The Consequences and Rewards of Playing Hookey
Chapter 11
Everybody’s Working for the Weekend
Maggie Turner lay in a blissful slumber. She unconsciously moaned as she felt herself being licked and caressed between her legs. When she awoke, her hands automatically found the head that was bringing her such pleasure and she began to stroke the hair attached to it.
Maggie and Paul Turner had a complicated relationship. They had become partners in starting a Financial Brokerage House when they decided to quit their jobs as local representatives for big companies. At the time they were just two young people and had only been married for a few years. Still, they were young, attractive, bright and enterprising. They managed to put their talents and the various contacts they had made to good use.
As the years went by, they made money hand over fist. They pushed themselves hard. They never had an adequate support staff, only hiring temps. That was their mistake. They worked so hard that they barely had any time for Sandy, let alone for each other. Maggie’s only social outlet was Book Club, which met weekly at her home on Thursday evenings. Other than that, there were just long hours of work.
One day Paul was disappointed that Maggie didn’t want to go out for dinner. He went to a bar. He “ran into” a beautiful girl who was a temp at their office. He allowed himself to get drunk and the next thing he knew they were at her place, naked and she was riding him (without a condom he realized later). The next day at work, she pulled him aside and tried to kiss him. Paul was mortified by his actions and didn’t want to have anything to do with the girl. The next day, she threatened to tell his wife if he didn’t continue to sleep with her. Unbeknownst to him, she was trying to get pregnant with his child. Luckily, the only other time he slept with her he used a condom, to her chagrin. Paul was disgusted with himself and that night he told Maggie.
Ultimately, Maggie was not forgiving when she learned about his unfaithfulness. While they had originally resolved to try to work through their problems for Sandy and their business’ sake, Maggie became bitter. The next few months were rough. While she did not physically cheat on Paul, she began having an illicit on-line relationship with a man she met in a chat room. It all came to a head when she had admitted to Paul that this guy wanted to meet her and that she was considering it.
Paul flew into a rage. They had been fighting for a couple of months, ever since Maggie had discovered Paul’s infidelity, but this was the type of fight that there was no coming back from. Vulgarities and objects were hurled across the room with alacrity. Fortunately, Ronnie had left her glasses at the Turner’s during book club earlier that evening. Even more fortunately, Rick had decided to tag along when she went to retrieve her glasses because they were planning to go out for a late desert. This allowed for the Carson’s to burst through the unlocked door and to put an end to the hostilities.
After months of counseling, Paul and Maggie got themselves back on track. They resolved to hire more permanent staff, so they could spend more time together. It reduced their income a bit, but their success continued to grow.
Now Maggie was benefitting from the fruits of their action. She and Paul were devoted to each other in business and more importantly in life.
Maggie gently pulled on Paul’s hair, giving him warning of what she wanted next. Soon he was thrusting in and out of her hot pussy, as she tasted her flavor on his lips and tongue. Maggie savored their Saturday mornings, now that they had the staff to run their office in their absence. They were able to luxuriate in their lovemaking; often going for an hour or more of passion and affection. This morning was no different.
Paul was feeling many of the same sensations as his wife. He had been somewhat of a lothario in his undergraduate days, but when he met Maggie while they were working on their MBA’s at Ohio State; his “playing days” were over. Maggie was not only the best lover he ever had, but she was incredibly smart, upbeat and sweet. They were married before either of them had a steady job.
Paul’s thrusting became more insistent. He wasn’t going to last much longer. Still, he knew that despite their age, they were often multi-orgasmic. He sensed that he had another one in him. Maggie had already had one. Paul could tell that she was approaching her second because he recognized the looks and sounds she was making. She was also driving up into his downward thrusts with incredible intensity.
Then Maggie felt him explode inside of her. As she felt him release, she knew her dam was about to break. “What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning,” was the last coherent thought she had and then her brain burst into nothingness.
“You’re early!” snapped Suzanne Rowan.
Brett laughed.
“What!” she snarled.
“I thought we were going to be friends.”
“We’ll see about that,” she growled, her eyes narrowing. “Well, Miss Endicott will be right back. For now, clean out the cat crates. I’ll handle the dogs.”
“OK,” said Brett. He proceeded to let the cats out into a small enclosed area so they could get exercise. He cleaned out the odious urine from the crates, using a disinfecting cleaner, and then put clean towels in each crate.
