by Al Sloane
"Memorial Day was originally established to honor those in the service that gave their lives for their country. It has degraded over the years to honor anyone who put their time in. There used to be speeches in the park and then the whole town would walk over to the graveyard and decorate the graves of those who had served accompanied by more speeches.
"Before the automobile took over the country, the town would throw a big party for each of these holidays, usually in the town park, pretty much a huge picnic. But that always took second place to the parade or the speeches and trip to the graveyard.
When I was a kid, we all knew that Lincoln was born on Feb 12 and Washington was born on Feb 22 because we got both days off school. Veterans Day and Memorial Day were specific dates, too. If one of them fell on a Thursday, people worked Monday through Wednesday, took Thursday off and went back to work on Friday. Somebody decided that wasn't any good so in the late 80's Congress got rid of Lincoln and Washington and came up with Presidents' Day. And a bunch of holidays lost their meaning to become parts of three day weekends. So, people leave town, go to the beach, watch a race or a ball game and have no idea what we're celebrating. It's become almost subversive to take pride in our country and celebrate those who put their lives on the line so we could sit back and grill our hamburgers and drive our SUVs out to the desert or the river. So, Kathi, are you sorry you asked?"
"No, Pete. That's what I like about you. You know stuff. And you don't mind telling other people about it and make it so they can understand. Like with that ride in San Diego. And now this. I feel proud to be an American. You know, my Dad was in Viet Nam. He doesn't talk much about it. I should talk to him."
"You should. Just don't push him if he doesn't want to talk. A lot of shit happened there."
By that time we were pulling in the parking lot.
"OK, Ladies, this is what I had everyone bring chairs for. I didn't realize they would have all these planes to see on the ground. Maybe we should walk around and check everything out and leave the chairs here. I don't know if they'll have all the planes fly in a short period or if they'll be spaced out though the day."
I got agreement from the group so we took off and checked out the planes. There were planes from the WWI era on up to the present, all in immaculate condition. I had Wendy on one arm and June on the other. Beth and Kathi were running around like a couple of teenagers, running from one plane to the other, holding hands, giggling.
Talking to various people we found out that they usually had a period of about a half hour around 1:00 when planes would fly over, do aerial gymnastics and basically show the crowd what they could do. On holidays such as this they usually went a little long.
Most of the planes had signs next to them giving some history of the plane, how it fit into the war it was part of, maybe who built it, who the heroes were that had the most kills flying it. All five of us were fascinated.
Just before 1:00 we noticed a lot of people going toward the parking lot.
"OK, girls. Time to get chairs if you want them."
We headed toward the lot. By the time we got there, most of the people were sitting in chairs close to their cars. Some had blankets and were laying on the hoods of their cars or in the backs of their pickups. I saw a mattress in one with four kids lying on it.
We pulled out our chairs and sat down to watch the show. A minute later a bi-plane flew over and did some dives and loops. The audience really got into it, oohing and aahing as the plane came down towards the ground and turned up.
There was a mock dogfight and a few planes flew in formation. No Blue Angels or Thunderbirds but it was an enjoyable show.
Toward the end of the show they played some songs over the speakers they had been announcing planes and fliers on previously. It was particularly touching to hear Sammy Hagar sing "Remember the Heroes."
There was a lull and the announcer thanked everyone for coming. "For our finale, please stand in remembrance of all the men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country so that we could enjoy the freedoms we now have."
A single bi-plane with an open cockpit flew over and the person in the back seat dropped flowers to the crowd. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young sang over the speakers in four part harmony.
Find the cost of Freedom
Buried in the Ground.
I'd never gotten what they were singing before, in all the times I'd heard that song. All five of us had tears in our eyes as did most of the people in the parking lot.
We all remained standing after it was over and applauded for two or three minutes.
Plenty of flowers had been dropped during the flyover. All of my girls got one.
Kathi came over to me wiping her eye and gave me a hug.
"Thank you for bringing us here, Pete."
I got thank yous, touches, hugs and kisses from all of them.
We put the chairs back in the Aerostar. Wendy said she wanted to curl up on the floor between the seats. I got to drive home alone while all four women talked about woman stuff.
That's OK. I had a lot to think about.
I do my share of complaining about the way things are. But not once in my 50 years have I gotten off my ass to do anything about it. We'd just celebrated those who paid the ultimate price to make things right. Kind of humbling.
But most of my thoughts were about the four women in the back of my van. This weekend had changed things for us forever. Unless June said she didn't want to have anything to do with us when we got home, things would never be the same. Hell, even if she did.
Good or bad, I had two women I loved. Two more than the others, but I loved the other two as well. I realized I wasn't giving any of them what they needed from me.
I complained to Wendy that I was getting her scraps. Well, if that was so with Wendy, what the hell were Beth and Kathi getting from me?
Wendy had told me and June that she'd had to talk Beth out of getting pregnant by me. Kathi had made it evident this weekend that she adored me. I don't think it was stretching things to say she looked up at me as a hero.
