Storiesonline.net
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                              Jack and Jill
                               by Old Fart

Copyright© 2005 by Old Fart


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Description: A High School boy gets knocked over and knocked out at a Friday night football game, only to wake up in an angel's lap.  This is their story.  Things happen throughout, but what's consistent is it's a love story between two teenagers.  Winner of the Silver Cliteride award, March, 2006 & 2006 Golden Cliteride, 2nd place, Best Heterosexual Story.

Codes: mf rom 1st teen
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Chapter 1

Jack and Jill 
His name was Hill 
Behaving as he oughta 
She knocked him down 
And with a frown 
She came tumbling after

My name's Jack Hill. There's nothing extraordinary about me, I'm just your normal, every day senior in high school. My buddies and I all walk to school together in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Since we live in Southern California, we don't usually have to worry about the weather.

Of course, being normal boys who don't have a clue about the opposite sex, the normal topic of conversation is the girls in our lives. Or, to be more precise, the girls that we wished were in our lives. Talk of these girls and what the speaker would like to do if he got the chance comprises about 90% of our communication. There are some common words used to describe the hoped for actions and body parts, but I, like all the others have no idea what most of them really are. I may understand the concept but have never done or seen any of them. I don't think any of us have ever actually talked to a girl socially other than to stutter a "Hi" and run away.

Friday nights were football night. All six of us would pile into Jeff's parents' mini van and go to the field at whichever school the game was. There were eight schools in our school district and each team played the others once at home and once at the other schools' field. So, half the time we went to our school, the rest we got to drive to another school. The most distant school was 25 miles away.

Since all the schools were relatively close together, there was usually a fairly even distribution of home and away fans. The home fans sat on their side of the field, the away fans stayed on the other side of the field. The only time they normally mixed was when we all crowded through the main gate to get in or out or met at the snack bar or restrooms.

I went to Fernmont High. We were the first school in the Fernmont school district. This week we were playing Highpoint. They were the second oldest school in the district and had always been #2 as far as Fernmont was concerned. The rivalry between the Fernmont Foothillers and the Highpoint Highlanders had been going on since before any of us were born. Whenever we played each other, both schools held a pep rally that got all the students enthusiastic about their team. To be quite honest, I'm surprised nobody from one school attacked anyone from another. There were some schools closer to the city that had actually canceled night games because of some fights that had broken out. A couple of kids ended up in the hospital with knife wounds.

Each week two of us would go to the snack bar at half-time and battle the crowd. They would return loaded down with soft drinks, nachos, popcorn, hot dogs and candy bars for the group. This week it was Jeff and me that got to go. The game was tied at 14 when we left our seats with requests of what to get from everyone.

There was some minor pushing and shoving between students as we were all thrown together in front of the snack bar. It was kept under control by teachers from both schools who had been volunteered to act as chaperons. Jeff was at the front of the line, ordering this week's junk food. I was standing behind him, waiting for him to start piling trays and boxes in my arms for the walk back to the stands. Jeff had just handed me a tray with six sodas in it when I felt somebody crash into my back. The next thing I knew I was falling forward. I saw Jeff move out of the way, then the counter broke my fall, catching me square on the chin. I felt this pain in my jaw and saw soda flying out of the paper cups I was holding. The last thing I heard before blacking out was a female voice crying out "Oh, my God!"

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I thought I was in heaven. I was on my back. I could feel grass underneath my hands. Someone was gently running her hands through my hair, over and over. Somehow I knew it was a woman. Her touch was similar to what my mom's would be but different. Sexier somehow.

I opened my eyes to see an angel. At least she looked like an angel. She had blond hair that fell to the top of her breasts. Blue eyes that I got lost in for a couple of seconds. And a smile that made me feel whole.

"Jack. Are you OK?"

I turned to the voice. Jeff was kneeling down next to me with a worried look on his face.

"I think so." I took inventory, wincing when I touched my jaw while checking out my face. I heard a feminine "Oh," and the hand that was stroking my hair pulled me toward her stomach. "My mouth's a little tender."

"Do we need to call a doctor?"

"Nah. I'm sure I'll be OK."

Jeff picked up some food that was on the grass next to him and got up. I started to rise but was held down by my angel. "Don't go."

Jeff looked surprised, then said "Yeah. I'll take this up to the guys and then I'll come back for the rest. You just relax."

I settled back down in her lap and the hand on my chest relaxed. The stroking of my hair resumed. Her smile showed concern as I turned back to her.

"Who are you?"

"I'm Jill. Jill O'Hara."

"Why am I in your lap?"

The stroking stopped. "Oh, I'm sorry. Is this bothering you?"

"Not at all. I thought I was in heaven when I woke up."

Her face heated up when I said that but the smile got brighter. "No, I'm afraid not. I got pushed into you and knocked you over."

"Oh. Well, if I had to get knocked over by someone I'm glad it was you."

Her smile got a little brighter, as did her face. "So, I guess you're Jack."

"How did you... oh, Jeff must have used my name. Yeah, I'm Jack. Jack Hill. I feel kind of weird lying in your lap like this."

"I'd feel better about it if you would. My father's a doctor. I sent my girlfriend to get him when I knocked you over." She'd stopped stroking as we started talking.

"I'll stay under one condition."

"What's that?" She had a worried look on her face.

"You keep stroking your hand through my hair like you were."

Once again her face and her smile both got bright.

A giant of a man was suddenly towering over us.

"So, you went and damaged another boy, I see."

"Oh, Daddy. I got pushed."

"Likely story. Well, how much damage did you do to this one?"

I tried to sit up but his beefy hand held me in his daughter's lap. "Just hold on there, son. Let's just see how much damage my daughter's done to you before you go off half cocked. I'm Dr. O'Hara, by the way."

"Jack Hill."

He was surprisingly gentle for being such a big man. His hands rapidly went all over my body. He bent both arms and legs as well as my wrists and ankles.

"Well, how does your jaw feel, young Jack?"

"It hurts a little. I really think I'll be alright." I started to sit up only to be pushed back into Jill's lap.

Her father's fingers felt the joints where my lower jaw met his skull near my earlobes. "Does that hurt at all?"

"No, sir."

"Well, Jillian. At least you didn't disconnect his jaw." He looked back at me. "Any loose teeth? Bite your tongue? Anything else?"

"My tongue's fine. I can't feel any loose teeth."

He pulled me up a bit and had me rotate my head to make sure my neck hadn't been damaged when the counter caught my chin. "Well, it looks like you'll live. But don't be surprised if that chin has a big black and blue bruise on it tomorrow. If it hurts an aspirin or two should take care of you. What about you Jillian? Did you do any damage to yourself?"'

"No, Daddy. I'm fine. Can we give Jack a ride home?"

"Oh, that's OK. I came with my friends."

"Well, son, my daughter has obviously taken an interest in you. She'll make your life miserable if you don't go along with her. Not to mention mine. I'd feel better if I knew you got home in one piece, too. You don't have a woman you need to get back to, do you?"

"No, sir." Jill giggled and pulled my head closer to her chest with both hands.

"You better just sit back and relax, Mr. Hill. It looks like my daughter's not going to let you go very easily."

Jeff walked up just about that then. "Hey, Jack. We're starting to get worried about you."

"You guys just want the rest of the food."

He laughed as he bent over to pick it up. "So, are you ready to come back to your seat?"

"I think I'll stick around here with Jill." She pulled my head closer as I said this. "I'm getting a ride home with her and her father, too. You guys will have to go to Taco Bell without me."

Jeff looked concerned. "Are you sure about this?" He was making some motions I couldn't interpret at first, obviously trying to tell me something. I finally figured out he was pointing to the other side of the field, then at Jill.

I took a closer look at Jill. She was wearing a plaid button that had "Go Highlanders" printed on it. I looked at Jeff, then covered my face in terror.

"Oh, no. Tell me it isn't true. You Highlanders don't really bite the heads off Foothillers and eat them, do you?"

Jill turned a deep red and punched me in the arm. She immediately turned redder and said "Oh, God, I'm sorry," then rubbed where she hit me trying to make it better. Her father was looking at Jeff and laughing. Jeff looked embarrassed about the way he was acting.

I looked over at Jeff. "I'm sure I'll be fine, Jeff. But thanks for worrying about me."

I was pronounced fit to walk by her father and Jill half led, half carried me to where they were sitting. Of course that meant I was in the middle of enemy territory. I got some balled up napkins, hot dog wrappers and cups thrown at me when I cheered as our team intercepted a pass. Jill turned around and chewed out whoever threw stuff, ready to take them all on. There was fire in her eyes that made me glad I wasn't her enemy.

Highpoint got the ball back and slowly worked down the field. Jill jumped up, clapping and cheering when they completed an exceptionally long pass. She realized what she was doing and put her hand over her mouth as she once again turned red. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to..."

"Hey, your team made a good play. It's OK for you to cheer."

Fernmont wasn't able to keep up with Highpoint in the second half. We scored one field goal to three of their touchdowns.

The second half wasn't a total loss for me by any means. I got to check out Jill. She was an amazingly attractive girl. Her smile was breathtaking. I loved the way she would turn red at the first sign of embarrassment. She seemed concerned about me. And I was able to talk to her. And tell her she was beautiful, I thought I was in heaven. Yeah, I know, it sounds corny. But I'd never been able to just come out and talk to a girl and tell her how I felt. Forget about stammering, I couldn't even open my mouth in a pretty girl's presence.

It was different with Jill. We seemed to fit together. It seemed like the most natural thing in the world for me to put my arm around her when we sat down. And for her to rest her head on my shoulder, sighing as she did. Her father was on the other side of her from me and just acted as if nothing was going on.

I got introduced to Wanda. Wanda is Jill's best friend. She seemed genuinely happy that Jill had found me. She was perfectly content to sit on the other side of Jill's father and talk to him for the rest of the game. I found out later that Wanda had her share of boyfriends and had been after Jill to get over her shyness and meet someone.

When the game was over Jill apologized to me for winning. I told her not to be foolish. She must have figured I wasn't going to collapse because she was content to just hold my hand as we walked behind her father and Wanda on the way to the car. She was about three inches shorter than my 5'10". She would have had no problem being a cheerleader if she wanted. She had the classic cheerleader body. Muscular legs, a tight, round butt, tits that stood out proud, but not too far out. Her breasts would please any man but wouldn't be sagging down to her belly in 30 years. She had a definite waist, giving her a classic hourglass figure. I knew she would look spectacular in a bathing suit.

The crowd dispersed as we got to the parking lot. Her dad and Wanda were about fifteen feet in front of us. I squeezed her hand and she looked up at me.

"You know how you rubbed my arm to stop it from hurting?"

"Yeah." She looked like she was afraid I was upset at her.

"Well, you haven't done anything to stop my mouth from hurting."

She appeared to be thinking, then brightened up as she realized what I was talking about. She stepped closer to me and leaned into me, closing her eyes as she did so. She gently touched my lips with hers. I put both arms around her and pulled her body into mine. Her hands came up around my back and she started to kiss me. Hard.

"Arggghh." I pulled my head back and pushed her away, my hands on her waist.

"What's wrong? What did I do?"

"I'm sorry. It just hurt when you started kissing me hard."

"Hey, you two. Are we going to be able to leave tonight?" Her father was standing about twenty feet away, his hands on his hips. Wanda had just sat down in the front seat of the car he was next to, giggling.

I grabbed Jill's hand and we ran to the car. Wanda was smiling as she leaned forward so we could squeeze behind her seat to get in the back.

After we were all in the car her father asked me where I lived. I told him which exit to get off on the freeway.

"Daddy?"

"Yes, Jillian."

"I feel kind of guilty. Because of me, Jack missed eating at half-time and now he should be going to Taco Bell with his friends. He's going to starve because I ran into him."

"So you want to go to Taco Bell?"

"Not really, Daddy. Could we go to Perlione's? For pizza?"

"Sure, Sweetheart. Is that OK with you Wanda? Jack?"

We both said it was fine. I added that I didn't know if I was dressed for Perlione's, especially with the soda stains on my shirt.

"Don't worry about it, Jack. I've got a sweatshirt in the trunk that will be OK for tonight. As long as you don't mind a Highlanders sweatshirt."

"It can't be any worse than sitting on your side of the field, Sir."

"Attaboy. OK, Jillian, we'll get pizza at Perlione's."

Perlione's was established about 30 years ago by an Italian immigrant who worked his ass off in several restaurants, first as a busboy, then as a waiter and finally as the manager. He saved his money and rented a building that had housed a bar before it went out of business. He, his wife and his three children painted the place, stripped the bar and the hardwood floors and then coated them with a marine varnish to make them shine and stand up to abuse. They served food on rented tables as the patrons sat on rented chairs with rented napkins in their laps and rented silverware in their hands, eating off rented plates. The first night they had to eat the antipasto he'd spent all day preparing because they only had two customers. The next night they had five. The following day Perlione printed up 5000 single page fliers and his wife and kids spent half the day handing them out to people on the street and putting them on windshields. They had over 20 people that night.

The fliers got them in. Later, after he was established and the rental days were long gone, the newspapers, billboards, radio and TV ads got more in. But it was the food and the service that kept them coming back. Their best advertisement was word of mouth. You couldn't go to Perlione's without telling someone about it.

He now had six locations. If you wanted fine Italian dining, you went to Perlione's. I'd heard the food was fantastic but I'd never had the pleasure of eating there. I knew reservations were hard to get for dinner. Since it was almost 10:00, I figured we might be able to get in

Dr. O'Hara was on a cell phone. He looked at a menu and chose a programmed number. He held it to his ear.

"Ronald? It's John O'Hara. I'm fine, thank you. Yes, we're both doing great. Listen, Ron. I've got my daughter and a couple of her friends with me and they want one of your super pizzas after the football game. My daughter tried to kill this poor kid and I figure if I feed him he'll find it harder to sue me. Oh, sure. He's fine. OK. We're 8-10 minutes away. Yeah, an extra large with everything will be fine. OK, thanks a lot, Ron. We'll see you in a few."

Jill looked at me. "Daddy delivered three of Mr. Perlione's grandchildren. We can usually get in there whenever we want to."

I smiled at her. "My mouth still hurts. Do you think you could try to make it better again?"

She looked bad when I told her it hurt, then smiled when I asked for her help. She put a hand behind my head and pulled me over to her, then started lightly kissing my face. Where her father had felt below my ears on both sides. Both cheeks. My throat, below my chin. My chin itself. Finally, my lips. Light as a feather with a little moisture. She tasted sweet. I knew this was one sweet I could get hooked on. I kissed back.

She moved away and looked me in the eyes. "Don't do anything to strain yourself."

I reached behind her head and pulled her toward me. "I won't." We renewed the kiss.

"All right, you two. You wanted pizza, we're here. Try to pry yourselves apart for a while."

Her dad pulled into a space marked "Reserved" and parked the car. He got out and started walking toward the restaurant. Wanda got out and held the seat for us to get out, smiling the whole time. "You two look good together." Jill and I looked at each other and smiled.

Jill leaned into the car and reached over to a lever near the radio, popping the trunk open. She pulled out a Highlander sweatshirt that was about two sizes too big. I rolled up the sleeves above my elbows. It would do for one night.

We went around to the front of the restaurant and I opened and held the door for the two women. Dr. O'Hara was waiting near the Maitre D', then took off into the restaurant and to the right when he saw us come in. We followed and saw him go through a door off the main dining room as we entered the room.

The place was almost full. There had been about 8 people waiting to be seated when we came in so I guess Jill's father really did have some clout.

We went through the door he'd gone into and it was like we were in a different restaurant. The main dining room has white tablecloths on every table with silver candle holders and tapered, white candles. This room had sawdust on the floor and a big barrel of peanuts right next to the door. Jill stopped and got an empty three pound coffee can off a shelf above the barrel, then scooped up a can of peanuts. We then walked over to a table her father had claimed.

The rest of the tables were full. There were a couple of families at a long table, celebrating one of the kids' birthdays, complete with a cake with candles on it. There were tables with people in their 30's wearing their suits and fancy dresses and tables with kids from high school football games. The tables had red and white checkered tablecloths. These candles were stubby and were stuck in Chianti bottles with the wax running down the candles and onto the bottles. By the amount of wax caked on the bottles, it was obvious they were used over and over again.

We sat down and Jill plunked down the coffee can filled with peanuts in the middle of the table.

Her father said "Bout time you did something useful" as he grabbed a fistful of peanuts. He crushed the shells and popped the nuts into his mouth, dropping the shells on the floor as he emptied them. Jill stuck her tongue out at him as she grabbed her own handful.

She opened a peanut and picked out the nut with her right index finger and thumb. She held it in front of me and I opened my mouth. As she put it in, Wanda said "Oh, Gawwwd!"

Jill looked at her and said "What?"

"Why don't you just chew it for him?"

Jill stuck her tongue out. I got my own peanuts from then on.

A minute after we were settled in a waiter came over with a large mug of beer for Dr. O'Hara and a pitcher of Coke and three ice-filled plastic glasses for us. He was followed by a man in a tuxedo.

Dr. O'Hara stood up, shook the man's hand while clapping him on the back and said "Hi, Ronald. How's your family doing?"

"They're all fine, Sir. The baby hasn't had another problem since we had her into your office."

"Well, you tell your wife I want to see that baby again. Have her call my office on Monday and tell my receptionist I want her in sometime next week."

"Thank you, Sir. I'll do that. William, is the pizza ready?"

The waiter looked at him. "I don't know, Sir. I'll check on it."

"You do that." The waiter took off. "He's going to be a good one. We just need to whip him into shape."

Dr. O'Hara put down a half empty mug. "They're all good, here. The old man wouldn't let them last a day if they weren't."

"You're right about that, Dr. I have to get back to work. Let me know if there's anything I can do for you."

"I will. Take care, Ronald."

I looked at Jill's father. "Do you ever see any male patients?"

"Not over the age of two. That's why I want to make sure you get home alright. If you were pregnant, I'd have no problems with you."

"That makes me feel real confident, Sir."

Jill grabbed my hand and looked concerned. "It's OK, Jack. My Daddy's really a good doctor."

I leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. "I know he is. We're just playing with each other."

She smiled and squeezed my hand.

The pizza came and we all dug in. I was hungry and this was exactly what I needed. When they said extra large, they weren't kidding. The pizza had to be two feet across.

Mr. Perlione sure makes a good pizza. I know he probably doesn't cook any more but you can bet he makes sure his food is prepared the way it would be if he made it all himself.

There were at least three types of cheese. It was impossible to pull a piece off without a string of cheese stretching between the pizza and the piece. It was even tough to break with your fingers.

The tomato was sliced. Not some pieces out of a can. Real, fresh tomatoes sliced for the pizza they were preparing to throw in the oven in a couple of minutes. There was a tomato sauce that I heard was cooked all day for that evening's pizzas in big pots that were four feet tall and five feet across. I have no idea what herbs and spices it had in it but it tasted sweet and spicy and slightly tart. After you bit into a piece and tasted the sauce, you knew you had eaten something. No swallowing without tasting. It even tasted more tomatoey than the run of the mill pizzas.

There was real meat as well. Pieces of bacon, two or three inches long after they'd been cooked. Thick slices of pepperoni, chunks of home made sausage, pieces of ham you could tell had been thick sliced from a real ham, then cut into 3" squares. And there were shrimp, each one a little bigger than my little finger. There was some fresh bell pepper, red, white and yellow onion pieces, a little celery. Most bites went through three or four layers. Or you could use a knife.

There were a couple of big jars with caps that had holes in them for shaking out the contents. One had what I assumed was Parmesan cheese, the other had some dried peppers. Dr. O'Hara smothered his pizza with both.

He'd hardly started his first piece when he was waving his arm to the waiter, pointing to his nearly empty beer mug. The waiter brought over another and that was half gone with one swig. "You better bring another couple. These don't last long."

Jill and Wanda ate their pizza as if this was something that happened every day. Maybe it was. I leaned over and whispered in Jill's ear. "Is he going to be OK to drive?"

She laughed. "He'll be fine. Don't worry, Jack. I'm not going to let anything happen to you."

I have to admit, I was plenty worried when he ordered the next two beers. He looked at me and called the waiter back. On second thought, I don't need another two mugs. I'll drink them out of the bottle.

The waiter was back in a minute with two bottles of non-alcoholic beer. The three of them looked over at me and laughed. I'm afraid it was my turn to turn red.

We were all leaning back, holding our stomachs and there were still four pieces of pizza left. Dr. O'Hara called for the waiter to package up the leftovers. "Jack, would you like to take the rest home? It's awful good for breakfast on a Saturday morning."

"Thank you, Sir. I'm sure my mother and sister would like to try Perlione's pizza."

I had a box with the equivalent of a normal medium pizza on my lap as we drove to my house. Jill had both arms wrapped around my left arm somehow and was laying her head on my shoulder. I could feel her breast pushing against my arm. I was starting to get hard. I felt like her father should be watching out for her or something but he seemed perfectly happy with what she was doing and she wasn't at all shy even though he was just three feet away from her. I didn't know if I could show that much affection to her with a parent in the room.

We got to my house. Jill told her father she wanted to walk me to the front door.

"Don't let him put his hand in your pants."

"I won't, Daddy. At least not tonight."

If I'd said that to my sister, my mother would probably wash my mouth out with soap. If she'd answered me the way Jill answered her dad, she would probably be locked her in her room till she was 30.

We went up to the front door. The porch light had been left on for me so we were visible to her father and Wanda. I held her hand but was hesitant to do anything more.

"Don't I get a goodnight kiss, Jack?"

"I just feel weird with your dad right there and everything."

"Oh, don't worry about him. He's probably glad I found someone I want to kiss."

I still hesitated so she took action by herself. She reached behind my head and pulled me to her face. I could see her eyes close and her mouth open slightly and then my lips were on hers and we were kissing each other, swapping spit, tasting each other. I felt closer to this girl I met a few hours ago than I ever had to anyone.

We were both breathing hard when we broke apart. Jill had a big smile on her face. "That's better."

"You can run into me any time you want."

"I want you to call me tomorrow. Can you remember my phone number?"

"I think so."

She gave it me and then we kissed again. Her father finally honked the horn and we stopped. By that time I couldn't remember my name, much less Jill's phone number.

She gave it to me again. "Call me. Don't forget."

I went in the house. My mother wanted to know who was honking their horn at 12:30 at night. I went right to the phone and wrote her number on the message pad we keep there. Then I sat down with my mom told her about the miracle that had happened to me at the football game.



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Chapter 2

I woke up at 6 AM. Not like I did on a school day, anxious to roll over for five more minutes of sleep. I was awake. Eyes wide open. My body wouldn't even entertain the thought of going back to sleep.

Shit. I can't call her at 6 in the morning. Why can't I go back to sleep? I kept talking to myself, complaining, trying to convince myself it wasn't going to do me any good to stay awake. Do you think I listened? Hell, no.

I finally gave up at 6:45. I went into the bathroom and used the toilet. Maybe I can take a hot shower and relax enough to get back to sleep. I turned the shower on and thought of Jill. Kissing her in the parking lot after the game. In the car. On our porch. And the feeling of her in my arms, resting her head on my shoulder at the game. Hearing her sigh as she did so. The feel of her leaning on my arm and shoulder in the car, her breasts pushed up against me. Her whole body pressed against me as we kissed, spotlighted by the porch light for anyone to see. I looked down to see my erect penis in my hand just before I climaxed.

It was 7:15 by the time I'd dried off. I wrapped a towel around my waist and went into my bedroom. I dropped the towel and looked in the mirror.

I wasn't in bad shape. I shouldn't be. At 17, I was probably in my prime. My body was firm and muscular. Not Mr. Universe muscular, in shape muscular. I was on the swim team at school. I think I learned to swim before I could walk. I had excellent upper body strength. My legs weren't bad, either. You'd be hard pressed to find an ounce of fat on my body. Except maybe between my ears.

It was Saturday. One of two days I could sleep in as late as I wanted. School Monday through Friday, weekends for play and catching up on sleep. Here I am, up like I have to get to school.

I threw on a pair of shorts. It was warm out so I decided not to put on a shirt yet.

I made my way into the kitchen. I was surprised to find my mother at the table, drinking a cup of coffee. I felt a little guilty, thinking it was my fault she was awake. Mom deserved her sleep. She didn't get nearly enough during the week. She'd been working and taking care of us by herself since Dad died when I was 8.

"Good morning, Jack. You're up early for someone who didn't get to bed till almost 2."

"I'm sorry, Mom. Did I wake you up when I showered?"

"I heard the shower but I probably would have heard you even if you didn't use it. I thought you might want to talk after you had some sleep."

"Oh, Mom. I don't know what to say. I keep thinking I'll really wake up and it will all be a dream. She's like the girls I never thought I could ever talk to and she wants to be with me. She kisses like an angel. And she really likes me. I want to call her before she has a chance to change her mind."

"Poor Jack. You've really got it bad. I remember feeling the same way when I was young."

"You mean with Dad?"

"No, Honey. Before I ever met your father. I wasn't totally inexperienced when we met. That doesn't mean I was too experienced. But no matter how old you get, you never forget that first time you were in love. That first kiss that knocked you off your feet. That first time you felt someone where you'd never touched anyone before."

"Mom!"

"Oh, come on, Jack. Do you really think I didn't have urges when I was your age? You kids. You always think you invented sex. Well, it was around long before you or I and it will be around long after. Just make sure you don't abuse it."

"I don't understand, Mom."

"Sure you do. I've done a good job raising you. You know right from wrong. You respect me and your sister. Just exercise that same respect with the other women in your life. Men and women are different when it comes to sex. Many men feel the same whether they care about the woman they're with or not. Women are different. They have to have some feelings for the guy. Some don't. They're the ones we used to call sluts. I think you guys call them party girls. But they're the same thing. And I'll tell you, they're the girls I'll warn you about and any mother who's worth her salt will warn her children about. You might have a night or two of fun and you may get through it without catching anything from her if you're careful, but you'll never respect yourself when you think of it and you sure won't be happy with her in any long term relationship."

"I wouldn't want that, Mom. I want someone that I'll feel comfortable being seen with in the daylight. Not that I'm ready for sex."

"I know, Honey. But you will be. Before you know it. Just remember what we talked about and the way you were raised. If you ask yourself how your sister would react if you told her what you did, you'll be fine. Here. I know you don't need these yet. I just want you to keep them for when you do."

She handed me a small box. It contained six condoms.

"If you do decide to use them and need more, I don't want you to be embarrassed. I'd rather see you safe than have to bury you in a few years. Or see you in a marriage you're not ready for with a woman you don't really love who doesn't really love you."

I hugged her. I guess you never do know your parents until they finally acknowledge you as an adult. Or at least on the way to adulthood. I hadn't felt this grown up since she got me my first pair of long pants.

By now it was almost 8:00. My mother saw me look at the clock.

"Give her till 9:00, Honey. She'll still be there. I'll cook you some breakfast."

Mom cooked some bacon and three eggs, up. Somehow she got them out of the frying pan and onto my plate without breaking them. She makes it look so easy.

She poured me a glass of orange juice and put a plate with a couple of slices of toast in front of me, refilled her coffee and sat down.

"Where does she live, Honey?"

"Gee, I don't even know. Her father drives a pretty new Mercedes and seems to be a pretty well-known doctor so I guess they live in a nice neighborhood."

"Does she have any brothers or sisters?"

"I don't know."

"Is she the same age as you?"

"You've got me there, Mom."

I thought about it. The only things I really knew about her was she and her father seemed to have a pretty good relationship, she and I were comfortable talking to each other and weren't comfortable talking to other people and she felt and kissed good. Definitely nice things to have in a relationship, but not enough to base a relationship on.

I looked up and noticed Mom was gone. She must have noticed I was lost in my thoughts and decided I needed time. Which I guess I did. I went into my room and lay down.

The problem was I was in unfamiliar territory. I'd never really talked to a girl unless it was to tell her I was fine if asked or something of that nature. Maybe five words at the most. I'd never start a conversation with a girl.

Here was someone I not only felt comfortable talking to, but she felt comfortable talking to me and seemed genuinely interested in doing so.

And when her father told her not to let me put my hand in her pants, what was it she said? "Not tonight." Even a fool could figure out that she was implying she would let me put my hands in her pants at some point. It could even be today.

Was I ready to put my hands in a girl's pants? To move into that unknown territory? I had ideas of what was down there but I really didn't know. What would I find? Would she like it? What if I was too rough? Not rough enough? I don't know. That was my problem. I don't know. I don't even know what she would like or wouldn't like underneath those pants.

Another thought came to me. Like someone throwing a rock at my head. What if she wanted to put her hand in my pants? Was I ready for that? I know we talked about it all the time and I had dreams about it, but was I really ready for a girl to get that intimate with me?

Then it hit me. After that the next logical step would be using those condoms. Was I anywhere near ready for that? Would I even be able to get one out of the package without tearing it? What if I tried to put it on and rolled it the wrong way? What if I'm too small and it fell off and I got her pregnant? What the hell am I doing in bed with you? I don't know you. You're just some cute girl from Highpoint. Some rich doctor's daughter who finds innocent kids and has her way with them and then drops them. I don't know who you are. Get away from me.

I heard a light tapping on my door. I looked up to see it open and my mother stick her head around the door. "Telephone. I think you'll want to take it. The phone in the kitchen's off the hook."

I took off for the kitchen as if I was in a meet doing the 400. I actually had to take a second to try and catch my breath before I got on the phone.

"Hello?" Fuckin' great. My voice cracked. The first time that's happened for two years.

"Is this Jack?"

"Yes, it's Jack."

"Hi Jack. You sound different. This is Jill. Do you remember me?"

"Remember you? Remember you? I haven't been able to get you out of my head since we said goodnight. I wasn't able to sleep more than four hours so I could call you in the morning. I've been fighting myself over whether I deserve you and have any chance with you. Yes, I remember you."

"I'm glad. I was beginning to wonder when you didn't call me this morning."

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to call you too early and then I got to thinking and then my mom told me you were on the phone."

"OK, so we remember each other and we're finally talking to each other. Now what?"

"That's what I've been fighting with myself about."

"Have you been having nasty thoughts about me?"

"No. Yes. I don't know. I don't think of them as nasty. I think of them as loving. As erotic. As sexy. But not nasty."

"That's sweet. Did either of your parents talk to you?"

"My dad died when I was a kid. I talked to Mom when I got home. I told her how wonderful I thought you were, how comfortable I feel with you, how good you feel in my arms, how much I like kissing you."

"Oh, that's nice. I meant did she talk to you about sex. About growing up. My father sat me down last night and we talked about that stuff for over an hour. He even gave me some condoms in case we decide to do something."

"Wow. I never thought a father would give his daughter condoms. Of course, he was real cool last night. I almost wondered if he cares about what happens to you."

"Oh, he cares. He also trusts me. And let's face it, I couldn't get away with too much with him there last night."

"Yeah, I guess so. That comment about me putting my hands in your pants really floored me."

"Well, my daddy knows me. He knew that was just what I was hoping for and that comment made me think about it before I did something I wasn't ready for."

"I guess he's pretty cool. My mom talked to me a bit this morning. I was too embarrassed to tell you but she told me she wasn't a saint when she was a kid and she gave me some condoms, too. And she told me to respect the girls I go out with the way I respect her and my sister."

"You have a sister? How old is she?"

"She's just a kid. She's 15. Her first year in high school."

"Wow. Only 15. And you respect her?"

"Of course I do. She's my sister. Anyway, would you like to do something today?"

"I thought you'd never ask. What would you like to do?"

"I don't know. The last time I went to a movie it cost over $30 with the popcorn and everything. I just don't have that much money to spare right now. Is there any place you'd like to go for a walk?"

"I know what we can do. We can go down to the mall. We don't have to buy anything. And they've got a bunch of photographs of old movie stars that have won awards on exhibit throughout the mall. We could walk around and window shop and check out the pictures. My dad saw them and he says some of them are really great."

"That sounds like fun. Do you have your own car or should I try to talk my mom into letting me use hers?"

"You better try your mom. They don't let 15 year olds get licenses.



-------

Chapter 3



I'd asked Mom if I could use her car and she just smiled and handed me the keys. "Don't mess up the back seat."

Like I would with a 15 year old kid. Jailbait.

For some reason I didn't tell Jill that I wanted to drop her like a burning piece of charcoal. That I knew I'd never hear the end of it if my friends found out how old she was. That she was just a little kid like my sister.

I just told her that my mom said yes and I could come over and pick her up. I did mention that my mom's car was a seven year old Chevy, hoping that she would decide she didn't want to be seen with me in an old Chevy. She just said "I'm interested in the driver, not the car."

I got directions to her house. Not quite a gated community, but the private cops that patrolled the place would at least keep an eye on me and my mother's car even if they didn't pull me over and check my license and registration if I drove in there at night.

By the time I got dressed and drove over to her house it was about 25 minutes later. I parked on the street and walked up the long pathway made out of cobblestones to her front door. When I pressed the doorbell it sounded like someone playing chimes inside a cathedral. The door opened to reveal Dr. O'Hara. He smiled at me.

"Jack. My favorite male patient. How's the chin?"

"Hi, Dr. O'Hara. To tell you the truth, I haven't even noticed it today. I've been thinking about other things."

"Speaking of which, my daughter is putting the final touches on an outfit she hopes will bring you to your knees. You know, Jack, I think the world of Jillian. She's my only child. Her mother ran off when she was two, so it's just been the two of us. She surprised me the way she went for you last night. She's always been a shy girl and it's good to see her relate to someone. I don't know you but I can usually size people up pretty quick. From our time together last night, I'd guess you're a pretty decent guy. And not too unlike Jillian. Sometimes when two shy people find each other and realize they can communicate with somebody else they go a little too quickly. You're a senior, right? That would make you about 17?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Well, that's fine. You're the older one, supposedly the wiser one. The one with the head on his shoulders. Just make sure you take care of her, Jack. She means the world to me and I couldn't stand to see her hurt. I don't think I could do anything physical to you if you hurt my baby, but I know I could make things difficult for you.

"I don't expect Jillian to remain a virgin forever. I do expect her to be able to feel comfortable saying 'No' and for that 'No' to be respected. And if and when she does say yes, I don't want her to be sorry about it 15 minutes later. Do you get what I'm saying, Jack?"

"Yes, Sir. I'd never do anything to hurt her, Sir. You can believe that." I didn't tell him that the only reason I hadn't dumped her on the phone was I felt she deserved to be let down in person.

He smiled, shook my hand and clapped me on the back. "Good, Jack. I expect good things from the two of you. Just do me a favor and think before you act. I'll tell you, most of the things I regret doing in my life were done because I didn't take a couple of seconds to look at how my action would affect others. That's probably the best advice I could give you. Or anybody else, for that matter."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir." Shit. What had I gotten myself into.

We were in a room that had the front door at one end, hallways at the two sides and what I assumed was the door to the kitchen at the far end. And it acted as the landing for a big staircase that had what I assumed were bedrooms at the top.

The door just to the left of the top landing opened and a goddess came out. She had blond hair gathered somehow on the back and top of her head. It looked both casual and elegant. She had very tiny, very tight white shorts that contrasted with her very tan legs. She had a shirt that reminded me of the tablecloths from the restaurant only the squares were smaller. The top two buttons were open, the next two were buttoned, then the rest of the shirt was tied in a knot just below her bust. A pair of gold, almost not there sandals completed the package.

She smiled when she saw me and turned to walk to the stairs. I could see her beautiful butt in profile as she walked with her side to me. It was rounded and made me want to touch it, to make love to it somehow. I was both disturbed and turned on to see the bottom of her right cheek below the bottom of the too short shorts.

She glided down the stairs, her eyes on me, her left hand sliding over the banister. The closer she got, the more beautiful she got.

She got to the bottom of the stairs and walked up to me. God, that smile melted my heart. Her skin was perfect. I couldn't see any makeup other than some light pink lipstick. Not a blemish. I couldn't help myself, I reached up and felt her cheek with the backs of the fingers or my right hand. So smooth. She purred and seemed to shiver as I touched her face.

She put her hands on my shoulders and leaned into me, kissing me gently. A little moist. I definitely knew I'd been kissed. The lipstick had a slight cherry taste. I was going to have trouble walking if she did much more of that. I hoped my dick wasn't too obvious.

She kissed her father on the cheek. "Bye, Daddy. Wish me luck."

"Good luck, Princess."

I wondered what she needed luck for.

I took her hand and led her out to the street. She got in the car gracefully and daintily as I held the door open for her. By the time I got around to the driver's side she'd slid across the bench seat so there was barely enough room for me to sit down. She wrapped both arms around my right arm, shoving her tits into me. I couldn't hurt this poor kid. We'd go shopping and I'd find a way to let her down easy. Or maybe when I got her home. I had to be careful. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. And I didn't want her father mad at me because I dumped his darling daughter. Let her down easy.

I put on my seat belt and told Jill she needed to buckle up. She pouted and let go of my arm, moving over an inch or two so she could fit the center belt around her waist. She moved her right arm out and above the shoulder strap, leaving it across her breasts, highlighting her bust.

She was just a kid. She didn't know what she was doing.

I turned the key and fired up the engine. "I'm sorry we have to drive such an old car."

"I like this car. I especially like this seat. I bet there's even enough room to lay out on this. She looked in the back. I know there's enough room in the back."

She was probably used to sleeping when her father took her for rides in the car.

We got to the mall and I parked the car. I turned off the ignition.

"Jack?"

As soon as I turned around she was on top of me. Her arms were around my neck, her tongue seemed to be forcing its way down my throat and her right thigh was in my lap. I could feel it pushing against my cock, her knee on the seat between my legs, just below my balls. Her leg was bent all the way back, her heel touching her butt.

She pulled back and looked at me curiously. "What's the matter, Jack? Don't you want to kiss me?"

I looked at the beautiful woman in front of me. Who was I kidding? Maybe she was just 15. She was also ripe for the picking. And it was pretty obvious she wanted me to do that picking. I was crazy if I thought she was going to go away quietly just because I thought 15 was too young for a lover.

"Yes, I do. More than I've ever wanted to do anything."

I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her up to me. Our tongues dueled, my cock got hard against her thigh, she pressed closer to me. I knew that whether it was me putting my hand in her pants, her checking me out or us going for the whole enchilada that we'd figure it out somehow. And with her, it would be good. It would be fantastic. I pulled away from the kiss. I couldn't figure out why but I felt disturbed by the kiss.

We walked down the mall, hand in hand. I was surprised. The photographs were mostly black and white and a surprising percentage of them were nudes. She would stick out her chest and ask how it compared to the naked breasts in a photo or put my hand on her butt asking if it was as nice as the one in the next picture. I almost lost it when we saw a nude of Carole Lombard that showed her full spread of pubic hair and she said "I think that looks tacky. That's why I keep mine shaved."

"I'm sorry Jill. I can't take any more of this. I need to take you home." I took her hand in mine and dragged her back toward the parking lot.

"What's the matter, Jack? What did I do?" She looked like the young girl she really was, trying to be adult and keep her lower lip from quivering, trying to hold back the tears that were forming in her eyes, ready to start falling at any second.

I just kept my mouth shut and my jaw set. The last thing I needed to do here in the mall was to start a discussion. For the first time today, my jaw started to hurt a little.

We got out to the car and I could see more tears in her eyes. Ready to turn on full blast any second. I didn't know if I'd be able to handle that. I opened the passenger door and guided her in, pointing down at the seat. "Sit here near the door."

I went around and she leaned over and lifted the door lock button. I opened the door and got it. "Thank you."

"For what."

"For unlocking the door for me. That's the first thing you've done since we left your house that reminds me of the girl I met last night."

Her lower lip was really quivering. "What do you mean?"

"The girl I met last night was adorable. She was kind of shy but caring. She kissed me like I was a person, not some John who was paying for the pleasure. She looked beautiful the way she was, she didn't feel she had to have half her ass hanging out to look attractive. And she got me close to her by getting close to me. She didn't tell me she was ready for me to lay her out on the front or back seat of the car. No games of sticking her tits in my face or making me feel her ass, comparing them to someone else. No comments about things I shouldn't know about until that time we're close enough to find out naturally. If you shave your pubic hair, that's something I want to find out if and when I discover that area on my own. Now I'll never know that thrill. If you have a cute mole on your hip, I don't want to hear about it or see a picture of it. I want to find it on my own. And I'd be honored to be the first person to ever find it."

"You would." Her first words were quiet, subdued.

"Jill. I like the girl who knocked me off my feet at the football game. I'll admit that it threw me off when I found out you were only 15. I tried to hide the way I felt. I know I may not have done a good job, but..."

"You didn't."

"But that doesn't mean you have to act like a slut to make me look at you. What do you think about the trashy girls at school who act like they're always ready to do anything with anybody?"

"Wanda and I talk down about them. But they always have someone to go out with on the weekends." She looked obstinate, pleased with herself like she'd made a good point.

"I'm sure they do. But they never have the same guy two weekends in a row, and they never get the intimacy you can only get when you really get to know someone. The only reason they get invited to the prom is the guy wants to be guaranteed he'll get laid. If that's the kind of life you want, fine. But not with me. And I don't think your father would be too proud of you, either."

The tears were coming down her cheeks. "Jack?"

"Yes, Jill."

"Can I move over next to you?"

I didn't say anything, just lifted my right arm and lay it on top of the seat.

She scooted over and put her arms around me, pulling her face into my chest. I brought my arm down and put it around her. She was shaking now, sobbing into my chest. Her voice was muffled. "I'm sorry. I don't want to lose you."

"You haven't got me yet. We've only known each other since yesterday. I would love to get to know you gradually, naturally. I want to learn everything there is to know about you. Once we get to know each other you can decide whether you want to lose me or not. But right now I'm no more than some fantasy you've mocked up in your mind. But I think finding out who you are, what you like and dislike are more important than whether you shave your twat or not."

Her laugh was muffled by my chest.

"Jill, can I ask you a favor?"

She looked up at me, expectantly and a little fearfully. "What?"

"Would you kiss me? Like we did last night on my porch?"

Her eyes lit up. She sat back and swiped at the tears on her face with the back of her hand. That smile I loved so much was back.

She leaned in to me and opened her mouth slightly as her eyes closed. This was more like it. I could taste tears and a little snot as we kissed.

About 20 seconds into the kiss she broke it off and backed off. "Dammit."

"What's the matter?"

"I can't breathe. My nose is clogged up from crying."

"I think there are some Kleenex in the glove compartment."

She popped it open and found a small box of Kleenex. After a few blows she looked almost normal.

"Let's try that again."

It lasted much longer this time. I could get addicted to this.

I drove Jill home. Her father was surprised when we walked in the door.

"Jill, Honey. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, Daddy. I just came home to change my shorts."

She went up the stairs. I could tell the old doctor was having a hard time keeping his hands at his sides and not asking why his daughter had to change her pants after being out with me for less than an hour. I don't know how well I would have taken it if some snot-nosed kid brought my sister home after she'd obviously been crying and she told me she came home to change pants.

Jill came back downstairs just about the time her father was starting to change colors. I was glad, I didn't think he had much farther to go before he blew.

She had on a pair of shorts that were just as tight, if not tighter than the others. But they did come down over her legs a little, leaving her butt cheeks totally to the imagination. That was fine with me. I have a good imagination.

She'd also been to the bathroom. Her face was washed, the light application of lipstick was renewed and her hair was down, brushed within an inch of its life so it positively glowed. As did she.

"OK, Daddy. We've got to get back to the mall. Those other shorts made me look too slutty."

She headed out the door. Her father didn't say anything, though his jaw seemed to drop a bit before he broke into a smile. He reached out and put his hand on my shoulder and mouthed "Thank you." I reached up and squeezed his hand.

I opened the car door, got her seated and went around and got in. I started up the engine and turned to Jill.

"Well?"

She looked confused. "Well, what?"

"Well, are you going sit over there by yourself all day or are you going to get over here next to me where you belong?"

Her face lit up as she scooted over to sit next to me.



-------

Chapter 4

The mall was right where we left it but it was a different place than the one we'd been in an hour before.

Jill looked like what she was - an attractive teenager at the brink of womanhood. Definitely ready to discover that aspect of her life, but not pushing it on me. Not trying to sell it.

We held hands. Each of us was comfortable putting an arm around the other, touching, whatever felt natural. We might be standing in front of a photograph and I'd put my arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and whispering something about it to her.

I found out a lot about Jill's taste in clothes by watching the way she reacted to the various store displays. We went in a few places and she pawed through a few racks and held a shirt or a sweater up to her asking what I thought, but she kept her word and we didn't buy anything all day.

I also found out that Jill has a thing about shoes. When she asked me how many pairs I had and told her three, she couldn't believe it. She told me she had hundreds. I don't know if that was an exaggeration or not. I don't think it was.

I've got an idea that Jill probably has her own credit cards and could have bought anything her heart desired. But she never discussed money, never said she wished she could have or get something. We were there to window shop and check out the photographs and that's what we did.

One thing that endeared her to me is the way she acted at the pet store. There was a little lab puppy in the window and she fell in love as soon as she saw it. She ran squealing through the doorway and around to the other side of the display and the next thing I knew she had him in her arms, talking baby talk to him as he licked her face. I've always loved animals, especially the bigger, family dogs like labs and Goldens and the way she reacted when she saw him would have made me fall in love with her even if I'd never seen her before. It didn't last long. A girl who was probably her age came running up and told us if we weren't going to buy the dog to leave it in it's display area.

As we left the store Jill said "Bitch."

"No, dear. It was a male dog."

"I wasn't talking about the dog."

We went past the video arcade and I heard my name yelled out. I was ready to keep walking but she pulled my arm.

Jeff came out of the arcade. "Hey, you two. What's up?"

Jill grabbed onto my arm. "You're Jeff, aren't you."

"I'm sorry. I guess I was out of it last night. Jill, this is Jeff. Jeff, this is Jill."

Both said they were glad to meet each other. I think Jeff was ready to take off but Jill wanted to talk.

"You're one of Jack's best friends, aren't you?

"Yeah, I guess so. We've been hanging out together since fifth grade."

"Wow. I'll bet you know all kinds of secrets about him."

"Uh, yeah, I guess." He looked at me, a worried look on his face.

"We'll have to talk to each other sometime when Jack's not around and you can tell me all the dirt about him." He looked scared, something like a rabbit facing a hunter.

"It's OK Jeff. You don't have to tell her any of my secrets. Unless you want me to tell her yours."

"No, dude. I think I'll go back to my game. Nice meeting you, Jill." He looked glad to get away.

"I think you scared him, Jill."

"I was just playing with him."

"I don't think you understand. You're out with one of the biggest losers at Fernmont. And my buddies all are, too. We're the guys who dream and talk about women all the time but would rather do just about anything than actually talk to one. When he thought you going to try to force him to give up my secrets, he flipped out. I don't think he feels he has any defense against a woman who wants him to give up something."

"So now I'm a woman?"

"You know some of the tricks women use, sure. I'm sure you could wrap him around your finger and he wouldn't know if he was coming or going if you wanted to. So, yeah, in that respect you're a woman."

"Jack? How come you don't have any problem talking to me?"

"I don't know. I just feel comfortable with you. I've never felt like this about a girl before."

"I know what you mean. I've never been comfortable talking with boys before. But I feel like I could tell you about anything."

Somehow it seemed that a kiss was called for. I put my arms around her and pulled her close. She had that "take me" look as her eyes closed and her lips parted. While we were kissing my right hand migrated down her back and ended up on her butt. I cupped her left cheek and pulled her into me. She continued to kiss me but I heard an "Uhmmm" as I cupped her ass.

"Oh, Jack, that was so much better."

"I don't understand."

"You wanted to do it and you did. That's so much better than me forcing you to do something."

We kissed and did it again.

I discovered that Jill has a unique ability to discover what makes a particular guy uncomfortable. She seems to take pleasure in walking the fine line between teasing and torturing. I saw it with Jeff when she was talking about secrets. I experienced it myself when she dragged me into Victoria's Secret.

I'd heard of the place. In fact, it was one of the things the guys used to kid about. Once Chris had brought a catalog to school that had come in the mail. He'd been home by himself and stuck it in his backpack before anyone got home.

The real thing is quite different. The whole purpose of their products is to make women look good. In some cases to make them look better than they really are. Sometimes with Victoria's Secret, what you see isn't exactly what you get.

I spent a good 20 minutes with a red face as Jill pretended to be sweet and innocent. Well, she's sweet. The salesgirls all know that the primary reason women buy their stuff is to enhance their sex lives. And they aren't ashamed to tell their customers how to do just that. It's one of the few places in America that a woman feels comfortable telling another woman how to get a man to pay attention to her. It's just not politically correct for a woman to admit she wants to have a man pay attention to her. They plot out strategies in this store.

There was a salesgirl about my age who was perfectly willing to help Jill guess what I would like to see her in.

She held up one nighty after the other, acting innocent, asking if I thought she would look good in it. Some so shear I could see through them as she held them up. Then she started with the underwear. Bras with front fasteners. Bras that pushed everything she had up toward her face. Silk panties. French cut panties. Thongs. Open crotch panties. Even edible panties. I was finally able to drag her out of the place.

"You know where to shop for my birthday, Jack."

"When is your birthday?"

"Two days after Halloween. November second."

"That's not too far off. You'll be 16 in a little over a month, right?"

"Um... actually I'll be 15 in a little over a month."

"You'll be... WHAT? Do you mean to tell me you're only 14?"

She had that look again. Almost ready to cry.

"Jillian. Come over here."

She came over to me like a dog who's been caught shitting on the carpet would when called.

"I want the truth. Exactly how old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"Does your father know you're fourteen?"

She laughed. "Of course he does."

"And he gave you condoms?"

"Yes, he did."

"If I was him I would have put you over my knee."

"Ooh, that sounds good."

"God Damn it Jill, this is serious. I could be put in jail or get sent away to Juvie for another four years if you and I did anything."

"I'd never say anything."

"I don't care if you do or not, someone's going to find out. Damn it, the way you were playing in Victoria's Secret could have gotten me in a bunch of trouble if it had gotten out of hand."

"Does that mean you're going to stop seeing me?"

"I don't know. I don't want to. I like you, Jill. I like you a lot. I know you like me. And I think we're both good for each other. But going out with a 14 year old is kind of scary. I don't know what I'm going to do."

"How about if we just did things that were safe? Like you could come over to my house and we could swim and cook some stuff on the barbecue. Nobody could say anything about that."

"Are you inviting me to your house?"

"Yeah. Tomorrow's Sunday. You could come over after church, about Noon. We can still be with each other and have some fun. Bring your bathing suit. And my dad will be there so you don't have to worry."

"OK. I'll come over tomorrow. But I've got to warn you. I'm really not comfortable about you being so young."

"Just come over tomorrow. We'll talk about it."

I drove her home and walked her up to her front door.

"Do you want to come in for a bit?"

"Not today. I need to go home and think about things. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Do I get a kiss?"

"Sure."

The kiss wasn't as enjoyable as others had been. I could sense Jill's desperation. Damn it. I hated being in this position.



-------

Chapter 5

"What's the matter, dear? You're hardly touching your food."

"I've just got some stuff on my mind. Mom."

"I'll bet it has something to do with that girl you met."

"Of course it does, Mary. Quit teasing your brother."

"Yes, Mom."

"So, do you want to talk about it?"

"I don't know, Mom."

"Would you feel better if it was just the two of us?"

"Yeah. But it's not fair to send Mary away."

"I know, Dear. But I'm sure there will be lots of times in the next few years that she'll want to talk to me without you being around. Eat your dinner and then you and I will talk."

"OK, Mom."

Mom's a hell of a cook. Tonight she'd made her fried chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy. Good stuff. I guess it wouldn't hurt to eat.

Mom let Mary use the phone in her room to call her girlfriends while we talked in the living room.

"What's the matter, Honey?"

"I found out how old Jill is today."

"Oh? And that's a catastrophe?"

"It could be."

"Is she over 12?"

"Mom, it's not funny. She's 14."

"Fourteen huh? My, that is serious."

"Oh? You mean you approve of me going out with a 14 year old?"

"I have no problem with it. Do you realize that she might have been considered an old maid just over 150 years ago?"

"Oh, come on, Mom. That's a long time ago. They didn't know what we know now."

"They knew you can't legislate when two people can be in love. They knew that if you made people wait till they were 18 or 21 before they could exercise their birthright that it would cause a lot of problems. Take a look around you and see how many people are messed up about love and sex. Look at the number of people who get divorced. This country was built by families that lived in one room houses with 10 children. Sex was not hidden and it was perfectly natural. And you knew if you didn't get your daughters married and out of the house by the time they were twelve, they were going to start screwing their nine year old brothers. They didn't get divorced and everybody wasn't hung up on sex."

"I never thought about that."

"Honey, your father and I had a fantastic sex life. But I'll let you in on a little secret. I started when I was 13. And I loved it. And that's part of the reason your father and I were so good together. So, as far as I'm concerned, the only valid question is 'How do you feel about Jill?' And 'How does she feel about you?' The rest of it is immaterial."

"Mom, I really like her. She told me she was 15 this morning and I guess I wasn't real good at hiding my feelings about it."

"I'm sure you weren't. You've never been good at hiding things."

"Well, we went out and she was playing these stupid games, trying to get me to like her. It was almost like she was trying to trap me. I finally got fed up with it and chewed her out. And she settled down and became herself. The girl I fell for last night. And we had a good time the rest of the day. Until she told me she would be 15 on her birthday a month and a half from now."

"So, it bothered you when she told you she was 15, then you found out she was 14?"

"She didn't really say she was 15. I asked her if she had her own car and she said '15 year olds can't drive.' When I found out her birthday is two days after Halloween, I said 'So you'll be 16 in a little over a month.' and she told me she would be 15."

"I'll tell you Honey, it wouldn't be the first time a girl lied about her age. Do you think you're worth lying to? You know the only reason she did it is to snag you."

"God, Mom. You make it sound like she's hunting and I'm some kind of prize."

"You're not far off. Welcome to the game between the sexes. Or war. Whichever, you can count on being prey for any woman who sets her sights on you. The question is, do you want Jill to be the one to catch you? Or do you want to throw her back and wait for someone different?"

"I don't know that I could do any better. I like her. She likes me. We're both comfortable with each other. She's the first girl I've been able to talk to."

"So, what's wrong with having a 14 year old girlfriend? Come on, be honest with me."

"Well, I'm two years ahead of her in school. I've studied stuff she hasn't."

"OK. Do you have trouble finding things to talk about?"

"No."

"Have you had any experience with her not being interested in something you were interested in?"

"No."

"OK. Let's say you get into a really interesting book in English. Do you think she'd be interested in what you had to say about it?"

"I'm sure she would."

"Alright. Let's say she's interested in the Crusades. You studied that in World History as a freshman. Is that going to put you off when she gets excited about it with you?"

"No. I'd be able to talk about something I know about so we could have a good discussion about it."

"OK. So the difference in grades probably won't be a problem. What else?"

"What are the guys going to say when they find out I'm going with a 14 year old. What's Mary going to say?"

"Ahhh. Now we get to the real problem. What are all these people going to think about you? Are they going to look down on you? Mary's probably going to be pissed off because Jill snagged you and she's alone. She may realize that if Jill can do it, she can do it. So it may end up being a good thing for her.

"So, that leaves your buddies. The ones who go to a dance and stand together and joke and are afraid to go over to a girl and ask her to dance? The ones who shake in fear whenever a girl comes up to them? The ones who talk about what they'd like to do with all the girls they see but don't have the guts to do shit? Are those the ones you're worried about?"

"It sounds pretty silly when you put it like that. What about the law?"

"What about the law?"

"You know. I could be accused of statutory rape if I did anything with her."

"Yes, I guess you could. But I don't think her father would say anything and I know I wouldn't. The district attorney could press charges by himself but he'd have a hard time if both parents were fighting him. If you don't fuck her on the school grounds you don't have a lot to worry about."

"Mom, that's pretty gross."

"Jackie, the situation is pretty gross. I'm going to ask you again. How do you feel about Jill? Not 14 year old Jill. Jill the person."

"I like her a lot. I want to get to know her. I think I could fall in love with her."

"So, get to know her. Be with her. Enjoy her. Because I'll tell you something. You'll hate yourself if you let a stupid thing like her age keep you away from her. She'll be the one you'll always wonder about. I wonder what would have happened if I'd stayed with Jill. If I'd had the guts to stay with Jill. If I hadn't dumped her because of her age."

"OK, Mom. I got it. Thanks. I love you, Mom."

"You're welcome, Jack. I love you, too."

I was over at Jill's house a minute before 12. Her father came to the door when I rang the bell.

"Hi, Jack. Come in. Jill's still getting ready. Why don't we go into the den and talk."

"OK, Dr."

"Would you like a coke? Or one of my imitation beers?"

"I'd like some ice water if it's no trouble."

"No trouble at all. Have a seat, Jack." He motioned towards a couch. I sat down while he went over to a bar and got a beer and a bottle of water out of a small refrigerator and a couple of frosted beer mugs out of a freezer. He put some ice cubes in one and filled it with water, then poured the bottle of beer in the other. He walked over to the couch and sat down next to me. He handed me my mug and took a sip of his. I sat back and took a drink of my water. It was nice and cold.

"So, Jack. I understand that you and Jillian had a disagreement yesterday."

"Oh, I don't think I would call it that, Sir."

"What, then. An argument?"

"Not that, either."

He was starting to look frustrated. "Just what would you call it, Jack?"

"Gee, I don't know. Stupidity. An inability to figure out what's important and what's not. Not knowing when I had a good thing and almost being stupid enough to throw it away. I think stupidity says it best, Sir."

"I see. And have you smartened up?"

"Yes, Sir. I believe I have."

"And how did that happen?"

"I talked to someone who loves me and wants what's best for me. My mother and I sat down last night and she asked me the questions I needed to ask myself but was too stupid to. I had my attention on the wrong things. She basically made me take a good hard look at every reason I had for not staying with your daughter. And they were all stupid."

"Ah. I have an idea, but Jillian didn't tell me what your stupidity was about. Would you mind enlightening me?"

"I was worried about her age. I thought it meant something. I realized it doesn't."

"I thought that might be it. Are you OK about that now?"

"Yes, I am. I'd like to ask you a few questions if you don't mind."

"I don't mind. I don't have to answer if I don't want to."

"That's fine. I think I know the answer to this one but I want to be sure. How do you feel about me dating your daughter?"

"I feel fine about it. She likes you a lot. You make her happy. I've also seen you make her sad, but I don't think that will happen much. I was very impressed when you made her come home and change yesterday. And made her happy to do so. I think you're good influence on my daughter, Jack."

"Thank you. I think we're both good for each other. Now the delicate one. How would you feel if your 14 year old daughter and I had an active sex life?"

"Do I need to worry about that?"

"Not today. I have a feeling if it was up to Jill it would happen very soon. I'm not ready for that yet. That doesn't mean I won't be ready for it next week. I'm sure you know how persuasive your daughter is. If she gets it in her head to make me take her to bed I don't know how long I'll be able to hold out. And I don't know if I'll even want to. Looking back at our conversation of yesterday, I can promise you I'll never take advantage of your daughter."

"I appreciate your candor. So your question was how would I feel if you were bedding my daughter. Definitely not enthusiastic. Maybe accepting. I'm no fool with my head in the clouds. My wife and I were very similar to Jillian and you. I was 18 and she was 15 when we started dating. It wasn't long before she knocked my feet out from under me. We had many problems and disagreements which finally caused her to leave me, but we never had any complaints about our sex life. I'm not going to be a hypocrite and keep my daughter locked up. We had a good talk when we got home Friday night and I gave her some condoms in the event she was ready. I would hope it would be done as an expression of love, not to satisfy hormonal urges if it happens."

"If it happens, it will be because we want to take the next step to express our love, Sir."

"Well, Jack, I can't ask for more than that. And I don't think Jillian can, either."

"Daddy? Is it safe to come in?"

I stood up and looked at her standing in the doorway. She had a black bikini on with a hot pink cover that made her look sexier than if she'd been naked. She looked nervous.

"I'd say that's up to Jack, Honey."

"Jack? Can I come in?"

I walked toward her with my arms out. She rushed into my arms and grabbed on to me for dear life. I held on to her and crushed her to my chest. I couldn't see because of the tears.

"Oh, Baby, Baby, Baby. Please forgive me. I'm so sorry. I don't want to lose you."

"Oh, Jack. Hold me. Hold me tight. Don't let me go."

We stood there and held on to each other. I finally tilted her face up towards mine and kissed her. There was no desperation, no anguish. Just love.

It didn't last long, both of us were pretty stuffed up. We went to separate bathrooms and cleaned up a bit.

I came out of the bathroom to see her father.

"Go out back and wait for her, Jack. I'll keep busy in my office. You two have a lot to talk about. When you're ready to eat, let me know and I'll join you."

I went outside through the door he pointed out to me. It was the first time I'd seen out back. They had a nice pool, a hot tub, some chairs and a good sized Weber barbecue. There was a changing room with a shower on the far side of the pool.

I had my suit on under my shorts. I went in the changing room and took off the shorts and my shirt and laid them on a chair.

I went out just in time to see Jill come outside. She still had her suit and the hot pink cover on but she looked 100% better. Her face lit up when she saw me. She'd washed it and she looked beautiful.

I walked over to her and held her in my arms.

"What did you and Daddy talk about?"

"Sex."

"Really? What about sex?"

"I told him I was afraid you would take advantage of me."

She kissed me. "Really. Do you think I would do something like that?"

"I know damn well you'd do something like that if I let you."

She kissed me again. "You mean you wouldn't let me?

"Not right now. Neither of us is really ready for that yet. We need to find out who the other one is first. When we're ready, we'll know it. And it will be a whole lot better than just diving into bed because our bodies are ready."

She kissed me again, a little longer this time. I was starting to get hard. "I think you're right. So we need to get to know each other quick. Because my body's really, really ready."

"There's no reason we can't play a little. I'm just not ready to go all the way yet. It's a pretty big step and I want to make sure about the person I take it with. I've heard there's a lot to be said for feeling and touching. And later on we might try tasting. I'm not in any rush."

The kiss was longer still. My hand made it to her ass again. Her hand left my back and moved around front to feel my cock. I was wearing my team swimsuit so it was starting to get uncomfortable. Her petting didn't help. Neither did holding her ass, for that matter. Some things are more important than a little discomfort.



-------

Chapter 6

Jill suggested we get in the pool. What she really said was "Last one in the pool is a rotten egg." I've never been able to figure out what's wrong with being a rotten egg. I let her beat me, then paid her back by dunking her.

She thought she was a pretty hot swimmer, so she challenged me to swim to the other end. I held way back and let her win. Not that she was a bad swimmer, she just wasn't in the same class as me. I'm not bragging, I'm just ranked third in the state in the 200 meter breaststroke and 200 and 400 meter freestyle for kids in high school.

She started calling me a wimp and a lightweight which led to more dunking and splashing, with her finally swimming underneath, trying to pull my suit down. My suit is really tight and it had an added appendage in the way so she was hardly able to budge it.

I grabbed the front of her trunks and pulled her toward me. She was ready to push away when she realized I was pulling her in for a kiss. She relaxed and kissed back. We were standing in water just below my chest. I had both hands on her back and I think she was actually floating a bit with her feet a couple of inches off the bottom. My hand had a mind of its own and made its way down to her butt. After I cupped it and felt it for a while, I slid it up to her lower back, just above her bathing suit. I curled my fingers and straightened them out. They were now inside the waist band of her suit. She held tighter as I slid my hand down, feeling that beautiful bottom with my hand. Nothing in the way. My hand, her butt. I was in heaven.

She broke the kiss to say "That feels good." I had to agree with her. She went back to kissing me and I felt her hand on my chest. Then there were two hands, sliding over my chest, running through the chest hair, feeling my nipples. Then she started working lower, under my chest, my stomach, finally one hand pulling out the waist band, the other attempting to go inside the suit. It was just too tight. She got her fingers into my pubic hair but that was as far down as she could push them.

"I want to see it." She was pushing me toward the edge of the pool. "Sit on the edge. I want to see it."

I put my hands behind me, grabbed onto the edge and pulled myself out of the water, sitting with my feet in the water. Jill moved up between my legs, moving them a little further apart. She explored the bulge of my suit with the palm of one hand. As it grew towards the top, she took her thumb and index finger and traced it from its base up to the tip.

She reached up and grabbed the waistband of my suit with both hands, tugging on it. She was able to slide it down a bit. I put my hands on the edge of the pool and lifted myself up so my butt was off the ground. She backed up so I could put my legs together.

She slid the suit down, then kneeled and pulled it all the way off. I was sitting on the edge of the pool naked with my wanger sticking straight up.

"God, Jill. What about your father?"

"He already has one. This one's mine."

I was going to argue some more but the hand I felt on my cock made me moan. All my attention went to the right hand gently stroking my cock while her left hand was hefting my balls. I'd done the same thing hundreds of times but it had never been like this. I couldn't believe how good it felt.

There was some precum leaking out and she wiped it off with her index finger. Like a bird examining a worm, she looked at her finger, then stuck her tongue out and tasted it.

"It doesn't taste like much of anything."

By this time there was more and she just took her finger out of the loop and licked it. God. I never felt anything like that. I pulled back as her tongue hit the crown.

"Did that hurt?"

"God, no. It felt goooood."

She leaned closer and opened her mouth, her tongue extended a bit. She came closer and her tongue was flat against the bottom of my cock head. God. Everything she did was better. I felt it clear down in my prostate. Almost electric. I had my eyes closed, enjoying the sensation.

I felt this liquid warmth around the head. An indescribable feeling. I opened my eyes to see what she was doing and I saw her eyes looking up at me as she smiled, holding my cock in her mouth. Jesus Christ!

It was too much for me. I think I mumbled something and reached for her head but couldn't quite make it. My cock spurted out a stream of come into her mouth.

Jill was not expecting this. It caught her totally off guard and I shot right into her throat.

She pulled back her head, coughing and gagging and holding her throat with her hand. The polite thing would have been for me to stop squirting. Yeah, right. The next shot spattered in her right eye. That shut, she yelped, backed up more and grabbed for the eye. Her hair got covered by the next one, then it died down enough to just dribble in the pool and finally down my cock on succeeding spurts.

I was appalled at what happened yet I'd never come that hard before. I slid in the pool and held her to my chest.

"I'm sorry, Jill. It felt so good I just couldn't help it."

She looked at me, then her hand. There was a big smear of come on where she'd been holding it up to her eye. She still had her eye shut.

Looking back at me, she started to giggle. She then cleaned her hand by rubbing it down my chest. I considered it an act of war and ran my fingers through her hair, using them as a comb to pick up the spurt that had landed there. She backed away as I brought my hand down toward her and I dove at her, pushing her backwards into the water. I wrapped my arms around her beneath the surface while she used both hands to rub her hair in an attempt to jar any remains loose. I was still holding her when we surfaced.

"Close your eyes, Jill." She followed my order. "Hold your breath." She sucked in, then held it, her cheeks puffing out.

I reached down and took her legs out from under her, pushing her back till her face was just under water. She stiffened up a bit, then relaxed as I wiped the remains off the vicinity of her eye. A couple of seconds later I lifted her upright.

Our kiss was gentle but it was different. We'd reached a new level in our caring for each other and I think we both realized we'd never be the same again.



-------

Chapter 7

We ended the kiss and looked at each other. Jill appeared to have matured about five years.

"I'm sorry about that. You shocked the hell out of me. I never imagined anything could feel that good."

"I'll forgive you this time. I expect a little more staying power in the future." She gave me a quick peck on the cheek.

I turned around and spotted my suit on the side of the pool. I swam over to it and was just picking it up when her father walked out the sliding glass door. Shit.

I put my suit on as best I could, keeping my back to him. It's so fucking tight its difficult putting it on wet, much less standing in four and a half feet of water. I looked over at the patio when I was done to see her father arranging charcoal on the barbecue, his back toward us.

The man had class. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had taken a punch at me. I know he said he'd understand, but actually seeing it is different than talking about it. Not that we'd done the big deed, but I was putting my bathing suit on a couple of feet away from his daughter.

He must have figured I was dressed. "Are you guys ready for some food?"

"Yes, Daddy. I need to call Wanda. I invited her over for lunch."

"Jack? Do you know how to use a barbecue?"

I knew that you put charcoal on it and were supposed to douse it with some kind of lighter fluid and light it, but that's about all I knew.

"Not really, sir. My father's dead and Mom doesn't like the hassle. She'd rather mess up her kitchen than clean up a barbecue."

"Yeah, it was cave MEN that invented fire, not cave WOMEN. Well, if you're going to be around here much, which I assume you are, you might as well come over here and learn. No use in having a bunch of dwarfs around unless you can make them do work for you."

He caught my attention with the dwarf comment but I saw he didn't mean anything by it.

"Don't let Daddy bother you. He just means he'd rather have you do all the work when you're around so he can look at his internet."

"OK. I see you've got the charcoal all ready. I guess I need the lighter fluid, huh?"

"Jack, I don't use lighter fluid. You should read all the warnings about what to do if you happen to drink any of it. Then there's a warning about how taking it internally can cause cancer. But you're supposed to feel perfectly safe in soaking charcoal with the stuff, having the fumes waft up at you before and after you light it, then eat food that's had the pleasure of having the fumes cooked into it. No thanks. See underneath the grill the charcoal's on?"

I had to lower my head to get the right angle but I could see that the section below the charcoal was filled with pieces of newspaper, crunched up into balls the size of a handball. I nodded my head.

He reached under the grill and rotated a piece of metal. It opened up three holes at the bottom of the kettle close to an inch in diameter each. He handed me a long lighter. Mom used one similar to light the fireplace on those few occasions when it was cold enough to have a fire and there were people around to enjoy it.

"OK. What you want to do is look through the holes and light whatever newspaper you can reach. The idea is for the paper to burn enough to catch the whole batch on fire and start the charcoal going."

I bent over and looked and saw one hole with nothing above it and two with newspaper visible. I lit the lighter and held it in one hole, then the other. I stuck the end of the lighter through the one where there wasn't any evident paper and shoved it as far away from the others as it would go. I looked in the top and saw the rest of the newspaper catch. Soon it was all burning and I could tell the charcoal was starting to light.

"The key is to make sure you have enough newspaper in there. Stuff it as full as you can. And don't use any of that glossy crap the furniture companies mail out. You can lift the grill with the charcoal on it, but it's a real hassle, especially if a little of it has lit. You don't want a bunch of charcoal that only has a corner burnt. The only thing you need to watch out for it doing this on a real windy day. Your neighbors will call the fire department on you, thinking you've got a fire in the back yard."

The newspaper was putting off a lot of smoke. I checked out the charcoal and could see that the stuff on the bottom appeared to have caught. "Why is it it made into a hill?"

"It ignites better that way. Once it's all gray with the red underneath, you just spread it out even and you have the best thing on earth to cook food with."

"Daddy, I've got some corn."

"OK, Jillian. Go ahead and lay it in the coals. Careful, use the tongs. I don't want you burning that pretty little hand of yours. And I'm sure Jack wants you to be able to use it as soon as my back is turned, too."

She turned red when he said that. I just flinched. She finished laying down the foil wrapped cob of corn she had in the tongs, put the plate with the rest of them on a stand next to the barbecue and turned to her father.

"That reminds me, Daddy. I need to make an appointment with the doctor next week."

"Why? What's wrong?"

"I need to get checked out so I can get put on the pill. And for your information, I just started out with my hand. I finished the job with my mouth."

Shit. I'd heard of families like this. I expected there to be yelling, throwing stuff at each other, things said that neither would ever be able to forget or forgive.

"Damn. You remind me more and more of your mother every day. Are you sure about this? No offense, but you guys only met a couple of days ago."

"Jack wants us to get to know each other. I'm fine with that. But I know it takes some time before the pill works. I'd rather be totally protected by the pill and not do anything than not be protected."

"I see what you're saying. How do you feel about this, Jack?"

"I told you before, Sir, I don't really have a lot to say about it. I'll admit the idea sounds good. If and when we reach that point, I'm sure I'd rather not have to wear a condom every time we make love."

"OK. I guess we need to make an appointment."

He pulled a cell phone out of his pocket and looked through the menu of numbers, selecting one. He held it to his ear for a couple of rings.

"Miriam? Hi. It's John O'Hara. She's fine but she's growing up too damn fast. I'm going to go bald or have all gray hair before I get her to move out. She's got this bug up her ass about being put on the pill. Think you could help me out? Yeah, as soon as possible. She's got this poor kid by the balls and is ready to drop her shorts any time. Thanks, I'll tell her."

He looked over at Jill. "You have an appointment with Dr. Bartlett tomorrow at 4:30. You need to find your own way over there."

"Jack? Do you think you could help get me to the doctor's?"

"Mom works early on Mondays. She would probably give us a ride. Can I call her?"

"There's a phone next to the bar in the den. That's the room we talked in, Jack."

"Thanks, Dr. O'Hara."

I went into the house. I was turned around entering from the patio instead of the front door but I finally got myself situated and found the den. Mom didn't ask why Jill had a doctor's appointment and why I wanted to take her. I have an idea she figured it out. I have a hell of a time keeping anything secret from her. I don't think I've ever been able to.

I ran into Wanda when I left the den. She lit up.

"Hi, Jack. Are things going OK with you and Jill?"

"Yeah, things are pretty good. She sure keeps a guy on his toes."

"Well, that keeps them occupied. Did you work out that age thing?"

She caught me off guard. From talking with her father, I didn't think Jill had mentioned that to anyone.

"Yeah, I had a good talk with my Mom and she straightened me out."

"That's good. I don't think I've ever heard Jill as upset as she was last night. We were on the phone till 2. I wouldn't be surprised if she was dehydrated from all the crying she did on the phone. I doubt she got any sleep."

Damn. Me and my stupid ideas. What was it her father told me the other day? Think before you do something stupid? I needed to start doing that.

"Well, they're out back cooking lunch."

"What are we having?"

"I don't know. I know it's going to be barbecued and we're having corn on the cob with it, but that's all I know."

"Oh, I bet we're having Doc's famous chicken. You'll love it."

I took a closer look at Wanda. I had most of my attention on Jill at the game. I noticed her father when he came up to check me over and a couple of times later but hardly even looked at Wanda, even though she was with us after we sat down and for dinner.

She was a pretty girl. She looked closer to my age. I'd guess 16. Really dark brown hair, almost black. Her eyes were a deep brown color and seemed to sparkle, especially when she was excited or enthused. Like when she talked about the chicken. There was a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Today her hair was done up in two braids, coming out of the sides of her head, not quite hanging straight out to the sides. She reminded me of illustrations I'd seen of Becky Thatcher in an old edition of Tom Sawyer.

She was about an inch shorter than I, making her a couple of inches taller than Jill. She had a very pretty smile and she had been displaying it most of the time we were talking. She turned it off when she talked about talking to Jill, then it came right back when we discussed food.

She was wearing shorts and a shirt that buttoned down the front. No tails on the shirt, just a straight bottom, maybe four inches below her navel, covering half her butt. The shorts were a lot looser than the ones Jill had worn yesterday. A pair of white tennies with ankle socks complete with red balls on the back finished the outfit. Nothing tight but you could see she had a nice figure. Bigger tits than Jill, a nice ass but not as nice as the one I'd held an hour or so earlier.

She was the perfect example of the kind of girl who would have scared the shit out of me three days ago. Yet we were talking as if we'd been friends for years. I even put my hand on her shoulder to guide her past me when I opened the door to the patio for her. She smiled and lightly kissed my cheek.

"You're such a gentleman, Jack." She raised her voice. "Jill, when you get tired of this guy, let me know. I'll take him off your hands."

God Damn It. I was doing so well. Then she had to go and say that. My face felt hot so I knew I'd turned red.

Jill's answer did nothing to help. "He's taking me to the doctor tomorrow so I can get on the pill."

"Wow. You guys work fast. And to think I used to come down on you because you were so shy."

"That was before Jack made me a woman."

"You Didn't!"

"Not that. But he almost choked me."

Dr. O'Hara clapped me on the back. "I'm sorry, this is more than I need to know, Jack. I'll be in the den. Call me when the charcoal's ready. And get Jill to finish putting that corn on the coals so it cooks."

I wanted to join him but I wasn't sure if I'd be welcome.

Wanda must have stripped while I had my attention on Jill's Dad, because I saw her clothes on a chaise lounge and the girls were now in the pool. They were standing in water just deep enough to cover the bottoms of their suits. Wand had a white top on, quite a contrast to Jill's black suit. I'd been right, her tits were a lot bigger than Jill's. They were both giggling as Jill held her two index fingers a few inches apart. Wanda asked something, then Jill made a circle with the index finger and thumb of her right hand. She looked at it and shook her head, then made the circle a little larger by adding part of the index finger of her left. After a couple of giggles, Wanda looked over at me with a knowing smile on her face.

My whole body must have turned red when I realized what Jill was demonstrating. I thought Jill was in trouble when she started to choke. Then she covered her eye with her hand and pointed to her hair. Wanda was laughing as if she'd never heard anything funnier. I turned around and concentrated on the barbecue.



-------

Chapter 8

Jill and Wanda finally stopped talking about our adventures in the pool and the charcoal was ready for the meat.

I went into the house and told Dr. O'Hara. He went into the kitchen and brought out a big rectangular Pyrex dish covered in tin foil. He set it down on the table next to the barbecue and took off the foil. It was filled with chicken breasts. They had obviously been marinated with a sauce of some kind.

"OK, Jack. Now you get to see what chicken's supposed to taste like. Why don't you spread out the charcoal and rotate those cobs of corn so they don't burn."

I had it ready for the meat in about a minute. He reached behind the barbecue and found a grill a little larger than the one the charcoal was on. It fit a groove in the kettle so we had a raised platform above the charcoal to cook on.

"Go ahead and lay those babies on the grill. Is everyone hungry today?"

"Yes, Daddy." "Sure am, Doc."

Jill whispered something into Wanda's ear and they both broke up.

"What's so funny?" I said like a damned fool.

Wanda stopped laughing long enough to say "Jill was just telling me she was hungry enough to eat something. And it wasn't a horse."

"Well, maybe hung like one."

It was my own damn fault. I didn't know enough to keep my stupid mouth shut. I turned back to the barbecue.

"You're never going to win, Jack. You might as well get used to it. Jillian's bad enough but once you team her up with Wanda you take your sanity in your hands every time you open your mouth."

I learned how to check the chicken to make sure it was cooked all the way through and how to barbecue without drying the meat. I guess chicken is particularly susceptible to drying out when cooked too fast and too hot.

We ate at a picnic table. Jill and I sat next to each other, Doc and Wanda were on the other bench. Dr. O'Hara was across from me.

The chicken was excellent. There were spices in it I didn't recognize that gave it a slightly sweet taste. I'd never had corn cooked over charcoal and it was different than I'd ever tasted, really good. We also had some potato salad that wasn't as good as what I'm used to.

"One of these days you guys should try my Mom's potato salad."

"She makes good potato salad Jack?"

"Yes sir. She makes her own mayonnaise and adds lots of hard boiled eggs and black olives. It's creamy and when you get an olive it's like when you find an M&M in your Trail Mix."

"That sounds good, Jack. You know we barbecue every Sunday. Why don't you invite your mother over next week. Do you think she'd mind bringing some of her potato salad with her?"

"For the chance to lay out by the pool, swim and eat food like we had that somebody else cooked, I'm sure she'd consider it a bargain. She could always make it ahead of time. It's better if it sits in the refrigerator a day or two. I just don't know if she's off next Sunday."

"Where does she work on Sundays?"

"She's a nurse over at Fernmont Hospital. She puts in a lot of hours."

"Maybe I know her. I do a lot of deliveries at Fernmont. What's her name?"

"June Hill. Same last name as mine."

"Maybe I've seen her. The name doesn't sound familiar."

"If she comes, do you mind if I invite my sister? Mom would worry if she had to stay home by herself."

"By all means. What's your sister's name?"

"Mary."

"How old is she?"

"She's 15, Daddy."

"Well, I'll look forward to meeting June and Mary next Sunday."

We all ate in silence before the doctor spoke again.

"Well, Jack, I see your team fared better against Highpoint last week than the football team."

"Yeah, I guess. We were pretty lucky."

"You know, Jack, you're way too modest. I know your record. I'd say luck didn't have a whole lot to do with it."

Jill and Wanda had been looking at each other, puzzled about our discussion.

"What are you talking about, Daddy? What team?"

"You don't know that your boyfriend is the captain of Fernmont's swim team?"

"No way. I kicked his ass in the pool today." She looked at me. "Jack?"

"Yes, Jill?"

"How come you let me beat you when we were swimming earlier?"

"I just didn't want to embarrass you and make you look like a fool."

Jill and Wanda looked at each other. They both had guilty looks on their faces.

"How long have you been swimming?"

"Oh, a long time. Mom always says I swam before I could walk. I don't know if it's true or not but I've been swimming as long as I can remember."

"Why do you think he's wearing racing swim trunks, Jillian? Shit, they've got the big 'F' on them for Fernmont. What did you think it meant?"

"I don't know, Daddy. I guess I didn't notice the letter. How good are you, Jack?

"I get by. I've got a really good team, to help me out."

Wanda impatiently broke into the conversation. "He's not going to tell us anything. How good is he, Doc?"

"Well, when he swims against other teams in the district, he doesn't lose. He's been in the program for two years and has yet to lose an event. He usually enters in three individual events and a couple of team events. Last year he placed third in the state final in his three events. He's the youngest team captain Fernmont has ever had, he was elected captain in the middle of his sophomore year. And he has a lot of colleges offering him scholarships, including Stanford. Is that about right, Jack?"

"I guess. Mom takes care of that scholarship stuff. I just go to school and swim. I'll worry about college in a year or so."

"Tell Jill your grade point average, Jack."

"It was 4.0 but that's just for the early grades. I hear the classes the last year can be a lot tougher."

"He's in all honors classes, Jill."

"Why didn't you tell me this stuff?"

"You don't need to know a bunch of junk like that. I was going to invite you to a meet sometime. It doesn't make that much difference what my grades are."

"Daddy, how do you know all this?"

"It's in the paper, dear. Don't I always tell you you should read the paper so you know what's going on?"

"Oh, those are just sports stories, Sir. They tend to exaggerate things."

"They do? What have I said about you that was untrue, Jack?"

"Um, nothing, I guess."

"Doesn't sound like exaggeration to me. You've gotten yourself hooked up with a rising star, daughter of mine. If I were you I'd start treating him a little better or he'll figure out he can get some respect elsewhere."

"I'm treating Jack good, Daddy."

"Really? Jack, how did you feel when Jill was telling Wanda everything the two of you did within a half hour of doing it? And the two of them giggling about it?"

"I didn't feel real good, Sir. But Sir? I don't mean to be disrespectful, but I think I'm perfectly capable of fighting my own battles."

"Of course, Jack. I apologize. My only excuse is it made me mad to see my daughter purposely try to embarrass you..."

"Dr. O'Hara. Please. I insist. Let me take care of this in my own way. This is between the two of us."

"Jack, I feel as a father I have the right to tell my daughter how to behave."

"Excuse me, Dr. O'Hara. I know you're probably going to kick me out for saying this but I have to say something. You had that right. In fact, it was a responsibility, even a duty. From what I see in your daughter, you didn't exercise your right or your duty very much. Now I come on the scene and you attempt to teach some manners to a girl you've apparently let run wild her whole life, free to do whatever she wanted. And able to talk you into or out of anything you had the audacity to disagree with her about. I'm sorry sir, but it's a little late for you to start. Jill wants to be with me and I want to be with her. There are some behaviors I'm not going to tolerate in order for her to do that. Once again, let me take care of this my own way. I insist."

He stood up and started around the table. I got up and stood behind the bench, waiting for him. He smiled and put his hand out. I took it and shook it. He didn't release but pulled me to his chest, reaching behind me with the other hand, clapping me on the back.

"You're right. I should have put her over my knee years ago and kept doing it whenever it was needed. Her mother's leaving us was probably the cause but it's no excuse. I'll leave her in your hands. Good luck, Son."

"Thank you, Sir." I hugged him back before we released each other.

Wanda spoke up. "I'm involved, too, Jack."

"Wanda, the only reason you're involved is that Jill involved you. If she didn't say anything or if she told you it was private when you asked her, you wouldn't have been involved in anything."

"Jack, I'm..."

"Jill. That's enough for now. We will talk about this but I'm not going to interrupt my lunch and everybody else's to discuss something that is our concern and only our concern. The two of us will get together later and discuss it. Now eat your lunch."

"Yes, Jack."

Both Wanda and Dr. O'Hara looked at me with new respect. Jill looked at me with pride.

We finished eating. Wanda told Jill she had to do some homework and she'd call her tonight. Jill's Dad went in the house.

"Jill? How would you like to go for a walk?"

"A walk? Where?"

"Just around the neighborhood. We need to talk and we can both stand to get a little exercise after that meal."

My suit was dry so I went into the changing room to get dressed. Jill followed me in and reached behind her back to undo her top.

"Jill? I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't do that."

"I thought..."

"I'm afraid you thought wrong. I'll go outside and give you some privacy."

She was out in a minute, wearing a pair of shorts, a Highpoint gym shirt and tennies, an expectant look on her face. I took her hand.

It was just after 3:00 on a September Sunday in Southern California. It was fairly dry and the temperature was up in the high 80's.

Jill's neighborhood was filled with homes on large lots, back from the street. Most had huge front lawns, some with hedges lining the boundary. Some had gone a different way. One had the complete front yard filled with small white rocks and 25 or so cactus, including a couple that were over 10' tall. Out of place for our neighborhood, better suited to Arizona. Red stone and bushes decorated another. We passed a house that had bushes trimmed in the shape of animals. Not quite Disneyland quality but impressive nonetheless.

After we'd walked about five minutes I started talking.

"Jill? What do you think about the word privacy?"

It caught her off guard. "I don't know. I mean I keep the door closed when I'm in my bedroom or the bathroom so my father doesn't come in. Is that what you mean?"

I ignored her question. "Why is that? Don't you want your father seeing what you're doing?"

She reddened. "No. Sometimes I do things that aren't his business."

"Really? What kind of things?"

"Well, I wouldn't want him to see me shower or use the toilet or even shave my legs. Or change clothes. And there are some times I do other things I wouldn't want him to see."

"What other things?"

She reddened. "Sometimes I... touch myself."

"So, why wouldn't you want your father to see these things?"

"Jack! They're personal. They're none of his business. I don't want to watch him take a crap or beat off, either."

"I see. So what gives you that right?"

"I don't understand? What right?"

"The right to have things that are personal. Things you don't want other people to be involved with?"

"I don't know. It's just a right. People have the right to their own privacy."

"So do you think I might have that right?"

"Of course you do, Jack. Don't be..."

She stopped, obviously examining something.

"Don't be what, Jill?"

"Oh, God, I'm sorry Jack. I'm doing the same thing I did at the mall. You probably hate me." A couple of tears were coming down her cheeks.

I pulled her into my arms and up against my chest.

"Don't be silly. I don't hate you. If I hated you I wouldn't bother having this conversation with you." I stood back and wiped the tears off her face with my thumb, then kissed her on the forehead.

"Jill, I loved what we did today. I've never felt that good, ever. But it embarrassed the hell out of me when your father came outside as I was picking up my suit. I can't even think how embarrassed I would have been if my cock had been in your mouth when he walked outside. Would you have liked that?"

"God, no."

"I know I let you do it and that's my fault. There's no way we should have done something out in the open like that. It would have been too easy for someone to catch us. How do you think he felt when you told him you wanted to be put on the pill with me standing next to you? How do you think I felt?"

"I don't know."

"I felt really, really, really embarrassed. Maybe your father's used to it but if I was him I would have felt backed into a corner. I don't think it was fair to do that to him."

"But I always do that to him."

"I'm sure you do. But that doesn't make it fair, does it?"

"No, Jack."

"The first time I talked to your father he told me what he thought was the best advice he could give me. I've been thinking about what he said and I think he's right. He told me that I should sit back a couple of seconds and think about how what I was about to say or do would affect the people involved. He told me that some of the biggest mistakes he made were because he did something without thinking. I believe he violated that advice with you a lot. In an effort to make you happy, not seem mean, whatever, he let you get away with murder. And you've grown used to it. In fact, you've grown to expect it. You two seem to survive alright that way, even though he seems frustrated with you an awful lot. But you're starting to expand beyond your little world. People out here aren't going to react that well to what they consider to be a spoiled brat. And you know? I think one of these days your Dad will take an objective look at you and be disappointed."

She was scrunched up against my chest, holding on tight. I could hear her sniffle once in a while.

"Jill? Do you know what manners are?"

"Saying please and thank you. Holding a door open for someone."

"Those are some examples. Why do manners exist? Why do we do those things?"

"I don't know. I guess people feel appreciated."

"That's one reason. But I think it's even more basic than that. If you show good manners to people, they feel accepted. Maybe even a little important. They feel that they matter. Have you ever met anyone who was rude to you?"

"Yes. There was this one girl in Jr. high who always ignored me and made fun of me to her friends."

"Did that make you feel good? Make you feel important to her, accepted?"

"No. It made me feel like I wanted to do something to make her like me but I knew there was nothing I could do to make her change her mind."

"Jill, you've done some things over the past couple of days that I considered rude. You didn't take a couple of seconds to think about them, you just did them."

"What things?"

"Well, what things have I become upset about or embarrassed over?"

She thought a minute. "You were pretty embarrassed at Victoria's Secret. And when I was telling Wanda what we did. And how big you are. And when I told her I was hungry enough to eat a cock."

I laughed at that one. "I didn't know that's what you said but I was pretty sure. Do you see anything in common with those things?"

"Two of them were with Wanda and another was with another girl. I was talking about you to somebody else while you were there."

"Do you like it when somebody does that to you?"

"No."

"What about if you're not there. Is is OK for people to talk and laugh about you?"

"No. It's rude."

"Well, there you go. Damn it Jill, I like you a lot. But you frustrate the hell out of me. I don't mean being teased. If it's one on one I can fight back if I don't like it. But when I'm off to the side and you're doing something that feels like you're making fun of me I just feel like leaving. There have been a couple of times I've been ready to but I take a look at whether I want to be without you and decide it's worth it to stick it out. But it would be so much better if I didn't have to consider running away."

"I'm sorry, Jack. I'll try to do better. What could I have done differently with Daddy and the birth control pills?"

"You could have talked to him alone."

"But you had a right to know."

"That's interesting. The first I heard about it was when you ordered your father to take you to the doctor. No asking me what I thought about it, no allowing me to come with you to ask your father, just a demand in front of me so he had little or no choice about it. If it was just you, it wouldn't bother me. But I got the idea that I'm the reason you're doing this. I think I should have some say about it, too."

"I should have talked to you about it. But I couldn't handle it if he said no."

"I know. And I feel sorry for both of you. Because he never has."

Jill was fairly silent on the walk home. I knew I'd given her a lot to think about.



-------

Chapter 9

We all sat down to dinner. I was glad we'd taken that walk. Mom had roast beef with mashed potatoes and gravy and asparagus covered in sour cream.

"So how was your big date."

"It was fine, Mary."

"Did you get any?"

"Mary, I don't want to hear talk like that. It's Jackie's business whether he got any or not. How would you like it if he asked you if you put out when you start dating?"

My father's name was Jack Raymond Hill. When I was born, they named me Jack Royce Hill. So technically I'm not a junior. However, it soon got obvious that we had to be called different names or it would be too confusing. My mother started calling him Jack and me Jackie. I was known by both names to my friends. After Dad died, I decided I liked Jack better and got my sister and most of my friends to use that name. My mother switches back and forth. If she's serious about something, Jackie is most likely to be the one she uses. If she's real serious, it's Jack Royce Hill. I don't like to hear that.

Mary decided she didn't want me asking if she put out on dates so she quieted down.

"I found out they barbecue and go swimming every Sunday. I kind of got an invitation for the two of you if you're not working next week."

"I work early Sunday. I'll be home by 11. I guess I could camp out by the pool as easily as on the couch here. What do you mean you 'kind of got an invitation?'"

"We had chicken and corn on the cob both done on the grill and they were both great. And then they brought out this store bought potato salad. I guess I sort of bragged about yours and the next thing I knew I was saying you'd be glad to make some for a chance to relax by the pool and have a good meal you didn't have to cook."

"You did, huh? Do you know how much work it is to make that stuff?"

"I know. I'd be glad to help. And Mary would probably help for a chance to go swimming."

"I don't know. What do you think, Mary? Is it worth it to help so you can go swimming and Jackie can impress his girlfriend and her father?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Maybe he'll help me out sometime."

They both laughed and I realized they'd been teasing me.

We finished dinner around 7:00. Mom was pretty strict about doing things on school nights. It was Mary's turn to rinse and put dishes in the dishwasher. I got Mom by herself.

"Mom, I know I've got school tomorrow but I need a big favor."

"What's that, Jackie?"

"I need to borrow the car and go over to Jill's. There's something I need to talk to her about. I promise I'll be home by 9:00."

"This is important to you, isn't it?"

"Yeah, Mom, it is. Very important. I owe Jill an apology and I want to do it face to face."

She pulled my head to her and kissed the top of it. When she let me go I could see moisture in her eyes. "My purse is in the bedroom. Do you want to take her out for dessert?"

"Oh, Mom, that would be great."

"Take a twenty out of my wallet. And if it's 9:30, I won't be mad at you."

I kissed her on the lips which wasn't unheard of but wasn't common, either. "Thanks, Mom. I love you."

"I love you too, Jackie. I mean Jack."

It took about 15 minutes to get to her house. Dr. O'Hara looked surprised to see me. He stood holding the door open but didn't invite me in.

"I didn't expect to see you, Jack. Jill didn't mention anything about you coming over."

"She's not expecting me, sir. I came over to apologize to her."

"Really?"

"Yes, Sir. And while I'm at it, I think I owe you an apology, too."

"I don't see why. The things you said to me were true. You actually opened my eyes about how I've hurt Jill in my attempts not to hurt her."

"I understand that, Sir, but it wasn't right for me to tell you you'd been a lousy father in front of your daughter and her friend. No matter what I think about your parenting, I respect you. And that didn't show respect. So I apologize, Sir."

He stepped aside. "Come in, Jack. I appreciate the apology. And would you please just call me John?"

"Sir, I don't think that shows the amount of respect I should give an elder."

"I appreciate that, Jack. Someone did a hell of a job teaching you manners. I have a pretty good idea I'll get to meet her next Sunday. But you're 17 years old, Jack. You're almost a man. There's a good chance you'll be my daughter's first lover as well as her boyfriend. Dr. O'Hara and Sir are too formal. Please call me John."

"OK, John."

"That's better."

"John?"

"Yes, Jack?"

"I just want to let you know I don't think you're a terrible father. I really respect the way Jill can tell you anything. And the way you let her say anything without making her wrong for it. I know you've been lax in some ways, but the closeness you've got is something special. I just realized that since I met Jill, my mom started exhibiting the same thing to me."

"You know, Jack, I'm getting anxious to meet this wonder woman. Did you talk to her about next week?"

Yes, Sir. I mean John. She got me and my sister to agree to help make the potato salad but they're both coming."

"Jack. I don't want to put anyone out. They're both welcome to come over even with out the potato salad."

"No, John. I'm proud of her salad and I got everyone interested in it. She really enjoys making it. I wouldn't be surprised if she tells my sister and me to go do something else when it's actually time to make it."

"Daddy, I heard voices. Oh. Hi Jack."

Jill looked gorgeous. She had a pair of jean shorts that looked like they were painted on. She was wearing a blue plaid shirt, tied under her bust like yesterday's. She also looked hesitant.

"Jill, I'd like to take you out for some ice cream if it's OK with your father. And you, of course."

"Daddy?"

"Sure, Honey. How long do you think you'll be, Jack?"

"I have to be home by 9:30. Would 9:00 be OK with you?"

"Fine."

I took Jill out to the car. She got in and fastened the seatbelt next to the door.

"You're mad at me, aren't you Jill?"

"No, I'm not mad. Jack, you scared me today. I don't know if I can be good enough to please you."

"God, I'm sorry, Jill. I've known you for two days and think I can change the way you behave. I gave you this big lecture about your father's advice while ignoring it myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean I didn't think a couple of seconds before I acted. I just went along telling you your sense of humor was all wrong, talking to your friends was all wrong, the way you communicate with your father was all wrong. Pretty much your whole life was all wrong. No wonder your afraid you can't measure up to my expectations. You'd have to be strapped down with a gag in your mouth to behave the way I spouted off. There's someone else I didn't think about when I opened my big mouth, either."

"Who was that?"

"Me. I didn't realize that most of the stuff that I was trying to stop is what makes you the girl I fell for. And am starting to fall in love with."

"And how did you have this realization?"

"We were eating dinner and my mother and sister were teasing me. And I realized the only reason they did it is because they love me. I got to thinking how things were when I was young and my Dad was alive. I don't remember a lot about him. But one thing I remember is his laugh. He had this great big booming laugh. And my Mom had this laugh, too. Not as loud, kind of musical I haven't heard either of them since he died. But I can hear them as if they were in the next room. They'd usually be running around the house, Dad chasing Mom. Her laugh sounded sexy, loving. Strange how you can get that emotion from a laugh."

I wiped a tear out of my eye. "Sorry. I didn't mean to get all crazy on you." I looked at Jill and the tears were streaming down her face.

She undid her seatbelt and held her arms out to me. This time I went to her. I grabbed on for dear life and let loose. She held on tight and cried with me.

I don't know how long we cried. I finally got control of myself.

"You know, I remember crying at his funeral. I cried because he was gone. That was nine years ago. I don't think I ever cried for me till just now. I miss having a father. I had to grow up so fast. Mom's been great, but there have been times I needed him and she was pulling a late shift or was too tired to help. No, I take that back. I felt too guilty to ask for help. I felt she needed her own time to rest or whatever and I wasn't important enough to take that time away from her."

"Have you ever told her you feel that way?"

"No."

"I bet she'd be shocked. And hurt that you thought she wasn't there for you."

"You're probably right. You know, I realized something else today."

"What's that?"

"I was acting kind of stupid when your father was talking about my achievements. I guess I was trying to be modest or something, but those are the kinds of things we should know about each other. That comment about you not needing to know about my grades and my classes was out of line."

"I know. I want to know everything about you, Jack. You just became more human than you've been since I had you in my lap at the football game on Friday. And I have to tell you, I like that Jack a lot better than the grouch who was over here this afternoon."

"Would you like to kiss an old grouch?"

"No. But I'll kiss you."

We kissed each other as if it was the first time. Jill put her whole being into that kiss, it's as if I could taste her soul. I reached up and touched a breast through her shirt and she stopped.

"Please, Jack. You were right. Neither of us is ready for that yet. Let's get to know each other first."

I squeezed her extra hard as we kissed again.

We were pulled out of our reverie by tapping on her window. I looked over to see her father bent over, looking at us. Jill rolled down the window.

"I see you two never made it out for your ice cream. Is everything OK?"

"Yes, Daddy."

"Good. I don't want to intrude but you did tell me you'd have Jillian home by 9:00. I assume you have a time you need to be home, too."

"Yes, John. I told my mother I'd be home by 9:30."

"I'm sorry I didn't come out sooner. It's 9:20."

"Jill opened the door and got out.

"Wait a minute. Do you still need a ride tomorrow?"

"Of course. Can you meet me here at 4:00?"

"Sure. I'll see you then."

She kissed her index finger and leaned in and pressed it against my lips. I kissed it and moved back to my seat, starting the car.

Jill stayed on the sidewalk, smiling and waving as I drove away. Her father had his arm around her shoulders. I saw them turn and walk toward the house through the rear view mirror.



-------

Chapter 10

Mom was on the phone in the living room when I got home. I looked at the grandfather clock and saw that I was ten minutes late. She just smiled and held out her hand for her keys. I gave them to her and started to walk away. She put the keys on the table in front of her and snapped her fingers, then held her hand out again, making a "gimme" motion with her fingers. I couldn't figure it out, then it dawned on me and I got the twenty I took for ice cream and gave it to her.

"I haven't been out in the sun for quite a while. Are you sure you'll be able to stand the glare of my white body? -- OK. -- Alright then, I'll see you next Sunday. -- You, too. -- Goodbye."

She hung up the phone and smiled at me. "It sounds like you achieved your objective."

"Yeah. Sorry I'm late. The time just got away from us."

"It's OK. Just don't make a habit of it. Jill called to make sure you didn't get in trouble. She's a nice girl, Jack. Watch your step with her. It would be a shame to lose her."

"Did she have anything to say about me?"

"Let's see. You're a pompous ass who thinks way too much of himself. You have a lot of good qualities but you're afraid to let other people see them. You are a good kisser when you are not being an idiot about something minor. And you're the nicest, most caring, most frustrating guy she's ever met."

"Yeah, I love her too."

We both laughed.

"She also said I failed you as a mother."

"Now wait a minute. I never said that."

"No, she said you didn't. You took complete responsibility for not wanting to bother me. Jackie, do you think it bothers me to help out my child when he's in trouble or just needs a parent? Do you think that little of me as a mother?"

"Mom... I..."

"Jackie, I work as a nurse to pay for this house, buy food, pay for an old car, gas and insurance. But my job is being a mother to you and Mary. It hurts to have somebody who's only known you for 48 hours tell me that you've been hurting and were afraid to bother me by coming to me. I haven't been doing my job. How could you even think I didn't care for you?"

"Mom, I never thought you didn't care for us. That's why you work such long hours and are tired all the time. Part of my job is to make things as easy as I can and not bother you with a bunch of crap."

"It isn't crap when you're growing up and need help or guidance or even someone to talk to about what's been happening in your life. Jill told me you wouldn't discuss your school with her earlier today. That's where you spend almost a third of your life nine months a year. You talk about waiting till you know each other before you have sex and then you deliberately won't tell her about a major part of your life? Do you really think you're so worthless that people would think what you are, what you feel, what you fear, what you're confused about aren't important?"

"I don't know what to say, Mom. I guess I do. I almost feel it's an imposition to worry you or take up your time. And that other people wouldn't be interested in what I do."

"Oh, Jack. You're so wrong. You need to let other people into your life or you're going to be a miserable, lonely man. Jill got pushed into you and knocked you down. You got hurt as a result. She felt responsible and sorry for you. She told me that lasted about a minute and a half until she started to feel something else. She felt you. That goodness, that caring, that wonder you try so hard to hide from others. When you told her to go back to stroking your hair she got excited. Do you understand what I'm saying? Her nipples got hard and her vagina started lubricating. We're designed so those things happen just before sex. It usually takes petting or at least heavy kissing to make that happen in a woman. But every once in a while, a woman meets a man she is so attuned to that just holding him or even talking to him can make those things happen in her. When you acted like you were going to get rid of her because you thought she was 15, she panicked. She thought she had to seduce you to make you interested. She was ready to take you in the changing room this afternoon and let you do anything up to and including have sex with her. Not because she thought she had to hold on to you but because her body was demanding her to. And you tell her you're not interested until you both know each other and then clam up about yourself. It's not right, Jack. You either need to dump her or get to know her and let her know you. You're not being fair to her."

"Damn. How long were you two on the phone?"

"Fifteen or twenty minutes. She's not a complicated girl. She's perfectly willing to communicate. Do you know why she was crying as hard as you were tonight?"

"I thought it was because I was crying."

"It was, a little bit. But the main reason is she misses her mother. She doesn't remember her but she still feels abandoned. Her father seems to be doing a wonderful job and it sounds like she has no problem bothering him but she wants a mother. That's something she's been keeping inside for years and it came to the surface tonight. She wanted so much to tell you but didn't feel comfortable doing it."

"Mom, I need to go back over there."

"No, you don't. It's almost 10:30. It would be 11 by the time you got there and probably 1 or 2 when you got back. Both of you have to go to school tomorrow and you've got a pretty important appointment tomorrow afternoon. What you will do is call her before you go to school and invite her over to dinner tomorrow night. Then you will bring her home after her appointment and the two of you will sit down and find out about each other. You can neck a little if you need to, but I want you to find out at least ten things about her you don't know. And I want you to tell her ten things about you."

"Mom, how did you get so wise?"

"I've always been this way, Jackie. You just never took the trouble to find out."

I kissed her on the cheek and she stood up and took me in her arms. I don't know which of us held the other tighter.

"I love you, Mom. I'm going to bed so I can call Jill first thing in the morning."

"Goodnight, Jackie. And, Jackie?"

"Mom?"

"You're right. I haven't laughed that way since your father died. I'm surprised you remember that. Some of the best times we had were when we just played. Don't lose that with Jill. I know it's frustrating when she teases you. She does it so much because you're so easy to tease. But I'm sure you'll find that she can be teased, too. As long as it's all in fun, it can be one of the best things in your relationship. Your father and I had something very special. He used to tease the hell out of me. And I gave it right back. I felt about him the way Jill feels about you. Get to know her. As she is. Don't mess this up or you'll be sorry."

"I'll do my best, Mom. Thanks. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Son."

I must have stayed awake thinking for a couple of hours before my body had enough and I went to sleep. I had a lot to learn. About Jill, about being in love and about me.



-------

Chapter 11

Morning came too damned early. Or I went to sleep too damned late. One of those.

I forced my self out of bed. I had an important call to make and a big day ahead of me. If someone had told me when I woke up for school last Friday that on Monday I'd be taking a girlfriend to a doctor so she could get on the pill it would have been inconceivable. Yet that's what I was doing after school.

I got in the shower and thought more about what I'd been thinking about before I fell asleep. Mom's conversation with Jill. Particularly, Jill's side of the conversation. I'd gone from turning her on by just being in her lap to her trying to seduce me to her being completely ready for me to have sex with her to her taking my hand off her breast, saying I was right, we should wait.

Something seemed backwards here. Yet if you followed what had been happening, her pushing me away showed that I had convinced her what I wanted. Was that really what I wanted? I didn't know.

There was some pounding on the bathroom door and Mary asked if I was going to be in the shower all morning. Well, not actually asked. More like yelled.

Mom had an early shift today so I went into the kitchen and had some cereal and OJ for breakfast. Mary came in as I was halfway through my Wheaties.

"Hi, Lover Boy. Out late on a school night. Sounds like you found an easy senior."

"Not quite. Jill's a freshman."

"A FRESHMAN? Oh my God. My big brother's got the hots for a Freshman? Oh, wait till my friends hear about this."

"Go ahead. I'll be sure to tell any guys older than 15 you decide to date what your opinion is about young girls and older guys."

"I guess you're right. But a freshman? Really?"

"Yes, really. I don't know why, we just hit it off. I really like this girl, Sis. I've been doing a pretty good job of messing it up myself. I don't need any help."

"I bet you're being Mr. Smart-ass Know-it-all and she doesn't like it."

"How did you know that?"

"Come on, JackIEEE. I've known you for 15 years."

She always said my name like that when she wanted to make a point.

"So, tell me about her. Is she as pretty as I am? Does she have big tits? Is she a screamer?"

"First of all, nobody could be as pretty as you are, sister of mine. No, she doesn't have big tits but they look perfect on her. And they feel pretty good from what I could tell before my hand was taken away. And nobody screams as loud as you do when you're playing with your hairbrush."

She turned slightly red. "How did you know about that? Do I really scream?"

"You left it on the bathroom counter one day. It must have been soon after you used it because the handle was wet. Let's just say you have a distinctive odor when you're excited. And I haven't heard any screaming but I've heard moaning coming out of your room on more than one occasion."

"Wow. I guess it could be worse. I could grunt like some people I know."

"Well, maybe we could grunt and moan together."

She turned red and got real quiet. I'd never seen my sister act like that before.

"Hey, Mary. I'm just kidding. You know I'd never do anything like that to you."

"Yeah, I know."

"I've got to go call Jill. I'm going to invite her for dinner. You'll get to meet her."

"Cool. That'll be nice."

"Hey. Are you OK?"

"Yeah, Jack. I'm fine. Go call your girlfriend."

"OK."

I went in the living room and called Jill's number. She answered after the first ring.

"Hi, Jill. It's me, Jack. What were you doing, standing next to the phone?"

"No, well I mean yeah. I mean this is my number. For the phone in my room. I'm getting ready for school. You didn't call to cancel, did you?"

"No, I called to invite you over for dinner after we go to the doctor. I'll have you home by 8."

"Daddy got called out to deliver a baby. I'll call his service and leave a message. It should be fine. If it's not, I'll know when you pick me up this afternoon."

"It sounds like you and Mom had quite a talk."

"Yeah. I really like your mom. She's a good person, Jack. You should talk to her more often."

"I plan to. Jill, she told me about your mother and why you were crying last night. I'm sorry about your mother and I'm especially sorry you didn't feel you could tell me. I want to talk tonight so we can get to know each other better. And I want to get to the point where you can tell me stuff like that."

"I'd like that, Jackie."

"God, not you too."

"Does it really bother you? I can stop if you want."

"No, it doesn't bother me. It might if you did it in front of all my buddies at a game but I could probably even handle that, knowing it was you."

"Oh, Jackie. You're so sweet."

"I gotta go. I'll see you this afternoon, OK?"

"OK. Have fun at school, Jackie."

I ran in and brushed my teeth and went outside just as Jeff and Chris came up.

"Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Pretty good. Hey Jack. Jeff tells me you got pussy whipped all weekend."

"Yeah, well Jeff doesn't even know what a pussy looks like."

"Whoa, Jack. Good one."

"Well at least I don't have to worry about giving any secrets away."

"Damn, Jeff. You looked like a deer caught in the headlights when Jill was talking to you. You couldn't remember your fucking name much less give any secrets away."

Chris was curious. "So what's up, Jack? You didn't come back from the snack bar and Jeff tells us some girl ran into you and knocked you out and you're laying in her lap, then you miss Taco Bell and this morning Jeff tells me he saw the two of you at the mall Saturday and you were all wrapped around each other."

"I found a girl I like. And she likes me."

"I hear she goes to Highpoint."

"Yeah, but we never even mentioned it. She cheered a couple of times and acted guilty about it but it's no big deal. She even yelled at the guys around us when I cheered for that pass we picked off in the late third quarter and a bunch of them threw trash at me."

"So, is she a senior too?"

"Nope."

"All right! The Jackster's going out with a junior."

"Nope. I guess I might as well get this over with. She's a freshman."

"A Freshman? A Freshman? Alright Jack. You got it made in the shade. Young and innocent. Doesn't know any better. So, did you teach her the facts of life over the weekend?"

"Knock it off, Chris. It's not like that. I like this girl. I like her a lot. And she likes me. We're comfortable together. She feels good in my arms. And she kisses like an angel."

"Alright Jack! Is she pretty?"

"I think she's beautiful. Hey, Jeff. You've been awful quiet. Do you think Jill's pretty?"

"She's OK."

"Hey, Dude. What's u?. You've hardly said anything and we're almost at school."

"I'm just wondering if you're gonna have time for your buddies now that you've got a girl to keep you busy."

"Hell, I don't know. I've only known her for a weekend. We'll still walk to school every day and eat lunch together. Swimming's gonna keep me from walking home with you more than she is. Well, she's got a doctors appointment I'm supposed to take her to this afternoon."

"See. I knew it."

"Hey. It's one day. She's not going to have an appointment every day."

"Alright. What about Fridays? Are you still going to go to the games with us? Like you have every game for three years? Or are you going to be going to Highpoint games?"

"I don't know, Jeff. We haven't talked about that. We should, because I know I'm going to want to be with her whether it's at a Highpoint game or a Fernmont game. I'm tired of sitting with a bunch of guys, staring at all the girls, bragging about what I'd do with them if I only got the chance and then running away with my tail between my legs if one of them happens to look at me.

"And I'm going to go with her to dances, whether they're at our school or hers so I can dance instead of standing to the side, talking big. And if I don't fuck it up and we're still going together, I'm going to take her to the prom. I'm tired of watching everyone else have fun. I'm going to enjoy myself. And I'm going to do it with Jill."

"Well you can do it without me, Jack. I'll just keep on being a loser."

"Hey I didn't say anything about you being a loser."

"Not out loud, you didn't. I'll see you guys later."

Chris was looking back and forth at us in confusion as Jeff angled off toward another entrance to school.

"Come on Jeff, don't be that way. We've all been friends since fifth grade."

"Yeah, well maybe it's time to end the friendship." He went up the stairs and into the science building.

What the hell was going on? Jeff was one of the most easy going guys I knew. He was acting way out of character.

"Chris? Did I do anything wrong? He went way overboard."

"He'll get over it, Jack. He's probably pissed off because you've found somebody and he hasn't."

"I hope that's all it is. He really flipped out."

"He'll cool down. Just give him time. I gotta get to English. See you later."

Chris took off as I went on toward my History class. One thing this walk had made me realize - my life was going to change drastically as long as I kept seeing Jill. And I planned on that being long time.



-------

Chapter 12

School was school. Not much different from every other day.

The main reason I didn't talk about it at Jill's house is because it's nothing special to me. I'm one of those kids that everybody hates. I hear it or read it once and I remember it forever. Pretty much anything from the rules of grammar to dates to scientific principles. I don't have logarithms memorized but I can place the elements in order and come pretty close to their atomic numbers. Not quite a photographic memory. If anybody gives me any crap about not having to study I tell them I have a pornographic memory. It usually shuts them up. Of course, if it was a girl giving me crap, I used to mumble and turn away. I wonder what would happen if I used that memory line on one of them now. I realized I could probably talk to a girl in school without much of a problem.

I got pulled out of my daydreams twice by Mr. Hanson, my History teacher. He made some smart ass comment that I must be in love that got a few laughs and I decided to pay attention. He had me stay after class.

"Jack, I apologize for that comment earlier. It's none of my business whether you're in love or not, nor is it the class's. It's just so unusual for you to be somewhere else when your body's in class. See if you can join us from now on."

"I will, Mr. Hanson. Sorry about that."

A lot of the same kids were in the rest of the honors classes with me and I got a few smiles from some of them in English, my next class. For the first time I was able to smile back at the girls, totally relaxed.

Last period was my PE period. Since I was on the swim team, it was spent at the pool. It wasn't required but most days I stuck around till 5:00 or so. I went up to Coach Arthur before I suited up.

"Coach? I need to get going right after class today. I've got to do something."

"All right, Hill. Don't make a habit of it. I know you blow everyone away but you need to keep up your workouts."

"I know, Coach. Just today."

He didn't ask why I needed to take off and I didn't volunteer anything.

I rushed through my shower and was in front of the school five minutes after the bell. Mom was waiting for me. I got in next to her.

"Thanks a lot Mom. I really appreciate this."

"Jack, I've decided to go home. You can drop me off and then pick up Jill. You should have plenty of time to get there by 4:00."

"I know she wants to meet you, Mom."

"And I want to meet her. She's coming over for dinner, I'll meet her then. Besides, you have an assignment. And it doesn't count if she and I tell each other anything."

My assignment. Find out 10 things I didn't know about Jill and tell her 10 about me. Mom talked to her for 15 minutes on the phone and got her life story. I guess I needed to get going or mom would pull everything there was to know about her out during dinner.

Mom pulled up in front of our house and I kissed her on the cheek.

"Thanks, Mom."

"You're welcome, Jack." I heard a sniffle as she got out of the car.

I got to Jill's with five minutes to spare.

"Oh, good. I'm glad you made it."

"I told you I'd be here."

"I know. It's just that Daddy gets called away so often to deliver babies that I'm surprised when somebody actually shows up when they're supposed to."

"I won't let you down."

I just realized all we'd done was talk.

"Hey. Can I get a kiss here?"

She smiled and leaned into me. By now I'd seen her lips parting as her eyes closed and she melded into me countless times but it still made me catch my breath. That combination of actions told me she was mine more than anything either of us did.

"God, I love kissing you, Jill."

"I love kissing you, too. When you put yourself into it."

"Yeah, I heard."

"You're not mad I talked to your mom about something personal, are you?"

"No, I'm just beginning to realize what a great mom I've got. I'm glad you two get along. Now if you talked to my sister too much I'd never hear the end of it. But I don't think she'd spread it around."

"I told your mom where we're going today. I hope that's OK."

"Yeah, it is. I think she knew when I asked her to drive us. You probably just confirmed it."

"She didn't say anything about it. She told me it was a smart thing to do and not to do anything stupid just because I was protected. She's a very smart woman, Jack."

"Yes, she is."

I held the door open and she slid over next to me, putting on the center seat belt. When I got going, she leaned against my arm and sighed.

We got to the doctor's office by 4:15. Miriam was actually Miriam Bartlett, OB, GYN. I was the only male in the waiting room. I felt six pairs of eyes boring into me as Jill and I waited. We talked low, almost as if we were in the library. I needed to get started on my assignment.

"How do you like your first year of high school, Jill?"

"Oh, this is my second year. I started high school last year."

"How can that be? You're only 14."

"I must be smart. Or too much a pest. They got tired of me knowing all the answers in fifth grade so they let me do a half year then I did a half year of sixth. I've always been the young one in my class."

"Wow. Do you have to study hard?"

"No. I'm lucky. I can remember most stuff by hearing or reading it once."

"Damn. I'm the same way. I tell everyone I have a pornographic memory."

"Well, I could have told you that."

"Are you in honors classes, too?"

"Yeah. And I've got a 4.0. just like you."

"Boy, I never would have known. I don't mean you seem stupid or anything but you're so nice. Most people like that are stuck up or off in the clouds somewhere."

"You're not."

"Yeah, I guess so. So what classes are you interested in?"

"I like creative writing. I enjoy writing short stories. But I really like computers. I want to design programs when I get a job."

"Do they have computer classes at Highpoint?"

"No. I took a couple of classes at the junior college during the summer. I've got a night class Tuesdays and Thursdays this semester."

"Wow. That beats me. I haven't done anything at college. I thought you had to have a diploma."

"Not necessarily. I couldn't enroll in a program to get a degree, but I can take some courses here and there. Of course, they'll count toward my degree when I go to college for real."

"Maybe I look into what's available next semester. I really like photography but I've taken both courses offered at Fernmont."

The nurse told Jill the doctor was ready for her. I wasn't ready to see her go. I really liked talking to her.

I was still being observed by the women in the room. Most of them were noticeably pregnant. I dug through the magazines on the table and ended up reading Cosmopolitan. I was taking a quiz to find out if I was multi-orgasmic when Jill came out.

Evidently the women in the waiting room had gotten to her, too. She took the magazine out of my hands, pulled me up from my chair and kissed me as if I'd just gotten back from 6 months at sea. Then she waved a piece of paper in front of me and in a loud voice said "I got the prescription, honey. Now we can fuck."

There were six pairs of eyes boring into our backs when we left.

As we got into the elevator, Jill said "I'd like that ice cream now."

I looked at my watch. "Could we do it later? Mom wouldn't like it if we were late for dinner because we got ice cream. And she'll be hurt if we can't eat because we filled up on ice cream."

"Don't spoil your dinner, huh?"

"Yeah, something like that."

"I can live with that. Sunday cookouts are the closest thing we have to regular mealtimes at our house."

"We always eat dinner together unless Mom's at work. Even then Mary and I eat together."

By this time we were in the car, heading home.

"You really like your sister, don't you?"

"Oh, yeah. Mary's great. She can be a pain but she's usually all right."

"How's she taking our relationship?"

"Fine, I guess. She kind of clammed up this morning but not about us."

"Really? What about?"

"Oh, I made some joke about us getting together. You know. Sexually. I didn't mean it and I apologized. But she was still quiet after I said it."

"Uh, oh."

"What do you mean, 'Uh, Oh.'"

"Never mind. So, is she a freshman?"

"Yeah. It's all new and exciting to her."

"Is she smart like you?"

"You mean like us? She gets mostly Bs and As. She's taking college prep classes."

"There's nothing wrong with that."

"Nah. One nerd in the family is enough."

"Knock it off, Bozo."

"What do you mean?"

"Quit putting yourself down. There's nothing wrong with being intelligent."

"Yeah, I guess you're right.

We pulled into the driveway. I had Jill get out so I could open the garage door and squeeze the car in next to the lawnmower, bikes and other junk that took over most of the garage.

I gave her a quick kiss, then took her hand as we walked up to the front door. The moment of truth was here.



-------

Chapter 13

I got this picture in my head of me falling through the front doorway, pulling Jill after me, as I went to turn the handle and Mom pulled the front door open. Jill must have sensed something because she pulled back on my hand when the door opened.

"Jill."

"Hi, Mrs. Hill."

Mom held her arms out and Jill fell into them. She hesitated a split second, then wrapped her arms around Mom's waist and was scrunching her cheek into her bosom. Mom raised one her her hands and stroked Jill's hair, holding her tight with the other hand.

Jill eased up and Mom let her go.

"Mrs. Hill is too formal. You can call me June. Or Mom, if you'd like."

"Mom."

My mother smiled. She looked ready to cry, sniffed and kind of shook it off.

"Well, you two got here earlier than I thought. Dinner won't be ready for another 15 minutes."

"Where's Mary?"

"She's in her room. I don't think she's going to eat with us. She's not feeling very good."

"What's the matter?"

"She says her stomach hurts. Some kind of bug or something."

Jill shot me a look like it was my fault my sister was sick. What the hell?

"Do you mind if I talk to her? Jack's told me a lot about her. I'd really like to meet her."

"Sure. Her room's the first one on the left. I think she's awake."

Jill went down the hall. I heard her tap on the door. "It's Jill. I'd like to meet Jack's sister. Is it OK if I come in?" I heard Mary say something then the door opened and Jill went inside.

"Jackie, this is strange. Your sister doesn't get sick much. How was she this morning?"

"We were talking and teasing each other and she got quiet all of a sudden. I thought it might have been something I said. I guess that's when she first started feeling sick."

"What were you teasing her about?"

"It's kind of private, Mom."

"I'm sure I can take it."

"Well, she asked me if Jill's a screamer. I told her nobody screamed as much as she does when she uses her hairbrush. So she asked if she really screamed and I told her it was more like moaning. And she made some comment about me grunting. Then I said maybe we could grunt and moan together sometime. But I didn't mean anything by it, Mom. I apologized right away and everything. She said it was OK."

"I see. Did you tell Jill about this?"

"Yeah..."

"Alright, I need to get going on dinner."

She left me standing in the living room. When she said she saw, she said it as if she understood something. I had no idea what was going on. Both Mom and Jill were acting as if I should know why Mary was sick. In fact, as if I was responsible for making her sick. I definitely felt like I was missing something. I decided it would be safest to sit down on the couch, out of the way.

Mom called me into the kitchen about 20 minutes later. "Jackie, go tell Jill and your sister that dinner's ready. Nicely."

"I thought Mary was sick."

"Just do it."

I went down the hall and tapped on Mary's door. "Hey. Guys. Mom says dinner's ready."

"I got an "OK" from Jill and a "Be right there" from my sister.

We usually eat during the week at the kitchen table. The dining room is used for Sunday dinner and holidays. I was surprised to see the good china on the dining room table.

"Wow, this looks great, Mom."

Mary shot a look at Jill. Damn! If looks could kill. Mom noticed it, too.

"Mary, I'm glad to see you're feeling better."

"I don't know, Mom, I feel it coming on again."

"Did Jill tell you that her mother just walked out on her and her father when she was two? That she left the two of them all alone and she hasn't had a mother to talk to since she learned how to talk? That she needs someone to confide in and give her hugs and talk about girl things with?"

"No." Grudgingly. Like it was forced out of her. What the hell was going on?

"Well I think you owe her an apology. I'm the one who told her she can call me 'Mom.' Neither of you has been without love because there was more than one of you. If I'm there when Jill needs someone, it's not going to hurt you one bit. So knock it off with the dirty looks, quit being a little brat and apologize to Jill or you WILL spend dinner time in your room, sick or not."

Mary looked like she'd been slapped. Jill was definitely uncomfortable. I felt like I'd walked through that front door into the Twilight Zone.

"I'm sorry, Jill. First Jackie and now my Mom. Well you can have them BOTH." She burst into tears and ran crying into her room.

I stood up to go to her.

"Let her be, Jack."

"Jill, that's my sister. She's hurting. I don't know what's going on around here but I'm going to go comfort her."

"She's right, Jackie. Give her till after dinner. She needs some time to herself."

"Will someone please tell me what's going on?"

"Jack Royce Hill. For someone as intelligent as you seem to be in school, you can sure be dumb when it comes to the real world. Do you want to tell him, Jill?"

I looked at my girlfriend. She looked concerned.

"Your sister's jealous of me, Jack. You can't see it but she loves you."

"Of course she loves me. She's my sister."

"Easy. Jack. I mean she loves you."

"I know. I heard what you said."

"Jackie, listen to her. Mary Loves you. More than as a sister. She's in love with her brother."

"You... No... You can't mean... Me?... Mary?... No way."

Jill looked at me with something like sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Jack. She loves you. Right now she hates me. I got her settled down about you and I going together and then I made the mistake of calling your mother 'Mom'. She wasn't ready for that. Can't you see? I stole her brother from her. And now I'm trying to steal her mother, too. If she had a chance, she'd scratch my eyes out."

"I still don't get it. How can she be in love with me?"

"Poor Jack. She's always been in love with her big brother. She couldn't act it out because you were older than she is. That made it bearable to her somehow. And then you go and hook up with a girl who's younger than she is and then make a comment about the two of you having sex together..."

"I didn't mean..."

"Of course you didn't. But can't you see what happened? She's wanted you for years. She left that hairbrush in the bathroom hoping you would find it. She wanted you to return it and try something with her yourself. Now you start seeing a 14 year old girl. It should be her, not me. And you even make a joke about making love to her. The one thing she's been wishing for since she reached puberty. You didn't know what you were doing, but you broke her heart, Jack."

"What can I do?"

"Be nice to her. Don't let her know that you know. And for God's sake, don't even think of teasing her about this. She knows it's not right and the two of you can't be together. She just wasn't ready for you to be with someone else, especially someone younger than she is. That makes it worse. And then I make like I'm going to take the only other person she loves away from her. I'm not surprised she's upset."

"I think I understand. I feel guilty but I can't think of anything I really did."

"You didn't do anything other than be Jack. Which is what made me fall in love with you. Just be nice to her. Be kind, be understanding, be loving. And another thing. You know how I was trying to trap you on Saturday when I thought you were going to leave me?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't be surprised if Mary tries something sexual with you. She might decide that if she can just get you to bed that you'll see the error in your ways and you'll fall in love with her. She knows how I feel about you so she'll probably figure she doesn't have a lot of time to get you to fuck her."

"God, you make it sound so... I don't know. Fuck?"

"That's what she wants, Jack. She wants you to fuck her. Long and hard, to make her a woman. To make her your woman. Watch your back."

"I must say I'm impressed, Jill. You saw some things I didn't even realize."

"Thanks Mom. I mean June."

"June?"

"Yeah. For a while at least. I should have realized. I don't know if I could handle another kid calling my father 'Daddy.' It just seemed so good after all these years."

"I know, honey. But you're right. Who knows, Mary may come around after a while and tell you it's OK."

"Maybe. We'll see. Jack, could you do me a favor and take me home?"

"What about dinner?"

"We can have dinner some other time. You need to spend some time with your family tonight. And I think you've completed your assignment."

"How did you know about that?"

"Magic. Didn't I tell you I was magic?"

"No. But I believe it."

"Thank you for inviting me, June.

I drove her home. "One of these days, we're going to have to actually eat together. First it was the ice cream we never went out for and tonight it was dinner."

"Well, we'll always have Sunday."

"Isn't that a line Bogart said in Casablanca?"

"Something like that."

I walked Jill up to her front door and kissed her in front of God and everybody.

"Don't worry, Jack. She'll come around. Just be good to her."

"OK, Jill. You know, the more I get to know you, the more I love you."

"Yeah. Me too. Call me tomorrow after school."

"OK."

She went inside and I drove home. Well, at least I knew what was wrong with my sister. Maybe Jeff was in love with me, too. Yeah, right.



-------

Chapter 14

I missed Mary banging on the bathroom door Tuesday morning. I would have known something was wrong even if I hadn't been around the night before to witness it.

I hadn't seen her since she ran from the table telling Jill she could keep me and Mom. When I got back from taking Jill home, I tried knocking on her door and she told me to go away. When I persisted she started screaming at me, adding that she hated me, she hated us both. She couldn't have hurt me more if she'd taken a knife and dug it into my back. Her door was locked so I gave up and went into my room.

I must have fallen asleep crying. I hadn't cried since I was four years old and since I met Jill it seemed everything that happened made me cry.

Mom must have come into my room after I dozed off. My shoes were off and a blanket had been thrown over me and my alarm clock was set. Thank God for that. I don't think Mary would have gotten me up if it wasn't.

I got out of the shower and she wasn't around. I knocked on her door and was told to go away again. I told her she'd be late for school and she yelled she wasn't going to school ever again. I wished Mom hadn't had an early shift. She might be able to do something with her.

I got outside to see Chris walking up by himself. Great. Jeff must still be pissed off at me.

"Hey, Chris. Where's Jeff?"

"His mom said he was going to get a ride to school."

"Did you talk to him since he took off yesterday?"

"No. I waited around after school and he never showed up. I walked home alone. I called but his mom said he was sick."

"There's a lot of that going around."

"Huh?"

"Oh, Mary had a stomach ache yesterday and she's staying home today."

"That's too bad. I like Mary."

"You should tell her that."

"But she's your sister."

"Yeah, she is. But she's also a girl. I don't want her sitting home alone for the rest of her life just because she's my sister. She deserves to have some fun, too. I'd rather have it be with someone I like than somebody who just wants to get in her pants."

"Do you think she'd like to go out to the video arcade?"

"I don't know. Why don't you ask her? You can come in when we get back this afternoon."

"I might just do that. Wow. We might both be going out with freshmen."

"Sorry about that. I screwed up. I asked Jill about school yesterday and she told me she did both 5th and 6th grades in the same year. She's a sophomore. And she's in honors and has a 4.0, too."

"Wow. Is she on the swim team over there?"

"I don't think so. We went swimming Sunday and she wasn't very fast. Unless she was holding back like me. It wouldn't surprise me. Shit, nothing she does would surprise me. You know, I found myself a pretty amazing girl."

"I'm glad, Man. I don't care what Jeff says. I think it's time for us to have some fun. My parents are always saying this should be the best time of my life and I'm spending it with a bunch of guys, hiding from women. I mean I like you guys a lot, but I want to get some pussy, too."

"Whoa, that's not what I want to hear from a guy who's going to ask my sister out."

"Yeah, I know. That's another problem with hanging out with you guys. I always feel I have to impress everyone with how tough I am. I wouldn't know what to do with a pussy if I had one. I'll take it easy and get to know her like you are. I kinda know her already so it shouldn't be too hard."

"You know, I just thought. She'd really like to go to a game. She's been complaining that none of her friends are interested in going. Hell, we might even double."

"That would be cool. We play Sol Vista at home this week."

"I know. I hear they've got a guy who's pretty good on the 200 meter breaststroke."

"Are you going to invite Jill to the meet?"

"I'll invite her but I don't know if she can make it. She's got a computer class at the junior college on Thursday nights."

"College? You got to be kidding me. What is this girl, a fuckin' genius?"

"She just might be. She just might be."

We were through the gate and said our goodbyes as we headed off in different directions.

Sara Wilcox was outside our history classroom when I walked up.

"Hi, Jack."

"Uh, Hi, Sara. How are you?"

"I'm fine. I see you're doing pretty good on the swim team."

"Yeah. We're in first place."

She looked nervous. "Jack? Could I ask you something?"

"Sure, Sara."

"Could I sit with you at lunch today?"

"I guess so. I usually sit with my buddies but I guess you could join us if you want."

"Thanks, Jack."

She went into the classroom and sat at her desk. I followed and went over to mine.

What was that all about? First of all, I don't think I ever saw Sara talk to a guy. I'd assumed she was as tongue-tied with the other sex as I was. I figured I knew where that swimming thing was coming from - that damned newspaper article about me. But why would she want to sit with me?

There were some girls that I would assume were playing some kind of joke or acting on a dare if they came up to me out of the blue like this. You know, the ones who go out with the jocks, the ones who think they're better than everyone else. I was pretty sure Sara wasn't like that. We didn't talk to each other but we'd known each other since elementary school. Longer than I'd known Jeff, as a matter of fact.

For the second day in a row, Mr. Hansen had to get my attention because I was daydreaming. I looked over at Sara after he called my name a couple of times and she had a little smile on her face. Come to think of it, Sara was one of the girls who smiled at me yesterday in English. After Mr. Hansen had made that comment about me being in love.

I was able to keep my attention on my teachers for the rest of the morning. I was in line to get my food when Sara came up to me.

"Can I walk through with you?"

"As long as nobody minds you cutting in line."

"Oh, I don't think they'll mind."

She grabbed onto my right arm arm with both of hers. I could feel her breast pushing against my biceps. Just like with Jill in the car. I started using that hand to get food and she had to let go. I looked over at her. "Sorry, I need to use that arm."

We both had trays as we walked to my usual table so there wasn't any arm clutching or hanging on. I noticed Jeff was once again absent. I sat down next to Chris and Sara sat down next to me. Close to me.

"Hey Chris. You know Sara."

"Sure. Hi, Sara."

"Hi, Chris."

"Seen Jeff?"

"Yeah. I saw him in line and he said he had to study for a test this afternoon."

"Yeah, right. That guy always keeps ahead on his homework. He never has to study at the last minute."

"That's what he said."

"Whatever."

I turned to Sara.

"So, Sara. What's up?"

"What do you mean?"

"Sara, we've known each other since we were kids. You've never come over to talk with me. Now all of a sudden you want to eat lunch with me. I'm curious. Why?"

She looked down at her lap. "I just thought it was time to get to know you."

"OK. What do you want to know?"

"This was stupid. I'm sorry."

She reached for her tray and started to stand up. I grabbed onto her wrist and made her sit back down.

"Is this some kind of joke or a dare?"

"No." I'd seen that look before. Just before Jill started to cry.

"Chris, I'll see you later. Sara, come with me."

I helped her up and led her outside. I led her over to a tree with no one around it.

"Sit down, Sara."

She looked at me as if she wasn't sure about me but she sat right down. I sat next to her.

"OK. I can see you're not trying to trick me or anything. I'm sorry, Sara, but like I said, we've known each other for years and you've never talked to me. You say you want to get to know me. Why now?"

She was sniffling now. "I always wanted to get to know you. I just could never find the courage to come up to you. Yesterday when you smiled at me in English I thought there might be a chance. You seem different. Before it was like you were this guy who was better than everybody else. Now it's like I could talk to you."

"You mean I'm not so impressed with myself"

"Oh, I didn't mean that."

"Are you sure? I think I was pretty impressed with myself. Like others had to measure up to me."

"Yeah, I guess I thought that way. But you seem different. I wanted to ask you to the Halloween dance."

"Oh, Sara. I'm sorry. A week ago I would have probably been glad to. You don't know how long I've wanted some girl to be interested in me. But I met someone last Friday and I really like her. I'd be happy to get to know you but we can only be friends. If you'd like a friend, that would be great. If you just want to forget this ever happened, that's fine, too.

"I think I'd like to get to know you, Jack. I need friends, too. Could I have just one dance with you?"

"Sara, if Jill and I go to the Halloween dance, I promise I'll dance with you."

"Jill? Is that Jill Perkins?"

"No. You wouldn't know her. Her name's Jill O'Hara. She goes to Highpoint."

"Oh I think I know who she is. Is she on the girls volleyball team?

"I don't know. I wouldn't put it past her."

"If it's who I think it is, she's good. Real good."

"I wouldn't be a bit surprised."

"Jack? Can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, Sara."

"Could we go back and eat lunch? I'm starving."

"Sure. It would be nice to eat something I planned..."

"I don't understand."

"It's kind of a private joke."

We walked back to our table. Chris was still there.

"I figured you guys would come back. I watched your food for you."

"Thanks Chris."

I sat down, ate and talked to Sara. I found out this acquaintance I'd had for the last eight years was a real nice girl.



-------

Chapter 15

I enjoyed talking to Sara. She was a bit subdued when we started eating but by the end of lunch we were talking as if we'd known each other for years. Which we had, but we'd never talked before. I was surprised how much Chris got into the conversation.

I realize I spent a good part of lunch finding out what was up with Sara but the period seemed to end really quickly. Since we both had calculus after lunch I walked with Sara and we continued talking. She seemed to want to know a lot about Chris.

