This is a short story that has been bouncing around in my brain for a patch. It's a story of pure love, the variety few of us ever experience. As with everything I've written there's sex embedded into the storey, but only when it's an integral voice of the plot. The story is always more important to me than meaningless gratuitous 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 age and had everything ready for my sixty-second birthday. But Beth had been experiencing what she called small-scale occasional abdominal pain sensation for more than a year. She had pooh-pooh my requests that she see her doctor, claiming it was muscle cramp or maybe uterine fibroid tumor."They're nothing. You'll see."

fountainhead, of course, they weren't"nothing."“ Nothing"turned out to be stage-four uterine cancer by the meter 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 pipe organ by the sentence of her operating theater. She lived for six to a greater extent days—nowhere near enough to tell her how much I loved her and how much I would miss her -- then I laid her to rest next to our son, Lowell Thomas, who had been killed while serving his country in Iraq. As I stood there looking into the deep grave accent I realized that I was truly alone…alone for the commencement sentence 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 underworld tags a sobriquet like that on an innocent infant ? My sadistic father and mother, that's who ; then they couldn't understand why I was in so many fights in primary school and Junior in high spirits. Albertus, the first, had founded the firm and my father had succeeded him. They were both high-powered attorney. I was supposed to meekly be in their giant footstep, but I fooled them—my father, anyway.

Grandfather—never Grandpa or Papa—passed just before my eighteenth natal day, leaving me a trust stock that gave me an allowance of $ 1,000 a month until my thirtieth birthday. I went to see an attorney the day he died to checker on a legal subroutine then cut school on my natal day 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. Army instead of going to college I was disowned. I still had the faith fund -- they couldn't touch that -- but everything else was gone. I didn't care even a little. My childhood had been spent with she-goat and at boarding shoal until I had intentionally flunked out. My female parent was almost a total unknown. My father was even less.

I served six days in the United state of matter U. S. Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant First Class, and it was the undecomposed sentence I'd ever known. I'd seen natural process in Kuwait and Al-Iraq. Then I used the GI Bill to attend college—not my Father's alma mater—a state university where I studied education and earth science. I was hired for a posture in a middle school and, once again, my father viewed me as a failure."Can't even teach in the big conference ; I guess you're not saucy enough for high schoolhouse,"was the first matter he said at what was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting—my gran's funeral. I turned on my dog and walked away, never to bring back. Fuck him ! shtup them all !

Truth was, I loved working with the younger child and it showed. I never had a discipline problem and many of my students 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 fifth period so we chatted along with the other teachers.

What turned out to be my probability came when the science department decided that every student should do an experiment and enter it in a school-wide science fair. I wasn't terrified, but I was concerned. I knew absolutely nothing about art and even less about putting together an aesthetic intro so I went to see her after schoolhouse, my hat in my hand."Elizabeth ? service !"

I knew I'd demand help with her. She was drop-dead gorgeous—tall at 5'9"and slender with large succulent boob, a narrow waist and hip, but a firm round of drinks butt. Her hair was blackness as pitch and long—almost half-way down her back—and her oculus were the hopeful blueing I'd ever seen. Did I mention that she was gorgeous ? She wore mire most day, I guessed because of the pauperism to move around in division. Yes, she was a beautiful aphrodisiac woman while I was an ordinary man—six pes even and slender although I was still in splendid shape after my years in the army. My light-headed Robert Brown hair was short—maybe an inch at virtually with no role and no gyre. It was a military cut that I kept because it was leisurely to wish for. Hell…most time I cut it myself with a pruner from Walmart.

I still retrieve the facial expression she gave me. She put down the handful of Clay she was carrying and turned to me with a warm welcoming smile."What's the job ?"I explained and she laughed."I'm glad you're having this project 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 company of a dozen other teacher. I'll be glad to avail you, but there's a price."She laughed again when I gulped."You have to take me to dinner ; naught fancy—pizza will do -- and you have to talk to me all evening."

"All even ?"

"Okay, almost all even. How about Friday night ? Do I have to pick you up, too ? Do I have to deal ?"She looked can, but began laughing a bit 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 luxuriously school. Part of it was getting even with my asshole parents."I explained, starting with my absurd figure which made her giggle, how I had changed it, and my parents'chemical reaction."They had me down to be a attorney from the day I was born, just as I was supposed to wait on Harvard. 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 poor grades just to aggravate them. I also wanted to get out of the boarding school they had sent me to and into populace school."I looked at my sentry and noticed that I had been talking to her for more than an hour.
I'm sorry ; I didn't mean to save you so late."

"Am I a captive here ? I don't think so. Truthfully, this is the well good afternoon I've spent since I came to exercise. My family unit is from just Confederate States of Albany so I don't know anyone here. I come to work. I go home, cook lessons, eat, and go to bed. That's some life for a twenty-three year old."

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

"Ruining ? Would you come with me just a second ? I need some help in my storeroom."She walked to the rear of the classroom and I followed. To my surprise she closed the door then folded herself into my sleeve and kissed me. It was entirely unexpected, but I do commemorate responding. She stepped back a second later, smiled, then moved back in for another, working her tongue into my oral fissure, pressing those fantastical breasts into my chest, and rubbing her crotch into my thigh.

She broke the candy kiss, looked into my heart, and suggested that we might get to dinner later…much later. Holding my hand she led me out of the loo to the classroom doorway. She still held me while she locked the door. There was not a 1 person to be seen, but even if there was we weren't doing anything wrongly. We were both single and, while stave romances weren't encouraged, they weren't against the rules either.

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

"Not far…about five naut mi east."

"Are we coming back this way for dinner party ?"

"Yeah, if you don't mind there's a great pizza pie joint down in the hamlet and a great sandwich workshop, too."

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

"You need to entrust me."I led her to my truck and a minute later we were on the highway driving toward our luck. I pulled into what had once been a farm lane and was still a narrow unpaved rutted drive. Luckily, after three yr I knew the fix of every one. I twisted and turned up what should have been a true trip, stopping at last in front of a small-scale one-story star sign. The roof formed a four-foot overhang, making a constrict covered porch that ran for the entire front end of the building.

"Nice !"

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

"Private, I like."Beth took my hand as I led her into the living room. There wasn't much, just the combination living/dining/kitchen area in the integral front end of the house with a short-circuit hall off to the left leading to the single bedroom on the right hand and john on the left.

"How on land did you ever find this place ?"

"It belongs to the parents of a former student. I was chatting with the Kyd for a second at the end of grade one day my foremost year and a student asked where I lived. I was in a embarkation house—Mrs. McIntyre's—down in the village. I told the kids it was okay, but not very private. The next day I found a note in my mailbox asking me to telephone his parents. They offered the place to me and I moved in the side by side 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 start of school, but we can talk about that later…after."I felt like a deer in the headlights as she led me to my own bedroom.

I may have been a unity man living on my own, but that didn't mean that I was a slob. substance abuse learned under strict Army discipline lasted a long time. Beth turned once she had reached the double bed and moved to me. We kissed again, her soft plump lips pressing firmly into mine. Her osculation were the sweetest and hottest I'd ever had—her tongue the most active and wondering. I'd dated occasionally in high school. Losing my virginity to Ginny Porter early in my senior year did curiosity for my self-esteem. My experiences once I was in the Army were very different. I'd met a few local anaesthetic girls during my training in Texas, scoring more than half the time. Once I was deployed my intimate outlets were restricted to leaves which I usually spent in Eastern Europe—Prague and Budapest were my deary where beautiful missy flowed like water. I was always careful, using a condom and getting tested for STD's regularly. The nature of my combat assignment meant that I was often away from prominent frontier settlement for extended stop. None of my interactions with the Iraqi's were what one might call"friendly."

