This is a short-change story that has been bouncing around in my brainpower for a while. It's a story of pure beloved, the kind few of us ever experience. As with everything I've written there's sex embedded into the story, but only when it's an integral part of the plot. The story is always more of import to me than meaningless free sex. I hope you enjoy. Senorlongo

> > > > > >

"The best laid plans…."That was just about all I could think. My wife Beth and I had planned our retirement for days and had everything ready for my sixty-second birthday. But Beth had been experiencing what she called minor occasional abdominal pain for More than a class. She had disdain my requests that she see her Dr., claiming it was musculus cramp or maybe uterine fibroids."They're nothing. You'll see."

well, of course, they weren't"nothing."“ naught"turned out to be stage-four uterine cancer by the sentence she saw her gynecologist. Uterine cancer is easily treated if you get to it early enough. Beth's cancer had spread through almost all of her organs by the prison term of her operating theatre. She lived for six to a greater extent days—nowhere near enough to tell her how practically I loved her and how a great deal I would leave out her -- then I laid her to rest future to our son, Thomas, who had been killed while serving his body politic in Iraq. As I stood there looking into the deep grave I realized that I was truly alone…alone for the first time in more than thirty years. To tell this story correctly I have to go back, all the way to the beginning.

Albertus Magnus Cochran, III—who the perdition tags a moniker like that on an innocent infant ? My sadistic father and female parent, that's who ; then they couldn't understand why I was in so many fights in uncomplicated school and junior gamy. Albertus, the first, had founded the business firm and my sire had succeeded him. They were both high-powered attorney. I was supposed to meekly stick to in their colossus footsteps, but I fooled them—my father, anyway.

Grandfather—never Grandpa or Papa—passed just before my eighteenth birthday, leaving me a trust monetary fund that gave me an allowance of $ 1,000 a calendar month until my thirtieth birthday. I went to see an attorney the day he died to check on a legal procedure then cut school on my birthday so I could go to court to get my name changed. From then on I was Bert M—no period, just like Harry S Truman—Cochran. My parents were livid. They refused to speak with me and when I joined the U. S. United States Army instead of going to college I was disowned. I still had the trustingness fund -- they couldn't touch that -- but everything else was gone. I didn't caution even a little. My childhood had been spent with nurse and at boarding school until I had intentionally flunked out. My female parent was almost a total stranger. My father was even less.

I served six eld in the United States Army, reaching the rank and file of Sergeant First course of instruction, and it was the adept time I'd ever known. I'd seen action mechanism in Koweit and Iraq. Then I used the GI Bill to attend college—not my Fatherhood's alma mater—a State Department university where I studied education and terra firma science. I was hired for a position in a center school and, once again, my forefather viewed me as a failure."Can't even instruct in the big leagues ; I guess you're not smartness enough for high schoolhouse,"was the first thing he said at what was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting—my grandmother's funeral. I turned on my dog and walked away, never to come back. Fuck him ! piece of ass them all !

Truth was, I loved working with the young kids and it showed. I never had a subject field problem and many of my pupil returned to the middle school to speak with me after moving up. It was at that school, during my third year, that I met Beth. She was a new teacher in the art department. We had lunch together during one-fifth period so we chatted along with the other teachers.

What turned out to be my chance came when the science department decided that every bookman should do an experiment and enter it in a school-wide science fair. I wasn't terrified, but I was concerned. I knew absolutely aught about art and even less about putting together an artistic introduction so I went to see her after school, my hat in my hand."Elizabeth ? avail !"

I knew I'd demand help with her. She was drop-dead gorgeous—tall at 5'9"and slender with large succulent breasts, a narrow waistline and hips, but a firm round butt. Her hair was black as auction pitch and long—almost half-way down her back—and her eyes were the brightest blue I'd ever seen. Did I honorable mention that she was gorgeous ? She wore slacks most days, I guessed because of the indigence to move around in class. Yes, she was a beautiful aphrodisiacal womanhood while I was an ordinary bicycle man—six animal foot even and slender although I was still in excellent shape after my years in the US Army. My light chocolate-brown hair was short—maybe an column inch at nearly with no function and no scroll. It was a military cut that I kept because it was easy to wish for. Hell…most sentence I cut it myself with a trimmer joist from Walmart.

I still remember the look she gave me. She put down the handful of remains she was carrying and turned to me with a ardent welcoming smile."What's the problem ?"I explained and she laughed."I'm glad you're having this projection otherwise you'd never have gotten around to talking to me."

"I talk to you."

"Yeah, at work here or there when we're in the ship's company of a dozen other teacher. I'll be glad to facilitate you, but there's a price."She laughed again when I gulped."You have to convey me to dinner ; cypher fancy—pizza will do -- and you have to talk to me all evening."

"All evening ?"

"Okay, almost all evening. How about Friday dark ? Do I have to beak you up, too ? Do I have to treat ?"She looked stern, but began laughing a second later. Soon I joined her.

"It's just that you're so beautiful and I'm just…."

"Isn't that for me to decide ? I understand that you served in the Army."

"Yeah, six years—four in Kuwait and Iraq -- I couldn't see going to college when I graduated richly shoal. constituent of it was getting even with my shit parents."I explained, starting with my ridiculous figure which made her giggle, how I had changed it, and my parents'reaction."They had me down to be a lawyer from the day I was born, just as I was supposed to attend Harvard University. My father went there, so did Grandfather ; me, I went to SUNY Stony brook. I gave up trying to please them when I was in junior high at boarding school. Sometimes I got piteous grades just to worsen them. I also wanted to get out of the boarding school they had sent me to and into populace school."I looked at my watch and noticed that I had been talking to her for more than an hour.
I'm sorry ; I didn't mean to keep open you so late."

"Am I a captive here ? I don't think so. Truthfully, this is the outdo good afternoon I've spent since I came to work on. My syndicate is from just Confederate States of America of Albany so I don't know anyone here. I come to act upon. I go home, prepare lessons, eat, and go to bed. That's some life-time for a twenty-three yr old."

"Maybe you'd like to go to dinner tonight. I'll still take you out on Friday, but I feel a little shamed about ruining your afternoon."

"ruining ? Would you come with me just a indorsement ? I need some assist in my storeroom."She walked to the rump of the schoolroom and I followed. To my surprise she closed the door then folded herself into my weapons system and kissed me. It was entirely unexpected, but I do remember responding. She stepped back a minute later, smiled, then moved back in for another, working her tongue into my oral cavity, pressing those fantastical breasts into my chest, and rubbing her genital organ into my thigh.

She broke the kiss, looked into my center, and suggested that we might get to dinner later…much later. Holding my hand she led me out of the W.C. to the classroom doorway. She still held me while she locked the door. There was not a single person to be seen, but even if there was we weren't doing anything wrong. We were both single and, while staff love affair weren't encouraged, they weren't against the formula either.

"How far is it to your lieu,"she asked me.

"Not far…about five Swedish mile east."

"Are we coming back this way for dinner ?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind there's a great pizza joint down in the village and a enceinte sandwich shop, too."

"Sandwich ? I know I'm a tacky date, but…a sandwich ?"

"You need to trust me."I led her to my truck and a instant later we were on the main road driving toward our fortune. I pulled into what had once been a farm lane and was still a contract unpaved rutted drive. Luckily, after three years I knew the location of every one. I twisted and turned up what should have been a straight trip, stopping at lastly in front of a minuscule one-story house. The roof formed a four-foot overhang, making a minute covered porch that ran for the entire front of the building.

"Nice !"

"It's a fix, but it's cheap and it's private."

"Private, I like."Beth took my hand as I led her into the keep room. There wasn't much, just the combination living/dining/kitchen area in the entire presence of the house with a brusk hall off to the leftfield leading to the undivided sleeping room on the right and bathroom on the left.

"How on terra firma did you ever find this place ?"

"It belongs to the parents of a former student. I was chatting with the kids for a minute at the end of grade one day my first gear year and a student asked where I lived. I was in a boarding house—Mrs. McIntyre's—down in the village. I told the nestling it was ok, but not very private. The next day I found a bill in my postbox asking me to phone his parents. They offered the spot to me and I moved in the future weekend. I've been here ever since."

"You are going to take me to bed, aren't you ? I've been waiting for this since the scratch of school day, but we can talk about that later…after."I felt like a deer in the headlamp as she led me to my own bedroom.

I may have been a bingle man living on my own, but that didn't mean value that I was a slob. Habits learned under strict army subject field lasted a foresightful clock time. Beth turned once she had reached the double bed and moved to me. We kissed again, her soft plump mouth pressing firmly into mine. Her kisses were the sweetest and red-hot I'd ever had—her tongue the most active voice and inquisitive. I'd dated occasionally in gamy school day. Losing my virginity to Ginny porter's beer early in my senior twelvemonth did marvel for my self-esteem. My experiences once I was in the Army were very different. I'd met a few topical anesthetic girls during my breeding in Texas, scoring more than than half the time. Once I was deployed my intimate mercantile establishment were restricted to leave of absence which I usually spent in Eastern Europe—Prague and Hungarian capital were my favourite where beautiful young lady flowed like water. I was always careful, using a condom and getting tested for STD's regularly. The nature of my scrap assignment meant that I was often away from orotund outposts for extended periods. None of my interactions with the Iraki's were what one might telephone"friendly."

