From jimfix@earthlink.net Sat Apr 05 01:22:47 1997
Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories
Subject: - A Summer Romance m/F inc con rom Part 1 of 2
From: jimfix@earthlink.net (Jim Fix)
Date: Sat, 05 Apr 1997 05:22:47 GMT
--------
A SUMMER ROMANCE

An erotic story by Jim Fix


This text contains explicit sex and incestuous relationships. If this
offends you then read no further, otherwise enjoy.


At fourteen I considered myself a pretty normal teenager if perhaps a
little nerdy. I wasn't into team sports but I enjoyed Physical
Education and running. On the academic side, I made good grades and
was an honor student my freshman year of high school. The one
extracurricular activity I enjoyed was the debating team. I was one of
only two freshmen who made the team.

Girls seldom found me interesting unless they were having trouble with
their homework so my social life was pretty close to zero. I was
driven by all the demons that prompt teenage boys to seek female
company but I found most girls my age tedious and they thought I was
some kind of geek. The conversational subjects that interested them
was a foreign language to me so after a few minutes I ran out of
things to say in response to their chatter. How was I ever going to
make the big connection with a girl when I couldn't hold her interest
for more than a few minutes? The only way I made the big connection
was in the bathroom alone with a worn copy of an adult magazine my Dad
had forgotten when he moved out.

My parents began having problems several years ago. Dad wanted Mom to
be his maid and bed partner while she wanted to go back to school and
finish her education. When she started adult education Dad began to
find fault with everything she did. His verbal abuse became
increasingly more strident over the last couple of years of their
marriage. Under his constant verbal assault Mom distanced herself from
Dad and turned to me for comfort.

The only time Dad paid any attention to me was when he could use me as
a tool to fashion an argument to hurl at Mom. My most vivid
remembrances of him are his failed attempts to teach me basketball. I
found it boring to stand outside and shoot basket after basket
practicing for a game I considered pointless. After a practice session
of indifferent performance on my part he would pick a fight with Mom
and berate her for mothering a sissy. My intellectual accomplishments
never impressed him. I always stood near the head of my class but I
think he would have been happier if I was failing classes and learned
to swish ten straight foul shots.

Dad's abuse and growing differences between them caused my parent's
marriage to unravel and a couple of years ago they divorced. The
catalyst that brought the final break between them was Mom's
relationship with me. Dad's unreasonableness had driven us closer and
closer together for mutual support and this closeness infuriated him.
After a particularly vicious fight he discovered Mom and I holding
each other and crying together over the pain he had caused. He called
us names I couldn't understand and stormed out of the house. The next
day Mom went to see a lawyer.

After the divorce Mom had a tough struggle to make ends meet
financially but with two jobs and hard work she kept the mortgage
payment up and put food on the table. Dad was sporadic with his child
support so there were times when beans and pasta were the main entrees
on our menu.

I did what I could to make Mom's life a little easier. I became a fair
housekeeper and basic cook. I took pride in laundry that didn't have
"ring around the collar." That first year I was the chief cook and
bottle washer around the house while Mom put in sixteen hour days
Monday through Fridays and worked eight to ten hours on Saturdays just
to make ends meet.

Sunday was our day together. We spent the morning cleaning the house
to Mom's expectations and then went grocery shopping. After lunch we
would just lounge around and rest. This was the time when we discussed
whatever was on our minds and no subject was taboo; whatever affected
our lives we openly discussed. Strange, I had no trouble talking to
Mom but couldn't carry on a conversation with a teenage girl.

Mom had always been physically affectionate with me; showering me with
hugs and kisses since I could remember but when she and Dad began to
have problems I became the outlet for all her affection. She liked to
be surprised with a spontaneous hug from me when her back was turned.
I would sneak up behind her and put my arms around her in a bear hug
and laugh at her mock protests and struggles to get away from me. As I
released her she would give me a kiss and I could see a happy sparkle
in her eyes.

Sunday evenings were usually spent watching TV with a rare evening out
to the movies with a stop for burgers. We shared a passion for big
sloppy cheeseburgers. When we ate at a fast food restaurant we would
tease each other about having mustard on our faces and wipe the
other's face with a napkin. In the movies, we often held hands
communicating with little squeezes. If we spent the evening at home we
would sit on the sofa and I would put an affectionate arm around Mom
and she would sit snuggled up beside me resting her head on my
shoulder. Sometimes I would lay down and put my head in her lap and
she would toy with my hair as we watched TV. We both loved these
moments of intimacy and there had never been any sexual overtones. We
enjoyed physical affection and I knew I was her surrogate for a
husband in every respect but one.

Mom began to get promotions on her day job and as she moved up and her
salary increased she quit the extra job to spend more time at home
with me. The pattern that had developed earlier continued with the
rough and ready hugs and evenings spent together watching TV or
reading. I would have thought it unusual if Mom sat down at the
opposite end of the sofa instead of flopping down beside me and giving
me a playful hug.

Our affection for each other remained unchanged with one exception.
Last winter I gave Mom one of my bear hugs from behind and as I held
her close I began to get sexually excited. She noticed my condition
and gave me a playful little bump with her behind as she spun away
from me and said, "I can see you old Mom still has it; I'm going to
have to wear a chastity belt around you from now on." She was laughing
at my obvious embarrassment. "Don't be embarrassed Paul I consider
that a compliment.", she said and gave me a quick kiss.

The same thing happened every time I hugged her from behind. She never
got upset; she simply accepted it and I began to hold her longer and
longer enjoying the erotic feelings of her soft bottom pressed
intimately against me. She often joked about her need of a chastity
belt and would usually give me a playful little bump with her bottom
as she moved away. 

One morning after a shower I came into the kitchen wearing only my
pajama bottoms with no jockey shorts and walked up behind her and gave
her a hug. As predictable as sunrise I got an immediate erection. When
Mom moved for some reason or the other my penis slipped between her
legs and pressed upwards against the softness of her crotch. For just
and instant she squeezed my erection between her thighs and sagged
into me. In the few seconds we stood like this I was transported to a
new erotic heaven but she quickly recovered and moved away from me. I
noticed that she was breathing heavily and her face was flushed.

"Paul, I think we had better stop this before it gets out of hand.
You're getting too big to hug your Mom that way. OK?"

"I guess you're right Mom; I'm sorry it was an accident.",  I replied.

"I know it was; let's just forget it."

After that morning there was subtle change in our relationship; Mom
was a little distant and wary and I always made sure when I hugged her
to keep a little space between us. Not touching her, I discovered, was
more erotic than touching.

School was out and I finished my freshman year with honors. Mom was
proud of my hard work and as a reward promised to take me on a
vacation later in the summer. We had spent every summer at home for
the past few years and the thought of a vacation was an exciting
prospect.

Mom's brother and his wife owned a cabin beside a mountain lake and
invited us to spend a couple of weeks with them. That fitted in with
our vacation plans and after a short consultation Mom accepted. Free
room and board on vacation was an offer too good to pass up.

Uncle Ben and Aunt Pat were usually a straight-laced couple but alone
in the mountains they were two different people. The first time I
called Uncle Ben "Uncle" he let me know that I was old enough to call
him Ben and Aunt Pat, Pat. My experience with Dad had left me a little
wary of adult males but Ben's open and friendly manner soon put me at
ease. He laughed and joked easily about everyone and everything.

Pat and Ben showed us the cabin on the way to our room and explained
as they led us to a bedroom on one side of the cabin. It was laid out
railroad style with three rooms laid out in a row. There were two
bedrooms on either side of a large common room that served as a
kitchen, dining, and living room combination. There was a single
bathroom off the common room. The cabin was so remote there were no
utilities. A diesel generator provided electricity. Water was piped
down from a spring high on the side of the mountain and gravity
provided enough pressure for the taps and shower. The water heater,
space heater, clothes dryer, and cooking stove used propane from a
large tank behind the cabin. The cabin had all the comforts except
telephone and TV. The only way to find out about the outside world was
an old AM portable radio. A huge fireplace dominated one side of the
main room. This was a place to rusticate in comfort without the
outside intrusions.

Mom and I would share a bedroom with a large double bed. I had never
in memory slept with anyone and now I was going to share a bed with
Mom. Secretly I welcomed my bedmate and an erotic fantasy or two
flitted across my mind.

After depositing our bags in the bedroom we joined Ben and Pat for a
walking tour of the area. There were mostly woods and mountains behind
the cabin and there was a dock with two canoes in front by the lake.
Ben assured me that the swimming and fishing were great. He asked if I
would like to learn how to fly cast and how to use a canoe. Not having
a father around had left me deficient in the male oriented activities
so I readily agreed. I would have agreed to anything except
basketball.

After the tour the sun was low in the sky so we want back to the
cabin. The women prepared dinner while Ben and I talked on the porch.
He told me about rods, flies, and the art of casting. I had never seen
Ben as voluble this and I listened to his words in rapt attention. I
felt like an adult in his presence despite my fourteen years.

Later, after dinner, we all sat on the porch and the adults caught up
on the family history; who did what to whom. I grew sleepy and excused
myself. Bed seemed more inviting than boring talk about old times. I
fell asleep as soon as my head found the pillow.

When Mom came in our room she tried to get ready for bed in the dark
without awakening me but as she was undressing she accidentally
tripped over something and made enough noise to interrupt my sleep.
"Mom is that you?", I asked.

"Yes, I was trying to be quiet and let you sleep. I guess I failed at
that.", she laughed.

Her laugh sounded a little too loud and lasted a moment too long. She
seemed to be a little tipsy. "You OK Mom?", I asked.

"Yeah, I guess so. Your old mother has had a beer or two more than she
should have. Do you have the bed warm? Its cold up here at night."

With that she slid in bed beside me and put her cold feet against my
bare legs. Reflexively I pulled away from her icy feet only to have
her find my warm legs and put her feet on me again. We played a little
game of dodge the cold feet amid our giggles and laughter. She
snuggled her chilled body next to me to get warm and I hugged her
close, spoon fashion, letting my body warm her back. That presented a
problem, the same problem we had earlier and without fail my erection
pressed against Mom's bottom. She didn't move away so I lay quietly
enjoying the intimate contact.

After a few moments Mom said, "Roll over and let me warm my other
side."  When I did she snuggled up to my back. When she got
comfortable she said, "I guess I am going to have to get my chastity
belt out again and wear it to bed.", with a little laugh.

"I can't help it Mom.", I apologized.

"I know that, forget it and go back to sleep.", she said as she gave
me a playful hug.

I could feel her soft breasts pressed against my back and her soft
tummy against my butt. That hardly gave me an incentive to sleep.
After a few minutes her side of the bed warmed up and she turned her
back to me and was soon lightly snoring. I lay awake for a while
thinking of the softness that had been pressed against my back. 

Eventually I dropped off and slept soundly until Ben knocked on our
door and said, "Time to get up and catch some fish."

"We're awake.", Mom answered and got out of bed and looked for her
robe. I was lying on my back and the blanket was tented over my
middle, my usual erect state when I first woke up. Mom noticed and
said, "I was right about that chastity belt." With a chuckle she left
for the bathroom.

Breakfast was a cooperative affair and afterward Ben gave me my first
fly fishing lesson. I managed to tangle my line in every tree and bush
within reach. After a lot of practice I managed to lay my line out
reasonably straight most times. Where it went was another matter.
Satisfied that I could at least cast without catching a "tree fish"
Ben led me to a little place about a quarter of a mile from the cabin
and we began to fish in earnest. Ben caught a nice string of trout and
I managed to hook a couple that got away.

We had fresh trout for lunch and afterward Ben and I went out on the
lake canoeing. I learned the basics quickly and when we returned to
the dock Ben let me go out solo. Mom and Pat came down to the dock and
watched as I paddled around while Ben shouted instructions from the
shore. When I paddled back to the dock I could see the pride written
all over Mom's face. It felt good when I did something that pleased
her.

Ben suggested a swim and we went back to the cabin and put on bathing
suits. The water was deep enough to dive off the dock and the bottom
was sandy with no rocks or stumps to stub a toe. We swam for a while
and Ben gave me lessons on how to right an overturned canoe and get
back aboard from the water. Satisfied that I was reasonably competent
he told me that I could go out alone whenever I wanted and suggested
that I take Mom for a ride. I happily paddled around with Mom in the
front watching me show off my new skills. Looking at her in a wet
bathing suit gave me a new perspective; she was a very pretty woman. 

That night after dinner we sat on the porch again just talking. Mom
and I sat on an old wicker love seat across from Ben and Pat. The moon
cast a long silvery trail across the lake and we could hear crickets
chirp around the cabin. Occasionally a bullfrog would let out a basso
profundo GRRRRUMMPPP from somewhere on the lake. 

I had thought I would miss my friends at home but everything about the
mountains, the cabin, and the lake was so new and fresh I hardly had
time to think about them. My uncle and aunt's matter of fact attitude
included me in their circle and I had warmed to them immediately.
Trying to merit their approval, I listened a lot and answered
carefully when I was asked a direct question.

"Evelyn have you thought about dating again? It's been two years or
more since your divorce.", Aunt Pat asked.

Mom was silent for a moment or two before she replied, "I've been so
busy up until the last few months just trying to make ends meet I
haven't had time to think about dating."

"Perhaps you should. You are still young and attractive.", Pat
observed.

"Most of the men I meet are either married or aren't interested in
playing the long game with a divorcee who has a teenage son. I think
I'll pass for now."

"Maybe Ben knows someone that might interest you."

"Pat please don't start trying to be a matchmaker for me. Right now
I'm content with my life just as it is and Paul provides all the male
companionship I need.", Mom said with a finality that surprised me. To
accentuate her point she gave me a powerful hug and held me close
beside her. 

There was a long silence as everyone took the time to take a sip of
their drink and collect their thoughts. I could barely make out Pat's
face in the moonlight but she seemed to be embarrassed by the turn of
the conversation. Ben swirled the drink in his glass making tinkling
sounds with the ice cubes as he looked out over the lake. Mom shifted
her position and moved even closer to me as if to reassure herself
that I was still there. I was puffed up and proud of my mother's
attachment and loyalty.

After a few minutes Mom said as an apology, "Pat, I'm sorry. I didn't
mean to be so short with you. It's just after what I've been through
with the divorce and the events that led up to it that I'm not ready
to consider a relationship right now. Paul needs my undivided
attention for a while longer. Perhaps in a few years I'll consider
someone but Paul and I just cast an ogre out of our lives and I won't
take a chance of bringing another one back. It wouldn't be fair to
Paul."

"It's OK Evelyn. I shouldn't try to make other people's lives fit my
views.", Pat said.

"Sis, I'm sure that Paul is a good companion but there are other
considerations.", Ben said with a chuckle.

"I can do without those 'other considerations' if they include a bossy
male trying to run my life.", Mom replied and everyone laughed. 

The conversation had gone over my head but the tension had dissipated
and everyone resumed discussing the ordinary events of the day.

As the others talked I thought about what had just been said. Mom
still held me close with an arm around my shoulders. My subconscious
mind must have been working on the meaning of 'other considerations'.
Like a light coming on in a dark room I understood that Ben had been
talking about Mom's lack of a sexual partner. I could feel her soft
warm body beside me and unbidden, other thoughts came into my mind. I
drifted into a reverie complemented by the physical sensations of
Mom's nearness. Before I knew what was happening I was aroused beyond
belief. 

My sense of touch became heightened and I explored the sensations with
my mind. Her firm thigh against mine and her soft breast pressed
against my shoulder became the center of my attention. I could feel my
heart beat faster and I couldn't seem to get enough air. I had to get
away from Mom or go crazy. I hastily excused myself and went to bed.

I lay in bed with sleep the last thing on my mind. My thoughts raged
around and around in circles. This was my Mom and I loved my mother.
She had worked so hard to keep us independent and make a life for us.
After all her sacrifices to make a home for me, I desired her
physically. What was wrong with me? Was I perverted or was this just a
stage everyone went through as they grew up? Would these feelings
pass?

One thing was certain, Mom was the focus of my sexual fantasies.
Visions of Mom and me locked together in an embrace of love chased
through my mind and, try as I might; I couldn't drive them out. I fell
asleep and dreamed erotic dreams about my mother.

I awakened when Mom came to bed and slid between the sheets. The cold
night air had chilled her and she slid up next to me as she had the
night before. I put my arms around her and hugged her back close to my
chest to get her warm. Again I became aroused but Mom said nothing and
didn't move away until she warmed up. When she began to turn over I
rolled on my back and she put her head on my shoulder and snuggled up
against my side to get warm. After a moment or two I could feel her
shaking and felt her tears wet my tee shirt.

"What's the matter Mom?"

When she stopped crying she said, "I was just remembering how bad it
was when your Dad still lived with us. The conversation tonight
dredged up all the old memories. I'm happy now with just the two of
us. Are you happy?"

"Yes, I don't miss Dad at all. When I think of him all I can remember
is he was always yelling at you."

"Do you want someone around to be a father for you?"

"No, I'm happy just as we are, do you need someone to be a husband?"

"Not at the moment, I have you to love and give me the affection I
need. Give your old Mom a kiss. It's been a long time since you kissed
me goodnight."

I turned to kiss her on the cheek and was surprised to find warm soft
lips pressed against mine. I returned her kiss and after a few
breathless seconds we broke apart and I returned my head to the
pillow. We fell asleep with Mom cuddled up beside me with her head on
my shoulder.

I woke up early and hurried through the cold cabin to the bathroom. I
hurried back to bed and slid between the warm sheets. I snuggled up to
Mom's back to get warm. She moved to allow us to lie together like two
spoons in a stack.

"Is it cold?", she asked.

"I almost froze my butt off."

"I have to go bad, will you warm me up when I get back?"

"It'll be my pleasure.", I replied.

Mom jumped out of bed and hurried away. After a few moments she was
back and resumed our spoon position. "You're lucky, you don't have to
sit down. My butt is like an icicle.", Mom remarked.

"I'll get it warm." I pressed as close to her as I could with the
usual result.

"Damn, I forgot to put on my chastity belt.", Mom said with
mischievous giggle.

"He has a mind of his own Mom."

"I know and it he has certainly thawed my frozen butt.", she said as
she wiggled to get closer.

My whole attention was focused on my erection pressing into the
softness of Mom's behind. She was acting strangely different since we
came here. She hadn't acted or talked like my mother since we had left
the city and at this moment I didn't feel much like a son. The
wariness that had been between us after that morning months ago in the
kitchen was gone and her actions seemed to invite more intimacy. I
shifted my hips a little to find a more comfortable position and my
erection slipped down pressing into the soft mound between her legs. I
could feel soft yielding flesh through her nightgown and panties. It
was so soft and warm I couldn't stop myself from pressing deeper
between her legs. She didn't move away and we both lay there very
quiet and very still.

I had never been this aroused before and when she shifted a little to
find a more comfortable position the slight movement sent me into the
throes of an orgasm. I couldn't help myself. I pulled her close and
crushed my groin against her bottom as wave after wave of spasms swept
over me. My semen splashed into my shorts and soaked through her
nightgown and panties. 

When it was over I didn't know what to do or say. I was scared that
she would be upset with me, I was afraid to move and afraid not to
move. Finally I rolled over on my back away from her and said, "Oh God
Mom, I'm so sorry but I couldn't help it. It just happened."  She
didn't say anything for a long time and my fear and embarrassment grew
with every passing second. What had I done? How would I ever make
things right with my mother again?

Mom turned to face me and gave me a warm kiss. When she broke away she
said, "Paul don't be embarrassed. I was teasing you and it was
inevitable for this to happen. If anyone should be sorry they're not
in this room. Give your old Mom a good morning kiss and let's just
keep this our little secret. OK?" 

We kissed again full on the lips and when we came up for air I said,
"I love you Mom."

"I love you too.", she said and I could see tears well up in her eyes.
A knock on the door interrupted us as Ben called us for breakfast. Mom
gave me a fierce kiss before she jumped out of bed and began dressing.
As she left the bedroom she turned and said, "Paul I really meant it
when I said I didn't want a husband."

There was an old fashioned washstand in our room behind a privacy
screen. On it were a pitcher of water, a soap dish, and a wash basin.
Along the sides were hung towels and washcloths. I got out of bed and
removed my shorts. I walked over to the washstand to clean up before
getting dressed. Mom had left the washcloth she had used lying on the
marble top and I picked it up to hang it on the rod to dry. Mom always
leaves her washcloth lying where she used it, she is a very neat
person usually, and this little idiosyncrasy was one of her few
exceptions. I could smell a faint odor of soap and something else. 

