My stepmother Monica and I enjoy our classic movies, while dad could give a shit either way. The old black and white movies are awesome and I guess that's how Moni and I bonded when she came into my life. She'd been a waitress at a truck stop somewhere in Iowa when dad met her. He'd been an over the road trucker and they hit it off and the two of them married when I was just ten years old. I was happy to not have to stay at my Aunt Alice's house.
There was a bit of tumultuous when she first came to live with us. I mean I was too old at the time to accept this twenty year old woman as a mother. But eventually, because my dad was gone all the time Moni and I became friends. She would talk for hours about old movies that she liked and on Friday nights we would break out an old black and white movie and pop some popcorn and binge watch. I think her most favorite movie of all time is, "Gone With The Wind".
Well it came my birthday, I was turning eighteen and I was highly anticipating my father coming home. He and I had talked about my birthday gift. Moni hadn't been included in the discussion and she had been curious all week about what we'd been talking about. I stood at the kitchen window and peered out hoping to see his truck pull into the yard.
Moni finally put down her news paper and looked at me, "Max come away from that window, you look like a dog waiting on it's master to come home."
There was a bit of rift between us because I wouldn't tell her what dad and I had planned. I guess she felt like I was betraying her trust because I wouldn't tell her. I mean how can you tell your own mother that your dad is taking you out to get laid for your eighteenth birthday. She just wouldn't understand, I mean it's a right of passage. And yes I was a fucking virgin and I know it sounds nuts but I hadn't even masturbated.
I walked over and sat down in my dad's recliner and Moni who was sitting on the sofa looked over at me and smiled. "You and your dad must have something special planned. I've never seen you this excited about Bill coming home."
I didn't comment.
Finally in frustration she threw down the newspaper and got up and hurried to the kitchen. I started hearing pots slamming about and I knew she was pissed. I got up and walked into the kitchen to find her bent over the sink crying.
"Moni what wrong?"
"You! Your whats wrong Max!" she Brushed back her shoulder length blond hair and fixed her tear filled blue eyes on me. "I can't believe you want tell me what you and your dad have planned!"
I frowned and looked down, "It's difficult to talk about, Moni."
"Why? Is it because I'm a woman. Is that it?"
I didn't say anything.
She sat down at the table, "I already have a good idea of what it is, Max. You know I have three brothers right?"
I turned red with embarrassment.
"Papa took each of my brothers to town on their eighteenth birthday. I know it's some crazy male right of passage thing that you men do."
I smiled proudly at being called a man for the first time.
She must have caught me smirking and she smiled too, "Yes you're a man now, Max."
Then I frowned, "I don't feel too much like a man Moni"
"What do you mean by that, Max."
"I don't even have a girlfriend Moni. I mean..." I stopped talking, "I don't want to talk about it."
She patted the space beside her at the table, "Sit down, Max."
I sat down but looked away.
She took my chin in her hand and turned my head forcing me to look at her, "It's okay, Max. You can talk to me about it, honey."
"I'm shy when it come down to women. There has to be something wrong with me. I guess it's because I feel so panicked when I'm around a them."
She smiled but didn't laugh and she took my hand, "Well you don't seem very shy or panicked around me."
I shook my head, "With you it's different, Moni."
"Different? How...and you better not say because I'm old either." she said giving me a playful pout.
I had to laugh at that. Monica certainly didn't look old at all. She was thirty years old and with a gorgeous body one that I took notice of when I hit puberty. "No way!" I laughed.
Moni smiled and I looked away.
"Don't look away, Max."
I didn't look back at her.
Again she turned my face, "Look at me darling."
I finally looked her in the eye.
"No look at me, Max!" she stood up and spread her arms wide and then slowly turned around in a circle. She was wearing a white Tee shirt and a pair of black yoga pants.
I gazed upon Moni and I drank in the sight of her womanly beauty. Fuck me I was getting a hard on and I became panicked because I was wearing a pair of loose gym pants and with no underwear either. I quickly put my hands over my crotch area to hide my boner.
Monica looked at me and smiled, "There is nothing wrong with you Max." she winked.
There was a beat of silence between us.
"You don't have to you know."
"I don't have to what?"
She rolled her eyes, "You don't have to sleep with a prostitute, Max just to feel like a man."
" I know Moni, but I figure if I sleep with this prostitute tonight I'll gain some confidence and..." I laid my face against the table while still holding my crotch. "...and what's worse is I don't even know how to do it!" Moni."
Moni gasped, "Are you telling me that Bill has never had "The Talk" with you?"
I looked up at her.
"Talk? What talk?"
Moni shook her head, and folded her arms and there was anger in her blue eyes. "That ASSHOLE!" she nearly screamed. "He's going to take you to a whore and he's never explained the Birds And The Bees to you? At least my papa gave the Talk to my brothers before he took them to Lady Catherine's."
The phone on the kitchen wall started ringing.
I looked at her and she nodded for me to answer it. I knew it had to be dad." I answered it. "Hello?"
"Hey sport. Happy Birthday!"
"Thanks dad. So when are you going to be home?"
"Well I got some bad news for you Sport. My truck broke down on me in Topeka, Kansas and I have to stay at it to finish my. I hope you understand and I'm really sorry I'm going to miss your birthday."
I frowned and Monica caught my expression and she sat down and just shook her head.
"Well that's just par for the course, right dad. It's not like I turn eighteen every year."
"Look Max this is my job. I can run out on it because it's your birthday." Bill said hotly.
"And I'm not asking you too!" I snapped.
"Let me speak to your mom, please." He grumbled.
"She's not my fucking mom!" I shouted and I saw Monica wince she knew I meant her. She looked hurt. I hadn't mean't for Monica to be collateral damage in my argument with dad but I was just so angry with him that I wasn't thinking.
I mouth a silent apology to her and handed the phone to her. Her eyes watering she looked away.
I turned and walked out of the kitchen and made my way to my bedroom. I slammed my door and dropped down on my bed and started to cry. "Fucking BASTARD!" I shouted. I don't know why I was feeling so angry, it's not like he hasn't let me down countless times in my life. I guess I was mostly angry with myself because I hurt Monica's feelings.
I don't know when I fell asleep or how long I'd been asleep, but I did, it happens when I get upset. I awoke in my dark bedroom to the sound of knocking on my door.
"Max?" Monica said from behind the door.
"Yes?" I reached over and turned on my bedside lamp. Then I rolled out of bed and unlocked my door and opened it. My mouth dropped at the sight of Monica. She was dressed in a tight black dress that came just above her knees, black sheer stockings and Black three in heels. Ah man she looked gorgeous!
"Get dressed Maxi we're going out on a date to celebrate your birthday."
