Stacey sat in the dark watching television and drinking wine while she waited for her son, Andrew, to return from his date. Andrew opted to stay home for his first few years of college to save money. Stacey was glad he didn't leave home after high school. It had just been the two of them since he was two years old. Andrew's dad left when he was still little, so the burden of raising him fell solely on Stacey's shoulders. It required lots of sacrifices, but to Stacey it was worth it. They had a very close relationship that she wouldn't trade for the world. Andrew had essentially been the only man in her life for years. She dated casually, but not with much regularity. Stacey had grown accustomed to her life with Andrew and not having to deal with a boyfriend or husband. Not that she didn't have plenty of offers. At forty-two, she was still quite attractive and could pass for a woman ten years younger.
Taking a sip of her zinfandel, she heard a knock at the back door. It might have been cause for concern if Andrew hadn't mentioned that his friend Warren might be coming by to spend the night. Warren was practically a second son to Stacey. He and Andrew had been friends since sixth grade. Warren's parents were not very involved in their son's life. He had relied more on Stacey for emotional support and a sense of family growing up.
"Why are you knocking, Silly?" Stacey asked after opening the door to Warren.
"It looked dark," he answered. "I didn't want to startle you."
"Get in here." Stacey gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and a hug, as she always did. She felt bad that Warren's parents didn't seem to care much, so she always made it a point to show him some affection. "It's pretty early for you to be getting in. I thought you had a date."
"Yeah. She wasn't feeling too well, so I took her home." Warren put his backpack down. "Andrew's still out, yeah?"
"Yeah, he won't be back until late probably. You can watch tv with me if you want to," Stacey offered. It was only about nine o'clock.
"Okay. Is it okay if I have a glass of wine, too?" Warren wasn't quite of drinking age yet, but Stacey let him drink a little every now and then.
"Oh, alright. Just one, though. Okay?" Stacey didn't want to encourage it too much, even though she'd had at least three herself by that point.
The pair watched another episode of zombies. Stacey had another glass of wine and had a really good buzz going. Warren had openly snuck a second rather large glass himself. While they paused between episodes for Stacey to go to the restroom, Warren was working up the nerve to ask her advice about something that he'd been carrying around for a long time and was really struggling with.
"Mom, can I ask you something?" Warren and Stacey both hated it when he called her Mrs. Bell and calling her by her first name just seemed weird somehow.
"Sure, Sweetie. What's up?" Stacey was always ready to help her boys out. She loved watching them grow into young men and helping them through life's trials and tribulations.
"Okay," Warren steeled himself. "This is really awkward, but you're the only person on the planet I could think of to talk to about this."
"It's okay. You can tell me anything." Stacey meant it.
"Okay. So... I'm worried that ...God, this is embarrassing... I'm worried that I'm too big down there."
Stacey looked at him quizzically.
"I mean. Jesus this is weird. It's just..." Warren fumbled around trying to explain himself. "All of our friends are having sex, except me. Every time I get close, she gets scared and calls it off."
"Who's she?" Stacey asked.
"The girl. Different ones. It's happened more than once. Once they get a look at it, they call things off."
"So, Andrew and his girlfriend are having sex?" Stacey probed.
"Duh. That's not the point."
"Sorry. I mean, I knew, but I was just curious. I guess. I'm sorry, go on." Stacey felt a little bad for focusing on Andrew when Warren was pouring his heart out.
"I don't know what to do. How am I supposed to ever have sex if no girl will go near me? Or it?" Warren gestured downward with frustration.
Stacey's face scrunched up. "Just how big is it?"