I put the washcloth close to my nose and carefully smelled it. Mingled
with the fragrance of the soap was another smell that was very
exciting. I knew the slightly marine odor was the smell of Mom's sex.
I was becoming aroused again and thought of the earlier events. I
could imagine the softness of her sex pressing against my erection.
Guiltily I felt as if I was violating Mom's privacy so I put the
washcloth away, quickly washed up, and got dressed.

I picked up yesterday's clothes and my soiled shorts to put them in
the hamper. As I dropped my clothes I saw Mom's panties lying on top
of the other things. The crotch was still wet with my semen.
Remembering the smell of the washcloth I picked them up and Mom's
smell pervaded my senses. As I examined her panties it was apparent
that there was more than my semen in the damp stain. She had been
excited also! Son or not; my presence next to her in bed excited her
just as she excited me. I remembered her parting remark and it took on
new meaning. Was Mom trying to seduce me? I certainly hoped so!

"Breakfast is on the table.", Ben called out interrupting my train of
thought. I replaced the panties in the hamper and hurried into the
main room. I had some heavy thinking to do later.

After morning greetings everyone sat down to breakfast. Conversation
drifted back and forth about subjects that ranged from distant
relatives to current events. I studied mother across the table and
realized I was looking at her with a new perspective. Before she had
been just Mom and I hadn't paid much attention to how she looked, she
looked like any mother. Now I noticed the curve of her breasts through
the loose tee shirt, her pretty sparkling eyes, and her strong
attractive face. When she caught my eye and gave me a dazzling smile I
was no longer the obedient son, I became a serious suitor for all she
could offer a man. In the past hour I had become Oedipus. . . .

. . . . Ben's conversation intruded on my thoughts. "I was just
thinking, I need to go to town and take care of some business and Pat
needs to do some shopping also. You could come with us and stay at our
house or would you two rather stay up here alone for a couple of
days?", Ben asked.

"I just left the city and I like it here. What would you like to do
Paul?", Mom asked.

"Let's stay here, I'd like to explore the lake.", I replied.

"That's settled then.", Mom said.

"There's a nice little meadow up the lake on the other side that is a
wonderful place to have a picnic. It has a beautiful waterfall and a
grassy area with a nice view of the lake.", Pat volunteered. "If you
like, Evelyn, I'll help you pack a lunch and you can explore with
Paul."

"What do you think Paul, want your old Mom along on your expedition?",
Mom asked.

"Every expedition to far and dangerous places has to have a pretty
lady along for the hero to rescue.", I said joking.

"Evelyn, you have raised a gallant young gentleman, he is going to
break some young girls heart pretty soon.", Pat said into the
laughter. "Too bad I'm not a few years younger."

"Are you trying to steal my wife Paul?", Ben said with a merry twinkle
in his eyes.

"I just want to explore the lake.", I answered in confusion. I was at
a loss for an intelligent reply to a conversation that had grown a
little risqué.

"Good for you. Don't let the girls turn your head and tie you up in
knots."

Pat and Mom began to clean up after breakfast and Ben took me outside
to show me how to operate the generator. He explained how everything
worked and showed me how to start it and shut it down. I would have to
run it for an hour in the morning and again in the evening to keep the
refrigerator and freezer cold or anytime we needed to run an
electrical appliance. Ben explained the cabin's auxiliary lights
powered by a large battery for lighting when the generator wasn't
running. The generator would keep it charged so we wouldn't be in the
dark at night. After a few instructions on the propane tank and water
heater Ben was satisfied I could take care of the place. 

When we went back inside the common room was tidied up from breakfast
and two ice chests sat on the table. A bundle wrapped in a plastic
tarp contained a blanket and ground cloth for Mom and I to sit on when
we had lunch. A pair of binoculars in a waterproof case rounded out
our equipment. Ben helped me load the biggest canoe and showed me how
to stow and secure the gear to balance the canoe and keep it from
falling out if we capsized. We climbed aboard; Pat and Ben waved
goodbye as we paddled away.

The canoe was much heavier with two people and all our gear aboard.
Mom kneeled in the front and paddled while I paddled and steered from
the stern. We were rough and ragged at first but after a while got it
together and began to stroke in coordination driving the canoe through
the water like an arrow. When I developed enough coordination,
paddling became a reflex and I could pay more attention to my
surroundings. The view from the middle of the lake was like a picture
postcard. The mountains towered more than a thousand feet above the
lake and had snow on the upper reaches. Trees grew everywhere around
the lake and thinned to bare rock about half way up the mountains. The
sky was a deep blue at this altitude and a few puffy white clouds
drifted above as accents to the blueness of the sky.

"Are you OK Mom?", I asked concerned that she might be tiring.

"I'm fine, I'm just enjoying the scenery. This place is beautiful
isn't it?"

"This must have been what it looked like before they built cities and
roads all over.", I replied.

We paddled on across the lake in silence. I watched Mom from behind
and was again amazed by what a beautiful woman she was. My new eyes
noticed details I had never seen before. While not broad shouldered or
blocky she looked strong and I could see the muscles flex in her back
under her tee shirt as she paddled stroke after stroke. She kept her
dark brown hair short and it had little reddish highlights where the
sun shown through it. She had a narrow waist and her bottom filled out
her jeans nicely.

Thinking back to this morning in bed I wondered how she felt about
what happened. I knew she was aroused and she had perhaps let things
go too far. It had been at least two years since she had slept with my
father and I was reasonably sure she hadn't had many opportunities to
have sex since the divorce. That was the reason she had become
aroused. Poor Mom, she had given up so much to make a comfortable life
for me. I thought I knew how much she loved me but I was getting a new
insight on a mother's love. I knew I loved her without reservation.

Uncle Ben's words had awakened something in Mom that had been asleep
for a long time. She had said it was bad memories of her marriage but
as I examined her words in the bright light of day I didn't think she
was entirely frank with me. She had cuddled up next to me and slept
beside me like a lover. Her goodnight kiss was lingering and full on
the lips not a quick smack on the cheek as usual. This morning she had
kissed me several times and, on reflection, she had kissed me with
passion like a lover. Were the tears I saw welling up in her eyes
tears of guilt for wanting me as a lover? Events could add up to that
and her parting remark this morning had suggested the same.

How did I feel about this and what was I going to do? There was only
one answer to that, whatever Mom wanted so did I. She had mentioned
last night that she didn't want to chance bringing an ogre into our
lives. She was a normal healthy woman and needed physical love as much
as the next. If she wanted me to be that lover then so be it. Who
would it hurt? No one outside ourselves would be affected and if we
loved each other how could we be hurt? To be perfectly honest I
desired my mother and on reflection I had desired her for a long time.
Hadn't our little hugging game had sexual overtones such as Mom joking
about a chastity belt? I would follow her lead and do whatever she
asked.

"Look Paul, there's a waterfall off to the left. Do you see it?", Mom
asked interrupting my thoughts.

I looked the direction she was pointing and there was a small
waterfall plunging off the top of a low cliff and disappearing behind
some trees. "I see it, we'll be there in about a half-hour at this
rate.", I answered.

We steered directly for the waterfall and were soon grounded on a
pebbly beach beside the little stream that flowed into the lake. Mom
got out and shook the kinks out of her legs while I pulled the canoe
out of the water. It took us a few minutes to loosen up our cramped
leg muscles and when we finally got them working we began to explore
the little stream up to the waterfall.

Mom was in a light and bubbly mood. The usual serious, lets stick to
business, Mom was gone. She seemed as full of fun and mischief as a
young girl. We laughed, we joked, and we teased each other as we
explored the area around the waterfall. 

I was seeing a side of my mother that she had rarely shown in the
past. I was given a glimpse of the little girl that remained part of
her and I was discovering that she was a more complex person than I
had imagined. She had been a tough street fighter when battling with
my Dad, a shrewd calculating businesswoman at work, and a devoted
mother on my behalf. Now she was frivolous, she was air headed, she
was a clown, and God, was she fun to be with today. I was falling in
love with my mother all over again.

We spent the day enjoying the natural beauty of our surroundings and
discovering new quirks in the other's personality. Together in a place
where the only intrusion of civilization was us, we seemed to be
reduced to our elemental character. An Adam and Eve mood settled over
us as we explored and examined nature expressing itself in rampant
freedom before our city bred eyes. The delicate color of a wildflower,
the complexity of a pinecone, or the fluid movement of a squirrel in
the trees all were equally miraculous to us.

Outside events distracted us while unconsciously something fermented
just below awareness. Mom wore no makeup today and I noticed her full
pink lips and wanted to kiss them. Her breasts were only a promise
under the oversize tee shirt and I wanted to touch them. The line of
her tummy curved down between her thighs and the tight jeans only made
the sight more appealing. I wanted to explore the mystery hidden
there. I visualized this woman as a multifaceted jewel. One facet was
my mother, another the person the rest of the world saw, and still
another facet, as yet unpolished, that might be my lover. If she only
knew how much I wanted a new love to blossom between us.

Once I caught her looking at me with a strange light in her eyes. When
she noticed I had seen her studying me she quickly looked away and her
face flushed in embarrassment. What had she been thinking? I thought I
knew but I had no idea how to let her know I was thinking the same
thing. We were two islands isolated by convention and I didn't have
the experience to bridge the gulf between us. I sensed that Mom;
older, wiser, and with conventions so much more ingrained; wanted to
reach out to me but couldn't.

The sun had sunk low in the sky and it was time to cross the lake. I
could see the relief on Mom's face when I suggested that we go back to
the cabin. The last hour or so an air of tension had risen between us
about things unspoken and it evaporated as we busied ourselves with
loading the canoe. 

Paddling back across the lake, we discovered that muscles unused to
this activity had grown stiff and sore. We bitched, joked, and
complained to each other as we worked out the stiffness and warmed to
the task of paddling. The sun sank behind the mountains and a light
breeze cooled us as we dug in harder with our paddles to move faster.
Neither of us wanted to be out on the lake in pitch darkness before
the moon came up.

After a stint of determined paddling we arrived at twilight. I helped
Mom carry things back to the cabin and then went out back to start the
generator. When I came inside Mom was taking a shower so I sat on the
porch and watched the moon come up and bathe the mountains in a wash
of silver light. When Mom finished I showered while she put together a
cold snack for dinner.

We ate inside and talked of inconsequential things. I got the feeling
that she was circling around the subject that remained unspoken
between us. When we finished dinner I helped Mom with the dishes and
we straightened up the dining area. With order restored to the cabin
we went out on the porch and sat in the love seat enjoying the moonlit
lake and mountains.

After a few silent moments Mom broke the silence, "Paul, thanks for a
wonderful day. It has been a long time since I have been able to
completely relax and enjoy myself."

"I had a good time too. I have never seen you like this . . . You are
a fun person to be with."

"So are you.", she replied and put an arm around me and gave me a
quick hug. I moved closer to find a more comfortable position. Our
positions were a little awkward so I put an arm around Mom and she
snuggled close beside me and put her head on my shoulder.

Words seemed out of place so we sat silently as we gazed out over the
lake. I could feel Mom's hair, still damp from the shower, tickle my
cheek. I was content; I had Mom, warm and soft, sitting beside me. It
was a perfect moment, how could everything not be right? I gave her a
little affectionate hug and felt her settle in closer. Time seemed
suspended and our future balanced at this pivotal moment. A tiny push
would move us on a new path. What direction would that path take? I
almost held my breath, afraid that the act of breathing might spoil
the delicate equilibrium.

She looked up at me as I sat staring out over the lake. I could sense
her gaze as she studied my features. When I looked down at her in the
dimness of the reflected moonlight I could only make out her eyes and
lips in the pale oval of her face. Her eyes were like magnets drawing
me closer and closer until our lips met. Emotions overpowered me and I
put both arms around her, crushed her to my chest, and bore down on
her lips with a kiss filled with my desire. She hesitated for only a
second and answered my kiss with a fire that burned hotter with each
passing second. All our inhibitions were lost within that kiss.

One moment we were kissing on the porch and the next we were lying
naked in bed with no conscious transition from one place to the other.
We were locked together in an embrace and our lips were fused in a
never-ending kiss. Desire raged within me hot and fierce. I was
traveling a path I had never taken before and was unsure of my way.

The hot softness of her sex pressed against my throbbing erection
excited me beyond reason and reflexively I began to thrust and probe
as she responded with movements of her own. Our breathing was deep and
ragged like a pair of demented steam engines as our tongues dueled and
probed in a kiss of pure passion. I slid a hand down her back until I
cupped one firm cheek in my palm and crushed our bodies even closer
together. I was beyond control; totally lost in the ecstasy of passion
gone wild.

I buried my face against her soft breasts and kissed her nipples. I
was consumed with desire and too inexperienced for the niceties.
Overwhelmed with passion I rolled on top and she guided my erect
member between the lips of her secret place. In a few hurried strokes
I entered her and the slippery warmth of her inner flesh carried me
away on an orgasm that seemed to go on forever. This was my first
experience and it was over so fast that I couldn't separate one
sensation from another. All I could do was lay on top of her and
marvel at the warmth I felt deep inside her body. For long moments I
lay atop her and held her close. I was drifting in a sleepy reverie
filled with the contentment of sexual fulfillment when something
intruded into paradise.

What was wrong! Her body had gone rigid in my arms and she was trying
to push me off. "Oh God, please Paul get off! What have I done? We
can't do this, please get off!", she kept saying over and over as she
struggled to get out from under me.

My warm fuzzy world died in a second, replaced by fear and shock, and
I rolled over on my back wondering why she had suddenly changed from a
loving partner to whatever she was now.

"What's wrong Mom?", I asked

"What's wrong? We've just committed incest, that's what's wrong! How
did I let things get so far out of control?"

Totally confused by her sudden change in attitude I hardly knew what
to say so I grabbed at the first coherent thought that surfaced, "Mom,
I thought you wanted to?"

There was a long silence before she answered my question. When she
began to speak again her voice was very controlled and her words came
out one by one as if she was carefully considering each syllable,
"Paul, a moment ago we allowed our passion to overcome our judgment.
You and I have been playing a dangerous game. I should have put a stop
to it when you became aroused that first night but I didn't. I didn't
want to embarrass you by making a big deal out of it. Allowing the
same thing to happen the next night and not stopping it because I
enjoyed it was wrong. I am your mother and I shouldn't have allowed
myself to play with our emotions."

Mom paused for a moment to think and my mind raced for something to
say to stop this train of thought. I had just experienced the most
wonderful thing that had ever happened to me and I didn't want it
snatched away. Just to make noise and interrupt her thinking I asked,
"Mom, you did say you enjoyed what we had been doing up to now didn't
you?"

"That's not a fair question for what we did was wrong."

I remembered a debate in school the past semester where we had argued
the right and wrong of some people's beliefs. If it some people
believed an act was right and others believed it wrong was it right or
wrong? The consensus was the act was either right or wrong depending
on the individual's personal beliefs and the same act for another
person could have the opposite meaning that was just as valid. Neither
individual had the right to judge the other. I now had a very personal
and practical application for that debate.

"Why was it wrong? We both wanted and enjoyed it."

"Didn't you learn anything in church? Incest is morally wrong."

"Mom, a boy and girl I know can't go to dances because their church
forbids dancing because it is immoral. You and I both enjoy dancing
and our church doesn't forbid it. Haven't you always taught me that
just because everyone says something it isn't necessarily right?"

"Paul are you trying to justify incest?"

"Who was Cain's wife Mom?"

"Damned if I know?", she said and after a few moments of silence began
laughing. "No one has a logical answer for that one in biblical
context."

"I don't have a logical answer for why I love you like this either but
I do and I can't deny it."  I turned on my side and hugged Mom close;
she was unresponsive but didn't resist. "Mom, I love you just as
deeply now as I did yesterday or a week ago. . . . The only thing that
has changed is how I love you; I love all of you now."  When I kissed
her she returned my kiss with a tenderness that gave me hope she was
beginning to accept our new relationship.

"Paul, I feel much like you but there are two little voices in my head
screaming for my attention. One says this is wrong and shouldn't
happen. It doesn't give any reasons it just keeps reminding me that
this is wrong. The other voice tells me that my love for you is
beautiful and good. It points out how much you love me and how much I
want you. I guess the voices are simply the opposing sides of my mind
trying to find a rational answer to my dilemma."

"What little I have been taught in the past says this is wrong but I
have never examined these beliefs before. Now I have to examine them
and, to add to the difficulty, it's after I've made love with you. . .
. Paul, how can you be my lover and still be my son?"

Where did she get that question? My whole line of logic crumbled as I
searched for an answer. If I ever had to debate with Mom around I
hoped she was on my team. "I think you want to know if we can be
mother and son just as we were before. I can answer yes to that. All
my life I have defered to your judgment and I will always do that. You
have let me make my own decisions within your rules and when I've made
a mistake you've corrected me. I don't see how that could change other
than the changes that come with growing up."

"Can I be your lover? I don't know. Until tonight I had no experience
at that and I can't answer that part of your question. I guess the
only truthful thing I can say is I want to learn to be your lover."

"Paul kiss me goodnight and lets sleep on this. Perhaps by tomorrow
morning we'll have some answers to all the questions that are in our
minds."

"Mom, I'll feel the same in the morning and I don't have any
unanswered questions except what are you going to do?"

"I don't know but perhaps I'll have an answer in the morning. Maybe
one of the voices will be silent when I wake up. Now kiss me good
night and let's get some sleep."

After kissing Mom goodnight I lay awake for a few minutes thinking. I
was reasonably sure that everything would be all right. Mom either
said no and that was the end of it or she said maybe now and later
said yes. If she remained true to pattern she would accept our new
situation. I fell asleep thinking about my first lover.

I woke up before sunrise and went to the bathroom in the gray light of
dawn. Mom was sleeping and I was careful not to wake her. I gently
crawled in bed and went back to sleep.

The next time I woke up the sun had come up and spilled golden light
through the window. To my surprise Mom had been quietly watching me as
I slept. I started to say something but she smiled and put a finger to
her lips asking me to keep silent. Next she put her arms around me and
gave me a warm tender kiss. I was confused at first but in seconds I
instinctively responded and hugged her close. A smile lit up her face
and sparkled in her eyes.

We lay in bed on our sides facing each other and she molded her body
to mine. I pulled her close and gave her a long kiss. Desire overcame
me and like last night I climbed on top only to reach an orgasm in
seconds. She gave me a warm kiss and held me close as I lay still in
contentment.

 "Do you still love me,", she asked.

"I love you Mom."

" And I love you too. . . . Do you think you could get off and let me
on top? You're heavy.", she said with a smile.

Reluctantly I climbed off and lay beside her. She sat up and got on
her knees astride me giving me my first view of her sex still wet with
my semen. She had an almost perfect triangle of pubic hair that
surrounded the full outer lips and another pair of pink lips, slick
and shiny, peeked out between the outer lips. What surprised me was
her clitoris. It was the size of the first joint of my little finger
and extended outside the outer lips. It looked like a little pink
penis. I had seen pictures of naked women before and I had studied an
anatomy book but I had never seen anything like that. 

As Mom positioned herself over me and took my wet slippery penis in
her hand, I remembered how good it had felt before and I became fully
erect. My penis throbbed with every heartbeat as she slowly lowered
her body down enveloping my throbbing erection in the incredible
warmth deep inside her sex. I rotated my hips to push as deep as I
could inside her. In this position I could touch the very bottom of
her vagina and I could feel a hard bump rub against the head of my
penis. This was as good as it got. 

Mom took both my hands and placed them on her breasts. As I cupped her
breasts she began to move back and forth grinding our pelvises
together. With each stroke I could feel the bump in the bottom of her
sex rub back and forth across the head of my penis sending wonderful
sensations all the way to my groin. Faster and faster she moved
driving me on toward my orgasm. After the last time I had a little
more control and I approached my orgasm slowly. As the violence of her
movements increased she was so wet that each stroke made slippery
sounds that echoed around the room. I could feel little contractions
begin to ripple through the walls of her vagina and Mom's face screwed
up in a tight mask as if she was in pain. Her strokes were so rapid I
could hold back no longer and I felt my semen spurt deep inside her to
pool wet and warm around the head of my penis. Each time I had a
contraction she answered me with a contraction of her own until she
had one so strong it felt as if I had been gripped by a strong hand.
Mom screamed, "OOOHHHHH YESSSSSSSSSSS!", and collapsed on my chest.

She showered kisses all over my face and kept saying, "OMIGOD that was
so good Paul, it was so good!", punctuated with more kisses. Finally
she calmed down and lay her head on the pillow beside mine. We just
lay there in each other's arms and I never wanted to move. I had just
had the most incredible orgasm of my life and I could still feel
little contractions shudder through Mom's body. Every now and then I
would have a little twitch that would trigger a whole series in her.
We lay still for a long time not moving or wanting to move. A
particularly strong contraction spit my limp penis out in the cold.