I had a good workout during last period and beyond. I didn't get out of the pool until 5:00. Our practice ends just before 4:00, but I usually put in extra time to work on the parts that make the whole. I felt winded but good. Coach always says we might as well forget working out if we don't feel tired when we're done. Most of my extra time was spent on changing direction. The pools in our district are 25 meters long. That means 8 laps for my 200 meter events and 16 for my long freestyle. I was in a 50 meter pool for the championships last year, but they're hard to come by. It's amazing what that little drill can do to improve your time. Shaving of a tenth of a second on the turns could get me almost a second ahead.

I got back to my locker and there was a folded up piece of paper in the grill. A note from Chris. He and I usually walk home together. He says he has less distractions if he studies in the library instead of at home, so he usually stays around to do his homework and then we walk home together. He's got three little brothers and I've heard them running around the house, so I know what he's talking about. Jeff used to stay late, too. Chris was supposed to stop by the house on the way home and talk to Mary. His note said that he was going to walk home with Sara and he'd see me in the morning. I guess Sara liked what I told her about him. They would probably be good for each other. They sure seemed to hit it off at lunch. She was probably pressing her tits up against his arm by now.

I'd have to find some other solution for the Mary problem. No rush. She might have been pissed off if she thought I was trying to pawn her off on somebody today, anyway.

Mom was lying on the couch when I got home. She opened one eye when I came though the door, then sat up.

"Hi, Jackie. How was your day?"

"Good. And bad. Mary was still pissed off at me when I left. She didn't go to school today."

"I know. She's going tomorrow."

"I made a new friend today."

""Really? That's good."

"Yeah. You know Sara Wilcox. She came up to me and asked me if she could have lunch with me. She's never said two words to me before."

"Did you have lunch?"

"Yeah. At first she started hanging on me and I was suspicious it was a joke or a dare or something. I guess I came down on her pretty hard, she looked like she was ready to cry. She said I've changed, she felt she could talk to me. I guess I've scared a lot of people off."

"What did the two of you talk about?"

"Well, at first she wanted me to go to the Halloween dance with her. I told her she was about a week late but I'd give her one dance if Jill and I go. I told her if she wanted a friend that was fine with me or if she wanted to forget it, that was fine, too. She said she wanted a friend."

"We can all use friends, Jack."

"I'm beginning to realize that. I've lived in this little world of my own with you and Mary and a few friends for years. It's fun to talk to someone. Both Jill and Sara are really interesting. Time just flies by when I'm talking to them."

"So you still like Jill?"

"Of course, Mom. In fact, Sara was real interested in Chris. He talked more than I've ever seen when we were at lunch. Sara and I walked to Calc and she asked a bunch of questions about him. And he walked home with her instead of sticking around for me."

"Good for him. And her."

"Yeah, they're both nice people. The only thing is, Chris told me this morning that he likes Mary. He was interested in asking her out."

"I sort of doubt she's ready for that yet. Maybe in a few days. Don't make her feel you're trying to shove someone on her. And don't give up on Chris. Just because he walked home with Sara doesn't mean they're married."

"I know. I'm going to call Jill. She's got school tonight."

"They have night classes at Highpoint?"

"Nah. She's taking a computer class two nights a week at JC. She also finished both 5th and 6th grades in one year, she's a sophomore and she's got a 4.0 in honors classes. I found me a pretty smart girl."

"I guess you did. And some of it seems to be rubbing off on you."

"I love you too, Mom. But you're right."

"It sounds like you did your assignment last night. I'm proud of you, Baby."

"Thanks, Mom. And thanks for making me do it."

I went in the kitchen and called Jill. It rang four times and got picked up by her answer machine. Great.

I started to leave a message when she picked up the phone.

"Jack?"

"Yeah. Hi, Jill."

"Hi."

"How are you doing?"

"OK. How about you?"

"I'm fine. I was wondering if you could make it over to Fernmont Thursday afternoon. I know you have class that night but we're having a swim meet against Sol Vista. It should be over by 5:00."

"I can't. I'm on the volleyball team and we're playing East Park on Thursday."

"Oh, wow. I was talking to a girl today and she said she thought you were on the volleyball team. She thinks you're pretty good."

"Really? Tell me more about this girl."

"She wants me to take her to the Halloween dance. She reminded me of you the way she was hanging on my arm."

"Really. And what's this girl's name?"

"Her name is Sara Wilcox and I really like her. We've known each other since 4th grade but today is the first time we've talked. She said this was the first time I seemed human to her. And I think she really likes Chris. She walked home with him."

"Oh. I see."

"I told her I probably seemed more human because I met someone I really liked. And that if you and I went to the Halloween dance that I'd be glad to dance one dance with her. I have an idea you'll be dancing one with Chris, too."

"You do, huh? What makes you think I'd want to go to a dance with you? I've heard stories of what happens to innocent girls at your school."

"Well, we'll have to make sure you're not innocent by the time of the dance."

"Oh, Jackie, I love you."

"I love you too, Jillian."

I've got to go. I need to eat before I go to school. Call me tomorrow."

"OK. You know this sucks, don't you?"

"What?"

"Not being able to see each other. I want to spend time with you, see you, hold you, talk to you, kiss you. There's got to be some way we can see each other during the week."

"I'll think about it. If you come up with any ideas, let me know."

"OK. Bye."

"Bye, Jackie."

Mary came out to eat after Mom forced her. Mom can make either of us do just about anything, whether we want to or not.

She looked like shit. I'm sorry, but my sister is usually cute and perky. Like Mary Tyler Moore or That Girl from the old TV shows. They don't have girls like that on TV any more. Lots of slutty girls, no perky ones.

Not that she looked like either of those old time actresses. She looked more like Joanie from Happy Days. Cute and perky. I guess you can tell we've got cable. TV Land is one of our favorites. Any time I see any of the three of them I think of Mary.

Looking at my sister now, I could see she was ready to love. She had that same aura about her that Jill had last Sunday when she told me her body was really, really ready. I would have tried to kick the ass of any guy who looked at my sister funny a week ago. Now she looked like a girl who wanted to get laid. Not her face or her body. It was coming from deep inside her. I just hoped Mom had the same talk about respect with Mary that she had with me. Well, not exactly the same. I just hoped Mary wouldn't rush into something she regretted.

Anyway, on the surface she looked like Joanie with bad makeup. Her eyes were red, she had dark circles under them and her cheeks were puffy. She sat at the table, playing with her food with her fork. Eyes focused on the plate as if it was the only thing in the room to look at.

I realized I didn't have anything to talk to my sister about. [So, Mary, what did you do today?] {I stayed in my room and cried my eyes out cuz I realize you'll never fuck me.} [You missed a big day at school today.] {Oh, really? What happened?} [I talked to a girl I never bothered with before / I swam my ass off / My history teacher had to wake me up]. I didn't even know what classes she was taking in school.

"Mary, I've been thinking. Would you like to go to a football game with us this Friday?"

She looked over at me, a little brighter.

"What, with your loser friends?"

"No."

"Just the two of us?"

"No. I'm not sure who, yet. Last week it was me, Jill, her father and her best friend Wanda. I just want to find out if you're interested before I make arrangements."

"I don't want to go anywhere with HER."

"Wanda?"

"No. The other one."

"I'm afraid Dr. O'Hara's a man."

"You know who I mean."

"Oh, you meant the girl I like? The one I'm falling to love with?

"Yeah, that one." She was having a hard time looking sad.

"Is something wrong with your bottom lip?"

"What do you mean?"

"It looks like you may have some kind of palsy or something. It keeps quivering."

"Stop it."

"Stop what?"

"You know."

"Mary. I don't know. I'm just a stupid boy. What do you want me to stop?"

"Never mind." She seemed to have it under control.

"So I guess you won't be coming to my wedding, then."

"What do you mean?"

"You said you don't want to go any place with Jill. She looks like wedding material to me. I'll miss you. Of course, Ill miss you most of the time leading up to our wedding since you don't want to have anything to do with her. I was talking to one of my friends today about double dating and going to a football game. But I guess you aren't interested."

"Who were you talking to?"

"One of my loser friends."

"Which one?"

"Never mind. I told him you were being a real bitch last night and today and he found somebody else. You know Sara Wilcox, don't you? OK, I'll tell you. It was Chris. He and Sara were talking up a storm at lunch and he walked home with her. Probably better, her being the same age and all. And you liking to stay in your room so much."

"I do not!"

"Well, you couldn't prove it by me. Do you know how I fell asleep last night? I fell asleep crying. Because my sister, who I've loved for as long as I can remember told me she hated me. And the girl I love. And she didn't want to have anything to do with me. Having a fucking arm cut off would have been easier."

By now she was bawling. I got up and walked over to her and pulled her up into my arms. She buried her face in my chest, her arms wrapped around me.

"I'm sorry Jack. I don't want to hurt you."

"Well, you did. Do you think I don't love you? Do you think I wouldn't sneak into your room and plow into you if you weren't my sister?"

"You would?"

"You're damn right I would. Have you looked at yourself lately? You're a damn fox. Well, not now, but most of the time you are."

She tried not to laugh and ended up snorting. Unfortunately, her nose was full of snot, and she ended up with a string of it swaying in front of her chin.

I grabbed a napkin from the table and wiped it off. I held it up to her nose.

"Now, blow."

"Quit it."

"Huh?"

"Quit treating me like a baby."

"OK. Then act like the woman you are. You should be out making guys horny, not crying in your room, screaming at those who love you. And you should be happy that I've found somebody. Not telling me you hate both of us."

"I'm sorry."

"That's better. Now I want to tell you something."

"What?"

"Jill is not perfect."

"What do you mean?"

"She realized she screwed up big-time. I know she would have apologized to you, but you weren't in a very good mood after you left the dinner table."

"Apologize for what?"

"She realized something. She realized that if some girl she didn't know came into her house and started calling her father 'Daddy' that it would bother the hell out of her. I went over to Jill's Sunday night to apologize for the way I acted earlier. I was being a real ass. And I told her about Mom and Dad. Do you remember him chasing her around the house? That deep laugh he had? And Mom giggling as she let him catch her?"

"A little."

"Well, I can think of it and it's like they're in the living room, just on the other side of that wall and I can hear them laughing. I told Jill about that and I realized how much I miss having Dad around. And I cried in her arms for almost a half hour. And she cried right along with me."

"She did?"

"Yeah, she did. I found out later, she was crying a little bit because I was hurting, but she was crying more because she's never had a mother. When she came over and mom hugged her and told her she could call her Mom if she wanted, she went for it like a man in the desert would go for a glass of water. She didn't think beyond her need to be loved by a mother. When she saw how it hurt you, she told Mom that she's going to call her June until you say it's OK to call her Mom. She didn't say, but I think she's willing to wait forever if that's how long it takes."

"I don't like her using that name, Jack."

"That's why she's not going to. I'll tell you one thing, though. When we get married in a few years I'm going to come down real hard on you if you don't let her have a mom."

"I can't believe you keep talking about marrying her, Jackie."

"Mary, I feel something I've never felt before when I'm around Jill. Everything I find out about her makes me love her a little bit more. I was telling Mom about her school and I felt proud of her. I never had anything to do with her until a few days ago, God knows I didn't have anything to do with her school, but I feel proud telling people about her. That's my girl. And I can see myself spending the rest of my life with her. They talk about love at first sight. Well, I believe in it because I've experienced it."

"OK. I'll go to the game with you Friday. If she still wants me."

"We haven't talked about the games. I think she goes to all the Highpoint games with her father and Wanda. She may not want to go to a Fernmont game. But I know she wants to get to know you. I'm a big part of her life and you're a big part of my life. I'll talk to her tomorrow and let you know what I find out."

"OK. That sounds good."

"Would you like to walk to school with me tomorrow?"

"I don't know. Just you?"

"Maybe. Chris might be there and he might have Sara with him. Jeff is usually with us but he's been acting real weird since I met Jill. Hey, maybe you and Jeff can get together."

"That'll be the day. Jeff's as queer as a three dollar bill."



-------

Chapter 16

I looked at my sister and made one of my brilliant comebacks.

"Huh?"

"I said Jeff's as queer as a three dollar bill."

"But..." I was amazing myself with my verbal dexterity.

Mom spoke for the first time since I started talking to Mary.

"Where did you get that idea, Mary?"

"Everybody knows it."

"And just who is everybody?"

"I don't know. All the girls in my class. Mary Beth said she saw him practically drooling when he was staring at Jack's butt one day. He's always hanging around with guys. Judy and Cathy both pretended to be interested in him and he couldn't talk to them. Judy did it at a dance and he made up some excuse about a sore foot and then went back to his group of losers. Cathy caught him on the way back from the restroom and she said he was actually shaking when she grabbed him by the arm."

"Those things don't prove anything." I couldn't believe it.

"Whatever. But if I were you, Jack, I wouldn't bend over when he's around. Especially in the locker room."

"Well, I'm going to talk to him when I see him."

"Fine. Don't believe me. Mom, I got a lot of sleep today so I thought I could stay up and watch The Tonight Show."

"Let me see. Jack invites his girlfriend over, she's a guest in our house, you blow up at her, yell at your brother and stay home from school for no reason. And you want to be allowed to stay up late watching TV? I don't think so, Young Lady. In fact, I think you can just go back to your room for the rest of the night since you seem to like it so much."

"Maa uhhm. That's sooo unfair!"

"You want to talk to me about fair? You're lucky I don't put you over my knee and make you stay in your room for a year."

Mary took off, leaving Mom and I in the kitchen.

"Jackie, I'm proud of you. You handled that well."

"Thanks, Mom."

"I swear to God, I had a hard time keeping a straight face. When she was saying she didn't want to have anything to do with HER and you pretended you didn't know what she was talking about. And when she was trying not to laugh and you made that comment about having palsy. Oh, Jackie. You don't know how hard it was to sit there and not laugh."

"I know. I had a hard time, too."

"So, Jackie. Do you really want to plow into your sister?"

"MOM! I just said that to make a point."

"I'm sure you did. Did you see the look on her face when you said it?"

"No."

" It was almost like she thought there might still be some hope. You did a good job, but don't forget to watch your back."

"Mom, even if I did want to do something with my sister, which I don't, I've got Jill now. Nothing will happen."

"Boy, are those famous last words. 'Honey, I know I'll be all alone in a tent with three teenage girls. Nothing will happen.' Just be careful for a while, OK? For me? And for Jill?"

"Sure, Mom."

"Honey?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you really do that? Can you really hear your father and me running around the living room, laughing?"

"Oh, yeah Mom. Just like the two of you are out there. I miss that. You deserve better than the life you've got. You deserve someone for you. I want to hear you laugh like you did back then."

"Oh, Jackie. I miss him so much."

Somehow we weren't sat at the table any more. I was standing in the middle of the kitchen floor and she was pushing her face into my chest, her arms tight around me, crying. I took over the role she'd played so many times and held on to her, stroking her hair, telling her it was going to be all right. Oh, God, I want it to be all right for her.

Mary came into the kitchen while we were there. I don't know if Mom was aware of her or not. Mary looked like she was going to say something and I held up my hand. She had the good sense to get a can of juice out of the refrigerator and go back to her room. She blew me a kiss on the way out of the kitchen.

Mom eventually stood up. She pulled out an old Kleenex she had stashed away somewhere and used it to wipe her eyes and blow her nose. I still had my hands on her waist. She hugged me, her head over my shoulder.

"Oh, Jackie. You must think I'm terrible."

"I think you're a woman who was in love with a wonderful man and misses him. There's nothing terrible about that."

She sniffed and stood back a little, examining me. I still had my hands on her waist.

"God, you remind me of him. Those eyes, the way you move. Jill's been so good for you. Now that you aren't so serious I can see him in you more and more. I can see you chasing her and laughing like your father did."

She sniffed again, put her hands on my shoulders, pulled me to her and gave me a light kiss on the lips. Not the dry kisses I was used to, a little more intimate. She looked up at me and pushed me away.

"That's enough of that. Much more and I'm going to want you to plow me."

I felt uncomfortable. Something was going on. I wasn't quite sure what it was but I knew I didn't like it. I let my hands drop from my mother's waist.

I think we both jumped when we heard what sounded like sandbags being thrown on the roof and a couple of cats screaming at each other. The pitch rose as did the clatter. I swear, it sounded like a couple of guys were wrestling, a body hitting the roof every second of so. It could only been five or six seconds and then we heard a cat scream out and a tumbling sound. The location of the noise changed. If not for the tumbling, I would have thought the stupid thing fell off the roof.

Mom and I had made our way into the living room when Mary ran in.

"What the hell was that?"

"It sounded like a couple of cats on the roof. One of them..."

I was interrupted by the sound of a cat howling. It sounded like it was coming from the fireplace.

All three of us walked over there. We must have looked funny. We were all bent over, ready to hightail it out of there if necessary. Every second or two the cat would let out another howl.

"Poor thing." Mary likes cats.

"I say we light a fire." I don't.

I went over to the screen and was ready to open it and look inside.

"Don't, Honey. Wait a minute."

Mom went into the junk drawer in the kitchen and brought a 3 cell flashlight in to me.

"Use this."

I turned it on and tried to shine it through the screen. It could stand some new batteries. I couldn't see any detail but there weren't any cats in the fireplace.

It was quieter, now, kind of moaning every few seconds. Now that I was bent over in front of the fireplace, I could tell it was slightly above me. I was going to make a joke about it moaning like Mary when my survival instinct kicked in.

I opened the screen and bent down a bit.

"Check to make sure the flue is shut, Jackie."

I couldn't really see it the lever with the weak light. I grabbed the brass shovel hanging next to the screen and felt around till I found an obstruction. I leaned closer and felt for it.

"It's pushed toward the back of the fireplace."

"OK, that means it's shut. I don't want anybody to get scratched. You let that cat out now and there's no telling what he'll do. He'll be fine until the morning."

"But Mom..."

"Mary, I mean it. I've seen people wheeled into Emergency who thought they'd be OK around a cat who was pissed off. He was probably fighting over a female, so you can bet he's twice as mad now that he's down the chimney and she's with whoever knocked him in there. He'll eventually fall asleep and settle down. As long as no one sticks his face in there, it will be safe enough to let him out tomorrow."

"Yeah, Sis. He wanted to knock up a female and got knocked down, instead."

The two moans sounded curiously similar to the noise coming out of the chimney.

My alarm went off at 6:00, like it did every morning. By 6:05 I'd forced myself out of bed. I went into the bathroom and threw some water at me.

Mom was in the living room, sat on the edge of the couch, in her robe. She had a cup of coffee in her hands.

"It sounds a lot calmer, Jackie."

I could hear the cat calling out every once in a while. I'd heard a cat that sounded similar once. It was sat in front of a door, waiting for my aunt to open it. She told me he'd give up soon and not to worry when he started crying. Twenty minutes later she was opening the front door to let him out. He kind of pranced through the door.

I got down near the screen.

"Wait a minute, Jackie." Mom went over and opened the front door. "Don't open the screen more than three or four inches. Stick your arm in, pull the lever and get your arm out, then you get away from the fireplace."

I did what she said and we waited, our attention on the screen. I heard a sort of a plop and then an orange striped cat came sauntering out through the opening of the screen. He shook himself a little, not so much to shake off the black dust on his fur, but to get rid of the stigma of having spent the night in such a disgusting place. He then pranced over to the front door and out into the yard. If he'd turned around and said "I meant to do that," I wouldn't have been surprised.

I showered and had a good breakfast since Mom was home. Mary and I were walking toward the front door when the doorbell rang. I looked at her.

"That's strange. Chris never rings the doorbell."

"Maybe the cat wants back in."

"Yeah, right."

I opened the door and my jaw must have dropped. Jill was on the doorstep, smiling at me.

"Damn. This is going to be a good day."

We walked outside and Mary said "Jill, I want to apologize for the way I acted the other night."

"That's OK. I understand. I'm sorry I seemed like I was trying to take over your mom."

"I know. Jack explained it to me last night. I'm sorry about your mom."

"What are you doing over here?"

"Can't a girl walk to school with her boyfriend?"

"Yeah. But you don't go to my school, do you?"

"No, but that's not a bad Idea. If I did, we'd be able to see each other once in a while."

"You're kidding."

"I don't know. It would mean a lot of changes. I like all my teachers and it's tough to change classes once you've started, even if it is less than a month. I also like volleyball. And there's always the terrible reputation Fernmont has."

"You're right. Maybe I should go to Highpoint."

"Like they'd let you in., We have some standards, you know." She kind of drew out the word 'some'.

Chris and Sara walked up. They weren't holding hands but they were pretty close to one another. I noticed Jill seemed to get a little taller out of the corner of my eye.

"Chris? Sara? This is Jill, my girlfriend. All three said Hi, as Jill held on to my arm. Mary, you've met Sara, haven't you?"

"Yeah. Hi Sara."

Sara told Jill she thought she recognized her name when I was talking about her. She had a friend on Fernmont's team and had seen them play last week at our school. They talked a bit and then Sara and Chris talked to each other for the rest of the way, with Mary adding something every once in a while. Jill talked to me some but was more reserved than I'd seen her.

Sara took Chris' hand and held it about a block away from school. Jill relaxed her grip a bit on my arm. I hadn't realized how tightly she was holding on.

When we got to school, Mary, Jill and I stayed in the parking lot while Chris and Sara walked into the school yard after telling Jill they were glad to meet her. Once they were out of sight, Jill perked up and kissed me on the cheek.

"OK, you're here. Gotta go. Bye, Mary."

Just like that she was gone. I saw her father standing up next to his Mercedes in the street. He saw me and waved. I waved back, not quite sure what just happened.

Mary made a noise not too different from the one the cat made last night in the chimney, smiled at me and walked through the gate.



-------

Chapter 17

I watched my sister start through the gate onto the school grounds.

"Hey Mary, hang on a minute."

She hesitated and I caught up to her.

"What was all that about?"

"All what?"

"You know, the cat sound."

"I was just commenting that Jill had her claws out."

What do you mean?"

"Couldn't you see? She was watching Sara like a hawk. Waiting for her to make some kind of move toward you. She would have torn her eyes out if she had."

"Wait a minute. Who would have torn whose eyes out?"

"You told Jill about Sara, didn't you?

"Yeah, I told her we had a good time at lunch and she invited me to the dance. And I told her if Jill and I went I'd dance with her for one song and that she and Chris seemed to like each other."

"You're pretty stupid for a brainiac, you know?"

"What do you mean?"

"Jill likes you. I mean she really likes you. She's also afraid of losing you. You've convinced her that it's all temporary until some time down the road when you'll suddenly know who each other is and then if you like who she is, you'll stick around. She lives miles from you and goes to another school. So you call her up and all you can talk about is this girl you've known forever, who's in most of your classes, lives around the corner and wants to go out with you. That's why she showed up at our door this morning."

"I don't get it. Why did she show up?"

"My God. You are so dense. She was threatened. You've got this girl who's got the hots for you in most of your classes, you've told Jill how much fun you had with her, Jill's afraid you're going to get to know this one and decide a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. She came to check out the enemy. And to warn her that she's willing to fight to the death if necessary."

"Oh, I don't think..."

"Boy, you can say that again. You have no idea how much you don't think. You never, Never, NEVER tell a woman about another woman. You definitely don't go on and on about how wonderful she is but how you're only friends."

The warning bell for class went off so we didn't have time to go into it any more. Why couldn't they have warning bells when I was about to do something stupid?

"Mary? How about sitting with us at lunch so we can talk about this some more?"

"How about us sitting alone at lunch? I don't think you want Sara and your loser friends talking about this."

"You're right. See you at lunch."

For the first day this week, Mr. Hansen didn't ask for my attention. He must have figured it was a losing battle because I was nowhere around. I was going over what Mary had said.

The thing that bothered me the most was that Jill had gotten the idea I hadn't made up my mind whether or not I wanted a relationship with her. Talk about getting the wrong impression. Last night I was telling Mary that I thought Jill was the woman I was going to marry. But the two of them had talked for 20 minutes a couple of nights ago in Mary's room and I'm sure Jill put her feelings for me on the line. She would have been up front with her in an attempt to get Mary to accept her. So if Mary said Jill thought I was unsure, I was pretty sure it was true.

Still, Jill had to feel something for me to get driven over to our house, then walk to school with me and check out the competition. Well, competition as far as Jill was concerned.

I hadn't had a chance to talk to Sara before history because I was with Mary. I waited for her after class.

"Sara, need someone to walk to your next class with?"

"Is your girlfriend around?"

"No, she went to her school."

"You know, Jack, maybe you and I shouldn't talk to each other too much. I wouldn't want Jill to be mad at me. Sorry."

She took off as I stood there, confused. She evidently picked up on the same thing Mary did. Was I really that blind?

I started to review the past few days. I obviously missed something with Mary when I screwed up and suggested we could "grunt and moan together." She said everything was fine. Hell, I even asked her if she was all right and she said she was.

But as soon as I told Jill about it, she got this look on her face like I really fucked up and said "Uh, oh." When I asked her what was up she told me nothing. Which I took at face value, just like I did Mary's comment about being OK. And Mom seemed to understand what was up with Mary when I told her about our talk.

I still had a hard time believing Mary wanted to have sex with me. Both Jill and Mom seemed to think so. I never thought to ask Jill if Mary had actually told her or if it was just something she thought.

Talk about being blind. I've known Jeff since fifth grade. And all of a sudden he's gay? And maybe heartbroken because I found a girlfriend?

He did act weird at the mall. It was like he could hardly wait to get away from Jill once she started talking. He was obviously ready to leave once I introduced them but he was really uncomfortable as soon as she started talking about getting secrets from him. And when I made that comment about telling everyone about his secrets, he left. Maybe Jeff did have a secret. From what Mary said, I was the only one who didn't know about it. I still wasn't totally convinced. I'd give Jeff the benefit of the doubt until I had a chance to talk to him.

My stream of thought was broken by the bell for second period. Luckily I was just outside English and was able to get in without being singled out. Miss Beevers was pretty cool about us sitting down late as long as we settled down right away.

We had a test in Spanish so I had to pay attention to what I was doing. I finished with about 15 minutes to spare.

I didn't want to make the same mistake and not see what was in front of me. I took another look at today's events. Both Jill and Mom had warned me to be on the lookout for some kind of move from Mary. They both thought she still might do something to get me into bed with her.

Mary said Jill really liked me. I was pretty sure that was true.

She said Jill was scoping out Sara. I did notice she got tense when Sara showed up and didn't relax until Sara and Chris started holding hands. And as soon as the two of them were gone, she split. Just a quick kiss on the cheek, nothing more. And Sara told me she didn't want Jill to be mad at her. She had to have gotten that today.

What about Jill thinking I wanted to wait till we knew each other better before making a commitment? I told her we should get to know each other before we got serious. What was it she said to me in the car Sunday night? She said she was scared because she didn't think she could please me. She didn't know what I expected. I thought we'd cleared that up. Maybe we only cleared up part of it and she was still scared. It isn't as if I was a stable boyfriend. Twice within two days of meeting her I almost dumped her because of her age. That in itself was enough to make someone insecure, no matter that I apologized and told her I'd been wrong. Let's face it, I had some ideas of the way things should be or shouldn't be that had caused problems. And she didn't know if there were any more of them that could cause more problems down the road. If she felt as close to me as it seemed, she must be terrified I was going to come up with some other frailty like the color of her hair or something equally as ridiculous as a reason for dumping her.

Mary and I had lunch together. I didn't get any new insights from her. She called me naive, blind and clueless, but I'd pretty much figured that out for myself. But I've got to admit, I enjoyed eating lunch with my sister. After we were done rehashing this morning and my stupidity, she told me about school and what she liked and didn't like so far. I never knew my sister was into gymnastics. I guess she'd been pretty good at it in Jr high and was planning on trying out for the team in a couple of weeks.

Fortunately we didn't have anything that took a lot of concentration for the rest of the day. I'd sit down and feel attentive, then something would startle me and I'd realize I'd been thinking and it was 15 or 20 minutes later.

I wasn't very productive in swim practice. Coach could see something was going on.

"Hill, you need to get your attention on your swimming. Just because you've won in the past doesn't mean you can relax. Take the rest of the day off, get a good night's sleep and come in here tomorrow ready to win.

I showered and changed and walked home by myself. Mom was out so I called Jill's and left a message. I called 4 more times before I went to bed, still no answer. I didn't leave any more messages.

I went to bed and thought about the same things I'd been thinking about all day.



-------

Chapter 18

I don't think I've ever had a worse night's sleep. It was probably 10:00 when I gave up on Jill and went to bed. I continued to think about what was going on. The fact that she didn't answer her phone or return my call didn't help. I tried reading but after staring at the same page for a half hour with nothing registering, I put down the book.

I don't know if I was thinking or dreaming. I'd jerk all of a sudden and look at my alarm clock to see that 20 or 30 minutes had passed.

The last time I'm aware of seeing the clock was at 3:20. Of course, it went off promptly at 6:00.

I got up and took a shower. I still felt terrible. I went into the kitchen and Mary was eating breakfast.

"God, Jack. Did you get any sleep? You look like shit."

"I know. I'm worried about Jill."

"Oh, come on. Lighten up. She's obviously planning on sticking around or she wouldn't have come over yesterday to check on Sara."

"Yeah, I know. It bothers me that she doesn't know how much I want us to be together. I keep thinking she's going to decide it's not worth waiting for me to decide she's good enough for her and take off. I don't know if I'd be able to take it if she left. I tried to call her all last night and she didn't answer. I left a message and she didn't return it."

"She was probably out somewhere for the evening. Give her a call now. I'm sure she has to get up early for school."

I called and got her machine. I left a message asking her to call me if she heard it before I left for school.

"So, did you get her?"

"No, I got the machine again."

"She's probably in the shower or eating breakfast or something."

"Maybe she just doesn't want to talk to me."

The doorbell rang a few minutes before it was time to leave. I opened it to see Chris standing on the porch. He looked nervous.

"Hey. Chris. Mary and I will be ready in a minute."

"Uh, Jack. There's been a change in plans. Look, I know we're friends and all but Sara's afraid of your girlfriend. She says if she was walking with you and Jill saw us, Jill might freak out."

"Chris, you know that's crazy."

"Yeah, I know, but that's how she feels. I'm going to walk with her. Give me a couple of days and maybe I can get her to change her mind."

"Sure, Chris. Whatever you think."

"Thanks, man." He took off toward the edge of our yard where I could just make out Sara on the other side of the hedge.

Mary and I walked to school together. I enjoyed it. I hadn't talked to my sister about what was important to her in a long time, if ever. It's amazing how you can live with someone and not really know her. She told me more about her gymnastics. She had even won a few medals in the inter school competition in junior high. I knew nothing about her career yet she could recite every award I had in swimming.

Mentally I felt a little better but physically I was wiped out. I actually fell asleep in English, causing quite a few snickers when Miss Beevers stood next to my desk and shook me by the shoulder. When I called her Mom and asked for five more minutes, that brought the house down.

I was able to stay awake for the rest of the morning. Mary met me for lunch and talked me into eating on the grass. As soon as we got outside, she said, "Jackie, it looks like you need sleep a lot more than you need lunch. Lay down and rest your head on my lap. I'll wake you in plenty of time to go to class."

It seemed like I just lay down when she was calling my name, telling me it was time for school.

I got a couple of comments about having a new girlfriend on the way in to class. I just shrugged and smiled.

The afternoon went OK, but the nap hadn't really fixed anything. I was still tired when it came time to suit up.

"Jesus, Hill. I thought I told you to get some sleep."

"I tried, Coach, I had a lot on my mind."

"Well, whatever it is, handle it. I need you full strength."

"OK, Coach. I'm sure I'll be OK as soon as I hit the water.

"You better be. We need this win to make sure we get in the finals."

The good news is that the team won the match. The bad news is that I lost two events. I placed second in both, my time in one was only two tenths of a second more than the winner's. But that didn't console me. I'd never lost an event before.



-------

Chapter 19

It was as if I was up above my body, watching myself swim. I could see I wasn't up to my normal speed but I couldn't make myself listen. I sat there helpless, like watching a horror movie when you know the two girls are going to be attacked any minute. I lost the race by two tenths of a second. My best event, the 200 meter freestyle.

The guy I lost two had placed fifth in the statewide competition last year and was a good swimmer. But I know I could have beat him if I was 100%. I got lots of sympathy and claps on the back by everyone, including Coach. It could happen to anyone, you were bound to lose sometime, better now than at the championships.

The thing is, I knew I blew it. And I knew why.

The human mind is a miraculous thing. It can conceive things never imagined before and make them real. It can rationalize frailty so that the biggest screwup in the world can convince himself he's something special. And it can take a little data and twist it around and reach a conclusion. Not necessarily a good conclusion, a correct conclusion, but an accepted conclusion, nonetheless.

What "facts" did my mind have to work with? First, Jill thought she was on some kind of probation until such time that I decided we knew each other well enough and I liked her enough to stick with her. Second, she was worried she had some competition from a girl I'd known for years, who lived near me, was in most of the same classes I was and I realized I wanted to know better. Third, Jill had not answered her phone or returned messages, last night and this morning.

The conclusion my mind handed me? You've lost her, buddy. She's gone. She figured it wasn't worth the heartbreak to wait for you to make up your mind, especially when you've got a honey waiting in the next seat over at school. She was ignoring my calls and my messages.

Forget the fact that she made the effort to walk to school with the four of us and convince herself that Sara wasn't a threat. Somehow she'd let Sara know she was in deep shit if she even looked at me and poor Sara was scared. Mary could probably explain to me how Jill was able to terrify someone without speaking a word to her, but I couldn't figure it out.

But when it was all over, there wasn't any affection from Jill. Sara left, I got a peck on the cheek and a "See ya" and she was gone. And that's the last time I saw or heard from her.

So, was I better off for the experience? All I know is before I met Jill I was able to swim. I hadn't lost an event in over two years and I was third in the state. After meeting, falling in love with and losing Jill, I lost the first event I was in.

I guess I'd be able to talk to girls, which is something I had a hard time doing pre-Jill. But would I want to? Did I want to put my heart on the line again, only to have it broken, crushed as it was now? That was definitely something to think about. No problem there. If the past two days had taught me anything, it was that I have no problem thinking about things. My problem's NOT thinking about them.

About this time I was called for my second event. The 400 meter freestyle. I wasn't up in the sky this time. I was right there inside my head, watching the guy in the lane next to me pull away. My turns went fine, thanks to the drilling I'd done. I could do those without thinking, without effort. It was just my swimming that sucked. I tried. I really tried. But it just seemed the harder I tried, the faster he went. It was as if my energy was affecting his speed, not mine. I lost by 3.2 seconds. The next closest person was over 5 seconds back, but that didn't help any.

I'd had enough. I had my shot at love and I blew it. No reason to obsess on it any further. Time to realize Jill was gone and get on with my life.

The pats on the back and "You'll get 'em next time"s were fewer and a lot less sincere. I didn't think I would be out if I got three strikes but I didn't want them just the same.

I felt a lot better when it was time to line up for my third event, the 200 meter breaststroke. I looked down the pool. Twenty five meters to the end. Just 8 laps, faster than the others and I'd have this one. I can do it.

My dive was clean. I was almost halfway down the pool when I took my first stroke. Provided you get off cleanly, it makes sense to let your momentum carry you through the water for a while before you start swimming. The reason is friction. When you do the breaststroke, a good portion of your body is out of the water. You push with your arms but you waste a lot of the energy you've produced fighting the water with your body. Using the momentum of the dive and reducing the friction between you and the water means you can make faster progress doing nothing than you can swimming. Of course, that faster progress decreases with each foot, with each tenth of a second. Because you can't get rid of friction. The key is to know how long you can get away with using the momentum of the dive before it's time to start swimming.

It took three strokes from the time I started swimming to reach the end. My turn was picture perfect; one second I was facing the edge of the pool, in the blink of an eye I had the whole length in front of me.

[I can do this. I know I can do this.] I was back. I could feel it in my gut. No need to loose tenths of a second looking around to figure out where the others were. I needed to go all out. And I did. My strokes took me farther than ever before, my turns were magnificent, it felt like I'd moved up to a whole new class. I felt like I could take State if I could consistently swim the way I was.

Eight laps were over before I knew it. I held on to the edge of the pool and turned around. Most of the swimmers were heading back from my end of the pool, 50 meters behind me. My closest competition had just made the turn at the far end and was coming back.

I could hear my teammates cheering and whistling. I think they wanted to rush to the side of the pool and congratulate me but that's kind of frowned on when the match isn't over yet. They did meet me halfway when I walked back to our bench. This time Coach's slap on my back was sincere. Shit, if I had a lung full of water that slap would have forced it out.

I felt tired from swimming but I didn't feel tired from lack of sleep. I think half of that was the adrenaline that pumped through my body during my last event and half was because I'd accepted that I'd probably never see Jill again and I was a better person for it. And I'd have to examine my few days with Jill to spot all the things I did to screw it up so it wouldn't happen the next time. Because by now I'd convinced myself that I wanted there to be a next time. Sara was with Chris, and that was fine. There were plenty of other girls I was sure would be glad to go out with me. Maybe I should try them all. No need to get so attached to one person that I could get messed up again like I was now. Sow my wild oats. Enjoy my youth while I had it. All those cliches were starting to make sense to me.

Some of the guys wanted to go out to Wendy's after the meet. What the hell. I was my own person again. I called home and left a message for Mom that I'd be an hour and a half late.

We had a good time. A few of the guys had girlfriends with them. Patty Johansen was with Todd and said she'd heard I had a girlfriend now.

"Not anymore. I'm pretty sure we broke up."

"Pretty sure? Boy, when I break up with somebody, they know it."

"Yeah. I think she's made up her mind and just doesn't know how to tell me."

"Well, when you find out for sure, give me a call."

"What about Todd?"

"Todd and I enjoy being with each other but we're not going steady or anything. Both of us date other people."

"I'll think about it, Patty. I want to think about what happened, first, so I don't screw up again."

"That's cool. Here's my phone number for when you're ready."

Most of the night was spent talking about the meet. It was agreed that I had looked like two different swimmers. I was told that whatever I did for the last race worked and to make sure I did it from now one.

I figured what I really did by making my decision was to clean my mind so I could concentrate 100% on my performance. I let them know I could do the same from now on.

I got a ride home from Todd. Patty was in the middle of the front seat, between us. She felt awful good, squeezed up against me.

When I got home I got out of the car and Patty scooted over to the passenger side.

"Don't forget what I said, Jack."

"I won't, Patty."

I waved and Todd honked as they took off.

I went in the house and Mom was on the couch. She asked how my day went and I told her. She was sad for me because I lost two events.

"Oh, by the way, Jack. There was a message for you on the answer machine. Jill wants you to call her. I wrote down the number in the kitchen."



-------

Chapter 20

I went into the kitchen and looked at the message board next to the wall phone. There was a message that Jill called with a phone number from our area code that I wasn't familiar with.

I dialed the number and a man answered, "Talk to me."

"Uh, I'm trying to reach Jill O'Hara. This is the number I have for her."

"This is Dr. O'Hara, her father. Who is this?"

"Oh, hi John. It's Jack Hill."

"Oh, Jack. Hang on a minute... Jillian, there's an obscene phone call for you." This last part was shouted, the phone held away from his mouth.

About 20 seconds later Jill came on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Jill?"

"Jack?"

"Yeah."

"Why did you call me?"

"I wanted to come over and see you. There's something I want to talk to you about."

"I'm afraid you can't come over, Jack."

My worst fears were coming true. I steeled myself.

"Why?"

"We're in Santa Barbara. My aunt died yesterday."

"Oh, Jill, I'm sorry."

"We were kind of expecting it. She was 92 years old and has been in a nursing home for the last seven years. She hasn't been herself since she fell and broke her hip last spring."

"So, how long are you going to be in Santa Barbara?"

"We're driving back tomorrow. The funeral was today. She had everything arranged and we were the only family so we pushed everything through. If you don't mind going to a Highpoint game, we can talk tomorrow night."

"I don't mind at all. I sort of promised Mary I'd ask if it was OK for her to go with us. I totally understand if you don't want her."

"Hold on a sec... Daddy? Can Jack and his sister come with us to the game tomorrow?"

I heard something in the background.

"He says it's OK. Why don't we pick you up around 6:15?"

"That will be great. And I'm sorry about your aunt. Give your father my condolences."

"That's sweet. I'll tell him. See you tomorrow night."

That was that. No "I don't ever want to see you again," no "I don't want to talk to you, you loser," just "we can talk tomorrow night." She didn't even ask what I wanted to talk about.

It was beginning to look like I nearly drove myself crazy and lost my first ever swim events over nothing. Was Mary trying to drive some kind of wedge between the two of us?

No, she just said that Jill had her claws out, she was checking out Sara and making sure Sara knew I was taken. Evidently Sara had gotten that message and then some. The poor girl was afraid to talk to me or walk to school or from class to class with me. In case Jill found out. And Mary had said Jill wouldn't go to all that trouble if she was going to split.

That was something I wanted to straighten out. Hopefully I could talk to Jill about another girl without her getting bent out of shape again.

The bottom line was if I hadn't spent ten minutes telling Jill what a wonderful girl Sara was and how I enjoyed talking to her, I would have saved myself a lot of grief. I guess there's a fine line between hiding things from a girlfriend and shielding her from things that could be uncomfortable.

No, I shouldn't have to "shield" her from anything. That's just another word for hiding. Or lying. I needed to get Jill to the point where she was secure enough in our relationship that I didn't have to avoid half the population of the planet just to keep her from being jealous. I realized it was going to be very tricky.

Mary came into the kitchen.

"Hey, I finally talked to Jill. She had to go up to Santa Barbara because her aunt died."

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Yeah. I guess they were kind of expecting it. She was in her 90s and she broke her hip a while ago. She's been in a nursing home for the last seven years."

"Well I hope she didn't suffer."

"I don't know. I got the idea it was pretty quick but I don't know for sure. Anyway, you're invited to go with us to a football game tomorrow if you can handle watching Highpoint play."

"Shoot, I don't know anything about football. I just want to see a game. Maybe I can find one of those cute Highpoint seniors to go out with."

"Yeah, maybe. Or maybe you can just sit with us and watch the game."

"We'll see. So is everything OK with you and Jill?"

"I think so. I didn't come out and say 'So, I guess you're not going to dump me' or anything. But she did invite me to the game when I told her I wanted to talk and she sounded fine. She didn't sound like she was fed up with me."

"I told you you were making something out of nothing. She wouldn't have walked to school with us if she didn't want to stick around."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"So, I hear you really fucked up at the meet today."

"Thanks a lot. I don't think I would have put it that way."

"Really? How would you put it? You haven't lost one event at the high school level in over two years. You decide that your girlfriend doesn't love you anymore and you lose two out of three. I think you fucked up."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

Mom walked in just about then. "Mary, are you picking on your brother again?"

"She's not saying anything I don't need to hear, Mom. I really fucked up today. It's going to take some time to get back to where I was. I probably never will. There will always be that question, 'Is Jack going to lose it again?' It's like cheating on someone you love. It can never be the same again, not matter what you do."

"I guess you're right, Jackie. It's good you learned that lesson early. You can't let your feelings affect the way you do those things that are important in your life. It's hard, I know it is. But look at what life would have been like for us if I started doing a lousy job at the hospital when your father died. I would have been fired and we could have been out on the street. You have to put your feelings aside and do what you need to do."

"Yeah, you're right, mom. What's stupid about the whole thing is it looks like it was all for nothing. I let my mind go crazy and came to the wrong conclusion."

"That's another thing you need to learn. Get all the facts before you make a decision that could affect the rest of your life."

I decided to let what was going to happen with Jill happen all by itself. We'd talk tomorrow at the football game and I'd know then where each of us stood in our relationship. Hashing it over before it happened wasn't going to do anyone any good.

Mom made her famous meatloaf for dinner. Well, it was famous in our house. I don't know how she does it, but it practically melts in your mouth. She cooks it in a foot long bread pan and there's never anything left over. She also made home made potatoes au gratin. She puts a layer of cheddar cheese about a quarter inch think on top of the sliced potatoes. There's some kind of cream sauce they're cooked in. There weren't any of those left by the end of the meal, either.

"Jackie, are we still invited to Jill's house on Sunday? I'll want to make my salad on Saturday if we are."

"OK if I find out when we go to the game tomorrow?"

"That's fine. Just make sure you leave me a note if I'm not up when you get home. I don't want you sleeping till noon and then telling me I have to make it."

"I will. Speaking of sleep, I'm pretty wiped out. I think I'll try to catch up."

It was 7:30 when I crawled into bed. The last thing I remember is turning off the light.



-------

Chapter 21



I woke up at 6 when the alarm went off. I'd slept for over ten hours and felt rested again.

School went fine. I actually participated in my classes. Mr. Hanson and Miss Beevers both made comments about it being good I was back. When Miss Beevers added "son" to her comment, it got a laugh from the rest of the class. I joined in.

Swimming went well. School normally gets out at 2:40. I stayed until 4, then left. I did some trial runs on the events I'd messed up and made better times than I had prior to the meet. I was back, better than ever.

Mom made grilled cheese sandwiches for me and Mary. Mary started to complain till I told her that we normally ate junk from the snack bar and would probably go out for something after the game. If not, I promised to make her popcorn when we got home.

Mary had a Fernmont sweatshirt on when she came out of her room.

"You want to get mugged?"

"They wouldn't."

"Probably not, but there's no reason to give anybody an excuse."

She went in and put a wintery sweatshirt on that I gave her for Christmas last year.

We were heading for the door when Mary saw what was under my arm.

"What about you? Aren't you afraid?"

"This isn't for me."

She got a knowing look on her face. "Oh."

I heard the car horn about 6:10. We went outside.

John and Wanda were in the front seat, Jill was in the back. I leaned in the door.

"Mom wants to know if we're still on for Sunday."

"Of course we are. Why would you think any different?"

"It's a long story. Hang on a minute, I need to let Mom know so she can get up at 4 in the morning to get started on her potato salad."

John piped up. "I told you she didn't have to bring that, Jack."

"I know. I'm just screwing with you."

"Better me than my daughter."

"I'll go tell my mother."

I ran up and told her, then got in the back and sat in the back seat between Jill and Mary.

I introduced Mary to Wanda and Dr. O'Hara. He told her she might as well call him John since I did.

Tonight's game was at Griffith. They'd lost both games while Highpoint had won both of theirs. John and Wanda were making bets on how many points Highpoint would win by. The winner was going to be the other's slave on Sunday.

John spoke over his shoulder. "Jack. I hear you've got a girlfriend at school."

Jill had her arms around my left one. They tightened perceptibly when he said that.

"No Sir. A friend, but not a girlfriend."

"Come on, Jack. I've heard that before."

"You know, John, you sounded awful chummy when you made Jill's appointment with Dr. Bartlett."

"Miriam? We've known each other for years."

"That's good. So, are you fucking her?" There were sharp intakes of breath from the three females in the car.

"Touche, Jack. Touche."

The grip on my arm loosened.

"Your daughter is the only person I'm interested in romantically, Dr. O'Hara. I've actually been contemplating what it would be like to be married to her."

"Don't you think that's a little early?"

"It's never too early to dream, Sir."

He was looking at me in the rearview mirror as if I was crazy. Wanda had turned halfway around in her seat and had a new look of respect on her face. Mary was looking at me with a smile on hers.

Jill pulled me toward her. Her face was up, her mouth opened and her eyes closed.

I hadn't kissed Jill since Monday night when I took her home from our aborted dinner. The peck on the cheek when she left us at school wasn't even worth mentioning.

It was as if we'd been away from each other for months. She melted in my arms, our mouths melded together in liquid fire. I held her tight and was surprised when I felt her hand on my penis. Of course, it was easy for her to find, it was the thing that looked like a cucumber down the inside of my right pants leg. Tight jeans usually felt good but they could get downright uncomfortable when I had an erection.

I don't know how long we kissed. We were still going at it when the car stopped and Jill's father announced that we'd arrived.

Wanda asked if I was going to be able to walk with that thing and got a laugh from Mary and John. Jill and I both reddened.

After we'd found our seats, John gave Wanda a couple of twenties. "Wanda, you and Mary go get some stuff for us to munch on. I don't want to send those two. This all started the last time they were together at a snack bar.

The game was a rout. Highpoint was ahead 36 to 3 at halftime. Jill and I had stopped paying attention long before.

Wanda and Mary went back for more food and drinks, leaving a gap between Jill and her father. She must have felt the cold because she hugged me and shivered.

I picked up the jacket I'd been carrying all night and put it around her shoulders.

"Oh, Jack. I couldn't. This is yours."

"I brought it for you. I'd like you to have this."

She looked down, saw the big F on the right front, smiled and hugged me so tight I thought she was going to asphyxiate me.

"Are you serious? You want me to wear your letterman's jacket?"

"I'd be proud to have you wear it, Jill."

She leaned in to me and we kissed again. Jill really knows how to kiss. When she's happy with me, she really, really knows how to kiss. She pulled my right arm away from her back mid kiss and brought my hand under the jacket, laying it on her breast. My hand seemed to have a mind of its own; it certainly knew what to do.

"Get a room, you two." Mary was back with an armful of food. She and Wanda made their way past us and sat down.

Mary and Wanda seemed to have hit it off. John was on the far end, then Wanda, Mary, Jill and me on the other end. Wanda was doing her best not to ignore either of them. Jill and I were in a world of our own.

John didn't say or ask anything after the game. When he told Jill and I to pull apart, we were in Perlione's parking lot.

Mary was in awe as we ignored the group of people waiting in front and walked through the restaurant toward the back room.

"Close your mouth, Mary. It's not polite to drool." She snapped her mouth shut and Jill slugged me in the arm.

I got the peanuts this time. John looked surprised. "Good." He reached in the coffee can and took a handful.

This time I cracked the first one and put it in Jill's mouth. Mary and Wanda said "Ewwe" simultaneously, looked at each other and giggled. Jill stuck her tongue out at them.

The pizza came and I had to tell Mary to close her mouth again. I really couldn't blame her. I was probably the same last week.

"Hey, you two. There's plenty of room on that bench. Why don't you spread out a bit."

Jill smiled. "We're fine, Mary."

We did have to stop holding hands to eat. Perlione's pizza definitely requires two hands.

I realized it had been a bad idea to plan on talking while we were with the others. They'd probably all hear about what we said at some point but I knew they'd all feel it was fine to make comments if they were around when we talked and I wasn't ready for that. It seemed like things were better than ever between us and I'd been worried for nothing, but I wanted to make sure there weren't any misunderstandings between us. I was pretty sure that Jill got that she wasn't on probation when I gave her my jacket. I needed to talk to her about the jealousy she'd shown after I told her about Sara. I was pretty sure the jacket went a long way, but I needed to be positive she felt secure in our relationship. Of course, my comment about marriage earlier didn't hurt, either.

"Do you want to go to the mall again tomorrow?"

"Sure, Jack. Can you be over at 10?"

"Sorry, Mom works tomorrow so she's going to need her car. I can ride my bike and meet you at the mall at 10."

"Oh, I see. You expect me to walk two blocks to the mall?"

"Yeah, I was kind of hoping you could."

John spoke up. "I'll drive you two. We'll be over at your house at 10. You may have to get home by yourselves."

"That's fine. Thanks, John."

After we stuffed ourselves with pizza, John drove Mary and me home. While I was walking up the path with Jill's hand in mine, Mary nudged me out of the way. She was holding on to her stomach.

"I've got to get to a bathroom. I can't believe how much junk I ate."

Jill and I kissed on my porch until John got frustrated and honked the horn. She ran back to the car and I went in the house.



-------

Chapter 22



I got up early Saturday morning to help Mom and Mary with the potato salad. Mom told me not to be ridiculous and made me breakfast for my trouble. She did allow Mary to help her.

John honked his horn just before 10:00. I yelled goodbye to Mom and Mary and ran out the front door.

John was up front by himself, Jill was in the back seat. I got in and scooted over next to her. I said hi to both of them, giving Jill a quick but thorough kiss.

She was wearing my letterman's jacket. I sat back and looked her over. She had a smile on her face like none I'd seen before.

"Your arms are too short. I better take it back."

"Don't you dare. Don't even think about it."

It was true. Last night I hadn't seen how it fit because I just threw it over her shoulders. Somehow she managed to eat peanuts and pizza and kiss me the rest of the time without actually putting it on or losing it. Including when I first put it on and she kissed me and practically sucked my tonsils out while sticking my hand under it and onto her tit. At the time, checking the length of the sleeves didn't occur to me.

Today she was wearing it. I could see the bottom part of her fingers sticking out of the sleeves. It was definitely too wide at the shoulders. And she loved it.

"So, did you sleep in it?"

John answered. "She would have if I hadn't told her not to."

"Don't worry, John, it'll wear off. I remember when I got it as a freshman. I'm sure mom thought I'd never take it off. Anyway, Jill, you might as well enjoy it. You won't be able to wear it to school on Monday."

"The hell I won't."

"You're going to wear a Fernmont letterman's jacket to Highpoint?"

"Just try and stop me."

"Well, I don't..."

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up."

She pulled me closer and did that thing where she shuts her eyes and opens her mouth. She had her tongue up against the inside of her lips, the tip just below her lower lip, the front part of her tongue covering the opening between them. It found my mouth when we kissed.

There was a movie about Tina Turner in which Ike tells her she has some cavities the first time he kisses her. Having a woman dig around in my mouth with her tongue has never appealed to me. Over at Jeff's house one Saturday night we watched a movie on Showtime that had a couple with their mouths close together and they looked like they were fighting with their tongues. I'd much rather kiss with my lips.

Jill changed my mind. Her tongue was like an extension of her mouth. It wasn't jabbing, digging. It just kind of melted into my mouth. I found myself playing with it, exploring it with my tongue, trying to suck it in further. As I turned up the intensity of the kiss with my lips, I felt its presence more in my mouth. Not hard or harsh. It just flowed, melted. Jill made me a believer.

Once again, we got to our destination and John had to tell us to break it off. Driving definitely has its advantages. Of course, it's kind of difficult to kiss the way we were when you're supposed to be driving. And if we had to have an adult take us around, we could do a lot worse than John.

He had a couple of patients who'd each delivered new patients in the last couple of days that he had to go see at the hospital. And a couple that could pop any minute. Talk about job security. He practiced both as an OB/GYN and a pediatrician. He took care of them till they started kindergarten. He told Jill to call when we were ready to leave the mall but warned us he might not be available. Jill had a couple of blocks to go, I had about 8 miles. I was going to have to make some phone calls if he got tied up.

Jill pulled up her right sleeve and got her hand out, taking my left. We just walked around the mall, glancing in the windows, not seeing anything. The photographs were gone and hadn't been replaced with another display.

"I've walked to school with Mary all week. I found out I really didn't know my sister. She's a pretty cool person."

"That's good. Is she behaving herself?"

"Yes, she is. She did say one thing I found hard to believe."

"What's that?"

"She said she got the idea that you felt you were on probation until we get to know each other. And that you think I might decide I don't want to be with you after we do. Is that what you think?"

"I don't know if I'd use the word 'probation, ' but yeah, that's pretty much it."

"Well, you're wrong. I know I did some stupid things last weekend when I found out how old you are, and I did some really stupid things when you seemed to be throwing yourself at me, but I have made my mind up. I told you last night that I was contemplating marriage with you. That wasn't something I said just to hear myself talk.

"Mary didn't want anything to do with you when Mom finally dragged her out of her room on Wednesday. She told me she didn't want to go to a football game with HER. I pretended not to know who she was talking about but I knew. I heard myself telling her that if she stayed away from you, she'd be sentencing herself to staying away from me because I was going to spend as much time with you as I could. And that I would miss her at my wedding because it seemed to me that you were the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.

"I didn't even think about it as I said it. And, to be honest, I wondered if I was crazy as the words came out of my mouth. But I realized I wasn't. If I'm not in love with you, I'm damn close.

"Do you know what I thought when I woke up in your lap and saw you for the first time?"

"No."

"I thought you were an angel. I thought I might be in heaven. Until Jeff opened his big mouth."

She laughed at that but had to wipe her eyes.

"I love you, Jack."

She grabbed my arms and pulled my face to hers.

We were coming up on the food court.

"Let's get something to eat or drink. What do you want?"

"Oooh. There's A&W. Let's get root beer floats."

Mom used to go to A&W when she was in high school. Back then they had a drive in like Arnold's on Happy Days. No roller skates, but the waitresses brought your order out to your car on a tray. You'd roll your window partway down and they'd hook the tray on it and pick it up when you were done. They sold burgers and fries but the one thing you always had to have at A&W was their root beer. And they were world famous for their root beer floats. I think that's where she and my father got to know each other.

Nowadays the drive ins are all gone. I think there's one location left over near the state college but most of them are in malls like this one.

We got a couple of floats and sat down.

"You confused the hell out of me the other day. And you scared me."

"Scared you? How did I scare you?"

"You acted in such a way that a couple of my friends think you're psycho."

I guess I shouldn't have said that while she was sucking on her straw. I thought she was going to choke for the better part of a minute. When she finally stopped coughing, she looked at me.

"They think I'm what?"

"I know Sara is convinced you're psycho. Chris is giving you the benefit of the doubt. They are both staying away from me. Sara is afraid of what you'll do if you find out she's even talked to me. Her exact words were 'I'm afraid she'll go off on me.'"

"Well, you sounded like you really liked her. I just wanted to check her out. I wouldn't have done anything to her."

"Really? What if she'd kissed me goodbye before they went inside the fence?"

"I don't know. I probably would have left and cried for the rest of my life. But I wouldn't have done anything to her."

"Mary had one word after you left." I made the ROOWWWWRRRR sound like the cats on our roof that Mary had made.

Jill smiled and even laughed a little.

"Did I really scare her?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"I'm sorry."

"There's something I've told you but I don't think you ever really got. Before I met you, I never said more than two words to a girl. And those were only if I absolutely had to. Something happened when I woke up in your lap. I could talk to you. And Wanda. And girls in my classes I'd always been afraid to look at before, much less talk to.

"And I found out I like people. Yeah, I like guys and can still talk to them. And it doesn't bother me if they pick on me or tease me like it used to. I fell asleep in English earlier this week and when the teacher woke me I said 'Give me five more minutes, Mom.' What woke me up was the rest of the kids laughing. And I was able to laugh right along with them. I never would have been able to do that before."

"Why did you fall asleep?"

"Don't get me off the subject. I'll tell you all about it later, but this is important to me."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry. I've got a lot of stuff to tell you. Let me make my point here, first."

"OK."

"Jill, you're a nice person and I enjoy talking with you. Not just because I'm in serious lust with you, but because you're interesting. I enjoy it.

"I also enjoy talking with Wanda. I haven't done it a lot, but for the most part, I've enjoyed that, too, except when she was chewing me out for making you cry all night. I also enjoyed talking to Sara. Jill, I've known that girl for seven years. For the last two years, I spent more time in her presence than in my mom's or my sisters. Yet I never talked to her. And I was suspicious it was some kind of a joke or a dare when she came up to me.

"Jill, you're the reason she came up to me. She saw that I was showing confidence I'd never had before. And I wasn't acting as if I was the authority on everything, which is a way I used to act in order to survive."

"Tell me about it."

"OK. I deserved that. But once I got through harassing her and noticed she was almost in tears, I talked to her. And she's a nice person. Yeah, she was interested in going to the dance with me but almost as soon as I told her I was taken, which I did as soon as she showed any romantic interest in me, she backed off. And within 15 minutes, she was asking me what kind of a guy Chris is.

"But even if she hadn't hooked up with Chris, nothing would have happened between us. Because I'm smitten with my angel."

She dabbed at her eyes with a napkin, then leaned over and kissed me.

"You know, Jill, I discovered I like Sara. As a friend, not as a lover. I've got all I can handle in that department with you."

That got me a laugh.

"I can see us kissing when we meet and when we say goodbye. Nothing sexual, nothing romantic, just two good friends greeting each other. And I can see you doing the same one of these days with Chris or one of my other friends. I'll tell you, I'd much rather kiss Sara than my Aunt Gladys. And it would be just about as romantic as it is when Aunt Gladys comes to visit."

"What are you saying, Jack?"

"Jill, there's no reason for you to be jealous. If you introduced me to a male friend of yours, I wouldn't be jealous. I would be happy to meet someone special enough that you would choose him as a friend. Mary and Sara got along fine the other day. You glared at her and tried to dig a hole in my arm. You're too good a person to be torn apart by jealousy, Jill. And you have nothing to be jealous about. I'm yours, now and forever."

She got up and walked over to me so I stood, as well. We held each other tight and kissed once more, her tongue making friends with my mouth again.

"Come on Jill. Let's check out some of the stores. And I'll tell you how I spent my week after we walked to school."



-------

Chapter 23

We walked around the mall some more, looking in store windows but not really seeing anything.

"Jack, I was afraid I lost you when you told me about Sara. I know I acted a little strange but I was fighting for you."

"I'm sorry, Jill. When Mary talked to me about it, she made me see that I went overboard telling you about her. I'll tell you what really bothered me. We got to my school and you gave me a quick peck on the cheek and took off. And I couldn't get in touch with you. I almost went crazy."

"What do you mean?"

Mary told me that you thought you were on probation and I wanted to let you know how I felt. When you didn't answer the phone or return my calls I figured you decided I wasn't worth the effort and didn't want to talk to me. I thought I lost you."

"I guess I could have called you but we were kind of busy with my aunt dying."

"I know that now. It wasn't your fault. I just thought too much and I came up with the wrong conclusion. I was a total mess."

"A mess?"

"Yeah. I didn't sleep much that night. I fell asleep in English. That's when my teacher tried to wake me up and I called her Mom. I did lousy at the swim meet."

"Don't tell me you lost."

"Oh, yeah, big time. Two out of three. I'm sure it would have been all three but I decided I'd lost you and it wasn't doing me any good to sit around and moan about it. I came back into my own in my third race. When I talked to you on the phone Thursday night, it was like you saved me from drowning. I know it was all my overactive imagination, but I never want to go through anything like that again."

"Now I feel terrible."

"Oh, Jill, it's not your fault. I just didn't think straight."

We passed the pet store and Jill squealed, pulling me by the arm into the store. The same lab puppy was in the window. She kneeled down and he came over to her, his whole back half wagging with his tail.

"He remembers me from last week!"

"I sort of doubt that."

She picked him up and was talking to him, telling him she knew he remembered and not to pay attention to me because I didn't know what I was talking about. I'll say one thing, he looked like he knew her. His tongue was all over her face.

Once again, Jill got read the riot act by the teenage clerk. Some people get a little power and they think they rule the world. This time Jill didn't wait till we were out of the store to call her a bitch.

We stopped in Fredericks of Hollywood. There weren't any adult toys for sale but they definitely had some more provocative things than Victoria's Secret.

"Jill, I want you to find something you really like and model it for me."

She looked at me like she didn't know me. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I can take it."

"OK. You promise me I won't hear about this later when you're trying to prove what a slut I am?"

I pulled her to me and kissed her hard. She gasped as I let her loose. "I promise. I know I was an ass last week. Show me something you'd like for your birthday."

"OK. Go sit over there. You can see it when I've changed."

I sat down and tried to look at things other than Jill. She kept looking over at me with a quizzical expression on her face, trying to believe it wasn't some cruel joke. She finally looked like she made up her mind, grabbed something off the rack, hid it from me and went into the changing rooms. She said something to the attendant and then got into a discussion with her. The attendant seemed satisfied and went to a couple of bins and picked up picked up some items and took them in to her.

Jill came out about five minutes later.

It took me a couple of seconds to realize it was her. She stood just outside the entrance to the changing rooms. Her left hand was on her left hip. Her left leg was bent at the knee and her hips were cocked to the right. She had a look of desire on her face, particularly in her eyes. When I realized it was her, her tongue snaked out of her mouth and licked her lips. As if she was getting her mouth ready for something. Other than talking.

"Oh, my God." I can't believe it. You want me to get that for your birthday?"

"That's what you told me to show you."

"What about your father?"

"This won't be for my father."

"Damn, Jill. You get me alone somewhere wearing that and I may not be able to control myself."

"Good. That's what it's supposed to do."

My first impression was that she could get arrested for indecent exposure. As I looked, I realized it didn't actually show anything. But you could tell everything she had.

I found out later the main item is called a corset. It was not unlike the top portion of a one piece bathing suit. The bottom was scalloped and came down just below her navel. Her breasts were totally covered and there were some thin straps over her shoulders. There were some extra straps visible underneath it. A couple of semi circles under her breasts, just enough to define and support them. I'm sure Jill didn't need them but they didn't hurt. There were a couple more that ran vertically to mold it to her body and continued over her panties and to just past the tops of her thighs ... It definitely showed off her hourglass figure and probably was designed to help bring back the figure of someone a few years past her prime. It was lace, I guess, and had intricate pattern of swirls. I got a picture of the two of us on a couch with her wearing it and knew I could spend hours exploring the textures with my fingers.

It was lavender. The combination of that color with her blond hair made me ache.

But that wasn't all. She had a pair of matching panties on. Nothing risque about them but the straps from the corset ran over them and down to hold up a pair of lavender stockings she was wearing. Not panty hose, stockings. Her tennies spoiled the effect a little but not enough to prevent the wood I sported as soon as she walked out the door.

"Jack?"

"Huh?"

"It's not polite to drool, Dear."

I wasn't actually drooling, but I did close my mouth.

"I like it."

"Good. You can get the corset for my birthday. I have to buy the stockings and the panties since I wore them."

"You've got a deal."

"Get it for me and who knows? You might get lucky."

She went back in the changing room and left the door open enough so I could see her image in the mirror on the back wall. She took off the corset and put her shorts and shirt on without taking off the panties and hose. The shorts covered up the garter straps.

I got a quick view of her breasts as she faced the mirror, pulling on her shorts. Just before she put her shirt back on she smiled at me in the mirror.

She handed the clerk an American Express card and signed the slip. We walked out of the store hand in hand.

"Jack? Are you OK with that?"

"I don't think so, Jill."

"Jack. I thought you said you weren't going to be an ass."

"That's not what I meant, Jill. That outfit did just what it's supposed to do. And your little show in the dressing room didn't hurt, either. Let's just say that I reacted to it and am in a little bit of pain right now."

She looked down at my pants and giggled. "Oh, Jack. I'm sorry. There's not much we can do about it here."

"I'll be all right. You didn't do anything wrong. But I think I've had enough mall for today."

She pulled out her cell phone and called her father.

"He's going to be about two and a half hours. He said to walk home and he'll take you home when he gets back."

"Good. We'll get to spend more time together."

It didn't take long to walk the two blocks to her house. She went in the kitchen and got us both a tall glass of ice tea. We went into a room that had a couple of couches and a large screen TV. She sat down on a couch, patted the seat next to her for me to sit down and grabbed the remote. Soon we were watching MTV. I noticed there were speakers all around the room.

She tapped me on the shoulder and pulled me in for a kiss when I turned towards her. We kissed for a long time, still getting used to the newness of each other. It was difficult to believe we'd only met a week ago last night.

After we'd kissed a while I moved my right arm around to the front and cupped her left breast. She moaned a bit and kissed a little harder.

I explored this miracle growing out of her chest. It's strange that a gland filled with fat cells whose primary function was to nourish the young can provide such pleasure to both of us. As I explored it gently with my fingertips, her nipple pushed out at me through both her bra and her shirt.

After a couple of minutes I decided to be fair and moved my hand to the other breast. Another moan. She was starting to squirm.

"Undo my shirt."

I slowly undid the three buttons that were fastened. Jill's Saturday outfits all seemed to consist of shirts with buttons down the front, the two top buttons undone, the next three buttoned and the rest of the shirt tied under her breasts. Soon only the knot at the bottom remained.

She pushed me away and pulled her arms out of the shirt one at a time, pushing the knot down to her waist. She reached behind her and undid her bra.

I felt her breast briefly at the football game and more thoroughly here on the couch. And I'd seen her in a pretty brief bikini. I'd imagined what she must look like countless times in the past week. My imagination was lacking. The quick view in the dressing room was nothing like having them right in front of me.

Her body was tan except where her bathing suit covered the ends of her breasts. That part was very pale. There were slightly pink aereola, somewhere between the size of a quarter and a half dollar. The nipples stood up firm and proud, a little darker pink. Not quite as big around as my pinky finger. Sticking up 3/8 of an inch or so.

"Oh, Jill. They're magnificent."

"Kiss me."

I leaned over and moved toward her lips.

"Not there. Here."

She held her hands under her breasts, offering them to me.

I nuzzled her right nipple with my lips, gently tugging on it. It grew as she pushed her torso toward me and moaned. I moved over to the left nipple and nurtured it out as well.

Once both nipples were well out from their homes, I took a swipe at her left nipple with my tongue. Jill yelped and pulled back as if she's been shocked.

"Oh, God." She put her hand underneath it again and moved forward, shoving it in my face.

I proceeded to lick gently, moving to the other side, back and forth.

By now she had a hand behind my head, seemingly trying to pull me through whichever breast I happened to be working on into her body. She stiffened and pulled me in with both hands, shuddered and moaned again. "Oh, God, I can't believe what you did."

"Are you OK?"

"Oh, yeah. I don't know how you did it but you made me come."

I was just about ready to get back to work and try for two when we heard her father call out "Jillian, I'm home."

"OK Daddy. We'll be out as soon as I get my shirt back on."

Not quite what I expected her to say, but I knew from experience that her father would probably respect her right to do what she wished with me.

We got Jill back together and went out to see her father.

"Look, Daddy." She shoved a leg out, showing off the stockings. "Wait till you see the rest of the outfit when Jackie gets it for my birthday."

He looked over at me and said, "I'm not sure I'm ready for that."

Jill giggled. "Oh Daddy, you're such a teddy bear."



-------

Chapter 24



I gave them time to get home, then called John on his cell phone.

"Talk to me."

"Hi, John. It's Jack."

"Hang on, I'll get her."

"Wait a minute. I need to talk to you. I need your OK before I buy her something."

"Jack, I said I wasn't ready for that..."

-------

It was after dinner. The only reason we were getting into this was that I needed to borrow her car to make it work.

"Jack, I think it's too soon. Look at you, you were ready to give up on girls last week. You just gave her an expensive jacket the other night. Now you're looking at buying her something like this? Do you know how serious this is?"

"Mom, it's my money. It's just been sitting in the bank. And it's not like she'll forget it in a week or two like most presents."

"OK. If you're sure. I hope you know what you're doing."

-------

Sunday morning I was at the mall when it opened at 10. I stopped by the store and found out exactly how much it was going to cost, then left to go to the ATM.

The clerk seemed surprised to see me back five minutes later. She smiled at me. "Boy, you're going to get lucky after you give her this."

"I already am lucky."

-------

Mom and Mary had made enough potato salad to feed the football team. We loaded it up in the car and Mary got up front with Mom. I sat in the back.

I gave directions and Mary let out a low whistle as we pulled into the driveway. She got the salad and went with Mom to the front door. I saw Jill open the door, and look over at me after Mom pointed.

Jill came over to my window. "Your mom said you need..."

I think I went deaf for a second, the squeal was so loud.

"OHMYGOD! I love you I love you I love you."

She yanked open the door and grabbed the puppy from my arms, trying to hold it to her chest as he did his best to wiggle his tail off. She was talking and kissing him as he tried to lick a layer of skin off her face. She laughed and cried as the tears streamed down her face.

I'd gotten out of the car while they were saying hello to each other. She finally let him down and he took off across the lawn. She crushed me to her, then kissed me hard. "Oh, God. I can't believe it. You're so good to me, Jackie."

Her baby was having the time of his life, exploring his new environment. As we walked toward the front door, she bent down.

"Come on, Boy."

He responded immediately to her voice. His ears perked up and he took off like a shot, bouncing towards us. Well, towards her. There was no doubt whose dog this was.

We went into the house. He had to struggle but he got up the one step to the threshold. This was new territory. He ran forward to check it out, turning down the left hallway. As we went through the doorway, he was squatting over the carpet, taking a crap.

"He's home," I said.

Jill got something to clean up the mess. She didn't seem to be bothered in the least.

"Babies and puppies. It's just something you have to put up with till they know better."

Mary came into the hallway. She looked worried.

"Jackie?"

"What's up, Mary?"

You need to come out back. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

"Problems?"

"Big time."

I went from an air conditioned house into the back yard on a sunny day. It was as if the temperature fell 20 degrees.

Mom was seated at one of the tables, the bowl of potato salad in front of her. John was over at his barbecue, angrily wadding up newspaper and throwing it inside. I wouldn't have been surprised to see an iceberg parked between them.

Jill came running out the door. "Daddy, look what..." She screeched to a halt.

Mom looked like she was trying to bore holes through John with her eyes. This was a side of her I'd never seen. John looked like he was in pain, trying desperately to get away.

"What the fuck is going on?"

Both heads snapped around and looked at me. Neither of them said anything. Mary finally spoke up.

"They already know each other."

"It's obvious they're not buddies."

I said, "But John, you said you didn't know Mom when I told you she worked at the hospital."

Mom looked at me. The look was toned down a bit but I could feel her stare.

"I don't want to have anything to do with that man. It's bad enough I have to put up with him at work but I'll be damned if I will on my time off. And the reason he said that is he can't be bothered to learn any of our names."

"Mom, 'that man' is right over there. He has a name. Dr. O'Hara, Doc or even John. But not 'That Man.'"

"We call him something else at the hospital. I've told you about Dr. Asshole, haven't I?"

Oh, shit. I'd heard about Dr. Asshole for years. This wasn't good. I noticed John cringe when she said it.

"Don't tell me John is Dr. Asshole?"

"In the flesh."

I looked at Mom. She still had that killer look on her face. Jill had walked over to him and had both arms around one of his. He looked like he was trying to hide while still being there. There was something else about him, too. Yeah. He had a sheepish look on his face. This obviously wasn't the first time he'd heard that name.

I looked at both of them again. I couldn't help it. I cracked up. I started laughing and I couldn't stop. I had to hold my stomach and bend over a bit. The tears were streaming down my face. At one point I slowed down a bit, looked over at Mary and started right up. Mary saw my look and she started to laugh, too.

My mother looked like she'd been insulted. Her face turned red. John looked bewildered, as if he was trying to figure me out, but he was having trouble not smiling. Jill looked at me like I'd lost my mind. The more I looked at their expressions, the harder it became to control myself.

I finally made my way over to Mom and hugged her. I had just about stopped laughing. She was stiff in my arms.

"Oh, God, I can't believe this. An angel from heaven runs into me an knocks me down, I fall in love only to find out her father is the notorious Dr. Asshole. Mom, you've got to admit it's funny."

"I don't find anything funny about it, Jack. You can stay here if you want to. I'm going home."

"The hell you are." Boy, I'd thought she was stiff before.

"Jack Royce Hill. How dare you."

"June Hill. How dare you. This is not how you taught me to behave when I am a guest in someone's home. This is not how I want you to get along with the father of the woman I'm in love with. I've seen the love and respect this man gets from his patients. Hell, I've even been a patient of his. There's no way this man is as bad as you've made Dr. Asshole to be. The two of you need to sit down and talk out your differences. Like adults."

The glare had died down a little. I'd made my point.

We were all interrupted as Jill squealed and ran towards the pool. I heard a splash and looked toward the pool just in time to see an excited lab puppy swimming as if he'd been raised in the water.

"Oh my God, the poor baby's going to drown."

"Settle down, Jill. He's doing fine. Just make sure he doesn't get over tired because he isn't big enough to get out by himself."

"Maybe I should get in the water with him."

"I wouldn't suggest it. I can guarantee you his claws are out as far as they can go because he's spreading his paws to get traction. You get in the water and he'll try to climb on top of you with his feet going like that and he'll scratch the hell out of you."

He came over to the side before she had a chance to do anything. I leaned over, grabbed around his belly and lifted him up enough so he could get his front paws on the edge. I kept my hands under him as he scrambled forward, lifting his back section a bit so he could reach with his back paws. Of course, once he was out my reward was to get covered with water as he shook.

He was cute and adorable and she thought nothing of picking up a completely soaked dog and holding it up to her face so he could lick her. He started to squirm and she bent over to let him down. Evidently, she wasn't fast enough for him and he jumped from about a foot and a half up and got tangled up in her, landing on his side. She gasped as he took off, jumping into the pool again.

He swam around a bit and came over to the side.

"Your turn, Jill."

She reached over and was ready to pull him all the way out of the water.

"No. Just help him so he can get his feet on the cement. Good, now his back feet. Good. He's smart. You keep that up and he'll be climbing out of the pool by himself before you know it."

It was obviously a fun game to him. Jump in, swim around a bit, get a human to help you get out, jump in again. Jill was thrilled to play it. Everything he did was cute as far as she was concerned.

About the fifth time out of the water, John said "Jack, you did good."

"Yeah, you did, Jackie."

"Thanks, John. Thanks, Mom."

He looked over at my mother. "I'm willing to bury the hatchet if you are."

"I don't know if I'm ready for that."

Jill took enough time off from playing with her dog to say, "I don't get it. What's this Dr. Asshole stuff?"

"I'm afraid that's a name given to me by some of the nurses at the hospital, Jill."

Mary piped up. "You should hear some of the stories Mom tells about him."

She quickly covered her mouth and looked embarrassed when Mom shot her a look.

"Well, you do, Mom."

"Jackie, I don't want to talk about this. And I definitely don't want to talk about it here."

"Well, I do, Mom. I know this man. He's not like the ogre you talk about when you come home in a bad mood. Something's not right."

"OK, Jackie. If you're sure. I don't know if you'll be welcome here after today. You said a couple of things. You said you knew some of his patients and that you were one of them."

"OK. I exaggerated a bit. I know he delivered at least two grandchildren of Old Man Perlione. Mary can tell you how he gets treated in that place. I also saw the look of adoration on the Maitre D's face when he was talking about how John took care of his wife and baby. Nothing was too good for him."

"And what about you?"

"He examined me after Jill damn near knocked me out at the football game."

"How did he treat you?"

"He didn't mess around. If you were watching, you might have thought he was rough on me. He knows the human body and what it can take and can't take. It was almost as if he was throwing me around, checking for bruises, broken bones and the like. He hurt me for less than a second when he examined my chin where I hit the counter on the way down. But it hurt and then was gone. It might have looked like he was going to tear my head off when he checked my neck and my spine but it was controlled. Do you remember how I was when I first started driving? How I used to check three or four times before making a turn, how I was afraid to let the car do it's thing?"

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, it's a year later. I know what I'm doing. I know, I know. I'm not an expert driver like you. But I know a lot more than I did back then. And I have a lot more confidence. It's nothing for me to step on the gas and get on the freeway where both of us would have been scared to death when I started. I know the limits and the functions of the car and I can control it. That's what it felt like when he examined me. You look at him and how quickly he checks you out and you think you're going to be in pain when he's done. But he's surprisingly gentle and really thorough. And when he's done and he says you'll be OK, you know he's telling the truth, not some crap to make you feel better."

"So, who else was there."

"God, I don't know. There were a bunch of people around. Jill's friend Wanda. And of course, Jill. She wouldn't let me up from her lap."

"How did he treat Wanda?"

"I'm pretty sure he totally ignored her. She showed him where I was and he checked me out. After he was done and we walked back to the game I know he put his arm around her shoulders."

"Just how old is this Wanda?"

"I think she's about my age. Get your mind out of the gutter, Mom. It meant no more than it did when he put his hand on my shoulder when he thanked me for bringing Jill home from the mall to change clothes last weekend."

"Why did she have to change clothes?"

"It's a long story, it's between me and Jill and it has nothing to do with this."

"All right. How did he treat Jill?"

"He blamed her for trying to kill me. From the way he talked to her you would think all she did was go around trying to hurt people."

"A HA!"

"And she loved it. You're wrong, Mom. I'll admit he's rough and has a strange sense of humor. Hell, it bothered me when he called me a dwarf. For all of 5 or 10 seconds."

"Well, he's different at the hospital. He treats us all like shit."

"OK. I've stood here patiently listening to all this crap. What do you mean I treat you like shit."

"You just do. The way you order us about. The way you yell at us. The way nothing's ever good enough for you."

"When I have a nurse working with me there's a need for it. It's not like I'm playing a game. I'm either delivering a baby or I've got a sick, hurting child on my hands. And I don't have time for niceties. If I need a sponge or a clamp, I need it now. If I didn't, I could do the whole thing myself. I'm sorry if it offends you that I tell you what I want and get disturbed when it takes too long or I get the wrong thing. Damn it, you're supposed to be professionals and you should act like it."

"I've worked with you, Dr. O'Hara. You expect us to read your mind. I'm sorry, I don't know how to do that. If you need forceps, ask for forceps and I'll give them to you. Don't just hold out your hand. And then make some snide remark about incompetent help just loud enough for us to hear. I've probably worked with you 25 or 30 times. I don't ever remember you thanking me for the job I did."

"Well. I expect you to do a good job. That's what you get paid for."

"You don't seem to realize that we're all human. Most of us have our own problems. Try raising two teenagers by yourself, working the hours I do on a nurse's salary. Not that that's an excuse to do a lousy job. But I don't do a lousy job. Whatever is going on in my life, I'm able to put it aside when I need to be there and perform. A little appreciation would be nice. And I know that there are lots of other nurses who feel the same way. That's how you earned the name Dr. Asshole."

"Daddy, you need to let people know when they did good." Somehow she was pulling her dog out of the pool every couple of minutes and coming back to observe the conversation.

"I know, Honey. June, I apologize. My attention is 100% on my patients. I guess I don't think about being nice."

"John, you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar. It doesn't take much. A few minutes ago you said 'You did good, Jack.' Four words. And I know it made a lot to him that you noticed."

"You're right. I'll tell you what. If I forget to thank you or anybody else, you have my permission to say 'You forgot something, Dr. Asshole.'"

"You can count on it."

I couldn't resist. "You can catch more flies with shit than with honey."

"Shut up, Jack."

"Yes, Jill."

John spoke again. "June, I'm sorry. I know I don't really have any excuse other than putting my patients first. But I know that's no reason for being rude. As you can see, your son and my daughter are very close. I invited you over here so that I could get to know Jack's mother. I'd appreciate it if you'd give me the benefit of the doubt for today so we can do that."

"I'm willing if you'll give me your word that you'll try to be more understanding in the future."

"I will. And I can't wait to taste this potato salad of yours."

"Oh, my God. It's been out in the sun. If we're not going to eat soon, it should go in the refrigerator."

"Jack. Mary. Take your mother's potato salad into the kitchen and put it in the refrigerator. And bring out the pitcher of lemonade and some glasses. Chop, chop."

"Say 'please, ' Daddy."

He shot his daughter a look and then grinned. "Please."

I grabbed the salad. "Sure thing, Dr. Asshole."



-------

Chapter 25

We went into the house with the salad. The refrigerator was fairly full. Mary got the pitcher of lemonade out and started rearranging stuff to make room.

I heard music. It hadn't been on when we came in the house and everyone was outside, so I decided to investigate. I followed the sound and ended up in the TV room.

Wanda and a boy were sat on the couch watching MTV.

"Hey Wanda. When did you get here?"

"About the time you were yelling at that woman out back. We decided it was a little early in the day for fireworks."

"That's Mom. I think she'll behave for the rest of the day. Come on out and see Jill's new present."

"Ooh. Presents. By the way, Jack, this is Charlie. He's known us almost as long as Jill and I have known each other."

"Glad to meet you. I'm Jack."

"I've heard all about you."

"Oh, shit. I'm in trouble now."

Charlie laughed. "It wasn't all bad."

"That's good to know. I'm a changed man, thanks to Jill. And Wanda had something to do with it, too."

She looked puzzled.

"That little talk we had last weekend. You remember. When you chewed me out for making her cry."

"Oh, yeah. Most guys wouldn't have listened. Or wouldn't have cared if they did."

"Most guys don't have Jill."

"Come on Jackie, I need some help with these glasses."

Mary came into the room and stopped. She just stood there, her eyes on Charlie. I looked over at him and he was staring right back at her.

"Sis, this is Charlie. He's a friend of Jill and Wanda. Charlie, this is my sister, Mary."

They both mumbled something. Neither stopped staring at the other.

"Come on, Wanda. I don't think I trust her to carry glasses or a pitcher of lemonade out back."

Wanda came to the door. Mary and Charlie appeared to be stuck to the floor.

"You guys know where the back yard is when you're ready."

I glanced at Wanda on the way to the kitchen.

"Damn, I've never seen anybody react like those two."

"I have."

"Really? Where?"

"At the football game. A little over a week ago."

"Oh, yeah. I guess so."

I was attempting to pick up seven glasses when Wanda touched my arm. She opened a cupboard under the counter and pulled out a tray. "Try this."

"Much better." I piled the glasses on it and told her to grab the lemonade.

We went out the door and the puppy came bouncing up to Wanda. He obviously liked pretty girls. She put the pitcher down and bent over, picking him up.

"Oh, my. Aren't you precious." Her face must have tasted good, too.

"Is this the present you got for Jill?"

"Yeah, I had to. She's already grown tired of the jacket."

"I have not. I just didn't want the puppy to get it wet. That's why I didn't wear it."

"Jill, that doesn't make any sense. You didn't have the jacket on before you knew about the puppy, so there's no way you could have been afraid of him getting it wet."

"It doesn't have to make sense."

John laughed. "Better give up while you can, Jack. There's no way you can fight female logic. It doesn't follow any rules known to man."

I heard the door slide open. Charlie was holding it for Mary. Somehow they had made it from the TV room to the doorway without taking their eyes off each other.

Jill looked at them. "What's with those two?"

Wanda said, "You know how those Hills are. One look at someone of the opposite sex and they fall in love."

"Aw, that's cute."

I noticed Mom was watching Mary sleepwalk out to the patio with interest.

Wanda changed the subject. "My God, Jill, what have you been doing?"

"What?"

"Look at you. You're soaked."

"Oh. The puppy was in the pool."

"Damn, it's a good thing you've got your bathing suit on underneath. You can see everything. Speaking of which, I want to go swimming." She peeled off her shirt, then used my shoulder while she took off her shoes. The shorts came next and she was in her suit. She ran to the side of the pool and dove in.

Of course she was followed by a small black ball of fur. Jill and I both yelled "Watch out for his nails."

Jill stripped off and dove in with them. The girls started playing keep away from the puppy. One would call, then back away, the other would call and he'd turn around trying to catch her.

I slipped off my sandals and was about to undo my shorts when I was stopped short by the sight of Charlie and Mary. They were both looking in each others eyes. She was standing perfectly still, hands at her sides. Very slowly, he undid the buttons on her shirt, one at a time, top to bottom, slipping it off when it was unbuttoned, revealing the top of her bathing suit. He held it out over a chair and let it drop. He then unzipped her shorts and worked them down past her bottom, letting them slip to her feet. She put one hand on his shoulder, bent a knee and shook off that leg's part of the shorts, then repeated it for the other leg. Neither of them moved their gaze from the other's eyes for a second. Mom and John were both watching them as if in a trance. I swear, he could have continued and removed the suit and taken my sister on the table behind her and none of us would have been surprised or had anything to say about it. Including my sister. I have never seen anything so sensual, so intimate, yet so innocent.

After what seemed like hours but was probably only seconds, he shucked off his shorts, threw them on the chair with her shirt and stripped his shirt, which joined the other clothes. Mary bent her knees, picked up her shorts and tossed them on the pile, never breaking eye contact.

Charlie took her hand and they finally stopped looking at each other. They walked to the side of the pool and dove in, holding hands.

The puppy started after them, took one look and changed direction, heading for Jill.

Mom turned toward the pool, still looking like she was hypnotized. "Damn. I've never seen anything like that before." Mary and Charlie were standing in the pool, the water up above stomach level, holding hands and looking at one another.

I found an unoccupied section of water and dove in. There would be no races between Jill and me today. No blowjobs for that matter. I'd replaced myself as the center of her attention. I had no regrets, seeing how happy it made her. Plus, the chances of getting a blowjob with Mom twenty feet away were fairly slim. Well, knowing Jill, maybe not. It was a good thing I brought the dog.

Jill and Wanda were still playing their game of keep away. I could see the puppy was getting tired. I made my way over towards them and let him swim up to me. I took his paws in my hand and pulled him to me, hugging him and carried him to the side. He lay there panting for a short time, then came right in the water.

"You guys need to keep an eye on him. He doesn't realize how tired he is. He really shouldn't be in the pool."

Jill and Wanda helped the puppy out, got themselves out and lay down on a couple of lounge chairs. Jill picked him up and lay him down on her stomach, his head nestled between her breasts. He was asleep in no time.

I got out and walked over to them.

"Hey, that's my place."

Jill opened her eyes and Sshhed me.

Wanda said "You can come over here, Jack."

I looked at Jill. She had one eye open, looking at Wanda.

"I don't think so, Wanda. You're a little too big up there for me to be comfortable."

"You'd be surprised how comfortable you'd be."

Jill spoke up. "Until I cut his balls off."

I sat down in the chair the other side of Jill from Wanda.

Mom got up from the table and made her way over to me. She leaned over and kissed me on the top of the head.

"Thank you for putting me in my place, Jackie. He really isn't that bad when you get to know him."

"Yeah, I doubt if he has any problems like that with his patients."

"Yes he does."

We both looked over at Jill.

"He can be a real bastard if a pregnant woman is under his care and won't follow his advice. I've seen him threaten to kick out patients who won't give up drinking or drugs or even cigarettes while they're pregnant. Some do and they and their babies are better off for it. Some don't. Daddy tries to be big and tough but I've seen him cry for the ones who don't."

"I'm glad I came over here today. I never knew."

"I'm glad you came too, June."

"Well, part of the reason I came here today was to relax and get a tan. I'm not going to do that sitting at that table. You guys might want to keep your eyes closed so you don't get blinded by the sun reflecting off my white skin. Is that a changing room over there?"

"Yep."

Mom headed over there with her exercise bag. "Jackie, be a dear and get me some lemonade."

"Sure, Mom. You want me to bring it in to you?"

"Out here will be fine."

I turned toward the pitcher. Both girls said "Me, too." I'd been demoted from boyfriend to personal slave.

I filled four glasses, then looked over at John and held one up. He smiled and said "Thanks." I gave it to him and filled a fifth. "Come on over and join us."

Jill was laying there with her eyes closed, her baby sound asleep. I took a lemonade off the tray and gave it to Wanda. I put glasses next to my chair and Mom's. There was some condensation on the outside of the remaining glass and I held it above Jill. The first drop fell on the dog. I moved it to the side and the next one hit her just below her left tit. She lazily opened one eye, reached up for the glass and said "Watch it Mister or I'll sic my dog on you."

Mom came out of the changing room. At least I think it was Mom. She was wearing a black, two piece bathing suit. Her skin was definitely white, but she looked good. Mom never wears anything like that. She doesn't go out on dates and tends to wear clothes that don't highlight her figure. Her nurse uniform is nothing to write home about.

I knew she went to the gym at least three times a week but she would change into exercise clothes and shower and change at the gym. She was Mom. Not the babe laying down next to me.

Mary said the first words I'd heard from her since she came into the TV room. "Looking hot, Mom."

"Thank you, Dear."

She reached into her bag and pulled out some sunscreen, holding it out to me. "Jackie?"

John had come over while Mom was changing and was sat on the other side of her from me. He was obviously impressed.

"Mom. Are you sure you don't want John to do this?"

She glanced over at him, turned back to me and smiled. "Not this time."

I put sunscreen on my mother. I did a good job, protecting all areas that could, and probably would, get burnt by the sun. No, I didn't cop a feel and my mother did not strip off her bathing suit and make mad, passionate love to me, no matter what you've read in stories. But I did stiffen up a bit. And I don't mean my back.



-------

Chapter 26



After everyone had been lying around for a while, John told me to start up the grill. He had thrown plenty of paper in while Mom was giving him the evil eye. I got the bag of charcoal and made a pile the way he showed me the last time, found the lighter and lit the newspaper. Soon the bottom of the charcoal was all lit.

I got the pitcher of lemonade and went around topping off everyone's glasses. I asked John if there was more inside; Jill informed me there was. By the time I got back with it, the lovebirds had made it out of the pool. They were sat on a bench at one of the tables. They looked like they were glued together. I handed them both glasses of lemonade and they both thanked me.

Yes, they were talking. And observing things other than each other's eyes. I heard Charlie tell Mary that he was on the track team.

After the charcoal had been going for about ten minutes, the old John came back.

"Jillian, get that flea bitten animal off your belly, take Wanda and Mary in with you and bring the food and plates out here."

"Yes, Daddy. And he's not flea bitten."

They were out shortly with a box that had four dozen frozen hamburger patties, a couple of family size bags of hamburger rolls, ketchup, relish, mustard, a plate with sliced tomatoes and onions, a jar of pickle slices, Mom's potato salad and a huge bowl of tossed green salad chock full of tomatoes. Plus a stack of heavy stock paper plates and bowls.

"What's that crap? I want china, not that paper garbage."

"They'll be fine for us, Daddy. You know where the kitchen is if you want something else."

"The stuff I have to put up with around here."

"Yes, Daddy."

She was testing the food on the puppy. He didn't seem to like pickles, onions, salad or tomatoes. She offered him a slice of potato from the salad and he licked it but didn't take the potato.

"Jill? Has he had any water to drink since he's been here?"

"Oh, God. I didn't even think about it."

We got paper. He got crystal. Swear to God, she went in the kitchen and filled a crystal bowl with water. I bet it held close to a gallon. And he drank almost half of it.

"You need to take him to wherever you want him to go to the bathroom. Get him used to it and praise him when he goes or you'll be cleaning shit off the carpet for the rest of your life."

"I thought I'd just let him go outside."

"Jill, you need to come up with a place. That way it will all be together and you won't have to search for it. And the mailman won't have to watch where he steps every time he comes to the door."

She took him over on the side of the house and came back a few minutes later, carrying him in her arms and telling him what a wonderful boy he was.

Wanda said, "Have you thought about a name for him or are you going to keep calling him Boy?"

"I wanted to call him Jackie, but that would be too confusing."

"Bozo."

"Excuse me?"

"If you want to name him after my brother, call him Bozo."

"Oh, that's perfect, Mary. Come here, Bozo. Bozo. Here, Boy. Oh, look. He knows his name."

Just what I needed. Well, if she was going to call the dog Bozo, she probably wouldn't use the same name on me. Although I had no doubt she could find a pet name just as charming for me if she tried.

Bozo got VERY interested when I started cooking the hamburgers. His nose was almost straight up in the air, sniffing in all directions.

"Charlie, do me a favor. I need to watch the grill."

"What do you need?"

"Get the keys from my mother and get the dog food and the other dog stuff out of the trunk. If you're real nice, I bet you can get Mary to help." She stuck her tongue out as they left, looking like an extra appendage on his arm,

They came back in a couple of minutes. Charlie was lugging a 40 pound bag of IAMS puppy food and Mary had two matching dog bowls and a small shovel.

"Thanks, guys. Jill? You might as well feed him now before he fills up on crap. You need to decide it you're going to allow him to eat people food or just dog food. There are people who lean both ways."

"How do you feel about it, Jack?"

"I think he should get a balanced diet of dog food and should get some people food once in a while. I see nothing wrong with giving him a taste of hamburger after it's cooked. But like I said, put some good stuff in him first. People food's fine for dogs as long as it's done in moderation. Some people would tell me I'm cruel by subjecting a dog to something natural instead of being processed by Purina. Let's look at the worst case. Assume it does shorten a dog's life. I'd rather have a dog live ten years and be happy than twelve years and not be."

Charlie said, "You're assuming he won't be happy eating just dog food."

"Charlie, I've had dogs of my own. I know they like dog food. They really like hamburgers. And I've never felt guilty about giving a dog half a hamburger or letting him lick gravy off a plate. And like I said, it's Jill's call."

"I think I'll let him eat both. But you're right, Jack. He needs dog food first."

I held out the shovel. "And you'll need this for later."

She batted her eyes at me. "But I thought you'd come over and clean that up."

"No way. Your dog, your mess. You could always train him to use the toilet."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but he probably wouldn't flush."

She looked puzzled, then turned red when Wanda cracked up. "Oh, you think you're so smart. I'll get you for that, Jackie."

By this time the burgers were ready. There was an empty platter on the table and I started putting burgers on it.

"OK, guys. It's ready. Get your burgers while they're hot."

Everyone got plates and started loading up and constructing the perfect hamburger. Wanda took off and came back a minute later with some plastic forks and some regular serving forks and a large spoon for the potato salad. We all moved to the table Mary and Charlie were sitting at. They were still glued together.

"Hey, you two. Make some room so others can sit down." I got a chuckle from John.

Jill once told me that mealtimes are kind of hit and miss with her father. Sundays are an exception. He convinces his pregnant patients that Sunday afternoons are sacred and most of the time he gets away with it. Of course, you know some babies would be sitting in their mother's belly, hear that and make a point of starting things up right after church. I could picture Jill being one of them.

Anyway, Sunday at the O'Haras was a time of celebration of friends, good food, conversation. Everybody was welcome. And their friends were welcome. And all were treated like family. If you were there, you got the run of the place and as much food as you could eat. If you were a vegetarian and wanted to eat tofu burgers instead of charred animal flesh, you were welcome to it. Bring your own tofu and your own grill. Because John O'Hara wasn't about to let you fuck up his grill cooking that crap on it. But if you didn't mind going around the side of the house where Bozo was going to shit from now on to cook, more power to you.

Things had been similar Friday, both at the game and at Perlione's, so Mary was pretty used to it. Mom warmed up after a few minutes and was talking and laughing and eating. She and John were even teasing each other once in a while.

The potato salad was a big hit and Mom was promising to make more for next time before she knew it.

Mary had something interesting to relate.

"Hey, Jack, did you hear your buddy came out?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Jeff. He finally came out of the closet. He joined Fags and Lezzies."

Fags and Lezzies was the quote homophobic unquote name for a gay and lesbian club that had been formed on campus last year. It caused quite a stir in the community when it was formed and the scouts lost their meeting place for promoting religion and morals. It was ironic. Jeff had always used the disparaging name for the club.

"No, Mary. I didn't hear that."

"Yeah, I know a couple of guys in the club and they told me he joined up last week."

"Well, if he's gay, I hope this will make him happy."

"I don't know. Unless he's really turned around. From what I hear, the group's been taken over by some pretty radical people. It started out as a place where people could get together and support each other. Which is probably what Jeff needs about now. But it's turning into this big 'we demand to be treated special' group and some of my friends are thinking about quitting."

"Hell, Mary. I don't know. I just say live and let live."

"You're lucky. You've only got two more years. If this crew gets their way, I'll be in a class learning how to be tolerant and embrace them by my senior year."

John said, "I remember when school was for learning skills for later in life. Not how to coddle to every moron who can gather three people together."

Mom answered, "So do I."

It got quiet after that.

One more thing happened that made several people there, including my angel, think I was a brute. I called Bozo over to me and held a piece of burger down for him He damn near took my fingers off. I shouted NO in my loud deep voice and I swatted him on the nose. You would have thought I shot him from the reactions around the table when he yelped and bounced back. Jill was all set to pick him up. I pushed her back in her seat.

"No, Jill. Come here boy." I held another piece of meat out. "Easy boy, Gentle. There's a good boy."

He took it out of my hand as if he didn't have a tooth in his mouth. And he wagged his tail and gave me a doggy smile when I patted him and told him how good he was. And he never snapped at anyone who offered him food for the rest of his life.

Jill hugged my arm. "I'm sorry Jack. I thought..."

"I know, Jill. He has to learn. And he has to be corrected immediately. He won't know what the hell you're talking about five minutes after he's taken a crap. You almost have to get him as it's coming out of his butt. And once you correct him, you show him love. And praise him when he does it right."

"OK, Jack. I never had a dog. I don't know what I'm doing."

"I know. I'll give you what help I can. And he'll help too. He wants nothing more than to please you. He just needs to be shown how. By the way, don't get him too used to being in your arms. He's going to be a big dog. I doubt if you'll be able to lift him in a month. Let him walk on his own feet instead of carrying him. And lean over to pet him instead of holding him in your arms. And you need to decide if you want a 120 pound dog licking your face every time you come home."

"I didn't think."

"I know. You need to look at some of these things now. He may grow out of the licking naturally, he may not. But it's not fair to either of you to let him get away with something for six months then start correcting every time he does it."

"Thanks, Jack."

"I deserve at least a kiss for that."

I got what I deserved.

-------

Mary was in a trance all the way to school the next day. When she did talk, it was about Charlie. Did I think Charlie liked her? Would he think she was too pushy if she called him? What did I think of Charlie? Did I think their kids would be beautiful? I got the idea she liked the guy. A lot. Two long distance relationships in the same house. It was going to be interesting.

Mom came home with a beautiful flower arrangement that afternoon. It seems it was waiting at her desk when she got to work with an apology from Dr. Asshole. There was a much bigger arrangement delivered for the surgical nursing staff at the same time with a similar note. And lunch was catered by Perlione's.

"So, do you think he's going to be better?"

"We'll see, Jackie. We'll see."



-------

Chapter 27



The phone rang after dinner on Tuesday. Mom was at work so I answered it.

"Mary. Charlie's on the phone for you."

She ran into the kitchen, practically ripping the phone out my hand as I pretended to keep it away from her. Never mess with a woman who's possessed. They talked for a good half hour.

I thought I heard a lot about Charlie on the way to school Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday was twice as bad. Well, not bad. Twice as intense.

Charlie was a senior at Highpoint. He had his own car. He had invited Mary to go to the game with him. She was worried about Mom. Did I think she'd let Mary go out with him alone?

I told her Mom had been pretty cool with me. I didn't tell her how early Mom said she started her sex life and what she'd talked about. I figured she'd tell Mary what she wanted Mary to know.

That night I called Jill while they talked in Mary's room. I discovered two things, neither of which made me happy.

At least for the time being, Jill and I were only going to be able to see each other on the weekends. It would pretty much be the schedule we'd followed the last couple of weekends. Friday night at the Highpoint game, Sunday's pool party and barbecue and Saturday to do whatever we wanted, provided we could get there and I could afford it. I knew Jill could probably buy and sell me if she wanted but I wasn't comfortable with her carrying me. There was no way I could afford a pizza at Perlione's for just the two of us, much less whoever happened to go to the game, but that was a matter of John doing something for his daughter and her friends. He probably spent some decent money feeding whoever wanted to hang out on Sundays but that was his one family day and I know he enjoyed pretending to be a slave driver and have everybody wait on him. He may be Dr. Asshole at the hospital and stern with Jill's friends, but I knew he was just what she called him - a teddy bear. Saturdays were my day to take care of the girl I loved. And I wanted to pay for it.

Tuesday and Thursday nights were out. Jill had class both nights at JC. Thursdays were especially tight for her because she had volleyball meets after school. Which meant she couldn't come to my swim meets because they were held at the same time. Come to think of it, I couldn't go to her meets, either. Strange how it bothered me she couldn't come and support me and it had never entered my mind to support her endeavor.

She told me I was welcome to go over to her place Monday or Wednesday after school and we could go swimming or whatever till about 6, provided I could find a way there and back home. Jill ate dinner after 6 and spent a lot of time studying in the evenings. Not so much for high school but she had some pretty heavy duty assignments in her computer class. Mom didn't really want me to be out on school nights, anyway. The one time we did that had been an exception for both of us. Unfortunately, I obligated myself to working on swimming till 5 both days and I couldn't let Coach down. I could take my bike to school and ride to Jill's after practice, but that would give me a half hour or less with her. We both agreed it wouldn't be worth it.

The other thing that bothered me was really stupid. It was my own damn fault but that didn't keep it from bothering me. I was becoming jealous of a dog.

It would be funny if it wasn't so damned pathetic. I sat there on the phone and listened to my girlfriend go on and on about how much she loved me for giving her Bozo and how he was so cute when she took him for a walk and had trouble getting up the curb and how he slept on her bed last night and she woke up with her arm around him (that one really got to me). He was behaving himself while she ate dinner, waiting patiently for her to finish and gently taking whatever was offered out of her hand. He'd been whiny and pushy the first night they ate together but she had a talk to him like I told her to and he was a little angel now. And he was so cute when he nudged the door open when she was in the bathroom, waiting patiently at her feet when she was on the toilet or on the bath mat while she took her shower.

I listened to her going on and on, thanking me for the dog I got for her and I totally understood why it bothered her so much when I rattled on and on about Sara a week or so before. Only I couldn't very well show up at her house and hang on to her while trying to stare down her dog and intimidate him.

I knew I should be happy she was so thrilled with the gift I'd given her. But there was a part of me that snarled at every sentence that came out of her mouth about that dog. I knew I was going to have to get over it. He was going to be around for a long time. Part of my problem with the whole thing was I realized she would probably get rid of me before she'd give up Bozo.

We were just about done when Jill asked me to hang on a minute.

"Jack?"

"Hi, John."

"Is your mom there?"

"She is, but she's kind of busy. One of those mother, daughter talks with Mary."

"I understand. Could you have her call me when she has a minute?"

"Sure. John. Is there any message I can give her?"

"No, just have her give me a call. You've got my cell phone number, right?"

"Sure, John. I'll tell her."

I didn't. It got to be late and they were still gabbing, I left Mom a note and went to bed. I asked her what he wanted when I got up in the morning and she said it was too late when she finished talking with Mary and she'd call him later on.

I asked Mary if Mom was OK about her going to the game with Charlie as we walked to school on Thursday. She told me Mom was fine. I don't think I've ever seen my sister so excited. She told me how Mom told her some of the things she'd done in high school and at one point opened her purse, secretly showing me the edge of a box of condoms. Mom had given her a half dozen, just as with me. Mary swore to me, as she had to Mom, she wasn't ready for anything like that yet. Mom had told her to keep them with her when she went out, just in case. Mom also told her she was reaching the age where it would be a good idea for her to start taking the pill. She was going to see about making an appointment for her. Mary was surprised when I told her the doctor Jill had gone to seemed pretty good and offered to give Mom her name.

"So, have you guys done anything yet?"

"We've done some touching. She took me in her mouth the Sunday before last. I was so excited I damn near choked her."

"Gross. How could she do that?"

"She seemed to like it. She wasn't thrilled that I came so quick and didn't warn her but I'm sure she'd do it again."

"Have you ever... you know... done her down there with your mouth?"

"No. I've had my hand on her butt but that's as far south of the border as I've been. Saturday she let me make love to her breasts. I was really surprised when she had an orgasm."

"Oh, my God. I want to do all that but I'm scared."

"Mary, you're young. Have you ever been kissed?"

"Not really. Once a few of us were playing Truth or Dare. But that's it."

"Well, work up to it. Don't ever let anybody force you to do something you're not comfortable with. When the time is right for something, you'll know."

"I guess you're right. But Charlie's a senior. He's probably had all kinds of women. I don't want to disappoint him."

"That's just the attitude that's going to put you in a position you can't get out of. If Charlie is a decent human being, he won't force you into doing anything you're not ready for. He'll let you move at your own pace. Come on, Mary. It's only a football game."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

I was in excellent form for the swim meet. I blew the competition away. I was back.

I told Mom and Sis about it but it wasn't the same as talking to Jill. Maybe she could train that damned dog to talk on the phone. He could do everything else according to her.

Mom floored me at dinner.

"Jackie, will it cramp your style too much to have your old mother out with you on a date?"

"What are you talking about, Mom?"

"John asked me to go with him to the football game."

"I guess I'm OK with it. How do you feel?"

"Intrigued."

"So, tell me Mom. Is there going to be sex?"

"You never know, Jackie. It has been a long time, you know."

"I don't think I want to hear this. Just make sure Jill and I aren't in the car with you."

"There are no guarantees in life, Jackie."

Friday night Charlie was at our house at 6:00. Mary ran out when he honked his horn. She was glowing, she was so excited.

John came by around 6:15. He actually came up to the door.

"Good evening, Jack. Is your mother ready?"

"Uh, yeah John. She'll be out in a minute. Am I still going with you?"

"Of course. Jill's out in the car."

I went out to the car. Jill and Wanda were in the back seat. Jill moved over to the middle as I got in. Damn, I'd missed kissing her. That was still the same, including the way she melted into me while closing her eyes.

Our parents walked down the path hand in hand. Both of them were smiling. Mom was wearing some pants that left no doubt that she was a woman and a sweater that didn't hide any curves. I know both of them had spent years concentrating on their children and they deserved some time out with someone of the opposite sex but it was weird seeing the two of them together. John opened the door and guided her into the front seat.

Once we took off, Jill leaned in to me to kiss me again. I couldn't help myself, I stiffened up. I have to say this for her, she was good about it. She just wrapped both arms around my left arm and leaned into me.

About five minutes into the ride my mother turned around in her seat.

"Jackie, why are you neglecting Jill?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come one, Jackie. I know for a fact if I wasn't in the car you'd have been sucking on her face since you got in the car. Isn't that right, Jill?"

"Sure is, June."

Mom turned around and Jill looked up at me.

"Well?"

I was able to tune my mother out after we got into it.

Mary and Charlie were in our section but were about 6 rows higher. We volunteered to make room for them but Mary insisted they were fine where they were. They were glued together again, wrapped in a blanket.

John sent Wanda, Jill and me to the snack bar, giving us specific instructions to get something for the other two. He also made a point of telling Wanda to make sure Jill didn't knock me over.

We got back and Wanda took the stuff for Mary and Charlie up to them. Mom and John were talking as if they'd been friends for years. At one point he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to him.

It was a good game. Highpoint was really good this year and they were a couple of TDs ahead at the end of the half. We were sent back for more food. I looked up to where Mary and Charlie had been sitting and there were two other people in their place. I walked up there and found out they'd left early in the third quarter.

Highpoint went wild in the second half and won by 42 points. John just headed to Perlione's. Mom had his hand a lot of the time. Well, a lot of the time that I was able to see her. Jill and I spent much of the ride kissing. Mom was the one who told us to break it up when we got there.

John didn't just rush through to the back room as he usually did. He kept his hand on the small of my mother's back, guiding her. He held doors for her. Hell, he even got a coffee can of peanuts for the table.

Mom and John had his non alcoholic beer. She had one to his six. I got to talk about the swim meet and Jill talked about winning her volleyball match. Highpoint looked like they were going to take it in volleyball as well as football.

I was a lot more relaxed at Perlione's than I had been earlier. On the way to the game I'd been a mess. I cooled down a bit at the game, more in the car on the way over. I guess I was finally able to accept that Mom was out with a man. I don't know if it was because it was John or just a male, but it just didn't seem right for her to be acting this way. She was Mom, she always took care of us. It wasn't as if she was going to abandon us or go wild. I just wasn't used to my mother having a sexual side.

We were on the way home and I thought I had it under control. Jill and I had just shared a particularly breathtaking kiss and as I came up for air I said,

"Gee, Mom, it's too bad John's driving or you could be making out with him, too.

"Oh, there are other things we can do while he's driving, Jackie."

She bent over and put her head in his lap.

John lost it. The car shot over to the right, ran up the curb, back down to the street and all the way over to the left, just missing that curb before he was able to get the car back under control. Thank God there were no cars parked on the street.

After we got going straight again, I said "Jeez, Mom."

She sat up, looked back and grinned.

"Gotcha."

John and I both turned red. Jill, Wanda and Mom laughed at us.

We got to our house and Jill and I said goodnight on the front porch. By that time kissing her properly was a lot more important to me than worrying about my mother. She was in the car with John and Wanda. I don't know if they kissed or not; I was pretty busy. Jill told me to call her after 8:00 and we'd figure out something to do. I think we were both malled out.

Mary wasn't home yet. Mom and I talked for a while.

"So, am I going to have to start calling John 'Dad'?"

"Oh, I think it's a little early to start thinking about that."

"Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, I did. Do you know I haven't been out on a date since your father? I'm not an old woman, Jackie. You kids are just about grown up, you'll both be gone in a few years. It's time for me to start living again."

"I'm glad, Mom. It was really weird being there with you. But I got used to it. I want you to be happy. Do you think you'll keep going out with John?"

"He hasn't asked me yet. I don't think I'll say no if he does."

I said goodnight and went to bed. I didn't know what we'd do on Saturday. Maybe bowling or skating. Both could be fun and wouldn't break the bank. It was one thing to dip into savings for the dog. But I didn't want to blow the whole thing on dates.

I was at that point between awake and asleep when I thought I heard a phone ringing. It stopped and I fell more asleep.

The next thing I knew, I heard my door being thrown open and Mom was shaking my shoulder.

"Jackie, wake up. Come on, Honey. We have to go to the hospital. Mary has been raped.



-------

Chapter 28





This chapter contains a discussion between a surgeon and the mother
of a young girl who was raped. The description is very graphic.



-------

"I'll kill that Mother Fucker. Do you hear me? I'll kill him. I swear to God I'll cut his fucking balls off and shove them down his fucking throat!"

We were on the way to the hospital. I'd been able to get Mom to let me drive without too much argument. There was no way she could see, much less drive the way the tears pouring out.

"Mom, we don't know that he's involved in this."

"You saw them at the game. What do you think they were doing under that blanket? Why the hell do you think they left early?"

"What did they say on the phone?"

"Only that she'd been raped and they had her in surgery. They said I had to come down to the hospital to find out any more. My own damn hospital and they wouldn't tell me anything."

"OK, Mom. We're almost there. Just hang on and we'll find out what happened."

She had me pull up to the emergency entrance, right where the ambulances are supposed to park. She was out of the car like a shot. I moved the car to a parking space and went in.

Mom was pacing. They wouldn't or couldn't tell her anything. All she knew was that her daughter was in emergency surgery and she was going to have to wait for the doctor to come out.

"Jackie, I'm scared. They didn't even wait for approval before they took her in. This place is so afraid of being sued they only do that if a person's life is at stake."

"Mom, you've always told me this is the best hospital around. You know they'll do everything they can."

"Oh, Jackie. Hold me. I told her it was time to explore. I even gave her condoms for God's sake!"

"Mom. Come on. Giving her condoms isn't going to make someone rape her. It's not your fault. You didn't know anything was going to happen. Nobody could have known."

The nurse at the admitting desk got Mom's attention and told her she needed to fill out some forms. She asked if Mary had ever been admitted to the hospital.

"I work here on the fifth floor."

"That doesn't matter. Has your daughter ever been treated here before?

"No."

"Then you'll have to fill out this new patient form."

When Mom pulled her hospital insurance card out of her wallet, the nurse said,

"We'll need your husband's insurance, too."

"I told you I work at the hospital. I'm covered."

"I'm sorry, Ma'am, but the rules say we have to get your husband's insurance policy as the primary policy."

"You want his policy? You have to have his policy? Well, then, you can just go dig him up yourself. I buried him nine years ago, Bitch."

"There's no need to get rude about it."

Watching all this, I understood why Mom complained about what she called the hospital's bureaucratic bullshit. At least it took her mind off Charlie for a while.

The more I thought about it, the harder it was for me to imagine he could be involved in this. The two of them had been as lovestruck over at Jill's as any couple I'd ever seen. And they were in their own little world at the game. I just hoped I'd get a chance to talk to him before Mom found him. If he'd been in the waiting room when she arrived, I don't think he would have gotten out alive. I have never seen my mother that enraged. In fact, I've never seen anybody that enraged.

Mom finished her forms and came back to the couch I was sitting on.

"Have they said anything yet, Jackie?"

"No, Mom. You were right over there. I would have sent them over to you."

"I know. I'm just so worried." She wrapped her arms around my shoulders and buried her face in me. She shook and I knew the tears had started again.

Once again, we reversed roles. The son, comforting the mother, telling her everything was going to be all right. Hoping desperately that everything was going to be all right and I wasn't lying to her.

The crying slowed down until she was just sniffling a bit. She got a beat up Kleenex from wherever mothers keep Kleenex and dabbed at her eyes.

"I must be a mess."

"You're fine, Mom."

"Oh, Jackie, you're just saying that to be nice. It's past our bedtime. Would you like some coffee?"

"Yeah, Mom. I'd like that a lot."

"OK. Tell you what. Why don't you go up to the fifth floor. Turn right when you get off the elevator and go through the double doors. You'll see a nursing station at the end of the hall. Tell them your name and that you're my son and see if you can get a couple of cups of real coffee. I'm afraid the stuff in the machines is almost cold and it doesn't taste much like coffee."

"OK. Are you going to be all right?"

"I'll be fine, Jackie. Don't take too long."

I went upstairs and there was a big black nurse on duty. When she heard my name she smiled from ear to ear. She looked like the slave in Gone With the Wind. I half expected her to tell me she didn't know nothin' about birthin' no babies.

"I haven't seen you since your father used to bring you in to pick up your mother from work."

"That's a long time ago."

"Why are you and your mother here?"

"My sister's in emergency surgery. She went out on her first date last night and we got a call to come to the hospital. They told Mom she was raped."

"Oh, my gosh. Here I am talking your ear off when your momma needs you by her side. You take these two mugs of coffee and don't worry about getting them back."

"Who shall I say gave me this?"

"You just tell your momma that Thelma gave you that coffee. And if she needs anything, she can give me a call. Tell her I'll make sure to keep a fresh pot on."

"Thank you, Thelma."

I made my way downstairs.

"Here you go, Mom. Thelma says if there's anything she can do to just call her."

"Oh, my. I've known Thelma since before your father died."

"I know. She told me he used to bring me with him when he came to pick you up."

The doors at the end of the hall swung open and a man came out dressed in scrubs.

"Hello, June."

"Oh, Raul. I didn't see you. This is my son, Jack. Jack, this is Dr. Gonzales."

"Hello, Jack. It's good to meet you. June? We need to talk. Come with me."

I hesitated. Mom grabbed my hand. "Come on, Jackie."

He looked at her. "This may be a little rough."

"She's all right, isn't she?"

"Come with me, June."

He led us into an empty examination room. He made Mom sit on the table before he went on.

"I'm not going to lie to you, June. Your daughter is in pretty bad shape. They're still working on her but I knew you'd be going crazy so I came out to talk to you."

"Raul! Tell me about my daughter."

"OK. It appears she was raped by four or five males. There is some damage to her vagina. Her throat is bruised and she's lost three teeth. Someone hit her pretty hard in the face. Her nose was broken and her right cheek was cut and the bone was crushed. She's going to need some cosmetic surgery. But her rectum and her colon show the most damage."

"Her colon?"

"June, something very large was shoved up there. We had to repair quite a few tears. Whoever did this was pretty sadistic."

"Oh, my God. What about semen?"

"Oh, we have lots of samples of semen. I don't think there will be any problem coming up with a DNA match. Several DNA matches. We even found traces in her stomach. We already gave samples to the police. And we kept samples of our own. Just let some scumbag lawyer try to convince a jury that the cops rigged the evidence."

"What is the prognosis?"

"Under the circumstances, it's good. We're going to need to keep watching her for infection, especially in her digestive tract, but I think she'll function normally eventually. She'll need cosmetic surgery but that will probably be a while. We've got a plastics guy on call and he should be here soon to check her out. The teeth can be replaced with a bridge, the vaginal damage and her throat will heal with antibiotics. I know it's hard to believe, but she's actually in better shape than the guy we found with her."

"Guy? You found a guy with her?"

"Yeah. A Charles... here it is. Charles Dandridge. Does that name mean anything to you?"

"That's the name of the boy she went out with."

"Well, from what I hear, he's the one who made the call to 911. How he did it, I don't know. Just about every rib on his right side is broken. The whole right side of his face is going to have to be rebuilt. Someone took a steel toed boot to him. I'm pretty sure he'll lose that eye as well. His nose is just a smashed piece of cartilage and most of his teeth are broken. What's amazing is he took all that and then called 911. When the police arrived he was lying on top of her, protecting her. He passed out just as they came up to him."

Mom was crying again. "Oh, my God. Poor Charlie."



-------

Chapter 29



"Would you like me to have one of the nurses give you something, June?"

"No thanks, Raul. I need to be here for my son and my daughter. I can't afford to be zombied out."

"OK. If you change your mind, let me know. I need to be getting back."

He left the room.

"Just say no, right Mom?"

"Yeah, right. Not when it takes money out of the drug companies' pockets, Jackie. Who do you think paid for this place?"

We went outside and sat down. There weren't a lot of people around. I noticed a couple who were obviously ready to deliver a baby at any minute. The paperwork nurse was trying in vain to get insurance information from the husband. The answer to every question was "No se." We were going to have a new citizen soon. And twenty years from now, that man would still be saying "No se."

A cop brought in a woman and sat her down before he held a conversation with another nurse over at the counter. She didn't try to force a clipboard at him. Maybe she had some sense. He went over to the woman and talked to her, pointing over at the nurse he'd just talked to before he walked out the door. She had obviously been beaten up. Her face had dried blood all over it and I could see she was going to have a couple of shiners. She was cradling her right arm and I realized it was broken. She kept glancing around as if she expected someone to jump out at her.

Mom leaned over to me. "Wife beating," she said softly. "She'll get patched up, hock her wedding ring to get him out of jail and they'll be back together until he does it again. Sometimes they don't even have time to get their rings out of hock and have to come up with something else to get him out the next time."

"God, Mom, does this happen often?"

"There are two or three of them in here each day. And more right after the welfare checks come out and their men can pay for booze. They show up here every couple of weeks or every month until they finally show up downstairs."

"What's downstairs, Mom?"

"The morgue."

"Why doesn't she leave now she has the chance?"

"They have their reasons. He'll cry and tell her he's sorry and he didn't mean it and it'll never happen again. And she'll believe it. You know that cop's probably brought her in a hundred times. I could tell he was just going through the motions when he was telling her she could file charges. They never do."

I looked over at my mother. She didn't look good. Twenty minutes ago, she'd had a target for her rage. Charlie. He had been taken away from her, plus she now had some concrete things to be worried about instead of a vague 'she's been raped' and now she had nowhere to point it. She was keeping it all inside, letting it stew.

They had "grief counselors" available for cases like ours. I'd heard enough stories from Mom over the years to prevent me from accepting "help" from them, much less request it. Mom said they were like vultures only vultures are patient enough to wait for their prey to become helpless. Once these guys got their claws on you it was only a matter of time before you were addicted to one of their "cures." Nobody ever got cured, somehow everyone came too late for the counselors to fix anything. There were some semi-cures when the insurance ran out, however. You could see them under some of the freeway overpasses, sleeping in cardboard boxes at night.

I heard the automatic door open and a couple came in. They looked to be in their 50s. I got the impression they were religious from their clothes. Not quite the black and white of the Amish, but they had that look to them, and were at least twenty years out of style. It wouldn't have surprised me to see him carrying a buggy whip. They were extremely nervous as they went to the counter. I thought of something I'd heard in Sunday School as a child. "The meek shall inherit the earth." These two would have it taken back from them within five minutes.

They were lucky, the nurse with the brain talked to them. I was surprised when she pointed over at us and the couple turned and looked at the two of us.

They walked over to us and the husband spoke.

"Excuse me, I'm Claude Dandridge and this is my wife Ethel. I understand you may know something about our son."

Mom was confused. I finally realized who they were.

"You're Charlie's parents."

"Yes, Charles is our son. I understand you talked to the doctor." He ignored me, looking at Mom the whole time.

"Yes. He mostly talked about my daughter. I'm sorry, but it looks like your son was beaten up pretty badly. He has several broken ribs and there was some damage to his face. He was evidently kicked by someone. I gather he was trying to protect my daughter when they were raping her."

Mrs. Dandridge spoke for the first time.

"You. You and that hussy of a daughter of yours. You're the ones responsible for seducing my son and putting him in the hospital."

My mother stood up in front of the woman and slapped her in the face. Mrs. Dandridge was knocked backward and she sat down as the couch broke her fall.

"Come on, Jackie. I don't want to be around here anymore."

I followed Mom to the cafeteria on the far side of the floor from Emergency.

The hospital is like two buildings joined together with a square hole in the middle. The four inside walls have windows all around on each of the seven floors. There is a hallway that runs around the building on each floor on the inside of these windows.

On the first floor, there are doors to the open area every fifty feet or so. There are some concrete benches, a small waterfall, some tables with big umbrellas and chairs. Some grass, but a lot of concrete for wheelchairs. And a lot of plants. There are rooms inside the hospital for patients to sit or visit, away from their rooms. This outside area used to be the place smokers went but that has been banned for years. There is no roof or cover of any kind so it's a place patients and visitors can go to be out in the sun, provided it's not raining. Mom referred to it as the quad.

The other floors have a view of the quad until you get up a bit. Then you can see the windows on the hallway on the other side of the square and a patch of sky if you look up at the right angle.

The east and west sides are narrow. The inside of the hallway is lined with patient's rooms on the outside wall. The far side of the rooms is the outside of the building. The south and north sides are the big ones. There are hallways intersecting the one we were in that cross other hallways parallel to ours. If you went south from our hall, you'd hit another about 75 feet down, a second another 100 feet further and the outside wall 50 feet past that. Emergency took up about half of the south wing, from that first hallway to the outside of the building. The cafeteria was on the north side of the building, next to the elevators. Both wings had their own set of elevators.

Since it was close to 2:00 in the morning, there was hardly anyone in the cafeteria. In fact, there was only one doctor. He looked about ready to keel over and was sipping on a cup of coffee. He smiled at Mom, then went back into his trance, staring at the table, seeing nothing. I was glad I wasn't his patient.

Mom and I took trays. She got a piece of cheesecake, I grabbed a couple of muffins that looked good and a chocolate chip cookie that felt soft in my hand. We went down to the cashier at the end.

"What do you want to drink, Jackie?"

"Milk."

"Add a milk and a coffee to this. Betty, this is my son Jack. Jack, this is Betty. She's been working the night shift here as long as I can remember."

"It's good to meet you, Betty."

"You, too Jack. What brings you down here? Come to pick up your mother from work?"

"No, Betty, I'm off tonight. We got called in because my daughter was attacked. She's in emergency surgery right now."

"Oh, God, I'm so sorry, June. Is she going to be all right?"

"Raul Gonzales came out and talked to me and he says she'll recover OK. She's going to need some reconstructive surgery and she lost a couple of teeth. But I'm worried about her. She was raped, Betty. They think it was four or five of them and they were really rough on her and did a real number on the boy she was out with. She'll make it back physically, I'm just worried she won't be the same after this."

"I'll pray for her, June."

"I appreciate that, Betty."

We picked up our drinks and made our way to a table. I noticed that the doctor had finished his coffee and left.

Mom made a point of taking us to a midnight church service every Christmas Eve. That was pretty much it, we never went on Sunday, even at Easter. The only other time we went to church was the rare occasion she took us with her to a wedding. Most of the time she went by herself and we got a babysitter until the last few years when she felt we could handle being home by ourselves.

"I don't get it Mom. Why didn't you just tell her we're not religious?"

"Just because I don't go to church doesn't mean I don't believe in anything. The important thing is that she believes it. It can't hurt and if it makes her feel like she's doing something to help us, good for her."

She chuckled and smiled for the first time since she woke me up. "Besides, I don't want to piss off God right now."

Mom reached in her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She got into her speed dial menu and called a number.

"John. I'm sorry to wake you up. It's June Hill. We're at the hospital, John. Mary was gang raped and she's in pretty bad shape. Poor Charlie was really beaten up and may lose an eye."

She listened for a minute, nodding her head.

"Thank you, John. I owe you for this... No, really. I appreciate it."

"He's coming over. He says he'll meet us in Emergency."

I was surprised she had his number programmed in her phone.

We bussed our trays and headed back around the floor.

"I really don't want to run into that woman again. I'm afraid she'll get on my nerves and I'll do something I regret."

We got back and Mr. Dandridge saw us and came over. His wife was nowhere in sight.

"I need to apologize for my wife, Mrs. Hill. She's always been very protective of our son. They both almost died when he was born and she hasn't been able to have more children as a result. That's neither here or there, what she said was unconscionable. Dr. Gonzales talked to us and gave her something to calm her down. She's laying down in that examination room for a while."

"I'm sorry I hit her. This has been a very bad night for us and I just snapped when she tried to blame my daughter for what happened. I don't know what you know about her or think you know about her, but she has never even kissed a boy. This was her first time out alone with a boy."

"I'm sure your daughter had nothing to do with this. Charles has not been active and it was a surprise to us when he was as enthusiastic about your daughter as he was the day he met her. I'm afraid my wife has been suspicious of your daughter ever since the day they met. If I hadn't put my foot down, she never would have let him take her to that football game."

"I have to confess I was suspicious of Charlie when I heard my daughter was attacked. I was shocked when I found out how badly he was hurt."

"I appreciate that. And I appreciate the way you refrained from telling us the complete story until the doctor could tell us himself. I don't know how my wife would have reacted if you'd been the one to tell us how bad it really was."

"You're welcome. Did you know that I work at this hospital?"

"No. Is that a fact?"

"Yes. I work in maternity on the fifth floor. We are trained not to tell relatives anything but to leave it up to the doctors who are actually involved. Too many nurses have talked about something they didn't know about and relatives have gotten the wrong information. The only reason I told you what I did is because I know how I felt when I didn't know what was happening to Mary."

"I appreciate your telling us. And again, I apologize for my wife's behavior."

"Thank you. Mr. Dandridge.

We went over to our couch and were sitting when the door opened and John and Jill walked through.

Jill came up to me and held on tight. "I'm so sorry, Jack."

I could see my mother over Jill's shoulder. She stood up and John stood in front of her, hesitating for a moment. One or both of them made a slight movement toward the other and that was all it took for both of them to crash into one another, their arms wrapped around each other as tightly as Jill's and mine. John held Mom close in one arm while stroking her hair as her whole body shook while she cried.



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Chapter 30

"How is she?"

They were the first words anyone had said since Jill and her father arrived. John was the one to ask the inevitable question.

"She's in bad shape, John. I'm sure she'll pull through all right but I know my daughter and this is going to change her whole outlook on life. It's just not fair."

"Unfortunately, life rarely is." He pulled her into his chest again. I could see her sigh as she closed her eyes.

Jill spoke to me. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm bored out of my skull. I feel so helpless. She's in that room and I know they're taking care of her but there's not a damn thing I can do. I know it for a fact, but I still feel guilty because I'm not doing something to help her. And sitting around, waiting, doesn't make it any easier on me. Mom and I took a walk and had some food we probably didn't need a while ago. I think we both would have gone out of our minds if we hadn't. I'm sure it's been even worse for Mom."

Mr. Dandridge came around the corner with a couple of cups of coffee. I hadn't seen him leave.

"Hello, Mr. Dandridge."

"Oh, hello, Jill. I'm surprised to see you here."

"Jack is my boyfriend. Mary is his sister. How is Charlie doing?"

He looked over at John holding my mother. "Not well, Jill. I'm afraid Charles is going to be recovering from tonight for a long time. The doctor thinks he'll probably lose his right eye."

"Oh, my God. I had no idea it was that bad."

"We don't know the whole story yet. It appears that Charles tried to stop what was happening to the little girl and her attackers punished him for his efforts. You'll excuse me, I need to take this coffee to my wife."

"How is Mrs. Dandridge?"

"Not very well, I'm afraid. She's not used to things like this. It's a little beyond taking care of the house and going to church."

"I'm sure she'll be all right."

"I hope so, Jill."

"I forgot that you knew them. Of course you do. Wanda says you've been friends with Charlie as long as the two of you have known each other."

"Longer. Charlie and I started walking to school together in second grade. I actually met Wanda when I was in fifth grade. I used to go over to her house and her mother would watch us after school. She was a big Jr. high kid back then. When I went into sixth grade for the last part of the year, we didn't seem so far apart. And when I got into the seventh grade, the three of us walked to school together. She even walked part of the way with us when she was a freshman and Charlie and I were finishing up Jr. high. Now that we're all in high school, it's back to being the three musketeers again. I hope this accident doesn't change anything."

"Accident? Accident? For Gods sake. She was raped. In the vagina, in the mouth and in the rectum. They knocked teeth out of her mouth. They stuck something up her ass so far they tore her colon. Most of the ribs on Charlie's right side have been broken. He doesn't have a right side of his face anymore, it's all kicked in. He'll probably lose an eye. This was an attack. A brutal attack. It was no accident."

John pulled my mother back into his chest. Jill looked as if she'd been kicked in the stomach.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything. I know it wasn't an accident. I wasn't thinking."

Mom was sobbing up against John. It didn't look like she heard anything Jill said.

"Jack, I'm so sorry. You've got to tell her. I didn't mean it."

I held on to her. "I know Jill. Mom does too. She's just upset. She's taking this real hard."

I held on to Jill as she shook and started to cry.

Five minutes later they'd both cried it out and Jill had successfully apologized to Mom.

"I'm sorry, Jill. I'm just a mess today. It wasn't right for me to take it out on you."

"I understand, June. I wasn't thinking."

"June? Did Raul talk to you about the ECP?"

"I'm sorry, John, I'm not thinking. ECP?"

"The emergency contraceptive pill. It's not foolproof, but it has about an 89% chance of preventing pregnancy. The sooner she gets it, the better the chances of prevention."

"Oh, my God. I didn't even think of pregnancy. What about AIDS?"

"I'm afraid that's a very definite possibility."

"Oh, my poor baby. She can't have AIDS. It's not right, John, it's just not right."

"Relax, June. We can test. There's no need to get upset about it until we know something for sure. We can do a rapid test and get a preliminary idea in a day or two. Then a week for the confirmation."

"A week. Oh, God, I don't know if I can handle waiting a week."

"June, it's the best we can do. You're going to need to be strong for your daughter. Do you understand me, June?"

"Yes, John. Strong for Mary. I need to be strong for Mary."

"Jack, Jillian, watch over her. I'm going too see if there's anything I can do."

He went over to the desk and managed to get Nurse Clipboard. She refused to let him near the operating room and wouldn't get a message to the people inside. He was not Emergency Room staff.

John calmly pulled out his cell phone and dialed a speed number as she attempted to stare him down.

"Arthur. John O'Hara. Yes, I'm aware what time it is. Listen. One of your best maternity nurses has a daughter who's in Emergency Surgery right now because she's been raped. You've got a bitch with a clipboard manning the desk here and she won't even let me send a message in. She's pretty damaged up from what I hear, Art. They'd probably be glad to have some help. And they haven't mentioned giving her a morning after pill or testing for AIDS. We need to jump right on that before it's too late. Sure. Here she is."

He held the phone out to the nurse. "It's your boss. The hospital administrator."

She confidently took the phone, ready to defend her bureaucratic bullshit. I watched as the color drained from her face. She was almost white when she said "Yes, Sir. Good night, Sir. I'm sorry, Sir," and gave John back his phone. She dialed an extension from the phone on her desk and gave the handset to John. "It's the supervising nurse in Emergency Surgery."

"Hello, who is this? Nurse Turner. Good. My name's Dr. O'Hara. Tell Dr. Gonzales that John O'Hara is outside and would like to talk to him and is offering to help if he wants me." He waited about 15 seconds. "Thank you. I'll be right over."

He gave the receiver back to the nurse, who took it and hung up the phone without saying a word.

He turned and headed towards surgery. I said "Dr. Asshole, I presume," in a low voice as he passed by.

He stopped short, spun on his heel and glared at me. I could feel it between my eyes. "Don't start on me, Jack. This is not the time."

"Yes, Sir."

He went over to the door and knocked once. It was immediately opened by a nurse in green scrubs who held the door open for him as he passed through.

"Thank you, Nurse Turner."

"You're welcome, Doctor."

Once he was in the room, he disappeared. Nobody went in or out. After a half hour, I could see Mom was getting more and more nervous.

"Mom, I'm sure it's fine."

"June, my Daddy's a good doctor. They always call him when they need help with rapes. He got a lot of experience when he interned at Johns Hopkins. I'm sure he's doing the best he can for Mary."

"I know, Jill. I just wish I knew something."

"Well, at least we know she's still alive."

As soon as the words passed my lips I knew it was not the right thing to say.

"Oh, God, Mom. I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. Of course she's still alive."

She actually smiled and patted me on the knee. "You're right Jackie. I've been worried sick about her but you're so right. They wouldn't be in there with her if she wasn't still alive."

I felt forgiven until Jill shot me a look that made me cringe.

John came out of surgery about twenty minutes later. He looked beat. Mom ran over to him.