I never dated in college. For one thing I wanted to finish as quickly as possible, taking as many year as I could possibly handle and attending between the regular semesters, as well as summer. Truthfully, I found the caper of my"classmates"childish. Then I graduated and found a job teaching one-eighth grad earth science in nearby Northport, a beautiful small town on the due north Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island. Even though I had only a 1 lesson to fix every day, teaching is a lot of work—much more than most people think. I socialized occasionally, mostly with former teacher from my school. My sexual easing came entirely from my right hand.

Beth took the initiative, breaking the osculation to remove my sweater and shirt. I responded by unbuttoning her blouse and dropping her quagmire to her feet. I marveled at her bosom. I couldn't believe that the fragile fabric of her bra could be strong enough to support them. They were bigger and steadfast and profound than I'd thought and they looked to be perfectly harmonious. Her nipple were extremely medium as I rolled and pinched them while she moaned in ecstasy.

I carefully laid her back onto the bed, covering her with my body. We kissed and held each other as I savored to softness of her everlasting pelt against mine. Her hand found my cock severe and ready, oozing tricky pre-cum ; mine found her sex wet and hot."No foreplay, Bert—not today, not now. I'm so hot for you. Just shoot me and have sex me hard. Please ! I need you so badly. I'm begging you !"

I moved quickly between her pegleg. She helped me by raising her knee and wrapping her legs over my back. Between my pre-cum and her nectar I thought we'd have great deal of lubrication. My cock found her entrance and I eased forward into her velvet vise. I was in maybe an inch or so when I found impedance. My head jerked up and I looked into her eyes."You're a Virgin ?"

"Yes…shameful isn't it ?"

"Maybe we should step back and guess about this. I don't want to ruin what should be a especial social occasion for you."

"Believe me, Bert—you'll make it extra, not smash it. Please…do me ; I'll explain everything later."She batted those prospicient lash at me and I could see her desire and need in her eye. She rubbed my chunk then tightened her legs'grip on me. Her paw moved me back into her tunnel and she drove her hips up, ripping her Hymen in a second. She was breathing hard as she moved up to run into me. If I didn't know considerably I would have thought her to be extremely experienced. She did everything right field as her hot tight kitty-cat flexed around my necessitous cock.

I know I'm not the longest putz ever seen—not by a longsighted shot. I'd guess I carry about six and a half inches, but I am unusually thick—almost two column inch in diameter. Several womanhood in Europe had told me that's what really counts. Beth told me that she wanted it hard so I pounded her virgin pussy like it belonged to my worst enemy. In my judgment I was taking no captive, but Beth apparently loved it. If I'd read her correctly she came twice before my cock erupted, bathing her uterus with my tricky infant juice.

"Oh shit,"I thought. I hadn't asked her if she was safe. This could make up for a very embarrassing spot at school. Beth must throw read my intellect because she smiled then whispered,"Not to care ; I have an implant under my armpit. I have to tell you…it was well worth waiting for—better than I ever dreamed. You probably think I'm a fornicatress for fucking you before we even have a date."

"A slut ? No, anyone who's a Virgo at 23 is no slut, but I am mystified. Why me ? You know nothing about me."

She laughed until her body shook then spoke softly."Oh, but I do, Bert. I know almost everything about you. I've known for a long time -- eld, in fact. I've known that you were named Albertus Magnus, but changed your gens when you were xviii. I've known that you defied your parents by going into the Army. I've known that you were deployed in Iraq where you were a sniper in exceptional forcefulness ... a very successful sniper, probably the best the Army's ever had. I know you won a atomic number 47 star, a bronze mavin, and a distinguished servicing hybrid for the second conflict of Al Basrah and you were injured twice, earning the purple pith with an oak leafage cluster."

I leaned back to take a closer face at this woman. My concern showed on my face. Had she been stalking me ?

"You probably think I'm a prowler, but I'm not. I know all of that and More from my dad. He knows you personally and you know him."I must have looked confused because she continued."What's my name, Bert ?"

"Elizabeth…Beth."

She was laughing and raising her brow when she said,"hold going."

"okeh, Elizabeth Walters."She raised one eyebrow as if to say,"Come on, dummy."I thought for a few minutes before the light went on."Oh my God ; Major full general Mark Walters is your father ?"

"Yup…I'm a unfeigned Army brat. Usually, there's a lot of sex between brats, but not when your dad is floor commandant. nearly boys were deathly afraid of me. Do you come back that we actually met when I ran into my dad's office ? You were a corporal then. I was in absolute awe of you—a tangible war hero. All pop did was sit behind a desk."

"I must sustain been 20…about nine years ago. Did you have braids and braces then ?"Her Brobdingnagian smiling told me she did.

She continued a import later."I thought I recognized you the first off clip I saw you at orientation course back in August—your haircut is form of a giveaway -- and then Mr. Fazio introduced you as one of the most owing unseasoned teacher in the school territory. That's when I was sure…sure I wanted you to be my first…and more. I was so excite that I phoned Daddy as soon as I got home that good afternoon. Incidentally, I live at that same embarkation house. He had your cap pulled and gave me all of the details. He liked you when you were under his command and he likes you now, based on what I've told him about you. Everybody at school loves you. They all think you're an incredible instructor and an even estimable mortal. I get a lot of your students every day and they're always so rouse about your family. I hate to acknowledge it, but I've been pumping them for selective information."

She raised her mind and kissed me again and again then pushed me off, rolled me over, and climbed onto my body. Rubbing those fantastic tits into my breast did the job on me. I was hard again in a sec and into her incredibly tight heaven an flash later. I had to chuckle as she began to rock. workforce on my shoulders, Beth was working her clitoris like a madwoman for almost ten minutes."Not too ratty for an almost virgin,"I joked."You must get watched a lot of porn."

"I did…oh, God…oh God, but now that I have you…oh, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck !"She shook wildly as a series of paroxysm ripped through her slender body. Beth collapsed onto my chest, her breathing mysterious and rapid as her orgasm slowly ebbed. I held her tightly, my hands roaming over her back and butt, my still concentrated tool embedded deep within her. I wasn't going to cum…not so quickly after the first time, but that was all right. Just holding this marvelous woman—feeling her unbelievable gentle cutis -- was more than enough.

She must cause lain on top of me semi-conscious for 20 minutes, at least. A goofy smile greeted me when she sat up."I've read stories online and in ‘ Cosmo'about how great sex could be, but none of them compare with what you've given me this afternoon."

"I think you had a lot to do with it. Just narrate me that we're going to do it again."

"Is every day sanction ?"I smiled. It for certain as hell was. I didn't realize at the meter, but Beth had made a promise she would observe for the relief of her life.

We walked into the bathroom naked, my cock dripping cum and pussy juice, my new lover with gobs of semen running down her legs. We looked at each other and laugh then we pulled each other into an embrace that ended only when I turned on the water. The exhibitioner here was one of the house's best lineament. It was located over an old bathtub on branch ; it was much bigger than bathtub are today. There was a shower drape that ran 360 degrees around the tub on an oval rod that hung from the ceiling. It was our maiden shower down together—the first of many to come.

Once we had dressed I drove Beth past schooling down into the village. At this minute there was no difficulty finding a parking office right in nominal head of the Village Sandwich Shoppe. Holding her hand I walked up to the counter."Hi, Sal—how's the family ?"

"Great, Bert ; Robert is doing really well in biological science and adjacent year you'll have mare, our unseasoned. All I have to do is convince Fazio to put her into your division. Who's your friend ?"

"Sorry…this is my friend, Beth Walters. She's a new art teacher."

"She looks like a real number good friend from here."I refused to release her hired man in spite of his jibes."Rebel arouser tonight ?"

I pointed to the sign that hung against the back wall. Beth read the element and nodded."Two, Sal and can we get some fountain Coke with ice ?"

"Geez ! You always come in here and ask for C. You know damn well that we have Pepsi. Why you always got to wear out my balls ?"I just laughed the way I always did and led Beth to a recess table.

"We go through that routine every time I come in here, but you made a great choice with the Rebel waker. It's my ducky, by far."We made diminished lecture and Beth asked about the skill experiments the kids would do.

I laid out my overture programme for the students and she agreed with well-nigh of it, but did hint introducing the presentation early on in the physical process. She lost me when she got into font fashion and size, but assured me that she'd hand with that in her classes to support me. We were well into our discussion when Sal brought our sodas and the sandwiches a few minute of arc later."My God, how am I supposed to eat all of this ?"I have to say—Sal always spoiled me. This ten-inch hero sandwich was supposed to have four gash of Virginia ham, four slices of turkey breast, four slices of provolone and four of bacon before being placed into the oven so the cheese would mellow and coalesce the sandwich together. Sal always gave me—and now Beth—double, and all because of what I'd been capable to do with his son who had been an uninventive student until he took my category. Then he learned to love scientific discipline and it carried over to his other family, as well. He had gone from a"C"bookman to straight"A's."


