Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Title: Britney
Author: Airimis
Keyword: Mf, mind-reading



   "Do you come here every day?" a girl's voice pulled me out of my book
that I was enjoying on my e-reader.

   I was still in my jogging clothes, even though my afternoon jog was long
over, sitting on the park bench facing the play equipment.  I looked up to
see a beautiful girl with long blonde hair and the cutest round face.  She
looked to be about thirteen or fourteen maybe, but not much a hint of
puberty with her chest mostly flat and her short stature.  I loved kids and
how direct they are.  I put my reader down on my lap and gave her my
attention.  "Yes...mostly.  After my run, it's how I cool off and relax."

   She came over and sat down on the bench I was on, not close, I was on
one end and she was on the other, but I looked around and there really
weren't any other people around.

   The playground and park was the biggest in the town and always seemed to
be teaming with children.  Along with it, there were basketball courts,
tennis courts, some of the most elaborate playground equipment that I've
ever seen, and a nice jogging trail that went around the park and through
the woods nearby and came out on the other side of the park.

   I would be lying if I said I only came for the trail.  I have always
liked kids.  Now, I'm not a pedophile or anything.  I don't want to rape
them or steal them or ever hurt them.  I consider crimes against children
the worst kind of act and believe that anyone that hurts kids should get
moved to the front of the line for the death penalty!  But, I just like
them.  They are usually open and direct.  I usually don't have to wonder
what their motives are or believe that they are always out to get
something.

   She sat there for a moment in silence looking at the fifteen or so kids
on the playground equipment.

   I watched her for a minute before I said anything.  She was pretty,
dressed a little like a typical kid, jeans, tennis shoes, and a red
t-shirt, but still adorable.  I had always thought that if I had a
daughter, she might look like that.  I saw her smile a little and maybe a
hint of bush, I couldn't tell.  "So why aren't you playing with the others?
What made you want to come and take a break with me?"

   I actually am pretty likeable.  I get along with just about anyone and
have a personality that could disarm a police officer.  That's another
reason why like kids and teenagers, usually I can get them to open up.

   "I just thought you might want someone to talk to.  I've seen you here
several times, but you usually sit alone," she said giving me a warm smile.


   I told her that I like to read and it was a nice shady spot with a cool
breeze.  I asked a little about her and we exchanged names.  I found out
that Britney came to the park regularly, considering school was out for the
summer.  She mentioned that she lived nearby and her parents let her walk
to the park alone.  She seemed happy just to have someone give her a little
attention.  I didn't have a problem with that.  She seemed nice and I loved
visiting with people.  The fact that she was a sweet, cute girl didn't hurt
either.

   After about twenty minutes, I had learned about her likes, that she was
in the ninth grade, so I recalculated her age to be fourteen and she smiled
when I asked if I was right.  She seemed proud of the fact that she was
growing up, which many kids are very prideful of their age.  I complimented
her and she beamed absorbing the attention.

   A few red flags started waving in my brain and I worried for the girl.
In an hour, I had the facts of her name, age, that she came here often,
alone, and her parents wouldn't let her carry a cell phone.  I knew I was
harmless and wouldn't do anything ever to hurt her, but I was scared about
the perverts out there that could hurt her if they knew all this.  And all
of the information had been freely offered to me through casual
conversation just because I was sitting there.

   About that same time, she stopped her train of thought looked at me
seriously.  "You know, I'm usually careful about strangers," she said
trying to sound mature.

   "You should be," I said.  "You are a very nice looking girl and there
are bad guys out there." I hadn't commented on her looks before that.  It
was a subject that I had a hard time admitting to myself, much less saying
it to others without it sounding awkward.

   "But you're not a bad guy, are you, Luke?" she asked still smiling.

   "Nope, I'm harmless," which was true.  Even though we had sat there
talking for an hour, I hadn't made any move to be closer to her or to touch
her.  I had admired her looks and even been impressed at the mature way she
talked and her casual openness, but I had no desire for more.  "But you
might be careful who you talk to like this with other people.  You're too
sweet to have bad things happen to you," I warned.  I figured her parents
and school had hopefully warned her about all the bad things that happened
to young girls.  I felt a little protective of her seeing as how I had just
started talking to her and had all the information that a pedophile or
kidnapper would need to put a plan together.

   "Except you," Britney said sincerely.  "I don't think you would do
anything to hurt me."

   I smiled filled with the warmth from the trust that she had in me.  I
changed the subject and we talked a few more minutes and then she said she
was going back to play with the other kids.  I told her to have fun and she
ran back to the maze of slides, swings bridges and tunnels.

   I stayed a little longer and half read my book and half watched the kids
play happily.  I knew several of the kids' names.  Occasionally I would
talk with the parents there at the park.  I got along with everyone and
they all seemed to accept me there, even though I didn't have a child of my
own playing.  Britney kept catching my eye when she would emerge into view.
She was laughing and playing games with the other children, but she would
look over to me and smile.  Before I left, I gave her a wave.  She waved
back, but looked a little sad to see me go.

   The after work the next day, I went for my run and had packed a small
sack lunch for after while I read.  I was sitting on the same bench
snacking on an apple when I saw Britney playing with the other children on
the equipment.  I knew several of the other children and had talked with
them occasionally, but I never went to the playground equipment and to talk
with them.  If they wandered over to me, we would chat for a while, but I
thought the other parents might think it was odd that a single man would be
talking with their kids, so I avoided going to them.

   After about ten minutes and me snacking on an apple, Britney came
walking to me.  I smiled seeing that I was going to be treated to her
company again.  She sat down on the bench and after a few minutes of casual
conversation, I noticed her carefully looking at the brown bag that I had
packed my snack into.