Mom laughed, "Now that she's had her fun she doesn't want to have
anything to do with him, does she?"

"He's too weak to protest or put up a fight.", I replied. 

Laughing Mom rolled off and lay beside me. Words were not necessary,
after all the talk of last night I knew which little voice had won out
and discussion was the last thing I wanted right now. We kissed again
and again, I couldn't get enough of her kisses, and I couldn't bear to
be separated from her by as much as an inch. I found her soft breasts
and began to fondle them and kiss the nipples. As I explored her
breasts with my lips she guided my hand to her sex and I slipped a
finger inside. I explored the depths of her vagina all the way to the
bump in the very bottom. The walls were so soft and slippery to the
touch. This was the place that gave me so much pleasure. Mom took my
hand and guided my fingers to her clitoris. She showed me how to
massage it with gentle strokes. When she was satisfied I had learned
to manipulate it properly she took hold of my penis and began to play
with it. It wasn't long until we were both being carried away by
passion.

She rolled away from me on her back and spread her legs. I got on my
knees between her legs and lowered myself over her as she guided me
inside. In two or three strokes I was buried full length and when I
started to move she said, "Lay still for a little while, I like to
feel all of you inside."

I kissed her and lay still concentrating on how good the warm prison
of her flesh felt. Every now and again I could feel little
contractions in her vagina and I would answer her with a voluntary
throb of my penis. I lay still as long as I could and when I could
stand it no longer I started making little short strokes.

Mom gave me a kiss and murmured, "That's it, slowly, slowly.", as she
matched my movements. In moments the strokes became longer and
stronger until I was almost pulling out on the end of each one. We had
begun to climb the mountain and we moved faster and faster as we
hammered our bodies together trying to reach the heights. The moment
came when I could hold back no longer and I drove my full length
inside her and held her close as spasm after spasm rolled through my
groin each one answered by her contractions that seemed to come from
deep within her body. I could feel the hot, sticky semen collect
inside and each time she had a contraction it would spill out and drip
off my scrotum. 

Finally it was over, we lay together not wanting to move in the
contented afterglow that follows a mutual orgasm. We were both wet
with the slippery stickiness of our mingled love juices and I could
feel a little tickling sensation as the excess ran down between us and
dripped on the sheets.

"Paul, this is the first time I have ever had two orgasms back to back
and that last one almost made me faint."

I kissed Mom and gave her a hug as an answer for I didn't have a
response for that statement. If this was what sex was like I knew I
could never get enough. "Mom, I wish I knew enough words to tell you
how much I love you right now."

"Words aren't necessary, your actions say enough."

We lay together for a little while longer occasionally exchanging
kisses. After a short while Mom said, "Paul, my legs are going to
sleep and I need a shower, think you could let me up."  I climbed off
and lay beside her as she continued, "If you'll start the generator
I'll put on a pot of coffee and we can have a cup after we shower.
Want to take a shower with your old Mom?"

"Can I wash you all over?", I asked.

"Only if you'll let me wash you.", she answered.

"You got a deal."

I climbed out of bed and put on my robe and flip-flops. It was a
minute's job to get the generator started and when I came back inside
Mom had just finished with the coffeepot. I followed her into the
bathroom and waited as she got the shower temperature just right. 

Mom got in the shower and when I followed the water felt scalding hot.
I would have jumped back out but she was hugging me and I couldn't
move. "Mom the shower's too hot."

"I like the water hot, just relax and you will get used to it."

She was right, after a minute or two it felt good. She handed me the
soap and a washcloth saying, "Give me a good scrubbing, I feel like I
have the stickies all over."

I began to scrub her back and worked all the way down to her feet.
When she turned around I started washing her but somehow I found it
hard to stop washing her breasts. She laughed at me and made me wash
other places. When I got to her crotch I carefully washed everything.
I spread the lips apart and slipped a finger inside exploring. Her
clitoris was lying between the lips, limp and shrunken from what I had
seen this morning. It looked just like a tiny limp penis. I continued
scrubbing her all the way down to her feet.

When it was my turn, Mom was very businesslike and scrubbed me all
over except my groin area. She saved that for last and took her time
commenting now and again on how nicely I had developed. Of course I
got an erection and she playfully stroked me a few times as a tease.

"Rinse off, let's get out of here and have some coffee before I get
all worked up again."

Later we sat on the porch looking out over the lake with an after
breakfast coffee. I could sense that Mom wanted to talk about
something but seemed reluctant to start. I had learned from past
experience to just wait her out and let her get her thoughts in order.
She seemed happy with our new relationship and I wanted her to stay
that way. I had discovered real sex and I didn't want to lose the
promise of a regular partner. Most boys my age were reading magazines
and masturbating but after experiencing sex with a mature woman
self-gratification to pictures would be a weak substitute. 

A new and frightening thought dawned on me; I had to be a model son
for she possessed the ultimate punishment if I did anything that
earned her disapproval. . . . 

. . . . I heard a voice coming from a great distance. I had been
concentrating on my thoughts and had drifted off into my own little
world. "Paul, a penny for your thoughts.", Mom said.

"I was just thinking about how happy I am right now."

"Are you really happy about us?"

"Yes Mom. I don't have to hide my feelings anymore."

"How long have you had these feelings about me Paul?"

"I guess since the first time you talked about needing a chastity
belt."

"You mean that I have been agonizing over wanting you for months and
you have been doing the same?"

I couldn't believe my ears; Mom had wanted me and neither of us knew
of the other's desires. "I guess that's right Mom."

Mom began to laugh and walked over and sat on my lap. After a hug and
kiss she said, "I dreamed up this long speech to justify my actions
and now I find out that you were agonizing over the same thing. I was
just waiting for you to make a positive move; I wanted to be sure that
I wasn't taking advantage of you."

Mom was silent for a moment and when her words sunk in I remarked,
"You mean if I had just been a little more insistent . . . ."

"I think so, yes. Do you want me to give my long speech or shall we
just accept what is?"

"No speeches. I only have one question; what happened last night?"

"Yesterday morning when you had your little accident it was time for
us to move on to other things. When you kissed me last night it was
all over; I was certain that you had no reservations. The problem was,
after it was too late, the last vestiges of my morality surfaced and I
threw my little tantrum. This morning there were no doubts in my mind,
I love you Paul, and wherever this leads I want us to be together. I
can't justify what we are doing; I just have this blind love and
desire that I can't deny."

I had no reply for Mom's last statement and I don't think she expected
one. I hugged her closer and after a kiss just held her in my arms.
Mom curled up on my lap and tucked her head in the hollow of my neck.
There was nothing erotic suggested, I felt as if I was holding a child
in my arms and she obviously felt protected. I had a lot of roles to
play; I was a son, a confessor, a lover, and a protector. We faced
many complications and more pitfalls that I cared to count but we had
weathered the tough times after the divorce so this should be easier.

Mom tilted her head up and pulled me down to her for a long loving
kiss. When we came up for air she said, "Paul, we have more to talk
about. Want me to get us another cup of coffee before we start?"

"Coffee would be nice, thanks. What else do we have to talk about?"

"Us, our relationship, and how we keep it secret.", she said getting
up and walking away.

I walked around back of the cabin and shut the generator down. When I
returned Mom was sitting at a little table on the porch with two cups
of coffee. I took the chair adjacent to her and took a sip of fresh
coffee.

She stirred her coffee and appeared to be deep in thought. After a
moment she began with a question, "Paul have you really thought about
our future?"

Taken aback by her question I realized I hadn't given any thought to
anything beyond the here and now. "No Mom, I've never thought beyond
our . . . . How do I say this? . . . . first time."

"I thought so. I have been thinking of what could happen and the most
pressing problem is secrecy. We can get away with a lot because no one
ever suspects a mother would have an affair with her son. Ben and Pat
put us in a double bed together without blinking an eye but if we
become too familiar with each other in public we could invite
suspicion."

"In private, meaning at our house, we can do whatever we want
including all the silly things lovers do with each other. If we are
ever caught; I have committed a crime and I can go to jail. It doesn't
matter if you consent or not. Do you understand why we must keep this
absolutely secret? 

"Don't worry Mom, I won't say anything to anyone."

"You have to be very careful what you say around your friends when
they talk about sex. If you know too much it could make them
suspicious and they know what girls you are or are not seeing. It's a
bit late to ask but can you play dumb around your classmates?"

"That's easy, I just keep my mouth shut and listen to their stories."

"Are you sure you can do this? You don't think you might want to brag
a little do you?"

"I won't be able to will I?"

"That's right you won't. Can you think of anything to ask me?"

"No Mom, other than why so many questions?"

"Paul I can ask a thousand questions and each one is hard to answer.
The hardest one is what happens when you grow up and meet someone you
want to marry? Do we simply kiss each other goodbye and you take off
on a honeymoon? Will I be able to let go of you and watch you make a
life with another woman? How do I tell my daughter-in-law Paul likes
his eggs over easy and after you make love to him he likes to lay on
top and soak his wick?"

Mom began to giggle like a little girl and I tried to picture her
telling someone about the eggs. We both lost it completely and broke
into uproarious laughter. When we would gain a little control one or
the other would giggle and set us both off again. It was a long time
before we could look at each other without laughing.

I was tired of talking about things that might happen in the future.
There was a lake full of fish only a few steps away just waiting to be
caught. I had enjoyed fishing with Ben that first morning and I wanted
to show Mom how much I had learned. "Mom would you like to go fishing
with me for a little while?"

"Only if I don't have to bait a hook."

"Mom, you don't have to bait hooks when you fish with dry flies. I'll
get the tackle and we can go up the lake to the place Ben showed me."

"Lead on.", she replied.

Half an hour later Mom had found a comfortable spot to sit under a
shady tree while I worked my line across a little inlet in a likely
pool. On the third cast I was rewarded with a strike and after
carefully playing the fish netted it and held it up for Mom to see.
She was so excited she rewarded me with a big hug. I worked up and
down the shoreline and caught several nice fish. When I grew tired of
casting I stowed my tackle and flopped on the ground beside Mom to
rest.

Mom was in a joking mood and teased me with, "Looks like I picked a
good mate who can feed me."

"Wait until you see me tackle a bear with a spear.", I said laughing.

"Don't even think about it; there's a supermarket a few miles away."

I looked up at the mountains thinking about hunting when I noticed
black storm clouds boiling over the ridges to the northwest. "Mom, we
had better get back to the cabin; it looks like it is going to rain."

"Let's hurry before the storm breaks."

We walked back to the cabin and after I stowed the fishing tackle I
cleaned the fish for our lunch. The storm held off but you could smell
rain and the air felt heavy and charged, promising a thunderstorm
before too long. I turned on the radio and listened to the one local
station as it spouted out the noon news. When the weather forecast
came on a heavy afternoon thundershower was predicted.

We ate lunch on the porch and watched the clouds build up in the sky.
Soon the sun was blotted out and gray twilight fell over the lake. The
first drops of rain were large and fell on the roof with loud splats.
Soon the rain was coming down in buckets and lightning lit the sky and
thunder echoed off the mountains. We watched nature's fireworks until
the wind carried rain over the porch and drove us inside.

Just as we got inside and closed the door a loud clap of thunder
startled us and Mom flew into my arms. I could feel her tremble with
fright and held her protectively close as she regained her composure.
When she looked up at me I gave her a kiss and we stood in the middle
of the room oblivious to the storm outside.

"I have an idea.", Mom said.

"What's that?"

"Since you can't teach me how to fish outside why don't I teach you
about indoor sports?"

"You have the best ideas Mom."

She led me to the bedroom and we were soon naked on the bed. When I
tried to rush things she pushed me away and said, "Remember, I said I
was going to teach you about indoor sports so slow down and let me
teach you how it's done. We have the rest of the day to practice.
Don't be embarrassed by anything I do; there's many ways to make love
to each other; just follow my lead and do what comes naturally.
Sometimes things will seem a little strange but when you try it you
find that it is fun. That OK with you?"

"OK Mom." I would have agreed with anything she said at that point; I
only wanted to get on with the main event.

She pushed me over on my back and began kissing me on my nipples. Wow!
I discovered how sensitive they were. She turned her body around until
we were facing in opposite directions and her breasts hung down over
my face. I began to mimic her actions on my nipples with kisses of my
own and I was almost smothered with her soft breasts as she pressed
them down on my face. She began to migrate south kissing me on my
tummy and exploring my navel with her tongue. When I kissed her on the
navel she giggled and gave a little shiver as if it tickled her.

When she took my scrotum in her hand and gently began to knead it like
soft dough my blood pressure reached new heights. As she continued
southward with her lips I wondered if she was going to kiss me on the
penis. Mom wouldn't do that would she? Would she expect me to do the
same for her? I had heard all the school yard stories about oral sex
but I hardly believed that "nice people" did things like that. My own
mother would never be involved in oral sex and then to my surprise I
felt warm lips on the head of my penis. It felt so good that I ceased
to wonder if nice people did things like that; I only wanted more. 

I was soon rewarded when Mom took me into her mouth and began to work
me over with her tongue. Poised above my face, only inches away, was
her vagina. Did she expect me to do the same thing for her? I could
distinctly smell her woman scent and became even more aroused.
Gathering my courage I opened the lips of her vagina with my fingers
and kissed the tip of her clitoris. Her reaction was sudden and
unexpected; she pressed down against my face almost smothering me and
increased the violence of her attack on my throbbing penis.

I began to tease her with my tongue and she let out little moans
muffled by the fullness of her mouth. Curious I began to push my
tongue deeper inside her and explored the wet, slick interior of her
sex. After a little while she moved her clitoris over my mouth and I
took it between my lips and began to suck it and massage it with my
tongue. She went crazy and began to thrash around so violently I had
to embrace her around the hips just to hold on.

What few reservations I had about oral sex flew away like leaves on
the wind as I began to climb to an orgasm. I only wanted to bury my
face and tongue deeper and deeper into the warm depths of her sex as
my pleasure mounted from Mom's ministrations.

When I reached the peak of my orgasm I pressed deeper into her mouth
and found release as contraction after contraction seized me. When it
was over I wondered why I had ever had any reservations about oral
sex. This had been wonderful. I wanted to show her how much I had
enjoyed the last few minutes but I could think of nothing to say. No
matter, Mom seemed to be in a far place as she lay on top of me in a
limp heap. 

After a few moments Mom kissed my softening penis with warm wet lips
and switched positions in bed and lay beside me. She hugged me and
kissed me long and deep, a kiss I wanted to last forever. We held each
other in the warm afterglow of love satisfied as we listened to the
wind driven rain lash futilely against the windows of the cabin.

Snug and secure in the warm cocoon of our bed we hugged, kissed, and
caressed. We were lovers in the early stages of discovering each
other. I explored all her secret places with my fingertips and lips.
When I was filled with tactile impressions of the warm, willing body
beside me there remained only one thing undone, satisfy the desire
that had awakened in both of us. Without urgency we made love savoring
each moment as we slowly brought each other to fulfillment.

The afternoon passed as we had long and lazy conversations punctuated
with sessions of intense lovemaking. We were on a honeymoon of sorts
and explored the limits of my endurance. I was clumsy; I was inept but
Mom, with loving patience, taught me what she liked and what she
wanted me to do. One lesson was hammered home; the things I had
learned in the schoolyard were mostly wrong. Lovemaking was done
slowly, gently, and with consideration for your partner's needs. I had
a lot to learn and lots of time to practice.

The day is a jumbled collage of memories with little snapshots of
crystal clarity stirred into a foggy haze of sensual impressions. I
had fantasized about Mom but no son is ever prepared for their wildest
fantasy to come true. This was no fantasy; I was lying in bed naked
with Mom in my arms and we were both spent from lovemaking. I have
never had another day in my life to match this day. The forbidden
fruit is always sweeter.

Pat and Ben arrived the next day in time for lunch. As their car drove
up Mom said, "Damn, our honeymoon is over. We have to start acting
like mother and son again."

"Mom, we can take canoe trips or long walks in the woods when we need
to get away.", I responded. Mom rewarded me with a smile and a wink.

I helped Ben unload the car as Mom and Pat prepared lunch. After lunch
we sat around and talked about the trip into town and the storm. Later
Ben and I checked the cabin for storm damage.

The next few days Mom and I managed to get away only once. Pat and Ben
had too much planned for us to do to allow us any privacy. We were
afraid to get too involved in our bedroom for fear they might overhear
out activities; Mom gets noisy when she's excited.

Saturday evening we all loaded up in Ben's car and drove to a
restaurant that served as the social center for the surrounding
countryside. It was a family place that served plain fare in large
portions. After dinner the tables were moved back against the wall and
a local band supplied music for dancing.

The band tuned up and broke into a country song with some skill and a
lot of enthusiasm. The band wasn't bad and after a while the music
grew on you. Mom and I danced several numbers together. Ben and I
switched partners and I danced with Pat while Ben danced with Mom. Ben
and Pat were having a good time and it wasn't too long until they were
just tipsy enough to be loose and fun. Mom sipped a beer; she would
drive us home.

We were having a good time but when a stranger asked Mom to dance. I
sat at the table in a jealous funk for the whole number. This was a
new emotion for me; was this the way men felt about lovers and wives?
When Mom laughed at something the stranger said I felt as if the
bottom had dropped out from under me. I waited a century for the dance
to be over.

As they walked back to the table I heard the stranger say, "Would you
like to join me at my table?"

Mom replied, "No, I'm here with my son and I don't want to leave my
friends."

"Could I join you at your table?"

"I'm sorry; I'm having a private evening with my family. Thanks for
the dance."

He mumbled his thanks and walked away. Mom gave me a little hug as she
sat down and my world was right again. I wanted to put an arm around
Mom or hold her hand but I couldn't in public. I wanted some contact
with her to assure me that everything was the same. She must have
sensed that I needed some assurance for she shifted in her chair until
our knees touched and smiled at me; I was content.

When I relaxed and looked around there were other kids my age there
with their parents. Mom noticed a pretty girl sitting a couple of
tables away and told me to ask the girl for a dance.

"Mom, I'd rather dance with you."

She moved close and whispered, "People will think it strange if you
only dance with me."

"What if she says no."

"Paul, I'll bet she will accept your invitation to dance."

"Mom, I wouldn't know what to say; I've never asked a girl to dance
before.", I confessed.

"You can screw a grown woman silly and can't ask a young girl to
dance? I find that hard to believe.", Mom said laughing.

I sat in shock for a moment; Mom had never talked to me this way
before. We had always been open in our talks but never this blunt. She
was right about one thing; I had made love to a grown woman and asking
a girl to dance shouldn't be so bad.

When the music started I gathered my courage and walked over to the
girl's table and asked her to dance. She gave her mother a glance who
gave an almost imperceptible nod before she accepted my invitation.
Why had I been expecting an embarrassing refusal I asked myself as I
led her to the dance floor? The band was playing a slow song that gave
me a chance to introduce myself.

"Hi, I'm Paul; thanks for dancing with me."

"I'm Marcie and thanks for asking me. Are you up here for the summer?"

"No, Mom and I came up for a couple of weeks to visit our relatives."

"Is Ben your Uncle?"

"Yes, you know him?"

"We have a cabin across the lake and visit back and forth
occasionally."

"I never saw any other cabins on the lake."

"There are only four and each is very private."

When the dance was over I escorted Marcie back to her table and
thanked her for the dance. She introduced me to her parents and told
them Ben was my uncle. After a polite exchange I excused myself and
returned to my table.

As I sat down Mom said, "See, that wasn't so bad was it?"

"No Mom; I guess I was just afraid she would refuse and embarrass me."

"Dance with her again before we leave or she will think you don't like
her."

I danced with Mom a few more times and Marcie twice more before we
left. Marcie's family was leaving about the same time we were and
after a short conversation Ben and Pat invited them over for a visit
sometime. Marcie invited me over for lunch the next day. Mom gave me a
wink and a nod so I accepted.

That night we lay awake in bed and talked about Marcie and girls in
general. Mom explained that I would have to date girls my age just as
she would, on occasion, go out with men. We had to do these things to
keep our friends and acquaintances from becoming suspicious. I could
see the wisdom in this but I didn't like the thought of Mom on a date
with another man.

When I hugged her and told her about my feelings she laughed and said,
"If I do go out with someone as soon as I get home I'll make mad
passionate love to you."

One thing led to another and we quietly made love. Afterward I lay in
her arms and thought about the evening. I had been jealous when Mom
had danced with the stranger but why? I didn't get jealous when she
danced with Ben. Did she get jealous when I danced with Marcie? Was I
jealous because I didn't trust her? Was I afraid that she would share
herself with another man? I had questions that only she could answer
but how did I ask them?