I would be happy to spend my life with Wendy. And I would be happy to spend my life with June. I realized I needed to spend my life with both of them. Wendy had been back in my life a little over six months. June for a month or so. Yet I knew if either of them left it would be like ripping an arm from my body.
We got home at 4. I was way behind on my writing so they were all going home. Wendy ran into the house to use the bathroom as I started getting kissed goodbye. Each woman put her all into it and thanked me for the weekend. Beth told Wendy she'd see her tomorrow at work, Kathi told her she'd call her later in the week. June told me to give her a call. Wendy said she'd talk to me in a couple of days.
They all got in their cars and headed out of the housing development. I had a lot of thinking to do.
Book 8 - A Wendy Father’s Day
Childbirth lessons start and both Wendy and Pete want to train a new coach. Pete's aware of a surprise Father's Day cookout at Beth's house but wakes up alone on a holiday for the first time since Wendy came back into his life at Christmas and feels sorry for himself. The cookout finally starts and Pete is embarrassed to discover that there are two new women in the gang. The day ends with a ride home and a new revelation. Sexual Content – several descriptive scenes.
Chapter 1
I pulled the Aerostar into the lot. The oil light had been on for the last ten minutes or so. That was happening more and more lately. Another truck wasn't in the budget right now but it might have to be.
I was just getting out to go up to Wendy's apartment when she rushed into the parking lot from the complex. She tossed her keys to me and went over to the passenger door of her Miata.
"Can you still fit?"
"No problem on this side. It's getting to be a real pain to drive, though."
I got into the drivers seat and moved it back. The engine purred when I turned on the ignition. This was my first time behind the wheel of her
toy. It felt powerful as I sat there feeling it idle.
I leaned over and gave Wendy a kiss. She seemed rushed.
"Come on, Pete. I don't want to be late."
"Wendy, we have 45 minutes before it starts. It's only 15 to 20 minutes from here."
"Yeah, but you never know what traffic will be like."
"OK. Tell you what. If I get there and we have any time before we start can I get a decent kiss?"
We pulled into the medical center parking lot 12 minutes later. The kiss was a little better but Wendy's attention wasn't completely on it.
"Come on, Pete. I want to make sure we have a place."
We went inside and Wendy dragged me to the classroom. We got there at 6:40. The door was locked.
"We're too late. They're already full. I knew we should have gotten here earlier."
Just about that time an attractive woman in her 40's came around the corner with a set of keys in her hand.
"My, you folks are here early. I have to warn you, the baby's not going to come any quicker just because you get here before everyone else."
She opened the door, leaned inside and turned on the lights. She held it open, motioning Wendy in.
Wendy grabbed my hand and dragged me up to the front of the classroom. Front row, center.
Once we were seated, the woman came over to us.
"My name's Doris MacArthur." Wendy introduced both of us.
"So, Wendy. When are you due?"
"The end of September."
"Good. That gives us plenty of time. Even if you flunk, you'll have time to take the class over and still have a chance to have the baby."
"You mean I can't have the baby if I don't pass the course?"
I let go of her hand and patted her on the knee.
"Yeah, Wendy. The baby's going to ask to see a certificate. If you can't show her one, she'll go back inside."
"Well, I didn't know."
Doris smiled at Wendy.
"I'm sure you'll do just fine. This is your first baby, then?"
"No, I had a son about 30 years ago."
"Well, then, it should be like falling off a bicycle. It hasn't changed much in 30 years. You may learn a couple of tricks here, but the baby's still going to come out when he's damn good and ready and he'll come out of the same place."
"She."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Have you got any pictures of her with you?"
"Oh, we haven't taken pictures. I just know she's a girl."
By this time three other couples had wandered in. Doris nodded at Wendy and made the rounds to meet the rest.
At 7:05 the last couple came in, arguing about who made who late. Doris let them know in no uncertain terms that they were here to learn, not argue. The woman was all set to defend herself.
"I mean it. If you feel you have to argue then leave my classroom. And from now on, if you can't be here before 7:00, don't bother coming in."
The two of them had a quick whispered consultation and left, mumbling something about "being rude" and getting a refund.
Addressing the class as a whole, Doris said, "I'm sorry we all had to witness that. As I'm sure you're all aware, this is the Birth Place's birthing training. This is the first of three classes that will teach you what to expect when it's time for your child to be born. And we'll go over things that will make the actual delivery easier on you. I don't care whether you're religious or not. I'm sure you'll agree with me that creating, developing and delivering a baby are all miraculous events. They can be the most terrifying or the most wonderful experiences you will ever have. Knowing what to expect and how to work together as a team will make this a series of moments you will treasure forever.
"My goal in this training is to have each couple working together with enough knowledge that they can deliver the baby by themselves if necessary. You'll find that if you are this well trained in the birthing procedure that the delivery room will be a piece of cake. And it will actually be fun.
