. Her feet were sporting her red high-heeled "fuck me" pumps.

Jake's face broke into a grin of pure delight. The thought flashed through his mind that whenever she wore her "fuck me" uniform he knew that he would be in for a night of sex that would kill a man with a weak heart. But he'd die with a smile, was his final thought as he threw the book on the night stand. 

Normally she'd start towards the bed, her breasts and hips swaying in rhythm with her movements. This night she kept her pose and in her low throaty Lauren Bacall imitation said to her mate, "We were pasting the pictures of our wedding into the albums. Sweetheart, do you think you can make love to me tonight like you did back then?"

Jake thought, aha now I know what this is all about, and responded, "I hope not."

His reply momentarily flummoxed her.

Jake continued, "I hope that after 4 years of marriage I can do a much better job of satisfying you, after all I've had all that time to try to learn what makes you purr and what makes you scream, honey bunch." 

His reply more then satisfied her and she began her slow sultry glide to the bed and his waiting arms. She'd spent many hours in front of her mirror learning and perfecting that walk because she knew it excited her lover. The truth be told if it excited Jake it also started her motor running too at the thought that she was in total control now.