Deon woke up and stretched, straightening both arms and legs as much as possible. Upon relaxing, he became aware of another body in his bed. He turned and looked into the bright blue eyes of his sister. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said with a grin. "I've been waiting for you to wake up for at least ten minutes, but it seems like an hour."
He grinned in return, and instead of answering, moved his body over hers, forcing his knees between her thighs. Sally put her hand up to his chest, stopping him. "You need to go talk to Mary. I was up when she came in last night, and heard her crying. I went to ask her what was wrong, but she wouldn't talk to me. Go see what's going on with her."
Deon sighed and got out of bed. Pulling on a pair gym shorts, he headed for the guest room. On the way he called for Astarte. "You won't need me for this," she answered him. "You'll know what to do; just follow your instincts."
He knocked on the guest room door, waited a few seconds for an answer and pushed the door open. Mary was sitting on the bed, her arms wrapped around her knees, naked. When she heard the door open, she looked to see who was coming in, and smiled when she saw Deon. "Morning, Deon. Sally okay?"
"Pretty much; worried about you. She said you were crying when you came in last night."
"Yeah, I guess I was. I don't want to go home, or to Paris. I want to stay here and go to school. I was talking to some of the PUS girls, some who are in the teaching school. They showed me how I can tailor my program and get nearly the same background as I could in Paris, for less money, even though it would take more time. But I would be among people who spoke my language, close to home. I can even use the scholarship here, and I'm sure I'd be able to convince my parents..."
"I hear a great big but coming." Deon interrupted.
"It's too late to get accepted for the Fall, but I could take classes on a part time basis, except that I don't have a place to live. To stay in any of the dorms, I have to be a full time student, the same with a sorority house. If I don't start using the scholarship by January, I lose it, and second semester doesn't start until February. I need to find a job, and..."
She started to tear up. "Mouse shit! That's all it is, just pure mouse shit. None of it can't be overcome when confronted one at a time, but altogether...I just don't know where to start, and I have to start today; I only have three weeks to get it all organized."
"Christ, Mary! I was afraid you were going to tell me you'd been assaulted and gang raped at the sorority last night." he paused, looking at her, marveling at how pretty Astarte had made her. "You can stay here as long as you need to, until the first of the year, anyhow. That's when we all have to move. But we'll find a place big enough to include you. And I know a job that will be available as soon as school starts. It's waitressing in a diner, but I can talk to the owner, and maybe get you some time helping their cook. She thinks she owes me a favor."
"Do you mean it? Can I really? Ohh, Deon, you are the greatest," she cried, throwing her arms around his neck. "As far as all the rest of the men in the world are concerned, I'm totally asexual, but you can fuck me any time, any way you want to," she said, kissing him and pulling him down on the bed.
"Take it easy, Mary," warned Sally from the doorway. "Remember, he's taken."
"I know, Sal, but just a few times a month, five, ten, fifteen or so," she laughed. "I owe him a lot. He just made it possible for me to come to school with you."
"He did? That's great, Mary, but what about Paris? I thought you were set on going there."
"It was really my mom's choice; she said I had to see some of the world outside the US before I got settled down. She'll be disappointed, but also relieved. It was going to cost a lot of money beyond the scholarship."
"How are...never mind. Let's get ready and you can tell me all about it on the way home."
Later, that afternoon, shortly after the girls had gone, the phone rang. Deon picked it up and heard his mother talking to someone in the background. "Hello. Mom?"
"Deon, thank goodness, you're home. I need to settle some transportation, and wanted to talk to you first. I have to fly to St. Louis this weekend, and there's a flight out of San' Angelo Friday night. I thought I might come up Thursday and you could take me to the airport Friday."
"That sounds great. What time would you get here, and when do you leave?" They spent several minutes settling details. When he hung up, Deon realized he was semi erect with anticipation. He would be alone with his mother for nearly 24 hours. He looked at the clock, thinking about it, and suddenly realized, he had ten minutes to get to work.
On the way, he called the diner and asked for Donna. "Deon? Is something wrong?" she asked when she got to the phone.
"No, nothing's wrong. I was just calling to see what time you were done."
"I'm still not sure this is a good idea. I know what you want to do; I don't think I can..."
"Donna, I know I came on kinda strong the other day. You won't have to do anything you feel uncomfortable doing. If you'd rather just go get something to eat someplace else, that's fine. I just want to see you."
She relaxed, and felt the tingle in her quim that had been there all weekend. "I'm being silly," she said. "Dinner at your place will be fine. I get off at nine. I'm sorry for being such a ninny."
"You've got nothing to be sorry for, Donna. I'll see you at nine."
