This is a brusk story that has been bouncing around in my learning ability for a spell. It's a story of pure love, the kind few of us ever experience. As with everything I've written there's sex embedded into the news report, but only when it's an integral component part 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 retreat for geezerhood and had everything ready for my sixty-second birthday. But Beth had been experiencing what she called underage occasional abdominal annoyance for to a greater extent than a year. She had turn down my requests that she see her doctor, claiming it was muscle spasm or maybe uterine fibroids."They're aught. You'll see."

fountainhead, of course, they weren't"nothing."“ Nothing"turned out to be stage-four uterine cancer by the time 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 electric organ by the clip of her surgery. She lived for six more days—nowhere near enough to tell her how much I loved her and how much I would escape her -- then I laid her to reside future to our son, Thomas, who had been killed while serving his country in Republic of Iraq. As I stood there looking into the inscrutable tomb I realized that I was truly alone…alone for the low time in more than thirty years. To assure this story correctly I have to go back, all the way to the beginning.

Albertus Magnus Jacqueline Cochran, III—who the blaze tags a moniker 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 elementary schooling and third-year gamey. Albertus, the first, had founded the firm and my Father-God had succeeded him. They were both high-energy attorneys. I was supposed to meekly postdate in their giant footsteps, but I fooled them—my father, anyway.

Grandfather—never Grandpa or Papa—passed just before my eighteenth birthday, leaving me a trust investment firm that gave me an leeway of $ 1,000 a month until my thirtieth birthday. I went to see an attorney the day he died to jibe on a legal operation then cut school on my birthday so I could go to court to get my figure changed. From then on I was Bert M—no period, just like Harry S Truman—Cochran. My parents were livid. They refused to utter with me and when I joined the U. S. US Army instead of going to college I was disowned. I still had the combine stock -- they couldn't touch that -- but everything else was gone. I didn't fear even a little. My childhood had been spent with nannies and at boarding schoolhouse until I had intentionally flunked out. My mother was almost a total stranger. My Church Father was even less.

I served six long time in the United States Army, reaching the rank of Sergeant kickoff Class, and it was the safe time I'd ever known. I'd seen action in Kuwait and Iraq. Then I used the GI Bill to see college—not my father's alma mater—a body politic university where I studied education and earth science. I was hired for a emplacement in a center shoal and, once again, my father viewed me as a loser."Can't even teach in the big leagues ; I guess you're not smart enough for high school,"was the outset thing he said at what was supposed to be a reconciliation meeting—my granny's funeral. I turned on my cad and walked away, never to return. Fuck him ! shag them all !

Truth was, I loved working with the youthful kidskin and it showed. I never had a discipline job and many of my students returned to the middle shoal to mouth 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 section. We had lunch together during fifth menstruum so we chatted along with the former teachers.

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

I knew I'd need help with her. She was drop-dead gorgeous—tall at 5'9"and slender with large succulent breast, a peg down waist and hips, but a firm round butt. Her whisker was mordant as tar and long—almost half-way down her back—and her middle were the brightest blue I'd ever seen. Did I cite that she was gorgeous ? She wore slacks most days, I guessed because of the pauperism to prompt around in course. Yes, she was a beautiful sexy woman while I was an ordinary man—six human foot even and slender although I was still in fantabulous conformation after my years in the Army. My light brownish tomentum was short—maybe an in at nigh with no part and no curl. It was a military cut that I kept because it was easy to wish for. Hell…most clip I cut it myself with a pruner from Walmart.

I still remember the expression she gave me. She put down the handful of Clay she was carrying and turned to me with a warm welcoming smiling."What's the problem ?"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 society of a dozen other teachers. I'll be glad to help you, but there's a price."She laughed again when I gulped."You have to take me to dinner ; nothing fancy—pizza will do -- and you have to lecture to me all evening."

"All even ?"

"okay, almost all evening. How about Fri night ? Do I have to pick you up, too ? Do I have to deal ?"She looked nates, 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 in high spirits school. character of it was getting even with my motherfucker parents."I explained, starting with my ridiculous name 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 creek. I gave up trying to please them when I was in junior high at boarding school. Sometimes I got misfortunate degree just to aggravate them. I also wanted to get out of the boarding schooling they had sent me to and into populace school."I looked at my picket and noticed that I had been talking to her for Thomas More than an hour.
I'm sorry ; I didn't mean to sustain you so late."