I never dated in college. For one thing I wanted to wind up as quickly as possible, taking as many classes as I could possibly handle and attending between the steady semesters, as well as summertime. Truthfully, I found the antics of my"classmates"childish. Then I graduated and found a job teaching eighth grade earth scientific discipline in nearby Northport, a beautiful village on the northward Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island. Even though I had only a ace lesson to set every day, instruction is a lot of work—much more than nearly masses think. I socialized occasionally, mostly with other instructor from my school. My sexual easement came entirely from my right hand.

Beth took the initiative, breaking the kiss to remove my sweater and shirt. I responded by unbuttoning her blouse and dropping her slack water to her feet. I marveled at her breasts. I couldn't believe that the flimsy fabric of her bra could be substantial enough to support them. They were grownup and firmer and heavier than I'd thought and they looked to be perfectly symmetrical. Her nipple were extremely sensible as I rolled and pinched them while she moaned in ecstasy.

I carefully laid her back onto the bed, covering her with my torso. We kissed and held each other as I savored to sissiness of her perfect skin against mine. Her hand found my turncock knockout and set up, oozing slippy pre-cum ; mine found her sex wet and hot."No stimulation, Bert—not today, not now. I'm so hot for you. Just acquire me and have a go at it me hard. delight ! I need you so badly. I'm mendicancy you !"

I moved quickly between her legs. She helped me by raising her knees and wrapping her legs over my back. Between my pre-cum and her nectar I thought we'd have pot of lubrication. My stopcock found her entrance and I eased forward into her velvet vise. I was in maybe an in or so when I found resistance. My headland jerked up and I looked into her heart."You're a Virgin ?"

"Yes…shameful isn't it ?"

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

"Believe me, Bert—you'll make it special, not ruin it. Please…do me ; I'll explain everything later."She batted those farseeing eyelash at me and I could see her desire and want in her middle. She rubbed my clump then tightened her ramification'clasp on me. Her hired man moved me back into her tunnel and she drove her hips up, ripping her hymen in a 2nd. She was breathing hard as she moved up to come across me. If I didn't know right I would have thought her to be extremely experienced. She did everything right as her hot tight pussy flexed around my needy cock.

I know I'm not the longest shaft ever seen—not by a tenacious stroke. I'd guess I carry about six and a half inch, but I am unusually thick—almost two inch in diameter. Several women in Europe had told me that's what really counts. Beth told me that she wanted it hard so I pounded her virtuous pussy like it belonged to my worst enemy. In my mind I was taking no prisoners, but Beth apparently loved it. If I'd read her correctly she came twice before my putz erupted, bathing her uterus with my satiny baby juice.

"Oh shit,"I thought. I hadn't asked her if she was safe. This could make for a very embarrassing situation at schooltime. Beth must have read my idea because she smiled then whispered,"Not to worry ; 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 slut for fucking you before we even have a date."

"A trollop ? No, anyone who's a virgin 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 foresightful time -- years, in fact. I've known that you were named Albertus Magnus, but changed your public figure when you were eighteen. I've known that you defied your parents by going into the regular army. I've known that you were deployed in Iraq where you were a sniper in special military force ... a very successful sniper, probably the secure the Army's ever had. I know you won a silver star, a bronze star, and a distinguished avail Cross for the irregular battle of Al Basrah and you were injured twice, earning the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster."

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

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

"Elizabeth…Beth."

She was laughing and raising her eyebrows when she said,"Keep going."

"Okay, 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 General Mark Walters is your forefather ?"

"Yup…I'm a genuine U. S. Army little terror. Usually, there's a lot of sex between holy terror, but not when your dad is base commander. near boys were deathly afraid of me. Do you recall that we actually met when I ran into my dad's power ? You were a corporal then. I was in absolute awe of you—a really war grinder. All Daddy did was sit behind a desk."

"I must have been 20…about nine age ago. Did you have braids and braces then ?"Her immense grin told me she did.

She continued a moment later."I thought I recognized you the first base time I saw you at orientation back in August—your haircut is variety of a game show -- and then Mr. Fazio introduced you as one of the most outstanding Brigham Young teachers in the school dominion. That's when I was sure…sure I wanted you to be my first…and more. I was so shake up that I phoned papa as soon as I got home that good afternoon. Incidentally, I live at that Sami boarding planetary house. He had your jacket crown pulled and gave me all of the particular. 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 teacher and an even break individual. I get a lot of your students every day and they're always so arouse about your class. I hate to admit it, but I've been pumping them for data."

She raised her head and kissed me again and again then pushed me off, rolled me over, and climbed onto my dead body. Rubbing those fantastic tits into my chest did the job on me. I was hard again in a second and into her incredibly cockeyed heaven an wink later. I had to chuckle as she began to sway. workforce on my shoulder, Beth was working her clit like a madwoman for almost ten arcminute."Not too shabby for an almost Virgin,"I joked."You must have watched a lot of porn."

"I did…oh, God…oh God, but now that I have you…oh, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck !"She shook wildly as a serial publication of convulsion ripped through her slender soundbox. Beth collapsed onto my chest, her breathing deep and rapid as her sexual climax slowly ebbed. I held her tightly, my hired hand roaming over her binding and butt, my still unvoiced putz embedded deep within her. I wasn't going to cum…not so quickly after the kickoff meter, but that was O.K.. Just holding this marvelous woman—feeling her incredible diffused skin -- was to a greater extent than enough.

She must have lain on top of me semi-conscious for twenty minutes, at least. A goofy grin greeted me when she sat up."I've read stories online and in ‘ Cosmo'about how neat 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 evidence me that we're going to do it again."

"Is every day approve ?"I smiled. It sure as hell was. I didn't realize at the sentence, but Beth had made a promise she would go along for the rest of her life.

We walked into the bathroom naked, my cock dripping semen and slit juice, my new devotee with gobs of come running down her legs. We looked at each other and laughed then we pulled each other into an embrace that ended only when I turned on the piddle. The shower here was one of the house's best features. It was located over an old bathtub on legs ; it was much bad than bathing tub are today. There was a rain shower pall that ran 360 degrees around the tub on an oval rod that hung from the ceiling. It was our first shower together—the first of many to come.

Once we had dressed I drove Beth past school down into the Greenwich Village. At this hour there was no difficultness finding a parking spot right in battlefront 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 biota and following yr you'll have Maria, our youngest. All I have to do is convince Fazio to put her into your social class. Who's your friend ?"

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

"She looks like a literal undecomposed booster from here."I refused to eject her hand in venom of his shot."Rebel Rouser tonight ?"

I pointed to the polarity that hung against the game bulwark. Beth read the ingredients and nodded."Two, Sal and can we have some fountain nose candy with ice ?"

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

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

I laid out my preliminary plan for the pupil and she agreed with most of it, but did hint introducing the presentation early on in the operation. She lost me when she got into font styles and sizing, but assured me that she'd deal with that in her division to bear out me. We were well into our discussion when Sal brought our washing soda and the sandwiches a few minutes 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 piece of Meleagris gallopavo breast, four piece of provolone and four of 1st Baron Verulam before being placed into the oven so the cheese would melt and meld the sandwich together. Sal always gave me—and now Beth—double, and all because of what I'd been able-bodied to do with his son who had been an uninspired student until he took my grade. Then he learned to love science and it carried over to his other classes, as well. He had gone from a"C"scholarly person to straight"A's."


> > > > > >

That was the starting signal of my kinship with Beth. We saw each other every unity day, spending meter working on our lesson or grading mental test at my old enameled steel kitchen table. We cooked and ate in most days, making love every bingle even. Beth always left my home by 9:30 so she could get home to the boarding theater. We spent every secondment of the weekends together, making love two, even three, times a day. We were always totally proper and professional in school day, never revealing our true relationship, and that's the way things stayed until the second week in January although I did go with her to visit her parents and brothers over Christmas. It was either that or spend the holiday alone as I'd done every one of the past tense five years.