There were only about seven or eight cats at the shelter so he was done relatively quickly. He looked over and noticed Suzanne holding on to a beagle-terrier mix. The dog was a bit funny looking. Its fur was patchy. One of its long ears had been clipped a little so they were uneven. Its tail had been docked. Suzanne was gently rubbing its neck. Then Brett saw something that surprised him: Suzanne was crying.
He surreptitiously walked over to the dog crates. He saw the word “Termination” and Thursday’s date on the chart attached to the crate labeled “Sadie”.
“May I,” asked Brett quietly, as he pulled over a chair and sat down next to Suzanne
“OK,” she mumbled as she passed Sadie to Brett.
“Good girl,” he said as he pulled the dog into his lap. He gently rubbed Sadie under her chin with one hand. He held and stroked her with his other arm.
“She likes you.” Suzanne murmured.
“She probably smells Shadow and the cats on me,” he smiled for a moment and then frowned. “Suzanne, I thought this was a ‘no kill’ shelter.”
“It is normally. We’ve had Sadie here for almost a year now. I had just started helping here when she arrived. The problem is that nobody will adopt her and we don’t have the resources to give her the medical help she needs. The poor thing was abused and mutilated, but look how sweet she is,” she cried softly. “This will be the last time I see her. She’ll be gone by next week.”
Brett was saddened by this so much so that he didn’t even notice that Suzanne’s tone lacked its normal venom. “I can tell that Sadie means a lot for you. Can’t you adopt her?”
“No, it’s against the law for us to have dogs or other pets at my house,” she murmured.
Brett’s face took on a confused expression. “Don’t you mean ‘against the rules’?”
“No. It’s a long story,” she paused, giving him a look that told him that she did not want to explain what she had just said. “Anyway, even if I could, I couldn’t bring her into THAT house. I love her too much,” she exclaimed, before her tears started anew.
“Have you tried to place her with kids from school?”
“I’ve tried but…”
“Look Suzanne, I’m not sure my parents would be up for another dog, but if we work hard maybe we can place her before Thursday.”
“You’d be willing to do that?” she asked incredulously, his question stopping her tears.
“Of course. She’s a sweet dog. I don’t want to see her get put down. Besides, she’s important to a friend of mine,” he said, as he gently placed Sadie back in Suzanne’s lap.
“You still want to be my friend?”
“Remember how I said that I admire you for your work with animals?” he asked. Not waiting for an answer, he continued. “I just saw what a compassionate and caring person you are. How could I not want to be your friend?”
Suzanne looked at Brett and spoke the nicest words she had said to a male in a long time. “You’re right.”
“What,” smiled Brett.
“You are a nice guy,” she said with a mixture of disbelief and awe.
Laura smirked at Derek and Sandy over her bowl of cereal. “Well you two look happy.”
Sandy blushed.
Derek grinned at Laura. “Easy Lola. I didn’t harass you too much when Mom and Dad let Scott sleep over a couple of summers ago.”
“Yeah, but he slept on the couch,” Laura pointed out.
“After you snuck down to the family room and did the ‘dirty’,” laughed Derek.
“Well why do you get to keep Sandy in your bed?”
“Because, unlike Scott, Sandy is going to be a part of this family for a long time to come,” smirked Derek.
“Sandy. How do you put up with this little smartass?” laughed Laura.
Sandy sighed dramatically. “You can’t help who you fall in love with.”
Derek tried to look shocked. “Oh, no! You guys can’t gang up on me.”
“You better get used to it, Baby. We girls have to stick together,” grinned Sandy.
Laura laughed. “After all, you said that Sandy was going to be part of our lives for a while. That will make her my sister. I always wanted a sister, but all I got was a doof of a brother.” Sandy laughed with her before they noticed that Derek wasn’t smiling.
Laura smiled reassuringly. “Hey you goof, you know we’re only kidding right?”
Sandy gave him a mind melting smile. “He knows, Laura. I’m completely his and he knows it. I’ve always been his and he’s always been mine.” She smiled as she leaned over and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
Laura sighed. “What Lola?” grinned Derek.
“Of all the guys I could have had for a brother, I had to have you.”
“Am I that bad?” he laughed.
“No baby bro, you’re my yardstick for finding a guy and so far nobody measures up.”
“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.
Sandy gave Derek another quick kiss. “No she’s not Derek. You’re an amazing guy.”
“For all my teasing, I really feel that way,” Laura said, suddenly looking serious. She picked up her bowl and carried into the kitchen.
Sandy sighed. “She looks really depressed.”
“She’ll find someone. She’s one of the most amazing people I know. Any guy who can’t see that is crazy. Besides.”
“What?”