> > > > > >

That was the start of my relationship with Beth. We saw each other every single day, spending sentence working on our lessons or grading tests at my old enameled steel kitchen tabular array. We cooked and ate in virtually days, making passion every single evening. Beth always left my place by 9:30 so she could get home to the embarkation house. We spent every second of the weekends together, making love two, even three, times a day. We were always totally proper and master in school, never revealing our reliable kinship, and that's the way matter stayed until the second workweek in Jan although I did go with her to visit her parents and pal over Christmas. It was either that or drop the vacation alone as I'd done every one of the past times five years.

Her father welcomed me, giving me a big smile and a firm handshaking in greeting. Mrs Walters hugged me. We talked for hours and that's when I learned that Beth had been an accident late in life, but one they had never regretted. It was almost meter for dinner when Beth led me upstairs to her room. She laughed like hell when I asked where I was sleeping."Right here next to me, silly unless you'd prefer to be under me. Hmmm, now there's an approximation I like."

"You mean…your parents know about us…what we've been doing ?"

"Of course—they're not like your parents. Keep in mind that I am 23 and an grownup who pays her own way. And, by the way, I expect you to do me every Night and as many cockcrow as we can, too. I'll have to be still than common, but that's okay as long just as we can cause love."Damn—the computer storage I have even after all these years are just incredible. For Christmas Day I gave Beth a pendant—small diamonds shaped into a centre on a sterling silver string. She gave me a warm woolen Cardigan Welsh corgi. I still wear that well-worn sweater when I want to feel especially close to her. She'll wear that pendant until the end of time.


> > > > > >

I had read while in college that schools are"microcosms of society"which essentially means that whatever problems exist in the community of interests will also be found in the schooltime. job of drug and alcoholic drink abuse sometimes manifested themselves in schooling, but the self-aggrandising problem was clearly divorce. divorcement exerted a terrible devastating bell on kids. The bell on parents wasn't much better.

The Peterson family had split up over the Christmas/New class's break and Mr. Peterson understandably hadn't taken it well. His wife had served him with divorce papers and a restraining order on Noel Eve in what I thought at the meter was an unnecessarily cruel act. He came to schooltime on Midweek, January 17th, in the Bob Hope of seeing his son for the get-go prison term in almost a month. Mrs. Peterson, however, had brought a copy of the restraining order to the principal and the faculty was under rigid monastic order to enforce it. He went berserk when he was refused, running out to the hallway when threatened with the constabulary if he did not rescind the schoolhouse grounds immediately. Instead of leaving, he pulled a pistol from his coat and ran into the near classroom which just happened to be Beth's.

I was walking down the entrance hall on my way to the office when I heard the flutter. Dottie, the corpus's escritoire, summarized what had happened in a serial publication of long run-on prison term punctuated with farsighted breathless pauses showing that she was obviously under a large heap of tension. All I knew was that the woman I loved was in grave danger.

The police force were on their way ; I could see the sirens in the distance, but anything—absolutely anything -- could happen before they had the site under mastery. Everyone was trying to bide out of any parentage of fire, hiding either in lock up bureau or classroom or behind furniture in the lobby—everyone, except me. I walked calmly into Beth's schoolroom. Mr. Peterson was there shaking as his arm was around Beth's neck, the pistol aimed carelessly at her header. The bookman cowered in their seats. more than than half were crying.

Peterson spoke first, his phonation cracking under the strain."Who're you ? What…what are you doing here ?"
I ignored his restiveness, speaking clearly and calmly in an attempt to defuse the spot."I'm Bert Cochran. I teach scientific discipline here in the middle school. You can use me as a hostage, but you've got to let these kids go. You have too many hostage here. Trust me ! You don't need twenty-five whiney kids here. They'll drive you crazy in a few minutes."I turned to the scholar."Okay, kids get up and take the air out quietly. guess you're in a flak exercise. There are teachers outside to help you."

pupil are conditioned to follow orders. All of these bookman were also mine which helped a lot. one-half of them were out the room access before Peterson even reacted."What the hell are you doing ?"

"You will stimulate a lot well-situated time dealing with the two of us than with those holy terror. I'm not going to turn over you any problems. This is the cleaning lady I love more than anything. I want to expend the rest period of my life-time with her so I'm going to cooperate fully with anything you say."I sat on a board, apparently relaxed as I tried to carry on a conversation with our"captor."

After about ten instant I had convinced him to let Beth sit. There was no need to strangle her. I could see how Beth was reacting. She was hyperventilating and close to fainting ; I had to get her out of here. Then it hit me. I slapped my leg."damn, I'm so stupid ! Your son is Danny Peterson, right ?"I continued once he had nodded."He's in eighth grad science with me and this is his lunch period. Beth, why don't you walk over to the cafeteria and bring Danny back so he can see his dad ?"I gave her a piffling jog. She rose and walked slowly to the schoolroom door. A second later she was safe.

I turned my attention to Mr. Peterson."Would you mind pointing that gun in another direction ? I know you don't want to hurt me, but I know guns…accidents can happen."

"Oh, sorry,"he said as he swung the cask away. I had been sitting on the mesa apparently relaxing, but I sprung into natural action in a flash. My forget hand went to his wrist joint, my right to his elbow. I pushed violently with the leftfield and pulled with the right. All of the strain went to the watery section of his arm. His human elbow broke with an hearable catch. The pistol dropped from his useless script and I caught it before it hit the floor.

victimization my body for leverage I pushed him against the wall while I ejected the powder store and racked the slide to open the natural action. I wasn't at all surprised when a chambered round fell to the floor. I wanted that, but first I needed to let the son of a bitch know who was in control."I'm going to flex down for that hummer. If you do anything stupid you'll be in a world of hurt. I could toss off you and nobody would blame me."To emphasize my distributor point I shoved his caput into the wall. He stayed there while I retrieved the cartridge.

"okey, EVERYBODY,"I shouted."We're coming out. I have the pistol and all the bullet train are in my pocket."Grabbing Peterson by the choker of his coat I pushed him out in battlefront of me. The outset cop we met was about to wrick his arm behind his backbone, but I stopped him."Hold it ! His elbow is broken. He needs medical attention."Two officers led him away then I handed the artillery and ammunition to one of the remaining cops.

I had just fished the bullet train out of my sack when Beth rushed up to me, her arm wrapping around my dead body. She was bawling, her breathing place coming in gasps, her eubstance trembling as her emotions, barely held in check earlier, rushed to the surface. I pulled her nous to my shoulder, holding her close and running my fingers through her yearn lustrous hair."Oh Bert, I was so worried about you. I don't know what I would do if you were hurt."

"I'm okay. I just had to visualise out a way to get you out of there…out of danger. That's all I was worried about."
Beth pulled back a bit, her eyes looking into mine. She stared for just a instant as though looking all the way into my individual before asking,"Did you really mean what you said in there ? That you love me ? That you want to spend the rest of your life sentence with me ?"

I looked around. The lobby was filled with people—police ship's officer, our administrators, Thomas More than a dozen instructor, and Beth's entire grade. This wouldn't have been my pick for the meter or place to profess my love for her, but it would feature to do. I hesitated for a second before replying."wellspring, I have to confess—I did secern a few lies in there, but not about you. Yes, I do recall saying that and I meant every password, if you'll have me."I expected some variety of reaction, but it was even more than I had hoped for.

"YES ! YES ! YES ! lamb GOD…I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, BERT !"

I was still holding her when one of our shared students, Jeremy Lane, yelled out,"Go ahead, Mr. C…kiss her."
"You know…that's the best idea you've had all yr, Jeremy."I looked down at my bride-to-be and get my backtalk to hers. We held the kiss for almost a minute as everyone applauded, even the cop. Then I was led out to an ambulance for a warm check-up.

They checked my blood pressure—109 over 60—and my pulse—58. My pupils were normal as was my breathing. The EMT looked amazed."How can you be so calm after all that ?"

"It's just the way I am. I get excited emotionally just like everyone else, but my eubstance remains calm."That was all I said. zippo more was needed. I could experience told him that my slow beat and low blood line force per unit area led me to succeeder as a sniper, but it wasn't his business. I buttoned up my shirt, took Beth's deal, and returned to work. well, I tried, but as soon as we entered the building Beth and I were told that the school was closing early. Parents were being called and the buses were on their way. Our classes would be covered until they arrived. Mr. Fazio took us aside."You both need to go place. study as much time as you need. This was a torturous experience and I know you're both under a lot of stress. I'm sure the police will need a statement, but I'll try to retain them off until tomorrow."Then, with a smile,"I didn't have a clue you two were seeing each early and I don't think anyone else did either. kudos !"I thought he was going to proceed, but his eyes misted up and he walked away. Beth grabbed her coat from her schoolroom and we walked out to my truck.

"What about my car ?"

"Leave it. We can get it later if you want."I drove away, Beth's trembling hand in mine. We reached my house about ten minutes later. I walked around the truck to open her threshold then led her into the sign of the zodiac. It was a cold day and I had left my coat in my classroom. Even with her coat Beth was visibly shaking. I had a hearth, but used it only occasionally. Today would be the exception. I opened the flue, started the fervor and brought some pocket-sized logs in from the porch. A few min later the fire was roaring.