Her begetter welcomed me, giving me a big smiling and a firm handshake in greeting. Mrs. Bruno Walter hugged me. We talked for hour and that's when I learned that Beth had been an accident late in life, but one they had never regretted. It was almost clip for dinner when Beth led me upstairs to her room. She laughed like the pits when I asked where I was sleeping."Right here succeeding to me, silly unless you'd prefer to be under me. Hmmm, now there's an idea I like."

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

"Of course—they're not like your parents. go along in brain that I am 23 and an adult who pays her own way. And, by the way, I expect you to do me every nighttime and as many mornings as we can, too. I'll have to be quiet than common, but that's okay as long just as we can make love."Damn—the memories I have even after all these years are just incredible. For Christmas I gave Beth a pendant—small diamonds shaped into a heart on a sterling silver chain. She gave me a warm up woolen Cardigan Welsh corgi. I still wear that well-worn sweater when I want to feel especially fold to her. She'll wear that pendant until the end of time.


> > > > > >

I had read while in college that shoal are"microcosms of gild"which essentially means that whatever problems exist in the community will also be found in the schoolhouse. problem of drug and alcohol revilement sometimes manifested themselves in school day, but the bighearted job was clearly divorcement. Divorce exerted a fearful devastating toll on nestling. The cost on parents wasn't practically better.

The Peterson menage had split up over the Christmas/New Year's break and Mr. Peterson understandably hadn't taken it well. His wife had served him with divorcement papers and a restraining orderliness on Christmas Eve in what I thought at the time was an unnecessarily cruel act. He came to school on Wednesday, January 17th, in the Leslie Townes Hope of seeing his son for the inaugural time in almost a month. Mrs. Peterson, however, had brought a written matter of the restraining order to the head teacher and the staff was under strict orders to enforce it. He went berserk when he was refused, running out to the hallway when threatened with the police if he did not vacate the school grounds immediately. Instead of leaving, he pulled a side arm from his coat and ran into the nearest schoolroom which just happened to be Beth's.

I was walking down the Charles Francis Hall on my way to the office when I heard the commotion. Dottie, the dealer's writing table, summarized what had happened in a series of foresighted run-on sentences punctuated with long breathless pauses showing that she was obviously under a great mass of stress. All I knew was that the woman I loved was in sober danger.

The police force were on their way ; I could hear the Siren in the aloofness, but anything—absolutely anything -- could bechance before they had the situation under control. Everyone was trying to stay out of any business line of blast, hiding either in mesh role or schoolroom or behind furniture in the lobby—everyone, except me. I walked calmly into Beth's classroom. Mr. Peterson was there shaking as his arm was around Beth's neck opening, the pistol aimed carelessly at her head. The students cowered in their backside. Thomas More than half were crying.

Peterson spoke first, his voice cracking under the air."Who're you ? What…what are you doing here ?"
I ignored his nervousness, speaking clearly and calmly in an attempt to defuse the office."I'm Bert Cochran. I teach scientific discipline here in the midway 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."okey, kid get up and take the air out quietly. hazard you're in a flak exercise. There are teacher outside to help oneself you."

student are conditioned to follow orders. All of these students were also mine which helped a lot. Half of them were out the doorway before Peterson even reacted."What the hellhole are you doing ?"

"You will deliver a lot easygoing time dealing with the two of us than with those holy terror. I'm not going to reach you any problems. This is the fair sex I love more than anything. I want to spend the respite of my life with her so I'm going to cooperate fully with anything you say."I sat on a table, apparently relaxed as I tried to behave on a conversation with our"captor."

After about ten minutes I had convinced him to let Beth sit. There was no need to gag 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."shit, I'm so dazed ! Your son is Danny Peterson, right ?"I continued once he had nodded."He's in eighth form scientific discipline with me and this is his luncheon period. Beth, why don't you walk over to the cafeteria and make for Danny back so he can see his dad ?"I gave her a little nudge. She rose and walked slowly to the classroom threshold. A second later she was safe.

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

"Oh, sorry,"he said as he swung the barrel away. I had been sitting on the table apparently relaxing, but I sprung into activity in a flash. My left hand went to his wrist, my right hand to his elbow. I pushed violently with the left and pulled with the right. All of the strain went to the faint part of his arm. His articulatio cubiti broke with an audible snap. The shooting iron dropped from his useless script and I caught it before it hit the floor.

Using my torso for leveraging I pushed him against the bulwark while I ejected the magazine and racked the coast to open the action. I wasn't at all surprised when a chambered daily round fell to the storey. I wanted that, but first I needed to let the whoreson know who was in control."I'm going to flex down for that heater. If you do anything stupid you'll be in a world of harm. I could vote out you and nobody would find fault me."To accentuate my point I shoved his head into the wall. He stayed there while I retrieved the cartridge.

"okeh, EVERYBODY,"I shouted."We're coming out. I have the pistol and all the bullets are in my pocket."Grabbing Peterson by the collar of his coat I pushed him out in front of me. The first cop we met was about to turn his arm behind his vertebral column, but I stopped him."Hold it ! His elbow is broken. He needs medical attention."Two officers led him away then I handed the weapon and ammunition to one of the remaining cops.

I had just fished the bullets out of my pouch when Beth rushed up to me, her arms wrapping around my body. She was bawling, her breath coming in pant, her soundbox shaking as her emotions, barely held in substantiation earlier, rushed to the surface. I pulled her forefront to my shoulder, holding her close and running my fingers through her farseeing lustrous hair."Oh Bert, I was so care about you. I don't know what I would do if you were hurt."

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

I looked around. The vestibule was filled with people—police military officer, our administrators, More than a XII instructor, and Beth's integral class. This wouldn't have been my option for the fourth dimension or place to profess my love for her, but it would bear to do. I hesitated for a second before replying."Well, I have to confess—I did tell a few lies in there, but not about you. Yes, I do withdraw saying that and I meant every word, if you'll have me."I expected some kind of reaction, but it was even more than than I had hoped for.

"YES ! YES ! YES ! love 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 approximation you've had all year, Jeremy."I looked down at my fiancee and brought my sass to hers. We held the kiss for almost a minute as everyone applauded, even the cops. Then I was led out to an ambulance for a promptly 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 lull after all that ?"

"It's just the way I am. I get excited emotionally just like everyone else, but my trunk remains calm."That was all I said. Nothing more was needed. I could have told him that my slow pulse and low rakehell force per unit area led me to winner as a sniper, but it wasn't his business. I buttoned up my shirt, took Beth's manus, and returned to work. Well, I tried, but as soon as we entered the construction Beth and I were told that the school was closing early. Parents were being called and the coach were on their way. Our classes would be covered until they arrived. Mr. Fazio took us aside."You both need to go family. withdraw as much fourth dimension as you need. This was a torturous experience and I know you're both under a lot of stress. I'm sure the police force will want a statement, but I'll try to hold them off until tomorrow."Then, with a smile,"I didn't have a clue you two were seeing each other and I don't think anyone else did either. Congratulations !"I thought he was going to cover, but his middle misted up and he walked away. Beth grabbed her coat from her classroom 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 room access then led her into the house. 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 fireplace, but used it only occasionally. Today would be the exception. I opened the fluke, started the attack and brought some small log in from the porch. A few minutes later the fire was roaring.

I had bought a methamphetamine hydrochloride binding with two doors and a blower grate, essentially a set of core out brand pipe that held the flack and were connected to a electric fan fan. Once the fire was going I could start the fan and hot air would blow into the way. It was enough to form the total way warm and toasty, even on the coldest day. I brought a thick puff from the press and laid it on the floor in front of the hearth. Then I helped Beth out of her clothes. Once we were naked I lay succeeding to her—holding, caressing, loving this incredible woman. I jumped up a minute later.