   "Are you hungry?" I asked.  I reached in and pulled out my second bottle
of water and my sandwich that I had packed.  It wasn't much, but it was
only supposed to be a snack.  I could see her eyeing it.

   "Well, I don't want to take your food.  My mom taught me that I
shouldn't," she said.  It was one of the few times that the mentioned her
parents.  I had asked about them a little yesterday, but she didn't seem to
want to discuss them so I let it go.

   "Well, the apple is enough for me.  Here," I said as I held out the
sandwich for her.

   She tentatively took the sandwich and I passed the unopened water and
she took it more readily.  I took another bit of my apple and she devoured
the sandwich.  I assessed her physically as she ate.  There wasn't much to
her.  She looked thin and probably could use more to eat.

   She took a drink of the water and then looked like she deliberately
started eating slower, even though she had already inhaled half the
sandwich.  She looked at me and smiled.  "Thank you for the good sandwich,"
she said appreciatively.

   I was glad I could help.  I made a mental note that tomorrow, I was
going to bring an extra sack lunch in case she hungry then, too.  Her smile
was enough thanks for me to make that effort.

   We talked for almost an hour that day.  This time she seemed interested
in me.  The day before, I didn't probe about her, but accepted whatever
subject she wanted to talk about and let her freely go from one thought to
another.  Today, she decided to play twenty questions with me.  She asked
about my age, which I was hesitant to tell her.  I was an adult, but
twenty-two could be pretty intimidating to a teenage girl.  She asked me
about my job, why I came to the park, and if I had a wife or kids.

   I told her about my being an accountant but I knew it would be boring to
her.  It was boring to me, but I was very good with numbers and they seemed
to come naturally to me.  I told her I wasn't married and didn't have any
children, but I wanted them.  I just hadn't found the right woman, yet. 
She tried to encourage me and told me that there was someone out there for
me.  As far as why I came to the park, I told her most of the truth, that I
was there for the scenery and the running trails.  Hearing the joy of the
children playing was what most brought me here, and for the last two days,
she had been the highlight of my day, but I left that last part out.  I
didn't want to creep her out.

   I was vague about where I lived or what accounting firm that I worked
for (it was a big one, but I didn't see how sharing that information with
her would be appropriate).  I liked kids, but was very self aware of what
people thought when seeing a single man around them.  I didn't need stress
like that, even though most of the parents who were regulars at the park
had talked to me at one time or another and deemed me harmless.

   This afternoon, Britney tried to keep the focus of the conversation off
of her.  I knew she was holding back something that she didn't want to
discuss, but I didn't know her well enough to try to push for what was
bothering her.

   After about an hour, she excused herself and went back to playing with
the other children on the playground.  I read for a while, but found myself
glancing up and keeping track of where she was.  I noticed more and more,
she would do stuff, like hang upside down, or jump from the swings when she
was high, and then look to see if I was watching.  I smiled at her and
waved back when she would wave.  I didn't stay any longer than usual.  I
didn't have anywhere that I needed to be, but I couldn't spend my entire
day at the park.

   From then on, we started a routine.  It started with a small snack of
just sandwich and water.  We would talk and she would accept the food
hungrily.  I didn't know if it was because she was a teenager or if she
burned off the energy playing, but she always seemed hungry and ate every
bite.  She made the excuse that she was always playing at the park and
didn't bring any food with her.

   It occurred to me that she was always at the park before I arrived for
my run and stayed at least until after I left.  I had never actually seen
her arrive or leave.  She was always just there.  She had mentioned that
she lived a block away and the direction, but I didn't push for an actual
address.  It occurred to me that maybe I should ask if she was ever hurt on
the playground and I needed to find her parents, but asking a young girl
where she lived screamed "Stranger Danger!"

   She would always sit and talk with me for a while after we were both
done eating.  We had moved from the bench to a picnic table so we would
have somewhere for our food to sit.  The first few days, she sat across
from me, which was fine.  The fourth day, she sat close to me on the same
side.  I felt good because she trusted me, but I worried about her because
it seemed that she trusted me too fast.

   On the fifth day, she chose the same seating arrangement.  I had started
packing more into her bag intentionally.  I wasn't trying to bribe her, but
she seemed hungry and always ate every bite put in front of her.  I tried
not to think about if her parents were feeding her because it wasn't really
any of my business.  Also, it was going on a week now and others had seen
Britney and I share food each afternoon.  Most of the regular parents knew
that I didn't have any kids.  I would get a suspicious look here or there
from them.

   I didn't say anything, but Britney picked up on it quickly.  She
commented that people shouldn't judge and that they would be lucky to share
a meal with someone like me.

   I smiled feeling lucky that this sweet girl seemed to understand what I
was thinking before I even said it.  How mature her thought process must be
to pick up that we were getting those looks from a few regular moms?  Then
she did something that I didn't expect and leaned over and hugged me.

   I froze at first.  We really didn't have much physical contact except
for a bump here or me teasing her a little by touching her bare arm or
something like that.  This was different and her head was on my shoulder. I
put my arm around her and ran my fingers through her long straight blonde
hair.

   "Thank you," she said sincerely, but it felt like there was much more in
her words.  I held her for a moment, but then let her go.

   "You're welcome," I said assuming it was for the food.

   That day she stayed and talked to me until my regular time to leave. 
She would usually go and play with the others for a while but not that
Friday.  I finally looked at my watch and mentioned that it was time for me
to go.  She looked disappointed at me, but told me bye.  She gave me
another hug before I left.  This time I accepted it easily and thought it
was too bad that I didn't usually run on the weekends.  I would miss
chatting with her until Monday.



