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JEAN16 hurt each other Now heres the



My sister Jean - Chapter 16

BillyG (hayden@mindless.com)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Jean's confession


It was a warm morning, the type of warmth you know will

precede a hot day. I was aware of a vague malaise, a sense of

lethargy that was rooted in the sameness of the last week of

uncharacteristic heat. Normally the cooling breezes of the

Pacific, ten or fifteen miles over the coastal range, held off

the valley heat. Must be some kinda low trapped right here, I

concluded.

Still, I was feeling a bit restless and decided to take a

hike into the Open Space District contiguous with our home. I

wondered idly if Jean'd like to go with me, but she wasn't in her

room and the downstairs was equally quiet. Grabbing a hiking

stick from the bamboo rack, I walked out on the trellised deck in

the back and found my mom and Jean sitting in the half-shade,

looking out over the pond. They were leaning toward each other,

apparently having a whispered conversation.

Both were wearing white shorts and T-shirts, probably I

thought, to play tennis. It wasn't the first time I'd observed

just how much alike they looked. Both were tan and fit, each

with long, attractive legs. And that surprised me, for I'd not

really thought of my mother in any way but as my mom.

"Hi, ladies. What's happenin'?"

mom hesitated a moment, finishing something she was telling

Jean and looked up. "Hi, yourself, dude. You look like you're

going to take a walk."

"Yeah. Anyone wanna walk with me?"

mom answered, "A little later perhaps? I'm too settled

right now."

Jean smiled and said, "Me too, Billy. A little later?"

It was never easy for me to hear "No" as an answer, but I

knew that's just the way it was this morning. I told myself it

didn't have anything to do with me; they just had other things on

their minds.

Looking up at the early morning sun over the Eucalyptus

trees to the east, I replied, "It's a little warm now. But it's

gonna be hotter'n the dickens in a few hours. You know me and

the heat. Think I'll go for it now. Catch you later."

I loved the miles of Open Space above our house and I'd

rather walk with someone, but in the face of my teenage-impaired

tolerance for delayed gratification, I just couldn't wait and

took off up the hill into the redwood grove. Even in the

relative cool of the morning, I seemed to seek out the shaded

spots as I unconsciously choose to walk down into the wooded

ravine rather than up to the open country.

I'd discovered this trail - I thought of it as mine - my

secret trail, until the Open Space people had widened it and made

it more attractive. At first I had a resentment. I just knew

that it'd be overrun with hikers now that it was no longer a

secret. I needed have worried. In the years since it'd been

open up, I'd not seen a single person. So it had again reverted

to being "my trail."

The stream at the bottom was running full and on an impulse,

I pulled off my boots and dropped my feet into the coolness of

the runoff. As often happens around the sound of running water,

soon I had to take a leak. I smiled at myself, standing

knee-deep in the stream, my dick out, watching the arc of my

stream as it splashed into the water.

"How pleasant," I thought, and closed my eyes, feeling the

breeze and listening to the forest sounds. An image of Jean and

my mom, tanned legs stretched out, flashed and without choosing,

I fell into that reverie. They were both very attractive women

and I'd become fascinated, even mesmerized, with my sister Jean

in the past year. Actually, fascination is not a strong enough

term. Our natural affection and apparent mutual horniness had

led us into "almost doin' it" several times but so far we'd

restricted ourselves, mostly just talking about it with an

occasional sexual foray into limited but very intimate touching.

Except for the time she gave me a blow job . . . or the time I

kissed her pussy. Yeah, I guess you could say that was a tad

more than intimate touching, huh?

I slowly became aware that I'd stopped peeing and was

standing there, holding a now-erect cock in my hand. "You're

hopeless, Billy," I concluded, "a hopeless horndog."

Turning back to get my boots, I stepped on a round river

rock that suddenly turned, dumping me on my ass in the stream.

"Shit!" It was summer, but the runoff was cold!

I got up slowly, looking down at my soaked shorts, water

running out of my shorts, down my legs and thought, "No way I'm

going for a long walk this way. Guess I'll go back and change."

Returning home, Jean and mom were no longer sitting on the

back deck, so I stripped off my wet clothes on the side deck and

before going in to change, I decided to take a soak in the hot

tub. "They must have gone to the tennis courts," I reasoned.