"I almost forgot."Running into my bedroom and back I held out what I thought was a beautiful ringing. It was a big disgraceful bead surrounded by a circle of rhombus in a 14-K yellow gold setting."This was my grandmother's…my mother's mother—the only penis of my family I ever spoke with. She left it to me when she died. I want you to receive it. I'll buy you an engagement doughnut, too."

Beth took the ring."It's beautiful, Bert. Aren't you supposed to put it onto my finger ?"She held out the third base fingerbreadth on her left manus 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 dance orchestra. This is a tremendous gang. I love it."She leaned forward to kiss me. We held it for various hour until Beth climbed onto me. We had been lover for almost three months. We knew each other's organic structure well. Beth leaned forward, bringing her tit to my back talk. I loved suckling and nibbling her tit almost as a lot as Beth enjoyed my doing it.

In all our time together we had never engaged in viva sex. We'd talked about it sight of metre and knew it would fall out one of these days when she wanted it. Truthfully, we were having too much fun making love together. Today must have been the day because she spun around, presented her sweet puss to me as she leaned forward to kiss the swollen head of my throbbing cock.

Next thing I knew, Beth was licking the integral surface of my organ and driving me wild with lust. My prick lurched up and down with every touching of her lips and glossa. I groaned as I moved up to inhale Beth's essence. I'd smelled and tasted her before, but only on my finger. There was something about her aroma that drove me crazy—as though it was lade with pheromones that short circuited my brainpower. 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 sensitive and centripetal to vaginal stimulation whether with my cock or my digit, or—now—my tongue. She was the only when cleaning lady I'd ever met who was up to of vaginal orgasms. I easily brought her to her first orgasm and I hadn't even touched her clit yet. My knife found that special jumpy domain just inside the top of her burrow. I knew I was getting to her when she began humping my mouth. Meanwhile, she was taking excellent care of me. I knew that she had never tasted semen so I also knew that I had to discourage her when I got skinny and I was there now."Beth ! Beth, I'm going to…."And then I did. Beth somehow managed to suck it down her throat. She released me, kissing the reddish purple forefront before turning around to place her chief on my shoulder.

We lay there in the passion of the fire relaxing…recovering. Eventually, Beth spoke."I can't believe that you take chances your sprightliness for me. You're so brave. No marvel I love you so much. dada used to laugh at my crush, telling me that nothing would ever arrive of it. Who do you think is laughing now ?"

"That reminds me ; you need to speech sound your folk. You need to secern them that we're engaged and also that you're okeh. That setting with Peterson is sure to hit the major intelligence channels and I'm positive that we'll be named. I'm surprised the pressure hasn't already tried to mystify a itinerary to my doorway. The school day district won't sacking any entropy and I don't have a steady earphone so there's no listing. Of course, they could get the address from the DMV or circuit card of Elections."I reached for my mire and passed the phone to my love.

I'll never leave how she opened the Call."Hi, Mom—it's your engage girl calling."We both laughed when her mother failed to discern 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 bit while her mother responded."It happened this morning and that's another reason why I'm calling. Bert saved me and XXVI of my bookman from a man who had taken us hostage."Beth went on to tell 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 hour talking and then her dad joined in.

Beth had just ended the song when I had an entering. It was from the police. I made arrangement to fit with them early this afternoon for our statements. We were at the precinct for more than an hour and met with the media in the meeting room. I was more than unforced to talk about the incident and even my career in the U. S. Army which was mostly public information anyway, but I clammed up in a hurry when they wanted details on our kinship."We became engaged right after I captured Mr. Peterson. That's all you really demand to know."Grabbing Beth's hired man 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 former. I was well-off with the muteness, but Beth spoke."I liked what we did, Bert. I don't understand why your penis is so diffused and shine on the out-of-door and so severely inside. I love the head ; it's so spongy. Do you know why ?"

"I guess there's some cause, 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 O.K., but it was fantastic…incredible…and absolutely wonderful—just like you."

She had her"exasperated"expression on her face 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 affair I didn't like. How can you stand getting fuzz in your sassing ?"

"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 shave ? I'd do you and then you could do me."She had that same goofy grin on her face when she was done.

I definitely wanted more blow Job, but…."You know that I sometimes go to the gym. What would I say if someone sees me in the shower or locker way ?"

"Why not tell them the Sojourner Truth ; that your girlfriend…I mean value, fiancée…doesn't like tomentum in her mouth ?"

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

"So ?"Beth stood and pulled me up with her. Next thing I knew we were in the bathroom. Beth used a dyad of scissors grip to trim my pubic hair really secretive then placed a hot towel over my pubic area."Don't worry, Bert. You know how a good deal I love these matter. I think I'm going to suckle your globe into my mouth once they're bare."

"Damn,"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 application then stood on the towel and I took tutelage of her. Then she rewarded me by taking me back to bed.

We stayed there for more than an hour and, had I known what having my bollock sucked on would experience like, I would birth shaved them a long, yearn time ago. We dragged ourselves up from the bed and ram down to the Greenwich Village Sandwich Shoppe for dinner. This time Sal refused to take my money."The taradiddle is all over townsfolk, Bert. You're a damned hero sandwich and I understand that Beth is a bit more than a estimable champion now. congratulations !"He came around the parry to shake my hand and hug us. Before long all of the other patrons joined him. I was totally block. I was sure my face was beetroot red.

Beth stayed overnight at my house after picking up a alteration of clothes and we returned to work the following morning. I was embarrassed again at the reception I was given. The teachers applauded when we walked into the independent power. The tike applauded in the hall and in each of my course. I didn't care about that. I was worried about Danny Peterson. He was in my sixth menstruation social class right wing after lunch so I arranged for him to be called to the function at the commencement of lunch. I closed the door when I saw him in the office with Mr. Fazio, the principal."Danny, are you okay ? I'm really sorry that I had to ache your dad."

"It wasn't your faulting, Mr. C. Mom threw him out because he was always drunk and he hit her when he was. He even hit me when I tried to stop him. It was hard to induce Christmastime without him, but it had to be done. He punched me and my little Sister, too."

"Are the other kids giving you a hard time ?"

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

Then, a week later on Friday morning Beth walked into school and I could see that she was upset."It's Mrs McIntyre, Bert. She's dead…heart attack Monday afternoon. Her children want to trade the family. They're going to kick all of us out."

"wellspring, I think you should move in with me. We can get 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 things that had to be done—things I would never birth thought about.

fountainhead, we did get married the last Sat in June and spent a week in Bermuda on our honeymoon. I had always been thrifty—okay, maybe cheap would be a substantially description -- so I had substantial investiture that I used to buy us a real house. I enjoyed the trivial farm home, but it was no place to upgrade a family and Beth and I agreed that we didn't want to waitress. She had her implant removed two workweek before the wedding.


> > > > > >

The wedding itself was marvelous. What else would one ask for the only daughter of a highly decorated full general ? There were Thomas More than three hundred guests—twenty-four from school, not even one from my family, four from my summertime job, and the rest either Beth's congener or associates of her noted father. It was held in a huge duomo upstate. We were both Catholic so we had to hold up an entire stack. I had stopped participating while in the regular army. It's difficult to trust 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 Iraq and a counterattack from the republican sentry duty was a possibility. In venom of that, almost all of the troops and all of the tank car and artillery had already left the city en itinerary to another far north. We had fewer than a one hundred men remaining—nothing more than a skeleton work party, mostly supply personnel, and nowhere near enough to halt off a determined onrush. My spotter and I had taken station on the roof of the highest building still standing. I had my Barrett .50 caliber M82, the finest sniper rifle ever made in my opinion and five thousand rhythm of ammo. The leaden .50 calibre hummer had a muzzle velocity of 2,799 metrical unit per second, Sir Thomas More than two and a half sentence the stop number of speech sound. By the time you heard the theme you were dead.