I had bought a glass cover with two doors and a blower grate, essentially a set of hollow steel pipes that held the fervor and were connected to a electric fan fan. Once the fire was going I could initiate the fan and hot air would blow into the room. It was enough to make the total room warm and toasty, even on the cold-blooded day. I brought a thick comforter from the closet and laid it on the base in front line of the fireplace. Then I helped Beth out of her clothes. Once we were naked I lay next to her—holding, caressing, loving this incredible woman. I jumped up a bit later.

"I almost forgot."Running into my bedroom and back I held out what I thought was a beautiful mob. It was a turgid Shirley Temple Black pearl surrounded by a roundabout of diamonds in a 14-K lily-livered gold setting."This was my grandmother's…my mother's mother—the only member of my kinfolk I ever spoke with. She left it to me when she died. I want you to deliver it. I'll buy you an engagement ring, too."

Beth took the ring."It's beautiful, Bert. Aren't you supposed to put it onto my fingerbreadth ?"She held out the tierce finger on her left bridge player and I slid it on. It fit perfectly as though it had been made for her."I don't want another ring, Bert except for a wedding ceremony band. This is a fantastic ring. I love it."She leaned forward to buss me. We held it for several arcminute until Beth climbed onto me. We had been devotee for almost three months. We knew each other's dead body well. Beth leaned forward, bringing her nipple to my mouth. I loved suckling and nibbling her tit almost as a good deal as Beth enjoyed my doing it.

In all our clock time together we had never engaged in oral sex. We'd talked about it heap of times and knew it would pass one of these twenty-four hour period when she wanted it. Truthfully, we were having too much fun making screw together. Today must have been the day because she spun around, presented her sweet pussy to me as she leaned forward to kiss the swollen head of my throbbing cock.

Next thing I knew, Beth was licking the entire surface of my organ and driving me crazy with lust. My hammer lurched up and down with every tinge of her brim and tongue. I groaned as I moved up to inspire Beth's heart. I'd smelled and tasted her before, but only on my fingers. There was something about her aroma that drove me crazy—as though it was lade with pheromones that short circuited my brain. My tongue found her labia as I licked from her clit all the way up to her rosebud. Over and over I licked until Beth was trembling. Then I invaded her tunnel.

I'd learned early on that Beth was extremely spiritualist and open to vaginal stimulus whether with my putz or my digit, or—now—my tongue. She was the only woman I'd ever met who was able of vaginal orgasms. I easily brought her to her first orgasm and I hadn't even touched her clit yet. My lingua found that limited rough area just inside the top of her burrow. I knew I was getting to her when she began humping my mouth. Meanwhile, she was taking splendid care of me. I knew that she had never tasted semen so I also knew that I had to discourage her when I got faithful and I was there now."Beth ! Beth, I'm going to…."And then I did. Beth somehow managed to absorb it down her throat. She released me, kissing the reddish over-embellished head teacher before turning around to place her foreland on my shoulder.

We lay there in the warmth of the fire relaxing…recovering. Eventually, Beth spoke."I can't believe that you hazard your spirit for me. You're so brave. No wonder I love you so much. pop used to express mirth at my calf love, telling me that zippo would ever come of it. Who do you think is laughing now ?"

"That reminds me ; you need to speech sound your family. You need to tell them that we're engaged and also that you're okeh. That scene with Peterson is sure to hit the John Major newsworthiness channels and I'm positively charged that we'll be named. I'm surprised the closet hasn't already tried to beat a path to my door. The school district won't freeing any data and I don't have a regular earphone so there's no listing. Of class, they could get the savoir-faire from the DMV or instrument panel of Elections."I reached for my slacks and passed the earphone to my love.

I'll never forget how she opened the call."Hi, Mom—it's your lease daughter calling."We both laughed when her female parent failed to recognize what she had said."Didn't you hear me, Mom ? I'm engaged. Bert and I are going to be married."She waited for a few seconds while her female parent responded."It happened this morning and that's another reasonableness why I'm calling. Bert saved me and twenty-six of my students from a man who had taken us hostage."Beth went on to tell apart her mom everything. Okay…not quite everything—she didn't mention that we were naked in front of a fire in my living way -- but almost. They spent more than half an minute talking and then her dad joined in.

Beth had just ended the call when I had an incoming. It was from the police. I made arrangement to meet with them early this afternoon for our statements. We were at the precinct for more than an hour and met with the medium in the meeting way. I was more than willing to talk about the incident and even my career in the regular army which was mostly public info anyway, but I clammed up in a hurry when they wanted details on our relationship."We became engaged right after I captured Mr. Peterson. That's all you really ask to know."Grabbing Beth's hand we thanked them and left, walking to my truck.

I restarted the fire and we climbed naked back onto the quilt. We lay there quietly, caressing and loving each other. I was comfortable with the quiet, but Beth spoke."I liked what we did, Bert. I don't understand why your penis is so soft and smooth on the outside and so hard inside. I love the head word ; it's so spongy. Do you know why ?"

"I guess there's some reason, probably tied into evolution."

"Was it okay for you ?"

Beth was so sincere, but I couldn't help myself."Was it ‘ okay ?'No."She looked so hurt until I smiled."No, Beth, it wasn't okay, but it was fantastic…incredible…and absolutely wonderful—just like you."

She had her"exasperated"facial expression on her expression as she said,"Bert !"Then she smiled and leaned down to kiss me. She spoke again once she had broken it."There was only one matter I didn't like. How can you tolerate getting hair in your mouthpiece ?"

"I never really thought about it, to be honest."

"I have been thinking. I want to do it again, but do you think we could knock off ? I'd do you and then you could do me."She had that same goofy smiling on her fount when she was done.

I definitely wanted more botch up jobs, but…."You know that I sometimes go to the gym. What would I say if soul sees me in the exhibitioner or locker elbow room ?"

"Why not differentiate them the truth ; that your girlfriend…I mean, fiancée…doesn't like fuzz in her oral fissure ?"

"You know…some of these guys will probably know you."

"So ?"Beth stood and pulled me up with her. adjacent thing I knew we were in the bathroom. Beth used a brace of scissors to trim my pubic hair really close then placed a hot towel over my pubic domain."Don't trouble, Bert. You know how a great deal I love these things. I think I'm going to absorb your balls into my sassing once they're bare."

"darn,"I thought."Now there's an incentive !"Five minutes later I looked down to see something I hadn't seen since I was eleven. Beth applied some of her sweet-scented body lotion then stood on the towel and I took care of her. Then she rewarded me by taking me back to bed.

We stayed there for more than an 60 minutes and, had I known what having my clod sucked on would find like, I would have shaved them a long, farseeing time ago. We dragged ourselves up from the bed and drove down to the Village Sandwich Shoppe for dinner. This time Sal refused to take my money."The story is all over town, Bert. You're a curse hero and I understand that Beth is a bit more than a good supporter now. felicitation !"He came around the parry to sway my hired hand and hug us. Before recollective all of the other frequenter joined him. I was totally embarrassed. I was sure my boldness was beet red.

Beth stayed overnight at my house after picking up a modification of clothes and we returned to work the play along morning. I was embarrassed again at the reception I was given. The instructor applauded when we walked into the briny berth. The kids applauded in the hallway and in each of my classes. I didn't care about that. I was worried about Danny Peterson. He was in my sixth period class right after luncheon so I arranged for him to be called to the role at the origin of dejeuner. I closed the room access when I saw him in the authority with Mr. Fazio, the principal."Danny, are you okay ? I'm really sorry that I had to hurt your dad."

"It wasn't your demerit, Mr. C. Mom threw him out because he was always toast and he hit her when he was. He even hit me when I tried to bar him. It was hard to make Xmas without him, but it had to be done. He punched me and my little babe, too."

"Are the other shaver giving you a hard prison term ?"

"No, they're okay."I shook his hand and led him over to the cafeteria where I cut the telephone line and bought him lunch. A calendar week later we were back to normal.

Then, a calendar week later on Fri good morning Beth walked into schoolhouse and I could see that she was upset."It's Mrs McIntyre, Bert. She's dead…heart attack Monday afternoon. Her baby want to sell the house. They're going to kick all of us out."

"Well, I think you should motivate in with me. We can get married soon."

Beth just shook her header and laughed."Men ! You have no musical theme. We'll be lucky to get married in June."Then she ticked off about thirty affair that had to be done—things I would never consume thought about.

fountainhead, we did get married the go Sabbatum in June and spent a calendar week in Bermuda on our honeymoon. I had always been thrifty—okay, maybe flash would be a easily description -- so I had substantial investments that I used to buy us a literal theater. I enjoyed the short farm planetary house, but it was no place to raise a family and Beth and I agreed that we didn't want to wait. She had her implant removed two weeks before the wedding.


> > > > > >

The wedding itself was grand. What else would one carry for the sole daughter of a highly decorated general ? There were more than three hundred guests—twenty-four from school, not even one from my family, four from my summer job, and the respite either Beth's relatives or companion of her famous Fatherhood. It was held in a huge duomo upstate. We were both Catholic so we had to wear an full Mass. I had stopped participating while in the Army. It's hard to believe in a God when you spend every day killing and I was especially proficient in that regard.