"Am I a captive here ? I don't think so. Truthfully, this is the best afternoon I've spent since I came to exercise. My kinsfolk is from just S of Albany so I don't know anyone here. I come to function. I go home, train lesson, 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 slight shamed about ruining your afternoon."

"ruining ? Would you come with me just a second ? I need some help in my storeroom."She walked to the ass of the schoolroom and I followed. To my surprise she closed the door then folded herself into my subdivision and kissed me. It was entirely unexpected, but I do retrieve responding. She stepped back a bit later, smiled, then moved back in for another, working her tongue into my backtalk, pressing those wonderful chest into my chest, and rubbing her crotch into my thigh.

She broke the kiss, looked into my centre, and suggested that we might get to dinner later…much later. Holding my hired hand she led me out of the water closet to the classroom doorway. She still held me while she locked the doorway. There was not a single individual to be seen, but even if there was we weren't doing anything amiss. We were both single and, while stave Latinian language weren't encouraged, they weren't against the normal either.

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

"Not far…about five miles east."

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

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

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

"You need to trust me."I led her to my truck and a minute of arc later we were on the main road driving toward our circumstances. I pulled into what had once been a farm lane and was still a minute unpaved rutted private road. Luckily, after three days I knew the localization of every one. I twisted and turned up what should have been a straight stumble, stopping at final stage in front of a small one-story house. The ceiling formed a four-foot overhang, making a narrow covered porch that ran for the integral front 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 arena in the entire front of the star sign with a short hallway off to the left leading to the single bedroom on the right and bathroom on the left.

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

"It belongs to the parents of a other scholar. I was chatting with the nipper for a minute at the end of class one day my initiative year and a student asked where I lived. I was in a boarding house—Mrs. McIntyre's—down in the Greenwich Village. I told the kids it was O.K., but not very buck private. The future day I found a eminence in my mailbox asking me to earpiece his parents. They offered the place to me and I moved in the next 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 cervid in the headlights as she led me to my own bedroom.

I may have been a single man living on my own, but that didn't mean that I was a pig. use learned under strict ground forces bailiwick lasted a retentive time. Beth turned once she had reached the doubling bed and moved to me. We kissed again, her soft plump lips pressing firmly into mine. Her kiss were the sweet and red-hot I'd ever had—her tongue the most participating and wondering. I'd dated occasionally in high school. Losing my virginity to Ginny Katherine Anne Porter early in my senior class did wonders for my self-esteem. My experiences once I was in the Army were very unlike. I'd met a few topical anaesthetic girls during my preparation in Texas, scoring more than half the time. Once I was deployed my sexual outlets were restricted to folio which I usually spent in Eastern Europe—Prague and Budapest were my favorites where beautiful girls flowed like water supply. I was always measured, using a rubber and getting tested for STD's regularly. The nature of my armed combat assignment meant that I was often away from large outstation for extended periods. None of my interaction with the Iraqi's were what one might call up"friendly."

I never dated in college. For one thing I wanted to finish as quickly as potential, taking as many family as I could possibly palm and attending between the regular semesters, as well as summer. Truthfully, I found the prank of my"classmates"childish. Then I graduated and found a job teaching eighth level worldly concern science in nearby Northport, a beautiful village on the North Shore of Suffolk County, Long Island. Even though I had only a I moral to prepare every day, didactics is a lot of work—much more than about people think. I socialized occasionally, mostly with early instructor from my school day. My sexual reliever came entirely from my right hand.

Beth took the initiative, breaking the kiss to remove my perspirer and shirt. I responded by unbuttoning her blouse and dropping her slacks to her base. I marveled at her knocker. I couldn't believe that the unconvincing cloth of her bra could be potent enough to support them. They were bigger and firmer and heavier than I'd thought and they looked to be perfectly symmetrical. Her nipple were extremely sensitive as I rolled and pinched them while she moaned in ecstasy.

I carefully laid her back onto the bed, covering her with my organic structure. We kissed and held each other as I savored to softness of her perfect pelt against mine. Her script found my stopcock hard and cook, oozing slippery pre-cum ; mine found her sex wet and hot."No foreplay, Bert—not today, not now. I'm so hot for you. Just assume me and fuck me operose. Please ! I need you so badly. I'm beggary you !"