"They'll be taking her up to intensive care in a few minutes. We patched her up pretty well and she looks like she'll pull through OK. They're going to have somebody check her over later to see what cosmetic work will be required. I don't see any reason she shouldn't be able to have children."

Mom gasped. "Oh, God. I hadn't even thought of that."

"Don't worry, June. She'll be OK. Now we took blood for the AIDS tests and we'll have the quickie test done by tomorrow afternoon. But the final results won't be ready for a week or so."

"What about the morning after pill?"

"That's been a problem. She's having trouble keeping it down. They've tried three doses and she vomits within 15 or 20 minutes. The only other option is inserting an IUD and she has too much damage right now for that. They're going to keep trying the pills and hope she'll keep one down long enough to work or get enough combined hormones from the pills she's had in her stomach for short periods to work. They're keeping their fingers crossed."

"Isn't there a shot or something?"

"No, I'm afraid not, Jack."

"They should be able to come up with something."

"It hasn't been worth it to spend all the money to come up with it. The religious crowd has this idea that once the sperm and egg meet, the woman is pregnant. Since the pill prevents the fertilized egg from planting itself in the womb, they've been shouting 'murder'. It's been made illegal in some states and been in and out of the courts. The drug companies would rather put their money into a sure thing instead of investing millions into something that may be outlawed before it reaches the market."

"You'd think people would make an exception for cases like this."

"Jack, I'm not saying it's fair or that it's right. I'm just telling you the way it is. And if an occasional patient can't take the pill orally, that's her tough luck. Welcome to the world of medicine, Jack."

I was all set to try another argument when he pushed me aside.

"Excuse me, Jack."

He went down to the other end of the room where the pregnant couple was sitting patiently. He bent down in front of her, gently lifted the hands that were clutching her belly and felt for himself. He turned towards the desk.

"Why isn't this woman upstairs in maternity?"

"They don't have any insurance, Doctor."

"So, what? You're going to have her deliver on the fucking floor? June. Get over here. I need your help."

It was as if she got a bucket of cold water thrown in her face. Mom was on her way over to them before he finished calling her.

Together they guided the woman over to an examination room. Her husband started to follow them.

"Jill, keep him away from me."

"Yes, Daddy."

She went over to him and took his arm, guiding him into a chair. She then started speaking to him in Spanish. As she talked, I saw him perk up when he heard his native tongue. He visibly relaxed as she went on. The poor guy must have been almost as nervous as we were, not knowing what to expect.

While this was happening I heard the sound of water, then the snap of rubber gloves being put on. I heard John start giving Mom orders. He was obviously in his element, telling her, "Help get her pants off, get that shirt out of the way, lose that underwear." Finally, "Hold her hand and see if you can get her to push."

A minute went by with not much of anything but some heavy breathing and grunting by the woman.

"Well, what do we have here?" Shortly we heard a baby cry out.

"Uh, oh. Jillian. Get in here."

Jill let go of the man's arm and ran into the room.

"Jill, hold on to the baby. June, we've got another one. And it looks breeched. We don't have time to do a C-section, so we're going to have to do the best we can. Get over here above her stomach. Now massage it down. No, that way. There. Help him get his ass past that block in there. All right, I can feel him. I've got the feet. Damn, Jill, I thought your butt was big. OK. There we go. June, push. Get her to breathe. All right. Once more. Come on."

Another baby cried out. It was too much for the husband who tore through the curtain just as John came out, his arm around my mother's shoulders. They both had grins a mile wide.

"June, I'll make you into a nurse, yet."

"Thank you, Dr. Asshole."



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Chapter 31

Nurse Clipboard must have thought it was safe now. She ran into the makeshift delivery room after John and Mom left and confronted Jill.

"We need to do an APGAR score on these children. You're putting the hospital in a terrible position."

I heard the clipboard hit the floor and Jill said "Stick your APGAR up your ass, bitch. And clean up that mess."

Jill stormed out and was followed shortly by Nurse Clipboard who now had twins in her arms, no way to do anything with her hands and was making some sputtering noises.

I looked over at Mom. "APGAR?"

"It stands for Activity, Pulse, Grimace, Appearance and Respiration. It's basically a way the hospital covers its ass in case the parents want a refund."

Whatever. Even a newborn had to go through the bullshit.

Mom looked at Jill. "Jackie, take Jill up to five and ask Thelma if she can give her a smock. I'm afraid that baby wasn't the cleanest thing in the world to hold up to her chest."

Jill glanced down as Mom said that. "Oh, my."

"Oh, and Jackie. How about getting some coffee for us while you're up there?"

"Sure, Mom."

"Take these mugs back with you."

We got in the elevator and I pushed 5. After we started moving, Jill pushed the big red button and the car stopped.

"Jill! What are you doing?"

"Kiss me, Jack. Do you know how horny it made me to see that baby delivered?"

"No. How?"

"I didn't expect an answer, you idiot."

She didn't lean into me, opening her mouth while closing her eyes, her head tilting up at just the right angle, her tongue against the insides of her lips. No, she grabbed my arms and yanked me into her body, grinding her mouth against mine. I could feel her nipples digging into me. Her right leg was bent and she insinuated it between my legs, pressing into my crotch, making my prick snap to attention.

I was just about out of air when I heard a buzzing sound. BZZZZT BZZZZT BZZZZZT

"Jill, I think someone wants the elevator."

"Screw them."

"Jill, it's a hospital. We can't tie up their elevator."

"What's the worst that can happen? Are you afraid of the elevator police?"

She reached around me and dug her hand into my butt.

"I can't find it."

"Can't find what?"

"The straw you've got stuck up your butt."

The buzzer went off again and Jill pulled out the red button. "You're going to have to learn to loosen up, Jackie."

The elevator stopped at the fifth floor. There was nobody waiting as we got off so the person who was trying to call it must have been on another floor. Straw up my butt or not, I was glad we didn't open the door to a pissed off doctor with a patient on a gurney.

We made our way down to the nursing station. Thelma smiled as we walked up.

"Hello, Jack. Who is this beautiful lady?"

"Thelma, this is my girlfriend Jill. Jill, this is Thelma. You may know her father, Thelma. Mom calls him Dr. Asshole."

Thelma laughed. "He really gets to your boyfriend's momma. He's not as bad as she thinks he is. And he's a real good doctor."

"I know that. He just delivered twins down in Emergency. One was a breech baby."

"Well, it looks like you had something to do with that."

"Yeah, I guess I messed up my shirt."

"Makes you horny, doesn't it?"

"Oh, boy, does it."

"So, what can I do for you two young people?"

"Mom said you could let Jill borrow a smock."

"I'm sure we could find something. And it looks like you might need something, yourself, Jack."

I looked down at my shirt to see the stains where Jill pressed against me.

Thelma took us into a room behind the station and showed us some smocks on hangers. "Find a couple that fit you."

She left the room and Jill plastered herself to me again. This time I didn't fight it but joined in. I could learn to like this baby delivering stuff.

We eventually made it back out to Thelma's station.

"I was just about to come in after you two. We don't want you here as a patient, yet, Jill."

Jill laughed as I reddened. We got four cups of coffee and went back to Emergency.

We got back in time to see the woman who had been beaten up coming out of an exam room. She had a cast on her right arm and had been cleaned up. She reminded me of a wolf I'd seen on my last trip to the zoo, looking around, suspicious of every movement. I saw her cringe as Jill and I came around the corner.

Our parents weren't anywhere to be seen.

"They know we're coming back. I say we just wait here."

"That's fine, Jack."

"I heard about Charlie, but your mother didn't say a whole lot about Mary. What happened to her?"

I told her the extent of Mary's injuries as I knew them.

"That's terrible. Where did it happen?"

"I don't know. I don't even know where they found her. Evidently Charlie was able to call 911 and the cops showed up. He was lying on top of her to protect her and passed out when the cops arrived."

"That sounds like Charlie. I hope he's all right after all this is over."

"I hope so, too. But it sure sounds like they did a number on him."

"Charlie's the kind of guy who would keep crawling back no matter how much they beat him if Mary was in trouble."

"Well, I really admire his courage."

Mom and John came around the corner accompanied by a couple of cops. It took a few seconds for me to realize the shorter one was a female. Mom took two cups of coffee from me and gave them to the police. She then took the other two for her and John.

"Why don't you two go up and get a couple more cups. And don't mess with the elevator again."

Jill took my hand, smiled and said, "OK. Sorry 'bout that."

"Yeah. You really look sorry." Mom laughed, then went back to the others.

We went back up to five and Jill pushed me against the wall after we go off the elevator, kissing me again. Not quite as urgent, but nice.

"This is weird, Jill."

"What do you mean, Jack?"

"I feel like we shouldn't be doing this. We're here because of Mary."

"So, what? We should be sitting down outside surgery with our hands in our laps, worrying? Rubbing ashes on our foreheads and praying for forgiveness? Life goes on, Jackie. Yes, it's terrible what happened to Mary. But right now there's nothing we can do about it. There are people taking care of her who know what she needs right now. There are police talking to our parents and I'm sure they'll find whoever's responsible for this. How would Mary feel if she knew you were going to stop enjoying life because she's in surgery? Do you think she'd be happy?"

"No, I guess not."

"I know she wouldn't. She loves you, Jackie. She's realized she can't have you and has moved on, but she still cares for you. If you stop living because she got hurt, she'll never forgive herself. Do you really think it's fair to make her feel guilty because you have some crazy idea that you should stop everything because she's hurt? When she's recovering, then be there for her. But don't stop living and loving, even then. I expect you to be holding my hand when we visit her. And I don't want a bunch of crap if I want to kiss you while we're in the room with her. I promise I won't go overboard but I'm not going to stop my life because she's injured."

"I guess you've got a point there."

We walked down to Thelma's station. She was away so we sat down and held hands. She came back a few minutes later.

"Oh, Hi kids. What can I do for you?"

"Could we get another couple of cups of coffee? Mom gave ours to a couple of police they were talking to."

"Sure. You didn't have to wait for me. You know where the coffee pot is. Feel free to help yourselves as long as you're here."

We thanked Thelma and headed back downstairs.

I saw the backs of the two police officers as they went out through the sliding doors when we arrived back at Emergency. Mom and John were just sitting down.

"Do they know anything?"

"Not, really, Jackie. Charlie called from a pay phone at a gas station that was closed about five miles out of town. They think somebody drove them there and threw them out of a car. Luckily they could tell where the phone was at 911 because all Charlie could say was 'Help' when they answered. There was a patrol car in the area and they were there a minute or so after Charlie made the call. He passed out when they pulled up and neither of them has regained consciousness since then. They thought we might be able to tell them something, but we know less than they do. They're going to come back when Mary or Charlie can talk to them."

"Well, I hope they know something. I'd sure hate these guys to get away with this."

"Me, too, Son. Me, too."



-------

Chapter 32

It was Monday afternoon, a little over two weeks since Mary had been raped. This was her first time out since she'd come home last Thursday.

John was driving, I was in the front passenger seat. Mom and Jill were on either side of my sister. We were going to see Dr. Bartlett, the doctor who examined Jill and prescribed the pill for her.

The reason Mom was in the back seat instead of me was simple. Mary would freak out if a male was near her for any period of time. She would talk to me if I was across the room from her. If I got within five feet, she'd get extremely nervous and start to cry unless I got away quick.

We pulled into the lot next to Dr. Bartlett's building. Mary kept looking back at John and me as we followed the three of them to the elevators. John and I stayed in one of the back corners. The women were in the opposite corner up front. Mary constantly checked behind her as we went up to the fifth floor.

There was one woman waiting to see the doctor when we arrived. John and I stood in a corner of the waiting room while they sat on a couch on the far side of the room. A nurse called Mary's name after about five minutes and the three of them followed her inside.

Dr. Bartlett was out in less than five minutes. She signalled John and they went into the hallway behind the receptionist and were whispering about something. He was back outside within half a minute.

The three of them came out about 20 minutes later. Mary looked worse now than before going in. Mom and Jill had to support her and she seemed to be having difficulty walking.

When we got home, they helped Mary into her room and into bed. Jill and John said their goodbyes as Mom got the heating pad from the hall closet and took it into Mary. She slept straight through the evening until Tuesday morning.

Mary had a pretty rough time in the hospital. First, she had some major injuries that needed to be taken care of. I didn't ask how they were able to stitch the tears in her rectum and colon and don't really want to know. It couldn't have been comfortable.

There is a drug protocol that's still labeled as experimental in this country. There was a thorough test of it in Australia and it appears to drop the risk of getting HIV to almost zero if done soon enough after exposure. Hellacious amounts of drugs are given to the patient repetitively for several days. The theory is it kills off the virus before it has a chance to take hold. The body goes through hell while this is being done, but it's better than the alternative. Mary was also given some antibiotics to take care of another problem the doctors were aware she had. Or had a good chance of having.

There is an STD that is particularly violent if not handled with antibiotics within 24 hours of exposure. Unfortunately, it's not detectable until after that 24 hour time period. The only way you can save the person from a lifetime of hell, provided it doesn't kill her, is to know that a partner has the infection.

We found out that one of the guys who raped her was infected. No, he didn't volunteer to provide blood for testing. And his lawyer would never have approved it. But what neither he nor his lawyer were aware of is that Dr. Asshole can be a devious son of a bitch when he takes something personally.

All five of Mary and Charlie's assailants had some kind of damage. Though they had been overpowered, both Charlie and Mary left their marks on each of them. One had skin torn off his face in a pattern that matched Mary's fingernails. One's penis was scraped consistent with Mary's teeth before three of them were knocked out of her mouth. All had some kind of scratch. One wasn't going to be indulging in much sexual activity because he had two crushed testicles. John happened to be involved in their examinations. And he made sure to give each of them a shot, "just in case." What none of them realized is that when you deliver an injection into a vein, it is just a matter of lifting up on the plunger a bit to get a blood sample. There was testing being done on their blood before they were led out of the emergency room by the police. Somehow, even the one with the crushed testicles was pronounced OK to travel.

So, if you watch TV, you have some ideas of how they found these five assholes. No, it wasn't a plaster cast of tire treads, not a DNA match of the skin under Mary's nails, not a video camera at the gas station or even a witness. Well, not a witness who wasn't directly involved in it.

As they were transferring Charlie from the gurney to the bed in ICU, he grabbed the nurse's sleeve. She was all set to push his hand away but he was insistent. He said three things. "Gary Wallace. Party. Druggies." He then lost consciousness. Which, according to his doctor, he should never have found. He should have been out till the middle of next week after what they shot him up with in surgery.

Fortunately, the nurse had enough sense to go to John and tell him that Charlie seemed to be trying to tell her something. John had a card from the cops who had been in earlier and they were back within ten minutes. The nurse told them what she'd been told. Efforts to get Charlie awake were useless.

Gary Wallace is a senior at Highpoint. He's on the track team, so Charlie was invited to the party he had at his house that Friday night. The game was so one sided that when Charlie asked Mary if she wanted to go to a party, she agreed. They got there and there were about 20 kids having fun, playing CDs and stuffing themselves. Gary's parents observed without making a nuisance of themselves. No booze, no drugs, just a bunch of kids having fun. It could happen.

There was a group at school known as the druggies. They were high most of the time and weren't scholastically inclined. Five of them had gone on to bigger and better things than high school the previous year when they were offered the opportunity to repeat the tenth grade. Hanging out in front of the 7-11 was more to their taste.

If it was a drug, they sold it. They weren't your stereotypical drug dealers with the BMWs and Uzis and lots of money. They sold enough to keep themselves in drugs. That was the limit of their ambition. If a chick didn't have enough money, a blowjob or a quick lay would probably be payment enough. Test results weren't requested from these women, hence all five were STD breeding grounds.

Somehow they heard about the party and decided it would be fun to crash. As soon as Charlie saw them, he talked to Mary and they left.

Gary's father came out to the living room where they were with a cell phone in his hand. He offered them the choice to leave his house or face the police. They chose leaving.

Charlie was driving along, talking to Mary when a car passed them and pulled back into the lane too soon, cutting them off. He drove into the ditch on the side of the road to avoid getting hit. The other car kept going.

The car was stuck, there was no way to get it out. Charlie knew there was a gas station about a quarter mile down the road. They decided to walk. They were taking their time, holding hands, enjoying each other.

Two hundred feet from the entrance to the station, they both looked up to see the car that had run them off the road squeal into the driveway. Charlie held onto Mary a little tighter but they continued on toward the pay phone.

Five guys got out of the car. They were making comments to each other about how good Mary looked, what they wanted to do to her. Charlie tried to defend her and got shoved aside. He came back at them and two guys held him while another punched him several times in the stomach. Two guys were playing with Mary, holding their arms out, keeping her from getting to Charlie as she was trying.

They figured Charlie had had enough and let him drop to the ground. Now they started ripping clothes off Mary, a little at a time. Charlie came back and two of them took turns kicking him as he lay on the ground. The broken ribs and most of the damage to his face was done at this time.

They got Mary's clothes off and started to get serious. She bit the first penis that was shoved in her mouth and that got her slapped on the side of the face, breaking her nose, the skin and some of her cheekbone. The guy she kicked in the nuts punched her in the mouth, knocking loose three teeth. All five took their turn doing their worst to her. One guy grabbed a four way lug wrench from the trunk of their car and shoved one side up Mary's ass. This is what caused the tearing in her rectum and colon. It's also what caused Charlie to make a final effort to protect his date and was used to rip his eye loose when the guy yanked it out of Mary's ass and swung it at Charlie's face.

They eventually figured they'd had enough fun and took off. Somehow Charlie was able to crawl twenty feet to the pay phone and dial 911. He was able to croak "Help" before he fell to the ground, then crawl back twenty five feet to where Mary lay unconscious on the ground.

Charlie was on top of Mary, protecting her when the cops drove up a minute later. When one of the uniforms started walking toward the two of them, he collapsed.

An ambulance had been dispatched and it arrived almost immediately and took the two of them to the hospital. Mary had some ID on her and Mom got the call shortly after she arrived. Because of the blood and semen all over her it was obvious she had been raped.

Several hours later after Charlie woke from the dead to identify his assailants, two police officers rang the doorbell at the Wallace residence. The annoyance at being awakened at 4:00 in the morning turned to cooperation when they found out what happened. Mr. Wallace was assured that he couldn't have known what was going to happen when he kicked them off the property. Gary not only knew the names of all five but was able to point the cops toward the 7-11 where they spent most of their waking hours. He even went with the cops to identify them.

Luck was with them and three of them were found at the 7-11. Two were crashed in the car down the street, under the weather because of Mary's assault on their genitals. All five were handcuffed and sat in the parking lot while a couple of other cop cars came to take them to the hospital. Gary stayed in the original police car behind tinted glass. Identifying the three was one thing, setting himself up was another.

All five were examined in emergency and John had his blood samples before 6:00. Surprisingly, John certified all five as OK to travel, even the two with genital damage. The blood was being tested before they were out the door with the cops and Mary was being injected with an antibiotic before breakfast.

Actually, before normal people ate breakfast. The four of us joined the two cops who had been in on it since the start for breakfast in the hospital cafeteria. The cops had donuts. No kidding.



-------

Chapter 33

"Coach, I need to talk to you."

"What is it, Hill?"

"Could we talk privately?"

"Sure. Let's go in my office."

We went into Coach's office and I moved some stuff off a chair in front of the metal desk and sat down. He sat down on his side of the desk in a swivel chair with cracked vinyl upholstery.

"What's up, Hill?"

"Coach, I'm thinking of quitting the team."

"You're what?!" He shot forward as he said this, leaning on the desk on both elbows. "Do you have any idea what that would do to the team?"

"Coach, I know how much I mean to the team and I hate to do it, but I need to get a job where I can make some money. And I don't have a whole lot of times I can do it. I figure I can get a job flipping burgers or working at a gas mart for a few hours after school each day. And that means no practice and no meets."

"So, that's it? You just want to find a way to make some money?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"So if I found some way you could work around here while still practicing and being in the meets, that would be OK?"

"Sure, Coach. I don't need a whole lot."

"Give me a couple of days. Whatever you do, don't commit yourself to anything without checking back with me first. Can you do that for me?"

"Sure, Coach."

I went in and suited up and did my regular practice routine.

I got home at 5:45 and decided to see if Jill was around. I called and she answered on the second ring.

She was well aware that it bothered me that I wasn't able to pay for things when we went out together.

Jill could buy whatever she wanted. On a couple of occasions she had pulled out an American Express card. When she did at Fredericks of Hollywood, the clerk had looked at her as if she didn't trust her. I saw her using the phone while holding and looking at the card while Jill was getting dressed. She had no problem when Jill came out and signed the charge slip. In fact, she made a production of inviting Jill back any time there was anything she could do for her.

Those clothes were items she chose to wear to model the corset she was leaving for me to buy when her birthday came around. I have no doubt she could have bought a dozen corsets. No, she tried those clothes on knowing they couldn't be returned and she had to purchase them. But she never even hinted at paying for something that was my idea. If we went to the mall and were window shopping, she didn't mention purchasing a thing. I'd seen her get a tie for her father and a collar for her dog. And that was her right and I had no problems with it.

If I took her to the movies, I wanted to pay for the tickets. And the popcorn and the drinks. If she wanted a poster or a book or a T-shirt, that was something she could pay for. Or tell me so I could put it on the list of things to get when I chose to give her a gift.

So, when I'd gone to her house a couple of days before for the weekly get together, she and I talked about how I could make some money. And the only way I could see doing it without losing the weekends I wanted the money for was the way I told Coach. Jill insisted there had to be a way to do it while staying on the team and keeping up my practices and I told her there wasn't. She had been against me going to see Coach from the start and we almost got into an argument about it.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Gorgeous."

"Oh, is that you, Bozo?"

"Hey. That's the dog's name. You need to call me something else."

"Sometimes it fits you a lot better than the dog. He's adorable and he listens to me."

"Yeah, well, I'm adorable. And I'll listen to you from now on. I talked to Coach today."

"Really. So is he happy you want to quit?"

"No, he's not. He asked if I would still quit if he found a way I could make some money and still be on the team and practice."

"So, did you tell him he was stupid and it was impossible and you knew better than everybody else?"

"No, I told him I couldn't do it because a certain young lady I happen to be in love with would never let me hear the end of it if he did that. I told him I'd rather drop out of school and work at AM/PM."

"You Did Not!"

"No, I didn't. I told him I'd check with him before I took any jobs and would give him a couple of days to set something up before I went out looking."

"It'll serve you right if he has you picking up jock straps."

"I was kind of thinking of handing out soap and towels in the girls' locker room."

"You do that and you'll never get near this girl."

"I know. Even if I have to turn it down and go to AM/PM. Seriously, Jill, I owe you an apology. I just didn't think I could still swim and make any money for us."

"All right, I'll think about it. We'll see how good you beg this weekend. I might forgive you. How's Mary today?"

"I don't know. I just got home and she wasn't up when I left for school this morning. She stayed in bed after you and Mom put her there yesterday."

"I'm not surprised. She went through a lot."

"I thought she just got checked out."

"She got a lot more than that. Miriam did a D&C on her."

"D&C? What's that?"

"It's a medical procedure. The uterus is scraped out and anything like a fertilized egg that's sticking there comes out. It's commonly used in the first trimester of a pregnancy."

"Do you mean Mary was pregnant?"

"I don't think anyone knows if she was pregnant. I do know she couldn't hold anything down with that AIDS cocktail they kept giving her. So there's a good chance the morning after pill didn't do any good. Your mother told Miriam she wanted a D&C and Miriam went out an talked to my Dad about it and she did it while we were in the office. I don't even know if Mary is aware it was more than a standard exam. The bottom line is, if there was anything there, it's gone now."

"But that would be abortion."

"That's one way of looking at it. I like to think of it as taking care of the garbage. Would you really want your 15 year old sister to give birth to one of their children? In the state she's in? Don't be cruel, Jackie."

"I guess. I've always thought it was wrong. You hear politicians and clergy talking about it all the time."

"Yeah, Just let one of their daughters get raped. See how quickly they get it handled."

"I see your point."

"OK. I gotta go. School tonight. Good luck with the job. And if you have to hand out towels to the girls, I'll go along with it if they will. Call me tomorrow and let me know what happens."

I hung up the phone and went down to Mary's room. I tapped on the door with my fingertips.

"Who's there?"

"It's me Mare. Can I talk to you?"

She was quiet. I was ready to leave, thinking she wasn't going to respond.

"OK, Jackie."

I opened the door. She had her table lamp on next to the bed. She was sat up in bed, holding the top of her blankets up against her chest, almost to her throat. I stayed in the hallway.

"I was just wondering how you're feeling."

"I'm tired. I slept over 12 hours last night and four or five more today. I'm not used to going to that kind of doctor. I'm a little sore."

"I'm sure you'll feel better in a day or two."

"Yeah, I hope so."

"Look, Mary. Mom doesn't get off tonight till 9. I'm going to warm up some of the leftover meatloaf. Do you want some?"

"Yeah. I mean... That's OK, Jackie."

"How about if I warmed some up and brought it in here for you to eat?"

"That would be nice."

"OK. I'll be back in a while." I gently pulled the door closed and went to the kitchen.

This was tearing me up. I'd talked to Mom and Jill about it; I even mentioned it to John. The only thing any of them could say was to give her some time. That she had been through a lot and she needed time to heal.

Damn it, I went through a lot, too. I was down there in that emergency room for over six hours, waiting to see if she was going to survive, wanting to do something but just being able to sit there. And get coffee for all of us who were waiting. Big fucking deal.

And now she was home and she was hurting and she needed comfort and she wouldn't let me near her. I felt like saying "Fine" and just leaving. But how can you just leave your sister? The girl you've grown up with, laughed and cried with, shared secrets with for fifteen years. And now she was shoving me away. And there didn't seem to be anything I could do about it.

I got a plate and put some meatloaf and some mashed potatoes on it. We had a microwave that would sense when food was cooked. I stuck her plate in and set it for 'reheat.' A couple of minutes later it dinged. The plate was hot on the bottom and there was steam coming up from the food. I used a fork and checked both the middle of the potatoes and the meatloaf and both were warm inside. I got a glass of milk, stuck some silverware in my pocket, got a TV tray from the living room and went down to Mary's room.

Her door was wide open, her room was empty and the light was on in the bathroom. The bathroom door was cracked open a hair.

"Just put it in my room, please."

Great. Now she wouldn't even let me get near her. Before I would have been able to give it to her real quick and run. Now she couldn't even be in the room with me.

I set up the TV tray next to her bed, put the food and drink on it, took the silverware out of my pocket, put it on the tray and left her room.

I went back to the kitchen and cleaned up after myself. I didn't bother to get any food for myself. I went to my room and cried myself to sleep.



-------

Chapter 34

I must have fallen asleep without setting the alarm. Mom was leaning over me, shaking my shoulder.

I woke up immediately, sitting straight up, forcing her to step back. The last time she woke me like this was the night Mary had been raped.

"Sshhh. Sshhh. It's OK, Jackie."

My eyes came into focus and it hit me it was daytime. "Mom?"

"Honey, you overslept. You need to get up."

My eyes shot over at the alarm clock. Thank God, only 10 minutes late.

"I guess I forgot to set the alarm."

"I know, Baby. Mary told me about it."

"Mary? But how... ?"

"Sshhh. Use the bathroom and get dressed. We'll talk while you're eating breakfast."

"I don't think I'll have time. Maybe I can grab something to eat on the way."

"This is important, Jackie. I'll drive you to school."

Mom was just putting scrambled eggs on a plate on the table when I walked in. She added some bacon as I sat down.

"You eat and I'll get dressed real quick. We'll talk in the car."

We should do this more often. The eggs were a lot better than cereal.

A few minutes later we pulled out of the driveway.

"So, Mom. What did you want to talk to me about?"

"Mary heard you crying last night, Jackie. It really bothered her."

"Did she know she was the reason I was crying?"

"Of course she did, Jackie. Just settle down for a minute and listen."

I crossed my arms under my chest. I didn't really feel like whatever lecture I was going to get.

"She was waiting in the living room for me when I got home last night. Do you have any idea how hard that was for her to do?"

"I guess."

"Jackie, she hasn't come out of her room alone except to go to the bathroom. And she's really had to struggle just to do that. For her to leave the safety of her room to wait for me by herself took a lot of courage."

"OK."

"She hurts, Jackie. She was crying on my shoulder last night because she hurt you."

"Then why does she keep shoving me away?"

"It's not that simple. Her body actually hurts if you or any other male gets too close to her. Those few times when she started crying, she told me she was ready to throw up if you hadn't left. Not that she wanted to throw up but that her body would do it because you were so close to her.

"She doesn't like it, Jackie. She's not doing it because she wants to. It's a survival thing for her. She can see what she's doing and she hates to do it but she can't help it. She wants nothing more than to hug you and let you try to make it better. But right now, she can't."

"So what am I supposed to do?"

"Understand her. Don't feel sorry for her. Go ahead and be mad at the beasts who did this to her. Take care of her like you did last night with dinner. But don't take it out on her if she can't be there for you. She tries to be each day. She can't just yet. I'm not saying not to have feelings for her and not to be hurt. But try to keep from showing her how much it hurts. It is just going to make it that much tougher on Mary. And I think that's the last thing you want to do to her."

"It is, Mom. You know that."

"Yes, I do, Jackie. I love you. I know you love Mary. You've just got to give her some time and let her grow into this. And know that she loves you more than anything in this world."

I felt less sorry for myself than I had for weeks as I walked toward History.

"Hey, stranger."

Her voice caught me off guard. "Hi, Sara."

"How's Mary?"

"Not good. She's OK physically but she's still hurting inside. She can't let any men near her. It hurts that I can't hold her and make it better."

"Just give her time, Jack."

"That's what they all tell me. It's tough."

"I'm sure it is. You two were close."

"Yeah, we were. So, what's up with you? Not afraid of my big mean girlfriend anymore?"

"Nope. You're a good guy, Jack. If she has a problem with us being friends, she can come to me about it."

"Wow. That's quite a change. I appreciate it. I can use any friends I can get."

"Me too, Jack. Me too."

"So, how are things going with you and Chris?"

"Chris is a good friend, Jack."

"Really? I thought it was more than that."

"We thought it could be. We're too different. There are times I need my own space and Chris was a little too 'clingy' once we got to know each other."

"Sara, you're not coming on to me, are you?"

She laughed. "No, Jack, I'm not. But it's nice of you to ask." She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, wrapping her arms around my arm just as Jill does.

"Mrs. Robinson, I think you're trying to seduce me."

She looked at me as if I was from another planet. She obviously didn't know what I was talking about.

"It's from a movie called 'The Graduate.' An older woman puts the moves on a young kid. He calls her on it and she denies it."

"Well, rest assured, I'm not trying to seduce you. But I do want to be your friend."

"I'd like that, Sara."

The bell rang and that was it. We went into History and got in our seats. Sara had a Mona Lisa smile on her lips. Like something was up.

One good thing about my encounter with Sara is that I felt more there. I realized I'd been stuck in the hospital waiting room for the last two and a half weeks.

Sara was walking with me to English as if it was something we did every day. "Did I tell you I'm a mommy?"

"Huh?"

"Silly. My dog had puppies. The boxer next door got with my collie. They're just about ready to give away."

"Too bad. I was in the market for a puppy a few weeks ago. I gave Jill one she fell in love with at the mall."

"The mall pet store?"

"Yeah."

"Wow. That must have cost you a fortune."

"Yeah, he was pretty expensive. But it was worth it to see the look on her face when she saw him in my arms."

"You really like her, don't you."

"Yeah."

"I want that one of these days."

"I'm sure there's someone out there for you, Sara. You'll find him soon enough."

"It's not that simple, Jack."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know you well enough to tell you, Jack. I don't know anybody well enough."

"Don't tell me you're gay?"

"No, Jack. I'm not gay."

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

"When are those puppies going to be ready?"

"Any time. My aunt already took one."

"Can I come over after swim practice and get one?"

"I thought Jill already had a puppy."

"This is for someone else."

"Sure, Jack. I'll be home. I'll even give you a few days of puppy chow."

"Thanks, Sara. I'll see you around 5:30."

I'd just opened my gym locker when I heard Coach call me.

"Jack. Can I talk with you in my office?"

"Sure, Coach." I shut my locker and followed him. This was the first time in the year I'd known him that he hadn't called me "Hill."

He was already seated in his worn chair. It creaked as he leaned back.

"How much do you want to make?"

"I figure I can put in about 15 hours a week. At minimum wage that's just under $102."

"How much do you figure that would be with taxes?"

"I hadn't thought about that. Maybe $95?"

"You wish. Maybe in 1940. Today you'll be lucky to see $80 of that without any dependents."

"I didn't even think about that."

"OK, here's the story, Jack. I have a fund I can use for whatever I need. I also have a lot of things I need to do around here that are a pain in the ass. It's basically just keeping the place cleaned up. You know, all the towels put in the bag, balls and other equipment back where they belong and the place mopped each day. It's worth a hundred bucks a week for me to have someone else do it. If you don't feel it's beneath you to pick up after the guys around here, you can just spend another hour or so here after practice each day and I'll give you the hundred on Friday afternoon. And I won't tell the IRS if you don't."

"I don't have any problem with that. What about the weeks we have away meets?"

"Hey, the place gets along without me every other Thursday, I'm sure it won't hurt as long as you're here the rest of the time."

"It sounds good to me, Coach. I already have something going on today. Can we start tomorrow?"

"Sure, Jack. We have an away meet on Thursday. That means tomorrow and Friday. I'll give you fifty bucks for this week."

"That's fine with me, Coach."

He held out his hand and I shook it. Another first.

I walked over to Sara's after practice. I hadn't been over to her house since I was in 6th grade.

She opened the door and took me around the side of the house to the patio. There was a big toilet paper box with a sheet in it and six puppies on the sheet. I walked over to the side of the box and put my hand inside about a foot off the ground. Three of the puppies came over, licking my hand. One started chewing on my finger.

I picked him up and he licked my face. He was tan with a little darker face. There was some white on his legs.

"I want this one."

"Are you sure? He's the one that's always crying when I have to come out at night."

"Oh, yeah. I want one that's going to take a lot of love. He'll be perfect."

Sara got a gallon freezer bag and filled it with puppy chow. Her mother yelled for her to come in the house a few times and she kept yelling she'd be right in.

"Take care of him, Jack." She kissed me on the cheek.

It was just about 6 when I got home. A car I didn't recognize was parked in front of the house. Jill was at the front door.

"Hi, Babe. I'll be right out."

I gave her a peck on the cheek.

"What's that?"

"It's called a dog."

"Ha Ha. I mean why do you have a dog?"

"Somebody needs him. I'll be out in a minute."

I went in the front door and down the hall. Mary's door was partially open. She had probably been trying to figure out how to handle Jill ringing the doorbell.

I pushed her door all the way open with my foot. Mary looked as if she was trying to back inside the wall as she saw me come in her room. I threw the bag of puppy chow on her bed and held the puppy out, pushing it in her chest, forcing her to take him in her hands.

"He's a baby. He needs someone to take care of him. That's your job now."

I walked out of her room and out the front door.



-------

Chapter 35

I heard Mary call out "Jackie!" as I closed the front door.

Jill was standing halfway between the house and the curb with a puzzled look on her face. I put my arm around her waist and kissed her. Not a two minute goodnight kiss, but not the peck on the cheek I gave her when I got home, either.

I felt good. Better than in weeks.

"New car?"

"Yeah, we came over from the dealer's."

We got in the back seat and John turned around, smiling.

"Nice," I said.

John had once told me there's a lot of money in women's pussies. At the time I laughed, thinking it was a joke. Now I was starting to believe him.

The car was a 2006 BMW 760i. The kind of cherry apple maroon color. That's the 12 cylinder model. The basic car is over $111,000 plus delivery. I knew the 6 CD changer he had going was optional and wouldn't be surprised if he had a couple of packages to bring it up another twenty grand or so. True, you couldn't get a house for that kind of money these days, but you could for two of them. Or make a hell of a down payment.

"So, Jill, do you get the Mercedes?"

"No. Daddy traded it in. He said I have to wait till I get a license before he buys me a car. Life's a bitch."

That was a concern I didn't have. I wondered if my hundred bucks a week was going to mean anything to anybody.

We pulled into the hospital parking lot. "Are you sure your mom's OK with bringing you home?"

"Yeah, John. She gets off at 8."

"OK. See you later, Jill. I'm going to try this baby out. You've got your key if I'm not home."

"Have fun, Daddy. Don't get any tickets."

He drove off and we headed towards the hospital entrance.

"It's a nice car, Jill. I've never felt as safe and secure in the back seat of a car as I do in that one."

"Well, you should. I can't believe how much money he spent on that stupid car. Some people just don't have any concept of money."

Maybe she would appreciate my working for our times together.

"Speaking of money, I'll be staying on the swim team."

"Oh, that's great, Jack. What are you going to do?"

"Coach has some money he can spend. I'll be keeping the gym neat. Picking up towels, balls and stuff, mopping the floor each day."

"What about days you have to go out of town for a meet?"

"He said he never did it on those days so it's OK for me not to. I'm getting a hundred bucks a week, tax free."

"Well, you should be able to put some money aside for college."

"I'm making it for us, Jill."

"Jack, I don't want you spending that kind of money on me. I'm not going with you for your money. Sure, we can go to a movie or get something to eat and you can get me presents for my birthday and Christmas, but I don't want you to think you have to spend everything you make to keep me interested. You don't. It's just like the first day we went to the mall. You were so concerned we were going in a seven year old Chevy. I could care less what kind of car we went in, I wanted to be with you.

"It really bothers me that you spent so much on Bozo. I'm not going to insult you by trying to pay you back for him, but I could have gotten along fine with the dog you brought home today. By the way, you never told me about that dog."

"I got him for Mary. She's staying in her room, she won't talk to me, she's not getting any better that I can see. I figured if she had someone she has to take care of it'll force her to at least put him in the back yard to go to the bathroom."

"Boy. You give her a puppy, then disappear for three hours and leave her home alone. Kind of 'Sink or Swim.' You're either real smart or you're a real asshole."

"I'm smart. Or Mary's going to have a room full of shit."

"What are you going to do if she can't get the courage to let him out? Are you going to clean up for her?"

"No, Jill, I'm not. I'll give her the stuff to clean up after him, but she's going to need to take care of him. And I think she'll be up for it."

"I hope so. Speaking of being up for it, it's time we went inside."

"OK. It's not going to get any easier. Let's do it."

We took the elevator up to the third floor. Mom had given me directions to Charlie's room so I knew where to go.

John had used his influence to get Charlie a private room. We knocked on the door and he looked over at us. He had to roll his head all the way over on its side because the eye closest to us was covered with a bandage. As was most of his face.

"Come on in." He sounded muffled and nasal yet cheerful at the same time.

The whole right side of his face was covered with a big bandage that was secured by tape wrapped around his head at forehead and chin levels. His right eye was covered as was his nose. His whole torso was one mass of bandages, probably because of the broken ribs. For some reason, I was surprised to see the hair on his head. No reason it shouldn't still be there and be visible but I was surprised anyway.

"God, it's good to see you guys. You don't know how bad it gets being in here all the time. There's just so much TV you can watch and so much reading you can do before you go batty." It was weird to see him smile when I could only see half of his mouth.

Jill went around the bed to his good side and leaned over, kissing him on the cheek and giving him a hug. "I'm sorry, Charlie. I shouldn't have left you in here alone."

"Hey, I'm not complaining. I don't even know if they would have let you in. I've been doped up a lot of the time, I eat out of a tube, they've been trying to put me back together. Heck, I don't even know if I would have been able to see you if you showed up."

"Charlie, I'm sorry I haven't come to see you, either. I know we hardly know each other but I want to thank you for what you did for Mary."

"You would have done the same thing for Jill. We all know that. It's no big deal what I did for her. She was in trouble and I did what I could. I just wish I could have stopped it."

"I know. I hope we can put those assholes away for a hundred years."

"I just hope we can put them away. I've seen too many people get off in the last few years. How is Mary?"

"She's not real good, Charlie. She can't handle having any men around her. She gets physically ill if I stay in her vicinity. She's been staying in her room since she came home. Sometimes she'll talk to me if I'm not too close but she's always on the lookout like she expects me to come after her or something. She has been talking to Mom and she says she's not happy with the way she's behaving but there's nothing she can do about it."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I guess I shouldn't expect her to come visit me any time soon."

"No, I don't think so, Charlie."

"Hey, you never know. That trick you pulled today might just change her mind."

Charlie looked at Jill. "What trick?"

"He gave her a puppy and then left to come here. His mother is working till 8, then she's going to drop me off before they go home. Mary's going to be home alone for almost three hours. And I can tell you from experience, new puppies won't make it for three hours without needing to go outside. And you know he's not going to let her sit there and mope. He'll be attacking her and licking her and she'll have to show him some affection. I don't care how bad off she is."

"That's good. You guys are going to have to tell me how it works out. Maybe you should get me a dog so I have somebody to lick my face after I get out of here. How are you two holding up after this mess?"

It blew me away. For a minute, it was all I could do to stare at the guy. Broken ribs, broken face, broken nose, lost eye and he was concerned that it might have affected Jill and me. I looked at the expectant smile on his face and I felt small. I was making it a big problem that Mary had trouble talking to me, holding me, letting me in her life. All her dreams had been shattered in one nightmare of a night and I was feeling sorry for myself.

I pulled Jill into me. "We're doing good, Charlie. We got to spend some time together at her house on Sunday. It wasn't all fun and games but we did have time for a little touchy feely."

Jill slapped my shoulder when I said that.

"I'm glad. I'd hate for our problem to mess you two up. You have so much going for you."

"I just found out today I can do some work after school for my coach. That way I can stay on the swim team and put some money together so I can afford Jill."

"Jack, you don't need to be able to afford Jill. You just need to love her. She can afford herself and she can afford you if you'll let her. You wouldn't argue with her about using her wrench if you needed it. Don't be afraid to use her money. It's just a tool."

"I hear what you're saying, but the way I've been raised..."

"Jack, don't tell me about the way you've been raised. When I was raised I was told that all I needed to do was go to church every Sunday and lead a good life and everything would be fine. Now I don't have a right eye, my face will probably never look the same and I'm lucky my lungs weren't stabbed by one of my ribs. My father doesn't know how to talk to me and my mother is so doped up on drugs she can't even leave the house and couldn't talk to me even if she wanted to. What you've been raised with may not be as sacred as you think. When did your father die?"

"When I was 8. Eight years ago."

"So, how does it feel to know that you've been supported by a woman for the last eight years? Does that make you any less a man? Any less valuable to society?"

"But that's different. That's my mom."

"Well, from what I saw at Jill's house that day, she's definitely a woman. And a pretty hot one at that. I definitely saw where Mary gets her looks."

"If you weren't lying in that bed all bandaged up and if I didn't agree with you, I might take exception to that. But I admit, my mom looks pretty hot. And I'll have to think about what you're saying. I don't think anything about eating the food and wearing the clothes Mom buys, or living in the house she pays for. Maybe there's something to what you're saying."

"Hey, I'm not saying you have to mooch off Jill. But don't be afraid you're going to lose your manhood if she helps out once in a while."

Jill took his hand and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. He turned his face so she got him on the lips. She took it in stride and did a good job.

"You're the best, Charlie."

"I love you too, Jill."

"Hey, did I tell you I helped bring a couple of babies into the world the night you and Mary came in here?"

"No. How did that make you feel?"

"Horny as hell."

Charlie laughed, then held on to his right side. "Don't do that. I'm not better yet."

"We've got to go. Jack's mom gets off in a few minutes and she's our ride. We'll try to stop back to see you soon.

"Just make sure you check with my secretary out at the desk."

I squeezed his hand, then leaned over and hugged him... 

"Thanks, Charlie. For everything."

"See you guys later. Go on. My TV show starts in a couple of minutes."

We took the elevator up to the fifth floor. We got down the hall just in time to see Mom come out of the back room, pulling a sweater on over her uniform. Thelma came out from behind the counter and held her arms out to me. We hugged and she pulled me close with her hand behind my head.

"Don't you worry, Jackie. Your sister will come 'round. She can't not love you."

Somehow, those words were more comforting than when everyone else was telling me she would work her way through it, just give her some time.

"Thanks, Thelma. You're great."

"You, too, Jackie." She let me go and held out her hand to Jill, who took it.

"And you, Little Lady - you take care of this guy. You two were meant to be together, I can see that. Don't you forget it."

"I won't, Thelma." Jill kind of fell forward and then they were hugging each other.

Mom spoke up. "OK, Thelma. Quit monopolizing my kids. I need to get home and get some sleep. And I'm sure neither of us has had anything to eat. You can hug Jill some other time."

Jill had my hand as we took the elevator down. "June? Do you really think of me as one of your kids?"

"Yes, I guess I do. I hadn't thought about it but I guess so."

"Does that mean you're going to marry my father?"

"Whoa. You're going way too fast. In the first place, your father has never asked me, in fact he's never mentioned marriage. And up till three or four weeks ago he was my sworn enemy. And we don't really know each other. We have a long way to go before we even think about a step like that. You two might be married before we even talk about it. If we ever do."

"I notice you didn't say 'no.'"

"You're right. But I didn't say 'yes, ' either."

We got into Mom's Chevy. Jill scooted over to the middle, then scooted back after I was inside. She wrapped her arms around mine and leaned against me.

"My Daddy got a new car today. It's got a real big and cushy back seat."

"I'm a little old for back seats, Jill. I think I'll stick to a bed."

"I wasn't talking about you, June."

She squeezed my arm as Mom glanced over at her. Mom looked like a librarian who's looking at someone who's whispering too loud. Then I got "The Look."

"Hey, I didn't say anything."

We got to Jill's house and I walked her to her front door. I didn't see the new beamer so I figured John was still out playing with his new toy.

I kissed my girl thoroughly before she opened the front door and I headed back to the car.

"Well, I see you've gotten over your shyness."

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I'm glad. It did you good to get out with her. You look a lot better."

"I was doing better before we went out."

"Really? What happened?"

"I ran into Sara. And she had some puppies to give away. And I gave one to Mary before I left.

"You didn't."

"Yeah, I did. You've got to let me do this, Mom. Don't get involved. She'll have to come out of her shell to take care of him."

"Well, I know they've done studies with old people and dogs and they seem to thrive when they hardly maintained before. I guess if you give her a helpless creature and make her take care of him it might bring her out at that. You know it's going to be hard on me if she's really hurting, Jackie. You'll be at school but I'm going to be home with her the next couple of days."

"I'll make a deal with you, Mom. Give me 24 hours. If she's not taking full responsibility for him at the end of that time, I'll clean up everything he's done and make him my dog."

"OK, Jackie. You've got till dinner tomorrow."

"All right. Hey, I forgot to tell you. I got a job!"

"Jackie, you know how I feel about you staying out at night."

"That's the great thing about it. I just have to stay a little later at school every day. I'm responsible for seeing the gym is straightened out and the floor is mopped."

"What about the days you have an away meet?"

"They're covered. I got the job from Coach. He wants to make sure I keep my practices in and make it to all the meets. It's perfect."

"So you're going to be OK picking up after other kids?"

"Sure, Mom. It'll be easy."

"Then how come you can't pick up after yourself? Have you seen your room lately?"

"All right, Mom. I'll work on it."

We went inside the house and the two of us walked down the hallway. Mary's door was open and the light was on. She was asleep on her bed, the puppy under her right arm. He looked up at us and his tail started thumping the bed. And then he lay down his head, perfectly content to be with his new owner.

Mom went in and pulled the blanket over her daughter, making sure not to cover the dog's face. She leaned over, kissed Mary on the head, hesitated, smiled and kissed the dog on the head, too. I heard the thumping again. Mom turned off the light as she came out and pushed the door to.

"Thanks, Jackie." It felt good to get hugged.



-------

Chapter 36

I got up Thursday morning and made my trek to the bathroom. I was ready to go in when I heard whimpering and some frantic scratching on Mary's door.

I eased her door open and the puppy came bouncing out and took off down the hall. He got to the end, saw no way out and turned around. He shot past me and went into the kitchen.

I followed him and opened the back door for him. He shot out and ran over to the grass and squatted. He reminded me of myself when I've had to hold it in the car all the way home. I swear, he peed for a full minute. After that was done, he moved a couple of feet and took a dump.

As soon as he was finished, he looked at me and gave me a puppy dog smile and went up to the back door.

I let him in and he went through the kitchen and turned right down the hall. I heard Mary say "Oh, there you are" and came around the corner to see her picking him up and getting licked for her trouble.

It was the first time I'd seen her smile in almost two weeks.

She looked at me and kept smiling. "Thanks, Jackie. I guess I didn't wake up when he needed to go out."

"I think he wanted to let you sleep so he let me know he had to go when I walked by."

"Thanks anyway." She went in her room and looked at me almost as if I'd caught her doing something wrong, then slowly pushed the door closed. The message was clear that she wasn't quite ready for me yet but she wasn't so bad off she had to slam the door on me.

I walked over and stood in front of her door. "He needs to be fed and he's probably thirsty."

"OK."

"I put Barney's bowls in the drainer next to the sink."

We'd had a dog in the house from before I was born till a couple of years ago. When Mom and Dad got back from their honeymoon at Niagara Falls he gave her a wedding present - Sparky. He was just a mutt that Dad picked up at the pound. Dad used to joke about saving Sparky from Death Row. Of course, it was a couple of years before I came on the scene, but Sparky was the stuff of which legends are made. To hear my parents, he was Super Dog.

Mom and Dad were living in a one room studio apartment on the fifth floor of a building downtown. They were told they could keep a dog provided it didn't cause any problems. "Problems" covered barking, crying and shitting on the carpet. From what I hear, shit on the carpet might have been an improvement, but it was included in the rules. We're talking a fold out couch for a bed, a hotplate for a stove and a bathroom down the hall.

Dad always said that it was as if Sparky called out to him to be chosen. He stood about 4" tall and was almost a foot long. And he was almost round. Your classic roly-poly puppy.

He took to Mom as soon as he saw her. And he was extremely protective of her until the day we had to put him to sleep when I was 11.

Dad thought ahead and picked up a Sunday paper the day he gave Sparky to Mom. They spread paper out in the area of the room that they used for a kitchen and tried to point out to him how he should use the paper when he had the urge.

For what it's worth, I've heard from both Mom and Dad that the newspaper never got soiled. Sparky would let whoever was home know when it was time and he would run down the stairs ahead of them, wait at the bottom for the door to be opened and go out in the alley on the side of the building.

Sparky grew to be the size of a German Shepherd. He was the most gentle dog you could want. But don't try messing with any of his family. I remember a time when Mary was about four. We had a house by then and there was a home made swing in the front yard. I was next door playing with Jeff and Mary was on the swing. A kid a year or so older than her came up and pushed her hard enough to knock her off the swing. It looked to me like he meant it, he swore it was accidental. Be that as it may, Sparky grabbed this kid by the wrist and practically dragged him out to the sidewalk at the edge of the property and stood there, staring at him, daring him to try to come back on the property. Jeff and I were picking Mary up and brushing the grass off her knees while all this was going on.

The kid's mother came over about an hour later, banging on our door, yelling at mom how her dog ripped her child apart and how she was going to call the police and make sure he was put to sleep so he couldn't damage any more children. Mom just looked at her calmly and asked her to see the damage. The kid and his Mom checked over every square inch on both arms to find the tooth marks. I know Sparky would have pulled his arm off if he hadn't gone with him out of the yard and away from Mary but there wasn't a mark on him, much less a scratch or tooth mark.

When I was eleven, he got cancer. It was eating him up and we all said goodbye to our Sparky. Mom left with him in the car and came back alone. And then Mom sat down with the two of us and explained how she took him to the vet and what the vet did to him to put him out of his misery. No doggie heaven for Sparky, just a shot to put him to sleep and take away the pain.

It was tough to lose my buddy. And I know Mary felt the same. I think Mom felt it too, but she didn't push her pain on us. But I know that, besides Mary and me, he was the one thing that reminded her of Dad every time she saw him. Maybe even more than us. He came first.

So, we had an eleven year old boy without a dog. Mom could see the loss I was feeling constantly, even though I didn't complain out loud. So, one Saturday she brought a liquor box in from the car, called Mary and me into the kitchen and we met Barney. Barney was a Bassett Hound and something else. He was not quite a puppy, maybe 7 or 8 months. He was a little big for the box she had him in.

Where Sparky had been Super Dog, Barney had to be Stupid Dog. There were times I wondered if he even knew his name. The first thing he did when Mary pulled him out of the box was pee on her. She held him up just under the front legs to kiss him and he let go, all over her shirt.

She dropped him and it didn't seem to faze him a bit. He picked himself up, walked into the living room and crapped on the carpet. I could probably fill a dump truck with the crap I cleaned up in our house over the next 2 1⁄2 years. I was still cleaning up after him 2 or 3 times a week when he walked across the street in front of a truck. That was the end of Barney and the end of dogs for us.

So, that's why I knew so much and was able to tell Jill some things to do when I gave her Bozo. I'd heard the good ways from Mom and Dad about Sparky. And I knew some of the mistakes from firsthand experience. Especially the one about not training a dog to do something because it's "cute" then wanting him to stop doing it six months later.

So, when Dad was working six days a week and going to night school, leaving a young, pretty wife in a fifth floor apartment in the cheap part of town, he found Super Dog.

And when I had a sister who needed somebody that would demand love and not take no for an answer while not creating problems for her, I found her new baby.

I wondered if there was a god up there somewhere, connecting special dogs with people who needed them.

I was standing in the hallway, thinking back on my dog experiences when Mary's door opened and she came out into the hallway with her puppy in her arms, saw me and stopped short. She had a kind of "Oh, Shit" look on her face. And I got barked at. It was fine for me to let him in and out of the house but he wanted me out of their hall. I went into the living room and Mary took him into the kitchen.

I did my thing in the bathroom and got dressed. By that time it was safe to go in the kitchen and eat my cereal. Mom was sitting at the table with her first cup of coffee.

"Mary was just in here getting some water for her baby. You did good, Jackie."

"I didn't talk to Mary but I bet he went through the night without doing anything. He peed enough for three dogs when I let him out this morning. As well as other stuff."

"Mary said you put him out. She also said it wasn't as bad today as it has been with you being near her."

"Good. I hope he does her some good. It looks like Sparky's got some competition."

"Maybe so, Jackie."

The doorbell rang and I went to the front door. Sara was standing on the porch.

"Want to walk to school with me?"

"Sure, Sara. Give me a minute to brush my teeth. Come on in and talk to my mom."

I finished in the bathroom, grabbed my backpack and went out to the kitchen. They were talking up a storm.

"We've got to go or we'll be late."

"OK. Bye, Mrs. Hill."

"Bye, Sara. Stop by any time I'm here and we can talk some more."

I held the kitchen door open and we went out that way.

"How did the puppy do?"

"He did fine. He slept with Mary last night and I'm pretty sure he made it all the way through. He peed like I'd turned on a hose when I let him out this morning."

"He's probably the smartest one of the whole litter. Definitely the loudest. Kind of a squeaky wheel. He's good at getting attention."

"Mary needed something to put her attention on. It looks like they're going to be good for each other."

"That's good."

"So, what were you and mom talking abut?"

She got that goofy half smile on her face and looked at me. "Wouldn't you like to know."

"What's with you the past couple of days. You're acting real weird."

She stopped walking and looked offended, her hands on her hips. "Well, excuuuuse meee!"

She dropped her hands and started up again. "You know, it was wonderful to talk to a parent without getting yelled at or ordered to do something. I forgot how good you have it."

"Well, I always found Chris' mother easy to talk to."

"His mother works now. She's never home. The two or three times I did see her, she was in such a hurry she hardly had time to say Hi to me."

"I didn't realize that. We always ended up over there for snacks when we were kids. She always had the good stuff. Mom's got a weird schedule. She'll work a couple of days from 11 till 8, then be off a couple of days then work overnight a night or two. She's not home every day but she's not a stranger, either."

"My mother's home every day. There's no getting away from her. Or my Dad when he's around."

"Why would you want to get away?"

"Never mind, Jack. We're here. I've got to see somebody before History. See you in class."

I shook my head after she disappeared. There was something going on with Sara but she avoided me every time I got close.



-------

Chapter 37

I watched Sara until she disappeared around the corner. Maybe I was starting to understand a little about women. At least now I realized something was a little wacky with her. A few weeks ago I would have gone along with her and thought nothing more about it.

She was around the rest of the day but we didn't talk much other than surface stuff. "I couldn't stay awake", "Too much homework", stuff like that.

After fourth period I headed over to the locker room, got my gym bag and went out to the bus. We were playing Santa Maria, which was almost 45 minutes away, so we were excused from fifth period.

I remember taking rides in the car when Mary was 1 or 2 with my folks. Sparky was always there in the back seat behind Dad, his head out the half opened window, his tongue hanging out about a foot or so. The glass would be covered in spit by the time we got home. Back then it seemed like Santa Maria was at the end of the universe.

Well, population pressure has no boundaries. Now Santa Maria was where the rising young executives lived. We passed billboards advertising housing tracts with "Country Living", "Gated Communities" and prices from "the low $1,200,000's." Although what's low about one point two million is beyond me.

Santa Maria High School had been open just over two years. Their pool was in great shape. They had a fifty meter pool instead of the twenty five meter all the other schools in the district used. Row upon row of individual red plastic seats instead of the benches found in so many schools. Their tennis courts, football field and baseball diamond were similarly luxurious. As was the basketball court. We used the same field for football and baseball, depending on the season. Not Santa Maria. Their golf team got to practice and hold their events on a championship golf course at the Santa Maria Country Club.

The junior and senior classes had been bussed to Sol Vista prior to the opening of Santa Maria. But there was no lack of team spirit. This was their school and they were proud of it. Sol Vista was something they had to put up with a couple of years while the real school was being built.

I was matched up against a senior for all three of my events. Tyrone Willis. He'd finished fourth in State to my third last year. And he'd won every match this year. I had two losses. He wasn't above trash talk.

Tyrone was the only black kid on the team and one of only three or four in the district. I'm talking about swimming. In some schools over 50% of the football team was black.

While he would never make the cut for linebacker on the varsity team, he did have muscles where I had nothing. With those shoulders, he could probably tie a rope around his neck and drag a tugboat through the water.

I believed him when he told me he could mop the floor with me. But I've never been affected by that kind of talk. I used to laugh at the kids on the other team in little league when they'd all try that "Hey batter" stuff on me. Maybe that's what it was for. One time I was laughing so hard I couldn't swing the bat.

Anyway, Tyrone was gracious and shook my hand after I'd won all three events. I was worried I might never be able to use it for a second or two but he smiled and lightened up after he'd made his point.

Coach sat down by me after we got on the bus. "Isn't this better than flipping burgers?" He didn't wait for an answer, he clapped me on the shoulder and headed up to his normal seat next to the driver.

It was 7 by the time I got home. I noticed Barney's old bowls out on the patio. One had water in it and the other had a couple of tablespoons of puppy chow, obviously left over from the puppy's last meal. I don't know which was worse - calling them Barney's bowls or the puppy's.

Mom wasn't home yet. Today was one of her 11 to 8 days. I saw some wrappers in the trash for the frozen burritos Mary liked to throw in the microwave so I figured she'd had something to eat.

I walked down to my room and tapped on her door as I passed by. "I'm home."

The team had made a group decision back at the beginning of the season to skip showers when we had away meets. We figured we could live with a little chlorine on our bodies until we got home to our own showers. Since we just had to towel off and throw some clothes on, we were able to head back to school about 45 minutes earlier than if we'd used the showers.

There were rumors that Santa Maria had big oak tubs filled with hot water and Japanese women standing around the edges with long brushes to wash the bathers' backs. I think a few of us wanted to find out if it was true or not but we had to make our bus.

I took a shower, did what little homework I had and went into the kitchen. Mom would be home in about ten minutes. I checked the freezer and there was a box with six stuffed chicken breasts. Cranberry and Mandarin orange. It's the kind of thing Mom wouldn't have bought if she wasn't interested in trying it so I checked out the directions. Simple. In the microwave, heat for three minutes, turn them over, heat another two and a half, wait a minute, heat another two minutes. I could start them when Mom got home and by the time she'd gotten out of her uniform and changed her shoes, they'd be ready to eat.

I put a scoop of coffee in the Mr Coffee and enough water to make 6 cups.

Next was some water on for noodles and tomatoes. Ever since I was a kid, one of my favorite side dishes was noodles and tomatoes. I remember Mom making egg noodles, draining them, then putting them back in the pot on the stove. No heat. She'd have a good amount of noodles and would open two large cans of canned tomatoes. She would grab some tomato and break it apart in her fingers. She'd go through both cans like that, finally pouring the juice in as well. Stir it up, put a lid on the pot, put the gas on so you could hardly see the flame and stir every few minutes till the whole thing was warm and all mixed together. We had a few huge Tupperware containers, large enough for one and a half 3 pound coffee cans. There was always one of those with egg noodles in the cupboard next to the stove. These days we used the canned tomatoes that were already diced. I always thought we lost something by not breaking them with our fingers. Sort of like running grapes through rollers to make wine, instead of rolling up your pants legs and squishing them with your bare feet.

Not that any restaurant would serve noodles and tomatoes, but if they did today, they would probably taste like rubber gloves. Maybe there were good reasons for it but I preferred the days when you would just wash your hands instead of covering them with rubber.

I was just emptying the noodles into the colander in the sink when Mom came through the kitchen door. She came up to me and kissed me on the cheek.

"Hi, Jackie."

"Hi, Mom. Can you eat in ten minutes?"

"Sure. I'm starved."

She went down the hall. I heard her knock on Mary's door and call out to her.

I flipped on the coffee maker, took out four of the frozen breasts and stuck them on a plate in the microwave, then opened up three cans of tomatoes. Mom always got the standard size of the diced ones, the larger plain ones. I don't know if the diced came in the large sized can. I let them warm in the pot under low heat, then stirred the noodles into the mix. Mom had a plastic spaghetti stirrer that had claws for grabbing spaghetti. Since it was plastic, it worked well with the noodles in the Teflon coated pan. Mom had spent a couple of hundred bucks to get some pots and pans from the Home Shopping Network that were supposed to stand up to a drill with a sandpaper disk but she freaked out if she saw you use a metal spoon or spatula on one of them. And I have to admit, even with the plastic utensils, there were some scratches on most of the pots and pans.

The microwave dinged and I turned over the chicken breast, burning my fingers on the first one. I used a fork for the other three.

Mom came out just as I was setting the table. I had small plates for the chicken and bowls for the noodles and tomatoes. She saw where I was and got some silverware. We always used big soup spoons when we had this. Using a fork to spear the noodles was just too frustrating. The coffee was ready and she got herself a cup, thanking me with a sigh and a smile after she had her first sip. Some milk for me and the table was set.

The microwave dinged for the third time. I grabbed a potholder and got the plate and put two on each of our plates.

"You're supposed to let these cool for a minute. I figure they can do it on the table as well as in the microwave."

I brought the pot over to the table and spooned noodles and tomatoes into each of our bowls. Mom saw that I had it under control and sat down at her place.

"Boy, Jackie. I could get used to this."

We sat and ate and talked. The chicken with cranberry and orange was surprisingly good. I told her about the swim meet and she told me about work. John had actually thanked the operating room staff after a particularly tough birth today.

"You're starting to like him, aren't you?"

"I like him, Jackie. I don't think I could live with him. John's pretty settled in his ways. He likes to be the top dog. I look at him and the best word I can think of to describe him is 'swagger.' Look at him on Sundays. He likes being waited on by everyone, throwing out orders, sitting in his self made throne. When we've gone out for pizza, he walks though the restaurant like he owns the place. Watch the smile on his face some time as he walks right past the people in the lobby waiting for their seats and the guy at the podium. He really gets off on the Maitre d' fawning all over him. And he's still that way at the hospital, although he's toned it down a bit since I chewed him out about it in front of everybody. I can guarantee you he didn't like me doing that in his little kingdom around the pool. He's an excellent doctor. But that's not good enough for him. He wants everybody to tell him he's an excellent doctor. If somebody got on their knees and kissed his feet, he wouldn't bat an eyelash and he'd think it was his due. And I imagine when he bought that car of his he thought about how it would impress people just as much as how good the car was."

"So I guess I shouldn't plan on calling him 'Dad.'"

"There would have to be too many changes for that to happen. I've seen too many marriages end in disaster because some stupid woman thinks she can mold some guy into her ideal man. If I ever decide to get married again, I'll need someone who's a lot more compatible. But I wouldn't mind trying John in the sack."

"MOM!"

We both looked at the doorway from the living room. Mary was stood there with her puppy in her arms.

"What? Do you think your mother's too old to get horny? That's never going to happen if I have anything to say about it. Your father set a pretty high standard as far as marriage is concerned. But you don't think I've been celibate for the past eight years, do you?"

I had no idea Mom had had anything to do with men since Dad died. From the look on her face, it was obvious Mary didn't, either.

"So, daughter of mine, have you named this wonderful beast yet?"

"I think I'm going to name him Dino."

"Like on The Flintstones?"

"Yeah. He just seems like a Dino to me. And he seems to like the name."

"Well, if both of you like the name, that's all that matters. Come here and give me a kiss."

She looked at me quickly, then went over to Mom's side of the table. She bent over and they kissed each other. Mom patted the dog on the head and his tail started going.

"Hi, Dino."

"Do you want to pet him, Jackie?"

"I'd love to."

She came over to my side of the table and leaned over a bit, holding the dog out. I scratched behind his ears and got the same result with the tail.

"Hey, Dino. How ya doing?"

"Jackie. Thanks for getting him for me."

"You're welcome.

She backed up and went out the door and into her room. I had to wipe my eyes and swallow the lump in my throat.

"You did good, Jackie. Give her a little more time and she'll come around."



-------

Chapter 38

This chapter is dedicated to Daniel T. Webster

Friday. Today was the start of my new job. I was going to have some money in my pocket this weekend. I was going to be a MAN.

School went fine. Sara and I walked together and there was nothing weird about her actions. I got an A on a story I wrote for Creative Writing and my teacher had some nice comments, saying I had raw talent. I guess that was the class to learn how to cook it.

I ended off in the pool around 5:00. There were a couple of guys finishing up in the shower so I started picking up towels. There was one that had obviously been used by someone who'd gotten overly excited. I guess it takes all kinds. I realized if I could figure out what they'd done in it, my mother could, too.

I found a Medic Alert bracelet and some change on one of the benches. I asked Coach about it and he showed me the Lost and Found box. There must have been four or five hundred bucks of stuff in there. You'd think people would miss it. He had me put the new find in a baggy after determining that it all came from the same place.

While I was in there he was shuffling around, nervously looking at the floor. He obviously had something on his mind.

"Coach? Is there something you wanted to talk to me about?"

"Well, now that you mention it, yes. I know I hired you on Wednesday, and it's my fault, I wasn't thinking straight. With you doing your thing that afternoon and the meet yesterday, you're only cleaning up one day this week. I can't justify giving you $50 for one day. I hope $25 will be OK with you."

"Hey, I was wondering about that a bit myself. It just didn't seem right. $25 will be fine."

"Good. I have to get going. Here's the money. Is there anything else you need?"

"Yeah, you mentioned mopping the floor. Where's the stuff for that?"

He showed me the closet with the bucket and mop. There were a bunch of clean mop heads, rags, soaps and sprays. There was even a drain in the floor and a short piece of hose hooked up with hot and cold taps. Once he saw I was OK with it he took off.

The two guys had finished and they'd even thrown their towels in the bag. I filled up the bucket, put some soap in it and had at it. The floor was slanted toward the middle in each section with a drain. I did one section between two sets of lockers, then emptied out the water and put in fresh. We had three rows of lockers which gave me two areas. Then there was the shower area and some toilet stalls. Coach hadn't said anything but I used a bucket and cleaned out all the toilets with the mop, then used another one for that floor. I ended up using five buckets of soapy water. When I put everything away, I took off the mop head and replaced it with a clean one. I had an idea the one I used wouldn't smell too good come Monday.

It was 5:45 when I finished. I headed home. When I went out the gate I heard a car honking. I looked across the street and John's new car was there. His window was down.

"Come on. We'll take you home."

I got in the back. Jill was there with my letterman's jacket on and Wanda was up front with John. Wanda had red hair tonight. It was more of a maroon than a natural red. I didn't like it. She looked like she should have a rhinestone through the side of her nose and be chewing and snapping gum with her mouth open. And maybe leaning against a lamppost at the side of the street.

I leaned over and kissed Jill as John took off. Damn, it seemed longer than two days ago when we went to see Charlie. She obviously enjoyed kissing me, too.

"I talked Daddy into picking you up so you could go home and change and we wouldn't be late."

"Thanks, John. How's the new car doing?"

"Great. That 12 cylinder engine has so much power. And it just hangs onto the road. I'd love to see how it holds up on an icy road."

"No thanks." The love of my life sounded tired of hearing about the car. And the look she gave me warned me not to keep him talking about his car.

We got home and I went in the house. Mary was lying on the couch and Dino was on the carpet below her when I went through the front door. He was sitting up, his ears cocked as if he was at attention. As soon as he saw me the tail started thumping. I bent over and held my hand near the floor. "Hey, Dino."

His ears perked back up and he bounced over to me, hitting my hand with his head before he sat, nuzzling my hand, waiting for me to scratch behind his ears. I have a theory that any dog who doesn't like his ears scratched is worthless. Barney was like that. His Basset Hound ears were huge. But he yelped the first time I tried to move one of them to get behind it to scratch. He never could handle anyone doing anything with them. When he'd get out and end up with stickers in his ears, the vet would have to knock him out to get them. Sparky would just sit on the table and pant while the vet did his thing with a pair of tweezers.

Dino made the boxer / collie combination work. His fur was smooth like a boxer. He had a pointed snout but it wasn't quite as prominent as a collie's. The ears came up a bit and flopped over. And stood up higher when he had his attention on something. His back legs and tail looked like they belonged on another dog. He was between 6 and 7 weeks so his fur wasn't as long as it would be but you could tell his back legs would have the collie's feathers, as would the tail. I'd only heard him bark once. But it was easy to tell when he was happy because of the thumping of his tail. Which was going a mile a minute now. I looked over at the couch.

"Is he keeping you up?"

"Nope. He doesn't do anything unless he has to go outside. He pretty much sleeps through the night."

"Have you had any accidents?"

"Uh, uh."

"Looks like we've got another Super Dog."

"I think so."

"I'm glad you two are getting along. OK, Dino. I've got to get dressed to go out. Take good care of your owner."

As if he understood every word I said he went over to the couch, did that half circle thing dogs do and lay down directly below Mary's head. His chin was resting on his feet and he was looking forward alertly with his ears cocked.

I went into my room and changed clothes real quick. I'd been way too long in the house but it was good to be that close to Mary and talk to her. And Dino was everything I could hope for.

I found a heavy sweater to wear since somebody had my jacket. Hey, I'm the one who gave it to her. And she looked hot with it on, even if it was four sizes too big.

I went out to the living room. Mary hadn't moved. Dino perked up, saw it was me and started thumping.

"I'm going to the game with the gang. Are you going to be OK by yourself?"

"Sure. Mom will be home in an hour and a half. And I've got Dino here so I won't really be alone."

"OK, if you're sure. Take care."

"Thanks, Jackie. I will."

--

"Damn, I was ready to leave without you."

"Sorry about that, John. You know how bad Mary was the other day. She's starting to open up a bit. I didn't want to just run in and out."

He kind of grunted. That was as close as he was going to come to acknowledging me.

Tonight's game was at Highpoint. It was the first game I'd attended since the night Mary got attacked a couple of weeks ago. I glanced up where she and Charlie had been sitting as we got to our seats. Another carefree couple was in the seats I'd last seen occupied by my sister and her boyfriend. Back when they both thought life was wonderful and they'd live happily ever after.

Jill squeezed my hand and pulled my attention away from them.

"It's OK, Jack. She's getting better each day."

"Yeah, she is. But nobody should have to go through what she and Charlie have. It's just not right."

"No, it isn't. But it's done. We have to go on from here."

"OK, you two. The game's going to start soon. Do you think the two of you can get some food without causing any damage to each other?"

"Stop it Daddy. That was an accident. I was pushed."

"Likely story. You saw a chance and you took it. Here. Take this and get some food." He held out a twenty.

"It's OK, John. It's on me tonight."

"No, Jack, I insist."

"Come on, John. I just got paid."

Jill grabbed the money out of her father's hand.

"Come on Wanda. You and I can go get something to eat while these two compare their dicks."

Wanda got a smirk on her face, then shook her head as she looked at John and me, standing and working her way to the aisle where Jill was waiting.

"What was that about?"

"Hell if I know."

John and I talked about his car until he spotted the girls coming up the steps.

"Cool it about the car. Here comes Jill."

Wanda then Jill passed by me and sat down. Jill was practically throwing my food at me. If the coke didn't have a lid on it I know it would have splashed on me when she gave it to me. There was a "don't mess with me" look on her face.

"Jill, are you OK?"

"I'm FINE."

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

"Uh, you don't sound fine."

"Don't mess with me, Jack."

"What did I do?"

"You know."

I'd heard stories of this. Men had died never figuring out what their wives said they knew.

"Oh, that."

"Yes, that."

"OK. It won't happen again."

"It better not."

She sat back with a smug look on her face. I thought I'd gotten away from it till John stuck his nose in the middle of it.

"You have no idea what she's talking about, do you?"

"Sure I do."

Both John and Jill said "What?"

"Uhm... what I did."

"Which was... ?" Jill this time. I was in for it now.

"Uh. You know. That thing I did."

John was grinning like a fool. Wanda kept scraping her left index finger with the other. I was waiting for her to say "Naughty, naughty."

Jill's body shook. "God. Both of you. You make me so mad."

She looked over at John. He lost the smile real quick.

"You. I know you have money. That's nice. Quit shoving it in everybody's face."

My smile of relief was short lived as she swung around facing me.

"And you. You can't even keep money in your damned pocket for two hours before you have to show everybody how rich you are. Well, you're not rich. My allowance is more than you make in a month. Stop trying to impress me with your money. If I wanted someone with money, there are lots of dweebs in my neighborhood. I don't want that. I want the timid little kid I fell into at a football game. I want the guy who played with my tits and made me come. I want the guy who cared enough for me to tell me I was acting like a slut. Are you listening to me?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"You'd better. Cause I've just about had it." She snapped her head around. "And you wipe that stupid grin off your face."

She sat back in her chair, thoroughly pleased with herself. Wanda had an "I'm amused" smile on her face. John and I just looked straight ahead at the field and watched the game.

About 15 minutes later Jill wrapped her arms around my right arm and leaned against my shoulder until half time.



-------

Chapter 39

Jill and Wanda went to get some more food and drinks at halftime.

"So, you made her come?"

Not what I wanted to talk about with her father. "Yeah."

"Good for you. How did You feel?"

"I felt good. Proud. Like I accomplished something. It felt good to make her feel that good."

"OK. You'll do fine. It's moments like those that make talks like the one we just got bearable."

"Yeah, well I had her handled until you started questioning me."

"You think you had her handled. She would have found out eventually. If I could figure out you were lying through your teeth, she sure would. I made sure she was with a crowd of people and you weren't alone when she did. She would have ripped you a new asshole if you were by yourselves when she figured it out. Damn. She's so much like her mother."

"And that's a good thing?"

"In some ways it is. She won't hold anything inside and let it fester. And I noticed she wasn't sitting too far away from you a few minutes after it was over."

"No, she wasn't."

"All right. Here they come. You just keep quiet and go along with me. I'm going to give her a little of her own medicine."

The passing out of the food and drink was a lot more civil than it had been earlier. I made sure to thank Jill.

"Jillian, I've been thinking about what you said earlier and you're absolutely right."

"Thank you, Daddy." She had that smug look back on her face. She hugged my arm.

"Jack? How much are you making doing your after school cleanup?"

"I'll be making $100 a week from now on."

"And you think you'll be able to survive on that?"

"I really don't have any expenses other than what I spend on Jill. I may decide to get a car some day and then I'll have more but for now it's fine."

"Good. Good. $100 a week, you say?"

"Yes, Sir."

"OK. So we'll drop you down to $95, Jillian. And you can give me your Amex."

I felt her initial reaction as she tensed up on my arm. But I have to hand it to her, she took it well.

"That's fine, Daddy. The only thing I really need to spend money on is Bozo. And he won't be that expensive."

"Well, that's not quite all. You'll still be taking care of getting your clothes. And your shoes."

I thought the shoes thing was going to do it. She still rode through it.

"That's fine, Daddy. I'm sure $95 will be plenty." She got her wallet out of her pocket, pulled the card out and gave it to her father. "I ordered some treats for Bozo off the Internet. Some Liver Biscotti. One of my friends says her dog goes crazy over it. Let me know when you get the bill and I'll pay you back."

"That's OK. I'll pay for anything up till today."

"Thank you, Daddy."

She grabbed back on my arm and snuggled up to me as if everything was fine. I don't know. Maybe it was.

I could see that John was taking it a lot harder than Jill seemed to be.

The game went on as the last few I'd been to had. Highpoint won by three touchdowns. They were first in the district by a long way, winning all their games while the closest opponent had two losses.

Jill held on to my arm as we walked out to the car after the game. John and Wanda were about ten feet in front of us.

"Jill? Are you OK?"

"Sure. Why?"

"Well, I thought you might be upset because your father took away your money."

"You still don't understand, do you Jack? It's only money. It's only a tool. I'm not even 15 years old. What do I need an Amex card and $500 a week for?"

"I guess you're right."

She stopped and wrapped her arms around me and kissed me there in the parking lot. I mean she really kissed me. I saw several people come up short and detour around us because we were standing in their path. I was breathless when she pulled away and smiled at me.

"Of course I'm right, Jackie."

We got in the back seat while John and Wanda stayed up front. After we kissed again and were on the way to Perlione's, she grabbed my arm and snuggled up to me.

"Did you guys go to Perlione's before the night we met?"

"We'd go every once in a while. Most games we'd just go home afterwards. I like going out after the game and Daddy gets to show off a bit."

"I thought that might bother you."

"That's who my Daddy is. There may be times I don't like it or don't think it's appropriate, but it would be like telling Bozo not to scratch. He'd go crazy.

"By the way. I haven't seen Bozo for a couple of weeks. How is he?"

"He's fine. He sleeps on the rug next to my bed. He started sleeping on the bed but I thought about what you said and decided to get him used to sleeping on the floor. He cried a little the first night but he got over it. He's growing."

"Is he house trained?"

"Not completely. He's pretty good about making it to the paper I lay out for him but he doesn't go outside all the time."

"Just make sure you praise him when he does and he'll do better."

"Kind of like you, huh?"

"Yeah, Jill. Kind of like me." That got me a quick kiss.

We pulled into Perlione's parking lot and made our way into the restaurant. I took note of how John went inside and he was exactly as Mom had said. It was like he was the king, making a public appearance and he expected the throngs to bow to him as he walked by. I felt like sitting down at the table and telling him to get his own peanuts. But he was paying for our food and deserved that courtesy from us. Jill had a point. Better for him to act this way here and now instead of in the delivery room with Mom.

We were at a round table with John and Jill on either side of me. That placed Wanda directly across the table. That hair was something else.

"Wanda. What's the deal with the hair?"

"Deal? I don't understand what you mean, Jack."

"I mean why did you dye it that color?"

"Maybe this is my natural color and I just let it grow out."

"I don't think so. OK. If you don't want to talk about it, that's fine."

She laughed. "No, you're right. It is a little much, I admit."

"So why did you do it?"

"I don't know. I saw someone on MTV with this color and decided it would be fun."

"So is it?"

"Yeah. It sure opens up conversation with people. And I can always change it if I get tired of it."

"Are you going to pierce your nose?"

"Not right away, Jack."

Conversation stopped as the waiter delivered our pizza. When we had all piled some on our plates, I looked over at Jill.

"What do you want to do tomorrow?"

"How about a movie?"

"Anything special you want to see?"

"Yeah. The Brothers Grimm is opening. It looks pretty good."

"So, do you want to call in the morning and find out when it's playing?"

"Can you get over to the mall?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Let's just meet in front of the theaters at noon. We can find out when the show is, get tickets and then window shop before it starts."

"OK."

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"One other thing. I want you to put half your money away for college. I'll chip in my own $12.50 and that's all we'll spend for the movie and snacks. OK?"

"Come on, Jill. I want to treat."

"This is a deal breaker, Jack. We split it or we don't go. Next week when you have more money, we'll talk."

"OK. But I don't see why I have to put money away for college. All my teachers think I'll get a full scholarship."

"You probably will. But you'll still need to eat. And you'll probably want a car. You're not going to be able to put that much aside in a couple of years. But you'll be glad to have it when you go to school."

"I guess."

"Good Boy." She patted me on the head, giggled and held on to my arm.



-------

Chapter 40

I got to the mall about quarter to eleven and parked my bike. Yeah, I know. Hey, you get around any way you can. Mom needed her car for work and, as she pointed out, there wasn't anything wrong with my legs and a bicycle had been just fine before I got my license so it should be fine now. I was glad she didn't bring up the "if other kids were jumping over the cliff would you follow" argument.

I was amazed to see Jill ride up on a bike a couple of minutes later.

"I figured you'd have your dad drive you."

"I took a chance you'd ride your bike. Wanda called this morning and told me that the movie's definitely a Blockbuster movie."

"What do you mean?"

"It's not worth spending $8.50 a ticket for. Wait and rent it for a buck."

"So, what should we watch?"

"Why don't we just go for a ride?"

"You sure?"

"What's the matter? Afraid you can't keep up with me?"

"Jill, I'm beginning to realize I'll never be able to keep up with you. In anything. About the best I can do is follow and hope I don't fall too far behind. I thought you wanted to go to the movies."

"Why don't we wait till there's something both of us really want to see. I can't see spending $25 to $30 to watch a movie we don't really like and eat overpriced popcorn and soda. If they bring out a new Spiderman or something like that, we'll go. We've got a huge plasma screen and a great sound system if we want to watch anything. And I make wicked microwave popcorn."

"OK. Let's go for a ride. Where do you want to go?"

"How about Lake Fremont? There are some bike trails out there."

"It's about fifteen miles. Are you going to be OK?"

"Yes, Jackie. I'm going to be OK. Come on."

She turned her bike around and was gone. I had to futz with the combination, take off the chain, put it around the seat and re lock it. By the time I was ready to go she was clear on the other side of the parking lot. She was stopped, her arms crossed under her chest, acting as if I was keeping her waiting. Which I guess I was.

We had to ride single file for most of the first five miles or so. There was just too much traffic and not enough road for us to ride side by side. I let her ride in front, making sure I kept my eyes on her ass cheeks moving up and down so I didn't get lost. Hey, we had no way to get in touch with each other if we separated.

We finally got out in the country far enough to have dedicated bike paths. The view had been nice but it was good to be able to ride next to Jill and talk with her.

"You seem to be pretty comfortable with this. Do you ride a lot?"

"I used to. Wanda and I were in a club that went out a few times a week before I started volleyball last year."

"What's up with Wanda?"

"What do you mean, what's up?"

"Well, she's... I don't know. She just comes to the games and the house and she's quiet like she doesn't want anyone to notice her. I thought maybe she was with Charlie the day he was over until Mary came in the room. Is she between boyfriends or something?"

"She's kind of on vacation from boyfriends right now."

"What do you mean, vacation?"

"Wanda's always been very popular. She found out that she had a reputation of being easy late last school year and that she was pretty much a laughingstock. She didn't realize how bad it had become until one of the girls at school called her a whore and told her how everyone talked about her behind her back. She had no idea. So she decided to give up on boys and try to figure out who she is and get some self-respect back."

"Jeez. It's a good thing I didn't tell what I was thinking when I saw her hair."

"What's that?"

"I got this picture of her with a rhinestone in her nose, snapping gum and leaning up against a lamppost."

"Yeah, Jackie. It's a good thing you didn't tell her."

"So, how come you're such good friends with her?"

"What do you mean? Why do I hang around with whores?"

"I don't know what I mean. I... All right. I'm shocked. That's the truth. That she would be that way and that you would hang around with her."

"Well, it's not like she did guys in front of me. We'd talk about guys and make jokes about how built and how well hung we thought they were but she never bragged about anything. And I found out later she was putting out in junior high school, all the time I knew her. I just thought she was popular. And I always knew that she was my friend. It's not like I went around searching for the loosest woman I could find. She was my friend when I was the weird kid who got promoted into the sixth grade in the middle of the year and I was her friend when she was so torn apart she was looking for ways to kill herself."

"I'm sorry. God. I guess I've lived too sheltered a life."

"Jack, you can't be judgmental of people just because they do something you don't agree with. Or something different than the way you would do it. Wanda was doing what she was doing privately, never telling me or trying to impose her views on me or convert me or anything like that. She was a girl a couple of years older than me who saw me at her house when her mother would watch me after school. And we were both lucky to have each other when we needed someone."

I was just realizing how perceptive Jill was. I tended to put people down simply because they were different. Not racist, but definitely prejudiced. Like with Charlie's parents. The first thing I thought of when I saw them was "religious fanatic" and my next thought was "weird." I wrote them off with one glance. And that woman who had the twins and the other that got beat up when we in the hospital waiting to find out about Mary. It was almost as if I thought they didn't belong in "our" hospital.

Jill woke me out of my trance. "Are you OK?"

"Yeah. I'm just thinking how I make stupid decisions about people."

"Good. But don't be too hard on yourself, Jackie. You're really a pretty good guy. Why do you think I put up with you?"

"I thought it was my good looks."

"Yeah. Besides that."

We were coming up on a strip mall.

"Hey, big man. You want to spend some of your money on me? There's a Fosters Freeze in that shopping center. Buy me banana split."

"You got a deal."

We pulled in and parked our bikes in a bike rack next to the store. I ran my chain through both back wheels and locked them together.

"Are you afraid I'll take off without you?"

"No. If you ever decide to leave me I won't cling on to you. I'm not going to keep you against your will."

She looked serious after I said that. "And you wonder why I keep you around."

I got a real good kiss for that.

We went inside. I got the banana split but Jill decided on some Butterfinger flavored concoction instead. We ate sitting next to each other, using those tiny plastic spoons. She reached over with hers and took the cherry off the top of my sundae.

"You owe me a cherry. And don't think I'm not going to collect."

It took a good twenty seconds before she realized what I was talking about and a look of understanding came over her face.

"You just tell me when."

I looked at her. If I understood her correctly, she had just offered me her virginity whenever I was ready to take it. She was smiling at me, her gaze not faltering a bit.

I twisted around the best I could in the booth and took her in my arms. Her kiss tasted of Butterfingers. But mostly of promise.



-------

Chapter 41

We finished our ice cream and I unlocked the bikes. Nothing had been said since Jill had made her offer but I could feel the change between us. A closeness that hadn't been there before. A commitment.

She looked different to me as we rode toward the lake. A little more mature. More attractive, more desirable.

My first impulse was to grab Jill and take her back behind the bushes on the side of the road. But, looking at her, I realized she was too special for that. As was I.

I must have been staring at her, taking her in, for a couple of minutes. She looked over at me.

"What?"

"I'm sorry. I just... I love you."

"Why? Because you're going to get lucky?"

"I already am lucky."

Her brakes squealed as she stopped. "Come here."

I was a few feet ahead of her so I turned around and rode back, facing her as I came to a stop.

She reached out and pulled me in. Her eyes closed, she raised her mouth and we swapped souls. Or something like that.

I imagine we could have held hands as we rode the rest of the way to the lake but we didn't. We each looked at the other and smiled a lot.

It would have been nice to be the only two people at Lake Fremont. To find a place with chirping birds and grass that didn't itch and blue sky and gentle breezes where we could make sweet, gentle love without a care in the world. But it wasn't.

We paid our $2 each and entered the park.

There's a section that has some sand and is treated as a beach. There was the usual assortment of noisy children running around with everything from air mattresses to inner tubes to swim fins with or without masks and snorkels to the young ones with the water wings around their thin arms. And the ones stuck on the sand with their plastic pails and shovels.

I didn't spot any topless models or thongs. No one at all I would call attractive. It's amazing what people think they can get away with wearing at the beach. Come to think of it, they do get away with it. The whole gamut was there. Skinny legs, fat legs. 40DD breasts hanging down on 56" bellies. Fat butts, skinny butts, sagging butts. There was a man with white hair and a gut strutting around in a speedo. As if someone would care. There were four of five other males, mostly sitting in chairs or laying down with an open beer nearby. The majority of adults were moms.

A little further down were a couple of cement ramps that sloped down into the water. A trailer with a small boat on it was being backed down one of them.

The lake wasn't big enough for boats of any size. But I counted 12 of them from rowboats to motor boats 12 - 15 feet long. Most of them were still in the water with people fishing over the side. Except the solitary sailboat. I could see the two guys in it rowing. There was no wind.

There was a bike path that circled the lake. Jill looked at me.

"Are you game?"

"Sure."

We took off at a leisurely pace, checking out the sights.

Being a fresh water lake, there was quite a lot of vegetation. Some of the trees were fairly tall. There was an area on the far side that went back a quarter mile or so, then ran into a small mountain. Not quite as many trees and a large open space with grass. Picnic benches and grills on concrete slabs littered the area. There were a couple of volleyball nets, some tether balls hanging next to their poles. Over to the south was a baseball diamond. And there was a fairly large slab, maybe 100 feet on a side, covered by an aluminum roof. Suitable for dancing or for setting up tables. This place was booked just about every weekend day in the summer for company picnics.

Today there were families at two of the picnic tables. I saw a guy in an apron cooking some burgers on one of the grills. Four girls, maybe between 5 and 9 were trying to play badminton on one of the volleyball courts. I don't think I saw anyone hit the shuttlecock after another person did. They'd run after it, laughing, bent over trying to get to it before it hit the ground, making one or two swings in the air. One girl hit it backwards the couple of times I saw her try. But they were having a blast.

There was a softball game going on, too. A few fathers, two mothers and an assortment of kids from 8 or 9 to 15 or so. On further inspection, it wasn't a game. One of the dads was pitching and they would rotate batters. The younger the batter, the slower the pitches. It appeared that each batter was allowed to stay at the plate until he had gotten several hits. It was funny to see the older kids get razzed by the two mothers. I got the idea the two oldest thought their shit didn't stink and their mothers were enjoying pointing out that they weren't perfect. It was funny to see a kid tense up and grit his teeth after he swung and missed and the moms let him hear about it. The guy pitching made sure it wasn't easy on them, too.

It was as if we were of one mind. We'd both just stopped at the same time. Maybe there was some indication one of us saw that the other wanted to watch, but we were standing with bikes between out legs, holding hands, checking out the kids when I realized we'd stopped moving. I think Jill may have experienced the same thing. We both turned at the same time, smiled and squeezed each other's hand. After one of the older kids popped out to a ten year old shortstop and threw the bat down in frustration, we looked at each other and started up again. He stomped off the field to the catcalls of the women.

We found an area of grass that was bereft of people. Again, without speaking to each other, we both pulled off the path and walked our bikes towards a big oak tree. I smiled at Jill; she smiled back and giggled.

We lay the bikes down and then followed suit. It wasn't long before we were holding each other, kissing, tasting, exploring. She allowed my hands to wander over her shorts and her top but stopped me with a "not here" when I started to snake under the bottom of her shirt.

My first impulse was to argue with her or try to make her feel guilty. Then I took a look at what she'd said. "Not here." Not "Stop it", "Get away from me", "I want to go home." Not here. Which implied there was someplace it would be OK. Furthermore, an little over an hour ago she told me to just let her know when I wanted her cherry. I could handle holding her and keeping my hands outside her clothes.

I didn't realize I'd backed off a bit until I noticed we weren't kissing anymore. I opened my eyes and Jill was looking at me, a worried look on her face. My right fingers were still on her stomach, under the hem of her shirt. I slid my hand out and put both arms around her, pulling her in and resuming the kiss. I felt and heard a whimper from Jill.

We eventually came up for breath. Both of us said "I love you" in chorus.

"Jack. I meant what I said earlier."

"What? About making judgments about people?"

"No. About..." She saw the smile on my face and punched me in the shoulder. I laughed and she buried her head in my chest as I held her tight.

"I know you did, Jill. It made me very happy and very proud and it made me love you even more. You know that by giving me your cherry you're going to get mine, don't you?"

"Yeah, I figured that out."

"Unless that afternoon by the pool counts."

"I think virginity has something to do with insertion."

"Well, there was. Otherwise you wouldn't have choked."

She slugged me again. "You know what I mean."

"I felt like pulling over to the side of the road after you told me. But then I realized I want it to be special. For both of us."

"I do, too."

"When will the pill take effect?"

"I already had one period. The next one is due in two and a half weeks. Any time after that should be OK."

Let's see. Your birthday is in about 3 weeks. How about if it's a present to both of us to celebrate your birthday?"

"That would be wonderful. I can't think of a better present."

"OK. That's what we'll do. Between now and then we need to figure out how we can make it special."

"OK."

We kissed.

"Jill, I feel relieved that we decided when we're going to do it. I hadn't realized I was nervous."

She laughed. "Me too."

We kissed for another twenty minutes or so, then got up and headed back home. We went to her house and I went inside for a cold drink and some more kisses. A half hour later I was on my way home. It was almost six as I put my bike away and was walking from the garage toward the kitchen when I heard someone sniveling behind the garage.

I walked back there and saw Sara, lying on the ground, rolled up in a ball.



-------

Chapter 42

"Sara? Are you all right?" What an incredibly stupid thing to say. "What's wrong?"

She just rolled over a bit, still clutching her stomach and moaned. Then, "Jack." Almost a cry.

I tried picking her up but she was just so much dead weight.

"Hang on. I'll be right back."

I went into the house and pushed through Mary's door. She didn't even have a chance to cringe before I'd pulled her off the bed by her arm. Dino followed us down the hall and out the side door.

"Give me a hand. We need to get her into the house."

Mary dove to the task, grabbing one bicep while I took the other. We half led, half dragged Sara into the house. When we got through the kitchen, I started toward the living room.

"No. My room. She'll be more comfortable on the bed."

We got her on the bed. She was still bent over, still clutching her stomach. Her face was puffy, her right eye was starting to blacken. There was some blood that had come from her nose. That nose didn't look quite right.

Mary was sitting on the edge of the bed. She'd worked Sara's head into her lap and was gently stroking her hair. Dino had jumped on the bed and was lying on the other side of Sara. He had his eyes on her, his chin resting on his paws, his ears alert.

"I'll be right back."

I went into the kitchen and dialed 911. After the woman who answered calmed me down, I was able to give her a passably coherent description of Sara's condition. She told me she was going to dispatch both paramedics and police.

I went back in Mary's room. No change, Sara was still coiled up, holding her stomach. I lifted up her shirt and could see both bruises and welts. I gently touched her side and she pulled back, sucking in her breath as she did so.

The doorbell rang three times and I went out to answer it. There were two police persons on the doorstep.

"She's in here. It looks like somebody beat her up. I found her when I got home."

It occurred to me I was talking way too much. I wondered it they would think I had done this.

They were very professional. They checked her over. The female said it looked like a couple of ribs were broken but they'd let the paramedics check it out. As soon as the words were out of her mouth the doorbell rang again.

I led the paramedics in and they eased Mary off the bed. Dino growled quietly when they did until Mary said "Good Boy." He jumped off the bed and walked over to her, sitting at her side. One of the cops took her by the arm and led her out into the living room. I followed along with Dino.

The woman officer said "You look a lot better than the last time I saw you." It took a second for me to realize she was talking to Mary and another couple to recognize her from the hospital. Mary looked puzzled.

"We found you that night at the gas station. Are you feeling better?"

"Better. Not well."

"Give it time." She led Mary over to the couch. I heard her telling Mary how she had been assaulted in high school and how it took time to trust people. It was evidently the reason she joined the police force.

While this was going on, the other cop was trying to get as much information from me as he could. I told him that I'd come home and found her there and that she hadn't told us anything. When he asked if I had any idea who could have done it, I told him how Sara's mother had acted the day I picked up Dino and what Sara had said on the way to school the day she talked with Mom. He assured me they would check it out. "Parents are the first ones we suspect in these cases, anyway. Of course, since you been involved in two incidents in the past few weeks..."

I shot my head around to look at him and saw the grin on his face. "That's not funny."

"No, I guess it's not. I apologize. When you see some of the things we do, your sense of humor turns a little sour."

"I know. My Mom works up in Maternity and she comes up with some pretty gross stuff every once in a while. But it's different when the joke's about you."

One of the paramedics had gone out to the ambulance and brought back a gurney. They took her out the door as we were finishing our conversation.

"Where are they taking her?"

"To the hospital."

"Yeah, I know. Which one?"

"The same one we took your sister to. Would you like a ride there?"

"Yes, I would."

"Me, too."

"Mary. You can't take Dino with you. You're going to have to leave him here if you go."

She walked over to me and held on to my arm. "Dino. You be good."

He sat down and was thumping his tail as he watched us go out the front door.

-------

Entering the emergency room brought back bad memories. I was worried how Mary would react until I realized she'd been out of it when they wheeled her in her three weeks ago. Was that all it was? Three weeks? Sometimes it seemed like yesterday, sometimes it seemed like years.

Nurse Clipboard wasn't at the desk. I wondered if fallout over our last visit had anything to do with it. The male officer went to the desk with us and told the nurse on duty what the story was. He didn't want her parents called just yet; there was a good chance one or both of them was involved. He assured her that he and his partner were going over to their house immediately.

The female officer came out of the examination room. "It doesn't look like they need to do anything drastic. She was pretty banged up. She has a broken nose, a couple of broken ribs and some that are bruised. She'll have a couple of shiners tomorrow and she's not going to be real active for a week or two. It could have been a lot worse."

The cops took off, we gave what information we could to the nurse. She got a little less official when I asked to use her phone to call upstairs to let Mom know where we were. We caught her just before she went into the delivery room; they'd just wheeled a woman in. She'd check with us before we left and asked us to call back and let her know if we were leaving. Thelma said "Hi" and didn't want us to leave without going up for a hug.

We sat down to wait and about five minutes later a young doctor came out of the exam room. He walked over to us and sat down.

"I probably shouldn't talk to you since you're both underage, but I know you're concerned about your friend. This is obviously a case of abuse and I told that to one of the officers who brought her in. She has some rib damage, a broken nose and some abrasions that need to be treated. There isn't any indication of head trauma. I don't really see a reason to keep her in the hospital. But I don't want to send her back into the lion's den. It sounds like her home may be the most dangerous place to put her."

"Our mother's a nurse up on the fifth floor. Could we take her to our place?"

"I know the police went to her house. Tell you what. Let's patch her up and see what they have to say. I see no problem sending her home with you. It is your house she went to for help, isn't it?"

"Yeah. I found her when I got home."

"All right. Let's leave it at that. I'll talk to you after we're done with her. It's going to be a good hour if you want to get something to eat." He took off.

I'd seen what the cafeteria charged and there wasn't that much of my $12.50 left. I knew I'd just be eating to be doing something, not because I was hungry.

"I'm sure Charley's still here. We could go visit him."

"I'm not ready for that yet."

"All right. Why don't we go up to maternity and you can meet Thelma again. She hasn't seen you since you were six or seven."

"Big, black Thelma? She came down and saw me every day when I was in the hospital. Let's go up and see her. I could use one of her hugs." She hugged my arm and we got on the elevator.

When we got to the fifth floor, we went down the hallway and Thelma came running out to meet us, her arms spread wide, a big smile on her face.

She wrapped Mary up in her arms. "Oh, my, it's SO Good to see you out and about."

Next was my turn. "You see? I told you she'd get better."

Thelma was a big woman. A guy could get lost in her arms and it's amazing she could fit on a chair. But it was all love. Every inch, every pound. The woman loved everybody and always knew the exact right thing to say. If our country had five or six Thelmas as ambassadors, there wouldn't be any more wars.

"Come on back, you two. I just made a strawberry pound cake today and there's just enough for each of you to try it."

Mary and I sat in the back, eating cake and drinking milk from the small refrigerator they had. Mary giggled as we both bent over the table, dropping crumbs as we bit into the cake. Much as we probably did years ago when Dad would bring us to pick up Mom from work.

Speaking of Mom, we both turned around as we heard her arguing.

"I told you John, NO. My kids need me."

"Oh, come on, give me a break, June. They're what? 15 and 17? They can't get by without mommy for a few days? What do they do when you're at work? They need us. I've already reserved tickets for the redeye. I'll be over at 11:30."

"I'm warning you, John. I don't know if I'll be able to go."

"Bullshit. You call me stubborn and then you pull this shit."

"But I'm a maternity nurse. I won't be any good down there."

"Yeah, and I spend all day looking at women's twats. Dammit, June, they need us. I'm a damn good doctor and your the best nurse I've ever worked with. I'll see you at 11:30."

Mom came in and looked up, seeing us for the first time.

"Oh, Hi Kids. I didn't know you were here."

"What was all that about?"

"Oh, he wants me to go to New Orleans to help out after the hurricane."

"Sounds like a good idea to me. We can take care of ourselves for a few days. I think they need you two a lot more that we do."

"I know, Jackie. It's just... Mary, I don't know if you're ready to be alone with Jack for a few days."

"I'll be fine, Mom. And I'll have Dino. And probably Sara. Who knows, maybe you can get him to look at your twat."

That got a smile. "Great. Now my daughter's trying to get me laid." She kissed both of us. "Come on, kids, let's get out of here."

"Mom?"

"Yes, Jackie?"

"Sara needs to stay with us for a bit. They think her parents may have done this to her. She has a broken nose and some busted ribs. I don't think you should tell them you're taking off as soon as we get home."

"All right. Let's go downstairs and get her."



-------

Chapter 43

We took the elevator downstairs and made our way into Emergency.

The doctor with the coke bottle glasses was waiting for us. "We decided what would be best for the girl is to let Social Services take her away from everybody that cares for her, put her in a home where she can mop floors and be fed bread and water, then put her back with her father when he gets out of jail so he can beat some sense into her."

Mom ripped his glasses off his head, threw them against the wall, shattering the lenses into a thousand pieces. She grabbed his right arm at the wrist and elbow and gave it a twist. The arm separated at the shoulder. She used it as a club, beating the doctor senseless. We grabbed Sara and ran out the door to freedom.

What really happened wasn't so dramatic. We got into Emergency and the doctor was waiting for us.

"Oh, June. You know, your boy said his mother worked in Maternity and I didn't even think to ask who you were. The police have been in and gone. They took the father in and he's going to spend the night in jail. The mother's in the other exam room. She's not as bad as the daughter but we need to patch her up a bit. She'll probably bail him out and he'll be beating her again in a week. Anyway, Sara can go home with you guys. Her mother insisted on taking her back home after she got out but she backed off real quick when I suggested we get Social Services involved."

"Thanks, Henry. It's funny how parents are so afraid of the group that's supposed to help them."

"Yeah, right. Some people shouldn't have kids, and I think Sara's parents fit into that group. But throwing the kids to Social Services is like throwing the Christians to the lions."

"The lions weren't as bad."

Sara came out of the exam room under her own power. I remember Mary had to stay in a wheelchair when she was released. Maybe they figured they'd take their chances with her getting out since she was already in Emergency.

Mom told me to take care of her while she went to get the car. She headed back into the main hospital. "Sara, I'll see you in a few minutes. I need to get the car."

The first thing I noticed about Sara was her face. There was a bandage over her nose with a big X of white tape holding it on. I could see the beginnings of black eyes. When she moved, my attention was drawn to how stiff she was.

"You could have just told me you didn't want to walk to school with me."

She laughed, then grasped her side, grimacing. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts too much."

I went over to her and she put an arm over my shoulder. I looked across her to see Mary on her other side. We made our way outside and stood near the passenger pickup area.

Mom drove up shortly. She reached over and opened up the front passenger door.

"Let Sara sit up front."

We eased her in and I handed the seatbelt over her to Mom after I'd swung her legs inside. Once we got her seated I closed her door and got in the back with Mary. I grabbed Mary's hand, squeezed it and smiled at her. She smiled back. I let go, surprised she didn't attempt to pull away.

We made our way home. It was quiet for most of the drive. I think all of us knew we were going to talk about Sara; how she was, what happened to her. But we were going to get home and do it there.

Mom asked around and discovered that nobody had had anything to eat since lunch.

"Sara? Will you be all right to eat at the kitchen table, Honey?"

"I think so."

"OK. Mary, I've got some stew in the refrigerator. I need you to heat it up in the microwave. And set the table."

"OK, Mom."

"Jackie, you can help me get Sara into the house."

"All right."

We pulled up to the garage and Mary went to the side door and opened it. Dino came tearing out, glancing at her on his way to his "spot" in the back yard. He must have been waiting near the door.

We opened the door next to Sara. I got her legs while Mom held her shoulders and we turned her around so she could get out without too much pain. We got her over to the kitchen door and helped her over the threshold. We made our way to the kitchen table and were about to seat her.

"I'm sorry, but I need to use the bathroom before I eat."

"Oh, Honey, I should have thought of that. Jackie, help me get her into the bathroom."

We got into the bathroom and I left her standing with her back to the toilet and Mom there to help. Dino made an appearance in the hall as we were on our way. We must have checked out OK because he turned and headed back to Mary.

I went into the kitchen and helped Mary set the table.

"Mom's going to help her get on the toilet. It may take two of you to get her up."

Mary headed out, Dino at her heels.

The microwave dinged and I put an oversized potholder on the table and put the stew on it. I realized how hungry I was when the steam hit me. I got a serving spoon, gave the stew a stir and left it in. We had some 7 grain bread in the breadbox so I put that on the table and got the butter out of the refrigerator.

The girls were making their way down the hall.

"Do you need any help?"

"No, Jackie, we're fine."

I held a chair out for Sara and we all helped her sit down. Mom and I lifted the chair and got it close to the table.

"Thank you. I must look like a mess."

"I'll say."

We all looked over to see Mary grinning.

"Hey, I know I looked bad after I got beat up. So does Sara."

"Now that my sister's broken the ice, how do you feel, Sara?"

"A lot better than when you found me. I've got tape wrapped real tight around my ribs. I can't move, either to bend over or twist the trunk of my body. They gave me a local when they put my nose back in place, so that doesn't hurt. The doctor told me I might look like a raccoon."

"You already do. I was going to tell you earlier but I didn't want you to hurt yourself. Do you know what happened to your parents?"

"Yeah, the police and the doctor talked to me. Mom's got some bruises and scratches where he hit her but she doesn't have any broken bones. They put my father in jail but I'm sure she'll get him out as soon as she can. I don't want to go back there. But I don't want to go in a home, either."

"Honey, does this happen often?"

"Oh, he yells a lot. She gets afraid and won't let me do anything that might get him upset. That's why she kept yelling for me to get in the house the day you picked up the puppy, Jack. He'd been drinking and was starting to complain I was going to get pregnant if they didn't do something about me."

"Because you were with me?"

"I could have been watching a boy walk by and he'd say the same thing."

"Has he hit you before?"

"Not this bad. He'll slap me and tell me to shut up and I usually go to my room. Today he was really picking on Mom, telling her how worthless she was. I got fed up and told him he was a bully. That set him off. He said he'd show me just how much a bully he was. And he laid into me. He punched me right in the face. I fell to the floor and he kicked me. Mom tried to keep him from kicking me and that's when he hit her. She got a beer and got him to go into the living room. I was on the kitchen floor and somehow I snuck out and got over here. You know, Mom started yelling at me for sneaking out? She said it made my father really angry and she wanted me to go right home with her and apologize before he did something."

"That's what kept you from getting close to Chris, isn't it?"

"I couldn't put him in the middle of that. I knew one of these days I'd get fed up. Or worse yet, Chris would get caught in the middle and my father would go off on him.

"Sara, I want you to press charges. You've got a place to stay as long as you want. And I think we should get a restraining order so he can't hunt you down and come after you. Or we can throw him in jail and make it stick if he does."

"I've been wanting to do that for a long time, Mrs. Hill. But Mom keeps saying he'll change, he doesn't really mean it. She just sits there and takes it. He's hit her quite a few times but she always blames herself for talking back to him or not having his beer or his supper when he wants it. It's like I've been living with the enemy."

"OK. We'll take care of it. And please don't call me Mrs. Hill. Call me June."

"OK, June. Maybe Mom will understand if he stays in jail for a while."

"I don't know about that, Sara. Let's just get him put away where he belongs and get you better."

"All right, June."

The phone rang and Mom went to answer it.

"Hello? Oh, Hi, John. No, I haven't changed my mind. I'm sorry, John. There's something I've got to take care of and I can't go to New Orleans. All right, Houston. I can't go there, either. No, John, I'm serious. Something's come up and I need to stay home for the next few days. No, you go ahead. I can handle it. I just need to be here. I can get away in a week or so if I'm still needed. OK, Fine. I'll go in a week. OK. Call me when you find out what's going on. Bye."

She came back to the table.

"He's not happy with me right now."

"Did he say what's happening with Jill?"

"No. He was trying to convince me that all the victims would die if I didn't fly to Houston with him tonight. I'm sure Jill will be fine. I'd let her stay over here, but there are already going to be two of you in your bed."

Sara gasped.

"Gotcha."



-------

Chapter 44

Dinner went well. If you didn't look too close, it would seem to be just like it used to be with the addition of a friend for dinner. I spotted a smile on Mary's face a few times. That had been missing for far too long.

They say misery loves company. I got the idea that these two would help each other and their misery would be short lived. God knows I wouldn't wish this on Sara, but if it had to happen, it couldn't have come at a better time for Mary's welfare.

The phone rang and Mom got up and answered it.

"Hello? Hi Bea. He did, huh? No, I'm not mad. No, I've got something I need to be around for. Yeah, I can work for you tomorrow, I just can't take off to God knows where for who knows how long. Oh, pleeease. Good luck if you can get it. All right, have fun. Hey, maybe you can join the mile high club. Yeah, go for it. OK. Call me when you get settled. Goodbye."

She sat down. "Well folks, you'll be on your own tomorrow. I'm going to go in and cover Bea's shift. John talked her into going to Houston with him."

Mary's curiosity got the better of her. "What was all that stuff about the mile high club?"

"Oh, Bea was asking if I had any hold on him. I told her to go for it."

"But what's this club?"

"Oh, come on Mary. Don't tell me you've never heard of the mile high club."

"No."

"Neither have I."

"Me too."

"Geez. Where have you kids been? First of all, it's not really a club. It's just all the people who've had sex in an airplane."

"How can they do that? Won't everybody see them?"

"Most of the time they go into one of the restrooms."

"But those things are hardly big enough for one person. How do they do it?"

"You'd be amazed the ways people can figure out to do it."

"I guess. I wouldn't want to do it in a restroom on a plane."

"It's more of a thrill or status thing. So you're able to say I've done it in an airplane."

"Oh."

"I don't understand why people would risk getting in trouble and being that uncomfortable just to say they had sex in an airplane."

"Sara, am I safe in assuming you've never had sex?"

"Yes."

"That's OK... It's nothing to be embarrassed about. So, one of these days you'll have sex with someone you really like and you'll find out that it can be the best way to show him how much you love him. But you'll also discover how much fun it is. And you'll probably want to do it all the time. And, believe it or not, there are a lot of people who enjoy doing it in places other than a bed. We bought this house when Mary was just a baby and Jackie was barely two. The kids' father and I spent the first two weeks making love in every room in the house. Including the garage. And the crawl space above the hallway. And the patio. And if we had ever flown somewhere together, I'm sure he would have been able to talk me into going into a rest room with him. I'll let you in on a little secret. I was laying on that table right where your bowl is one of the times we made love in the kitchen."

Sara moved her bowl aside and looked at the table where it had been.

"I'm sure she cleaned it off since then, Sara."

"Very funny, Jack."

I glanced over at Mary. My sister had tears working their way down her face from each eye. I reached out and squeezed her hand.

"Oh, Mary. I'm sorry. I didn't think. Are you OK?"

"I don't know, Mom. It wasn't like that for me. I wanted it to be. So bad. But then they hurt me. Why did they have to do that? We didn't do anything wrong. We went to the party and when they crashed it we left. We were just driving down the road. And when they ran us off the road, we didn't do anything to them then, either. We just walked for help. We didn't do anything wrong. And then they hurt me. And Charlie. It's not fair."

"I know Baby. It's so unfair. I wish I could do something to help."

By this time Mary was really sobbing. Mom had long since scooted her chair over and was holding Mary to her chest, letting her cry it out.

I hadn't seen Mary react to the rape before. I'd seen the fear of contact, of having a male, any male in the vicinity. And it looked like we were working through that if we hadn't already.

At first I thought it was anger. But that's not where she was. She was confused. Because it didn't make sense. She had done the right things. She found a boy she enjoyed being with. She was just starting to explore the male-female relationship in all its glory. I don't even know if they'd kissed yet. And then their whole world fell apart because five evil men did what they did best. They were evil to them. And that didn't make sense to someone who was raised with and lived by "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

Mary was still crying against mom. It was something she'd been holding inside for a long time and I didn't think it would be over soon. I got up and started clearing the table, rinsing and putting dishes in the dishwasher. When I got near Sara, she got my arm and pulled me close to her.

"Jack, I'm going to need some clothes. All I've got are these." She indicated what she was wearing.

"Do you want a ride to your house?"

"Yeah. Can you come in with me?"

"Sure. Let me finish with the dishes and we'll go."

Mom and Mary got up and went into the living room and sat on the couch. Mary was still crying with no end in sight. I got the car keys from the nail near the door and held them up where Mom could see. She looked confused.

"I'm going to take Sara home so she can get some clothes."

Mom nodded. I went in and helped Sara out to the car. She seemed a lot looser than before. She only lived a couple of blocks down the same street. But I could just see me and a stiff Sara carrying armfuls of clothes down the street at 10:30 on a Saturday night.

Her mother opened the door when Sara put her key in the lock.

"So, you've decided to come home where you belong. Who the hell is this?"

"This is Jack, Mom. He's been my friend for years. Not that that would mean anything to you and and your bully."

"No wonder he beat you up, the way you talk to him. You're going to need to watch your mouth or you'll get more of the same."

"No, Mom, I won't. If I have my way I'll never come back. He beats me up and you just set me up for him to do it. I don't know which one of you two is worse. But he's going to jail this time. I'm tired of being his punching bag. And I'm not going to be here any more for him to have someone to bully. You're happy enough being his punching bag, you can have it all."

"That's a terrible thing to say."

"That's because I have terrible parents. Parents. Yeah right. My dog is a better parent than you. Get out of our way. I need some clothes."

She pushed her mother, who was now sputtering, out of the way.

"Come on, Jack. My room's down here."

"You're not taking that boy in your room."

"Oh, give me a break, Bitch. He's coming in my room to help me get some clothes. And I'm sleeping in his bed tonight."

Sara had a small suitcase on the shelf in her closet. I put the clothes she pointed out in it and carried it out. I included the hangers with those I took from the closet. If looks could kill, the one her mother gave me would have done the job. Of course, the one I gave her earlier would have taken her out of the picture.

We got home and Mom was in the living room alone.

"How's Mary?"

"She's in her room in bed. With Dino. That is one good dog Jack got from you, Sara. He's been house trained since we got him. And he lives to make sure Mary is all right."

"I'm glad. I told Jack he was special when he picked him out."

"Yeah, well Jack was pretty special getting him in the first place. I was really worried about Mary when he brought Dino home. The first time I saw him he was on the bed while she was sleeping. Protecting her. And she has come out of her shell so fast since he's been here. Tonight she got a lot of tears out of her system. She'd been holding them in for a long time. I kept telling Jack to give her time but I didn't know if she would ever recover. I think she will. And it will be a lot faster than any body thought possible.

"Sara, you can use Jackie's room tonight. We'll see what we can figure out for something a bit more permanent. Jackie, you can sleep with me or on the couch."

"I think I'll sleep on the couch."

I took Sara's suitcase in my room and hung up the clothes that had hangers. I left the underwear and shoes in the suitcase and left it opened up on the chair in my room. I figured she could pick up her shoes from the suitcase a lot easier than she could if they were on the floor. I took the cosmetic bag with toiletries into the bathroom and left it next to the sink.

Sara did her thing in the bathroom and came back in the living room.

"Can you give me a hand, Jack?"

"Are you sure you don't want Mom to help?"

"Go help her, Jackie."

I went in and Sara unbuttoned her jeans and slid them down past her butt. She sat on the bed and lifted her legs. I took off her shoes, then grabbed her pants legs and pulled them off and put them over the arm of the chair that held her suitcase. She was wearing a conservative pair of white panties.

She undid the buttons on her shirt.

"Jack? Help me?"

Her shirt was open. She was wearing a lacy white bra and white bandages all the way down to her panties. She had her arms straight out.

I got the shirt off her. She was dressed in bandages and her underwear.

"I can't reach behind me."

"Huh?"

"You don't expect me to sleep in my bra, do you?"

"Uhm, I guess not."

She stood with her back to me, waiting. I finally made my way over to her and fumbled around until I figured out how to undo her bra. She turned around, holding it up over her breasts.

"I need a goodnight kiss."

"Sara."

"Oh, come on. I'm not going to bite you."

I went over to her to give her a light peck and she pushed up against me, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her bra-covered breasts were against my chest as she pushed her tongue into my mouth. We finally broke up and she backed up after taking control of her bra again. She had that goofy half smile I'd seen a few times before.

"Are you sure you don't want to share your bed with me tonight?"

"Yeah, that's all I need. A raccoon that can't move."

I kissed her forehead and left the room.

Mom was putting sheets on the couch.

"Is your honor still intact?"

"Just barely."

"Lighten up, Jack. She's just playing with you."

"I hope that's all it is."

"I haven't had a chance to tell you. I'm proud of you. Some people might have panicked. You got her inside, called 911 and did whatever was necessary to get her help. A lot of people wouldn't have known what to do. Goodnight, Baby."

"'Night, Mom."

The couch was lumpy. Mom was up at 7:15, making coffee in the kitchen. I got up and went in. I was just wearing a pair of shorts.

"When are you working today?"

"Eight to five. I should be home by 5:30. Maybe we'll rent a couple of DVDs and order some pizza."

"That would be nice."

We each had a couple of cups, then mom put her empty in the sink and left. I took the bed clothes off the couch, folded them neatly and stacked them behind one of the easy chairs.

I'd just put the last pillow behind the chair when the doorbell rang. I opened it up to find Jill on the doorstep. Her bike was parked on the walk behind her.

"Jill. What are you doing here?"

"I came over to see my boyfriend. That's OK, isn't it?"

"Yeah, I guess so, I just didn't expect you today. I mean with your father gone and everything."

It was at that point that my bedroom door opened and Sara called out "Oh, Jack? Can you come back in here and help me get dressed?"

"Who's that?"

"Sara."

"No wonder you didn't want me here. Goodbye Jack. You can come over later and get your jacket."

"But Jill..."

She was already out the door. By the time my brain was working enough to move my feet she was already riding down the street.



-------

Chapter 45

It was about 8:30 when Jill left. Maybe 45 minutes to get home by bike. Another 45 to cool down. That would put it at 10:00. I decided to give her till noon to call back. And at least ask what was going on. Although an apology would be better.

Noon came and went with no phone call. I made some soup for lunch and called both girls out to eat. Mary came right out, no hesitation, no crap. Just like the good old days.

We had tomato soup, right out of the red can. I used milk instead of water. Saltine crackers to finish it off. I cooked four cans plus milk and we almost finished the whole thing.

"Jack, I feel terrible about Jill. You know I was just teasing, don't you?"

"Yeah, Sara. That's why I went to bed in pain last night."

"What do you mean, in pain?"

"He's talking about blue balls, Sara."

"Oh, God. Did I do that to you, Jack?"

"No, but you probably would have if I'd stayed in there any longer."

"Anyway, I'm sorry about Jill."

"Hey, she should have had enough faith in me to find out what was really happening."

"Maybe. But I can understand how she could get the wrong idea. After all, what would you think if you went over to her house to pick her up and she called some guy into her room to help her get dressed?"

"I might be pissed, but I don't believe Jill would be unfaithful to me. I'd at least have the courtesy to ask her what was going on."

"Well, not everyone is as trusting as you are. We both knew Jill isn't that day she walked to school with us and scared me off. I guess she hasn't called yet, has she?"

"No. I was going to give her till noon. Then call her. I'll call her after lunch."

"OK. Let me know if I can help."

"I will. You know, Mary, this is one hell of a dog. He just sits there while we eat. Even Sparky used to beg at the table."

"Yeah, he knows he'll get fed."

"Oh, my God."

"What is it, Sara?"

"I totally forgot about my dog and the puppies. I haven't fed them since yesterday. I don't think anyone else will. Can we go over and get them? Do you think your mother would mind?"

Mary looked at me. "I think it would be OK for a while. How many puppies are left?"

"Just two. And the mother."

"As long as they're outside I don't think she'll complain. You're going to have to take care of their food and water and cleaning up after them."

"I had to do the same stuff at my house. It won't be any different. Except I won't get yelled at every time I go out to them."

"OK. We'll go over after we finish cleaning up after lunch. I've got a wagon in the garage I used to deliver papers in. We can carry the puppies in that. I assume the mother can walk on her own."

"Oh, yeah. She'll be thrilled to be able to get some exercise without her babies hanging all over her."

"OK. Mary? Are you going to give Dino people food?"

"I've thought about it. Why?"

"There's about a half inch of soup on the bottom of the pan. He'd probably like it. And it's probably cool enough for him."

"Thanks."

She got up and went over to the stove. Dino followed her over. She stuck a finger in the soup, then squatted down and held her finger out to Dino. He sniffed, then started licking. He practically wrapped his tongue around her finger trying to get every drop.

"He seems to like it."

"If he liked it any more he'd swallow your finger."

Mary touched the sides of the pot, then lifted it off the stove and checked the bottom. Satisfied she wasn't going to burn her baby's tongue, she went over to the kitchen door. We had a cloth mat just on the inside of the door and she put the soup down.

Dino dove into the soup. He was licking like crazy and looked like he was ready to climb inside a couple of times. He was just big enough to reach the bottom of the pot while standing outside. Mary grabbed his paw when he lifted it over the edge and was all set to stand in the pot. She tilted it towards him so the soup would flow down. He licked the pooled soup for a bit, then started cleaning other areas of the bottom he could reach.

There are some dogs that will get the easy stuff but won't do any real work when you give them people food. Then there are the ones that will keep licking as long as there is a molecule of food left. They keep going until the bowl or pot is so clean you won't be able to see the difference between it and one that just came out of the dishwasher. It was pretty obvious which type Dino was. He was really going to town. I'd hate to see him lick his tongue raw on that metal pot.

Mary finally had enough of squatting down, holding the pot at an angle he could work with. She picked it up.

"OK, Dino. You've had enough. There isn't any more left."

He sat down and continued to lick all around the outside of his mouth. She took it to the sink and started to rinse it out.

"Eww. It's all slimy."

"Welcome to the wonderful world of dog saliva, Dear."

"God. Do you think the dishwasher will get this stuff off?"

"It should. Make sure the water is going to spray directly on it when you put it in."

"OK. Hey, you two go over to Sara's and get the dogs. I'll clean up in here."

"OK. You can let him lick the bowls if you want."

"I think he's had enough for now."

Sara and I walked towards her house. Well, her parents' house.

"I'd like to see Mary give him a spoonful of peanut butter;"

"Oh, that's cruel."

"What? Dogs love peanut butter."

"Yeah, but they have to keep licking to get it off the roof of their mouths."

"I know, but they seem to like it. I've never seen a dog look pissed off when he's licking peanut butter like that."

"I guess..."

We got to her house and she headed for the front door, ringing the doorbell.

Her mother opened the door and got a scowl on her face.

"Where's your key?"

"Oh, you reminded me."

She reached into her pocket and removed a key from a chain, giving it to her mother.

"I won't need this any more."

"What do you mean. You can't just leave."

"I won't come back except to get my things. If I have to go down the Child Services and get in their system, I will. Anything is better than having to come back to the two of you."

The last few words had been said with such vehemence I could feel it ten feet behind her. Her mother actually took a step back.

"I came to get my dog and her puppies."

Her mother just nodded her head and closed the front door.

Sara looked at me.

"Well, that went well."

"Are you OK?"

"Believe it or not, I'm relieved."

She attempted to smile but she couldn't do it. Her lips curled up, almost into a snarl, then she totally lost control. Her face scrunched up, as best it could with a bandage over half of it, the tears started flowing and the sobbing began. Sobbing is too mild a word. Wailing, howling; emotion that had been buried for years, rushing to the surface, bursting out.

I saw all this for less than a second before she grabbed onto me as if she was afraid of getting sucked away and I was the only solid thing to hold on to. I got a picture of one of those movies about space where the ship gets a hole in it and everyone is getting sucked out. Her grip on me was that desperate. I wondered how her damaged ribs were going to take the violent shaking of her body as she sobbed.

It must have gone on a good five minutes. I held on tightly, stroking her hair, being there for her. At one point I saw the edge of the curtains lift up and her mother peer out. Shortly thereafter, they closed.

Sara settled down and let go. An occasional sniffle. She had this pitiful "you must think I'm worthless and be disgusted with me" smile.

"God, I must look like shit."

"You're very perceptive." I kissed her on the forehead. That brought out a real smile. Not quite a brighten up the neighborhood, make the grass a little greener smile, but definitely a display of happiness.

We made our way through the gate and into the back yard. Her collie came bouncing up to her, whimpered once and nuzzled her hand. Sara was able to bend her knees and drop down enough to wrap her arms around the dog's neck.

"Oh, Queenie. I missed you and your babies. Such a good girl."

I helped her get up. Not as easy as it sounds; I had to get behind her and put my hands in her armpits and lift straight up.

Both puppies were struggling to climb out of the box when we got there. There was shit all over the sheet lining the bottom. The water bowl was bone dry and there was no puppy chow in the food bowl. The big bowls next to the box were just as empty.

I got the hose and turned on the water, letting it flow until it turned cold. I started pouring water in the puppies' bowl and they dove at it. One ended up right under to stream of water. I reached in and held them away as I filled their bowl.

Queenie was sitting patiently next to her bowls. I put the end of the hose down on the bottom of the bowl and let it fill. She lapped water as if she hadn't had any for days. Well, at least last night and today. Queenie drank well over a bowl before she lifted her head. The puppies' bowl was large enough that they had their fill before it was empty.

"Let's get the puppies in the wagon and we can feed them at my house. Ten minutes isn't going to make that much difference now that they have water."

"Give them to me and you can put the box on the wagon."

I was glad she suggested that. I could get the box up with no problem but I didn't want puppies sliding all over the place as I lifted it. And I didn't really want to chase puppies if they decided they didn't want to come quietly. The box was just too big to control that well. They weren't porkers but were your standard roly-poly puppies with a belly on them. Another reason I figured they could hold out a few minutes before we fed them.

I picked up one and Sara held out an arm. He went to town on her face as she held him to her chest. Then the other one. Sara couldn't help but giggle as both tried to find some uncovered area to lick constantly.

I grabbed all the bowls and put them in the wagon, below the rim. Then one side of the box with both hands and swung it over to rest on the top of the wagon. I retrieved the puppies one at a time and put them back inside.

"Do you need to get a leash or anything for Queenie?

"Oh. Their dog food. I almost forgot."

She led me into the garage. There were half empty bags of adult and puppy food. I picked them up and got them in the box with the puppies. I figured they'd move out of the way when I started to place the bags. I had to put one down, shove them to the side, then put it in. Hell, Dino would have jumped out of the box and helped.

"What about a leash?"

"I don't have one. I don't think she's ever been out of the back yard except to go to the vet. My parents sure didn't want to walk her and they knew I couldn't be trusted to take a dog around the block. I'd probably end up pregnant."

"Well, we know you won't end up pregnant at my house."

"I know. But one can dream."

I decided it was best to ignore that one.

"How are your ribs after a few minutes ago?"

"You mean my breakdown?"

"I don't know that I would call it that, but yeah."

"Surprisingly, they don't hurt that much. You did a good job of holding on to me and I didn't jar them too much. Thank you for being there."

"You're welcome. I know you aren't in this house but never fear - you are loved."

"I know that." She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.

We got home without incident. The box didn't fall off the wagon, the puppies stayed where they belonged and Queenie was excellent at staying near us. Amazing since this was her first time out. Probably partly because we were transporting her babies somewhere, partly because she wasn't the kind of dog to take for the hills at her first taste of freedom.

About a block away, she found a nice plot of grass between the sidewalk and the street, squatted down and got rid of a quart or so of the water she'd guzzled up. Very dignified, very ladylike.

There were 25 - 30 trees and one fire hydrant between our houses. I had pictures of Dino taking this same route in a couple of months, stopping to water each and every one of them.

We got home and Mary came out back with Dino. He and his mother got reacquainted and I let the puppies out of the box while I got it placed. I took out the sheet and put it in Sara's arms. Yeah, I made sure to roll it up so she wasn't covered in shit.

"Come with me."

We have a fairly new washing machine in the garage. It's one of the big capacity units. Every year or so Mom takes all the bedspreads down to the laundromat and stuffs them in their huge washer. We haven't found anything else too big to wash at home.

I showed her the washer and the soap and bleach. "I suggest you use hot water. Check it before you dry it, you may want to wash it twice."

I got an old blanket that was stored on a shelf above the washer and took it out to line the box. We'd used it or years when one of us was on the couch and it was a little cold. All the scratchiness had long since disappeared, if there ever was any. It was long past its prime, pretty much held on to because it felt like throwing away an old friend. I figured the puppies would get some use out of it and the washer would take care of anything they could do to it. I'd checked before, there were no tears or rips to the sheet.

Mary helped and we got everybody fed and watered. Queenie drank almost half a bowl. They all ate but they weren't drastic like they'd been with the water. Hell, Dino had looked a lot more starved with the soup than these guys did. Mary had to tell him he had his own bowl when she fed the puppies.

Both puppies peed on the grass. Dino took a dump. I don't know if he was showing them where to go or it was just his time, but neither puppy took the bait. We put them away in their box, made sure the food and water were OK, Sara told Queenie to be a good girl while hugging her and went inside. I was just closing the door when Mary stopped in her tracks.

"Oh, shit. I forgot to tell you. Jill called."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry. I didn't think. She asked if you were here and I said 'no'. Then she said 'he's out with Sara, isn't he?' I swear, I was just going to say you went to get the puppies but all I got out was 'Yeah' and she hung up the phone.

"It's not your fault, Mary. Don't worry about it. How long ago did she call?"

"It was before you got here. Probably a half hour."

I went to the phone and dialed Jill. It rang twice.

"Hello?"

"Jill, I..."

I heard a click, then dial tone.



-------

Chapter 46

With apologies to Erich Segal 
Love means never having to say you're sorry 
Love Story

Well, that was that. If only I could get Jill to listen to me. If only I could get her to believe me. If only. If only. If only.

I'd told her the previous day that I would never stop her if she chose to leave me. You don't keep a dove caged up. Somehow I didn't think I was going to have to make good on my promise so soon when I made it.

I was going to miss her. I knew that. Such a short time, but we felt so right for each other. I was alone when I found her, I could stand to be alone again. I wouldn't enjoy it now that I'd tasted the magic, but I could stand it. Hell, I had a girl sleeping in my own bed who made it pretty clear how she felt about me. Not that I was ready to jump into something right away. And Sara needed to go through some healing before she'd be ready for a committed relationship. Or it would end up just like the one with Chris.

Which reminded me. I needed to talk with Chris. He deserved to know that Sara didn't ditch him because of him. No. He deserved to know, but it wasn't my place to tell him. Maybe I could convince her to talk with him. He did deserve to know. And she could use all the support she could get.

I realized I hadn't talked to Jeff since he came out of the closet. He kind of disappeared when Jill and I started going together. We had some unfinished business. There was no reason we couldn't be friends. I knew he felt weird because he used to talk about fags to me and the rest all the time. You do what you've got to do to survive.

I looked down and saw Dino sitting next to me. Just sitting there, being there for me. I leaned down and scratched him behind the ears. The tail started thumping. Good old Dino.

I went in my room and lay down on the bed. A couple of minutes later there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

It was Sara. "Oh, shit. I didn't even think. I'm so used to coming in here."

"Take it easy, Jack. It's OK." She came over and sat on the bed. What are you going to do about it?"

"About what?"

"Global warming, you jackass. What are you going to do about Jill?"

"Nothing."

"Good move, Einstein. Nothing. Did you come up with that strategy all by yourself?"

"No. I mean yes. I made a promise to her. I told her that if she ever felt she had to leave me I wouldn't come after her. I wasn't going to force her to love me."

She took two fingers and pretended to stick them down her throat. "Give me a break. I bet you think Love means never having to say you're sorry."

"Huh?"

"It's a line from some dorky book on our reading list in English. Why don't you just act like a man and fight for her?"

"I told you. I gave her my word."

"Well, I didn't."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I didn't promise Jill anything. You love her too much to let her disappear over something as stupid as her jealousy. If you were fucking me, I could see it. But you cringe when I go to kiss you goodnight. And she may be an ass, but she loves you too much to throw you away over a stupid misunderstanding. You may not want to rock the boat but I'm not going to sit here and watch the two of you destroy your happiness because of me.

"She said to go over and get your jacket, right?"

"Yeah."

"OK. She wants me to be your girl. Take me over there when your mom comes home with the car and you can wait for me while I go up to her door to get it."

"What are you going to do, Sara?"

"Show her how stupid she is. How childish. And I hope, convince her how much the two of you belong together."

"I thought you had a thing for me."

"A thing, huh? No, Jack. I don't have a thing for you. I like you a lot. You're a good friend. That's why I crawled over here when I was hurt. Because I can count on you. Shit, you sleep on a lumpy couch for me. When you could come in here and have my body. See? Right there? That look on your face when I said you could have my body? You are so much fun to tease, Jack. I know it's not nice, but I could do it forever. That's why I get that goofy smile, as you call it. I know just how to make you turn red. Whenever I want."

"OK. I'll borrow the car and take you over there."

"Good."

"There's something else I want to talk to you about."

"Shoot."

"Chris."

"What about Chris?"

"I think you should tell him what happened. Why you couldn't stay with him."

"I don't want Chris back, Jackie. I like him but I don't want anybody right now. I can handle you because you're safe. You're a good friend. But I can't get close to someone romantically. Maybe someday, but not now. My experience of marriage is what I see at my house."

"Sara, you can't believe that's the way marriage is. You know better than that. Your father is a bully, plain and simple. He's too weak to pick on someone his own size. And your mother has convinced herself that she'll be safe as long as she kisses up to him and doesn't rock the boat. And any time he loses it, she convinces herself it was her fault or whoever he bullied. That's not normal. That's not rational. That's not sane."

"I know that. I can sit here and tell you that and believe it and everything. And I can look at Chris and how long I've known him and how he's never even raised his voice to me. And then I get close to Chris and I keep wondering what it's going to take to set him off, what might I say, what might I do that I have no idea about but will make him mad. And take it out on me."

"I know you're not ready to get involved with someone. But Chris cares for you. If he knew what happened, he'd be there for you. I just know it."

"I'm afraid he'd try to show me he could take care of me. And try to make it something I'm not ready for. And get hurt all over again."

"I understand what you're saying. Do you mind if I talk to him?"

"I guess not. Fair's fair. Only don't try to get us back together like I am with you and Jill."

"I promise."

"When does your mom get home?"

"A couple of hours. Why?"

"I didn't get a lot of sleep last night. I want to take a nap."

"Oh, sorry, I'll leave." I started to get up.

"Do you have anything you need to do?"

"Not really."

"Will you lay down with me and hold me? I'll feel safer."

"I guess. No funny business."

"No funny business. Just good friends."

"OK. I sure hope Jill doesn't decide to forgive me and walk in here."

"I don't think she will. But if she does, it's just one more misunderstanding I'll have to explain to her."

Sara lay on the bed. In her clothes, her bra, everything. I lay down next to her. She eventually sighed and used my body to pull herself up on her side. She lay her head on my chest and was asleep in a couple of minutes.

I must have joined her right away. I don't remember anything else until I felt Mom brushing the hair out of my face with her hand.

"Come on you two. It's time to get up."

"What time is it. Mom?"

"Six. Dinner will be ready in a few minutes."

"Shit. I'm sorry Mom. Sara wanted me to take her over to Jill's."