We had just taken Al Basrah in southern Al-Iraq and a counterattack from the Republican Guard was a possibility. In spite of that, almost all of the troops and all of the tanks and artillery had already left the city en route to another farther N. We had fewer than a one hundred men remaining—nothing more than a skeleton bunch, mostly supply personnel, and nowhere near enough to make off a determined attempt. My sentry and I had taken place on the roof of the highest construction still standing. I had my Barrett .50 caliber M82, the finest sniper rifle ever made in my opinion and five thousand rounds of ammunition. The punishing .50 caliber bullet had a gun muzzle speed of 2,799 groundwork per second, more than two and a half times the fastness of strait. By the clip you heard the report you were dead.

My spotter Dan picked up movement to the east as the sun rose—smart move, at to the lowest degree it would have been if my reach hadn't been specifically equipped to look at with the glare and brightness of the sun. With most of our armed combat troops gone I knew it was up to me to hold off any plan of attack until support could arrive. I began shooting at 1800 metre, just over 1.1 miles—actually at the limit of the effective chain of mountains of the rifle. Mostly the first off three were ranging shots—shots I used to serve determine the effect of the twist which was trifling that morning. I mowed down more than a hundred over the next four hours. They tried to approach in trucks and their equivalent of a jeep, but a .50 caliber bullet will destroy a radiator and even get down or crack an integral engine block of almost any vehicle.

When they moved a tank car up to the line I was able to adjust the ammo belt so I could fire a few tracers—bullets made with a small pyrotechnic direction built into the projectile so I could see it all the way to the fair game. On a motorcar gun every fifth rung is a tracer bullet. That's the only way to see exactly where you're firing, although in my case I could severalise by the piles of abruptly Iraki's in the sand. Aiming carefully and squeezing the initiation slowly as I exhaled I was able to terminate the first tracer into the tiny slot the driver used to attend forward. The .50 caliber hummer is so deadly that it will continue moving at deadly speed even after passing through a person's trunk. Apparently, that was what happened here because the armored combat vehicle blew up only a second after the bullet had entered. I surmised that the hot rung must accept ricocheted into one of their cannon shells in the magazine publisher. Once one goes the rest follow in an flash. The explosion was so violent that the tank's turret flew more than L ft into the air surrounded by the flames from the plosion. Their attack evaporated less than a arcminute after the turret fell burning into the sand. Dan's formal report the follow morning confirmed 117 putting to death plus the armored combat vehicle and its crew. Our support also found three trucks loaded with ordination and another filled with diesel fuel hidden behind the dune in addition to the four vehicles I'd damaged. The enemy never came within 1500 curtilage of our perspective before they lost warmheartedness and retreated. I was credited with stopping their advance and given the Distinguished Service Cross a month later. A calendar month after that my hitch of duty was up. The US Army wanted me to re-enlist, but I was burned out. I'd had enough of killing. Now I wanted to serve build lives not destroy them.

I recall standing by the altar with Dan as my good man while General Bruno Walter walked slowly forward with Beth on his arm. It had been decided over my protest that the men in the wedding ceremony party would wear off dress uniform, the mess wearing apparel uniform to be precise. superior general Walter had one, of course of study, as did his three sons—all officer -- but mine, and Dan's, had to be custom made with the insignia of our former ranks. I even supplied all of my help ribbons and a tilt of the citation I had received. I was please to see that I had various that weren't on any of their jackets—the DSC and the Expert-Rifle and shooting iron approval, the mellow ranking of what was more commonly known as a sharpshooter's medal.

Beth was ravishing beautiful, so beautiful that one tone and I was make to enthrall her. Her night-robe was strapless and form-fitting with flyspeck ivory sewn into the bodice. Her cleavage was even more enticing than common. Her longsighted blackamoor hairsbreadth was pulled back into a Gallic plait. I still remember exactly what I whispered to her when I took her hand from the general—"You're incredible…beautiful. You look good enough to eat."

Beth giggled then whispered back,"THAT will deliver to waitress. We should move. Everyone's looking at us."

"Let them look -- besides I'm pretty sure they're looking at you. You're absolutely breathtaking."She kissed my cheek, squeezed my hand and we turned toward the priest. An 60 minutes later we were in the limo on the way to our fabulous response. At various times I was introduced to the secretaire of the Army as well as various other dignitaries—a match of congresswoman and a senator -- I forgot almost immediately. They all claimed to know me—my service disk, anyway. premium John Barleycorn flowed like piss and the food was large, too. Best of all was Beth. early than the dance with her founding father and mine with her female parent, she never left my position. I knew I was the luckiest man on the planet.


> > > > > >

We flew that evening from Albany to JFK in New York where we spent our honeymoon night in an airport hotel before catching a plane to Bermuda. We made the most beautiful love off and on for hours until Beth and I were exhausted. It was the first time that Beth offered me her ass. Of course, I was terrified that I'd trauma her, but she promised to enjoin me if she did. She laughed as she told me,"I've been practicing with cucumbers. It's hard to incur one that's just the right size of it and shape."All that pattern paid off. The experience was intense—our orgasms were to die for. We fell immediately into a cryptic sleep until our wake-up call at 6:00 the pursual morning.

We spent a week frolicking in the warm sack ocean and making sweet passion every morning, every evening, and nearly afternoon's, too. We had a honeymoon package that entitled us to attend the nightly complimentary cocktail political party where we quickly learned to love rum punch. There was nightly topical anesthetic entertainment and we even tried our paw at the hotel's executive golf track. We sucked, but we had a flack, all the same.

Once Beth lost her virginity she seemed to progress to up for lost time. Now that we were married there was absolutely naught that was off the table—any cast of sex and any post. But, first, we attended to the important business at hand—impregnating my marvelous wife. Her doctor had told us that she might not become fertile again for respective months…or it could be a subject of weeks. There was no way of telling. Beth was taking no chances. We had made love every day since our first coming upon with one exception—the Nox before our wedding when she stayed with her parents while I was in a nearby motel.

Something must have worked because Beth was fraught by the time we returned to school in September. I was thrilled, but her parents were ecstatic. None of Beth's three sure-enough brothers were married so this would be their first grandchild. Unfortunately, Beth miscarried just after Christmastide. I was beaming that I was home with her when she awoke with painful sensation in her abdomen and blood oozing from her vagina. I rushed her to the hospital where her Dr. confirmed the bad news. We were devastated, but we agreed to try again.

We did and four months later Beth was significant again. This sentence her doctor suggested she expend the final four month of her term in bed. We agreed and Beth took emergency medical leave of absence. We weren't worried about money. I had turned thirty on September 1st and had gone to my father's authority right after school to sign the necessary paperwork to take in my inheritance—Grandfather's trust fund. Of class, I expected trouble from him so I brought my own attorney, the one man who had bested my father in court of justice many times—his arch foeman, Jane Seymour Richmond. Beth and I had walked in holding hands and, not surprisingly, my forefather opened with a string of revilement."So, is this some bimbo you picked up on the beach ? Or maybe you found her walking some street late last night ?"

I remained cool off, but my eyes were blade and my tone was icy as I replied."You wouldn't know because you obviously weren't invited—not that you ever would be -- but this is my married woman, Beth. She's an art teacher in my school. I'm sure you've heard of her father—Major General Deutsche Mark Walters. By the way, do you have any estimation what I did in the ground forces ? I was a sniper, and a damned proficient one. I could put a bullet into your eye at a grand grand, easy. I'll do it, too if I ever hear you insult my married woman again."Then I saw my Padre do a double takings. I smiled for the initiatory fourth dimension since entering his office. Sy capital of Virginia was here."I think you already make out my lawyer. howdy, Sy—how are you ?"

"Looking forward to pummeling your father once again ; I tell you, Bert -- some morning time I really savour getting up on the wrong side of the bed."I had anticipated my father creating some barricade in the way of my heritage and I wasn't disappointed. I had brought Sy along as my insurance policy. He would have done it for cypher, but I paid him anyway. They had sparred for more than than an hour when Sy placed a call option on his prison cell. Five second later an attractive young lady entered the league room, walked up to my father, and announced,"You are served."

"What the piece of tail is this ?"

"Bert is suing you for fifty dollar bill million dollars for denying him his inheritance…his legal right wing. hail on, Bert—no signified in wasting any Sir Thomas More prison term here. We have a engagement with jurist Peter Tuesday morning. I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say to Peters, Albertus. Why don't I take you two lovebirds to dinner ?"Beth laughed and I joined her. We laughed even harder when my father slammed the conference elbow room door in frustration.

I spoke to Mr. Fazio Monday dayspring to tell apart him why I would be late on Tuesday. The hearing was scheduled for 8:30 so I was hoping to be back at school by lunch time. Beth and I talked and we agreed that I'd go alone. There was no tangible reason why Beth should drop meter from her students.

It was a joy watching my father wiggle in front line of evaluator Peters. Sy had an official transcript of my grandfather's will and the words couldn't have been clean. Additionally, there were the platter of my monthly thousand dollar stipend and my official birth certificate. I knew that Peters hated my begetter and with honest reason. He'd caught dear old dad in a lie—presenting false evidence—that had led to a six calendar month suspension of his license and a conviction for contempt of motor hotel. The audience lasted to a lesser extent than 30 arcminute.

I received the good amount—what had been twenty million twelve years ago and was now just over forty. I didn't get any money from my lawsuit, but the judge did make my father pay my attorney's billhook. I thought that was just perfect.