As I was folding back the cover of the tub, I heard the back

slider door open and then close followed by Mom's voice. I was

startled, not so much that I'd be caught bareassed - that was no

huge deal - although I don't think my mother had seen my bare

butt in a while. What startled me was a word or two I'd

overheard. Sounded like "something horny." I couldn't imagine

my mother and my sister having a conversation that included the

concept of horny. Shows how much I knew.

I stepped into the tub, making no effort to be quiet, but I

guess the noises I made were masked by their own conversation,

for they didn't acknowledge my presence as they settled into the

lawn chairs, just around the corner of the house from me.

The acoustics made no sense, but I was aware I could hear

them clearly, even the tinkle of ice in a glass. Just as I was

about to speak up to them, to let 'em know I was there, I heard

mom say, "So, how long has this been a problem?"

"The horny thing?" Jean asked.

"That's the topic, I think," mom replied with a smile in her

voice.

A chair scraped and then it was quiet for a long ten

seconds. mom was patient, I knew. Finally Jean replied, "Gee, I

don't know, but I've been aware of these, um . . . feelings for

the last couple of years.

Another pause, briefer. "But now it's . . ." She stopped.

"More intense?" mom offered.

"Yeah. Sure is. Sometimes it seems that's all I think

about."

"Some older people would say that's not a problem . . .

that's a blessing!" mom laughed. Then asked, "So then, what IS

the problem?"

"Golly, mom . . . you know. I'm, uh, itchy and restless and

I have these . . . you know, urges. And then I begin to think

I'm bad. That these thoughts are wrong. I just feel bad and I'm

all mixed up."

I heard the chair squeak and envisioned mom leaning over to

lay her hand on Jean's thigh. "Baby, we've talked a little about

this before, but I guess it's time to share in more detail.

Remember what I told you, girl? Those are natural feelings.

They're right and they're good. There's nothing dirty or wrong

about sexual feelings. It's your humanness shining through. Most

of the discomfort and emotional pain people experience about

sexual things arise in their own heads. Keep it in the forefront

of your mind, baby. Sex is not a moral issue."

"Mom, I get that. Or at least I think I do. I accept

myself and I'm happy to be a woman and I'm really happy that I

have you for a mom. It's just that . . . well . . . it's not an

intellectual thing. Cripes, it's not even an emotional thing!"

"What thing is it, baby?"

"It's a physical thing! You know. Horny!"

As if slapping her forehead, mom said, "Oh! I'm beginning

to get it. You're *horny*. I mean, *physically* horny, and it's

bothering you, right?"

Where was mom when I was suffering from an ingrown hard-on?

How come we never had this kinda talk? Probably because I never

told the truth, I thought as I sank deeper into the hot tub. I

*should* announce myself. This was sneaky. Yet, it was probably

too late to speak up now, I reasoned, so I just sat there quietly

and listened. My mind can rationalize almost anything.

"*Bothering* me is an understatement. I'm a nervous wreck

and don't know what to do about it."

"Does masturbation help?" asked mom reasonably.

"Sometimes." Then Jean laughed and added, "And then

sometimes it seems to just feed the fires!"

mom gave a wry laugh and said, "I know what that's like."

"You too?" Jean asked with a note of incredulity in her

voice.

"Well, it's not so bad now . . . but I remember . . ."

Jean interrupted, "So, what'd you DO? What do I do?"

"Baby, I've tried not to tell you now to live your life.

I've tried to give you principles by which to live. That's still

true. Just WHAT you do is up to you, but there *are* guiding

principles."

"Such as?"

"Remember I told you that among adults, sexual activity is

not a moral issue, that whatever they do is OK if they follow a

few rules. Remember the rules?"

"Uh . . . that we talk about it and not hurt each other?"

"Yes, that's part of it. There must be mutual consent. For

that to happen, you've *got* to talk about it. When I was young,

it seems that the rule was something like it's OK to do it, just

don't talk about it. Kinda the Braille approach to negotiation."

Interrupting again, Jean asked, "Are we talking about *doing

it*?"

mom laughed again, that throaty, sexy laugh, and said,

"Well, that's only *part* of it. We're talking about sexual

activity, whatever it is. Doing it - intercourse if you will -

is just one of the sexual activities to which I'm referring.

Actually, I'm talking in a broader sense. Whatever it is we do

with each other sexually, we need to talk about it, to negotiate.

We need to make sure it's OK and that we're on the same page.

Probably one of the biggest mistakes we make in human

relationships is to assume we know what the other person is

thinking, and then worse, to *act* as if our assumptions were

correct."