"What's so important over at Jill's?"

"Jill stopped over her this morning after you went to work. She got the idea something's going on between Sara and me."

"Well, isn't there? You look pretty cozy to me."

"Mom. You're not helping matters any. Sara called out for me top help her get dressed when Jill was here and Jill got the wrong idea. Then Jill called up when Sara and I went to get her dogs and she talked to Mary and got the wrong idea again. Then I called and she wouldn't talk to me."

"So, why don't you go over to her house?"

"Because I promised her I wouldn't chase her if she ever decided to leave me."

"That sounds romantic and stupid. I bet you think Love means never having to say you're sorry."

"So, you read that book, too?"

"No I saw the movie. It was a book?"

"Yeah. Sara's reading it in English."

"So, you made this stupid promise and now Sara's going to get your ass out of trouble?"

"If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be in trouble, June."

"Yeah, maybe you're right. Jackie, are you sure you want someone who won't listen to your side of things? This could happen again a few days or a week from now."

"I know, Mom. I never said I wanted her back. I want her to hear what happened, not what she thinks happened. And then I need to know this won't happen again. Charlie's one of her closest friends. It's fine for her to be with him but if I have anything to do with a woman, she flips out. It's going to have to change. But I think she's worth talking to. I love her, Mom. I want to be with her."

"OK. I hope you know what you're doing. Go ahead, you two. Take the car. We can heat up dinner when you get back. That's what microwaves are for."

We drove over to Jill's. I stopped in front of the house. Sara opened the car door.

"Jack, go somewhere and come back in a half hour. I don't want to see you and I don't want Jill to see you or you to see her. 30 minutes. OK?"

"OK. I'll see you at 7:30."

I drove down to Highpoint and parked next to the tennis courts. There were a boy and a girl playing under the lights. He was a bit older than she was. They looked like they were having fun. And they looked like they were in love. They finished their game and walked off, arm in arm. It was 7:10. I turned on the radio and waited for the minutes to tick away.

Finally, it was 7:28. It had taken two minutes to get here. I drove back to Jill's and pulled up in front of the house. Sara walked out to the car, stopping once to look back at the house. I realized she was wearing my letterman's jacket.

"She is willing to talk to you. She'll open the door when you go up there. I'll wait here for you."

I walked up to the front door with a lump in my throat.



-------

Chapter 47

I swallowed and pushed the button next to the front door. I could hear the chimes of their doorbell going off. They still reminded me of something I'd hear in a cathedral.

Jill opened the door and held it open. Dressed in white shorts, just long enough to cover her butt, down to the tops of her legs. She had her Perlione's tablecloth shirt on. The one with the red and white squares, tied off under her bust. Her hair looked like it had been brushed within an inch of its life. It almost sparkled, it shone so much. No makeup I could see except some pink lip gloss that made her mouth as desirable as I'd ever seen it. Her face had that just scrubbed vitality brought on by cold water. She looked at me and her eyes sparkled. God, I just wanted to fall into them.

Bozo was six feet behind her. He barked when he saw me, kind of a "yip." She turned and shushed him.

"Well, come on in."

She made no move to demonstrate affection. No kiss, no hug, hell, a handshake would have been something.

I followed her through the main room, into the hall and into the TV room. Those shorts left nothing to the imagination. She went over to a wooden rocking chair and sat down. A one person chair. I sat on the black leather couch. By myself.

"Sara tells me you told her to pick up your jacket."

"Well, I said she could get it from you."

"And that I don't deserve it."

"Now, wait a minute, Jill. I never said that."

"And that she's sleeping in your bed."

"Yeah, but..."

"And that you helped her get undressed last night."

"Jill..."

"And that after you helped her with her bra she kissed you goodnight..."

"Jill, it's not..."

"And that the two of you slept together this afternoon."

"Well, we did but..."

"And that you got her in your house when she was hurt and you did whatever it took to get her to the hospital and you helped her rescue her puppies and that you made her mother back off. Is that true?"

"Well, yeah, but it wasn't anything anyone else wouldn't do."

"Do you really believe that? God, Jack, you really don't get it, do you. You are so good. Not many people would risk my wrath the way you have to help someone. You know how I am about other women and about Sara in particular."

"Jill, she's my friend. Dammit, you've got Charlie. I know you would never do anything with him to hurt us, It's the same with Sara. She needs someone real bad right now. And she's been my friend for about as long as you've known Charlie. I'm sorry, I don't think there's anything wrong with what we do. And when she needs help, I'll be right there for her. And it won't harm any relationship we have a bit."

She sat there with her hands in her lap. Trying to smile but a little quiver to her lips. There were tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Can I sit with you?"

I held out my arm. She rocked forward and stood up, then rushed over to the couch. My arm was still out and she snuck under it, pushing herself against my side.

"My mother left us for another man."

That was it. Like Sara's fear a loved one would blow up. Something she'd carried around forever.

"I was two. Almost three. I remember how pretty she was. And I remember my daddy crying. He cried when he found out and they were still married. He cried when he came home and there was a note for him and she was gone. And he cried for years. Every so often, I'd hear him in his room when he thought I was out, crying.

"That day you called and talked for a half hour about how happy you were that Sara and you were finally getting to know each other after so many years of just saying Hi, I just knew you were going to leave me. I'm 14, both of you are 17. You go to the same school, you walk the same way every morning. You're in all the same classes. And I go to a different school and we can only see each other one night and two days a week. How could I compete with that?

"So, I tried to scare her off. I showed up on your doorstep and I did my best to put a big sign in front of you that said 'Taken - Do Not Touch.' And it seemed to work.

"And then my father left town and I had this whole house to myself for the weekend and I knew we were going to make love for my birthday and it was going to be beautiful, so I rode my bike to your place to bring you back here to be alone together. And you acted weird. Not happy to see me. And I heard Sara call out to you to help her get dressed.

"I freaked. I heard you calling me but I couldn't do anything but run. I had to stop my bike because I couldn't see through the tears.

"I finally made it home and I went in my room and I cried. I think I cried for hours. My stomach hurt. And I knew you were gone.

"I finally decided I couldn't just let go. I had to try one more time. So I called. And Mary said you were out with Sara. And I just knew it was over. When you called, I couldn't talk. All I could do was hang up the phone."

She had her arms wrapped around me. Her face was crushed against my chest. My shirt was soaking wet. The way she dug her face into me and the constant sniffling made it difficult but I got every word. My left arm came down over her shoulder and over her back to the side. My right hand held my left and I was pulling her in to me. She stayed in my arms, holding on as I held her.

"When the doorbell rang and I opened the door to see this girl with bandages all over her face, I was scared. I tried to slam the door and she leaned in and pushed. And she started telling me how I didn't deserve you and she'd come to get your jacket back and I was a fool and you would be better off without a jealous bitch like me. And she was raising her voice and getting mad at me and I got more and more scared.

"Then it hit me who she was. And I said 'Sara?' and she said 'Yeah?' and I said 'My God, what happened to you?' And she told me. How her father beat her and kicked her. And her mother let him and blamed her for making him mad. And how she got away and made it to your house and had to collapse in the back yard because she couldn't go on any more. And then you came home. And you took care of her. And you gave up your bed for her.

"And then she told me how she teased you. And how you always remained faithful to me. That I was the only thing you talked about. And that I should be ashamed of myself.

"She loves you, Jack. She really loves you. Probably more than any other person on this earth. And you give her that love right back. And you never stray from loving me. I don't understand it. There are all kinds of reasons for you to just get rid of me. But you don't. And then I go and pull something like this on you. She's right, Jack. I don't deserve you."

I leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head. She lifted her face to look at me. Her eyes were blurred by the tears pooled in them. There was mucus that had escaped from both nostrils, smeared above her mouth where she's swiped at it with the back of her hand. She was the most beautiful sight I'd ever seen.

I leaned in and kissed her. Gently at first, then harder as she pulled me into her. Then she pushed away.

"I can't breathe."

"Go into the bathroom. Blow your nose. Wash your face do whatever you need to do. I'll be here."

She stopped and turned when she got to the door.

"Go."

She was back in a couple of minutes. Her eyes were red and puffy but there were no tears. The snot was gone. Her face had been scrubbed and it looked like she'd touched up the lipstick.

"God, I was a mess. You must have been disgusted."

"You don't get it, do you? I love you Jill. I don't think you can disgust me. You can make me sad, you can disappoint me but not disgust. Did you do what I told you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Did you do what you needed to do in the bathroom?"

"Yes."

"Then come over here. We weren't finished."

She scooted next to me, her arms going around me again. This time her face wasn't against my chest, it was turned up, waiting. She had that smile on her face that lights up the room. I leaned in as she closed her eyes and gave of herself. Much better without the snot. She was able to go a lot longer but she was still clogged up and she had to stop eventually.

"Jack. I need to get something."

"OK. I'll be here."

She left the room and took off down the hall. She was back in a minute with a ping pong paddle.

She handed me the paddle and lay down across my legs.

"Sara said you should spank me so I'd remember this."

I swallowed. I had a sour taste in my mouth.

"Jill, get up. Stay there." I got up off the couch and made my way toward the doorway.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be right back."

I went into the nearest bathroom and rinsed my mouth out, downing a few handfuls of water, trying to get rid of the taste of bile.

I came in and grabbed the paddle out of her hand. Somehow I found the strength to snap the face of it in half. I dropped both pieces in a waste basket near the TV.

I sat down in the rocker Jill had started out in. She was sitting up, her hands in her lap. She looked like a little girl caught doing something wrong.

"Did you happen to notice Sara's face?"

She swallowed. "Yes."

"Did she show you her ribs? Where they're taped up?"

"Yes." She was looking down at her hands.

"That's the result of what happened when her father wanted her to remember something. Is that what you want from me?"

"No." She was twisting her hands in her lap.

"Does what happened today mean so little that you think you might ever forget it?"

"No."

"Then why the hell do you think I should beat you so you can remember it?"

"I don't know."

"Why would you think I would want to hurt you? What could have made you think that?"

"Sara said there are people who punish their lovers when they misbehave. She made it sound like it was a game."

"I don't want a relationship based on pain. I want one based on love. If you think you need someone to hurt you..."

She wailed. A blood curdling sound of despair. She had a look of terror on her face. "NOOO! Oh, God, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it, I love you, oh God, Jack I won't do it again, don't leave me, oh God, oh God, oh please."

We'd stood up at the same time when she started and she shot across the room at me, almost knocking me over, grabbing on to me and hanging on desperately, babbling into my chest. I held her, stroking her hair as she held herself against me, sobbing.



-------

Chapter 48

I stood there, holding Jill in my arms. She still held me tight, afraid to let go as she continued to sob.

"I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

The sobbing reduced to an occasional shudder.

"Come on, Jill."

I led her to her bedroom.

"Pack some clothes for school tomorrow. And something to wear tonight. You're coming over to my house."

She tried to work while holding my hand.

"Jill. It's OK. You can let go."

She got a suitcase packed and put some pants and a shirt in it. She held up a transparent nightgown and I shook my head no. She returned it to the drawer and pulled out a pretty blue one that was more suitable for wearing in my living room.

"Anything else you need? Makeup? Books for school? Bathroom stuff? Do you wear underwear or shoes?"

She giggled, said "Oops" and smiled. She got in gear and got a few more things. I held the suitcase closed so she could fasten it.

Bozo was in the front room when we went out. "Come on, Boy. You can come, too."

We went out to the car. Damn, I forgot about Sara. She was in the front seat, leaning back against the window.

I tapped on the window. No reaction. I could make a louder noise and scare her to death. Or Jill and I could get in on the drivers side and scare her that way. If she was going to freak I'd rather have a window between us.

I took the car key and rapped on the window. It did the job. Sara sat upright, then swung around, leaning away from the window. She looked embarrassed when she saw it was me.

She unlocked the door and opened it. "I'm sorry. I must have fallen asleep."

"Did I scare you?"

"Maybe a little."

"I'm sorry."

My jacket was folded up, resting in her lap. She picked it up, got out of the car and let Jill in. Jill leaned over and put Bozo in the back seat, telling him to stay, then slid over to the middle. Sara got in and put the jacket back in her lap. I went around the car, put the suitcase in back and got behind the wheel. Jill wrapped both arms around my right one.

I started the car and turned around, headed for home. I looked over at Sara.

"Just a little? How high do you jump when you're really scared?"

She reddened a bit. "OK, you scared me. I was asleep and all of a sudden there was this loud noise. What was I supposed to do?"

"I guess be scared. I'm sorry I had to do that but I didn't know how you would react if all of a sudden there was somebody right next to you."

"The window was better." She looked down at her lap. I glanced at Jill and nodded. She reached over and tugged Jill around by her shoulder, holding out the jacket. "I think this belongs to you."

Jill looked over at me to verify I wanted her to have it. I smiled and she lit up. She let go long enough to put it on, then wrapped around my arm even tighter, snuggling her face into my bicep.

I pulled into the driveway and Mom ran out to the car.

"Are you all right?"

I got out. "Yeah, we're fine. What's the matter?

"Do you know what time it is?"

"Not really."

"It's 12:30. I've been trying to reach you for the last three hours. Jill's phone has been ringing right into her voice mail."

"Oh. I forgot to plug it back in." Jill and Sara had gotten out.

"I didn't realize it was that late. I thought maybe 10 or something like that."

"Jill, your father called. He's very worried. He's been trying to reach you since late this afternoon. He thought maybe you were over here. By the way, what are you doing here?"

"She's going to spend the night, Mom."

Her right eyebrow lifted as she looked at me. The way it used to when I'd fake an illness to get out of school.

"She's going to sleep on the couch. I'll get my sleeping bag and sleep on the floor."

"That still doesn't tell me why she's here."

"I don't want her to be alone tonight."

We were interrupted by Bozo standing on the back seat, scratching the window and whining. Jill went over to let him out but he didn't realize he had to get off the window or he would fall when she opened the door. She ended up crawling on the front seat and lifting him out.

"That's going to work real well when he's a 100 pounds."

She hugged him to her face and stuck her tongue out at me.

I grabbed the suitcase and we went inside.

Mom sent Jill into the kitchen to call her father because he was "worried sick about her."

"And I want to talk to you while she's in there."

"Sara, go brush your teeth while the bathroom's empty."

"Yes, Daddy."

With both girls gone, I sat down on the couch next to Mom.

"OK, give. Why did you bring her home?"

"She's got some things going on. There was more to this than a little jealousy. I don't want her by herself tonight. Let her stay tonight and let me take her to school in the morning. She can go home tomorrow."

"What's going on, Jackie?"

"Mom, I want to talk to you but it's not going to be a couple of minute conversation. Let me wait till we have some time alone."

"OK, Jackie. Are you OK?"

"Yeah. I just need to take it easy with her for a bit."

"All right. Don't you go getting hurt."

"I won't."

I saw Sara come out of the bathroom and walk into my room.

"I've got to get my sleeping bag out of my room. And there's something I need to talk to Sara about."

"How come you have time to talk to her but not to me?"

"Mom, the thing with Jill can wait a day or two. I need to talk to Sara about something now."

"OK. I'll see you in the morning. Tell you what. Take Jill to school, then come back and I'll drive you in. I'm sure Sara's not going to go to school for a week or so."

I went down the hall and tapped on my door.

"Come in."

"Are you still dressed?"

"Yes, Jackie, I'm still dressed." Drama queen.

I opened the door, walked in and closed it behind me.

"Oh, you want a little privacy, do you?"

"You're damn right. I don't want everyone in this house to see me chewing you out."

"What do you mean?" The flippancy had disappeared.

I walked over to my closet and got the sleeping bag of the top shelf.

"Did you tell Jill to tell me to spank her?"

"Yeah, I thought it would be sexy. And she'd feel like she was punished so she wouldn't have to feel guilty."

"I see. Is that familiar to you in any way?"

"Not really."

"Think real hard. Who do you know that hits little girls when they've been bad?"

When I'd started asking her about the spanking, she perked up a little. Cheerful, like we were playing some kind of a game. She was still in that mood when she started to look for the answer to my question.

It was easy to spot when she got it. A look of shock came across her face and her eyes went wide. "Oh, my God."

"Is that what you want me to become? So Jill can have her very own broken nose and broken ribs? I bet she'd never step out of line again, would she?"

The tears were starting to flow. "Jack. You have to believe me. I didn't think. I've heard of dominance and spanking and they were just supposed to be games. I didn't even think about my father."

"Sara, when Jill told me you suggested that, the only thing I could think of was what your father would do if you handed a ping pong paddle to him and lay down on his legs. I almost threw up. I had to rinse my mouth out."

"I'm so sorry. I won't ever do it again."

One of my aunts had sent me some handkerchiefs for Christmas when I was about 12. Mom had insisted I keep them. I went over to my dresser and got one.

I went over to her and wiped the tears. I looked at the bandage covering half her face.

"I guess I won't tell you to blow."

She giggled.

"How are you supposed to handle times like this with that thing on your nose?"

"They didn't tell me. I just suffer through it and breath through my mouth."

She started to undo her top. "Help me?"

"I'll send someone in." I got my sleeping bag and went out to the living room.

Jill looked uncomfortable when I came from my room.

"I had to talk to her. It was important. If you're going to give me any shit about it, I'll put you in the car and take you home."

It brought her back to reality. "I'm sorry. It's just..."

"Jill, you need to trust me. If I have to watch every move I make, this isn't going to work. I love you and I want to be with you. But I'm not going to stay around if you're always suspicious of me."

"I know. I should know better."

"Yes. You should. Now Sara needs someone to help her get ready for bed. I don't want to do it. Would you mind?"

She smiled. "No. I'd be glad to."

"Have you fed that furball today?"

"Oh. I forgot."

"I figured as much. Ask Sara if you can use some of her puppy food. Get him some water and some food and let him use the facilities in the back yard. Ask Sara if she needs to do anything with hers before she goes to bed."

Jill ran down the hall and knocked on my door. Sara let her in. They were in there for a minute or two and then the two of them came out. Sara was still dressed. Jill called Bozo and the three of them went out the kitchen door into the back yard.

I went behind the chair, got the bedclothes and started making up the couch for Jill. I went in my room and got the alarm clock. Sara had no use for it, she got to sleep in all day if she wanted.

I set the alarm an hour early so I could take Jill to school and be back on time. I spread out the sleeping bag as a mattress and put a blanket on top of it. Mom came out of the kitchen and into the living room.

"I thought you went to bed."

"Nope. John wanted to talk to me after he finished with Jill."

"How's Houston?"

"Terrible."

"Really?"

"Yup. He says it's almost as bad as MASH."

"The TV show?"

"Yeah. Dirty, not enough medical equipment or medicine, government officials who don't know shit about medicine trying to tell the doctors what to do. That's going over real well with John. He's had to fix broken arms because people were fighting over a chair, a few people have gotten mugged in the stadium with all those people around and were pretty messed up."

"Any babies?"

"Three."

"People always seem to have babies."

"Wait till nine months from now."

"With all those people around?"

"A lot of people lost everything. Many of them almost lost their lives. They'll find a way of making sure the next generation is born."

"Have you talked to Bea since she got there?"

"Oh, yeah."

"How's she doing?"

"Not too good. I'll tell you about it when we've got more time."

She got up, then stopped.

"You didn't eat tonight, did you?"

"No. I know Sara didn't and I'll bet Jill hasn't had anything either."

"I'll see what I have."

She found a 12 pack of chimichangas in the freezer.

"I'm going to bed. Take three of these out of the wrapper, put them on a plate and turn on the microwave for three minutes. Then turn them over and cook them for two minutes. You can cook the next batch while you're eating this one. Don't stay up too late. And don't make me sorry I let Jill stay over."

"Thanks, Mom. Goodnight."

The girls and Bozo came in. Jill and Sara were talking like they were best buddies.

"I'm making something for dinner."

"Just a minute."

Jill got some stuff out of her suitcase and went down the hall with Sara.

I'd just put the food on three plates and was taking three more out of the wrapper when they came out in their nightclothes. Sara was wearing a t-shirt of mine that came down to mid thigh on her. Jill had on her nightgown with the letterman's jacket over it.

We had a couple of chimichangas each, then the girls brushed their teeth while I put the dishes in and turned on the dishwasher. I went in and brushed my teeth.

Jill was under the covers on the couch when I got back. Bozo had settled down below her head on the floor. She had an arm outside the blankets and it was obvious she still had the jacket on. I bent over and kissed her.

"Jill. I need you to promise me something."

"What?"

"If you ever feel jealous, I want you to tell me about it and ask if there's a valid reason. I promise I'll tell you the truth."

"I don't know..."

"Jill, I need you to promise me and mean it if we're going to get back together."

"OK."

"Good. I don't want either of us to go through what we went through today."

"Me neither."

I turned out the light and got under the blanket. From a bed to the couch to the floor over a weekend. Maybe there was still room at the Astrodome.

Bozo licked my face. I scratched behind his ears and went to sleep.



-------

Chapter 49

When you sleep in the same bed for years and the alarm clock's in the same place and goes off the same time every day, you get used to it.

The alarm was going off. It was coming from the wrong direction. Everything was different. And I was tangled up in something. I was confused.

I forced my eyes open. I was pressed up against someone. Ah. Jill. Still wearing my jacket.

She was lying on my right arm. My left was going over her left arm and she had the hand in both of hers, pulling it into her sternum.

I also had that distinctively male problem. When sleeping, a full bladder activates the sexual reflex. I had a hard on, buried in Jill's ass. Well, not in, between. You get the picture.

I struggled to get my left hand free to turn off the alarm. Jill groaned and did some wiggle thing with her ass that planted me deeper as she pulled my hand in tighter. My right arm was under her and I could tell it was asleep. I was trapped and was going to have to come up with some super human way to escape.

I saw Bozo looking at me and I got an idea. I stuck my tongue in her ear.

That woke her up. Somehow, it affected her the way dropping an ice cube down her back would have. She shivered and got goosebumps on the back of her neck. She may have gotten them elsewhere, the neck was the only area I could see.

My plan to get away didn't work. Jill sighed, sort of a satisfied "Ummhh", then pulled my hand in even tighter, pushing her whole body back into me.

"Jill."

"Uhhmm."

"Jill. You need to get up."

"Uh uh."

"Come on, Jill."

No response.

It was then that I discovered the ultimate way to bring Jill under my control. Better than any mind control story you may have read. Better than hypnotism. Not offers of ice cream, threats of the ping pong paddle. I pulled my left hand back, just above her waist on the left side. Above her ribs. And I tickled her.

I've never been ticklish. Dad could get Mom laughing but I never had the guts to try. Mary can be tickled but it's kind of hit and miss.

Jill is ticklish. Five year old girl with pigtails and freckles ticklish. You know, the one who crunches up and can't stop laughing when you get within a foot of her and point your finger at her tummy. That kind of ticklish.

In fact, it turned out that Jill was pee in your pants ticklish. Which I found out to both our dismay. In the morning, I get the hard on, Jill pees when tickled.

I admit it was my fault. I tried it on her side and she struggled to get away, unable to keep from laughing. Try saying "stop it" while laughing. So, being the loving boyfriend I am, I kept at it. My arms were free, I could turn off the alarm clock but I found a new way to have fun. I got her on her back and I pounced on her and got both sides at once. She couldn't get away and couldn't stop laughing. And then she did. She got all serious and then she got embarrassed.

There was a lot more intention behind the "STOP IT" this time. I backed off and she rose up on her elbows and looked down at her stomach and below. I followed her gaze.

"Oh, Shit."

"Are you all right?"

"All right? I don't know. I'm not hurt. But I peed all over myself. And the sleeping bag. Help me get up."

We got her into the bathroom and she got rid of whatever was left, which I suppose wasn't much. She got her suitcase and brought the whole thing back with her. I took advantage of her absence to empty my bladder.

Once we were sure she had a clean towel, I got shoved out and she took a shower. I was surprised that she was showered, teeth and hair brushed, dressed and ready to go within ten minutes.

While she was in there, we had some more drama. Bozo followed us down to the bathroom and Dino realized there was another dog in his house. He started whining and scratching at the door. Bozo of course had to go over to investigate which made Dino more inquisitive.

I opened up the door and let Dino out. The two dogs stood in the hallway, checking each other out. Dino was 7 weeks old and Bozo was close to 9. Bozo was definitely bigger. Maybe 3 pounds heavier, a couple of inches taller.

Dino walked over to Bozo's side and lay his head across his back. Just below the neck. I didn't hear anything but I could see the vibration in Dino's throat. And Bozo shrank. No, he didn't get smaller, but I could see him pull himself in. This was Dino's house and he was putting this interloper on notice. Watch your step or you'll deal with me.

I called them both and grabbed the sleeping bag, leading them into the kitchen and out to the back yard. I put the sleeping bag in the washer while they did their thing. You could see that Dino was in charge and that it was his back yard.

I got them back in and let Dino back in Mary's room. Bozo stayed in the living room, near the couch. Jill came out of the bathroom as I was closing Mary's door.

"What's for breakfast?"

We went into the kitchen and I found some bagels and cream cheese. Jill put the bagels in the microwave while I used the bathroom. Then I had to go into my room and get some clothes. Of course, that woke Sara. I asked if she'd mind looking after Bozo and she agreed to. When I told her I'd put him out back until she woke up she suggested I just let him in with her when we left. I told her I'd let Jill decide about that.

"You're learning."

"Yeah, I guess so."

I took my clothes in the bathroom and changed. The bagels were ready and Jill was fine with Bozo being in with Sara. I decided I might as well get my school books now so I didn't have to wake her up when Mom was going to take me. Jill got us a couple of glasses of chocolate milk.

Jill got her books and her purse and we went out to the car. One trip with school stuff, the other with breakfast. We started out toward Highpoint.

"I'm sorry I made you wet yourself."

"You didn't know I was that ticklish."

We ate our bagels and drank our milk. Jill took my arm in hers.

"Did you shower in that thing?"

"No. I took it off."

"Good. I really hadn't planned on you to be wearing a letterman's jacket when we finally made love."

"You won't have to worry about that. I'm sure I'll find something appropriate to wear."

"I have to work after school today so I probably won't be home till a little after 6:00. I'll call you when I get home and we can figure how to get Bozo and your things back to you."

"Hmmm. I kind of liked sleeping with you."

"I kind of did, too."

I pulled up in front of the school and kissed Jill goodbye. She had a big grin on her face as she got out of the car. She waved and joined three girls who were walking towards the gate. She said something and all three turned around and bent down, looking in the window, checking me out. I smiled and waved. Two of them spun around and said something to Jill. The third smiled and waved tentatively. She got pushed for her trouble by one of the two who had turned away.

Mom was in the kitchen when I got home, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Jackie. Did you get Jill to school all right?"

"Yeah. I was wondering if we'd make it for a while."

"Really? Why?"

"She kind of had an accident."

"Oh, God. Don't tell me you let her drive."

"No, not that kind of accident. She wet her pants."

"Really. How did that happen?"

"I tickled her. She told me to stop and I kept going."

"Oh, Jackie. I bet she was pissed."

"Actually, she was pretty good about it. She made me stop and made it clear I made her lose control but then she just took care of it. She went to the bathroom and then took a shower. She didn't take all day, either. She was ready to go pretty quick."

"Did you clean up everything?"

"I put the sleeping bag in the washer. I should put it in the dryer before we leave."

"I'll hang it on the line outside. That way it won't lump up. What about Jill's clothes? I assume she was wearing something."

"Yes, Mother, she was wearing something. I'm sure we're going to do something in the living room with all of you around. I guess she left it in the bathroom. A blue nightgown."

"I'll take care of it. So if you weren't doing something in the living room, how did she come to pee on your sleeping bag instead of the couch."

"Well, she kind of moved off the couch. I woke up and she was pushed up against me."

"Uh Huh."

We made our way out to the car.

"All right, I let you have your time. Why was it so important for Jill to spend the night?

"She was pretty disturbed about what happened. Her mother was cheating on John with someone and just left the two of them. She gets real uptight when it looks like I'm cheating on her. Both because she misses her mother and feels deserted and because of John."

"John?"

"He took it a lot harder than you'd think looking at him. She says he cried about it when he thought she wasn't around. I got the idea he still does."

"That could explain a lot. So why was it so important for her to stay over?"

"She wanted me to do something to her that I couldn't stomach. I told her if that's what she wanted she could find someone else."

"What did she want you to do?"

"I'd rather not talk about it, Mom. It was between Jill and me and it's been taken care of."

"OK. You're growing up on me, aren't you?"

"Yeah, Mom. I guess I am. You said something was wrong with Bea. Is something bad about Houston?"

"No. Well nothing that hasn't been caused by turning the city into a refugee camp. You can't throw that many people together without problems. A lot of them feel that since the weather turned against them the government should put them up in the Ritz. And they're being real vocal that they have to settle for the Astrodome. Anyway, that's beside the point. Bea has had her eye on John for a long time. He was always this important doctor who was out of her league. And then he took me out a couple of times. And I made it clear that I didn't have any hold on him. Bea figured he was available. That's what she asked me the night she asked me to work for her. And I told her to go for it."

"So, what's wrong?"

"Evidently, I'm the only thing John could talk about. On the plane he kept asking her if she thought I liked him, what she thought his chances were, what I liked to do. Almost like a junior high school kid who's afraid to talk to the girl directly. And I guess it's been just as bad since they got there."

"So, what are you going to do about it, Mom?"

"I don't know, Jackie. I don't know."

We'd been parked in front of the school while talking about Bea and John. I heard the warning bell.

"That's me. Thanks for cleaning up my mess. I'll see you tonight."



-------

Chapter 50

I walked home with a spring in my step and a song in my heart. Well, not quite, but I did feel pretty good. When I finished in the pool and got back to the gym to start work, Coach came over to me and told me what a good job I did, how he used to hate it and it was the best move he ever made. This from a guy who could only talk to me about my performance in the pool until a few days ago. It felt good to be appreciated.

It was 6:20 when I got home. I hardly had time to get in the door when a squirming Jill jumped into my arms, wrapping her legs around my waist. I opened my mouth to ask what the heck was going on only to find her lips locked to mine. I kissed back. I could always find out later.

Later finally came.

"What are you doing here?"

"Boy. That's a great way to be welcomed. What are you doing here? I can always go home if you don't want me."

"I never said I didn't want you. But you were going home tonight."

"Your mother was worried about you getting scared having to sleep out here all alone."

"Hey, if I get too scared I can always go in my room and sleep with Sara."

"Not if you want to keep what's between your legs, Dear."

"OK. I know when to shut up. Are you spending the night?"

"June said I should stay here till Daddy gets back."

"Great. Are you going to pee on my sleeping bag every morning?"

She looked at me in disbelief and then ran through the kitchen and into the back yard.

Mom tells me there are times I open my mouth and stupid comes out. I was belatedly realizing this was one of those times.

I went out back. Jill was kneeling down with her back to me, playing with the puppies in the box. I went over to her and rested my hand on her shoulder.

"Why are you being so mean to me? What did I do?"

"I... Jill... I'm sorry. I do stupid things sometimes. I was trying to be funny. I wasn't trying to be mean."

"Well, you hurt me."

"I..."

"I thought you'd be real happy to see me. I wanted to meet you at the door and kiss you and have you hold me and find out how our days went like real people. Instead I get questioned about why I'm here. And told you can always go to Sara. I'm trying to believe there's nothing between the two of you but you seemed like you didn't want me around and then you shoved that in my face. And then the thing about peeing. Like I could help myself when you wouldn't stop tickling me. I don't know how much I can take, Jack."

I knelt down beside her and put my hand in the box near hers. One of the puppies left her and moved over to me.

"I can be a real idiot, Jill. Hurting you is the last thing in the world I'd ever want to do. I was real surprised to see you. I know that's no reason to be mean. I was caught off guard and I thought I could make it a big joke. I was wrong. Do you want me to take you home?"

"Only if you don't want me here."

"I hope I'll never see the day I don't want you to be with me. Or the day you don't want to be with me."

"Jack. You can be the sweetest boy. And then..."

"Jill. Help me to be sweet all the time. I'll try to watch what I say. Your dad told me the first time I went to your house to think before I said anything stupid. I know I need to do that. Please be patient with me."

She turned her head and kissed me. Not passionate, but nice.

"OK. Let's start over. How was your day, Jill?"

"My day was pretty good, Jack. I aced a test in Algebra. And got an A on the test we had last week in English. How was your day?"

"My day was pretty good. I got As on History and Physics tests. Coach came up to me and told me what a good job I did with the gym last week."

Jill picked up her puppy and was talking baby talk to it. His tail and his tongue were both going as fast as they could.

"Where's Bozo? I didn't notice him in the house."

"That traitor. We got here and Sara called him and he ran right to her. He's in her room."

"Her room! That's my room."

"Yeah, right. You just keep on believing that, Jackie."

Mom called us in to wash up for dinner. Jill put her puppy back in the box and I gave mine one last pat. I made sure to pet Queenie before going inside.

All five of us had dinner together. Me and my four women. I had trouble enough with one.

I wasn't the only male in the room. Dino and Bozo had come out, too. Bozo tried to suck up to Jill but got called a traitor for his trouble. Dino had gone over to the carpet near the back door when we all sat down but Bozo was making it very clear he was in the room. Not begging but sitting where everybody could see how cute he was and feel sorry for him, slipping him some food. Dino got up and somehow communicated that it wasn't OK to bother the humans while they ate. Bozo went over to the rug with Dino.

"Sara. How was your day off?"

"I didn't have one. Your mom took me downtown."

"Shopping?"

"No. I filed a formal complaint against my father. Then we went to the District Attorney's office.

"What for?"

"We did a few things. I talked to them about my home situation. They got a statement and they're going to try Mom for child endangerment. I'm pretty sure she got arrested today."

"Whoa."

"Yeah. I also asked about emancipation."

"Slavery?"

"No, Jack. Child emancipation. It's like getting a divorce from your parents."

"So, are you going to?"

"There are a couple of things involved. The big one is I'd have to get a job and prove I can support myself. I'm supposed to get an OK from my parents to move out, but since they're both going to be put on trial for abusing me, that requirement can be waived. But one of the options to emancipation is to move in with a relative or an adult who's a friend. Your mom signed all the papers and it looks like you'll be stuck with me till I turn 18 next March."

"You mean I'm going to have to sleep on the couch for 5 or 6 months?"

"I was going to talk to you about that, Jackie. I thought we might do something with the garage. That way you and Jill will have a place to be alone."

My sister said, "Yeah, Jackie. We already know about your birthday present."

"Mary, don't be rude," my mother said. "Don't be mad at Jill, Honey. This is going to be a big step for her. And you know I would have figured out what was going on the next day at the latest."

I took Jill's hand in mine. "I'm sure you would. I expect to be smiling for about a week."

Jill squeezed my hand and I squeezed back.

"What else went on today?"

"I stopped at your school and withdrew Mary for the rest of the year. I also filled out a new emergency form for Sara and left notes for all her teachers. You'll probably be getting assignments for her while she's recovering. We already emptied her locker, so she has all her books."

"What's Mary going to do about school?"

"I'm going to have a tutor."

"Really? Like Mary Poppins?"

"Ha, Ha. So funny. No, we got a list from school and Mom's going to find someone. I'll probably have to go to their house a few times a week and then have homework."

"How can you get away with that?"

"It's not that much different from home schooling. Kids who are in TV shows and movies have been doing it for years. I'll still have to take tests to show I learned something."

"Boy, Mom. That was quite a day off."

"Oh, that's not all. After all that, I went over and picked up Jill. And I took her home and we got some clothes and her bike. I don't want her staying at that house by herself. Neither does her father. Jill's going to live here until her father comes back."

We finished dinner and found there was plenty of mashed potatoes and gravy left over. Mom told us to mix them together and split it between the dogs. All four puppies got some with some puppy chow mixed in. Queenie got to lick the bowl.

Jill and I spent about a half hour doing homework at the kitchen table. We went out in the living room and sat on the couch, holding hands and necking while listening to the radio. When it got time for bed, we didn't even bother with the couch. We lay out the sleeping bag with a sheet, a blanket and a couple of pillows and crawled inside. After kissing each other goodnight several times, Jill rolled over and moved her back into me. What the hell. There are a lot of things worse than waking up with your arm asleep.



-------

Chapter 51

I dreamed I had a warm, moist mouth around my cock. My hips were moving and it would slide down a nice tight throat on the down stroke. The humming added sensation to the total immersion.

I woke up to find myself coming all over the back of Jill's nightgown. My cock was buried between her butt cheeks as it had been yesterday. My dream had been so realistic that my body believed it and acted accordingly. And somehow the end of my prick had made its way above the waistband of my shorts.

My first inclination was to pretend it didn't happen and fake sleep if I couldn't achieve it for real. Maybe I could clean it up and she'd never know. That would require me to get my arm out from under her and move away from her back to get a rag or some Kleenex or something. And I knew she wouldn't stay asleep for that. Plus, the mess would not come clean. I knew there would be some slime, the nightgown would be wet, something.

I shook her shoulder. "Jill. Wake up."

"Uhhmmmffhh."

"Come on, Jill."

"What is it?"

"I made a mess on the back of your nightgown."

"Jack, stop playing around. It's not funny."

"Jill. Please."

It finally sunk in. She started to roll over on her back.

"No. Wait a minute. It's all messy back there."

"What did you do?"

"I... uhh... I got excited. I sort of came over your nightgown."

"Sort of?"

"Well, no. I really came. All over your back."

"Gross. How could you do that?"

"It's not like I did it on purpose. I was dreaming and I got excited and I woke up and it was happening."

"Geez, Jackie. Can't you control yourself?"

"Not really. Sometimes it happens and there's nothing I can do about it."

"What? You mean like at school you might get excited and come in your pants?"

"No. I might get a hard on. There's something about being asleep and dreaming that can make a guy come without a lot of stimulation. And sleeping with my thing between your butt doesn't help matters."

"Your thing?"

"You know. My dick."

"Oh. Your dick. And you were trying to put it in my butt?"

"No, it's not like that. Both today and yesterday I woke up and it was in between your cheeks. And yesterday when I tried to move away you shoved back into me and made it deeper."

"So, you're telling me I've been slimed?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"How do I know you didn't pee on me?"

"You can see it's not pee."

"I can't see anything, Jackie. It's on my back. You aren't suggesting I take my nightgown off, are you?"

"No. You just have to trust me."

"Sorry. I can't do that. I think you peed on me. Show me."

"I'm not taking this off."

"Not that. Get some on your finger. Show me."

I scooped up some with my index finger and brought it around in front of Jill. She got me by the wrist and brought my finger up to her nose.

"It could be. I'm not sure. Make some more and I'll compare it."

"What do you mean make some more?"

"I'm sure that's not all you can come up with. You're young. I've heard that teenage boys can come several times."

"Well, yeah. But I'm not going to do it in front of you."

"You're in back of me Jack."

"Jill. Don't embarrass me."

"Why not, Jack. You embarrassed me yesterday. Why is it OK for you but not for me?" She evidently thought this was extremely funny by the way she doubled over, laughing.

"All right. I give up. You knew all the time, didn't you?"

"Come on, Jack. Do you really think you could do that all over my back without me knowing about it? The way you were pumping that thing up and down. If I hadn't had this nightgown on I would be afraid you'd have stuck it in. And you're not exactly quiet when that hose of yours starts spurting."

"So, why didn't you say anything?"

"I wanted to see how you would handle it."

"How did I do?"

"You did OK. But it was a sure a waste to begin with."

"Give it a few weeks. Then we won't have to waste it anymore."

"I can hardly wait."

"Me neither."

"OK. Back off. Let me get up and take care of this mess. What is your mother going to think if she has to wash this nightgown every day?"

"I don't know. But she's had to wash other things with the same kind of mess."

"I'm sure she has. And I'm sure Mary has made messes of a different kind."

"Mary?"

"Yes, Mary. What do you think, she's never had any urges?"

"Mary?"

"Oh, forget it Jack. Let me up."

She got up and grabbed some clothes from the suitcase she had on top of an easy chair. She headed back to the bathroom and was in there when the alarm went off. No problem reaching it this morning. Maybe I should... Nah.

She came out and I made my trip, waking Sara up to get clothes for the day from my room. We were going to have to do something about clothing. Jill living out of a suitcase and me having to wake up Sara every morning wasn't going to work for long.

I made my way into the kitchen to find Jill cooking an omelet with cheese and ham in it. She put it on a plate and told me to sit down while she started to prepare a second one for herself.

"Go on. Eat it. It's not going to poison you."

"I was waiting for you."

"Eat it while it's still warm."

I took a bite. "Hey, this is good."

"Don't sound so surprised. It's not like I've never cooked before. Who do you think makes breakfast for me and Daddy?"

"I thought you had somebody who came in and cooked for you."

"She comes in and makes dinner. Mondays and Wednesdays. Tuesday and Thursday I go to school and we're on our own on the weekends."

"What else do you do for your father?"

"I make sure his socks match and his tie goes with his suit. And I try to make it so he's not so lonely."

"I never would have thought your father was lonely. He's so in charge of everything."

"That's just Daddy's way of making sure he doesn't get hurt. If he's ordering everybody around they can't get close enough to harm him."

"It's surprising how much you understand about people."

"What. For a girl?"

"No, that's not what I mean. For a fourteen year old girl, yeah. There are a lot of adults who can't read people like you can."

"Well, I love my Daddy. I want him to be happy. Which, by the way, he has been a lot lately."

"I don't get what you're saying."

"Ever since that day your mother told him what a pain in the butt he is, he's been happy. Do you know I haven't heard him crying in his room since she was over? Not that he did that every night, but every couple of weeks I'd hear him in there. Not lately. I'll always be thankful for that."

"Mom doesn't seem to think she and your father make a good match."

"I'm not going to push her one way or the other. If Daddy wants to get with her, he's a big boy."

"What are you going to do about your night class?"

"I'm going to ride my bike home, get something to eat, then ride over to the college. I'll ride over here when I get out."

"But that will be after dark, won't it?"

"Yeah. I get out at 9:30. I've got a light on my bike. I'll be fine."

"I don't want you riding alone after it's dark."

"You what?"

"I don't... I'd feel much better if you weren't out by yourself after dark. Look at what happened to Mary."

"So, if you were with Mary it wouldn't have happened?"

"No, there were too many of them. Maybe not as bad, though."

"I'm not going to stop living because of what happened to Mary. And she had Charley with her. There are some things you just can't protect yourself from."

"I'd feel better if you'd let me meet you and ride home with you."

"If you'd like to ride home with your girlfriend, I have no problem with that. If you think I'm too frail and weak to ride home by myself, I have a big problem."

"How about if I meet you in front of the college and we can ride home together and talk?"

"That would be just fine with me. Meet me at the Jackson Drive entrance. Just after 9:30."

"OK."

Jill off took to ride across town while I rinsed of the dishes and put them in the dishwasher.



-------

Chapter 52

I got home at 6:15 that night. Unlike the previous night, there was nobody to meet me at the door. I missed seeing Jill. Two days and it was like she belonged there. I wasn't looking forward to John coming home from Houston. There's definitely something to be said for having a soft, warm girl pressing back into you while you sleep.

I was halfway down the hall to drop off my books in my room when it hit me I didn't have a room anymore. A few square feet in front of the couch to lay my sleeping bag. That I had to remove every morning so the space could be used by everybody else. Quite likely the girl who had taken over my bedroom.

I turned around and put my books on top of the TV in the living room. I went to the refrigerator, got an apple juice and went out back.

Queenie came over to see me as soon as I walked out the door. I scratched her head and looked in on the puppies. They were excited to have someone to pay attention to them but I wasn't out here for that. I petted each one but got up and headed for the garage. Queenie followed me in.

We've got a two car garage. You can squeeze the Chevy inside but you'll have to walk sideways to get out. It has the standard double size door at the front. The kind you pull out and up that is balanced by huge springs. If you open that door and look in, there's a door on the right, almost at the back wall. If you enter the side door and turn toward the front, you'll pass our water heater, a big cast iron sink, Mom's washer and dryer and an old wardrobe that somebody picked up somewhere years ago. It's filled with my father's clothes, of all things. It is about two and a half feet deep, four feet wide and maybe seven feet tall. There's a shelf with a foot and a half of room above it and a rod from side to side for hanging clothes. Two sliding doors allow access to either half.

The back end of the garage is mostly tools. A workbench takes up most of the wall. There are cupboards above the bench with pegboard doors. Hangers are on the inside of each door for screwdrivers, hammers, pliers and other hand tools. Coffee cans filled with screws, nuts, washers and other hardware are stacked on the shelves. There are a couple of vises at one end and a grinder at the other. These items are accessible by going around the end of the bench and standing sideways. There are drawers under the bench that roll out. They have power tools, mostly in metal cases.

Off to the left of the bench is a section of pegboard over the studs that run from floor to ceiling every 16 inches. Hooks with three legs are strewn across the surface for items that won't fit inside the cupboard doors. Extension cords, a couple of drop lights, a coil of rope, our crowbar, a five foot yardstick and a large square in the shape of an "L" were all there. I know a yard isn't five feet but what else do you call it?

This had been Dad's pride and joy. The kitchen cabinets, shelves in both bathrooms, the wooden planters around the yard all came to be at that workbench. I remember watching him work for hours on many a Sunday when I was young. These days you had to move one or both of our bikes out of the way if you needed to get to the workbench.

Mom had no idea which tool was used for what. She was more likely to get a kitchen knife to remove a screw than to make a trip to the garage to get a screwdriver. I did some work out there but I wasn't as into it as Dad had been. I don't have the patience to measure, cut, sand and finish wood. Dad enjoyed getting the raw materials at Home Depot and creating something that would be used for years.

The left side had rakes, shovels, a couple of picks and some brooms of various types hanging near the back. There were some shelves with half used cans of paint, varnish, paint thinners and other solvents as well as oil, antifreeze, car cleaning supplies, a gallon jug with some water in it and other car junk. There was a water hose for some car or other with four bends in it. You never know when you'll need one of those. A lot of the items had been out there long before they were considered to be hazardous materials.

A six foot fiberglass ladder and our lawnmower took up the rest of the left wall. There was a large trash can in front of the ladder hanging on the wall.

One of Dad's big projects had been a partial floor under the roof. It ran from side to side, starting about four and a half feet from the front door and ending about the same distance from the back wall. It ran from under a foot below the roof at the two sides to almost five feet where the roof peaked in the center. There was a square hole in the middle, three and a half feet on a side. The construction was two by fours, side to side with one by six slats to make up the floor. Two by fours came down from the ceiling beams to the front and back edges and the four corners of the hole in the center for support.

This was our place to put stuff we didn't have room for. Boxes of records that Mom and Dad had. 45S, 33s and even a few 78s from Dad's parents. An old record player that had its own case that used to be in my room. I remember putting the inserts in the 45s so they would fit on the spindle. Many years ago, when I was very young. My Big Bird and Cookie Monster records. There were three boxes containing an encyclopedia that thought the cold war was still in effect and space travel consisted of a couple of trips to the moon and back. There was an extension ladder up against the bottom, on the left side, held by brackets that could be rotated to release it. There was also provision to store Mary's and my bikes on the bottom of the structure that hadn't been used for years.

My prize was on the left side, near the front. It was tough by myself but I was able to get the ladder up there and work it on top of the open garage door, then wrestle it down to the floor. Mom and Dad's old mattress and box spring set. There were a couple of king sized pillows next to them that I grabbed. I moved the ladder to the center and spotted a stand-alone heater. I pulled it down and took the plastic off the heater and the bed. I plugged in the heater and it warmed up right away. No bed frame, no headboard but it would be a lot better than a sleeping bag in the living room.

Dad had gotten a big roll of plastic when he started storing things on the shelf. Kind of industrial sized Saran Wrap. The plastic was covered with dust but the mattress and box springs were ready for sheets. I put the plastic in the trash can and washed my hands.

Queenie followed me outside. There was no food in any of the bowls. The water level was low in both water bowls and it wasn't too clean in the puppies'.

Mary and Sara were in the kitchen. Sara was making a salad and Mary was handling the dinner. She was cooking some chicken and had some noodles going on the stove.

"Sara, when's the last time you took care of the puppies?"

"I was out there this morning."

"You need to pay them more attention. There's no food out there and they're almost out of water. And the puppies' water is pretty dirty."

"I'll take care of it."

She headed out the back door. I noticed that Bozo followed her outside. Dino was sitting down out of the way, watching Mary at the stove.

I got some sheets and blankets from the hall closet and took them out to the garage. I had a serviceable bed a few minutes later.

Mom got home about 8:15. I was just putting pillow cases on the pillows. She stuck her head in the side door.

"I see you got the old mattress down."

"Yeah. I got tired of the living room. Do you realize what you've got stored out here?"

"What do you mean?"

"You've got the old encyclopedia, all the old records and Dad's clothes are in that."

"I wasn't ready to get rid of his things. There's no reason to keep them. Why don't you and Jill spend some time over the weekend and clean out some of it? Go ahead and inventory the records. You can put them on E-Bay and keep whatever you get. You might even get something for the encyclopedia. It's worth a shot. The clothes can go in the trash or to Good Will. Anything else up there?"

"Just my old record player."

"Hey, put it on E-Bay, too. You never know what people will buy. If nobody wants it, Good Will may take it. I know they sell old records for a dime, somebody might have some use for it."

"I want to use the wardrobe right away."

"Take the clothes out and put them in trash bags."

We went inside. Mary was just finishing up dinner.

Mom monopolized the conversation as she is wont to do.

"Girls, you need to be ready to leave at 7:30 tomorrow."

Mary asked the question on both their minds.

"What's going on tomorrow?"

"You are both going to work with me. I've made appointments for both of you. Sara, they're going to check you out and at least change your bandages. You may be able to get by with something less for your ribs. And you don't need all that on your nose now, I'm sure."

"I'll be glad to get out of it, for a while at least. Do you think there's any way I could get a bath?"

"God, I hope so."

"That's enough, Jackie. Yes, Sara, I'm sure you'll at least get a sponge bath."

"So, why am I going, Mom?"

"You get to meet with a prosthetic dentist. We're going to see about getting you some new teeth."

"Am I going to have false teeth?"

"They haven't figured out how to grow new ones, so yes. But they have some new things since your Granny got the teeth she used to keep in the glass at night."

"Like what?"

"Why don't you meet with the dentist and he'll take a look at your mouth and figure out what will work for you. I don't want to get your hopes up and find out you need something else."

"OK, Mom."

I glanced at the clock.

"Darn, I've got to go."

"Got to go where, Jackie?"

"I told Jill I'd pick her up from school."

"Didn't it occur to you to get permission before you took my car?"

"She rode her bike. I'm going to ride back with her."

"It's too late for that. Take the car and pick her up. But come straight home. I don't want you two out all night."

"OK, Mom."

I stayed at the table for another five minutes. There was some pound cake for desert. I decided to wait and see if Jill wanted a snack after school.

I gained an extra twenty five minutes by not having to ride the bike. That gave me time to empty the wardrobe and hang Jill's clothes from the suitcase inside.

I pulled up to see two men, older than I, talking to Jill. From the way they were leaning toward her and the look on her face, it appeared to be more than talking. One of them was holding onto the handlebars of her bike.

I turned on the brights and drove up, practically running into them, making the tires squeal as I stopped. The lights were pointed at them and Jill's back. They lifted their arms to shield themselves from the glare. I got the keys and ran back to the trunk. I opened it and grabbed the tire iron I knew was always in the depression to the right of the spare tire. It was on display as I came up to Jill and they dropped their arms.

They checked out the tire iron and I think they both figured I wasn't any danger. Then they saw the expression on my face and backed off. "We didn't mean anything."

When they were far enough away for Jill to get back some of her courage she said "Assholes!"

I took her hand and walked the bike to the back of the car. After making sure it was safely inside, I covered it with a blanket and tied the trunk down tight as it would go.

Jill stood next to me as I put her bike away. When I looked back at her I noticed she was shaking. I pulled her into me and held her head as she grabbed onto me.

"Remind me to listen to you from now on."

"Hey. It's OK, Jill. You didn't know. I'm here now."

"I want to go home."

I started to take her over to the passenger side and she pulled in the other direction. She slid in when I opened the drivers door. She held on to my arm as I drove home.

We pulled up into the driveway.

"I've got a surprise for you."

"What?"

"Come on. I'll show you."

We got out and walked towards the back of the garage. I opened the door and flipped on the light switch. She looked inside and saw the bed.

She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a kiss. My heartbeat nearly doubled.



-------

Chapter 53

"Are you hungry?"

"I could eat something."

"We had Sara Lee pound cake for desert. I waited to have some with you."

"Ooh. I love Sara Lee."

We went into the kitchen and pigged out on pound cake. Jill asked if we had any chocolate syrup and poured some on hers. Too much like putting ketchup on steak for me.

"I miss Bozo. Is he in with that little bitch again?"

"He was hanging around Sara earlier, yes. And don't be shy about telling me how you feel about her."

"I know you have to live with her and I feel sorry for her with her father and all but it just seems like she has to take over everything. I know she wasn't trying to steal you when she got beat but you know damn well she was going after you when you first started talking to her. And she was still interested. Maybe she's not now, but she didn't lose interest just because you told her you had a girlfriend.

"The garage looks nice and it's a lot better than the floor in the living room, but it should be her that's out in the garage, not you. We could do just fine in your room if we had to, even if you just have a twin bed.

"And now I can't even find my damn dog. It's not fair. I don't think I should have to force my own dog to come home with me when I move back because some bitch has been spoiling him while I'm at school."

"Well, what about when you're at school? What did he do at your house?"

"He stayed out in the back yard. I'd put him out when I left and bring him in when I got home. And everything worked out great."

"OK. So, we'll tell Sara that's what you want. But calling her a bitch isn't going to help anything."

"All right. I won't call the bitch that to her face."

We went down the hall and I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"It's Jack. I want to get some clothes for tomorrow."

"Come in."

I opened the door.

"And I want my dog. Come 'ere, Bozo."

He was lying on the bed near Sara. He glanced up at Jill, then lay back down.

"JEESUS FUCKING CHRIST! Now you've stolen my dog. First my boyfriend and now my DOG. WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?"

"But he was lonely. I was only helping out."

I stepped between them.

"Sara, you've got an adult dog and two puppies outside that I bet you haven't said two words to since you moved in. The puppies were low on water and rolling in shit the last time I checked. Bozo belongs outside when Jill is away and with her when she's around. You need to take care of your own dogs. If you want to play with Bozo while you're playing with yours, that's fine. But I bought him for Jill and I don't appreciate you taking him away from her."

I leaned over and picked him up, handing him to Jill. Then I got some clothes from the closet and some clean underwear for tomorrow.

We went out to the garage and it was a little too cold. I turned on the heater and set it down near the bed.

"I hope you're happy. I didn't call her Bitch. I need to take a shower before we go to bed."

"OK. I took one at school. I'll watch Bozo while you're in there."

She looked at the empty easy chair. "Where are my clothes?"

"Oh, I forgot to show you." I took her out to the garage and showed her the wardrobe with her clothes hanging up inside. The suitcase was on the floor next to it along with her makeup bag.

Jill picked up some stuff to take inside while I watched Bozo. He used the facilities, then took a long drink out of Queenie's bowl. He sniffed at her empty food bowl and whined.

I got some puppy chow and put it in his bowl. He dug in like he hadn't eaten for days.

By now the garage had heated up. I brought Bozo in with me and closed the door. I changed into the pair of shorts I wore to bed and climbed in. The mattress was so much better than sleeping on the floor.

The door opened and Jill came in, closing it after her. Bozo got up and went over to her. Good for him, she was ready to de-ball somebody if they acted up.

Jill was wearing a robe. One of those comfy things that girls wear when they sit on the couch with their legs under them, watching TV. She had some ridiculous fuzzy slippers on that I knew better than to make fun of.

"Oh. It warmed up good."

She went over to the wardrobe and pulled out a hanger. I'd seen the nightgown she wore the last couple of nights in the wardrobe after she went in to shower. So I was expecting something special. This was our special room, so I was waiting for... something.

She took off the robe and hung it up. She was wearing an off-white nightgown with pink and blue flowers on it. Very tasteful. Long sleeves. Down to just above her ankles. The proverbial flannel nightgown.

"Where's the light switch?"

I pointed toward the switches next to the door.

"The one closest to the door is for the outside. The other's in here."

She mentally placed the bed and turned out the lights inside. The outside lights provided a soft glow through the window in the door as she made her way over.

"We're going to have to see if there's some way we can do something with the lights from bed."

"Maybe we should get one of those clappers."

"That would work."

She lifted the blankets and got in next to me. After she was lying down she slipped off her slippers and put them next to the bed.

We ended up face to face. Actually, front to front. It wasn't see-through, but the nightgown definitely didn't hide any of her curves. I could feel woman as I held her in my arms.

"Hate me?"

"Why should I hate you?"

"I was pretty tough on her."

"No. You said what you needed to. I've started to feel a little taken advantage of. I don't think she's been able to have much with those parents. She's probably taking advantage of the freedom she's found here. If you let a kid run wild, he'll end up being unmanageable. I think Sara's the same way. I like her but she is doing some things I don't like."

"I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

She leaned into me and kissed me.

"Oooh. I like this."

She kissed me some more. I kissed back.

Her hands were feeling my bare back. Rubbing, pulling, tugging me into her. Her breasts pushed through the nightgown and flattened under the pressure.

She pulled back and pushed me over on my back. I reached for her to pull her to me but she resisted.

"Shh. Lie still. Close your eyes."

I felt fingers run through the hair on the side of my head. Gentle kisses, hardly there. On both eyelids, my cheekbones, my cheeks. A quick peck on my lips, too fast for the return kiss that was almost instinctive. My chin, a giggle and a "Scratchy." Both sides, under my jaw, my Adam's apple, then right above my right collarbone, where the neck meets the shoulder. Another giggle as I reflexively pulled my shoulder up. Not as bad on the other side but definitely felt. Up till now, the only erogenous zone I had been aware of was between my legs.

She backed up and started rubbing my chest. Her fingers ran through the hair that's there. I'm no old man with black hair all over him but I have a little. She said "Uhhm", I said "Ohhhh".

The same kisses. Little touches. Both sides, a couple of inches in from my armpits. Below the bulges on my pectorals. Then a flick of a tongue on my right nipple.

My body tried to pull back into the mattress. It was almost too much pleasure for it to handle. She seemed to enjoy my reaction by the giggle. A flick at the other one. Again, not as surprising but it felt soooo good. I took her head in my hands. Not really pulling it in or holding it still. Trying to convince myself that I had some control over her.

She concentrated on the nipples. Back and forth, little licks and kisses, then sucking one in and licking the stiffened nub while maintaining the suction. I felt that one down in my groin. I held the head a bit tighter. She seemed to like my reaction and kept repeating the same thing, one side then the other, back and forth.

Something was happening to me a little further south, as well. I was getting stiff. Had gotten stiff. I'd been paying attention to her mouth but the rest of my body reacted on its own volition. The way it always did. I haven't talked to the man yet who has any control over his prick's rising and falling.

Jill finally noticed it pushing into her left wrist. Shit, she probably noticed it before I did. She finally did something.

She said "Uuhhmmmm." And she moved her arm back so she could wrap her hand around me.

Jill's hands are so much nicer than mine. I know she only had her left one on my cock, but the right one was combing through the hair on my chest again and I'd never been able to make myself feel like that.

She kept both hands in place and kissed my stomach. And lower. And lower. She released my cock and put her fingers under the waistband of my shorts and pulled down about an inch. There's a small area of tender underside just below my belly and above my pubic hair. It's been a sensitive spot for millions of years because an animal could rip out my entrails with just one swipe of his claws right there. Jill kissed that spot and I felt a shock.

It was what I would expect from putting my finger in a light socket and having someone flip the switch on and off. A tiny fraction of a second. I felt it in my groin, my stomach, the insides of my legs almost down to my feet. And my spine. I may have flopped like a fish. I was too out of it to know.

"Get up."

She had her hands under the waistband on both sides. Somehow she'd moved and wasn't on my chest anymore but was kneeling next my thigh.

I decided she didn't want all of me up. I used my legs to get my ass off the mattress and she slid my shorts down and off. They ended up next to the fuzzy slippers.

That done, she moved back to the main attraction. She took my cock in her right hand, holding it just under the head. She slid her thumb up and over the top, wetting it with the fluid leaking out of the hole. Her left hand stole down to my balls and cradled them gently.

She leaned over, her face right up to me. She gently blew. I felt the cool breath as it moved all over my cock and down to my balls. She giggled.

"A blow job. You like?"

I liked. A lot. But I'd forgotten how to speak. The words weren't there. I nodded my head and said "Mmmm. Mmmmm."

Next were the kisses. Again, so light they were hardly there. All over. The shaft, my balls. The head. She licked up fluid when she kissed the head. And sucked it like a straw. I tried to push myself into the mattress again. Too much. Too good. Could someone die from pleasure?

Then the tongue. Gentle licks. All over. Then swipes. Like a dog licking peanut butter off a knife. Over and over. One side, then the other. Then the very top. A swirling motion that I thought was going to take the top of my head off.

She lowered her head and started the long swipes on my balls. She lifted them and somehow got her tongue almost to the mattress. That lump behind my balls, before my ass. Jesus Christ. I lifted my ass off the bed at that. I was up before I knew it. Pure reflex.

She moved back to my balls. And she opened her mouth and took one inside, teasing it with her tongue. My body didn't know how to react. The instinct was to protect, to pull away, to prevent her from chomping down. The rest of me wanted to feel her mouth, testing, exploring, discovering my testis. She let it out before I had to make a decision and then took the other one in. Instinct lost out on this one.

I noticed Jill didn't have a normal mouth. Not anything like my mouth could be. It was soft. And warm. And her tongue had no stiffness to it. It flowed, it was like warm, soft butter. Only not as stiff. There was a support as you sunk into it. So many contrary feelings that added up to ecstasy.

I thought my balls felt wonderful. And they did. But Jill redefined wonderful when she licked back up the shaft and slid the end of my cock in her mouth. That tongue melted over the head, the top part of the shaft. So soft, so warm, so moist. I knew what the womb felt like. Again, my hands found themselves holding her head.

One of the guys at school had a porno flick that I watched. There was a scene with a woman sucking a guy's cock. She went up and down, as fast as she could. Faster than I go with my hand.

Jill wasn't fast. She wasn't even moving up and down. Yes, she'd take more or less in her mouth, but it was more like flowing than moving. Exploring, loving, celebrating. I felt the reverberations in my ears. It seemed that every nerve ending, every synapse in my brain and the rest of my body was on fire.

She opened her mouth and said "Uuuhhhmmmm." I could feel the saliva slither down my cock, coating it, pooling in my pubic hair and my balls. Her mouth went back to work, then I felt her left hand take possession of my balls again. Softly juggling, working them. So good yet so potentially dangerous. She had me strung tighter than a banjo string.

My body couldn't take it anymore. Some primal instinct told me that I needed to procreate. Logically, I knew that her mouth was not the place to go for that. Logic lost out. Big time.

I started moving up and down. Trying to seat my sex as far inside her as it would go. Jill's reflexes were good. She pulled back and I never got near her throat. She wrapped her right hand around my cock and made sure I never would. At least this time.

She also stayed right there. I was fucking her mouth. And she was loving it. Her "Uhmmm"s added a dimension to an already overwhelming experience. She continued to knead my balls as she used her tongue and lips and mouth and hand to bring me pleasure as I pounded away. I used the hands that were trying to rip out whole chunks of the mattress to leverage my center closer to that tongue, that mouth, that unbelievable delight.

I felt my balls tighten up. And my cock seemed to grow to twice its size. I shouted "Aarrrggghh" and Jill groaned "Uuummmhhh" at the same time. She held on to the shaft and wrapped her mouth just under the head, flowing that tongue around some more.

This time I stayed up as my ass levitated off the bed. Six, seven, eight times I spurted before I lost count. Jill didn't cough and spit me out like the last time. I could see her throat move as she swallowed. Repeatedly.

I finally sank back down into the bed and let go of the mattress. I could still feel the tightness in my hands. My chest was swelling and shrinking as my hearted pounded. I was covered in sweat.

Jill finished cleaning me off, raised up and smiled at me. Then she opened her mouth and displayed the pool of semen still there. She closed her mouth and swallowed. "Mmmm, Mmmmm, Good."



-------

Chapter 54

I grabbed on to Jill and pulled her mouth to mine. She tried to pull back with an "Uuhhmmmphff" but I persisted and kissed her. There was a foreign taste in her mouth. Something I could live with. I wasn't quite ready to give a blowjob to the next guy I met, but I could thank Jill with a kiss after she'd given me one. When she realized I was OK with it, she gave up the struggle and joined in.

"I didn't think you'd want to kiss me after that."

"I didn't kiss you after that. I kissed you because of that."

We settled down under the blankets. I was on my back, she was up against me on her side, resting on my arm.

"Where did you learn how to do that?"

"In my back yard that day with you. And here. Tonight."

"I don't know if I'll be able to take it when you really know what you're doing."

"I kind of knew what I was doing. I wanted to make you feel good. It's not complicated making a guy come. You pump enough and it will happen. Or so I've heard."

"Yeah, that's pretty much how it works."

"It was fun kissing different parts of your body and seeing you react. And every girl knows the number one rule in oral sex is 'Watch the teeth.' It was fun to just play and explore your body."

"How about if I return the favor?"

"Uuhhhmmm."

"Roll over. On your stomach."

I'd heard that a massage was romantic. I decided to give it a try.

I started out at her shoulders. They were bunched up. Well, some things had gone on today that could cause that.

I used my whole hands but the thumbs did most of the work. Fingers over the top and thumbs digging into the meat. I did some on top, too. It was easy to tell what felt good by the moans and the way she seemed to sink further into the mattress as I worked the tension out.

The shoulders felt a lot more relaxed and she wasn't reacting to it as much. An occasional groan here and there. More because it felt good than because I was relaxing something further.

I worked down her back. Under the shoulders, the back muscles all the way down. No thumbs now but the whole hand, working out towards the sides. When I got to the bottom I lay my hands so the thumbs were right where her butt started sloping up. I worked that area between back and butt. It was another tense spot and at one point she let out a squeal. "God, that felt good."

Then I started on her spine. Top to bottom, using the tips of my fingers, maybe an inch out from the bone and pushing the skin in, then pulling it back out. It was tighter at either end; up near her neck and just above her butt.

By this time she was just so much dead weight. It would have taken a conscious effort for her to get up off the bed. I started on her left leg, just below her butt, thumbs in the middle, hands going around and down the sides. At least as far as I could with her nightgown on. I kneaded that leg from ass to heel, then did the same on the right one. Then I got the soles of both feet, one at a time. Jill was hesitant about letting me work on her feet. I took care to massage, not tickle them. After I got into it she commented on how good they felt.

I moved back up and laid my hands on her butt.

"I wondered when you'd get to that."

"I can skip it if you want."

"No, I'm just kidding."

It wasn't cramped up or anything but I think we both enjoyed it. I worked on it as I had her back, working out from the crevasse in the center.

I could have gone on rubbing her butt forever but I figured we'd spent enough time on it. I gave her a light swat. She jumped a bit.

"Roll over."

"Uhhmm." [Leave me alone — I'm relaxed] She seemed to sink deeper into the mattress.

I got hold of her outside arm and leg and rolled her over on her back. That got me an angrier "Uhhmm!" [Hey — I told you to leave me alone] She closed her eyes and tried to give me her best "Damn it, you disturbed me" look.

"Those lips look tense to me."

I leaned over and proceeded to loosen them with my own lips.

"Uhhmm." [I'll give you six hours to quit that]

I hadn't worked on her arms yet so she was able to lift them and wrap them around me as we kissed.

We eventually relaxed the kiss and I worked on her shoulders from this side. Then I took one arm at a time and rubbed and massaged from shoulder to wrist. I duplicated what I'd done to the soles of her feet on her hands.

Next was her torso from just under her breasts down to right above her pubis. Jill wasn't saying anything but I could tell she was getting frustrated that I was concentrating on the "safe areas."

Next I did the fronts of her legs just as I'd done the backs earlier.

I swung my leg over her and ended up kneeling with my butt above her pussy. Her eyes were closed and her face was relaxed with a slight smile. Not so much happy. More like contented.

I cupped my hands and lay them around the base of her left breast. I pulled them up, massaging the muscle as I did so.

"Uhhmm." [I like]

I repeated with the right one. Back to the left. The right.

The noise died down. I put the fingers of each hand in a circle and wrapped each set of fingertips around a nipple. That got me a quick intake of breath. I lay my hands on her breasts and worked the nipples between my thumbs and forefingers.

"Hmm. They don't seem to be relaxing. I wonder what's wrong?"

"Don't stop. That feels sooo good."

I took a nipple in my mouth. The flannel nightgown definitely restricted the feeling but it was nowhere near as bad as a bra. She soon had two prominent bumps in her nightgown. Pretty much in the center of the two wet circles.

"That doesn't seem to be relaxing it, either."

I moved off her and scooted down.

"Uuhmm!" [Come back here — I told you not to stop]

I moved my mouth over and kissed the juncture of her legs. She spread them as much as the nightgown would let her. I was able to kiss just in front of where I figured her clitoris was. Through the nightgown.

"Uhhmm!! [Goddamm nightgown!!]

She raised up and reached down to the sides of her knees, grabbing the material and pulling up. She had a look of concentration on her face as she raised her butt, balancing on her feet and her shoulders, struggling to get it up to her waist. Once done, she relaxed, making sure her legs were open.

It was the first time I'd seen this part of her. She'd told me her secret the first day we went out. But the real thing was more than I'd been able to imagine. There was no hair to be seen. Jill shaved herself bald.

I've heard that women do that to look like pre-pubescent girls. Well, I remember seeing Mary when she was 9 or 10 in the bathtub. The water was shallow enough that I was able to see all that was there. And Mary hadn't reached that point where she was embarrassed for me to see it yet. Let me tell you. What was a few inches in front of my face did not look like a little girl.

I moved her legs apart a little more. Her labia parted slightly. I could smell an odor unlike anything I'd ever encountered as I moved closer. I breathed it in deeply. I was instantly hooked.

Pictures are nice, but there is nothing like having the real thing eight inches in front of you. I explored her with my finger. I gently examined on one side of her labia, drawing my finger from the bottom toward the top. I'd hardly started when Jill gasped. I pulled away.

"Did I hurt you?"

"God, no. Keep going."

I went back to my task. The labia seemed a little fuller. I gently moved my finger up the right side. A deep breath and I could see her arms tighten a bit. I did the other side. They opened up as I stimulated them.

"Damn, Jill. You don't look very relaxed. Maybe I should stop."

"Don't you dare."

I continued my exploration by inserting my finger at the bottom of the opening at the base of her labia. It resisted, then opened as I softly pushed. The inside felt moist. The slot opened as I dragged the finger up toward the top. The channel ended and I felt a distinct bump pointing inward. I had a pretty good idea what it was from my reading. My finger was wet with her moisture and I gently rubbed the little button. That brought another gasp from Jill as she pulled away from me.

"OK?"

"Oh, yeah."

I started over again at the bottom. This time I felt much more moisture. My finger sank in to the first knuckle before I stopped pushing. It was hot and moist and silky and felt like it was trying to suck me in. A little more pressure and my finger was in past the second knuckle. I felt a block.

"That's as far as you go for now."

"OK. How are you doing?"

"Oh, God. I'm doing just fine. I've never felt anything like this."

I slid my finger out and sucked on it, then bent closer and kissed her labia.

"Oh, shit. More."

My tongue parted her lips with ease. I got my first taste of that wonderful nectar that only a woman in heat can produce. Pure ambrosia. I decided it was going to be a big part of my diet from now on.

My tongue followed the path blazed by my finger, spreading her lips as it went. I flicked her little button as I got to the top. I could feel her tighten up and hear her hiss.

"Oh, Jeez, yes."

This time I pushed my tongue in as deep as it would go. The silky walls did their best to hold on to it.

"Aaaarrrgghh."

I played some more, exploring with my tongue. Jill had her hands at the back of my head, pushing me in as she tried to throw me off by moving her body. I grabbed on to her legs and kept at it.

Her fingers were now entwined in my hair. I backed my tongue out and replaced it with my finger. I moved my head up, licking her clit. Her fingers grabbed tighter. My mouth went around the little button and I toyed with it with my tongue. She was rocking her hips on the bed, acting as if she was trying to pull out clumps of hair while still managing to push me into herself. I sucked.

That did it. Jill lifted herself off the bed, pushing as if she wanted to get inside my mouth. "Ooohh, ooohhh, oohh, ooooohh." She was having trouble catching her breath and this was the only sound she seemed to be able to make until she let out a wail, dropping back to the mattress and trying to close her legs. I kept sucking on her until she struggled to remove me with her hands.

"Please, no more. I can't take it."

I stopped sucking on her and removed my finger. Then I blew on her clitoris and she shivered.

"Come up here."

I moved up to her face as her arms wrapped around me and pulled me in to her. Our kiss was long and deep.

"Is that what I taste like? Not bad."

"No, it's not. I'm hooked on it so I'm going to want lots more."

"Well, there's no way I'm going to stop you. That was so intense. I've never felt like that before. At the end it felt so good it hurt. God, I love you."

"I love you too, Jill." I'd never said it that way before. No qualifications. And I knew it was true.

We kissed some more; a lot more. I lay down on my back and she lay with her butt against my hip, pulling my arm around her so that she could mold her back to my front. Shortly after, she was asleep. I followed right along.



-------

Chapter 55

The alarm went off at 6:00. I got up and Jill moaned. Bozo came over to me and made himself known. I'd totally forgotten he was in the garage with us. He really was a pretty good dog.

I opened the side door and saw that the outside lights were still on. Bozo ran out to squat as I flipped the switch. Jill came up behind me, put her hand on my shoulder and gave me a quick kiss.

"See you inside. Gotta pee." I saw her open the kitchen door, step up with one foot, then screech "Daddy!"

I went up to the door to see John standing next to the kitchen table with a big smile on his face and his daughter wrapped around him. I walked up to him and held out my hand. He took it, then looked a little closer at me.

"Jack, you've got some kind of crud around your mouth. You should have someone take a look at that."

"Daddy! Be nice."

I went over to the sink and John put his attention back on Jill.

"Is he taking good care of you?"

"You better believe it. He took such good care of me last night I think we probably woke up the whole neighborhood."

"I don't know if I should be happy or angry at your boyfriend."

"If you want to be angry at someone, be angry at me. I'm the one who started it."

"I should have known that. Jack seems to be a complete gentleman. You, on the other hand, are a brazen hussy."

"Oh, Daddy. I am not brazen. Let me go. I've got to pee."

Jill took off just as Mom walked through the door. She had a big smile on her face. I looked over at John and he was smiling, too.

"Good morning, Mom. You look awful cheerful."

"Morning. I'm just happy."

I looked over at John. "What time did you get here?"

"About an hour ago. Why?"

"I thought maybe you got here last night and that's why Mom is so happy."

John got a stern look on his face as Mom interrupted him.

"Jackie, there are a lot of things you can do in an hour. If the sounds coming from the garage last night are any indication, you already figured that out for yourself."

"Jill does get a little loud."

"Jill's not the only one who got loud last night. You may not have been aware of it at the time but you were pretty loud in your praise of what she was doing to you. But to answer your question, no, John did not screw your mother. We did have a really nice conversation over the last hour or so. It's nice to sit down with a cup of coffee and have a conversation with an adult once in a while. I've missed that since your father died."

Jill had arrived at the tail end of Mom's response. She went up to her father and wrapped both arms around his right one, snuggling into it. Much the same as she did with me. She had a big smile on her face.

"Did you cure everybody in Houston, Daddy?"

"No, Honey. They kicked me out."

"Why would they do that?"

"When FEMA took over, they said they had all their own doctors and they couldn't let just anybody practice medicine. I don't think the fact that they didn't have enough of their own doctors to do the job made any difference to them. I wanted to tell them to go screw themselves, but you can't fight a government bureaucracy like that. I just feel sorry for all the people who won't get proper care so that FEMA can do things by the book. They fucked up New Orleans, now they're going to fuck up Houston."

"Are you going to take me to school, Daddy?"

"Sure thing, Baby. When do you need to leave?"

"I guess we can leave at about twenty to eight. That will give me a few minutes at school before class starts. I need to take a shower before I go."

I couldn't wait for her to shower. "Jill, give me about five minutes in the bathroom."

"Sure, Jack."

I went in and took care of everything that need to be taken care of. When I came out, Jill, Mom and John were all sitting around the kitchen table, coffee mugs in their hands. Jill had a plate with some toast on that she was working on. There had been something nagging at me since I'd first seen John. A subtle difference I couldn't quite put my finger on. As I walked into the kitchen and saw the three of them talking, it hit me. John wasn't putting on his "look at me, I'm the king" show. He was perfectly relaxed. And the funny thing is, the two women at the table were treating him the way his act was designed to make people treat him but never did.

"Get yourself some coffee and sit down, Jackie. What do you want for breakfast?"

"You know, Mom, I think I'll just have cereal. Stay there. I can get it myself."

I dug through Mary's Cocoa Puffs and Captain Crunch and found the box of Corn Flakes. I poured some in a bowl and cut up a banana and threw it in. The milk was already on the table. John had to move over so that Jill could move over to make room for me to sit next to her. I experienced that phenomenon that men have been experiencing since the first time one dragged a woolly mammoth home for dinner. Jill picked pieces of banana out of my cereal as I was trying to eat it.

After my banana was gone, she had me move over so she could use the bathroom and shower.

"Hang on, Jillian. Let me see this love nest you two have out in the garage."

"Oh, Daddy. Come on."

I got another banana while I was up and sat back down, slicing the new one over my bowl. I don't mind sharing, but one slice of banana for me and the rest for Jill was more than I was willing to settle for.

John and Jill came back in. Jill had her cosmetics bag and some clothes for school and headed for the bathroom. John came over to the table and made Mom move over so he could sit next to her.

"Boy, you two are looking pretty cozy over there."

John just grinned. Mom, however, had different ideas.

"I don't know why nobody gets that John and I are just friends. I'm getting tired of all this lovey dovey stuff. Nobody says anything when you and Sara are friendly. Why should it be any different with me?"

I noticed John had lost his grin.

"Golly gee, Mah — you sure are sensitive. I don't mean to make you do something you don't want to. But you do have a few facts wrong."

"Really? Such as... ?"

"Well, somebody did say something about me and Sara being friends. In fact she left me because she thought we were more than just friends. And I don't know if Sara is going to want to be friends with me after last night."

"What happened last night?"

"A lot of things have bothered me since Sara moved in and I haven't said anything about them. One of them is the reason I dragged that mattress out of storage and took over the garage. Sara has also decided that since she's home all day and Jill and I have things to do, that Bozo is fair game. That dog means a lot to Jill. And me. She got home after almost being attacked last night and wanted to see her dog. He wasn't around so we went to my old room and he was on the bed with Sara. And he wouldn't come when Jill called him. Jill hit the roof and chewed Sara out for trying to steal me, stealing my room and forcing us to be in the garage and stealing her dog. Sara didn't know what hit her and she looked to me for support. I told her I bought the dog for Jill and it wasn't OK for her to make him not want to be with her. She never said a word, but she looked like she was in shock. I don't think she's going to be very friendly today."

John leaned forward. "What's this about Jill being attacked?"

"She wasn't attacked. There were a couple of guys from the college trying to get her to come with them when I drove up to pick her up. I scared them off and she's fine. I talked to her about it and she's going to make a report tomorrow night when she goes to school and make arrangements with the campus police to get escorted to where I'll pick her up. Only I guess you'll be the one picking her up now that you're back."

"OK, but what did they do?"

"They were just there a minute or so before I pulled up. I saw one of them holding onto her handlebars so she couldn't move her bike."

"You let her ride her bike to college? At night?"

"Hold on a minute, John. I'm one of the good guys here. You of all people should know that if Jill makes up her mind she can do something, there's not a damn thing you can say to change it. I told her I didn't like it and she acted like I was telling her she couldn't cross the street by herself. I had to fight her to get her to agree to let me ride back home with her. When Mom told me to take the car I figured I had all the time in the world because I didn't have to ride my bike over there. Maybe nothing would have happened if I'd been waiting when she got to the gate. And if I have to pick her up again, that's a mistake I definitely won't make. They scared her pretty good but they ran off when they saw the tire iron in my hand and the look on my face. And I think she'll be a little more cautious from now on."

John settled back. I could see he wasn't happy but I think he realized there wasn't much he could do about it. Mom spoke up.

"What do you think about Sara being here? We did get approval for her to stay with me, you know."

"Mom, Sara's like a little kid. She has never had anything. She got clothes and food and place to stay, but she never got any of the extras. And if she managed to get anything, she was constantly told how selfish and thankless she was. Now she's able to do things without fear of her parents. And she's going wild. I don't know what the room solution is. I just know that I've slept in that room since I was born and all of a sudden I find I'm sleeping in the living room, having to knock on what used to be my own door to get clothes for school. I haven't used my computer since she got here. I used to email and IM all my friends and I don't have that anymore. She's been trying to take over Bozo but she has two puppies and their mother in the back yard that she can't be bothered to take care of. Yesterday Queenie was out of water and there was shit all over the puppies' blanket and in their water. I feel sorry for her and I want to help her, but there has to be some way she can be here without tearing Jill and me apart or tearing our family apart. I don't want to sleep on the cement floor in the garage. I don't think I should have to."

"Maybe I should just leave."

We all looked up to see Sara standing in the doorway. Mom was the first to speak.

"Oh, Honey, nobody's asking you to leave."

I wasn't willing to play that game.

"Sara, how much of what I just said did you hear?"

"Enough."

"All right. Then you must have heard me when I said I feel sorry for you and want to help you."

"Yeah..."

"So is that the way you want to live the rest of your life? With people feeling sorry for you?"

"No."

"Then stop acting like a bitch. If you really want to leave, there's the fucking door. If you want to act like an adult and figure out some way to make this work, sit down and we'll talk."



-------

Chapter 56

"How can you say that to me? That's cruel."

"I think it would be more cruel not to say anything to you."

"What do you mean?"

I moved over to give her room. "Sit down, Sara."

She made John and Mom move over so there was a table between us. She looked pissed off. John looked at me with a smile on his face as he made room for her.

"Sara, a big part of this is my fault because I didn't say something sooner. I was mad almost as soon as we got back from the hospital and have been holding it in as each thing piled on everything else."

"What happened when I you got back from the hospital?"

I looked over at Mom. "My mother gave my room away."

She leaned forward, obviously ready to object. John put his hand on her forearm and eased her back into the seat.

"But that was your mother. And you know you could always sleep in your bed with me if you wanted."

"You're right. Mom said you could sleep there until we made more permanent arrangements. And before I knew it, I was permanently on the couch, acting as a guest any time I needed things out of my own room. But before we go on, you said something else. You said I could have shared the bed with you. We need to get this out in the open once and for all. And if you don't finally get this, one of us will be moving out.

"There is no way we could have shared a bed. I am in love with Jill. I know it sounds square and old fashioned, but that means I'm not interested in anybody else. I have no doubt if I made my way into your bed that you'd do everything in your power to make me welcome. But I don't want to be in your bed or anybody else's but Jill's. I don't want you to tease me, make sexual comments to me or anything else designed to mess up my relationship with Jill or attract me to you or anybody else. I realize now that Jill was right to be concerned. Not jealous, but concerned. Because, even after you admitted you couldn't handle a relationship right now, you were still playing your little 'manipulate Jack' games. And don't tell me how innocent you were, having me strip you practically naked and kissing me before you went to bed. I should have let you have it right then instead of protesting and still letting you play me like a violin."

She had tears flowing down her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I just wanted some attention."

"I know that, Sara. I know how much you've been hurting, how desperate you are for any kind of affection. Why do you think I let you get away with it? But it's not fair for you to tempt me like that, Sara. I can only put up with so much. And I don't want to screw up the best thing that's ever happened in my life."

John was smiling at me and glanced up at the doorway. I heard a squeal and the next thing I knew I had a squirming Jill sitting in the space I'd vacated for Sara, her arms wrapped around mine and her cheek pressed up against it.

Sara looked at the two of us. "Jill, I'm sorry. I was just... I was just so starved for attention, I didn't even think."

"I'm not going to tell you it's OK. It's not. But I do forgive you. Jack has made it very clear to me that he's your friend and he's going to remain your friend as long as you'll let him. I'd like to become friends with you, too. I know we've gotten off to a bad start, but if you're willing to leave the loving to me, I'm willing to work at becoming friends."

"I'd like that. Jack, I'm sorry. I went overboard. You're the first person I've felt safe with in a long time. I mean, I'm fine with your mom and Mary, but you're the first guy I could be with and not wonder when he was going to blow up and hit me. I was like someone lost in the desert who comes up on a water fountain. I drank, and drank and drank, not thinking about anything but my thirst."

"I know. And I didn't say anything because I knew how thirsty you were. But dammit, Sara, you're too attractive to me to keep pulling that shit."

She reddened a bit and smiled. "So what about the bedroom?"

"Well, the first thing about the bedroom is that all my stuff is in there. And I don't like having to knock on my own bedroom door when I want to change clothes. I haven't been able to use my computer since you moved in because you're always in there."

"Well, I don't know if I'm welcome outside my room."

"Sara, you need to understand one thing. Mom agreed to be your guardian. It may not do so legally, but as far as the three of us are concerned, that makes you part of the family. I don't know everything that went on in your house, but you are definitely not a prisoner here."

Mom had been chomping at the bit to talk ever since this had started. She finally went for it.

"I've been thinking about the room situation. We obviously don't have enough rooms in this house for everyone. But we bought it fifteen years ago. There's plenty of money in it to take out a loan and do something. We could add on or make the garage into a bedroom and bath or even add a second story onto the garage and turn that into an apartment. Jack, I know you've had that room ever since you were two, but I think everybody here knows you're going to be having company from time to time. That room simply isn't large enough for two people. I personally like the idea of doing something with the garage. That way you can come and go as you please and you'll have some privacy. And after hearing the two of you last night, I don't think I could handle both of you across the hall from my bedroom."

"I could handle the garage if it was a real room. I kind of like the idea of building a second story. It would be tough to find a place for all that stuff that's in there. I'd like Jill and I to be in on the planning."

"I don't see a problem with that. Maybe I'll see if there's enough money in there to get a new car for myself. That way you could have the Chevy to drive over to Jill's house."

"Thanks, Mom. That's great."

Sara spoke up. "What else?"

"Well, you know about taking care of Queenie and the puppies. But you need to do something about getting rid of the puppies."

"I don't know what to do."

"Well, we could put some fliers together. I've got a digital camera, we could even have a picture of them. I could take some to school and put them on the bulletin boards. Or somebody could put them on windshields. Or even go door to door with the two of them in the wagon."

"I can't go out with my face all bandaged like this."

"I'm sure it's not going to be as bad as it is after you see the doctor today. And you aren't the only person here. We're a family. I would be willing to do some stuff and you might find others would, too."

"But I'd feel like I'm imposing."

"Sara, you're not getting it. You're part of the family, now. You need something, ask for it. It's when you take without asking that it bothers us. How many meals have you missed since you come here?"

"None."

"How many times have you offered to put the dishes in the dishwasher? Or said you'd make dinner? Or asked if you could help with dinner? Actually, have you ever asked if there was anything you could do?"

"I haven't."

"Well, that's part of being a family member. If you look, you'll see that Mary and I both do whatever needs to be done all the time. We know Mom works hard and she deserves some help around the house. And we also know what needs to be done so we just do it. But if Mom's doing some chore and either of us is around, we'll usually ask if she wants some help. You can't just take. That's why you don't feel like you belong or are afraid to come out of your room. You're not putting in your share. We all know you've got broken ribs. We're not expecting you to go outside and push a lawn mower around. But there's lots of stuff a cripple like you can do. Shit, I've got a toothless sister and a stepsister with a busted nose. We don't discriminate here. You can all work."

John spoke up. "Jack, it's getting late. Throw on some clothes and I'll drop you off on the way to Jill's school. I'm sure Sara has plenty to think about. You guys will have a lot to talk about at dinner tonight."



-------

Chapter 57

Jill and I sat in the back of John's car on the way to school.

"You didn't have this parked at the airport, did you?"

"No, I caught a shuttle home. I was lucky. There were three of us and I got dropped off first."

"So how was Houston?"

"Hot and muggy. A lot of the people there hadn't seen a doctor in years. Some were in pretty bad shape. I felt bad leaving them but there wasn't much I could do."

All this time Jill had been hanging onto my arm with a goofy smile on her face.

"What's gotten into you?"

"I'm just happy."

"Any particular reason?"

"I heard what you said to Sara."

"I know. You were sitting next to me."

"Before that."

"I don't remember when you sat down."

"You told her that you were in love with me. And that you didn't want to do anything with any other women. And to stop messing with you."

"Oh. So you liked that?"

She pulled my head toward her and showed me how much she liked it. By the time I came up for air we'd stopped in front of my school.

"We'll see you tonight, Jack. I'm going to take care of some things so I won't be going in to work today. Have a good day at school."

"Thanks, John. I will."

Jill gave me another kiss to send me on my way.

School was school. Nothing special. I caught myself drifting off a couple of times. That's what you get for not getting enough sleep. It was worth it as far as I was concerned.

My work in the gym went quickly. As long as I didn't slack off, each day was pretty simple. I knew I was doing a better job than Coach had because I had to work a lot harder the first couple of days. Fridays were the toughest because of Thursday's swim meets. But they weren't as bad as the first time I did it.

I was a little surprised that it was getting dark on the walk home. The clocks would be changing soon. Halloween would be right after that. And then Jill's birthday. I had to save my money to get her something special.

I was home before I knew it. Sara was in the kitchen helping Mary make supper. They were yapping a mile a minute and didn't notice me. There was something different about Sara. That godawful bandage was gone. Just Sara.

"Good evening, ladies."

They both turned around.

"Sara, that looks good on you."

"What?"

"That smile."

She lit up even more. It was good to see that. It had been absent much of the time since she'd moved in with us. The smile faded as a look of indecision came over her face.

"What's wrong?"

"I want to do something but I don't know if it's OK."

"What?"

"Give you a hug."

"It all depends on how you do it. If you do it like a friend or a sister, that's fine. If you want more than that, no thanks."

She came over and put her arms around me.

"Be careful. My ribs still hurt."

I hugged her, taking care not to hurt her.

"Well, you must have gotten your bath. You don't stink near as bad as you did this morning."

"Stop it. I couldn't help it."

"Have you still got your bandages?"

"Nope. They gave me a big Ace bandage and I can take it off the take a bath whenever I want. And I've already talked to Mary about helping me take it off and put it on."

"That's good. How fragile are you?"

"I still have to be careful how I move and I can't lift anything. But I'm not nearly as stiff as I was before."

"Good. You look a lot better."

"I feel better. I needed you to kick me in the butt. I didn't know what a real family was like. I don't think either of my parents ever heard of helping anybody with anything."

"That's sad. Wait till you do a load of laundry or something for Mom while she's at work and she gives you a hug when she gets home. There's no feeling like it."

"I feel pretty good just helping make dinner."

"Good. What are we having?"

"Breaded pork chops, green beans, salad."

"Sounds good."

Sara went back to the stove and Mary turned around.

"Mary. What did the dentist say?"

"I'm gonna get implants!"

"New tits?"

"No, Silly. They can put false teeth into your jawbone so they work just like the real thing."

You mean you won't be able to take them out?"

"Nope."

"That's too bad. A lot of guys like gum jobs. You'd be real popular."

"God, Jack. You're awful."

"You look like something's on your mind. What's up?"

"I saw Charlie today."

"How was it?"

"I was so scared at first. He got hurt a lot more than me and it was because he tried to stop those guys from hurting me."

"That's what guys do for women they love, Mary. It's not your fault."

"That's what he told me. Oh, Jack. He was so sweet. He apologized for making me feel bad. He lost an eye and he feels bad because I'm uncomfortable."

"Charlie's a pretty special guy. Were you comfortable being with him?"

"Yeah, I was. I didn't think I would be. But he saw me and he smiled and it was like the first time I saw him. We kissed for the first time today."

"How was that?"

"Fantastic. Wonderful. Awkward."

"Are you going to see him when he gets out?"

"I think so. I told him I'm not ready to date but I think we'll become good friends. Who knows. Maybe some day I'll be ready for more."

"I'm glad you saw him. And I'm glad you're feeling good about it.

"Me, too. I wasn't going to. I went up to see Thelma and that was it. She started in about 'that poor boy' being down there all by himself and he needed a friend and before I knew what was happening I was knocking on his door."

"Yeah, that Thelma's something else. She just seems to know what people need."

The doorbell rang and I went to answer it. Jill jumped in my arms as John stood on the step, smiling.

"Come on, you two. Move out of the way so I can get in the house."

I backed up, dragging Jill with me, and John was able to make it through. He went in the kitchen and I could hear him talking to the girls, teasing and praising them for the work they were doing.

Mom came out of her room and down the hall.

"Hi, Jack. Hi, Jill."

"Hi, Mom. John's in the kitchen."

"He is, huh?"

Jill chimed in, "Yep. He has something he wants to talk to you about."

She went in the kitchen. Jill and I followed. Dino and Bozo were on the mat in front of the door, watching the action. Jill went over and said hello to both of them and then paid special attention to Bozo. I got us a couple of glasses of ice tea and then we sat at the table, out of the way. Actually, I sat at the table, Jill sat on my lap. In the meantime, Mom and John were talking.

"Hi, John. Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No, June, I figured we'd get something after we leave."

"Mary, is there enough for two more?"

"There's enough but we've already started cooking. We'll have to bread some more pork chops and cook some more green beans. They'll be ready about ten minutes after the other stuff."

"Don't go to any trouble for us. We can always go out."

"John don't be an ass. It's no big deal. You and I will just have to wait for a few minutes after the kids start. You're not going to get a meal at a restaurant that fast, even if you leave now."

"OK. If you're sure it's no trouble."

"John, you and I are practically going to be relatives if our kids have anything to do with it. You might as well have a meal or two over here. Don't make a big fuss about it."

"OK, if you say so."

"How about a cup of coffee?"

"That would be great."

While Mom and John had been talking, Jill had been squirming on my lap, doing her best to make me react. And her best was pretty good. I was sporting a woody to end all woodies and it was digging into her. She just ground right back. She leaned over and whispered in my ear, "You want to go out to the garage so I can take care of that?"

"No, dear. It's too close to dinner."

I had a mouthful of tea when she leaned over and whispered "Are you worried about the time or are you afraid it will spoil my appetite?"

I spit tea all over the table, just as John was sitting down. He looked over at us and saw the grin on his daughter's face.

"Jillian, behave."

She just looked at him and stuck her tongue out.

Mom was over with the girls and she had Mary start a separate saucepan with the new beans while Sara made more salad. Mom breaded four more pork chops and put them in a frying pan instead of the oven like the others. She gave Mary instructions, got a cup of coffee for herself and sat down next to John.

"So, Jill tells me you have something you want to talk about."

"Well, I got to thinking after I left here this morning and..."

"Always a bad sign, that. Any time a man starts thinking you better check your wallet and close your knees."

"Come on, June. Please, let me talk."

"I'm sorry, John. Go ahead."

"I was thinking that we have an awful big house and since Jack and my daughter are obviously serious, I though maybe Jack could move in with us."

"No thanks, John. I appreciate the thought but I don't know that either of these two is ready for that. They haven't known each other that long. They say they love each other and I believe they do, but Jill was all set to leave Jack a few days ago because she imagined something was going on between him and Sara. I'm not saying the same thing will happen again, but something else may. If they'd been going together for a year with no problems, I might think about it. I might even be persuaded if he had some place to come back to. We need another room, either on the house or in the garage."

"I don't suppose you'd like to move in with me and let Jack and Jill use your room?"

"You don't suppose right. I know these kids don't need a babysitter but I can't justify letting them live here all alone. And I signed a document for the court stating that I would supervise Sara. Not to mention I told you this morning that I don't want to pursue a romantic relationship with you. Don't keep setting yourself up by making comments like that, John. I like you, but there's no spark. If you're going to keep pushing me, you'll lose me as a friend, too."

"OK, I won't push it. But I do have another proposal. Let me do it as a birthday present for Jill."

"John, you know there's no way I'm going to go in that much debt to you. I feel like you're trying to buy me."

"No, it's nothing like that. I saw how happy Jill was this morning. She was so proud when she showed me how Jack set up the bed and the wardrobe he set up and put her clothes in. It would make me happy to get a place for them to share."

"OK, I'll buy that. But you're not going to get away with paying for the whole thing. Here's what I will do. You pay for the whole thing and I'll pay you back for half of it, with interest. And if the kids decide to call it quits before Jack graduates, I'll pay all of it back."

"That's not fair to you, June."

"Sure it is. I was going to pay for the whole thing anyway. And there's no need for you to buy half a love nest for your daughter if she's not going to use it for less than two years. And I don't have to eat up the equity in my house."

"All right, I'll do it your way. Since I'm fronting the money and am going to end up paying half of it, I've got a couple of men that owe me favors for taking care of their wives. One is an architect. He'll turn around a set of plans in a couple of days. When you sign off on the plan, I've got a contractor who has promised he can do the work in a couple of weeks as long as you don't want anything too exotic."

"Can I trust these men?"

"Yes. I stake my reputation on it."

"OK. Let's get started."

"Have you got some time this evening?"

"I guess."

"Good. They're both waiting for my call. I can have them both here in half an hour. We can go over your various options, come up with a plan and the architect can get going on it tomorrow."

"Fine. Give them a call. Only tell them forty five minutes so we have time to eat dinner."



-------

Chapter 58

Dinner was good. Both girls got complimented by the rest of us. Sara just beamed.

"It does taste good, doesn't it?"

"Yes, it does. Part of that is knowing that you helped make it."

"Thanks, Jack."

A half hour later we were finished eating. Sara started to clean off the table.

"Uh, uh. Jill and I will take care of that. You and Mary did the cooking, it's only fair."

Mom got coffee for her and John and they all went out into the living room. Jill and I could have finished a lot quicker if we had kept our hands to ourselves.

The doorbell rang and I heard Mom answer. I heard a male voice ask if Dr. O'Hara was here and then John was asking him in.

Jill and I had finished with the dishes and went into the living room. The man who was just coming in looked to be in his 30s. He either worked outside or surfed. His blond hair was bleached by the sun and his arms and face were almost chocolate with a hint of red. John shook his hand and then put an arm around his shoulders.

"Everybody, this is Alex Woodrows. Alex is the most honest, competent builder I've ever met." He then went round, naming all of us. Of course we each reached over and shook his hand and said hello, glad to meet you. When John had praised him his face had turned redder. By the time the introductions were finished he was back to normal.

Everybody had a seat and Alex asked Mom what she had in mind.

"I want to build a self contained apartment. Ideally it will have a good sized bedroom, a living room and a bathroom. A combination bathtub and shower would be nice but a shower will be OK. I'd also like a kitchen area. It doesn't need to be huge, but I would like it functional. If the kids all move out, I'd like to be able to rent it to a local college student or a single and not have to worry about them coming in my house to cook or grab something to drink. Something on the order of a small microwave oven, one of those office refrigerators and a two burner hot plate plus some cupboards. If there's any way to put a second story on the garage with a stairway, that would be my first choice. We could add on to the house, but that would take away from my privacy as well as the occupant's. Or we could convert the existing garage. I'd rather not convert if we don't have to."

"Let's go outside and take a look at what we've got to work with."

Alex led the way and the parade followed. I was the last one and was just ready to exit the house when the front doorbell rang. I went in and opened the door to see a man who had to be in his late 40s if not early 50s. He told me he was supposed to meet Dr. O'Hara.

"You must be the architect."

"Yes, I am. He handed me a business card with William Montgomery and a bunch of initials after it."

"Well, Mr. Montgomery, the builder just got here a few minutes ago and everybody's out back. I'm Jack Hill, by the way." I held my hand out and he shook it. We started out through the kitchen. "I don't mean to be rude or anything, but Dr. O'Hara said he delivered your baby."

He laughed and clapped me on the back. "He sure did. I know it's hard to believe but my wife got pregnant when she was 52 and I was 54. And I'll tell you, we were overjoyed and we were scared to death at the same time. Then we found out my wife had some problems that made it likely we'd lose the baby, maybe even lose her, too. We were referred to a specialist. John, I mean Dr. O'Hara was that specialist and he was wonderful. We have a beautiful little boy. He just turned two about a month ago."

"Yeah, I've seen John in action. He's pretty special."

We went out and I saw that everyone was in the garage. It was kind of tight with the king size mattress in the middle of the floor. Alex was using a big measuring tape to get the heights of the walls and the storage platform. He noticed us and lit up.

"William. They want to put a second floor on this garage. Do you think these walls are strong enough?"

The two of them got together and checked out some things. William seemed particularly interested in the studs in the walls. After a couple of minutes, Alex hooked his measuring tape to his belt and went over to Mom.

"The walls should support a second floor without any problem. The only problem is that only one person will be able to go up there or it will collapse."

Jill had been bouncy and smiley the whole time Alex had been talking about the room. When he said that, she almost looked ready to cry. Alex and John started laughing.

"Darlin', I wouldn't build a floor that could only support one person. You and your boyfriend will be fine as long as you don't make any sudden movements or rock any furniture."

John spoke up. "You better watch what you say Alex. Them's fightin' words."

Alex went over to Jill and gave her a hug. "You know I'm just teasing you, Honey."

I assumed Alex had met Jill before.

"So, we can put a second floor up there. It will be the same size as this garage. We'll either have to lose this storage or drop it a few feet. You won't be able to have any tall people in here if we give you the clearance you presently have."

He took Mom out the side door. "We can put a stairway on this side." He got his tape and stuck the end against the garage and pulled about eight feet of tape out. "The stairs will come out to here, in the middle of the walkway. My thinking is we lose the grass between the garage and the walk and dig up this concrete. Then we pour a slab out to here, the whole length of the garage. That will support the staircase and give you a walkway wide enough to get a refrigerator in and out of the kitchen if you need to."

Mom looked at the tape and the garage. "OK. I know we need a concrete platform for the bottom of the stairs. And I guess you're going to have some supports on this side so they don't tilt over."

He nodded his head.

"How about if we build the platform, then make a sidewalk wide enough to walk on like you said and support the stairs, but leave some room to grow flowers. Three feet from the garage to the sidewalk should be plenty."

"We can do that. But don't forget, whatever you plant in there won't have direct sunlight because it will be under a stairway. And if you come too far up this way, you'll have to bend over to get to it."

"I can live with that."

"Good. Is there someplace we can sit down and spread out and discuss this?"

"We can sit in the living room or at the dining room table."

"The table would be best."

There was enough coffee for two cups. Mom gave one each to Alex and William and had Mary put on another pot. Jill and I sat down at the table. William excused himself to go out to his car.

"So, Alex, William told me his story. Why are you indebted to John?"

"My wife and I were trying to have a baby for the first seven years after we got married. My health plan didn't cover a fertility clinic so we figured we were going to be childless. I got a referral to John and within six months my wife was pregnant. That was six years ago. She started kindergarten this year. We go to one of John's world famous Sunday afternoon barbecues two or three times each summer."

William came back in with a laptop. He set it up on the table and got the dimensions of the room from Alex. He played around with a program for a minute, then called Mom over. "Let's design an addition to the garage."

Jill and I went over to William's side of the table and watched as Mom told him what she wanted and he drew a couple of things in. Alex was looking over the other shoulder.

Mary brought in a tray with fresh coffee for all the adults.

"That's a whole pot. Should I put on another?"

Mom checked around and the consensus was that what they had would be enough.

"No, thank you, Dear."

Alex pointed at a room at the front on the far side from the house. "What's this. William?"

"Bathroom."

"Water and drainage are over here."

Alex was pointing to the opposite corner of the garage. Where the washer, the sink and the water heater were.

Mom looked closer at the screen. "They do make pipe, don't they?

"Pipe's cheap. Labor's not."

"How much to run some pipe over there?"

"Off the top of my head, $2500."

"That's not so bad. I can't see putting the bathroom right next to the entry door."

Alex pointed out another room. "What's this going to be?"

"Kitchen."

"On the other end of the floor? Lady, you just added another $1500."

He had William make some changes. The kitchen area was flipped around so that the long side was on the front of the house. Butted up behind it was the bathroom. The bathroom actually gained a foot or two and the living room got wider.

"What's the view like from the front of the garage?"

"We've got houses right across the street and the mountains in the distance."

"Here's what I suggest. We make this a full kitchen. Put some real appliances in here. They don't have to be industrial size, but if you put a mini refrigerator in here, as soon as they put a jug of milk inside they'll be waltzing into your kitchen to use yours because it will be full. And they'll have to lay the milk on its side to get it in. We put the sink over here with a long counter on the outside with a big greenhouse window looking across the street. The refrigerator goes here on the side with the stove and oven. If you want a gas stove, we're going to need another $3000 or so to get it over here. I suggest electric. You know durn well as soon as we get out of Iraq they'll cut us off and gas will triple in price. This side, in back of the bathroom will be all cabinets, top and bottom, with a counter. Microwave and coffee pot and whatever else you want under the cabinets. It's a lot easier to run water and drain 10 or 12 feet further than all the way across the garage. Your water and drainage will drop at least $1000. And you'll get a bigger living room. Put up some picture windows and you'll be able to sit on the couch and see the mountains. Or check out the neighbors if that's what you're into."

Mom looked at the plan. "I like it better this way. What do you guys think?"

Jill and I looked it over. The first thing we noticed was that we were going to have a bedroom almost half the size of the garage. She nodded her head and I answered for us.

"I like it fine."

"Are you sure? Is there anything else you need?"

Jill looked at William. "Are there going to be plenty of closets? I have a lot of shoes."

John interrupted. "Hold it a minute, Jillian. You're going to be visiting here on some weekend nights, maybe during holidays. You aren't moving in."

"That's OK, Daddy. I'll still need shoes."

William assured her he would put in plenty of closet space as John smiled and shook his head.

Mom took back the conversation. "Where do we go from here?"

William said, "I get some preliminary plans, get an OK from you, then we do the real plans. Then Alex takes over."

John asked Alex "Can you get started on anything without the plans?"

"I can drop that storage in the garage. We just need to figure out how low to go with it. I can't do any of the new stuff without a permit."

"Can you start running water and drainage pipes?"

"I can do that."

"Why don't you start tomorrow."

"Yes, Sir. Mrs. Hill, why don't you come out in the garage and we'll figure how low you want to bend down after we lower that storage."

"Just a minute. Do I owe you anything to get started?"

"We're OK. John's handling all that."

"Well, all right. John. You better let me pay you back my half. With interest."

He looked at her and smiled. "Yes, Dear."



-------

Chapter 59

I had a king sized mattress all to myself that night. It's funny how you can get used to having someone next to you in only a few nights. Messing around was nice, but what I really missed was having Jill in my arms as I slept. I tossed and turned for a while and finally dozed off.

I heard some men joking and laughing just before the alarm went off. As if the beeping was a signal, Alex and another man walked in just as it went off.

"Oh, Jack. I'm surprised you're still out here. We're going to have to kick you out while we're doing the work. I thought you knew that."

"I didn't even think about it."

"We're going to make a mess, running the water and lowering that platform. And we'll be in here at 6 every morning we're on the job. This is my foreman, Fred. If I'm not here, he will be."

"Hi Fred. I've got some stuff in that wardrobe. Will it be OK till tonight?"

"Sure. We're not going to mess with it."

He excused himself and then told Fred to get the others and start unloading the stuff on the shelves. The plan was to pile it on one side of the garage while still having enough room to work on lowering the platform. Fred went outside and came back with a couple of other guys. They moved my bed to the side, then set up a ladder and Fred pulled things out while the other two started stacking it.

I went out to go into the house and saw Sara feeding her puppies.

"Wow, you're up early."

"I figured I was spending too much time in bed."

"Speaking of spending time, I've got a bunch of homework assignments for you in my backpack."

"Good. That will give me something better to do than watching TV all day. Boy, that's getting boring."

"How are the puppies doing?"

"They're doing good. I've been thinking about what you said and I'd like to go door to door trying to give them away. Could you go with me sometime?"

"Sure. How about Saturday?"

"Saturday sounds good. That flier thing you were talking about does, too."

"OK. We'll take some pictures first thing Saturday and put something together. Let's just print up 20 or so and we can leave them at houses where nobody's home. When we decide to come back, we can put the rest on windshields. If we don't get rid of them and you need more, I'll email it to Kinko's and have them print up a hundred or so."

"Ooh, that sounds good."

"So, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. Kind of bored, though."

"Would you like to go to the football game with us tomorrow night?"

"The Fernmont game?"

"No. Jill goes to Highpoint. We go to their game each week. They're a better team this year, anyway."

"I don't know if Jill's ready for that."

"She said she'd like to be friends with you. This would be a good time to start. I'll give her a call and see how she feels about it."

"OK."

I called Jill and she said she was fine with it. She told me her father wanted to know if Mom was coming this week.

"I'll ask her."

"He wants to know now. I'm not supposed to hang up until you let me know."

"All right. Hang on."

I went back to Mom's room and knocked on the door. She asked what I wanted so I had to shout through the door. She hesitated a bit then agreed. Mary's door opened and she said "I want to go."

I went back and told Jill who wanted to go.

"Boy, I don't know if there's room in Dad's car for everyone. With Wanda there will be three of us. Four of you makes seven. There are two seats up front so that means five people will need to sit in the back."

"You can always sit on my lap. We can give it a shot. If it's too crowded, some of us can go in Mom's car."

"I think my dad wants your mother to ride with him."

"I'll say one thing for him. He's persistent. Mom's not the only one who can drive her car, you know. If you and I take her car, that leaves your dad and her in the front and three girls in the back."

We agreed we wouldn't know for sure until just before game time and left it at that.

I walked to school by myself. I couldn't see anything I was doing to screw it up, but it seemed I couldn't keep a partner to go to school with recently.

Jeff and I walked to school just about every day from fifth grade until Jill came on the scene. Chris had moved into the neighborhood in the summer between sixth and seventh and he joined us as soon as school started. He and Sara had started being friendly and a day or two later we had the incident where Jill had tagged along, trying to make it clear to Sara that I was taken. She did a good job. Sara had been scared of her and Chris told me the next morning that he and Sara were going to walk by themselves. I remember seeing Sara hiding behind the hedge at the edge of our property while Chris told me at my front door. I'd have thought that Chris would start back with me after Sara was beaten up. Maybe he figured she'd walk with me when she was better. And of course Mary started walking with us back when Sara and Chris were still with me. I'm not sure if it was the day Jill came with us or just before. But I remember Mary's comments when Jill left to go to her own school. Well, Mary met Charlie over at Jill's and the rest is history.

Funny. Jill was involved in some way with all of them. I can see she caused Chris and Sara to go by themselves, but she didn't do anything to make Jeff split. He chose to do that right after I told him I was going to game with Jill if she'd let me. And just because Mary met Charlie at her house doesn't mean she was involved in her rape. I guess Jill was integral in all the situations because she and I were so close together.

I'd also been getting a lot of rides lately. That hadn't made any difference in the years the guys walked with me. If one of us got a ride, all of us got the ride.

Sara was going to be well enough to go back soon. She was getting homework sent home so that meant they didn't expect her to be out of school forever. I had no idea when she was going to be well enough to get back to everyday life. I'd asked how she was doing now on several occasions but we'd never talked about when they thought she could go back to school.

She was getting better as a person, too. She'd really made some progress over the last day or two. I could understand it rationally, but I couldn't really comprehend the hell Sara had gone through. I'd seen her mother twice and both times she almost snarled at her daughter. Never a word of encouragement, always making an effort to degrade her, to make her feel worthless. And her father was worse. He'd put Sara down as much or more than her mother. And if she was too slow to say "how high?" when he told her to jump, she got slapped. And now he finally crossed the threshold. She called him the bully he was to his face and he flipped. Her busted nose and broken ribs were the result. And like a dog that finally catches his first rabbit and gets that taste of blood, there was no turning back for Mr. Wilcox.

And then there was Mary. She'd gone from being afraid to be near any male, including me, to being able to visit Charlie in his hospital bed and have her first kiss. I hadn't thought to ask. When she said it was awkward, I assumed because he was in the hospital bed and had monitoring equipment and other junk hooked up to him. The last time I'd seen him, the whole left side of his face and his nose were bandaged. If he was still like that, that could be pretty awkward, too. What she'd gone through was hard for me to comprehend, too. Here she was, just blossoming into womanhood, with her personal Prince Charming at her side. All to have her life and dreams shattered for being at the wrong place at the same time. As she said, it wasn't fair. And there wasn't a damn thing anybody could do about it. There was no court in the world that was going to be able to restore her innocence.

I tried to figure out which of them had it worse. Mary had her life fall apart in one twenty minute incident. Sara had lived a whole life of fear and degradation.

Mary was definitely out of the picture as far as walking to school was concerned. Mom had taken her out of school earlier this week. Today was Mom's day off and she was going to interview tutors for Mary. When I first heard it I was a little envious of my sister. But, as Sara said this morning, it gets pretty boring sitting around the house all day. And I had a lot of fun at school, no matter how I complained about it at times. I really enjoyed the swim team and I enjoyed being around kids my own age. I'd come out of my shell since meeting Jill and was having fun. And, believe it or not, I got a lot of satisfaction mopping up the floors in the gym four days a week. My Dad used to talk to me about the pride he felt in doing a job well. I finally knew what he was talking about. When I looked over the place after I'd cleaned it, I felt that pride.

I turned the last corner and saw the school up ahead. There were about fifteen students marching in front of the entrance. The were carrying signs with "Unfair to Gays", "Women in Love Unite" and other similar sayings. Mary's fear was coming true. It wasn't OK for them to do their thing without being hassled. They wanted everyone to embrace them and tell they how wonderful they were for being aberrant. I knew damned well the administration was going to kowtow to them. We'd have an assembly with some shrink on the stage telling us how wonderful it was for guys to fuck other guys within two weeks.

As I approached the group, I recognized Jeff. He was marching, holding a "Gay Pride" sign with a picture of a fist on it. I was shocked to see the magnitude of hate displayed on his face. Jeff had always been the laid back one, the first to joke. Hell, he was always referring to the Gay and Lesbian club as "Fags and Lezzies."

I made my way through the group to go through the gate. I passed in back of a girl and in front of Jeff. I smiled and waved when he saw me. If anything, the hateful look got worse as he lifted his right hand and flipped me off.

So much for walking to school with Jeff.



-------

Chapter 60

Something new happened in three of my classes. I was asked to stay after class. In each case, the teacher had an assignment for Sara. But I did get some looks and a couple of comments from other students, especially in Physics, the third class I was asked to stay after for. And a couple of guys had some derogatory comments when Miss Beevers had me stay after English. She had a list of books and Sara was to chose two to read and write reports on. She also had to write 500 words, the subject to be determined by Sara. Well, she said she wanted something to do besides watching TV.

This week's swim meet was at home against Highpoint. They were leading the district in football, and were in second place in swimming. Right behind us. They were our most serious competition and I wanted to make sure we came out ahead at the end of the day. I gave the team a pep talk before we made our way out to the pool.

There was the usual applause for the team when we were at home as we entered. I was surprised to hear my name yelled out. Actually, it sounded like the cheerleaders were doing one of their routines with my name as the subject. Since the swim team doesn't have cheerleaders, I looked over where the sound was coming from and saw Jill, Mary and Sara along with John and Mom. The three girls were standing up, chanting their cheer.

I blew them a kiss and put my attention back on the meet. This was the only time Jill had come to one of our meets. She usually had a volleyball match; I wondered what was up with that.

I was matched up against their star swimmer in all three of my events. I outdistanced him in each. I was a half lap ahead at the end of our closest race. The rest of the team did just as well. Highpoint won two of the eight events. We retained our number one position. I was pleased to hear my cheerleaders each time I won an event.

I swam my best yet. These days I spent most of my practice sessions working on one aspect of my swimming. At least once a week I'd work on my turns. I'd spent two periods this week working on breathing. It's not something you think about but it can slow you down if it's not done smoothly. I'd also changed from taking a breath every three strokes to every four.

Since we were at home, I didn't have to run to catch a bus after the meet. I made my way up to the stands and gave Jill a kiss.

"Boy, this is a surprise. I've never had my own cheering section before."

Mom said, "The girls were going stir crazy. None of us have ever been to one of your meets so I figured it would be a good way for us to get out."

"Well, I'm glad you did." I looked over at Jill. "Did you skip volleyball to come?"

"No, Jack, we had our meet earlier this afternoon. You should know that."

I felt like putting my tail between my legs. Here was an activity my girlfriend was really into and I didn't know anything about it. And I'd never made the effort to find out.

"How did your match go?"

Sara answered. "They creamed us."

Jill added, "We're number one in football and volleyball."

"What position do you play?"

"I'm the center."

Mary said, "She's tough. If she gets the ball, she shoves it down the other team's throat."

"My girlfriend, the killer."

"You better believe it."

"So, Mom. Can I get a ride home?"

"I'll give you five minutes, then I'm leaving."

"What's up, Mom? Got a hot date?"

"Well, I don't know how hot it is, but John and I are going out to dinner."

"But I thought..."

"It's dinner, Jackie. I fed him last night, he wants to feed me tonight. That's all."

"Shakespeare had something to say about that. 'I think she doth protest too much.'"

"You've got four minutes, Jackie."

I hustled to the gym and threw on my shirt, carrying the rest of my clothes. Once I got to the parking lot I searched for the Chevy for almost a minute before I heard a honk. I looked over towards the sound and saw a Lexus SUV with four arms waving out the windows. I looked closer and saw that Mom was driving it. We met half way.

Mary was in the front passenger seat and Jill and Sara were in back. I got in next to Jill.

"What's this?"

"My new car. I decided it was time to treat myself. I work hard, I deserve it. I checked with the credit union yesterday morning and picked it out after work. They had to prep it so I picked it up this morning."

"So, when do we go off-roading?"

"We don't. This isn't recommended for off road driving. It's a hybrid."

"Wow. So you aren't destroying the planet by driving it?"

"Fraid not, Jackie. I probably did more planet destruction driving the Chevy. By the way, here are the keys."

"Thanks Mom. You're the best."

"I know."

"It sure drives smooth."

"Yes, it does. Don't get any ideas. You've got your own car now."

We pulled into the driveway. John was already waiting at the curb. The guy was sure persistent. I wondered if he'd ever wear Mom down.

He came up to her door and opened it for her. He was holding a garment bag.

"Thank you, Sir." She gave him a quick kiss.

"I'll have to open doors for you more often."

"That would be nice."

Everyone went in the front door except Jill and me. I took her hand and headed back to the garage.

"Let's see how the construction's going."

I was surprised when I walked in the garage. The platform had been dropped down about a foot and they had put all the stuff they pulled this morning back. Everything was covered in thick plastic. The mattresses and the wardrobe were where they'd been this morning. Both of those were covered, as well.

They had also run two brass pipes and a drainage pipe from the vicinity of the sink to five feet from the front corner on the same wall. One of the pipes was covered in some thick gray material. I felt it on the end near the water heater and it felt rubbery. We were lucky the water heater was in the garage. I doubt there would have been enough pressure in the feed to the sink and washer to run a bathroom and kitchen.

Those were the two tasks Alex said he could do without having the plans and a permit from the city. He impressed me as a contractor who was too ethical to cut corners by working without a permit. I don't know a whole lot about construction, but the pipe was run very neatly, three parallel pipes from water source to the area the bathroom and kitchen were going to be. And the work on the platform was better than Dad had done. They'd finished it in a day. Dad took a month of weekends to build the original.

Jill ended her silence. "It looks good."

"Yes, it does. I can't believe they did this in one day."

"That's one thing about Alex. If he has a job to do, he concentrates all his effort into getting that job done as quickly as possible. He was the same when he did a remodel on our house five years ago."

"I didn't know that. What did you have done?"

"He worked on the first floor. The major things were the kitchen and the entertainment room. The kitchen got all new cabinets, built-ins, a Sub Zero refrigerator and a bunch of other stuff."

"Maybe I can talk Mom into springing for a TV like you've got and a sound system."

"I doubt she'll go for it. I know prices have come down over the past five years, but that plasma screen alone was $14,000."

"I think I'll use my portable set. By the way, I can't go anywhere on Saturday."

"Why not?"

"I promised Sara I'd help her get rid of the puppies. And Mom said I could put any of the stuff on the platform on ebay. I figured I'd spend a few hours going through it and taking pictures and writing descriptions."

"What's going on, Jack? First you ask to bring her to the football game tomorrow, then she comes to watch you swim and now you tell me you're going to be with her Saturday, too. Saturday's our day."

"First of all, yes, I did invite her to the game. And she wasn't sure how you'd be about it. And I reminded her that you told her you knew we were going to remain friends whatever you did and told her you'd like to be her friend, as well. I figured the game would be a good opportunity for you to start.

"Secondly, I didn't invite Sara to the meet. If you believe what my mother said, it was her idea. So don't start your jealous act."

"But why didn't you talk to me before you told Sara you'd spend the day with her?"

"Jill, I'm not going to check with you any time I want to make a decision. Sara was taking care of the dogs when I got up this morning and she said she wanted help. I decided Saturday would be a good day."

"But why Saturday? We always spend Saturday together."

"Well, if you'd give me a chance, you'd know I want to spend this Saturday with you, too. I didn't say I didn't want to see you on Saturday, I said we can't go anywhere. The way I figure it, Mom was supposed to see the preliminary plans today, then William was going to draw up the final set. That needs to go to the city before we can get a permit. I don't see any way Alex can start work tomorrow. That means we can sleep in the garage tomorrow night. And you can help me drag Sara and the puppies around and then climb up and down the ladder, bringing boxes up and down from the platform."

"I'm sorry, Jack."

"Hey, Saturdays are special to me, too. Do you have any idea how much I missed cuddling up to you and waking up with you in my arms?"

"Probably about as much as I missed being cuddled and held in your arms."

"So, you never answered me. Would you like to spend the night tomorrow?"

"Yes, Jack. I would."

"Good. Now that I've got my own car, we won't have to pile seven people into your father's car. I'll pick you up at 7:15. I wouldn't be surprised if it's just your dad and Wanda. Or maybe Mom will talk him into letting her drive. You know she's going to want to drive that new car."

"I don't know. The 'new' hasn't worn off as far as that car of his is concerned."

"We'll just have to see how much he wants Mom."

"Oh, he wants her."

"Then he better do what she says if she wants to drive."

"It's possible. I'm not going to push him one way or the other."

"Good for you."

We made our way into the house. John was sitting in the living room, wearing a suit. Quite a difference from the Dockers and golf shirt he was wearing earlier.

Mom's door opened and she made her way down the hall. She was wearing a dress that appeared ready to fall and expose her breasts at any moment. It showed some cleavage and I wondered if it was glued to them some way. It came down to her ankles but had a slit up past the middle of her thigh. Her right hand held a small purse, the blue of which matched her shoes and her dress. She had her hair piled on her head with a couple of wisps coming down behind her ears. She looked elegant.

John stood up and took her hand.

"Magnificent."

"Good night kids. Don't wait up."

"Jill, I was going to take you home when I got back. If I'm not back by 11, have Jack drive you home. You have school tomorrow."

"OK, Daddy. Jack's taking me to the game tomorrow and I'm spending the night."

"Will I see you Sunday for our barbecue?"

She looked at me and I nodded my head.

"Yes, Daddy."



-------

Chapter 61



It was 11:00 and nobody had come to take Jill home. We untangled ourselves from the couch and each other and got ready to go over to her house. It felt so good to be able to hold her. Of course, we did a little more than hold each other. Not too much, Sara and Mary were around and about.

She'd settled down when I told her I wanted her to spend Saturday and Sunday with me. What would it take for her to really get that she's the only woman I had any interest in?

We got in my new car and took our time going home. John said we had to leave at 11 but he didn't specify an arrival time. I wasn't about to take advantage; the last thing I wanted was for Jill to be grounded when she was spending the next night and possibly the one after that at my house. But I didn't break any speed records, either. Jill was snuggled up to me, holding onto my arm the whole way. I was getting used to steering with my left hand.

We got to her house and I saw John's Beemer in the driveway. I parked the car and went around to let Jill out. We took our time walking up the path to her front door, my arm around her shoulders, her head against my chest. When we got to her front porch, she turned and wrapped her arms around me. It was obvious she wanted a kiss and she wasn't going to invite me in. Which was just as well because I probably wouldn't have left for an hour or two.

She leaned into me, her mouth slightly open and closed her eyes. That was her signal that she wanted a kiss that would knock her socks off and she was willing and eager to return the favor. Neither of us disappointed the other.

She grabbed her key out of her pants pocket but the doorknob turned when she tried it. She said "Goodnight, Jack. I'll see you tomorrow night," as she went inside, closing the door softly after she was past it.

I looked at the closed door for a few seconds, turned around and walked back to the car. On the way home it hit me. I could drive to school from now on.

I reflected on our evening on the couch. Between kisses, I'd discovered a whole new world in Jill's life. We talked about volleyball and her involvement in it. In her eighth summer, she started attending a local day camp that was set up to give kids from 6 to 14 something to do while she was out of school... She went four days a week and the highlight was the volleyball games. She got interested in the sport and kept an eye out for any matches that were on ESPN, watching and learning. Over the years she implemented a lot of the stuff she saw and developed her own style. She had turned into an ace player and had even been approached by a scout from USC early this year. No offers yet, but he told her if she kept going like this he was definitely interested in talking to her in a couple of years. The fact that she was carrying a 4.0 grade average didn't hurt, either.

It was fun watching her talk about volleyball. Her whole face would light up. I had no idea she had that much passion and excitement about anything. She told me about the other girls and how she had helped them improve over the last year and I could see the pride in her face. I jokingly said she should compete in the next Olympics and she seriously answered that she had made inquiries into it but couldn't handle the time away from school in order to train with the team.

I discovered something after that talk. Jill and I were closer than we had been before. Our kisses had a little more intimacy, her body felt more desirable as I held it, her skin was a little softer. She'd let me further into her world. Actually, I let myself go into it. She would have been willing for me to come in any time, I just had to show some interest. It was humbling to realize how self centered I'd been. Almost like using her, taking her for granted, being more interested in her as a body, a thing than as a person. I learned that true love involves the whole person. And that physical love became better, the more you knew of that person.

I got home and pulled in the driveway next to Mom's new Lexus. John was an influence on her whether she wanted to admit it or not. She never would have treated herself to a car like that if he hadn't bought his hundred thousand dollar BMW. She'd worked her ass off since Dad died. She deserved a little luxury.

It was after midnight when I got home. I didn't see Mom so I walked down the hall. Her door was open and she was nowhere around. Maybe she and John finally decided to go for it. She'd jokingly talked about taking him to bed once even though she constantly denied wanting a serious relationship with him. I sure wasn't going to push her one way or the other. She was a big girl. I don't think I'd ever seen her dressed like she was tonight. Up till now, she'd just been Mom. Tonight, she'd been hot!

I was headed back down the hall when my bedroom door opened and a sleepy Sara looked around it.

"Oh, hi Jack." She came into the hallway. She was dressed in a filmy nightgown that came down to just below her butt cheeks. She had some panties on that had legs that came down about three inches. It didn't show anything, but it didn't hide much, either. If I wasn't head over heels in love with Jill, I probably would have considered making some kind of move on her. My body was interested but I took control of it.

"Hi Sara. Did I wake you?"

"Uh, no, I was just..."

"Sara? Why won't people just admit they were asleep? It's not anything to be ashamed of."

"You're right. I was asleep and you woke me, you dweeb."

"That's better. Now go back to sleep before I do something we'll both regret." I pulled her head toward me and kissed her forehead.

She grinned at me and went back in the room, closing the door slowly. For the second time in the last hour, I got the picture of a girl leaning up against a door, sighing with a smile on her face.

I swung by the bathroom and gave my toothbrush a workout and threw some water on my face. It was too late to take a shower. I figured I'd take one in the morning.

My guardian angel must have been looking after me. My alarm clock was on the table next to the couch and the pillow, sheets and blanket were in a neat pile at one end. Two minutes after I got there I was sound asleep.

The alarm went off a couple of minutes later. I looked at it and five and a half hours had passed. One more reason for the two of us to stay in the same place.

I got out of bed and made my way outside. Queenie came up to me, wagging her tail. She was good natured dog. She reminded me of Lassie. I reached over the gate, gave her a quick pat, then went into the garage and got some clothes out of the wardrobe.

I went inside, poured myself a glass of orange juice and got into the bathroom before the rush. I used the toilet, took a quick shower, shaved and got dressed. I was shaving every couple of days now. When I shaved off that first peach fuzz, it was a big deal. Now, a couple of years later, it was getting to be a chore. Maybe I'd grow beard. This hacking up my face every other day was starting to be a pain.

I had some eggs and bacon going when Mary and Sara walked in. Sara was dressed as she had been last night.

"Sara? Do me a favor and put on a robe?"

She giggled on the way out.

"What's the matter, Jack? Embarrassed?"

"Yeah, right, Mary."

Sara was more suitably dressed when she came back. I served my food and Mary started cooking a batch for the two of them.

"Hey, Mary? How did it go yesterday with the tutors?"

"Good. We found one that Mom and I both liked. She's going to start next Monday.'

"What's her schedule going to be?"

"She wants to come over every other day for a couple of weeks. Then she'll know whether she needs to continue that schedule or cut back to once or twice a week. She'll be here for three or four hours and give me assignments for the rest of the days."

"Are you planning on doing this until you graduate?"

"I'd like to catch up on what I've missed, get my new teeth, get healed up and go back next semester."

"Do you think you'll be OK going to school again?"

"You mean with all those boys?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"I want to be. I won't say it isn't scary because it is. I figure I've got almost three months to work up to that point. That's why I went to the swim meet when Mom suggested it. And why I said I wanted to go to the football game. I figure if I can work my way up to it with the people I love, I'll be OK when I have to do it on my own. You know, tomorrow's going to be tough. Charlie and I went to the football game the night I was attacked."

"I felt weird when Jill and I went to the game after that night. I looked up at the seats the two of you were in and I felt it in my chest."

She didn't say anything. She just walked over to me and held out her arms. I stood up and we hugged each other tight.

"I was proud of you the day you went in to see Charlie."

"It felt good after I did it. I don't think I would have ever had the nerve if Thelma hadn't made me feel guilty about it."

"Yeah, Thelma's real good at that."

I finished up, got my books and took off for school. A couple of blocks down the street I saw Chris walking by himself. I pulled up next to him and tapped on the horn. He bent down and looked in the window, hesitating. I motioned for him to get in the car. He opened the door.

"Hey, Chris. You want a ride to school?"

"I guess."

He got in. This wasn't the old Chris. He sat down all the way over to the door, as if he was trying to stay as far away from me as possible.

"How are you doing, Chris? I haven't seen you since you were going out with Sara."

"You should know. You're the reason she left me."

"Whoa. Did she tell you that?"

"She didn't have to. It was pretty obvious."

"Chris, you've got it all wrong. For one thing, I'm still going with Jill. And there's no way there's going to be anything between Sara and me. And Sara happens to be living with us because she was abused at her own house."

"What do you mean, abused?"

"Well, right now she's recovering from a broken nose and several broken ribs."

"What the... How did that happen?"

"She told her father he was a bully. He punched her in the face and then started kicking her. Her mother was just as bad."

"Her mother hit her too?"

"No, but she was a royal bitch. Sara swore out a complaint against both of them for child endangerment."

"God, I never had any indication she was being beaten."

"This is the first time he really let her have it. He treated her like shit, called her a slut for going out with you and would slap her if she looked at him wrong. I came home from a date with Jill one day to find Sara curled in a ball behind my garage. I got her to the hospital and she's been in our house ever since. She even stole my room from me."

"If it wasn't you, why did she break it off?"

"It was her father. Sara grew up with a mother who walked on eggshells all the time just so he wouldn't attack. Her mother wasn't as lucky as she was. He's been beating on her for years. Sara knows you wouldn't hurt her. But some part of her felt that she could say the wrong thing and you'd go off on her. She knows it isn't logical but it's definitely there. She admits you didn't do anything to make her feel this way but there were times the two of you were together and she was afraid of you."

"God, why couldn't she tell me?"

"You might think she was being critical. And then take it out on her."

"But I never..."

"I know. And deep down, so does Sara. But the fears are real to her, no matter how irrational they are. She also told me she knew it was unfair to you to get too attached to someone with the baggage she has."

"I never knew. I'm sorry, Jack. I know she liked you before me met. I figured she finally got you somehow."

"Nope. She played some weird games with me but I didn't go for it. And she played those games way after she broke up with you."

"I'd like to see her again."

"Chris, she gave me the OK to tell you why she broke up with you. She was afraid to have you come over to her house because she thought he might come after you.

"After she moved in, she said that she was hesitant to talk to you herself because she didn't want you to feel sorry for her and try to take her back. She's smart enough to know that she's not ready for a mature relationship with anyone yet. Her primary male role model is a bully. She's slowly learning to be comfortable with me and with Jill's father, but that's a long way from having a loving relationship with a boy her own age.

"What Sara needs is friends. She needs people that will be understanding and help her get over this. She's made some remarkable progress since she moved in with us. I've made it very clear that I won't treat her like she's a victim and she's starting to thrive. How would you feel about being her friend, knowing that there's almost no chance you could be boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"That's all Sara and I were before. We walked to school and ate lunch together but we never did anything other than kiss."

"You never had any feelings about doing anything more?"

"Well, of course I had feelings. But I never pushed her."

"Chris, if you had any of those feelings, you couldn't let her know. She's very fragile. She's tried stuff with me to see if she can get some affection. And if I'd acted on it, it would have been the worst thing I could do. If you hurt her after I told you all this, I'll never forgive you. This is important, Chris. I'm not kidding."

"I'd never hurt Sara. I know she needs a friend and I'd like to be one."

"OK. She's going to a Highpoint game with a bunch of us tonight. We usually go out for pizza after the game. If you'd like to go, I'll pick you up between 6:45 and 7 tonight. We'll go get Jill and then you can see Sara at the game. I won't tell anyone you're going."

"I'd like that. Thanks, Jack."

I just looked over at him and held out my right hand. He grabbed it and shook.



-------

Chapter 62



I was home about 20 minutes earlier this week than last. Familiarity with the job and having a car were the primary reasons.

Let's face it, the job wasn't rocket science. I'd gotten a few comments from my family and other students about an honor student mopping up the gym. It wasn't my first career choice but was no worse than the other ways to make money that were available to someone my age with no experience. Unlike working in a burger joint where I'd have to pay attention to customers, the manager, other workers and dangers such as hot grease and sharp knives, I could pretty much go on auto pilot and think. I contemplated many things while swinging the mop.

Today I spent a lot of time thinking about Chris and Jeff. I could see how Chris could come up with the idea Sara had left him for me. I sure came up with some off the wall stuff when I was separated from Jill. And I was just about as far off as Chris was.

Jeff was the one who was throwing me for a loop. The last time I really talked to him was before I met Jill. He was with me at the game that night and thought I would go back with them and watch the rest of the game. When I decided to go with Jill and her dad, he tried to point out that she was a Highpoint student. I made fun of him but we'd done a lot worse than that to each other over the years. The following Monday after I'd fallen hard for Jill, he acted pissed off when I told him I'd be going to games with her from now on and they might very well be her games. That was the last time we'd had any communication until yesterday, if you consider flipping someone off communication. It definitely communicated that he didn't want me around.

I know Jeff told Chris he was sick and I think he was still talking to him a few days after he split. I'd have to ask Chris if he knew what was up on the way to Jill's.

I pulled into the driveway next to the Lexus. I went in the side door and Mom, Mary and Sara were all sitting at the kitchen table. Mom had her usual cup of coffee and the girls had some hot chocolate. They all looked ready, wearing Fall type sweaters. Mary and Sara both had Fernmont colors, Mom just had a plush sweater with brown, orange and red horizontal stripes. It was reminiscent of autumn leaves. She was wearing some attractive slacks while the girls had on tight shorts.

"You know it's going to get cold tonight, don't you?"

"We'll be fine, Jack."

So, Mom, I thought we might have to put in a missing person's report."

"No, Jackie, I'm fine."