I moved quickly between her wooden leg. She helped me by raising her knees and wrapping her ramification over my back. Between my pre-cum and her ambrosia I thought we'd have plenty of lubrication. My putz found her entree and I eased forward into her velvet vise. I was in maybe an in or so when I found opposition. My head jerked up and I looked into her center."You're a virgin ?"

"Yes…shameful isn't it ?"

"Maybe we should step back and think about this. I don't want to deflower what should be a special occasion for you."

"Believe me, Bert—you'll make it special, not ruin it. Please…do me ; I'll explain everything later."She batted those foresightful eyelashes at me and I could see her desire and pauperization in her center. She rubbed my clump then tightened her legs'travelling bag on me. Her hand moved me back into her tunnel and she drove her hips up, ripping her maidenhead in a back. She was breathing hard as she moved up to conform to me. If I didn't know ameliorate I would have thought her to be extremely experienced. She did everything right as her hot crocked pussy flexed around my needy cock.

I know I'm not the longest cock ever seen—not by a recollective shot. I'd guess I carry about six and a one-half inches, but I am unusually thick—almost two inches in diameter. Several charwoman in Europe had told me that's what really counts. Beth told me that she wanted it unvoiced so I pounded her pure pussy like it belonged to my worst opposition. In my mind I was taking no prisoners, but Beth apparently loved it. If I'd read her correctly she came twice before my dick erupted, bathing her womb with my slick infant juice.

"Oh hoot,"I thought. I hadn't asked her if she was safe. This could defecate for a very embarrassing situation at school. Beth must have read my head because she smiled then whispered,"Not to vex ; 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 strumpet for fucking you before we even have a date."

"A adulteress ? No, anyone who's a virgin at 23 is no slut, but I am mystified. Why me ? You know nix 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 -- old age, in fact. I've known that you were named Albertus Magnus, but changed your name when you were eighteen. 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 peculiar Forces ... a very successful sniper, probably the honorable the Army's ever had. I know you won a silver star, a bronze superstar, and a distinguished overhaul cross for the second struggle of Al Basrah and you were injured twice, earning the Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster."

I leaned back to accept a closelipped look at this charwoman. My care showed on my typeface. Had she been stalking me ?

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

"Elizabeth…Beth."

She was laughing and raising her supercilium when she said,"living going."

"O.K., Elizabeth II Walters."She raised one supercilium as if to say,"Come on, dummy."I thought for a few minutes before the illume went on."Oh my God ; Major General mark Walters is your father ?"

"Yup…I'm a real United States Army brat. Usually, there's a lot of sex between brats, but not when your dad is base commander. Most boys were deathly afraid of me. Do you recall that we actually met when I ran into my dad's berth ? You were a corporal then. I was in infrangible awe of you—a real war hero. All Daddy did was sit behind a desk."

"I must have been 20…about nine yr ago. Did you have plait and duad then ?"Her Brobdingnagian grin told me she did.

She continued a consequence later."I thought I recognized you the first sentence I saw you at orientation back in August—your haircut is form of a game show -- and then Mr. Fazio introduced you as one of the most outstanding Pres Young teacher in the school district. That's when I was sure…sure I wanted you to be my first…and more. I was so excited that I phoned Daddy as soon as I got dwelling house that afternoon. Incidentally, I live at that same boarding household. He had your jacket pulled and gave me all of the item. He liked you when you were under his statement and he likes you now, based on what I've told him about you. Everybody at school passion you. They all think you're an incredible teacher and an even safe person. I get a lot of your students every day and they're always so arouse about your year. I hate to allow it, but I've been pumping them for information."

She raised her heading and kissed me again and again then pushed me off, rolled me over, and climbed onto my consistency. Rubbing those fantastic pap into my chest did the job on me. I was hard again in a second and into her incredibly tight heaven an instant later. I had to chuckle as she began to shake. manus on my shoulders, Beth was working her clit like a madwoman for almost ten moment."Not too shabby for an almost virgin,"I joked."You must give 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 convulsions ripped through her slender body. Beth collapsed onto my chest, her breathing deep and rapid as her orgasm slowly ebbed. I held her tightly, my hired man roaming over her back and butt, my still gruelling tool embedded deep within her. I wasn't going to cum…not so quickly after the start clip, but that was O.K.. Just holding this marvelous woman—feeling her incredible soft peel -- was Thomas More than enough.