"A second goal of these classes is to make the development of the baby easier on the mother. Your bodies have already gone through quite a few changes. You can expect more. Hopefully we can learn some things that will make you happy to be carrying that baby right up to the time they wheel you into the delivery room. There's no reason you need to be miserable as you get closer to your due date. Of course, you husbands and boyfriends are going to have a lot to do with this, so pay attention."
Doris told us that we were going to get into the practical part of the class and pointed to a stack of mats at the back of the classroom. Each man was to take one and put in on the floor for his mate. When I got up I slipped off the shirt I'd been wearing to reveal the shirt I'd snuck out of the maternity store. It had COACH written across the front in big letters. I finally got the kiss I'd been after all day.
The rest of the class was spent with Wendy lying on the mat with me at her side. We had solid contact throughout the class, either holding hands or me squatting behind her with my arms just under her breasts and above our growing daughter. Or massaging some part of Wendy. Doris was a fanatic about getting the men to make the women relax by rubbing various parts of their bodies, from their feet to their backs to their fronts. The front massage had to be done carefully and with love. I could just picture the couple that took off at the start of the class arguing about how hard he was rubbing, how tense she was, blah, blah, blah. Wendy just sighed and relaxed.
The class was good for Wendy. She was more relaxed after class than she had been for weeks. I hadn't realized how tense she had been until the tenseness was gone. When we kissed, it was as if she meant it again. I'd missed that.
Wendy was also calmer. It finally hit me that she was scared about having this baby. Yeah, she had a child 30 years ago, but there was a lot of baggage associated with Randy's life. She was also at an age that put her at serious risk. Not too many 45 year olds get pregnant, much less deliver normal, healthy babies. She was doing what her doctor told her and everything seemed to be going along fine. Getting some honest data on what to expect as the baby continued to grow in her and was delivered took a lot of the unknowns out of the picture. Wendy had been out of it when Randy was born. It wasn't as common for the mother to be involved in her child's birth 30 years ago.
The first thing she did when she found out she was pregnant was to get with the women at work and find the best OB/GYN in the area. They had done the test for Downs Syndrome and it turned out negative. Wendy had some potent multivitamins she took religiously and was watching what she ate. No smoking, no alcohol and little or no coffee. She was probably living healthier than ever before. She had been going monthly to her doctor, it had just been bumped to once every three weeks. The closer it got, the closer the appointments would be. They were staying on top of it and so far everything tested fine. But it's one thing for a doctor to tell you something and another to believe it. Wendy wasn't a pessimist but she was somewhere between concerned and worried about her baby.
We got back to Wendy's. "Why don't you make some of that weird tea you like."
She stuck her tongue out but went to make it anyway. I went into the bathroom and started filling the tub.
Wendy heard the water and came in with a cup of tea in her hands. "What's going on?"
"I figured you could use a nice, relaxing bath."
"Uhhm. That sounds good."
We got her out of her clothes and into the tub. It took some work now that she was so front-heavy. I took off my clothes and told her to move forward.
I thought of the last time I gave her a bath that wasn't strictly for play. The night she called me, just having arrived in California after escaping from her husband, hitching rides and starving to make it. She'd been pitiful that night, her back covered with scars. I was glad I'd hired a bounty hunter to catch him the day he and I ran into each other. If he hadn't been there to pull me away I'm sure I would have killed the bastard.
This was different. She was healthy, fat with our child. She wasn't the timi
d girl who sat in my tub, looking lost, six months ago. I wrapped my arms around her between her tits and her swollen belly.
I handed Wendy a washcloth. "Soap it up."
She took her time, making sure it was covered in suds, then gave it to me.
I must have spent five minutes washing what I could reach of her front. The water was almost up to her waist, her legs covered but coming out of the water where her knees bent. I gently soaped her belly and her tits until she finally complained she was going to fall asleep if I didn't stop.
Next came her back, after Wendy soaped up the washcloth again. I couldn't tell where she'd been hit which was remarkable considering how bad it had looked that first night. I lovingly caressed it with the soapy cloth. I got her sides and then took one arm at a time and washed them thoroughly.
It was time to get up. Luckily, Wendy's apartment had handicap bars installed in both the tub and around the toilet. I had her stand up and I washed her lower body. One at a time, I had her lift her legs and took care to wash between each toe and the rest of her feet.
Her hair was next. It was thicker and more sensual than the first time I washed it because she was healthier. Washing Wendy's hair is almost a sexual act. If done right, it turns her on as well. She was so tired it just relaxed her more.
I moved by her and opened the drain, then turned on the water. When I got it to the right temperature, I turned on the shower and we both rinsed off. I didn't try to get Wendy to wash me, she was so relaxed she was ready to fall over any second.
We got out of the shower and I wrapped her hair in a towel, then used another one to dry her off as she held onto the towel rod. She was pretty far gone so I just picked her up and carried her into her room. I sat her on the bed and told her to dry her hair. I went back into the bathroom, dried myself off and cleaned up a bit. I took the tea into the bedroom to find Wendy laying on the bed, curled up in a ball, fast asleep.