"OK, I'm with you so far. What else?"

"Of course, we need not to hurt each other, or allow

ourselves to be hurt."

"Hurt? Like in getting a disease? Or hurt as in physical

hurt?" Jean giggled. "Like spanking?"

"Both. We'll return to things like spanking in a minute,

but it's clear, I hope, that you've got to be very, very careful.

Sexually transmitted diseases *are* a big deal. You've got to be

willing to talk to your potential sexual partner about their

sexual history as well as your own. You have a right to ask for

proof of a recent AIDS test and, when you're sexually active,

you've got to be willing to show your own proof."

Then, signaled by her low laugh, I detected that mom was

switching mental gears.

"But what I was thinking about at the moment was sexual

*play*."

"Play?"

I knew what *I* thought of when sexual play came to mind,

but I couldn't imagine what my conservative mother was alluding

to.

I heard mom take a deep breath and then let it out slowly,

as if preparing to launch into a difficult topic.

"Baby, I always knew we'd have this conversation, but I

hadn't planned on it this soon. I kept putting it off, I suppose

waiting for the right moment. I guess this is it."

"What, mom?"

"I've always told you that we're only as sick as our

secrets, that honesty will set us free. Still, there are parts

about being an adult, and more, being a parent, that seem to

require some measure of restraint. I always thought I'd tell you

some things when you had a need to know."

"Mom! You're beating around the bush. That's not like you.

Like you always say to me, 'Spit it out.' You were talking about

sexual play. What do you mean?"

"Yes, play - as in erotic power exchange. You know, your

dad and I tease each other about this when we think you two

aren't around, but I know you've overheard us, haven't you?

"Uh . . . I guess . . . maybe a couple of times."

"A couple of times per week would be more like it," mom
suggested, laughing. Then, a little more seriously, she went on,

"Your dad is a very strong man, even a dominant man. I consider

myself a strong woman - and I am - but when your dad and I play,

he's the dominant partner, the Top if you will."

"And?"

"I meant to have this talk with you someday. Now appears

like a good time. When we play - and we play a lot, your Dad and

I - I enjoy being the little girl. I like to be told what to do.

Perhaps it gives me permission to do the naughty, the forbidden,

things I'd really like to do anyway. Then, I like to be tied up

at times. I love the feeling of helplessness. And - this is a

little embarrassing - I like to be spanked!"

"Really? Bare bottom? How embarrassing. Does it hurt?"

"No, baby, that's the point. It's pleasure. I love it.

It's a huge turn-on. The whole thing works only if there is trust

and love and understanding, and most important, communication.

Without that, we're left to our own imagination, and for me,

that's a dangerous place to hang out.

"Oh, if he struck me in anger, it would hurt. I'd really

hurt. But it's done with love and I love it . . . I love the

intense sensations. I once heard a woman describe herself as a

sensation slut and that gave me a shiver, because . . . well,

because I could relate."

"Wow. That's . . . uh, far out. I mean, that's really

neat, Mom! I had no idea. Tell me more."

"Baby, I'll tell you as much as you want to hear, but first

I want to get on with the principles of good sexual behavior,

OK?"

Rats! I thought my parents were so conservative that they'd

never done anything and now I was hearing of an exciting side of

their personalities of which I knew almost nothing. I wanted to

hear more.

"OK. No hurting then. Of course, that seems only right.

What's so difficult about that?"

"Usually not much, but sometimes we really have to look

within ourselves and question our motives . . . to be careful

we're not hurting someone when we think our motives are good. I

don't know about you, but my ego often wears blinders."

"Yeah, I can see how my ego gets in the way sometimes too.

What else?"

"Well, the next thing is a bit more abstract, but we've got

to be careful not to be exploitive."

"Mom, I know what "exploitive" means, but how's it apply in

this case?"

"Let me give you an example. Let's say you've agreed to

have sex with someone - and *having sex* doesn't necessarily mean

having intercourse. I regard all sexual activity as "having

sex." OK? A sexy conversation can be viewed as having sex.

Mutual masturbation can be viewed as having sex."

"OK, I get it . . . it's a definitional thing."

"Yes, and for purposes of our conversation, that's how we'll

define it. Anyway, let's say you've talked this over with

someone, you both want it and you agree you -'re not going to

hurt each other. Now here's the rub. You're 18 and he's . . .

let's say he's 12."

"Mother!"