“Whatever Lola wants…”
“Lola gets,” said Sandy, finishing his sentence. “I remember when you first used that name for her. At the time it wasn’t so nice, right?”
“Yeah. But now it’s my goal to make sure it happens. She deserves it,” smiled Derek.
“Hello Rogesh? It’s Ranna,”
“Hi Ranna. Do you have everything set?”
“Yes. My mother is driving us to the mall. You should see her, all happy,” she said in a disgusted tone.
“Well, I’m grateful that you feel as I do. Now all we have to do is fool our parents, our friends and…”
“And that bitch Sandra Turner,” sneered Ranna.
“Yes. Her most of all,” agreed Rogesh.
“Carrie, honey, Derek is going to pick up Tom when he drops off Sandy. Mrs. Nilsen called and offered to have you for dinner. I guess the question is whether you want to eat there, or stay with us and the Carson’s?” asked Maggie.
“If it is OK, I really like to meet Tom and Brett’s Dad.”
“That should be fine. Derek or I could pick you tonight after dinner. Derek will be picking up Brett and Suzanne from the animal shelter later too.
“Don’t be stupid!”
“That girl is mine and I’m going to get her back.”
“The police are looking to pick you up for questioning concerning my involvement with the girl. Now they have credible evidence that she was telling the truth.”
“That’s not my fault.”
“You’re stupidity painted me into a corner. Just get out of the county!”
“Not without my bitch,” growled the man.
Irma Endicott smiled. “Well thanks, Brett. You’re quite a nice and helpful young man.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Endicott. It was fun.”
“I hope we’ll see you next week.”
“I guess that would be up to Suzanne,” he smiled.
The blond smiled at him. “Don’t be silly. You did good work today. We can always use some help around here.”
“I just wasn’t sure if…”
“Come on Brett. You know how I feel. It’s nice working with a friend,” she smiled.
“Well friend, our ride will be here any minute,” he smiled. “Thanks Mrs. Endicott, see you next Saturday.”
“Bye Brett,” she beamed as the kids started to leave.
Suzanne paused at the door. “Brett, I just need to talk to Mrs. Endicott for a moment.”
“OK, I’ll have Derek wait,” he said, as he walked out the door.
After seeing Brett had left, Suzanne turned to Mrs. Endicott. “Please Mrs. Endicott… Sadie!”
“I’m sorry child. We just don’t have the money budgeted. Sadie is suffering. Without that procedure, it would be cruel to keep her alive much longer.”
“But Brett and I think we can find her a home!”
Mrs. Endicott smiled sadly and shook her head. “There’s no way you’d be able to find something that quickly. She’s a sweet tempered, peach of a dog, but look at her appearance. Nobody would want such a dog.”
“I would,” cried Suzanne.
“I know you would,” she smiled sadly. “If only you didn’t live in that house with that…” she started.
“I know. I feel the same way,“ said Suzanne bitterly.
Brett looked sadly at Suzanne as she came out the shelter’s door. He figured out what had happened, so he walked over to her. Suzanne saw Brett’s sympathetic face and she started to cry. Brett instinctively went to hug her but she pushed him away. Then he looked at her. “We’ll find away,” he said. Suzanne collapsed into his arms and he held her tightly.
About five minutes later Derek’s car pulled up in front of the shelter. Tom and Carrie were in the back seat smiling, as they had been for the last twenty-four hours or so.
As Suzanne climbed into the back next to Carrie, she noticed the contrast between them. Although she couldn’t see her own face, she knew that her eyes were puffy from crying. Carrie was a vision of happiness. She was snuggled up against Tom and he was grinning from ear to ear.
Carrie reached out a concerned hand. “Hey Suzanne, you OK?”
Suzanne was about to answer when she heard Brett’s voice from the front seat. “It was kind of a tough day at the shelter. It looks like a sweet dog named Sadie will need to be put down.” He paused. “Do you think you guys can help us? We’re trying to place her. Do you guys think you can help?
Derek looked over his shoulder. “I wish we could take her, but my Dad is really allergic. I’d be happy to ask around, though. Maybe Sandy can help too…” Derek’s voice died off, realizing that he might have ruined the “Sandra” persona for Suzanne. Fortunately, Suzanne was too busy being surprised by Derek’s attitude.
Ton leaned forward. “I wish we could, but remember what a fuss Mom made when we got Shadow? If it weren’t for Dad, he wouldn’t be with us.”
As Derek turned the corner, he looked over his shoulder. “Hey Suzanne, you’ll have remind me where you live.”