"Mom do you love me?"

"Of course I love you; you are my son."

"That's not what I mean. When you danced with that man tonight I got
very jealous."

"Oh, now I understand what you are asking. The answer to your real
question is going to be a long one. Will it upset you if I tell you
about a few intimate details of my experience with your Dad?"

"I don't think so.", I said as I wondered why Dad had anything to do
with my feelings.

"When I married your Dad I thought that we would explore the erotic
experiences I had read about as a teenager. I had fantasies about long
sessions where we explored all the possibilities. It wasn't long until
I found that out that your Dad was not as imaginative about sex as I
was. I wanted to explore oral sex with him and when I tried he grew
upset. He liked for me to make love to him that way but he became
angry if I asked the same of him."

"I don't know how much you know about a woman's sex but I am a little
different down there. I have a very large clitoris that resembles a
small penis. You Dad thought it was ugly and said that he would feel
like he was kissing a man's sex. He got to the point where we would
only make love in the dark because he thought my vagina was so ugly.
It wasn't long until his lovemaking didn't satisfy me and I had to
masturbate if I wanted any relief. Your Dad caught me once and nearly
had a stroke. He became very angry and called me a lesbian bitch. He
never made love to me again."

Mom fell silent for a while and I began to understand how deeply she
had been hurt. When boys tease others about the size of their penis it
is the worst insult to have to endure. I wanted to reassure Mom that I
didn't share Dad's prejudices. "Mom, I know how a woman's sex is
supposed to look; I've seen pictures in biology books. I like the way
you look; you're just bigger than some women. Dad couldn't appreciate
having someone to love who was different but I can."

Mom gave me a hug and continued with her story, "Thanks Paul. I needed
that but there is more to tell. After we divorced I thought about
other men but when any of them offered any affection I felt repelled.
Somehow I believed they would find me ugly as your father had and I
could hear your father's voice telling me that I was deformed, a
hermaphrodite. Even now when I think of the man who danced with me
tonight I feel uncomfortable."

"You were the exception. I guess it was because you accepted me as I
was and always supported me when I had differences with your father.
After the divorce you were the only male that I enjoyed touching me.
I've always loved to have you hug and kiss me. Then when I found that
I aroused you sexually my body became a traitor and responded to you
with the same desire. It became more than I could control and here we
are now as lovers, right or wrong."

"Do you understand why you have no reason to be jealous of me, ever?
I'll fix your eggs for you however and whenever you want them", she
said with a laugh.

Remembering our conversation of a few mornings ago I laughed with her.
Eggs had become our private joke about our relationship. I hugged her
close and felt a new tenderness for her. She had shared some of her
most intimate secrets with me to make me understand her feelings. That
had required enormous trust on her part and if she trusted me that
much how could I not trust her?

"I understand things a lot better now Mom. I can't tell you how lucky
I feel to have you for a Mom but you do make the best omelets."

"How would you know, I'm the only woman who has ever cooked eggs for
you?" she said with a little chuckle.

The next day I paddled over to Marcie's and spent the afternoon. After
lunch we went for a ride in the canoe and generally had fun. She was a
tomboy and that made it easy for me to talk to her. Before I left she
gave me her address and made me promise to write her after school
started. 

The next day Marcie's family visited Ben and Pat, which gave Marcie
and I some more time together. I found her easy to be around and
actually found myself liking her. Too bad she lived on the other side
of the state; I could use a friend my age.

Ben and Pat had to go in town on Wednesday so Mom and I decided to go
home early also. Wednesday morning we packed up the car and pointed
the car for home. On the long drive back we discussed our options. 

As we talked it became apparent that we would have to make up the
rules as we went along. We had always been very private with our home
life and had few visitors. Dad had moved to another state and hadn't
visited us in over a year so he wouldn't be a problem. We could relax
at home without worrying about a friend or neighbor barging in on us
unannounced. In public we would just act as we always had; who would
suspect a mother and son were having an affair?

We adjusted to our new living arrangements quickly. At first I was a
little uncomfortable sleeping in Mom's room but it wasn't long until I
made a mental shift and considered it our room. One major change, the
tension that had been between us for the past few months disappeared.

We settled down in a comfortable routine for the rest of the summer;
Mom worked and I kept house. When Mom wasn't working we spent that
time together almost exclusively. I had few friends and they lived
across town so I had little contact with them during the summer. Mom
had put in so much time working since the divorce she hadn't had time
to make friends so we turned even more to each other for company. Our
private lives outside of work and school became an island inhabited by
only two people. Neither of us felt we needed anyone or anything more.

Mom began to bring work home on weekends and I began to help her as
she pored over stacks of papers and long columns of figures. Math was
one of my strong subjects in school so I ended up with the numbers. A
little self-study with one of her textbooks and I became proficient
extracting the information Mom needed from the numbers. Mom was
putting together a proposal for a new department and if it was
accepted she had an excellent chance to become the manager. A
promotion for her meant life got better for both of us and I put most
of my spare time into her project.

Soon she began to bring work home evenings and it would have been a
lonely time for me except I shared the work with her. We worked well
together and I began to understand the details of her plan. Soon I was
making suggestions for changes and after long and probing discussions
some were accepted. Had an outsider heard us during one of our
discussions they would have thought we were having a quarrel. 

Little did I know that Mom was playing the devil's advocate to hear my
arguments and that she carefully memorized many to use when she
defended her proposal. She was drawing on my debating skills and
sharpening her own.

My debating coach had given me some books to study over the summer
vacation and I filled my free time with study. Arguing with Mom forced
me to refine my skills as well. When school started I knew that I
would make the debating team after the workout she had given me this
summer.

Mom's proposal was finished in early August and the relentless pace
that she had set slackened. We spent our time working on her
presentation and I got to be the bad guy asking the hard questions
when she practiced for the inevitable question and answer session
after the presentation. We worked late Friday night and fell into bed
exhausted and were asleep almost immediately.

I woke up early the next morning and lay quietly listening to Mom's
soft snores. I got out of bed quietly and padded into the bathroom.
Afterward I went to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. As the
pot gurgled away I thought about the past few weeks.

When we had first gotten back from the cabin we had made love often
and with wild abandon. After Mom had started with her project our
lovemaking had dropped to almost zero and I missed her affection when
I wasn't too tired to think about anything except sleep. Who was I? I
had been her son but that had changed. I was her lover but her job had
intruded on our intimacy. I was her partner in the project we had just
finished and I enjoyed working with her but I wanted to get back to
where we were just after vacation. I missed the love we had shared. If
Mom wanted to work today I would refuse. Perhaps I could distract her
and not have to confront her with my refusal. I didn't want to be a
petulant son demanding favors; I wanted to be loved because she
desired me.

I tiptoed back to the bedroom and peeked in. Mom was still sleeping so
I went back to the kitchen and made a continental breakfast tray with
a carafe of coffee and rolls. I carried the tray to the bedroom and
placed it on the nightstand. Mom began to stir as if she was waking
up.

I sat on the edge of the bed, bent over, and kissed her softly. She
opened her eyes and smiled up at me before she returned my kiss.

"Want a cup of coffee Mom?"

She looked at the tray and asked, "What's the occasion?"

"I just thought a little attention would be nice."

"Breakfast in bed is never just a little attention; it rates right up
there with long stemmed roses.", she said and pulled me down beside
her. "What's on your mind that prompted all this?"

"It's just because I love you."

I was totally confused when Mom's laughter rang out long and loud as
if I had told her the funniest joke in the world. "I see; it's because
I haven't been loving you. I'm sorry Paul I have neglected you and
worked you half to death the past few weeks. Give your old Mom a kiss
and let me go to the bathroom; when I get back we have some serious
catching up to do." A bear hug and a warm kiss were my rewards before
she hurried to the bathroom.

Upon her return she said, "The coffee can wait."

A very short while later we lay side by side in bed with desire
satisfied and sipped coffee as we shared a sweet roll. Mom was in a
light, bubbly mood like that day on the lake and my misgivings were
only a dim memory. Mom's mood was infectious and soon we were both
acting like silly airheads.

Mom took a bite of roll and some crumbs fell on her naked breasts. As
a joke I said, "Mom, you're wasting the rolls.", and bent over and
began to lick the crumbs off her breasts with my tongue.

Laughing at my game she smeared some of the sugar icing on her tummy
and said, "Don't miss any; there's some icing on my tummy."

While I licked off the icing there she smeared more on her nipples and
I dutifully ate the icing off her hardening nipples. Before I could
finish with her breasts she took the roll and smeared a huge glob of
sticky icing on her labia.

"I'm getting this sticky stuff all over me; can you help me get it
off?", she asked giggling like a girl.

"You keep this up and I'm going to have to get you a bib.", I said as
I lay between her legs and began to lick the sugary icing. I was
becoming very aroused and so did Mom. She was so excited her clitoris
stood erect and protruded beyond her outer lips. I took the half inch
or so of pink flesh in my mouth and began to gently suck and massage
it with the tip of my tongue. It wasn't long until she was thrashing
around driven by mindless pleasure. She grabbed my hair with both
hands and forced my face tighter and tighter against her sex. It was
almost a dead heat between having my hair pulled out by the roots and
getting her to an orgasm. At last she let out a loud moan and
collapsed into a limp heap on the bed. The hands that were a moment
ago trying to tear out my hair were gently and lovingly stroking my
head.

I slid up beside Mom and took her in my arms. While playfully probing
between her legs with my penis I showered kisses all over her face.
She dodged me artfully and I stabbed everywhere except my intended
target. Grunts and giggles echoed from the walls as we thrashed around
on the bed in a friendly scuffle of mock rape.

Mom pushed me on my back and set astride me. "I think I want a shish
kebab.", she said. 

She took a cinnamon roll from the tray and punched the center out. I
started to ask what she was doing but before I could say anything she
pushed the piece of roll into my open mouth. Next she moved down
between my legs and impaled the remainder of the roll on my erection.
I almost choked when she licked the sugar off the head of my roll
encased penis. She nibbled around the edges until there was only a
thin ring of the roll left. She took me in her mouth and removed the
last bit with her tongue. Mom continued to work on my penis until it
was free of icing and bread crumbs and then she sat astride me and
lowered herself over me.

We had both became so aroused by our foreplay that we quickly reached
orgasm and Mom lay atop me as we both enjoyed the skin to skin contact
in the afterglow. After we had sex I liked to lay with Mom and
concentrate all my awareness on my penis inside her sex. If I wasn't
truly satisfied the sensations would bring me to a full erection and I
would make love to her all over again. If I was spent I would grow
limp inside her warm slippery prison and eventually she would have a
contraction that would spit my limp, shrunken penis out into the cold.
That usually signaled the end and just now it was the end.

"Someone's had enough.", Mom said. "I feel sticky all over let's take
a shower and get dressed."

Later we sat in the kitchen and talked over another round of coffee.
Mom began by saying, "Paul, I'm sorry I forgot about your needs for so
long. In the future just be a little more insistent when you want me.
I'm still trying to get our relationship comfortable in my mind."

"It's OK Mom. I still feel a little self-conscious about touching you
in certain places or suggesting that we have sex at first. When we get
started it goes away. I guess that, like you, I'm not quite used to
our relationship."

"Does our lovemaking cause you any trouble; are you bothered by the
fact that you are having sex with your mother?"

"No, I'm not. I've never felt bad about it. Sometimes I find it hard
to believe that it's really happening; it's like a dream come true."

"I know what you mean Paul. Mornings when I wake up and we are
together naked in bed I have a few shocked moments until I realize
that you are Oedipus and I am Jocasta with full knowledge of what we
are doing. I still have a guilty moment or two and sometimes I feel
selfish for taking your innocence away. A boy your age should be horny
and chasing young girls not making love to his mother."

"Mom! Don't ever say that again!", I said. "I love you and I know you
love me. We just happen to love each other more than some mothers and
sons."

"Paul, I didn't mean to upset you; I was trying to point out what our
relationship would look like to an outsider. Motherfucker is a bad
word and we have to face that squarely or we'll have terrible problems
in the future. If we have a lover's quarrel you can't just pack your
things and leave and neither can I. I'm your mother and you will have
to live with me until you are eighteen. What would you do; move back
to your room and forget we were ever intimate?"

"I don't think we will have a lover's quarrel that we can't settle but
if we do we will have to deal with it when it happens Mom."

"There's one other thing we have to face and then we can stop talking
about right, wrong, and what other's would think. I'm twenty years
older than you and when you get old enough you will probably meet
someone your age and want to marry. That is something I will have to
deal with alone. I want you to be happy and I won't stand in your way
when the time comes. It will be hard but we will have to let go of
each other."

"I don't think I'll ever want anyone but you Mom."

"We'll see and let's change the subject. Mind talking about my project
for a few minutes?"

"If you want to."

"Don't sound so enthusiastic. I was just going to say that I want you
to drill me again tomorrow afternoon. I have to give my presentation
on Monday and I think one more run through will get me up to speed.
What would you like to do tonight?"

"How about hamburgers and a movie? It's been a while since we've done
that."

"Sounds great. It's almost lunchtime and I'm too lazy to cook. Why
don't we go downtown for lunch and then go grocery shopping?"

During lunch I brought up Mom's project and we discussed it in detail.
I realized that this morning I had just been frustrated and I was glad
I had not lost my temper or said anything that I would have been sorry
for. I really enjoyed helping Mom and there was a lot of my work
involved. I had a stake in the outcome. Mom could get a promotion and
if she did I had helped in some small way. I had learned an important
lesson today; before you use angry words try a little honey.

At the supermarket Mom began to clown around and joke as we shopped. I
followed her mood and several customers smiled at our obvious
enjoyment of each other. Wouldn't they be shocked if they knew that
when we got home I had serious designs on my mother's body?

All day Monday I was on pins and needles waiting for Mom to get home
and tell me how the presentation went. When she arrived I didn't have
to ask; the answer was written all over her face. She tried very hard
to keep a poker face but her eyes were sparkling and a hint of a smile
crinkled the corners of her mouth.

When she got inside the house she gave me a big hug and said, "I did
it! I sold my project to the local manager and we have to go to
Capitol City Thursday. I have to present my plan to the Board of
Directors."

I hugged her back and offered my congratulations and then it hit me.
She had said we had to go to Capitol City. "Both of us have to go?", I
asked.

"That's right; I told them that I had to take you with me and they
agreed. I have to give my presentation Friday morning and then we can
spend the weekend there at company expense. We will fly back Sunday
evening so I can go to work on Monday."

The rest of the evening we made plans for the trip. Tomorrow afternoon
we would go shopping for clothes and other necessities we would need
for the trip. Mom had some time off to get organized. We had two days
to have fun and get ready for the trip.

Mom was so excited when we went to bed that she couldn't sleep. She
wanted to talk all night. The only way I could get her to shut up was
to kiss her. One thing led to another and she became an insatiable
lover. Lovemaking finally drained her excitement and we fell asleep in
each other's arms amid the ruins we had made of the bedclothes.

Thursday morning was my first experience with an airplane. I was
excited and just a little afraid but the reality was like a bus ride
with no bumps. Our commuter flight arrived before lunch. A younger man
met us at the airport and whisked us to our hotel.

We had lunch with some of the people from the company and after lunch
we were given a tour of the company headquarters. Mom and I were
introduced to so many people I would have had to take notes to
remember them. 

When we were introduced to the CEO he said, "So this is the young man
who helped you put the package together. Why don't you bring him to
the presentation tomorrow so he can see how boring business really
is?"

He asked Mom some questions about her job and talked about
inconsequential subjects for a few minutes before we were taken back
to the hotel. We had an early dinner and went up to our room so I
could play the devil's advocate one last time.

Later we lay in bed and I held Mom in my arms. She was tense and
scared. She was convinced she would make a mistake. I tried to
reassure her with words but to no avail; she couldn't get to sleep.
One thing always relaxed her and I started to make love to her. She
resisted at first but after a short while she became an enthusiastic
partner. 

Poor Mom, one kiss on her clitoris and she's lost. One of my favorite
pastimes is to lie with my head between her legs and explore her sex
with my tongue. Her huge clitoris fascinates me and I love to take it
in my mouth like a lollipop. It has almost become a fetish with me and
Mom loves every moment of my attention. After Dad's abuse she had
thought herself ugly and deformed but that has all changed. She jokes
about her unusual endowments and jokingly comments that if I don't
quit playing with it so much she is going to get as big as I am. 

I love my Mom as any teenager does but, what's more, I love the woman
also. The one thing I could never understand was why my Dad hadn't
loved this warm and wonderful woman. I had always wanted to ask Mom to
tell me more about Dad but the time never seemed right. Perhaps
tonight she would tell me more about him and maybe it would take her
mind off tomorrow.

"Mom what went wrong between you and Dad?"

"A lot of things. Do you want to hear what I think went wrong?"

"Yes, I think I do. I was just thinking what a warm and loving person
you are and I wondered why Dad didn't love you like I do."

Mom kissed me before she started talking again. "Thanks for the
compliment. I love you so much I go crazy at times. The one thing you
have taught me is what unselfish love really is; the more I love you
the more love you give me back."

"Your Dad and I were too young to get married. I saw him as an
adventurous man who was going to go places but after we were married
we learned the reality of each other. I wanted to push the limits and
live on the edge and he wanted a quiet comfortable life with few
changes. We married right after I graduated high school and I was
pregnant two months later. After you were born I wanted to go back to
school and finish my education but your Dad wanted a housewife who
stayed home. At first I tried to help him with his career but he got
angry and let me know that he would take care of his job and he didn't
want any interference from me. He didn't want a career; he wanted a
job that made few demands and gave him a paycheck. I was as much at
fault as he was. I would try to push him up the career ladder and he
didn't want to climb."

"He wanted love but when he was confronted with the problem of loving
and satisfying a woman he was baffled. For him it was a one way
street. He knew that women had orgasms but when he experienced me
having one he was shocked; nice women didn't act that way. He thought
I was a wanton bitch. I've already mentioned our sex life so I won't
expand on that. It is enough to say that you are far more accomplished
as a lover than you Dad ever was and you are the best life mate I
could have."

"I think I've said enough about this; let's get some sleep. Tomorrow
will be a long day."

The next morning we had breakfast in our room and discussed the coming
day over an enormous breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage. Mom was
mostly giving me instructions about how to act. Her tone of voice
changed and I listened a little more carefully. "Paul, I can't stress
this enough, listen to everything that is said by the people around
you. Remember as much as you can and try to keep the names straight.
If they buy my plan we may have to move here. If I go to work here at
the home office I want to learn all I can about the people."

"I thought you would take over the department back home. When did
moving come up?"

"Yesterday I overheard someone say that if the company bought my plan
I would get the new office that had just been finished. Two
secretaries were talking in the ladies room while I was there. I just
stayed in the stall until they left. See how gossip can help?"

"If we move can I go to Capitol High? They have the best debating
coach in the state."

"I thought you would be upset about moving and you already have a
school picked out. Don't be disappointed if I don't get the job.", Mom
said and gave me a peck on the cheek as she left the table to get
dressed.

"I won't be disappointed; you'll knock them dead this morning. Good
thing I was on the debating team last year; one of the things I had to
learn was to remember what the opposition had said earlier in the
debate so I could use it later. I'll soak up all the gossip I hear
like a tape recorder."

Mom's presentation went off like clockwork. She gave her talk as if
she were discussing the household budget with me at home. After the
talk she fielded the questions and gave short concise answers that
were to the point. The hours of practice with me asking the most
ridiculous questions I could dream up paid off. Everyone paid
attention to her and when she finished all I heard was admiration for
Mom.

Later that afternoon we got the news; Mom was promoted to direct the
new department and we would be moving in two weeks. It took a few
minutes for the enormity of what we faced to sink in our head. We had
to sell a house, get our things moved, and find a new place to live.
Every minute counted and we decided to cut short our stay and return
home immediately.

Mom got on the phone and I started packing our bags. She had a party
to attend that evening but figured she could leave about nine without
offending anyone so she booked us out on a flight at ten.

She called her old boss to give him the news personally. They talked
for a few minutes and from Mom's side of the conversation I gathered
he was taking the promotion well. She asked for a phone number of a
Real Estate Agent who had been a classmate and when she hung up dialed
his number. She made an appointment for early the next day. We would
have a busy Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke up before Mom and put together a breakfast tray
for the two of us. Mom woke up when I set the tray down and said, "No
long stemmed roses?"

"My allowance isn't big enough to cover roses; you'll have to settle
for breakfast in bed."