My spotter Dan picked up movement to the east as the sun rose—smart move, at least it would get been if my background hadn't been specifically equipped to portion out with the glare and brightness of the sun. With most of our combat troops gone I knew it was up to me to hold off any attack until reinforcements could get. I began shooting at 1800 meters, just over 1.1 miles—actually at the terminus ad quem of the efficient chain of the rifle. Mostly the first three were ranging shots—shots I used to avail determine the effect of the flatus which was trifling that morning. I mowed down more than a hundred over the future 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 off or crack an integral engine block of almost any vehicle.

When they moved a tank up to the stock I was able-bodied to adjust the ammo belt so I could fire a few tracers—bullets made with a lowly pyrotechnic complaint built into the projectile so I could see it all the way to the butt. On a machine gun every fifth beat is a tracer. That's the solitary way to see exactly where you're firing, although in my display case I could tell by the piles of abruptly Iraqi's in the sand. Aiming carefully and squeezing the induction slowly as I exhaled I was able to fire the first tracer into the flyspeck one-armed bandit the driver used to look forward. The .50 calibre bullet is so deadly that it will continue moving at deadly speed even after passing through a person's body. Apparently, that was what happened here because the tank blew up only a endorse after the bullet had entered. I surmised that the hot round must give ricocheted into one of their carom scale in the cartridge. Once one goes the rest follow in an instant. The explosion was so violent that the tank's turret flew more than fifty animal foot into the air surrounded by the flames from the explosion. Their attack evaporated less than a minute after the turret fell burning into the sand. Dan's evening gown report the following aurora confirmed 117 kill plus the tank and its crew. Our strengthener also found three trucks loaded with ordinance and another filled with diesel fuel hidden behind the sand dune in plus to the four vehicles I'd damaged. The opposition never came within 1500 curtilage of our position before they lost heart and retreated. I was credited with stopping their advance and given the Distinguished Service crown of thorns a month later. A month after that my hitch of duty was up. The Army wanted me to re-enlist, but I was burned out. I'd had enough of killing. Now I wanted to help establish life not put down them.

I recall standing by the altar with Dan as my substantially man while General Walters walked slowly forward with Beth on his arm. It had been decided over my expostulation that the men in the wedding company would fag full-dress uniform, the pickle apparel uniform to be precise. General Walter had one, of form, as did his three sons—all officers -- but mine, and Dan's, had to be custom made with the insignia of our early social station. I even supplied all of my serve ribbons and a list of the commendations I had received. I was pleased to see that I had respective that weren't on any of their jackets—the DSC and the Expert-Rifle and Pistol approval, the highest ranking of what was Sir Thomas More commonly known as a crack shot's medal.

Beth was ravishing beautiful, so beautiful that one look and I was ready to enthrall her. Her gown was strapless and form-fitting with petite off-white sewn into the bodice. Her cleavage was even more tempting than common. Her farseeing black haircloth was pulled back into a French braiding. I still call up exactly what I whispered to her when I took her paw from the general—"You're incredible…beautiful. You look beneficial enough to eat."

Beth giggled then whispered back,"THAT will have to hold off. We should run. Everyone's looking at us."

"Let them waitress -- 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 hour later we were in the limo on the way to our fabulous response. At respective clip I was introduced to the Secretary of the Army as well as various other dignitaries—a mates of congressman and a senator -- I forgot almost immediately. They all claimed to have it off me—my serve record, anyway. bounty booze flowed like water and the food for thought was great, too. Best of all was Beth. Other than the dance with her father and mine with her mother, she never left my side of meat. I knew I was the prosperous man on the planet.


> > > > > >

We flew that evening from capital of New York to JFK in New York where we spent our honeymoon Night in an drome hotel before catching a plane to Bermuda. We made the most beautiful be intimate off and on for hr until Beth and I were exhausted. It was the first fourth dimension that Beth offered me her ass. Of track, I was terrified that I'd hurt her, but she promised to tell me if she did. She laughed as she told me,"I've been practicing with cucumbers. It's hard to get one that's just the redress size of it and shape."All that practice paid off. The experience was intense—our coming were to die for. We fell immediately into a cryptic sleep until our wake-up shout at 6:00 the following morning.

We spent a week frolicking in the ardent pass sea and making mellisonant love every sunup, every evening, and most afternoon's, too. We had a honeymoon package that entitled us to attend the nightly complimentary cocktail party where we quickly learned to get it on rum poke. There was nightly local entertainment and we even tried our hands at the hotel's administrator golf course. We sucked, but we had a eruption, all the same.

Once Beth lost her virginity she seemed to pretend up for lost time. Now that we were married there was absolutely nothing that was off the table—any form of sex and any posture. But, first, we attended to the important business at hand—impregnating my wonderful wife. Her doctor had told us that she might not become fertile again for several months…or it could be a matter of workweek. There was no way of telling. Beth was taking no chances. We had made beloved every day since our get-go skirmish with one exception—the Night before our marriage ceremony when she stayed with her parents while I was in a nearby motel.

Something must have worked because Beth was pregnant by the prison term we returned to schoolhouse in September. I was thrilled, but her parents were rhapsodic. None of Beth's three older brothers were married so this would be their low gear grandchild. Unfortunately, Beth miscarried just after Christmas. I was gladiolus that I was plate with her when she awoke with hurting in her abdomen and blood seepage from her vagina. I rushed her to the infirmary where her doctor confirmed the bad news. We were devastated, but we agreed to try again.

We did and four calendar month later Beth was significant again. This time her doc suggested she drop the final four month of her condition in bed. We agreed and Beth took emergency aesculapian leave. We weren't worried about money. I had turned thirty on Sept 1st and had gone to my father's office right after schooling to signal the necessary paperwork to find my inheritance—Grandfather's trust fund. Of course, I expected hassle from him so I brought my own attorney, the one man who had bested my father in court many times—his arch enemy, Seymour capital of Virginia. Beth and I had walked in holding deal and, not surprisingly, my male parent opened with a string of insults."So, is this some bimbo you picked up on the beach ? Or maybe you found her walking some street late endure Night ?"

I remained calm, but my oculus were steel and my feeling 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 wife, Beth. She's an art teacher in my school. I'm sure you've heard of her father—Major superior general Mark Walter. By the way, do you have any idea what I did in the Army ? I was a sniper, and a deuced good one. I could put a bullet train into your eye at a thousand yards, easy. I'll do it, too if I ever hear you insult my wife again."Then I saw my male parent do a double take. I smiled for the for the first time prison term since entering his bureau. Sy capital of Virginia was here."I think you already get it on my lawyer. Hello, Sy—how are you ?"

"Looking forward to pummeling your beginner once again ; I tell you, Bert -- some mornings I really enjoy getting up on the faulty side of the bed."I had anticipated my father creating some roadblock in the way of my inheritance and I wasn't disappointed. I had brought Sy along as my policy policy. He would have done it for zip, but I paid him anyway. They had sparred for to a greater extent than an 60 minutes when Sy placed a claim on his electric cell. Five minutes later an attractive untried peeress entered the league room, walked up to my Father, and announced,"You are served."

"What the fuck is this ?"

"Bert is suing you for L million dollars for denying him his inheritance…his legal right. Come on, Bert—no sense in wasting any more time here. We have a appointment with judge Saint Peter Tuesday morning. I'll be occupy in hearing what you have to say to St. Peter the Apostle, Albertus. Why don't I take you two shell parakeet to dinner ?"Beth laughed and I joined her. We laughed even harder when my father slammed the league room threshold in frustration.

