by Pepper Pace
The next morning I told Daddy that I wasn’t feeling well and I wanted to stay home from school.
He touched my forehead. “You've been pretty quiet this weekend. You’re probably coming down with something. You stay home today and get some rest. I’ll take us all out for dinner tonight when I get home from work.” I went back to bed and waited for Daddy to leave for work, then I hurriedly dressed. Angeline and Beatrice had already gone to school so I had the house to myself.
I hopped on my bike and hurried to the lake.
Mostly people don’t fish this early Monday mornings so I knew I’d be alone.
I didn’t see Kenny at the lake so I knew he’d be in the woods, which wasn’t the best news. The woods were big and I could get lost…but I put my bike down and headed into them anyway. Where I live, in Cincinnati , there are actual forests that are miles deep. You can start at one part of town and end up in a totally different town. It’s just not a place that you want to get lost in.
But I did get lost fairly quickly because I’m a total geek when it comes to paying attention to details. I really thought that I was paying attention, but when I looked around, everything just began to look the same.
When I was hopelessly lost I spun in a slow circle, feeling my hands sweat. I called out for Kenny but never got an answer. Maybe he’d gone into town. My game plan had been to get here early enough before he started his day doing whatever homeless boys did all day.
I closed my eyes and tried to picture my steps. But when I opened them again one tree looked just like the next. I even contemplated whether or not I should just use the sun to walk a straight line in hopes that I’d eventually exit to a road that I could use to guide me back home. I began to just walk. I could have kicked myself for this stupid idea!
After about half an hour of this I sat down on a fallen tree to rest and faintly I could hear my name. I jumped up.
“Kenny!”
“Jamie?!” I ran toward the voice losing my baseball cap and not even turning back to get it even though it was my favorite.
“Jamie?!”
“I’m over here!” I yelled, running. Then whump! I tripped over a root and fell face first to the ground.
“Ahh!” I cried when my teeth cut into my lip.
“Jamie!!!” I still didn’t see Kenny but he must have heard me fall.
I sat up gingerly holding my mouth. It was bleeding. I stared at my bloody hands stunned.
“Jamie!” I heard his footsteps running to me now. He dropped to his knees next to me. “What happened?” His hand moved to my shoulder in concern.
“I fell,” I said and a mouthful of blood dribbled down my chin, which instantly freaked me out.
He cradled my face, moving it here or there to examine my lip. Gently he swiped my bloody chin with his thumb and wiped it on his jeans.
“You should probably get a couple of stitches-”
I was shaking my head. I was already scared and the idea of the hospital was only making it worse.
Seeing my expression Kenny frowned. “I guess it should be okay. Are your teeth loose?”
I touched my teeth with my filthy fingers. They weren’t.
Kenny sighed in relief and stroked my hair reassuringly. “I saw your bike and knew you were looking for me.”
For the first time I took a good look at Kenny and realized that he looked much different. He looked different to me because he was clean. His hair was fluffier, even though it was still long and hanging in his face. It was actually a real light blonde which made his grey eyes stand out just a bit more. He was really very handsome.
“You took a bath?” I asked past my swollen lips.
“Yeah. I was tired of stinking.”
I tried to smile but it hurt. “Were you freezing?”
“Yeah. But I wrapped up in the quilt.” He helped me stand up. “Come on, let me get you out of these woods. I’ll show you how to find me so you won’t get lost again.”
Before long we came to a well used clearing. Kenny moved aside a bush and I saw the neatly folded quilt and beneath it the backpack. Once he dropped the bush back down it was completely hidden from sight.
“Okay. Let me show you how to find your way from here.”
We were a good piece into the woods but he showed me some landmarks that were easier to understand like big rock, overturned tree, red bush, then we were breaking out of the woods and back at the lake.
“What are you doing here?” he asked.
My lip felt a bit better. “Playing hooky. My Dad thinks I’m sick.”
“There’s nobody at your house now?”
“Not for hours. You want to come back to the house?”
He shrugged. “I don’t care.” He still seemed a bit nervous about it, but at least he hadn’t said no. When we got back to my bike I had him ride behind me while I stood and pedaled. I’d never ridden with a boy before, and it was definitely a different experience than riding with one of my sisters. He seemed at ease as he placed his hands lightly on my hips. But I stopped breathing until I was light headed.
When I got back to my house, I quickly put away my bike so that Daddy wouldn’t know that I’d gone out. I’d have to make up a lie about my lip. I could say I tripped going up the steps. It wouldn’t be a reach since Daddy knew that I was clumsy.
Kenny hung back as we went inside. I had to reassure him that we were alone before he’d relax. I went to the bathroom and he followed me. In the mirror I examined my bloody and swollen lip. I splashed my face and rinsed my mouth then pushed him out, shutting the door while I peed.