   That night something changed for me.  I didn't have a woman in my life
currently and was a very healthy twenty-two year old with a sex drive to
match.  When the urge hit, I would watch some porn to take care of that
urge.  I had dated, but was in between girlfriends at the moment.  I was
known at the local bar, but didn't get drunk often.  It just didn't appeal
to me.  At work, we had a few decent looking women, but I knew office
romances seldom worked out well so I wasn't crazy about that idea.

   That night, as I was masturbating, the thought of Britney floated into
my head.  I liked younger women, usually eighteen or nineteen, but later I
figured out the only real reason that I focused on those ages was because
of society brands anyone who looks younger as evil.

   I didn't want to hurt her or rape her, but I fantasized about her coming
to me and telling me that she wanted to be with me.  I imagined what might
be under the simple clothes that she wore.  I knew the softness of her skin
and the smoothness of her hair from that day.

   That might have been the trigger; I thought after I had my release and
was thinking clearer.  Maybe I had been without a woman for too long and
the simple physical touch and trust of a female, even one so young, was why
she had sprung up in my thoughts.  I felt a little ashamed for using the
sweet girl, even though it was only in my thoughts and she would never
know. But she was a teenager after all.  Isn't that what teenagers do with
their boyfriends?  So I didn't regret having my little fantasy much.

   I usually didn't run on the weekends, but I on my Saturday off, I found
my thoughts returning to Britney.  I guess I was getting use to her
attention and I genuinely liked talking to her.  She seemed very mature for
her age.  I wondered if I went there at the same time for my run, would she
be there playing.

   By that afternoon, I had convinced myself a little extra exercise
wouldn't hurt, and if Britney was at the park, all the better.  I went by
the deli, the one I usually got my sandwiches from and got my usual sack
lunches and then headed to the park.  I tried not to glance at the
playground telling myself that I was here for the run, primarily.  I felt
that if I was coming here to visit a teenage girl, then that would be
wrong. I went for my run, which seemed to take an annoying long amount of
time, and then walked for my cool down the playground area.

   "Luke!" Britney's voice rang clear.  I didn't see her at first and then
saw her sprinting toward me.  She gave me a big hug.

   "Hi, Brit," I said as I hugged her.  I didn't expect this greeting, but
I enjoyed the hugs.

   "I didn't think you were going to be here," she said pulling back with a
smile on her face.

   I didn't remember telling her that I didn't run on the weekends, but I
thought she might have assumed since I told her I only work on weekdays.  I
found that I was happy to see her, too.

   I walked back to my car to get the sack lunches and this time, she
walked with me, talking and chattering away.  It seemed she wanted to relay
every minute of her day that I had missed.  She told me what she watched on
television, what was going on with her friends and anything else that
seemed to go on in her mind.  She seemed to know almost everyone on the
playground and told me all the drama between the little kids and the ones
her age.  We talked as ate at our usual picnic table in the shade.

   I took note that she didn't mention her parents almost at all.  I was
starting to wonder about them, but I didn't push.  She had no trouble
relaying almost any other information and I took general interest in
talking to her.  I wasn't really interested in the other kids so much, but
I took interest in what Britney thought about them.

   When she was done and seemed to have ran out of information to pass on,
she asked about my day.  She asked about me taking a run on my day off.  I
decided on telling her a little of the truth and told her that I had hopes
that I would be able to see her and talk to her.

   She beamed and started talking again.  I couldn't help but notice how
much more skin was exposed on her today.  She was wearing a small white
shirt only held up by two straps.  She didn't have much in the chest
department to hold up, but I could see the outline of her bra (possibly a
training bra, I'm a guy so I didn't know for sure).  She was in shorts as
well and they gave me a view of two lovely legs that had a good tan going
on in the summer heat.

   For a moment, I thought of the fantasy I had used the night before to
masturbate with.  Seeing her like this, filled in some of the fantasy with
actual body rather than what I had just imagined.  I quickly got my
thoughts under control and pushed that aside.

   She stopped mid sentence and looked at me oddly.

   "Are you okay?" I asked.

   "Yeah," she said but still kept her shook her head, like she was
dismissing something.  "I just lost my train of thought for a moment," she
said looking at me affectionately.

   "So what else happened after that on Survivor?" I asked to get her back
to what she was saying.

   I didn't actually care of the show or watch much regular television for
that matter, but I liked hearing her talk and I thought it was cool that
she had so much insight into what people feel.  She went on to tell my why
this person was jealous of this one or who got voted off and why.  I liked
hearing her talk, though and knew enough of her shows to know who she was
hoping would win.

   She started talking again where she left off, but she seemed to be
smiling more.  I also noticed that she kept moving her legs and changing
positions like she couldn't sit still.

   I talked with her for a while, and then left at my regular time.  I
didn't want things to look suspicious.  There were about twenty other
children in the park so it was a pretty lively place.  She hugged me again
before I left, but this time she pressed her body against mine.  I hugged
her, but knew now that I was pushing my luck.  I told her bye and headed to
my car.

   My warm feelings lasted until I shut the car door and turned on the
engine.  As I drove home, I knew that the affection I was starting to have
for Britney was wrong.  What was worse was that she seemed to have a crush
on me, too.  I knew that was going to complicate things.  My fondness for
her, I could keep in check, but if I encouraged her feelings for me knowing
that in the end it could never happen was just bad.



   Sunday, I abandoned all pretense of going on my jog.  I went by a fast
food drive through and got two meals.  I didn't usually eat burgers and
fries because they were so unhealthy, but I knew I was going to have a
serious talk with Britney and after it, she may not want to talk to me.  I
thought it could be our last lunch together.

   As I pulled up to the park, I thought how silly I would feel if she
wasn't even there and would be trashing one or both of the meals because it
wasn't that appealing to me anyway.