Having a lot of money was reassuring, but we still wanted to continue teaching. multitude complain about having to work, but I had always found that piece of work gave my life signification. I had defended our Carry Nation while in the Army and now I helped shape untested brain, besides I'd be bored out of my psyche if I didn't have a rationality to get out of bed early. Beth agreed with me right up until the doctor sent her to bed. uncollectible than the boredom, Beth was furious that we were not able-bodied to make love.

I hired a nurse to come in in every break of day at 7:30 until 4:00 when I was sure to be dwelling. I cooked dinner every night except those when I brought in—either Chinese or Italian or Greek. We always ate in bed, using special mesa with infrastructure that slid under the bed."I hate this, Bert, but I love you."That's what she said almost every night.

My answer was almost always the same, too—"It's a low price to pay for your safety and for the safety of our child."Then I'd snog her and hold her in my arms. I'd carry the mantrap to the kitchen, put them into the dishwasher and put out the meth. Then Beth and I would shower down and repay to bed to watch TV or play cards or a plank game. Ever play slip cribbage ? We did at least once a week.

Beth was due sometime during our Spring Break in April. I knew she was looking forward to having the baby, if only so she'd be able to re-start her pattern activities. She went into labor in the wee hours, her commencement contraction coming at 2:16 a.m. Her loud groan scared me until I realized what was happening. I recorded the meter in my note pad and did everything I could to comfort my love life. I told a few jokes and even sang a few songs. Beth couldn't help but gag. I couldn't sing for diddly-squat and we both knew it.

We had discussed everything with Beth's MD so an hour later I phoned his servicing and also a private ambulance. We were at the hospital by 5:00 that morning. Our son Seth Thomas Mark -- named for Beth's grandfather and father, was born at 11:17 that morning, but not until Beth had struggled mightily. There was a job with the obstetrical delivery and the doctor decided at the cobbler's last minute to train the baby by cesarean. Because of the problems she'd experienced Beth decided to have her metro tied. She cried when she made that decision, but all I cared about was her welfare. We had one tyke and we had each early. That was more than enough for me.

However, Beth had other estimation. Tom had just turned two when I returned abode after school to find my wife holding him and beaming, that Same goofy smile showing her consummate tooth."I had a dandy thought today."

"Let me guess—you want to acquire a child."I leaned down to osculate my cuticle shocked wife on her lips.

She responded as always then looked up to me and asked,"How ?"

"It wasn't so hard. I know you and I can see what a fantastic mother you are. So…tell me exactly what you're thinking."And she did ; all told we talked for Sir Thomas More than an hour—so long that we wound up at the sandwich workshop for a couple of Rebel arouser. Beth got to work on the acceptance the very next day.
Unlike almost distich, we didn't want an baby and we didn't care about race or sex. In fact, we preferred to take a child that others didn't want. No child should sense unwanted. We flew through the prelude interviews—together at first at the social table service office then separately at base. I took Tom out to the Mungo Park during Beth's audience. Finally, the three of us met with the mixer actor, again in our home. I sat on the floor with Tom, minding him piece participating as best I could. I just hoped it would be good enough.

Apparently it was because we were asked to gather at sociable services again late on a Tuesday good afternoon. They had a child—a girl who was two years old and the product of an interracial human relationship. Her white father regularly beat his Shirley Temple Black wife and even struck the daughter until child Protective Services removed her from the place. ‘ She's deathly afraid of men,"the societal prole told us."Would you like to meet her ?"Of class, the solvent was yes.

She was the most beautiful shaver I'd ever seen. Her tegument was the color of mocha and her face was a perfect tense ellipse, surrounded by frizzy inglorious hair. She cowered behind the worker until I sat on the level."Do you like Babar,"I asked, pulling a book from my bag. Tom climbed into my lap, but Aaliyah was hesitating."Why don't you find a place where you'll be comfortable,"I suggested."Then I can show the story and I'll show you the delineation. She found a spot about ten ft away. I read the story, pointed out the pictures to Tom and turned the book to Aaliyah so she could see them. Soon she was six feet away then four and before I finished the book she was in my lap with Tom. We repeated the Saame kind of visit later in the week and on Saturday Beth and I took Aaliyah, Tom, and the societal prole out for ice cream. She let me hug and kiss her when the visit was over. When the worker asked if we would contain her we answered immediately—YES ! We bought some bedroom piece of furniture that afternoon and had it delivered Mon afternoon. I took a personal day on Wed so I could become a Father for the instant time. Beth and I were thrilled, but apparently not as a lot as Tom. Holding her manus he led Aaliyah to her room.

I won't William Tell you that there weren't any challenges, because there were. For one thing, Aaliyah had never slept in a fixture bed and, like every other kid, she was afraid of falling. We solved that problem with a few chairs from our dining room. Aaliyah was also subject field to incubus. Either Beth or I always responded immediately, soothing her by rocking her in a chair that had been handed down from Beth's grandparents. It always put her right hand to sleep.

We put Tom and Aaliyah into nursery schoolhouse when they reached three. It was only a half-day political platform, but it did curiosity for their societal development. At four they knew the alphabet and routine, even some simple adding and subtracting, and recognized a surprising number of words. Both were tested prior to kindergarten and we were astonished by Aaliyah's intellect. Tom had scored well, but Aaliyah was off the chart.

Once they were in school Beth asked if we could adopt another. We agreed on an previous child—one who had footling hazard of being adopted due to age. We welcomed Jacob, a Black boy, into our kinsperson. His schooling had been sketchy, but he picked up everything quickly and was soon well into competition with his siblings. I must say we attracted a lot of attention at the movies or in a restaurant—white parents, a blackened son, a half-black daughter, and a white son. Personally, we couldn't have been prouder.

Tom seemed to have inherited the outflank each of us had to offer. He had my analytical mind, but Beth's upright looks and food colour. He also had her esthetic ability, but from the age of four he only wanted one thing—to attend and alumna from the United province Military Academy at Mae West detail. Tom was an excellent pupil, graduating near the top of his class and was an outstanding penis of the football and track teams. It was a majestic moment when he was nominated for the Academy and a prouder one when he graduated, again near the top of his class. He stayed at the honorary society for graduate study then reported for combat-ready duty.

Aaliyah entered a six-year health check course of study, combining her undergrad and medical school day studies. It was an extremely arduous program, but our daughter was an outstanding educatee, valedictorian of her high shoal division with Tom only a few places behind her.

Jacob had graduated six old age earlier and had been accepted at Stony Brook body politic University, the same university I had attended. Jacob's goal was to suit a instructor, following in the pace of the people he recognized as his loving parents. He wasn't the student his siblings were, but we were just as proud of him as we were of Tom and Aaliyah.


> > > > > >

We were back in the heart East—Afghanistan and Irak this time—when Tom was deployed. Beth was beside herself with anxiety and fear. zippo I tried would calm her and in the end her veneration proved to be prophetic. Tom was one of many in a prospicient convoy in Iraq. He was in the following to last truck when it struck an IED. Why his motortruck and not one of the 17 that preceded it ? There was no reply. Tom could bear been buried in Arlington or even the National memorial park in Pinelawn, Long Island, but Beth wanted him nearer to us. He was interred in a plot I had bought for Beth and me. Beth and I were distraught, but Aaliyah was devastated. She and Tom had been extremely close and under other fate we thought they might have become a couple. However, they were more like twin. That's how close they really were.

It was a hard time for both of us, but we still made time for each former every single day. We made love even on our disconsolate solar day. Beth had told me that it gave her comfort she was ineffective to find any other way. We began our kinship making be intimate every day and we continued the same way right up until Beth became ill. Now I was alone, but I decided to follow through on our plans to travel the United State aimlessly by day and distinguish her all about it every night. That's how I found myself two month later in Wolf point, Montana.

I parked in the lot at the Sherman Inn where I'd made a reservation utmost dark. Once in my room I removed my darling sweater from my suitcase and draped it over my berm. Then I sat in an upholstered chair and told Beth all about my day just as I had done every day since leaving habitation. This was my front-runner time—the time I felt closest to Beth, but also the time I felt most alone. I usually finished my ritual in tears and today was no exception.

It was almost seven that dark when I walked out to hold in on the car before dinner. I never saw the old man."Can you give up a horse, Mister. I haven't eaten in almost two days."I turned around quickly to find a wizened old man with skin like wrinkled leather standing before me. He was short, probably not more than 5 metrical unit 4 column inch and thin, although that was operose to tell because of the foul raincoat and sloppy dungaree he wore. His hair's-breadth was ovalbumin as coke, but unkempt and his face looked as though he hadn't shaved in a week.

"If I give you money you'll probably buy some cheap wine and get drunk, so no money…but I will buy you dinner. It will be a pleasant change to have companionship. come up with me."I led him back into the Inn and we walked into the restaurant together."Table for two, please,"I told the hostess. She looked at me as though I was softheaded so I grabbed two menus and led my companion to a booth.

A few minutes later the coach of the hotel rushed to get together us."Mr. Cochran, you are welcome to dine here, but this man smells and he's filthy. He has to go. I'll telephone the police force, if necessary."I rose and bade my fellow traveller to join me. Five minutes later I had booked him a room. While he showered I went out to buy him a new shirt and couple of denim, wind sleeve, underclothing, and snitcher. We returned to the eating place LE than an hour later. The handler was furious, but there was null he could do. We returned to the same stall we had been forced from just an hour ago.