When I came out, he was in my bedroom.
“This is your room, isn’t it?”
“How’d you know?”
“Because it looks like you.”
I looked around. “Yeah I guess.” I had books and retro movie posters, baseball caps on pegs, and it was a bit of a clutter. I moved some underwear, flushing as I tossed them into the closet.
“You want breakfast?” I asked.
He nodded and I led him back downstairs and to the kitchen.
“How’s your mouth feeling?” he asked, while sitting on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
“Still hurts. But I think you’re right. It’ll be okay.” I got out two bowls, spoons, milk and a box of cereal.
We ate. Kenny kept watching me and I was dribbling milk down my chin because of my lip. He laughed. We talked and he asked me questions about my sisters, school and things that I liked to do. I probably bored him to death because I said I only read books, daydreamed, or drew pictures. But he seemed interested.
After breakfast we watched tv in my bedroom. “If you want I can wash your clothes. It won’t take long and you can wear some of my sweats. They’re pretty big. They’re not girl pants or anything.”
Kenny’s cheeks turned red. “Okay.”
He changed in the bathroom, using it before he came out with his filthy clothes balled in his arms. I took them down to the basement and put them into the washer on hot. When I came back up Kenny was asleep on my daybed. I sat down next to him and he jumped up to his feet in a panic. He looked like he would jump out of the window!
“Sheesh. It’s okay. You can go to sleep.”
“Your sisters will be home soon.”
“It’s not even noon yet,” I said while glancing at my digital clock radio. “Relax, Daddy doesn’t get home until after five and Bea and Angeline know better than to come into my room uninvited. I’ll even lock the door.” He sat down and watched me as I locked it then I sat down next to him. Only then did he relax and allow himself to recline against the back of the daybed.
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
My face felt flaming hot. “No.”
“Why?” He seemed surprised.
“I’m kind of geeky.”
“I don’t think so. You said that the other day, but I don’t know why.”
“Remember when you asked me if I was a girl? You couldn’t even tell.”
“Well, not with the baseball cap and big sweatshirt. Now I can see…” He glanced at my chest and I did blush then. “If you want, I’ll be your boyfriend.”
My heart leaped in surprise. “I never had a boyfriend.”
“Well,” he said, sitting up. “It’s like having one special person to watch your back and be in your corner. I feel like you already are…my girlfriend.”
“Well,” I said in feigned casualness, “I guess I am.” But my heart…it was beating almost out of my chest!
He laid back down and closed his eyes. “Okay.” And it was settled. I had a boyfriend!
Kenny slept all afternoon. I went downstairs half an hour before my sisters were due home from school and put Kenny’s clothes into the dryer, then I made tuna sandwiches and chicken soup. Daddy would be taking us out for dinner later but my thoughts were on the fact that this would be Kenny’s last meal of the day.
I greeted my sister, trying not to seem rushed.
“Ewww!” Beatrice exclaimed. “What happened to your mouth?”
I touched it tentatively. “I…um tripped up the stairs. So Daddy’s going to take us out for dinner later,” I added in the way of changing the subject.
“Cool!” Angeline squealed, biting into her tuna sandwich. “I call dibs on pizza!”
“No, McDonald's!” Bea screeched. I resisted looking up to the ceiling, wondering if Kenny was awake and worried that I wasn’t there.
“You guys try to keep it down. I’m not feeling good so I’m going to lay down until Daddy comes home.”
“Can I go to Terry’s house after I finish my homework?” Bea asked.
Terry just lived next door. “Yes, just be home by five.” When the girls were done I made a tray of food for Kenny and myself and headed back upstairs. I saw that he was awake.
“Hungry?”
“Yeah, a little.” He jumped up and helped me with the tray and I shut and locked the door again, just in case.
“Your lip isn’t as swollen,” he said. I touched it tentatively. Kenny moved my hand and kissed my lips lightly.
“There,” he said. “That’ll make it better.” I tried to hide my excitement. My first kiss and I didn’t even get a chance to enjoy it!
Kenny seemed to read my mind. He leaned in towards me slower and kissed me again, lightly so as to not hurt my lip. When he pulled away he asked me if I had kept my eyes open.
“Yeah. Should I have closed them?”
“No.. It’s okay.” He looked at my hair and face. “Here.” He handed me a bowl of soup then took one for himself settling himself back down on the daybed. I sat at my desk and we ate in quiet contentment.
After eating I slipped out of the room to get his clean and dried clothes. I locked the door again once I returned, and he was standing anxiously waiting for me.
“I should probably go,” he said, while taking the clothes from me.