   I didn't have to look hard.  She was walking toward my car as I was
getting out.  I had to really admire her today.  She didn't look like she
was dressed for playing at the playground at all.  She was wearing a light
skirt and a pink blouse.  They both looked good on her, but it was hardly
clothes to play in.  I think I saw a hint of makeup on her as well.  She
did look very attractive and older when dressed this way.  It only
reinforced the need for the serious conversation I was going to have with
her about our developing friendship.

   At first, she looked happy to see me, but as I pulled the bags of food
out of the car with the two sodas in the drink carrier, I watched her face
go from happy to almost depressed.  I thought maybe I had chosen wrong and
she didn't do fast food.  I was trying to hide my feelings from showing on
my face, but I guess she knew me well enough to know that something was on
my mind.

   She walked with me to our picnic table.  "Hi, Luke," she said somberly
as she approached me.  No hug and her smile had mostly faded.

   "Hi, Britney.  I figured you could use some real food while we talked
today," I said trying to smile.  I was thinking that I would ease her into
the talk about the crush, but her mood showed that something was already
weighing her down.

   She took the place across from me today.  I was a little disappointed
because I had gotten use to her being at my side, but I figured that would
make what I had to say easier. I switched gears because I knew something
was troubling her.  Maybe my talk could wait if I could help her first.  I
handed her a bag and a soda.  "What's wrong?"

   She looked away like she was trying not to cry.  "Is it wrong to like
someone and just like them?"

   I smiled, trying to be reassuring, but I didn't know exactly what she
meant.  "I don't know exactly what you mean, but I don't think it's wrong
to like anyone."

   "I mean that you're attracted to," she said taking her fries and
hamburger out of the bag.  Whatever problem that was weighing on her mind
hadn't affected her appetite.  She started immediately on the fries.  "Is
it wrong to be attracted to someone?"

   "Well," I thought of how wrong it was that I found myself attracted to
this lovely teenager but figured for her purposes that idea couldn't help
her.  "I think sometimes you can't help who you're attracted to.  It would
be wrong to do stuff about it in certain situations.  Like, if you found
yourself attracted to your cousin, that isn't wrong, but trying to date
him, is.  I think it is what actions you take that could be considered
wrong, but attracted to, no.  You can be attracted to whomever and there is
nothing wrong with that," I said but didn't add that after you turned
eighteen everything below that age was considered wrong.

   She thought about this for a few moments as she chewed her burger.  I
took a bite of mine as well, even though I wasn't a fan of the taste. 
There was way too much grease.  It would take my whole run on Monday to
burn off all the calories from just the burgerr.  I was also hoping that
she wasn't talking about me, but I was pretty sure that she was.

   "So if I am attracted to a person, but don't do anything about it.  Then
it is okay to stay being attracted to this person?" she asked looking at
me.

   I didn't know if I was the best person to be giving her advice on
relationships, but this seemed to be heading toward the conversation that I
was planning on having with her anyway.  "Does this person know you're
attracted to him?" I asked.  I was pretty sure she meant me by now, but
there was a slight chance that she could say it was a boy at her school or
who visited the playground.

   She looked me in the eye like she was trying to read me.  I smiled
because she really was cute with the concentrating look on her delicate
face.  Her long hair was draped across both of her shoulders.  Even her
hands looked small and cute as she reached for another fry.  "Yeah, I think
he is, but he hasn't come out and said anything directly to me."

   The way she looked at me, I had no doubt now that we were talking about
our friendship.  And that made things so much harder.  Now was the time for
me to put the brakes on this and tell her that our feelings, whatever
attraction we were starting to have for each other, were wrong.  Not to
mention, with her age, I didn't want to come out and say I had any feelings
at all for the fear of being labeled some kind of pedophile or monster. 
She looked at me hopefully waiting for me to either crush her or tell her
it was okay.

   I looked into her blue eyes and my better judgment bent to my affection
for her.  I couldn't hurt her.  I knew I would regret it later, either by
my own conscience or by the inevitable fact that we really couldn't have a
relationship.  "Well, I think that it is okay for the two of you to be
attracted to each other, as long as you don't do anything that is wrong. 
Does that answer your question?"

   The smile that spread across her face brightened the entire park in just
a few moments.  She was happy again and went back to work on her food.  I
smiled, but had a twinge of guilt.  I had come here today to do the adult
thing and then backed down.  We ate, talked, laughed, and then she wanted
me to push her on the swing.

   That was new for me.  As she had asked me to, she grabbed my hand and
eagerly pulled me to the swings.  She was a little big in comparison to the
other kids playing there, but the swings were well put together and looked
like they could easily hold me.  Britney had a little meat on her, but
wasn't chubby.

   After asking several times if she was sure that should I push her and
her insisting, I started.  At first it was easy and I was able to push the
chains or her back.  After a short time, she was high enough that I could
no longer reach her the top of her back.  To push her required me to go
lower and lower on her until I started touching to top of the curve of her
ass.  I made the effort to keep my hands away from there and on her back.

   "Higher, higher!" she squealed and laughed.

   I was laughing with her little jokes as she teased me that I should be
stronger than that and be able to push her higher.  I took the little
challenges and pushed her higher, but it made it impossible to avoid
touching the bottom of her skirt that was held underneath her to the swing.


   I was surprised to feel that the skirt was as thin as it appeared and I
could feel her cotton panties underneath.  I didn't mean to touch them or
even pick up on the details, but the knowledge and feel of them sent
electric signals directly to my sleeping member between my legs.  He
immediately woke up and came to half erection.  I didn't mean for it to
happen and after just a couple of pushes where my hands touched her
backside, she got quiet.