Little did I know that I was starting something that would become a
tradition. Saturday or Sunday mornings of breakfast in bed followed by
a long session of unhurried lovemaking. Afterward we would shower and
then have long talks about whatever crossed our minds. There was never
a hint of adult/child conversations, just two people exploring their
differences or saying what was on their mind. We saved sensitive or
difficult problems for these mornings for it is hard to get upset with
someone when you have just shared the most intimate of pleasures. This
morning, as we sat in the kitchen, Mom started talking about our trip
and how she had felt giving her talk.

"Paul, I want to thank you for helping me. Thursday I was wound up
tight and worried sick about Friday's meeting. You had the right
medicine to calm my jitters. When Mom gets up tight screw her silly.",
she laughed.

"Watch out Mom, a teenager gets horny easily.", I joked in return.

"Don't I know it. Seriously, you gave me the weapon I needed to put my
presentation across the next morning. When you asked about your Dad
you made me think about him and when I was if front of that room full
of men I just imagined each of them as a copy of him. I wasn't afraid
of them in the least. Thank you for that."

"I thought you were magnificent up there. When that one guy tried to
trip you up with irrelevant questions you took him apart."

"I have an enemy there but I noticed most people seemed upset when he
asked a question and smiled when I took him down. I'll have to keep an
eye on him in the future."

"I noticed most of the men had an eye on you and it wasn't for what
you were saying. It made me a little jealous and a lot proud at the
same time."

"Paul, you don't have to worry about me; thoughts of you fill my every
waking moment."

TO BE CONTINUED





From jimfix@earthlink.net Fri Apr 04 02:04:44 1997
Newsgroups: alt.sex.stories
Subject: - A Summer Romance M/F inc con rom Part 2 of 2
From: jimfix@earthlink.net (Jim Fix)
Date: Fri, 04 Apr 1997 06:04:44 GMT
--------
A Summer Romance Revisited


Note: This story is a follow-on of "A Summer Romance" and is pure
fiction, a figment of my imagination. 


I don't think Mom had the last month in mind when she said, "Paul, you
don't have to worry about me; thoughts of you fill my every waking
moment." The tasks of moving occupied every waking second. If I
thought of Mom it was to wonder what she would do in this situation.

If ever anyone wants to go through pure torture, try selling a house,
buying a house, and moving all at once! Poor Mom had to learn a new
job, set up a new department, and take care of all the things that
required an adult's attention for our move. I stayed at our old house
to oversee the packing and moving. When faced with a decision that Mom
was supposed to make I would stretch the truth a little and say that I
had talked to Mom and do what I thought she would want done or what I
thought was proper. Some of the papers that she was supposed to sign
had forgeries of her signature. Somehow everything happened on time.

The realtor found a buyer for our old house and when everything went
into escrow I moved to Capitol City with Mom. She had settled in a
hotel suite and was going through the mechanics of looking for a house
when I arrived. We had one little problem; we couldn't put a down
payment on a house until the sale on our old one was final.

Hotel living isn't bad for a little while but you miss the little
things like raiding the fridge at midnight. Mom's company was paying
the bills but even the nicest hotel can't replace home. A two-room
suite is not home. 

Mom had been looking for a new house but had had no luck so far. The
Saturday after I arrived an agent drove us around several
neighborhoods that was close to Capitol High. The houses were nice but
none really rung our bell. We had lunch and the agent said she had two
more houses to show us before the day was over. We agreed and tiredly
trekked out to her car for what seemed like a fruitless search. The
first house didn't seem right for us and the agent asked us to bear
with her and look at her last offering.

She drove to a small side street that dead-ended in a cul-de-sac with
a circle at the end. On the circle was a nice ranch style house that
captured us when we walked inside. This place seemed like home without
any furniture inside. It was a nice four-bedroom home with a large
backyard. There was an old oak tree to shade the yard and a high fence
all around to give privacy. Inside was a large country kitchen with a
breakfast nook and a living room/dining room combination. The master
bedroom had a private bath with a huge sunken tub. When Mom looked at
the bath she gave me a mischievous wink and a wicked smile. Pictures
of us in the bathtub flashed through my mind. I hoped the agent wasn't
a mind reader.

Events took a normal course and two weeks before school started we
moved into our new house. Mom was there the day the movers delivered
our things and dictated where the furniture was placed. Unpacking and
putting all the small things away fell to me with Mom giving me
instructions each day after work. The first weekend we got most things
straight and the last week before school I spent working on the yard
and shrubs.

There was one major problem; Mom and I had little time for ourselves
and I was in an advanced state of deprivation. Mom got home late
Friday night and the next morning I let her sleep as late as possible.
I had a surprise in mind and I didn't want her to wake up before I had
set things up.

I got up early and walked to the local florist to buy roses. When I
got home I quietly put the vase of roses on her nightstand and left to
wait for her to wake up. While I was waiting I made coffee and put
together a breakfast tray.

A quiet cup of coffee filled the time while I waited. Warm, pleasant
thoughts of a quiet morning filled with soft touches and hot flesh
pressed against hot flesh filled my thoughts. The past month had been
nothing but busy work and little time for anything except a hasty romp
that was over in minutes. Mom had spoiled me to the pleasures of
fulfillment interspersed intervals of loving foreplay while I
recharged my battery followed by more erotic pleasure. She could be
quite imaginative about sex and I, in my inexperience, learned
everything she wanted to try with enthusiasm. In a couple of weeks I
would be fifteen and I was still a little awestruck by our
relationship. One lesson I was learning; little touches such as
breakfast in bed on weekends appealed to Mom's romantic side and when
she was in a romantic mood she was all the woman I could desire. I
hoped the addition of roses this morning would make a memorable
impression for our first free weekend in our new house.

I was startled as a pair of arms coming out of nowhere engulfed me
from behind in a bear hug. Mom had sneaked up on me as I was
daydreaming and now I was being attacked by a very affectionate woman.
The roses had worked!

Mom noticed the breakfast tray on the table and asked, "What have I
done to earn roses and breakfast in bed?"

"It's what you are going to do to earn them.", I replied adding a
wicked laugh.

"Oh shit, am I going to have to spend the whole day on my back?"

"No, you can get on top sometimes."

Mom moved around in front of me and sat astride my lap facing me. She
pulled my tee shirt out of my jeans and put her hands underneath
gently caressing my bare skin. Her warm hands made my skin prickle and
I could see goose bumps pop up on my arms. A lingering good morning
kiss gave me warm fuzzy feelings all over.

We nuzzled and kissed as we shared my cup of coffee. There was no
rush; we had the whole day with nothing special to do except love each
other. I had learned patience, among other things, from her. Sexually
I was a tabla rasa and she was teaching me what pleased her. As I
discovered what I liked she happily accommodated me. My mother was
still present but the woman she was grew into our relationship as the
days passed. I was becoming attuned to her emotional and physical
needs and my efforts to fulfill them were repaid fourfold as she
responded in kind. 

"A penny for your thoughts.", Mom said and snapped me back to the here
and now.

"I was just thinking how much we have changed this summer."

"What are your thoughts about the changes?"

"I feel like I have found another person to care for. I am learning
that there is much more to loving someone than I ever imagined."

"I guess we are both learning that lesson in more ways than one. Would
you like to share a breakfast in bed with me?"

"Only if I get to clean up the crumbs."

Laughing in remembrance of the last time I had served her breakfast
she replied, "Would you like for me to stir up one of my special
omelets for you?"

"Don't overcook it; I like my omelets moist."

I followed her to our bedroom carrying the tray and in moments we were
lying naked side by side. I took her in my arms and tried to make love
to her but she resisted, laughing and giggling all the while. Mom was
strong enough to win our wrestling matches every time we played at
mock rape. The longer I wrestled with her the more aroused she became
but she wouldn't give up. I had discovered a simple way to end them,
flop on my back and feign exhaustion. This morning was no exception;
she climbed astride me and lowered herself on my erect penis wiggling
and thrusting until she had enveloped my entire length.

Neither of us had much endurance the first time we made love. Mom
started off with slow rocking movements but soon lost control and
mimicked a demented horsewoman in a foxhunt. In seconds I could not
only hear her cries of ecstasy I could feel the involuntary
contractions deep inside her. Then I lost control and flooded her with
semen as my orgasm overtook me in waves. Afterward Mom covered my face
with wet sloppy kisses as she came down to earth.

"God, I needed that Paul."

"So did I.", I replied.

There is an intimacy like no other that a man and a woman share after
making love. Only the moment is important and nothing intrudes from
the outside world to dilute the love and tenderness exchanged by
touch, by body language, and by words. We are most vulnerable and most
receptive in those few moments when all our desires are satisfied.
This is the time when love between two people can be deepened and
expanded or destroyed. Unspoken messages are as important as words and
sometimes change the meanings of the words themselves.

Mom sat up remaining astride me and took a croissant from the tray.
She tore off a piece and began to feed me. She arranged the pillows
behind my head so that I sat in a semi-reclining position before she
poured a single cup of coffee. She offered me a sip before taking one
herself. Still coupled from lovemaking we shared unselfishly the
sweetness of the roll and the bitterness of the coffee. A mangled
quotation crossed my mind, "We tasted the sweet fruit of happiness,
drank from the dark cup of despair, but loved each other all the
more."

An emotion more powerful than any I had felt before swept through me
and unbidden, tears began to flow down my cheeks. I had never
understood how anyone could be so happy they could cry, not until this
moment. Mother or not, I loved this woman in her entirety, her good
points and her warts. Damn conventions, damn taboos, and damn anyone
or anything that tried to stand between us.

Mom noticed my tears and asked, "Is something wrong Paul?", a note of
concern in her voice.

"Nothing's wrong; everything's so right. I'm just so happy I can't
help crying. I love you so much and I don't know how to tell you."

For a moment I thought I had said something wrong. Mom's face screwed
up in a tight expression and her eyes brimmed with tears. With jerky
motions like a robot she set the cup back on the tray and then fell on
my chest hugging me so tight I found it hard to breathe. She buried
her face in the hollow of my neck and cried. In a few moments she
regained control of herself and gave me a salty kiss.

"Paul, I've sometimes worried that what is happening between us was
just a physical attraction, me from my loneliness and you from the
raging desires of a young man maturing. You just put my doubts to
rest."

Later we sat out back under the oak tree and enjoyed the freedom of a
private backyard. Our old house had a small patch of grass and no
fence. Here there were no houses behind us. There was a narrow stand
of trees that bordered a flood channel. There was a green belt of
trees and tangled underbrush between us and our neighbors on either
side. A path from our back gate led to the flood channel where the
trails indicated that people used it for jogging and walking their
dogs. Only a helicopter could violate our privacy.

Mom seemed to come out of a period of thought and said, "Paul, we need
some lawn furniture back here and a hammock. Don't you think so?"

We had put a couple of lawn chairs out back and the yard did look
empty. "Yes, it would be nice to sit out here under the tree in the
shade."

"I like the privacy we have here. At our old house everyone could tell
what brand of soda you were drinking. Like to go shopping for a few
things to make the yard comfortable and have a hamburger for lunch?"

"Can we afford it after all the expense of the move?", I asked.

"Ever make love in a hammock?"

"No." Mom's response was totally out of character and had me
mystified.

"Neither have I and I want to try it."

Visions of the two of us in a hammock flickered through my mind's eye
like a movie. We had just finished making love but my imagination
brought me to a state of high arousal. My shorts stood out in front
with a painful erection. I adjusted things to get a little more
comfortable when Mom noticed my condition.

"Thinking about the hammock?", she asked laughing. To my complete
surprise she stood up and slid her shorts and panties down around her
ankles and stepped out of them. "I've always wanted to make love
outdoors; care to try it?", she said lying down on the grass.

Not to be outdone, I stripped off my shorts and joined her. She pushed
me over on my back and climbed on top saying, "The grass tickles my
butt; you take the bottom."

Our lovemaking was short and sharp. When it was over we lay together
in the shade of the tree and kissed. After a few moments reality
returned and Mom said, "We are going to have to get locks for the
gates; what if the gas man came to read the meter?"

"I guess we could wish him a good day.", I said joking.

"He would have a story to tell his buddies at work wouldn't he?"

"Mom, you're weird; you pick strange places to make love."

"You can bet on that and what's weirder is who I have for a partner. I
guess I just like men less than half my age. Want to take a shower
with me before we go shopping?"

After lunch we shopped for lawn furniture. It was late in the season
and most stores had little on display. After searching through several
shopping centers we spotted a giant hardware store and decided to get
locks for the gates. To our surprise they had a large display of
outdoor furniture. We decided on a table with chairs, a chaise lounge,
and a double hammock. Mom made arrangements for delivery Monday
morning.

When we returned home I installed the locks on both gates. We could be
certain now that no unexpected visitors would barge in on us. After a
full day we rewarded ourselves with dinner at a nice restaurant and a
movie.

Mom woke me early on Sunday morning. She was already dressed in her
running clothes. "Get out of bed and get dressed; we need to get back
in shape.", she said.

"Do we have to?", I grumbled, barely awake.

"We haven't had a good run since we moved. I feel fat and sitting
behind a desk all day doesn't help. Stay in bed if you want but I am
going to have a long run before it gets hot."

"Give me a minute and I'll get up.", I replied.

"I'll wait for you in the kitchen. Want a cup of coffee first?"

I stumbled out of bed and did a quick number in the bathroom. In a few
minutes I joined Mom in the kitchen for a fast cup of coffee. She
chattered on about getting fat and how she had gotten out of shape in
the past weeks. I made attentive sounds at the right places and
generally let her conversation flow by me.

We did our stretches in the backyard and then walked out to the flood
channel. There was a bridge about a half-mile in one direction and Mom
suggested that for our first run we go to the bridge and back. Running
to the bridge was easy; coming back was hard. We were both huffing and
puffing in the last quarter-mile. We limped into the backyard
streaming sweat and puffing like asthmatic steam engines.

Mom ran the big bathtub full of hot water and after showering off the
sweat we slid into the hot water for a soak. We learned two things; we
were sadly out of shape and never try to make love underwater.

After breakfast we sat in the backyard and worked hard at having a
lazy morning. Mom talked about the new lawn furniture and how she
wanted it arranged. I had learned to accede to her wishes when it came
to where a chair or table belonged; it was an argument I never won.

After a while the conversation ran down and we sat quietly immersed in
our separate thoughts. The grass in spot where we had make love
yesterday was still packed down and as I stared at it I thought about
Mom's comment about the gas man. I could imagine the look on a
stranger's face if he were confronted by the sight of a teenager and a
thirtyish woman rolling in the grass together. Unbidden, laughter
bubbled up and I began to laugh out loud.

Mom looked at me as if I were losing my mind and asked, "Care to share
the joke?"

When I managed to control myself I answered, "I just noticed the grass
that we packed down yesterday and was thinking about your comment on
the gas man. I was trying to imagine someone's expression if they
actually caught us."

Mom had a short chuckle before she commented, "It was fun wasn't it?"

"I want to try the hammock; that's what got me stirred up yesterday."

"It'll be here tomorrow; perhaps we should christen it tomorrow
evening Paul."

"What made you think of making love in a hammock Mom?"

"An incident that happened when I was a teenager. Want to hear about
it?"

"I'm all ears."

"One night it was too hot to sleep in my room so I decided to go out
to the backyard where it was cooler and try sleeping in a lounge
chair. I dozed off for a while and was awakened by someone whispering
in the yard next door. When I listened for a few seconds I realized it
was my girlfriend next door and her boyfriend. The conversation was
very interesting and my curiosity got the best of me. I wanted to see
what was going on so I quietly got up and slipped over to the hedge
that divided our yards. There was just enough light for me to see two
people in a hammock. I couldn't see any details but from their
positions I knew they were doing some heavy necking."

"Watching and listening to them got me excited. As I watched the
couple I got so excited that I put my hand into my pants and began to
play with myself. As I sat there with my fingers in my pants they got
out of the hammock, undressed, and climbed back in to make love. I
crouched there in the dark and fantasized that I was the girl in the
hammock. Just about the time I was about to have an orgasm the light
on the back porch came on and the girl's father came outside and
caught them. While he was yelling at them I had an incredible orgasm."

"Afterward when I would masturbate I would picture the scene in the
backyard to heighten my excitement. I guess every teenager uses
something to make the experience more intense. Didn't you?"

Mom's question caught me by surprise and I could feel my face flush in
embarrassment. She was looking at me with a sly smile on her face as
if she knew a secret. I couldn't think of a thing to say when Mom
said, "I know that you used to masturbate. I've told you about me and
like two curious little kids I've shown you mine will you show me
yours?", and followed her question with a laugh.

This is a difficult subject to talk about with your mother, even a
mother like mine, but I gathered my thoughts and answered, "I had an
old magazine of Dad's that I used to look at in the bathroom."

"Did you ever have fantasies about me?"

It was easier to talk after my first admission so I just told the
truth, "Yes, I did. I would recall memories of times when I had seen
you without all your clothes on or times when you had been careless
after a bath."

"Would a confession from your Mom shock you?"

"Probably not but it might surprise me."

"I knew about your little sessions in the bathroom. I heard you in
there one day and I didn't know if I should say anything or not. As I
thought about what I should do I found myself so aroused I had to go
play with myself for relief. One day when I was cleaning your room I
found your magazine and as I leafed through it I imagined you looking
at the same pictures as you sat in the bathroom. I had a lovely time
as I lay on your bed intoxicated by your smell on the pillow.
Afterward, when I got a chance, I would lay on your bed and let my
imagination run free as I played with myself. See what a terrible
woman your Mom is?"

"That reminds me of the morning when I had my accident on your panties
at Uncle Ben's cabin. When I was getting dressed I found your panties
laying in the hamper. When I examined them I discovered that you had
been almost as excited as I was. The smell on your panties excited me
also."

Mom had a short laugh at my admission and silence fell as she seemed
to get lost in her thoughts. Finally she asked, "Are you ever sorry we
started?"

"No, I'm sorry we didn't find each other earlier. Think of all the
time we lost."

"Paul, perhaps it was straightforward and simple for you but I had to
unlearn a few things first. I guess we had to fall in love in the
boy/girl sense before it was appropriate for us to take the final
step. In any event, all I want is for us to be happy; God knows we've
had enough unhappiness."

"Mom I know I'm happy when I wake up with you at my side and when the
day is over I feel content with you lying beside me all warm and
loving. I don't quite know how to say this but if we remained apart
our desire would have caused problems between us. One thing is
certain, I've grown up a lot this summer."

"I can vouch for that. I don't know what I would have done if you
hadn't handled the other end of the move at our old house. That was a
great piece of work and you made me proud to be your Mom. I think we
have both done some growing up and I am beginning to appreciate what a
wonderful man you have become."

We were interrupted by the telephone ringing. Mom got up and went
inside to answer it. In a few minutes she returned. "I have to go to
the office and finish a report. I was supposed to have it done
Wednesday but the meeting has been moved up to tomorrow. Want to come
along and give me a hand or would you rather stay here?"

"If I can be any help I'll go with you.", I answered.

"This is right up your alley, lots of number crunching."

Mom called her secretary, Debbie, and we picked her up on our way to
the office. The three of us spent the rest of the day and part of the
night putting the finishing touches on Mom's report. It was almost
nine when Debbie finished typing the final copy.

"Is everyone as hungry as I am?", Mom asked.

"The sandwiches we had for lunch ran out around six.", I replied.

"What about you?", Mom asked Debbie.

"I could eat a cow."

"Know a good place to go at this hour Debbie?", Mom asked.

"Chinese, Mexican, or American?"

"You choose; it all sounds good.", Mom answered.

Debbie directed us to a nice Mexican restaurant where the headwaiter
seated us at a quiet table where we could talk. The food was delicious
and Debbie had a couple of margaritas during the meal. We were so
hungry that there was little conversation until we had finished
eating. When the table was cleared Mom ordered fresh drinks and
everyone relaxed.

"Debbie, thanks for helping me get that report out. I'm sorry I ruined
your Sunday off."

"It was nothing; I didn't have anything to do anyway."

"It was still nice of you to come out and help me anyway."

"I knew you would be calling me sometime this weekend."

"How's that again?", Mom asked.

"Can you keep a secret?", Debbie asked.

"If you want me to."

"Remember John, the guy you took apart when you made your original
proposal? His secretary and I go out for breakfast on Sunday mornings.
This morning she told me that John knew about the schedule change
Friday and was supposed to tell you then. My friend asked me if I had
to work yesterday and when I told her I hadn't we put two and two
together. John waited until today to tell you hoping you would screw
up. He calls you 'That woman from the hick town' behind your back. My
friend and I are both angry about this. All the secretaries want to
see you make good; you're the first woman to get this high in the
company. If you do well it opens doors for us."

"I knew he was my enemy but I never thought he would be this open with
his hostility. Thanks for the heads up and Paul thanks for the help;
without you we would still be working at the office."