I spoke to Mr. Fazio Mon dawning to tell him why I would be late on Tuesday. The hearing was scheduled for 8:30 so I was hoping to be back at schooltime by lunch sentence. Beth and I talked and we agreed that I'd go alone. There was no real understanding why Beth should overleap time from her students.

It was a pleasure watching my Father squirm in movement of jurist St. Peter. Sy had an prescribed written matter of my granddad's will and the language couldn't have been exculpated. Additionally, there were the records of my monthly thousand dollar stipend and my official birth certificate. I knew that Saint Peter hated my Church Father and with good reason. He'd caught dear old dad in a lie—presenting false evidence—that had led to a six month suspension of his permission and a article of faith for contempt of court. The hearing lasted to a lesser extent than thirty minutes.

I received the wax 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 draw my father pay my attorney's placard. I thought that was just perfect.

Having a lot of money was reassuring, but we still wanted to retain teaching. People complain about having to turn, but I had always found that work gave my lifetime meaning. I had defended our nation while in the USA and now I helped shape young mind, besides I'd be bored out of my mind if I didn't have a reason to get out of bed ahead of time. Beth agreed with me right up until the doctor sent her to bed. forged than the tedium, Beth was fierce that we were not capable to stimulate love.

I hired a nurse to make out in every morning at 7:30 until 4:00 when I was sure to be house. I cooked dinner every night except those when I brought in—either Taiwanese or Italian or Hellenic language. We always ate in bed, using peculiar tables with bases that slid under the bed."I hate this, Bert, but I love you."That's what she said almost every night.

My reply was almost always the Lapp, too—"It's a small price to pay for your safety and for the base hit of our child."Then I'd kiss her and hold her in my arms. I'd carry the bag to the kitchen, put them into the dish washer and put out the trash. Then Beth and I would shower down and bring back to bed to watch TV or wreak cards or a board game. Ever play striptease crib ? We did at to the lowest degree once a week.

Beth was due sometime during our Spring fracture in Apr. I knew she was looking forward to having the baby, if only so she'd be able to resume her normal action. She went into Labor Department in the wee hr, her first of all contraction coming at 2:16 a.m. Her loud groan scared me until I realized what was happening. I recorded the time in my note pad and did everything I could to comfort my making love. I told a few jest and even sang a few Sung dynasty. Beth couldn't aid but laugh. I couldn't sing for crap and we both knew it.

We had discussed everything with Beth's doctor so an hour later I phoned his service and also a buck private ambulance. We were at the hospital by 5:00 that morning. Our son Thomas gull -- named for Beth's granddad and father, was born at 11:17 that cockcrow, but not until Beth had struggled mightily. There was a problem with the delivery and the medico decided at the last min to take the baby by caesarean delivery. Because of the job she'd experienced Beth decided to cause her tubes tied. She cried when she made that decision, but all I cared about was her welfare. We had one tike and we had each early. That was More than enough for me.

However, Beth had other theme. Tom had just turned two when I returned home after school to line up my wife holding him and beaming, that Saame goofy smile showing her perfect teeth."I had a great melodic theme today."

"Let me guess—you want to adopt a child."I leaned down to kiss my shell 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 wonderful female parent 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 shop class for a couple of Rebel Rousers. Beth got to figure out on the adoption the very future day.
Unlike most twain, we didn't want an infant and we didn't tending about slipstream or sex. In fact, we preferred to take a child that others didn't want. No kid should feel unwanted. We flew through the preliminary interviews—together at maiden at the societal serve part then separately at home. I took Tom out to the parkland during Beth's interview. Finally, the three of us met with the social doer, again in our home. I sat on the floor with Tom, minding him while participating as just I could. I just hoped it would be good enough.

Apparently it was because we were asked to meet at societal Service again late on a Tuesday afternoon. They had a child—a miss who was two year old and the ware of an interracial relationship. Her white father regularly beat his melanise wife and even struck the daughter until small fry Protective Services removed her from the plate. ‘ She's deathly afraid of men,"the mixer worker told us."Would you like to meet her ?"Of course, the answer was yes.

She was the most beautiful small fry I'd ever seen. Her skin was the coloring material of mocha coffee and her face was a perfect oval, surrounded by kinky black hair. She cowered behind the worker until I sat on the floor."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 scan the story and I'll show you the pictures. She found a spot about ten feet 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 like kind of visit later in the week and on Saturday Beth and I took Aaliyah, Tom, and the sociable worker out for ice cream. She let me hug and kiss her when the sojourn was over. When the worker asked if we would rent her we answered immediately—YES ! We bought some bedroom furniture that afternoon and had it delivered Mon afternoon. I took a personal day on Wednesday so I could go a father for the minute time. Beth and I were thrilled, but apparently not as much as Tom. Holding her hand he led Aaliyah to her room.

I won't Tell you that there weren't any challenges, because there were. For one matter, Aaliyah had never slept in a fixture bed and, like every former kid, she was afraid of falling. We solved that problem with a few chairs from our dining room. Aaliyah was also subject to nightmares. 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 field to sleep.

We put Tom and Aaliyah into nursery schooling when they reached three. It was only a half-day curriculum, but it did wonders for their social growth. At four they knew the first principle and bit, even some simple adding and subtracting, and recognized a surprise number of give-and-take. Both were tested prior to kindergarten and we were astonished by Aaliyah's understanding. Tom had scored well, but Aaliyah was off the chart.

Once they were in school Beth asked if we could take up another. We agreed on an older child—one who had trivial chance of being adopted due to age. We welcomed Jacob, a Black person boy, into our mob. His school had been sketchy, but he picked up everything quickly and was soon well into rivalry with his sibling. I must say we attracted a lot of aid at the movies or in a restaurant—white parents, a opprobrious son, a half-black daughter, and a white son. Personally, we couldn't have been prouder.

Tom seemed to have inherited the best each of us had to offer. He had my analytical intellect, but Beth's secure looks and coloring. He also had her artistic ability, but from the age of four he only wanted one thing—to attend and alum from the United country military machine Academy at West stage. Tom was an excellent bookman, graduating near the top of his class and was an outstanding member of the football and track squad. It was a proud 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 Academy for alumna study then reported for dynamic duty.

Aaliyah entered a six-year medical checkup broadcast, combining her undergrad and aesculapian school written report. It was an extremely straining program, but our daughter was an striking student, valedictorian of her high school year with Tom only a few spot behind her.

Jacob had graduated six years earlier and had been accepted at Stony Brook State University, the same university I had attended. Francois Jacob's goal was to turn a teacher, following in the footfall of the people he recognized as his loving parents. He wasn't the student his sib were, but we were just as proud of him as we were of Tom and Aaliyah.


> > > > > >

We were back in the eye East—Afghanistan and Iraq this time—when Tom was deployed. Beth was beside herself with anxiety and care. goose egg I tried would becalm her and in the end her fears proved to be prophetic. Tom was one of many in a foresighted convoy in Republic of Iraq. He was in the next to terminal hand truck when it struck an IED. Why his truck and not one of the seventeen that preceded it ? There was no result. Tom could let been buried in Arlington or even the National Cemetery in Pinelawn, Long Island, but Beth wanted him skinny 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 former lot we thought they might experience become a couple. However, they were more like Gemini the Twins. That's how cheeseparing they really were.

It was a hard time for both of us, but we still made prison term for each other every single day. We made make love even on our darkest sidereal day. Beth had told me that it gave her consolation she was unable to find any early way. We began our family relationship making love every day and we continued the Sami way right up until Beth became ill. Now I was alone, but I decided to stick with through on our plans to travel the United States aimlessly by day and tell her all about it every night. That's how I found myself two months later in wolf breaker point, Treasure State.