“About a half mile on the left. I’ll tell you when we are close,” she murmured.
Brett briefly looked back at Suzanne. While she wasn’t crying anymore, she seemed subdued and still miserable. About a minute later, Derek pulled up to the curb outside her house. She appeared to be in no hurry to get out of the car. Then she gave Derek a sad smile. “Thanks for the lift, Derek.”
“Anytime, Suzanne. Any friend of Brett’s is always welcome.”
Brett couldn’t take it. He saw Suzanne’s reluctance as she opened the door. He opened the front passenger door and intercepted her. “Come back with us to our place for dinner!”
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” she said quietly.
“Mom is already expecting Carrie. I’m sure one more won’t matter. I’d really like you to meet her and my Dad. Shadow too! Say yes!”
After a brief pause, she said “Yes,” and smiled as a tear rolled down her cheek. Brett instinctive wiped it away. Suzanne surprised herself by letting him. Brett led her to the front passenger door and held it open for her. She smiled and climbed in. Then Brett climbed into the backseat next to Carrie and they drove off.
“You know you didn’t have to do this,” said Mindy uneasily, as she and Maya sat on Maya’s bed.
“It’s OK honey. I figure that I owe you for all the shit that Sandra and I put you through. Besides, Master wants us to love each other. I certainly had fun the other day,” smiled Maya.
“He wants you to call him ‘Derek’?”
“I know. It’s just hard to do that. I’m worried that if I start thinking of him as ‘Derek’ and not ’Master’, I’ll go back to being a bitch to him.”
“I don’t think that will happen,” beamed Mindy, as she rubbed Maya’s shoulder comfortingly. “I know that I’ll always love him; even if when we get to choose for ourselves.”
“I can understand me thinking that, but why you?”
“Because he helped me to see myself for who I am,” she beamed at Maya and kissed her sweetly on the lips. After breaking the kiss, her smile was brighter. “I’ve always wanted to do that, but was too embarrassed and ashamed of myself to ever act on my feelings. Now I know why I want to kiss girls but am still attracted to some boys. I’m bisexual. Derek taught me that a male lover can be gentle and loving and that I should feel no embarrassment or shame about my feelings for women.”
“He helped me get in touch with my inner self too. I’ve always been afraid to trust. Now that I have, I feel wonderful,” replied Maya, as she stroked Mindy’s face.
“Mmmmm. I love the way you smell when you get horny,” smiled Mindy.
“Want a taste?” she grinned, as she tugged her sweats down. The smell of her arousal permeated the room.
“You know I do,” husked Mindy as she pulled Maya’s thong aside and went to work, sticking her head between her friend’s legs.
In a couple of minutes, Maya had helped Mindy to shuck her jeans and remove both of their tops and bras. Finally both nude women pulled each other into a sweet sixty-nine, as they moaned their mutual pleasure into each other’s honey pots.
Soon, they began to shake in powerful climaxes until the passion waned. Then they lay in each other’s arms snuggling. “This is so nice,” sighed Maya. “You’re so soft and smell so nice.”
“You too,” sighed Mindy.
“I’m so sorry about all the shit we gave you. If I had known that it would be so nice, I would have wanted to do this a long time ago.”
“The funny thing is that while I liked this, I like being with Derek too. I never realized that guys can be sweet and gentle.”
“But still make you feel so good,” laughed Maya.
“Maya?”
“What honey?”
“Are you going to miss Carlos?”
“God, no! I mean he’s a nice boy, and a pretty good lover, but he’s no match for Master, or you for that matter. I can’t wait to see how Sandy will get me out of this,” she mused, before pouting, “I still have to go to the movies with him tonight. I’m not putting out, though”
“That’s part of the plan, right?”
“Yeah. Hopefully by this time next week, he’ll have dumped me and be going out with Traci Williams,” said Maya. “So what are you doing tonight?”
“I think I’ll call Chantelle and see if she wants to go to a movie,” said Mindy.
“Good. I know Master is worried about her.”
“Not ‘Master’, Maya, ‘Derek’!”
“OK, ‘Derek’ Happy now?” she said in a mock frustrated tone.
“No, but he’ll be and that is the most important thing.”
“True,” conceded Maya.
Rogesh Patel and Ranna Dhami were walking with her mother in the mall. Ranna had picked out several nice shirts, slacks and jeans for Rogesh from several trendy stores. As they were walking toward the exit, they saw Rachel, Devin and his Mom apparently on the same errand. The two mothers stopped to talk about PTO so their children decided to huddle up.