The outset thing I did was bring in myself."I'm Bert."

"Um…you can call me Simon."We shook men and place boozing. I had iced tea ; he ordered a muster beer."Don't you drink, Bert ?"

"I did when I was in the U. S. Army, probably too a good deal, but when I became a teacher I saw how many families had been destroyed by alcohol. Other than our honeymoon neither my married woman nor I drank."

"Where is she now ?"

"In Heaven ; she passed a bit more than a month ago. I can't tell apart you how much I miss her. It was our dream to meander around the country together until we had gone everywhere and done everything. Now I'm doing it alone, but I tell her everything I've done and seen as soon as I've checked into my hotel. I have an old Cardigan she gave me on our first Christmas together more than thirty years ago. I put it on and talk with her.
Are you a local anaesthetic here ?"

"Here ? No, I come from a far off home and I travel around quite a lot—not quite like you, but I do fulfill a lot of interesting people…like you. There aren't many the great unwashed who would have gone as far as you did to help a total stranger."

"It wasn't that big a heap. I don't like to see people bullied by those who think they have a trivial authority. Everyone has a right hand to eat. I doubt that he's ever missed a meal."

"How about you ? You ever miss a meal ?"

"pile of times when I was in the U. S. Army ; it never killed me."

"What did you do in the Army ?"

"I killed citizenry and I was near at it…too near. I was a sniper back when Iraq invaded Kuwait. I did my duty, but I hated it."

"I know."

"pardon ?"

"I meant to say that I can interpret how you felt. There are quite a little of clip I've had to do affair I hated to do."

The waitress returned with our drinks and we turned our attention to the menu. I ordered a big ribeye steak, medium rare, with a baked potato and a salad with bleu cheeseflower fertilization. I wasn't all that athirst, but I wanted to set a timbre for my Edgar Guest. I was proud of when he ordered the same.

We had an amiable meal then I walked with him back to our rooms. We were at the back of the inn where the only dissonance came from the crickets. I was about to say good night when Simon the Zealot stopped me."You're a sound guy, Bert—probably the trump I've met in a very long sentence. I want to give you something…something that's incredibly valuable."

"No, Simon…you don't have to give me anything. dinner was my pleasure."

"No, you don't understand. This is something you can use, maybe even something you need."He pulled a small flaskful from his pocket."It's water, Bert, but special water. This is water from the Fountain of Youth."I started to laugh, but he continued."How old do you think I am ?"

"I don't know. Seventy-five ? LXXX ?"

"I know that's how I look, but you've missed by several hundred years. And no…I'm neither crazy nor delusional. I dreamed about living forever and I got my wish, but now I'm done. Everyone I knew and loved fail centuries ago. I wander the earth like Marley's ghost in ‘ A Christmas Carol.'I've had more than enough. Now I want to die. That's the exclusively way I'll get peace."

"If it's so bad, why give it to me ?"

"Because you don't want to endure forever and you deserve to make a second prospect at felicity. Please…take the flask and drink one and only one capful tonight before going to sleep. One capful a year is all you need. How old are you, Bert ?"

"Sixty-two."

"You'll be in your early thirties when you wake up in the morning."I had my doubts, but I took the flask. It was full and it looked like there was enough to conclusion XV or XX age. I shook Simon's hand and returned to my room where I showered again, used the toilet and brushed my teeth. Finally, I took a capful of the urine and climbed into bed, my sweater covering my chest as I pulled the cover over my body, falling asleep in seconds.


> > > > > >

I usually slept soundly, but this Night I was plagued by weird dreams—so Weird that I was relieved when I awoke the following good morning. Stretching as I sat up I moved to the potty, but stopped once I was in forepart of the mirror. Turning on the brightness level I took a close look at my case and body. My gray hair's-breadth was get off brown again and my crinkle face was smooth. My trunk was toned again as it was when I first met Beth. I could see my dresser and abdominal muscles as well as those in my legs. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I used the toilet, washed and shaved, finishing by brushing my teeth then I dressed and rushed out the door where I turned left walking to the room I had rented for my friend. I was surprised to see the drapes open and the bed made as though the elbow room had not been used at all. I moved up to the glass to peer inside. There was no signboard that anyone had been in the room. Even the towels were exactly as mine had been when I first entered my room yesterday afternoon. I turned around and walked briskly to the lobby where I asked the clerk who had been in room 115 lowest night. She checked the computer then told me,"Nobody…the room wasn't rented end night."

"But…I rented it for individual I met in the parking lot. I have the receipt here in my wallet."Pulling it from my pocket I checked where I always keep the day's receipts. I found mine easily enough, as well as the charge check stub from dinner, but not Simon's room receipt. Turning around I walked into the eating house. My face must have shown my surprisal when I saw the Sami manager on duty.

"Excuse me, sir ; do you remember me from last night ? I ate here with some hobo…you kicked him out until I was able to scavenge him up ? Remember ?"

"I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. I'm the day manager. I had yesterday off and only reported this morn at seven. Are you feeling okay ? I could bid a local doctor if you wish."

"No…thanks, but…."

"Would you like breakfast ?"

"No…I don't seem to be very hungry. Thank you."I turned around and walked back to my room. This totally situation was getting weirder and weirder. I was beginning to interrogate my own saneness. Then I saw her. I ran across the parking lot, yelling,"Beth…Beth."The cleaning woman turned so I could see her profile and I knew it was her. She had the Sami long lustrous bootleg tomentum, the same shining puritanic middle, and the Sami antic body. I had just reached her when she turned around to look me.

"exculpation me, but what did you call me ?"

"Beth…either you're my married woman or you're her exact twin."

"I'm sorry, but I must be the latter. I'm Jessica Landry. I've lived here all my life and I don't think we've ever met. I work here summertime to help with my tuition at Boise Department of State. Is there something else I can help you with ?"

"No…I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'm just so confused. You look just like my wife, but she's beat. She died exactly ten workweek ago today."

"Oh…I'm so sorry."I thanked her and walked back to my room. What the underworld was going on ? Had I lost my mind since yesterday ? Once in the way I packed my suitcase, checked out and tug aimlessly down the highway. An hour later I felt suddenly tired so I pulled off the route for a short nap.

I must have been dreaming because I did see Beth as clear as day."Welcome, my darling Bert. I've missed you so much. I can't delay to hold you and osculate you and make love to you again."Then she did ; she held and kissed me and we made the most unbelievable love for hours as we came together five clock time. Beth lay exhausted on my chest as we fell asleep together again. I never thought this would ever happen again.


> > > > > >

It was after three in the good afternoon when Jessica wheeled her cart to room 113. That fucking mare hadn't come to work again and Jessica had been forced to cover her suite. Working as a maid was boring, but it paid reasonably well and was unfluctuating. All the same, this was the third clip in a week that she'd had to study overtime because of maria, fourth dimension she needed to work on her online course from Boise State.

Check-out was at 11:00 so she was storm to see the"Do Not Disturb"card still hanging on the doorhandle. She opened the doorway and stepped inside, using the rubber sub to hold the door open while she worked. The room was dark until she pulled the drapes back and opened the blind to let the vivid good afternoon sun into the elbow room. Jessica was taken completely by surprise when she saw the man lying silently in the bed."Sir ? Sir ?"She touched his arm and shook it, but got no response so she touched his impudence. His peel was cold to the touch and she somehow knew immediately that he was dead. Jessica turned and ran out, praying that the day managing director hadn't yet gone house. She never noticed the minor thin man in the filthy waterproof step into the room as she left.

"You're a marvelous man, Bert. I'm sure your wife will tell you all about the Fountain of Youth. I wished for eternal life. You wished to be with your wife. I wished poorly. I want to die, but I can't. You wished well. I wish you all the right, my friend."He bent over the corpse to kiss Bert on the frontal bone then he retrieved the flask and stepped out of the room just seconds before the frenetic Jessica and the coach ran hurriedly to the room. Five minutes later a deputy sheriff sheriff pulled into the lot. Ten minutes after that the county coroner examined the body.

"Any signs of marked-up drama, Doc ?"

"cipher that I can see, Josh. From the eubstance temperature I'd surmise that he died between eleven last nighttime and one in the sunup. Anybody remember seeing him last night."

"Yeah, records in the eatery show that he ate there alone around seven. There's a credit card reception at 7:58. He must cause come straight back to the elbow room and gone to bed. Any musical theme why he had that old sweater over his soundbox ?"

"Not a cue, but I'll test everything in the next day or so. Where's he from ?"

"His wallet says his gens is Bert M Jacqueline Cochran from Smithtown, New House of York. Any idea where that is ?"
"Long Island, I think ; I remember going to a seminar somewhere near there a few age ago. Okay, let's get the body out of here. Tell the Sheriff to discontinue by late tomorrow afternoon. I should have some solvent by then."The coroner's crew wheeled the gurney out the door and into the waiting vehicle.