I parked in the lot at the William Tecumseh Sherman Inn where I'd made a arriere pensee stopping point night. Once in my room I removed my favorite sweater from my suitcase and draped it over my shoulder joint. Then I sat in an upholstered chair and told Beth all about my day just as I had done every day since leaving home. This was my favorite time—the time I felt closest to Beth, but also the time I felt most alone. I usually finished my rite in snag and today was no exception.

It was almost seven that night when I walked out to check on the car before dinner. I never saw the old man."Can you part with a horse, Mister. I haven't eaten in almost two days."I turned around quickly to find a wizened old man with pelt like wrinkled leather standing before me. He was dead, probably not more than 5 feet 4 in and slenderize, although that was heavy to tell because of the filthy waterproof and baggy dungaree he wore. His pilus was white as snow, but unkempt and his case 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 stimulate company. come with me."I led him back into the Inn and we walked into the eating place together."tabularise for two, please,"I told the hostess. She looked at me as though I was disturbed so I grabbed two menus and led my companion to a booth.

A few hour later the director of the hotel rushed to connect us."Mr. Cochran, you are welcome to dine here, but this man smells and he's filthy. He has to go. I'll telephony the law, if necessary."I rose and bade my fellow traveler to bring together me. Five second later I had booked him a room. While he showered I went out to buy him a new shirt and span of blue jean, socks, underwear, and sneakers. We returned to the restaurant to a lesser extent than an hour later. The manager was furious, but there was goose egg he could do. We returned to the Saame booth we had been forced from just an hour ago.

The first thing I did was introduce myself."I'm Bert."

"Um…you can shout out me Simon."We shook hands and ordered deglutition. I had iced tea ; he ordered a draft beer."Don't you drink, Bert ?"

"I did when I was in the ground forces, probably too lots, but when I became a instructor I saw how many families had been destroyed by alcohol. former than our honeymoon neither my married woman nor I drank."

"Where is she now ?"

"In heaven ; she passed a bit Thomas More than a calendar month ago. I can't differentiate you how a good deal I miss her. It was our dream to wind around the body politic 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 Thomas More than thirty years ago. I put it on and talk with her.
Are you a topical anaesthetic here ?"

"Here ? No, I come from a far off office and I travel around quite a lot—not quite like you, but I do meet a lot of interesting people…like you. There aren't many people who would possess gone as far as you did to facilitate a amount stranger."

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

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

"Plenty of prison term when I was in the ground forces ; it never killed me."

"What did you do in the U. S. Army ?"

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

"I know."

"pardon ?"

"I meant to say that I can understand how you felt. There are spate of times I've had to do affair I hated to do."

The waitress returned with our drinks and we turned our attention to the fare. I ordered a big ribeye steak, medium rare, with a baked potato and a salad with bleu Malva sylvestris dressing. I wasn't all that thirsty, but I wanted to set a step for my node. I was please when he ordered the same.

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

"No, Simon…you don't have to grant 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 flask from his air hole."It's water, Bert, but special piddle. This is pee 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 ? eighty ?"

"I know that's how I look, but you've missed by several hundred days. And no…I'm neither disturbed nor delusional. I dreamed about support forever and I got my wish, but now I'm done. Everyone I knew and loved died 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 only way I'll get peace."

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

"Because you don't want to live on forever and you deserve to have a endorse chance at happiness. Please…take the flaskful and drink one and only one capful tonight before going to catch some Z's. One capful a twelvemonth 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 moon and it looked like there was enough to lastly fifteen or XX years. I shook Simon's hand and returned to my room where I showered again, used the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Finally, I took a capful of the water supply and climbed into bed, my sweater covering my chest as I pulled the blanket over my consistency, 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 follow good morning. Stretching as I sat up I moved to the commode, but stopped once I was in front man of the mirror. Turning on the illumination I took a stopping point look at my face and dead body. My grey-headed hair was light brown again and my crisp boldness was smooth. My physical structure was toned again as it was when I first met Beth. I could see my chest and abdominal muscles as well as those in my legs. I couldn't believe my eyes.

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

"But…I rented it for person I met in the parking lot. I have the reception here in my wallet."Pulling it from my pouch I checked where I always keep the day's receipts. I found mine easily enough, as well as the charge stub from dinner, but not Neil Simon's room receipt. Turning around I walked into the restaurant. My brass must have shown my surprise when I saw the like managing director on duty.

"exculpation me, sir ; do you recall me from finale night ? I ate here with some hobo…you kicked him out until I was able to houseclean him up ? Remember ?"

"I'm sorry, but you're mistaken. I'm the day manager. I had yesterday off and only reported this morning at seven. Are you feeling okay ? I could call 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 hale site was getting weirder and weirder. I was beginning to query my own sanity. Then I saw her. I ran across the parking lot, yelling,"Beth…Beth."The woman turned so I could see her profile and I knew it was her. She had the same long lustrous Black hairsbreadth, the Lapplander shining naughty eyes, and the same howling torso. I had just reached her when she turned around to confront me.

"Excuse me, but what did you scream me ?"

"Beth…either you're my married woman or you're her precise 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 summers to assist with my tuition at capital of Idaho State. Is there something else I can help you with ?"

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

"Oh…I'm so sorry."I thanked her and walked back to my room. What the Hades was going on ? Had I lost my judgment since yesterday ? Once in the room I packed my bag, checked out and drove aimlessly down the highway. An hour later I felt suddenly tired so I pulled off the route for a curt 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 wait to view as you and kiss you and make water love to you again."Then she did ; she held and kissed me and we made the most incredible passion for hours as we came together five times. Beth lay exhausted on my breast as we fell asleep together again. I never thought this would ever happen again.


> > > > > >

It was after three in the afternoon when Jessica wheeled her cart to room 113. That fucking Maria hadn't occur to bring again and Jessica had been forced to underwrite her rooms. Working as a maidservant was slow, but it paid reasonably well and was stiff. All the same, this was the tierce time in a calendar week that she'd had to deal overtime because of Maria, fourth dimension she needed to work on her online courses from Boise State.

Check-out was at 11:00 so she was surprised to see the"Do Not Disturb"scorecard still hanging on the doorknob. She opened the room access and stepped inside, using the rubber wedge 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 undimmed afternoon sun into the room. Jessica was taken completely by surprisal 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 cheek. His skin was cold to the touch and she somehow knew immediately that he was utterly. Jessica turned and ran out, praying that the day managing director hadn't yet gone home plate. She never noticed the little slight man in the filthy raincoat pace into the room as she left.

"You're a wonderful man, Bert. I'm sure your wife will tell apart you all about the Fountain of Youth. I wished for eternal liveliness. 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 upright, my friend."He bent over the corpse to kiss Bert on the forehead then he retrieved the flask and stepped out of the room just seconds before the excited Jessica and the manager ran hurriedly to the way. Five minutes later a deputy sheriff pulled into the lot. Ten minutes after that the county coroner examined the body.

"Any signs of foul play, Doc ?"

"Nothing that I can see, Josh. From the body temperature I'd dead reckoning that he died between eleven last night and one in the sunup. Anybody retrieve seeing him net night."

"Yeah, records in the restaurant show that he ate there alone around seven. There's a credit card reception at 7:58. He must have come straight back to the room and gone to bed. Any idea why he had that old jumper over his body ?"

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

"His billfold says his epithet is Bert M Cochran from Smithtown, New York. Any theme where that is ?"
"Long Island, I think ; I remember going to a seminar somewhere near there a few year ago. Okay, let's get the eubstance out of here. recite the Sheriff to stop by lately tomorrow afternoon. I should let some solution by then."The medical examiner's work party 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 dawn. I went to dinner last nighttime with some tramp, but this morning there was no track record. I rented a room for him, too, but no record of that either. Then I was for certain that I saw you in the parking lot, but it was one of the motel's maids. I don't even know if you're veridical. Are you ?"

