[Β©2010 BY CLINTON09; ALL CHARACTERS OVER THE AGE OF 18; NO EVENTS DESCRIBED ARE TRUE; THIS STORY HAS A 'HARDER EDGE' THAN MOST; BE WARNED; HERE BE DRAGONS; FOR AGES 21 AND ABOVE.]
[WOMEN OF A CERTAIN AGE OFTEN FACE SOME TOUGH DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH AND THE CONCEPT OF THE WHOLE WOMAN; SOMETIMES EVENTS IN LIFE FORCE THEM TO ACCEPT CHANGES THAT MEAN THEY ARE COMPLETE NO LONGER; THIS STORY ADDRESSES THAT, AND SHOWS THAT THESE EVENTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY AN ENDING; IF THIS DISTURBS YOU, THEN PLEASE STOP HERE; THANKS]
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I was still living at home, though I had passed the 18 year barrier. My loving mother, Sue, had never had a stopwatch, ticking the time off before I was kicked out, but her 'old man', Mal, sure did. The only reason I was still there was that I was paying rent on my pathetic little bungalow, attached to the garage and separate from the main house. My only communication to the main house was a little intercom we got at Toys'R Us. So, one night I heard the tone indicating it was on, but then only sobbing. Curious, I ran in.
The sounds were emanating from my parents' room. Getting there, I saw my mom in bed, her hands covering her face, the sheets strewn across the room. It took 15 minutes of me holding her to calm her and find out what happened. After she filled me in, I wished I hadn't heard it.
My father was 60, bald, a bit of a blob. My mother was 48. If you looked really closely, you could see that she at one time was attractive and could be again. She had put on the marital 20 pounds, and that made most overlook her still fantastic legs, beautiful smooth feet, and very impressive bust. Ah, it was that bustline that was the rub. She was always proud that she wore a 36D bra, and filled it to the bursting point.
Her world was shattered when her doctor told her that a procedure was necessary, unavoidable. Both sides of her would have work done, but one side was going to be 'radical' with no options. She related this to her 'loving husband' whose demeanor changed like a light switch.
Mal: "So, they are going to cut you up, and I am supposed to ignore that and pretend that you are still a woman?"
Sue: "I WILL still be a woman! Only the coldest and most superficial man in the universe would think otherwise! Are you saying because of this, you want to call it quits?"
Without commenting, he left the house.
Two hours later, he returned. As he drunkenly tried to park the car in the front, he hit our own mail box. Walking with difficulty, he brought in his receptionist. She was young and chubby, but she was willing to go, drink for drink, with him and do what he asked. What he asked tonight was to show his wife (my mom) in her own home what a 'complete woman' looked like. (As my mom told me this, she understandably stopped often to sob; I ended up holding her hand throughout.) To mom's shock and amazement, they barged into the 'marital' bedroom and drunkenly pawed at each other. Mom's old man Mal opened that slattern's blouse and bra, showing the ugly, saggy, droopy boobs of this trollop, emphasizing the DUAL nature of them. Just as quickly as they entered, they left. He hit the mail box again as he was leaving to take her home.
As mom sobbed uncontrollably, I held her. To hold an emotional person takes strength, real strength. I had worked in construction, and I thought I was strong as a bull after two summers of that. Bulging biceps and all, my strength was still put to the test in trying to hug and comfort mom.
The date having been set for some weeks, mom had to go ahead with the procedure the next day. Of course, her worthless 'old man' was not there to be with her. He had not even come home after that night with his receptionist. The doctor was surprised that her son and not her husband was there, but the surgical team proceeded. Although the surgeon almost ran out of time, all went perfectly. After the procedure, as much time or more was spent on getting her ready for the aftermath. I eagerly participated too.
To mom's utter amazement, when she arrived at her private room, I showed her the large coterie of things I had already bought for her at a special store which included such things for women who had that 'procedure' and radical removal.
She was under strict orders not to move unnecessarily or anything else, but she insisted that I go sit in the corridor while she tried some of the new things on. She called me back. She asked how she looked, her eyes teary.
I have to admit, I did not look closely. I was afraid of how I would react. There was no way, no power on earth, that would have me do anything but tell her she looked great.
Mom thanked me, though women know where men's eyes wander...or don't wander. She was disappointed that she hadn't passed any tests, though touched that I was so loving as to reinforce her at this sensitive moment.
I had been told by the nutritionist that my mom was only eating the minimum food provided; she was concerned.
I joked that given hospital food, I myself would choose to go hungry. But, I told her that I would ask about that.
Mom was evasive about the subject. I was afraid she was starving herself in some indirect means of giving up; however, the truth was quite the opposite. Those extra 20 pounds that she had taken on in marriage had always bothered her and she figured now was as good a time as any to get rid of them.