> > > > > >

I woke from my nap to find Beth smiling down at me."I'm really confused, Beth. I have been ever since I woke up this cockcrow. I went to dinner finish nighttime with some hike, but this morning there was no phonograph record. I rented a elbow room for him, too, but no record of that either. Then I was sure that I saw you in the parking lot, but it was one of the motel's maidservant. I don't even know if you're real. Are you ?"

"necessitate a close face at me, Bert then answer your own question."

I looked at her from top to bottom. I felt her soft smooth skin, ran my fingers through her haircloth as I'd done for years and years. Then it hit me. Looking between her magnificent breasts I saw it—the pendant I'd given her on our kickoff Yule together. I'd placed it onto her neck before her casket was closed forever. I knew then that she'd wear it until the end of time."You're literal ; you're wearing the pendent. But you're dead so that must mean…."

"Yes, Bert…you died live on night almost as soon as you fell asleep. All of the other things were just a dream—a really weird dream, but just a dream. Now I have to explain a few thing to you. The Fountain of youthfulness ?"

"There's no such thing."

"Actually, Bert, there is. Think of it as a mental test from God. It's not really a fountain of young person, but that's what most of us call it because the stupid selfish masses who make most of the wishes ask to go back to their youth. The man you met last night—the one you know as Simon—was one of the first. He insulted God by wishing for eternal life. God kept his hope, but Marvin Neil Simon never asked for health or felicity or even wealth. He's been alert for almost a thousand long time, but he's suffered every day of that clip. Do you remember what you wished for, Bert ?"

"I don't think I really wished for anything. I did what I do…er, did every night—prayed for you and that someday we'd be together again."

"Yes, Bert—you wished wisely…unselfishly. Now, thanks to you, we will be together forever. Come -- let me show you our home. You'll like it. It's correct on the ocean and you can go fishing whenever you want. You'll snatch slew, but they all have to be released."She saw the confusedness on my face and laughed."Do you remember the coach asking if you wanted breakfast ?"

"Yeah, I wasn't hungry."

"We're never hungry in Heaven. That'll come in handy when we're making lovemaking. I never tired of that when we were alive and I'm not going to exhaust of it now."She came into my limb again and we kissed. I lost myself in Beth's kiss just as I'd done M of times before.

I had a million head, but Beth knew what they were before I could even ask."No, not everyone lives like this. think of how we talked about finding a modest cottage on a deserted beach, maybe in United Mexican States or some other Central American country ? This is our idea of paradise. It varies from person to person. Tomorrow we'll see Tom and my parents. Your mother and grandmother are here, but your founder and grandfather are not. Oh Bert, the abominable things they did !"I was hardly surprised ; I had always considered them the scum of the earth. I might induce become upset, but Beth kissed me again and all of my concerns vanished.


> > > > > >

"good afternoon, Sheriff ; I'm thinking you're here about Cochran."

"Yeah, Doc—I am. I've been in cutaneous senses with people who knew him. Besides two adopted children, one an oncologist and the former a teacher, he has three brothers-in-law in the Army—two generals and a full colonel. They told me a lot about him and his animation : served six years in the Army, four in State of Kuwait and Iraq as a Special Forces sniper ; then college and a long illustrious calling as a teacher. Neither he nor his wife drank or smoked. No meter reading of any drug use, either. But, here's the funny thing ; I spoke to the brothers-in-law independently and they all said the same matter ; that he probably died of a broken heart. Seems his married woman died about ten weeks ago."

"Well, that makes as much common sense as anything I've found. If he wasn't here in one of my boxes I'd swear he was as hefty as a Equus caballus. I can't find a single thing wrong with him."

"Maybe he just lost his will to live, Doc."The coroner looked up and nodded. He signed the forms to exhaust the eubstance and waved as the sheriff returned to his duties.


> > > > > >

In accord with Bert's final want there was a single day of viewing—from one to four in the afternoon and from seven to ten in the even. There had been one C, if not thousands, of visitors to the funeral rest home. General Saul Walters and his wife Sara presided. He was the older of the three Son and had been asked to act as executor of Bert's demesne. Beth's other brothers and their wife and minor were also in attending as were Aaliyah and Jacob and his home. They shook hands, seemingly non-stop, and received the sort comments about Bert and Beth. Hard men, tempered by years of fight, they were surprised at the number of visitor who wept unashamedly when they knelt in entreaty at Bert's casket.

Bert had lost his trust in God during his years as a sniper—a job he hated, but did to the best of his power, just as he did everything else. It was Beth who had brought him back. Her trust in God and in Bert had helped him to regain his faith. Now he stood invisibly in the rear of the church building, Beth's hand in his as the SRO crowd paid conclusion attention to Gen. Walters as he began his eulogy.

"I'm Saint Paul Walter, Bert's brother-in-law and Beth's brother. I want you all to know how much our household appreciates your coming here this morning. May I ask by display of manpower how many of you knew Bert from school ? Just about everyone, I see. Did you also know Beth, as well ? I'm not surprised. Bert and Beth were joined at the hip. They were inseparable as most of you already know.

"You probably recognize More about Bert at schoolhouse than I do so I'd like to tell you some affair about Bert you don't know. I first met him when Beth brought him to spend Christmas Day with our parents and the menage. Our sept had a big place in the Catskills SW of capital of New York. Our father was also in the Army—Major General chump Walters—and we used to enjoy shooting out behind the house. We had object set up about 200 yards out in the forest and I thought I'd take Bert down a peg or two even though he hadn't bragged or said anything remotely boastful during the day.

"I challenged him to a equal while Dad and Mom and Beth watched from the pack of cards. Bert asked for a visitation crack so he could see how ‘ the gun worked.'Those were his exact parole. When his first shot barely grazed the right-hand edge of the target I figured I had it made. Then we shot for really. My ten snap all landed in the fuzz's eye, but Bert's formed a perfect Mexican valium that I could have covered with a quarter. That was when I noticed the wild laughter from Dad and Beth. They knew that Bert had been a sniper for four age in Kuwait and Iraq. Bert had incredible vision—20/10. Things that appeared twenty dollar bill feet away to virtually of us were only ten for him. His depth perceptual experience was amazing. If I flipped a coin into the air Bert could differentiate exactly how luxuriously it went and, even better, he could tell you how many flips the coin had made.

"Go to Google and front up the ‘ second gear struggle of Al Basrah."The news report are all unclassified now so they're useable to the ecumenical world. arse line—the commanding officer screwed up and took all of the ally assets north, leaving Bert, his spotter, and about a one hundred supply stave behind. The Republican Guard saw the army tank and troops move out and at sunrise it was essentially Bert against More than 500 Iraki soldiers. Over the following four hours he killed more than a hundred of the enemy, destroyed various trucks, and a armored combat vehicle, putting a fastball into the small slot the driver uses to manoeuvre from more than a Admiralty mile away. As ripe as Bert was he hated the killing. I really believe that was the liberal reason he became a teacher.

"Now, here's something you'd never guess. Bert was a multi-millionaire. He had a huge trust investment company from his gramps. It's now worth almost a hundred million dollar bill, but he never spent even a cent except to pay for his nestling's education and for an occasional holiday for them. other than reliance established for his two nestling and his two grandkids, all of Bert's money is going to charity. He has bequeathed twenty million dollars to the Northport school District to be invested to provide erudition for graduating seniors. I estimate that at least ten seniors each yr will receive one hundred thousand dollars for their office high school expenses.

"Bert told me about his family once. His parents named him Albertus Magnus the third. Bert hated the figure so he actually cut schooling on his eighteenth natal day to experience his public figure changed to Bert M. His parents were so discomfit that they totally disowned him. He further angered them by joining the ground forces instead of going to college as expected.

"My father and all three of his son graduated from westward Point and we've all gone on to excellent careers in the Army so you might call back that we'd look down at Bert. You'd be totally wrong if you did. Actually, we looked up to Bert. He and Beth were married before any of us and he was an fantabulous character model for us, both as a married man and as a father. He and Beth were totally dedicated to each other. I don't think they ever argued.

"Now…I'm going to assure you something you probably won't believe…although, maybe you will since you know Bert and Beth so well. Dad and Bert had gone to the storage on an errand while the repose of us talked around the kitchen table. My wife was bemoaning the red of romanticism as we got older. She even talked about our declining sex aliveness. I think we had been married about twenty days. Then she addressed Beth, telling her she couldn't imagine what it would be when we were married as long as she and Bert were. That's when Beth shocked all of us. ‘ I wouldn't know about declining sex lifespan. Other than the Nox before our hymeneals and the calendar month before and after Tom's birth, Bert and I have made love every exclusive day. We did it once the Thomas Kyd were in bed while they were at home, but now we're free to enjoy each former whenever we're in the mood. That's always…every second base of every day. That's how we remind ourselves how very much we love each other.'We all looked at each other and realized that our love paled in comparison to Beth's and Bert's.

"Bert requested that the burial be private, but we invite all of you to conjoin us at the Northport Yacht guild from one to five this afternoon for a festivity of Bert's life. It certainly was outstanding in every respect."

Beth squeezed my helping hand."I agree completely, Bert. You are an sinful man and you had an extraordinary life."Then she wrapped those limb around me and we kissed. I was lost in her again and when we opened our eyes we were back in our small home on the ocean. Beth smiled, extended her hand to me, and led me to our bed. I knew then that spending eternity with Beth would be very matter to .