“No. Not yet.” I pleaded. “Stay another hour and I can ride you back to the lake on my bike and be back before Dad gets home.”
Kenny pulled off the top he was wearing and tossed it on the daybed. I turned away to give him privacy when he made to pull off his pants.
“Okay,” he said. “You can turn around.” He was smoothing down his clean shirt when I turned.
He took my hand. “I don’t feel comfortable with other people in the house. I’ll sneak out and I can get back to the lake on my own.” He nodded to the window. “I can climb out that way…but, if you want…I can also climb back in.”
I smiled suddenly. “You’ll come back?”
“Yeah. Tonight, when everyone is sleep. If you want.”
I nodded vigorously. Shyly I leaned forward and kissed him on the lips. He moved from one foot to the other anxiously. “Okay, then.” Quickly he looked out the window. My bedroom faced the back yard so no one would be the wiser. He gave me a quick nod of the head and disappeared.
When Daddy got home nobody felt like going out to eat so he just ordered a couple pizzas. Usually I eat just two slices but I told Daddy that I was extra hungry and I took half a pizza up to my room. I didn’t think Kenny would mind if his pizza wasn’t hot.
I started checking out the window for Kenny at dusk. He would probably come at full dark which would give me a chance to take a bath and wash my hair.
In the bath I watched the soapy water slosh over my breasts. I still had mixed feelings about them. On one hand they confirmed that I was no longer a little girl. My curves meant that soon I’d be a woman…but on the other hand I wasn’t ready. I wanted to remain Daddy’s little girl.
I would probably never be big boobed. What I had was enough to fill my palms. I knew I was becoming a woman because when Kenny kissed me earlier it made my nipples tingle, and then down further where I had to keep my knees squeezed. It was the same feeling I got when reading my V.C. Andrews books.
A boyfriend…I smiled and got out of the bathtub, drying off and putting on my pajamas. Then I went downstairs to kiss Daddy goodnight.
I was brushing my hair when I heard a tap on my window. With a jolt of excitement, I hurried to open it and Kenny carefully climbed in.
“I thought you’d get lost.”
He closed the blinds. “No. I have a good memory.” He smiled. “I got you a present.”
I blinked. “What?”
He reached under his shirt and pulled out the baseball cap that I had dropped earlier. With wide eyes I grabbed it and put it on.
“How’d you find this?” I tried to keep my voice hushed in my surprise.
He took it off my head. “Don’t hide your hair.” He stroked it with his fingers. “It’s so beautiful.”
I reached out and brushed his hair back, letting the pale strands run over my fingers.
I took the cap out of his hands and put it on his head. “Okay. Then this is yours to wear.”
He grinned. “How’s your lip?”
I looked at him shyly. “Not too bad.” I could already feel that funny tingling and he hadn’t even kissed me yet.
We leaned into each other, but this time when our lips touched I felt Kenny’s tongue tentatively touch my lip. He drew back quickly and nervously swallowed.
I gripped his hand in reassurance. “It’s okay,” I whispered. “You can kiss me like that.”
Kenny moistened his lips, then kissed me carefully. I plunged my tongue recklessly into his mouth. Kenny took in a deep breath, then gently countered the erratic movement of my tongue with light feathery strokes of his own. I mimicked the movement and we kissed like that for what seemed like hours. When Kenny pulled back both of our eyes were glazed.
“I liked that…” I swooned, and Kenny steadied me with his strong hands. We sat on the day bed and he gave me a wary look.
“Be careful, Jamie…”
“What’s wrong?”
“With what I just taught you.”
“You didn’t like it?”
“Oh,” he was breathless. “I like it…” he said quickly. I turned in my seat and squeezed my knees together but that tingling only got stronger. I never felt anything like it, like electricity was zipping through my body. I wasn’t wearing a bra beneath my pajamas and self-consciously I folded my arms in front of myself to hide my hardening nipples.
Kenny reached out and stroked my hair lightly. After a minute I quivered and that funny tingling went away—mostly. I was sweaty when I looked at Kenny again. He was still stroking my hair solemnly. I think…I had just had my first climax.
I looked away embarrassed, but Kenny kept stroking my hair reassuring me.
“Sex is like that?” I finally asked.
“And more.”
I nodded and swallowed. “I saved you some pizza,” I said, in the way of changing the topic.
He nodded and grabbed a slice, eating hungrily. “What did your Dad say about your mouth?”
“He didn’t freak. You want to watch some tv?” We got comfortable on the daybed and watched a movie and talked. We talked about every
thing from who and what we liked, what we wanted to be…but what we didn’t talk about was how he’d gotten where he was and how he was going to get out of it.
As hard as I tried, by midnight I was alseep. Being with Kenny was so comfortable. In just two days he was my best friend.