"It's OK Mom."

Debbie looked at me for a few seconds before she said, "Paul, I'm
amazed at how much work you did on the report. You're pretty smart and
good looking too."

I blushed all the way to my hair. "Thanks.", I managed to stammer.

After we dropped Debbie off we went straight home and fell into bed
exhausted. I slept like the dead until I heard Mom stirring around the
bedroom the next morning. I got up and made coffee while she got ready
for work. We had a quick cup before she left and I kissed her goodbye
and wished her luck.

After Mom left I decided to take a morning run. It was a nice morning,
cool with a light breeze, and I set out up the flood channel. I ran
past the bridge just exploring. When I turned around and began my run
home I passed a man running the opposite direction. He gave me a
friendly wave and we continued on our way. 

This was my last day before school and I would have to get up earlier
if I was to continue taking a run in the morning. I'd have to get Mom
out of bed earlier if she ran with me. That might prove to be a
problem for many mornings when I woke her up earlier than usual she
was in an amorous mood. Now that was a problem few kids my age had.

As I ran thoughts of those mornings drifted through my mind. Mom slept
in only a short nightgown, no panties and no bra. I slept in the
altogether. When I woke Mom up we would usually hug and kiss. I could
imagine my morning erection pressing into the coarse hair between her
legs and the excitement that caused me. Things usually progressed from
playful pokes and dodges of a playful mock rape to frantic lovemaking.
Maybe I had better rethink that part about Mom waking up in an amorous
mood and accept some of the responsibility myself. I arrived at the
back gate with the front of my sweatpants standing out. It would be a
long day waiting for Mom to get home.

At nine-thirty the deliverymen arrived and dropped off our lawn
furniture. It was only a matter of thirty minutes or so and they had
everything assembled and left. I arranged things the way Mom and I had
discussed or better yet; the way she had told me to put things. She
had a good eye for the arrangement looked as if it belonged under the
tree and invited you to sit down and relax.

I went inside to get a drink and heard the Postman put our mail in the
box. I got the mail and fanned through the stack. There was a letter
from Marcie that had been forwarded from our old address. I took the
letter and my drink and went out back to lie in the hammock.

Marcie's letter was newsy and full of tidbits about the lake. Her
family had moved back to their home in town and she was getting ready
for school. She said she missed me at the Saturday dances and wondered
why I hadn't written her all summer.

I lay back and thought about the few days we had spent together and
the dance where I had met her. Until now I had been so busy I hadn't
had time to think of her or the vacation at the lake. As I remembered
the dance and Marcie in my arms I found to my surprise that I was
getting excited. What was the matter with me? Didn't I love Mom? When
I had thought about Mom this morning I had gotten excited and now when
I thought about Marcie I was excited again. How could that be? A
guilty feeling fell over me like a shroud.

I continued to chase one thought after another and find a rational
explanation for my feelings. I thought of the worn magazine I had
looked at before and as I pictured the naked women inside I grew even
more aroused. Ever so slowly I gained a new insight into male
psychology; anything sexual aroused us. My guilty feelings abated
somewhat as this new idea sunk into my head. Thinking about something
and acting on the thought were two different things.

Good manners required that I answer Marcie's letter and what better
time than now? I got a pad and pen and wrote a long letter explaining
what had happened during the summer since we had visited the lake. Ben
had invited us back the next summer and I told her I would see her
then. I promised to write her as soon as I got settled in my new
school and had some new news. Finally I signed the long rambling
letter and decided to mail it and grab a fast food lunch.

Mom came home looking like the cat that ate the canary. Debbie had
come in early and made bound copies of her report. When the meeting
started there was surprise and consternation all over John's face.
Laying in front of him was Mom's report and sitting across the table
was Mom looking fresh and beautiful. He had expected to see a tired
and harassed woman with a poorly prepared document. Mom said she gave
him a sparkling smile.

As she told me this she was changing clothes in our bedroom. As I
watched her undress the excitement I had felt earlier today came back
with a vengeance. When she was stripped to bra and panties I stepped
up behind her, unhooked her bra, and cupped both breasts in my hands.

Mom relaxed and leaned back against me. I could feel the tension drain
from her body as I held her close. "How did you know exactly what I
needed?", she asked.

"Because I've needed you all day long.", I replied.

Much later as we lay intimately together basking in the afterglow of
love fulfilled I thought back to earlier that day when the memory of
Marcie aroused me. I felt nothing for her now. The real woman here
with me now was all that I wanted. On impulse I told Mom what had
happened and how I had felt about it. 

She laughed and gave me a quick little hug before replying, "Paul,
sometimes I forget that you are new to the game of love. In most
respects you are as mature as any adult but when it comes to the
emotions you have a little way to go. You were correct when you
concluded that thoughts were only that, just thoughts. There is no
infidelity in a passing thought; dwelling on a thought can become an
obsession and eventually cause problems. Acting on a passing desire is
a violation of your lover's trust. Men are more easily aroused than
women but we do have thoughts just like you did today occasionally. I
will probably have them at times but they will pass and I will still
love you just as much as before."

"Thanks Mom, I feel much better now."

"You should; we've just made a terrible mess of the bed!"

The next morning it was back to school with all new teachers and new
students. It took a couple of weeks until I was settled in and didn't
feel like an outsider. When the tryouts for the debating team were
scheduled I signed up. Mom spent many hours helping me practice for my
first debate. When my day came I managed to hang on through the first
round. Capitol High had a large student body and the competition was
intense. I would have been a shoo-in at my old school but here I was
just another hopeful.

Over the two week period of selecting the team Mom and I would lay in
the hammock and argue the fine points of my next subject. We learned
two things; the hammock was a great place to cuddle but a terrible
place to make love. Mom got over her childhood fantasy and I got some
excellent private coaching. Thanks to Mom's help I made the final cut
and was on the team.

As the year progressed I gained confidence and skill. I moved up
through the ranks and was moved to third position on the team. My
grades suffered at first but by the end of the first semester I was an
honor student again. Capitol High was a tough school in academics.

The gentleman I saw while running that morning so long ago turned out
to be the track coach. After we got to know each other we ran together
almost every morning. He asked me to come out for trials for the track
team in the spring. Mom started running with his wife as Coach and I
began to run longer and longer distances. Our winters are mild and it
seldom snows so by the time track season started I was in excellent
shape.

I am tall and slim so Coach decided that I would make a good distance
runner. In a sprint I was slow and got my feet tangled up. I finally
settled on the mile as my main event and occasionally competed in the
five mile cross country.

Capitol High hosted the first meet of the season and Mom took time off
to see me run. She sat in the stands with the coach's wife and Betty
explained the events. When my heat came up I could see Mom waving from
the stands. When the gun went off I fell into my best pace and began
to get rid of my butterflies. Soon I was focused on the race and
forgot about the crowd in the stands. The mile is three-quarters
running at a fixed pace and then at the very end the real race begins.
The strategy is to keep the leaders in sight while conserving enough
energy for a final burst of speed or "kick". Four laps and fifty yards
around a football field and it's all over. Somewhere during the final
lap the real race begins and I was feeling good. About halfway through
the final lap I could see that I was gaining on the leaders and I
began to bear down a little harder. The distance began to close and
when we hit the final fifty yards I was running flat out. I couldn't
tell you if I finished the race or not for darkness fell over me and
the next thing I remember was people picking me up and helping me back
to the bench. It was several minutes before I could understand what
everyone was trying to tell me; I had placed third in my first
competitive race. I would get to run in the finals tomorrow.

That night Coach and Betty invited Mom and I out for dinner. Mom was
on cloud nine. She was always proud of my grades but I never suspected
that she would get so worked up over sports. We went to an Italian
restaurant and Coach ordered dinner for me. When I saw the amount of
pasta on my plate I wondered if he had lost his mind. He explained
that I had to refuel for tomorrow's race and pasta was an easy way to
restore energy. He told Mom what to fix for my breakfast and lunch,
both very light meals.

The dinner became a celebration of sorts and everyone was in a light
and bubbly mood. Betty told us how Mom had almost ran from the stands
when I passed out at the end of the race. Coach explained to her that
many times when a distance runner has put out his best effort they
pass out from anoxia; they have simply run so hard that they have used
up all their oxygen reserves. He said that the worst that could happen
to me was that I would get a cinder burn from falling down. 

Coach and I talked more about tomorrow's race while Betty and Mom
chatted amiably; I could see that Mom had discovered a friend in
Betty. I knew she needed someone besides me to talk to and share
confidences; Betty and Mom seemed to have connected in an easy
familiarity. Coach and Betty were nice people and we were lucky to
have them as our neighbors.

The party broke up and Coach ordered me to bed early. I had to get as
much sleep as possible before tomorrow's race. When we got home I
immediately went to bed. I was full of pasta and tired from a grueling
day. Mom put on a sexy nightgown before she came to bed.

"Want a little reward for today?", she asked.

"I'm sorry Mom; Coach said that we had to stay away from our
girlfriends tonight."

"Here I am all excited over your race today and you can't touch your
girlfriend; I guess that includes amorous mothers. I don't know if I
like this or not; watching you run today got me all worked up.", she
joked.

"Maybe tomorrow night you will have more reasons to give me a reward."

"I guess I can wait that long; does the coach have anything against a
kiss goodnight from a horny mother?"

"No, he didn't mention anything about that." I pulled Mom close and
gave her a resounding kiss. I almost lost my resolve during that kiss
but managed to pull away before things progressed too far.

Saturday night was a time for celebration. When I placed second for
the meet Betty said Mom jumped up and down and cheered like a teenage
girl. She almost ran out of the stands and on the field to
congratulate me. An obviously embarrassed Mom jokingly tried to
downplay her excitement.

Mom invited Coach and Betty to have dinner at a new restaurant she had
learned about at work. This place was very nice and intimate. The
steaks were about an inch thick and the food was prepared to please
the eye and the palate. After the light meals and the race I did
justice to everything edible in sight.

When we got home after dinner I was alone with an insatiable woman. I
had never seen my Mom like this. A fifteen year old has the ability to
have sex again and again but that night I couldn't hold a candle to
Mom. The events of the past two days had pumped me up but Mom was on a
high that was light years beyond mine. Her excitement had translated
into desire and focused on me. After I had exhausted myself I just lay
beside her and held her in my arms. I fell asleep listening to her
babble on about how proud she was to be my mother.

Mom became my biggest fan and attended every meet that I entered. She
got over her emotional demonstrations to the point where she didn't
need restraint to keep her off the field but she still yelled and
jumped up and down. When we went out of town she would drive to where
ever the meet was held and take Betty with her for company. Betty and
Mom would have their meals with us and they soon became ex-officio
members of the team. Some of the boys teased me about Mom but most
thought it "neat" that she had that much interest in me and our team.

When we traveled to my old home town for one of our last track meets
of the season Mom and I got a big shock; my Dad called our hotel and
left a message for me. He wanted to meet me when I had some free time.
I had to talk to Mom and I found her and Betty in Mom's room. When I
asked to talk to Mom privately Betty excused herself and told Mom she
would see her later.

After Berry left I blurted out, "I got a message from Dad."

Mom was quiet for a moment or two and then asked, "What did it say?"

"He wants to see me when I have some free time."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. What do you think I should do?"

"This is something you have to decide for yourself. If you don't see
him you will wonder what he is like today and if you do see him it
might dredge up old memories that will be hard to put to rest. Why not
call him and talk to him before you make a decision?"

"That's a good idea.", I replied.

There were two phone numbers on the message slip and the first was
evidently his house and I got no answer. The second number was his
work phone and when someone answered I asked for my Dad. There was a
few seconds before he picked up the phone and I got a case of nerves
while I waited. Finally a voice said, "Hello."

I recognized his voice immediately and I gulped once before I said,
"Hi Dad." After the greetings we both had to search for words to say
to each other. Finally he invited me to come over to his job and meet
his co-workers. He said he had been clipping the sports section of the
newspaper and had every word written about me in an album. The guys at
work were getting tired of hearing his stories and it would be a big
favor if I had the time to visit. I thought for a second or two and
agreed. When I hung the phone up Mom looked at me with questions in
her eyes.

"Mom, he wants me to come over and visit him at work this afternoon. I
told him I would."

"OK, have a good visit. He probably wants to show you off to his
buddies."

"How'd you know that?"

"I was married to him for fourteen years. Go on and have a good
time.", Mom said with a twinkle in her eye. "I'm going to show Betty
the sights in town this afternoon so I'll see you at dinner."

Dad worked in the parts department of a new car dealer that was only a
few blocks from the hotel. I decided to walk and after the bus ride a
good walk would get the kinks out of my legs. I walked into the
dealership and asked for directions to the parts department. When I
walked up to the window Dad was looking up something in a catalog.

"Hi Dad."

He looked up and for a moment was speechless. "Gawdalmighty you've
grown up Paul.", he said as he ran out and gave me a big hug. "Let me
look at you. Damn, you're as tall as I am. How come you are so
skinny?"

"Training, every extra pound is just that much more weight I have to
carry around the track."

"I guess you're right; you've had one hell of a season this year. Let
me introduce you to the guys who work here." He led me around the
service department and introduced me to everyone we met. He knew more
facts about me than I did and took every opportunity to tell the men
what my times were for the mile and how many races I had won or placed
in. I had been right three years ago; he could care less about my
grades as long as I excelled in sports.

He led me back to the parts counter and I sat on a stool as he took
care of customers and carried on a conversation with me. Mostly we
talked about sports and what had happened since the divorce. He had
moved back here last summer and took this job when his other job had
disappeared. He knew that Mom and I had moved to Capitol City and that
Mom had been promoted. He talked about being bitter after the divorce
but in light of what had happened he and Mom just weren't meant to be
married to each other; they were too different.

"Does you Mom have a boyfriend?", he asked out of nowhere.

"No, she is too busy with her job.", I answered.

"That's strange.", he said, "Your Mom always had pretty hot pants."

I was glad he was looking the other way for I turned red in
embarrassment. I searched for something to say but nothing would come
to mind. Mentally I had to agree with him but there was no way I would
discuss this with my father. I recalled what Mom had said about their
problems as I waited for him to continue the conversation hoping he
would change the subject.

"What time are you running tomorrow?", he asked.

Trying to hide my relief I answered, "Around three probably; if I
place in my heat I'll run Saturday afternoon also."

"Do you mind if I come and watch you run?"

"No, I'd like for you to be there; I was going to invite you if you
hadn't asked."

"I'll take the afternoon off and if you run Saturday I'll be there
also."

The conversation wound down and I gave the excuse that I had a team
meeting later and left. As I walked back to the hotel I thought about
my father. One thing was certain; he was just a man. Somehow he had
always loomed larger than life in my memory but after meeting him
again I realized he wasn't nine feet tall. I was glad I had went to
see him alone without the added tension of Mom's presence.

I didn't get a chance to talk with Mom alone before Coach made us go
to bed and the next morning was filled with team meetings and last
minute strategies before the race. Mom was a volunteer chaperone so
she was busy with Betty doing whatever chaperones do. 

When we came out on the field that afternoon Mom and Betty were
sitting in the stands behind our bench. After a few minutes I saw Dad
walk up and sit with them. I gave him a wave and he smiled and waved
back. When I could glance back at the stands I could see the three of
them talking and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. I relaxed and
concentrated on what was happening on the track.

It was time for me to warm up and get loose before my heat. I waved to
Mom and Dad before I went to the warm-up track. I emptied my mind of
everything and concentrated on my exercises and short jogs. I always
hated to wait for a race to be called; it seemed like hours passed
while it was only minutes. I went over the instructions from Coach in
my mind. Run easy, stay in the front of the pack until the kick, don't
let the leaders get too far ahead, and don't break out to early. I ran
second.

Betty invited Dad to have dinner with the team and he sat at a table
with Mom, Coach, Betty and me. Dad and Coach talked endlessly about
sports. Dad was amazed at the dinner Coach ordered for me. He thought
the huge pile of pasta was too heavy a meal for a runner. Coach gave
his standard explanation. Since I was running tomorrow I would need
all the energy I could get and pasta was the easiest way to fuel up.
After dinner we sat and talked for a little while until Coach hustled
the team off to bed. The adults went to the lounge and I went to bed.

I woke up when Mom came in to the room. I asked how her evening went
and she said, "It was OK. I'm glad I saw your Dad again; he's very
proud of you and he complimented me on how well I have raised you. He
even asked me if I would see him again. I had to hide behind my drink
for a moment before I answered."

"I had an embarrassing moment when he asked me if you had a
boyfriend."

"I can imagine; did you tell him that you took care of that?", she
said laughing.

"Why make him jealous?", I said as I kissed Mom goodnight.

"You didn't ask me what I said to your Dad's invitation?"

"Should I?"

"You already knew the answer.", she said and gave me quick kiss before
saying, "Go to sleep; you have to run tomorrow."

The afternoon sun was hot as I waited for the starting gun. There was
a feeling of being disconnected from my surroundings; I was alone in
the middle of a packed stadium. When the gun want off I began to run
and all I could concentrate on was putting one foot in front of the
other. Everything felt good and I moved out at my own pace. I was only
vaguely aware of the other runners as I moved up and moved over to the
inner lanes. Early in the last lap I broke into a flat out run earlier
than I usually did. I wondered why I had done this and if I would have
enough steam to finish the race. Darkness came as I ran out of oxygen
and next everyone was screaming and jumping up and down.

Coach was trying to tell me something but with all the noise and my
anoxic confusion it took a little while before his words penetrated.
"You won and you were only two-tenths of a second off the state
record!", he was practically screaming at me.

The rest of the day was a haze. I only remember Mom and Dad both
hugging me and Dad hugging Mom. The latter hug aroused the green
monster of jealousy for a moment but that disappeared when Mom firmly
attached herself to me and never got within arm's reach of Dad again.

The bus ride back to Capitol City was a celebration. We had done well
and I wasn't the only winner on the bus. Coach, Betty, and Mom had
their hands full with a busload of excited teenagers. I gained the
nickname of Two-Tenths from the boisterous teasing of my teammates.

The next morning we slept late and when I finally woke up I could hear
Mom making noises in the kitchen. Later she served me breakfast in bed
with her own special flourishes not the least of which included
sitting atop me as she fed me bites of buttered sweet rolls. The best
breakfasts are spiced with sensual play and end with an orgasm.

Later, in the afternoon, we lay around the backyard working on an
allover tan. Conversation was in fits and starts with long silences as
we listened to music on the radio and soaked up the sun. After the
excitement of last three days a lazy afternoon in the sun was pure
heaven.

"Paul, what do you think of your Dad?", Mom asked after one of the
long silences.

"I guess he's all right as long as he stays at arm's length.", I
replied.

"After this weekend I think he will want to have a little more contact
with you. You're mature enough to make your own decisions about that
relationship. What do you think?"

"I'm not going out of my way to see him; where was he for three years?
I make a little splash in sports and there he is, the proud poppa.
There are too many memories for me to ever have a father/son
relationship with him. I'd only be a trophy son at best so I'll just
be cordial when he's around but I don't think I'll ever think of him
as a father."

"You need a mature male to talk to at times Paul."

"Mom, you answer most of my questions; I ask Coach anytime that I need
a male answer to a question."

"You're that close to Coach?"

"Yes, I guess I am. He and Betty have sort of adopted me since they
don't have any kids of their own."

"I guess they have Paul. You've made a good choice for surrogate
parents; I don't feel much like a mother toward you anymore.", Mom
said with a rueful little laugh.

Did I detect a wistful tone in Mom's voice? I wondered if I should
pursue this line of conversation since it could lead to all manner of
traps. Mom always insisted if something was bothering me to talk it
out. There was only one way to find out if something was on her mind.

"Mom are you happy; is something bothering you?"

"Yes and no, I'm happy with our life and nothing is bothering me
except I worry about you sometimes. I feel as if I've taken away part
of your childhood experiences for selfish reasons."

"We've had this conversation or one nearly like it many times before
and I have done some thinking. Mom how can I miss something that I
didn't experience? Would you trade what we have between us for what we
had before? I certainly wouldn't trade the love and intimacy we have
for anything I can imagine. I've learned how to love you as a person
as well as a woman. I feel as if you have given me a precious gift and
removed most of the uncertainty of being a teenager."

Mom got out of the chaise and tumbled into the hammock with me. "I
guess I'll have to quit worrying about a boy that doesn't exist and
take care of the man I love; won't I?" Neither of us made a rational
statement for a long time.