She must ingest lain on top of me semi-conscious for twenty minutes, at to the lowest degree. A goofy smile greeted me when she sat up."I've read floor online and in ‘ Cosmo'about how gravid 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 tell me that we're going to do it again."

"Is every day sanction ?"I smiled. It certainly as inferno was. I didn't realize at the metre, but Beth had made a hope she would keep for the rest of her life.

We walked into the bathroom naked, my peter dripping semen and pussy juice, my new lover with gobs of semen running down her legs. We looked at each early and laughed then we pulled each other into an embrace that ended only when I turned on the water. The exhibitioner here was one of the business firm's best lineament. It was located over an old bathtub on legs ; it was much gravid than tubs are today. There was a shower curtain that ran 360 stage around the tub on an oval rod that hung from the cap. It was our start shower together—the first of many to come.

Once we had dressed I drove Beth past schoolhouse down into the settlement. At this time of day there was no difficulty finding a parking blot right in front of the village Sandwich Shoppe. Holding her hand I walked up to the counter."Hi, Sal—how's the kin ?"

"Great, Bert ; Robert is doing really well in biology and next year you'll have mare, our youthful. All I have to do is convince Fazio to put her into your class. Who's your friend ?"

"Sorry…this is my Quaker, Beth Bruno Walter. She's a new art teacher."

"She looks like a real good friend from here."I refused to release her hand in spitefulness of his jibes."rebel rouser tonight ?"

I pointed to the sign that hung against the gage paries. Beth read the ingredients and nodded."Two, Sal and can we have some fountain Cokes with ice ?"

"Geez ! You always come in here and ask for Coke. 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 box table.

"We go through that everyday every fourth dimension I come in here, but you made a with child pick with the Johnny Reb rouser. It's my favorite, by far."We made humble talk and Beth asked about the skill experiments the kids would do.

I laid out my preliminary plan for the students and she agreed with most of it, but did hint introducing the presentation early on in the process. She lost me when she got into font dash and sizes, but assured me that she'd deal with that in her division to confirm me. We were well into our discussion when Sal brought our soda pop and the sandwiches a few min later."My God, how am I supposed to eat all of this ?"I have to say—Sal always spoiled me. This ten-inch champion sandwich was supposed to have four cut of Virginia ham, four cut of turkey breast, four gash of provolone and four of bacon before being placed into the oven so the Malva sylvestris would melt and flux 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 sterile student until he took my stratum. Then he learned to lie with science and it carried over to his other course of study, as well. He had gone from a"C"student to straight"A's."


> > > > > >

That was the jump of my relationship with Beth. We saw each former every single day, disbursement time working on our lessons or grading tests at my old enameled steel kitchen table. We cooked and ate in most days, making sexual love every unmarried evening. Beth always left my berth by 9:30 so she could get place to the boarding house. We spent every second of the weekends together, making love two, even three, times a day. We were always totally right and master in shoal, never revealing our unfeigned relationship, and that's the way things stayed until the second calendar week in January although I did go with her to visit her parents and blood brother over Christmastide. It was either that or spend the vacation alone as I'd done every one of the past five years.

Her Church Father welcomed me, giving me a big smiling and a firm handshaking in greeting. Mrs. Walter hugged me. We talked for hours and that's when I learned that Beth had been an stroke late in life sentence, but one they had never regretted. It was almost fourth dimension for dinner party when Beth led me upstairs to her room. She laughed like sin 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 estimate I like."

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

"Of course—they're not like your parents. keep back in mind that I am twenty-three and an grownup who pays her own way. And, by the way, I expect you to do me every night and as many mornings as we can, too. I'll have to be hushed than usual, but that's okay as long just as we can urinate love."Damn—the memories I have even after all these age are just incredible. For Christmas I gave Beth a pendant—small diamonds shaped into a ticker on a sterling Ag chain. She gave me a warm woolen cardigan. I still wear that well-worn sweater when I want to feel especially nigh 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 biotic community will also be found in the schools. Problems of drug and alcohol abuse sometimes manifested themselves in schoolhouse, but the biggest problem was clearly divorce. divorcement exerted a severe devastating toll on kids. The toll on parents wasn't a good deal better.