   I took that as she had felt exactly where I had touched and knew that I
had crossed the line.  I knew I had as well.  I quit pushing her and went
to the side of her.

   I saw a little puzzlement on her face, but she continued to kick and
pump her legs with the swing pushing it higher in the sky.  I watched from
the side of her and vocally encouraged her to go higher.  My mind thought
about what the view might be from the front of the swing.  I saw her skirt
move up and down just a little.  For a moment, I wondered if anyone in
front of her could see right up her skirt to her panties?  What color were
they?  They felt like cotton, but did they have designs on them?  Were they
pulled tight up to her crotch so that a person could see the outline of her
slit?  I pushed these thoughts from my head and willed my erection to go
down.

   She was breathing hard from the exertion of continuing to swing.  She
was pretty high at the peak of her swinging.  "I'm going to jump!  Come in
front to help me with my landing!" she yelled to me.

   I didn't think too much about it.  She actually was pretty high and she
didn't look like there was much weight to her.  I walked around in front of
her and she continued to swing several times in preparation for her finale.
On her second swing, her legs were parted just enough to where I got a
glimpse of a small triangle of her panties as her skirt flew up.  They were
solid pink like her shirt, but that was all that I saw in the flash of a
second.  I tried to hide my reaction and act like I hadn't seen anything.
At the height of her third swing, she flew out of her seat and catapulted
herself upward and out.

   She might have been able to make the landing, but I very much doubted
it. Her legs had gone too far back and her head and chest went too far
forward.  Her arms flailed in the air for a second like she was a swimmer
out of water and then I caught her.  I'm glad that she had told me to move
in front of her because if not, she would have face planted hard.

   She was laughing uncontrollably.  "See, I knew I could trust you!" she
said laughing as I set her on her feet and she wrapped her arms around me
in a hug.  I hugged her back instinctively.

   "You could have really hurt yourself there.  You might try jumping from
lower from now on," I warned her and she pulled back.

   "That why I had you here.  I knew you wouldn't let me fall," she said
affectionately.  Again, it sounded like there was more to her meaning, but
I let it go.

   I patted her on the back and we walked back to the park bench that we
usually sat at.  I told her that one death defying stunt a day was enough
for me.  As we walked back to the bench overlooking the playground, I felt
her reach over and take my hand.  I was a little uncomfortable, but I liked
the attention.  I carefully let her go when we sat down at the bench.

   Thoughts flew around my head about this girl who was making me feel
young again.  I thought it might be her youth rubbing off on me, but I was
smiling and laughing along with her.  It was a really nice time.  We spent
the rest of the time talking, mostly.

   I said goodbye to her at the usual time that I left the park and she
watched me drive away.

   As I headed home, I didn't know how to feel.  I was a little ashamed at
my thoughts about her.  She was just a teenager.  Youthful, soft, vibrant,
and delicately curvy in some good places, but still only fourteen!  I had
went there with the purpose of telling her that she needed to reign in her
feeling for me because I wouldn't be allowed to return them and ended up
under her spell.  I had to admit, I was charmed by her laugh and smile.  I
wanted to see her smile more and would do what I could to allow her to have
all the smiles that she could.  I figured that in due time, she would find
a nice guy her own age and forget about me.  When school started in a
month, she would definitely be busier and probably not have time to hang
out at the playground.

   Then another thought that came to mind.  I suddenly felt that if she
weren't there, I would miss her.  A slight pain came to my heart that
eventually, she was going to get distracted or she wouldn't be there in my
life anymore.  I felt it silly for someone that I've only known a week to
have that much of an effect over me but still, it caused me to think hard
about it.

   As usual with any hard decision in my life, I put it out of my mind and
decided that I would enjoy Britney's company for as long as it would last
and try not to worry about it otherwise.



   The following week was pretty normal.  Get up, get a shower, go to work,
stop at the deli, run, Britney, and then home for the evening.  It was a
pretty good routine.  I will admit that having a Britney to look forward to
did make my day go better.  We would exchange stories about our day and
then talk about anything on our minds.

   She didn't repeat the swing event, but she did ask me to push her again,
and I declined saying that she almost broke her neck the first time.  There
was a tire swing and I pushed her on it.  Also, she would insist I come to
the playground equipment and talk to her as she went though the mazes and
we played a few pretend games.  I stayed vocal and we had other kids play
games with us.  I got a few looks from some of the parents, but they could
see that I was just encouraging the kids to play with each other.

   At the end of the week, I was disappointed because storms rolled through
our area.  They poured out huge amounts of rain and it was predicted to be
raining all weekend.  I thought that if Britney's parents had any sense at
all, they wouldn't let her go out in that, let alone to meet with her adult
friend.  So I shook the thought of seeing her.

   It didn't stop her from popping up in a fantasy or two as I masturbated
at night.  I figured it wasn't that bad since I knew it could never come
true.



   At about ten o'clock Sunday night a knock sounded from my front door. 
When I answered the door, a uniformed police officer surprised me.

   I looked at him perplexed.  "Good evening, can I help you, officer?"

   He was a friendly looking guy and looked like he was annoyed to be out
in the rain.  It was storming and between the lightning and the wind, I was
surprised the electric hadn't gone out, yet.

   "Are you Luke Peterson?" he said

   "Yes I am," I said getting a little nervous.  I went through my head
about what he might want with me.  "What's going on?"

   "Do you know a Britney Marler?" he asked.

   Britney!  I knew either something had happened to her or something was
about to happen to me.  I had looked up the laws in the past week
concerning adults and minors.  None of it was good.  I swallowed, but kept
my cool.  "Yes, is she okay?" I asked concerned for her safety first.  I
figured I would worry about my own ass after I knew that she was safe.