"withdraw a close-fitting tone at me, Bert then serve your own question."

I looked at her from top to fathom. I felt her cushy fluent skin, ran my digit through her hair as I'd done for years and years. Then it hit me. Looking between her glorious tit I saw it—the pendant I'd given her on our first Christmastide together. I'd placed it onto her cervix before her coffin was closed forever. I knew then that she'd wear it until the end of metre."You're very ; you're wearing the chandelier. But you're idle so that must mean…."

"Yes, Bert…you died last dark almost as soon as you fell asleep. All of the other things were just a dream—a really eldritch dreaming, but just a dream. Now I have to explicate a few things to you. The spring of Youth ?"

"There's no such thing."

"Actually, Bert, there is. Think of it as a mental testing from God. It's not really a fountain of youth, but that's what most of us call it because the unintelligent selfish people who make most of the wishes ask to go back to their spring chicken. The man you met conclusion night—the one you know as Simon—was one of the first. He insulted God by wishing for aeonian life. God kept his promise, but Simon never asked for health or happiness or even wealth. He's been animated for almost a thousand yr, but he's digest every day of that metre. Do you retrieve 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. ejaculate -- let me show you our home base. You'll like it. It's right on the ocean and you can go fishing whenever you want. You'll pinch muckle, but they all have to be released."She saw the confusion on my face and laughed."Do you remember the handler asking if you wanted breakfast ?"

"Yeah, I wasn't hungry."

"We're never hungry in heaven. That'll come in ready to hand when we're making beloved. I never tired of that when we were alive and I'm not going to tire of it now."She came into my arms again and we kissed. I lost myself in Beth's kiss just as I'd done thousands of times before.

I had a million questions, but Beth knew what they were before I could even ask."No, not everyone lives like this. recall how we talked about finding a small cottage on a forsake beach, maybe in Mexico or some other Central American language res publica ? This is our melodic theme of paradise. It varies from person to soul. Tomorrow we'll see Tom and my parents. Your female parent and grandmother are here, but your Father of the Church and grandpa are not. Oh Bert, the terrible things they did !"I was hardly surprised ; I had always considered them the scum of the solid ground. I might have become upset, but Beth kissed me again and all of my concerns vanished.


> > > > > >

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

"Yeah, Doc—I am. I've been in touch with people who knew him. Besides two sweep up small fry, one an oncologist and the other a teacher, he has three brothers-in-law in the Army—two full general and a full colonel. They told me a lot about him and his life : served six years in the Army, four in Kuwait and Iraq as a Special force sniper ; then college and a long illustrious calling as a instructor. Neither he nor his married woman drank or smoked. No indication of any drug use, either. But, here's the odd thing ; I spoke to the brothers-in-law independently and they all said the same thing ; that he probably died of a dampen inwardness. Seems his wife died about ten hebdomad ago."

"Well, that makes as a good deal sense as anything I've found. If he wasn't here in one of my loge I'd swear he was as healthy as a knight. I can't see a single affair wrong with him."

"Maybe he just lost his will to experience, Doc."The medical examiner looked up and nodded. He signed the bod to release the organic structure and waved as the sheriff returned to his duties.


> > > > > >

In accordance with Bert's final wishes there was a one day of viewing—from one to four in the afternoon and from seven to ten in the evening. There had been 100, if not K, of visitor to the funeral place. General Apostle Paul Walters and his wife Sara presided. He was the oldest of the three Logos and had been asked to act as executor of Bert's demesne. Beth's other brothers and their married woman and minor were also in attendance as were Aaliyah and Francois Jacob and his family. They shook hands, seemingly non-stop, and received the form gossip about Bert and Beth. Hard men, tempered by years of fighting, they were surprised at the turn of visitors who wept unashamedly when they knelt in prayer at Bert's casket.

Bert had lost his organized religion in God during his long time as a sniper—a job he hated, but did to the best of his ability, just as he did everything else. It was Beth who had brought him back. Her faith in God and in Bert had helped him to regain his faith. Now he stood invisibly in the rear of the church, Beth's bridge player in his as the SRO bunch paid confining care to Gen. Walters as he began his eulogy.

"I'm Paul Bruno Walter, Bert's brother-in-law and Beth's brother. I want you all to know how much our house appreciates your coming here this daybreak. May I ask by show of manus how many of you knew Bert from schooltime ? 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 know to a greater extent about Bert at schoolhouse than I do so I'd like to tell you some things about Bert you don't know. I first met him when Beth brought him to spend Christmas with our parents and the family unit. Our phratry had a big place in the Catskills southwestern United States of capital of New York. Our Fatherhood was also in the Army—Major General sucker Walters—and we used to enjoy shooting out behind the house. We had targets set up about 200 yard out in the Wood and I thought I'd issue Bert down a peg or two even though he hadn't bragged or said anything remotely cock-a-hoop during the day.

"I challenged him to a match while Dad and Mom and Beth watched from the deck of cards. Bert asked for a test shot so he could see how ‘ the gun worked.'Those were his accurate tidings. When his first shot barely grazed the right-hand edge of the fair game I figured I had it made. Then we shot for actual. My ten shots all landed in the bull's eye, but Bert's formed a perfect circle that I could give birth covered with a quarter. That was when I noticed the unfounded laughter from Dad and Beth. They knew that Bert had been a sniper for four years in Kuwait and Irak. Bert had unbelievable vision—20/10. thing that appeared twenty feet away to most of us were only ten for him. His depth perception was amazing. If I flipped a coin into the air Bert could tell exactly how high it went and, even better, he could recite you how many flips the coin had made.

"Go to Google and look up the ‘ Second battle of Al Basrah."The reports are all unclassified now so they're uncommitted to the general public. tail end line—the commanding officer screwed up and took all of the Allied plus north, leaving Bert, his spotter, and about a hundred supply faculty behind. The republican guard saw the tanks and troops move out and at dawn it was essentially Bert against Thomas More than 500 Iraqi soldiers. Over the succeeding four hours he killed more than than a hundred of the foe, destroyed various hand truck, and a tank, putting a smoke into the humble slot the driver uses to manoeuvre from more than a nautical mile away. As in effect as Bert was he hated the putting to death. I really believe that was the biggest reason he became a teacher.

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

"Bert told me about his kinsperson once. His parents named him Albertus Magnus the third. Bert hated the name so he actually cut schooltime on his 18th birthday to own his name changed to Bert M. His parents were so upset that they totally disowned him. He further angered them by joining the United States Army instead of going to college as expected.

"My father and all three of his son graduated from Occident Point and we've all gone on to excellent careers in the Army so you might think 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 excellent role model for us, both as a hubby and as a sire. He and Beth were totally dedicated to each other. I don't think they ever argued.

"Now…I'm going to separate 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 store on an errand while the rest of us talked around the kitchen table. My wife was bemoaning the loss of love affair as we got older. She even talked about our declining sex sprightliness. I think we had been married about twenty years. 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 life. other than the night before our hymeneals and the months before and after Tom's birth, Bert and I have made love every single day. We did it once the kids were in bed while they were at menage, but now we're destitute to enjoy each former whenever we're in the mood. That's always…every second of every day. That's how we remind ourselves how lots 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 common soldier, but we invite all of you to link us at the Northport yacht guild from one to five this good afternoon for a celebration of Bert's living. It certainly was outstanding in every respect."

Beth squeezed my hand."I agree completely, Bert. You are an extraordinary man and you had an extraordinary life."Then she wrapped those arms around me and we kissed. I was lost in her again and when we opened our centre we were back in our diminished 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 interesting .