The next two years sped by almost unnoticed. Our life was tranquil and
ordered with only a small bump here and there. Ironically, Mom was
used as an example for the ideal single parent. She managed a
successful career and raised a son who did well in academics and
sports. Privately we had a few chuckles about that. Mom even
threatened to tell the next person who asked what her secret was that
the best thing a mother could do for an unruly son was screw his
brains out. He wouldn't have enough pent-up energy left over to get
into trouble afterward. I think there was more than a grain of truth
in that.

We spent a couple of weeks each summer at Ben's cabin where Marcie and
I forged a strong friendship. A couple of times she tried to push our
relationship into a more romantic aspect but I could never bring
myself to take that step. I went so far as to discuss it with Mom and
she never once implied that I should be exclusively her lover. She
told me that one day I would find the right girl and when that
happened she would step aside and make a new life for herself. I
wondered if that was possible for she always seemed to increase her
attachment to me.

Dad remarried and for a year things seemed to work out but eventually
his wife left him and he was alone again. I really felt sorry for him;
the only bright spot in his life was when I broke the record for the
mile. Vicarious glory is better than none I guess.

After graduation came the short summer before college. I had been
offered several scholarships but most were at schools that wanted a
jock. They assumed that I would major in Physical Education. Finally
Coach stepped in and managed that part of my life. After a lot of
phone calls I was sent off to an athletic camp for State University.
Two weeks later I had a full scholarship at State with no limitations
on what courses I could take.

Mom and I had a long talk about the logistics of my leaving for
college. Where would I live, in the dorm or off campus? What courses
would I take? On and on it went, so many little details for a little
move.

I think it hit both of us at the same time; I was moving away from
home. We had been separated for only a week or two at most in my
entire life. Mom had taken business trips but none had been longer
than that. This was going to be a long separation. After some
discussion we decided that I would live off campus if we could find a
small private apartment. Mom could visit me on free weekends.

It was still a month before fall semester so perhaps we could find an
apartment. Mom took some vacation and we drove to State and searched
high and low for a small place that was an easy walk from the campus.
We looked at innumerable places but none were what we wanted. Privacy
was a scarce commodity at State. We exhausted the newspaper ads in two
days with no luck.

As a last desperate resort Mom and I drove up and down the streets
close to the campus looking for "For Rent" signs. It was just about
the end of the day when we spotted a sign in front of a big old house
that had been someone's pride and joy in an earlier time. An old
couple lived in the main house and had an apartment out back in what
had once been a carriage house.

When we looked at the place it was a mess. The former occupants had
been bohemian to be kind or utter slobs if you were having a bad day.
There were two rooms and a bath. One room served as a living
room/kitchen and the other was the bedroom. About the only serviceable
items inside were the stove and refrigerator. The rest of the
furniture was a disaster of torn upholstery and stains from spilled
food or drinks. It had two things we wanted, privacy and a short walk
to the campus.

After some sharp negotiations the couple agreed to rent it furnished
only with a stove and refrigerator. They agreed that the furniture was
a mess and so far they had shown the place many times with no takers.
After some discussion they allowed that we could have the place
reasonable and Mom paid the first month's rent.

The next day we moved the old furniture into the garage and began to
clean everything from top to bottom. Sometime in the afternoon Mom
went out and bought paint. That evening we returned to our motel
exhausted and fell into bed. The following day we painted all morning
and went furniture shopping in the afternoon. Before dinner we had
found everything we needed to furnish my apartment. The next day we
arranged furniture and did some shopping for little things for the
kitchen and bedroom. That night we slept in my new home. We were so
tired we didn't christen the new bed until the next morning.

After lunch we drove back to Capitol City and stumbled into the house
totally beat from the week of hard labor. It was after dinner before
Mom checked her answering machine. I was watching TV in the living
room as she made several phone calls.

When she finished on the phone she came in the living room and sat on
the sofa with me. "Would you like to visit your Dad Saturday?"

"Why?", I answered.

"He wants us to fly down Friday night; he has a surprise for you."

"What kind of surprise?"

"He asked me to keep it a secret but I think you will like it.", Mom
teased me.

Try as I might I couldn't get Mom to tell me what the surprise was. I
thought about a car but I knew that Dad couldn't afford anything like
that so I was mystified and Mom wasn't helping. I spent the whole week
trying to figure out what Dad had up his sleeve.

We flew down late Friday evening and Dad picked us up the next
morning. He took us out on the lot and showed us a two year old sport
coupe. It had my time for the record breaking mile painted on the
windshield in water paint. I couldn't say a word; I just stood there
with my mouth open.

"Well, do you like it?", Dad asked.

"I don't know what to say.", I finally managed to stammer out.

Dad laughed and said, "Thanks Dad, would do for a starter."

I don't remember giving Dad a hug before this but I gave him one then.
He seemed a little flustered but managed to return it.

There was an embarrassing silence for a moment or two before Dad said,
"Take it out for a spin; your mother and I will wait for you here."

I looked at Mom and she nodded assent. I drove out of the lot and went
out of town to the open highway. I couldn't believe that I was the
owner of a car like this. Dad had picked well. It was sporty enough to
fit my taste and it ran like the hounds of hell was chasing it. I just
wanted to keep driving but Mom and Dad were waiting back at the lot so
reluctantly I turned around and drove back.

We had lunch with Dad and spent the afternoon at his apartment just
talking and getting to know each other. Mom was quiet and let Dad and
I carry the conversation. He wasn't trying to be a father but seemed
more like an older man trying to make friends with me. We found common
ground in sports and had a lively afternoon.

Mom suggested we leave for Capitol City around four and Dad said he
had a date later so Mom and I said our farewells and started the long
drive home. She was silent for a long time and I was so excited about
my car I didn't notice until it was almost dinner time. When I asked
her where she wanted to have dinner she replied in a monosyllable.

"What's wrong Mom?", I asked.

"This afternoon I discovered that my boy has grown up into a man. The
mother in me is a little sad. I haven't had motherly feelings about
you for a long time but this afternoon as you and your father talked
the mother in me took control of my emotions. You're about to leave
the nest and I'll miss you terribly."

"I'll only be an hour's drive away and now that I have a car I can
drive home on weekends if you can't come and visit me."

"That's not the problem. I've been two women for you for so long and
until now both interests were the same. As a mother I want to see you
have a good life with a wife and children but the other woman in me
doesn't want to let go. I feel like two people at war with
themselves."

I reached over and found Mom's hand and held it in mine; bucket seats
are not romantic. "Mom, I think I have some say in this and right now
I have no plans for rose covered cottages. I'm happy just as we are."

"I guess we'll just have to live for the moment and let the future
bring what it will. Paul, if the time ever comes when you want to
marry I'll do my damnedest to just be Mom."

"What if I don't want you to be just Mom?"

"That puts us back in square one doesn't it?"

"I'm happy with that.", I replied. "Want to stop somewhere for
dinner?"

"Burgers and fries would hit the spot right now."

The rest of the drive home was a pleasant run through the night. Mom
had been tense and distant earlier but after our short conversation
and dinner it had dissipated. We laughed and joked about road signs
and played a game of making up phrases from the three letter groups on
license plates. HGT became, "Her good time." or PQK was, "Pretty
quirky kid." Mom had a talent for making up games to pass the time.

The weekend before enrollment Mom and I loaded both cars with my
things and drove to State. Mom spent all afternoon helping me put
things away and arranging the apartment. A quick trip to the
supermarket stocked the place with edibles. I was in my first home
away from home.

Mom invited the older couple over for coffee late that afternoon and
they were amazed at the change that had taken place. They told us
tales of former tenant's antics and joked about the trials of a
landlord in a college town. A cordial note had been struck and I hoped
we could maintain the friendly atmosphere as long as I was a tenant.

How can I describe that last weekend before Mom went home? I was
excited about the coming week and starting college. Mom had been
absolutely correct about being two people the other night. One moment
she was a mother who was letting go of a son and the next she was a
lover facing a separation from her beloved. Whichever woman she was I
held her and tried to comfort her. At times she just needed holding
and at others she was an insatiable lover. I was anxious to just get
on with whatever the next week would bring and it was a trial of my
patience trying to comfort her.

Mom left late Sunday night and I was alone. I went to bed and
immediately missed her presence beside me. I remembered my impatience
of a few hours earlier and felt guilty; even a crying Mom to hug would
be welcome now as I lay alone in a mostly empty bed. Finally I dropped
off into a fitful sleep and tossed and turned until morning.

My week was filled with Career Counselors, interviews, and waits in
line to enroll in this class or that. Each new class had a list of
books and supplies that I would need. I made three trips to the
bookstore and came out loaded each time. Mom had thoughtfully bought a
bookshelf for the apartment and by Wednesday it was mostly full. I had
made a huge dent in my bank account; I would have to be thrifty for
the rest of the month.

I called Mom that evening and we discussed my schedule. I had gotten
every class I wanted plus another my counselor had suggested. Mom
commiserated with me about my course load and we discussed the
weekend. I had a meeting tomorrow with the Track Coach at 1:00 PM and
I told her I would be free after that. We decided that I would drive
home as soon as I was free. After the usual I miss you and I love you
I hung up and was faced with my lonely apartment again. Three days had
made me homesick and I missed Mom terribly.

The meeting with the coach was not what I expected; it was more like a
scene out of a gung-ho military movie. In very loud and certain terms
he told us what was expected if we wished to continue in this school
under scholarship. We were expected to stay in shape, run every day,
and not cut Phys-Ed classes. If our grades fell to failing we would be
on the street. He minced no words; the track team didn't have the
budget that football and basketball had so we would have to make it on
our own without tutors. So much for coddled college athletes; next
Tuesday we would have our first evaluation session.

The drive home was filled with anticipation of what waited for me at
the other end. Four nights away from Mom and I was beside myself. She
had left on business trips for longer periods but that was different.
I was sleeping in our bed and living in a house surrounded by our
things. Now I was living in a strange apartment and she was sixty
miles away. It was an hour and a half drive on a bad day but it might
as well be halfway across the country during the week.

This weekend set the pattern for all my weekends at home. We spent
time together and usually spent some time with Coach and Betty if they
were free. We were naturally a very private couple and for all intents
and purposes a devoted mother and son. 

When Mom was busy I would go over to Betty's and keep her and Coach
company. Betty, Coach, and I became close friends. They had always
been like a second family to me but as I matured an adult friendship
developed between us. I liked to have conversations with Betty and we
would spend hours in her kitchen just talking if Coach was away. 

Betty wrote poetry for a hobby and we would sit at her kitchen table
and I would listen as she read to me. Coach would tease me good
naturedly about the poetry for Betty had never shared it with him.
Betty would reply that I was her young lover and understood her
scribbles. We would all have a good laugh together. I felt at home
with Coach and Betty.

Mom would visit me on some weekends but usually I would drive to
Capitol City. If she had business in town she would stay with me for a
few days. She was travelling more since I had moved and we had less
time together. As my Freshman year passed we had put a little distance
between us. 

We spent a couple of weeks with Ben and Pat at the lake early that
summer and I renewed my friendship with Marcie. She was all pumped up
over a boyfriend and I was happy for her. She asked if I would
continue to write to her and I assured her that I would answer her
letters. Ben and I did a lot of fishing and we ate trout until we were
all tired of fish.

When we got home from the lake Mom and I kicked back for another week.
I sensed that she had something on her mind and was reluctant to talk
about whatever it was. We were spending a lazy afternoon in the
backyard when I decided to draw her out.

Without preamble I asked, "Mom, what's bothering you? Don't tell me
that everything is all right for I know you better than that."

"I have a big decision to make about something and I don't know what
to do about it. I've been waiting for the right moment to talk to you
and I guess this is as good a time as any. Paul, what if I moved away
from Capitol City to the east coast?"

"I guess the only question I can ask is why?"

"I've been offered the directorship of the southeast district. I have
to make a decision one way or the other in a couple of weeks. I want
to take the job but I don't want to leave you."

This was the last thing I had been expecting. What could I say? I
would miss her terribly but I couldn't let that stand in her way. Mom
had put blood and sweat into her career, first to support us and then
because she was good at what she did. I loved this woman every way it
was possible to love a woman and I didn't want to become a millstone
that dragged her down. We had both put too much effort into her career
for me to be selfish and want to hold her too close.

I got out of the hammock and went over to the chaise and gave her a
hug as I said, "Congratulations Mom." I sat beside her and asked,
"When can you leave?"

"Mid July is the earliest; they want me to be settled in before we
begin buying product for the Christmas Season."

"Do it and I can help you get moved before fall term starts. I'll miss
you."

"I'll miss you too but you can visit me on holidays and I can arrange
to take business trips now and again."

"I'll graduate in three years and then we can be together again."

"A lot can happen in three years.", Mom said. "Perhaps we'll find a
way to make a life apart. As much as I love and need you I still want
you to have a normal life with children. I want you to make me a
grandmother not a mother again.", she said laughing.

There was no rational reply to that and I shut up. I had gotten used
to living by myself and it wouldn't be much harder to learn to live
with long separations. I didn't want to separate from Mom but we both
knew that it would have to happen sometime.

"Paul, will you be my lover as long as it doesn't violate someone's
trust?"

"Try and keep me away.", I answered.

The words that formed the foundation for separating our lives were so
easy to say but I knew that it would be difficult to carry out the
actuality. We were still lovers but the common goals that we had
worked toward had diverged and things would be forever different
between us. We had been like Siamese twins and the separation would be
painful.

The summer was tumultuous with the details of moving and Mom's job
change. The confusion generated by all the problems of moving put our
emotions on the back burner. We just tried to get through each day as
it came. Somehow we survived and watched as the moving van pulled away
from the house. 

Mom's new job took her to Atlanta and the bustle of the new south. We
drove across the country and my western eyes were overwhelmed by the
never-ending green of the east coast. After the sere vegetation of the
desert the east seemed like a jungle.

We found Mom a nice house and settled her in. I had to get back and
start fall semester so too soon we were standing in the airport saying
goodbye. For once we kissed like lovers in public and I boarded my
flight to Capitol City.

On the flight back I tried to recall the events that led up to this
moment but I couldn't remember the details. The only parts I could
remember with any clarity were the intimate moments Mom and I had
spent together in the last days. These memories would have to suffice
until Thanksgiving. I was going to be alone for a long time.

Betty met my plane and took me to her house to get my car. I wanted to
leave for State immediately but she asked me to spend a few days with
them. She and Coach kept me busy and entertained as I adjusted to my
new circumstances. When I left for State they made me promise to visit
on weekends when I was free.

School again and all that implied. I became immersed in my studies and
managed to keep busy most of the time. Mom called me on Sunday
mornings and we would talk for a while but it wasn't the same. I
missed her nearness and her special touch. She alluded to missing our
unique moments together and promised me a special treat when she came
west in November.

Coach and Betty invited me to spend a three day weekend with them and
I drove over on Friday night. We had a wonderful time barbecuing in
their backyard with many of their friends from school. Monday morning
Betty and I had a long talk together when Coach had to take care of
some things at school. I was fortunate to have her for a friend. 

She and Mom had been very close despite the difference in their ages.
Now that closeness had been transferred to me and I had become her
confidante. She and Coach had married when she was nineteen and had
been married for six years. Coach had found out that he was sterile
from a bout with the mumps as a child so they had no children. Coach
had his track team and she usually became involved to fill the
emotional vacuum of no children of their own.

Mom flew in the weekend before Thanksgiving and surprised me. I was
sitting home Saturday morning when she knocked on my door. She had
taken a red eye special out of Atlanta Friday night and drove up in a
rental car. It was like magic for I had been fantasizing about her
visit when she arrived. It was much later before I had time to get her
bags from the car.

Mom had become the very hard bitten executive in the past few months.
She was still warm and loving in private but her public persona had
changed. She dressed in severe business suits and her mannerisms were
crisp with no wasted motion. I would hate to have to deal with her in
any capacity except as her son and lover. When we were alone she was
just as she had been before and we spent the whole weekend making up
for lost time. I had classes on Monday and Tuesday and afterward we
went to Capitol City to have Thanksgiving dinner with Coach and Betty.


We spent the weekend together in my apartment exploring our passion.
No matter how tough she had become she was still powerless when I gave
her my special kiss and took that half inch of tender flesh between my
lips. We were two practiced lovers who knew each other's desires.
Nothing had changed there but we were not the same people who had
parted last summer.

I put Mom on an airplane Sunday afternoon and stopped by to see Coach
and Betty before I drove back to State. Coach wasn't home but Betty
invited me in and poured me a cup of coffee in the kitchen. We sat at
the table and I listened to Betty chatter on about local gossip. I
gave a positive or negative response when necessary.

Finally Betty said, "I guess I'm alone here with you in my kitchen.
Care to share with me what's bothering you Paul?"

"I don't know; I guess it's because Mom seemed a little distant and
different. I can't put my finger on any one thing but somehow she's
changed."

"Yes, she's changed but that's only half of it. You've changed also;
you are maturing very fast now and she's adapting to a new set of
challenges. You're both different people now. She's still your Mom;
just accept the changes and get on with what you have to do."

"You're right as usual but it comes as a shock."

"I can imagine, you and your mother were very close and it will be
difficult for you to cut her apron strings but cut them you must if
you are ever going to have a life independent of her."

Betty's words stung me like a lash of a whip but they were true. What
kind of life could I have with mother? I hadn't really thought about
it before but I knew that I would have to give it some serious thought
soon. Time to file this conversation away for another time when I
could do some serious thinking. I wasn't being very good company in my
present mood.

"Betty, you always get to the center of things. Let's put that subject
away and talk about the foibles of your neighbors."

She laughed and began a tirade about the people who had bought our old
house. Sometime later Coach came home and joined us in the kitchen. We
talked until late and I drove back to State in the wee hours.

My Christmas trip to Atlanta was just short of a disaster. Mom and I
seemed to have different opinions on every subject. She paraded me
around and let everyone see her son the honor student and track star.
I hated that. I would have rather been just Paul without the addition
of my accomplishments. When we were alone I accused her of using me as
a trophy son and we had a violent argument. Afterward we had a tearful
reconciliation and buried our differences in the bedroom. The bedroom
was the only enjoyable part of the trip. We could still work magic
with each other's bodies and did every opportunity we could get.

It was with relief I boarded a plane for Capitol City. Mom and I had
parted on a loving note but we both knew our longstanding affair was
over. Good sex is not the sole basis for a love affair. There has to
be an intellectual connection and we had lost that. I hoped that we
would find a mother and son relationship sometime in the future but
for now we were better off apart.

Betty met me at the airport and took me home with her. I had a few
days before I had to be back at State and she and Coach asked me to
stay with them. I enjoyed their company and especially needed to be
around someone as lively as Betty after my Christmas with Mom.

I helped Coach inventory equipment one day and got a look at my old
school gym. It brought back memories of other times, happier times.
The next day I helped Betty with her after holiday cleaning and it
reminded me of the times when Mom and I were struggling to survive. I
was in a blue funk and Betty noticed.

After lunch Batty and I sat in her kitchen and talked around the main
subject. Finally an exasperated Betty said, "You and you Mom had a
fight, didn't you?"

"Yes we did. We couldn't seem to agree about anything."

"Give her a call and apologize for being so mule headed."

"Betty, she was as much at fault as I was. Why should I apologize to
her?"

"She's your mother and you only get one of those. If you make the
first move she can apologize for her mistakes without getting her
pride hurt."

"What about my pride?"

"You can be proud and miserable or swallow a little pride and make
things right. Call her right now and get it over with." Betty's tone
brooked no argument.

When Mom's voice came over the phone she sounded crisp and
business-like but when I said hello she immediately became emotional.
I apologized for being wrong-headed and she said it was her fault not
mine. When she found out that I was not in my apartment she said to
call her back as soon as I got home and we could talk our differences
privately. We said our good-byes and I hung the phone up and put down
a heavy load.

"Feel better?", Betty asked.

"You were right as usual. I feel like I just laid down a heavy load."

"You two had a lover's quarrel. It's not easy for either person to say
I'm sorry after one of those."

When Betty's words registered I sat there numb with shock written all
over my face. How could Betty know about us? Did she know about our
private life? 

"Don't look so dumbfounded; I've known about your little secret for a
long time. You and your Mom were almost perfect but I know both of you
and I visited your house. Your room looked unused and body language
gave me the rest of the story. I was a little shocked at first but I
like your Mom and I like you. I came to the conclusion that it was
none of my business and I didn't want to lose two good friends. No one
else has a clue and your secret is safe with me. I think it best if
you don't tell your Mom that I know."

"What do I say now?", I managed to say through my shock.

"Nothing, that's a private matter between you and Evelyn. I only
mentioned it so I could give you some good advice that you can accept.
If you didn't know I was in on your little secret you would assume
that I didn't know what I was talking about and forget everything I
said. Right?"

"Yes, you're right."