She had a look on her face that told me that was all I was going to get out of her. Well, I didn't want her prying into my personal life, either. If she wanted me to know something, she would tell me. In the meantime I could ask Jill what was going on when I dropped her off last night.

I went out to the garage and it was just the way it had been last night,. Alex had taken the day off as I assumed he would. I worked the plastic off the mattress and box springs and laid them down in the middle of the floor. My sheets and blanket were in the bottom of the wardrobe. I pulled them out and made our bed, finding the pillows on the side of the garage and throwing them on the mattress. I set the heater up and turned it on low. That would take the bite off when we got home from the game.

The puppies were doing their best to climb out of the toilet paper box Sara was keeping them in when they saw me come out of the garage. Hopefully they'd both have new homes by the end of the day tomorrow. Queenie sidled up to me for her scratch behind the ears. She was very much a lady and seemed perfectly content being in my back yard.

I looked at my watch and saw it was 20 till seven. Time to hit the road. I stuck my head in the kitchen door.

"I'm going to go pick up Jill, Mom. I'll see you at the game. Are you taking your car?"

"Yes. John wasn't very happy about it but I told him he was going to have to ride in my car if he wanted to go with me to the game."

"I should have had him bring Jill over here."

"You'll be fine, Jackie. Pick her up for a date, hold her door open and make a fuss over her. The game's only a few blocks from her house, anyway."

"You're right. I'll see you there. Sara, I'll have a surprise for you at the game."

I closed the door and headed for the car. Sara was shouting something at me, but I was backing out of the driveway by the time she got Mary out of her way and made it out the door. I tapped the horn and waved as John pulled up to the curb in front of the house. He smiled and waved back.

Chris was out by the curb when I pulled up. He opened the front door and got in.

"Do you want me to sit in the back when we get Jill?"

"No, you'll be fine. She always sits right next to me when she's in the car. Or at the table or on the couch. Jill likes to be right on top of me, holding onto my arm. Even when we sleep together, she pushes right up against me and holds my arm around her."

"You guys sleep together? When do you do that?"

"Whenever we can. And I do mean sleep. We've messed around a lot but we're both virgins. She's on the pill and we've decided we're going to give each other our virginity on her birthday."

"When's that?"

"About two and a half weeks. Two days after Halloween."

"What about your parents?"

"They already know. In fact, we should have a new room over the garage ready for us."

"Damn, I can't believe it. My parents won't even talk to me about sex."

"Both of our parents have been really cool. We each had condoms given to us by our parents the day after we met. And they both say it's a natural part of growing up. They both want to be sure neither of us gets hurt, but that's all they say they're worried about."

"Wow."

"Here we are."

Chris took in Jill's house.

"God. Are her parents millionaires?"

"She lives with her father. Her mom split when they were young. He's a doctor. And he seems to be pretty successful at it."

"Boy, I guess."

I was just opening my door when I saw Jill coming out the front door. I walked around and caught up with her, taking her hand. Chris had gotten out and was standing next to the rear window.

"You remember Chris, don't you?"

"Oh, yeah. You were with Sara, weren't you?"

"Yeah, that was me."

He held the door open as I handed her into the car.

"Such service."

I caught myself before telling her not to get used to it. "Any time, my lady."

Chris got in as I went around to the driver's side and sat down next to Jill. She took my arm and pulled herself into it.

A couple of minutes later we were pulling into the Highpoint parking lot. Jill slid out my side, maintaining her hold on my right arm. Of course, Jill had my Fernmont letterman's jacket on and was getting some looks from the other home students. She just smiled and waved and grabbed on a little tighter.

Chris was a little off to the side, trying to walk with us while still giving us some privacy. Jill pulled me down so my ear was next to her mouth.

"I think our parents are getting too old."

"What do you mean."

"When I got home last night, they were sleeping together. They were lying on the couch, holding onto each other, snoring away. Your mom snores almost as bad as my dad. I put a blanket over them and went to bed. It was a shame for her to sleep in that dress. I hope she didn't ruin it."

"She wasn't home when I left for school."

"I know. I woke them up when I got up. She stayed and made breakfast for all of us. Dad dropped me off at school, then took her home."

"She was real quiet when I got home tonight. I made a joke about her being missing and she told me she was fine. Then she gave me the 'don't push me' look."

"Oh, I know that look. Daddy's given it to me a few times since he's been going after your mom."

"I wish those two would make up their minds."

"Oh, he's made up his mind."

We paid for our tickets and made our way through the gate. If we kept going the way we were, we'd end up taking up the whole row of seats. It was still early enough that we were all able to sit together.

Wanda was at the far end next to John. Mom was on his near side. Jill still had my right arm, so she went in first. I followed while Chris headed up the rear. I leaned over and spoke to the group.

"Hi. Where are Mary and Sara?"

"I sent them down for food," answered John.

"John, Wanda. This is Chris. He and I have been friends for years. He knows Mom and Mary and Sara. In fact, he was walking with Sara the day Jill walked to school with us. The day she wanted to scratch Sara's eyes out."

"I did not. I just wanted to make sure she knew you were taken."

"Well, you did a good job."

Wanda looked like she was trying not to laugh. I'm sure she and Jill had discussed her walk to my school that day.

Wanda nodded to Chris as John stood up and shook his hand.

I looked up to see the girls coming up the steps, loaded with food and drink. They were talking and smiling, oblivious to the rest of the world. They got to the row and Sara turned to come in. She stopped short and her smile faltered a bit. Chris seemed to be staring at her as he stood up.

"Hi, Chris."

"Hi, Sara. Is it OK for me to be here?"

"OK? Uh, yeah, sure."

Mary had almost run into Sara when she suddenly stopped. She nudged Sara and said "Ahem!"

Sara started to turn around, then looked back at Chris, blushing slightly. Chris reached out to Sara and took the box of drinks from her hand. He balanced it in his right hand and took her right had in his left, sitting down and pulling her with him. Mary sat down on the end.

"I was sorry to hear about you and your father."

She shot a look over at me like the deer caught in the headlights. Pulling her hand out of his, she put both of them between her legs.

Chris stood up. "I'm sorry Sara. This was a bad idea. I'm making you nervous." He turned to me. "Jack, thanks. I'll go sit somewhere else. If it's OK with you, I'll meet you out at the car after the game."

Sara grabbed his hand with both of hers. "Don't go, Chris. Sit down. Just give me some time to get used to this."

He was smiling as he sat down.



-------

Chapter 63



Mary asked Sara if she'd like to change places. Sara declined.

The stadium filled up. There has always been a rivalry between Highpoint and Fernmont. I know there'd been a pep rally this afternoon while I was busy pushing my mop. They were definitely the better team this year but high school kids are notoriously optimistic when it comes to their football teams. Since the two schools were so close together, almost half the people I saw were wearing Fernmont colors.

Chris was either talking to me or looking out at the field. Sara talked to Mary and glanced over at Chris once in a while.

Jill was still plastered to my arm. I glanced over and noticed that Mom was leaning her head on John's shoulder. She was holding her hands together in her lap. John reached over and laid his paw on them. There was no reaction from Mom.

By the time halftime came around, Sara and Mary were including Chris in their conversation. I don't think any of them was paying attention to the game. Not that it was that interesting. We were behind 21 - 0 when John held out a couple of twenties and asked who wanted to go to the snack bar. Mary looked pointedly at Sara. I saw her swallow, then ask Chris if he wanted to go with her. He jumped at the chance. Quietly, so as not to scare her off.

They went down the stairs at a comfortable distance. Not too far, not too close. Mary looked at me.

"You sure shook her up."

"Yeah, I guess so. She needed a little push."

"You're probably right. If it had been anyone but Chris, I'd say you went too far. But he's cared for her since they first met."

Jill squeezed my arm, burying her face further into me.

"I think you did good."

I kissed the top of her head.

Mom was still leaning on John's shoulder. I wondered what went on last night before they fell asleep on the couch.

The next thing I knew, Chris and Sara were walking back up the steps to our row. Chris had a tray of drinks balanced on his left hand. He had her elbow in his right, guiding her upstairs. They were talking just as they used to when they used to walk to school.

The rest of the game was more of a blowout. Highpoint beat us 64 - 6. A couple of field goals were all we could muster. The most embarrassing moment was when we got pushed back in our own end zone for a safety. Of course, the Highpoint students went wild every time there was a big play.

We all stood up at the end of the game. John asked me if we had time for pizza.

"There's always time for pizza."

Sara asked if I would mind if she and Chris came with me. I had no problem with it. I told Mom I'd meet her at Perlione's.

Jill and I were probably about ten paces in front of Sara and Chris. He was taking it nice and easy, letting her move at her own pace. They were close enough to talk but there was no touching. I opened Jill's door for her and she scooted over to the middle. I unlocked the back door and opened it a crack. By the time I was getting behind the wheel, Chris was holding the door as Sara slid into the seat. I noticed she stopped when she got behind Jill. I turned around.

"Are you OK, Sara?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't know whether to thank you or hit you."

"I'd rather have you thank me."

"Thanks."

There was a line to get out of the parking lot. I could see Mom's Lexus about five cars in front of us. She took a right out of the driveway and took off like a shot. She was nowhere to be seen by the time we reached the street.

We headed towards Perlione's. Jill and I had our own conversation going while Chris and Sara were talking in the back. Just over a mile down the road, I saw a cop car pulled over behind Mom's Lexus, the lights flashing. We waved to Mom and the others as we drove by.

We pulled into Perlione's parking lot. Jill slid out on my side again while Sara followed Chris out his door.

"Maybe we should wait for Mom and the rest. The reservation's probably in your father's name."

"Don't worry about it. Ronald will seat us."

We went inside and Jill walked up to the Maitre D'. He smiled and asked how many were in her party. We figured it out and she said there would be eight of us eventually.

Chris and Sara seemed impressed as we were led right through the restaurant while several people were waiting in the lobby to be seated.

Jill let go of me to grab two coffee cans of peanuts as we went through the door to the back room. Ronald snapped his fingers and a waiter rushed over to help him put two tables together. I heard him tell the waiter that this was a special table and that he had better take good care of us.

We all sat down at one end of the table. Jill put one of the cans at the other end and put ours where everyone could reach. The waiter came over and asked if we were ready to order. Jill told him we were expecting more people and that we would wait. I asked him to hold on for a second. I checked around and everyone was fine with Coke. I ordered a pitcher of Coke and some glasses. The waiter asked if we'd prefer iced mugs and I said that would be fine.

We sat there and crushed peanut shells, eating the meat and dropping the shells on the floor. Sara couldn't believe that we could get away with that in such a high-class restaurant.

"This room is for the peasants," I said.

Just about then, Mom, John, Wanda and Mary came through the door with Ronald in the lead. Wanda sat down next to Sara, Mary ended up next to me and Mom and John were at the far end. Ronald snapped his fingers again and the waiter appeared at his elbow.

We got another pitcher of Coke, some more mugs and John got his usual fake beer. We ordered the extra large large pizza, the one with 24 slices. I don't know why, I'd never been able to eat three full pieces and I ate more than anyone in my family. I figured we might get through two thirds of it.

"So, Mom. I see you got your first ticket in the new car."

She stuck her tongue out at me. "That shows what you know. John delivered the cop's baby. I got off with a warning."

"Boy, I wish I had a setup like that."

"Jackie, if you're real nice to him, I'm sure John will take you out, too."

"Thanks a lot, Mom."

She turned around and the two of them started talking about something in voices too low for me to eavesdrop.

I looked at Chris sitting patiently next to Sara. If he hadn't moved in two houses down the street from Jeff, there's no way we would have ever hung out together. He was always struggling to pass from one grade to the next. He tried his hardest but he just wasn't that smart.

What Chris was is faithful. Friendship was everything to him. He was the one person I knew who I was sure would lay his life down for any of his friends without question. He would do just about anything for a friend, no matter how aggravating or time consuming it was, even if it prevented him from doing something he wanted to do.

He was demonstrating that trait to Sara. He seemed perfectly content to be there for her, willing to wait forever if necessary until she told him what she needed or wanted from him. And if she told him to climb a mountain or swim an ocean, he'd be off before she finished the request. With a smile on his face.

Jeff and I used to abuse Chris until he showed us how cruel it was without meaning to do so. If a friend of his said it, he believed it. We used to tell him all kinds of things as practical jokes. When we realized he was defending us against people who told him we were pulling his leg, we admitted it to him and asked for forgiveness. When he said of course he forgave us but he couldn't understand why we would lie to him, Jeff and I looked at each other. I felt like crawling in a hole and pulling it in after me. Jeff told me later that he felt the same way. That was in sixth grade and I never said an untrue word to Chris again. Or to anybody else, for that matter. I didn't have an answer to the question of why I would lie to anybody.

So, when I told Chris about Sara's feelings, fears and hopes, they were gospel as far as Chris was concerned. And he would cut off his arm before he would hurt Sara.

Now, I don't know if Sara's ribs were hurting her so much that it hurt to saw with a knife like she said, but Chris ended up cutting her pizza for her. He was loving every second of it. And she looked at him like he was her hero.

Down at the other end of the table, Mom and John were talking about the aftermath of the hurricanes. John was praising the American people for donating their skills, time and money while all levels of government were sticking their collective thumbs in their asses. I could see the disgust for all elected officials as he talked about greed and a government for the politicians, by the politicians. The only exception, as far as he was concerned, was the city of Houston. He was amazed that they would open their hearts to the victims without thought of anything but their need at that time.

I put my hand on Mary's leg and she turned around.

"How did you do tonight?"

"Pretty good. I saw a few of my friends when I went down to the snack bar."

"How was that?"

"They were all cool. I guess the word is out about what happened to me. They were all sympathetic, especially about my missing teeth."

"Yeah, that would be the most obvious thing to them."

"Maybe so, but that was the least of my problems."

"I know that. But you know, they'll be uncomfortable talking to you about it. People are pretty superstitious. A lot of them figure that if they talk about it, it could happen to them. It's more comfortable to sweep the hard parts under the rug."

"I know. And no matter how hard I push it, they won't change. At least they aren't making fun of me."

"If anyone does, you know it's just ignorance. I wouldn't wish what happened to you on anyone."

She grabbed my left arm and buried her face into it. Now I had two women doing that to me.

"Jack, can I ride home with you?"

"I guess. Don't you like the way Mom drives her new car?"

"It's not that. She may not want to come straight home after they drop Wanda off."

"Sure, I'll take you home. I don't think those two will take up the whole back seat. Or you can sit up front next to Jill if you want."

After eating, we all piled into the car and headed home. Mary did sit in the front seat next to Jill. She had almost half the seat to herself. I heard low voices from the back seat all the way home. They still weren't touching, but there wasn't a hell of a lot of light coming through between them, either.

Mary went in to bed, Sara and Chris sat on the couch and Jill and I got ready for bed. As I came out of the bathroom, Sara was asking Chris if he'd like to help her get rid of the two remaining puppies tomorrow. Chris said he'd like.

That probably meant more time for Jill and me to be alone. I wouldn't say anything about it now. I'd let tomorrow play itself out.



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Chapter 64

Jill was wearing her robe. I knew the flannel nightgown was underneath. I recalled the first day we went out, her butt cheeks half visible beneath her skin-tight shorts. Believe it or not, her flannel getup did more for me. Not that I would complain if she wore those shorts around me now.

The garage was nice and warm. It had been a little cool when we got home, but having the heater on low had kept it from being freezing. Fifteen minutes on high and the room was very comfortable. There was a built in thermostat, so I set it to maintain the current temperature.

I picked up a pair of shorts and headed back toward the door. Jill had climbed into bed and was on her back, her hands holding onto the blankets just under her chin.

"Where are you going?"

"I figured I'd go into the bathroom and change."

"Weren't you just in the bathroom?"

"Yeah, but I forgot to take in some shorts."

"Are you embarrassed to change in front of me?"

"No, I... Well, yeah, I guess so."

"Do you like looking at my body, Jack?"

"Of course I do. You're beautiful."

"Well, I like seeing you, too. Now, if you want to keep covered up when I'm around,..."

"No, that's all right. I can change in here."

I leaned against the metal sink and took off my shoes and socks. The shirt followed. I undid the studs on my jeans and slid them off. I started to put my shorts on over my underpants.

"You don't need those."

"The shorts?"

"You can wear the shorts if you want. But you definitely don't need the underpants."

I slid the undies off and looked down. My prick was pointing about four feet in front of my toes.

"Are you getting excited?"

"Yeah, a little."

"Me, too."

I looked at the shorts in my hand. "Forget it." I tossed them on the pile of clothes I'd just removed.

This time I took care of the lights. I'd found a lamp with a low voltage bulb in it and put it on the workbench earlier. I flipped it on and turned out the neon fixture. I also turned off the outside lights. Kind of like a kid's night light, but what I might get to see definitely wasn't for kids. I'd decided to let Jill set the pace for any exploration. Oh, I'd put my hand where it felt good when we were kissing, but she could make the first move for any inside-the-clothes stuff. I was ready to go at any time. I just wanted to make sure she felt comfortable about anything we did.

She was holding the blankets out when I got back to the bed, welcoming me to come in next to her, a big smile on her face. Is there any more loving thing a woman can do to show her man he's desired?

I climbed in and she scooted up to me. The front of my body was tight against the flannel covering, her warm body separated from mine by an eighth of an inch of fabric. Her breasts pushed against her chest as she leaned in to me. I could feel the tips expanding slightly. She was right, she was getting excited, too.

Her eyes fluttered closed as our lips joined. We both had an arm around our partner, pulling each other closer. I rolled her over and lay on top of her, working my right hand under her back. A second arm seemed to wrap around me of its own volition. She moaned into my mouth.

We continued our kiss, tasting of each other. She slid her hands off my back, putting the palms just under my shoulders on my front. She gave a slight push while grunting.

"Heavy."

I rolled over on my back.

"Is it hot in here?"

"I'm fine."

"It seems hot to me."

She sat up. Her hands went under the blankets and she went through some kind of gyration. The next thing I knew, she had the bottom of her nightgown in her fists and she was sliding it up her body and over her head.

I'd taken two photography classes last year, so I knew about lighting. I would have liked to have a couple of spots focused on her to view the beauty that was exposed to me but the dim light from the lamp on the workbench created a breathtaking combination of light and shadow.

Her breasts lifted up as the nightgown dragged up against them, her hair going the same direction a split second later. The breasts quickly settled down, firm enough so they hardly jiggled at all. She tossed the nightgown on top of my pile and ran both hands through her hair.

Her breasts were twin beauties. Lightly sprinkled with freckles, they stood firm and proud. Little cones, rounded pyramids, pointing slightly up. There was an area between the twin peaks that was tan. The majority of them was white. Quarter-sized pink circles adorned the very front where they tapered down. The center of these had little nubs, maybe three eighths of an inch in both height and diameter, just enough darker to distinguish them. The combination of pink, white and tan was somehow exciting. I couldn't come up with a logical reason for the attraction. It was something that had been a part of man since he first stood on two legs.

I reverently laid my hand on one of her breasts, the pressure as the little nub grew against my palm exciting me. As did the little groan she inadvertently let out.

She pulled my hand away and lay down on her back, pulling me over on top of her. I felt her nipples grow and dig into me as we tasted each other again.

We came up for air and she eased me over on my back. Her left arm was under me as she rested her head on my chest, toying with what little hair I had growing there. She was playing, exploring, her palms sliding over a nipple, her fingertips pulling up the hair, gently so as to excite, not hurt.

"I'm a little concerned about Mary."

I silently willed her to continue.

"She seemed so alone on the way home, all by herself on the front seat. And she didn't even say goodnight to anyone when she went to bed."

"I didn't say anything to her, either."

"I think tonight may have been tougher on her than she made it out to be."

"Well, I know she was disappointed that the only comments she got were about her missing teeth."

"I think she feels alone. She's trying to get over something that everybody wants to keep hidden. I've never heard her mention the attack itself."

"She's only talked about it once. The night Sara got beat up. We were all around the table, eating dinner. It was the night your dad went to Houston and we were talking about the mile high club. Mom started talking about how much fun sex could be and Mary said it wasn't like that for her. How unfair it was that they hurt her and Charlie after they'd done everything right. God, I felt so helpless. She was bawling like a baby and there wasn't anything I could do. Thank God Mom was there to take care of her."

"Do you think she's like to go out with us tomorrow when we try to give the puppies away?"

"I don't know if we're going out. I heard Sara invite Chris on my way out here. They may want to go out by themselves. It would be more like a parade if all five of us went out with the wagon and the puppies. But I'm sure we can get her to spend some time with us."

"So, you brought me to your bed under false pretenses, huh?"

"Yes, I admit it. I had an ulterior motive. I wanted to ravish your pale, virginal body."

"Oooh. That sounds nice."

She expanded the area she was rubbing with her hand. The palm slid over my navel, then an the index finger gently explored it. I pulled back a little.

"Oh, my. What have we here? Don't tell me you're ticklish."

"Not so much ticklish as sensitive."

"Let's see about that." She continued to explore the indentation. I reached up with my left hand and tickled her side. She giggled and tried to pull away but the right arm around her prevented it... 

"Stop it! You're going to make me pee again."

I eased off and lifted my head. Kissing her was difficult with her head down at the level of my chest, but I was able to just barely reach her lips.

She sighed, resting her head back on me as I dropped back to the pillow. Her hand continued its lazy sweeps of my torso. I used my hand to rub her back and her arm.

"I figured something out yesterday."

"Uuumh."

"I feel closer to you than I ever did before after we had that talk about volleyball the other night."

"So you like volleyball?"

"Yeah, but I really like you. I've never seen you so enthusiastic about anything. I realized you're not just a pretty face."

"Oh, so you don't think I'm pretty?"

"You're beautiful. If anything, you're more beautiful now that I know the real you a bit better."

She squeezed me. "That's a wonderful thing to say. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

She leaned over and used her lips and her tongue to play with my right nipple. My back involuntarily sunk further into the mattress.

"Another spot, huh?"

"I guess. You're the first person to find that one."

The way she was lying with her head on my chest made it difficult to kiss her. I reached over and started teasing her right nipple. I twisted a bit and was able to reach around her with my right hand and play with it. That left my other hand free to work on a second breast.

She was still playing with my nipples with her mouth. She moaned at my first contact with her breast and started moving the palm of her hand in ever-expanding circles. Eventually her fingertips brushed across my pubic hair. The next swipe touched my cock. She stopped the circles and started playing with it, lightly scratching its length with her nails. I sucked in a deep breath when she reached beneath my balls and dragged the nails of three fingers up from where the sac sat between my legs.

"Ooh, another one."

By now, my nipples were forgotten. Jill was lying on my chest, her cheek against me, turned so she could observe what her hand was doing. My eyes were closed, my face pointed toward the ceiling. She brought her hand up my cock from the base to the head. Her hand was so gentle, so soft. My little guy was fully into it, pointing at the junction between the rear wall and the ceiling of the garage. She held it in her hand, using her thumb to smear the precum that was flowing out around the head.

"Oooh. Messy."

She slowly started to pump, observing the play between the flexible skin and the rock-hard interior. Every few pumps she would stay near the top and smear the precum that had leaked in the meantime.

I could feel her hot breath on my chest as I worked on her nipples. I would grab the nipple between the index and middle fingers of my right hand and pull it out until her body would snap it back into her. My other hand had some more flexibility since it wasn't wrapped around her and I could use more fingers, rubbing and pinching. I noticed that not only did her nipples grow but the previously smooth areolae developed bumps as she got excited. The contours were uniquely sensual as I ran my fingertip around the nipple.

The hot breaths were coming faster and faster as each of us continued to play with the other. I felt the urge coming on and started moving my hips in concert with her hand.

"Jill, I'm going to..."

She held the head to my stomach, covering it and filling her hand with my semen. It seemed to pump forever before it stopped. She picked it up and started rubbing her thumb over the head, smearing the remains until I had to tell her to stop. There is such a thing as too much pleasure.



-------

Chapter 65

My body tried to jump up but something was holding my right arm down. I came up to consciousness and saw that it was Jill. She moved a bit and moaned. The banging that had awakened me started up again.

"Amuhmfamfh" was as about as coherent as I could be this soon after waking.

"Jack. Jill. Come on, breakfast. Mom wants to talk to us."

I was able to get out a fairly understandable "In a minute, Mary."

I reached over to get my underpants but they felt stiff.

"I used them to clean you up last night."

Jill was sitting up, slipping her nightgown back on. I got out of bed and hopped on one foot, then the other, putting on my shorts. I went over to the wardrobe and found a t-shirt and slipped it on. I noticed Jill had on her robe and fuzzy slippers as she slipped out the door.

I went into the house and saw Mom, Mary and Sara sitting at the kitchen table. I mumbled a hello in passing and went down to the bathroom. I had an urgent need to use it. The door was locked. I tapped on it.

"Yes?"

"Jill, I need to use the bathroom. How long are you going to be?"

"I'll be a few minutes, Jack. And I don't think you'll want to come in her for a while after I'm done."

Well, that answered one question. To put it delicately, my angel did have normal bodily functions.

I went into the kitchen and got a special dispensation from Mom to use her bathroom after standing in front of her and doing the pee pee dance for close to a minute. Mary and Sara found it to be very funny. Well, Mom had a smile on her face, too.

I got back into the kitchen and Jill was cooking French Toast. Mary was getting butter and maple syrup from the refrigerator while Sara was handling the plates and silverware. Mom was sitting back, drinking her coffee. I sat down and poured myself some orange juice.

"Did you sleep well, Jackie?"

"Yep. Much better than when I'm by myself on the couch."

"It's interesting you said that. You're not going to be able to use the garage after tomorrow. I approved the plans yesterday and Alex called to let me know he pulled a permit and will be here at 6:00 Monday morning. He plans on being here six days a week for two weeks. They're bringing a dumpster in first thing Monday, so we won't be able to use the driveway for the duration of the project."

"Boy, that's going to be a pain."

"It is. That's why John and I talked about getting rid of you for a couple of weeks."

"What do you mean, get rid of me?"

"I told John I didn't want to have to put up with you bitching and moaning for the next two weeks and he said I should just send you away someplace. I told him I couldn't afford to do that and he said he'd take care of it."

"Huh?"

"He said he'd take care of it because I can't afford it."

"What are you talking about? A hotel or something?"

"Yeah, or something."

I must have had a real stupid look on my face because all four of them started cracking up. I had absolutely no idea what Mom was talking about. I started to turn red.

I think Jill felt sorry for me. "We have room at my house, June."

"I know. That's what John said. I told him I didn't know if Jack could handle being away from us for a couple of weeks. We decided you could stay at the O'Hara's if you promise to come over and keep us company on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Jill's at her night classes."

Jill was grinning like a... Heck, I don't know what she was grinning like. But she looked happy that I was going to stay with her. She brought a huge serving plate full of French Toast over to the table and sat down next to me, hugging my arm. I tilted up her head and gave her a kiss.

"I understand you're going to look through the stuff on the the platform today."

"Yeah. I wanted to make a list and take some pictures, then post it on ebay."

"That's fine, but Alex told me he wants to make sure that everything out there stays covered in plastic. They're going to start removing the original roof on Monday. He'll cover up anything they missed last week but he doesn't want to have to do a bunch of stuff over again."

"I can make sure of that."

"Good. Tomorrow when you get up, I want you to put the mattress back where it was and put the plastic back on it. And get your clothes out of the wardrobe and anything else you think you may need and take it with you when you and Jill go over to her house for the barbecue. If you do it right, there won't be any need for you to come home afterward."

"What about Sara's homework?"

"Sara? Do you think you can persuade Chris to bring home any homework?"

"I think so. Jack? Would it be OK with you if I took Chris with me to give away the puppies? I know you were going to go with me, but I..."

"I'm fine with that, Sara. I know when I'm not needed. I'll just pack my clothes and move out."

"I didn't mean that. You don't have to... Oh."

She finally saw the smile on my face. Everybody laughed.

Speaking of Chris, just about then the doorbell rang. Sara jumped up and headed toward the front door.

"I'll get it."

Mom looked at me. "You know, Jackie? When I saw you and Chris come up last night I was all set to chew you out. I knew Sara had no idea he was coming. But I decided to sit tight and see what happened, thinking it would blow up in your face and maybe you'd learn a lesson from it. I have to admit, I was 100% wrong. She hasn't had that much life in her since you two were kids, chasing each other around the front yard."

"I never chased her around the yard."

"I know. I didn't say you did. And she never caught you, either."

Jill squeezed my arm a little bit tighter. I looked at her. Praise the lord, she was smiling.

She let go, got up and had some more French Toast going before the Chris and Sara walked into the kitchen. They must have had radar or something because they were staring at each other and were able to walk without running into anything.

I glanced over at Mary. She looked a little down. I know Sara and Chris reminded me of Mary and Charlie when they first met. And it looked like she was thinking about that day, too.

Chris sat down next to Sara and she told him to go ahead and have some of her food and they'd have more when Jill was finished making it.

"Jill? Are you making enough for the rest of us?"

"Yeah, I guess. You aren't going to be this demanding at my house, are you?"

"I don't think I'm demanding. I..."

"Lighten up Jack."

Jeez, all these women ganging up on me was getting real old, real quick. Maybe things would be different when John and I could gang up on Jill. I looked at her. Nope, I don't think so.

"Sara, are you still going to want fliers made up for the puppies?"

"I think I just want to take them out in the wagon. Could you take some pictures in case we can't get rid of them and need to make some later? I'd like some pictures of them anyway."

"Sure, I'll be glad to. Maybe I could take a couple with you and Chris holding them."

"Ooh. That would be good."

"OK. We'll do it right after breakfast. Mary? What are you doing today?"

"Nothing."

"Well, Jill and I need some help and we've decided that you're it. We need to get all that stuff down from the platform in the garage, take pictures and put it all back and cover it with the plastic. And I figured we'd wash the two cars before we lose the driveway, too. There's nothing better than a couple of cute girls washing cars."

"Pervert."

"You better believe it."

Her smile was back. Even with the missing teeth, she looked better than I'd seen her in a while.

"Mom? Where are you and John going to go if Jill and I are at his house?"

"What on earth are you talking about, Jackie?"

"Come on, Mom. We all know you didn't come home the other night."

"The reason I didn't come home is that John and I were talking and we fell asleep on the couch."

"Oooh. I'll have to remember that one when I come home late from Jill's some time."

She smiled. "I know it sounds hokey, but it's the truth. We were both tired and we got on that couch and the next thing I knew it was morning and I was covered in a blanket. Which your girlfriend put on us, by the way."

"Does that mean you've changed your mind about John?"

"Sort of. A little."

"What does that mean?"

"You remember your father."

"Of course."

"Well, he and I had something special. I dated a lot of guys before I met him. Some were pretty good, some were OK and some weren't even that. When I met your father, it was like something clicked. Both of us knew that we were made for each other. We just knew we would be together for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, his life didn't last anywhere near as long as mine has.

"You know what I thought about John when I went over to his house. He's shown that he can be nice and understanding and my attitude towards him has changed. I keep looking for what I had with your father. It's just not there. John insists that if we spend enough time together, we'll grow to love one another. I don't know, maybe he's right. He's a nice guy. I enjoy being with him. I consider him a really good friend. But I'm not in love with him. And I'm not going to to commit to anything until I do. If it ever happens. He knows how I feel and he's optimistic that things will work out. So, for now, we have fun. But that's all it is."

"I see."

"Good. I hate being defensive about it, but it's just not there for me. I hope I didn't offend you, Jill."

"Nah. I'm not going to get in the middle of you two. Whatever happens between you will be fine as far as I'm concerned. I just hope you don't hurt my Daddy again."

"I hope not, too. I've tried to be up front with him. But your father can be pretty stubborn. I just hope he doesn't get any wrong ideas.



-------

Chapter 66

While the girls were cleaning up in the kitchen, I sat down with Mom in the living room.

"Mom, something's been bothering me."

"What's that, Jackie?"

"You've been talking about the garage having its own kitchen and stove so I won't have to come in the house. And now I'm being sent to Jill's. I feel like you're trying to get rid of me."

She laughed, looked over at me guiltily, then hugged me. "I'm sorry, Jackie. I don't mean to laugh at you. No, I'm not trying to get rid of you. And when you move into that room, you'd better not disappear. I still want you eating with us at night and I'll still be glad to make you your breakfast.

"I'm looking a few years down the road. I figure you and Mary are going to be out of here, going to college in four years. You'll be gone in a couple. The room's not going to be cheap. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind spending the money and I'll get it all back if I ever decide to sell the house. But I figure I might as well be able to make something back on my investment after you move out. It will be perfect for a college kid or maybe a widow or widower. But I don't want to be tied down to feeding a boarder. Having a little apartment with all the amenities will make it more valuable and a lot less of a hassle."

"Thanks, Mom. I feel a lot better."

"Jackie, I'll never try to get rid of you. Even if you're a 37 year old loser, still living above the garage, you'll still be welcome. But I might make you cook your own meals."

"OK, Mom. I'll keep that in mind."

Chris came in slowly, afraid to interrupt what we were doing. I looked over at him.

"Jack? Sara says she's ready for the pictures."

"OK, Chris. How are you doing?"

He grinned. "Good."

"Cool. Let me get my camera and I'll meet you in the back yard."

I went down the hall and saw that the door was open to my old room. I went inside and dug out my digital camera.

I went out back and Chris and Sara were playing with the puppies. He helped her stand, then got one of the puppies and put it in her arms.

I moved them over so the sun was providing good light without blinding them. I snapped a couple of pictures, then got the two of them with the same puppy. Chris put that one back and got out the other. I went through the same routine, then had Chris give her both of them. I ended up with thirty shots before I had Sara kneel down so she could keep each one still while I took pictures of just the dogs. I finally had her try to keep both of them still enough to get both in the same shot. That lasted just long enough for me to take two pictures.

We put them back in their box and I took Sara and Chris into the room, plugging the USB cable into the camera. The program came up and they could see each shot as it uploaded to the hard drive. I'd named the folder S-puppies and put a clean CD into the drive, copying the file when it was completely loaded. I then clicked on the CD and brought up some thumbnails, and showed Sara how to run a slide show. The full screen pictures brought out more oohs and aahs. When they were done viewing the pictures, I gave Sara the CD. Chris asked if he could have one and I burned him a second copy.

I let them do their thing with the wagon and the puppies. Queenie got to go with them so the backyard was all Dino's.

"Is your father taking care of Bozo this weekend?"

"I didn't even think about it."

"Maybe we'll drive over and bring him back with us later."

"Can we do it now? I miss him."

Women. She hadn't thought about him until I mentioned him and now she misses him.

"All right." She squealed and jumped up to me, hugging my arm. "Ask Mary if she wants to go for a ride with us."

We got in the car but things were a bit different. Jill was still next to me but she wasn't hanging on my arm as she usually did.

"How are you doing, Mary?"

"I don't know. All right, I guess?"

"What happened at the game last night?"

"I just got thinking. You have Jack and Sara had Chris and it was the same stadium where we went that night I got attacked and all anyone could talk about was my teeth."

"I'll talk to you if you want."

My sister leaned forward and looked over at me. "I don't know. There are some things I don't want to talk about."

Jill glanced over at me. "Maybe we could find some time alone tomorrow over at my house."

"Yeah, that would be nice."

"Mary?"

"Yeah?"

"I'll always be here for you if you want to talk. I mean that."

"Thanks."

Jill got back into position, holding onto my arm. I glanced over her head. Mary was staring out into space, a slight smile on her face. At least she wasn't looking at her demons right now.

Jill's house was empty when we arrived. She went inside and came out a couple of minutes later with a notebook computer which she put in the back.

Bozo acted like he hadn't seen her in months. He was getting to be pretty big. Maybe two inches shy of my knee and a foot and a half long. He had a way to go, but he wasn't the puppy I could hold in a couple of hands when I'd picked him up for Jill.

We got his dog food and bowls. When I told Jill I was sure we had bowls at our house she informed me that these were his bowls and she didn't want him eating out of just any old bowl. Excuuuuuse me. I bought the fucking bowls for him, I knew there wasn't anything special about them. We put his bowls in the trunk with his dog food.

He stood on Mary's right leg with his head out the window the whole way home. It was a good thing we were going to wash the car later. The rear window was covered with saliva by the time we got home.

He ran over to the back yard and was looking through the gate at Dino, his tail going a mile a minute. I let him through the gate and they romped and tackled each other like a couple of kids.

We figured the best way to attack the ebay listing was to get everything off the platform first, then inventory it and take any pictures we wanted. I had a spot up there that we'd be able to use for lighting. I hadn't used it for about three years. That would definitely be something to hang on to.

Jill and Mary went inside the house and came out a few minutes later. Jill had a Highpoint ball cap on with her hair shoved out through the hole in the back. And the short pants I'd been thinking about last night. She had her red checkered tablecloth shirt on, tied just below her tits. She looked hot. And the way she was prancing around in front of me showed me she was more than aware of it.

Mary was almost as bad. She had a t-shirt on that she'd had for several years. Her shorts didn't show as much cheek, but there was no doubt what was underneath them. There was a definite camel toe effect when she stood facing you and the back of the shorts molded themselves to her butt crack. Somehow, her t-shirt got sliced down the front and it, like Jill's, was tied under her tits. She was prancing around too, her pony tail bouncing as she flaunted her body.

Neither of them was wearing a bra.

Jill had me set up the ladder under the hole to the platform. She held it, kind of bent with her ass pushed back about a foot. Mary kind of swiveled her way up to the platform. For some reason, she couldn't stretch out and hold the rungs as she moved up. She could only seem to reach two rungs above her feet. Of course, this made her butt stick out, too. It swung back and forth as she put first one foot, then the other on the rungs to the top. She made a production of getting on the platform. When she finally made it, I let out a wolf whistle and clapped. She turned red, but she was smiling, too.

Jill was next. She climbed in a similar way to Mary, but it looked better on her. Maybe it looked the same, but my girlfriend was more desirable than my sister. At least as far as I was concerned.

Jill stayed up at the top of the ladder. She made sure to climb up an extra step as she held on to the edge of the platform so that her butt would be pushed out.

Mary would get something and hand it to Jill. I would take it from Jill. Some things she threw, others I had to climb up a couple of steps so she could hand it to me. The first time I went up I felt the back of her shorts thoroughly with my hand. She made sure to wiggle it as I did so.

We got everything down and I was treated to a reverse show. Jill noticed my little guy was into it and laid her hand on my groin. That got the little guy even more excited.

What really bothered me was when Mary said to Jill, "Ooh, that looks like it hurts. Why don't you kiss it better?" They both thought it was the funniest thing they had ever heard. Of course, the effect was to make him look like he wasn't hurting anymore.

The first thing we did was spread out all the records so that I could take a picture of them. After I was satisfied I'd captured the essence of the collection, Mary read off titles and artists while Jill typed them in her computer.

I opened up the record player and set up the spot so I could get a good shot. I had Jill note the manufacturer, model and serial number for the listing.

"Jack, there are too many records her to sell as one item."

"What do you suggest?"

"We should split them into 78s, 45s and 33s. And the kids records should all be in one group."

"OK, Jill. We'll need to get some more pictures."

She and Mary worked on the records as I put the encyclopedia in order. I opened up the first volume and lay it in front of the other 19 which were in a semi-circle, the binders facing me. It made a good picture and showed that they were all there and gave an indication of the condition of the inside of the books. I hadn't noticed it before but it was an Encyclopedia Britannica. It should bring a decent price from a collector.

The rest of the stuff was plastic bags of clothes we hadn't worn since we were both in elementary school. There were some heavy coats that had only been worn once or twice when we took a ride up to the snow. We didn't know any little kids so they all went directly into my trunk for a trip to Goodwill.

Jill called me over and I told her a couple of things I wanted done to make the pictures better and took shots of each listing's records.

"Now you're going to have to go through the list and separate all the groups."

"No, I made a table listing the size of the records. I can just sort by type."

A couple of minutes later she showed me four different lists. Jill was the computer geek and I took the pictures.

Mary made her trek up the ladder and I took some shots of her. Jill stuck her butt out a bit further this time, posing as she went up each step. When she got to the top she pulled her shorts as tight as she could by the waist band. I caught it all for posterior. I mean posterity.

We pulled my car into the driveway. Jill sent me inside with some newspaper and a spray bottle of Windex. I did the inside windows while she and Mary washed the car, spraying each other "accidentally" with the hose and using a couple of big sponges we had in the garage, making sure they used lots of suds. They made an effort to lean into the windows as they washed them and the roof. Both shirts were almost transparent and they looked good as their tits mashed up against the windows. I had my camera with me and got some good shots of that action, too.

They finally finished with the outside and Jill held the car door for me. I gave her a hug and a kiss. And then I went over to Mary and gave her a hug, too. She held tight and I stayed there until she released me.

"Jack, we'll take care of the Lexus. You get my notebook and make a CD of the listings, then go put the stuff on ebay. When you get done, we can take a ride to Goodwill and get rid of those clothes."

I started to object.

"Shoo. Mary and I need to talk and you're a distraction."

I pulled her toward me and gave her a kiss. I headed off to do my chores.



-------

Chapter 67

It took almost an hour and a half to post the listings as I wanted. Encyclopedia, record player and four sets of records. I had no idea what it would bring but I figured I could get Jill something for her birthday with the money I got. I made sure to specify that the buyer was responsible for shipping.

I wandered out and saw Jill holding Mary up, her butt right next to Jill's face as she used a chamois on the roof of the Lexus. I would have used a ladder if I was wiping it down. But I would have been happy to give Jill a boost if that was the result.

Geez. I was turning into a dirty old man at 17. With my sister.

"Looking good, Mary."

She turned around, smiling at me until she noticed I was looking at her butt. I could see the blood flow into her face as she turned red.

"Pervert."

"You got that right. Tell me you don't love it"

She tried to look offended but it was obvious she took some pride in her ability to attract her brother.

They finished up and Jill walked over to me, putting an arm around me and pulling me close. Her mouth was next to my ear. She reached down and squeezed my balls, not enough to hurt but the message was there.

"Behave, Jackie."

"Yes, Dear."

"We need to change out of these wet clothes and then you can drive us all over to Goodwill. You can put the hose and all the car wash stuff away."

They'd done all the hard work, so it was fair for me to handle the cleanup. I rinsed out the bucket, sponges and chamois and put them in the garage, making sure the wet stuff was spaced so it could dry properly. I was just winding up the hose when the girls came out. Same outfit, different clothes. They were definitely trying to get a rise out of me. And the smiles on their faces showed me they weren't the innocent little girls they pretended to be.

Mom came out front. "Jill, are you going to take responsibility for that?"

Jill turned around. "What do you mean?"

Mom just pointed at me. "It's OK to tease as long as you make it better."

Jill giggled. "Oh, I'll make it better. But I think I'll keep teasing for a while."

Mom thanked the girls for washing her car. It looked good, but then it should, having been picked up a mere two days ago.

She smiled, shook her head and went back into the house. Well, I knew what I had to look forward to until bedtime. The question was, could I last another 7 or 8 hours?

It wasn't good enough for me to just take the girls to Goodwill. They had to bring Bozo. Which meant they had to bring Dino. Both back windows were cranked down and they each stood at one end of the back seat with heads and tongues out. Mary was on her knees, making sure they were OK the whole trip there and back. Jill was on my arm, rubbing her tits against it. At one point, she sort of stiffened up and whimpered. I looked down at her but she was somewhere else, not paying attention to me. She looked kind of dazed.

I wasn't expecting a marching band or fireworks, but a 'Thank You' would have been nice. The clerk at Goodwill just mumbled "Put 'em in the back" as if she was bored out of her mind when I told her I had a trunk full of old clothes. We drove around to the loading dock and dropped them off. The guys working back there were just as unenthusiastic.

We got home and Mary let the dogs out. They both ran up to the front lawn, squatted like a couple of girls, then started wrestling with each other. The girls kind of dove at the grass and joined in. I closed the rear door Mary had left open and looked at the rear of my "clean" car. Bozo had slobbered all over the back fender and trunk. I walked around and saw that Dino had done pretty much the same thing.

What the hell, it was a seven year old car. A little slime was the worst of my worries. I envisioned driving around with the rear end dragging on the ground because of all the bugs that made the mistake of flying too close and getting caught in the gooey mess.

I spied Sara walking up, pulling the cart with the box on it. No Chris. Uh Oh.

She had a dreamy look on her face. Queenie was a couple of steps behind her. As she got up to me, she said "Hi."

"Hi, Sara. Looks like you don't have any puppies left."

"Nope, we finally found a place. Old Lady Simpson took them."

"You mean the witch two blocks over?"

"Yeah. That's what I thought, too, but Chris said it wouldn't hurt to try her. She was kind of a last resort. Everybody thought they were cute and all, but nobody wanted a puppy. Chris talked me into going over to her house and she was thrilled. She's really just a lonely woman. It's a shame none of us would have anything to do with her when we were growing up."

Old Lady Simpson was the one all of us used to whisper about. In fact, I remember starting to walk on the other side of the street on the way to school when we were kids, so we wouldn't get too close. I think we all had a "Hansel and Gretl" idea of her pouncing out and dragging us in to her house if we got too close. I don't know where that idea came from but it was firmly established by the time we were old enough to walk to school by ourselves. I remember cluing in Jeff and Chris when they moved in and we started walking to school together.

"What happened to Chris?"

"He's mowing her lawn. She made a deal with him. If he mows her lawn every two weeks, she'll take the puppies."

"Wow, that's an expensive trade for Chris."

"Oh, no. She's going to pay him $20 each time he does it. But I think she just wants some company. She said she had some guys who came up in a pickup every couple of weeks and ran around, working on the lawn but she couldn't talk to them. And you know Chris. He probably would have done it for free if he knew about it. I've got to go talk to Mom. I invited Chris for dinner and I want to make sure it's OK."

"I'm sure it is, but she'll appreciate you asking. So she's 'Mom', now, huh?"

She dropped her head and looked up at me, biting her lower lip. "Yeah."

I pulled her into me for a hug. "Good."

She and Queenie took off for the back yard. Jill and Mary were conspiring together about something, glancing over at me every couple of seconds as they whispered back and forth to each other. With those devious smiles on their faces.

I went out back with Sara.

"I need to get a bunch of stuff out of my closet for the next couple of weeks. And I'd like to use my computer for a while, too."

"That's fine. I'll see what Mary and Jill are up to."

Great. I was sure the three of them together would figure out new and unique ways of torturing me.

I took a suitcase into the bedroom and filled it with stuff that I figured I'd need over the next two weeks. I decided to wait till tomorrow to get my bathroom stuff.

I carried it out to the garage and added the things I had in the wardrobe. Jill had some things hanging in there, in particular her robe and flannel nightgown. I needed to find out what she wanted to do about them. Laying them on the back seat for Bozo and Dino to lie on would not get me any points.

Back in the bedroom, I downloaded the pictures. They weren't obscene but I didn't think either of them would appreciate seeing them in the yearbook. I put them on a CD and put it aside to take with me. I also protected the file with a password.

I got on my web program to see what was going on in the world. My home page was a local all-news radio station. I checked out the headlines.

The earthquake in Pakistan was making the news. Not that there had been an earthquake, not that 30,000 people were dead. What the news media thought the people deserved to know was that people were looting. And the starving, thirsty people weren't standing quietly in line but were struggling to get food and water from supply trucks. Leave it to the media to make starving people into criminals.

The amount of trash Californians threw out the window as they drove had increased 50% over the past 10 years. The state had been using jail inmates on work release programs to pick it up but in recent years they had started being used elsewhere. They figured the state was picking up about half the trash. Some psychologist said people threw shit out the window because they didn't feel connected to the community. No mention of them being pigs.

A San Diego man was the first Mr. Gay International and Mr. Gay 2006 USA to be named. The event producer said, "Competitions such as these have been popular in Europe for years and we're thrilled to now have a U.S.-based component looking for the 'boy next door' to represent the broader gay community." Maybe Jeff could be the next boy next door.

I looked at my email and had a couple of jokes from other kids in my class. I deleted them and logged off.

The computer was turning into just as big a waste of time as the television.

I was on the way out the door when my three ladies came in.

"Jill. What do you want to do with the clothes in the wardrobe?"

"You can leave them."

"What about your robe and the nightgown?"

"Those are just for the garage. I wear my good stuff at my house."

OK. I wondered what her good stuff would consist of.

They had some kind of secret meeting in Mary's room then all three came out and went into the kitchen.

The three of them got busy in the kitchen. Soon, the odor started making its way into the living room where I was reading a book for my English class. It drew me in to the kitchen but I was shooed out by all three of them.

Jill came out and told me I could make myself useful by going to the store and picking up a couple of liters of coke. I went.

When I got back I had to push my way through three dogs who were at the back door with their noses in the air. The smell was unbelievable as I walked inside with the cokes.

"Go ahead and pour us each a glass, Jack."

"Yes, Boss."

"Good boy."

I got glasses and ice and filled five glasses with Coke. It's the real thing. Mary had an open package of flour tortillas and was heating them up on the gas burner on the stove. Mom has a Styrofoam container for keeping heated tortillas warm and she would lift the top, add the newest one, close the top and start with another.

Sara was grating cheese. She had a good sized bowl and it looked like she was going to fill it. She put the rest of the cheese away and got out some sour cream. Jill was at the stove, stirring whatever it was that smelled so good in a big frying pan while all this was going on.

"No Sara. Not on the table., Over here on the counter."

Sara picked up her bowls and took them over to where she was told.

"Jack, go tell Mom it's time for dinner."

"Yes, Dear."

Now Jill was calling her Mom. I looked over at Mary and she was smiling. She was evidently over that jealousy she'd shown when Mom first told Jill she could call her that. Good. She was going to be Jill's mother-in-law if I had anything to do with it.

I went down the hall and knocked on Mom's door. "Come in."

I opened it and stuck my head inside. Mom was reading a Cosmo.

"Dinner's ready, Mom."

"Thanks, Jackie. Are you doing better?"

"Yeah. But the girls are starting to give me a hard time."

"Poor, Jackie!! Are those little girls picking on you?"

"I'll see you in the kitchen."

She was laughing as I went back to the kitchen.

Mary was ahead of me with a handful of washcloths she'd pulled out of the linen closet.

"Jill says they're messy."

I went into the kitchen and Jill told me to get a plate. There was a stack of them on the counter. I got a tortilla and then went to the giant frying pan on the stove. It was full of meat, green and red bell peppers, onions and some liquid. I plopped a spoonful of it on top of the tortilla. The other side of the counter had the bowl of grated cheese and the sour cream. I loaded up with those.

I sat down and saw there wasn't any silverware on the table. I got up and went to the drawer and started to get enough for everyone. Jill looked over at me.

"What on earth are you doing?"

"Getting silverware for everybody. You guys forgot it."

"You don't use silverware with fajitas, you doofus. Geez, look at yours. You put way too much on it."

Mom came in the kitchen, smiling and shaking her head.

"Is she picking on you, Doofus?"

I cut my fajita while the four of them rolled their tortillas with the filling up like burritos. At least I didn't dribble any on my chin or get my hand messy when the filling came out the back end.

"Just leave all that on your plate. When you're done, get a tortilla and pick it up with that. Jackie, you can lick yours off your plate if you want."

They all thought it was hilarious. I didn't get it.

After dinner the girls were trying to figure out what we could all do besides watch TV. Mom suggested that Mary show them where all the games were. They all ran squealing down the hall and checked out the top shelf of the linen closet. We had Clue, Monopoly, Life, Chutes and Ladders, Candyland and Parcheesi.

I found out how competitive my girlfriend was. Jill beat my ass at Candyland.



-------

Chapter 68

Bozo spent the night in the garage with us. He stayed over near the water heater.

Mom had told Jill to take responsibility for what she was doing to me while we were doing our chores earlier. Jill had promised to make it better.

She did.

I'd planned on talking to her about what she and Mary talked about while they were washing Mom's new car. That idea went out the window. Jill wouldn't let me put shorts on and she was naked when I turned out the main light. We got into bed and the next thing I knew she had her legs on either side of my head and my prick in her mouth. I reciprocated. So, neither of us had much opportunity to talk. I could find out about Mary some other time.

We were both wiped out after we'd come in each other's mouths a few times. Well, twice for me, I gave up counting at four for her. We'd done this one at a time to each other, this was the first time we'd done it together. There were times it took all the concentration I could muster to to keep working on her. The other times I'd been above her. It's amazing how much liquid came out of her as I was exploring with my lips and tongue.

We went to sleep shortly after she turned herself around and was resting up against me. The last thing I remember is Jill playing with the hair on my chest. All that fresh air must have made us tired.

I woke up refreshed, my cock nestled between her cheeks, my left hand held against her chest. She was lying on the other arm.

Nature was calling so I rolled her over a bit and slid my arm out from under her. I picked up my shorts, slid them on and made my way into the bathroom. Bozo followed me out of the garage but detoured out to the back yard. I took care of business and went back into the kitchen. As I was pouring water into the coffee maker, Sara came in.

"Good morning. How are you doing, Sara?"

"Pretty good."

"I didn't see Chris at dinner last night. What happened?"

"He called before we ate. Mrs. Simpson invited him for dinner and he didn't want to disappoint her."

"Did you invite him over to Jill's?"

"Jill's?"

"Aren't you coming over with us?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"We have a pool party and barbecue every Sunday at Jill's house. I assume everyone else is coming. Why don't you ask Chris to go with you?"

"I feel weird. How do I know it will be OK with Jill?"

"I know it will. But she should be in soon if you'd feel better asking her first."

Speaking of the devil, Jill walked in the door with Bozo.

I went over to kiss her but she turned her face so I just got her cheek.

"I need to brush my teeth."

"OK. Is Sara invited today?"

"Of course she is. You should know that."

"I do. She wasn't sure it was OK with you. Can she bring a friend?"

"Of course. Gotta go." She headed down the hall and I heard the bathroom door close.

I looked over at Sara. "Well, don't just stand there. Give him a call."

She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "Thanks, Jack. You smell funny." She went over to the phone and dialed.

Mary came out just as Sara was hanging up the phone.

"What are you going to wear to Jill's?"

"We always wear our sexiest bathing suits and tease Jack and John."

"I've never had a bathing suit."

"Never?"

"Not that I can remember. My mother always said I would be asking for trouble if I wore one. She said they were indecent."

"Your mother sounds like she belongs in Iraq or Saudi Arabia. Letting your father beat her up, always following his orders, afraid to offend him, bathing suits are indecent. Did she cover her face when she left the house?"

"No, Jack. That's about the only thing she didn't do. Have you got one I can wear, Mary?"

"No, I've just got the one. I've got a couple I really should throw out. They don't fit any more. I know they wouldn't fit you. With your boobs, you would look indecent if you wore one of them."

Jill had come in and taken my arm, giving me a kiss now that her teeth were brushed.

"I guess we need to go to the mall."

"I don't have money for a bathing suit."

"Don't worry about it. We'll figure something out. Jack, get ready so we can go to the mall."

"Yes, Dear. I'll make a deal with you. You make breakfast and I'll drive you girls to the mall."

I thoroughly enjoyed my breakfast. All three girls made a big production of serving me, making sure my coffee was full, calling me master the whole time. Jill even buttered my toast and fed it to me.

Mom came out and Mary got her a cup of coffee. "You're coming today, aren't you?"

"I was planning on it. That way Sara and Mary will have a way to get home."

"I'm going to take everyone over to the mall after breakfast. Sara needs a bathing suit."

"What else do you need, Sara?"

"I can't think of anything, Mom."

"All right. You let me know if there is. Mary, do me a favor and get my purse out of my room."

Mary was back in a minute. Mom dug through and pulled out her wallet. She got three twenties out and gave me, Mary and Sara each a bill. "You might as well get an allowance like Jack and Mary. You're helping out as much as they do. And use this for a new bathing suit." She pulled out a fifty and handed it to Sara.

Sara got up and gave Mom a hug. "Nobody's ever been nice to me like that before."

"That's OK, Honey. You deserve it."

We cleaned up in the kitchen and did our bathroom stuff and were on our way fifteen minutes later. Sara and Mary sat in the back while Jill held on to my arm.

Once we passed the big glass doors into the mall, the girls went running down toward some shop that specialized in bathing suits. I told no one in particular that I'd meet them when they were done. I lost sight of them when they took the escalator up to the second level.

I went up and saw a bench near the down escalator. I decided to sit and wait.

It was a nice, warm day. The high school girls were definitely taking advantage of the weather to show every possible inch of skin they thought they could get away with. I sat there and enjoyed the view.

I heard some laughing and chattering that sounded familiar about ten minutes later and looked toward the sounds. My three girls were marching toward me. Sara was swinging one of those bags with a store's name on it.

We drove back home and the girls took off into Mary's room, laughing and having a good old time. I went out back and cleaned up the garage so Alex and his crew didn't have to do any extra work to start the project tomorrow. It sure took a lot longer to put plastic over a mattress and box spring than it did to remove it.

I went inside and got my bathroom stuff together, putting it in a small bag I had for the purpose. After taking it out and putting it in the trunk, I went back down the hall and knocked on the door to my old room. There was no answer.

I gently pushed it open and saw it was unoccupied. I fired up the computer and checked my email. There were several emails from ebay. Each one had a link for one of the items I had listed. I checked them all out. Not bad. Not bad at all. The kid's collection was the least popular of the records with a $45 bid. The 45s were next at $113.60, but both the 33s and 78s were over $200. What really surprised me was that the encyclopedia was over $400. Someone had just bid the $15 minimum on the record player. I might make some decent money from the junk that had been there for years. We were up near a thousand and we still had almost a week to go.

At this rate I could retire. No, maybe not. I would find something to use the money for. And something to save most of it for, as well. Jill and Charlie had achieved their objective, banging some sense into me.

All three of them wanted to go with me over to Jill's. When she called Bozo to come with us, Dino followed him out the gate. Mary asked Mom if he could come with us.

"I don't mind, but I don't want him sliming my new car like he did to the Chevy. If you can control him, fine."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure he stays in the car. I'll even take a blanket for him to sit on."

We had to wait for Mary to find a blanket, then she, Sara and the puppies got in the back while Jill hung on to my arm. The girls each rolled down a window and told the dogs how good they were when they stuck their heads out of my window. Dino was on my side and I could see the drool hanging off him in my side mirror.

We started towards Chris's house but came across him a half block up the street. He got in back with Sara and got to ride with Bozo on his leg.

The ride over was uneventful. Jill held on to my arm but spent a lot of time with her head turned toward the back seat, talking to Mary and Sara.

We pulled into John's driveway and both dogs took off like a shot. Bozo gave Dino the tour of the back yard. Both squatted on the side of the garage where Bozo usually took care of that kind of thing.

Jill brought out Bozo's bowls and filled the water bowl. Both attacked it as if they hadn't had anything to drink in years.

Once the dogs were taken care of, Jill took the girls in the house and they started carting out food, placing it on the big table we normally used as a buffet table. I got to drag the trash can filled with ice and soft drinks out.

Wanda came in a few minutes later and helped with the last few items.

The great unveiling took place once the food was placed. It was pretty obvious that the girls were doing their best to make us guys sprout wood. Sara's mother would have shit.

Once they dove into the pool, the dogs went over to investigate. Jill hollered for Bozo to jump in and he did so. Mary called Dino but he would go up to the edge, lean over and look at the eight inch drop and back off, whining. I went over and lifted him up, handing him in to Mary.

After their initial romp in the pool was done, it was time to work on their tans. They all came out and lay on towels. Of course, Chris and I were pulled into servitude, forced to apply sunscreen to the nubile backs of the half naked girls. He took care of Sara while I did my sister and Jill.

John had said hello to all of us when we arrived but he'd been strangely quiet since.

"Is your dad in his office?"

"No, he said he had to go pick something up., He should be back in a few minutes."

Mom came out a couple of minutes later. She had a sun dress on that showed most of her legs. Sara's mom would have shit about her, too.

She took off the sun dress to reveal a one piece suit that just barely covered her butt and left the rest of her back bare. Nothing was obvious except the fact that she was all woman and there was nothing underneath that suit. I revised my opinion about the reaction from Sara's mother. Really shit.

Mom dove in and swam a few laps, then made her way out of the pool. She laid her towel on a chaise lounge and pulled it out into the sun. When she was down on her stomach, she moved the straps off her shoulders.

"Jackie, come put some sunscreen on me."

I've known my mother all my life. For most of that time, she's just been "Mom." Since we'd started coming over here, that had all changed. Rubbing sunscreen into her back was quite a sensual experience. I concentrated on baseball scores so I wouldn't embarrass my self.

Chris sat down next to Sara and they started talking. I moved next to Jill and proceeded to rub her back. She relaxed and moaned. Mary looked out of place.

"What's the matter, Sis?"

"Nothing. It's just that Jill has you and Chris is with Sara. I don't have anyone."

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No. I'll be all right, Jack."

As if he heard her talking, Charlie walked out of the house behind John.



-------

Chapter 69

The girls were all lying so that their tails were pointed towards the house. Chris and I were the only ones who saw John and Charlie come outside. Charlie looked good, considering what he'd been through. He had a patch over his right eye. He was wearing shorts and a short sleeve dress shirt. The shirt looked like it was a little big for him but wasn't loose. I assumed he had a brace of some type on. His posture was a little too perfect, too stiff.

I put my index finger up to my lips, making the universal "ssshh" sign to all three of them. I held up the sunscreen I'd just used and pointed at Mary. Charlie nodded and walked over.

"So, Chris. I hear you and Old Lady Simpson are an item these days." I figured I could cover up any noise of Charlie's movements if we were talking.

"Huh?"

"Well, from what I hear, you knocked on her door and the next thing you know, Sara's walking home by herself. And then she has to eat all by herself because the old lady talks you into staying for dinner."

Charlie had the sunscreen and was heading over towards Mary.

"It wasn't like that. She's just lonely. And I figured I'd help her out."

He was kneeling next to her butt. She was on the towel, her head on her hands. Her face was turned to the right, Charlie was on her left. A snore wouldn't have surprised me.

"Yeah, right. I've heard that one before. She was lonely. She just wanted company. I figured I'd help her out."

Charlie was rubbing the lotion into Mary's shoulders.

"No. She's just a sweet old lady. She doesn't have anybody. She's glad to have me help out with the lawn. And she just needs somebody to talk to."

"Jack, I've got enough sunscreen on me already. I don't need any more."

"It's not me, Mary. I'm way over here."

"Chris. Stop it."

"I'm over here."

Mom lifted up to see who it was. She held her hand to her mouth so she wouldn't blow it. I could see the smile and the twinkle in her eyes.

My sister finally lifted her head and started to turn around. "Well then, who is..."

"CHARLIE! What are you doing here?"

She rolled over and sat up in one smooth motion, wrapping her arms around him. She pulled back quickly and looked at him.

"I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"Nah. I can't feel anything through this stupid brace. You could throw a rock at me and I wouldn't feel it."

She reached for his hand and took in both of hers, holding it to her chest.

"Are you OK? Are you out of the hospital?"

"I'm about to fall over. I'm not used to squatting down like this. Could we go sit down someplace?"

"Oh, Charlie. I'm so sorry."

"It's OK. You didn't know."

She'd already started to stand when she was talking and now she pulled him upright by both hands. She wrapped his right arm around her shoulders and started to walk towards the table with the food on it.

"Mary, you don't need to carry me. I'm not a cripple. There are just some things that are a little difficult with this stupid brace."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

She let the arm slide off her shoulders but made sure to hang on to his hand. They made it over to the table without any trouble. The sat down next to each other on the bench.

"OK. Now I can answer your questions. First off, yes I'm as OK as can be expected this early. I have some work to do but I'm surviving well without having to take any medication for it. And in the second place, yes, I am out of the hospital. If I was in the hospital, I wouldn't be here."

"I'm sorry."

"Mary. Please. I'm OK. Stop saying you're sorry every time I say something. There's nothing for you to be sorry about."

"I'm sorry. I mean... I'm sorry. Oh Charlie, I don't know what I mean."

He reached up and put one hand on either side of her face, pulling her toward him. She looked surprised as he started to kiss her, then she settled into it. I could hear her moan from where I was.

They separated and she went to put her arms around him, pulled back, then held his hand.

"I don't know where I can touch you without hurting you."

I was still next to Jill. I mumbled, "I know where she can touch him." That got me a punch in the arm.

"You can touch me just about anywhere. I have a brace on from here to here," he motioned from just under his arms to above his waistband. "I can't feel anything where I've got the brace."

"How's your eye?"

"Mary, I lost my eye. All I have there is an empty socket."

I could see the pain in her face. "Oh, God. Oh, Charlie. Does it hurt?"

"No, not any more. I had some other things that hurt a lot more. But I'm pretty much over the pain unless I do something to mess up my ribs. And that's pretty hard whenever I wear this brace."

"Charlie. I know you don't like it, but I am sorry. It's my fault all this happened to you."

He stood up, towering over her. I could see the anger in his face. Mary was looking at him but she actually shrank back a bit.

"If you're going to talk like that, I don't want to be around you. This is not your fault. We happened to run into a bunch of doped up criminals who got off on beating us up. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine. I should have protected you. I feel badly every time I think of you. And I think of you a lot. I don't ever want to hear you apologize for that again. Do you hear me?"

She looked up at him rather sheepishly. "Yes, Charlie." So quietly I could hardly hear her from where I was.

He sat back down and took her face in his hands again. He made sure she was looking at him and said, "Good." He pulled her into him and kissed her. She immediately put her arms around him and pulled him into her body, brace and all. He let go of her face and put his arms around her, as well.

The kiss continued and I sat there like a dummy, watching them, my mouth open. Jill slapped my arm with the back of her hand.

"Stop it."

They finally broke it off and Mary just sat there looking at Charlie as if he was her hero. Which I guess he was.

"So, should I look like a pirate or Sammy Davis, Jr?"

"Who's Sammy whatever?"

"Davis. He was an entertainer. He sang and danced and was in a couple of movies. He was a friend of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. He lost his eye in a car wreck and got a glass eye. They can make them look like your good eye but they don't move with the real one."

"I don't know. It would be kind of weird knowing there was a hole right under that patch."

"There still will be. You don't keep a glass eye in all the time. It's kind of like false teeth. You take it out when you go to sleep. Like contacts."

"Ooh, isn't that gross?" She put her hands up to her face. "Oh, God, I didn't really say that, did I?'

He grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Yes, it's gross. Just as if I had a big open wound on my stomach. But it's something I have to live with. Some people think seeing an amputee's stump is gross. Some people can handle it. I don't have much choice about it, I'm going to have to get used to it. But I haven't gotten completely used to it yet. I'll catch a glimpse of my reflection in a mirror and seeing the patch still catches me off guard."

Charlie seemed to have figured the best way to handle it when Mary said something stupid. He kissed her again. He was going to have to watch out or she'd start saying things just to get him to kiss her.

John jumped in as they ended off the kiss.

"All right. I don't know about anybody else but all of this lovey dovey talk is making me hungry. Jack. You know how to start the barbecue. Get busy. You two over there..." He pointed at Sara and Chris. "You two stop pawing each other long enough to get the meat and other stuff out of the refrigerator. Jillian, you go show them what to get. I assume you remember where everything is, even though you haven't been around here forever."

Chris looked like he'd been caught at something by someone in authority. Sara just leaned into him and kissed him on the cheek. Jill answered her father.

"Oh, Daddy, quit trying to be a big old grouch. I spent two nights away. And you know darn well I'll be here for the next two weeks."

"Well, it seems like more than two nights. And a whole lot of good you'll be over the next two weeks with him being here." The word 'him' was stressed both vocally and with a pointed finger.

"You're going to need to get used to that, Daddy. He's going to be around here a lot. And I'm going to be at his house a lot."

"I may get used to it, but I don't have to like it."

She went up to him, put her hands on his shoulders and stood on her tiptoes, kissing him on the cheek. "You know I'll always love you, Daddy."

She walked away as John sputtered something. His face was flushed and he was smiling.

I got the newspaper and started making balls. I put a stack on the table in front of Charlie and my sister.

"You two might as well help. Take individual sheets and crumple them into balls."

Mary tried to do it while holding Charlie's hand but he spoiled it by pulling it away.

It only took a minute for the three of us to crumple enough newspaper. I put the grill over it and made my pyramid of charcoal. Once that was in place, I put on the dome, opened the holes and lit the newspaper from the bottom. I soon had a good quantity of smoke coming out the top. A minute later the paper had done it's job and was burned up. I took off the lid and let the charcoal burn to it's proper color.

Chris came out with a huge tray with burgers and steaks on it. Sara had a tray with catchup, mustard, steak sauce, salad dressing, some foil wrapped ears of corn and some buns. Jill was carrying a big bowl of Mom's potato salad. Mom must have made that last night while Jill and I were in the garage.

I put the corn right on the charcoal and put the cooking grill in place. I found out what everybody wanted and put on the meat. Jill, Mary and Sara went into the house for plates and silverware and the green salad. Chris got some soft drinks out of the trash can and started passing them out.

Ten minutes later, the food was on our plates, everyone was getting their condiments and salads and sitting down to eat. We'd grown to eight. This was the largest crowd I'd seen at John's. And Wanda wasn't even with us today.



-------

Chapter 70

"Jill? How come Wanda didn't make it today?"

"She's here someplace."

"Oh, yeah. Now I remember. She was helping you guys bring out the food."

"Come on." She took my hand and we got up from the table.

We went in the house, checking the TV room and bathrooms first. No Wanda. Jill took the second floor while I went from room to room on the first. I felt pretty foolish looking in the closets, but what the heck. When I caught myself bending over to look under the bed in the guest room, I decided enough was enough.

Jill and I met at the bottom of the stairs. She'd had the same luck as I had.

"Now what?"

"Let's ask Daddy."

We went out to the patio. John was talking to Mom and looked bothered when Jill shook him on the shoulder.

"What?"

"Daddy? Do you know what happened to Wanda?"

"She's got to be around somewhere."

"Daddy, we looked all over."

"Geez, she can't just disappear. She was fine when I went to... Oh. Shit! Charlie. Do you remember Wanda coming back with us?"

"Uh, uh. I figured you knew she was talking to my parents."

Jill dragged me back into the house. She picked up the phone and listened, then put it next to my ear. Stutter dial tone. Voice mail messages.

She took the phone back and put it on speaker, dialing the voice mail number. She entered her code and was told that she had twelve messages. All twelve were from Wanda. Depending upon the message, she was either frustrated or angry or both. It got worse as the messages went on. She had a couple of names for John that surprised me in one or them.

We went outside.

"Twelve messages, Daddy. How could you?"

"How could I what? I've been outside with you since I got home."

"Well, I don't think it's OK for you to abandon her like that. I don't know what you were thinking."

"I was thinking about getting Charlie and Mary together. Which seems to have been a pretty good thing."

"Well, that's all well and good. But you shouldn't have left her all by herself to starve."

"Oh, give me a break, Jillian. I'm sure there's food over at Charlie's house. She's not going to starve."

"Well, you need to go pick her up."

"After we eat."

"Now, Daddy."

He looked over at me. "See what you have to look forward to?"

I chose survival over giving him an answer. I looked at Jill and smiled, taking her hand. I got a smile and a squeeze in return.

John convinced Mom to leave her food behind until later. She put the sun dress on over her bathing suit and the two of them left to rescue Wanda before she starved to death.

My plate was empty so I speared the steak on Mom's with my fork. What the hell. I knew she'd rather have one fresh from the grill than try to heat up hers when she got back.

Jill had chosen steak when I asked what everybody wanted. She had two drooling companions as she fed Bozo and Dino pieces of fat. That got an almost simultaneous "Oh, how cute" from Mary and Sara.

Once Jill was done they made the rounds and got half the hamburger on their plates. I sliced the fat off mine and pushed it onto Jill's plate with my fork. That got me a quick kiss.

Jill was feeding the last of it to the two scavengers when Mom and Wanda came out, followed by a sheepish John. Wanda took every opportunity she got to glare at him for the rest of the day. My mother seemed to find it very amusing, talking about "Poor John" on several occasions.

Wanda made a big production about how hungry she was, she never thought she was going to eat again, watching John try to pull his head into his body as Mom smiled.

I put the food on. John complained about how he never got to eat a hot meal because of 'some people' and I put a new steak on for him, as well. The boys got almost a whole steak between them. I wondered if they'd ever settle for dog food again.

Once the three of them were served, I asked Charlie how long he had been out of the hospital.

"A couple of days now. It's strange being back home."

"What, after being in the hospital for so long?"

"That's part of it. But things are different at home. My parents have really changed."

Mary asked, "How are they different?"

"My father used to leave most of the daily things up to my mother. Since that night Mom's been on medication and she just sits around, staring into space."

Mom perked up at that. "What kind of drugs?"

"They say she's got some kind of chemical imbalance. These are supposed to correct it."

"What kind of tests did they do?"

"I don't think they did anything. She was upset the night we were brought into the hospital and they gave her something. The next few days she was in the hospital for observation and they said she needed to be on these drugs. She was diagnosed with post traumatic stress."

"God Damn it, of course she was stressed. She didn't know if her only child would live through the night. She had every reason in the world to be upset. Her whole life was falling apart. I'd sure like to know which chemicals aren't balanced and how they can tell when they are."

"I don't know about that. All I know is she can hardly do anything by herself now. My father does most of the cooking and housework. I almost feel guilty being another person he has to look after."

By that time everyone was done eating and the girls cleaned up. One thing about this crowd, there weren't many leftovers. Mom's potato salad bowl looked like one of the dogs had licked it clean.

We were all laying on chaise lounges and Chris asked, "How come you don't have someone here, Wanda?"

She got a faraway look. "Oh, I don't know."

"You've got someone, don't you?"

"Yeah, there's someone."

Jill was surprised. "Really? How come you never told me anything?"

"I don't know that there's really anything to tell yet."

"I thought you were going to take a vacation from men."

"Vacations don't usually last forever, Jill."

"I know, but I thought you would..."

"Jill, there's really nothing to talk about. Please."

I took her hand and she glanced over at me. She looked troubled.

"Well, I don''t know about the rest of you, but I came here to get some sun." Wanda stood up and slipped off her top and her shorts, revealing a bikini. She got a towel off the stack in front of the changing room, spread it out and lay down in the sun.

Mom was next, pulling the sun dress over her head and joining Wanda.

Mary looked at Jill and Sara. "What do you think?"

"We might as well."

The three of them doffed whatever they had on over their suits and joined Wanda and my mother.

John, Charlie, Chris and I sat back and took in the view. All five girls were facing away from us, lying on their stomachs. I marveled at the variety of backsides.

Mary and Jill were about the same age but were shaped completely different. Mary's hips had just started to fill out. She was still skinny but the woman in her was beginning to come to the surface. Jill, on the other hand, had matured earlier than my sister. Bubble butt was the best way to describe it. Rounded, firm, smooth and so touchable. You could bounce a quarter off my girl's ass.

Sara was next in line. Round and muscular but not as prominent as Jill's. Jill would probably hate that if she heard it, even though she had the best looking one of the lot. Sara was my age, a few years older than Mary and Jill. But Sara was petite. Jill probably had a good twenty pounds on her. Not that Jill was fat. Not by any means. Sara had a nice trim butt.

Wanda, a year older than me, was the most womanly of the girls. She wasn't fat, but her hips were starting to spread. Wanda had hips meant for childbirth. I could envision her holding one on her hip and another in her belly.

And then there was Mom. She'd gone through her childbirth. Her hips were wide and strong. Her rear looked like an upside down heart. I'd be more than happy if Jill looked like that from behind in twenty years.

Jill turned around. "God, what a bunch of perverts."

Her father answered her. "You wouldn't dress like that if you didn't like it."

Mom said to Jill, "He's got us there, Honey."

I guess Jill figured she couldn't win this battle.

"I want to do something tonight. Does anyone else want to do something?"

Mary said "That sounds good."

Sara pitched in, "What can we do?"

"I know."

They all looked over at Wanda.

"They just opened up the old drive-in on Main St."

Mary said, "Drive-in? You mean for food?"

"No. For movies. They run old slasher movies and charge twenty bucks a car. They've got a snack bar or you can sneak your own stuff in."

Mom said, "Boy, I sure remember drive-ins. How about you, John?"

"I went to one or two."

"It sounds like you didn't have the real drive-in experience."

"Maybe not. I was a lot more conservative."

"I can see that."

Jill broke in. "OK, you two. Enough about Memory Lane. So who wants to go to the drive-in? Mary? Sara? Wanda?"

"I don't think so. But you guys have fun," Wanda said.

Mary looked at my mother. "Can Sara and I go? We don't have to go to school tomorrow."

"I don't know. Your tutor starts tomorrow."

"Yeah, but she won't be there till 10."

"If you can be home by 11, fine."

"Thanks, Mom. Want to go to the drive-in, Sara?"

"Sure. Are we going to invite the guys?"

Jill looked like she was having trouble with the question. "Boy, I don't know."

Mary had the answer. "Well, it's either them or your father will have to drive. Besides, we need someone to pay."

I figured it was time to step up. "OK, I'll drive. And we'll pay for the movies if you guys handle the food and drinks."

"That should be easy enough. We've got lots of sodas left that we can take in a cooler. I can throw some popcorn in the microwave. We got some of those small candy bars for Halloween. We can take a bag with us and replace them later."

"We'll need to take blankets. It gets cold at night."

Wanda looked at Charlie. "Yeah, right. You just want to get Mary under a blanket.'

My sister took his hand. "That's OK. He can get me under a blanket any time he wants."

"So, Chris. Are you in?"

"Depends on what time it is, Jack. My parents have to say it's OK."

"I'll go inside and call. What's the name of the place, Wanda?"

"Ace. Ace Drive-in."

Jill went inside and made her call. She was back a couple of minutes later.

"They open at 6:30. The movie starts at 7:15. They're showing Halloween and Texas Chainsaw. The show gets out at 10:30. We should all be home before 11:00, easy."

"I don't know, Jill. Are you and Charlie going to be OK watching those movies, Mary?"

"We'll be fine, Jack. What happened to us was totally different." She looked at Charlie. "We can always hold on to each other if we get scared." Charlie smiled back.

Chris asked Jill if he could use the phone. She took him inside to show him where it was. He came out shortly after she did. "It's fine."

Sara took him by the hand. "We've got some time. Why don't you play something?"

"I didn't bring my guitar."

Jill looked up. "You play guitar?"

"A little."

"He's so great. You should hear him."

"Daddy, can we use your guitar?"

"I suppose. It's on the shelf in my closet."

She ran into the house. When she came out, she was carrying a guitar case.

"Here you go."

Chris picked it up reverently. He ran his thumb over the name on the case.

"Is it really a Gibson?"

John nodded his head.

Chris gently put the case on the chaise and opened it as if he was undressing a woman for the first time. The polished wood shone as the sunlight bounced off it. He picked it up as if it was a fragile vase. He plucked the strings one at a time.

It sounded OK to me but Chris spent a couple of minutes tuning it to his standards. Finally satisfied, he played a couple of chords.

This was a Chris I'd never seen before. I didn't know he knew anything about music.

He closed his eyes, a dreamy smile on his face. And then he played the guitar introduction to Blackbird by Paul McCartney. It sounded exactly like the record. When he got to the singing part, he sang. His voice was pure and sweet. Another part of him I never knew existed.

After a few bars, Sara joined in. And then we were all singing. Another guitar part came and Chris played. But now it didn't sound like the record. It was more complex, more ornate. More inventive. The guitar on the record was good, but it was more generic. Chris played his solo for a lot longer than the record and then worked back to the vocals and once again we all sang with him. I looked around and there were smiles on all the faces. He finished and I started clapping, soon to be joined by everyone else. Chris looked embarrassed.

It finally died down and Sara said "Play my song."

Chris started playing something I'd never heard. He plucked the notes one at a time and then would play a chord, then more individual notes. He was playing a combination of both lead and rhythm guitar parts. The melody and the chords to go with it. It reminded me of things I'd heard Jose Feliciano do, as well as some of Clapton's acoustic stuff.

All of us looked like we in danger of stepping on our tongues. I'd never heard anything like it. The music flowed and seemed to grab hold of our emotions and toy with them at his will. Chris had his eyes closed and was off somewhere not of this world. His fingers created their magic as if the guitar was a part of him. The sounds flowed out and seemed to wrap around us. Sara was enthralled, just looking at him.

The music was finally over. Chris looked exhausted. As I looked around, I saw that I wasn't the only one with tears on my cheeks. Sara leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.

Chris cleared his throat. "Boy, this is a wonderful guitar."

John wiped a tear from his eye. Take it, Son. It's yours."

"Oh, no. I could never accept..."

"Chris. You've earned it. It's been sitting on the shelf for years. It deserves someone who can play it the way you can. There's only one condition."

"What's that, Sir?"

"Please bring it with you any time you come over."

"Thank you, Sir. I will."



-------

Chapter 71

Everyone looked stunned as Chris put the guitar back in the case. I know I never had music affect me the way his song did and it was pretty obvious the others felt something similar.

I broke the spell by standing up and clapping. Soon everyone was on their feet, applauding. Chris looked embarrassed as Sara took his hand, holding it to her cheek with both of hers.

After the applause died down, Mom said, "Well, I'm going to go home. Chris, you might as well ride with us. Charlie? Are you going to need a ride?"

He glanced at my sister. "That would be great."

"How about you, Wanda?"

"Yes, please."

I looked at the group. "All right. It's just before 4:00. How about if I pick Charlie up about 5:45, then get Chris and then the girls?"

"I'll just meet you over at your house, Jack."

"OK, Chris. Be there before 6:00. Maybe we can talk Mom into letting us use the Lexus."

"You just got a car, Jackie. If it's not good enough for you..."

"It's fine, Mom."

Jill said, "OK. You all need to get going. We have a lot to do before we leave."

The six of them said goodbye and went out to Mom's car.

I went out to my car and loaded up with clothes. I followed Jill upstairs and she led me into a guest bedroom, down the hall from hers. I hung up my clothes in the closet, a little disappointed she didn't bring me to her own room.

She left me to get the rest of my stuff and put a bag of popcorn in the microwave. When I was done, I went down to the kitchen. A second bag was popping as she started filling gallon freezer bags with the popcorn she'd already made.

"There's a big cooler in the garage."

I went out and found a red and white cooler that would probably hold a few cases of soda. There was a hose on the side of the garage so I rinsed it off. Bozo and Dino came over to investigate but took off when I splashed them. There was still plenty of ice and drinks in the trash can out on the patio so I put enough for the six of us in the cooler, took it out to the car and put it in the trunk.

The phone rang and Jill went to pick it up.

"We need to take Dino with us. Your sister forgot him."

"There seems to be a lot of that going on."

"She has a good excuse. I think Charlie kind of caught her by surprise."

We took our booty out to the car. We had the cooler, six of the bags of popcorn, big bags of miniature Reese's cups and M&Ms. Jill also came up with three blankets.

I got changed, then played with the dogs while Jill showered and changed. She had some brown corduroy jeans that must have taken a shoehorn to slip on and a cream colored shirt with three buttons at the top, all of which were undone. I could see about an inch of cleavage. Just enough to hint at what was there and keep me on my toes, hoping for more. The ever-present letterman's jacket was over her shoulder, held in the fingertips of her left hand.

I put my arm around her and gave her a kiss.

"Maybe we should skip the drive-in and just stay here."

"Down, Boy."

Jill yelled "By, Daddy," down the hall and John stuck his head out of his study.

"What time will you be back?"

"The movie gets out at 10:30 and we have to take everybody home. Probably some time between 11:15 and 11:30."

"OK. I'll see you when you get home."

We gathered Dino, said goodbye to a sad Bozo and headed for Charlie's.

"What's up with Wanda?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know, this new guy she's found?"

"You were there Jack, she wouldn't tell me anything."

"I just thought you might have some ideas."

"Nope. The last time she talked to me about guys, she was going to back off for most of high school. She wasn't even planning on going to go to her prom."

"She must have found somebody special."

"Well, from that look on her face, she did."

Charlie's father came out to the car with him when we drove up. He assisted getting Charlie got in the back. It was obvious he was wearing his brace because of the way he kept his back straight. After his son was belted up, Charlie's father asked Jill where we were going, how late it would be before he got home and then asked me to take it easy on him since he just got out of the hospital. I almost told him he should talk to my sister about taking it easy on his son, but it really wasn't the time or place for that. I was surprised when he shook my hand before he walked back to the house. He seemed a lot calmer than he had at the hospital. Actually, not so much calm as not quite as vibrant, as if he'd lost a piece of himself.

We pulled up in front of my house ten minutes later. Mom came out to see if we needed anything. She hesitated, then pulled Mary to her in a hug, telling her to be careful. She leaned in the window and told me to be good. Jill handed over Dino.

Chris opened the back door and held it open. He had his new guitar in his hand.

"Mary, sit up front next to Jill. There isn't room in the back seat for all four of you."

She was all set to tear into me when she noticed the smile on my face. She stuck out her tongue, got in and slid over to the far side next to Charlie. She had to push him against the door to make room for Chris and Sara but it didn't seem to bother him. The window handle was digging into the brace instead of Charlie.

"You better hold onto him so he doesn't fall out, Mary."

I could see her grab tighter in the rear view mirror. Chris had his guitar on his lap. There really wasn't room for four people and a guitar in the back seat.

"Chris, why don't you give us the guitar while we're driving?"

He handed it up to Jill and she put it on the floor, laying the neck of the case against the vacant front seat.

"I'm glad Daddy gave it to you. He's really terrible at it."

"Well, you have to work at it."

"I'm sure you do, but you've got more talent than my father ever will."

"I love it, that's for sure."

I checked out the mirror again. The way the girls were scrunched up against the guys back there, I could have fit in another couple. Of course, we had plenty of room up front, as well.

We got to the drive-in and waited in line for a few cars. We got up front and a girl I recognized as a senior from school was taking money. She looked bored as she took my twenty bucks and gave me a receipt. As if somebody was going to come up and check it. It did tell what frequency to tune the radio to, though.

Jill wanted to park near the back so that's what we did. Charlie was the first to notice the area near the screen.

"Look. They've got swings and a slide."

We all had to trudge up there and push our girlfriends on the swings. They wanted to go on the merry go round. Jill was the first one on and it tilted and touched the ground underneath her. She jumped off and looked at me menacingly. "Don't even think of saying it."

We were the first who had the guts or were crazy enough to use the swings, but we broke the ice. A bunch of others came up shortly after we got there. A woman came up with three or four kids and they used the merry go round and the slide. I wondered about the parents who would bring children to see two slasher movies. Over the next few minutes, about five couples came up, our age and older. We gave up the swings so they could have their turn.

When we got back to the car, I opened up the trunk and we got our stuff out. The cooler went on the front seat and Jill passed out popcorn and candy bars. Everyone got whatever they wanted to drink. Once that was done they showed a real old commercial for the snack bar. Some of the girls were wearing poodle skirts and most of the guys had jeans, white T-shirts, white socks and slicked back hair. The picture looked grainy and was yellowed. What was amazing to me is that the food they served probably was about the same as the stuff they served when it was made, fifty years or so ago. They probably bought it when they originally opened up. There was a newer one from the 60s or 70s about making sure to use the litter containers. It was suggested that you save your trash and dispose of it when leaving if you didn't want to walk to the nearest one.

The Chevy had the original radio with one speaker in the front deck. It wasn't the best sound in the world but it worked.

We were all munching on popcorn, holding onto our best gals when the cartoon came on. Tennessee Tuxedo outsmarted the guy with the mustache who looked like he had his legs stuck together. I preferred Bugs Bunny.

The first feature was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The dialog wasn't much better than in the cartoon. It got cold after a half hour or so and Jill passed a couple of blankets back. She took one and wrapped it around us.

I kissed her and she kissed me back with enthusiasm. My left hand started wandering. She moaned in my mouth as it found her breast. Then she grabbed my wrist, pulling it away.

Leaning close to my ear, she said, "Stop it. Your sister's right behind us."

I tried to keep my voice as quiet as hers. "She knows all about us already."

"I don't care. I'm not going to do anything in front of her. It's too embarrassing."

I didn't like it, but at least she didn't stop kissing me. What could my sister see under a blanket?

Jill wouldn't take it, but she could sure dish it out. Her hand started to wander down to my lap during the kiss, ending up cupping my rapidly growing prick. It was my turn to moan as she squeezed. Unlike Jill, it didn't bother me that she was touching me in front of Mary. And all the rest, for that matter.

I glanced up at the mirror and the other couples were kissing as well. My innocent little sister seemed to be really getting into it.

Jill was having a good time, rubbing me under the blanket, through my pants. I kissed some more.

"Jill, you need to slow down. You're going to make me come."

She just moaned and kissed me even harder.

The next thing I knew I was trying to hold on to her wrist. But it was already too late. I came in my pants.

I guess I made some noise when it happened. I do know that there were four smiling faces when I looked up at the mirror again. Five if you count Jill. I'm pretty sure she had the biggest grin. She leaned over and whispered in my ear again.

"Embarrassing, isn't it?"

She'd given us each a paper towel when she distributed the popcorn and tore a new one off the roll for me. There wasn't a whole lot I could do with it. The damage was already done. I knew I'd feel slimy until I got home and got out of my shorts. And they would be stiff tomorrow.

There was a scream from the speaker and everyone looked up at the screen. The guy with the chainsaw was going after people. We all sat there and watched in fascination. Like you do when you slow down in passing a car accident. There was a particularly bloody shot of the saw coming down and blood shooting up against a wall and Mary screamed. She buried her head in Charlie's shirt and started crying.

He just held on and let her get it out. One arm around her shoulders, the other gently stroking her hair. She settled down after a few minutes. By this time, all four of us were just watching Mary.

She lifted her head and used Charlie's sleeve to wipe her eyes. She finally saw it in her hand and realized what she was doing.

"Oh, my... I'm sorry."

He pulled her into him, shushed her and went back to stroking her hair. When she came up for air, he kissed her gently on the lips.

"Can we go home, Jackie?"

"Sure Mare. Are you OK?"

"Yeah. I didn't think it was going to be this bad."

Chris spoke up. "Halloween's even worse."

Jill said "Let's go. I don't want to see something worse than that."

Sara never commented but she pretty much stayed wrapped around Chris all the way home.

We dropped Mary, Sara and Chris at my house. I offered to take Chris home but he told me he was going to stay a bit and make sure the girls were OK. Good old faithful Chris. He went around to the front door and got his guitar. Mary got out after getting another kiss from Charlie and telling him she'd call him sometime tomorrow. She came around to my window.

"Thanks, Jack."

"You're welcome. Are you OK?"

"Yeah. I don't like movies like that. How come they're so popular?"

"I have no idea. It sure isn't the acting."

"You're right about that."

Sara and Chris were standing off to the side. Chris held his free hand out to her and the three of them took off for the house. I waited until they opened the front door. Dino came running up to Mary and she bent down to greet him. She turned and waved and they all went inside.

I drove over to Jill's neighborhood and pulled in front of Charlie's.

"Are you OK, Charlie?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. You know, it wasn't what we went through, Jack. It was just a scary movie. She would have been scared even if nothing ever happened to us."

"Thanks, Charlie. I needed to hear that. I was feeling a little guilty."

"You don't have anything to feel guilty about. Heck, you asked her before we left Jill's. You did everything fine."

He got out and walked up to his door. His father opened it before he got to it. He looked over at us, waved and helped his son into the house. The front door closed and the light went out.

We headed over to Jill's There was a car in the driveway I didn't recognize. I looked over at her.

"That's Wanda's car. I wonder what she's doing here?"

We went into the house and I put the leftover sodas in the refrigerator. Jill checked out the TV room and the rest of the rooms on the first floor.

"That's funny. They aren't down here."

We headed upstairs and I heard some noises coming from the end of the hall. Jill took my hand and we walked toward them. The door to her father's bedroom was open. The two of them were in bed, her father on top of Wanda. She looked up at Jill's surprised gasp.

"Jill."



-------

Chapter 72

Jill squeezed my hand and pulled me back down the hall.

"Take me home, Jack."

It took a good two seconds for me to realize she was talking about my home.

She pulled me into her room and she got a couple of things for school. Not much. She was pretty well set up at my house.

I grabbed my shaving kit from "my" room and we started toward the stairs. Jill hadn't let go of my hand once.

John came stumbling out of his room, trying not to trip on the blanket he had wrapped around his waist. I guess there's no way to look dignified after being caught screwing your daughter's best friend.

"Jill. You've got to let me explain."

"No, Daddy. Not now. Leave me alone."

Wanda came out into the hallway. She hadn't made an effort to cover herself. She stood there defiantly in all her naked glory.

"Jill."

"Not now, Wanda."

She tugged on my hand and we went down the stairs. She pulled me around to the drivers side and slid in the car when I opened the door. As soon as I sat down, she held on to me and buried her face in my chest. I turned as best I could and held on.

This wasn't her normal hands around my arm and pull into me hug. She had her arms wrapped around my body, under my arms. A boa constrictor couldn't have pulled any tighter. I could feel the desperation, the need to be close, to be comforted. The floodgates opened. She shook as the tears came out, accompanied by sobs. The kind that are so desperate that they don't come out as one sound but are broken up as if the person is trying to hyperventilate at the same time. I sat there holding her, cradling her head, letting her get it out.

I saw the front door open and John step out. There's a streetlight across the street from where we were parked so I'm sure John could see the glare I gave him. He backed inside the house, his head hanging, and closed the door.

A few minutes later I saw Wanda come out of the house, look over at us, get in her car and drive off. Jill was still sobbing, not seeing anything but my shirt up against her face.

She finally slowed down enough to say, "Please, Jack. Take me home."

I started up the car and drove the best I could with her still wrapped around me. I didn't even consider asking her to move.

We got home and I was able to get her out of the car. She was sniffling a bit but seemed to be cried out for now. She held on to my hand as if she was afraid of losing me.

It was dark at the front door. The porch light was usually on when I got home and was turned off when the last person arrived. I wasn't expected so it was off. I held my keyring up, using what light there was from the streetlight down the block to find the house key. I fumbled with it and finally sunk it into the doorknob. Once in, it was a cinch to open the door.

Mary was standing inside, holding a broom, ready to defend the household against whoever was trying to break in. Jill looked at her and put her hand up to her face. She laughed, kind of a snort. She went "Eewwe," and pulled her hand away from her nose. A trail of snot was hanging from her nose and she had a puddle in the palm of the hand she was staring at.

Mary duplicated the "Eewwe" and then the two of them started laughing hysterically. That meant that more of the junk in Jill's nose came out in her hand. Mary ran into the kitchen and came back with a handful of napkins, still laughing. She thrust the napkins at Jill, who took one and attempted to blow her nose while laughing at the same time.

Of course, this alerted the rest of the household and the next thing I knew, Mom and Sara were looking at the two of them as if they were crazy. Then the infectious laughter caught up to Sara and set her off. I know she had no idea what she was laughing at but it didn't stop her a bit.

I guided Jill over to the couch and sat her down. Mom went over to the broom and picked it up. "What's this doing here?"

Mary and Jill looked at each other, snorted again and started laughing even harder. Sara looked at both of them and then she was off again.

Mom took the broom back into the kitchen, came out and sat down in her rocking chair. Jill, Mary and Sara and I were all on the couch.

The laughter finally subsided, a little explosion coming from my sister or my girlfriend every five seconds or so. After another couple of minutes, even that died off.

Mom had been quiet since she asked about the broom.

"Jackie, what's going on?"

"We got home and had trouble with the lock because it was dark. Mary was waiting with the broom when I opened the door."

"I figured it was something like that. Why are you two here? You were supposed to sleep over at Jill's house."

"There was something going on at Jill's that, uh... uhm, it made it uncomfortable for us to be there."

"Jackie, you aren't making any sense. Why did you leave Jill's house?"

"We saw Wanda and Daddy in bed when we got home, Mrs. Hill."

My mother looked as if she'd been slapped in the face.

"Are you sure?"

"Mom, believe me, we're sure."

"Maybe they were..."

"Mom, we saw them. No doubt, no mistake."

"Oh."

Everyone had sobered up. Mom was looking at Jill and I but I noticed Mary and Sara were staring at the floor. Anything to keep from looking at either of the three of us.

"OK, girls. It's time for you two to go to bed."

"Aw, Mom."

"Susan Mary Hill. Now."

They both shuffled off down the hall, obviously disappointed they weren't going to hear the rest of the dirt. Not that there was a whole lot more to hear.

Once they were gone, Mom took a closer look at Jill.

"Honey, your eyes and your nose didn't get that way from laughing. Are you all right?"

"I'll be OK."

"I think she cried herself out, Mom."

"OK. Let's go sit in the kitchen. I can use a cup of coffee."

She led the way. As she passed the hallway, she yelled "Goodnight, Girls!" I heard two doors that had been cracked open close.

Mom opened the can of coffee and started scooping grounds into the strainer. She poured her water and turned it on. She went to the freezer and pulled out some hot cross buns. Six of them went on a plate and into the toaster oven.

"Do either of you want coffee?"

"Can I have some milk, please?"

"Of course. How about you, Jackie?"

"Milk for me too, please."

She went to the refrigerator and got a gallon of milk from inside the door. She put it on the table where I could reach it and grabbed two glasses from the cupboard, putting them in front of me. Her coffee was going through its last stages and she poured herself a cup while I filled our glasses.

After her cup was on the table, she took the buns out of the oven and brought them over, sitting down across from us.

"When did I stop being Mom?"

"I'm sorry. I... I'm just shook up, I guess."

"OK. I can understand that. So tell me what happened."

"When we left tonight, we said goodbye to Daddy. He asked when we would get home and we told him. Then we went to the movies and it was a lot scarier than we thought it would be. So we came home and dropped everybody here, then took Charlie home, then went to my house. Wanda's car was in the driveway."

"Are you sure it was her car?"

"Mom, I saw her leave in it. She was driving it."

"OK, go on."

"So, we went into the house and Jack was putting the stuff in the refrigerator and I looked around for Wanda. She wasn't downstairs. We went upstairs and we heard this noise coming from down the hall. When we got to Daddy's door, we saw him on top of Wanda, in the bed."

"Maybe there's some explanation."

"Mom, that's what he said. He came out of the room in a blanket. There was obviously nothing under it. He told Jill he could explain and she didn't want to hear it. And when Wanda came out a minute later she had nothing on. We both saw what they were doing."

"OK. I guess there's no way it could have been anything else. How long has this been going on, I wonder?"

"I don't know Mrs., I mean Mom. I think this was probably the first time but I really don't know. Today was the first day Wanda said there was a man in her life. And it was the first time Daddy checked on when I was going to be home. But that doesn't mean anything. He knows when I'm home on the nights I go to school. They had plenty of times they could do something."

"That's true. So what do you think about all this?"

"I don't know. I know I don't feel good about it. Poor Jack, I probably crushed him to death and ruined his shirt crying about it. I know he's lonely. And so is Wanda. It just doesn't seem right that they were in bed with each other. I feel like they both betrayed me. It doesn't make sense that I feel this way but I do. He should be with someone his own age. For a while I thought you might be the one for him."

"I know you did, Honey. I thought he did, too. I guess he got tired of waiting for me. I'm surprised who he did it with and I'm sorry you had to find him like you did, but I'm not surprised he had sex with someone. You know he and I still have sex drives, even if we are your parents, Jill. You two didn't invent sex, you know."

"I know that. And it's not as gross to think about it as it used to be. It just doesn't seem right that he shoved it in my face."

"Jill, you have to remember, you're the one who told him how soon you'd get home. He didn't mean to shove anything in your face. You have some responsibility in this too, you know."

"You're right. I just don't know if I'll be able to face my father or Wanda again."

"Of course you will. They didn't really do anything wrong. I'm sure your father isn't thrilled with some of the things you and my son are doing and are planning to do. But he loves you and he knows that you are an individual and you need to grow and he lets you. You need to give him the same respect you expect from him."

"I know. I just need some time to get used to it.":

The phone rang and Mom answered it.

"Hello?... Hi, John... No, I figured it was you... Yeah, they're right here... She's pretty shaken up... I know, but she wasn't ready for that... Why don't you repair your relationship with your daughter before you worry about us... I don't know. We'll see... I'll ask her.

"Jill, do you want to talk with your father?"

"Not tonight, Mom."

"No, John, she doesn't want to talk to you... I know. She'll be fine... I'll talk to her in the morning and let you know... Goodnight, John."

She hung up the phone and came back to the table.



-------

Chapter 73

Mom took her cup over to the coffee pot and got herself a refill, taking her time to make her way back. Jill was playing with one of the buns, pulling it apart into small pieces. Her plate was full of bits of bun that only a bird would enjoy.

"I'll let you have tonight, but you know you need to talk to him, Jill. You can't hide from him forever. And I won't let you use my house to run away from your father."

She seemed to concentrate more on the pastry in her hand. "I know. I just wish we never went to the drive-in."

"Come on, Jill. What are you going to do? Watch over your father every minute so he doesn't do something that bothers you? Are you saying that he doesn't deserve to be happy? That you can do anything you want but he has to behave according to some set of rules you want him to live by?"

She shot my mother a look that reminded me of the look a lioness would give an enemy that was threatening her young. Just a flash and then it was gone. But her instinct had been to take my mother on.

"You're right, June. I've got this idea that my Daddy should always be there for me. Tonight he wasn't there."

"Let me ask you this, Jill. What did you miss from him tonight? What did you need him for that he didn't provide?"

"Nothing. If he'd been alone I would have kissed him goodnight and that would be it."

"So what's really wrong?"

"Wanda took away my Daddy."

Mom just sat there, watching my girlfriend, letting what she'd just said sink in a bit.

"Mary thought the same thing about you. Not too long ago. Do you think she really had something to worry about?"

"I wasn't trying to steal you."

"And you think Wanda is?"

"Maybe."

"So then you think Mary should have been upset when your father was taking me out?"

"No. That's different."

Again, she waited her out for several moments.

"Well, it is."

"OK, Tell me. How is Wanda being with your father stealing him from you but him being with me isn't stealing me away from Mary?"

"Well, Wanda hasn't had a father for a long time."

"So you think your father should go to bed with his daughter?"

"NO. You're twisting this all up."

"All right, So tell me. Wanda hasn't had a father. She and your father go to bed. How do you know Wanda is trying to take your father away from you?"

"He'll want to spend time with her instead of me."

"He wanted to spend time with me instead of you, too. Do you think I was stealing him away from you?"

"No. but you're old enough for him."

"Ah. So her age is a problem?"

"Yeah. She's way too young for him."

"OK. She won't be the first 18 year old who attracted an older man. But I'm not going to argue with you. He is quite a lot older than he is. But I also remember talking to someone in this kitchen not too long ago about whether he should give up on a much younger girl. She was 14 and he was 17."

"That was different."

"Only by the number of years. A matter of degree. I happened to convince Jack to put aside his ideas of how young was too young and to give you a chance. I'm not saying your father is right. But legally, Wanda is old enough to decide who she wants to be with. And if he wants to date an 18 year old girl, he's within his rights to do that, too."

"I don't have to like it."

"No, you don't. What would you do if he came to you and told you he wanted to marry her? Would you run away from him?"

"I don't know what I'd do. Do you think he'd do that?"

"I think he'd be foolish if he did, but he wouldn't be the first man to let a younger woman get him to do something foolish."

"Could I move here if he did that?"

"If and when that happens, we'll talk. The important thing you need to remember is that he is a grown man and he has his own needs. He's recognized that about you. A lot of parents wouldn't be anywhere near as understanding as he is. Look at what Sara went through. You owe him the same consideration.

"I'm sure he hasn't always thought what you were doing was the best thing in the world for you. I know my son too well; there's no way he's gone with you this long without making a fool out of himself. And I know you've made your mistakes as well. Jack's sat right here at this table and cried to me when you have. But your father has let you be. He knows making mistakes is a big part of growing up. And it hurts like hell to sit still and see a child of yours do something you know is going to cause him or her pain. But you have to if you want a mature, well rounded child who can survive in the real world.

"Your Daddy and I aren't perfect. Nobody on this planet is. We all make mistakes. And I know that there are people who love us who can't stand to see us make them. I know it bothers you to see your father with Wanda. It might be a mistake. It might not, too. I can see you and Jack getting married and raising a family someday. Maybe things will change before that, but it isn't very hard to imagine, seeing the two of you together. But three quarters of the people you ask will tell you that a 17 year old boy dating a 14 year old girl is only after one thing and there's no way it will last. I'm sure your father was afraid you could get hurt when you and Jack started seeing each other. But he let you find your own way. He deserves the same from you.

"I know your father pretty well. He loves you more than his own life. If he thinks you need him to be there solely for you and not have anything to do with women, that's what he'll do. He may not resent you. But I can guaranty he'll be lonely. He's seeing his daughter discover love. He's finally healed enough to try to discover it again for himself. Don't take that away from him.

"You're right, Mom. How did you get so smart?"

"Oh, I've made my share of mistakes. Jack's grandparents thought I was crazy when I married his father. I proved them wrong. They told me what they thought, but they had the sense to let me discover if it would work on my own. Mostly I look at what I would want someone to do to me and do my best to do the same for them. It usually works out."

"Thanks. You've given me a lot to think about."

"Jill, talk to him. If something bothers you, tell him how you feel. Don't hold anything in. But let him be an adult, too. In the end, he's the one who has to live with his decisions.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, it's way past my bedtime. I have to be in to work at 7:00 this morning and you two need to be at school bright and early. Because if you think you're going to skip school when you're on my watch, you've got another think coming."

We all stood up and Mom and Jill hugged each other. I hugged my mother when they were finished. Mom took off down the hall and I rinsed off our dishes and put them in the washer while Jill used the bathroom.

I walked down the hall and Sara opened up my old bedroom door, the sleeping bag in her hand. I thanked her, took it and laid it out near the couch.

Jill came out of the bathroom in her flannel nightgown. I held out my arms and she hugged me tight, her head on my shoulder. She let out a sigh.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Yeah, Jack. Your mother is something else. Go use the bathroom and come to bed."



-------

Chapter 74

I cleaned up and put on a clean pair of shorts. Surprisingly, Mom hadn't made any comments about the stained pair I was wearing though I knew she noticed. Not much gets by my mother.

Jill was already under the blankets on her side, her hands holding them just under her chin, her body in the shape of a crescent.

I caught the light and got in bed, scooting up to her back and working my arms around her. She let go of the blanket and pulled my hands into her chest.

"How are you doing, Jill?"

"I'm all right.

"Really?"

"I'll live."

"Well, that's a relief."

She was silent for a while, then finally,

"Jack?"

"Hmm."

"Do you think I'm silly?"

"Is this one of those trick questions that I can't answer without getting into trouble?"

"No. Your mom got me thinking."

"Yeah, she has a way of doing that."

"I was thinking that maybe I was being silly."

"OK. I'll bite. How do you think you might have been silly?"

"Acting the way I did. Not giving either of them a chance to talk. Crying like a baby."

"Jill, you were upset. No matter how much what they did makes sense or how logical it is, you had a hell of a surprise. It's not unreal for you to have acted the way you did."

"How do you feel about it?"

"Can I give you an honest answer? Without getting into trouble?"

"You do think I'm silly."

"I didn't say that. But it didn't affect me the way it did you. He's not my father and she's not my best friend."

"Was."

"Was?"

"She was my best friend."

"Oh, I see. Is he still your father?"

"Of course. He'll always be that. That's something I can't change. That doesn't mean I have to like it."

"No, I guess not. Just remember, if you punish him, you'll be punishing yourself, too."

"I know. You're right. That doesn't make it easy. You never told me."

"Told you what?"

"How you feel about it."

"I don't."

"What do you mean you don't? How can you say that?"

"I knew it. I knew I should just worm out of answering."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't pick on you. You're not the one I'm mad at."

"OK. Good night." I squeezed her and snuggled a bit closer.

"Jack?"

"Hmm."

"Tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"What did you think when you saw them?"

"I thought a lot of stuff."

"Tell me. Please?"

"OK. I thought 'Oh, Shit.' I thought the woman I love hurts. I thought your father looked ridiculous when he came out of the bedroom with that blanket wrapped around him. I thought Wanda is a beautiful woman. I thought your father looked devastated when he came out of the front door and I made him go back in. I thought Wanda looked like she'd lost her best friend when she got in her car and drove away. I thought she looked totally in love when Chris got her to admit there was some guy she was interested in. I thought my sister couldn't do a whole lot of damage with that broom. I thought 'Thank God' when she cracked you up and you laughed. Anything else?"

"Don't you think they were wrong?"

"No."

"So you think what they did was OK?"

"I didn't say that. You asked if it was wrong. It was obvious they were both enjoying themselves. It's also obvious that nobody was twisting anybody's arm. I'm also pretty sure you never would have known anything if we hadn't decided to come home early. And you know your father did all he could to make sure he didn't hurt you. He didn't tell you not to come home because he was going to be in bed, but he did make it a point to find out how late you were going to be out."

"So you think I'm silly."

"We already went over that. You aren't going to get me to tell you that behaving the way you did was silly."

"But you don't think it was wrong."

"Jill, is it wrong for two people who care about each other to express it? Is it wrong for us to show each other how we care for each other?"

"That's different. We're in love with each other. He's just... He just had a chance to get a young girl in his bed."

"You know that, do you? I suppose you've talked this all over with him and know how he feels?"

"You know I haven't."

"Don't tell me how he feels or thinks or why he does something if you won't even let him tell you what's on his mind."

"So you think I'm silly."

"Yes, Jill. If you're going to tell me why your father did what he did when you have absolutely no idea, yes, I think that's silly."

"I knew it. You think I'm silly."

"Yes, Dear. Whatever you say, Dear. Good night, Dear."

I almost got away with it. I was that close to falling asleep.

"Jack?"

"Uhhmm."

"Are you asleep?"

"No."

"Good. I don't think I'm silly."

"Of course."

"Jack?"

Yes, Jill."

"Do you really think that?"

"Think what?"

"That I'm silly?"

"No."

"Then why did you say I was?"

"Because you said something was a certain way and you had no idea about it."

"Why do you think he did it?"

"Probably just to piss you off. He probably had spies at the drive-in who called him when we left and then he called Wanda over so they could play a big practical joke on you when we walked in the house."

The elbow in the stomach caught me totally by surprise. And it hurt.

"Why did you do that?"

"You're just being mean."

"You know, Jill, you obviously know how I should think about this and how I should feel about your father. So why don't you tell me what I'm supposed to think about it and we can save ourselves a lot of pain. Me especially."

She didn't say anything and after a moment, I thought she might have gone to sleep. Then I heard the first sniffle and felt her body shake. Oh, shit. She was turning on the tears again. And this time I was the cause.

"Jill?"

"What."

"I'm sorry I teased you."

"That's OK."

"No, I don't think it is. I made fun of something that's really bothering you and that's not OK. I'm sorry."

Between the long nightgown and the blankets, she had a hard time, but she was able to roll over and face me. My arm was still under her and I let the other one drop around her. She had her left arm pressed between us as she wrapped the right one around my back.

"I love you, Jill. I know why you reacted the way you did and I'm sorry you had to go through what happened. I can understand part of what happened and I won't understand the rest until I hear what your father and Wanda have to say. Please don't make me into an enemy because I don't hate them for what they did."

That got me another sniff. She wiped a tear from her eye with the sleeve of her nightgown.

"Get up a minute. Let me get a Kleenex for you."

She swiped at her nose with the sleeve and hugged me tight.

"Screw the Kleenex."



-------

Chapter 75

Mom woke me up about 6:30 in the morning. She had her coffee cup in her hand and was just about ready to take off for work. My alarm clock was still over at Jill's, so I was glad Mom had to be in at 7:00 today.

I let Jill sleep while I used the bathroom, then came outside. She was sitting up, leaning back against the couch, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. Her hair was disheveled, her eyes were a little red and she looked beautiful to me.

I leaned over to kiss her and she turned her head so that I got her cheek. She has a thing about brushing her teeth in the morning.

She went out to the garage to get some clothes out of the wardrobe. I heard a couple of guys whistle, then Alex yelled for them to knock it off. That's right, they were starting the new room on the garage today. That's the reason we were over at her house last night instead of staying here.

I heard a car pull up to the curb out front. Actually, I didn't hear the car so much as the tire squeaking when it rubbed against the curb. I looked out the window in the front door. Jill had just turned down the hallway from the kitchen.

"Your father just pulled up."

"I thought Mom said she was going to talk to him this morning."

"Jill, you should know how impatient your father is by now. I'm sure he's been up all night chewing on his fingernails, wondering it you'll ever talk to him again."

"Well, it serves him right."

"Jill, he deserves a chance."

She got that flash of fire in her eyes, then relaxed. "I know."

"Go use the bathroom. I'm going to invite him in for a cup of coffee."

She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. "OK. I'll be out in a few minutes."

I opened the front door and motioned for John to come in. He was out of the car and on his way up the path almost immediately.

"Good morning, John."

"Well, at least you're talking to me."

"I think Jill will talk to you, too. Or at least she'll let you say your piece."

"How is she?"

I guided him into the kitchen and poured us both some coffee and moved him over to the table.

"She's better than she was last night. She's still upset and I don't think she knows how to take this. I know it won't take much to set her off. A big part of her world fell apart last night. She found out that she couldn't count on you and Wanda the way she thought she could."

John cringed a little when I said that.

"Jack, you know I'd never do anything to hurt Jill."

"John, I'm sure you didn't mean to but what the two of you did last night did hurt her. And if you try to prove how right you were to her, I guarantee it will set her off again. And I don't want to have her crying in my arms like she was last night."

He was all set to answer when Jill walked in the kitchen.

"Hello, Daddy."

"Jillian."

He got up and went over to her, his arms held out to hug her. She avoided him and sat down next to me.

I could see the disappointment come over over his face. He had the presence of mind not to comment.

"OK. I'm here. What have you got to say?"

I said a silent prayer of thanks that I wasn't John.

He looked up, a tentative smile on his face and cleared his throat.

"It's just something that happened, Jill."

"Oh, pulleeze. It just happened, it didn't mean anything."

"Just a minute, Young Lady. I didn't say it didn't mean anything. It meant a hell of a lot to both of us. And it will continue to mean a lot."

I'll say one thing, he took the wind out of her sails. It was a frightened little girl who answered.

"It will?"

"Yes, Jill, it will."

"How long has this been going on?"

"We've been friends for years. Everything sort of came together last night."

"Daddy, how could you?"

"Jill, you know I've been there for you your whole life. I haven't had anybody since your mother left us. I thought I might have a chance for some happiness with Jack's mother, but she had different ideas and that didn't work out. "

"So. You took advantage of Wanda."

"No, Jillian. Nobody took advantage of anybody. She's almost as lonely as I am. We've been good friends for years. We got to talking and found out we cared for each other as more than friends."

"So, are you going to marry her?"

"I don't know."

"Is she good in bed?"

John slid his coffee cup away from him on the table and stood up.

"You know how to reach me, Jillian. Give me a call when you want to talk to me rationally."

He went out the door to the side yard and closed it. I heard him shout hello to Alex and then he was gone.

"What just happened?"

"I think your father's got some class. And he's not going to let you degrade his relationship with Wanda."

"I thought he'd act a lot more guilty than he did."

"Maybe he doesn't think he has anything to feel guilty about."

"Do you think they'll get married?"

"I think you're getting a little ahead of yourself, Jill. And you should know your father's not going to do something like that without talking it over with you first. But it also sounds like he's going to think for himself on this, too."

"What should I do?"

"I think you should show him some respect. And I definitely don't think you should make him choose between the two of you unless you're willing to live with his choice."

"You can't be serious. Do you really think he'd give me up?"

"Not if he could help it. But look at it from his side. He's already lost you. You're spending more and more time with me. You don't ask him for advice, you tell him what you are going to do."

"I'm not a little girl anymore."

"I'm not saying there's anything wrong with what you're doing. I'm just saying that you're moving away from him. He's devoted his life to you since your mother left. Now he sees you leaving. It's only natural for him to look for someone."

"But I don't want to lose him."

"Then be there for him. I know it's been tough on you. But have you thought how tough this is on him?"

"No."

"Jill, you've been the reason for his existence since you were born. He's willing to step back and let you be the woman you've become. But I can tell it's tearing him apart that you aren't accepting him."

She hugged me, almost as tightly as she had the night before.

"Thank you, Jack. I need to use the phone."

She went over to the wall phone and dialed.

"Daddy? Can you pick me up from school? We need to talk... I love you too, Daddy. Bye."



-------

Chapter 76

We had a quarter of an hour before Jill had to be at school, but there was no way I'd be on time. I compared Jill getting back in communication with her father and me missing part of History and it was no contest.

I was learning. A few weeks ago I would have screwed things up by joking with Jill about making me late. I just told her we needed to get going.

She held on to my arm as we drove. A little tighter than normal but not anything like it was last night. I was happy she'd settled down.

I pulled up to the drop-off area and put the car in park. Jill pulled me to her and kissed me. I was one of those kisses that make your hands think of exploring.

"Thank you for putting up with me. And for being there. I'll make it up to you tonight."

"You're welcome."

She kissed me again. Not as intimate as the last one but a lot more than a peck. She slid over and out the door.

"I love you." A quick wave and she was on her way.

I adjusted my pants, shifted into gear and headed for school.

I pulled into the parking lot 15 minutes later. I'd guessed right, by the time I got there I'd miss about half of History. I walked in and Mr. Hansen looked over his glasses at me, then continued with his lecture.

I must have been on autopilot or something. I'd had my attention on getting to class and seeing how Mr. Hansen was going to react and didn't notice anything else. I went to ask the student next to me what page to turn to when I realized that the person next to me was Sara. I must have looked surprised. She made a face, crossing her eyes, and stuck her tongue out at me. She smiled and covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.

"Mr. Hill, would you mind joining us?"

"Uh, No Sir."

"Thank you." He went back to his lecture. I noticed a hint of a smile on his face.

He continued talking about the explorers and how they made their voyages from Europe into the unknown. Too many people today concentrate on the evil that some men did to others after the new world was discovered. Nobody looks at the courage it took to take off with no idea if your ship was going to fall off the edge of the world or if you would ever see your family again. There wasn't much opportunity for anything like that today. We'd all heard that space travel was the next frontier. Somehow going to the moon or even Mars for a few hours or even days didn't seem the same as trying to find the new world. And there was no way any government was going to sponsor any real space exploration. The only way it would get done was if it made the difference between surviving and not surviving as a race, or some private corporation with a few zillion bucks decided they could make a profit out of it. Not a profit somewhere down the road, but one right now. Just like the sponsors of the explorations we were studying, hoping to get rich on spices and silk. I wonder if they were pissed off when Columbus returned empty handed?

After class I was all set to talk to Sara.

"Mr. Hill. Could I see you a moment, please?"

"Can you wait for me?"

"If you don't take too long."

I went up to the front of the classroom.

"Yes, Mr. Hansen?"

"Sit down, Jack."

I sat on the edge of the chair, hoping this wouldn't keep me from getting with Sara.

"Why were you late today?"

"I had a personal thing I needed to handle, Sir."

"Is it handled?"

"Not yet, Sir."

"Are you going to be all right?"

"I think so, Sir."

"OK. I'm not going to do anything about today. I expect you to be on time from now on."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I know Miss Wilcox has been out for a few weeks but I expect you to pay attention from now on, too."

"Yes, Sir."

"That's all. You can go."

I went out and Sara was talking to a couple of her friends. I walked up and put my arm around her. She reached around my waist and squeezed back. The girls she was talking to first looked at us, then each other, said goodbye and took off.

Sara squeezed again. "You know they're going to talk about us all over the school, don't you."

"Whatever. Give them a thrill. I didn't know you were coming to school today. How did you get here on time?"

"Chris and I walked together. I didn't decide till after we got home from the drive-in and I talked to Mom. I was going to say something but things were a little hectic last night. I saw the two of you talking to John in the kitchen and it was pretty obvious you had enough on your mind without me telling you I was going to school. I knew you'd find out soon enough anyway. I went out the front door and waited outside for Chris."

"So, how do you feel?"

"Pretty good. We'll see how I make out as the day goes on. I've been given permission to go to the office and lie down if I get too tired."

"You think you might get tired?"

"I might. I've been sleeping a lot while you've been at school. It takes a lot more energy to learn than it does to sit around eating bon-bons all day."

"Yeah, I suppose it does."

We had English next. Miss Beevers smiled when she saw Sara and called her up front. I noticed one of our friends leaning over, whispering something in another student's ear. The other girl turned to look at me and quickly turned away when she saw me looking back. I gave the gossiper a smile and she turned away quickly.

Sara came back with a smile on her face. She showed me a paper she'd turned in with an A+ on it. The title at the top was "Savior." Something was up. She had that goofy smile on her face. Whatever the cause, I was glad to see it.

The bell rang and Miss Beevers stood in front of the class.

"As most of you know. Sara Wilcox has been away from school for several weeks. She is back for the first time today. I don't usually do this, but the paper I had her write while she was out is exceptional... When I sent this assignment to Sara, I asked for a 500 word essay about something important to her. I got about half that. But what I got is one of the best essays I've ever received. Not only is it well written and passionate, but the story it tells is inspirational Sara, would you mind reading your paper for us?"

She smiled over at me and walked up to the front of the class. She was beaming as everyone put their attention on her.

"Savior, by Sara Wilcox.

"There are many kinds of love in this world. A boy's love for a girl, a wife's love for her husband, the love shared between a parent and child.

"I have a friend that I love. He found me curled up in his yard with a broken nose and three broken ribs. He got me into his house and to the hospital. He stayed at my side while I was there. He defended me from those who had beaten me and convinced his mother to take me in.

"This friend gave up his room for me and slept on the floor. He even housed my dog and her two puppies so that they wouldn't starve and I wouldn't have to be subjected to hate and ridicule in order to feed them.

"He called me a bitch and told me to straighten out. And then he held me and showed me how. He welcomed me into his family as if it was mine and made me a part of it. He helped me to recover. Not only from the physical injuries but from the mental and spiritual injuries that had been inflicted upon me for as long as I can remember.

"I don't know if I would be alive if it wasn't for Jack Hill. I do know that he has shown me what life is and that he cared enough about me to force me to live it. He's my Savior and for that, I'll always love him."

Sara dropped her hands with the paper down in front of her. She had a big smile on her face and I saw a tear start its way down her cheek. Nobody said anything for a moment and then I heard a clap. And another. Within five seconds, the whole class was on its feet, clapping. They were smiling at Sara and at me. I stood up and looked around, responding with a smile of my own. I'm sure my face was bright red, but I didn't feel embarrassed. I just felt love for my adopted sister. I looked around and Sara was standing in front of me. The applause got louder as we hugged each other. As I glanced around, I saw that she wasn't the only one crying. And I realized that my own face was wet, too.



-------

Chapter 77

Miss Beevers asked Sara to stay a minute after class, so I went out into the hallway to wait for her. Sally Faragon came up to me.

Sally is known for her mouth. She's one of the two girls who was talking to Sara when I put my arm around her. And the one who was spreading the word at the beginning of English.

"Gee, Jack, that was some essay. Did you really do all that stuff?"

"Yeah, I guess. Sometimes Sara makes things seem more important than they really are."

"Did she really have a broken nose and ribs?"

"Yeah, that part's true."

"Who did it?"

Sara was coming out the door. "Why don't we ask Sara? Sara? Sally wants to know who beat you up. I'm sure she's just curious. It's not like she wants to spread it around the school or anything."

Sally sort of withered under the look Sara shot her and slinked away. Once she was out of sight Sara giggled.

"Thank you, Jack."

"You're welcome, I guess. What for?"

"Well, for not helping to spread gossip for one thing. But the big thing is for not trying to be modest or anything when I read my essay."

"Well, I figured you really put yourself out there. If you were willing to bare your soul, I could just accept it in the spirit it was written. But you know people are going to be awful curious about how you got hurt."

"Well, let them be. I'm sure it will come out sooner or later. There will probably be something in the newspaper when my parents go on trial for abuse. But I'm not going to make it any easier on them."

"I just enjoy making them look bad when they press me for information."

"Yeah, that's always fun."

Chris came up to the two of us. Sara lit up as he took her hand.

"Hi, Sara. I hear you read quite an essay about Jack."

"We just got out of class five minutes ago."

"Yeah, I just heard it. You got applause and everything."

They took off down the hall while I marveled at how the rumor line blew away most communications as far as speed was concerned.

That was the least of my worries. Patty Johansen was the first of several girls to come up to me, throwing subtle to not-so-subtle hints about the Halloween dance that was coming up in a couple of weeks. The word was out that I wasn't your average high school jock. Little did they know what Jill had gone through to train me.

I was a bit surprised about Patty. I thought I'd made it pretty clear to her that I was tied up with Jill. I hadn't realized that she was that interested.

Chris and Sara called over to me at lunch and I ate with them. I noticed a few girls checking us out. I wondered what they thought of the three of us eating together.

Later in the day as I was working on my floor in the gym, it occurred to me that I had no idea what was going to happen tonight. I went over to Jill's last night, prepared to spend that and every night for the next two weeks over there. That ended abruptly with Jill's surprise. Actually, I was surprised, too. It just didn't mean as much to me as it did to Jill and I didn't take it nearly as hard as she did.

She was getting a ride home from her father after school. That was an hour and a half ago. A lot could happen between those two in an hour and a half under normal circumstances, not to mention the volatile situation they were in today.

I left school and got in my car. After thinking about it, I decided to drive home. The last thing I wanted to do was walk into the middle of John and Jill. Who knows what I'd find. If Jill wanted me, which I was pretty sure she would at some point, she was smart enough to call my house.

I noticed that they'd delivered the dumpster as I pulled up to the curb behind Mom's Lexus. The thing was huge, probably two car lengths long, barely fitting in the driveway. I could see some stuff sticking over the top at the end closest to the garage. I could also see that the top of the front wall was cut flat instead of being a triangle going up to the roof. And there was no roof. The areas where the concrete was going to be poured had been cut out and the frame for the stairs was already in place. When Alex said his guys were going to work flat out, he wasn't kidding.

There was an X made of yellow Caution tape from the garage to the side of the house. I could see Queenie at the gate to the back yard and some more tape back there blocking off the garage and the hole for the new slab. There was a path from the kitchen door to the back yard but I guess Alex didn't want anyone getting near the garage. I couldn't see inside but knowing Alex, I was sure the stuff on the shelf was still covered in plastic.

I went inside and was greeted by smiling, wriggling Jill. She was wrapped around me, kissing me before I had a chance to say anything.

We came up for air and Mary said, "Hi, Hero."

"Great. Go ahead. I knew I'd get a bunch of crap about that essay."

"Uh, uh. You are my hero. I just didn't write about it. If it wasn't for you I don't know if I'd even be able to be in the same room with a guy. And I wouldn't have Dino over there."

I looked over at the kitchen. Dino and Bozo were wrestling. Bozo was still the larger of the two, but every time he got too rough, Dino would growl a little and he'd settle down.

"You're my hero too." Jill kissed me. "Last night is just one example."

"Me, too. You've made things a lot easier since your father died. And since you've been going out with Jill, you've turned into a very thoughtful and caring young man. I'm proud to call you my son. We should have all said something before. It took Sara to come out and say what we all felt."

Mom came up to me and hugged me tight, stroking my hair. As soon as she let me go, Mary was there, followed by Sara. Jill squeezed my hand after they were done.

I looked at my girls. All four were just flowing love toward me.

"Thank you. I love you all. I don't feel like a hero just because I want you to have the best. But I appreciate that you feel that way."

We all hugged each other again. I know it sounds gay and I wouldn't do this in front of the class, but I felt warm inside. We seemed more of a family with a closeness we hadn't had before.

Mom went into the kitchen to start dinner. Mary asked Jill if it was OK to take Bozo outside. She and Sara called the two of them to take them out front on the lawn.

"Why don't you let Queenie go out with you. She looked kind of lonely when I got home."

Sara ran out through the kitchen as Mary opened the front door. The pups ran over each other trying to get out the door first. A second or two later I hear Mary yelling for them to come back.

I went over to the door in time to see her chewing them out at the edge of our property, telling them she wouldn't let them out again if that's the way they were going to behave. Of course, they understood every word she said. Sara and Queenie came up while I was at the door. Sara squeezed by but Queenie nuzzled me for her scratch behind the ears before she joined the rest of them.

Jill was sitting on the edge of the couch, her hands held together between her knees.

"Where are we going to sleep tonight?"

"Here."

"Did you talk with your father?"

"Yes."

"How did that go?"

"All right. A lot better than it would have last night in the hallway."

"I'm glad. Are you going to tell me about it?"

"Not right now."

"OK."

She patted the couch next to her and I went over and sat down. She sighed and moved back, holding onto my arm and pushing her face into me.

"I love you, Jack."

I lifted her chin so that she was looking in my face. "I love you too."

She sighed again as she closed her eyes and moved toward me. Our kiss was very tender, her tongue pushing just enough so I knew it was there but not insinuating itself into my mouth.

I heard the front door open and Mom telling the girls to come in for dinner. She said "You, too" as she walked by us into the kitchen. Jill and I pulled apart as the two girls and three dogs came bounding in. Bozo ran up to Jill and she bent over to pet him, telling him what a good boy he was. Queenie came up to me for another scratch, then went out to the back yard with Sara.

Jill and I headed down the hall to use the bathroom sink before eating. Mary was just finishing up as we got there. The two of us were doing fine when Sara came in and tried pushing us out of the way with her hips. That stopped as soon as Jill and I started flicking water from our wet fingers at her.

Mom was pulling a cookie pan filled with oversize pot pies out of the oven as we sat down at the table. We could smell them as the steam rose up. These weren't your standard frozen pies with gravy, a few pieces of meat and some tiny pieces of mixed vegetables in them. There was a place called The Chicken Shop that had been in the business district as long as I could remember. They had a counter set up for take out orders. There were always two or three people lined up, no matter what time of day it was. They also had a small restaurant and counter. Maybe stools for 15 people at the counter and booths and tables for another 30. That section too always had people in it.

The Chicken Shop just made things with chicken. If you wanted a hamburger, they'd show you the door. Their chicken pot pies were huge. Big chunks of real chicken. You might even find a piece of bone or gristle but it was worth it. There was a thick gravy inside along with chunks of real vegetables. You could tell that a slice of carrot was just that. It had a little crunch to it and it was a circular piece about an inch across. Not a perfect cube three eighths of an inch on a side. There were chunks of potato and celery as well.

There was always a half gallon of chicken soup in our refrigerator during cold and flu season. And on rainy days when it was cold and dark, that soup with lots of black bread and real butter was a feast.

Of course, they sold cooked chicken, as well. Whether you wanted it fried, roasted or barbecued, they had it. And you could pick up mashed potatoes, chicken gravy to die for and several types of salad, including home made cole slaw. They had cobs of corn, wrapped in foil. Not perfectly engineered cobs that were three and a half inches long, but real cobs. The kind that varied between six and eight inches and tapered off at one end. And had some kernels that were smaller than others. Corn that just melted in your mouth when slathered with butter.

We got the cooked chicken and all the fixings maybe once a year. Mom had no problem making her own and the fifteen minute drive meant it was either lukewarm or there was the hassle of warming up four or five different things. It was easier to cook our own or spend a couple of bucks more and eat at the restaurant. Which we also did about once a year. We were old fashioned that way. A meal together in a kitchen that held the odors of the cooked meal was more enjoyable than dressing up, going out and sitting with a bunch of strangers. Especially since the advent of the cell phone.

We each had our glass of milk and a pot pie. The steam rose up to my face as I tore mine open with my fork. The thick gravy just flowed over the top of the flaky crust. That was another way these pies were different than the ones from the frozen food aisle. There was no crusty edge that dried out or burned when you cooked the insides. Somehow they made it so that it was both flaky and had that chewy, doughy consistency.

"Boy, this is good."

"Mmm, hmm."

Jill and Sara had obviously never had pies from The Chicken Shop before.

Mary told them all about it. Soon we were making plans to eat dinner there next Saturday.

I looked over at Jill.

"Speaking of making plans, Patty Johansen invited me to our Halloween dance today. I told her I'd have to get back to her because I had to check with you first."

"Is that so?"

"Sure. I wouldn't want you mad at me."

"Well, you're not doing a very good job if that's what you want."

"I also thought you might like to go."

"Is that an invitation?"

"Sure. Would you like to go to the Halloween dance at Fernmont?"

"I don't know. When is it?"

"The Friday before Halloween. Five days before your birthday."

"Five days, huh? You got that date down?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Well, I'll have to check my calendar, but I can probably make it to the dance."

"OK. We'll need to come up with some costumes."

"I know. I can go as a volleyball player and you can go as a swimmer."

"Somehow I don't think me showing up in a swimsuit will go over real good."

"All right. Give me a couple of days and I'll come up with something."

"OK. I'm driving if you two want to invite Charley and Chris."

Sara looked like she was considering it.

Mary said, "I don't know if I can go since I'm not technically going to school."

"I know what you can do," said Jill. "You can talk Charley into inviting you to our dance. I know they'd let him go, even though he hasn't been to school since he went in the hospital. And you could be with a bunch of people who wouldn't hound you like the kids from your school did at the football game."

"That sounds good. Why don't you talk Jack into taking you to your dance?"

"He takes me to all my games. I want him to show me off to his friends. Besides, if I go with him, maybe this Patty Whatserface will lay off."

"I don't know if one dance will do it. You're just going to have to go everywhere with me." I leaned over and kissed her.

After the kiss, I addressed my sister. "Mary?"

"Yeah?"

"How was your tutor?"

"Oh, she's so cool. She's only 23. She finished college last year and couldn't get hired in our school district this year so she's tutoring. I'm her second student. She makes it real interesting and she's so enthusiastic. We went over what she wants to do and it's going to be great. She gave me some reading assignments and she's coming back again on Wednesday. She thinks she'll be able to get me all caught up and I can go back to school in January."

"Cool. How did it feel to get back to school?"

"Good. I missed it. And I was getting real bored."

Sara spoke up. "That's why I went back today."

"I didn't see you since lunch. How was your first day back?"

"It was good. I got a lot of comments after I read that thing in English. A couple of people were like Sally and wanted to know all the dirt but I didn't cave in. Sally tried again after third period. I think I pissed her off."

"Good for Sally. You can do without her as a friend."

"That's for sure."

By this time we were finished up. Sara and Mary cleaned up while I went out to my car and got my homework. I set up on the dining room table. Jill came over with a notebook and joined me.

"Will it bother you if I write?"

"Nah. What are you writing?"

"Something for Creative Writing. I thought I might do something on my hero."

"Oh, pulleese. Give me a break."



-------

Chapter 78



Jill's essay hadn't been on her hero as she'd threatened but on politics. She'd been asked to write about one of the propositions in the California special election. She chose one that was going to make union members agree to have their dues used for political purposes. The present scene was the opposite. The unions could take their dues and support any candidate or proposal they wished unless the member jumped through hoops to stop it. The teachers union had gone crazy and gone 10 million dollars in debt to place ads telling of the great conspiracy by big business and George Bush to stifle the teachers in California. One section of her essay just went through all the points that were made in the various unions' ads, those of the proponents of the measure and the final section was what was actually written on the ballot. It was as if each section was on a totally different subject.

Once our homework was done and we had a snack, we got ready for bed. We lay down under the blankets and hugged each other.

I could feel the love flowing into me as we hugged. When we kissed, we fit together as if by design. She pulled me tight when the kiss was over.

"So, did I pass?"

"Pass what?"

"The jealous girlfriend test?"

I had to think a moment before I realized she was talking about Patty inviting me to the dance and my whole routine about getting her permission.

"Yes, you passed. But I wasn't thinking about making you jealous. I was just teasing you like you and the girls did to me all weekend. But now that you mention it, I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you. I know you won't do anything to betray me. I guess I didn't completely trust you before. I do now."

"I'm glad."

I pulled her in to me and we kissed again.

"Jack?"

"Hmm?"

"I talked to Daddy today."

"That's what I figured."

"I don't know what to do."

"About what?"

"The two of them."

I kissed her. "Jill, you're going to have to tell me what he said. I have no idea what you're talking about."

She pulled tighter, burying her face in my chest. I could smell her shampoo as I held on to her. She backed off and drew in a deep breath, shivering as she did.

"He said he feels terrible that he hurt me but he likes Wanda."

I could have told her that on Sunday night.

"Go on."

"He doesn't want to hurt her."