Rachel grinned. “So I see that you are dressing up Rogesh.”
“Yeah.,” replied Ranna noncommittally.
Devin held up some of the items he was carrying. “Dude, check out the shirts Rachel picked for me.”
“They look nice,” said Rogesh quietly.
“When I’m done with him, he’ll look like a read stud,” grinned Rachel, as she wrapped her arm around Devin’s waist.
“You two really look happy together,” said Ranna.
“Yeah, Rachel is amazing,” grinned Devin.
Rogesh laughed. “She knows that Dev, Ranna is expressing her surprise about you.”
Rachel frowned slightly. “Well you two don’t look so happy together.”
Ranna nodded. “We’re not.”
“Ranna and I both agree that this is a mistake,” agreed Rogesh.
“What are you guys going to do? Sandra will be watching,” reminded Rachel.
“We’ll do the bare minimum,” said Rogesh.
“I picked some clothes for him. We’ll be polite at school and I’ll go to the Prom with him, but that’s it,” said Ranna.
“We figure that Sandra will have too many balls in the air to look too carefully,” agreed Rogesh.
Devin shook his head slightly. “Well, I’d be careful, if I were you. Derek may not be able to save you from the wrath of Sandra.”
“I thought she was nice,” said Rogesh.
Rachel laughed. “Come on? That was just her charm. Don’t let that fool you. She’s a bitch all right.”
“I don’t know Rachel…” stated Devin.
“Look baby, don’t let her fool you either,” warned Rachel before turning to address Ranna. “Devin and I are lucky because we found out that we liked each other. Isn’t there a chance that you and Rogesh…” she began.
“Not likely,” interrupted Ranna tersely.
“I don’t need to be saddled with a girlfriend. I’m trying to catch Kyle for Valedictorian,” said Rogesh.
“He and Tara are getting pretty friendly,” said Devin.
“Good. That’s the advantage I need,” laughed Rogesh.
“You’ll keep our secret, won’t you?” asked Ranna with concern.
“Sure. Just be careful. I sense Sandra is on the warpath about this,” said Rachel, as the two couples walked back to the Moms.
Sven Nilsen smiled. “Well, I’m so glad to meet both of you young ladies.” He sat his tall frame down next to his wife.
Carrie sat kind of shyly next to Tom on the sofa. Two chairs had been pulled into the family room for Brett and Suzanne. “I’ve heard a lot about you Mr. Nilsen,” smiled Suzanne.
“Well if you heard it from Brett, you shouldn’t believe half of it,” he smiled. “I’m convinced that the boy is a one man lobbyist trying to get me the Nobel Peace Prize,” laughed Sven.
“Hey, What about me?” complained Tom.
“OK, make that a two man lobbyist team,” he laughed. “Anyway, I really proud of my boys and I’m glad that they’ve found a couple of charming young ladies who seem to appreciate them.”
“Dad, Suzanne and I are just friends…” started Brett.
“Mr. Nilsen, I think what Brett is trying to say is that, while we’re kind of seeing each other, I’m really too young to be serious with anyone. That being said, I can tell you that Brett is one of nicest young men I know,” said Suzanne with a smile.
Brett gave Suzanne a surprised look which softened to a tender one. Suzanne had said that impulsively. Still, she rationalized it to herself. She figured that in many ways it was the truth because Sandra had insisted on this arrangement. Part of her had expected Brett to give her a gloating look or leer, as boys often did with her. The rest of her understood the truth. Brett Nilsen’s tender look was par for the course with him. While she had no intentions of becoming romantically interested in him, she could not deny what a nice person he was. His sweet look of genuine surprise and affection touched her.
As they got up to go to the dining room, Brett pulled Suzanne aside and whispered, “You didn’t have to say that.”
“I know,” she said. “I wanted to. I saw the way your Dad looked at you and I wanted to make you look good to him. Besides, it’s the truth; at least until after the prom.”
“Thank you, Suzanne. You’re amazing,” he smiled, causing her to blush.
“No, I’m not,” she murmured.
“Let me be the judge of that, OK?” he replied with a smile.
Suzanne nodded as the word just tumbled out of her mouth, “OK.”
He sat in the nearby woods, across the street from the Turner’s home. He was a cautious man. He was a patient man. He had something to do. It wasn’t going to be pleasant, but that could not be helped. He was angry and frustrated. What had happened was wrong. Now he had to make it right. This had to be done. He had not established that the girl was there, but the danger involved would be just as great whether she was or not.
Still, the man continued to sit there and wait. He had a job to do and he would do it.