"Get off your high horse, miss. It's happened. Lot's of

times. But that doesn't make it right. He's too young. He might

think he knows what he wants, but he can't really know. If you

had consensual sex with him, that'd be exploitive."

Jean laughed and said, "Alright. So I can't get it on with

Johnny."

Johnny was the boy next door. At 15 he was a year younger

than I. I held my breath.

"Johnny's a cute kid and he *looks* older than he is. Heck,

he looks older than Billy, but I know he's not as mature. I'd

put Johnny on the borderline . . . as least as far as age was

concerned. But I'd not pick someone like him for different

reasons. I think of him as a kiss-and-tell kind of guy. You've

got a reputation to take care of, girl."

"OK. Johnny's out." Jean then laughed and added, "He

doesn't blow my skirt up anyway."

By this time, I was almost frozen in my fascination. I

couldn't believe how open and candid my mom and Jean were being

with each other. I wished I could be that way with my dad, but I

thought of him as too stern, too busy, too unavailable. I

wondered if mom would ever let me chat with her? Cripes, every

time I thought I was so sophisticated, so cool and knowledgeable,

I discovered how little I knew. There was probably a lesson in

there somewhere, but I was too caught up in the excitement of my

eavesdropping.

mom continued, "Let's not get too abstract here. We're

talking about *your* problem. What I'm trying to tell you is

this. Being sexual is OK. More than OK, it's good. You've just

got to be careful in life. You've got to take care of yourself

as well as be respectful of those you care for. This make

sense?"

"Hmmmm . . . I guess, in the abstract. I mean, I'm so darn

horny and masturbating does help, but not for long. I feeling a

deep need for . . . well, I not really sure for what, but I think

I'm ready to start letting down my defenses around the boys."

"Baby, it's been my experience that beyond some emotional

point, my well-considered intentions go out the window. My, uh .

. . my pussy thinks for me. So you might think you're *starting*

to lower your defenses and suddenly you'll find it's a done-deed,

a fiat accompli. Now, I'm not saying that there's anything really

wrong about that, save for a couple of big considerations. Like

sexually transmitted diseases - which can affect anyone - and the

really big one, pregnancy."

"God, mom . . . I wasn't thinking . . ."

"That's just it, baby. You weren't thinking and when *it*

happens, it won't happen because you've given it a lot of

thought. Believe me, it happens! And our awareness is largely

after the fact. Our denial is nothing more than a

head-in-the-sand stance, a refusal to see life as it really is."

"You sound like you've been there."

Jean said this with a provocative tone of voice, as if

daring mom to tell the truth. And then I wondered, "Had *my*

mother really experienced anything like this, or was she

preaching from some how-to book?"

mom paused, then replied, "I have. It's no big secret and

I'll share it with you, but not right now. It's tough enough

staying on the topic. And the topic is: Sex and Birth Control!

It may not be clear to you, but it is to me. It's time for you

to see a gynecologist - you can see mine if you want - and get on

the pill."

"Gee, that sounds like I'm admitting I'm planning on, you

know . . ."

"No, it's admitting that you're a sexual being, a human

being and it's just good sense. Jean, you're just like me and

sooner or later it's gonna happen."

And then, as if to honor the statistical unlikeliness of

such a possibility, mom added, "Even if it turns out you don't

need it."

"Mom, are you giving me permission to get sexual?"

"You're almost an adult, Jean. You don't need my

permission. I know that you're going to do what ever you need to

do, permission or not, and that's especially true for sex.. I

just want you to be a responsible woman."

"You have this conversation with Billy, Mom?"

My ears shot up. How did *I* get into this topic?

mom laughed again, seemingly not shocked. "No, I haven't,

and I can tell from his sheets that it's time. I had hoped that

his dad would, but I don't think that's going to happen. I know

you and he are very close. You two ever talk about sex?"

I held my breath.

Jean exhaled loudly. "Yeah. Quite a bit, Mom. I trust

Billy and I think he trusts me. He's my closest friend."

I didn't think mom knew just how close.

"I understand that. My brother Jim was my closest friend.

Still is for that matter, except for your dad. We shared all our

secrets with each other. I'd expect no less from you two."

"Mom, did you . . . well . . . did you ever have any

*special* feelings about your brother? I mean, any sexy

thoughts?"

"Of course, baby. Anyone who would tell you that he's not

had thoughts about family members is in denial or lying. It's

natural."