Again, she buried her face into me. I held on to her. I could feel the sobs before I heard her sniffle. I gently stroked her hair.

She pulled back and wiped her eyes and then under her nose with her sleeve.

"I'm sorry."

"Shhh."

"He's always liked Wanda. Before you and your mom came along, they'd be talking all the time at the games or on Sundays. He really enjoyed being with her and talking to her. He didn't think she was anything more than a good friend. He told me he never thought about her age. It wasn't like she was a kid who was nice to talk to. But as far as he was concerned, she was a friend who was almost part of the family and was around a lot.

"Then you came into my life and the next week your mother came over. Daddy has stayed away from women since my mother left. Not that he doesn't like them or anything, he just didn't want to put himself out there and get hurt. And that's a real big part of his attitude.

"Well, your mother didn't just leave him alone or ignore him. She told him off. But the big thing to him was she showed him that she cared. Nobody had ever cared enough to talk to him like that.

"He figured he had a chance of building something with your mother. And your mother went along with him. She wasn't madly in love with him but she went out with him and talked to him as an equal and they had a good time together. When she told him she liked him but didn't think anything permanent would come of it, he was hurt. But he decided to try to make her fall in love with him. After a while, he realized it wasn't going to happen. He still enjoyed being with her but he knew there'd never be anything serious between them.

"He told Wanda how he was feeling about your mom on the way over to Charlie's. Wanda talked Charlie into coming to the barbecue after she saw Mary all alone at the football game. Anyway, on the way over there, Daddy was telling her how he'd let himself go and it didn't work out and she told him all the good things she noticed about him, that he was a good man and he deserved better. And before he knew it, she was holding his hand.

"So, he picked up Charlie while she was talking to his parents and he took off without even thinking about her. You remember what happened then."

"Yeah, I remember."

"So, he went back to get her. He took your mom with him. She stayed in the car while he went to get Wanda. She hugged him when she saw him and held on to his hand as they went to the car. She let go when she saw your mom sitting there.

"When Daddy asked me what time we'd be home from the drive-in, he didn't do it because Wanda would be there. He just wanted to know when we'd be home. She was at the front door about 20 minutes after we left. She told him she saw us leave with Charlie and wanted to talk to him while they could be alone.

"The next thing he knew, they were sitting on the couch and she was asking him why he was still doing anything with your mom when it was obvious she didn't care that much for him. She said there were lots of women who appreciated him. He thought she was joking and asked her to show him one of them.

"She asked who he thought she was talking about when Chris asked her if she had someone special and he said he didn't know. Men are so dense, sometimes. So, she told him she'd been in love with him forever and it hurt her every time she saw him going after your mother and she treated him like shit."

"I don't think she did that, Jill."

"I'm just telling you what happened. Anyway, the next thing Daddy knew, she was kissing him. He tried to pull away but she wouldn't let him. And then he decided he didn't want to pull away anymore. Here was a beautiful woman who had been a friend for years, who he got along great with, and she wanted him. She wasn't playing any games, she was in love with him.

"They talked and he realized how much he cares for her. He doesn't love her like he loved my mother, but he cares for her a lot. He told me he's not sure what he wants, but he's not willing to throw away a chance at happiness. And he's sure she loves him.

"So, what do I do, Jack?"

"About what?"

"About my father. About Wanda. I don't know, I just feel I should do something."

"It sounds like he's made it pretty clear what he wants. Do you want to try to stop him?"

"No. Yes. I don't know."

"Jill, let me ask you something. Would you feel the same way if it was my mom?"

"Probably not."

"So, Wanda's the problem?"

"I guess."

"Why? Her age? Because she's your friend?"

"Both, I guess."

"Do you think she's trying to hurt your father? Take advantage of him?"

"No. Wanda would never do that."

"Are you afraid he'll get hurt anyway?"

"Maybe that's it. He's so much older than she is. I don't know how long it will last."

"Do you remember how I acted the day I found out you were 14?"

Her face dropped, obviously not one of her best memories. "Yes."

"I talked to Mom the next morning. I was all set to give up on you. I knew it wouldn't work. You were too young, everyone would talk, we'd have nothing in common. But she made me take a look at how I felt about you. And made me look at what could happen between us. And then she tore every one of my objections apart. But the thing she said that made the most sense was that I'd always wonder what could have been if I didn't give it a chance.

"I've never been sorry that I took a chance on us. I love you more than I could ever have imagined when I was talking to Mom that morning. None of that would have ever happened if I didn't go against all the rules. Too young, nothing in common. Well, none of my friends have had anything bad to say against us. And we don't seem to have any problem finding things to talk about.

"Your father hasn't had any chance at love for most of your life. He tried it with my mother and it didn't work. He tried it again with Wanda and almost lost you. He has a chance with her. All the rules say it will never work, it's the wrong thing to do. But if you make him stop, he will, but he'll always wonder what would have happened. And sooner or later he'll blame you for not letting him find out. Is that what you want for your father? And for you?"

Jill looked up at me. The tears in her eyes were sparkling. She hugged me, pushing her face into me for a moment, pulled back and smiled at me.

"You're right. He deserves what we've got. I need to call him."

She went in the kitchen and dialed the phone. "Daddy? It's me. I have some news for you. Please pick me up in the morning and take me to school. I love you, Daddy."

She came back and got into bed.

"Voice mail."

"Oh, I wondered."

"Do you mind sleeping here on the floor until they get the room done? I want Daddy to have the house to himself."

"I'd sleep on the ground as long as you're with me."



-------

Chapter 79



Telling Jill I'd sleep anywhere as long as she was with me was obviously the right thing to say. She held on to my arm and pulled close, a little sigh escaping her lips. I relaxed and was almost asleep when she spoke.

"Jack?"

Oh boy. Now what. "Hmmm?"

"Do you remember this morning? In the car?"

"Uh Huh. What about it?"

"I told you I'd make it up to you for being there last night. I owe you, Jack."

Her right arm untangled itself from mine and I felt her hand snake under my shorts. She was just about to hit pay dirt when I grabbed on to her wrist.

"Jill. I don't ever want you to make love to me because you think you owe me. If you want to make love to me because you love me and you want to be close to me, that's one thing. But if you do it because you feel obligated, I'd rather not. I know there are a lot of people who would say I'm stupid and should take it any way I can get it, but it means more to me than that."

She surged up at me and clamped her mouth to mine, her hands just under the top of my shoulders, pulling us as close together as possible. I could feel her breasts pushing into me through the nightgown as one hand moved behind my head, trying to get closer still.

"You silly, silly boy. Of course I want to make love to you. If I could get away with making love to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week I would. You're right. It's no good if I feel I have to do it. And I was stupid for putting it that way. Jack, I want us to make love to each other. Please."

I reached up and took her head in my hands, pulling her into me for another kiss.

"Well, if you put it that way... OK."

She giggled and hugged me real quick, then dove at my middle, tugging my shorts off desperately. She took me in her hand and blew on me lightly.

"I love making it grow."

She manipulated it, kissed it, licked it. She got her wish and it grew in her hand. Another triumphant giggle and then she licked it from the bottom up. She took the head in her mouth and licked that sensitive part just underneath. My body pulled in involuntarily and she made an "Uuhhhmmm" noise while still holding me in her mouth.

She opened her mouth and breathed in deep. I could feel the cool air coming in past my moist penis. I glanced down to see her looking up at me, her eyes sparkling. Her mouth closed and her tongue lay flat against the bottom of my cock and then she slowly slid down. I felt it hit the entrance to her throat and then she tried to push further.

She backed off quickly and started coughing. I went to reach for her but she pushed me away, still coughing. Just when I was starting to get worried about her, she gulped and looked up at me, a slight smile on her face. There were tears in her eyes.

"Oops. Gag reflex. I just need to take it a little slower. Don't worry. One of these days I'll learn how to deep throat you."

"You don't need to do that, Jill."

"I know I don't."

She swiped at her eyes with her sleeve and went back to my cock. I'd wilted a bit when she started coughing.

"Aaaww."

She licked and sucked at it until it was standing proud again. Taking me in her hand, she took just the tip in her mouth and then drooled saliva on it. She released and used her thumb to massage the wetness all around the top, paying attention to the slit at the top. Meanwhile, she shoved impatiently at my thighs until I got the idea and bent my knees, lifting my thighs so she could get to my balls. She used her free hand to hold them as she explored them with her tongue, eventually taking one, then the other in her mouth, toying with them.

Blazing Saddles is one of my favorite movies. Slim Pickens tells Harvey Korman that he uses his tongue prettier than a $20 whore. Well, so does Jill. She has a way of making it firmly soft. I don't know how else to describe it. It molds to my cock yet bathes it with softness. I feel her tongue loving my cock whenever she takes it in her mouth. And her mouth is so warm. It feels like coming home. Done with my balls, she lifted up and took me back in her mouth, using her magic tongue to bring me almost there.

She released me from her mouth and got up on her knees. She pulled her nightgown up to her waist and walked on her knees until her legs straddled my hips. She took hold of my prick and held it up as she started to lower herself.

"Jill. What are you doing?"

"I want to really make love to you."

"Jill. Stop. Have you had your period yet?"

"No."

"Then we aren't safe."

She got up. "OK. I've still got rubbers in my backpack."

I grabbed her wrist as she started to get up.

"Jill. Come here."

I held her close to me.

"Don't you want to have sex, Jack?"

"Oh, God. More than anything in the world. But not like this. Not here on the floor. Not with a rubber and not before you're safe. Jill, I want it to be special. I've been planning on how to make it as romantic as possible ever since that day we agreed to wait until your birthday. Don't spoil it for me. For us. Please?"

She lifted her face up and looked at me. There were tears in her eyes.

"It's just that Daddy..."

I pulled her face into me chest and held her tight.

"I know. I know."

I kissed the top of her head. She lifted her head and moved up so we could kiss. Her mouth dug into mine desperately.

"Oh God, Jack. I love you so much. I want you."

"I know. Let me make it special. For both of us."

We kissed. Not as desperate. More loving.

"Jack?"

"Uhm?"

"Would you do me?"

"Do you?"

"You know."

"Jill. It's me. You don't need to be embarrassed. What do you want?"

"I want to lick my... between my legs."

"OK. But it's not fair. I'm naked and you have that nightgown on."

She grinned and I helped her lift it over her head. Her blond hair went in all directions as it came off and she impatiently brushed it out of her face with her fingers. I kissed her on the forehead.

"God, you're beautiful."

We wrapped our arms around each other and kissed, her chest against mine. I could feel the excited nipples pushing into my skin. I moved side to side, rubbing them.

I lay her down on her back and lay down on my side, feeling her beautiful hair slip through my fingers.

"Your hair is so soft." I leaned close and breathed deep through my nose. "And it smells so good."

I showered her with light kisses. Her forehead, cheeks, nose, mouth, chin. Then I started on her neck. She giggled and tried to keep me away by bending her head toward her shoulder and I just attacked the other side. She straighted her head and I kissed on the front of her throat just under her chin.

I moved back to her mouth. One or both of us moaned as we kissed. We kept it up for a couple of minutes.

Finished with her mouth, I moved down to her chest. Excited, she was slightly flushed. Jill has a light sprinkling of freckles on her face and they continue down her chest. I tried to kiss as many as I could. Her nipples were firming up and she was squirming and groaning as I got closer and closer to her breasts.

"I just want to make love to these gorgeous freckles of yours."

"Errrggh!"

I leaned down and flicked her left nipple with my tongue. She responded by arching her back, trying to shove her tit into the mouth that wasn't there anymore.

"Jack!"

I moved back down and took the nipple in my mouth, sucking, licking, working it. I let go and moved over to the other one. Soon both were standing up straight and tall, glistening with my saliva. Jill put two hands on my head and urged me lower on her body.

I moved to her shaved pubes and licked, then moved further down. Jill didn't need any urging to make room for me. She spread her legs wide. I moved close and breathed deep.

"So beautiful."

I put my hands under her thighs and lifted up. I could see her pink anus, puckered between her beautiful cheeks. I stuck out my tongue and licked from it all the way up to her clitoris.

"Oh. Do that some more."

I leaned in and repeated, using my tongue to push slightly into her butt hole and then her vagina. When I got to the top, I sucked on her clit as I had her nipples.

"Oooh, Gawd."

The next time I was able to get my tongue a little further in her back door as she relaxed more. She emitted a slight moan as I did so. I moved up and concentrated on her vagina for a few minutes. I backed out and watched as I pushed in my index finger then added the middle finger. I couldn't go deep because of her hymen. But I could rotate and feel the walls trying to grab and suck in my fingers.

I pulled them out and touched her anus with my index finger. I looked up to see if she had any reaction but she was in a world of sensation, not looking at me. Her eyes were closed and she had her lower lip between her teeth.

I pushed in and felt some resistance before she opened up and my finger went in almost half way. She sucked in a deep breath and rolled back on her head, lifting her shoulders up a bit. Her mouth was holding her lip tightly.

I pulled back a bit, sliding my finger out of her, then eased it back in. That got a groan out of her. I continued with my finger and worked on her clit with my mouth. She started to move her hips, clenching and unclenching her butt cheeks around my hand as she did. Her breathing was getting heavier.

I just made love to her clitoris with my lips and my tongue. Her hands made it down to my head and she was pushing me into her as she rocked her lower body. The groans were almost constant now. She pushed up at me and my finger went all the way in. She gripped my hand with her butt cheeks and moaned again.

I continued to work on her clit and left my finger buried in her asshole. She was bucking her hips now and I had to concentrate to keep her in my mouth. She screeched and clamped her legs around my head and she pulled me into her with her hands. Her butt was contracting and it was like nothing I'd felt before. The ring I'd pushed through was almost biting me and then letting go while the canal past it was tightening. The sides of the canal gave where the anus didn't.

"No more!"

She pushed away. He legs clamped together as soon as my head was out of the way. Her hands came down and made their way between her legs as she rolled over on her side, her knees bent, her back to me. My finger slid out of her as she was moving.

I reached over and put my hand on her back. The sensation made her shiver. I leaned up and lightly kissed the back of her neck and she moaned and again shivered. I scrunched up against her and just lay my arm over hers.

After a while, she straightened out her legs and rolled over on her back. Her smile was pure bliss. She reached over and pulled my face to hers and kissed me. Our souls joined together with that kiss.

I pulled the blankets over us and worked my arm underneath her. She grabbed on to the hand and I lay the other on her chest. She sighed and rolled over, pushing her back into me, pulling both hands into her chest.

"I love you, Jack."

"Me too."



-------

Chapter 80



Tuesday morning came around too early. My alarm went off a half hour before I was used to getting up since I had to take Jill to school first.

I heard some noise out near the garage but not enough to wake anyone up. I remember when the next door neighbors added a family room to their house. Once the workmen started, there was no way anyone on the street could sleep. It was as if they had every power tool under the sun, and they had to all be on at once. One more reason to appreciate Alex.

I shoved on a pair of shorts and went outside. Alex saw me and came over.

"Would you like me to make a pot of coffee for the crew?"

"I appreciate it Jack, but we all come prepared. Everyone brings his own Thermos. But thanks anyway."

"You sure got a lot done yesterday."

"Yep. Got a good crew on this job. I'm about a half day ahead of schedule already. We've got concrete coming in around 8:00, so you should have a slab when you get home from school today. I figure we can knock this job out by the middle of next week."

"Good. That'll be a week before Jill's birthday."

"Got something special planned for her birthday?"

"Yes, Sir."

He tousled my hair. "Good for you. She's a good girl."

"Yes, Sir. That she is."

I made my way into the bathroom. I was starting to smell ripe so I took a quick shower while I was in there.

Jill had some coffee going when I got out. Sara was sitting at the kitchen table, eating some cereal.

"Hey Jack, how about a ride to school?"

"That's fine with me, but we have to leave a half hour early so I can drop Jill off at school. If you want Chris to go with us, you'd better give him a call."

"I better get going in the bathroom if you're coming with us. I need to shower this morning, too. Jackie made me all messy last night."

"Hey. You asked me to."

"I didn't tell you to leave me all slimy. You should clean up after yourself."

"You two didn't..."

"No, Sara. I wanted to, but Mr. Romantic here wants it to be special." She came up behind me and put her arms around me.

"Yeah. I was thinking of the back seat of my car."

That earned me a swat on the head. And then a kiss. She let me go and headed for the bathroom.

"So, Jack. Have you got something special planned for her birthday?"

"Oh, yeah."

"What are you going to do?"

"Uh, uh. I know how you guys talk. You'll tell Mary and the next thing know Jill will be all over me thanking me for what I haven't even done yet. This is going to be a surprise and nobody's going to find out until it happens."

"Well, excuuuse me."

"You're excused."

Sara wasn't very thrilled with my response and stuck her tongue out at me.

I went into the living room to straighten up but Jill had beaten me to it. The sleeping bag, blankets and pillows were neatly stacked behind the chair where I usually put them.

Mom had a package of English muffins in the breadbox so I split three of them and put them in the toaster. I'd put butter on them and was spreading the strawberry jam when Jill came into the kitchen.

"Here you go. I made them myself."

She took the plate I handed her and sat at the table. After her first bite, she said,

"These are good. You'll have to give me the recipe."

"They're from an old family recipe. From an old family."

Sara snorted. "Oh, pulleese. I'm getting out of here." She left for the bathroom, smiling.

"Fifteen minutes, Sara."

"OK. Oh damn. I forgot to call Chris."

"I'll call him for you. Go get ready."

"Thanks, Jack."

I called Chris and told him Sara was going with us and he needed to be ready to go in fifteen minutes. He said he would and I went back to my breakfast.

Mary came out rubbing her eyes.

"Good morning, Sis."

"Hi, Jack. Hi, Jill. I thought you guys were sleeping at your house, Jill."

"Things have changed."

"Oh?"

"I decided to give Daddy and Wanda some time to work things out."

"Oh. I don't know how I'd feel if I caught Mom with one of our friends."

"I don't know how I feel either. It's like Wanda betrayed me. I didn't tell her not to seduce my Daddy, but I don't think I should have had to."

"Come on, Jill. You told me yourself your father didn't take much seducing. You can't blame Wanda for this."

"I know. I wish it would all go away."

"I know, Babe." I reached over and took her hand.

She sniffed. "OK, Jack. Leave me alone. I've got to finish so we can go."

Mary woke up enough to see the remains of the English muffins. "Ooh, muffins." She went for the breadbox and put a couple in the toaster.

Sara came out, brushing her hair. "Ready."

We all gathered up our books and went out to the street. There was a lumber truck parked in front of the driveway and the crew was unloading it. There was a growing pile next to the hole for the slab. Pretty amazing that they could pile all that stuff next to the kitchen without disturbing us.

We got out to the car and I had to maneuver the car away from the curb. I had about a foot of extra space between Mom's Lexus and the car behind me. When I got out I pulled into the driveway across the street and headed back the other way. Once we got going, Jill latched onto my arm.

Chris was waiting on the sidewalk for us. He ran across the street and got in the back door next to Sara. The two of them weren't taking up any unnecessary space back there. Of course, we had room for a couple more up front, too.

We got to Highpoint and it occurred to me that Jill didn't have a way to get to school tonight.

"What are you going to do about night school?"

"I'm going to go."

"I can't take you. I've got practice and then I need to work in the gym."

"That's OK. I can walk. It's only about six blocks. I can get some fast food on the way over."

"OK. I'll pick you up where I did last time. And this time I'll make sure I'm there early."

"Thank you." She reached up and kissed me, then went over to the gate.

We got to Fernmont with fifteen minutes to spare. Sara and Chris took off together and I made my way to my locker. Patty came up to me.

"Sure you won't change your mind about the dance?"

"No thanks, Patty. I've got a date."

"Who is it?"

"My girlfriend. You don't know her. She goes to Highpoint."

She reached out, got me by the wrist with both hands and pulled my arm to her chest, between her boobs. "Why go all the way across town when I'm here?"

I pulled my arm away. "No thanks, Patty."

She looked ready to say something else when Sara came up next to me and put her arm around my waist.

"Is this girl bothering you?"

"No. Everything's fine, Sara." I put my arm around her waist.

We walked into class with our arms around each other. That got looks from several girls in the class, especially Sally. We let go of each other and took our seats. I noticed Miss Beevers checking us out over her glasses.

Nothing special happened for the rest of the day. Sally came up and asked what was going on between Sara and me and I told her we were just friends. I know she didn't believe it. Patty stayed away but several other girls made a point of talking to me.

We had some bad news in swimming. Garth Salem, our number two guy, slashed his arm playing football after school on Monday. Some kind of freak accident when he got tackled near a chain link fence. I guess he did a number on himself. It was going to be six weeks before he could get it wet, much less swim. He was going to be out for the rest of the season.

I mopped my floors and made my way home. As promised, there was a new slab from the front of the house to the street side of the garage door. It was blocked off with caution tape. I checked out the inside of the garage. It still had no roof but there were supports for the new floor attached to the sides of the garage and angling toward the center. They were mounted to the walls high enough so they wouldn't be in the way. They looked like they would hit the new floor about three feet in.

I headed over to the kitchen door and Queenie whined for me to come over. I leaned over the gate and scratched her behind the ear. I opened the door and saw that Mary and Sara were making dinner.

"Hi. Where's Mom?"

"She went over to John's."

"John's?"

"Yeah. He wanted to talk to her about something. She wasn't giving out any information."

"Hmm. When's dinner?"

"About fifteen minutes."

I went inside and washed the dog off my hands. I went back to the kitchen and started putting out dishes and silverware. The girls had made beef stew. Big chunks of meat, carrots, potatoes and a nice thick broth. We dipped rye bread covered with butter in it. Delicious.

After dinner I did some homework. It was 8:30 and I knew I needed to leave for Jill. No sign of Mom. I wondered if Jill was going to have to say about her going to talk to her father.



-------

Chapter 81



I pulled up to the college with 20 minutes to spare. Since Jill wasn't waiting for me in the pickup area, I had to park in the lot. I let the song on the radio finish and then made my way over to the gate.

There's a street light not far from the gate. As soon as I was under it I saw the door to the guard shack open. Jill and a security guard came over to me. He asked her if she was sure she was going to be all right and she told him she was. I had to hold out my hand before she took it.

She was quiet on the way over to the car. I opened the door and let her in. She slid over to me when I got in and just leaned against me, sighing.

"What's wrong, Jill?"

She finally grabbed my arm and leaned against me.

"It happened again."

It happened again. My mind was trying to put it together. She came across her father in bed with someone. How? She was going to come right here from school. I must have taken a while for me to go through my mental gyrations.

"Jack?"

"Sorry. I was thinking. It happened again?"

"Yeah. On the way over here."

"OK. I'm lost. You need to tell me what's going on, Jill."

"Oh. You know I said I'd walk over here after school."

"Yeah."

"Well, I thought about it and I had from 3:30 till 7:00 to get here, so I decided to go to the library and do my homework."

"All right."

"So, they closed up the library at 5:30. That gave me an hour and a half to get to school."

"OK."

"So I went to the Burger King on Fifth St. Since I had lots of time I ordered a coke and sat outside for a while, then I went in and bought something to eat."

"Yeah?" Come on, Jill — I'm getting impatient over here.

"So I got a chicken sandwich and onion rings."

"Jill, what happened?"

"These two guys tried to pick me up."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No. But they wouldn't leave me alone. I had to go inside. I was going to tell the manager to call the police but they disappeared."

"Did you know them?"

"Of course I knew them. They go to my school. They're druggies."

"But you're OK now. Right?"

"Well, there's more."

"Tell me." Please!

"They must have waited around for me. About a block away from Burger King they showed up."

"Did they hurt you?"

"No. I ran."

"So, what happened?"

"I waited for you to come get me."

"No, Jill. You ran away from them before 7:00. It's after 9:00. What happened?"

"Well, I ran inside the gate and the guard saw me and he came out. They must have seen him because he couldn't find them after I told him what happened. He said I shouldn't be out by myself but there wasn't anything anybody could do. He said if I'd been hurt the cops could do something but if I called them, the druggies would just deny it. Since I was the only who saw them, it would be my word against theirs."

"OK. So, you waited two hours for me to get you? Why didn't you call me?"

"I didn't want you to get mad."

"Mad? Why would I get mad?"

"I just thought you might. I can't go anywhere by myself."

I turned around and pulled her into my chest, wrapping one arm around her and holding her head to me with the other.

"Jill, it's not you. You can't help it if there are some real jerks around."

"Yeah, but now you're going to want to take me to school. And it will mess up your work."

"Jill, that's no reason to sit in the guard shack for over two hours."

"It's still going to mess you up. Maybe I can take a cab."

"Jill. Just calm down. I'll figure something out. Do you remember when I was going to look for work flipping burgers? And you told me to talk to my coach? That he'd figure out some way to make it work?"

"Yeah."

"OK. Just hang on. We've got two days till you have to go back. I'm sure I can figure something out."

"All right."

I put my hand under her chin and tilted her head up so I could kiss her.

"OK. Now move over so I can drive us home."

She let me start the car, then grabbed my arm, sighed again, and rested her cheek against it.

We got home a few minutes later. Mom's Lexus was nowhere in sight. The headlights hit the side of the garage and I could see part of a stairway against the side of the garage. Actually, the stairway was all there, it was just missing a handrail. There was some kind of pulley arrangement just past the end of it with a rope hanging down near the side door.

"Want to look?" I nodded toward the garage.

"OK."

"It's too dark. Follow me."

We went in the front door to the house. There was nobody around as we went through the kitchen. I turned on the outside light and then led Jill outside. I had to stop by the gate and give Queenie her scratch. We made our way over to the side door to the garage.

"Watch out for that."

I pointed at the rope. It had a thick canvas belt on the end. It was close to the stack of lumber. I assumed it was being used to haul wood to the top of the garage. I leaned inside and turned on the light.

I'd wondered how they were going to support the floor. The supports from the outside walls would be great for the perimeter, but there was going to be a lot of weight in the middle with no support. And I didn't think Mom would go for support beams in the middle of the garage.

There were three columns from floor to ceiling on each of the side walls. One almost at the front door, one in the middle, one at the back. They were probably 10 X 10s. Each had a bracket at the top connecting to a beam that went across the garage where the second floor was going to be. There were also beams at the top of the side walls going from back. So, we had beams around the perimeter with one from side to side in the middle. There were also two sets from front to back, each a third of the way in from the side walls. There was plywood laying on top of the back part. The front part was open to the sky.

I'd wondered why Alex had rebuilt the storage platform prior to putting the second floor up. I just assumed it would be easier for them to build the floor without the platform in the way. Now I realized it probably made things easier. They could just use the platform to stand on while laying the floor over it. Once they had the first part of the floor up, they could use it for support and finish the rest of it.

"It looks good."

'They only have part of the floor done."

"Jill, they ran out of skyhooks."

"Oh. How long will it take to get them?"

I pulled her into me and kissed her on the top of her head.

"Jill. There's no such thing. Do you see these thick pieces of wood here?" I pointed at the one in the back corner and then at the attached beams at the top.

"Are they new?"

"Yeah. They're supports for the floor. There's no way you could build an apartment up there without holding the floor up.

"Oh."

"Jill? Are you OK?"

She hugged me closer.

"I guess I'm still shook up."

"OK. Don't worry. We'll work something out."

"OK. Let's go inside. I'm hungry. And then I want to go to bed. I didn't get enough sleep last night."

"OK."

We went inside, stopping to say goodnight to Queenie. I didn't see anything that jumped out at me in the refrigerator, so I opened the freezer. There was a large pizza in there.

"How about pizza?"

"Sounds good."

"Do me a favor? Ask Mary and Sara if they want some? It's too big for just us."

"Work, work, work." She took off down the hall.

I found a can of frozen punch and grabbed it. I grabbed a glass pitcher, went over to the water cooler and filled it. I was stirring the mixture when the three of them came in.

"I guess you guys want pizza."

"Yep."

"OK. One of you can finish stirring this and put some ice in it." I turned on the oven to warm it up and found a cookie sheet large enough for the pizza. I put the pizza in the oven and set the timer.

"It'll be ready in 20 minutes. I have some homework to finish.

Jill and Mary went in Mary's room to work on the computer. Sara and I did homework on the dining room table.

"How was your second day back at school?"

"Fine. I'm having a little trouble in Algebra."

"What are you having trouble with?"

"Vectors."

"What about them?"

"I've got some homework I don't get."

"Get the book and we'll go over it."

She ran down the hall and came back with her Algebra book. The stuff she was going over wasn't too difficult.

"What don't you understand?"

She showed me one of the problems. "I don't see how they got this."

I flipped back a couple of pages. The previous chapter was about graphing functions. I pointed to a page. "Explain this to me."

"Oh, that's simple. It's..."

"I thought so. Let's go over it."

We found what she didn't get about the graphs and then reviewed the first part of the chapter on vectors.

"Oh. Now I get it."

The bell went off in the kitchen.

"Pizza's ready. Go tell the girls, please."

I went in the kitchen and got the pizza out of the oven. Jill grabbed some plates while I was cutting it into pieces. We sat down, eating, talking and laughing. Jill seemed to be in a better mood.

I heard the front door open. The next thing I knew, Bozo came running in the kitchen and over to Jill.

"Hey, Boy. How did you get here?"

Mom walked into the kitchen.

"Hi, June. Thanks. How come you got Bozo?"

"I was over at your house. I just spent the last four hours talking to your father and Wanda."



-------

Chapter 82



"You talked to Daddy? I don't understand."

Mom got herself a glass, sat down and poured herself some punch. She leaned over the table and took Jill's hand.

"Your father called earlier today. He told me that he and Wanda were trying to figure out what to do. He said they both trust my opinion and wanted to talk to me."

"But... four hours?"

"They both had a lot to say. Your father is almost sick that he hurt you. So is Wanda."

I saw that flash come across Jill's face when Mom mentioned Wanda. She made an effort and pulled herself together.

"OK. What did they have to say?"

Mom looked at Mary and Sara. They both tried to make themselves invisible so that Mom wouldn't realize they were there. It didn't work.

"Do you want to go into this with these two here?"

"You might as well. They already know what's going on and they'll find out about it later, anyway."

"OK. Your father called me up this afternoon. He asked me to go over and talk to him. He said it was killing him that you were upset and that he wanted to talk things over.

"I got there and he let me in and I followed him out back. He'd been in the middle of feeding Bozo when I got there. He's been taking care of him since you left. He even made me wait while he cleaned up after him.

"We were just ready to start talking when he got an emergency call. I went with him to his office where he met one of his patients. Your father is really a dedicated doctor, you know."

"I know that. I want to know what you talked about."

Mom looked at Jill. "You need to show a little patience, my dear. With me and with your father."

"I'm sorry."

"We finally got back to your house and got to talk. He told me pretty much what he told you. How he thought there was a chance something would happen with me, how he realized he was hurting himself by not having anything to do with women since your mother left. He said when it finally hit him that he and I weren't going to be together, he felt lonely. He knew he had to have someone. He said it was like a big hole inside him.

"He also said he realized that you weren't going to be there to fill that hole for him anymore. Not that it's wrong, but you've been a big part of his life. And he didn't know if he could handle being alone. He said there are times that he feels he's already lost you. He wasn't ready for you to grow up yet."

"But I'm ready."

"I know that. And so does he. You've got to realize something, Jill. Parents always think of their children as their babies. When they start going to school, when they fall in love, when they start to drive, when they go away to school or get married; these things always catch parents by surprise. Of course they know these things are going to happen, but when they do, most parents aren't ready for it. And when you're the only parent and the main thing you live for is your child, it's even worse."

"Wanda came over and the three of us went out to eat. I got a chance to see the two of them together. She really cares about your father. No, I take that back. She really loves your father. It's interesting to watch her when they're together. This was one of the first times she could be with him and not pretend.

"She's felt close to your father for about a year. She always felt comfortable with him. He was one adult it was always easy for her to talk with. You know she had a bunch of guys take advantage of her at school. She started talking to your father because she felt safe. She also felt that you were a good friend. She felt very close to you."

"Well, I did with her, too."

"Yes, I'm sure you did. But then Jack came along. All of a sudden, you were spending all the time you normally spent with her with him. She could either just be by herself or she could spend time with your father. Which worked out, because you weren't there for him, either.

"Wanda realized she was starting to get feelings for your father that were more than feelings for the parent of a friend. And then I came along and ruined everything. From her viewpoint, I was the only thing your father was interested in. She still talked to him, but he either seemed distant or he would ask her for advice on how to get me to get closer or ask why she thought I acted the way I did or something of that nature. Of course, since she cared for him, she tried her best to give him honest answers, but it bugged the hell out of her that she was trying to make it easier for me to take him away from her.

"On the way over to Charlie's house that day, John told her that he realized he had no chance with me. He told her how lonely he was and that he was going to have to look for somebody else. She told herself she was going to let him know how she felt. You've got to realize something. Up till now, she had strong feelings for him but she held them inside. She was afraid of what he would say and she was afraid of upsetting you.

"So, she was in talking with Charlie's parents, ready to tell him how she felt as soon as they got back to your house and he and Charlie took off without her. She said she felt as if the world was conspiring against her. When John came back for her, she hugged him and took his hand and figured she could tell him on the way back to your house. And then she saw that I was in the car. Another thing keeping her from being with your father.

"She told you about the drive-in. She said she didn't want to go because she knew she would feel out of place being the only single person with three couples, figuring she'd give your father a call and talk to him while you were out. She was trying to figure out what to say over the phone when she saw you go by on the way to Charlie's house. She decided it was something she really needed to talk to him in person about and went over to your house, hoping your father hadn't gone out. She swears she just went over to your house to talk. And I believe her.

"She got there and they sat down on the couch. She told him how she felt and pretty much what I've just told you. Your father says he realized that Wanda was someone he cared for, someone he got along with and that she loved him. It was like a gift had been given to him. After trying everything he could think of to get close to me and being turned away all the time, it was a relief to have someone there he could be with who wanted to be with him.

"He initiated the first kiss. She didn't fight him, in fact she overcame his hesitance with her enthusiasm. She finally had what she was going for and she wasn't going to lose it. Over the course of their conversation, your father had told her you weren't going to be home before 11:00. When he suggested the two of them go up to his room, she went with him eagerly. There was no seduction, there was no taking advantage, this was something the two of them wanted.

"You never crossed their minds. Both of them said that they knew they were going to have to talk to you about them soon. But they knew they'd be alone and out of bed long before you got home. If they had any idea that you would discover them, they never would have gotten off that couch. Not that they felt what they were doing was wrong. But they knew, somewhere in the back of their minds, you would need to be brought up to the point where you could accept the two of them together.

"When Wanda saw the two of you at the door to the bedroom, she says she knew God was out to get her. She says she felt like her whole life was slipping away. She'd finally found somebody she sincerely loved, she felt like the princess in a fairy tale and it was all yanked away from her. And her Prince Charming ran from her as soon as you showed up. She felt like he was willing to throw it all away when you came home early. When she left that night, she knew she'd had love in the palm of her hand and lost it.

"Your father went from having something he'd been missing since your mother left to feeling guilty within a split second. And he told me when you wouldn't listen to him in the hallway, he knew he was never going to be happy and he blamed you for it. His instincts as a parent took over and he buried that blame, but it was real. He feels guilty for it and doesn't know if he'll ever forgive himself for feeling that way.

"He was devastated when you wouldn't let him talk that night. He tried to come out to the car but Jack made it evident he wasn't welcome. He said one good thing about it is he knew that Jack would watch after you so he didn't have to worry that you'd do something stupid."

"What do you mean, stupid?"

"Oh, go out and get drunk, try to kill yourself, have sex in retaliation. Something like that."

"Oh."

"He tried to pick up the pieces Monday. When you started making crude remarks about someone he loved, he lost it. That's when he got up and left. He told me what you said and it was pretty cruel, Jill."

"I know."

"He called Wanda but got voice mail. He told her that they needed to talk. She didn't answer because she was up most of the night crying. She fell asleep around 6:00. They got together that afternoon and he told her he wanted to make it work between them but that if it meant losing you, he would choose you.

"When you called and asked him to pick him up from school, he says it was like throwing a dying man a life preserver. He picked you up from school and you know what happened then. Tonight was the first time he and Wanda have been together since then. And that's pretty much it. He asked if I could bring Bozo to you and I left."

"I don't understand. Why did they want to talk to you? Did you give them advice or something?"

"No. I think they wanted to be able to tell their side of it to someone who would listen. I think they wondered if there was something wrong with them being together. They both know they aren't the ideal couple. They're aware people are going to give them a ration of shit because they're together. But I think the main reason he called me was so they could talk to someone who wouldn't accuse them of gold digging or cradle robbing.

"Your reaction has made them wonder if their love is wrong. And both of them are wondering if they'll ever be happy. And if it's wrong for them to want to be."

"I feel terrible. I don't know what to think."

"Jill, you need to talk to them. But it's not fair for you to desert them both and then expect them to coddle you. You can't have it both ways."

"You're right. I'll give Daddy a call tomorrow and see when I can talk to them."

"Good."

Once that was over, I told Mom about Jill's encounter with the two druggies.

"The guard told her that he didn't think the police would be able to do anything because they hadn't actually hurt her. That it would be a Jill against them thing."

"He's probably right. But I think you should report it anyway. First, if they do anything further, you're already on record, complaining about them. It will probably be easier to get a response if they have a report from you. Second, you probably aren't the only girl they've treated like this. It's going to be a lot more difficult for them to say two different people are lying or misunderstood their intentions than if just one person reported them."

I looked over at Jill.

"What do you think?"

She hesitated. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid what they may do to me."

My mother spoke up. "Jill, I really think you should do this. You need to take a stand or they're just going to terrorize other girls."

"I don't know. Can I think about it?"

"OK. I'll talk to you in the morning. Before you go to school. In the meantime, have either of you thought of how Jill is going to get here after school tomorrow?"

I'd been concerned about junior college in a couple of days. But if they could go after her on the way there, they could do it on the way to our house, as well. Plus, it was about an eight mile walk here from Highpoint.

"I don't think either of us thought about tomorrow."

"OK. I can pick you up tomorrow. I'll have time to go to the police station with you if you decide that's what you want to do."

"All right. I'll think about it."

"Do you remember the name of the guard at school?"

"I know his first name's Ronnie."

"OK. The police will probably want to talk to him. I know he didn't see anything but he did see you running onto the campus."

"I'm tired. I'll talk to you about it tomorrow."

We all got up. Jill and I got in and out of the bathroom quickly and she helped me set up our bed. After we got under the covers, Jill gave me a quick kiss and then rolled over with her back to me. I put my arm over her.

"So, are you going to tell me about it?"

"About what?"

"About what's wrong with this picture."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Jill?"

"What?"

"I never thought you'd lie to me."

She didn't say anything. I took my arm away and rolled over so we had our backs to each other.

I waited her out. It seemed like forever but it was probably only about five minutes.

"Jack?"

"Uhmm."

"How did you know?'

I rolled over on my back.

"There are just too many things that don't fit. First, you didn't call me immediately but you waited around for two hours. When I asked why, you told me you thought I might get mad at you. And I know you know better than that.

"Next, you took forever to tell me about it. One thing I like about you is you get right to the point when something's bothering you. Tonight, you went around and around before you told me. And even then, you didn't tell me about the second time till you went on some more.

"But the big thing was with Mom tonight. The Jill I know would have wanted to get back at those guys. She would have wanted to take off school and go to the the police station first thing. Or she would have wanted Mom to call and have them come over to the house tonight to make a report. She would do everything in her power to put those guys away so they couldn't do the same thing to somebody else.

"That time you rode your bike and the guys had you cornered you were mad and you were scared. Tonight, you were worried. When you were telling me about it in the car and later when we got home. So there's something you're not telling me. What is it? Did they threaten you if you told?"

"No."

"What is it, then?"

"You're going to be mad at me."

"Jill..."

"I had something to do with it."

"I'm listening."

"Well, everything I told you up to when I was at Burger King is true. They were outside where I was and one of them recognized me from school. He was talking to his buddy about how hot I was loud enough so I could hear him. So the two of them started saying what they wanted to do to me. It got pretty disgusting. I don't know if they were trying to embarrass me or what. Instead of just ignoring them or walking away from them, I started telling them they didn't know what they were missing, neither of them was good enough for me, they weren't real men. It bothered me the way they were talking about me. I wanted to put them down any way I could. I guess they took it as a challenge."

"So, then what happened?"

"I told them I wouldn't have anything to do with them if they were the last men on earth and they got up and came over to my table. They got on both sides of me and scooted their chairs real close. One of them said they'd show me what a real man was and put his hand on my leg. The other one leaned over and said if they decided they wanted to be with me I'd have nothing to say about it and was going to put his arm around me, so I ran. It was so creepy. I ran into the restaurant to tell the manager but when I looked out the window they were gone. They started laughing to each other when I ran away from them."

"What about later?"

"I was walking to school and they came out of a store and saw me. One kind of hit the other on the shoulder and pointed at me and the other said 'let's get her' and they started towards me and I just ran. It was two blocks to the school and I just ran all the way. When I ran through the gate, the guard saw me and stopped me. I told him they bothered me but I didn't tell him I probably deserved it."

"Jill, you didn't deserve it. Nobody deserves that. What you did was pretty stupid. You could have gotten into a lot more trouble than you did. I know Mary didn't do anything to get attacked, but if you pulled the same shit with the guys who went after her, I might have had to visit you at the hospital, tonight. Or at the morgue."

She rolled over and laid her head on my chest, holding onto me with both hands.

"It was a big joke. Make them back down. Make them look like fools. And then they started touching me. Yecch." I could feel her shiver as she said that.

"I know."

"Jack?"

"Uhmm?"

"I'm sorry."

I reached up and held her head to me.

"You know you have to tell Mom."

"I know. I don't want Mary and Sara to know about it. At least not right away. I'm embarrassed."

"I'll talk to Mom. She can probably take you to school and you can tell her in the car."

"OK. Jack?"

"Uhmm."

"Can I sleep here? I mean, like this?"

I just hugged her and kissed her on the head.



-------

Chapter 83



When the alarm went off, Jill was in her usual position, her ass cradling my cock. I moved it up and down a bit and got a contented groan out of her.

After I finished in the bathroom, I knocked on Mom's door, then went in. She was still asleep so I went over to her and shook her shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

"Mom, I need you to do me a favor."

"Sure, Jackie. What do you need?"

"Can you take Jill to school? She needs to talk to you about the two guys that bothered her yesterday. She doesn't want Mary and Sara to hear."

"OK. Put on some coffee and I'll be out in a minute."

I didn't have to do the coffee. Jill had already started it and the pot was over half full. She was in the bathroom. Since we were up a half hour early, I decided to make bacon and eggs for the three of us.

Jill and Mom came into the kitchen at the same time. By the time Mom had her coffee, I'd served up our breakfast. We were all well into our breakfast when Sara came in.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were going to be up so early. You're going to have to make your own breakfast, Sara."

She looked at my plate and made a face. "It's too early for that stuff. I'll just have some toast and coffee."

She put some bread in the toaster and got the butter and grape jelly out of the refrigerator. I was done with breakfast, so I got up and let her take my place. I rinsed off my plate and put my stuff in the dishwasher.

"Sara, I need to go in the room and check my email."

"Fine. I'll be out here a while."

I went in and turned on the computer. The first thing I did was check ebay to see how my items were doing. The total bid on all the items was a little over $1400. Not bad for a bunch of junk that had been out in the garage gathering dust.

I had a few emails. Offers for discount drugs, ripped off computer programs and even someone who was willing to email my address to 2500 sites. That's all I needed.

Mom and Jill were just getting ready to leave when I made my way back to the kitchen. Jill gave me a kiss and they left.

"Are you riding with me, Sara?"

"Sure. I thought you'd take Jill."

"Nope. She has something she needs to talk to Mom about."

"OK. Can we swing by and pick up Chris?"

"Sure. Why don't you give him a call? I want to leave in about ten minutes."

She called and then went to get ready.

Sara came out about five minutes later.

"Wow, you look good."

She smiled at me, then leaned up and kissed me on the cheek. "Thanks."

Alex waved as we made out way out and I waved back. They were lifting sheets of plywood up to the roof.

We got out to the car and Sara was all set to get in the back.

"Why don't you sit up front? It's not like you two are going to take up the whole front seat."

Chris was waiting outside for us and slid in next to Sara.

"Ooh, Sara. I figured out who we can go to the Halloween dance as."

"Who?"

"Bob Dylan and Joan Baez."

"Who?"

"Dylan and Baez. They both changed folk music in the 60s."

"Couldn't we do something a bit more modern?"

"All right. I'll think about it. But that would be great."

"We'd have to wear signs so people would know who we were."

I realized that Jill hadn't told me what she wanted to go as. She was supposed to come up with some ideas.

School went pretty well. I told Coach I might have to make some changes because of the situation with Jill. He said he wouldn't be thrilled if I had to give up the job and he most definitely didn't want me to even think about leaving the team. I told him I might need to take some time off once in a while and he said he'd try to work with me on it.

I got home and Mom's Lexus wasn't there. Mary was at the dining room table doing some homework.

"Wow. It's been a long time since I've seen you doing that. How's it going?"

"Pretty good."

"Have you seen Mom?"

"Not since she left to get Jill."

"Maybe they went to see John."

I figured I might as well work on my homework while I had the chance. I had a writing project I needed the computer for so I went down the hall and knocked on the door to my old room. There was no answer so I went back to the dining room.

"Have you seen Sara?"

"She went over to Chris's house."

"OK. I'm going to use the computer."

"See ya."

It took about a half hour to write my paper. I hit print and got a "no paper" error. I checked the printer and it was empty. I looked at the shelf where I kept a ream of paper and there was an empty wrapper. I headed back to the dining room.

"Do you what happened to all my printer paper?"

"Sara may have used it up. She asked me how to print out the pictures you took of the puppies."

"Great. I'll be back. I have to go get some paper."

I headed down to the mall and stopped in an office supply store. They had a deal and I got the second ream for a quarter.

Mom's Lexus was parked in front of the house when I got home. I went in the house and Sara came up to me.

"Sorry I used all your paper, Jack. I'll pay you for it."

"I don't need any money. But it would have been nice if you'd told me. If it had been later, I wouldn't be able to do my assignment."

"Sorry."

After she was finished, Jill came up to me and wrapped her arms around me and kissed me.

"Tastes like spaghetti sauce."

"You're right. I've been helping out in the kitchen."

"Just make sure you don't eat it all."

Mom makes two kinds of spaghetti. The best kind is what I call Godfather spaghetti. That's when she uses a huge pot, lets her fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, sweet peppers, sausage and meatballs simmer on the stove for most of the day. Just like when they went to the mattresses in the movie. You notice the smell as soon as you walk into the house. By the time dinner rolls around you're practically drooling. The other kind is down and dirty and comes from a jar. It's good but isn't the same. Tonight was down and dirty.

Jill was putting spaghetti and sauce on our plates when I sat down. Mary pulled a loaf of French bread out of the oven. It was sliced in half and had been spread with garlic butter and warmed up. It actually had more odor than the sauce. That would never happen with the good stuff.

I shouldn't put it down so much. It was good and everybody was eating eagerly. We all had to go back for more sauce because we were constantly dipping the garlic bread in it. The bread was gone well before we were finished with the stuff on our plates.

"So, what did you two do today?" I asked Mom and Jill.

"We went down to the police station. We sat down and talked to the female officer who was at the hospital both times. She said she understood what Jill did but also said she was asking for trouble. She and her partner were going to have a little talk with the two boys. They were very familiar with them. And she had a pretty good suggestion for Jill."

"What was that?"

"We'll talk about it later."

Jill said, "After that, Mom took me over to my house and I talked to Daddy."

"How did that go?"

"It went OK. It got to me when Wanda came over but we had a nice talk. We all hugged each other before I left."

"Did they say what they plan to do?"

"Just that they're going to see how it works out. They both told me they're completely aware of how people are going to look at them and of the problems they could have. But I took a look at the two of them. When you look at Wanda, you can just see how much she loves him. Daddy's not as obvious but when he doesn't think anybody's looking, he's the same."

"Well, I'm glad you're OK with them. You both love each other too much to let this come between you."

"I know. We both hugged and cried and told each other how sorry we were. I think it will be OK. And I never thought I'd say this, but I think she's going to be good for him. We also talked about the thing that happened with those two jerks yesterday and what the police lady said and he agreed."

"Agreed with what?"

"She said I should take martial arts. There's a place at the mall that has karate classes every Saturday morning. Daddy said he'd pay for all three of us to go. How about it Sara? Mary?"

They were both excited about having the opportunity to learn how to defend themselves. It sounded good to me. They'd each been in positions where knowing something about self defense could have made all the difference in the world.

"You aren't going to use that stuff on me, are you?"

"Only if you deserve it, Jack."



-------

Chapter 84



Once again, Jill seemed to pounce on me once we were in bed. She didn't slow down until we had come in each other's mouths.

I heard the alarm clock go off in the background and then it stopped. I nodded off. The next thing I knew, Bozo was licking my face. I woke up to find out that Jill had hit the snooze button.

We got up and I got her to school.

Our swim meet went OK but we had a harder time than usual without Garth. Since I was away from school with the team, Mom got Jill from school and brought her home. I took her to the college and picked her up when her class was over.

On Friday, I left practice early and picked her up. I came back and she waited while I mopped the floors in the locker room.

I went out to the garage when I got home. The floor was completely done and the pipes and ducts for water, sewage and heat were all run, protruding up through the floor. There were several rolls of insulation inside, out of the weather. I also noticed a new heating and air conditioning unit outside the garage.

I went up the stairway, which was now completed. The rooms were all framed and there was Romex, phone and cable run throughout. The framing was also done on the extension of the walls and the new roof. There was a sign off sheet stapled near the entrance for an inspector to OK with a list of the various inspections remaining. The rough electrical was called for first thing Monday morning. After that, the drywall would go up while the outside walls were closed and the roof was put on. I assumed the insulation was for the outside walls and roof.

Since things were up in the air with her father and Wanda, we went to our game instead of Jill's. Mom stayed home, so it was me and Jill, Sara and Chris and Mary and Charlie. Charlie's father seemed more relaxed today than on Sunday once he made sure that we weren't going to any parties after the game. He was OK with us stopping off at a restaurant for a snack.

Our game was at home. A few girls made their way by our seats during the game, covertly checking out Jill. Patty Johansen was one of them. She didn't look too thrilled when she saw the way Jill was hanging on my arm. A couple of them actually stopped and talked to all of us.

The game was pretty lousy. We played Santa Maria, the rich kids' school. They outclassed us and we were behind by a couple of touchdowns before the first quarter was over. After that, we scored field goals where they scored touchdowns.

I kissed the top of Jill's head.

"It's not the same."

"I know."

"Your dad always made it fun. And the games were a lot better, too."

We'd had a good meal at home so we didn't need to hit the snack bar at the game. By the time it was over, we were ready to get something.

We took a look at our finances and realized Perlione's was out of the question. I'd gotten used to our Friday night pizzas. John had spoiled us ever since I'd met Jill. We ended up at Taco Bell, like the good old days before Jill ran into me.

We talked about costumes for the dances next week. It was going to be strange because a lot of kids would be wearing costumes at the game. Both schools had home games that were starting at 6:00 instead of 8:00. The dances started at 9:00, so we could head over to the dance when the game was over.

Mary and Charlie were going to go to Highpoint as a pirate and his female prisoner. Mary would have her hands tied behind her back the whole night and Charlie would have his eye patch, holding the end of a chain wrapped around Mary's waist. Mary had nixed the idea of Charlie going as Frankenstein without the patch. Chris wanted to go as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt but Sara wasn't going for it. She didn't think anyone would recognize them and had no idea how to dress as them. I didn't think she wanted to dress up as one of the ugliest women in history, either.

Jill had our costumes all figured out but wasn't telling anybody. It was going to be a surprise, for me and everybody else.

We were all finishing up when Jill pulled a cell phone out of her purse and made a call.

"Daddy? It's me... I'm fine... Yeah, I know... We all miss you, Daddy... At Taco Bell... We're going to take Charlie home in a few minutes... Hang on, I'll ask.

"Jack? Can we stop off at my house for a few minutes?"

"Sure."

"He says it's fine, Daddy... OK. In a little while. I love you, Daddy."

Charlie drained his Pepsi. "OK. I'm ready. Let's go."

We all cleaned our messes and got up. Chris took the trays with the trash and took care of them.

We pulled up to Charlie's and his father came out. He turned around when he saw that his son was kissing my sister goodbye.

Charlie got out and tapped on Jill's window. She let go of my arm and slid over to open it up. He reached in and pulled her to him, kissing her on the cheek.

"Say Hi to your dad for me."

"OK. Thanks, Charlie."

Charlie's father put his arm around his son's shoulders and they walked up to the house as we pulled out from the curb. We headed over to Jill's house. Wanda's car was in the driveway.

"Do you want us to wait in the car?"

"No, you can come in."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Come on."

We all got out and went up to the front door. It opened and John stepped out just before we got there. He saw Jill and held his arms out. She dove into them and squeezed him as he pulled her into him. He kissed her head.

"I missed you, Baby."

"Oh, Daddy, I missed you, too."

He swung her out from his chest by one arm wrapped around her waist. "Come on, all of you. Let's go inside."

We went into the living room. Wanda was sitting on the couch, looking nervous. Jill pulled away from her father and went over to her. She stood in front of her with her arms out and Wanda acted as Jill had with her father. They held on to each other tightly.

Meanwhile, John shook my hand and Chris', then got hugs from Mary and Sara. Wanda got hugs from all of us.

We sat down and John cleared his throat. I finally said something.

"Well, John, we all missed the two of you at the game tonight."

Mary said, "Yeah, we had to eat at Taco Bell."

That broke the ice. John started laughing and we all joined in.

John was sitting next to Wanda but it looked like both of them were forcing themselves not to get too close to each other. After a few minutes, Wanda eased her hand over and laid it on his leg. Shortly thereafter, his beefy hand was covering hers.

Jill either didn't see it or ignored it. She continued talking as if nothing was going on. Of course, the rest of us had our arms around our girlfriends. Jill was sitting on my lap in an armchair, my arms around her waist. Mary was in another one by herself, while Chris and Sara were trying to take up one person's space on the couch. I finally had to say something.

"I thought you two liked each other."

John started and then looked at me. "We do."

"Could have fooled me. We're all friends here. You can hold onto her, John."

He picked up the hand that was laying on hers and put it around her shoulders, pulling her into him. Wanda just sank into his chest, her eyes half closed, looking as if she was in heaven. If she'd been a cat, she'd be purring.

Mary said, "I think they look cute."

John looked embarrassed, but he pulled Wanda tighter. She closed her eyes and tried to move closer than she was. I could see her sigh as he crushed her into him.

Sara thanked John for the Karate training and John told her he was more than happy to do it. He said he wondered why he hadn't thought of it himself when Jill ran into the first two clowns.

The girls pretty much took over the conversation. Sara talked about going back to school, reading her essay in class and the reactions to it. Mary talked about her tutor and how she was enjoying getting back into studying. She also mentioned something I hadn't heard about. She had an appointment the following Wednesday to get started on her dental implants.

Jill had the most to say. I could tell she missed sitting down with her father and telling how her day went. She went on and on about school, the progress of the room, how scary the movie was at the drive-in, anything else she could think about. Trying to make up for the past week away. And her father obviously missed being part of his daughter's life. He just sat there, holding onto Wanda, grinning the whole time she talked to him.

It got to be midnight so I suggested we had to get going. I could see the disappointment on John's face. We went through the same routine of handshakes and hugs that we started with. There was a lot less tension this time around.

John and Wanda were holding hands as we left. She made no move to leave. I doubted she would before the morning, at least.

I was going to drop Chris off but he said he wanted to take Sara home. Jill, Mary and I left them on the front porch, saying goodnight. We'd all used the bathroom and changed for bed, Mary was in her room and Jill and I were settled down for the night when Sara almost floated through the living room, wishing us a good night.



-------

Chapter 85



After Sara was gone, Jill asked me "Well, what do you think?"

"About what?"

"Come on, Jack. You know what I'm talking about. What do you think about Daddy and Wanda?"

"I think they care about each other a lot. And I think both of them really missed you. Wanda looked so relieved when you hugged her. And your dad was mesmerized while you were telling him about your week. They both love you a lot and are glad you came back."

"I didn't know how much I missed them till we went to the game without them."

"Do you want to go over on Sunday?"

"Could we?"

"I don't see why not. I'm sure your father would be thrilled."

"Ooh. I want to call him."

"Jill, it's after midnight. You'll see him in the morning. Why don't you just tell him in person?"

"You're right. I'm just so excited."

She was resting her face on my chest, her right arm wrapped around me. She scooted up and gave me a kiss. Soft and gentle and full of feeling.

I reached up and took a breast in my hand, manipulating it, feeling the nipple expand. I gave its twin similar treatment. I slid my hand down and toyed with her belly button, making her giggle. I started to move further down and she took hold of my wrist.

"Not tonight, please."

"What's wrong?"

"I don't feel clean down there."

"What do you... Oh. Are you all right?"

"Of course I'm all right. This isn't the first time I've had my period, you know."

"What should I do?"

"You could try kissing me again. And then let me sleep in your arms."

"I can do that." I kissed her and then pulled her in as she snuggled up to me.

I woke up alone. I could hear the girls talking in the kitchen, so I hit the bathroom and made my way in there.

"Well, good afternoon, Sleepy Head."

"I'll take any kind of head I can get."

"Oh, Poor Baby. You should have asked."

"I did. That wasn't on the list."

"No, you're right. Maybe I can think of something to make it up to you later."

I went over to the stove, where she was rolling up a crepe filled with strawberry jam and kissed the back of her neck.

"Stop it. You'll make me mess up."

"Oh, great. Now I can't even kiss you."

"Wait till I'm finished here."

The crepes were great and everyone made total pigs of themselves. Jill didn't get much chance to kiss me because she was constantly making more. But I eventually got my kiss. I must say, it was worth the wait.

They all left for the mall right after breakfast. Jill's father was going to meet them there, sign them up for class, find out what uniforms they needed and get them for all three. He was there primarily to bring the credit card and sign on the dotted line. Mom had made a call earlier, found out she had to sign permission slips for Mary and Sara and had picked them up. Too bad they weren't just getting abortions. They could have done that without even telling Mom.

While the girls were at the mall, I went into my old bedroom and got on my computer. I logged into ebay and checked on my account. The time had run out and the final bids were in.

The same guy had the high bids on both the kids' records and the old record player. I hoped he was buying these for children instead of to sell. We'd spent many wonderful hours with that record player and those records as children. And that kind of music never goes out of style. Some of the Disney stuff had been decades old when Mary and I sat around, singing along with the record. I was almost sorry to part with them for $125 but it was better than leaving them in the garage. He'd probably have to spend $500 to get that stuff new. Provided he could find records and a record player.

The LPs had gone for $350. Most of them had been my parents'. Some of the stuff like The Beatles, Stones and Donovan had been classics back when they bought them.

I was surprised that my grandparents' stuff brought in over $750. I think my record player could handle 78s, but I don't recall seeing any turntables that went that speed. It must have been a collector who bid that high.

The Encyclopedia Brittanica was also popular. The bidding for it had ended off at $650.

I accepted all of the bids. Five minutes later I got an email that just under $1800 had been deposited in my account. They made almost $100 on my sale. There was also an account number to charge shipping to. Since the majority of the stuff was records, the purchasers had OKed premium packaging and insurance. In other words, I could take them to the UPS Store, pay to have the stuff packed and just give them account numbers to bill. I printed up each of the addresses for shipping.

I went out to the garage and started pulling stuff down from the platform. There was some sawdust on the plastic but everything was in the same shape as when it had been when we took pictures. I loaded it all into my car and headed for the mall.

The UPS Store had an entrance off the parking lot. I lucked out and found a space that was fairly close. They let me borrow a cart when I went inside and told them what I had. I was able to pile a lot on the cart but it still took two trips to bring it all in.

We spent fifteen minutes sorting out the orders and going over the options on packaging, insurance, etc. All orders specified surface shipping, so we didn't have to worry about that. The account numbers were checked and verified. I was glad I'd specified that the purchasers provided shipping. The shipping, insurance and packing was over $200.

Once that was taken care of, I went out the back door into the mall. The karate studio was halfway down from where I was. I saw John and Wanda sitting on a bench not too far away. I walked up and said, "Is this seat taken?"

They looked up and John said, "Jack! What are you doing here? Come to check up on the girls?"

"No. I actually figured I could do some stuff while they were out of the house. I have some shopping to do that I don't want Jill to know about."

"That's right. Her big day is coming up soon."

Wanda said, "What are you getting her?"

"She's getting me. I need to get some things for the new room."

"Oh, Jack. You should get her something else."

"Oh? You mean you'd rather have a gift of some kind than John?"

"Well, if you put it that way..."

"I guarantee you that Jill will not be disappointed with what she gets for her birthday."

John took hold of my arm. "Jack, I want to thank you for tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"Jill told me you asked if she wanted to come over tomorrow."

"You know she would have thought of it anyway."

"I know. I just want you to know I appreciate it."

"John, I know how much you two mean to each other. I was glad to do it."

I made my way down the mall. The studio had a big picture window at the front and I could see the girls along with about ten other people practicing kicking. They wore the traditional Gi: a jacket and pants with a belt holding the jacket closed. Most of the students had white belts. One had yellow; the instructor wore black. Mary saw me and smiled, then nudged Jill. She smiled and waved and then frowned as the teacher moved toward her and chewed her out. At least that's what I assume he was doing, because the next thing I knew she was doing push ups. I got out of there while I still could.

Sears was at the far end of the mall. I went inside and found their linens department. I got some weird looks but got what I wanted, thanks to my debit card. I stopped at the jewelry counter on the way out.

I went back down the mall and noticed that the class was over and John and Wanda were gone. I got in my car and drove over to some stores on the edge of the mall where there was a discount suit store and I purchased one. I hadn't had a suit since I got one for Sunday School, years ago. They marked it up with chalk and told me it would be ready by Wednesday. In a little over a half hour, I'd reduced my bank account by over $350, and that didn't include the money my bidders paid for shipping.

When I got home, I snuck into the garage, taking my packages and putting them up on the storage platform under the plastic. I figured they'd be safe from prying eyes.

All three dogs came over to the gate as I exited the garage. The puppies had both reached that gangly stage where they seemed to be all legs. Both of them tried to climb up on the gate as I leaned over to scratch Queenie behind the ears. I tried to do them, too, but they both took it as an opportunity to lick my hand.

Jill was in the kitchen, getting some lemonade out of the refrigerator.

"How was your first day of karate?"

"It was fine till you came along."

"Hey, you're supposed to be learning self-control and discipline. I can't help it if you reacted to me looking in."

She stuck out her tongue. "Come on into the living room and we'll tell you all about it."

There was something different but I couldn't figure out what it was. I went to sit on the couch.

"No. Not there. Move that chair over in front of the couch so you can see us." This was weird.

She called Mary and Sara as I moved the chair opposite the couch. They all got glasses of lemonade and Jill handed me one as I sat down. The three of them sat on the couch, their hands on their knees. Something was different with all of them. I couldn't figure out what it was.

Each of them took turns telling me something that went on in class or when John and Wanda took them to get their Gis. I learned all the colors of belts and what it took to earn them.

As they talked, each of them eased their feet up on the coffee table in front of the couch. At first I had a view of three pairs of feet, each pair held together. Then, they slowly moved apart. They were talking as if everything was normal but it was if they had choreographed their movements. It finally hit me what was different. They had the jackets and belts on but all of them had removed their pants. I realized it when I saw that all three of them were without panties. I got flashed by three women.

I must have turned red or reacted in some way that was visible to them. They all squealed, pulled their legs together and off the table, and ran giggling down the hall to Mary's room.



-------

Chapter 86



The girls came back a few minutes later, dressed in their usual shorts. Mary and Sara were obviously embarrassed but pleased with themselves. I complimented them on their Gis and decided not to say anything about what I'd seen under them.

They went off to do some girl thing in Mary's room, so I went out to the back yard and let the dogs come out front. Dino and Bozo were into exploring and were all set to take off when I got down on the ground. They all came over to me, Queenie to get some attention, the other two to lick my face. I found that neither of the puppies liked being held if they felt trapped. Queenie loved me lying on her.

It was definitely turning into autumn. At least as "autumn" as it gets in So Cal. The sun was up there but it wasn't beating down as hard as it normally did. The grass wasn't quite as green, wasn't growing wild as quickly. Soon it would be sweater weather. I don't mind wearing a sweater, in fact I kind of like it. I don't think I would enjoy having to shovel snow or scrape the ice off my windshield though.

It started to get a little colder and I noticed that some dark clouds were coming in. I was just getting the dogs back to their yard when the first drops of rain started coming down.

This was the first time in the rain for any of them at my house. I don't know what Queenie's arrangement had been at Sara's, but there wasn't anywhere for her to get out of the rain in the back yard. And it hadn't rained since I brought Dino home.

I took the three of them into the garage and checked it out. Since the roof was missing, I knew that water would get in. The platform would offer some relief, but I knew that any water that landed on the floor would spread.

Shutting them inside, I went into the back yard and grabbed the blanket that Queenie slept on. I'd seen all three of them lying on it at times, so I figured it would give them something to lie on instead of the cold cement.

Mom had worked her 10 to 7 overnight shift, so she'd been gone when we got home and asleep when we got up. She was in the kitchen when I went in.

"It's starting to rain out there."

"Well, I hope it's out there."

"Ha Ha. It's also raining in the garage. I put the blanket under the platform. Hopefully they'll have enough sense to stay out of the rain."

"You've seen those two. Do you really believe they will?"

"Not really."

"Bring them in. The two little ones are used to being in the house and I'm sure Queenie will be fine. Bring her blanket in and put it by the door for her. Before it gets soaked."

Back in the garage, I tried to get a blanket out from underneath three dogs. I was able to get Queenie to sit down on the floor but I ended up having to yank it out from under the two pups. Bozo's name made sense.

Once I had the blanket and called the dogs, I had no problem getting them out of the garage and into the house. Queenie looked a bit unsure but came in when I used her name. She went over to Mom and got a pat, then lay down and sighed when I put her blanket down. The other two were long gone, looking for whatever trouble they could get into. Actually, they found the girls in Mary's room and were in there, lapping up the attention from the three of them. I knocked on the door frame.

"Jill. It's starting to rain... Do you think your father will cancel tomorrow?"

She looked like I'd stolen Bozo from her.

"I hope not. I'll give him a call."

She was on the phone for almost a half hour. What that girl found to talk to him about after telling her what she did every minute for the past week less than 18 hours ago, I'll never know. She had her Daddy back and was getting everything she could out of it. I could picture her father grinning as she went on and on. I could also picture a frustrated Wanda in bed next to him. Not that I knew that was happening, but I get pretty neat pictures sometimes.

I went back into the kitchen.

"Mom, I need your keys."

"Jackie, we've been over this. You've got your own car. You're not driving my Lexus."

"Mom, it's raining. Your window's open. No handles, remember?"

"I'm sorry." She went into the bedroom and came back with the keys. "You're a good boy, Jackie."

"You'd think with the money those things cost, the windows would roll up themselves when it starts to rain."

"I think that's next year's model."

I was all set to run out to the street when I saw how hard it was coming down. I grabbed my coat from the hall closet and draped it over my head. I got out to Mom's car and finally figured out how to shut the windows. I hoped the leather would hold up since it got wet. Well, cows seem to survive when it rains.

Just as I was taking the key out of the ignition, there was a flash of lightning, followed almost immediately by a clap of thunder. The sky lit up as it hit and I could smell the sizzle as I made my way back inside.

Mom was thawing some meat in the microwave when I got back.

"Tell the girls I need some help cutting vegetables. Today's going to be a good day for stew."

I went down to Mary's room. She was comforting Dino and Jill was talking to Bozo. Sara had a rag in her hand and was working on a couple of wet spots on the carpet.

"Don't like thunder, huh?"

Jill looked up at me.

"Don't be mean. They're just babies."

"All right, all right. I wasn't trying to be mean, just making an observation. Mom needs some help in the kitchen. Bring them in and they can lie next to Queenie. Sara, I need to get some clothes out of the room."

God, I was going to be glad when the room over the garage was built and I had access to all my stuff without having to ask permission. Not that Sara ever refused me, but who wants to have to get an OK to go to his dresser?

My shorts and shoes had gotten soaked in the run back and forth to the car. I grabbed some sweats and took them into the bathroom.

When I came out, the girls were all busy. Sara was peeling potatoes over the sink, Mary was busy at the cutting board and Mom had Jill filling a pot with water in the other sink for boiling the potatoes.

Mom has several meals that can be made fast or slow. Her beef stew is one of them. If it had been raining when she got off work, she would have thrown everything in the crock pot when she got home and it would cook all day. That's the best because everything gets that stew flavor cooked inside. Today was the rush job. She'd cook it till dinner time, so it would have a couple of hours to blend. And the house would shortly smell like beef stew, unlike when she put it in the crock pot. Until someone took the lid off to smell it, of course. We all said we were just making sure it was cooking all right, but nobody was fooled. How can a crock pot not cook the stuff inside all right?

Sara would peel and rinse off a potato, Mary would cut it into chunks and Jill would scoop up the chunks and toss them in the boiling water.

"Boy, I hope you washed your hands after playing with that mutt."

Jill stuck her tongue out. "He's not a mutt."

"You're right about that. That's why he was so expensive."

Her face got a weird look on it... Maybe hurt that I would say that, maybe a little guilty that I'd spent my money on him. I went over and wrapped my arms around her.

"And worth every penny." I kissed the top of her head.

We had a couple of hours before dinner. I was trying to figure out what we could do. We could go to a movie but I didn't really want to blow $25 or $30 bucks for the two of us. I didn't how how well off Sara and Mary were, but I could see getting stuck for the whole bill. Yes, I was newly rich from the sale of the junk in the garage, but I wasn't going to blow it all in the next two weeks. I was going to spend some for Jill and me and for the room, but I'd seen people come into a little money and suddenly become "very rich," only to have it end a short time later when they found they'd spent it all.

As far as I was concerned, the mall was out. I'd used up my shopping quota for the year, spending 45 minutes at it today. Although the mood the girls were in when they were sitting on the couch earlier did show some promise. I remembered the last time Jill and I went to Frederick's. But I didn't really want to go out in this weather. I had no problem driving in the rain, but there are a lot of idiots out on the road. If you listen to the traffic reports when it's raining, there are seven to ten times as many accidents as on a normal day. The standard talk on the cell phone, put on your makeup, drive on auto pilot methods don't cut it when it's raining. And it's the guys who are driving safely like me who get hit.

Jill interrupted my thinking.

"Let's play Candyland."

The gals finished up preparing the stew. Some of the water used to cook the potatoes was dumped, but the rest was used as a base for the stew. The beef was seared in a frying pan, then dumped in with the veggies. Today we were having potatoes, carrots, celery and cabbage. Mom got her secret recipe out of the cupboard: an envelope of beef stew mix. The heat got turned down low, the lid got put on, Sara got lemonade for everyone.

We sat around the dining room table and played Candyland for a couple of hours. Mom even joined in for a couple of games. Jill whupped our asses.

A few minutes before dinnertime, the girls went back into the kitchen. Jill and Sara set the table, put out the butter and replenished our lemonades. Mary had been in a little earlier and gotten a tube of dinner rolls out of the refrigerator and put it in the oven. Queenie was doing good, lifting up her head to get a pat from whoever was in the vicinity, but staying on her blanket. Dino and Bozo, however, were underfoot, their noses up in the air, sniffing the stew. They acted as if the girls were bringing them something every time one of them walked around with something in their hands. Jill got mad at Bozo and made him sit on the blanket when she stepped on him. Mary told Dino to go over there, too.

The stew was fantastic. Mom's stew belongs in a bowl, not a plate, and you eat it with a big old soup spoon. We had plenty of freshly made dinner rolls, covered with melted butter, to dip in the stew. It's actually a cross between a stew and a soup. Whatever you call it, two or three bowls and you know you've eaten something. It sticks to your ribs and warms you up. And you're ready to hike a mile or two in the snow. Easy for a southern California boy to say.

After dinner, Mom went back to bed for a couple of hours. These weird shifts of hers did something to her body clock and she couldn't go to bed and sleep for eight hours when she got home.

The girls teamed up to clean up the kitchen. All four of us had homework and we gathered around the dining room table. There's something relaxing about doing homework with your girlfriend and your family. Not talking, just being there together, working on different things, but doing the same thing, too. I realized I was thinking of Sara as a member of the family, almost a sister.

We were all done with our homework in less than an hour. Jill wanted to play more Candyland, but the rest of us had had enough abuse for one day. The four of us sat in the living room and talked. I can't even tell you what we talked about, I just know it felt good to communicate with the three people closest to me. Mom got up and joined us, so that made four.

The rain was still coming down pretty hard by the time Jill and I got into bed. She had her flannel nightgown on, of course, and snuggled up to me to keep warm. Not that it was cold in the house, but it did make a good excuse. I was beginning to realize that Jill gets very cuddly when she has her period. I know that some women turn into royal bitches at that time of the month, but I've never experienced it. Not that I'm aware of, at least

"So, you're having your second period since starting the pill and your birthday's in a week and a half. Are you excited?"

"Yeah. And a little nervous."

"Jill, we don't have to do this if you're not ready. I love you to death and I want to make love to you completely, but I don't want you to feel you have to rush in to anything."

"Oh, I want to. You're not going to get out of it that easy. But it's going to change a lot of things. I'll never be the same again. Our relationship will move to a completely different plane. I see what's happened with Daddy over the past week and it makes me think. I want us to be together and I don't want anything to get in the way. I don't want everything to change."

"I don't see it as change so much as growth. Change isn't always bad. And if you look at it, you and your father seem closer now than you did before. We'd go over there on Sunday and you guys would talk once in a while, mostly to tease each other. Last night I thought you were going to talk all night. And he was totally into what you were saying. Actually, he was totally into the fact that you were talking to him. He probably doesn't remember half the stuff you guys talked about. And I've never seen you spend a half hour on the phone with him. It's usually a sentence of two and then you're off."

"You're right. I think we were both taking each other for granted. This thing with Wanda shook us both up. In that way, it's been a good thing."

"I think it's been a good thing in a lot of ways. Just make sure your new appreciation of each other doesn't take him away from her too much. She's at a point where she really needs him, too."

"I know. I'm still at that point with you. And with him. Now, if I remember correctly, you were complaining about head this morning."

"Jill? I appreciate it, but do you mind if we just stay here and hold on to each other like we are? I just want to be close to you tonight."

She didn't answer. She just moved up a bit and kissed me. There was some passion, but I felt closeness more than anything. When we were done, I held her warm body close to me, her cheek resting on my chest. We both sighed at the same time, held onto each other a little tighter and fell asleep.



-------

Chapter 87



I slept as well as I had in recent weeks. When I awoke on Sunday, Jill was still lying on my chest. I had both of my arms around her, holding her as if to protect her. Her body felt almost hot against me, her breath warm as it played against my chest. It felt so right to have her snuggled up to me. She smelled of Jill, not soap and shampoo. It was a good smell. Her hair tickled my nose.

I leaned down and kissed the top of her head.

"Uuuhmm." Her right arm tightened around my side.

"Hey. Are you awake?"

"I guess."

"You feel good here."

"Uuhhmm. I know."

"I could stay like this forever."

"Good."

"But I've got to pee."

"Noooo."

"Sorry, Babe. Nature calls."

She released her grip on me and rolled off me, on her side, her back to me. She held the blankets tightly to her.

"Go ahead. Leave me all alone to freeze to death."

"Sorry. I love you."

"Go on. Get out of here."

I got up and went into the bathroom. It's amazing how much urine the male body is able to accumulate before it has to dispose of it. I know it wasn't that long, but it seemed like I'd been in front of the toilet for five minutes when I heard someone pounding on the door.

"Jack. Come on. I need to go."

It occurred to me that this was a crossroads of our relationship. My mouth, tongue or fingers had been in or on almost every part of her body. As had hers with mine. But the use of the toilet is considered to be one of the most private actions of a person in this society. It's not that big a deal for people who are close to walk into the bathroom when a person is taking a shower, for example. If I was in there with the curtain closed and Mary or Sara wanted to brush her teeth, there wouldn't be any fuss. True, I was more exposed using the toilet, and neither Mary nor Sara would be welcome. But Jill and I were intimate with each other, almost married. What were the correct parameters on these things? Did Mom and Dad just walk in on each other when one was using the toilet? Did they knock and get permission? Did they wait until the other person was done or the door was left open as a signal they would be welcome? I'd have to get with Mom on this one.

"I'll be done in a minute, Jill."

I finished off, and put myself back in my pants. I yelled "OK" and went to the sink to wash my hands.

Jill opened the door, came through, closed it, made a dash for the toilet, lifted her flannel nightgown out of the way, sat down on the toilet and almost immediately started peeing.

I was drying my hands when I heard the sounds of her bowels moving. I made my way out, closing the door behind me.

Dino and Bozo came up to me and whined when I walked into the kitchen. I forgot, the dogs had been cooped up in the house because of the rain. I don't think they even got put out before we went to bed because it was coming down so hard. If I'd thought of it, I'd have done something so they a could relieve themselves. It never even occurred to me, and I assumed it didn't to anyone else, either.

I opened the door and the three of them went through it like a shot. Dino and Bozo immediately squatted down on the driveway side of the gate, using the small patch of grass there. Queenie was waiting until I let her in the back yard so she could use her designated bathroom area. I opened her gate and she went through and over to her section of the yard.

The rain had stopped but I didn't think it was over. There were too many clouds in the sky, and too many of them were black. The pool was out for today. I supposed we were going to have to come up with some other form of entertainment as the weather would be colder from now until the spring. Oh, there would be days when it would be warm enough to swim, provided we didn't mind swimming in water that hadn't been heated by the sun.

There's a group of men who have formed what they call the Polar Bear club. Every New Years Day, there's a couple of minutes on the local news, showing them running into the ocean, swimming out 100 yards or so and coming back out. But there's a big difference between being a crazy old man following a stupid tradition and swimming for pleasure.

I coaxed Dino and Bozo into the yard and closed the gate. It wouldn't hurt them to stay outside for a while.

I went back inside. Mom and Jill were sitting at the table. Sara was eating her cereal. Mary was making pancakes. Mom had her attention on the slowly brewing coffee.

Mom has a cast iron skillet or griddle, I'm not sure of the technical term. It's solid; you could knock somebody's head off with it. And it's big. It must be 18" across, shaped like an octagon. It's flat almost all the way to the edge, then there's a trough, maybe three quarters of an inch wide and a half inch deep. The edge is about three eighths of an inch higher than the bottom of the pan. You put it over one burner on the stove and the heat spreads through the whole thing. The trough catches liquids and the raised edge is further protection from spills.

Mary was cooking four pancakes at a time. I went over to the refrigerator and grabbed the syrups and butter and took them over to the table. In addition to the maple syrup, Mom had some blueberry syrup that we used for pancakes. She got it from some place on the Internet and it was great. Thick, with chunks of blueberry that tasted fresh.

The coffee maker went through its dying gurgles, signaling the coffee was ready. Mom went over to it and poured herself a cup, downing half of it in one gulp. She held up the pot.

"Anybody else?"

"Me, please."

She poured a cup for me and topped hers off. I went over and got my cup from her, took it over to the table and doctored it up to make it drinkable. How Mom drinks it with no milk and sugar is a mystery to me.

Mom sat down and Mary started dishing out pancakes. I put butter on mine and poured some of the blueberry syrup on top, letting it drip down the sides.

Jill took some butter and then grabbed the maple syrup.

"What happened to Aunt Jemina?"

"What are you talking about, Jill?"

"Look at her. She used to look like somebody's Grandma. Now she looks like — I don't know, an accountant."

I looked at the label. It didn't look that weird to me. A circle with a picture of a professional looking African American woman inside.

Mom said, "Don't you know that showing a fat, happy black woman on a label is stereotypical and racist?"

"That's the stupidest thing I ever heard. I grew up with that fat black woman."

"So did I, Honey. Years ago they used to have a restaurant called Sambo's. It was named after a children's story that I'm sure is now outlawed and all the books have been burned. If everybody isn't a cookie-cutter image of everybody else these days, you can bet your lily white butt that some person who has absolutely nothing to do with that group is going to be offended. And corporations can't kneel down and kiss their asses quick enough."

Mary was dealing out more pancakes as there was a knock at the door. I got up and went over to it. Alex and one of his workers were outside.

"Hi, Alex."

"Hi, Jack." He leaned in. "Hi, everyone."

Mom said, "Come on in, Alex."

"Nah, we just came over to see how much damage was caused by the rain. We had plastic over everything in the garage, but it looks like you've got some water on the floor. We'll sweep it out and put some plastic over the top in case it rains some more before we get the roof up."

"That's fine, Alex, but there's no reason you can't come in and have a cup of coffee and a few pancakes."

"We really shouldn't."

Mary pretended to pout, holding the spatula in her hand. "What's the matter, my pancakes aren't good enough for you?"

"I didn't mean that. I don't know anything about your pancakes."

Jill said, "You better come in Alex. She'll be psychologically damaged if you don't try her pancakes."

"Well, then, we'd better have some pancakes. Come on Jorge, breakfast."

Alex came in with his worker and Mom got up, making room for them to sit down. "Do you both want coffee?"

"Please."

She poured each of them a cup. By the time they'd had their first sip, Mary brought over plates with pancakes on them for each of them. Mom got some silverware and gave it to them.

They prepped their pancakes and started eating. Alex made a "this is good" moan.

Mary said, "More?"

Both of them nodded their heads.

Jill got up and put some more ingredients in the mixing bowl, then mixed it all up. In the meantime, I talked with Alex.

"What do you think, Alex. Are you still going to make it by Wednesday?"

"With this rain? And the way the weather's supposed to be? We'll be lucky to get it done by Thanksgiving."

I heard the spoon as Jill dropped it in the mixing bowl.

"Thanksgiving?!"

Alex laughed. "Hang on, Jill. Why are you so concerned about Jack's room?"

"It's just... He has to sleep on the floor and it's not fair to him."

"Oh, I see. And it wouldn't have anything to do with your birthday being next week, would it?"

"Well, I..."

"Come over here."

He held his arms out and she went over to him and sat on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She looked like a kitten who'd just found a warm place to lie down.

"Jill, why do you think I'm pushing this job so much? I know it's your birthday next week and I know you want to celebrate it in that room. So I'm going to do my best to have it done for you. That's why Jorge and I are over here today. We've got the frame on the roof, we just need to put a couple of layers of plastic on it and it'll be fine as long as we don't get a hurricane. And when's the last time you heard of a hurricane in California?"

"Never."

"Well, there you go. Never. We'll get the electrical first thing tomorrow and get the drywall up, then we'll throw some plywood on the top and before you know it, you'll have a finished room. I don't know if I'll get it all done by Wednesday, but I see no problem with getting it done by Thursday or Friday. But if I have to, and I don't think I will, I'll get the whole crew in here over the weekend, ten hours a day if that's what it takes. And then you two get to decorate it. OK?"

"OK."

"Atta girl." He squeezed her and kissed her on the head again.

"Now get off my lap so I can finish my pancakes and get to work."



-------

Chapter 88



Alex and Jorge finished up going through three plates of pancakes and a couple of cups of coffee. Jorge got into the blueberry syrup, he'd never had it before. I was done and went out to see what they were up to.

Alex had a long handled squeegee that he used on the floor. It wasn't dry but it wasn't flooded, either.

In the meantime, Jorge opened up a long roll of plastic on the front lawn. He went up the stairs to the second floor, got up on a ladder in the middle and measured from the peak down to each edge of the roof. I went up with him and held the end of the tape as high as I could on the back and front walls. He got the approximate dimensions and went back downstairs.

I helped him again with the tape measure and he rolled out enough to cover the whole roof and a little more. His roll was about two thirds as wide as the room so he cut off two pieces. I then helped him roll it up from both ends so we had two rolls with the join corresponding to where the peak of the roof would be. He got out some duct tape and taped each roll.

The stuff was light as a feather but was bulky and I'm sure he was glad of the help. We got the first one upstairs and Alex was up there, putting staples in a staple gun.

"Isn't that going to mess up the wood for when you cover it?"

He snorted, looked at me, and said, "No, Jack. If staple holes were all we had to worry about, we'd be in fat city.

Alex and I set up ladders at either end of where the plastic would go, close to the peak. The three of us had to lift it between the roof supports so it was front to back. Once we got it above the supports, we had to twist it 90 degrees so it was in the right direction. We set it up with some overhang and took the duct tape off one side. Jorge got on a ladder and shot staples through the plastic, into the supports, all the way across. He got up on the ladder and held it, we moved our ladders back and unrolled another five feet. Again, Jorge stapled from side to side.

This continued until he put the last staples in, about a foot from the edge. We let go and about three feet went over the edge of the roof.

We repeated the same procedure for the other roll, working from the peak toward the driveway. Then we brought the second roll up and covered the other side. By the time we were done, the roof was covered and there were about five feet extra on each side and three feet hanging over the front and back. I wouldn't want to sleep up there when it was raining, but it would handle the problem for a couple of days until they got the plywood and then the shingles up.

Alex sent Jorge home and the two of us went into the house. He helped himself to a cup of coffee while I went to find Mom and Jill.

Alex told them both to put on jackets and follow him into the new room.

We went up and he pointed out where all the rooms were. There was drywall on one side of the walls but we could tell how everything was going to be when it was done. He had the whole place wired for phone and cable and even had some data cables run into a closet for a future network. He had phone and cable into the closet so a DSL line could be plugged into the network whether the tenant got one over the phone line or via cable.

He went over the locations for the various appliances and made sure the two girls were happy with it, now that it was built. There was a closet in the kitchen that was going to have a vertical washer and dryer combination.

Mom and Jill were satisfied with every thing so far. Satisfied? Jill looked ready to pee herself.

"I figured all that would be fine. The real reason I brought the three of you up her is to go over colors. We're going to put laminate flooring in. It's going to be oak." He went over to a stack of drywall on the floor and picked up a plank. It looked about seven or eight inches wide and four feet long. He laid it down in the middle of the floor.

"That's what we'll have in both bedrooms and in the hallway." He put a couple of floor tiles on the floor, away from the oak. They were an off-white color. "This is going in the bathroom and the kitchen. OK?"

Both women nodded. Jill squeezed my hand and sort of wiggled. Something like Bozo might do.

"The appliances will all be stainless steel. The washer and dryer will be your normal everyday white enamel. Now we get to talk about the walls. Jack? Do you have any preference on what color the walls are?"

"Nah. I'll leave that one up to the women."

"Smart man, Jack. I can tell you from experience, you'll never win on that. I've seen husbands fork out thousands of dollars because they OKed the wrong shade of yellow."

The three of them hemmed and hawed, checking out color samples to their heart's content until about half an hour later, both women agreed that white would go with anything.

Alex had obviously done this many times before. He had a standard notebook that could be opened completely so the front and back covers were touching. There must have been 100 of those plastic sheet protectors, each with a different color letter sized swatch. So, he could open the book and there was an eight and a half by eleven sample he could lay against the wall. Much better than those little inch and a half square samples.

"OK. This is the color. You both agree. Right?"

Mom and Jill both nodded their heads, smiling.

Alex opened up the edge of the sheet protector and pulled out three sheets, all the same. He handed one to each of them, then took out a pen and wrote "OK for walls — all rooms" and the date on the third sheet, using the notebook for support. He held out the pen to Mom. "Sign here." Mom did and gave him back the pen. He held the page out to Jill and handed her the pen. "You too." Jill signed her name.

He took the page, folded it up and put it in his pocket. "OK. That's the color. I don't want to hear any complaints or anything about changing it after we get started."

"What if we change our minds before you start?"

He looked at Jill as if he was completely bothered, then opened up the notebook.

"OK. This is it. What color do you want?"

"The white will be fine."

Jill took Alex's empty coffee cup and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She gave me a hug.

"Aren't you excited?"

Mom said, "Come on, Jill. Guys don't get excited about stuff like this. Do they, Jack?"

"Not really."

We made out way out and into the house. Mom opened the gate and the puppies ran up to us. Dino headed for Mom, Bozo went for Jill. Queenie lifted her head up and came over when I called her.

"Come on guys. You can keep me company while everyone else is gone."

"Aren't you going with us, Mom?"

"It would be a little awkward, Jackie, don't you think?"

"I don't know. You did go over and talk to them the other night."

"I just think this would be different. Let's give them some time together before I go to any more of these social gatherings. It's not like I don't have things to do."

"OK, Mom. If you say so."

We went inside and Jill and I got washed and changed to go. Mary and Sara were all ready, waiting on the couch. They played with the dogs while they waited.

We drove by to pick up Chris. He must have been watching out for us because he came out of the front door as soon as we pulled up. He had his guitar with him. He got in the back next to Sara.

"Ooh, Ooh. I've got the perfect idea for Halloween. Frankenstein and Bride of Frankenstein."

"No."

I headed over toward Jill's. "Do we need to pick up Charlie, Mary?"

"No. He said he'd meet us over there. He has something to show me."

We pulled up in front of Jill's house. She didn't wait for any of us, she was out the door, running up the walk as soon as I stopped.

Charlie came out onto the front step after Jill shot through the door. He had his eye patch, of course. I had to look close from where I was, just getting out of the car, but he was sporting a goatee. The more I looked, the more I realized it looked pretty good. He was also wearing a white shirt with sleeves that billowed out. As I headed toward the door, I saw black pants and boots. But the kicker was the parrot on his shoulder. As I came up to him, I could see it wasn't real, but it looked good.

"Nice costume, Charlie."

"Thanks, Jack."

"The eye patch looks real."

My sister went up to him and put her arm around him, kissing him quickly. "Wow, I don't have any idea what I can wear to be your prisoner."

"Don't worry. We've got a week to figure it out."

They headed in. Chris and Sara were walking up. Chris was still trying to convince her that the Frankenstein couple would be great.

"No, Chris. I'm not going to do it."

"Whatever you decide, Chris, make sure she wears the pants."

"Don't you start with me, Jack Hill."

I followed them in and shut the door.

I have an aunt who lives a couple of hours away. She has a couple of boys, my cousins. I don't know what she does, but there's some way she prepares food that gives her house a distinctive odor. I've tried to figure out what it is. The closest I can come to it is greasy. Not that she fries or cooks in grease, the food just smells greasy. But not quite. I've always called it the Aunt Debby smell. And when I say that, everyone in my family knows what I mean. I didn't think she was actively trying to poison her family and her kids seemed to enjoy her cooking, but we always made sure to stop off at a restaurant before we got to her place so we wouldn't have to eat there.

As we walked in the house, Mary looked at me. We looked at each other and both said "Aunt Debby."

There was no fighting it. It was as if we both had chains around us and were dragged into the kitchen. We had to see what was happening.

Wanda was standing at the stove, wearing an apron, stirring some spaghetti with some brownish sauce and some chunks of meat in a frying pan. I could see the spaghetti was thicker than what we were used to. Mary and I both looked at her and her concoction, then looked at each other.

"Hi, guys. Lunch will be ready in a bit. We're having spaghetti."

"Oh, Hi Wanda. Great."

OK. She was trying to impress us or John or everyone with her cooking. We headed back toward the TV room where the others were.

"All right, Mary. Be good. We have to pretend to like it."

"I'll try."

I went in. Charlie lifted an arm to beckon Mary over to the couch. Chris and Sara were next to him. Chris had his guitar out and was tuning it. John was in a big recliner with Jill sitting on his lap. She was all smiles, as if she was talking to Santa Claus. I sat down in another chair.

Chris started picking some notes with a couple of his fingers. Almost as if he was playing random notes. Not too fast, one every second or two. And then he started building up speed. Faster and faster, building up speed until individual notes were almost indistinguishable. But they weren't. Even though his fingers were a blur, moving faster than I could easily see, every note was distinct. We all sat there watching him, awestruck. He ended off with a chord. It had the same affect as a clap of thunder. I think all of us jumped. The applause was instantaneous.

"Lunch." Wanda was standing at the door in her apron. Her hair was mussed, part of it falling down into her eyes. She tried to push it back into place with the back of her hand.

John put both hands on his daughter's waist and eased her off his lap. He stood up and said, "Come on guys. Lunch"

The enthusiasm was definitely lacking as we all got up and followed them to the dining room. Mary and I weren't the only ones who had smelled it.

Jill was holding onto my arm as we made our way. She leaned up to whisper in my ear.

"Did you smell it?"

"Jill. Behave. I mean it."

She giggled and squeezed my arm, then made a production of closing her mouth, pretending to lock her lips and throw away the key.

I noticed that Wanda had put salads next to each plate and folded napkins with the silverware on top.

"The table looks good, Wanda."

She grinned like I'd told her she was beautiful.

We sat. John said "Looks good, Honey."

Wanda passed the bowl with the spaghetti and meat sauce to Charlie, who put some on his plate, then held it as Mary took some. Such big plates, such small amounts of food.

Wanda said "Don't be afraid, there's plenty. I've got more in the kitchen if we need it."

The bowl went around the table and got to Wanda. Everyone seemed to be concentrating on his salad more than the main course. Wanda put two big spoonfuls on her plate and put the bowl down. She took a big forkful and put it in her mouth. She chewed it for a couple of seconds and then made a face, putting her hand up to her mouth. She spit it in her hand.

"Oh, God, it's not very good, is it?"

She grabbed her napkin, wiped the mess off her hand, stood up, and ran crying out of the room.

Jill put her fork down, got up and went after her. John looked lost. He obviously had no clue what to do.

We all sat there, nervously looking at each other. We were a good group though, all of us too sensitive to say what we obviously thought of Wanda's cooking.

She and Jill made their way back a few minutes later. Wanda's face was a little red and she'd obviously been crying. She made a feeble attempt at a smile as she grabbed the bowl.

"Come on, you all know it's no good. Give me your plates."

There were some halfhearted complaints but Charlie finally passed his plate to her and she scraped the food into the bowl. She put down the plate and pointedly stared at Mary, who gave her plate to Charlie. That was all it took. Chris and Sara passed their plates over and Jill took her father's and we passed our three down the line. When all the plates were scraped off, Wanda stood up and picked up the bowl.

"I'm sorry. I wanted so much to make a good impression." She looked over at John and he shrugged his shoulders. She took the bowl and went into the kitchen with it. A couple of seconds later we heard the water go on and then the garbage disposal started up.

John pulled out his wallet and gave me a couple of twenties.

"Jack. Do me a favor and go to KFC and get a couple of large buckets of chicken."

I stood up, as did Jill. "I'll go with you."

We were out the door before Wanda came out of the kitchen.



-------

Chapter 89

It took us about 20 minutes to get the chicken and come back. I'm afraid my girlfriend found Wanda's cooking disaster to be quite amusing. She wouldn't stop talking about it until I looked her in the face and told her what I thought.

"Come on, Jill. You once told me that Wanda was your best friend. I remember when you chewed me out because I judged her because of her reputation. She's doing her best to make a good impression and you treat her like this behind her back. I don't think it's right."

We pulled up in front of the house. I had the two buckets of chicken and Jill took the bag with the potatoes, gravy and cole slaw. Got to get cole slaw when you go to the Colonel's.

Everyone was still sitting at the dining room table. It didn't look very lively. In fact, it looked downright dead. Wanda saw us with the chicken, let out a wail and took off again, heading upstairs.

Jill put the bag on the table and walked over to her father, putting her arm on his shoulder.

"Daddy..."

"Please, Jill. Please. Not now."

He got up and went up the stairs after Wanda.

Jill looked as if she'd lost her best friend. She pulled out her chair and sat down, looking at her hands clasped together on the table, but I'm sure she didn't see them. I reached over and took her hand and held it. She looked up and gave me a halfhearted smile, then looked back at the table.

Charlie finally said, "Well, we might as well eat this. Come on everyone, take some chicken." I noticed he didn't have the fake parrot on his shoulder anymore.

Everybody took a piece of chicken, but nobody was eating with any enthusiasm. The bag stayed where it was, untouched. The quiet was almost oppressive.

Chris said, "I don't get it. What's the big deal?"

Sara looked at him as if he'd grown a tail.

"God, what a doofus. She's trying to show John what a good girlfriend she is. How she can take care of him. This is her first dinner party, the first time she's cooking for people. As far as she's concerned, she failed. And she probably feels she's not good enough for him."

"Heck, he isn't going out with her because of her cooking."

"What a pig! I can't believe you said that."

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his chicken.

Jill's father came back downstairs and took her into the TV room. They were gone for a few minutes. Jill came back to the table and John went upstairs to Wanda.

"Daddy wants me to show her some things about cooking."

"That makes sense to me."

"I just don't know how we're going to get together."

"Jill, you're looking at this the wrong way. This is perfect."

"What do you mean?"

"It's real simple. We've been trying to figure out a way to get you home from school and over to the college without you getting bothered. Make a deal with Wanda. She gives you rides and you come over here and teach her to cook. Then she can either take you to school or over to our place. Or I can come over here when I get out of school and take you home or to college. You'll get to see your father, too. Everybody will win."

"I guess I could show her some stuff."

"Good. Why don't you go upstairs and tell her."

"Uhm, I think I'll wait till they come down before I talk to her. Who knows what they're doing up there."

"You really think they'd do something with all of us down here?"

She didn't answer, just looked at me. Chris snorted, then looked down at his plate when Sara gave him "the look."

The mood got lighter. Charlie opened the bag and started passing things around.

John came downstairs a while later, holding Wanda's hand. Not quite dragging her, but it was evident she wasn't thrilled to be coming back. She was cleaned up a bit but it was pretty obvious she'd been crying.

Jill got up from the table and met them at the bottom of the stairs. She hugged Wanda and said, "Daddy, go sit down and eat some chicken."

"Jill, I..."

"Please, Daddy. Wanda, let's go in the TV room and talk for a bit."

John sat down and took a couple of pieces of chicken. Charlie passed him some potatoes. He was a little hesitant.

"John, it's OK. Jill's going to help her out."

He brightened up a bit and took some potatoes. "Pass me that gravy, over there."

The girls came back holding hands. Wanda was smiling and they seemed to have gotten her through it.

After they sat down, Wanda said "I'm sorry everybody. You probably think I acted pretty foolish. I just wanted to do good. Jill's going to teach me some things. Next time I promise it will be better."

Chris opened his mouth, then winced. "Ow." He looked over at Sara, who was scowling at him.

Mary said, "If you need to practice cooking for more than two people, you can always come over to our house. You can even invite John and eat over there if you want."

We dug into the fixins and things were more like a normal Sunday.

Wanda really went for the chicken. "I didn't realize how hungry I was."

After we finished, Mary and Sara helped Wanda clean off the table. I have a theory that the best way to eat KFC is right out of the box. Or at least on paper plates. But there was silverware and china plates to put in the dishwasher.

Once that was done, we all adjourned to the TV room.

Today's movie was "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw. I'd never seen it but it was quoted to me by both Sara and Mom back when Jill got jealous of Sara. That was some hell I never wanted to go through again.

So, we watched it. The girls oohed and aahed while the guys sat there feeling more and more bored. It had to be the hokiest movie I ever saw. John finally stood up and looked over at us. All four of us got up and left the room.

Chris played his guitar for us in the living room while the girls watched the rest of the movie.

It ended and they came out. All four of them were crying. Each walked over to her partner and sat next to him or on his lap.

Sara said to Chris, "You started playing without us."

"You were in watching the movie."

That turned on a fresh spate of tears. Chris rolled his eyes and held her close to him.

Charlie said, "I hear a lot of guys got laid when they took their girls to see that movie in the theaters."

That got a slap in the arm and an,"Oh, Charlie" from my sister.

Jill said, "Yeah, it's too bad none of you could stick it out or you might get lucky."

Wanda just looked at John with her googly eyes. "Oh, I don't know. I think I'll cut my Poopsie a little slack this time."

Chris, Charlie and I all chanted "Poopsies gonna get lucky. Poopsies gonna get lucky." Mary and Sara even joined in.

John didn't appear to be amused. Nor did his daughter. Wanda just turned red.

It was about 4:30 and I could tell we'd probably overstayed our welcome.

"Come on guys, we need to get going."

Everyone said goodbye to Wanda and Poopsie, making it a point to call him by that name. He looked relieved when Jill said, "Goodbye, Daddy."

Jill and Wanda figured out where to meet the next day so they could drive home together. Jill told her to think of some things she wanted to learn how to cook.

We got in the car and I noticed the women were sitting even closer to the guys than normal. I guess "Poopsie" wasn't the only one who was going to get cut some slack for walking out on "Love Story." I might have to revise my opinion of that film.

I started out towards Charlie's and Mary spoke up.

"Jack."

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to go right over to Charlie's. Is there some place we can go?"

"What? Like a burger place or something?"

"No. Some place we can just park the car. Where there aren't a lot of people?"

Jill said, "Go over to the school. There's a place behind the tennis courts."

I looked over at her.

"Well, that's what I've heard."

I drove over to the tennis courts and we found a place with some trees and limited access. The six of us engaged in some heavy duty necking.



-------

Chapter 90

We got home and had a late dinner. Mom had gone to work so we played clean out the refrigerator. I had meatloaf; Mary and Sara split the leftover lasagna and Jill ate a salad.

The girls were trying to figure out how to clean the lasagna dish without using an electric sander when I took it and put it down on the rug for Bozo and Dino. They both took it as a personal challenge and worked on it for a good ten minutes. By the time they were done, it was just a matter of tossing it in the dishwasher.

It was fairly late when the kitchen was all cleaned up and there wasn't anything good on TV. The Simpson's is all right, but even that is getting old. I miss Disney. Mary, Jill and I sat and talked while Sara finished up some homework. Sara joined us after a while.

We talked until it got late and then the girls went in to bed. We fed the dogs and washed and changed. We climbed into bed and got comfortable. Of course, you don't have far to climb when you're using a sleeping bag on the floor. Jill felt nice and warm, snuggled up against me.

"Jack?"

"Uhhm?"

"We need to talk about something."

I'd heard horror stories about that phrase. I probably tensed up.

"Oh?"

"Yes. Definitely. I didn't want to say anything with everyone around."

"OK."

"Jack, I got the idea you were embarrassed earlier today."

"Oh, I don't know if embarrassed is the right word. I felt sorry for Wanda, and your dad wasn't..."

"I'm not talking about Wanda and my father."

Here it is. The dreaded "You know what you did." I'd heard stories about this, too.

"Jill, I don't know what you're talking about."

"This morning. In the bathroom. Jack, I got the idea you were embarrassed to have me in there with you."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess you're right. Unsure, maybe. Or uncomfortable. Jill, I don't know what's right and what's wrong here. I've always been told that using the toilet is a private thing. Make sure you close the door, don't make too much noise, spray stuff to cover up the smell. It felt really weird when you knocked on the door as I was peeing. And when you came in and started to do #2, it freaked me out a little."

"Number two? Is that what I did? Come on Jack. You've had your finger up my butt. Your tongue, even. And one of these days, when the time is right, we'll probably see how it feels to have your penis up there, too. Jack, I'm a woman but I'm still human. I was taking a crap. I was shitting. There are all kinds of terms for it. But number two is a little childish, don't you think?"

"All right. But I seem to remember you telling me to do you 'you know, down there.' I don't remember you using the words pussy or cunt or twat or even vagina."

"You're right. I do have my own areas I need to work on. But two wrongs don't make a right. No, that's not what I mean. I don't want to turn this into wrong and right. We both have things we aren't comfortable with. I just want to be able to talk things out with you. I don't want either of us to feel we have to hold back from each other. We should be able to tell each other anything."

"Jill, it's all so new. I need to get used to it. I guess I have no problem with you using the toilet while I'm in the shower or brushing my teeth. No, that's not totally right. I probably will have a problem with it, but I shouldn't. You're going to have to be patient with me. I've been doing things a certain way all my life. I need to get used to some things being different. Just have some patience if I need to leave the room at some time."

"I can do that. How about you? What if you're on the throne and I need to use the sink? Are you going to be OK with that?"

"I think so. I'm not sure. If I'm not, I'll tell you."

"Good enough. So, if I tell you to eat me out, will that be sufficient? Or do I have to ask you to stick your tongue in my cunt?"

"No, eating you out is fine. You can even ask me to go down on you. But if you get into it and tell me to suck on your clit or fuck your pussy with my fingers, I won't be shocked."

"OK. And you can ask me to suck your cock and I won't be offended."

"All right. So are we done with this for now?"

"For now."

"Then how would you like to suck my cock?"

"Only if you go down on me at the same time."

I did and she did and we did. And that's all I'm going to say about it.

The next day was a normal Monday at school. After I finished up with the gym, I went home and checked out the garage.

The inspection checklist was just inside the door. The line for the electrical inspection was signed off. There were a couple of extension cords coming up from the garage with power strips plugged into them. I turned one on and a halogen lamp went on.

The roof was closed, so no light was coming in from there. It was all plywood at this point. There were three or four sheets of drywall on the inside, near the back wall. The interior walls all had drywall on both sides. I could see that the finishers had started; there was drywall mud on the seams in the living room.

I went downstairs and checked out the garage. The sink and vanity, the toilet and shower enclosure for the bathroom and the kitchen sink and garbage disposer were all in boxes. We had nine days till Jill's birthday. With any other contractor, I'd be nervous. But Alex knew it had to be ready and it would be. Period.

I checked in the house. Mom was taking a nap before she went in to work at 8:00 and the girls were doing homework. I called over to Jill's house and she said to come on over and get her.

What a difference. I was welcomed into Jill's house by the smell of beef stew cooking. I walked into the kitchen to see Jill watching Wanda, who was standing in front of the stove in an apron, stirring the pot of stew.

"Smells good, Wanda."

"Oh, it's mostly Jill."

"Don't say that, Wanda. I just told you what to do. You did all the work."

There was a huge pot of the stuff on the stove.

"Boy, you've got enough here to last the two of you for a week."

"We get to take some home, Jack. I already called and talked to Mary."

I asked and found that it was possible for Wanda to get away from the stove for a couple of minutes. We went out into the living room alone. I told her some of what I had planned for Jill's birthday the following week. As I'd assumed, there was no problem enlisting her to help with my plans, in fact she was thrilled to be included. She swore to keep my plans to herself.

We got back into the kitchen and Jill had a big smile on her face. She was obviously excited.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Oh, nothing. Jack."

"You look like you need to go to the bathroom."

"I'm fine."

Well, she'd guessed why I was talking to Wanda. Hopefully she wouldn't find out the specifics before the big day.

Jill showed Wanda where the Tupperware was stored and they filled a couple of big containers with stew. She reviewed how to make the brown and serve rolls.

We were at the front door, ready to head out when John walked in. The first thing he did was sniff the air.

"Smells good, honey."

Jill said, "Thanks," as John was taking Wanda in his arms and kissing her.

They ended off and he said, "Oh, I'm sorry Jill, I didn't notice you."

"We were just on the way out the door, Daddy."

"All right. Well, I won't keep you, then. Good night." He gave her a quick peck on the cheek, then turned to Wanda.

I opened the door and guided Jill outside, my hand on the back of her waist.

We got in the car and I started toward home. She hugged my arm, burying her face into it, just below my shoulder.

"Are you OK?"

"It's like he doesn't care. He didn't even notice I was there."

"It's tough, isn't it?"

"Yes, it... What do you mean?"

"It's tough when you're the center of someone's universe and all of a sudden there's someone else there."

"Yeah, but it sounds like you mean something more than just that."

"I'm just saying that you were always his little girl and a few months ago we found each other. I'm sure that there were times he felt neglected because you were paying attention to me. It didn't mean you didn't love him and him paying attention to Wanda doesn't mean he doesn't love you, either. Let's face it, the last time Wanda cooked something wasn't anything to cheer about. She deserves a little praise and attention."

"But I was the one who showed her what to do."

"Jill, I'm sure you did. But you can't have it both ways. When I walked into the house and said it smelled good, you refused to take any of the credit. Now that your father is praising her you want to be the one."

"But he didn't even notice me."

"I know. All I can say is he's got other things on his mind right now. I know my mom has had to remind me that she was in the house a few times when you've been around. Should I say hello to her as soon as I get home? Probably. Does it make me a bad person because I'm busy paying attention to you and forget? I don't think so. I still love her. And I know your father still loves you. Just give him a little time."

"I almost feel bad that I helped her now."

"Jill, do you remember how you were acting when Wanda and I came back from our little talk?"

"Yes."

"You know why I wanted to talk to her alone, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Do you think she had any hesitation when I asked for her help?"

"No."

"That's because you two are friends. Just because your father pays some attention to her shouldn't change that. You want her to be happy, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Then let her have this time with your father."

"All right. I'll back off a bit. And let her spend some time with her Poopsie."



-------

Chapter 91

You have to have warm dinner rolls with lots of butter when you eat beef stew. If it's not the law, it should be.

We'd stopped at Vons and picked up a tube of the things. I tossed them to Mary when we walked into the house. Sara look kind of wary when she saw the Tupperware.

"What is it?"

"It's beef stew."

"It's not going to be like yesterday's, is it?"

"Nah. This smelled pretty good. And Jill made sure she didn't screw up."

"All right, then."

Jill emptied the stew into a pot and started warming it up while Mary and Sara laid the table.

"I'll go wake up Mom."

"She's not here, Jack."

"Oh, did she go to the store?"

"No. She didn't come home after work. She called this morning and told me she wouldn't be home till dinner time."

"I don't understand. Where was she?"

"She said she'd tell me about it later, not to worry, everything was fine."

"That's weird. Did she sound OK?"

"She sounded fine, Jack."

"I don't know. If she called and said that to me, I think I'd be worried, Mary."

"She told me not to worry. I trust her enough to believe her when she says something like that."

"It just doesn't sound like Mom."

"Yeah, well, she's a big girl now. If she wants to stay out, I'm not going to call her on it."

Jill said, "Mary, it smells like your rolls are burning."

"Oh, shit."

She ran to the stove, went to yank out the cookie sheet, said "Oh, shit" again, grabbed a pot holder and pulled it out of the oven. There were a few that were kind of dark, but they all looked edible.

Sara said "You cook like Wanda."

"Hey, watch it."

We got the food on the table and dug in. The rolls were fine and the stew was great. Not the same as the stuff I was used to, but I imagine there are just about as many ways to make beef stew as there are people who make it. Even though Wanda cooked it, it was Jill's recipe, so I'd better like it.

I'd just gone back for seconds on the stew when Mom came in. She looked tired.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine, Jack. I just haven't gotten any sleep since yesterday afternoon. I've got a midnight to eight tonight, so I'm going to go in for a while."

"Where were you?"

"I was out, Jack."

"Mom?"

"I may tell you about it later. Right now I want some sleep."

"Are you sure you're OK?

"I'm fine. Goodnight, everyone."

Just like that, she was gone. I felt confused, like I should do something. But I had no idea what. Or why, for that matter. I felt something on my hand and looked over to see Jill taking it in hers.

"Jack, don't be an old lady. She's fine. She's old enough to do what she wants."

"I just don't know... I wish I knew where she was."

"Probably out getting laid."

I turned to Mary. "Mom?"

"Yes, Mom." Very dramatic. "What, do you think she's too old?"

"No, I guess not, but Mom?"

Jill squeezed. "Hey, if it's good enough for my Daddy, it's good enough for your Mom."

"But she hardly said anything. She just said 'Hi' and then went into bed."

"How about that? Just like Daddy when he got home tonight. Welcome to the club, Jack."

"You're right. I guess it's a little different when it happens to you."

"I guess."

She squeezed again and leaned over, kissing me on the cheek.

Sara and Mary both went "Awwww, how cuuute."

Jill stuck her tongue out at them, turned my head around and gave me a good kiss on the lips. The girls whooped and cheered.

It was almost 9:00 by the time we finished eating and cleaning up after ourselves. Jill and I took care of the dogs while Mary and Sara worked in the kitchen. They put enough stew in the refrigerator for Mom, then we divvied up the rest for the dogs, mixing it in with their dry dog food. Needless to say, dinner was a hit with all three.

"Hey, do you want to see the apartment? They got a lot done today."

She took my hand. "Sure."

We went up the staircase and I told her to wait on the landing while I went inside. There was enough light from the porch light for me to see to turn on the work lights they had set up. It didn't look the same as it would with regular lighting, with the bright spots and shadows, but there was plenty of light to give us an idea of the setup.

I went back to the landing and took Jill by the hand.

"They haven't painted anything yet, but most of the walls are up."

We went inside and I pointed out where they'd started covering the inside of the ceiling. You could see the insulation between the drywall and the plywood if you looked from the right angle.

"Ooh, this is a nice big room."

"Most people don't realize how big a two car garage is. The kitchen and the bathroom only take up about ten feet at the front. That leaves the rest of the garage for our bedroom and the living room and the hallway."

We went through the door. I could see the bedroom door across the hallway and a light coming out of it. There was an extension cord going across the floor from the room we were in to the bedroom and another snaking down the hall toward the front. I could see light from that direction, too.

"Careful. Watch where you step. You never know what might be lying around."

Actually, the site was surprisingly clean and free of debris. Well, not that surprising, knowing Alex.

"Ooh, I like this. The bed can go over there, and some night stands and a chair here and your dresser over here and mine over there. Oh, this will be perfect."

"You get your own dresser, huh?"

"Don't be silly, Jack."

Well, that ended that. She was taking it over before it was finished. I figured I might as well sit back and enjoy it. Fighting it sure wouldn't do me a damn bit of good.

We went into the hallway and made our way down. The kitchen just had the four walls off it with a door on one end into the bathroom. There was a beautiful greenhouse window at the other end, overlooking the street. I assumed that would be the location of the sink. There was a little room or closet at the far side of the window. Both areas had incoming water and drains in the floor. I assumed the closet was for the washer and dryer. They were probably able to bring one pipe over for each function, hot, cold and drain, splitting it under the floor. Maybe a three way split with a branch over to the bathroom. I'd have to take a look at that from the garage.

Jill was looking at the kitchen, pointing out where the cabinets, the appliances and the counters were all going to go. There was a standard window further down the front wall. She was going to put the table and chairs under that so we could look outside while we ate.

"There's no sink."

"All that stuff's down in the garage in boxes. Same with the toilet and shower."

"They've got a shower in a box?"

"The enclosure. It's one big three sided square with a door in it."

We went into the bathroom and I pointed out the pipes for the toilet, shower and sink. It wasn't huge, but there would be plenty of room for one person. Or two, if they were cozy. I figured it would just as likely be two as one.

We started to make our way out. I hadn't paid attention as we walked through, but the windows in the kitchen made me wonder about the other rooms. I took a look in the bedroom and there were a couple of short, wide ones on the back wall with a larger one on the side. The living room had normal windows on both outside walls.

We'd just gotten into the living room when Sara and Mary walked through the door.

"We saw the light and figured we'd come look."

Jill got excited and grabbed both their hands.

"Here, let me show you around. This is the living room. The couch is going there, I'll probably get a couple of chairs, we can have a bookcase over there, all the entertainment stuff can go on that wall and we can set up a computer station in that corner. Come on, I'll show you the rest. Watch where you step."

The three of them headed into the hall. I decided I was just going to be in the way and made my way down the stairway.

I went downstairs and through the side garage door. I reached up and flipped on the lights. I looked up at the ceiling and could see four copper pipes and a couple of thick black ones going down the side of the garage toward the front. I walked up there and saw that two of the water and one of the drainage pipes were split up at the front left, going up through the floor about where the washer and sink were going in. The rest of the pipes headed over to the far end and made a three way split for the toilet, sink and shower. One of the copper pipes didn't have a branch going to the toilet, that must be the hot water. I guess we weren't getting one of those fancy Japanese toilets that wash your butt off after you take a dump. Heck, I'd lived without one this long, I'd survive without one now. As I was heading back to the door, I noticed the hot water pipes branching down to the water heater. Something was different. It took a few seconds for me to realize that there were two heaters now. We had our own source of hot water. It would take an awful long shower to use up all that hot water.

I was about to go through the door when I saw some legs on the stairs and heard the girls talking. When they got down to where I could see them, I said "Did you turn off the lights?"

Jill said "Oops, I forgot." and started to turn around.

"Don't worry about it. I can unplug the cord down here."

"Won't that mess up Alex?"

"I'm sure they'll be able to figure it out.

The girls came the rest of the way down the stairs and into the garage. Jill was all set to start opening boxes for the kitchen and bathroom.

"Hey, wait a minute. Why don't you let Alex do that? You can get an idea about them from the pictures. He probably wants them in the boxes so it will be easier to take them upstairs. And he'll want to check for damage when he opens them."

"Oh. I didn't think of that."

"They'll be up there soon enough."

"Jack. It's only eight days. Do you think he'll have it done before my birthday?"

"He said he would. They got a lot done today."

"I hope you're right."

We made our way towards the kitchen. Mary let the puppies in while I gave Queenie her scratch behind the ears. The pups were acting as if they hadn't eaten, hoping for a handout.

We went inside. The girls were talking about all the things we could do with the apartment, what kind of furniture I was supposed to get, you get the idea. In general, planning out the place I was going to live. Mary suggested they make some hot chocolate and sit down so they could really talk. She asked me if I'd like some, almost as an afterthought.

I told them all I was going to go to bed, kissed my girlfriend and made my way into the bathroom. This was the first night in a long time I was going to bed alone.



-------

Chapter 92



It felt strange to be in bed alone. I was lying on my side, sort of curled up into myself, facing away from the kitchen where Jill and the girls were talking, at the far edge of the sleeping bag with the majority of our bed behind me.

I'd was in that half asleep, half awake state when I felt someone behind me. Jill slid up against my back, her arm over my side, pulling her closer to me. I felt her lips as she kissed the back of my neck.

I'm not usually ticklish. This was just in the right place, just light enough to get to me. I scrunched up my neck.

I heard her giggle. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was."

"Poor Baby. Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"I don't care."

"Aw, does him have his feelings hurt?"

I scrunched up a little more, pulling myself closer to a fetal position.

"Oh, my. Aren't we sensitive today."

I didn't say anything. I figured she was just going to go to sleep. She stayed up against me, her arm still around me, but didn't say anything.

Three or four minutes later I was still lying there, looking at the wall in the dark with Jill plastered to my back. I could feel her breasts squashed up against my bare back through her flannel nightgown. Her chin was laying on top of my shoulder, her face against the side of my neck.

He hand started to slide down, over my stomach and then my shorts. Her fingers curled around my balls, my cock covered by the palm of her hand.

"I wanted to show you something tonight."

I cleared my throat. "What."

"I've been practicing."

"Practicing, huh? What... do you play a musical instrument?"

"Not musical. An organ."

"What are you talking about?"

"I've been practicing with a banana. All three of us have. But I'm the best."

"The best. Peeling or slicing."

"Swallowing."

"Oh."

Her hand was still cupping me. I felt it start to fill as I grew.

"Well, somebody seems to like that. Too bad there's a grouch attached to it."

She let out a long sigh, released me and rolled over, her back to me, not touching me anymore.

"I guess I'll just have to settle for playing with the banana. While Mary and Sara move on to Charlie and Chris."

Male pride is a wondrous thing. My cock knew what it wanted, it was tenting my shorts, pointing at the corner. I wanted to roll over, pull my shorts down, push her face into my crotch and say "please, swallow my cock." Instead, I just stayed there, my hands together between my knees. It was probably five minutes until I heard the sniffling.

I rolled over. Jill was on her side, facing the other way, her face lying on her hands. Her body was shaking slightly as she cried to herself.

I reached over and brushed my hand against her hair.

"Jill."

She sniffed. "What."

"I'm a real ass."

"Uh huh."

"I don't know what comes over me. God, I love you so much and it just got to me when you didn't come to bed. And when you did, I couldn't get myself to just let it go and be here with you."

She rolled over and wrapped her right arm around me, her left fist and her face pushing into my chest. She sniffed loudly.

"Jack, I can't handle it when you desert me. It's bad enough with Daddy. I don't know what I'd do if you did too."

I held her tight, stroking her hair as she sobbed at my chest. Why do I pull this crap?

"Jill, I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

She held on tighter. A couple of minutes later the sobbing was replaced with her gentle breathing as she slept in my arms.

It seemed to take hours to fall asleep. The whole time, Jill kept her face and her hand pressed against my chest. Even in her sleep, the arm that was wrapped around me pulled tight, as if to keep me from leaving her. She was in the same position, holding on just as tightly when I woke up at 6AM. I reached down and stroked her hair. She sighed in her sleep. I crooked my neck and kissed the top of her head.

"Hey, Babe. It's time to get up."

She tried to dig her face into me. "No."

"Come on, Jill. School."

"I'm sick. I wanna stay here."

"Well, I'm not. I need to get up and get ready."

I was able to ease away from her, despite her grumbling attempts to hold on to me. She kind of fell forward, her face in the sleeping bag as I got up.

I went in the bathroom, used the toilet and brushed my teeth. I hadn't showered Monday night so I decided a quick shower was called for.

I was shampooing my hair with my eyes closed when I thought I heard something. I listened and didn't hear anything more so I assumed I was imagining things. I finished up in the shower, quickly running a razor over my face and rinsed off. As I reached for a towel, I heard Jill say "Good Morning."

She was sitting on the toilet, her nightgown up around her waist. This was the first time I'd ever had anybody in the bathroom when I got out of the shower. I pulled the towel into me and dried my face.

"Good morning. I thought you were sick."

"Who told you that?"

"You did, you fool."

"You must have been hearing things. I'm fine, Jack."

I got out of the shower onto the bath mat and continued to dry off. Jill whistled at me when I turned to face her.

"Looks good. You want to stay home and mess around?"

"I'd love to. But we both need to go to school."

"Jackie, you're no fun. Are you going to let me take a day off for my birthday?"

"I don't know. Maybe. We'll probably be up late that night."

"Really? What have you got in mind?"

"You'll find out on your birthday."

"Come on, Jack. That's not fair."

"Nobody said life was fair. It's called a surprise, Dear."

"Do you think I'll like it?"

"No, Jill. I'm going to do something you don't like on the most important day in my life. Don't be silly."

"It's the most important day in my life, too, you know."

"I hope so. Just relax and let it happen."

"All right. But I don't have to like it."

"You know, I hadn't thought about it. Your birthday's on a Wednesday. And we've got the dance this weekend. I don't know that I want to stay up that late on a school night. Maybe we should just wait till the following weekend to celebrate."

"You do, and you'll be a eunuch by the time the weekend comes around."

"Maybe we'll just celebrate on your birthday."

"Maybe we will. Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"You might want to turn around."

"Why?"

She just smiled, sat up a bit and held up a hand with a wad of toilet paper in it. I turned around.

I heard the toilet flush and then the faucet in the sink went on. I turned around and Jill was drying off her hands. I hung up my towel and we had a little pushing battle as she went to hang up hers. As I was reaching over the towel rack to straighten mine out, she gave my cock a little squeeze and kissed me on the cheek. I turned to kiss her on the lips and she pulled away, giggling, then grabbed her toothbrush. I slipped on my shorts and went to the living room.

The bedding was picked up and stored behind the chair. She couldn't have stayed in bed very long after I left to go to the bathroom.

I had some time so I fried some eggs and put some raisin bread in the toaster. Sara came in the kitchen, sniffing the air.

"That smells good."

"I thought you just liked cereal for breakfast."

"Oh, I like all kinds of things. Raisin toast is great. Donuts, bagels, Pop Tarts, cereal. They're all good. I just can't handle eggs and greasy meat that early in the day."

"All right. Go ahead and take the toast that's in there. Just make sure to put some more in for Jill and me."

"OK. I'll get some plates."

I was just dishing out the eggs when Jill walked in. Her hair was wet from her shower. She looked sparkling. Quite a contrast from the girl who was complaining about getting up a short time ago. She came up to me and gave me the kiss I'd been after in the bathroom.

Sara had found some cream cheese in the refrigerator and was spreading it on her toast.

"Is it any good like that?"

"No, Jack. I eat something I don't like to build character."

"Dumb question, huh?"

Jill said, "There's a lot of that going around."

Jill and Sara put the dishes in the washer while I put the milk, butter and cream cheese back in the refrigerator. I'd just closed the door when Mary came in, yawning and scratching.

"Mmmm. Something smells good."

"Good morning. Raisin toast. There're a couple of pieces left in the breadbox. Gotta go."

There was quite a crew working on the apartment as we left. Four guys were lugging the shower enclosure up the stairs as a couple of guys waited with boxes of drywall mud and tape. I could see a couple more upstairs. We were turning around when a painting contractor drove up with three guys in the truck. I looked over toward the driveway in time to see Alex wave. I stopped and rolled down the window, but he just smiled and motioned me to drive on.

Chris was waiting for us when we got to his house. He was excited as he got in the back seat with Sara.

"I've got it. Huntley and Brinkley."

"Come on, Chris. Get serious. I'm not dressing up as Huntley."

"No, Sara. You've got it all wrong. Brinkley was the short one."

"I don't care who was the short one. I'm not going to a party dressed as a network news reporter."

We were turning down the street to Highpoint when Jill said, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. We're eating dinner at my house tonight. Wanda wants to make a meat loaf."

"Do I have to?"

"Jack, be good. I'll make sure she does a good job. And, besides. I'll be there. You made a big fuss about me not being with you last night. I want you to eat with me. And then you can take me to school."

"OK. I'll go over after I finish work. By the way, have you figured out what you want to dress up as for the Halloween dance?"

"Yep. Bye. See you tonight."

She gave me a quick kiss and was out the door.



-------

Chapter 93



I'm afraid I didn't get a whole lot out of History. I spent most of the period trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Here I had a girl I was in love with, who I lived for, who loved me back. More than I deserved. She loved and loved and loved, always giving, always trying to make me happy. And yet I got this tremendous chip on my shoulder and made her cry, when all she wanted was to give and demonstrate her love once again.

I decided it was a combination of things that pissed me off. Somehow I felt threatened, like something had been taken away from me when she started planning out the apartment and its furnishings. And when she started talking to Sara and my sister, pulling them into it, I felt like I'd lost all say in how things were going to be. And then she spent time with them instead of going to bed when I wanted to.

I looked back at the way she'd been as we were walking through the apartment and then how she was when the girls came up. Jill had been through hell since we discovered her father and her best friend in bed together. And her father ignoring her the when she spent her afternoon helping his new girlfriend learn to cook was just one of the things that had made her feel worse.

She had been vibrant as we walked through the apartment and she planned where we were going to put things. Because, the planning wasn't for her; it was for us. She was envisioning a life together in that apartment. Whether we lived there full time or not hadn't been determined yet. When the project started, she was going to spend time there on weekends. But her father had other things going on now, and it might be more agreeable to him for her to move in with me.

Whether or not she lived there full time or on the weekends, she was building a place for us. Nothing had ever been said about me being involved in the planning. For or against me being involved. Many guys wouldn't want to have anything to do with it. Others would want to work with their girlfriend and plan it out, or at least say they wanted a blue bedspread instead of the pink one she had planned. If it bothered me to have her take it over completely, all I needed to do was tell her I wanted to be part of it and she'd be thrilled. Instead, I got hurt because she was interested.

And if I'd told her I wanted to be involved, I'm sure she would have been dragging me around as she told the girls what we were going to do. And instead of "The computer can go there and the TV there," it would have been "What do you think about putting the computer there and the TV there, Honey?" And any discussion over hot chocolate would have included me with Jill grinning like a fool, holding onto my arm, her face smooshed against me.

So, the first time in weeks that Jill was enthusiastic, happy even, I made her cry shortly after she came to bed. Right after she told me she had been practicing swallowing a banana and wanted to demonstrate her new-found skill on my dick. Talk about a dick. It takes some real love for a girl to choke herself repeatedly so she can please her guy in a new way. And my response was to make her cry.

I paid more attention in class the rest of the day but I still thought about my behavior the night before. I wasn't very proud of myself.

Sara and Chris sat down with me at lunch.

"What's up, Jack? You don't look too hot."

"Hey, Chris. Just thinking about what an ass I was last night."

"To Jill?"

"Yup. Made her cry."

"Oh, Boy. Been there, done that. One word. Flowers."

"Really? Do you think she'd like that?'

We both looked at Sara when she snorted.

Chris continued, "Yeah, she'll like it. Play your cards right and you may get lucky."

That got him a slap on the arm. But I noticed she was smiling as she did it.

On the way over to John's house, I stopped off at a florist. Let's face it, it was John's house these days. Jill was more a guest than a member of the household. Fortunately, I happened to get waited on by a woman who was probably about 35 or 40. Her name tag said she had the same name as my mom, as did the shop. I asked her if she owned it and she told me she did. I said I was surprised she worked there if she owned it and she told me that she had worked in her shop for years and had just recently turned the day to day stuff over to someone else. She was covering for someone who was out sick. She looked fairly well along in her pregnancy; she told me she was expecting twins in late February.

She finally brought me back to the reason I came in and I told her I wanted a big floral arrangement. She pointed out some posters on the wall and asked if any of them were what I had in mind. I saw one that had exotic flowers of all different colors. Orchids, bird of paradise, some Hawaiian varieties. She smiled and said that would be more appropriate for a fiftieth anniversary than for a young guy like me.

"Are you in the doghouse with your girlfriend?"

"Yeah, you could say that."

"How do you two feel about each other the rest of the time?"

"We're madly in love with each other."

"How often do you get her flowers?"

"Uh, I never have."

"Well, if you spend $210 on that arrangement, I'm afraid it's going to overwhelm her. What do you want to say with the flowers?"

"Just that I love her and I was a fool."

"OK. I think I can come up with something. Why don't you look around for a while and I'll go in the back room and put something together for you. I assume price is no object."

"I have some money. I was planning on spending it on her birthday next week. It's going to be kind of a special day for us. But I guess this is more important."

"I see. Well, look around. I won't be long."

She wasn't long at all. Maybe three minutes. My first thought was she couldn't have done much in that time.

She had a box on the counter with a ribbon tied into a bow around it. The box was about two inches square and probably 15" long. It was white cardboard but the cardboard had a mottled texture to it.

"You should write a card."

There were all kinds of cards for birthdays, weddings, get well. No "I've been a real ass" cards.

She slid over a card that just had FLOWERS BY June in script at the top, the rest of it blank. Then she handed me a fountain pen with a gold nib. When I commented on it she told me her husband had given it to her when he was in the doghouse.

I couldn't figure out what to write on the card.

"What's your girlfriend's name?"

"Jill."

"That's a nice name. And yours?"

"Jack."

"Jack and Jill. You two must have been made for each other. Well, Jack, it doesn't do any good to complicate things. What do you want?"

"I want her to forgive me."

"That doesn't sound too complicated. How about 'Jill, please forgive me. Love, Jack.'

She was right. It said everything I wanted. I could tell her how much I loved her while we were making up. I wrote it exactly as she said it.

"Would you like to see what you're giving Jill?"

"Yes, please. That is if we won't mess it up."

"Oh, I think we'll be OK."

She slid the ribbon up and off the box and then lifted the lid up with two fingers.

The note wasn't complicated. Neither was the arrangement. Or I should say gift. The box was lined with tissue paper and there was some green fern on top of that. But the main thing was a deep red rose. There were three leaves on the stem and a bow tied around it, maybe one third of the way down the stem from the flower. The bow was also red, attractive in its own right but nothing compared to the rose. The flower was fairly tight, just starting to open. I could smell a delicate fragrance as soon as June opened the box.

"It's beautiful. You're right, June. Simple is best."

"I think she'll be very happy with this."

"How much do I owe you?"

"$7.50."

"Please, June. It's got to be more than that."

"$7.50, Jack. If it bothers you, come back for her birthday and we'll figure something out for her."

"I've got an idea of what I want to do."

I went over it with her and she said she could handle it with no problem. We went over the details and I gave her my address and the date and time I wanted it done. We discussed the cost.

"How do you want to work this. I can give you a debit card."

"I'm sorry, Jack, I wouldn't feel right taking your money now. You call me next Thursday or Friday and tell me how it went. If you're happy with the way it turned out, give me the card number then."

She'd put the box back together while we talking. Picking it up, she came around the counter and held it out to me.

"Take care of Jill, Jack. Good luck."

"Thanks, June. I don't know that I'll need much luck with this present."

She smiled. "Thank you. That's a wonderful thing to say." She took my arm and leaned over, kissing me on the cheek.

My mood was a lot better on the drive over to Jill's.

I went in the house and the two of them were in the kitchen. I had the box in one hand, behind my back. Jill looked at me, a scowl on her face.

"You're late."

"I'm sorry, I had to stop someplace."

Wanda looked frantic, pointing to her cheek, then pretending to lick her fingers and rub the cheek where she'd been pointing.

Jill leaned a bit closer to me and kind of squinted.

"What's that on your cheek?"

Wanda rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"I don't know." I felt the cheek she was pointing at. "What does it look like?"

"It looks like lipstick."

"Oh. That's probably from June." I rubbed my face.

"Your mother?"

"No, not my mother. June. At the flower shop."

I brought the box out from behind my back. "I got this for you."

Jill got quiet. I think for a few seconds there she couldn't think of anything to say. She looked at the box but didn't reach for it. I pulled that trick of pushing something at a person in a way that they can't help but take it from you.

She took it gingerly with both hands.

"For me?"

"Yeah." I pointed to the card between the ribbon and the box. "There's a card."

She pulled it off and read it. She sniffed. "Tell me about this June person."

"She's about my mom's age. She's married. And she's expecting twins next February. And she is putting together something for your birthday."

"Oh, Jack, don't go spending all your money on flowers."

"I'm not. Flowers aren't the only thing she does."

"Really? What's she going to do?"

"You'll just have to wait and find out."

Wanda had finally had enough. She came over to me with a wet dishcloth and scrubbed at my cheek. She might be young, but she had that 'scrub the skin off the kid's face with the cloth' thing down pat. The only thing missing was she used water from the faucet instead of spitting on it.

"Really, Jack, you should be more careful. Jill, aren't you going to open it? I'm dying to see what he got you."

Jill slid the ribbon off and handed it to Wanda. She lifted the cover and I took it. She sucked in a deep breath when she saw the rose.

"Oh, Jack! It's beautiful."

She lifted up the note and smiled.

"OK."

She gave the box to Wanda, who also took a deep breath when she saw what was inside. She then came over to me and attacked me. Before I knew what was happening, Jill had one hand on my back, the other on my head and her tongue in my mouth. She was also rubbing herself against me like a cat.

I kissed back.



-------

Chapter 94



"Ahem."

Jill and I broke apart. She slid her hand down my arm and took hold of my hand. John was standing in the kitchen, holding Wanda's hand.

"Hi, John." "Hi, Daddy."

"Hi, both of you. Am I interrupting something?"

"That's OK, Daddy. We can pick up where we left off later."

Wanda tugged his sleeve.

"Look at the rose Jack got her."

"Hmm. That's very attractive. When are we going to eat?"

"I've got it all ready. I just need to finish setting the table."

"Come on, Wanda. You knew when I was coming home."

"I'm sorry, Dear. It will only be a minute."

Jill let go of my hand.

"Come on, Wanda. I'll give you a hand with the table."

"Thanks, Jill. Could you get some silverware?"

The majority of the work was done already. In fact, the silverware was the only thing missing. While Jill took care of that, Wanda got the meatloaf on a platter and put some mashed potatoes she'd made in a bowl. Jill and I carried them out to the table while she got some gravy off the stove and put it in a gravy boat.

John had been sitting at the table since this whole circus began. Wanda went over to him and picked up the meatloaf, finding out how thick a slice he wanted and then cutting it and carefully putting it on his plate. She then got the mashed potatoes and scooped some onto his plate, making sure he got just the right amount.

"Careful, don't get any on the meatloaf."

"Yes, Dear. Sorry, Dear."

He took his fork and made a depression in the middle of his potatoes. Wanda scooped gravy into it, taking care to only get it on the potatoes.

Once John was served, the rest of us passed the various dishes around and served ourselves. I noticed that both women were quiet, concentrating on eating.

"There are lumps in these potatoes."

"I don't see how. I had them in the mixer for over five minutes."

"Are you calling me a liar?"

"No, Dear. Sorry, Dear. Would you like something else?"

"I've got this. Just be more careful next time."

"I'm sorry. Is everything else all right?"

"What's with this gravy? Is it canned?"