We talked the whole afternoon and for the first time I was open and
relaxed with another person besides my mother. I didn't know up to
this time how much I had been holding back in my relationships with
other people. Sitting in Betty's warm, snug kitchen I made my first
real friend. 

Mom and I had a long talk on the phone and we mutually decided that we
should end our affair; it was time to move on. Over time we would find
a new relationship but the air was clear between us.

As the spring semester wore on I began to date girls my age. Somehow
we never seemed to connect. One girl said that I was nineteen going on
fifty after spending the night in my apartment. It must have been a
terrible night for her; it was embarrassing for me. I couldn't get
beyond the preliminaries. Nothing she did could get me aroused.
Luckily she enjoyed oral sex or the evening would have been a total
disaster.

I continued to date but I never invited any of my dates to my
apartment again. One evening like that was enough. I figured that in
time I would meet a girl who excited me and until then I would not try
to force anything. I was back to magazines in the bathroom.

I spent spring break with Coach and Betty. We had a nice time and I
could keep my training up. Coach didn't run with me and seemed a
little peaked. He picked my brain for training tips that the coaches
at State were using. Betty was excluded from these conversations and
when Coach wasn't around monopolized my time.

We discussed Mom's bombshell she had delivered a few days before. She
was going to be married in June. Betty seemed to be more concerned
about how I felt than about the coming wedding. When she was convinced
that I was not going into another blue funk she gossiped and joked in
her normal breezy way. As things worked out I was unable to attend
Mom's big day.

I had a moderately good track season and won a couple of races but it
was clear that I would never be a world class runner. I had begun to
put on weight and bulk out. My coach at State tried me in different
events but my best was still the mile. Mother Nature had decided that
I was going to be stocky and not a lean running machine. 

I applied for an academic scholarship and was accepted. That cleared
the way for some high school athlete to attend college. My altruism
cost me a free summer for I had to take summer semester to satisfy the
requirements of my scholarship.

When I broke the news to Mom she was disappointed that I would be
unable to be at her wedding but she promised to visit me after she and
her new hubby got back from their honeymoon.

Betty called me just before the Independence Day break and asked me to
come to see Coach. I was mystified by her request for she usually just
asked me to come visit. Why had she specifically asked for me to visit
Coach? Oh well, I'd know in a few days.

Nothing could have prepared me for the news that awaited me that
weekend. I drove down early Saturday morning and arrived in time for
breakfast. Coach and I sat at the kitchen table and got caught up on
the news while Betty bustled around and put together a country
breakfast. After breakfast Coach and I had coffee in the backyard
alone. Coach began to tell me what the big news was as soon as we were
comfortable.

"Paul, I have a big favor to ask of you. Things are going to be a
little mixed up for the next few months and I am not going to be able
to look after things for Betty. I've always taken care of our business
and she's going to need help. Will you do that?"

What was he talking about? Where was he going to be that Betty would
need my help? Totally confused I answered, "Of course I'll do anything
to help you or Betty but why would she need my help?"

"There's no easy way to tell you this but straight out. I have cancer;
it's a very aggressive type and there is only a slim chance that I
will survive. The doctors give me a one in five chance. The treatment
is long and painful but I'm going to try it for Betty's sake. I go in
the hospital Monday and I wanted you to be here to give her comfort
and support. You and Evelyn are the closest thing to family either of
us have; Betty's an orphan and my parents were killed in an accident
several years ago. I know it's a hell of a thing to ask of you with
all you have going on right now but I don't have anyone else to turn
to."

"Coach, the two of you have always been there when I needed anything.
You have been like a real father to me; I'll do whatever is necessary
and consider it a son's privilege."

"Thanks Paul."

Nothing more was said about what my role would be. After a while Betty
joined us and we made plans for Coach's stay in the hospital. The rest
of the weekend we tried to have fun but Monday morning's appointment
cast gloom over all of us.

Coach came through the surgery with flying colors and the doctors
assured us that he had a good chance with a course of follow-up
chemotherapy. We spent every moment up until the nurses ran us off at
his bedside.

We drove home and tried to get some rest but gave up on sleep early in
the morning. We were back at the hospital as soon as they would let us
visit and spent the whole day with Coach. He was mending well and they
told us he could come home in a couple of days. I had to be in class
Wednesday so I drove back to State that evening but promised to return
as soon as I got out of class Friday.

That weekend we discussed chemotherapy and Betty filled me in on what
the doctors had told her. We sat in the backyard while Coach took a
nap on Saturday afternoon and Betty gave me the good news and the bad
news.

The good news was Coach had made remarkable progress after surgery but
the bad news was his course of treatment over the next few months
would be more terrible than the surgery. He would be sick for days
after a session and he would lose all his hair. By spring they would
know if he had a chance. This kind of cancer sometimes responded well
to chemo or came back with a vengeance. If it came back there was
nothing that could be done but make him comfortable as possible with
drugs.

Fall semester began and I was almost over my head with my course load.
If it hadn't been for Betty helping me with some of my reports and
written assignments I don't know how I would have survived. I helped
her with Coach and she would write some of my assignments as she sat
with him at the hospital on a laptop computer. I would edit what she
had written before I turned it in. In return I helped her with
housework and generally made myself useful on weekends. Betty was
impressed with my housekeeping skills. I was equally impressed with
her wit and writing skills.

The weeks went by in a blur and Thanksgiving sneaked up on me before I
realized it. Mom wanted me to visit with her and her husband but Coach
was having a bad time so I promised to visit over Christmas break and
spend a couple of weeks. She was disappointed but reluctantly agreed
it was best for me to stay here.

Coach was in the hospital recovering after one of his many chemo
treatments and wouldn't get out until the weekend. Betty and I had
planned to spend the day with him but he had a surprise for us; he had
one of the nurses make Thanksgiving Dinner reservations for the two of
us at his favorite restaurant. He insisted that we go out and not come
back until the next morning. The nurse assured us that she would beep
Betty if there was any change in Coach's condition.

When we arrived at the restaurant I noticed one of my classmates was
there with a large crowd of people. As we passed their table I waved
in recognition and he waved back. Betty and I were seated at a table
for two in a quiet part of the dining room where we could talk and
have some privacy. We ordered dinner and worked hard at having a good
time.

The specter of Coach in his hospital bed was at the table with us but
we managed to enjoy our meal and actually have a laugh or two. Neither
of us had any free time since early in the summer and this was a rare
treat. Try as we might to talk about anything but what was uppermost
on our minds we always drifted back to Coach and his fight.

When we finished dinner the waiter gave me a note. It was an
invitation to join my classmate and his family at their table for a
drink. I gave the note to Betty and asked, "Would you like to accept
the invitation?"

"Why not, it would be rude to refuse and we're not good company for
each other alone. We only have one thing to talk about."

When we joined my classmate Tom introduced us all around and poured
champagne. Soon we were engaged in conversation with a family that had
never met a stranger. After a couple of glasses of champagne Betty and
I were able to put our problems on the back burner and enjoy the
company of these outgoing people.

Someone suggested that we go dancing and Tom invited us I to join
them. "Would you like to go Betty?", I asked.

"I don't know if I should.", she replied.

"Coach told us not to come back until tomorrow and the hospital will
beep if anything happens. I don't know if I remember how to dance.", I
said.

"Why don't you go without me Paul."

"Who would I dance with? I don't think I could get a date at this late
hour on Thanksgiving. Why not come along? You need a break worse than
I do."

"Let me call the hospital and check on Coach; if he's OK I guess it'll
be alright."

In a few moments Betty returned laughing about something Coach had
said. "I got marching orders.", she said, "I'm to go dancing, have a
drink or three which means get a little drunk, and try not to make a
fool of myself."

"That doesn't exclude being a little foolish and having fun does it?",
I asked.

"If it does then I guess I'll have to disobey one of my orders.",
Betty replied laughing.

She grew more animated after we arrived at the club with our noisy
group. We danced several times and then someone out of our crowd asked
her to dance.

Tom and I were sitting alone at our table when he said, "Paul, you
have great taste in women; Betty's a classy lady; I can see why you
don't date too many of the girls at school."

I almost told him about Coach but this was a fun party so why talk
about gloomy things so I replied, "Yeh, we've been friends for a long
time."

Tom's words planted a seed in my mind. Betty had always been just
Betty the coach's wife. As the evening progressed I found myself
holding her closer as we danced and holding her hand a little longer
when I escorted her from the dance floor. I became acutely aware that
she was an attractive woman. Things were complicated enough and I
didn't need an additional complication. What if I did something to
offend her?

The witching hour came and we all piled out of the club and said noisy
good-byes in the parking lot. Betty and I got in my car and started
the drive home. Betty took my hand and held it as we drove home.

"Thanks for a wonderful time Paul. I needed to get out and be with
people for a while. Coach is a wonderful husband and I am going to
have to thank him for thinking of me when we see him tomorrow." She
leaned over and gave me a little peck on the cheek before she returned
to her side of the car.

The next day Betty went to visit Coach and I stayed home to study and
clean house. When she returned I had everything shipshape and all the
laundry done. I could see the surprised look on her face when she
walked in. "Paul the house looks wonderful. Did you spend all day
housecleaning? You were supposed to study not this. I was going to
clean up tonight.", she chided me.

"I wanted Coach to have a nice place to come home to and for selfish
reasons I wanted you to be free to help me with my studies tonight."

"Fair enough, I'd rather help you than do laundry anytime.", she
replied and gave me a rough and ready hug.

She poured us both coffee and sat down across the table and began to
type a report from my rough notes; I struggled with equations and
graphs for math. Now and again Betty would read me something she had
written for my approval or we would discuss a point that I hadn't
developed clearly. We knocked off about midnight and sat talking for a
few minutes.

"Paul, thanks for everything you've done. I don't know how I would
have made it without you these last few months."

"You and Coach are my closest friends; I'm only doing what a friend is
expected to do. Were the shoe on the other foot you two would be there
for me."

"I guess we would. I can't help thinking I'm going to lose him and
then where will I be?"

"He'll get over this and things will return to normal; you'll see. If
the worst should happen I'll still be here to help you."

"That's the problem, I feel like we are cheating you out of a part of
your life. You should be enjoying your college years not caring for a
sick man and his depressed wife."

"Perhaps I want to care for you.", I said. After I said the words
their meaning dawned on me. 

Betty sat quiet for a few minutes before replying, "I think I would
feel the same if you were in my shoes."

The next morning we brought Coach home and made him comfortable. He
was a changed man in my eyes. He had lost weight and his clothes were
too large; he looked like a shrunken man sitting in his favorite
chair. He had lost his hair and Kojack he wasn't. He deflected any
questions with a constant stream of jokes about his appearance. In his
extremity he radiated good cheer and tried to be his entertaining old
self.

We watched a football game in the afternoon and he slept through most
of it only waking now and again to ask what the score was. The old
Coach would have analyzed every play and picked out every minor
mistake made by both teams. He had taught me how to watch a game and
enjoy it now he was just going through the motions.

Late Sunday evening when I was leaving for State Betty walked me to
the door and gave me a big hug as I prepared to leave. "Thanks from
both of us for a wonderful holiday. Are you coming back next weekend?"

"If you want and if you will help me with some of my assignments."

"I want and I will; how's that for an answer?"

I left her question unanswered and walked to my car. I drove back to
State and my lonely apartment. 

Between Thanksgiving and Christmas break I spent every weekend with
Betty and Coach. He didn't seem to be improving but he wasn't getting
any worse either. We fell into a pattern. Friday night Coach would
question me about my week and tell me about his, Saturday morning
Betty and I would go grocery shopping together and have lunch at some
little fast food place where we could talk privately about Coach's
condition, Saturday night Betty and I would work on my assignments
with Coach looking on, and Sunday afternoon Coach and I would watch a
football game together while Betty went out alone just to get away for
a short while. Betty always met me with a sparkle in her eyes and
wistfully bid me goodbye.

When Christmas break rolled around I drove to Capitol City and spent a
couple of days with Coach and Betty before I flew to Atlanta. I was
nervous about meeting Mom and her husband. When Betty and I were alone
I discussed my fears with her.

"Paul, you and your Mom have carried on a charade for years; just
continue with it. If your mother hasn't told her husband about the two
of you then keep the secret. If she has then you just play it by ear.
Give her husband a chance to be himself; you might like him since she
does."

I took Betty's advice and it proved sound. When I got off the airplane
and met Mom in the terminal she was alone. She ran up and gave me a
bear hug that almost cracked my ribs and planted a sloppy kiss on me
that must have smeared lipstick from ear to ear. The problem was I
returned it just as enthusiastically. The old fire was still there
ready to break out if given half a chance. Mom only knew one way to
kiss me and she did that in spades. She hung on me like a long lost
lover and babbled about my trip and how much she missed me until we
reached the car.

As she drove home from the airport she began to talk about her
husband, John, and fill me in on what I should know, "I've never told
him about us and as far as he's concerned we're just mother and son.
He's very nice and I think you'll like him. He wanted us to have a
little time alone before he met you. How's Betty and Coach?"

I gave her a rundown on the situation and how I had been helping them.
Mom nodded now and again in agreement with the things I said. When I
finished telling her about the problems in Capitol City we drove in
silence for a short while.

Out of nowhere Mom said, "We will have to be careful; there were
sparks when I kissed you hello. Have you missed your old mother?"

"Yes, I guess I have and yes, there are sparks. Will they ever go
away?"

"I don't know Paul; I guess we will just have to be a little less
familiar with each other or the pot might boil over."

"It's not just the two of us anymore."

We finished the drive in silence each lost in our private thoughts. I
was glad Mom had remarried or I wouldn't have had the strength to let
her go. 

I liked John from the moment we met. He was unassuming and friendly
from the first handshake. He called me Paul and told me to call him
John. We had a drink and just sat around for a while getting to know
each other. He was genuinely interested in me and what I was doing in
school. 

When Mom told him about Betty, Coach, and the role they had played in
our lives he expressed real concern. As I watched the two of them I
could see they really loved and respected each other. I was happy for
Mom; she deserved it. I thought I would be jealous but when I examined
my feelings it wasn't there. 

I was still attracted to Mom physically and I would have to be
careful. I think my physical attraction had become entwined with my
normal affection for my mother. Perhaps it would always be this way
but whatever I still loved Mom as a mother and more. When we were
alone I would just have to act if there was another person present. 

The holiday went well and we had a wonderful Christmas together. John
and Mom got me a nice laptop computer and all the software I could
possibly need for school. I couldn't thank them enough.

When the time came to leave I was sincere when I said I would miss
them. I hoped the future allowed me to get to know my stepfather
better.

Late January brought bad news; Coach's cancer was spreading. The
doctors told Betty and me that there was nothing more they could
reasonably do except make him comfortable. They gave him two months on
the outside and weeks on the inside. When we talked to him he seemed
resigned and at peace with himself. If the test of a man is how he
accepts death then Coach had given me the privilege of having had a
great man for a friend. His primary concern was for Betty and instead
of talking about himself he planned for Betty's future. He told her
not to sign anything before I had a chance to read it and to seek my
opinion on anything she wasn't absolutely certain about.

I left them and walked outside in the evening darkness to think about
my loss alone. I had spent practically every spare moment with them
since Mom had moved to Atlanta; what would I do now? What would Betty
do after Coach was gone? So many questions and so few answers.
Whatever happened I would help Betty settle her affairs and face the
future as it came.

Coach picked a rainy March day to take his departure. Betty and I came
home from the hospital in numbed shock. We sat at the kitchen table
and drank endless cups of coffee and talked in disconnected sentences.
Tomorrow we would have to plan his funeral. I called Mom and she said
she and John would fly out first thing in the morning.

Somehow we got through the next days. Betty was like stone during the
whole ordeal. John proved to be an excellent organizer and had
everything tied up with no loose ends. After the funeral we saw them
off at the airport and I drove Betty home.

When we walked through the front door her iron control broke and she
collapsed into a sobbing heap in the hall. I was at a loss and all I
could think to do was carry her to the sofa and sit quietly by
offering whatever comfort I could. Later I helped her off to bed and
left her alone staring at the ceiling. Seeing Betty in this much pain
hurt more than the loss of my friend.

The next morning I prepared breakfast and later fixed a tray for
Betty. As I was working in the kitchen I remembered other mornings
when I had made trays for Mom for very different reasons. I knocked on
her bedroom door and she invited me in. The surprise and delight on
her face when she saw the tray made the effort worthwhile.

"Why breakfast in bed; do you consider me an invalid?"

"No, I just thought you might enjoy a change."

"After yesterday I guess anything will be a change. I'm sorry I was
such a bother last night."

"You were no bother; I felt helpless to see you in so much pain and
not be able to help you."

"You did everything exactly right and your presence gave me the
strength to get through the night. He wanted me to be strong and I did
my best in public but it all came crashing in when I got home and knew
he would never be here again. He admired your mother for her strength
and he knew you were a part of that. I guess it's the reason he wanted
you to help me settle up his affairs. If I get weepy again just turn
me over your knee and give me a good spanking."

Sitting in her bedroom watching her have breakfast in bed brought back
memories of other morning in other times. Unbidden, erotic thoughts
surfaced and I had to guard what I said and did very carefully. This
was Betty and not Mom.

I sat and sipped a cup of coffee as we chatted about other things and
other times. When she finished her tray she shooed me out and said she
would join me as soon as she got dressed. I carried the tray to the
kitchen and washed up the breakfast things.

When she joined me I was working on assignments I had to make up and
she sat down and mentally rolled up her sleeves and pitched in to
help. By Sunday afternoon we had everything caught up and were both
thoroughly fed up with books and homework.

When I got ready to leave she asked me if I would come down over the
weekend.

"If you really want me to come I will."

"I'd like to have the company. I'll be busy with the lawyer this week
and I want your opinion on what he tells me."

"I'll be down Friday night; call me if you need to talk about
anything."

She gave me the traditional hug and little peck on the cheek as I
turned to go.

As the weeks went by I spent almost every weekend at Betty's. Each
time I visited her it became a little harder to leave on Sunday
evening. One Friday we were sitting on the sofa watching TV. I put and
arm around her without thinking and drew her to my side. She didn't
resist or protest; she just sat beside me as if it was the most
natural thing to do. There had never been anything even remotely
romantic between us before but my feeling for Betty had been changing
since Tom's casual remark last Thanksgiving. 

Nothing Betty had done or said indicated she wanted to have a romantic
relationship with me but I couldn't continue to be around her as a
friend at arm's length. I had to have more of her or no Betty at all.
Until this moment I didn't know that I had fallen in love.

I tilted her face up to mine and kissed her for the first time full on
the lips. I could feel her whole body tremble in my arms. For a brief
second she seemed as if she was responding to me and then she suddenly
pulled away and moved to the other end of the sofa.

"Paul, I'm very fond of you but I don't think I'm ready for this just
yet. Can't we just be friends a little longer?"

"The Genie slipped out of the bottle a few moments ago Betty when I
realized that I was in love with you. I can't put the Genie back in
the bottle and I can't go back to where I was before."

"It's too early for me to start something like this. Give me a little
time and let me get my head together. I don't want to make a mistake
or do something to hurt you. You are my best friend on this planet and
I don't want to do something foolish."

I knew what I had to do. I couldn't stay in the same house with her
with my feelings like this. Reluctantly I said, "Betty, I have to
leave. I can't be this close to you alone without loving you. I have
to get out of here now or I will do something stupid. I love you and
when you get things straight in your mind give me a call; I'll be
waiting."

I went to the guest room and grabbed my bag. When I walked through the
living room Betty was still sitting on the sofa quietly crying. I
lifted her face and gave her a quick kiss before I left.

The drive home was filled with almost this and almost that. At every
exit on the highway I would slow to exit and turn back but at the last
moment I would pass it by. When I got home I almost called her but
hung the phone up before I finished dialing. Finally I threw myself in
bed and tried to sleep.

I must have dozed off for I was awakened by someone knocking. It was
still dark so I got out of bed and padded barefoot to the door and
opened it. Betty threw herself into my arms and almost bowled me over.
Astonished I managed to get the door closed and a light turned on.

"Can a stupid widow stay with you?", she asked.

"As long as she wants." I replied.



Epilog:

We were married in June after I graduated. At the wedding reception
Mom seemed a little distant and cold to Betty. On a hunch I told Betty
to go and quietly ask Mom how I liked my eggs. I watched as she made
her way through the crowd and whispered something in Mom's ear. Mom
seemed stunned for a moment before she answered, "Sometimes scrambled,
sometimes an omelet, but always moist." Then she hugged Betty and
roared with laughter. Later she hugged me and whispered in my ear, "I
know I'm a bitch so that must make you a son-of-a-bitch." She and
Betty have been fast friends ever since.