And then, as an afterthought, mom added, "Jean, I'm baring

my soul to you and I'm feeling a little uncertain myself. I

don't want to drift into revealing the confidences of others.

But I'll tell you about *me*. Yes, I've had lots of sexy

thoughts."

"I sometimes . . ." and she trailed off.

"Sometimes have thoughts about Billy?" asked Mom.

"Whew!" An explosive gust of air and then a long pause.

"Uh . . . yeah . . . and even feelings, I mean sexy

feelings." And then Jean rushed on, "He's a neat guy. He good

looking and well built. He's kind and thoughtful and he knows my

moods better than anyone . . . and when he gives me a hug . . ."

"Get's your juices flowing, eh?"

"Mom!"

"Jean, Jean . . . remember, I've been there, done that.

It's natural, baby."

"You and Jim?"

"Sure. He still turns me on. Don't tell your dad, though,

OK? I mean don't tell *anybody*!"

"I won't tell if you won't tell."

Then after a another short pause, Jean added, "But there

*is* something I'd like to tell you, Mom. Actually something I

*have* to talk about and you're the only person I can talk to."

I could hear the wind blowing in the oak trees. Where was

Jean going with this, I wondered?

"I have a confession to make. I just gotta share this you

or I'll bust. I feel so darn guilty, I can't stand it."

Mom's voice got softer. "What ever it is, Baby, it's OK.

I'll not judge you. My job is just to love you. There is

nothing, absolutely nothing under the sun you can tell me that

will change that."

Without pause, Jean blurted, "Billy and I have had sex, Mom!

I don't mean that we've *done* it . . . you know, had intercourse

or anything like that, but we have touched each other."

Oh-shit-oh-dear! At this point I felt a leaden weight in my

stomach. Busted! Grounded! Probably forever, if I wasn't run

out of town on a rail first. Jig's up. I waited for my mom to

scream.

Instead, mom said, "I'm not surprised. In fact, I'd have

been surprised if you hadn't. You know, I live here too. I'm

aware. I've seen you two. I've seen how you act around each

other. I even told you that you remind me of myself . . .

especially when I found your panties in his bed."

Jesus! I thought I had hidden those. I immediately

wondered, how might I lie my way out of this one? When I'm

confronted, blind-sided like this, the *last* thing I think about

is telling the truth. My first instinctual response, after

suppressing a survival desire to run, is to make up a story, one

that'll get me off the hook. Then later, I have to spend so much

energy backing out of the corner into which I've firmly implanted

myself.

"How do I remind you . . . you and Jim . . . your brother?

You mean . . you've had similar . . .?"

"Sure. Shocked?"

"Kinda . . . but not really. Actually, I'm pleased. Even

thrilled. I don't know . . . kind of makes *me* OK."

"You *are* . . . you are OK. And I love you, Jean."

Jean started to cry and I could hear mom making comforting

sounds. The next little bit was lost to my ears. I envisioned

Jean crying into Mom's shoulder . . . mom patting her.

Then Jean blubbered, "Oh, my . . . I don't know why I'm

doing this, but I'm so relieved and so happy. I feel so loved."

"Want to tell me what you've done, Baby?"

"You won't get mad?"

"No, this isn't about getting mad and you're not being

grilled. What we all need are safe places. Places where we can

share our secrets. Believe me, the more you share with me, the

better you'll feel. Just keep in mind, I love you and I'm not

judging you. I don't so much need to hear this as you need to

share it."

I was feeling like a shriveled-up prune by now, wanting to

run and hide, disappear from the face of the Earth. Glancing

down I noticed my dick had disappeared!

Jean rushed on, "Well, it started off as an accident. At

least, I think it was an accident. Anyway, we were doing the

laundry and Billy got hard - he was looking down my shirt - and

then he rubbed off on the table looking at me, and then later we

talked and he showed me his . . . and I couldn't help it . . . I

showed him mine, and . . ."

"Whoa. Slow down a little. Take your time. Breath."

Jean was on a confessional express and couldn't be slowed.

"Mom, I'm so excited, I want to get it all out at once.

Anyway, Billy was always listening to me pee in the downstairs

bathroom - I knew that. I didn't understand it, and I knew it

was naughty, but I guess it thrilled me. He said it turned him

on. Sounds dumb but I guess that made it exciting for me.

Anyway, when we went to Fourth of July Lake last year, I let him

watch me pee one day. God! Is that kinky or what?"

"Oh, I don't know. Sounds like a chip off the old block."