"Daddy, you can't make gravy from meatloaf."

"Jillian, if I wanted your input, I'd ask you for it."

I was about to say something when I felt her hand on my leg. She moved her head slightly to the side when I looked at her.

"I'm sorry, Daddy."

I noticed that John didn't seem to have any problem eating the food he was criticizing so much. Twice he sat up and put his hands in his lap. Wanda immediately stopped eating, got up, asked him what he wanted and served it to him. Twice she got up and took his empty glass out to the water cooler in the kitchen and filled it.

"Would you like some coffee now, Dear?"

"When did you make coffee?"

"I put it on just before you got home."

"Wanda, I like my coffee fresh."

"I'm sorry, Dear. I didn't think. I'll make some fresh coffee now. It will only take a few minutes."

"Oh, never mind. I'll make do with what you made."

"Jack, we need to get going. I need to go to the campus bookstore before class starts."

"Can't you guys stay for desert?"

"Sorry, Wanda. We really can't tonight. Thanks for dinner. I'll see you tomorrow after school."

She kissed her father on the cheek. He seemed bothered that she interrupted his eating to do so.

We were almost out the front door when she said, "Oh, my rose," and ran back into the kitchen.

She came out a few seconds later clutching it to her chest.

We drove in silence for a couple of minutes before Jill spoke.

"Did you notice anything different about Daddy?"

"You mean the way he treated the help?"

For a split second, she looked like she was going to come back at me, then she dropped her eyes and said "Yes."

"Jill, did he ever treat you like that?"

"No. But he probably had a bad day."

"You mean he never had a bad day before when you made dinner?"

"No. He had bad days."

"And did he treat you like that?"

"No. But I don't know what to do about it."

"I don't know that there's anything you can do about it. It seems to be the way your father is with her. And she seems used to it. She was practically running around that room trying to please your father."

"Maybe I should talk to her."

"Are you ready to take responsibility if what you say makes her leave him?"

"I don't know. I don't think so."

"Jill, she's a big girl. She wasn't tricked into his bed. It looks like she's willing to be treated that way so she can be accepted by your father. Do you think he would hurt her?"

"Daddy? Never."

"Don't speak so quickly. Unless Wanda has absolutely no feelings, she had to be hurt by the way she was humiliated in front of us today. I bet you would have said that could never happen before you saw it for yourself tonight."

"You're right. I still feel like I should do something."

"Well, you'll be over there helping her make dinner tomorrow. You can talk to her if you want. But don't be surprised if she fights you if you criticize him for what he's doing."

We'd been sitting in the unloading zone for a while. A security guard came over and knocked on my window. I rolled it down.

"I'm sorry, Sir. This area is for dropping off and picking up passengers. You can't park here."

"I know. I'm dropping off my girlfriend, and we got busy talking."

Jill squeezed my arm. "I'm sorry. I'll go."

"Are you going to be OK?"

"I'll be fine, Jack."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll be fine."

She opened the door and put the rose she'd been holding in her lap on the seat.

"Take care of it for me."

"It'll be right here when I come back at 9:30."

"OK. I love you."

"I love you too, Jill."

She looked like she was carrying a heavy weight on her shoulders as she walked away.

I got home about 7:45 and pulled up behind Mom's Lexus.

I was all set to check out the progress on the apartment but decided that was something I'd rather do with Jill. Maybe she'd get back some of the excitement she'd shown last night.

I went up to the gate and said hello to Queenie. I noticed there was still some dog food left in her bowl; I took it to mean she'd been fed recently.

Mom, Mary and Sara were sitting at the kitchen table, all working on bowls of mint chocolate chip ice cream. I went up to Mom and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hi. You're just in time for dessert. Unless you already had some at John's?"

"No, no dessert. I didn't eat that much dinner, either. No, don't get up. I can get my own ice cream."

I got a bowl, rinsed off the scoop and got the ice cream out of the freezer.

"You might as well finish it off, Jack."

"Maybe I should save some for Jill."

"There's not enough for two of you. She can have something else if she's hungry."

"I'm sure she will be."

"It doesn't sound like you had a very good meal. Did Wanda mess something else up?"

"No, the food was fine. But nothing she did was good enough for Dr. Asshole. If I ever wondered why you called him that, he made it extremely clear tonight."

"Poor Wanda. How did she take it?"

"She asked 'How High?' every time he said 'Jump.'"

"That doesn't sound good."

"Was he ever that way with you, Mom?"

"He still has his balls, doesn't he?"

"I think so. I think that's why Wanda stays around."

"That may be part of it."

"You think there's more?"

"I'm just thinking out loud. None of us will know without asking her."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

I scraped the bottom of the bowl, getting every drop of ice cream I could short of licking it.

"So, where were you all day yesterday?"

"Didn't I tell you, Jack? I was out."

"I know you were out. But where were you?"

"I was out, Jack. That's all you need to know. Last time I checked, I was still the adult in this household."

"I know that. It's just that I was worried."

"You were an old lady, Jack. And you still are. There's nothing for you to worry about. I was out. I'm fine. That's all you need to know."

"Well, is this going to keep happening?"

"If it does, it will be my decision. And it won't concern you."

"But what about us?"

"I'm sure you can survive without me once in a while. Or do I need to hire you a nanny?"

"No. I don't need a nanny."

"Then stop acting like you do."

Thats all she was going to say on the subject. Judging from the smiles on their faces, the girls were highly amused by our conversation.

I rinsed out my bowl and did homework until it was time to leave to pick up Jill.

I got to school about five minutes early. I was about to go down the block and turn into the parking lot when I saw Jill run out of the guard shack toward the car. I pulled over, parallel to the red curb just past the loading area. She ran up to the door, picked up her rose and got in.

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah, I'll be all right."

"How come you were in the guard shack?"

"He handed back our tests from last week and let us out early."

"How are you doing?"

"I don't know, Jack. It's like Daddy turned into something completely different from the man I grew up with."

"I know I've never seen him like he was tonight."

"Come on. Take me home. I don't want you to get in trouble for staying here."

I pulled the car out and headed home.

"What did they get done on the apartment?"

"I didn't look."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to wait and see it with you."

"Oh, that's sweet."

"I want the two of us to figure out what we want in it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I figure both of us are going to live there so we should both decide what we want."

She put the rose down next to her and held on to my arm, smooshing her face against it.



-------

Chapter 95



We pulled up to my house about ten minutes later.

"Let's go look at the apartment."

"I'll be ready in a minute. I need to go potty first."

She went into the house and I headed over to the gate to say hello to Queenie. Being the adult, she didn't get anywhere near the attention that the cute puppies got. In reality, she was a much more pleasant animal to have around, content to let you do whatever but eager for any affection you were willing to provide. And I didn't have to constantly keep my eyes open in case she got it into her head to chew on something or otherwise get in trouble.

Jill came out a couple of minutes later.

"How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. I decided I can't let him ruin my life. I also decided I don't want him to ruin Wanda's, either."

"OK. As long as you can live with the results."

"Jack, I don't know if I could live with myself if I let him hurt her."

"All right. Let's take a look at the apartment."

I went into the garage to plug in the extension cord and noticed it wasn't there. I did notice several doors stacked on top of each other as well as the shingles and tar paper for the roof. There was also a tall box that contained our stackable washer and dryer.

I told Jill to hang on and got a flashlight out of the kitchen. We made our way upstairs and she reached inside the doorway for the light switch.

"Jill, that's not going to..."

I was amazed when the whole living room lit up. Jill walked through the doorway.

"Oooh."

Oooh indeed. I followed her in and looked around. Where the inside of the ceiling had been mostly open yesterday, it was now totally finished. The drywall was all up, it was painted and there were lights installed and working. I looked at the switch Jill had hit and noticed that there were four sliders next to it. I played with them and found that each one controlled a row of track lights, each pointing at a different area of the living room. The sliders set the intensity of each track, the switch was the master.

"Oooh."

I couldn't believe the difference. The room was completely painted and what had been a plywood floor was now covered in oak. The room was ready to move into.

There was a light switch in the hall, right where you'd expect it to be. Even though it wasn't a long hallway, there were two light fixtures in the ceiling. So far, I hadn't seen an old fashioned light bulb anywhere in the apartment. Everything was energy efficient.

The bedroom was also finished. I could see our back yard out one window, the next door neighbor's house out of the other. Once again, the light fixtures were controlled by a dimmer switch. There were two lights with one rotating knob that dimmed both. Everywhere we'd been was painted and had the new oak floor. We could furnish the place tonight if we wished.

The kitchen looked done, too. The floor now had the Formica tile. I hadn't realized it was part of the design, but the countertops matched the floor. And it was also on the walls above the countertops up to the bottom of the cabinets. It wasn't a perfect match; that would have been too boring. The counters and walls had the same white that was on the floor without the gold specks my women had chosen. I felt the wall above the counter. A wet sponge would handle most any cleanup.

There was a nice double, stainless steel sink. The refrigerator, stove & oven combination and dishwasher were also stainless. I opened the closet and saw that it was all ready for the washer and dryer. I heard the low hum of the refrigerator. There was a jug of milk and some lunch meats and cheese inside I opened the freezer to see a new half gallon of Rocky Road ice cream. The front of the door had a dispenser for water and ice.

There was plenty of counter space plus cupboards both below and above it. The side of the kitchen with the greenhouse window had the sink, dishwasher, more cabinets plus an under cabinet microwave and coffeemaker. The other side was stove, refrigerator, more counter and cabinets. I noticed four plants lined up in the window, each with a card attached. They were from Alex, Mom, Mary and Sara and John and Wanda. Jill's eyes got wet when I showed her the cards. I found I had a lump in my throat.

The floor tile and countertops continued into the bathroom. There would be no romantic evenings with Jill relaxing in a bubble bath, candles setting the mood. We had a toilet, shower and sink. The row of makeup lights above the mirror seemed to ease the pain for Jill.

Actually, there wasn't any pain. She had been oohing and aahing from the moment she first turned on that light, squeezing my hand every few seconds. If I wanted romance, I'd just have to get a little inventive. I could always take her into the house if I wanted to give her a bath. Or we could go to a hotel with a real romantic tub. Somehow, I didn't think it was going to be an issue. Right now, she be willing to be bent over a counter in the kitchen.

I went over to the sink and turned it on. Water came out of the faucet.

"You know, we could move the mattress up here tonight if you wanted to."

She squeezed my hand and squealed at the same time.

"Really?"

"I don't see why not. But you can expect some workers up here first thing in the morning."

"It looks done to me."

"The washer and dryer have to be installed. And there isn't a single door in the apartment. I think the inside is pretty much done except for that, but the roof needs to be covered. We'll have to shower in the house tomorrow unless you want to get up at 4 or 5 in the morning. Or you could just take your chances with the workers."

"The bathroom in the house will be fine. Can we move the bed up here now?"

"Sure. If you think we can get the mattress up the stairs."

"Oh, I'll find a way."

There was a light switch on the panel next to the front door that turned on a fixture over the landing and three floodlights along the stairway. I flipped it up as we went outside.

W lucked out. Mary and Sara were in the kitchen, eating some fresh chocolate chip cookies.

"Oooh, that reminds me. I'm hungry."

"There would be ice cream for you but Jack was a pig and ate it all."

"Hey. Mom told me to finish it."

Mary was yanking my chain. She and Sara had made a big batch of cookies, knowing Jill would be hungry when we got home. And that I can always find room for a plate or two of chocolate chip cookies, no matter whether I'm hungry or not. There was an almost full gallon of milk on the table. Our plates and glasses were waiting for us.

We sat down and started eating. Jill looked at Mary and Sara.

"Thanks for the plant. It looks beautiful in the window."

"You're welcome."

I added my thanks.

"After we eat, can I get some help from you guys?"

"What do you need?"

"Jill and I want to sleep in the apartment tonight. I think the four of us can get the mattress and box springs upstairs a lot easier than just Jill and I."

"Are they finished up there?"

"We still need doors. They have to do the roof and put the washer and dryer inside, but it looks like everything else is done. We could use the bathroom but we'll probably use the one in the house tomorrow."

"Isn't it going to get cold with no door?"

Jill squeezed my hand.

"We'll snuggle."

After we finished stuffing ourselves with cookies, we took the mattress and got it upstairs and into the bedroom. Around the time we got to the middle of the stairs it occurred to me that it probably would have been better to get the box springs upstairs first. But, we had room to lay the mattress down, put the base where we wanted the bed and move the mattress on top.

Of course, Jill had to give the girls a tour of the place once we had the bed set up. I went downstairs and got the sheets, blankets and pillows. I grabbed Jill's flannel nightgown and some sweats for me. I also went to the hall closet and got an extra thermal blanket.

I made our bed and found my way up front in time to hear all three girls discussing whether or not there was room for two people in the shower. Jill's opinion was that there was, but she would have to stand up the whole time. That got a "Jill!" from my sister, and then giggles out of all three of them. I could only imagine the gestures that went with Jill's statement.

Sara noticed me standing in the kitchen.

"Come on, Mare. We need to leave the two lovebirds alone."

My sister giggled and gave Jill a kiss on the cheek.

"You be good, Jackie."

"I will. Goodnight, girls."

Jill and I followed them down the hall but detoured into the bedroom. She saw the way I'd set up the bed and wrapped her arms around me, giving me a big kiss.

"Oh, this is going to be so nice."

"Come on. We need to go in the house and use the bathroom."

"Couldn't we use ours?"

"Babe, it's after 11:00. We'd need to get towels, soap, stuff to brush our teeth and then take a lot of it back tomorrow morning. Why don't we go over to the bathroom tonight and in the morning, then we can get all that stuff when we have time tomorrow. When we won't have to worry about workers walking in on us when we use it."

"You're right. I'm just so excited."

"Well, we're actually in here a day early. Alex told me it would be tomorrow, and that was before the rain messed everything up."

We went into the house and washed up for bed. We got a little touchy-feely in, too.

Back in the apartment, we got dressed for bed, then stood in our room and hugged each other.

"God, Jill. You don't know how much I've missed having my own space. This is going to be great."

"I know. Jack?"

"Yeah?"

She jumped on the bed, got under the covers and started giggling.

"Turn out the light."

I made my way over to the door and hit the switch. Fortunately, there was enough light coming in through the windows to find my way back. Of course, I could have followed the sound of the giggling, too. One of the first things we'd need was a night table with a lamp on it. Or maybe one of those lamps that fit on the headboard. I'd have to ask Alex if we could hook up a clapper to the light switch.

I got under the covers and held out my arm. Jill slid over and fit inside it just right. Her kiss was soft and sweet and full of promise.

"Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Want me to show you what I can do with the banana?"

"Uh uh."

"No?"

"Not tonight. Tonight I just want to fall asleep in my own bed in my own room with my own lady in my arms. Is that OK?"

She snuggled up to me.

"That's fine."



-------

Chapter 96


I could feel the cold air on my left cheek. It was especially cold on the bottom outside part of my left ear. The rest of me was warm and toasty.

My right cheek was laying against the back part of Jill's head, my nose somewhere near her left ear, so she didn't have that problem. I could feel her hair against my face.

My arms were wrapped around her. Her flannel covered body was flush to mine, molding to me. For once, her butt was pushed into my pelvis so I could feel every curve, yet my cock wasn't buried inside the crack.

I could feel her left breast in my left hand. I wasn't grasping it, just resting the palm of my hand on it, seemingly of its own volition. The breast was firm and strong but relaxed, the nipple slack in my hand. My right hand was laying on its back, on the mattress, her body on top of the forearm.

We were both buried in the blankets, the tops just above my chin.

Something woke me up. Some sound. Unusual, but not threatening. Someone clearing his throat.

"Good morning."

I'd awakened to those words many a time, but they were always spoken by a female. Mom, Jill, my sister or even Sara. Today, it was a man's voice that I heard. Jill made a "don't bother me" noise and burrowed her backside into me a little more.

I opened my eyes and turned my head. I had to look down and back a bit to spot Alex standing in the door, his hands on his hips and a smile on his face.

"Hi, Alex."

"Hi, yourself. You know I've got a crew coming in this morning?"

"I figured you did. What time is it?"

"Just after five."

"No wonder I didn't wake up. Do we need to get out of here?"

"That would be a good idea, yes."

I shook Jill. "Come on. Wake up."

She was her usual, chipper, morning person self. She emitted kind of a groan, pulled my left hand closer to her breast and ground her tail a little deeper into me.

I blew in her ear. That got me slapped as she tried to hit whatever was in her ear and got me instead. Or maybe I was what she was aiming for all along.

It took about a minute and a half to get her to wake up. She saw Alex standing by the door.

"Oh, Hi, Alex."

"Good morning, Jillian."

She got out of bed, yawned, and picked up one of the blankets and wrapped it around herself. She walked out the door, pausing to kiss him on the cheek on the way out.

"Hey, don't I get a kiss?"

"I can kiss you any time."

I got up. It was a little nippy, but my sweats kept me warm enough.

"I can't believe how much you got done yesterday."

"I felt like I was juggling, I'll tell you that. It was quite a trick, finishing off one project and getting the next one going."

"How late did you work?"

"We were here till about 7:00."

"I must have just missed you. Are you going to finish today?"

"That's the plan. There's a big bonus from John in it for us if we do."

"I didn't know anything about that."

"John knows it will make his daughter happy. She must have said something to him that day it rained. He offered me a bonus if we got it finished by today."

"Well, even if you don't get it all done by today, you should still get it."

"That's not the way it works, Jack. But we should be OK. We won't be tripping all over each other like we were yesterday."

"So, it's just the doors, the washer and dryer and the roof, right?"

"That and the texture coat."

"It already looks like you painted it."

"That's the primer coat. After today, you won't have to paint this garage before you retire."

I heard a noise that I didn't recognize and looked over at Alex.

"They're getting the roofing materials up on the roof."

We went outside. There was a trailer pulled into the driveway that had a ramp on it, tilted and extended up to the roof. It had a motorized conveyor belt and they were putting shingles on one end and taking them off and stacking them on the roof at the other.

"Is that yours?"

"Yep. My roofing company made me a deal when they got a newer one. And I get my roofing supplies cheaper and faster because they can just drop them off and leave it to me to get them on the roof. Plus, it comes in handy for other stuff, too."

Even as they were unloading the materials at the front of the roof, there were a couple of guys unrolling the felt at the back. I saw a roofer climbing up an extension ladder at the side of the garage, carrying a nail gun with a compressor hose attached to it.

A couple of guys in the traditional paint spackled white overalls were putting together some scaffolding. I noticed that rather than being stationary, this had wheels for rolling it around the house.

"Is OSHA OK with those wheels?"

"As long as the locks work, they are."

I stopped by to say hello to Queenie, then made my way into the kitchen. Jill looked clean and fresh, her damp hair in a loose ponytail, slung over her shoulder. Mom's waffle iron was plugged in, sitting on the counter. She had the mixer out as well and was filling the big white bowl with what I assumed were the ingredients to make waffles.

I gave her a kiss, then licked some flour off her nose.

"Come on, go take a shower. These will be ready soon."

I came back into the kitchen twenty minutes later to find my mother and all three girls sitting at the table, eating waffles. Jill got up.

"About time. Sit down and have some coffee. Your waffle will be ready in a couple of minutes."

She scooped some batter into the waffle iron and closed the lid.

Mary was grinning; something was obviously up.

"Do you know what day it is today, Jack?"

"Sure, Mary. It's Wednesday."

"Well, yeah, but do you know what's going to happen today?"

"They're going to finish the apartment."

"Yeah, but what else?"

"Uh, I'm going to take Jill to school."

"Come on, Jack." She opened her mouth and pointed at the empty spot where her teeth had been knocked out."

"Oh, I know. Wednesdays are the days you brush your teeth."

"Jaaackiiiee!!! They're going to start on my implants today."

"Oh. I didn't remember that was today. Good for you. So, will you have your old smile back by tonight?"

"No, it doesn't work that way. They put in the anchors and the posts today, but the gums have to heal over them before they put the crowns on. It could be a couple of months before I'm back to normal. But then, it will be just like I had real teeth."

"Cool. I'm glad for you, Sis."

Jill put a plate with a steaming waffle down in front of me. I put a slab of butter on it and slid it around, letting it dribble into the pockets. Once the butter was all melted, I finished the job by drenching it with maple syrup.

There was a satisfying crunch as I cut it with the side of my fork. The combination of tastes and smells was delightful. I chewed and looked over at Jill.

"Uuhm. I think I'll keep you around."

She stuck her tongue out at me.

"Uuhm. I think I'll stay."



-------

Chapter 97

On the way to school, Jill said that she wanted to go furniture shopping on Saturday. I agreed to go out with her to see what was available. I had an idea that furnishing the bedroom, living room and getting a kitchen table as well as all the linens, dishes, silverware and all the other stuff that goes with moving into a new place was going to overtax my meager funds. It had seemed like a fortune when I got my ebay payoff, but I was beginning to realize that with the plans I had for her birthday, we could easily blow the whole thing getting a good couch and couple of chairs for the living room.

"So, do you still plan on talking to Wanda this afternoon?"

"Yeah. I can't believe she'd let him treat her like that."

"Well, like Mom said, you won't really know until you talk to her. When do you want me to pick you up?"

"I'm not sure. I'll give you a call. And don't spoil your dinner. We're making my chili and there will be plenty for all of us."

"I hope the girls don't have something else planned."

"They don't. I talked to them while you were in the shower. Your mom was glad because she's taking Mary in to get started on her implants this afternoon. She said it will be one less thing to worry about."

"Well, I'm glad it worked out."

I pulled up to the drop-off point and Jill kissed me before sliding over to the door.

"Good luck with Wanda."

"Thanks, Jack."

I ate lunch with Chris and Sara. The latest on Halloween was that she had figured out who they were going as and already had the costumes under control. I spent the lunch period listening to Chris come up with guesses as to who it could be. They ranged from Rowan and Martin to Martin and Lewis to Lou Costello and Bud Abbott. She just shook her head and smiled at each guess. She also told me she knew what Jill had in mind for us but wasn't going to tell me. I figured that was fair since I was being pretty close mouthed about Jill's birthday.

I got home after cleaning the gym to find Mary crashed out on the couch. Her face was swollen, so I didn't bug her. Sara was in the kitchen and said Mary had been complaining about the pain and Mom had given her a pill the doctor had prescribed.

I went out the kitchen door to check out the garage just in time to see the painters pull away. I was surprised when the head of the crew honked at me and they all smiled and waved. I hadn't met any of them, just seen them a couple of times when I was leaving and they were coming.

I looked up and the whole side of the garage was now gray. It looked very attractive by itself, but it clashed with the brown of the house. Well, I didn't pick the color, so I wasn't going to worry about it.

I walked down the driveway and out to the street, then looked back at the place. The front of the garage was the same gray except for the white garage door. It looked good, though the door could use a little work. The greenhouse window really made it look special. I looked up at the roof and could see that it was completely shingled. The shingles were a darker shade of gray than the texture coat.

I went up the stairway and saw the new door. Very impressive. It was solid wood with a decorative window. It had an old fashioned knocker on it. The wood was natural with a coat of lacquer or other protective stain on it.

I was reaching for the doorknob when it turned and the door was pulled inside. Alex stepped out onto the landing.

"Hi, Jack."

"Hi, Alex. It looks pretty good."

"Yeah, we just finished up about an hour ago. I need you to stay out of the place until about 9:00 tonight. I put a protective coat on the floors and I don't want it messed up."

"All right. I was thinking I could move my computer and some clothes in tonight, but I guess that can wait."

"Sorry, Jack. I know you were counting on it, but I did say it would be done today, and that includes this evening. The mattress is still the way you left it, so you can still sleep there tonight. And it's not like you're going to go to bed at 9. You'll still have time to move some clothes in if you want."

"You're right. You know, when we walked the place and the girls picked out the colors, Mom said men don't get excited about stuff like this. But I gotta tell you, I'm pretty excited about this place."

"I've got a secret for you, Jack. We all get that way. We just don't let the women in on it."

He clapped me on the back and shook my hand. "Enjoy your new place, Jack. And take care of my little girl or you'll have to answer to me."

I squeezed back and put my other hand on top of his. "You can count on it, Alex. Thanks for everything. You've been a lot more than a contractor on this and I want you to know I appreciate it."

"Maybe the two of you can invite my wife and me over some evening once you've got everything set up."

"I'd like that. And I'm sure Jill will, too."

The kitchen door opened and Sara stuck her head out.

"Jack. Jill just called. She's ready for you to pick her up."

"How did she sound?"

"She didn't sound happy, if that's what you mean."

"All right. I'm on my way."

Alex and I headed downstairs together. I had just opened my car door when he called out to me.

"Jack. I almost forgot. I've got something for you."

He came up to me and held out four keys on a thin ring.

"These are for your front door. I figured you and Jill would both want one. There are a couple of spares, too."

"Thanks, Alex. I'll call you about that evening. Maybe Jill will make dinner for all of us."

"Sounds good. Take care, Jack."

I drove over to John's and went inside the house. Jill and Wanda were in the kitchen. I'd never seen Jill mad before. I decided to wait her out.

"Jill, come on. Don't be like that."

"Wanda, I'll talk to you later. Maybe I'll feel different tomorrow, but right now I don't want to discuss it."

She picked up a big Tupperware container with the chili in it and shoved it into my arms.

"Come on, Jack. It's time to go home."

Wanda looked like she was ready to cry. I shrugged my shoulders and followed Jill out the door.

She didn't walk out to the car. She stormed. I didn't see any smoke rising from her head but it wouldn't have surprised me if I had. She just stood next to the car door with her arms crossed, waiting for me to open the door.

She moved over to the middle of the seat. Her arms were still crossed and she was staring straight ahead, a determined look on her face. I opened the back door and placed the chili on the floor.

When I got into the car, I ended up about an inch away from her. Still, she remained as she was, staring out the window, her arms crossed. That inch felt like a few feet, with a solid wall in the middle.

The ride home was quiet, to put it mildly. In fact, the quiet was deafening. Jill stayed were she was when I pulled into the driveway for the first time since the construction had started. I went around and opened her door.

"I'm going to go sit in the apartment for a while."

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Alex put something on the floors. It won't be dry until 9:00 tonight."

"God damn him."

I was surprised. I'd never heard her talk like that before.

"Jill, he had till midnight to turn it over to us. He couldn't very well come back and do it after we move in. It will be all ours after 9:00."

"Fine!"

Somehow, when a woman says that word the way Jill did, it means anything but 'fine.' I kept my mouth shut. I decided it probably wasn't the time to discuss Alex and his wife coming over for dinner.

She still had her arms crossed in front of her. She headed over to the kitchen door and waited. I opened it and she stormed in. I shut the door and went back to the car for the chili.

Queenie was waiting for me at the gate when I came back so I spent a minute scratching her behind the ears.

I went inside. Sara was standing at the sink.

"What's with Jill?"

"I don't know. I think she and Wanda had a disagreement."

"Boy, remind me not to disagree with her."

"Where is she?"

"I'm pretty sure she went to the bathroom. Is that dinner?"

I'd forgotten the chili. I handed it over.

"Here. It's chili."

"Did it smell edible when you were there?"

"To tell you the truth, I didn't even pay attention. I could see the steam coming out of her ears when I walked in and I just got her out of there right away. Jill says her chili is to die for, so I guess it's going to be good.

Jill came out of the bathroom a minute later. I could tell she'd washed her face. She was still angry.

She opened the cupboard under the stove and got a big pot out, slamming it on the burner on the stove. She twisted the knob with a vengeance, turning on the gas all the way. The flame lit with a pop. She yanked open the drawer to the right of the stove and her hand dove in like a sea bird going after a fish, only she came up with a cooking spoon. She tore the lid off the Tupperware and pounded the bottom of the container with the spoon while holding it over the pot.

"You could warm it up in the microwave, Jill."

"You don't warm up beans in the microwave. Sometimes they explode. We're going to need bowls, soup spoons and Saltines."

I shut up and got bowls, soup spoons and a box of Saltines. I was glad we had them; I don't know what her reaction would have been if we hadn't.

I guess she realized that all the banging in the world wasn't going to get the last of the chili out. She went at it with a vengeance. I was surprised the spoon didn't go through the plastic. A video of her warming up the chili would have made a good commercial for the durability of Tupperware. I don't think Jill would have found it amusing, though.

"Sara, if there's sharp cheddar in the refrigerator, shred up a bowl of it."

"Aye, Aye, Ma'am."

Sara actually seemed to shrink at the look she got back.

"I'm sorry. I'm on it, Jill."

"Sara, is Mom home today?"

"Of course, she is, Jack. Where else would she be?"

"I don't know. She was gone the other day."

"Well, she's here today. She went in for a nap, but she said she wanted us to wake her for dinner."

"OK, I'll go get her up."

I knocked on Mom's door.

"Come in."

I went inside. She was awake but still in bed.

"Hi Jack. Is dinner ready?"

"Just about."

"Did Jill talk to Wanda?"

"I think so."

"You don't know?"

"Well, Jill's madder than I've ever seen her and Wanda told her not to be that way, but Jill hasn't said anything about it since I picked her up."

"Well, why don't you ask her?"

"Mom, you haven't seen her. She's spoiling for a fight."

"All right. Is Mary still asleep?"

"I think so. I haven't seen her since I got back with Jill."

"OK, Honey. Let me get up and I'll be in there in a couple of minutes."

I went back to the kitchen. Sara was sitting at the table and Jill had the pot of chili in one hand, the spoon in the other, and was stamping her foot. I sat down and she proceeded to throw chili into my bowl. How she did so without spattering it all over the table, I don't know. She then filled three more bowls and put the pot on the stove.

"Jill, Mom and Mary are both eating."

"Mary won't be able to eat solid food after they worked on her mouth today. I've got some soup on the stove for her."

"Oh."

Jill sat down and took the bowl of shredded cheese, scooping out a couple of spoonfuls and tossing them on her chili. She clanked the bowl down on the table and took a couple of inches of Saltines out of the bag. She then proceeded to crush them over her chili. Not into pieces a half inch across or even a quarter inch. No, she crushed them so they were pretty much the consistency of a handful of salt. She finally grabbed her spoon and stabbed it into the mixture, putting a spoonful into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed,

"Well, don't just sit there staring at me. Eat up before it gets cold."



-------

Chapter 98: What Every Young Girl Should Know

Mom came into the kitchen with Mary. My sister's face was still swollen and she looked a little pale. She sat down across the table from me.

"How are you doing, Sis?"

"I hurt."

"God, I wish there was something I could do for you."

"I'll be all right. The dentist said it would hurt for a day or so and then it would be over."

"Are you going to be OK for the dance on Friday?"

"He said I should be fine. I have to go in Friday afternoon for a follow up visit. He said he wants to try something out but wouldn't tell me what. But he told me I'd feel better when I left."

"Maybe he's going to give you the BIG shot."

"I don't think so."

Mom brought a bowl of soup over to the table and placed it in front of Mary.

"Eat up, Honey. I know you want to sleep, but you've got to get some food in you. When you finish, I'll make you some nice hot tea. Thank you for putting the soup on, Sara."

Jill spoke for the first time since Mom and Mary came in.

"I did it."

"Well, thank you, Jill."

She still looked mad but it seemed to have toned down a bit since nobody was paying any attention to her.

I looked back at Mary.

"So, are you going to show us?"

She opened her mouth and lifted her top lip, then the bottom, turning from side to side so everyone could see. There were a couple of metal spikes sticking out from the gum at the top and one at the bottom. The gums were red where they'd been sliced to allow the posts to screw in to the jawbone.

"Those aren't going to rust on you, are they?"

"Oh, Jack. No, they won't rust. They're titanium."

"Have you hurt your tongue on them yet?"

"No, but I've found myself checking them out a few times with my tongue. The dentist told me to be careful about that."

"I feel sorry for Charlie."

She looked up at me, a bewildered look on her face.

"Why? What's wrong with Charlie?"

"Nothing's wrong with Charlie. It's just that those things look pretty wicked. And Jill told me how you've been practicing with the banana and all..."

I don't know what happened first. There were so many things and my eye wasn't fast enough to distinguish them.

The first thing I noticed was that my sister seemed to have swallowed her soup the wrong way. Some of it spewed across the table, getting on both Jill and I. Some of it came out of her nose at the same time. She started coughing and Mom had to pound her on the back.

At some point, she looked at Mom with a look like the one a kid gets when caught smoking by her parents. A look that briefly rivaled the one Jill had been displaying all afternoon was directed back at my girlfriend.

I could see the red climb up her face like the mercury in a cartoon thermometer. It stopped short of blowing the top of her head off and spurting out, though. She gave me a look that said I was rude, disgusting, a pervert, gross, a tattletale and a hundred other things all at the same time.

"Jaa-aaaaK!!! How could you?"

"What? I just thought that they looked pretty sharp and Char..."

"Don't even say it. I can't believe you. I need to go to the bathroom."

"Don't tell me you wet your pants."

"Yeh-ehs. No thanks to you, you pervert."

I saw Jill out of the corner of my eye. She was having a hard time maintaining her pissed off attitude. I was all set to ask her if something was wrong with her lip but decided she wasn't quite ready for that yet.

Mom looked over at Sara.

"So, I assume you were involved in this banana thing, too."

She looked guilty, then brightened up as she said "It was Jill's idea."

"I'm sure it was. So, what do you have to say for yourself, Jillian?"

"Uhh, I, uhh. We were just playing around."

"Show me."

Jill looked shocked. "It's kind of embarrassing."

"Come on. We're all family here."

Jill reached over to the bowl of fruit on the table and looked over the bananas, picking out the smallest one.

Sara said, "Well, that tells us something about Jack."

Mom looked at her sharply. "Quiet, Sara. You're next."

Jill looked at me, then the banana. She licked up all sides, to the delight of Mary who'd just walked back into the kitchen and let out a whoop.

The banana went into Jill's mouth and I could tell she was working it with her tongue. She started an up and down movement, taking more and more of it in. She pushed in and made a gacckkking noise as she hit the start of her throat. She stopped moving and pulled it out slightly, opening her mouth around it and taking a deep breath. She pushed back and started gulping while pushing at the same time. I finally saw the fruit go further into her mouth and saw her swallow a couple of times. She held it inside a good five seconds before pulling it all the way out of her mouth and taking a deep breath. There were tears in the corner of each eye.

Mom looked at her.

"Pretty good, Jill. OK, Sara, let's see what you can do."

Sara looked shocked when Mom said that. I think she'd thought Mom was kidding when she told her she was next. She recovered and started looking through the bowl, picking out the next smallest banana.

She looked over at Mom, kind of a 'do I really have to do this?' look, got no relief and started licking the banana to cheers of "Go, Sara" from both Jill and Mary. She did a pretty good job of licking and sucking on it but couldn't get past her gag reflex. She really tried at one point and ended up pulling it out quickly, a flood of saliva coming out of her mouth, onto her shirt and the table in front of her.

Mom put her hand on Sara's arm.

"Hand me that bowl of fruit, please."

Sara slid the bowl over to Mom. She took a quick look and picked up the largest banana in the bowl.

"There are a couple of things you need to keep in mind. First, saliva is your friend. Make sure to get it wet before taking it in your mouth and don't swallow any saliva that accumulates in your mouth. Sucking a cock is like eating chicken; nobody expects you to be neat."

"Maah-uhm!"

"Oh, settle down, Mary. What the heck do you think we're doing here?"

"But still..."

"Jack, does Jill suck your cock or does she perform fellatio on you?"

"She sucks my cock."

"Mary, somehow 'Let me fellate' you doesn't have the same ring to it as 'I want to suck your cock.' The majority of good sex is in the mind. Don't ever forget that."

She licked the banana some more, spitting a wad of saliva at it and spreading it with her thumb.

"You want to spend a lot of time around the head. That's the most sensitive part, especially where it joins the shaft, underneath. Some guys like it when the woman plays with the slot in the tip, others are too sensitive for that. The key is communication. If he won't tell you what he likes, ask how he likes it when you lick around the head or suck real hard or play with the end. Just asking that kind of question is a turn on to a lot of men. Some guys like it when you work your mouth like a milking machine, others like you to just take your time and explore with your mouth and your tongue. Some like the addition of a hand or two, some want the mouth only.

"Remember that deep doesn't necessarily mean good. Like I said, the head is the most sensitive part. If you take it in your throat and it's closed tight over the head, it could cause pain. Same thing if you have to force it into your throat. If you have a nice firm hold on it in your throat and you swallow or you hum, that can make it pleasurable for the man. And there are no taste buds in your throat, so if he comes down your gullet, you don't have to worry about the taste like you would in your mouth."

She spit and rubbed and licked some more.

"One thing a lot of women don't realize is that a guy's cock isn't going to bend 90° like your throat does. Or it's not going to be comfortable if it does. Give it a better angle and it will be a lot smoother."

She leaned back her head and looked at the ceiling. She put the end of the banana in her mouth and in one smooth motion, pushed it into her mouth all the way, holding the end of the seven inch banana with her fingertips, inside her mouth. She made a humming noise, grinned around the banana and pulled it out of her mouth. Her eyes had been sparkling the whole time she had it in her mouth and throat.

Jill's hand found its way to my lap and squeezed the erection she discovered there.

"See what you missed the last couple of nights?"



-------

Chapter 99

"Damn, Mom. I oughta bring you to school for show and tell during sex ed."

"Well, there's no reason a girl has to torture herself to bring pleasure to her man. And if she does it right, it will be more pleasurable for him, too."

"Well, it seems to be very popular with a lot of people. I read that they spent $25,000 to make Deep Throat and it's brought in over six hundred million."

"I'm sure it has. But Linda Lovelace's husband got her to learn how to do that by putting a gun to her head. No woman should have to go through that."

Jill said, "Nobody has to force me."

My sister chimed in, "Yeah, but that's because you're a little slut."

"I didn't see you complaining the other night with the banana." She took my hand. "Just because I want to please my man doesn't make me a slut."

"Girls, Girls, Girls. Knock it off with the name calling. Mary, haven't you gotten it yet that being willing to share and experiment with somebody isn't a bad thing?"

"I know. It's just that my experience..."

"Honey, we all know that what you went through was terrible. But you have to put it behind you. It's not fair to punish someone who loves you because you went through something bad."

"How is calling her a slut going to punish someone?"

"It reflects your attitude. When you are in love with someone, there is no right and wrong. There's no such thing as dirty. As long as the two of you agree, anything goes in the bedroom. Or anywhere else you agree."

"Mom, there are some things that are just plain gross."

"Yes, Mary there are. And there are some things that are different that you might find are enjoyable if you're willing to give up your prejudices and the way society says it should be. I swear to God, if the Puritans had been boffed by the Indians when they landed, things might be a whole lot better in this country today. And there are a bunch of feminists who'd be better off if they were getting a good, stiff cock on a regular basis."

"Mah-um!"

"I'm serious. There's an old saying about the perfect wife. She's a five star chef in the kitchen, the perfect hostess at your parties and an absolute whore in bed. But if the feminists had men who loved them, they wouldn't be able to blame them for everything that they consider to be wrong with the world.

"Tell me, Jack. Does Jill take good care of you?"

"God, yes."

"And how do you feel about her?"

"I love her to death. I'd do anything I could for her."

"Jill? Do you feel that you're any less a woman because you make Jack happy?"

"I'm more a woman than I've ever been. And he makes me happy, too."

"That's the way it's supposed to be. It's funny that people will call Jack a stud and then turn around and call Jill a slut for doing the same things."

"Mom?"

"Yes, Mary."

"After my mouth heals a bit, would you show me some of that stuff with the banana?"

"Sure, Honey."

Jill was back to her normal self, leaning against me, holding my hand. I leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. I thought I should talk to her and find out what had upset her so much with Wanda but was frankly afraid to piss her off again. I decided to wait her out a bit. Either she'd come out with it or Mom would force it out of her. If neither of those things happened, I could always bite the bullet and bring it up. At least there wasn't a couch in the apartment for her to make me sleep on if I pissed her off.

I got up to help myself to a third bowl of chili when I heard it. Short, not very loud, but somebody definitely farted. I glanced over at the table and saw that Jill was sitting up straight, her hands resting on the table, holding each other, and that she was trying hard not to smile. Sara was looking at her funny.

I sat back down and had just lifted a spoonful of chili up to my mouth when Sara kid of raised up, leaned over to the right and let out a sustained fart.

"Sara!"

She looked back at my sister, as innocent as Mother Theresa. "What? It was the dogs."

That got a snort from Jill, who looked over at the two innocents on the rug by the door.

"Bozo. Shame on you."

Bozo raised his head, got up and walked over to Jill as if he'd been summoned.

The next one up was Mom. She was blatant about it, leaning forward with an elbow on the table, raising herself up to one cheek and letting go. It was a fart that would have done me proud.

"Mah-um!"

She ignored my sister. "Good chili, Jill."

Jill lifted up and let one go for real this time.

"I enjoy it. The beans are real good."

That got a laugh out of everybody but Mary, who look around at everybody, a disgusted look on her face.

I felt the urge and figured what the hell. Mary looked over at me.

"God, Jack. You are so disgusting." She pushed Mom out of the way, got up and left the kitchen.

"Come on, Dino." He got up, looked at the rest of us, then followed her out to the couch.

Sara pretended to cover her mouth with her hand to prevent being heard.

"She's just mad because she has to eat soup."

That got another laugh out of everyone.

I got up and went into the bathroom, voiding myself more than normal. Something about homemade chili makes a really big dump almost mandatory.

I came out of the bathroom and Jill was waiting across the hall from the door. She pushed by me.

"God, you took a long time."

"I don't know if I'd go in there yet."

"You ain't seen nothin' yet. Wait till we're in bed together all night." She pushed in and shut the door.

I'd known I wasn't the only one in the household who passed gas on occasion. Even Mary had been known to fart, though I'd never seen her make a display of it like the other three had tonight. I expected them to have a belching contest while seeing who could spit the furthest off the front porch next.

The point is, I shouldn't have been surprised to find out that my girlfriend's body worked like all the rest of ours. Or that Sara's did.

I went into the kitchen just in time to see Sara get up.

"God, I've got to go. I hope she doesn't take a long time."

"Maybe the floor's dry in my place and you can use my bathroom."

Mom said, "Sara, you can use my bathroom." Sara headed out and down the hall.

"Jack, you know you aren't supposed to go in there before 9:00 tonight."

"I know, that's what Alex said. Wait a minute. How do you know? You were taking a nap when he was working on the floors."

"Jack, you think too much. Alex told me it wouldn't be ready before I went to sleep."

"Oh."

Jill came out and grabbed her bowl. "I think I'll have another."

"Don't you think you've had enough?"

She pinched my cheek. "Never enough of my chili, Jack."

She filled up her bowl and looked at Mom and I. By the time she sat back down, all three of us had bowls of chili and there was one waiting for Sara when she got back. Jill started eating; I could tell she wanted to say something but wasn't quite ready to come out with it.

"June, you said something earlier that got me thinking."

'What was that?"

"You said there's no such thing as dirty if two people care for each other."

"I remember saying something like that, yes."

"What if one person is hurting the other?"

"Jill, does this have something to do with the reason Jack was afraid to talk to you this afternoon?"

She took my hand and squeezed it.

"I'm afraid so." She gave me an embarrassed smile.

"Jill, have you ever heard of killing the messenger?"

"No."

"In ancient times, I don't remember if it was Greece or Rome, leaders would get so mad when a messenger brought bad news about the battle from the front lines that they would kill the messenger. Don't Kill the Messenger means that the person who's there probably isn't the one to be mad at. You pull that stuff around Jack too often and he's going to be real gun shy."

"You're right. I was just real mad at both Wanda and my father."

"So, is your father physically hurting Wanda?"

"No. I mean yes. I think so."

"Why don't you tell me about it?"

"Well, when she drove me home from school today, she met me in the car. The other day, she walked out with me. And she was real quiet on the way home.

"We got home and started to get the stuff ready for the chili and I told her it really bothered me to see Daddy treat her the way he did. She told me to leave it alone. We worked at it for a while and I finally realized she wasn't moving around a lot. I started looking at her and I could see her wince every time she had to move."

"You're hurt, Wanda. What happened?"

"Jill, leave it alone. Please."

"Wanda. What's wrong? Did my Daddy do this to you?"

"Jill, it's OK."

"How can it be OK? You can't even walk. What did he do to you?"

"He just showed me that I couldn't get away with acting the way I did last night."

"She told me that Daddy was a real important man and he didn't have time to keep correcting her. She was glad he took the time last night to let her know all the things she did wrong. Maybe she'd behave better now that she'd been punished.

"I tried to tell her that what he did to her wasn't OK but she wouldn't listen. She deserved it for keeping him waiting and making the coffee early so it would be old and for getting potatoes on his meat, for God's sake. The more I tried, the more she insisted that it was all the way it should be. She thinks she'd so lucky to have him that she deserves to get beaten if she doesn't do everything exactly the way he wants it."

"And you were mad because?"

"Because she wouldn't listen to me. That's disgusting, what they're doing."

"Not according to her. How would you feel if I tried to tell you not to do anything more than kissing with Jack?"

"That's not the same thing. Jack and I love each other."

"And Wanda and your father don't? Or his their love soiled somehow because they have a different way of expressing it?"

"I don't know. What he's doing just isn't right."

"See, you're doing the same thing the old lady who thinks you touching Jack 'inappropriately' is a sin does. If it's something you're comfortable with, it's fine. Otherwise they should be stripped naked and flogged in the town square."

"I didn't say that."

"Jill, you said yourself that Wanda asked you several times to leave it alone. She was too polite to say 'Butt out, it's none of your damned business.' She is obviously OK with what he's doing."

"But I don't understand. How can she let him do that?"

"She already told you. You just didn't listen to her. She feels good that he's taking the trouble to make her into a better lover or mate. If he didn't, she's afraid he'd leave. By punishing her, he's showing her that he loves her."

"That's sick."

"Jill, you haven't seen sick till you've worked the emergency room when some guy comes in with a hamster up his ass. Or we have to cut a vacuum cleaner hose off somebody else. Those are mild compared to some of the things I've seen. Your father and Wanda have found something that works for them. He takes on the Dominant role, she's the Submissive. Haven't you two ever played around with spanking?"

"No."

"Think again, Jill."

She looked at me, a puzzled look on her face.

"The paddle? Over at your house? The night we got back together after Sara moved in?"

"Oh, yeah. I forgot about that."

"If you'd had your way that night, you wouldn't have been able to walk the next day, either."

"You're right. I really felt like I deserved to get beaten that night."

She looked back at Mom.

"What do I do about Wanda? She's probably pissed off at me now."

I touched her arm.

"Jill, she didn't look pissed off when I picked you up. It bothered her that you were mad and that you wouldn't talk to her. You probably don't realize it, but Wanda cares a lot about how you feel about her. She knows how important you are to her father. If you aren't on her side, she knows she could be history with a snap of your fingers."

"I'd never do that."

"Jill, I saw the look on your face this afternoon. Shit, I felt the anger coming from you. You just didn't think of it or you might have done something today."

"Yeah, maybe. I guess I was pretty mad."

Sara had snuck in and had been quietly eating chili for the past few minutes.

"You Guess? Pretty Mad? I'm amazed that stove didn't collapse the way you were throwing things around."

Jill smiled and stuck her tongue out at Sara.

"Well, I'm a lot better now."

"Yeah, you farted it all out."

"Yeah, that too." She looked over at Mom.

"I still don't know what to do about Wanda."

"How do you feel about her now?"

"I guess if it makes her happy, I can go along with it. But I'm worried she'll get hurt."

"Then that's what you should tell her. She'll be OK with you worrying. She won't be OK if you lie to her and she knows it. Or if you talk down to her. Her feelings are just as important to her as yours are to you. Are you sure you can go along with it without making comments or giving her looks in the future?"

"Yeah, I can let her love Daddy in her own way."

"Good."

Mom looked at the clock above the stove.

"It's just after 9:00. Let's go up and look at this apartment of yours. Sara, you can come, too."

"What about Mary, Mom?"

"She'll be fine. Let her sleep."

We went out the door. Mom called Bozo.

"Come on, you lazy bum. Get out of my house and sleep in your own kitchen."



-------

Chapter 100

Somehow, Jill and I ended up following everyone else as we went upstairs.

"Mom, I need to unlock the door."

"It's not locked, Jackie."

She opened the door, pushed Sara through, followed her in and pulled the door closed.

Jill and I looked at each other.

"I guess maybe I'm supposed to carry you over the threshold or something."

Her face broke into a big grin. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me on the cheek. I put my right arm around her back and lifted her legs with my left.

The door wasn't completely closed. I used my foot to open it and walked inside my new home with my girl in my arms.

"SURPRISE!!!"

Jill's arms got tighter around my neck and she buried her face in my chest. I let go of her legs and eased her to the floor, keeping my arm around her waist.

Mom and Sara were there, of course. Mary was not asleep on the couch but was in my living room, grinning and exposing her new dental posts. John, Wanda, Alex and a woman I didn't know were all standing behind them, grinning like fools. I noticed that Wanda was standing a little behind John, to his right.

The floor looked good. Whatever Alex had put on it had finished it off well. But there was no way it had just finished drying.

Everyone was standing in front of our new couch. It was tan, made out of leather or vinyl. Not the black I probably would have picked out, but this color looked really good. It had dark green throw pillows at each end. There were easy chairs on both sides, covered in fabric, the same color as the pillows on the couch. End tables separated the couch from the chairs and there was a coffee table in front of it. The tables were all made of brass and glass.

The front wall had an "entertainment center" that held the stereo from my room as well as a DVD payer and a TV, about a twenty three incher. The right corner held my computer desk with the computer and printer. My regular desk was to the left of the entertainment center.

There were drapes over the windows, the same green as the chairs and pillows. I hadn't even noticed that the window over the stairs was covered. I looked over at Alex.

"You lied to me."

"Nah. I told you I worked on the floors and you couldn't come in until 9:00. I worked on the floors; they were just dry by 10:00 this morning. And we didn't want you here until 9:00 because we all wanted to be here. By the way, this is my wife, Alicia."

I went to shake her hand but she pulled me into a hug.

"I've heard a lot about you, young man. Thank you for taking care of our Jill."

I hugged her back and then it was Jill's turn to hug her. And everybody else.

Mom said, "Well, come on. This isn't the only room to this place."

She took my hand as Jill took the other. We walked across the hall into the bedroom, followed by the rest.

"I wondered how you protected the floor with the mattress on it." Alex just smiled.

The mattress was now contained in a bed frame. Jill squeezed my hand.

"Now we won't have to sleep on the floor."

"Didn't you like it with just the mattress?"

"No-oo."

There must have been four king size pillows on the bed. I couldn't tell for sure because it was covered in a new bedspread. Again the color, a kind of rust, was not what I would have chosen but it looked good.

The headboard had room for books, knickknacks or whatever. There were lamps at either end on goosenecks so they could be adjusted for reading in bed. Not that we'd reached that stage in our relationship yet. But we could always turn on one or both lamps and then turn off the ceiling fixture. No more running to the bed in the dark while Jill giggled. There was a clock radio in the middle of the headboard.

There were a couple of nightstands on either side of the bed. And there were two dressers, right where Jill had said they should go. Hers had a big mirror above it. All the furniture was oak. There was a desk I didn't recognize, obviously a girl's, a computer table next to it.

"Is that yours, Jill?"

"Yes. Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome, Honey."

Mom took my hand and we made our way up to the kitchen.

I knew there was room for a table but hadn't realized how much there actually was. The table was oak and there were six chairs around it. Two on each side, one at either end. The chairs were oak, as well. The four on the sides were similar to your standard oak rocking chair only they had stationary legs. The end chairs were shorter with arms and padded in red vinyl. There was a napkin holder filled with napkins, and a lazy Susan with salt, pepper, a sugar bowl, honey, ketchup, mustard and steak sauce on it.

I noticed that there was a mat in front of the sink, currently occupied by Bozo. It remained to be seen how much he'd be in the way if we needed to use the sink. It was obvious that he'd decided this was his new home and that mat was his.

Mom opened a cabinet and pointed out the dishes to Jill. That's all it took; she went running around the kitchen opening up every cabinet in the place, oohing and aahing as she went.

I pointed over the stove.

"Look, Jill."

"Oh, MY GOD!"

There was a new rack with a bunch of copper cookware hanging from it. There were four frying pans of various sizes, four saucepans and three big pots, including one that would probably hold enough of Jill's chili to get the whole neighborhood farting. There was also a small rack next to it that had copper plated cooking utensils hanging from it. There were a couple of spatulas, two big spoons, one solid, one with holes in it and a ladle. There was a holder with six big knives and eight steak knives on the counter. The kind they cut beer cans with on TV.

Jill went to the refrigerator. The thing was completely stocked. One of the cupboards had a three tiered rotating rack filled with every spice I'd ever heard of and a bunch I hadn't. I opened the closet at the end and saw the washer, dryer combo. There were a couple of shelves inside with detergent, bleach and softener on them. There were other cleaning supplies and a bucket as well. A mop, broom and dustpan were hanging on the inside of the door.

Mom had started some coffee after she sent Jill off, opening cabinets. The coffee maker went through its final gurgles.

"Girls, do me a favor and go get the chairs from the desks in the living room and the bedroom."

Mary and Sara took off.

Mom opened up one of the cupboards and started handing out coffee mugs to Wanda and Alicia who took them over to the table.

After they put the chairs next to the table, the girls got a jug of milk from the refrigerator. Mom passed out glasses and plates, then brought a covered plate from the counter next to the sink over to the table. She took the cover off to reveal a few dozen of her chocolate chip cookies.

Mary and Sarah took the chairs they'd just gotten. Mom was at one end of the table. Alex and Alicia sat down on the outside chairs; John was on the near side at Mom's end. That left two chairs for me, Jill and Wanda.

I sat down in the chair at the end of the table and patted my knee. Jill grinned and sat down on my lap, her arms around my neck, hugging me. Wanda was standing just behind John.

"Go ahead, Wanda, sit down."

John glanced over at me. "She's fine where she is."

"John, she is a guest in my house and while she is she will sit with the rest of us. Jesus Christ. What kind of a man are you?"

It was as if every muscle in the place tightened up. I think everyone was expecting John to come after me. He stared at me for a good five seconds, then relaxed and pulled out the empty chair next to him.

"Go ahead, Dear. Sit down."

Wanda hesitated for a second and then sat.

You could almost feel the tension dissipate.

Mom poured coffee while Mary filled glasses with milk and Sara got the cookie plate going around the table. Once we were all eating and drinking, I asked the question that had been on my mind since we'd been in the apartment.

"So, who do we need to thank for all this stuff?"

"John and I did most of the furnishing," said Mom. "Alex got the copper works over the stove."

"How did you get it all in here?"

Alex answered, "Jack, my crew has fallen in love with you and Jill. Your Mom told us what she had planned and everyone who worked on this project took a two hour lunch and helped set everything up. I had guys who were working on other jobs today coming from all over the city on their own time, spending two hours unloading trucks from three furniture stores, unpacking, carrying and placing furniture. Your mother and sister and Alicia worked on the kitchen and the bathroom before Mary had to go to the dentist. Those knives over there are from one of the drywallers. He got them for Christmas a couple of years ago and they've been sitting in a closet, unopened. When they hauled that dumpster away this afternoon, the thing was crammed full of empty boxes."

"Well, Thank you all. Jill and I can't tell you how much we appreciate everything."

Jill sniffed. "Thank you."

Mom took Jill and I into the bathroom and showed us what they'd done in there. There was a fuzzy blue rug on the floor with a matching toilet seat cover. I lifted the seat and saw that the cover was too thick and it wouldn't stay up by itself.

"That cover's going to have to go. Unless you don't mind me peeing on it."

"We can live without the cover, Jack."

There was toilet paper under the sink, extra bars of soap, body wash, toothpaste and deodorant for both of us in the drawers. I opened the medicine cabinet. The bottom shelf had my razor, deodorant, razor, shaving cream and hairbrush. The other three shelves were full of Jill's stuff.

She opened the shower. The panel that had the shower head also had built-in shelves.

"Ooh. My strawberry!"

There were bottles of strawberry shampoo and conditioner, some shampoo that you had to get from a hair stylist I liked but normally didn't get as well as some body wash.

The towel rack had a couple of over sized bath towels, blue like the floor mat.

"There are towels and sheets in the closet in the hallway."

We checked it out. There were towels and washcloths for the bathroom, kitchen towels and dishcloths, sheets, pillowcases and a couple of heavy blankets. The top shelf had some replacement bulbs for the various energy saver light fixtures throughout the place.

By the time we got back to the kitchen, there were only two cookies left on the plate. I grabbed them for Jill and me. Alex looked over at his wife.

"Well, Dear. Ready?"

They stood up. I pushed Jill off my lap and reached over to shake Alex's hand.

"I talked to Alex about this, Alicia. We'll call you once we get settled in and invite the two of you over for dinner. Jill makes real good chili."

Mary said, "Oh, Gawwd."

Alicia hugged both of us and said she look forward to our call. Everybody hugged or shook everybody else's hand. Mom put the girls to work cleaning off the table and putting everything in the dishwasher.

"Alex, do you think your guys would come if I had a barbecue to thank them for all their help?"

"My guys and free food? You can count on it."

"Mom, can we do that a week from Sunday?"

"Sure, Jack."

"Alex, give me an idea of how many people I can count on. We'll make it over here a week from Sunday at 1:00. Have them bring their wives and kids, too."

"Jack, that could be a lot of people."

"That's OK. They gave a lot and we want to thank them."

"OK. I'll check around and give you a call in a couple of days."

"Thanks."

John shook my hand. He wasn't quite as cordial as he usually was. He gave Jill a hug.

"Thanks, Daddy. For everything."

"You're welcome, Baby."

Wanda hugged me.

"We're still on for next week, aren't we?"

"Of course, Jack."

"Good. I'll see you tomorrow when I stop by to take Jill to school."

"Oh. John's not going to be home tomorrow. We won't need to cook."

"Well, if you bring her home, you can eat with us. I'm sure Jill will want to do some rearranging so she can mark her territory. She'll be glad of the help."

"I don't know. She wasn't too pleased with me this afternoon."

"We had a talk about that. She'll be all right. And I'm sure she'd like to have some time to talk to you alone, too."

She broke into a smile, the most real one I'd seen that evening, and hugged me close.

"Thanks, Jack."

The four of them left; it was only our family left.

Sara came up to me and gave me a hug.

"Jack, I'd really appreciate it if you'd get all your stuff out of my room."

"OK, Sara." I tickled under her arms and she crumpled on the floor.

Next was Mary.

"Thanks, Mare. I really appreciate everything. How are you holding up?"

"It still hurts, but not as bad as it did. I think I'll be better after a good night's sleep."

The two of them headed out. It was just Mom. She sniffed, a tear rolling out of the corner of one eye.

"I don't know why I'm crying. For God's sake, you're just across the yard from me. I'll be able to see you any time I want."

I hugged her and she hugged back.

"Mom. I love you. I can't tell you how much this means to me."

"I love you too, Jack."

By the time she let go of me to hug Jill, both of them had tears flowing freely.

Mom left and I closed the door. Jill and I walked up to the kitchen. The dishwasher was going quietly. Bozo looked at us, his tail thumping. Jill got down on her haunches and he came bounding over to her, his tongue hanging out as she roughed up his ears.

The place seemed deserted, almost lonely.

"Well, Jill. It's just you and me."

"Yeah, how 'bout that?"

She let go of her dog and came over to me, wrapping her arms around me and giving me one of her to die for kisses.

We headed into the bathroom, brushed our teeth and washed up while trying not to be in the other's way.

"Jack?"

"Yeah, Babe."

"Give me a minute in the bedroom, OK?"

"Sure."

I said goodnight to Bozo, then headed down the hall, outside the bedroom door.

"Jill?"

"In a minute."

"Did you feed your mutt?"

"No. And he's not a mutt."

"OK. I'll take care of it."

I called Bozo and took him downstairs with me. He relieved himself while I got his food and water bowls and some dog food for him. Sara and Mary came out to feed their dogs while I was there. I said goodnight to them and headed back upstairs with Bozo.

I took Bozo's bowls into the kitchen, filled his water bowl and let him chow down.

"Jack? Are you coming to bed?"

"Be right there, Dear."

I went back to the bedroom, turning off lights along the way. Jill was lying in bed with the covers spread back. Gone was the flannel nightgown, a multi layered pink number in its place.

"Wow."

She smiled.

"Come to bed, Jack."

I turned off the light and made my way over. I was all set to get in when she said, "Jack?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe you should open a window."

Chili. Gotta love it.



-------

Chapter 101

The window was open, and we slept in each others arms all night. We were together and we were home.

It wasn't an alarm but a whimper that woke me up at 6:15. Bozo wanted out.

"Jill, your dog needs to go out."

"Jack, take care of it, please. Thank you."

That's how I found myself going out to the landing outside our door in my shorts on that cold October morning. And of course, Bozo couldn't make it down those stairs all by himself. I don't know if they were suddenly too steep for him or if he was afraid he was going to get lost or that he'd be left outside alone. He started his whimpering again. I swear, for such a handsome animal, he was sure being a wuss.

Of course, once I started walking down the stairs, he damned near knocked me over as he tried to run through me. Stupid dog.

He got to the grass next the house and squatted like Queenie. I'd heard that if a male dog was neutered early enough, he'd never learn to lift his leg when he peed. He kind of glanced over at me.

"Yeah, I'm thinking about you. Cut your balls off."

It didn't seem to matter to him one way or the other. He went over to the gate, he and Queenie sniffing each other. I went over and she shifted her attention to me. I reached over and scratched behind her ear.

"Atta girl, Queenie. He can't scratch you, can he? All right, you Bozo. Now that your nose is good and cold, let's go wake up your mother."

No such luck. Jill was already in the kitchen. The coffee was on and she was sticking something in the oven. She still had her nightgown on but was wearing a light robe over it.

"Good morning, Don't we look domestic."

"Hi Jack. I found muffin mix. Coffee's almost ready."

"God. Muffins for breakfast. I could get used to this."

I leaned into her and gave her a kiss. Good. I decided to give her another.

"Have I told you that I love you?"

"Not enough."

"Well, I do."

"I love you too. But you need to brush your teeth."

"Yes, Dear."

I brushed my teeth and called out to Jill.

"Do I have time to take a shower?"

"Please."

I guess that meant I had some time. I turned on the water. It got hot almost immediately. One of the advantages to living right above the water heater. I got in and let the water run on my head. It felt good after being outside. I backed up, picked up Jill's shampoo, flipped up the lid and smelled. Her strawberry. It was a little overpowering, but it brought back memories of how her hair used to smell. Funny what was important to a girl. She'd lit up when she saw that last night. Heck, she lit up when she saw just about everything last night. We were definitely loved. Sometimes I wondered why but I decided it was best not to question it but accept it. And not rock the boat.

I put some of my new shampoo in the palm of my hand and worked it in. Much better than the stuff I'd been buying at Thrifty. Hell, I was making $50 a week now. I could afford this all by myself.

I finished my shower and got out. The towels were huge. Soft and fluffy. I had my back to the kitchen and the towel up to my face when I felt a couple of hands massaging my butt.

"Hello, Big Boy."

"Hello yourself. Watch what you're doing or we won't make it to school."

"Would that be so bad?"

"Yes, it might. They might start to wonder what a fourteen year old girl is doing living with a seventeen year old guy in his own apartment right under his mother's nose and haul you away to a home and throw our parents in jail."

"They wouldn't."

"You wouldn't. And I wouldn't. And our parents wouldn't. But they would. Don't you know that they know what's best for us?"

"Oh, Jack, you're too cynical."

"Right. Tell me that from your new foster home."

"All right. I'll go to school. Hurry up. The muffins are ready."

The muffin tray was on top of the stove. I could see the steam rising from the warm muffins. Jill reached up to the side of the refrigerator and got an oven mitt that was hanging from a hook stuck to the side. One of those magnets with a hook on it. I hadn't noticed it before, but there were two of the mitts, right within easy reach of the oven.

She went over to the table and turned the tray upside down, pounding on the bottom with the heel of her hand. Well, something between tapping and pounding. The muffins fell out onto the plate she had there.

I got coffee and plates while she went to the refrigerator and got butter and milk. We sat down and I grabbed a muffin.

"Good. They don't have those stupid paper things on the bottom. I can never get them off without tearing them. I either take a chunk of muffin off with them or end up chewing paper."

"They make this new thing, now, Jack. It's called Teflon."

"Cool. Isn't it from the same place as Velcro?"

"Yep. Tang, too."

"I don't think they invented Tang for the space program. They just wanted some tasteless drink mix they could send up to make the astronauts want to come back."

"Aah. I didn't know that."

There were lots of things we used everyday as a result of the space program. Stuff we wouldn't want to live without. Now I don't think if a Senator said "Lets spend a couple of gazillion dollars to send people up in a tin can so we can have non-stick cookware and non-zip fasteners" that we'd jump for the chance, but nobody complained that we had them now.

"These muffins are good."

"They are, but my real blueberry muffins are better. There's something about rock hard chunks of blueberry in a box that just isn't the same. There's a store down on Market St. that has the best berries when they're in season."

"Remind me and we'll get some."

"We have a few months, yet. These will do till then."

There were five muffins left and we were both full.

"Why don't you take the rest of the muffins down for the girls while I'm in the shower? And empty the dishwasher, too."

"Damn, woman. Work, Work, Work."

"Jack, I'm not your mother."

"Too bad. Have you seen what she can do with a banana?"

"I can do some pretty neat things with a banana myself, Jack."

"All right. I'll give you a shot."

"Boy. I'm so flattered. I'm going to take a shower. Don't forget the dishwasher."

I grabbed the plate and headed out through the living room. I discovered I had a dog at my heels.

"These aren't for you, you fool."

He followed me anyway. He and Dino acted like they hadn't seen each other for years when I opened the kitchen door.

Sara was yawning. Mom was yawning and putting water in the coffee pot.

"Boy, look at you two. Out all night partying?"

"No, Jack. Your future father in law was over here whipping us all night and making us stand up."

"God, don't talk about that. Can you believe him?"

"No, Jackie, I can't. I've seen rude people before, but that took the cake. I'm glad you put him in his place. How was your first night?"

"My first night was wonderful. It would have been a bit better if we hadn't had chili, but it was still great."

"I'm glad. I hope the two of you will be very happy together."

"We will. I want to thank you again for everything. The furniture was such a shock. I was wondering what I could afford. I thought we'd have to check out yard sales."

"You're welcome. Anyway, it's Sara's fault that you need it, so she's going to be my indentured servant for the next twenty years."

"Hey."

"Well, we both appreciate it. Jill made muffins. I put the leftovers on the table."

"Leftovers? Thanks a lot, Jack."

"Come on, give me a break. They came out of the oven a half hour ago."

"I'm just kidding. They're just what I need with my coffee. Are you two going to have dinner with us tonight?"

"I don't know. John isn't going to be home for dinner, so Wanda's going to bring Jill home. They need to talk. And I know she'll want to straighten out the apartment and put stuff where she wants it. If I know her, she'll probably find something she wants to make for dinner. God, there's so much food. You did a good job in setting us up."

"All right. I'll talk to Jill and Wanda when they get home this afternoon. Maybe we'll work something out."

"OK. I'm sure I won't starve, whatever happens. Gotta go. Love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Jackie."

I went back inside, Bozo tagging at my heels. It was kind of strange. He'd had very little to do with me since I delivered him to Jill when I bought him. And now, since we moved into the apartment, it was like I was his personal slave. I made my way up to the kitchen and he plopped down on his rug in front of the sink. He watched me empty the dishwasher.

Jill was in the bathroom, pretty much as I had been when she came into me. She was facing the other way, her back completely exposed. Have I said I love her ass? Well, I do. And she was showing me exactly why.

"You're going to get me in trouble if you keep shoving that at me."

"I wish. You just want to go to school."

"You're right. But I love your ass."

"Well, it's yours whenever you want it."

"You'd better watch what you say. I may take you up on it."

"Yeah, right. If you're not going to take advantage of me, leave me alone so I can get ready."

I went into the living room and decided to check out my computer to make sure everything was hooked up properly. I noticed a black cable running between my computer desk and the entertainment center. I looked a little closer and saw a DSL modem behind the computer and a cable box in near the TV. I fired up the computer, clicked on my browser and my home page came up immediately. I hit a couple of my bookmarks and each of them came right up.

Jill passed by the door on her way to the bedroom. I walked across the hallway.

"Hey, did you know we have cable? And DSL?"

"Daddy said he'd get that for us a while ago. I guess it's in. And DSL is transmitted on top of a phone line. This is a high speed internet connection."

"Well, excuuuuse me. Whatever it is, it's a hell of a lot faster than the phone line."

"That's good. I had DSL at home. I don't like dial up. Too slow."

She was pulling a shirt over her head and I could smell the faint odor of strawberries. I went over to her and held her arms, sniffing her hair.

"I didn't realize I missed that smell. You smell so good."

"Umm. My strawberry. I didn't realize how much I missed it either until last night."

She spun around and kissed me, wrapping her arms around my neck.

"God, Jack. I love you so much. Ready?"

"Sure. Let's go."



-------

Chapter 102

It was Thursday. That meant swim meet. This week was at home, which made it nice.

Sara and Chris were in the stands as was my sister, which was a surprise to me. The meet went well, our team winning five of six. Only a couple of weeks left; we'd probably place somewhere in the top five in the state, as long as we didn't fall apart.

I got elected to drive everybody home.

After my shower, I headed out to the parking lot. The three of them were standing near my car, talking to a girl I didn't recognize. As I got closer, Mary looked over at me.

"Jack, this is Cindy. She went all the way through junior high with me."

"Hi, Cindy. Nice to meet you."

"Mary says you're on the swim team."

"Yeah."

"She says you're the captain."

"She's right."

"I've never blown a captain before."

Chris had been watching us talk while drinking a Coke. He spewed Coke all over Sara, who proceeded to get mad.

"Well, Cindy, I'm sure it's not much different from blowing anybody else."

Mary pulled her arm. "Jack and his girlfriend just moved into a new apartment."

"Oh. Well, it was worth a shot."

Chris was trying to use the sleeve on his sweatshirt to rub the Coke off Sara's, which seemed to have the effect of spreading it more evenly over the front of her shirt. She pushed him away.

"I'll wash it when we get home. Hopefully we'll make it before it dries."

"I couldn't help it. Did you hear what she said?"

"What's so unusual about that? I've never blown a captain, either. How about you, Mary?"

"Nope. I gave a couple of co-captains hand jobs once, but no captains."

My sister, the freshman entertainment committee.

"Come on, girls. Get in the car so I can get Sara out of that shirt."

That got Sara moving. "Yes Sir. Right away Sir."

Mary got up front, as the other two got in back. I noticed they weren't sitting on top of each other as they usually did.

"Chris, your house or ours?"

"You might as well take me home, Jack."

"OK. Football game and the dance tomorrow."

"OK, Jack. See ya."

I got home and was surprised that Wanda's car wasn't there.

"I wonder where the girls are?"

Mary looked at me like I'd grown another head. "Jackie, she had a meet today, too. She probably ran as late or later than you did."

"I keep forgetting that. I wish I could go to one and see her."

"She said it looked like they would be in CIF this year. That's in November."

CIF stands for California Interscholastic Federation. They are a ruling board and pretty much run all the championships for high school sports. They've been around for a while. My Dad was on a football team that took the CIF championship in both his junior and senior years.

"Maybe I can get to one of the meets."

"You should be able to. She says they hold them on the weekends at one of the colleges."

Jill hadn't mentioned that to me. I was all set to mark it up to all the stuff that had been going on, but she'd found the time to tell Mary about it. I needed to show more interest in her activities.

Sara had taken off as soon as I pulled into the driveway. I was starting up the stairs to my place when she came out of the kitchen with a clean shirt on.

"Did you catch it in time?"

"I'm sure it will be fine. I just wanted to give Chris a hard time."

"Are you two doing OK?"

"I wanted to talk to you about that. Can we go inside?"

"Sure. I don't know how private we'll be when Jill gets home."

"That's OK. We'll work something out."

We walked up the steps and I unlocked the door to my new place. Bozo immediately came out and looked at me, as if for permission.

"Go on."

He took off down the steps like a shot. Unlike this morning, when he wouldn't budge without me, he had no problem going down the stairs by himself. He ran over to the grass near the gate and squatted.

"He looked glad to see you."

"He looked glad to see anybody. Come on."

I held the door and Sara went through. I left the door open so Bozo could find his way back in.

Sara and I headed into the kitchen. I kept my eye open for any "accidents" caused from leaving Bozo by himself all day. The place looked fine. There were a few pieces of dog food on the floor next to his bowl and the water was almost empty. The mat he'd been lying on was a little to the left of where it had been this morning, but all in all, it looked real good. I started to put some water in his bowl.

"See what there is to drink in the refrigerator."

She dug around and held out a carton of chocolate milk and a pitcher.

"Lemonade?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"That sounds good."

She put the milk back and took the pitcher over to the table. I had to open three cupboards before I found glasses. I was going to have to learn where everything was. After Jill and Wanda finished moving things around.

I'd been observing Sara since she told me she wanted to talk to me. Right about the time she didn't answer my question about how she and Chris were doing. She wasn't herself.

She didn't look as chipper as she usually was. Not quite worried or concerned. Not really troubled. Maybe thoughtful. She had something on her mind. Something she hadn't decided about.

I put the glasses in front of my chair and one next to it, then sat down.

Sara sat as I poured lemonade for both of us.

Bozo came inside and went over to his rug.

"What's up, Sara?"

"Something's bothering me."

"OK."

"Jack? How long did you have to keep on Jill before she let you do something with her?"

"I did something with her the night I met her. We watched the game, we held hands, we went to Perlione's, we kissed each other."

"You know what I mean."

"I thought Jill filled you in on all that stuff."

"She's told me a lot of the things you've done but not when. Did she take a lot of convincing?"

"Sara, what's this all about?"

"Chris is starting to push me to do stuff. Sometimes when we get alone he puts his hands all over me. I feel like we're wrestling. I just want to know how long I have until he decides he's had enough and leaves."

"I'd say three dates."

"Three dates?"

"Yeah, pretty much. If the girl hasn't put out by the end of the third date she's pretty much history."

"Really? We've gone out..."

I couldn't help it. I laughed out loud, leaned over and took her hand. She got this confused look on her face and then started to turn red.

"I'm sorry, Sara. I couldn't help it. You set yourself up too well."

"Very funny, Jack."

I squeezed her hand.

"OK, I'll try to be good."

I took a sip of my lemonade.

"So, Chris is starting to be too much for you, is he?"

"Jack, I'm just not ready."

"I know. I told him that when you two got back together. The important thing is, what do you want to do?"

"I don't want to have sex. I don't feel comfortable being touched."

"How do you feel about Chris? Other than the wandering hands, I mean?"

"I like him. He's a good friend. He's helped me a lot since I moved here."

"That doesn't sound very romantic."

"I like him. I don't think I love him."

"How do you think he feels about you?"

"He says he loves me."

"But you don't believe him."

"I do. I... I don't know."

"Have you told him honestly how you feel?"

"No."

"And you're not really sure what he tells you is true."

"No."

"It sounds like you two need to talk. Neither of you really knows where the other one is coming from. Do you ever talk?"

"Yeah. About stupid stuff, though. The games. The stupid people he wants to dress up as for the dance."

"OK. Let's pretend I've got a magic wand and can make whatever you want happen. What do you want your relationship with Chris to be like over the next six months?"

"I just want to get to know who he is. When we first started going together, he would talk about his guitar and he'd play for me and it was like I was seeing his soul. I haven't even seen a guitar forever. And he just tells me how he loves me and I should at least let him cop a feel."

"So, you don't like the way your relationship is going right now. How would you feel if he dumped you because you wouldn't put out?"

"Do you really think he'd do that?"

"He wouldn't be the first guy who ever did that to a girl. Would Chris? I have no idea. I don't know Chris as well as some people think. We hung around but for years, he was the dumb guy in the group, the one we all teased and played tricks on. And nobody really got to know him. I didn't have any idea he knew anything about guitar, much less that he played it until that Sunday at Jill's. But I'll tell you, if he does dump you because you don't put out before you're ready to, it's good to find out now instead of later. But you never told me. What do you want the next six months to be like?"

"I want to know who he is, what he likes, what he doesn't like. And maybe if I do, I'll have those feelings for him and I'll want to go further. But I don't want to be pushed."

"You need to tell him. He deserves to know where he stands. You two are acting like you have completely different goals. You might be surprised at what he has to say. But he deserves to know what you want. And don't want."

"Thanks, Jack. You know, you never answered me. How long did you have to work on Jill?"

"I didn't."

"I don't understand. You two..."

"She had me in her mouth two days after we met. I never knew what hit me."

"Oh. Now I feel bad."

"Sara, you don't feel about Chris the way Jill felt about me. You can't compare us. You can't compare Jill to anyone. She's special. Not that you aren't. But you're different."

I stood up and so did Sara.

"Thanks, Jack."

She kissed me on the cheek and wrapped her arms around me. We were standing in my new kitchen hugging each other when I heard Jill's voice.

"My, my. What have we here?"



-------

Chapter 103



I stood up and so did Sara.

"Thanks, Jack."

She kissed me on the cheek and wrapped her arms around me. We were standing in my new kitchen hugging each other when I heard Jill's voice.

"My, my. What have we here?"

"Oh, Hi Jill. It's not what you think."

"Oh, really? And what do you think I think?"

"You probably think this is all innocent and I did something nice and Sara's thanking me. It's really a prelude to going in the bedroom and having mad, passionate sex."

"Oh. I see. Well, in that case, I guess Wanda and I can do our thing here in the kitchen. Have fun."

"Thank you, Dear. How was the match?"

"We whupped their asses. How about you?"

"I won all my events. The team lost one. We'll still make the championships."

"Good. Dinner in about an hour, so you'd better get going. Make sure you change the sheets when you're done."

I grabbed Sara's hand and started to pull her out of the kitchen.

"Come on, Sara. We don't have a whole lot of time for me to take you to heaven."

Sara and Wanda were looking at each other, at me, at Jill as if the two of us had flipped our lids. Sara finally found her voice.

"Jill, I..."

"It's OK, Sara. He's going to screw whoever he feels like. It doesn't do any good to worry about it. You don't have any diseases, do you?"

"I... I..."

"That's good. Don't forget, I get him all to myself next Wednesday."

"Jill, I really don't want Jack."

"I know that, Sara. That's why you've still got your eyes. And why he's still got his balls."

I took Jill in my arms and kissed her.

"I turned down a blow job this afternoon, too."

"Really. From Sara?"

"No. A friend of Mary's"

Jill looked puzzled and Sara took over.

"It was funny. Mary introduced Cindy to Jack and Cindy told him she'd never blown a captain before. Chris spit Coke all over me."

"What did Jack do?"

"He told her captains weren't any different from anyone else."

She gave me a kiss.

"Good boy."

"Have you talked to Mom since you got home?"

"No."

"She was wondering if you wanted to do something together for dinner."

"I'm going to show Wanda how to make spaghetti the right way. We can make enough for everybody just as easy as for the three of us. I may not want to eat with them, though."

"Too important to eat with the commoners?"

"Not at all. I may want to talk to Wanda without everyone there."

"OK. I'm going to go do some homework and check emails. Should I talk to Mom or do you want to?"

She glanced in Wanda's direction. "Would you mind?"

"Sure. No problem. Come on, Sara. We can neck on the way. See ya later, Wanda."

"Uhhm, yeah, sure, Jack."

Bozo followed us outside. I let him through the gate, giving Queenie her scratch as I did.

"Are you OK?"

"I think so. I can't believe Jill."

"Why?"

"She's so different than before. I thought she was going to get all pissed off."

"There's no reason for that, Sara."

"I know that. But that didn't stop her before."

"No, it didn't. But some things have changed since then. And I told her it wasn't OK for her to be a bitch until she had all the facts. And I think she loooves me, too."

"God, Jack. I wish I had what you two have."

"Well, I'd love to give you some kind of platitude about how there's somebody waiting for you out there. I'm as amazed by us as anybody. I can't even say it's what I wished for because I never imagined I could be as happy as I am before she ran into me. But I hope you find someone for you."

"Maybe I should stand in lines, waiting for some guy to knock me over."

"Just be ready for it when it happens. I almost threw it away when it happened to me."

"What do you mean?"

"I had a real problem with Jill being so young. And she was trying to compensate for it by doing what she thought was grown up. Thank God Mom pointed out some things to me before I did something stupid."

"Your Mom's pretty special."

"Oh, yeah. And she sucks a mean banana."

That comment got me a red face, a slap on the arm and a "Ja-ack!" And a smile.

I opened the kitchen door and held it for Sara, swatting her on the ass and making her jump as she went through. Mom was at the sink.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, Jackie. Is Jill home?"

"Yeah. I was sent down to tell you that she and Wanda are making spaghetti and they can make enough for everyone if you want."

"They aren't using Wanda's recipe, are they?"

"No, Jill's. Oh, I forgot. You missed out on Wanda's spaghetti. Maybe I can get her to cook it for you some time. Maybe next Wednesday when Jill and I are gone."

"That's OK, Jack. Tell Jill we'll be happy to have you all down here and see if there's anything I can make."

"She and Wanda are going to talk, so they'll probably eat at our place. I don't even know if I'll be welcome. I may end up delivering the spaghetti and then staying."

"Whatever you decide will be fine, Jack."

"OK. I'm going to go do some homework."

"Don't forget about me making something."

"I'm going to have to run a string between the two places and install a couple of tin cans."

"You don't need to do that. John ordered a phone. It will be in tomorrow afternoon."

"We don't need that. It's not that big a problem to come down here."

"I don't think he got it for you. I think he wants to be able to call Jill."

"Well, there goes our privacy."

"Come on, Jack. When's the last time he called over here?"

"It's been a while."

"See? And you can always unplug it."

"Yeah, like she'll let me do that."

"Poor Baby."

It was obvious I wasn't going to get any sympathy from her. I was just going to have to bite the bullet and put up with the new phone. I flashed back to a Heinlein book about a conversation between a doctor and his daughter. When the first telephones were installed, he told her that the era of the doctor's house call was coming to an end. Once any idiot could pick up a phone and summon a doctor instead of having to get on a horse and ride for a couple of hours, doctors would be called out in the middle of the night for any ache and pain. Sort of like hospital emergency rooms today. Jill would think nothing of rolling off me to pick up a phone. Where she'd probably think twice if she had to get dressed and walk down to the house.

I went into the kitchen. Jill and Wanda were sitting down, talking. Wanda looked shook up. Nobody volunteered anything so I didn't ask. I'd know anything I needed to know soon enough.

Jill said Mom could make a salad if she wanted but didn't have to. I went down, played messenger, then went back upstairs and got out my homework.

I had a writing assignment for English due in eight days. It was good to be able to sit down at my computer, in my home, and not have to get permission to use it.

A half hour later, I smelled spaghetti sauce cooking in the kitchen. Twenty minutes after that, Jill came out to the living room.

"We aren't done yet, Jack. Could you do me a favor and eat with your family tonight? I want to talk with Wanda alone."

"Sure. Is she going to take you to school?"

"Probably. If there's any change, I'll let you know."

I went up to the kitchen with her. Wanda was sitting at the table and there were a couple of plates with spaghetti and sauce on the table. Wanda looked like she'd been crying.

Jill reached into a cabinet under the counter and pulled out a couple of large Tupperware containers. She handed me one.

"Take care of the sauce."

She pointed to the pot on the stove and moved over to the sink. There was a big colander filled with spaghetti that she started to spoon into her container. I got started with the ladle in the sauce, then picked it up and started to pour it into my container. Jill came over with a big spoon and scooped out the stubborn part.

She put lids on them, piled them in my arms and gave me a shove.

"Thanks, Jack. Tell Mom we don't need any salad."

Those were the words. I think she was really saying "Go away and leave us alone." What was new and different about it was that I was OK about it. I knew I'd be back and that she'd be waiting for me. Right now, she was doing something important to her.

I took the containers downstairs. Bozo was standing up against the gate. He wasn't whining yet. I think he was giving me the benefit of the doubt, ready to go into whine mode if he didn't get what he wanted.

"Hang on, Fool. I'll be back in a minute."

I banged on the back door with my knee. Mary opened it and moved out of the way. Sara was standing next to the sink, slicing veggies on a cutting board. Dino had been kicked off his mat when Mary had to open the door for me. He made his way over to the wall under the phone and lay down out of the way. Mary took the container with the sauce off the top.

"Over here, Jack."

I followed her to the counter, just past Sara, and put the spaghetti down next to the sauce.

I was going to go out and let Bozo come inside, but when I started to go outside, Dino got up and went out with me. He went over to the back gate and the two of them sniffed each other, wiggling and wagging their tails, both whining a bit. I opened the gate and Dino shot through, both of them running and playing as they took off into the yard. Queenie came over to the gate to get another scratch.

Mom and the girls were sitting down at the table when I went back inside. Each place had a bowl of salad and a plate of spaghetti. Mary was putting some grated Parmesan cheese on hers.

"I think that's one thing we don't have."

Mom held the fork of salad away from her mouth.

"What's that, Jack?"

"Cheese for the spaghetti."

"Mary, put some in a bowl and take it up to Jill, please."

"Aw, Mom."

"Don't aw mom me. She went to the trouble to cook dinner, the least you can do is take up some cheese."

"Yes, Mom."

She was back a couple of minutes later. Both dogs fought to get through the crack in the door first when she opened it. Once inside, they couldn't figure out where to go until Mary closed the door and they both went over to the rug. Mary sat down at her place.

"They were busy. It felt like they didn't want me there."

"Welcome to the club. She really wants to talk to Wanda."

Mom said, "Good for her. I'd say Wanda needs to be put over someone's knee, but I'm afraid that may be the problem."

Mary took a deep breath. "You think John's hitting her?"

"I don't know. He's obviously doing something to her if she has problems walking the next day. The question is, is she going along with it because it's what he wants or because it's something they both want?"

The back door opened and Jill stuck her head inside.

"We're leaving for school. I'll see you at 9:30."

"Don't I get a kiss?"

She came into the kitchen and walked over to me. I got up and wrapped my arms around her as we kissed.

"I love you, Babe."

"Me too. See you after school."

With that, she was out the door.



-------

Chapter 104



At 9:25, I pulled into the parking lot at the junior college. I got out and made my way over to the gate. The guard checked me out, recognized me and waved. I was waving back when Jill ran up to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I spun her around as she kissed me. Kind of like Mary Tyler Moore without the hat. Or was that That Girl?

"Wow. This is new. Why so affectionate?"

"Can I help it if I miss you?"

"No, I guess not. I'd rather have you in my arms than have you ignore me."

"Then stop complaining."

"I wasn't... Yes, Dear."

She grinned at me as if she'd won something and took my hand. We headed out toward the parking lot, waving at the smiling guard.

I let her in the car and walked around to my side. She unlocked my door as I walked up to it. Her belt was done up and she was holding onto my arm before I started the engine.

"How did your talk with Wanda go?"

"All right."

"You don't sound all right."

"Yeah, I know. Let's not talk about that now, OK?"

"Sure. I'm here when and if you need me."

"Jack, you don't know how much I need you. And I know you're here. Right now, I just need you to be here and let me hold you. We can talk when we get home."

"OK. Tell me about school."

"School was good. We got a project that's due in a couple of weeks. I need to use Excel to design a pie chart. Piece of cake."

"Jill, are you taking a class about stuff you already know?"

"Yes. And No. I've been exposed to most of the things we go over. I'm more advanced on a lot of it. There have been a few things we've gone over that I learned things I didn't know before. You know, tricks and shortcuts. Things I could have gone on forever without knowing about but are still nice to know. But I can't get into any of the more advanced courses without doing this one. I could probably challenge the course and test out, but that would cost the same and I wouldn't get any of the extras I'm getting now. And they don't let high school sophomores take the advanced classes. So it's not hurting anything. Plus, there are a lot of guys in the class who want to get in my pants, so I've got that going for me."

"So, should I be jealous of these guys?"

"What do you think?"

"I think I'd be devastated if you ever did anything. And I don't believe you ever would."

"What, you don't think I'm pretty enough?"

"Jill, you're beautiful. I love you more than life itself. And I'm pretty sure you love me, too. I know I can't even imagine being with someone other than you. And I hope you feel the same about me."

She squeezed my arm and scrunched up to me.

"That's what I love about you, Jack. You know me so well."

"Some things. You know what I found out today that I didn't know?"

"What?"

"Mary told me that you guys are probably going to make CIF."

"I must have told you about that."

"Nope. Today was the first I heard about it.

"If you say so. November 19th. It's a Saturday. It looks like we'll be going to Cypress College. There will be eight teams and there'll be four matches in the morning to get down to four teams, then another two to get down to two. Those two will play on Sunday to find the Southern California winner. That team goes up to Berkley the following Sunday to play the Northern California team."

"I'm not sure, but I think Thanksgiving is one of those weekends."

"Probably. But Thanksgiving's on Thursday. The matches are on the weekend. It'll work out OK."

"Hey, I don't mind. As long as I don't miss my turkey.

"I'll make sure you don't."

"So, what do you want to do for Thanksgiving? Eat with your father and Wanda or with my family?"

"Jack, that's almost a month. I don't know if there will be a Daddy and Wanda by then. Or if I'll even be talking to my father."

"That doesn't sound like you. Are you sure you're OK?"

"I'll be fine, Jack. Just give me a while, OK?"

"OK. So what are your chances of winning the title?"

"We've got a good team. Our chances are as good as anyone's. As long as it's not rigged."

"You don't think it's rigged, do you?"

"Not really. But you hear people complain. It may be they weren't that good, it could be the judges. We'll do our best and see what happens."

"You'll be number one in my book, no matter what."

"Oh, Jack. You're so sweet."

We pulled up and the floods in front and on the side of the garage went on.

"That's new."

"Yeah, Mom told me Alex had them put on a motion sensor. I guess your father complained to him about fumbling around in the dark when he got here last night."

"Last night. It seems a lot longer than one night."

"Yeah, it seems like forever."

She squeezed me and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, let's go in."

We were just about to the stairs when the kitchen door opened and Sara stuck her head out.

"You forgot something."

Bozo ran out the door and up to Jill. She squatted down and made a big fuss over him as he licked her face.

"Jill, you know what else he licks, don't you?"

"Yep. Same thing I do, Jack. He licks his, I lick yours. And I don't remember any complaints from you."

"She's got you there, Jack."

"Sara, don't you have something to do in the house?"

"I suppose I can find something. Goodnight, guys."

"Goodnight, Sara."

We went upstairs and I was about to unlock the door when Jill stopped me.

"Let me. Please?"

I stepped back while Jill dug through her purse looking for her key. She grinned triumphantly when she found it; the grin got wider when she finally got the door unlocked and opened. I could have had us in the house a full minute before that. There are times when efficiency takes a back seat to love.

Jill took her laptop into the bedroom and put in on her desk.

"Let me go potty and then we'll have some dessert and talk."

I went into the kitchen and noticed that the table still had dishes on it. I took them over to the sink, rinsed them off and put them in the dishwasher. I followed them with the pots and colander from dinner. I could hear the tinkle of pee through the open door to the bathroom.

"What do you want for dessert?"

"I saw some Sara Lee in the freezer. Pull out a couple and we can warm them in the microwave. Milk to drink."

I found a package of raspberry pastries and worked a couple of them loose and put them on a plate.

"How long do I put them in for?"

I heard the toilet flush and the water go on in the sink.

"Just get the milk. I'll take care of it."

I got us a couple of glasses of milk and left the gallon on the table. Jill was putting the plate in the microwave as I got some small plates for us.

"I could have done that. I just didn't know how long."

"You're right. I just put it on 15 seconds."

The microwave dinged. Jill took out the plate, checked them and put it back in again.

"Another five."

She was happy with the results when she pulled them out the next time. She brought the plate over to the table.

"I'm sorry, Jack. I'm used to my father. He seems to think you cook something in a microwave until it bubbles. And if you try to tell him any different, he gets all pissy."

"Well, I'll try not to get pissy, Jill."

She lay her hand on mine.

"I know you will. So, I guess it's time. You're probably wondering what's up with Wanda and my father."

Yes, I am."

"Well, this is from Wanda. I haven't heard my father's side, but I don't think Wanda would lie to me."

"It doesn't sound good, Jill. You haven't called him 'Daddy' for a while."

"You noticed that, did you? The man Wanda told me about and the Daddy I know are two different people."

She took a bite of her pastry, a sip of milk and sighed.

"These are good. So, back to Daddy and Wanda. It seems like my father is doing everything he can to make life miserable for Wanda."

"What do you mean?"

"As near as I can figure out, things went sour right after the Sunday we spent over there."

"Poopsie."

"Excuse me?"

"That was the day Wanda called him Poopsie. One of you girls said we weren't going to get lucky because we didn't watch all of Love Story. Wanda said she might make an exception for her Poopsie. All of us guys were making fun of him about it. That was the day Wanda fucked up the spaghetti. And he didn't pick on her; he went in to comfort her."

"I wouldn't say she fucked it up."

"OK. What would you call it?"

She thought, then giggled.

"It was pretty fucked up, wasn't it?"

"The point is, he was Mr. Understanding before she said that. The next night we went over and he was a complete asshole."

"I wouldn't say..."

"Jill, you were there. Nothing she did was right. She didn't have the silverware out, the food wasn't on the table the minute he walked in, she had to get up and serve him, she got yelled at for getting potatoes on his meat, the coffee had been on too long. You know damn well the poor girl couldn't do anything to please him that night. Don't forget, you're the one who lied about going to the bookstore so we could get out of there."

"I wouldn't say I lied."

"Jill, did you go to the bookstore?"

"No."

"Were you supposed to?"

"Not really."

"Not really. Jill, you lied to your father. You told him something that wasn't true, you made up something. You were uncomfortable and wanted to get the hell out of there. Just like I did."

"You're right."

"I don't know what else happened. I do know that he was embarrassed when she called him Poopsie and we razzed him about it. That was the last thing I saw before he turned into an asshole. Did Wanda have anything to say?"

"She said it was after she messed up the spaghetti. I didn't think about it. He did go in and comfort her."

"That's right. And they were sitting in the same chair when Love Story started. Up till the point it started getting sickening."

"Oh, I don't think it was sickening."

"Jill, you're a girl. You don't know what it's like for a guy to sit through that sap. It was sickening. The point is, even when John left, everything was fine between them. And she was all lovey-dovey when it was over. Way after the spaghetti and the chicken we went out and got."

"You're right. I don't think there was anything else. Like I said, she thought it was the spaghetti."

"OK. So what else? She wasn't limping around because he picked on her at the table."

"No. He spanked her."

"That must have been one hell of a spanking if she couldn't walk the next day."

"She said he used a belt."

"Ouch."

"He told her she needed to learn a lesson. He was the boss and he wasn't going to put up with that shit. She says he went a little wild on her."

"Is she as much in denial about it as you are?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Well let's see. You wouldn't say she fucked up. He wasn't really an asshole. You didn't lie. He spanked her. He went a little wild. Jill, he could probably be put in jail for assault if she was hurt as much as you say she was. Or were you exaggerating how bad she was hurting the day you went over and she had trouble walking?"

"No, she had that much trouble."

"Do you think what he's doing is OK? Do you really see any difference between the way he's acting and the way Sara's father did when she ended up in the hospital?"

"Jack it can't be... Oh, shit."

I could see the tears starting and the mouth quivering. I got up and went over to her, pulling her into my arms just as she started to let go. I held her tight as her whole body shook with her sobs.

Nothing was said for the next ten to fifteen minutes. We held on to each other and I stroked her hair. I couldn't bring myself to give her the usual assurances that everything was going to be all right, there was nothing to worry about. I didn't know if that was true, despite her desperate need to sugar coat it.

I was sure Wanda was just as bad, if not worse. She did tell Jill to leave it alone the day before when Jill tried to find out what was going on. Quite frankly, I was worried for Wanda's safety.

Jill finally settled down a bit.

"I couldn't see it."

"I know."

"Jack, it's just that he's my Daddy. My Daddy isn't like that."

"I know. I know." I held her close, stroking her hair.

"She said he was all right last night."

"What happened last night?"

"He pretty much stayed away from her."

"Did she move out?"

"No."

"I hope she doesn't push him. He could blow again."

"What do you mean?"

"Jill, have you ever seen a wild animal that gets trapped?"

"No."

"No nature shows or anything like that?"

"Well, yeah, I've seen stuff like that."

"What happens when someone tries to come near them?"

"The animal fights."

"That's right. It doesn't matter if that person is there to help the animal get free. It's a matter of survival and it attacks. I'm afraid your father is like that."

"Daddy's not a wild animal."

"No. But I think he realizes he's trapped. And he's too civilized to just walk away."

"I can't believe my Daddy's behaving like a wild animal."

"OK. I'm not going to get into a fight about it. I'd just feel better if Wanda wasn't there with him."

I downed my milk and started to clean up. Jill had a small piece of pastry left and held it out for Bozo.

"I'll take him outside before we go to bed."

"Good. I need to get a bra ready for school tomorrow."

"Oh. Are you going to run a load of laundry?"

"No, I'll use the sink in the bathroom. It's only one bra."

"Don't you have other bras?"

"Not for what I want to wear."

"I don't get it."

"Jack, it's a woman thing. You take Bozo outside, I'll take care of my bra and everything will be fine."

"Whatever. Come on Bozo."



-------

Chapter 105



Bozo turned on the spotlights by running out the door and down the stairs. He squatted, said hello to Queenie and was on his way back before I reached the fence to say Hi to Queenie myself.

Of course, I had to take a look and see what the setup with the lights was before I made it over there. There were motion sensors hooked up to all four spotlights and any one of them would turn on all the lights. That would be an interesting circuit to design and install. Especially when the fixtures were already up. I wouldn't be surprised if Alex had run some extra wiress here and there to make changes easier down the road. The motion detectors looked like they belonged where they were instead of the afterthought they actually were.

I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Jill had forgotten to put her hairbrush away so I put it in the drawer with her hair dryer.

She was talking to Bozo as I went into the bedroom, telling him how good he was, what a pretty boy, the usual owner to dog B.S. He seemed to be buying it. She held both sides of his head and kissed him on the nose.

"Go lie down on your rug."

He stood up and headed out, down the hall towards the kitchen.

"Damn, you look good."

She smiled and did a little curtsy.

Tonight's nightgown was green. It had several layers and came down just past the bottom of her ass. I could see a slight discoloration and twin puckers where her nipples were trying to push through the fabric. When she moved, I noticed matching panties with several horizontal rows of frill across her backside. I wondered if they would be comfortable when sitting, but then I don't suppose that's what it was designed for.

"So, did you get your bra taken care of?"

"Yes, thank you."

"I don't get it. You've got a drawer full of bras but you needed that one. What's so special about it?"

"The fastener is different. It looks better with the top I'm wearing tomorrow."

"I still don't get it."

"Don't worry about it, Jack. I've got it all under control."

I took my pants off and tossed them on the chair between our closet doors.

"Jack."

"Yeah?"

She pointed at a hamper next to my dresser.

"How did that get there?"

"Your mother put it there. I guess she's not going to come up here and pick up after you."

"Yeah, I guess you've got that job, now."

She pointed at the hamper again. She did not look amused.

"Hey, it's only fair. I put your hairbrush away."

Her face reminded me of storm clouds coming in. Just before a tornado.

"OK, OK. I'll put my clothes in the hamper, Dear."

I stripped, making sure everything made its way into the hamper, then went to grab a pair of shorts out of the dresser.

"You won't need those tonight, Jack."

She slipped her frilled panties off and tossed them in the direction of the hamper. They fell a foot and a half short. I bent over, picked them up and put them inside, closing the lid.

"Thank you, Jack. Come to bed."

"Yes, Dear."

When I'd remarked that we now had a bed frame instead of keeping the box springs and mattress on the floor as we had in the living room, Jill had said something to indicate she was happy about it. As I got into bed tonight, I realized she was right. For some reason, it felt more comfortable with the bed frame than without. Probably all in the mind, but it did feel good. I slid over to Jill and took her in my arms.

"This feels comfy. I like being in here with you, Jill."

"Umm. Me, too."

Somehow, our bodies molded together and our mouths found each other. Soft, sweet, demanding. Our tongues explored their mates, reveling in their discovery. My left arm was around her, the hand on her back, pulling her close to me. The right hand held a breast, hefting its weight, toying with the nipple. I felt a hand make its way down my stomach and settle on my cock. I could feel it expand as she played with it. She pulled her mouth off mine.

"Jack, I want to make love to you with my mouth."

"Umm. Why don't you flip around so I can do you, too."

"No. Not tonight. Just relax and let me love you."

I lay back. My arm was still around her but I wasn't pulling her in as before. She rolled over and moved up and it ended up on her butt. I could feel the divide under the fabric of her nightgown, then the bare skin where it had worked its way up.

She kissed all over my face. Gentle, light kisses. Exploring, experiencing, loving my eyes, my forehead, my nose, cheeks, all over my lips. I tried to kiss back; she pulled away.

"Just relax."

She worked more on my cheeks, down to my chin and jawbone, then my neck. She kissed around my collarbone, then my pecs, licking and nipping at each nipple, then moving on. At one point she grabbed some hair on my chest between her teeth and pulled back, shaking her head slightly, growling.

She picked up my right hand and took my thumb into her mouth. It was hot and moist and I could feel the suction and her tongue as she slid the thumb out as her mouth grasped it. She repeated this with each finger, first on the right hand, then the left. She took the right hand and turned it over, licking every inch of the palm. This was repeated on the left. Then she kissed her way down my right arm, from the heel of my hand to my armpit. I discovered that the inside of my wrist and just below the elbow on the inside of my arm were erogenous. As were my armpits. Each got thoroughly washed by her tongue.

Each arm was done as a unit. Once the left was finished, she started working down my sides, from the armpit to my waist. Ten or fifteen kisses each, alternating right to left, the same spot on each side. She then moved back up to my chest, kissing on top of the diaphragm, just below my pectoral muscles. Back and forth, over my whole front, working down to my stomach, culminating with her tongue exploring my navel. The anticipation and sensitivity combined and I raised up when she stuck her tongue inside me, my weight on my head and my feet, the rest of me off the bed.

She giggled and removed her tongue. I settled down and my body shivered a bit, on its own. Another giggle.

She'd been moving the covers out of the way as she made her way down my body. Now she took hold of them and flipped them off me and onto the floor.

"Move up. All the way."

I wriggled my body up until my head was almost up to the bookshelf that comprised the headboard.

She got up and stood at the foot of the bed, lay on her stomach, and proceeded to work on my toes as she so recently had on my fingers. Once finished, she licked and kissed every square inch on the soles of both feet, giggling whenever my reflexes demanded that I yank them back. Her hands prevented them from being pulled away from her and she continued her ministrations.

Once the soles were complete, she worked on the tops of each foot, kissing, licking, blowing, just rubbing her lips across the skin. Back and forth, right, then left, then the tops of my legs. The ankles, shins, knees, more giggles as my body reacted to the sensations. She spent days on my thighs, tasting and testing every part she could reach. She licked on the inside, just below the junction of my legs.

She was lying between my legs. I felt hands beneath them, about the middle of the thighs. They lifted and I helped, bending my knees, moving my feet up. She started to push out to the side and I pulled my feet closer to my butt but farther apart from each other.

"Lift yourself up."

I put my weight on my back, just below my shoulders, and on my feet, lifting my butt off the mattress. Her hands moved back and up, holding onto my cheeks, spreading them apart. She scrunched up and somehow worked her tongue between them, licking on either side of the valley, culminating with my anus. Her tongue explored it, her lips sucked on it, she inserted her tongue and fucked it in and out, spreading me, stimulating the nerves.

It seemed as though she'd explored every inch when she pulled her tongue out and moved up, her tongue swiping between my balls and my ass. Over and over and over. Softly licking, then probing with the point of her tongue. When she was satisfied she'd finished with it, she worked up further, licking, then laving, then trying to swallow my balls. She was able to get the whole sack and both balls in her mouth. She held it there, longer than I could hold my breath, toying with my testicles with her pliant tongue. It was as if she was massaging them with a handful of honey. Warm honey.

She took my feet and made as if to move them away from my butt.

"Come on. Lie down. Relax."

I realized I was still balanced on my feet and the top of my back. I let myself drop and straightened out my legs. Her body was between them, resting on her elbows, her head above my thighs.

"Somebody's messy."

I lifted up my head. My penis was straight and hard and longer than I'd ever seen it, pointing almost straight up at the ceiling. I could see precum flowing out of the end. I lifted up a bit more. There was a puddle around the base.

Jill bent into it and started to lick it up. She would swipe the end, removing what was there, then put her lips next to the base and suck and lick up part of the puddle, then lick from bottom to top, cleaning off the precum but leaving saliva in its place, then go back to the head because more had escaped. This cycle was repeated several times, and then she started to take the head in her mouth, hold it, rub her tongue around, apply a little suction, then release it and find more of the puddle. She licked the shaft, leaving it wetter than she found it.

"Saliva is your friend."

My body had a mind of its own. It wanted to shove my cock in something. Her mouth, her pussy, her ass, it really didn't care. But it did not like the fact that she was licking it all over and just playing with it in her mouth, then releasing it. At several points, my hands had made their way to her head and tried to maneuver it into position so I could bury myself in her. She gently but firmly removed them and placed them on the mattress at my side.

My back was one solid knot. It had tensed shortly after she started working on my balls and had gotten tighter and tighter as she continued. Since I couldn't put my hands on her head, they were grasping and letting go of the sheets continually.

Jill finally decided that I was cleaned off. How she could tell with all the saliva is beyond me.

"Just lie there and pretend you're a banana."

She lifted her head so that her mouth was directly above the head of my penis. Her mouth opened and I could feel the warmth of her breath. My fists clamped, my back, my legs, my stomach and my arms all turned into one solid muscle. She leaned a bit closer.

"My mouth's a bit tired. Maybe some other time."

I think I screamed. I don't know. My body was so far on overload I just blew a circuit or two. I woke up to find her sliding her mouth down my manhood, smoothly, gently. Her tongue, a cross between warm honey and butter was caressing the skin, sending sensations to my brain that fought those of her warm, wet mouth, sucking me in deeper and deeper. Somehow, she was smiling as she did all this.

I felt something blocking my way. It disappeared as she gulped and I was suddenly in another couple of inches. I could feel her lips around my stalk. Maybe an inch and a half from the hair at the base.

I felt, then I heard Jill say MMMMM. From the head of my cock to a point an inch or so closer to me, her throat vibrated on the skin. It was like nothing I'd ever felt before. And then I felt the warm breath as she exhaled through her nostrils, penetrating the pubic hair between my stomach and my cock, down to the skin.

She breathed in through her nose; a big, deep breath. And then she just sank down on me, burying her nose in my hair. Another MMMMM, more breathing. She held me in her throat, forever. I wanted to pump but held my body in check so as not to damage her. And then she started to swallow. She would gulp and I would feel it on the upper half of my cock. Tight and then tighter, higher, then lower, massaging my cock with her gullet. Her nose was still pressed against my skin, buried in the hair.

I tried, really I did. But my body rebelled and my hips lifted off the bed, taking her with it. It was seeking to seat me further in her throat, which was impossible. You can't go further in than all the way.

Her lips clamped around the base, her tongue flattened against the bottom of the shaft, her cheeks sank in as she sucked for all she was worth.

And I erupted. I have never come like that before. It was as if I exploded. She actually jerked back, a fraction of an inch, her hands digging into the outsides of my thighs, holding on for the ride. Once, twice, three times, four. My juices flooded her throat, straight down her gullet, into her stomach. She gulped some more and milked me. It felt as though my soul emptied into her.

I felt her hands on mine, gently yet firmly prying them off her head. I guess I'd grabbed her and pulled, trying to get that extra quarter inch further into her throat.

I let go of her head and tried to relax my body. Synapses must have been firing every few seconds; I'd jerk for no reason other than the overload she caused.

I felt myself dwindle in Jill's mouth. She slowly slid up. I slid out past the entrance to her throat, her tongue dragging across the bottom, a living kiss. She maintained the suction until she pushed the tip out of her mouth. Not a pop, a soft release.

My cock lay on my pubis, pointing up at my navel, a fraction of its former size, her face a couple of inches above me. She took her first unobstructed breath since this had started, an eternity ago. I lifted up. She looked proud of herself. She'd set out to do something and she'd done it. Oh, God, how she'd done it.

"I can go to heaven, now."

"I thought I just took you there."

"Yeah, you did. But now I can die happy."

"Not yet. We still have a few things left to do."

"You're right. We have a birthday."

"Yes, we do."

She got up and stood at the end of the bed, picking up the edge of the covers. She got on her knees, holding them up to the back of her neck, over her shoulders, and crawled up, pulling them with her. She flicked them some way that only a woman knows and they floated over us as if she'd made the bed normally. She twisted around to face me, wrapping her arms around me. I took her in my arms and we kissed. He mouth seemed loose, as if it had been stretched.

"Are you OK?"

"Yeah. A little sore. I think I used some muscles a little more than I normally use them. A little differently."

"That was fantastic. I never came like that before."

"Yeah, I was pretty good. It felt like you were trying to blow my head off, though."

"That's why I was holding onto it so tight."

"Yeah, Right. I'm sure that was the reason."

"Jill, there's something I've been curious about. I've heard girls talk about how gross it is to go down on a guy, how terrible his sperm is, all kinds of things. But you started doing it without being asked and you've always swallowed. And I know Mom must be pretty good at it by the way she worked that banana the other night. Do you enjoy going down on me?"

"For the most part, yes. I love the feeling of you in my mouth, being able to take you from the way you are now to strong and firm and drooling. I like the textures, the smoothness of the head, the way it feels solid yet moves around. I like to feel it grow just before it starts pumping. And I like to be able to give you so much pleasure that you don't know what to do with yourself and finally lose control.

"Would I go to a gourmet restaurant and order a bowl of come? I don't think so. It's too thick and has too much salt. But it's a part of you. And I can tell how much you like it when I swallow it. Somehow, I don't think it would be the same for either of us if I spit you out when you were ready to come. I could keep it in my mouth and spit it out, but I'd still have the feel and the taste of it. And I'd have to find some place to spit it. It's just as easy to swallow it. And it's like taking some of you inside me. I like that."

"OK. I would hate to think I forced you to do something you didn't want to."

"Do you really think you could do that, Jack?"

"No, I guess not."

"I guess not, too. Good night, Jack."

She rested her head on my chest, her fist against me, my arm around her. Shortly after, she was asleep. It didn't take long for me to follow.



-------

Chapter 106



Neither of us wanted to get out of bed when the alarm went off. I hadn't looked at the clock when we'd finally dozed off, but I know it was probably 1or 2 in the morning. For every gain, there's some loss; it's all a matter of balance. As far as I was concerned, I was way ahead in the plus column this morning.

I stumbled out of bed and was all set to go down to the kitchen when I heard a quiet whine coming from the living room. Bozo didn't have any problem getting up with the alarm. He was waiting patiently by the front door for me to let him out.

"Good Boy." I patted him on the head and opened the door. He took off down the stairs and I left the door open for his return.

I made my way down the hallway to the kitchen, only running into the wall once. Eyes open, Jack. Eyes open.

I checked the coffee filter for used grounds, found it empty and put a couple of scoops of fresh coffee inside it. I took the carafe over to the refrigerator door and filled it. I was alert enough to empty the carafe into the coffee maker without spilling it all over the place. It went on the hotplate and I pressed the button until the green light came on.

I know that hot water travels thirty feet much faster than it goes 150. I'd even noted that our shower turned hot almost immediately, unlike the shower in the kids' bathroom in the house. I guess it was a combination of too little sleep, no coffee yet and the habit of years of taking morning showers in the house that made me do it.

I got my toothbrush, put some toothpaste on it and put it under the water in the sink. Using my left hand, I put my toothbrush in my mouth and started brushing my teeth. I walked sideways to the shower, reminiscent of a crab. I opened the door and reached in, turning on the water so it would be good and hot when I was ready. Closing the door, I started back towards the sink when I heard it.

It was the kind of noise the girl in a slasher movie makes when she realizes she's a goner and there's nothing she can do about it. The kind of noise that sets your hair on end.

Something streaked by me, knocking me into the sink. Somehow I had enough control to keep from burying the toothbrush in my throat.

I heard the shower door open and bounce off the wall. And then, "Oh, My God."

I looked over to my right. Jill was standing next to the open shower door. The shower was on full blast, spraying water into the enclosure. Steam was making its way up and out into the bathroom. Jill had a soggy, dripping brassiere in her right hand. She looked like she'd lost her best friend.

A puddle was forming on the Formica, directly below the bra. I kept my mouth shut.

"Jack. How could you? Now what am I going to do?"

I'm usually pretty good on my feet. I knew there had to be an answer. I was perplexed. Bewildered. Flummoxed.

"I'm sorry."

"Oh, Jack."

She headed out of the bathroom with the evidence of my thoughtlessness in her hand. Somehow, I was able to finish brushing my teeth and take a shower without screwing anything else up.

Using her hair dryer, the stove or microwave, even the actual clothes dryer all came to mind as possible solutions. But I knew we were beyond solutions. I'd sabotaged all her hard work to have a bra that would go with her outfit today, and there was no way to make it better.

I went into the bedroom, got a pair of white briefs from a drawer that was full of white briefs and slipped them on. I went to my closet, got and put on a pair of jeans. I looked over my T-shirts and chose a green one. I took three socks out of my sock drawer, found the two that matched, put the odd one back and sat on the bed to put them on. It was a lot simpler before we changed from Costco to Sam's Club and all my socks were the same. Now I had some that were all white and others that had a black ring around the top. But pulling three out of the drawer guaranteed at least two of the same.

Once I had my socks on, I put on my tennies and I was ready.

Jill was wearing a pair of panties, pantyhose and nothing else. There were two blouses lying on the bed, still in hangers. She had a dresser drawer open and would remove a bra, hold it up near the blouses, shake her head, sigh and take it back to the drawer. After three or four bras, I went into the kitchen, poured myself some coffee and looked around for something for breakfast.

There was a package of breakfast burritos in the freezer. I put four of them on a plate and put them in the microwave. I poured a cup of coffee for Jill and took that and two of the burritos into the bedroom. She was still dressed as before. I put the food on her desk, taking care to put it on the blotter instead of the wood.

"I brought you some breakfast."

"Thank you."

I went inside and had my burritos and coffee.

Jill came out as I was putting my dishes in the dishwasher.

"Hey. That looks good."

"Thank you."

She had chosen a skirt and a blouse that looked really sharp. I couldn't see anything wrong with it. But her response had been lukewarm, at best.

"Ready to leave?"

"OK."

Neither of us said anything on the way to school. She sat next to me but kept her hands in her lap. We pulled into the lot and she was all set to slide out. I reached out and took her arm.

"Jill, I'm sorry. I know you washed that bra last night, but I had no idea it was in the shower."

"Well, hasn't Mary ever left clothes in the shower to dry?"

"No, Mary knows that other people need to use the bathroom and doesn't leave stuff all over the place."

Amazing. As soon as the words were out of my mouth, I marveled at how I could fit both feet inside it and still talk.

"Jill. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that the way it came out."

"No, Jack, you're right." She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "I'll see you tonight."

"Wait a minute. Is Wanda going to bring you home? Should I go to our place or your father's?"

"She's bringing me to our place. I'll see you later, Jack."

Somehow, I made it to school, about as alert as I had been walking down the hall earlier.

I hadn't paid much attention while I was at Jill's school. For a minute, I wondered if I'd changed universes as I pulled into the parking lot at my own school.

It seemed as if every other girl was Britney Spears. Or a Britney Spears wannabee. It finally registered that Halloween was Sunday. Tonight was the Halloween dance and I guess it was as good an excuse as any to get dressed up. There was an awful lot of cleavage, front and back, thanks to some really, really low hip huggers. And a lot of belly buttons, too. Not too bad if you have the figure for it, but there were some girls who looked just plain gross. There were a few guys who hadn't shaved and some who used the day as an excuse to wear shorts, but I didn't notice any guys with real costumes on.

I was on my way to class when I heard Sara's voice.

"Thanks a lot, Jack."

Oh, shit. Now what. I looked over to see her standing nearby, hands on her hips.

"You took off without us."

"God, I'm sorry. I turned on the shower this morning."

"What?"

"Jill had a special bra that she'd washed. I soaked it."

"Oh, boy. How bad is it?"

"Oh, I'm sure it'll be OK once it dries."

"Not the bra, Dummy. How bad is it between the two of you. How mad is she?"

"I don't know that she's mad. She was kind of acting like a martyr."

"Oh, Boy. You're in for it now."

"Well, she kind of changed when I told her Mary didn't leave stuff all over the place."

"You didn't!"

"Yeah, I guess I did."

"Looks like you need to make another trip to that flower lady. What was her name?"

"June."

"Yeah, June. I don't know if it will work again so soon."

"Yeah, I guess it wouldn't hurt. I need to see her to make sure everything's OK for Jill's birthday, anyway."

"You've got something really special planned, don't you."

"I think so."

"Yeah, well don't soak any more clothes or she may not stick around to see it."

"God, that's just what I need."

The warning bell rang and we headed into class.

I went up to each teacher after class and informed him that I was taking a personal day off school the following Thursday. Without exception, each informed me that students did not get personal days off. I told them that may be true, but I wasn't going to be around and was willing to do whatever makeup work they wished.

Two of my teachers participated in the Halloween dress up. Mr. Hansen, my History teacher, dressed as a Roman, wearing a toga. Most of the class thought he was dressing as a character from "Animal House," and chanted "Toga... Toga... Toga" several times during the class.

Miss Beevers did dress as a fictitious character, but one from the little screen, not the big one. She wore a long, exceptionally tight, black dress, slit up the side almost to her waist, with a plunging neckline. She also had a black wig, dark red, almost black lipstick and enough eye makeup to make Tammy Faye Baker jealous. The tight dress outlining her ass and the plunging neckline also made most of the self styled Britneys jealous. To put it bluntly, Miss Beevers is stacked. There are rumors she put herself through college posing for a spread in Playboy. Whether or not that is true, I'm sure they would welcome her if she ever chose to reveal her charms for them. Elvira definitely won out over Britney as far as almost all the males in her class were concerned. I enjoyed telling her about my future day off, standing in front of the desk she was sitting behind, leaning on her elbows.

Coach came up to me during swim practice.

"I heard a rumor that you aren't going to come to school next Thursday."

"That's right."

"What about our meet at Northmont?"

"I'll be there for the meet. But that's all. I'll drive myself there and back."

"Jack, you know I can't sanction that. The insurance won't cover you driving yourself."

"That's the best you're going to get, Coach. Take it or leave it."

"Well, I won't say anything. But if you get into an accident, you're on your own."

"That's fair."

I did a quick yet thorough job on the gym, hustling a couple of guys out before they were ready and made it out of there a half hour early.

June wasn't at the shop. I met the girl who had taken over for her, a girl named Debby. Debby only looked a year or two older than I.

When I went in, I asked for June and Debby told me she didn't work in the store any more. When I told her I'd met her the last time I was in and she was going to do something for my girlfriend's birthday, she said "You must be Jack. How did the rose work?"

I told her it worked very well but that part of the reason I was there was that I needed something similar. She smiled and shook her head. "Some men never learn. Let's see what we can come up with."

She went into the back room for a couple of minutes and came out with a small glass vase. It had a red ribbon around it tied into a bow. There was some greenery and, like the last time, one rose. But this rose was breathtaking. It was a perfect, almost completely closed bud, just starting to open. But what was so spectacular about it was its color. It was a deep blue.

"I've never seen anything like that."

"There aren't many of them. And they haven't been around very long. A couple of scientists were working on drugs for cancer and Alzheimer's and came across an enzyme that turned bacteria blue. They played with it and this is the result."

"It's beautiful. It's almost the same color as her eyes."

"Well, you need to watch yourself. I don't know how we're going to top this."

"I'll try. How much do I owe you?"

"I have no idea what to charge you. I'll let June figure it out."

"All right. Thank you. Oh, one of the reasons I wanted to see June is I brought a key for her so she can get into the apartment next week."

"I'll see that she gets it."

"Thanks."

"June was right."

"About what?"

"She said you were cute. And it was a shame you were so in love or I might have a chance."

"Yeah, she was right. I am in love."

"Have you got any brothers?"

"Nope. I think they broke the mold after they made me."

"You're probably right. But one can always hope. Take care, Jack."

"Bye, Debby."



-------

Chapter 107


I left the flower shop and headed home, hopeful that the blue rose would help and worried that it might not. I was beginning to see that men and women were two different species. Or at least Jill and I were.

When I'd spoken without thinking, I'd told her the truth. Mary was not in the habit of leaving things around. Not so much because she was afraid I'd do something without thinking, although that may have been part of it, but because she and I had had it drilled into us to show consideration for each other. Not that Jill was inconsiderate. But, she was used to having a bathroom all to herself that was probably triple the size of the one we now shared. When she left a bra or stockings or a hairbrush somewhere, she was the only person she had to worry about. I'm sure the last thing John would want to do was invade her bathroom.

If Jill had told me that there was laundry in the shower and to be careful, I might still have robotically turned on the water and gotten her bra wet. But it wouldn't have taken a blood curdling scream and getting knocked into the sink for me to realize it. I would have said "Oh, Shit" and been frantically trying to turn it off before the first drops hit the floor. I knew one thing for sure; I would search the shower for obstacles before I turned on the water from now on.

So far, I'd survived well with the women around me. Mary and I just watched out for each other. It was second nature, but it was probably the result of being corrected when we were younger. And Mom was pretty much the same. I had no idea what went on in her bathroom. That was her space and neither Mary nor I went in there.

There had been some problems when Sara first came to live with us, but they were taken care of within the first few days. In fact, Jill was one of the major complainers when Sara needed straightening out.

Jill and I were both going to have to learn some things and suffer some compromises if we were going to come out of living together alive. It occurred to me that maybe I would have been better off getting a new bra than the rose. But I had no idea what made one bra different from another, so that probably would have made things even worse.

I pulled into my driveway next to Mom's Lexus. Wanda's car was nowhere in sight. That could mean she'd been and left, they hadn't arrived yet or Jill had given up on me and wasn't coming home. I said a little prayer that she would be waiting for me.

The door was locked when I got upstairs and Bozo glanced up at me as he headed down to take care of business. Jill was not in the apartment. I went into the kitchen, put the vase on the table, poured myself some ice tea and sat down to drink it. Bozo came back in and sat down next to me. He leaned into my leg as I scratched him behind the ear.

It took 4 rings before I realized the ringing I heard was in our apartment. It took another four to find the phone, sitting on the headboard in our bedroom.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"Hi Jill. What are you doing?"

"Calling you, Silly. Is it OK for me to come home?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

"I wasn't very nice this morning."

"Jill,... Where are you?"

She giggled. "Downstairs. Can I come up?"

"Jill, it's your place as much as it is mine."

"OK, I love you."

I started to say "I love you," but heard dial tone before the words were out of my mouth.

I hung up the phone and walked into the living room only to have Jill jump in my arms. She grabbed me around the neck and wrapped her legs around my waist. I had no choice but to put my arms around her. Her mouth clung to mine and we kissed until we had to break to breathe.

"This isn't what I was expecting when I got home."

"It's a good thing you didn't get home sooner or you wouldn't have gotten it."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. So, I got something for you."

She went over to the chair closest to the door and picked something up. She must have thrown whatever it was down as she came into the apartment. She held it out to me, a smile on her face.

"Is that what I think it is?"

"I don't know. What do you think it is?"

"Reese's Pieces?"

She smiled a little more. "Yep."

"How did you know?"

"Mary and I had a little talk this afternoon. Actually, a big talk."

Reese's Pieces have to be my most favorite candy on the planet. I remember watching Gertie use them to lure E.T. when I first saw that film and pointing at the screen saying "I want those." Mom picked up a bag at the 7-11 on the way home and I was hooked. It was so bad that Mom had to hide any if she got them for Halloween, just like she hid my Christmas presents when I was a kid. And she still didn't trust me to hand them out to the trick or treaters.

This was a piece of Saran Wrap with a handful of candy in it, tied together with some ribbon.

"Where did you get them?"

"I stole them. Or borrowed them. They were for Sunday when the kids come around. I have to replace them."

She took my hand and pulled me over to the couch.

"You know I was really mad at you this morning, don't you?"

"Yeah, I kinda got that. I didn't realize how bad it was until I talked to Sara at school. You know, we forgot to take them this morning."

She giggled for a second or two and held her hand up to her mouth.

"I didn't even think about that."

"Me either."

"Anyway, I had this big speech all ready to give you when you got home about how thoughtless you were and how you didn't care about me. First, Wanda started telling me that maybe there were two sides to the story and it was possible you weren't the most terrible guy in the world. I didn't want to hear it and I sent her off as soon as I got home.

"So, I came up the driveway and Mary saw me. I must have looked really mad because she asked me who I was planning to kill. I told her I was thinking about you and she invited me inside and we sat and talked for an hour or so. She made me think. A lot."

"OK."

"We sat down and she asked me why I was thinking of killing you. I lit into her, telling her all the things I'd planned on telling you. She just sat there and let me bitch and moan for a good five minutes and then she said 'What did he do?'

"So, I went on about how I washed my bra to wear to school and you turned on the water and got it all wet. And then she said 'Did you tell him not to use the shower?'

"I was all set to tear into her some more and then all I could do was tell her no. She just looked at me and smiled."

"Jill, you remind me of something that happened to me when I was about six," she said. "I went crying to my mother when I found a bunch of barrettes, hair fasteners, rubber bands, cheap bracelets and other things I thought I'd lost. The drawer next to the sink in the bathroom was full of the stuff.

"Mom just looked at me and asked me how I thought it all got there. I said I didn't know and she asked if I thought Jack had stolen it. Of course, that was a perfect explanation, so I said yes. She then kept on me until I admitted that some of it was stuff I'd left sitting around in the bathroom. She didn't let me off that easy. She kept pushing me until I admitted that I probably left all of it on the counter. And then she told me I should thank Jack because I was lucky he didn't throw it away."

I laughed. "I forgot all about that. She'd leave something on the counter and I'd just open the drawer and drop it in. She stopped leaving stuff and I didn't have to do it any more."

"Well, she stopped leaving stuff because your mother made her realize that the two of you were sharing the bathroom and it wasn't OK for her to leave things laying around. And she told me she's never had any problems with you doing that to her."

"Yeah, we tend to pick up after ourselves."

"That's what she said. So I asked her about you leaving your clothes on the chair and she said I could get after you about that if I wanted to."

"Yeah, I was just glad to have my own room again and didn't think."

"Well, I'll let you in on a little secret, Jack. I didn't always put everything in the hamper in my room right away, either."

"So, why the Reese's Pieces?"

"I told Mary that I wished I could get you a flower like the rose you got me. She laughed and said that wouldn't impress you very much. And she told me if I wanted you eating out of my hand, they would do the trick."

"Well, I guess if you put the Reese's Pieces in your hand, I would."

"So, they're my peace offering. And I'll try not to put you in a position like that again. But it's hard sharing after I've had my own room and bathroom all my life."

"Yeah, I was thinking about that on the way home. I promise to look before I turn on the shower."

She laughed. "OK. I'll try not to give you a reason to look. Or at least warn you if there is."

I kissed her and she kissed back with enthusiasm.

"I got a little something for you, too."

She lit up, a big smile on her face. "You did? What?"

I pulled her up off the couch. "Come on. It's in the kitchen."

She dragged me down the hall and started looking around, finally spotting the vase.

"Oh, my God! It's beautiful. Is is real?"

I told her the story about the scientist between kisses.

"Jack, you're gonna get real lucky tonight."

"I don't think I can get any luckier than I already am."

"That did it. Come on. We need to get ready before I jump you."

"Hey, I don't mind staying home."

"Yeah, right. Like that's going to happen. You promised to take me to a dance and there's no way you're getting out of it. But you show me a good time and I'll definitely make it worth your while."

"All I can say is it's a good thing we can sleep in tomorrow."

"Not too late. You have to take us all to karate practice at ten tomorrow."

"I thought your Dad was..."

"I don't think so, Jack. You're it. Come on. We have to get ready."

Jill took my hand and dragged me into the bedroom. I thought maybe she'd relented when she went to her dresser and opened up one of the drawers. She pulled out a stack of clothes and laid it on the bed, then pulled out a similar stack. She pointed to the first one.

"There's your costume."

"Where did you get this?"

"Goodwill."

"It looks like it. What are we supposed to be, bums?"

"Just get dressed, Jack."

My clothes consisted of a pair of dress pants and a coat that had obviously seen better days. The pants actually had buttons for the cloth suspenders that came with them instead of a belt. They were both dark, the coat a bit darker than the pants. The coat may have been in style sometime before I was born. It had a large open area in front and tails in the back. There was also a long sleeved dress shirt, white at one time but now slightly yellowed. Dark socks and shoes finished off the ensemble.

Jill's pants were something between beige and khaki, extremely baggy with big front pockets. They were too large for her and she had to wear suspenders to hold them up. Rather than a dress shirt, hers was plaid, the squares maybe an inch and a half across, brown and red. She had a dress coat, as old as mine but without the tails, similar in color to the pants, also with big pockets. Her coat came down to the middle of her thighs. She wore it open. She had brown mens dress shoes that were badly in need of a shine.

"I give up. What are we supposed to be?"

She opened up the top drawer in her dresser and pulled out a pair of glasses that were attached to a big nose with a mustache under it.

"Put these on."

I put them on and looked in the mirror. I looked just like Groucho Marx. All I needed was a cigar. She handed me one that must have been ten inches long.

Meanwhile, she was pushing her hair inside a blond wig, full of curls. She then pulled out a big horn, one of those with the black rubber ball. It had a little belt around it that she undid and refastened around the left front suspender. She reached under her coat, honked it, grabbed my hand and lifted her leg so I was holding it.

"Pretty good. How did you figure out my size?"

"Jack, we were in the same house. It wasn't very hard."

"Well, these have to be the best costumes I've seen in a long time. Maybe they'll give out prizes at the dance for the best costume."

The phone rang. I looked over at Jill.

"It's your phone."

I went over to answer it. This thing was going to be much more trouble than it was worth.

"Hello?"

"Hi."

"Hi, Sara. What's up?"

"I just wanted to let you know that Chris and I are down here. And we don't want you to forget us again."

"I don't think we're going. Jill said I was gonna get lucky."

"Well, you can get lucky after the dance. We'll be waiting."

I was trying to think of a snappy comeback when I heard the dial tone.



-------

Chapter 108


I hung up the phone.

"I hate this thing already."

"Oh, Jack, don't be an old grump."

"Hey. I thought Harpo didn't speak."

"Only in the movies, Jack."

We went downstairs and into the kitchen. Bozo was perturbed that I made him stay in the apartment. I figured it was bad enough being pussy whipped; I wasn't about to become dog whipped, too.

I'd seen Charlie's costume the day of the great spaghetti disaster over at John's. As far as pirates went, it was pretty good. Mary was supposed to be a captured maiden, his prisoner of love, but I hadn't seen what she was going to wear.

She had done something with her hair to make it look messed up and sexy at the same time. She was wearing a black dress, at one time probably down to or close to the ground, but it had been torn. The hem on the right side was about three inches above her ankle. The torn edge slanted up, not quite equally in the front and the back, to a point on the right that was just above the middle of her thigh. It was tight around her butt and there was a definite molding to her bust with an expanse of bare skin below her neck and to the lower middle of her back. There were arms to the dress, maybe down to the middle of her biceps, with material that sat on her shoulders, leaving about half of them bare. The material on her left shoulder was torn, as if someone had taken hold of it and pulled. Nothing was seen; everything was shown. My little sister was growing up.

"Looking good, Mary. Do you need a lift to Charlie's?"

"Nope, he's going to drive tonight."

"Wow. That's the first time..."

"Yeah, the first time since our incident."

"Are you going to be OK?"

"Yeah, I can't have you or Mom driving me around for the rest of my life. You can be damn sure if anybody swerves at us, we'll knock them off the road before we go into a ditch."

"How is Charlie about this?"

"Nervous, but he feels the same way I do."

"Well, good. I hope you two have a good time."

"I'm sure we will."

Sara came out with a big smile on her face. There was no way she found her costume at a thrift store.

"Did you get that at a Halloween store?"

"Nope, I made it."

"Get out of here. Really?"

"Really. I'm more than just a pretty face."

"I guess so. That's fantastic."

This was a tight dress, close to being a mini skirt. She showed a lot of leg. Heck, most of her legs. It was held up by a piece over her right shoulder and sloped down to just under her left armpit. It was cut to fit her body exactly, almost like a bathing suit. And it looked like it was made of leopard skin. She had a red wig on, done up in a bun behind her head. Her shoes were smooth cloth, almost like ballet slippers.

I couldn't help laughing when Chris came out.

"Nice pantyhose, Chris."

"Don't be an ass, Jack. They're tights."

"Yeah, whatever. Just watch where you bend over. Make sure Jeff's not behind you."

"Ha, Ha."

His costume was obviously another that didn't come off the shelf. It was similar to Sara's but brown instead of leopard skin. It wasn't as form fitting as hers, either. Chris looked like he'd gained a good thirty pounds; he was wearing some kind of stuffing or a pillow under the costume. He had a brown wig that made him look like Moe from the three stooges. His feet were in sandals.

Jill was looking them over. "I give up."

I looked at her. "Fred and Wilma."

"Huh?"

"The Flintstones."

"Oh." She still didn't look convinced. What kind of childhood had this poor girl had?

The four of us piled in my car and drove to school. Since it was cold out, we all wore coats. The other three left their wigs in the car and I did with my glasses and nose. Most of the people at the game were wearing coats, so it was hard to tell who was in costume and who wasn't. Some had wigs or makeup that made it evident. I noticed most of the Britneys were covered up, too, but the wigs gave them away.

Jill was disappointed in our football game. It was actually a pretty good game; the score was close and the lead changed hands several times until we scored a field goal with a couple of minutes to go. The other team just wasn't good enough to make it down the field in the remaining time. Jill's idea of a good game was her team being well ahead the whole game and winning by at least three touchdowns.

After the game, we went to the car and picked up our wigs, checking each other out to make sure everything was in place, and in Sara's case, that everything was covered up. Jill didn't have that problem, but I wondered how my sister would take it if some over-zealous chaperon took it upon herself to keep her out of the dance at Jill and Charlie's school. Got to protect kids from themselves, you know.

The attendance at the dance was disappointing. Only about a third of the kids there were costumed and the numbers seemed lower than at the two dances I'd been to last year. Standing on the sidelines with Chris, Jeff and our other friends, each bragging what we'd do if we got this girl or that one alone. And each afraid one of the girls would take it upon herself to come over and talk to us. There were a lot less Britneys at the dance than had been at the game. I guess they had other things than the dance going on.

The last dance I'd been to had been homecoming, so that may have been the reason for the larger number of kids. That one had also been in the gym, but there had been a lot more effort put into the decorations. Tonight there were just a few streamers hanging down at an angle. The benches were set up, just like for a basketball game. The baskets had been removed. There were a couple of tables with snacks and punch for sale at the end near the doors.

They had a stage set up where the far basket usually was. There was a band consisting of a couple of guitars, a bass, a guy who switched between a sax and a trumpet and the ever present drummer. The lead singer was a girl wearing pants that looked painted on who also shook a tambourine in time to her ass. Chris got elbowed twice that I saw for staring too hard. They played all oldies. Stuff by The Beatles, The Stones, The Eagles.

One thing I was happy about was they played a lot of slow songs. Neither of us were big fans of fast dancing. I wanted my girl in my arms and she felt the same way about me.

Even in her baggy clothes, Jill was still fun to hold. She fit my body like she was made for it. It was fifth or sixth grade when we had dance lessons as part of our weekly music class for four weeks. We were taught to do the standard box step, moving in a square, turning 90 degrees, then making another square. One hand in your partner's hand, one on her waist. Backs straight, almost a foot apart.

