Hello again Dear Readers.
Sorry for the extra delay for this chapter. I caught a doozy of a flu and was out of work for over a week, and even after that, it was another week and a half before I felt halfway normal again. This was only two weeks before the big outbreak that took over the rest of the world. Mine was just the flu, but still just as debilitating. I have some vacation time coming up that I hope to finish this story and get out one (or more!) other, shorter stories. I have probably a lifetime supply of ideas already that I am anxious to get onto. If there are any ideas that you want to suggest, feel free! As always, all comments, suggestions, or even criticisms are welcome.
On to the story!
The next few days were a turmoil.
Dad had said nothing that would have implied anything more about my education plans, but that he had been so clever and devious about it had me nervous about anything else he might know. I mean, if he had wanted to let me and Jenny continue as we were was one thing, but if so, I would have liked to know! That we didn't have to worry so much about being caught, or if he didn't know, that we had to continue to be cautious. The uncertainty either way was maddening.
Thus, mom and I kept things very reserved between us. Not so that it was just as suspicious of us avoiding each other, but that we really didn't do anything with each other for that short while.
Well, except the one time that we couldn't resist each other while Jojo and Johnny were playing in the backyard and I had come up behind her and caught Jenny off guard. She turned to me startled and with one look into my eyes the two of us were suddenly pressed together and our lips mashed against each other. Even with what had happened, I think if dad had walked in on us that we wouldn't have been able to stop. We didn't do anything more than kiss and make out for ten minutes or so.
Okay, fifteen.
We pulled apart with alarm at the urgency of our passion and stared at each other with concern. Mom wiped at her lips with two fingers as if she could still feel me on them. I stepped back a step as I stared into her green depths.
She opened her mouth as if about to speak but stayed silent. I stared for another moment and then just turned quickly and bolted from the room.
If even in our caution that we could be so swept away said much about our lack of discretion.
I did avoid mom for the rest of that afternoon and evening.
Erin gave me little comfort either. She told me that I was imagining it all and was blowing dad's sneakiness out of proportion. I couldn't be sure that she was correct, but the alternative was too scary about which to be wrong.
There was a bright spot in the house though.
It was the week of my little sister's birthday.
Jojo was going to turn nine and she went about the house letting us all know it. Frequently. She would hold up all her fingers save one and declared that that was how old she was going to be. With a grin that her face couldn't contain. Just the sight of her, her carefree innocence, and sparkling blue eyes from her exuberance lit up the room. I had to smile each time that I saw her. She made me long for those simple days when my biggest concern was whether I could talk mom into giving me an extra cookie after school.
Now, I was getting more than cookies from my mother!
The only problem was, did my dad know I had my hand in the cookie jar!
Mom at least had the distraction of preparing a birthday bash for little Joanne.
Not that it was any big extravaganza like my graduation party; it would just be the family, Aunt Jess and Eric, Uncle Mike with his wife Rita, our cousin Dave, Grandma Sharon, and a dozen or so of Jojo's little friends (and their associated parents). And of course, Jojo's favorite older sister, Erin would be present. Mom rented one of those big inflatable bounce houses for the youngsters and had a collection of games that they would play such as pin the tail on the donkey, musical chairs, and even planned on an egg and spoon race. With plenty of cake and ice cream on top of it.
Mom really knew how to throw a party, no matter the occasion!
I tried to put the issue with dad out of my head. There was nothing I could do about it in any case.
Instead, I tried to think of the perfect gift to give my sister. Besides a pony that is!
Then I realized that that would be the perfect gift!
But instead, that I would take her to a riding stable and let her ride a real pony, or even a small horse. She could have her pony without the awful mess associated with it!
I did a search on my phone and found a stable not too far from our house that had hourly rates to rent horses, and though the price was a bit higher than I would have normally spent on a birthday gift, the look on little Jojo's face would be priceless! They even had a website so I could prepay for it. I did get an additional ticket for myself; then I had the brilliant idea to add another for Erin so that we could make it a date. The added bonus of bringing Erin along for Jojo also wasn't lost on me!
The joyous high of finding the perfect gift now outweighed any disturbing thoughts that had been bothering me.
When I informed mom of my gift, she was ecstatic, telling me what a great idea it was and that she wished that she had thought of it first. I grinned wider at her reaction. I added that I would go as a chaperone and that I would take Erin with us. Mom spun to face me, and declared that she wouldn't mind going also. I wasn't sure about that. Did she want to go as a mother, or that she wanted to spend more time with me and Erin? My gift was supposed to be about Jojo, not Jenny. I did tell her that maybe we could have a family day with all of us, including Johnny and even dad, but that this trip would be just Jojo, Erin, and I. Mom seemed a bit hurt, but reluctantly agreed with my decision. I gave her a quick kiss after a cautious look around, then told her that if she wanted to ride something I could possibly come up with some ideas. She batted my shoulder with a tender swat of her hand. A slight smirk touched her lips, but she still declined. At least at that moment!
I had been now out of school for some time and decided to follow up on my father's demand to find a summer job. I skipped any of the traditional fast food jobs. 'Do you want fries with that?' just wasn't my thing. Besides, I would probably spend more on food at work than my paycheck would cover. The point of my working wasn't to cover my own eating expenses, although the savings at home might justify it. No, I wanted something a bit different. And that I figured all the regular teenager jobs would already be taken by those that had gone out immediately when school had gotten out. I did apply at a few places, but I didn't hold out for my chances.
In a further bit of kismet for myself, Jojo's birthday party turned out to hold the solution for my employment search.
The big day was a Sunday.
Johnny sulked at all the attention being focused on our sister and even though I teased him to get him out of his funk, it had little effect. He did perk up when Aunt Jess showed up with her boyfriend Eric. As did I, with my gorgeous aunt wearing a pair of snug white shorts that contrasted with her tanned and shapely legs and a pink tank top that hid little of her large jugs! Her strawberry blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail that was casual, but just added that something special to her look. I had to quickly divert my attention when I saw Eric glance at me in a way that I felt was suspicious. Or that it was just my guilt that made me think so.
Dad and Uncle Mike couldn't have been more separate and still be considered at the same event. My uncle chatted pleasantly with mom, Rita, and Eric. Dad didn't let his displeasure with his brother affect how he treated my cousin Dave and talked garrulously with his nephew, Erin, and me.
Grandma Sharon arrived a little late, but as she had come from the furthest away, it was understandable. She arrived and after greeting everyone, she informed me that she had Jojo's gift in her pickup and asked me to go retrieve it for her. I did so and was surprised by the very large gift-wrapped box with a big red bow on top. Was I about to be outdone in the gift department? I struggled with the box; it wasn't that heavy but was more just awkward, especially as I didn't want to tear the paper. Jojo eyed the package greedily when I carried it to the backyard where we were having the party.
The small herd of Jojo's friends were very noisome and, I thought, somewhat unruly as they ran around our yard, climbing in and out of the bounce house in the shape of a clown's head. Maybe it was just that I was really becoming an adult. I did eye the huge inflatable netted house with a touch of envy. I was too big to join the younger crowd.
But not my girlfriend though!
She was light enough that she was under the stated weight limits and with Jojo's very firm insistence, she joined my sister joyfully jumping with the little kids. She waved at me as she jumped with such a look of enjoyment on her face that I wished I could have been in there with her. Mom came up behind me as I was watching my jubilant girlfriend and grasped my arm maternally.
"I know. I wish I could still do that too." Her voice was tender and wistful.
I looked at mom and she was my mom at that moment.
But only for a moment.