"Dad?"

"Yes, but we're not talking about your Dad. We're talking

about you. Again, I'll tell you things about me, but your Dad's

stuff is his stuff. I feel free to talk about myself, but not

your Dad and not my brother. Understand? Now, anything else?"

"Yes. It get's a lot more intense. Like, I love flashing

Billy, you know? I flashed him wearing next-to-nothing at

Victoria's Secret. Wow, Mom. I felt all squishy inside. I know

it gets him hot and that gives me a sense of power. Makes me hot

too. Weird, huh?"

"No. Not at all weird. That's what exhibitionism is for

some folks, Jean. Just another sexual game. More and more it

seems, you're just like me!"

"Well - this is getting more intense, mom - one day I took

his thing in my mouth! I don't know how it happened. It just

did."

mom didn't gasp. She laughed. "You mean you sucked his

*cock*, don't you?

I gasped. Jean gasped.

"Yes . . . I guess that's what I really mean. It's just

that I'm not used to saying . . . things like that . . . and when

I hear *you* say it . . ."

"So, tell me, what's Billy's part in this? He the victim or

the perp?"

"Hah! Billy the victim? Hardly. He may act soft

sometimes, but he's tough as nails. I don't want you to think

that he took advantage of me. He didn't. I wanted it. All the

time, I wanted it just as much as him. Even more I bet!"

"So did that stud-son of mine touch you, get you off?"

"Oh yes! Several times. We even had phone sex once. What

a hoot! And a couple of weeks ago I asked him to trim my . . . my

pussy . . . my pussy fur. There! I said it. PUSSY!"

"Did he?"

"Trim my pussy?" Laughing. "No, we never got to it. Once

he got down between my legs . . . well, one thing led to another

and he . . . he sniffed around and . . ."

"He went down on you, right?"

"How'd you know?"

"He's his father's son."

"And that's pretty much it, Mom. I've *wanted* to do it

with him. All the time. But we haven't. I'm afraid to. I want

to and I'm afraid to. But I love getting sexual with him. God,

he thrills me! I wish there were some way we could just play

with each other, satisfy each other, and not really, well, you

know . . . not really do it."

By this time I didn't know whether to strut or flush myself

down the drain. I just shut my eyes and scrunched down further.

"Baby, I'm glad for you - glad for your emerging sexuality

and mostly, for your willingness to tell the truth. incest is

*really* a loaded topic. We can talk about the philosophical

issues, and mostly, that's what they are, philosophical issues.

We can talk about the practicality of your situation . . . or the

lack of it.

"I'm not going to tell you that you're right or that you're

wrong. It's not about that. It's about feelings. And, as I've

often told you, feelings aren't right or wrong either. They just

are. The only intrinsic evil I see in life is an incapacity to

love. Still, I want you to promise me something . . . that

you'll go slow, really slow with this."

Jean cried some more. I got all choked up.

"Oh, God, Mom. I feel so much better. I still don't know

what to *do*, but I feel better, so much better. Thanks"

"Good. Now the next thing we've got to do is drag Billy out

of the closet. If he's anything like you, he's dying his own

deaths."

Little did they know. Death sounded like a viable option at

that moment.

"What can we do? I mean I can talk with him. I *will* talk

with him. He's got to know that I told you our secret. But then

what? Will *you* talk with him, Mom? He has the same fears and

the same concerns I have. I know. We talk about it. And I know

you'd be *so* much better than Dad."

"I suppose I *could* - might even be fun - and Jim might be

better. Except he's away on a trip and won't be back for too

long. Let me think about this, OK?"

I could hear them pushing back the deck chairs as they stood

up, ready to leave. Suddenly, unplanned and completely unbidden,

I called out, "I'm in the hot tub. I've been here all along. I

heard the whole thing. I'm sorry."

Christ! What did I *do*?

Two heads looked around the corner at me scrunched down in

the tub, almost out of sight.

I ran on, "I'm sorry for eavesdropping. I didn't mean to be

a snoop. When I came back, you weren't here and I just jumped

into the tub . . . then you came out and began talking about sexy

things. I lost my head. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen to

your private conversation."

Jean and my mom looked at each other. Jean was red. No

more than me.

My mother broke the tension. She looked at Jean and said,

"Well, I guess this resolves *who* is going to talk with Billy."

Then looking at me, one hand on her hip, she smiled and

asked, "Well, stud . . . ready to spill the beans?"



END 16