   "Yes, sir, she's fine," he said and looked over his shoulder at the cop
car parked in front of my house.

   I look past him and see her in the back seat of the squad car.  The rain
was distorting much of the view, but the dome light was on and I could see
her looking at me through the window.  "What's going on?"

   Another woman in a dark trench coat with a dark complexion and black
short hair walked up my steps with an umbrella over her head and has a clip
board in her other hand.  "Andrea Womble with child services," she
introduced herself as soon as she was on my porch out of the down pour. 
She put her umbrella down and I shook her hand.

   Okay, well Britney is fine, that means that I'm the one who is trouble.
I still stayed calm.  I figured if I got nervous or freaked out, they would
take it as definite proof that I've been having an inappropriate friendship
with a minor.  I didn't know if they could charge me with anything for
bringing them food or interacting with her in a public place, but I knew if
parents had a problem with someone, they could make all kinds of stuff up.
Dozens of parents saw us together at the park.  I couldn't deny knowing
her.

   "I'm sorry to disturb you this late at night," Andrea continued.

   Interesting way to arrest someone: by apologizing for disturbing them.

   "Your niece, Britney, gave us your address when we couldn't find any
next-of-kin for her.  She didn't have your current phone number but said
that the two of you spent your afternoons in the park."

   It took a moment to respond.  "Yes," I said as I digested the words. 
"Um...what's going on?" I was still in the dark, but I didn't think I was
going to jail.

   It was the officer's turn to speak.  "How close are you to Jane and
Scott Marler?"

   "Actually, we aren't close at all," I honestly had never heard of them,
but I instantly connected the names: Britney Marler, Jane and Scott Marler,
her parents I assumed.

   "Well, they have been taken into custody," he stopped there.  I knew
enough about legal issues that he probably couldn't say for what.

   "We need to know if you are willing to take on temporary guardianship
for Britney until her parents able to, seeing as you are the only relative
that we can find.  She said that she would rather stay with you than be put
in a foster home.  With her being fourteen, we try to let them have a
choice in where they go.  But, Mr.  Peterson, it is up to you.  If you
don't think you can take care of her, we can take her with us."

   I looked out to Britney in the back of the police car.  She shook her
head frantically at me.  The storm raged and we were almost fifty feet from
the street.  She couldn't have heard the conversation, but reacted as if
she had.  "It's okay.  She can stay here until things are cleared up," I
said with fake confidence.

   Andrea smiled, "Thank you, Mr.  Peterson.  We really try to allow
children to stay with family members when we can," she said.  She had me
sign a few forms and gave me her card in case I had any issues.  The patrol
officer brought Britney carrying a suit case from the car.  Britney gave me
a big hug when she got up on the porch.  I hugged her back, but gave her a
look that said we were going to have a long talk as soon as we were alone.
Britney nodded at me understanding and took her suit case with her as she
stood just inside the door.  Andrea said that I would be contacted soon and
that paperwork would be coming in the mail for me to sign and send in for
temporary custody of "my niece" Britney.

   The officer and child service worker left after just a few signatures
and Britney and I both assuring them that we would be fine.  I maintained
my friendly smile until we were inside my door and I closed it with Britney
soaking wet in my living room.

   "Okay," I said to her.  "Now do you care to explain?" I was full of
questions and so far had been a good sport about this.  I didn't want
anything bad to happen to her and from what I knew about foster homes, they
could be very bad for young girls.  Another thought hit me saying that my
home may not be that good for her, either.

   "If I said no, would you let it go?" she chanced with a hint of sarcasm
that I had come to know in her personality.

   I held up the card that the service worker had left me.  "I could call
her and ask her for details.  But I'm sure she wouldn't like my answers. 
And definitely she wouldn't like to come back here in the rain to get you."

   Britney's eyes went wide with panic.  "No!  You can't.  I saw where she
wanted to send me!  They're horrible!" She clutched the front of me with
her hands in begging.  "Please, no."

   "Then talk," I said to her.  "I want the truth and then I'll think about
it.  How did you even know my address?  I never gave you my last name!" I
said suddenly realizing it.  Was she stalking me?

   "I wasn't stalking you!" she said suddenly offended.  Then she suddenly
looked scared like she had said the wrong thing.

   I realized that I hadn't said anything about her stalking me.  But she
had answered it as if I had.  I looked at her thinking of all the time we
had spent together.  We had gotten along so well, talked about the same
subjects, had similar views on different matters, and how she seemed to
have a mature attitude when we talked.  "The truth," I ordered her calmly
but I already knew what made sense.

   She looked on the verge of crying.  "I can hear thoughts," she
whispered. "That's how I knew your address."

   "Everything I know?  Other people's thoughts or just mine?" I asked as I
crossed my arms.

   "No," she said defensively.  "Only the main thoughts come through.  I
don't see memories or information.  And yes, most people's," she said with
tears rolling down her cheeks.

   I wondered what range she had?  Did anyone else know about her?  Would
anyone believe her if she did tell them?  I wouldn't have believed it if
she hadn't just answered the unasked question from me.

   "No," she responded to my unasked question.  "I haven't told anyone
about it.  They would think I'm a freak.  And it only works when I'm close
to a person."

   I still had a few questions, but her answering things without me even
saying something were a little unnerving.  Suddenly I thought of all the
inappropriate thoughts I had about her.  Had she heard those as well?

   She blushed and looked down suddenly.  Now it was my turn to be
uncomfortable.  But she didn't say anything out loud.

   "Why here?  Why did you tell her to bring you to my house?"

   "The social worker wanted to take me to a boarding home.  It sounded
horrible.  Even she didn't want to take me there.  You were the only one
that I could think of that might help me," she said.  "I know you care
about me and don't want anything to happen to me."