The first time Jill dragged me out to the dance floor was for Color My World. We got out on the floor and I took my stance. She made a face, shook her head and plastered herself to me, wrapping her arms around my waist. I put my hands around her shoulders. "Lower." I moved down to her waist. "Lower." I put both hands at the bottom of her waist, just where her butt ended and flared in. Jill reached behind her back and slid both hands down. She sighed and put her arms back around me, molding herself to me. I tried to do my box step and found I didn't have a willing partner. She resisted until we were just swaying to the music, experiencing each other's bodies. Dancing with Jill was as intimate as anything we'd done so far. I found that I was getting erect and tried to pull away. She wasn't having any of that and moved closer, swaying and rubbing me with her stomach, digging her pelvis into mine.

I think Sara wished that Chris would dance the way I'd tried to when we started. Chris tried to put his hands on her butt shortly after Jill moved mine to hers and Sara pushed him away and took off for the benches. Chris followed her, frustration all over his face.

The next time I looked over at them, Chris was handing Sara a soda, which she was reluctantly taking from him. Jill and I went back to dancing.

"How was Wanda today?"

"She was OK."

"You don't sound like she was OK."

"Well, she says she's OK, but she's not the same. It's like she's defensive all the time, afraid I'll find out something. Like she's got something to hide.'

"Did she look hurt?"

"No. She was just real quiet."

"I hope she makes it OK. I hate to say this, but I don't think she and your father belong together."

"I don't either. I'd be just as happy if she left. But she keeps making up excuses for him."

"I don't get that. Why are women like that? When we were at the hospital with Mary, they brought in a woman who'd been beaten up. Mom said she and her husband would be back together as soon as she got out and he was released from jail and she'd be back in Emergency the next time he got drunk. And you should have seen the way Sara's mother defended her father, even though he beat her mother all the time and had just broken some of Sara's ribs and her nose. I know Mom would never put up with that shit."

"Yeah, will neither will I. So don't even think about it, Jack."

I squeezed her butt with both hands. "Do you really think I'd risk losing this?"

She ground into me, driving my erection into her. "No, Jack."

Our attention was pulled to our sides, over toward the band. Sara was there with a senior I'd seen around school but really didn't know. She had just let out a yell, similar to something you'd hear in a lousy Japanese martial arts movie. The senior was bent over, his hands between his legs, obviously in pain.



-------

Chapter 109



The scene reminded me of an old Western. The room got quiet as everybody turned around to look at Sara and her dance partner; the band stopped in the middle of their song. The only thing missing was a bartender diving down behind the bar. The spell was broken as two faculty members appeared from nowhere and made their way over to the two of them.

Chris was on his way in from the sidelines as Jill nudged me toward Sara. I looked at her, wondering why she was pushing me.

"Go on."

I walked over to Sara, my girlfriend a step or two behind me. Chris put his hand on Sara's shoulder but she shook it off, turning into me and burying her face in my chest. My arms found their way around her with no conscious effort on my part.

I hadn't realized it but Miss Beevers was the female faculty adviser who had come over. She was dressed more appropriately for a teacher than she had been in class earlier. She had one arm on the senior's right arm, the other resting between his shoulder blades. He was still bent over, holding his balls, kind of rocking back and forth and moaning. Miss Beevers looked like she was having trouble keeping a straight face.

Sara was not crying, in fact I don't think she was upset at all. I think she just wanted to hold on to someone she felt safe with. Chris was standing a yard or two behind her and he didn't look happy. I noticed that Sara's costume was ripped.

"Did he do that to your costume?"

"Sort of. He stuck his hand down inside it and was grabbing my tit. I yanked back and that's when it ripped. I kicked him after that. It was over before I even thought about it."

The male teacher had been standing around looking lost and perked up when he heard that. He lifted up the boy's face.

"Mr. Ferguson, did you have your hand in her top?"

He was able to give him a "Yes" through gritted teeth.

The teacher looked at Sara. "Do you want to file a complaint?"

"No. I don't know what good it would do. And I don't think he'll mess around with me again."

Miss Beevers muttered "I'll say," as they led him away. I heard the male teacher say something about suspension. The poor kid practically had to be carried out of there.

Miss Beevers told the band leader to play something as they passed by and they got back to the song they'd stopped in the middle of earlier. Kids started dancing again and within a minute it was as if nothing had happened. Except that I knew every conversation in the room was probably about what had just gone on.

I eased my coat off and placed it around Sara's shoulders. No easy trick when you've got a girl clinging on to you. She pulled the front of it closed around her, holding it together, not bothering with the buttons.

I felt Jill's hand on my shoulder.

"Let's go home, Jack."

I looked at Sara and she nodded her head. I handed her over to Jill and turned to Chris.

"Hey, Chris. Come on. We're leaving."

"I'll find another way home, Jack."

"Come, on, Chris. Why are you being like that?"

"If you don't know, you're stupider than I thought." He turned and walked away from me.

We made our way out to the parking lot, Jill on one side of Sara, me on the other, each of us with an arm around her shoulders. Sara kept both arms around my waist.

I got the coats out of the back seat.

"Uh, Oh. Chris needs his coat."

Jill said, "He'll do fine without it."

I opened up the passenger door and started around the front of the car to my side. I caught something in my peripheral vision. Not quite a shoving match, but something between the two girls. It was more of an impression I got than anything I could describe. By the time I turned around to see what was going on, Jill was sliding over to her normal position in the car. Neither of them looked like anything was amiss.

Once we were on the way, I looked over at Sara.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. Stupid jerk."

"I hope you aren't referring to me."

"No, that idiot Sean Ferguson. I was already pissed off at Chris for not keeping his hands off me, so when he asked me to dance with him I figured it would be nice to be able to just dance. Then he pulled that crap as soon as we started dancing."

"Don't you think you over reacted a bit?"

"Maybe. I don't know. I didn't even think about it. I just used what we learned last week in karate. That's what he gets for being a jerk."

"Well, I guess he'll think about it before he grabs someone from now on."

"Just as long as he leaves me alone."

It was about 10:20 when we got back. Mom was working the late shift so she wouldn't be home till after 2:00. Mary was still at the dance. I invited Sara up for something to eat.

I went upstairs and Bozo shot out of the door. The girls went right in so I followed him back downstairs and said hello to Queenie while he did his thing. Dino was also in the back yard and started whining to be let out. I let him out and he and Bozo headed back up to the apartment. It seemed like my major purpose for the past hour had been to open up doors and gates.

Sara and Jill were sitting on the couch when I got back. There was a plate with some crackers and sliced cheese on it and three mugs of hot cider sitting on the coffee table. Each of them was leaning over, petting a dog. Sara was wearing a pair of Jill's shorts and one of my T-shirts. Jill had changed, too. Neither was wearing her wig. There was a gap on the couch between them so I stepped over Dino and sat down.

"Boy, that was quick."

"What do you mean, Jack?"

"You got out of your costumes and changed in a couple of minutes. But if you were wearing exactly the same clothes to the mall, it would take at least fifteen minutes."

"You don't know what you're talking about, Jack. Why don't you go change, too?"

It sounded like a good idea. I wasn't a big fan of wearing a suit, especially one sixty or seventy years out of date. Hard to believe the Marx Brothers had made their films that long ago. It just goes to show that good comedy is timeless.

I thought about what Jill had said. I sure couldn't see any difference in the way she was dressed now and the way she might dress to go out. What did they do, put on some special mall underwear or say a prayer to the savings gods that took the extra ten or twelve minutes?

I put some shorts and a T-shirt on and went back to the couch, again sitting between the two of them. Both leaned into me. When I voiced my difficulty in getting anything to eat, they took turns putting cheese on crackers and feeding them to me.

I'd started the day off tired and by midnight I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. I went into the bedroom and called the house. It rang four times then the machine got it.

I hung up and went back outside.

"Sara, I called and it doesn't look like Mary's back yet. You're welcome to sleep here if you want."

"With you?"

"Don't be silly. Here, on the couch."

"That's OK, Jack. I'll be fine in my own bed. Will you walk me home?"

"Yeah. Sure."

Dino followed us as we walked down the stairs and across to the kitchen door. When we got there, Sara turned around, held on to me, tilted her head, closed her eyes and leaned forward. I took her shoulders and kissed her on the forehead.

"Don't I get a real kiss?"

"Those are for Jill."

"Rats."

"You're crazy, Sara."

I opened the back door, shoved her through and closed it behind her. Dino snuck inside as soon as he had room.

Jill was still on the couch, absently stroking Bozo's head.

"So, did you kiss her?"

"Yeah. On the forehead."

"I'm sure she was disappointed."

"What are you talking about."

"I'm not stupid, Jack."

"I don't get it. What are you trying to say?"

"You really don't know?"

"Know what? I wish you'd just come out and say what you mean."

"That girl is in love with you. She's got it bad. Almost as bad as my father had it for your mother before she shot him down."

"Come on, Jill. Sara?"

She stuck out her tongue and made a face.

"Yes, Sara. Come on, Dear. Let's go to bed."

We took the empty mugs and the plate into the kitchen. Jill gave Bozo the couple of crackers and scraps of cheese that were left and he cleaned off the plate while she rinsed the mugs and put them in the dishwasher. She picked up the plate and rinsed it off. In the meantime, I put some dog food in his bowl and topped off his water when Jill was done with her rinsing. We headed into the bathroom and I brushed my teeth while she peed. I tried to do the same but my bladder wouldn't work while she was standing a few feet away from me.

"Poor Baby." She left the room and I was finally able to pee.

Jill was wearing her flannel nightgown when I got into the bedroom.

"I thought I was going to get lucky tonight."

"That was before you dragged your girlfriend into our house, Jack."

"She's not my girlfriend. And I didn't drag her into our house. I just thought she didn't want to be alone down there. And you didn't seem to be too disturbed, with your cider and your snacks. Do you really think she feels that way about me?"

"Oh, Jack. You are so innocent. Your really don't see it. Everybody else does. Why do you think Chris acted the way he did when she went to you instead of him? Why do you think she was so shook up the other day when you were joking about taking her in the bedroom? She would have been thrilled to go in there with you. But she loves you and knows you are taken so she fights it. And she knew damn well I could see right through it when I was here."

"I still don't get it."

"I know you don't. That's part of the reason I love you so much. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on you and protect you from yourself."

We'd gotten in bed while this discussion was going on. We were lying close together, our arms around each other.

"I still think she's just a good friend."

"OK, Jack. Whatever you say. Now kiss me."

This was more like it. We melded together. She tasted primarily of toothpaste, but I could make out slight traces of cider, crackers and cheese. I kept the kiss going, making sure to taste all there was to taste.

Jill snuggled up to me, her breasts flat against my chest. My dick got hard and she went "Mmmm" and ground herself into me when she felt it.

"Jack?"

"Mmm?"

"Did you know that this nightgown comes off?"

"Really. Why would I need to know that?"

"Jack, help me get this thing off. I want to feel your body up against mine."

"I don't know, Jill. Like you said, I did bring Sara up here. And this feels pretty good to me."

She picked up my right hand, stuck my index finger in her mouth and sucked on it, her tongue playing with it. Then she clamped down with her teeth.

"Hey! That hurts."

"Now, Jack."

"Yes, Dear."

She released my finger and helped me slide her nightgown up and off. She reached over and started to slide my shorts down. I helped her. What the heck, she was going to have her way with me no matter what I did about it. I might as well join her.

We were on our sides, lying down, but our bodies were just like they'd been on the dance floor. I had one hand around each cheek, playing with her butt, the firm muscles giving slightly. Her front was pushed against mine, her nipples digging gently into my chest, my cock pressing against her groin. Her kisses were hot and insistent.

I rolled over onto her, placing her on her back. We were still joined at the mouth and the rest of our bodies still pressed together. I removed my lips from her and dove down to that sweet spot on her neck, under the jawbone. She let out a groan, then said, "No hickeys."

"Aww, come on. You're no fun."

"I mean it, Jack. No Hickeys!"

I stopped sucking and licked, sending shivers up her spine. I made my way down to her breasts, toying with her, sucking and kissing and licking all around where they started to move out from her chest, leaving the centers untouched. She squirmed underneath me.

"Jack."

"Mmm?"

"Suck on them."

"I am."

Another groan. "You know what I mean."

I leaned over and took the right nipple in my mouth, sucking as hard as I could, pulling a good portion of her breast into my mouth. The nipple had been hard before; it expanded to about twice its previous size. She was moaning almost constantly. I let go.

"I better stop. Don't want to give you a hickey."

"JAAACK!"

I took that as the OK to continue. I worked on the other breast, making sure to massage the first so it wouldn't feel deserted.

Once her left nipple was fully at attention, I put a hand on each breast, making sure to play with the nipples as I made my way down to her navel. I took a few swipes at it with my tongue, then stuck my tongue in as far as I could and sucked on it. Her hands grabbed my head as she giggled and tried to grind back through the bed to get away from me.

I took mercy on her and brought my hands down, spreading her legs apart.

"Give me a pillow."

She scrambled and I had a pillow in my hands before I knew it. I rolled her over and worked it beneath her, lifting her ass. I pulled her down a bit to settle her where I wanted and then dove between her legs.

The juices were flowing from her. I licked and licked, but there was no way I was ever going to clean her off. It just flowed and flowed and flowed. The pillow was going to be soaked by the time we removed it. I held her butt in my hands and my fingers felt the smooth, slippery surface between her cheeks, coated in her secretions. I'd never felt anything as sensual as that smooth skin.

"Jack. Kiss me."

I made my way up and kissed her. She tasted the juices around my mouth and licked them off like a cat.

"Jack. I need you to love me."

"Jill, you know I love you."

"No. I want you to make love to me."

"But your birthday."

"Errrrggghhh!!! FUCK MY BIRTHDAY. Pleeeeaasse. Make Love To Me."

"Are you sure?"

"Now."

"OK. Let me get on my back so you can control it."

She reached down between her legs and grabbed my cock. It was not giving her any arguments like I was; it was ready and raring to go. She moved it a bit, placing it at her entrance and pushed a bit closer to me to seat it. Her legs raised up and wrapped around me, immobilizing my hips.

She brought her hands up and wrapped them around my neck.

"Just push. Now."

She pulled me into her face, her mouth clamped to mine, and then tightened her legs around my ass. I pushed and felt some resistance. She pulled at me with her feet and I just pushed as hard as I could.

It seemed like forever but it was probably less than a second. I felt the resistance continue, then I felt her tear as I moved in a half inch or so before I was stopped. She was pulling with her legs so I just forced myself until the barrier suddenly gave way and I slipped in a good two inches at one shot.

"Mmmmm."

She pulled her face back. I could see tears in the corner of each eye, offset by the smile on her face.

"Give me a second."

I was happy to comply. Jill can do wonderful things with her mouth and her tongue and her throat. But this was completely different. Her walls were wrapped tightly around the part of my cock that was inside. Almost like an Ace bandage smeared with warm Vaseline. Tight, but warm and slippery and wet at the same time. It felt like liquid satin. That's as close as I can come to explaining it. If you've never felt it, you have no idea. If you have, you know you'll never be able to live without it. My cock was primed and ready. Taking a break was the best thing I could do at that point. Jill deserved more than the pain and then having me shoot off right away inside her.

She was holding on tight. She still had the smile on her face and her tears had disappeared. She was lying back, taking deep breaths and blowing them out.

"You're so big inside. I'm not used to that."

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine Jack. It hurt when you went in. Now I'm just stretched. Ease it in, a little at a time."

I pulled slightly back. There was some resistance at first, then the moisture started doing its job. I moved back so that just the head was still inside, then eased forward, probably gaining another inch over what had been inside her before.

She sucked some air in between her teeth. "That's enough."

I pulled back, then moved in, gaining more and more each time. Soon, I felt the smooth skin below her stomach up against my pubic hair.

"That's it, Jill. I'm in all the way."

"Mmmm. Just stay for a minute."

I held her and we kissed, my cock buried all the way inside my woman. The feeling was unbelievable, tight and smooth and hot and moist. It was where my cock belonged, and we both knew it.

Jill started moving her hips, experiencing the feeling and how she could adjust around me. She would go backwards and forwards, then move side to side, make a circular motion, or twist herself on me, grinding her clitoris into my shaft. The first time she did that she moaned.

"That's it. Oh, God, you feel so fucking good in me."

I started to move out and back, slowly, letting her adjust to it. She followed my motions and varied her position, rotating, hitting her clit on that spot she'd found, making noise as she did.

"Fuck me, Jack. As hard as you can. Push your cock into my throat from down there."

She painted a picture with her words, that's for sure. I could feel my cock grow when she said that, and, even though I knew what she wanted me to do was impossible, I tried my best to do it anyway.

She didn't just lie there quietly. She was pounding up into me as I pounded into her, encouraging me. "Oh, God, Jack. That's it. Fuck me. Push it into me. Fill me up, God Damn You!"

That did it. I pushed as far as I could. I could feel her walls grab me as I expanded. My balls were pumping and I could feel the flow make it's way down my cock and then spurt inside her. It seemed to go on forever, pumping more than I'd ever pumped, even when she'd had me down her throat.

I wasn't paying attention to anything but the explosions going on in my brain and the feel of my cock as deep inside her as it would go. At some point, I realized that Jill was making a noise, something you might expect to hear from Bozo on a full moon. Her pussy was grabbing onto me, then releasing, then grabbing. I don't think I could have pulled out of her at that time, even if I had the inclination to. It was that tight.

It seemed like hours before we came down. We both had our arms around each other. Our mouths joined as if on their own and we kissed, exploring each others souls with our mouths. I tried to stay attached to her, but the blood flowed out and I got smaller, finally falling out, only to be followed by a flood of my semen, tinged pink. We were definitely going to have to wash that pillow. Jill gave a whimper as I fell out of her.

We kissed some more and then she pulled back, looking me square in the eye.

"More."



-------

Chapter 110



You've heard about the trouble caused by opening up Pandora's box. I firmly believe that opening Jill's box was just as bad.

Don't get me wrong. I love Jill with all my heart. And I love making love to her. But there's just so much the male body can withstand, even in the prime of youth. I've heard that males reach their sexual peak around 17 or 18 and women reach theirs in their mid 30s. If that's the case, I don't know if I'll ever make it to 40.

There's a lot of bragging in the schoolyard, but most guys will eventually admit that the first time wasn't anything to write home about. Since I was home, there wasn't any reason to write, but it was fantastic. Unbelievable. Probably the most wonderful experience of my life. I felt that I had put every ounce of energy I could muster into it and would have been extremely happy to lie back and fall asleep with Jill in my arms. I was looking forward to that; I was expecting it. We'd had a short night the night before and I'd been planning on catching up on my sleep since we got out of bed Friday morning.

I knew I could kiss that idea goodbye when Jill looked me in the eye and said "More."

"I don't know if I can, Babe. I'm pretty wiped out."

"You just lie back and relax. I'll do all the work."

What more could a guy ask for? Just relax and be made love to. But it didn't work out that way.

I did lie down and Jill did do some work. She took my poor shriveled cock in her hand and started talking to it about how sad it looked and how she was going to kiss it better. She used her hands and her mouth and tongue to coax it back to life. She also worked on my balls, informing them that they needed to get busy making more juice for her.

I don't know. Maybe I could have just laid there. But I got interested when she started reviving me and before I knew it, I was actively involved. I did OK. Jill said that she wanted to try being on top. She experimented with different motions, taking me deep, rubbing her clit on my cock and my pelvis, trying out little twists and wiggles. At one point she just sat there and practiced flexing and relaxing the muscles in her vagina for a couple of minutes. The lack of continuous stimulation and the fact that I had practically emptied out my balls already allowed me to go for a long time before I came. In the meantime, she came three times. Vocally. Jill can not be faulted for lack of enthusiasm when she climaxes. And those muscles of hers go into overdrive when she comes.

I finally came and my body did a pretty good job of trying to fill her up. It wasn't as endless as the first time seemed, but I was able to spurt four or five times. Jill kept me inside as long as she could, then went into the bathroom. I pulled the blankets around me and settled back for some well deserved sleep.

I was just about gone when she came back. She got under the covers and scrunched up to me.

"Jack?"

"Uhhmm?"

"Did you like that?"

"Uh huh."

"Really?"

"Yes, Jill, really. It was the most wonderful experience I've ever had."

"I liked it, too."

"I'm glad. Let's go to sleep."

She snuggled a little closer. "OK."

I was just about asleep when I heard "Jack?"

"Uhhmm."

"I'm not sleepy."

"Well, just lie there for a while."

"I want to try doggie."

"I think he's in the kitchen."

She giggled. "Not Bozo, Silly. Doggie style."

"What are you talking about?"

"You know, doggie style. I get down on all fours and you do me from behind."

"Where did you ever hear about that?"

"Girls talk, Jack. Wanda's told me all kinds of things."

"OK, Jill. We'll try doggie. Some other time. Right now I need to get some sleep."

She lay her head on my chest and her left arm on my stomach, her hand near my side. I was this close to falling asleep when I felt her hand move up to my stomach and then start rubbing me, sliding down into my pubic hair and then further. Soon she had my balls cupped in her hand and was gently squeezing them.

We've all heard about guys thinking with their cocks. Mine may not think for me but it definitely has a mind of its own. I wouldn't have believed it, but it started rising to the occasion as Jill played with it.

"Oh, goodie."

She moved her head down and the next thing I knew she had it back in her mouth. I figured I may as well play along and reached over to her.

"Move up here so I can do you, too."

She flipped around and straddled my face while she did her banana trick on my cock. It was dark and I couldn't see anything, but her pussy felt different. I'd always been aware of her hymen when I was playing with her. There was some loose skin but the blockage was gone.

"Does that hurt?"

She lifted up, using her hand to manipulate my cock.

"Uhmm. Good hurt."

She took me back in her mouth.

I dug around with my tongue for a while, then put one, then two fingers inside her while I worked her clit with my lips and tongue. My lower face was slimy with her juices. She started bucking her hips, pushing her pelvis into me. I took her clit in my lips and sucked as hard as I could, thrumming it with my tongue.

It didn't take long before she was really bucking and crying out, my cock all but forgotten. I'd wrapped both hands around her lower back and butt, so I was able to ride it out. I knew she'd had enough when she stood up on her knees and used both hands to push my mouth away from her.

She swung her leg over so she was at my side, slid off the bed, then got back on the bed on her knees, her hands on the headboard, her legs at a 90 degree angle with her back.

"Come on, Jack. Doggie."

When Jill wants something, she usually ends up getting it. Besides, I realized I had my second wind. I'd experienced it a couple of times at swim meets; I never expected it in this situation. She had done her usual good job with her mouth, so that part of me was raring to go.

I like doggie. It's a totally different angle and I can feel her pubic bone on the bottom of my cock as I slide in and out. I can also go deeper. And the view is fantastic. I love looking at Jill's face and her front, but her butt is perfection. Watching her move it back and forth, seeing my cock come out, shiny with her juices, and seeing her asshole wink at me is a big turn on.

Jill liked it, too. She wiggled her butt and moved back and forth, pounding her ass into me on the in-stroke. It didn't take long for her to give up on the headboard, resting her head on her left forearm while she worked her clit and played with my cock with her right hand. That changed the angle, making her even tighter.

"Do you like what you see?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Well, be a good boy and maybe I'll let you put it in there one of these days."

That sounded good to me. It felt like she got tighter as a little more blood worked its way into my cock.

"Oooh, somebody likes that idea."

I don't know if it was me inside her, her fingers working on her clit or a combination of the two, but Jill started getting close to coming. And when she gets close, she gets active. Her hips were moving every which way in addition to pounding into me with as much force as she could muster, her butt cheeks slamming into my belly as I went in deeper. That didn't last long until she pushed back and stayed back, moving her butt side to side, holding onto her clit, working my cock with her internal muscles as she howled. That was enough for me. I came a third time, one good spurt and a few dribbles.

She kind of slid down, holding onto my back so that she could keep me inside. That didn't last long because I didn't last long. I'm afraid my poor cock had had more than enough.

Jill seemed to be sated, too. She moaned and pulled me closer, her hand on my butt. I put both arms around her, cupping a breast in one of my hands, her stomach in the other. Her butt was pressing into my pubic hair.

"Don't you need to use the bathroom?"

"Uh, uh. We're going to have to wash these sheets anyway. A little more mess isn't going to hurt anything." She let out a big sigh and pulled my arms into her.

I glanced at the clock and saw that it was 4:20. Less than five hours before we had to get up so she could make karate by 10:00. Even if I had been able to talk Jill into sleeping in, it wouldn't do any good. I was committed to driving Mary and Sara as well.

It seemed like I'd just gotten to sleep when I heard the phone ringing. I glanced at the clock and wondered who on earth could be calling us at 5:10 in the morning.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Jackie."

"Mom?"

"Is Mary up there with you guys?"

"God, I hope not."

"What?"

"Hang on a second. Let me look and make sure."

I got up, threw my shorts on, and looked around the apartment. No Mary. However, Bozo made me let him outside when I was in the living room.

"Mom? She's not here. Isn't she in her bed?"

"Jackie, I'm not senile. I wouldn't be calling you this early in the morning if she was."

"Do you want me to come down?"

"No. You go back to sleep. If I need you for anything, I'll let you know. I'm going to give Charlie's house a call."

Mom never called back. I know because I was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling until the alarm went off at 9:00.



-------

Chapter 111



I reached up and turned off the alarm.

"Come on, Babe. Time to get up."

"Uhhmm. Leave me alone."

I smacked her on the ass.

"Come on. Karate in one hour."

I walked downstairs and was almost knocked over by Bozo on the way down. I opened the kitchen door to see Mary sitting at the table, eating a bowl of cereal.

"Hi, Jack."

"Mary. Where were you last night?"

"I went to the dance. You know that."

"Not then. This morning."

"I was at Charlie's."

"At 5 in the morning?"

"Yeah, well, we kind of fell asleep on his couch."

"Well, I didn't get any sleep because you didn't come home."

"Well, gee, Jack. I'm real sorry about that. But it's not my fault you didn't get any sleep."

"Yeah, well, we have to leave at ten till ten for karate. Make sure you're ready."

"I'll be ready, Jack. Looks like you need to get ready, yourself."

Bozo wasn't anywhere to be found so I went back to the apartment. I heard Jill's voice coming from the kitchen but it didn't sound like she usually did. I got the impression she was talking Baby Talk.

I made my way to the front of the apartment and observed her from the end of the hallway. She was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs, turned away from the table, leaning down, her nose about two inches from Bozo's. She had his chin in her hand.

"Come on, Baby, is him gonna sing for his mommy? Aw, come one, youze can do it. La La La, La, La La La."

His ears were up, his eyes were bright, his tongue was hanging out of one side of his mouth. You could see the pure love that the two of them were flowing towards each other. He gave a little "Yip."

"Oh, come on, you can do it. La La La, La, La La La."

"Rrr, rowrrr, rrowwrrr."

"La La La, La, La La La."

"Rrr rrr rowrrr, ro rowwrr rrr rowwrrr."

Jill squealed and grabbed him behind both ears, pulling him into her face.

"Him's such a good baby. Him's Momma's special Bozo, him is."

Bozo was now standing up, his tail banging into the chair next to the one Jill was sitting in. She gave him a big kiss on the nose, then turned and smiled at me.

It was obvious that Jill and Bozo had had many special times together like this one. Something else about her I'd missed out on. I thought back on her excitement and how the two of them took to each other the couple of times she saw him in the pet store. It was one of the things that made me fall more in love with her. And the day I brought him over to her house she was overjoyed. There were a couple of times I felt like I'd made a mistake because she seemed to be paying more attention to Bozo than to me, but there hadn't been much indication of how close they were since the first couple of weeks. I realized that my woman had an unlimited capacity for love, and just because she loved someone or something else didn't mean she didn't love me as much as possible.

"Jack, you don't look too hot."

"I know. I didn't go back to sleep after Mom called. I was waiting for her to call back."

"Did she tell you she'd call back?"

"She said she would if there was anything I needed to know."

"When are you going to start trusting her, Jack? You can't take control of the whole world."

"I guess. I was just worried."

"So, did you find out what happened to Mary?"

"Yeah, she and Charlie fell asleep on his couch. And she told me it wasn't her fault that I didn't get any sleep."

"She's right Jack. God, you are such a mother hen. Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you."

"Oh, please don't say that. I don't want to have to worry about you."

"Settle down, Jack. If there's anything to worry about, I'll let you know. Now pour us both a cup of coffee and we'll shower. We can eat some bagels on the way to class."

"How come you didn't make a full pot?"

"I figured we'd each have a mug here, I'd take a refill and you could take that big travel mug so you'd have something while you're waiting for us. No reason to throw a quarter of a pot away."

"Yeah, I guess so."

I took her mug over to her and handed it to her. She lifted her face, puckered up and closed her eyes. I leaned over and kissed her.

"Do you know how much I love you, you big lug?"

"I'm beginning to realize. I love you too, you know."

"Oh yeah, Jack, I know."

I took a good look at her. She appeared to have gotten a full night's sleep. Her eyes were bright, her face was flushed, her hair was shining. I'd heard of a woman glowing before; this was the first time I'd seen it and spotted it for what it was. She had a simple robe that covered her from neck to ankle. On her, it looked like a gown to the royal ball. I got a lump in my throat when I realized that I was the cause of her appearance.

She grabbed my hand.

"Come on, Jack. Shower time."

"You take the first one."

"Nope. Not enough time. We need to shower together or we'll never make it.

We went into the bathroom and Jill grabbed her toothbrush. I got mine and we took turns using the sink as we each cleaned our teeth. I finished first, so I opened the door and made sure there weren't any clothes in the way of the spray. It looked all clear, so I turned on the water, shucked off my shorts and got in. I got all wet and was lathering up my hair when I felt Jill come in. She playfully pushed me towards the back of the enclosure with her butt and a couple of seconds later I smelled her strawberry shampoo.

"Oh, that smells so good, Jill."

"I'm glad you like it."

"Let me get up and rinse off my shampoo."

Now, I always keep my eyes closed when I have shampoo in my hair, so I assumed Jill's eyes were closed, too. I sensed that she moved as far in from the door as possible and then the next thing I knew I was being guided up toward the flowing water by the most convenient handle she could find. My cock. She giggled as I covered her hand with both of mine.

I rinsed and checked her out. She was still leaning against the wall and her eyes were closed. Maybe she knew where it was at all times. I moved back and turned her around and guided her under the spray.

I grabbed a washcloth and held it under the spray, above Jill's head. That got a "Hey!" out of her, and I pulled it back. I put some body wash on it and started working on Jill's back. That produced some groans. I soaped her back, her butt, between her legs and down the backs of her legs.

"Turn around."

"Yes, Sir."

I got the washcloth wetter, added more body wash and started down her front. I noticed that her nipples seemed to spring out as I went over her breasts. Not that I was trying for that effect, she was just super sensitive. Her eyes were closed and she had a look of extreme concentration on her face. I worked down her stomach and did between her legs from the front side this time. She liked that. Both times, from the back and the front, she made a sound something between a purr and a growl. I worked down each leg, even getting her to lift them one at a time so I could do her feet and between her toes.

"OK, Babe. Rinse off and then you can do me."

She was already turned around, rinsing the soap off her front.

"You missed a spot."

"Oh, your face?"

"No, I did my face when I shampooed my hair." She leaned into the front of the shower, her legs apart, her butt pointing back at me. She rested her head on one arm and fed the other hand back between her legs, opening up her sex. "Here. Way inside. You need to use your special tool."

"Jill, we don't have time."

"Stop thinking and do it, Jack. We'll be fine."

Well, I may not have been ready, but Little Jack was all set to go. I moved forward, bent my knees a little and lined him up with the pathway she was holding open.

It was a lot tighter than the times we had done it after I broke through her hymen. Jill hissed as she sucked air in between her teeth.

"Slow down. I need to moisten up. Just ease back and forth until it changes."

I pulled back a half inch, which was almost as far as I could go without coming out. I reached around and diddled her clitoris with two of my fingers, then moved in slightly. I went in a little further this time, but she wasn't as ready for me as she'd been overnight. Finally, after four or five times, I felt that moist heat and she welcomed me. I bottomed out after a couple more strokes.

"Yes. Oh, God, Jack. That's it. Fuck my pussy. Do me good. Fill me up."

That set me off. I eased my hand back and out so I had full access. I brought the hand around the side and went back to working on her clit from the front. I reached up with the other had and started squeezing her tits. The first thing I noticed was that her nipples were sprung out like a pair of thimbles. I giggled.

"What."

"Oh, nothing. Just something I thought of."

"Tell me, Jack."

"Thimbellina."

"I don't get it."

I tweaked one of her nipples.

"Oh."

I got back to the job at hand. There was no doubt that Jill was ready to be pounded as hard as I could manage. I did my best while still keeping up the stimulation with both hands.

"I'm getting close, Babe."

"Urrggh." She reached down and pulled my hand out from between her legs, pushing back her butt, presenting more to me. "Do me, Jack. Fill my pussy. Come in me."

It took three more strokes, but that's exactly what I did. I felt the flow coming from my balls and up through my cock. It actually hurt. I had put my body through a lot over the last 8 or 9 hours, but it was still giving its best effort. I pushed in as far as I could while I dug my hands in just in front of her hip bones and pulled her back as far as I could. As soon as I was in and that first spurt came out, she started groaning and I could feel the contractions of her vagina. I think our orgasms fed off each other, expanding them beyond their original potentials. Jill was leaning against the front of the shower and I was holding on to her. I felt weak and I knew without her support I'd probably collapse onto the floor.

A minute or two later, I was able to stand on my own. I wasn't ready to swim 100 yards, but I could stand up without breathing too hard.

Jill was squatting down, using her fingers to pull out what semen she could reach. I had an idea she left quite a pool inside. She held her nose between her thumb and forefinger, and blew into it, like she would when trying to pop her ears on a plane flight. It didn't have any effect.

"Well, it was worth a shot. Jack, you need to wash yourself so I can dry and get the bagels ready."

She'd been standing up as she said that and opened the door, stepping out onto the rug. "Gotta hurry, Jack. We have to leave in five minutes."

I did a quick swipe with the washcloth and body wash, rinsed off and did a quick job of drying myself. I just got the main moisture out of my hair, pretty much so it wouldn't drip, then brushed it real quick. As I exited the bathroom, I could see that Jill was wearing her Gi and had her hair wrapped in a towel. I could smell the bagels in the toaster oven and she pushed by me to get some things out of the bathroom.

"I'll handle the bagels. Just get dressed. Quick."

I'd gotten a pair of shorts on when I heard a pounding on the door. I went out and opened it to find Mary and Sara standing there with hands on their hips.

"Jack. We're going to be late."

"One minute, Mary. Why don't you go up to the kitchen and see if Jill needs anything."

I didn't wait for an answer, I just went into the bedroom, threw on a T-shirt, grabbed my wallet and slipped into some sandals. All three girls were on the way out the door as I came out of the bedroom.

I sprinted over to the door, flipped the lock and made Bozo stay inside. I slammed the door and took the stairs two and a time. Mary and Sara were in the back seat and Jill was up front as I got in. I started the car and backed out.

It took half a block before I realized what was different. Jill was sitting at the far side of the seat. I was all set to ask if she was upset with me when I realized that she was using the towel to dry her hair. When she decided it was dry enough, she started to bush it. She actually got violent with it as the brush would get caught in a tangle. She was finally satisfied with the results and she got a thin hair tie and wrapped it around a bunch of hair she'd pulled to the back, flipping it over several times and adding a new twist. I glanced over at her and it looked like she'd had someone do it for her instead of doing it by herself without a mirror.

There was a paper plate with bagels with cream cheese on them sitting between us on the seat. My car was too old to have cupholders, but it did have a square thing with a box for doo dads and holes for a couple of cups, sitting on the hump, held in place with little bean bag wings. Not high tech, but it worked. My travel mug was on my side and there was one of the styrofoam coffee cups they serve coffee in after church services on Jill's.

Sara was telling Mary how she took out the guy at the dance and the two of them were having a good laugh over how he had to be dragged away and was probably going to be suspended from school. Jill turned around and put her arm on the top of the seat.

"You know you have to tell Sensei, Sara."

"What do you mean?"

"He said we have to tell him any time we use what we learn in class."

"You don't think he's going to be mad, do you?"

"I'm not going to speak for him. He's quite capable of doing that himself. We'll find out how he feels after you tell him."

I got the definite impression that Jill thought Sara was in trouble.

It got quiet in the back seat. I looked in the mirror and it looked like Sara was deep in thought. Not happy thoughts, either.

Mary was looking at Jill, squinting her eyes as if she was looking hard for something she couldn't quite see.

"Boy, Jill. You look good today. If I didn't know better, I'd think you got laid."

"What makes you think you know better?"

"No! Really?"

"Yep."

"How many?"

"Four."

"Since when?"

"Last night. After the dance."

"Ooh. My brother the stud."

"Well one of them was a few minutes ago in the shower, Sis."

"Ooh. Kinky."

We pulled into the lot and parked next to Wanda's car. Jill looked at her watch and said "We've got to run or we'll be late. And you know how Sensei is about that."

The girls opened the car doors and took off into the mall. I looked down and saw that Jill had just taken a couple of bites out of one bagel and there was just a little coffee missing from her cup. I finished the bagels, not realizing how hungry I was until I started eating. I downed her coffee and then started on mine.

Once the bagels were finished, I decided to go into the mall and see if the bench in front of the karate studio was available. I took the coffee with me.

The bench was empty. I sat down and saw Sara standing at attention, a couple of steps in front of the rest of the students, who were standing in a row. There were tears coming down her face but she wasn't making any effort to wipe them away. Everyone had a serious look on their face; a couple looked like they were in shock at what Sensei was saying.

I couldn't hear anything through the glass, but I could tell that he was angry. He would point at Sara and she would somehow cringe without dropping from attention, then he would point at one or more parts of the line of students and they would also cringe without motion. At one point, one of the girls had a slight smile. He turned on her and started ranting at her and it was gone in a split second.

I assume they were lined up according to length of time or experience. Mary and Jill were down on the far left of the line. There was another girl further down, then Wanda at the end. Wanda was standing tall, staring straight ahead, but the tears were streaming down her face, too.

He finally finished his tirade and looked at Sara. He pointed to a spot right in front of him and she moved up and stood at attention there. He reached forward and pulled her belt out a bit, checking underneath it. He said something to someone not in the student assembly and a guy who looked like he was in college ran out and handed a large safety pin to the Sensei. I noticed that his belt was brown.

The Sensei reached down and grabbed Sara's hand and pushed the safety pin into it. Then he pointed at her belt and said something.

Sara looked like she'd been hit in the stomach. She'd been pretty good at keeping her stance while she was getting chewed out even though the tears were flowing. Now I could see her sag a bit and she brought her hands up to her face. I couldn't hear it but I could tell she was sobbing.

He stamped his foot on the floor and again pointed at her belt. She undid it and held her Gi together with one hand while the belt fell from around her waist, held up at one end by her other hand. She held it out to him and bowed. He bowed, took the belt, and pointed to Jill. Jill rushed up and worked with Sara to pin the Gi together so it wouldn't open up now that she didn't have her belt.

He clapped his hands together several times and said something to Sara and pointed to the corner of the room. While he was talking, the college kid ran out and was standing to his side at attention. Sara bowed and marched over to the corner and started doing pushups. I noticed that Sensei didn't return Sara's bow. The belt was given to the college kid, who bowed and went back to wherever he came from. Jill was back in line next to Mary.

Sara was busy doing pushups and looked like she would be for quite a while. Sensei clapped his hands together again and pointed to one of the guys at the right end of the line. He ran up and bowed; Sensei bowed back. He gave him some instruction and the kid turned around and started leading the group in kicks and various stances, thrusts, parries, etc. It looked like a preset routine.

Sensei walked down to the end of the line. Wanda and the girl next to her had no idea what to do and were messing up more than following what was being done. You could see the performance deteriorate the closer to the left end of the line they came. Surprisingly, both Mary and Jill seemed to know what to do and when.

I think Wanda thought she was next to be chewed out. She looked afraid. Sensei came up and stood in front of her and she made a tentative bow. He called Mary over and had her demonstrate a proper bow to both girls, then looked at Wanda again. This one was much better and he bowed back to her. He moved over to the other new girl and she did a pretty good job of bowing to him. He returned the bow and then motioned over to the left. He and the two girls left the group and went over to the wall.

He talked to both of them for a couple of minutes. Wanda relaxed more and more as he talked. He finally stood in front of the other girl. She bowed, he returned the bow, then he sent her back to the line to learn the routine.

He and Wanda were talking and all of a sudden I had to sneeze. I looked at my hand after I was done and it was full of snot. I didn't realize I was congested. I wiped my nose as best I could so I wouldn't have snot dripping from my nose as I walked down the mall.

Luckily, the food court was fairly close. I grabbed a handful of napkins and wiped off my hand, then filled another as I blew. I went into the restroom and washed my face and my hands.

Whatever this was, it had come on quickly and wasn't going to be over soon. I went a little further down the mall and came to a drug store. I went in and got a large box of Kleenex.

When I got back to the bench, Sara was still doing pushups and Wanda and Sensei bowed to each other. Wanda ran back to the line and tried to join in the routine. She was beaming.

They went on for about five minutes more. I could tell that some of the students were dragging, but nobody was slacking off. Sara's reprimand had definitely made an impression.

Sensei went in front of the line, next to the leader. He clapped his hands several times and everyone stopped and stood at attention. The leader bowed, he returned the bow and the leader got back into line. Sensei stood at attention, looking at the group. As one, they bowed and went back to attention. He returned the bow, said a few words, clapped his hands several times and the class dispersed.

Sara kept doing her pushups. He finally looked at her and clapped several times, then pointed to a spot in front of him. She jumped up and ran over, standing at attention. He said a few things to her and her face fell. He turned and walked away. I noticed that neither of them bowed. Sara left the room but there was no spring in her step.

It was probably about five minutes since I'd come back with the Kleenex. I'd sneezed three or four times and blown my nose several others. Jill was leading our group over to me. I could see a sheen of sweat on her face, and she was flushed. She was still glowing.

She spotted the pile of used Kleenex on the bench next to me and stopped short. She came up to me and held the back of her hand up to my forehead, then held the back of my head and tested my forehead with her lips.

"You poor baby. How bad is it?"

"I don't know. I started sneezing a while ago and I feel weak. I just want to go to bed in a warm blanket. I felt real weak in the shower, but I don't know if that was what we did or the start of this."

"It could be a little of both. You could have been weak to start with and what we did was too much for you. But I almost fell over, too, and I'm fine. What we did in the shower was pretty powerful stuff. Are you going to be OK to drive?"

"I don't know. I'd rather not."

"Sara. We need you to drive home. Jack doesn't feel well enough to drive."

"OK."

Wanda had been standing off to the side. "Jill, I need to talk to you."

Jill looked over at her. "Two minute talk or long talk?"

"Long."

"I need at least a couple of hours before I'll be available. Are you going to be OK till then?"

"I guess." She didn't look very confident.

"Have you got our number?"

"No." She pulled out her cell phone and hit some buttons. "What is it?"

Jill gave her the number and Wanda programmed it into her phone. "Give me a call in a couple of hours."

"Oh, great. I'll just get to sleep and the phone will ring right above my head."

"Don't be silly, Jack. We have phone jacks all over the place. There's that one in the bedroom, a couple in the living room, one each in the kitchen and the bathroom. I'll just move the phone into the kitchen till you get better. Who knows, we may even leave it there."

"The bathroom?"

"Sure. Some people like to make calls when they're on the crapper."

"Yeah, like I've been able to spend enough time on the crapper to make phone calls."

"Well, Jackie, my boy, it you have what I think you have, you're going to become very familiar with our crapper. From both ends."

We all got in the car and started to leave. Jill pointed over to the left and drove to a group of stores on the outskirts of the mall. One of them was a large grocery store. Sara drove over and parked close by. Jill said "Give me your wallet."

I handed it over and she opened it and took all the money out of it, handing it back to me empty. She waved the wad of bills and said "Come on, Mary, we're going to have fun. Sara, I need you to do me a favor and watch Jack. No messing around."

It was quiet the way she said it but there was an "or else" built into it. Sara jumped back as if she'd been slapped.

"Jill, I'd never..."

"Good. We won't be long."

My girl and my sister took off towards the store, giggling and hugging with an occasional look back at me by Mary. I had a pretty good idea what they were talking about and it wasn't this new bug I'd picked up.



-------

Chapter 112



Sara watched Jill and Mary as they walked toward the store, gossiping and laughing.

"She must really hate me."

"No, she doesn't hate you. She understands you. She understood you before she even met you. Jill doesn't look at things and decide they're the way they look on the surface. I'm just the opposite. I take everything anybody says at face value, and it's gotten me into trouble. A lot. No, if Jill hated you, I know you wouldn't be in this car today and you probably wouldn't be living in my house. She knew you kissed me the other day when I walked you to the big house. I think she knew it was going to happen before we left the apartment. But her style isn't to blow you away. She keeps an eye out for me and makes sure I don't stray. She knows I don't want to but she also knows I'm human."

"Just like Sensei said."

"I don't understand."

"The appropriate amount of force for the situation. Just what he said."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"OK. How much of it did you see?"

"I stayed in the car and ate my bagels for a few minutes. When I got there, you were standing by yourself and everyone else was lined up behind you. You were crying most of the time. I left after you'd started doing pushups. I was back when everyone was dismissed and he called you up to him. He didn't look very happy."

"Yeah, that's an understatement. When we start each class, he asks if anyone used what they've learned during the week. Last week, no one did. I bowed and stepped forward and told him how I kicked that joker in the balls last night. He started asking questions. Had I used just the amount of force needed to stop him or had I gone farther? Was I using karate for self defense or as a tool for revenge? How did I feel about what I did? Why didn't I disable him with one of the pressure points we go over at the beginning of each class?"

"I didn't see that part."

"We didn't do that today. He spent the time we'd normally do that chewing me out."

"Oh."

"He was mad. He said it was possible Sean would never be able to have children because I went overboard. What really got me was when he told me I wasn't worthy of even a white belt and to turn it in to him. Jack, even a three year old who starts learning starts out with a white belt. He said I'm not worthy to be in the group right now and it's up to me to earn my way back in."

"How are you supposed to do that?"

"He wouldn't tell me. He said I didn't listen to him and that's why I was in trouble and it's up to me to figure out how to get myself out of it. I have to show up to each class and do pushups for the whole class and then he'll give me five minutes. I can tell him something I've done or something I want to do. If it's something I want to do, I need to do pushups the next week and then tell him what I did after class. Once he approves what I've done, I come in the following week and stand in front of the whole group, tell them what I did, why it was wrong, then tell them what I've done to make amends. And then I have to beg to be re-admitted to the group. It has to be unanimous or I have to start all over again."

"That sounds pretty tough. How do you feel about it?"

"I don't know. I still think that jackass got what he deserved."

"Then you might as well hang up your Gi. You totally missed what he was trying to teach you. And I'm sorry, Sara, but he's right and you're wrong about this."

"It just makes me so mad."

"Then you're in the wrong place. Karate isn't designed to turn you into a killing machine. It's good for self defense, but it's a philosophy more than that. If there's a peaceful way to get out of something, it's always preferable to violence. It's a tough philosophy to live by. From what I understand, it can be very fulfilling and you can gain extraordinary control over your body, your emotions, even your thought processes. But if you just want to learn to kick someone's ass, you won't last long at all in a reputable group. From what I've seen, your Sensei is a very ethical man, and he's not going to allow someone who isn't just as ethical to stay without correction. If you'd just kicked that guy in the balls as a reflexive action and then felt some remorse afterwards, you'd probably have gotten some minor punishment. But Sara, you've been gloating about the damage you did to this guy ever since it happened. And we both know that he's not the one you were really after. You were pissed off because Chris wouldn't read your mind. And were too lazy, or frightened or something to tell him how you really felt. You were looking for a fight and when that kid stuck his hand down your costume, there was a part of you that was relieved because now you had a reason to hurt someone."

The tears were starting to flow again. Only now, they weren't tears of anger or frustration. She was finally starting to realize she had actually done something wrong.

"You're right Jack. What do you think I should do to get back in the group?"

"What do you want? You want me to give you an assignment? Say three Hail Marys and bow to the Sun God three days in a row and all will be better? It doesn't work like that, Sara. He gave you your assignment. You have to find a way to work yourself out of this and then do it. It may be one of the toughest things you're ever called on to do. Maybe even tougher than renouncing your family was. But the Sensei is a wise man. He knows that it won't mean anything to you if someone tells you what to do and you do it. You have to find the right thing to do all by yourself and then do it. There's one good thing about it. If you find it and look at it honestly and know in your gut that it's the right thing, it will be. I can guarantee it."

She wiped her face. "Can I hug you?"

"I'd be disappointed if you didn't."

She slid out from behind the steering wheel and wrapped her arms around me, digging her face into my shoulder. She was still sobbing.

"Oh, Jack. Jill is so lucky. You don't know how good you are."

I just patted her back, held onto her and said "There, There." That's all she really needed.

She was starting to settle down when there was a loud rapping on the window next to me. Actually, behind me, the way I was turned sideways on the seat. Sara tried to jump backwards but I kept my arms around her and she didn't get far. I worked my head around and saw Jill next to the window with a keyring in her hand, ready to bang on the window some more. I smiled at her.

"Hi. Babe. You ready to go?"

"Yup."

"OK. Just a minute."

I grabbed Sara by both sides of the head and pulled her towards me, kissing her on the forehead.

"OK. Back behind the wheel."

She smiled, slid over and tried to wipe the tears away. I pulled a couple of Kleenex from my box and gave them to her. I slid over to the middle of the seat and Jill opened the door and sat down next to me while Mary got in back.

Jill looked around me at Sara. Sara was looking straight ahead, trying her best to hide.

"Did he make things any easier for you?"

Sara started. "Yes. Yes, he did."

"I knew he would. My Jack's a good man. I could have said the same things to you and you would have fought me on it."

"Oh, I don't know about that."

"Come on, Sara. You know you would have." She squeezed my hand. "Take us home so I can start nursing my poor baby."

Sara started up the car and I squeezed back. "So, what did all my money buy?"

"Oh, just wait till I show you. But I need to make a call first."

She pulled out her cell phone and hit a speed dial code. She listened for a while until it was answered.

"Wanda. It's Jill. I need to ask you a favor. First, I think I know the answer to this, but I need to know for sure. Are you still living with my father? I figured as much. I'm sure you'll tell me all about it, but I don't think I'll be too pissed off at you for deserting my poor Daddy. Are you on speaking terms with him? Oh, really. That bad, huh? No, I need something out of the garage. Never mind, I'll take care of it. Better give me an extra half hour. I want to make sure he's all doped up and asleep before you come over. Sure, you can come over. I never planned on doing anything over the phone. I just didn't want you hanging around while I was nursing Jack. Tell you what, if you're interested, I'll teach you how to make real chicken soup. Yeah, you'll practically be Jewish by the time I get through with you. OK. Talk to you later."

She leaned around me.

"Sara, we need to go to my Daddy's house first. Turn right at the next corner."

"I know where you live, Jill."

"I know you do, Dear. Right upstairs from you, over the garage."

"I meant where you used to live."

"OK. That's where I need to go."

We were over there a few minutes later. Jill went up to the garage, then realized she couldn't get in without the clicker for the opener. She went up to the front door and tried it but it was obviously locked. She rang the doorbell a couple of times but nobody came. She finally reached in her purse and pulled out a bunch of keys. She chose one and tried it but couldn't seem to get it in the lock. She took another look at the keys, shook her head and tried again. No luck. She dropped the keys in her purse and walked around to the other side of the garage, hopped over the fence and headed towards the patio. About a minute later, the garage door opened up. There were no cars inside. Jill came out the front door a few seconds later.

She kind of skipped into the garage and went over past the freezer and grabbed a box off the shelf next to it. She came back out, slapping the side of the door frame on the way. The door started to close.

She ran up to the car and opened the back door, handing the box to Mary. "Hold this." She got in the front seat, leaned over and said to Sara, "Time to go. The cops will probably be here any time now."

We were just pulling out of her housing tract when I heard sirens. A minute later, two private cop cars flew by us, sirens screaming and yellow lights flashing.

Jill just sat there with a big smile on her face.

"Boy, I can't wait to talk to Wanda. I can tell, it's going to be a doozy. He changed all the locks and the alarm code."

"How did you get in the house?"

"Jack, Jack, Jack. You can't expect a girl to give away her secrets. Let's just say that there isn't a teenage girl around worth her salt who doesn't have at least one secret way to get in or out of her house when it's locked. Mine just happened to set off the alarm and my code didn't work."

She pulled out her cell phone and placed another speed call. She made a face almost immediately.

"Daddy, it's Jill. You're probably on the phone with the alarm company or all your calls are being sent to voice mail. Anyway, you'll get a report sooner or later and I don't want you to worry. I had to break into your house so I could get something from the garage. For some reason my key and my alarm code don't work anymore. I hope you aren't mad at me, Daddy. Love you. Kissy, Kissy.

She flipped the phone closed and put it in her purse, a big smile on her face.

"OK. Now we get to go though your goodies, Jack. Mary. What's in that box I gave you?"

"It says it's a humidifier. What's that?"

"It's real simple. It adds humidity to the air. It's not quite this simple, but basically you put water in it, plug it in and it makes steam. It breaks up the mucous if you're real congested. That's Leave it to Beaver technology. Straight out of the fifties. What you got in the bag, Mary?"

"I've got Vicks VapoRub."

"Also something Mrs. Cleaver would use. And she probably got the big bucks when she held it up for the cameras as she rubbed it into Beavers chest. They used to have commercials for this stuff that said it was as good as a mother's love or better than a mothers love or some such. Of course, they had commercials extolling the benefits of different brands of cigarettes around the same time period. What else?"

"Tea bags."

"And?"

"Fresh lemons."

"Ah yes, nature's own vitamin C and a relaxing way to deliver it. Add the juice of one fresh lemon to a cup of hot tea and drink. Repeat repeatedly. And, last but not least?"

"I've got a bunch of cans of frozen orange juice."

"Another natural source of vitamin C. And it will help keep you from dehydrating. I would have gotten some fresh oranges so we could squeeze them, but it would take too many to just make a glass of juice. But we can always check some of the fruit from the back yard. It doesn't hurt to eat fresh oranges, either.

"Now for my bags. This one is full of cans of soups. I've got chicken noodle, chicken with rice, and my favorite, plain old chicken broth. Put it in a mug and sip it while you watch Oprah. And a brand new box of Saltines. Gotta have something to soak in your soup. This other bag has a bunch of real chickens and real vegetables to make real chicken soup. Unfortunately, it takes a bit longer to make than this stuff in the cans. But the whole apartment will smell wonderful while it's simmering on the stove. And this little bag has vitamin C, garlic capsules, some echinacea and a bunch of herbs that will dry you up or keep you from coughing or whatever. All good stuff. Except for the herbs, Mrs. Cleaver would have given any of this to a sick Beaver. Ooh, almost forgot. I've got some honey to add to the tea with lemon."

We pulled in the driveway and I got out. I was able to make it up three steps before I felt like I was going to collapse. I was all set to just slump down when Jill and Mary ran up behind me and teamed up to keep me from falling. Between the two of them, they were able to get me up the stairs and into my apartment. The next thing I knew, they were setting me down on the couch.

I noticed that Sara hadn't come up when Jill and Mary helped me get upstairs. They went back down to get my goodies while I caught my breath. It was nice to get some attention but having to get help up the stairs sucked.

All three of them came in the front door carrying packages. Jill told Mary to go ahead and throw the humidifier on our bed. Jill and Sara headed up to the kitchen with their bags. I got up and was making my way down the hall when Mary came up and put her arm around me. I was glad for the support but was too proud to admit it. I think she knew what I was going through and just pretended like we were walking down the hall with her arm around me. She helped ease me into one of the kitchen chairs and I pulled her down to me and kissed her on the cheek. We both knew she'd helped me but neither of us made a big deal about it.

Sara looked at Jill. "What should I do?"

"The first thing I need you to do is sit down. You, too, Mary."

They all took chairs at the table. Sara looked apprehensive as Jill started speaking.

"Sara, I have some things I need to say and I'd appreciate it if you'd let me get through it all before you say anything. I promise I'll let you respond, ask questions, whatever when I finish. I know what I want to communicate to you, but it may take some time to put it into words."

Sara nodded her head.

"Sara, first of all, I think I owe you an apology. I feel like I took advantage of you today."

Sara said, "Jill..."

Jill held up her hand. "Let me finish, please.

"I feel like I took advantage of you. Jack wasn't in any shape to drive and I used you. Not only to get us home, but to help me break into my father's house. And I knew the whole time I was doing it that I have to disassociate myself from you.

"You were there with Mary and me last week when Sensei took us aside and told us the goals and the philosophies of the group. You told him you agreed with them just like we did. And then, less than a week later, you go against everything the group stands for and act like you're proud of yourself for doing it. I don't think you realize how bad that is. It's kind of like joining the army, swearing to protect the country and its citizens, then going out and shooting people in the streets and bragging about it. It's unhealthy for the group or any part of it to have anything to do with someone who has that attitude. I believe in what that group believes. So, until I see some real evidence that your viewpoint has changed, I can't have anything to do with you. And until you do what you need to do to work your way back into the group, I can't be your friend.

"So, that brings up a dilemma. I think with Wanda and Mom, we'll be able to get by in the driving department. Heck, Mary or I can always ride a bike down to the store if we have too; it's not that far. But you are a friend of Jack's and I know you both mean a lot to each other. I can't stop you from helping him get better and feel good about myself. So, if he's OK with it and you are doing it for the right reasons, I'm not going to stop you. I'm not going to tell you what I mean about the right reasons. We both know what I'm talking about. But I'm not going to allow you to come into my house and take over, either.

"I think that's all I wanted to say. I'm talking for me. You're going to have to find out from Mary how she feels about all this."

Mary interrupted. "I feel pretty much the same way as Jill. We can't allow someone who is using the group for her own ends to corrupt us. I know 'corrupt' sounds like a harsh word, but it's the correct one. I just want to add one thing, Sara. Jill could just as easily have told you to stay out of her apartment until you work your way back into the group. You're lucky she's letting you contribute something."

Everyone was quiet for a few seconds. Sara finally said, "Is it OK for me to say something?"

Jill and Mary both nodded.

"I'm beginning to see that I might have done something wrong. I was thinking I could help Jack out and Sensei would let me back in the group."

Jill shook her head and looked at Mary. "Do you want to take this one or should I?"

Mary said, "Let me. So, let's see, Sara. The first thing you did was to admit there's a chance you might have done something wrong. That means that there's a chance you might not have done anything wrong. I don't care what fantastic, wonderful things you do, none of us are going to let you back in the group if you won't even admit you did something wrong. And you need to know that you did something wrong, not just say you did.

"Next, you think helping Jack get over a cold or the flu or whatever he's got is special enough to get you back in the group. Maybe you should take a look at where you'd be today if Jack didn't go out of his way to help you. You'd probably still be living with abusive parents. That assumes that you even made it to the hospital. If it wasn't for Jack, you never would have gotten back with Chris. And I don't care whether one or both of you messed up that relationship, having Chris around for the time he was made a big difference in your life.

"Making orange juice for someone who made such a difference in your life to try to get back into the group is like that army guy trying to remain in the army by saying he called his mother on Mother's Day. It's just not going to mean anything."

Tears were streaming down Sara's face. "What do you guys think I should do?"

Jill said, "The first thing you need to do is admit that what you did is against the beliefs of the group. Not that it was wrong or anything else. Just that what you did was something the group believes you shouldn't have done.

"Once you admit that, you need to take a look at whether you agree with the group's concept that what you did is wrong. If you don't agree, it's no big deal. You just leave the group. No muss, no fuss."

"But then I won't have you guys for friends."

"I'm not going to say that. I know you won't have my trust. I'll always be looking at what you're really up to. I hate to keep riding on this, but you used the group to learn how to do something you were totally aware was against the core beliefs of the group. Walking away and saying, 'Well, I really don't want to belong to that group anyway, ' doesn't make you the most trusted person in my book. Standing in front of the group and admitting you made a mistake in joining for false purposes and apologizing for taking advantage of us would add to your credibility."

"But what if I want to get back?"

"You've got to realize, you've got to believe that what you did was wrong. So much that you feel truly sorry. That may not be something you can do right away. Sara, you had a lot of hate in you to act the way you did. It may take some work to get through that. Mary, I, or even Jack can help you look at that if you want. Mom always has ideas about everything. She might be the best person to get with because she's not involved. Lets face it, even Jack's not totally impartial about it."

"OK. Lets say I agree it was wrong Then what?"

"Then you have to be real smart and inventive. At that point you'll be thinking like someone who's part of the group, right?"

"Right."

"OK. So, as a member of the group, take a look at what it would take for another person who had done what you did to come back. How much work would that person have to do for you to give her another chance? Not how many pushups would it take, although putting in some penance is probably going to be necessary. But what could you do with what you've learned from the group to make things better than they are for someone else or several people. Look at the damage you caused. Not only did you cause physical damage to that kid, whether it's permanent or not, you had every person at that dance talking about you. It's a cinch that every one of them knew you used martial arts, if not karate. And you know what they said. You were ruthless. A mean bitch. The guy was going to be talking in a high voice for a week. He might never want to go near a girl, he may never be able to have children, you can figure it out. Is that the reputation our group wants for itself? What can you do to turn that around? Those are the kinds of thing you need to look at. But first, you need to admit you went against the group and it was wrong to do so."

Sara stood up.

"Thanks. I know what I need to do. I still need to do a lot of thinking, but I don't feel like fighting it the way I did earlier. Jack, I hope you get better soon. I know you've got Jill and Mary and your mom and Wanda will probably chip in too, so I'm not needed. If you need me to drive somewhere, I'll be happy to do it. Jill, if you need a ride to and from school or college, I can do that. I don't feel right in taking Jack's car all day, so if you want me to take you to school, we'll need to leave early enough for me to get back here and walk to school. And I'll need to walk home and then drive over to pick you up. I'm going to go down to my room and do some thinking."

I called out to her as she started to leave. "Sara?"

"Yeah, Jack?"

"I don't want to pile too much on you, but you owe Chris an explanation of why you acted the way you did."

"With him touching me or me kicking that guy in the balls?"

"Probably both."

"You're right, Jack."

She tentatively waved and started to leave, her head low.

"Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Give me a hug."



-------

Chapter 113



I saw several things in Sara's face when I told her I needed a hug. Strange how a simple show of affection can do that. She brightened up, of course. But there was more to it than that. It was as if she sighed, deep down inside. There was some hesitance, as if she was afraid the girls wouldn't allow it. There was also some joy; someone felt she wasn't completely worthless.

I stood up and she came over to me, enfolding herself in my arms. Her face lay on my chest as we each put our arms about the other. My right hand stroked her back gently and I could feel the muscles relax as I did, her body shiver as she let go of the tension that had kept her wound up tight.

She eased back a bit and I let her loose, holding onto her just long enough to kiss her on the forehead.

"Sara, don't be a stranger. I know you can get through this thing."

"I hope so. I think I'm going to follow Jill's advice and talk to Mom."

"Good idea. She's sure helped me through enough times I screwed up."

"Yeah, well, she'll have her work cut out for her."

"Good. Mom likes a challenge."

By this time, I'd let go of her and eased back into the chair. Funny, how just standing and hugging someone could wear me out.

Sara left and Jill looked at me closely.

"Thanks, Jack."

"For what?"

"For caring. She needs to know she's still cared for."

"That sounds kind of strange, the way you just worked her over."

"Maybe. Jack, she needed me to work her over. And when she gets through this, she'll probably thank me for caring about her. But she also needs to know that she has some value. She screwed up, but that doesn't mean she's worthless."

"Maybe you should have told her that."

"It would have detracted from the message she needed to get from me. Having her hero let her know she's still loved is exactly what she needed. So, how about we try to make you feel better?"

"God, I'd like that. I'm wiped out from just standing up and hugging Sara."

"OK. Mary, could you open a couple of cans of orange juice and mix it for me?"

"Sure. Where are the pitchers?"

"I have an empty gallon milk jug in that cabinet."

Mary opened up the cabinet and found the jug. Meanwhile, Jill grabbed a large funnel and handed it to her. She reached into one of the grocery bags.

"Chicken with rice or noodles?"

"Uhm, rice sounds good."

"Rice it is. Real hungry or a little?"

"I want to say real, but I don't know how much I can really eat."

"Tell you what. I'll make one can now, then we can always make another if you want more."

"Sounds good."

Mary brought over a large glass of orange juice. "Here, try this."

I took a sip. My throat was starting to get sore. Not really bad yet, but I could feel it; more of a potential than actual pain. The juice soothed it.

Jill gave me a handful of pills to take.

"What's all this?"

"Let's see. Vitamin C, garlic, echinacea, some other herbs and a real good multivitamin."

"Garlic?"

"Yep. It's one of the best things when you're congested. I got the odorless kind so you don't stink up the place."

"Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome."

She lay the back of her hand against my forehead.

"We need to get you in bed. You've got a fever."

"No ice baths?"

"Not if you do what you're told."

"Yes, Dear."

I started to work on the pile of pills. Mary came over and topped off my orange juice.

"I'm never going to be able to stop peeing."

"That's fine. It will flush some of the garbage out of your system."

Mary moved out of the way so Jill could place a big bowl of soup in front of me. The smell reminded me of times as a little boy when Mom had given me the same thing. Or, I should say what I was able to smell. My sinuses had become very congested over the last hour or so and I had to breathe through my mouth.

Jill brought over a wrapper of Saltines and sat down next to me while I ate. She lay her hand on my left thigh, leaving my hands free to eat. I could feel the love flowing from her into my leg.

I felt the mucous in the back of my throat and coughed up a wad of it. Keeping it in my mouth, I went into the bathroom, spitting it in the toilet. Back in the kitchen, I continued to work on my soup. Jill put her hand back on my leg.

Mary was emptying out the grocery bags while all this was going on, occasionally asking Jill where she wanted something. She came over to the table when all the bags were emptied.

"Anything else I can do?"

"Would you get the humidifier for me?"

Mary went down the hall and soon came back with the box. She placed it on the table and held it still while Jill lifted out the unit. Jill looked proud of her humidifier.

I'd never seen anything like this contraption of hers. For some reason, my immediate thought was of a potty seat, used to train little kids. The exterior was all plastic. It stood a foot and a half tall with a gray base and an ivory top. Looking down from the top, it was shaped like a triangle, with rounded edges. The front had a circular opening, maybe three inches across, for the water. The majority of the top consisted of horizontal slots. There was a power cord coming out of the bottom with a knob marked for off, medium and high above it.

Jill got a rag, put it under the tap and wiped off the whole surface. She got a pitcher out of the cupboard and made several trips back to the sink, filling it with water and pouring it in the hole. Each time, she'd check a clear slot on the side that showed the water level.

When it was full, she asked Mary to take it into our room, put in on her desk, plug it in and turn it on 'high'.

Mary came back a couple of minutes later and asked Jill if there was anything else.

"No, Mary. Thanks. I can take it from here."

She came over and kissed me on the cheek, then headed out.

I'd made five or six trips to the bathroom to dispose of crud I'd coughed up and used a handful of Kleenex before I finished my soup. The last few spoonfuls took a real effort to eat, so I was happy Jill had gone easy on the amount.

"OK, Mister, time for you to go to bed."

She half led, half carried me into the room, going so far as to help me off with my shoes and my jeans. I was able to handle the shirt by myself.

"Don't go anywhere. I'll be right back."

I lay back on the bed. I could see the slight dullness to the air above the humidifier. It wasn't a cloud of steam but the water vapor was slightly visible. I breathed in deeply through my mouth and could feel the moisture in the air.

Jill came back in the room with a red plastic glass and the jar of Vapo Rub. She placed the glass where I could get it on the headboard.

"What's that for?"

"Gunk. It's stupid for you to keep going into the bathroom every time your cough something up. Holler when you fill it up and I'll get you a new one."

I looked over at her and she grinned. Somehow, I didn't think I was going to come up with 12 ounces of the stuff very soon.

She pushed me back onto the bed and unscrewed the lid on the jar. Two fingers of her right hand dug into it and she proceeded to slather it on my chest. Another smell from the past. I felt a slight warmth as the oily paste worked its way into my skin. She repeated it several times. Commercial or no commercial, I could feel her love as she worked me over.

"Close your eyes."

As soon as they were closed, I felt two fingers from each hand, spreading the ointment over my face, next to my nose and under my eyes. I could feel the vapor through my closed eyelids and the smell was more noticeable. For a couple of seconds there was nothing, then I felt a tiny finger insert itself into my left nostril and rotate. The finger left and now I could definitely smell the stuff. A second later, my right nostril got the same treatment.

"You'd better keep your eyes closed for a while if you don't want to be wiping up tears."

"How am I supposed to be able to see you if my eyes are closed?"

"You've got plenty of time for that when you get better. Right now, you need to sleep."

She pulled me up to a sitting position and helped me get a T-shirt on. After getting me under the covers and making sure I had the blankets up to my chin, she went out to the kitchen for a minute. I still had my eyes closed.

"I'm putting the box of Kleenex and a full glass of orange juice up here on the headboard. Make sure you spit in the plastic one, not the glass one. Get some sleep and call me if you need anything."

I heard a click as she unplugged the phone, then felt her lips as she kissed my forehead. "Get better, honey." The next thing I heard was the door being pushed to the doorframe.

That was Saturday, early in the afternoon. I didn't feel alive again until Monday night. I have a lot of impressions of what went on, but I couldn't tell you what happened in those 55 hours.

The first thing I remember is a faint ringing, then Jill talking. I suppose it was Wanda calling her. I know Wanda came over sometime after that.

I woke up at one point with the urge to throw up. I found enough energy to make it down the hall, bumping into the walls a couple of times. I got the impression that Jill and Wanda were sitting at the kitchen table. Both seemed surprised as I stumbled into the bathroom, falling on my knees just in time to empty the contents of my stomach.

It would have been fine if I had emptied it all out of the same place. Unfortunately, they don't have double ended toilets. A pair of men's briefs will hold a lot, but not as much as I tried to deposit in mine. There wasn't a damn thing I could do but kneel in front of the toilet, puking until there was no more to puke, then puking a little more, while I felt the stuff drip down the back of my legs. If I hadn't felt sick before, that would have done it.

At some point I felt Jill's hand on my back. I was so frustrated I cried like a little baby as she rubbed, never saying anything, just being there for me. When it looked like I was done vomiting, she got a glass of water.

"Don't drink it; I don't know if you can keep it down. Just rinse out your mouth."

She eased me up. Somehow she had lost her clothes. She guided me, shitty underwear and all, into the shower.

The water felt good as she held me in her arms and it flowed down my back. She managed to get my underpants down without letting me fall. I felt her hand rubbing me, my butt and between my legs, cleaning off the waste. God knows I was no help, my arms around her as I hung on.

"Are you OK?"

"I think so."

"All right. No need to be embarrassed. You're sick. Lets see if we can get you back to bed."

She reached around and turned off the water, then opened the shower door and tried to dry me while holding me up. I think she did a pretty good job, under the circumstances.

She called out to the kitchen and sent Wanda after a clean pair of briefs. That was an adventure, Jill holding onto me and getting me into them while Wanda waited outside the door. Once I was dressed, they each took an arm and got me back to the bedroom. Then it was more Vick's, a clean shirt, back under the covers and back to sleep.

There were more trips to the bathroom. Fortunately, they were all for only one thing at a time. My butt was raw from wiping it, my stomach almost constantly hurt from trying to regurgitate something that wasn't there. The first time back, I was able to detect the smell of Pine Sol and saw no evidence of my 'accident'.

I woke up to see Jill standing over near her desk, pouring water into the humidifier several times.

At one point, Jill asked me if I'd mind if Wanda stayed with us for a few days.

I remember Mom sitting on the edge of the bed, stroking my face, asking me how I was. I know I told her Jill was taking care of me; I hope I wasn't cruel about it. I remember her tensing up a bit, then continuing to rub my face.

Mary was up a few times and gave me some good hugs. Or at least as good as a person standing on the side of the bed can give someone who's lying down. I think Sara was up once, too, but I'm not sure about that. It seems that Chris stopped by, but I think I may have dreamed that. Somehow, I can't believe he would be in my room dressed as Fred Flintstone, playing his guitar. I do remember Jill pressing up against me in bed a few times.

Jill was sitting on the bed, stroking my faced much as my mother did. I may have even called her Mom. I opened my eyes and smiled at her.

"How are you feeling?"

"Hungry."

"Good. Do you need to use the bathroom?"

"No, I think I'm good."

"OK. Relax and I'll be right back."

She was gone for a while and I started to doze. I came back as I felt her combing the hair out of my face with her fingers.

I opened my eyes and smiled again. Wanda was standing behind her.

"Hey Wanda. How ya doin'?"

"Hi Jack. Feeling any better?"

"A little."

The two of them sat me up in the bed, propping me up with several pillows. Mom must have brought up one of her bed trays. Kind of like a TV tray, but it had legs about six inches long that snapped into place when it was in use and folded out of the way for storage. Once it was in place, Jill set a bowl of soup on it. She got a towel and hooked the corner of it inside the collar of my T-shirt. Wanda said she'd see me later and Jill thanked her before she went out the door.

I found that I was able to breathe through my nose. That was a big relief in itself. I still felt tired, but I was looking forward to the soup.

Jill held the bowl up to my chest and took a spoonful.

"Open up."

I did and she shoved the spoon in my mouth. I could actually taste it. It wasn't out of a can.

"This is good."

She wiped the corner of my mouth with the towel.

"Good. It's been on the stove for a day and a half."

"A day and a half? Wow. Sunday night already."

"Monday."

"Really? Have I been out of it that long?"

"You were real sick, Honey."

"How was school?'

"I stayed here. You needed me. School will still be there later."

The soup was good. No little square chunks of chicken, this had pieces with some substance to them. Lots of rice. I also tasted carrots and celery. What's so neat about it is I tasted and smelled it.

"How long has Wanda been here?"

"Since Saturday night. Don't you remember me asking if it was OK?"

"I remember. Just not what day it was."

"She needed a place. She moved out of Daddy's house on Thursday and her mother's been coming down on her pretty hard."

"She looked kind of stressed when she was in here."

"You are getting better. I'm surprised you noticed that."

"Well, I was looking for bruises."

She quickly looked over at me but didn't say anything.

It didn't take long before I was full. Under normal circumstances, I could probably down three or four bowls of the stuff without a second thought. Now I could barely finish half a bowl.

Wanda came back in the room with a mug in her hand.

"I made you some tea, Jack."

"Thanks, Wanda. That sounds good. It doesn't have any lemon in it, does it?"

"No. Did you want some?"

"No thanks. My stomach feels fine, but I don't know how it would react to that."

She handed Jill the mug and Jill held it up for me to take a sip. I looked over at Wanda.

"I'm sorry it didn't work out with you and John."

Wanda looked at Jill.

"I just told him you moved out."

Wanda looked back over at me. "Thanks Jack."

"How are you holding up?"

"I'll be OK."

"Good. If I ever get over this garbage, I'll be here if you need me."

"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

I had some more tea and then the girls helped me get to the bathroom. I peed and then Jill helped me into the shower. I was able to wash off myself and then she helped me dry off and put on some clean briefs. I brushed my teeth for the first time in over two days. By the time I left the bathroom, I felt semi-alive.

Wanda was leaving the room with an armful of sheets as we went back in. Jill thanked her as we passed.

Jill had to put more Vick's on me. At this point I probably could have gotten along fine without it, but she enjoyed doing it and I enjoyed having it done. She seemed to put a little more into it this time. If I wasn't so weak, I probably would have taken her up on her non-verbal offer.

She put a clean shirt on me and got me back into bed. It felt good to have clean clothes, clean sheets and a clean body. I pulled the covers up to my chin as she leaned over and kissed my on the forehead.

I remember one more thing from that night. I remember Jill coming into bed, snuggling up to my back, putting her arm around me and sighing.



-------

Chapter 114



I was awakened by the sun shining on my face. I took a deep breath through my nose for the first time in days. I smelled the smell of Jill.

I felt the feel of her, too; the warmth of her body, her breasts up against my back and her mound pushing into my butt. Her left arm was draped over my side, her fingers barely touching the mattress in front of me. I took her hand in mine and pulled it into my chest. She moved a bit, settled into my butt a little closer and moaned contentedly.

I felt like eating a big breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, coffee and the works. I wasn't sure my stomach would feel the same way about things, though. I'd have to see what Jill had in the house.

I thought about that. I'd pretty much felt that way since we'd moved in; Jill took care of all of that stuff. The food, the dishes, the laundry, all of those things had become Jill's realm. It was supposed to be my apartment, and it was, but I'd considered it ours from day one.

She started stirring behind me so I knew she'd be awake soon. I let her wake up on her own. She didn't realize I was awake and tried to work her hand out of mine without waking me. I played along, groaning a bit and pulling it closer to my chest. She finally tugged it away and started to pull back from me.

"Hey!"

I felt her freeze, as if caught doing something wrong.

"Aren't you even going to say hello to me?"

"Jack! Are you feeling better?"

"Much better, thank you. Where do you think you're going?"

"I have to use the bathroom."

"Are you coming back?"

"If you want."

"Hurry back."

She came in the room a few minutes later. Her face had been scrubbed and her hair had that shine it gets from brushing the hell out of it. She had a big grin on her face.

The grin faded a bit when I got out of bed and made my own trip to the bathroom. I emptied my bladder, brushed my teeth and washed my face. On the way back, I stopped in the kitchen and poured a couple of glasses of orange juice. I took a sip of mine and made a face. There's something about drinking orange juice with the taste of toothpaste in your mouth that just doesn't work. Which is strange when you think of it, because it's no big deal to brush your teeth after drinking the stuff.

Jill was sitting up in bed, a couple of pillows behind her. She lit up when I came in the room. She thanked me when I handed her the glass of orange juice and made a face after her first sip.

"It'll get better after you've had a bit."

"I know. It's not like it's the first time I've had it after brushing my teeth. But it seems to surprise me every time."

"I know. Me too. Would you like some company?"

"Please."

I went around and got in my side of the bed. She turned to face me and her smile was so big it looked like her face was going to crack. Our arms went around each other. I was uncomfortable and pulled her over to me so that we were both lying on the mattress.

She was tentative when I first started the kiss, waiting for me to set the pace, and then she put herself into it. I found out that my breathing wasn't 100% back to normal; I had to break away after fifteen seconds or so. She hugged me a little tighter and pushed her face into the top of my chest.

"Jack. I missed this so much."

"I'd like to say I did, too, but I was so out of it I didn't know what was going on. Was Mom here? And Mary and Sara? And Chris?"

"Everyone was up here but Chris. Mary helped me out a lot. So did Wanda. Boy, did she pitch in. She did about four loads of laundry, as well as most of the actual work on the chicken soup."

"Oh, that soup was so good. I was so hungry last night and that really hit the spot."

"I'm glad you liked it. My Daddy got the recipe for that from my mother. One of the few things she left behind."

"Well, it was good. I have to ask something. Do you know if I was mean to Mom when she was up here?"

"I wouldn't call it mean. I think you might have hurt her feelings a bit. She offered to help you out and you told her that was OK, that you had me now. I think she probably felt like she'd lost you. Maybe even that I'd stolen you away. You know, they're both true to some extent."

"Yeah, I guess. Not that you can steal something that's given. But I should probably talk to her and tell her I'm sorry if I was rough on her."

"She'd probably like that."

"I've got my breath back. How would you like to try that kiss again?"

"I'd like that."

We tried. I don't know if it was the illness or the kiss that got me breathing hard. Jill was the same, so I think it was the kiss.

"Jill?"

"Yes?"

"Could I have something to eat?"

"Oh, God, Jack, I'm sorry. What would you like?"

"I'd like bacon and eggs and the whole works, but I don't know if my stomach can handle it. I don't even know if I should drink coffee."

"Can you handle tea until your stomach settles?"

"Sure."

"OK. I'm pretty sure we have another box of muffin mix in there. How do blueberry muffins sound?"

"They sound good."

"OK. Do you want to eat in the kitchen or should I bring it in here?"

"I'd like to sit down at the table and talk with you. I've been out of it for almost three days. I'm sure there's a lot that I missed."

"I'd say so. You can come out and watch me cook and I'll fill you in on what's been happening."

I noticed that Wanda wasn't around but there was evidence that she'd made our couch her new home.

Jill was as the counter, working on the muffin mix when I went into the kitchen. I walked up behind her, wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed the side of her neck. She giggled and scrunched her neck against me.

"Stop it. I need to concentrate here."

"OK. I'll leave. I know when I'm not wanted."

"Jack. Don't be like that. I'll just be a minute."

I went over to the table and sat down as she finished up with the mix and ladled it into the muffin sheet. She put it in the oven and came over to the table. I slid the chair back and offered her my lap. She grinned and sat on me, her arms around my neck. She kissed me with enthusiasm.

"So, what's up with Wanda?"

"She's going to stay with us for a while until she finds someplace else to go."

"So, that that mean we have another permanent border like Sara?"

"God, I don't think so."

"So, what's she doing to change it?"

"I don't know. She had to move out of Daddy's place and her mother and her boyfriend have been giving her a bunch of crap. The boyfriend called her a slut, and that really got to her. She had to get out of there. When she asked if she could move in for a while, I just told her she could. I didn't really think about where she would go after she was here. I did ask you before she moved in."

"Well, I have no problem with her being here for a few days or even a couple of weeks. But we need to set a time limit for her right away so we don't get stuck with her for years. I like Wanda, but the reason Mom built this place was because I was pushed out of my room when Sara moved in. I don't want to have to watch what I do in my own place. What are we going to do on your birthday tomorrow night? Sit down on the couch with Wanda?"

The thing about her birthday really hit home; I could see it on her face. I knew how she felt and why she'd offered the couch without hesitating since I'd essentially done the same thing with Sara. I also knew how it could tie you down and shake up your life. Feeling sorry for someone is one thing, but there are limits to what you can do.

"I didn't even think about my birthday. Are you going to be well enough to do something?"

"I'll be well enough. I don't know how much activity I can handle, but I have a big night planned for us. Has Wanda said anything yet?"

"About what?"

"She obviously hasn't. She and you are going shopping for a dress this afternoon."

"I have plenty of dresses, Jack."

"That may be, but I want you to get something special for tomorrow. You'll need to dress up."

"Where are we going?"

"Out to dinner."

"I figured that. Where?"

"A restaurant."

"Jack! You aren't going to tell me, are you?"

"No, I'm not. You'll see when we get there. I don't think you'll be disappointed."

"I'm sure I won't."

"So, My Dear, what's up with Wanda?"

"She moved out."

"I figured that out. What happened?"

"My father was an ass."

"Yeah, well I kind of figured that out, too. Was he beating her or what?"

"Yeah, he was hitting her. It started out with him picking on her. That dinner when he was being a turd was the start. He'd told her some of the things he was chewing her out about before. Stuff like wanting to be able to eat as soon as he got home. But having her wait on him like he did was just him taking advantage of her. She enjoyed serving him and he just took it to the limit, turning it from something she liked to do into something he expected. That night we went to dinner he told her he was going to spank her for not doing her job and she thought he was kidding. Then when he made her drop her pants, she thought it was play. And it seemed to start out that way, then she said it was as if he became possessed. That's why she was having a hard time walking the next day. She tried to convince herself that she was wrong and deserved to be punished, but nothing she did from that point was OK with him. She finally packed all her stuff up and took off while he was at work on Thursday. Sometime between then and Saturday he changed the locks and the alarm code. She went home and instead of just taking her in and helping her out, they made her feel like shit. When the guy who's screwing her mother started calling her a slut, she came over and asked if she could stay."

"So, did she sign up for karate so she can kick the shit out of your father?"

"No. She said she liked what she saw that day we signed up and what I had to say about the class. She needs something to make her feel good about herself right now and she thought karate might be it."

"Does she still feel that way after taking a class?"

"Yeah, she does. She said she felt more confident after that first class."

"Well, good. I think she needs something. She doesn't seem to have much luck with men."

"No, she doesn't. She has so little faith in herself that she just lets them walk all over her. That's what her problem was with guys her own age. She would let them do whatever they wanted so she could get some attention from them. When that didn't work, she convinced herself she was in love with Daddy. He seemed safe. That was a real shock when she found out what he was really like."

"It was a shock to me, too. I know there's no way Mom would have put up with that shit."

"Jack, it was a bigger shock to me. My Daddy has never been anything like that. He's always been loving and gentle. I need to talk to him and find out what happened to him. But I'm going to let him settle down a bit, first. Besides, I don't want anything to mess up my birthday."

"Me, neither. When I talk to Mom later today, I'm going to ask if it's OK for Wanda to sleep on her couch tomorrow night so we can have the apartment to ourselves when we get back home. But we need to figure out a way to get her out of here. She doesn't need to camp out on our couch, whether we let her or not. What's up with her folks? Are they always like that?"

"He's always been tough on her since he moved in with her mother. He came down on her when she got in trouble with the guys at school, but he always treated her like he was expecting her to act slutty. It was like an 'I told you so' when she started to let the guys walk all over her. Maybe if he'd had some faith in her, she'd have had some faith in herself."

"What about her mother?"

"She doesn't want to get involved. She kind of a mousy woman; she never has an opinion or takes a stand. It's like she's afraid she'll get in trouble if someone notices her."

"Jeeze. Wanda has her mother for a role model and the boyfriend's just waiting for her to screw up. No wonder she has no faith in herself."

"I know. We're working on it, though."

"Speaking of working on it, what's happening with Sara?"

"She talked to Mom. She came up and apologized to me and Mary. She finally got that she broke the rules. She seemed to feel a lot better about the whole thing. She wants to get back in the group but doesn't know what she should do yet. So, she's come a long way."

"Good. I like Sara."

"She likes you, too, Jack. That's part of the reason she was willing to take a look at it instead of insisting she was in the right."

My stomach decided that the muffins were a little too much for it and I went into the bathroom for the first time in a couple of days. I made up for lost time and spent a while sitting there.

While I was in there, I heard the doorbell. A minute later, Jill and Mary came into the kitchen. Mary asked Jill how I was doing and Jill told her I was doing much better and had even eaten breakfast.

I know it didn't occur to my sister that I could hear what they were talking about. She probably assumed I was in bed, since I'd been there since Saturday.

She and Jill were obviously sitting down at the table. I could hear Mary's spoon stirring her coffee and could picture her putting spoonful after spoonful of sugar in it to get rid of the coffee flavor as she always did. They talked about Sara and karate, a little about Wanda as Jill told her what I'd said about how long she was going to stay and a little about Mary's tutoring. Then Mary got into what was really bothering her.

"Jill, can I ask you something?"

"Sure. What's up?"

"How can you stand the taste?"

"Taste?"

"You know. I think it's too salty."

"Oh. That taste."

"Yeah. I mean it was fun and all and it felt good doing it, but I thought I was going to gag when he came in my mouth. And there was so much of it!"

"So, what happened?"

"I started coughing and then he spurted some on my face. Most of it came out when I coughed. We had to clean it off my sweater. And then I had the taste in the back of my mouth for ever."

"How did Charlie take it?"

"He acted concerned, but I could tell he was a little disappointed."

"He probably was. So, what do you want to do? Spit or swallow?"

"I wouldn't mind swallowing if I could stand it."

"Well, first of all, if you decide to get used to it, you can. I don't find it so bad anymore. And Jack loves it when I swallow, which makes up for a lot. If you're breathing in through your mouth and it hits you in the tonsils, it can cause some problems. You can always block it with your tongue or stick it in sideways so it's pointed at your cheek. And there's no reason you can't take a drink of something afterwards to wash out the taste. I find Coke works real good. Water does OK, but it takes a lot. Did Charlie return the favor?"

"He used his fingers."

"Did he get you off?"

"No, but it felt good."

"You've got to get him to go down on you. Fingers are nice, but there's nothing like a good tonguing."

"What about the smell?"

"You bathe, don't you?"

"Of course."

"Then don't worry about it. Once you get him down there, he'll love the smell. And the taste. If he doesn't, there's either something wrong with him or he doesn't really care for you."

"Yeah, I know, but..."

Mary stopped talking when I flushed the toilet. I was in the middle of washing my hands when she started up again.

"Jill, is that... ?"

"It's Jack. I told you he was better."

"Oh, God. Do you think he heard?"

"Probably."

I opened the door to see a look of horror on my sister's face.



-------

Chapter 115



Mary did that thing she does with her lower lip between her teeth when she's cornered.

"Go ahead. Get it out of your system. I know you can't wait to tease me."

"I feel like I should, like it's my job. But I can't. It would be like I was picking on Jill. I guess you're growing up. Or I am. Maybe both of us."

I'd made my way over to the table by now. Mary stood up and hugged me. I put my arms around her and held tight. My baby sister wasn't a baby anymore.

I sat down in my chair and Jill gave me another cup of tea. She had a big smile on her face.

I couldn't get the picture of the posts Mary had gotten in her mouth as the first part of her dental implant procedure out of my mind.

"So, did you have any problem with your fangs?"

"Fangs?"

"You know. The posts they put in your mouth."

"Oh, those. You don't know, do you?"

"Don't know what?"

She lifted her lips apart in a grotesque smile. Where she'd had titanium posts replacing the missing front teeth, she now had teeth.

"I thought it was going to take at least six weeks before they could attach the teeth."

"It is. These are temporary bridges. That's what the dentist wanted me to go back for on Friday. That was the surprise he had for me."

She took the thumb and index finger of her left hand and pried apart the lips to the side of the new teeth. Talking with her teeth closed and the lips on one side pried open made her a little tough to understand.

"See? There are some white straps over the real teeth holding them in. They used to use metal but now you can hardly tell. I could have actually gotten a better set of these if I wanted, but I wanted the implants. These aren't anywhere near as stable."

"Are they comfortable?"

"They feel a little weird. But so did the posts. I'm pretty used to them."

"Do you keep them in all the time?"

"I could, but I take them out when I sleep at night. Except Friday. But that was a special occasion."

"Yeah, I guess. So, did you guys really fall asleep?"

"Yeah, we did. In each others arms. Charlie says I looked so cute he just let me sleep. The next thing he knew, his father was shaking him on the shoulder. Mom had called and woke him up."

"Were you guys dressed?"

"Yes, we were dressed. Charlie's dad looked a little curious, but he didn't say anything."

"So, I guess you two are pretty serious."

"We're not ready to get married, but we like each other. We're each just as messed up as the other. I owed him, too."

"Come on, Mare. You can't mean that."

"Jack, look at me. I went out on my first date and didn't come home. A gang of drugged out assholes attacked me and could have killed me. And they came closer to killing Charlie because he tried to stop them. I had to go through some very painful surgery in the hospital and more surgery in my mouth because of them. Charlie lost an eye. Yeah, I do mean it. We're both messed up. What he did for me deserved at least a blow job. And if he wants it, he can have the whole thing."

"God, I didn't know you felt that way. You never talk about it."

"Not to you. I've had a lot of talks with Mom and Jill. And more with Charlie. Jack, I love you and I care about you, but you have no concept of what it was like for me."

"I'm sorry. I should be there for you."

"Jack. You can't be all things to all people. You were there when I was in the hospital and that's what I needed from you. I'll always be grateful for that. There are some things you just can't give me and that's OK. That doesn't make you a bad person." She grabbed my hand and pulled it to her cheek. "There's never going to be anyone to take the place of my big brother."

She got up from the table.

"I've got to go. Thanks, Jill. I'll keep what you said in mind. And Jack? Thanks for accepting me and not embarrassing me."

I felt kind of weird hearing that from my sister, but she was right. My first tendency when I overheard her conversation had been to tease her. Thank God I hadn't followed through on it. Mary left to do her thing and Jill came over to me and hugged as best she could while I sat in the chair.

"I'm proud of you, Jack."

"For what?"

"For not giving her a hard time."

"Boy. You too?"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I can see Mary making a big deal of it, but why you?"

"Oh, come on, Jack. I've seen you tease that poor girl a few times. You put her through hell when you were talking about her dental work and the banana. And she still talks about that time when you two were riding home from school and you took off on your bike and made her think you were leaving her."

"Yeah, that was pretty funny."

"Not to her, Jack. She worshiped the ground you walked on and she thought she was never going to make it home when you took off."

"Yeah, maybe it was a little mean of me."

"Ya think?"

That was the problem. I didn't think. At the time, close to ten years ago now, I'd thought it was the funniest thing in the world to take off on my big bike when I was supposed to be bringing her home. There I was, feeling proud of myself, waiting around the next corner where she couldn't see me for her to catch up. After a few minutes, I backtracked to find her crying, her little bike between her legs. The training wheels had just come off the week before, and I was riding off, five or ten times as fast as she could go. She was grateful that I came back for her and the crying was reduced to sniffling. Thinking it was her fault, she did her best to go faster. As far as I knew, she'd never told anyone about it before. I'd all but forgotten the incident.

I got a glass from the cupboard and filled it with crushed ice and water from the refrigerator door.

"Do you want me to make some more tea or get you some orange juice?"

"No, this is fine. I'm tea and orange juiced out."

"All right. Let me know if you need anything. How did it go in the bathroom?"

"Fine."

"Everything back to normal?"

"It seems that way."

"Good. I think I'll change and wash the sheets."

"I don't think I crapped in the bed."

"I know. But you've been sick and you're getting better. It won't hurt to change them."

I helped her strip the bed and got to see the new washer in action. She got a new set of sheets from the closet and I worked on one side of the bed while she did the other. For some reason, her side looked a lot better than mine.

By the time we were finished with the bed I was starting to get tired. Jill told me to lie down on the couch and brought a pillow and an old care bear blanket in. It may not be the most manly thing, but it sure kept me warm and cozy. She sat on the edge of the couch, holding my hand and stroking my hair until I dozed off.

It was a little after 1:00 when I woke up. I felt a lot better and made my way into the bathroom. Jill was at the stove and she smiled at me as I went by.

"Sleep well?"

"Yes, thanks."

"Ready for some lunch?"

"Yeah, I am. Is there any more chicken soup left?"

"That's what I was planning on."

The soup was as good as I remembered it. This time I was able to eat a bowl and a half, with Saltines, before I was full.

Jill and I talked and talked. Before I knew it, it was 3:30 and Wanda came in. She seemed surprised to see me up.

After we said hello to each other, Jill spoke up.

"I hear you're supposed to take me shopping today."

Wanda looked at me. "Is that still on?"

"Sure."

"Are you going to be all right to go out tomorrow?"

"I'll be all right. I may need to nap some during the day, but I'll be fine."

The girls took a few minutes to get changed and spiffed up and were out of the place by 4:00. I decided to go down to the house.

Queenie was wriggling and whimpering when I came down the stairs so I spent about five minutes letting her know she was still loved. I went into the kitchen and was greeted by Dino. He looked more like he was checking me out than happy to see me. I walked out to the living room to see Mom lying on the couch.

"Jack! Mary said you were up. How are you feeling?"

"Much better. I got tired and took a nap, but I ate breakfast and lunch and I'm feeling a lot better."

"That's good. Where's Jill?"

"I sent her out with Wanda to get a dress for tomorrow."

"Are you going to be all right?"

"I'll make sure I'm all right."

"OK. I still worry about you, you know."

"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry if I upset you when you were over while I was sick."

"I probably over reacted. I was upset when you went to school and when you didn't need me to walk you there anymore and I'm sure I'll cry at your wedding. It's just part of growing up. Don't worry about it."

"Well, I am worried about it. Well, not worried, but it's been on my mind. I have a tendency to do or say things without thinking. Jill and I are together and if I have anything to do about it, we'll be together for a long time. And, as you say, I am growing up and going out on my own, leaving you behind. I guess I'm not sorry for what I said. I just wish I'd said it in a nicer way. You know I still love you, even if am with Jill."

"I know, Baby. It's tough seeing your children getting ready to leave the nest. It won't be long now before both of you are gone with families of your own. It seems like just yesterday that I was telling you how you needed to take care of your new sister."

"Maybe I should have listened a bit better."

"You've done fine. I don't know what you said to her when she was over there before but she was pretty emotional about it. Good emotional. She loves you a lot, Jack."

"I love her too."

"I know you do."

"So, Mom, I need a favor."

"What?"

"You know that Wanda's been staying with us, right?"

"Yes, I'm aware of that."

"I want to have tomorrow with Jill alone. I was wondering if Wanda could sleep on this couch tomorrow."

"I don't see any problem with that. I suppose you want me to feed her, too."

"That would be great, if you could."

"I think something might be arranged. She may have to pitch in and help with the cooking."

"I sure that won't be a problem, as long as she knows what she's doing."

"Oh, don't worry about that. The girls are still talking about the spaghetti she messed up. I'll make sure she has exact instructions on what to do."

Mom and I talked for an hour or so. It was the first time we'd really spent any time together since Jill and I had moved upstairs. Other than meals, we hadn't spent time just talking for ages.

I heard the kitchen door open and then Jill came running in, a big grin on her face. I didn't have a chance to get up off the couch before she was leaning over and hugging me, planting kisses all over my face.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you. The dress is beautiful. Thank you, Jack."

"That's good. Do I get to see it?"

"Where are we going tomorrow night?"

"Come on, Jill. You know that's a surprise."

"Well, then, so's the dress. You won't get to see it till tomorrow when we leave."

"I can live with that."

"Come on, Jack, Please?"

"No. It's a surprise."

She sat on my lap with her arms around my neck, trying to pout. The smile that kept coming up ruined that plan. Mom just sat next to us, smiling and shaking her head.



-------

Chapter 116



I went upstairs with Jill to find Wanda sitting on the couch, looking almost like she was embarrassed. Jill said she was going to go in the kitchen to get something for us to drink.

Wanda and I had never gotten close to one another. I reached down and took both her hands in mine, urging her up off the couch. I pulled her close and put my arms around her, pulling her into my body. She was stiff, her hands at her side as I pulled tight.

"Thanks for doing this, Wanda. You obviously did a good job; Jill's really excited about what you two picked out."

I don't know what demons had been in her mind, what she had been afraid of. When it became evident I was just thanking her, her arms came up around me and she pulled closer. I could feel her relax as she held tight, her head on my shoulder next to mine. I let her enjoy it for a minute or so.

Jill came out of the kitchen with three cans of Coke while I was hugging Wanda.

"Hey! That's my guy!"

Wanda backed up, a tentative smile on her face, not quite sure about serious Jill was. She wiped a tear out of the corner of each eye and sniffed, then sat back on the couch. Jill handed each of us a Coke.

Wanda sniffed again. "I got tied up in it. Nobody ever just held me like that. Usually they want something and it's like they think they have to put up with holding me to get it."

I sat down next to her and put my Coke on the floor. Jill sat on the other side of me. I put my hand on Wanda's thigh.

"Well, if you stick around here, you're going to have to get used to it. I do a lot of hugging. Sometimes you just need a good hug."

She put her hand on mine and squeezed it, giving me that half smile.

"It's OK to smile at me, you know. I'm not going to take advantage of you."

"I know that. But you don't even want me here."

"Where did you get that idea?"

"Jill told me when we went shopping."

"Well, one of you got the wrong idea. I never said I don't want you here. What I did say is I don't want you here tomorrow. That's a special day for Jill and me and I want us to be alone in our apartment. I already talked to Mom and you can sleep on her couch tomorrow. She even said she'll feed you but she may make you help out in making it."

"That's fine, but I don't know how to make a whole lot."

"She's aware of that. She said she'll make sure you know what you're doing. Knowing them, you may be peeling potatoes while Mary and Sara do the actual cooking. Or they may peel the potatoes and put you to work."

"That's OK for tomorrow. But Jill said you wanted me to move out."

"I do. Eventually. Are you planning on sleeping on that couch until you die?"

"No."

"Till you're 25? 30? 35?"

"I didn't think about it."

"That's all I'm saying. This is a temporary thing. I have no problem with you getting back on your feet. I do have a problem with you becoming a permanent boarder."

"Well, I wasn't planning on being a permanent boarder."

"So, what plans have you made about going someplace else?"

"I hadn't thought about it."

"That's what I mean. You need to start thinking about it. Otherwise, we'll all be in college and you'll still be sleeping on the couch."

"That won't happen."

"You'd be how surprised how long things can go on if you don't make some effort to change them."

"I guess you're right. I'd appreciate being able to stay here for a while, though."

"OK. Tell you what. You come up with a plan on what you're going to do and you can stay here as long as you need to. But it has to be a good plan — not wait till your mother's dead so you can move in her house."

She laughed at that. "OK. You've got a deal."

"All right. You'll have three pretty smart women you can use for ideas tomorrow. My mom's real smart, and the other two aren't slouches, either. And one more thing. You need to contribute around here. I'm the only freeloader allowed."

She smiled at that and squeezed my hand, which was still on her leg.

"You know, you have a really pretty smile, Wanda."

Her face reddened at that. Jill just leaned into me and hugged my arm.

I sat and enjoyed these two women for a minute or so, then clapped my hands three times.

"OK, you wenches. I need food. And then I need sex. Lot's of sex."

Jill leaned over and whispered in my ear. "Does that mean Wanda's sleeping in our bed tonight?"

I turned around and answered, "Give me a week or two to get tired of you, then we'll talk about it."

Jill smiled at me, backed up a bit, then punched me in the arm. "Come along, Wanda. We need to prepare dinner for our lord and master."

They made their way to the hallway, holding hands, both looking over their shoulders and smiling as they wiggled their asses in synchronization, almost as if rehearsed. I sat on the couch and rubbed my arm, reminding myself not to get Jill really mad at me.

It couldn't have been ten minutes before I smelled something wonderful wafting down the hall to the living room where I was checking my email messages. I was surprised to see that I had one from my sister, thanking me for being there for her. Pretty simple, yet I felt a lump in my throat as I read it.

Wanda tapped me on the shoulder. "Dinner's ready, oh Master."

I decided not to say anything one way or the other to see how far they were going to take. I got up and followed her down the hall as she attempted to rub her butt cheeks together while walking.

Dinner was very good. The main course was pork chops. Jill had breaded them, but it was a from scratch recipe, not the stuff you put with the meat in a baggy and shake. I don't know where she got them, but the chops were at least an inch and a half thick. I don't think I've ever had juicier, more tender pork. There were also egg noodles and cut green beans, topped with brown gravy. Each of us had a small bowl of cinnamon flavored applesauce next to our plates. Our glasses were filled with Cranapple and crushed ice.

When I asked, Jill told me they'd both worked on it. She had a method of cooking the pork chops in a frying pan on low heat with a lid on the pan. Her secret was to turn the burner on high, sear both sides, then let them slowly cook.

"Jill, what's going to happen when we run out of our moving in food?"

"It's all taken care of."

"What do you mean?"

She glanced over at Wanda, seemed to make up her mind and said, "Daddy gave me a credit card for groceries. I can spend up to $1000 a month on food. The bills are going to him and he said he'd pull it if we used it for anything else."

"How's he going to know that?"

"I guess he won't, as long as you get it at Safeway. But I don't think I'll be able to convince him I got hamburger from Nordstrom's."

"Yeah, I can see that."

"Anyway, I don't want to abuse it. I think it was pretty nice of him to do that for us."

"Yeah, it was."

Wanda got up, pulled a pan out of the oven and started cutting pieces of pastry and putting them on plates. She wasn't quite slamming things around, but she wasn't handling things delicately, either. I looked over at Jill and she shook her head slightly. Wanda sprayed some imitation artificial whipped topping on each serving.

Dessert was out of this world. The bottom layer of pastry was similar to toll house cookies without the chocolate chips, chewy and sweet. Next was sliced apple in its own juices, then more of the chewy pastry, a layer of some deadly concoction made of molasses and brown sugar and who knows what else, then a top layer covered in little balls of dough similar to those on a crumb cake, with confectioners sugar to top the whole thing off. I asked Jill what it was called and was told it was apple gunk. As good a name as any, I suppose. I had two servings.

I scooted my chair back and rested my hands on my stomach. I was a good boy and didn't burp. Jill got up and grabbed the rest of the apple gunk and the can of whipped topping from the counter.

"I'm taking the rest of this downstairs. If we leave it around, we'll both have butts like beach balls. He's all yours, Wanda."

Wanda grinned back at Jill and said, "Move your chair over here," indicating a spot in the middle of the kitchen floor. I moved it, standing behind it.

"Don't stand there, sit down. I'll be right back."

I sat down, wondering what was up. I knew better than to ask questions or fight them. When they wanted me to know what I was in for, they'd tell me.

Wanda came back with a sheet folded over her arm and a brown leather bag; something you would use for toiletries on vacation.

"Sit up." I upped. She put the bag on the counter, shook out the sheet and wrapped it around my neck, tucking it inside my collar, covering my chest.

She walked over to the sink and filled a sprayer bottle with water, put it on the counter and dug in her bag, pulling out a comb. Standing in front of me, her tits in my face, she lifted me up by the chin and combed my hair. She ran her fingers through the hair above my right ear, lifting it up as she sprayed water on it.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm giving you a hair cut."

"Have you done this before?"

"No, but Jill said anything would be better than the way your hair is now."

I tried to stand up but found myself being held down by my collar.

"Settle down, Jack. I'm just kidding."

She dug in the bag again, then stood to my right. I felt the comb in the damp hair, then heard and felt the slight tug as the scissors cut off a hunk of hair. I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth. If Wanda screwed it up, Jill was the one who was going to have to be seen with me.

Wanda cut, sprayed, lifted up my chin and shoved her tits into me for the next quarter hour. Somewhere toward the end I heard Jill say "Oh, my God!" but was pulled back into the chair when I tried to get up. Wanda slapped my hand when I tried to feel my hair and the two of them laughed.

Wanda asked Jill what she thought, and she said, "I guess it will grow back." That got my hand slapped again.

Wanda lifted the sheet off me, then pushed me back in the chair as I started to get up. She gave the sheet to Jill and got behind me, pulled my collar down and trimmed my neck with an electric trimmer. She handed me the comb.

"OK. I think you're done. Go in the bathroom and comb it the way you like it and we'll see."

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked in the mirror. My hair looked good without looking like it had been cut. I saw some movement and turned around in time to see Jill pushing the door closed from inside the bathroom. She came over to me and turned me around, moving my head from side to side as she inspected me.

"Much better." She opened the door a bit, stuck her head out and said, "Thanks, Wanda. Looks great."

She closed the door and looked at me like I was forgetting something. "Come on, off with those clothes. We need to get you in the shower and get that hair off you." She started to unbutton my shirt and I was nude before I knew it. "Go on, get in there." She opened the shower door and pulled me over to it. I turned on the water to adjust the temperature before I got in.

I got in and felt resistance as I went to close the door. A naked Jill pulled it open and followed me in, closing it after her.

There's something sensual, almost sexual, about having someone lovingly wash your hair. When she was done, she turned me around so I was facing her. I had my eyes closed because of the shampoo. She massaged my hair some more, then started covering my face with her soapy hands, scrubbing it with her palms. "Stay still."

I felt my razor as she pulled it over the skin, scraping off the beard I'd grown over the past several days. When you're leaning over the toilet or sleeping for a day or two straight, shaving isn't what's on your mind. Being shaved by my girlfriend wasn't the same as having her wash my hair but it was no less loving. She checked my cheeks for smoothness with her hand and then her own cheek, pronouncing me acceptable.

She got a washcloth, put some body wash on it and washed my whole body, making sure to clean every crack and crevice. When I was rinsed, she handed me her strawberry shampoo. "Your turn."

Jill's hair is thick and luxurious, almost a sexual organ. It feels wonderful to run my fingers through it under normal circumstances; wetting it and covering it with shampoo feels almost decadent. We rinsed, I put some conditioner in her hair, then I used the washcloth on her, also making sure to get every nook and cranny.

Once we were both rinsed off, we turned off the shower and took turns drying each other. Someone (read Wanda) had been in while we were in the shower, taking our dirty clothes and replacing them with a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for me and shorts and Jill's red checkered tablecloth shirt for her. We dressed and left the bathroom. Wanda was at the far end of the kitchen, putting clothes in the washer.

I ran my hand through my hair. "Thanks Wanda. It looks good. Sorry I gave you a hard time."

"That's OK, Jack. I would have been a lot worse if you tried to cut my hair."

Jill tossed me a sweatshirt. "Come on, Jack. We need to walk off some of that food. Let's take Bozo around the block. Wanda? Want to come?"

"That's OK, Jill. You two enjoy yourselves."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I want to take care of these clothes and the dishes."

Bozo perked up when he saw the leash in Jill's hand. He started to drag her down the street when we got to the sidewalk but she put a stop to that real quick by yanking back on his leash, almost pulling him backwards. He behaved pretty well for the rest of the walk. It was good to just walk down the street, holding hands with my girl. We squeezed each other's hands and gave each other little kisses as Bozo endeavored to water everything sticking up above the ground that he could reach. Bushes, trees, fences, the fire hydrant; they were all fair game for him.

It was a little after 9:30 when we got home. Wanda was sitting at the kitchen table, doing homework and sipping at a cup of tea when we got back. I filled Bozo's bowls as Jill hung up his leash. We both declined Wanda's offer of tea, Jill first, saying we were going in to bed, me as I decided bed sounded a lot better than tea.

We were no sooner in the room with the door closed than Jill was cupping my balls through my shorts. I turned around and this time our kiss was much more passionate than the pecks we'd exchanged while Bozo was watering the neighborhood.

Somehow, we got each other's clothes off almost without breaking off our kissing. Jill pushed me back onto the bed, our lips still attached. She lay on me at an angle, leaving the side of one breast, her butt and her pussy accessible to my wandering hands. She was cupping my balls, then pulling up on my cock from base to tip, causing sparks to go up may backbone each time she did.

She grabbed onto my cock, rubbed the precum around the crown with her thumb, pulled back from my mouth and practically growled.

"I missed this so much."

She got up on her knees, straddled me and sank down to the root, sighing, her eyes almost closed as she hit bottom.

"Oh, fuck! So good!"

"Jill, take it easy. You're going to embarrass Wanda."

"She'll get over it."



-------

Chapter 117

I woke up at 5:00 and decided it wasn't worth forcing myself to go back to sleep. I figured my body was telling me I'd gotten enough sleep while I was sick. Bozo perked up when I went out to the kitchen. I scratched behind his ears and told him to hang on while I put on the coffee and took care of my own bathroom stuff.

Mom had gotten us a coffee pot that brewed a pot in about three minutes. I heard the beeps indicating it was ready as I was drying my face.

Once I'd poured my coffee, Bozo's patience wore out and he nudged me, letting me know that he wanted out. We went down the hall and through the living room where Wanda was still sleeping and I opened the door for him. He took the stairs at least three at a time and went out to the front lawn. He had discovered how to lift his leg some time in the last week or so and wasn't interested in squatting near the back gate anymore. Jill had already had a talk to him when he'd tried to water the tires on Mom's Lexus and he decided that the block wall separating us from the next door neighbor made a good target.

I made my way over to the gate and let Queenie out. She came up to me for her scratch behind the ears, then headed out to the front yard to explore. Bozo saw her and decided to get amorous. He tried to insert his hot throbbing love rocket into her moist heat. Queenie growled and turned around to bite him. He thought better about the whole thing and left her alone.

I started to get cold and was out of coffee, so I gathered up the dogs. Queenie went back through the gate and Bozo headed upstairs, waiting for me at the door. I made a quick detour into the house to get some things out of the refrigerator that I'd had Mom pick up and hide for me.

The girls were still both asleep, so I grabbed a second cup of coffee and took a quick shower. I threw my shorts on and headed to the bedroom to get dressed for school. I'd just sat down on the bed to put on my shoes and socks when I felt Jill roll over. I reached over and caressed her cheek.

"Happy birthday, sweetheart."

"What are you doing up?"

"I had enough sleep. I just took care of the dogs and showered and now I'm getting dressed for school."

"But Jack, it's my birthday. Come to bed."

"Tonight. We don't have enough time before we have to leave for school."

"But it's my birthday. I don't want to go to school."

"Come on, Jill. We arranged to take tomorrow off. We've already missed too much because I was sick. Now go brush your teeth so I can kiss you."

I swatted her on the butt and she tried to look offended but she couldn't keep from smiling. She went out the door towards the bathroom. I followed and got the heavy cream I brought up from downstairs out of our refrigerator and put it in the food processor I'd borrowed from Mom. While it was whipping, I went out to the living room and shook Wanda's shoulder. I guess she wasn't ready for that; she took a swing at me. When she realized who I was, she put her hand to her mouth.

"Oh, God, Jack. I didn't know it was you. I'm sorry."

"That's OK. No harm done. Time to get up. I've got something special for breakfast in the kitchen."

"It's Jill's birthday. I don't want to intrude."

"Wanda, tonight you'd be intruding. Come on, you two are friends. Don't you have something to give her?"

"Well, yeah, I did get her something."

"I figured you did. Now's the time. Besides, she might not be as pissed off about going to school if we give her presents."

"You're not going to force her to go to school on her birthday, are you?"

"No, I'm not going to force her. But I've taken off enough time and I already arranged to take tomorrow off, so I won't be home with her if she decides to stay."

I went out to the kitchen. Jill was sitting down at the table, drinking her coffee.

"I turned off the food processor. What's the cream for?"

"Breakfast. Sorry about that. I was so busy trying to keep Wanda from knocking my head off that I forgot about the whipped cream."

Wanda came in while I was talking. "I said I was sorry," she said.

I ignored her and pulled Jill out of her chair and into my arms. She grinned and closed her eyes, tilting her head back for her kiss. I could feel her heart speed up as the kiss went on. Or was that my own? I'm pretty sure the moan was hers, though I know I didn't keep silent the whole time we were kissing.

We broke off and I told both of them to sit down. I poured Wanda a cup of coffee and topped of mine and Jill's. Next, I put whipped cream in three bowls and put one on the table for each of us. Finally, I took the bowl of strawberries out of the refrigerator.

Both girls went "Oooh" as I put down the strawberries. I know they're impressive; that's why I got them.

There are several strawberry fields grouped together about 25 miles south of where we live. They've been farmed by the same set of families since just after the second world war. While the majority of their crops go to grocery store buyers, they also have roadside stands that are open whenever they have fresh berries. While most strawberries ripen around June, there are some varieties that come out later in the summer and even in the fall. Two of the growers have found it profitable to raise these varieties, and Mom had been getting strawberries from them during the regular season and later in the year since before my father died.

Not only was it unusual to have strawberries a few days after Halloween, it was unusual to have strawberries like these at any time. The most obvious thing about them was the size. These suckers were big. I'd say they were about halfway between the size of a golf ball and a tennis ball. I was able to fit one in my mouth with some effort, but I would hear about it if my mother observed me doing it. The word "pig" was usually included in her comments.

The girls each grabbed one and dipped it in their whipped cream. I waited until they each took a bite.

Both bit off almost half a berry. I'd seen this reaction countless times, whenever someone new would try one. They opened their mouths, then quickly brought their hands up to them so the berry wouldn't come out as they mumbled something about how good they were. I've never had berries from those stands that weren't sweet and juicy. I don't know how they do it; they advertise that their berries are all natural. I think it's probably a combination of love and pride that makes them taste so good. You won't find berries in a store that are as good as the ones they sell at the stands. You can get berries from the same fields at Ralph's and they just don't taste the same. I don't know if it's the extra time it takes to ship, clean and display them, the lower degree of caring at the store or what.

So, the strawberries and cream were a big hit. Each of us had 8 — 10 berries. I was full when I finally stood up and went into my room to get Jill's present.

Wanda had just given Jill a package when I got back in the kitchen. Jill wasn't into that save the paper thing that a lot of women are. She ripped the paper off to get to the goodies inside.

It was a makeup kit, some designer thing that probably came from Macy's or Nordstrom's. Probably from the counter next to the one where the woman sprays you with perfume as you try to walk by. Jill was thrilled, it was a brand she'd been dying to try. Whatever.

Once she was finished with Wanda's present, she put her hands between her legs and brought her knees together, almost, but not quite shaking like a tuning fork. She had a big smile on her face and was looking at me expectantly.

"Jill, I haven't seen the dress Wanda got you, so I'm a little hesitant in giving you your present. Maybe we should wait till you get dressed rhis afternoon so I can see if it will go with it."

"It's blue. Blue."

"Blue? That may work. Is it a dark blue or a light blue?"

She made a noise something like bozo does when he wants to get out. Kind of a high whining noise. "Pleeease? It's dark blue."

"Well, I guess it might be OK. But maybe I should wait till I see the dress."

"Jack!! Give me my damn present!!"

I reached in my pocket and pulled out the package I'd bought at the mall. It was wrapped in a light blue foil. There was a dark blue bow stuck on top of the package.

She grabbed it out of my hand before I had a chance to give it to her. The bow was ripped off and thrown on the table. I picked it up and stuck it on Bozo's head. He shook his head once and decided to put up with it when it didn't fall off. By the time I turned back to Jill, the paper was lying on the table.

Jill was holding the box in her left hand, her right hand up to her mouth.

"You didn't!"

"I didn't what?"

"You didn't get me a ring!"

It never occurred to me that the box Sears gave me was similar to a box that would hold a ring. It was one of those square boxes with the hinged lid that kind of snaps up when you open it.

"No, Jill, I didn't."

The smile disappeared for a moment, then she put her brave face back on. Her lower lip went between her teeth in concentration as she held the bottom in one hand and opened the lid in the other. The smile came back, brighter than ever when she saw what I'd gotten her.

"Oh, my God, they're beautiful!"

She jumped up and tried to hug me while I was still sitting down. I got up and put my arms around her as she kissed me for all she was worth. Wanda finally couldn't take it any more.

"Jill? Come on. What is it?"

She grabbed the box and stuck it out so Wanda could see. Wanda sucked in a breath, then said "Oh, they're beautiful." She looked at me. "Jack, you've got good taste."

I looked back at Jill. "Do you think they'll match the dress?"

She hugged me again. "You fool. They'll match anything."

"Well, aren't you going to try them on? Make sure they fit?"

She was so excited by the idea that she didn't even try to correct me about them fitting.

Her lip was back between her teeth as she worked the posts of the earrings through the holes in her earlobes. Once they were in place, she grinned and ran into the bathroom. Wanda followed her in and I followed Wanda.

Jill was grinning, standing in front of the sink, turning from side to side, checking herself out in the mirror. When she saw me at the door, her smile got bigger and she ran over to me, jumping up and wrapping her legs and arms around me, trying to bury her tongue in my throat.

"Jack, how did you know?"

"I figured you'd like diamonds."

"Like them? I love them!"

We kissed some more and then I said it was time to leave for school. Jill decided that maybe it wasn't a bad idea to go so she could show off her earrings. She and Wanda were getting dressed when I left.



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Chapter 118

I didn't do my cleanup in the gym. Going to school was something I wanted to do; I would have felt I was taking advantage if I didn't. Coach was aware of today being Jill's birthday and I had no qualms in not swinging a mop over the gym floor. And if he didn't want to pay for this week, that was fine. After all, I hadn't done anything to earn any money.

When I got home, Mom's Lexus was in the driveway but I didn't see Wanda's car. I opened the door to let Bozo out. Wanda and Jill pulled up as I got back to the front lawn.

Bozo acted like he hadn't seen Jill for years when she got out of the car. When he gets like that, he wags his whole body along with his tail.

Jill fussed over him for a bit, released him with a "That's enough," stood up and ran up to me, wrapping her arms around me.

"Everybody liked my earrings."

"I'm glad. The main thing is that you like them."

"I LOVE them!"

"Good."

We kissed, then she asked me, "Where are we going for dinner?"

"Out."

"Ja-ack! Come on!"

"Ji-ill! You can wait another three hours to find out where we're going."

"Come on Bozo. Let's go upstairs. At least you love me."

The two of them went upstairs. I went in the house. Mom and the girls were sitting at the table, a big plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies in front of them. I leaned over and kissed Mom on the cheek, grabbing a cookie at the same time.

"Jack. How's Jill's birthday so far?"

"It's good, but you'd never believe it listening to her."

"Why not?"

"Because he won't tell her where they're going," said Mary.

Mom looked at me as if to ask if that was true.

"She's right. The girl can't handle a surprise."

"I was probably like that when I was her age, too. Your father cured me of that. He was just as bad as you are."

"I don't think it's bad."

"You're right, sometimes it's nice to be surprised. But it can be frustrating, too. How did the strawberries work out?"

"Both girls loved them. We were all stuffed by the time we were done."

"Are you finished with my food processor?"

"Yeah, I just want to put the bowl in the dishwasher."

"Don't worry about that. I can put it in with the supper dishes."

"OK. I'll send it down with Wanda."

"Or I can pick it up. We all have presents for Jill. Why don't you go upstairs and we'll be up in about ten minutes?"

"Sounds good." I gave Mom another kiss and went upstairs.

Wanda was straightening out the couch when I walked in the apartment. I could hear the shower going, so I grabbed a pair of shorts from the bedroom and made my way to the bathroom.

I opened the door and snuck in behind Jill. She was washing her hair and had her eyes closed.

"Guess who?"

"Daddy!"

"Very funny, Jill."

"What are you doing here?"

"I figured I'd help you shower. You're going to have company in a few minutes."

"What do you mean?"

"Mom and Mary are coming up to give you some presents. Sara might, too. I don't know." I'd grabbed a washcloth and started soaping down her back.

"How soon will they be here?"

"Mom said ten minutes when I was downstairs."

"Ja-ack! That means they'll be here any second now."

"Yeah, I guess it does."

"Well, come on. We need to get out of the shower."

"Take it easy, Jill. Finish quickly and we'll get out. It's not like you knew they were coming up. I'm sure Wanda will keep them entertained."

"But what about you being in here?"

"What about it? I have an idea my mother is aware that we shower together. Among other things." I'd been washing her front as we were talking and handed her the washcloth, moving my hand between her legs and teasing her pussy with my middle finger. She slapped my hand.

"Jack! Leave me alone. We need to get out of here."

"Yes, Dear. At least Bozo loves me."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Never mind."

She turned off the water and I pinched her butt, making her squeal just as I opened the shower door.

I dried myself off and started to help her, getting slapped for my efforts.

"Stop it!"

We went out to the living room and Mom, Mary and Sara were all sitting on the couch with Wanda. Mary had a smirk on her face.

"Hey. I was just minding my own business and she dragged me in the shower with her. The woman's insatiable."

Jill gave me her best indignant expression and hit me in the arm. Mary whispered something into Sara's ear and the two of them started giggling. Mom just looked at me, shaking her head.

Mary glanced at Jill, then stared and pointed at her. "What's that?"

Jill looked at her, a question on her face, then smiled and put her thumb behind her earlobe, pushing out the earring.

"A present from Jack." She turned her head around so Mary could see there were two of them.

"Ooooh."

"He also sent me out with Wanda to get a new dress for tonight. But the dweeb won't tell me where we're going."

Mom looked her in the eye. "Oh, I know. You're going to the Coco's."

Jill looked disappointed, then made an effort of looking happy. "Really?"

"No, not really. Jack's gone to a lot of trouble to make this birthday special for you. The least you can do is let him give you his little surprise. And whatever it is, act surprised and thank him."

She leaned over and hugged Mom. "I guess I have been kind of a pain."

"Well, you'd have to ask Jack about that; I don't know. But I'd be willing to bet the answer's yes. And that he'd never admit it."

"Oh, I'll admit it. She's been a royal pain in the butt." I looked over at Wanda. "I was all set to ask Wanda if she wanted to take her place."

I'll say this for Jill; she had the grace to blush. Then she gave me a hug and whispered, "Nobody can take my place."

I hugged her back, whispered, "I know," and gave her a kiss.

I let her go and looked over at my family. "So, did you three come over here to make trouble or is there some other reason you're sitting on my couch?"

Wanda looked at me, a shocked expression on her face. Mary grinned and said "Trouble." Mom gave her the look. Sara just looked nervous.

Mom spoke up. "Jill, we brought some presents for your birthday. I know you're going out soon and I'm sure you'll have other things on your mind than presents from us when you get home. Here." She handed Jill an envelope.

Jill opened it up and pulled out a birthday card. A couple of plastic cards fell out.

"Credit cards?"

Mom said, "No. Look at them."

I picked them up off the floor and gave one to Jill, checking the other out for myself.

I glanced at Mom. "Season tickets?"

"Yep."

Jill looked puzzled. "I don't get it."

"They're season tickets for the Star Crest."

Mary went "Oooh."

Jill was still confused. "What's the Star Crest?"

"It's a dinner theater. They put on musicals, usually for four or five weeks, then they take some time off, then do the next one. I guess they do about six each season."

Mom held out another envelope. "Eight. There's a list of plays and dates in here. I reserved the dinner performance for the second Saturday of each one. I figured they'd have enough time to work through the mistakes but no so much that they'd be bored with it. You can always call them and swap dates if you have something going on and they have something available."

Jill hugged Mom. "Wow, this is great. How does it work with the dinner and all?"

I said, "They have a bunch of people who work as singers, dancers and actors. Then they bring in a star or two as the leads. Somebody you might not realize can sing and dance. A few years ago they had Don Knotts in Music Man. Suzanne Pleshette was in a show. They have these long tables that everybody sits at. Everybody gets a choice of two dinners, usually beef or lamb and some kind of chicken. They have people singing and dancing while the dinner is served. You get soup and salad and then they serve the main course. After everyone has their food, the play starts. There's an intermission for all the smokers to go outside or to stretch, they bring desserts to everybody, then they have the final act. They also serve drinks with the food. They have real good raspberry iced tea that I usually get."

"It sounds like fun."

"It is. I've seen Music Man, On a Clear Day, Ain't Misbehavin' and a few others. They usually have a Christmas show that's all carols and popular Christmas songs. And the food's fantastic. Thanks, Mom."

"Hey, the tickets are for Jill. She can take whoever she wants."

"Thanks a lot, Mom."

She smiled at me. "You're welcome, Dear."

Jill read the birthday card, then opened the other envelope. There was a foldout brochure that listed the plays and a calendar that listed the plays and off times. The second Saturday for each production was highlighted. My Fair Lady and Oklahoma were two of the plays listed.

Finally Mary cleared her throat. When Jill looked up, she held out a package. "It isn't much."

Jill smiled and took the package from her. She tore the paper off and pulled out a portable CD player.

"Thanks. I don't have anything to play my CDs on when we're in the car." She gave Mary a hug.

Jill backed away from Mary and Sara tapped her on the shoulder. "I have something for you, if you want a present from me."

Jill held her hand out. "Thank you, Sara."

Jill took off the paper to discover a shoe box. The lid was taped down and I gave her my penknife. Jill cut the tape and opened the box. Inside was a stuffed bear, wearing a Gi. Jill laughed, pulled Sara off the couch, hugging her and said "Thank you. Are you still planning to come back?"

"I'm working on it."

Jill hugged her again. "Good."

Mom sent Mary down for the rest of the chocolate chip cookies and we sat in the living room and talked until it was time for Jill and I to get dressed. Wanda took her toiletries, nightgown and clothes for school the next day.

Jill's new dress was hanging in the closet in a white plastic bag. She took it into the bathroom, making sure I didn't see it. I got dressed in my suit while she was in there, then played around on the computer.

After about fifteen minutes, Jill came out. As she had told me, the dress was dark blue. Blue velvet, just like the song. It molded to her body, leaving very little to the imagination.

Jill wears makeup, but it's teenage makeup. If that makes any sense. She uses the shiny lip gloss, a little blush, but nothing over the top. Most of the time she either goes without anything but lip gloss or she does such a good job that you can't tell she's using anything.

Today was no different as far as being able to tell was concerned. But she wasn't going for the teenage look. With that dress, the way she had her hair up, with just a few wisps falling strategically by her ears, and the makeup, she looked like she was over 20. Not her actual age of 15.

I went toward her for a hug and a kiss.

"Uh, uh. Not in this dress. And I don't want my makeup messed up. At least not right away."

I settled with taking her hand and squeezing it. And a pat on the ass as she turned away to go into the bedroom for her purse.

We started down the stairs and Mary came out of the kitchen door. "Boy, Jack, do you rate."

"What do you mean?"

She tossed me some keys. "Mom says you can take her car. Jill, you look hot. And you don't look too bad yourself, Jack."

"Thanks, Mare. And tell Mom I said thanks, too. Does she want my car keys?"

"Nah. Wanda's car is here if we need something."

We went out to the driveway and I helped Jill up into Mom's Lexus. I'd ridden in it a couple of times, but had never driven it. The leather, the wood, the sure handling and the power all added up to a big difference from my old Chevy.

I drove towards Jill's school, turning east a couple of blocks before we got there. We had about a block to go when Jill said "Perlione's?"

"Yes Ma'am. Only we get to eat in the dining room tonight."

We pulled in the parking lot and I parked against the building. Jill kissed me on the cheek as I helped her down out of the car.

There were probably about 12 people waiting in the lobby to be seated. We walked up to the podium and the maitre d' looked up.

"Good evening Mr. Hill. Miss O'Hara, you look beautiful tonight. Happy birthday and many happy returns of the day.'

"Thank you, Ronald. How are your wife and the baby?"

"They're both doing just fine. Thank you for asking." He snapped his fingers and another man in a tuxedo came over and led us to one of four private booths. It was as if we had our own private dining room. Which, essentially, we did. He gave us each an ornate, oversized menu. It went on and on, page after page. The perfect example of too much of a good thing.

He left and less than a minute later a waiter came in and asked if he could get us anything from the wine cellar. I told him we would rather have something from the soda fountain and we both settled on a glass of ginger ale.

He left and Ronald came in with our waiter. "This is Arthur. He'll be your waiter this evening. Arthur, Mr. Hill and Miss O'Hara are my guests tonight. I expect them to be taken care of properly. Mr. Hill?"

"Jack."

"Of course. Jack? I have talked with our chef and he has requested to be allowed to prepare a sampling of several of his specialties for you this evening. It will give him the chance to show off a bit and you won't have to dig through the menu to decide what to eat."

"What do you think, Jill?"

"It sounds good to me. I just have one request, Ronald. Could we start out with some oysters on the half shell?"

"But of course, Miss O'Hara."

"Jill."

"OK, Jill. Arthur, a double order of oysters for Jack and Jill."

"Yes sir."

Arthur took off for the kitchen and the wine steward came in with our ginger ales. Ronald left us to our meal after we promised we would let him know if there were any problems, no matter how slight.

He was hardly out of the room when Arthur returned with a huge platter of oysters. Another waiter came in behind him with small plates, forks and tongs for each of us. I'd had oysters several times before and I liked them, but these were the best had ever tasted. It was as if we were out on a boat, taking them out of the traps, cracking them open and eating them right there. They were that fresh. You could close your eyes and taste the sea.

I didn't count, but I wouldn't be surprised if we had ten courses. At first I felt shortchanged because the portions were small. But there were so many of them and we felt fulfilled without feeling full.

We had spaghetti with clam sauce, red sauce, veal cooked a couple of different ways, green noodles, mushrooms, meatballs, sausages, you name it, we had it. A small bowl of sherbet was brought in between each course to cleanse our palates. The meal was topped off with a bowl of spumoni. I'd heard of it but had never had it before. The pieces of fruit and nut made it special. By the time I was finished with the last spoonful and drank the last mouthful of coffee with heavy cream in it, I knew my taste buds would have a long wait before they got treated as well as they did tonight.

Arthur came by to see if there was anything else he could get us. I asked if the band was playing yet and he told me they were due to start in about five minutes. I told him I'd like the bill and he asked me to wait for a moment.

Ronald came in shortly after, followed by Arthur. He wanted to know if we'd been disappointed in our meals and we both assured him that we hadn't eaten as well for as long as we could remember. He then asked why we were insisting on paying when he thought he had made it clear that we were his guests.

I was all set to convince him to let me pay for our meals when Jill interrupted me.

"Jack. I'm sorry, Ronald, Jack didn't know. We would be honored to be your guests. But you have to do something for us, too."

"If I can, I'll be happy to. What would you like me to do, Jill?"

"We're going to have a party for all the people who were involved in building our new apartment and some other friends this weekend. We'll have barbecue and relax and have fun. I insist that you come."

"I'll be happy to. Just let me know when it is and I'll come."

"OK. And you need to bring your lovely wife and that baby of yours."

"Thank you. We'll be there."

"Good. I'll call you in a day or two."

They left the room. We got up from the table and Jill kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you for dinner, Jack."

"You're welcome. I feel kind of weird, getting that special dinner and the private booth and not paying anything for it."

"You didn't know that Ronald was going to take care of the bill. He's been trying to find a way to pay back Daddy for saving his wife and that baby. And we'll pay him back by having him at our party. But I still want to thank you for bringing me here."

"Well, we're not done yet. I hear they have a fantastic band in the lounge."

I left a sizable tip for Arthur, took her by the hand and walked over to the lounge. We sat at a small, round table and ordered a couple more ginger ales. The stuff was growing on me. Too much of the sweet stuff and it doesn't quench my thirst. This was just right.

The band consisted of a pianist, drummer, a guy on the sax and another with a stand-up bass. There was a female singer who could probably have held Hulk Hogan down on the mat. But Boy, could she belt out those tunes.

They were all black and they did a variety of "black" music. Old stuff. Stuff like Am I Blue?, some songs from Porgy and Bess, music that brought a lump to your throat. Jill and I got up to dance during the second song and didn't stop until they packed up their instruments. People came and went throughout the evening, but it was as if we were the only two people in that room and the band was playing just for us. Jill was as beautiful as I've ever seen her and she fit. That's the only way I can put it. Her body molded itself to mine and she fit. Like we were designed for each other. Once we were on the dance floor, she promptly forgot that she didn't want her dress or her makeup messed up, and we held each other and we kissed. And we danced.

It was 1:30 when we made our way to the front lobby. Ronald was there and said he hoped we had had a nice birthday. I shook his hand and Jill gave him a fierce hug.

The ride home was quiet. There aren't a lot of people out at 1:45 on a Thursday morning. Jill couldn't lean against me and hold onto my arm because of the seats in Mom's car, but we held hands most of the way home.

I looked over at her. "Happy?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Was it worth waiting for?"

"Yeah, it was. I'm sorry I was such a pain. I know you went to a lot of work to set up tonight. Heck, to set up the whole day. The strawberries, the earrings, dinner, dancing. I couldn't ask for more."

"Well good. I'm glad you had a good day. I'll tell you, that bed's going to feel good when we get home."

"Maybe later. You've got some chores to do before you go to sleep. Why do you think I insisted on oysters?"

"I was wondering about that. You don't really believe that, do you?"

"All I know is, it can't hurt."

"Alright. I guess I can stay awake for a few minutes."

"Well, don't put yourself out."

"I won't."

I pulled into the driveway and helped her down from the car. On the way in, I went into the kitchen and put Mom's keys on the hook next to the door. The last thing I wanted was to have her waking us up in the morning.

We went upstairs, my arm around her waist, and I unlocked the door. Bozo whined at us but didn't make an effort to go out. In fact, he went over towards the hallway, looking back at us, still whining.

"You'd better go see what he wants. Maybe he had to crap on the carpet."

"Oh, Jack. Be nice."

She went over toward him and he went into the hallway toward our bedroom. She followed him, said "What is it, boy?" and opened up the door. And then she squealed.

"You turd!"

"What? You don't like it?"

"You knew about this all the time. What did you do, talk the girls into doing this?"

"Nope, I had a friend come over. June, the flower lady with the roses."

By this time, I was next to her at the door to our room. She had closed it most of the way after she'd seen the balloons. June had exceeded my expectations. I'd told her I wanted a room full of balloons and she took me literally. The room was full of balloons, wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Red, blue, green, yellow, purple. Round, long, thin, fat. Foil balloons with Jill's name or Happy Birthday or 15 written on them. I had doubts about the two of us fitting in the room while they were still there.

Once she knew I'd seen them, she gave me a hug to end all hugs. "God, I love you. I have never had such a wonderful birthday. Thank you, thank you, thank you."

I kissed her. "You're welcome."

We were able to fit in the room after all. Jill turned around and asked me to unzip her. Her dress had a zipper from the top of the dress to the top of her ass. I pulled the tab all the way down and she worked her arms out and let it slide to the floor. She turned around. She was wearing a garter belt, stockings and high heels. And a grin to beat all grins.

She wrapped her arms around me. "Come on, Jack. Let's try out those oysters."


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The End
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Posted:  2005-07-16
Last Modified: 2009-04-30 / 11:44:59 pm
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