   I shook my head remembering that thought had ran through my head on the
day I wanted to tell her that our friendship was inappropriate.  "But how
did you convince them that I was your uncle?"

   "I took my time answering the questions.  Then I just answered the
social worker's questions the way she wanted me to," she said with a little
smile of pride.

   "Do you have any relatives around here?  And what happened to your
parents?  Why aren't you staying with them?" I asked still not satisfied.

   "My parents were arrested for meth dealing," she said sadly.  "Why do
you think I stay at the park so much?  I hate it when they do it so I stay
out of the house all I can," she said and paused.  "I don't know any of my
relatives.  My parents moved here from Ohio and I've never met any of
them."

   I let out a sympathetic sigh for her.  Parents who would rather get high
than have a daughter and no one else for family.  No wonder she ate up the
attention I had given her at the park.  She couldn't really be on meth or
the cop would have taken her to a rehabilitation facility after a quick
test.

   But still, I was an adult single male and she was a teenage girl.  It
would be inappropriate for her to live with me, especially after some of
the fantasies I've been having that she has starred in.

   "I'll let you touch me," she whispered shocking me.  "I know that you
have thought about it.  I'll even have sex if it takes that.  Just don't
send me away," she pleaded.

   My own thoughts had grinded to a halt at her statement or more
accurately her offer.  The two sides of me that usually understood that
there was a balance to be maintained suddenly both had a tug-o-war for
control.  The adult in me screamed this was very dangerous and the lustful
side of me that knew an offer like this would never again come in my
lifetime.

   "No," I said solidly.  I may desire her sexually, but not as a bargain
for shelter.  "You can stay, but we aren't doing that."

   She gave me a little smile.  I shook my head to clear it.

   "Do you have some dry clothes or pajamas in that suit case?" I asked
realizing she was starting to shiver and still wet.

   "No pajamas.  They only gave me a few minutes to pack.  I grabbed all
that I could," she said shyly.

   "Okay.  The bathroom is the second door on the right down the hall.  Get
a shower and get warm.  I'll bring you something to sleep in for tonight."

   She hugged me again.  I hugged her back, thinking that even with the
revelation that had just been divulged to me, I still cared about her
safety.  And sending her to a foster home that scared her was not
protecting her.

   She took her suitcase with her and I got a long t-shirt and set it on
the bathroom counter while she was rummaging through her only belongings
that she had in the world.  I caught a flash of a book binding.  It looked
old and worn.  The corners were rough, but it looked to be the only object
in her case that wasn't clothing.  I quickly exited the room and closed the
door behind me.

   It was getting late, but I waited on the couch in the living room for
her to get done.  I wondered if she had to be right next to a person to
read their thoughts or if she was listening in on me right now?  In the
end, I tried to not think about it or I would be second guessing everything
and how she might perceive it.  I started thinking about the practical
issues of having Britney there.

   For the short term, the living room was big and cozy.  I could sleep in
the recliner or couch, it was big enough.  My work out room could be
converted into a bedroom without too much trouble.  After she's gone, I
could use it as a guest room.  I would have to pick up some extra food
tomorrow.  I wasn't much of a cook and my kitchen showed that.  I always
had the mixing for different salads and vegetables to snack, but most of
the entrée stuff was more for one person.  From what I saw of her clothes,
they didn't like they were well kept.  Most were worn and looked either
second hand or she had almost worn them out.  I can't believe that I never
caught that during our afternoons in the park.  I had always assumed that
she was just wearing play clothes in the park as to not mess up her good
clothes at home.  We could fix that with a trip to the mall.  I had some
extra money in the bank.  I had always learned to put back for a rainy day.
The lightning flashed outside followed by the dimming of the lights in the
room and the crack of thunder.  I looked up and thought `here was a rainy
day.'

   I heard the water in the bathroom continue for a while.  My thought
started to wander.  I wondered about her ability to read minds.  I would
have to try to curb my thoughts about her.  As of lately, I had been using
her more and more in my fantasies.  It could have been because she had been
the most interesting female that I had good interaction with.  Maybe it was
genuine attraction.  She was pretty.  I was shocked when she offered
herself to me and had told her no.

   Now thinking fully about it, and not having to face her, could she
serious in her offer?  Could I really take advantage of a young girl like
that?  I thought of the girl just a few rooms away.  She was still in the
shower.  What did she look like naked?  She offered to let me touch her. 
Could she realize exactly what she was saying to me, or just pulled it from
my thoughts when I had an inappropriate thought on the playground with her?
Would she enjoy it if I did?  I knew enough about women and in my two
previous serious relationships I had done my homework to make sure they had
the best sexual experiences.  Could those same activities be applied on a
girl so young?

   I didn't even know if she had a sexual thought of her own at all.  It
could be just the simple crush.  She couldn't really know what she was
offering at her age.  What does a girl of fourteen know about sex anyway?
Besides, she probably just said that so that I would let her stay.  I
couldn't take advantage of her.  It seemed like she had already been
through enough.

   I had just finished having the mental conversation with myself as I
heard the water in the shower turn off.  I took a deep breath feeling good
about my decision when she came out of the bathroom in my long blue
t-shirt.

   I was stunned for a moment.  I had assumed she would wear some shorts or
something, but I could see that my shirt covered her just to the top of her
white toned thighs just below where her panties would be.  She walked in
barefoot and looked at me timidly.  I noticed I was staring and I let out
the breath that I had not realized I was holding as she walked across the
room toward me.

   "So you don't think I'm a freak?" she said carefully.

   "No," I said as I realized that she had been afraid that I would be
repulsed by her.  "You aren't." She still looked nervous.  "You're a
beautiful young woman who is just special." The way I said it made the word
special sound positive.

   A little smile curled on her lips.  "I'll sleep out here.  You don't
have to give up your bed," she said looking around.  "I know you aren't
going to try anything," she said knowingly.

   Another flash of lightning then a loud boom of thunder sent everything
into blackness.

   Britney shrieked!

   I reached up and took hold of Britney.  "Relax," I told her.  "The power
is just out.  It'll be okay." I got up and Britney grabbed my hand.  I made
my way to the kitchen and brought out a flash light.  My intent was to
leave Britney in the living room, but she had a firm grip on me and
wouldn't let me go so I just led her around.  I handed her a flashlight
after turning it on.  "There."

   She pointed it at me and then looked around the room.  I let go of her
hand and retrieved another flashlight from a drawer in the kitchen.  I made
her a sandwich and gave her some soda, even though it was getting late.  Of
course she was hungry and now I knew why she always seemed so.  I went back
to the living room.  She had gotten quiet and didn't let me get more than a
room away from her.  I started to pull out a blanket before she interrupted
me.

   "Can I sleep with you?" she asked.

   I looked at her in the dimness of the flashlights.  Another strike of
lightning and thunder made her physically jump.  It was so close that I
could feel the vibration of the sound. I didn't like the idea of sleeping
in the same bed, but in that moment she looked more like a frightened
little kid than she ever had.  I was tired and just needed to get some
sleep to organize my thoughts.  The night had been overwhelming for me.  I
nodded and lead the way to the bedroom.

   "Give me a second," I said as I went into the room and closed the door
behind me.  I changed into comfortable shorts and a t-shirt.  I usually
just sleep in boxers, but I didn't think she would be too comfortable in my
usual attire.  I opened the door and saw her standing there.  She looked so
helpless and vulnerable.  I let out a deep sigh.  "Come on," I said as I
put an arm around her shoulder and led her to my bed.  I pulled the covers
down and she climbed in the bed.  She looked so petite in the big bed and
when I pulled the blanket and sheet back over her, she was enveloped up to
her neck.  I tried not to let my thoughts linger on the image of her lying
back on my bed.  It was just too erotic and I knew it wouldn't lead to
anything good.  Also, if she could read my mind like that, I didn't want
her thinking I was some kind of pervert.

   "You're not a pervert," she said warmly as I got into the other side of
the bed.  "You should hear some of the other thoughts people have about
girls." She sounded disgusted.

   She suddenly had my attention.  I didn't say anything, but I couldn't
help but have curiosity about it.

   Again she answered my unspoken request for her to continue.  "Some men
think of sex all the time.  Some people think of ways they can hurt others
with sex.  Some thoughts are so horrible that they make me sick just being
around them.  That's why I stay at the park.  Little kids don't have those
kinds of thoughts.  Adults do, even you've had thoughts about me," she said
very maturely and I couldn't deny it.  I was ashamed instantly.

   "It's okay.  At least you don't want to hurt me," she said but her half
smile said she still wasn't comfortable with me thinking about her in that
way.

   "Good night, Britney," I said ending the conversation.  I turned off my
light and lay down on the bed.

   "Good night," she said and then paused for a moment.  "And thank
you....for everything."

   I was still embarrassed about her knowing all the thoughts that I might
have had about her.  Most were good, but some were very inappropriate.  I
was glad that I could help her, though.

   I was tired, stressed, and fell asleep to nightmares.  Britney was
there, but instead of the cops bringing her to me, I dreamed that they had
taken her to another home, but this was no foster home.  It was all males
older than her, three boys and a father.  They took turns molesting her and
raping her.  She cried out for me to help her, but something held me back
and I couldn't get to her.  The other males held me while they raped her
one at a time in front of me.  She kept crying out and reaching for me, but
I couldn't get to her.

   I jerked awake to another strike of lightning.  The storm was still
blowing strong outside and the power was still out.  Britney was crying by
my side.  She was huddled and tangled in the blanket.  I carefully reached
over to her.  She seemed to be having a nightmare as well.  She screamed as
I shook her awake.

   By then I had one of the flashlights on and could see.  Her eyes shot
open and then looked at me.  Then she lunged at me.  Before I could figure
out what was going on, she was wrapped around me.  Her arms held me close
and she was crying into my chest.  I tried to comfort her, and to ask her
what her dream was about, but all she could do was sob for several minutes.

   Finally I could hear her whispering, "Please don't make me go there. 
Please don't make me go," as faint as a pin drop.

   I realized that somehow she had shared my nightmare, but she seemed to
think it was a real place that she could have been sent.  I whispered to
her that it was okay and that she was safe.  Eventually she quieted and
relaxed in my arms falling asleep again.  I didn't have the heart to move
her.  I watched her for a long time and ran my fingers through her hair
soothingly.

   Sleep came to me sometime after.  This time I dreamed but this time a
nice one with both of us at the beach.

   The next morning, I awoke late.  The power was back on, but after
glancing at my alarm clock and seeing it flashing twelve o'clock, I knew I
wasn't going to make it to work.

   I picked up my cell phone and made a quick call to work telling that I
was sick.  They didn't seem to mind since the storm had made many of the
roads impassable and several others would be out as well.

   Britney was nowhere to be seen.  I wondered about her as I made my way
to the bathroom.

   "I'm in the kitchen," I heard her call out from the other room.

   I shook my head wondering if I would get use to that.  I relived myself,
washed my face, and then quickly brushed my teeth.  `Hygiene supplies,' I
thought.  `I have to remember to get her some while we're out.'
   I made my way into the kitchen to the smell of eggs frying.