The Peterson family 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 divorce papers and a restraining order on Christmas Eve in what I thought at the time was an unnecessarily cruel act. He came to school on Wednesday, Jan 17th, in the Leslie Townes Hope of seeing his son for the initiatory time in almost a month. Mrs. Peterson, however, had brought a written matter of the restraining ordering to the principal and the stave was under exacting orders to apply it. He went berserk when he was refused, running out to the hallway when threatened with the police force if he did not countermand the school grounds immediately. Instead of leaving, he pulled a pistol from his coat and ran into the close classroom which just happened to be Beth's.

I was walking down the G. Stanley Hall on my way to the office when I heard the ruction. Dottie, the principal's secretary, summarized what had happened in a serial of yearn run-on sentences punctuated with farseeing breathless pauses showing that she was obviously under a great passel of strain. All I knew was that the woman I loved was in grave danger.

The police force were on their way ; I could listen the femme fatale in the distance, but anything—absolutely anything -- could bechance before they had the situation under control. Everyone was trying to stay out of any note of fire, hiding either in locked offices or schoolroom 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 cervix, the pistol aimed carelessly at her head. The students cowered in their seats. More than one-half were crying.

Peterson spoke first, his vocalism cracking under the strain."Who're you ? What…what are you doing here ?"
I ignored his nervousness, speaking clearly and calmly in an attack to defuse the situation."I'm Bert Cochran. I teach skill 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 surety here. Trust me ! You don't need twenty-five whiney kids here. They'll driving force you crazy in a few minutes."I turned to the educatee."Okay, kids get up and walk out quietly. Pretend you're in a fire practice. There are teachers outside to facilitate you."

Students are conditioned to play along edict. All of these students were also mine which helped a lot. Half of them were out the door before Peterson even reacted."What the hell are you doing ?"

"You will have a lot easygoing clock time dealing with the two of us than with those brats. I'm not going to generate you any problems. This is the woman I love more than anything. I want to spend the ease of my living with her so I'm going to cooperate fully with anything you say."I sat on a table, apparently relaxed as I tried to post on a conversation with our"captor."

After about ten minutes 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 one-eighth grade science with me and this is his lunch time period. Beth, why don't you walk over to the cafeteria and work Danny back so he can see his dad ?"I gave her a little nudge. She rose and walked slowly to the classroom door. A second gear later she was safe.

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

"Oh, sorry,"he said as he swung the cask away. I had been sitting on the table apparently relaxing, but I sprung into action in a flashbulb. My left hand went to his wrist, my right to his articulatio cubiti. I pushed violently with the leftfield and pulled with the right. All of the strain went to the weakest part of his arm. His elbow broke with an audible shot. The pistol dropped from his useless hand and I caught it before it hit the floor.

victimization my body for leverage I pushed him against the wall while I ejected the magazine and racked the microscope slide to open the action at law. I wasn't at all surprised when a chambered round fell to the floor. I wanted that, but first I needed to let the asshole know who was in control."I'm going to bend down for that bullet train. If you do anything stupid you'll be in a humankind of harm. I could kill you and nobody would blame me."To emphasize my percentage point I shoved his pass into the wall. He stayed there while I retrieved the cartridge.

"OKAY, EVERYBODY,"I shouted."We're coming out. I have the pistol and all the bullet train are in my pocket."Grabbing Peterson by the collar of his pelage I pushed him out in front of me. The 1st cop we met was about to wrench his arm behind his book binding, but I stopped him."Hold it ! His elbow is broken. He needs medical checkup attention."Two policeman 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 pocket when Beth rushed up to me, her arms wrapping around my consistency. She was bawling, her breath coming in gasp, her body shaking as her emotions, barely held in handicap earlier, rushed to the surface. I pulled her head to my articulatio humeri, holding her secretive and running my finger's breadth through her long lustrous pilus."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 estimate 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 bit as though looking all the way into my soul before asking,"Did you really mean what you said in there ? That you love me ? That you want to drop the rest of your life with me ?"

I looked around. The hall was filled with people—police officers, our administrators, to a greater extent than a 12 teachers, and Beth's entire class. This wouldn't have been my choice for the time or situation to profess my erotic love for her, but it would have to do. I hesitated for a second before replying."fountainhead, I have to confess—I did evidence a few lies in there, but not about you. Yes, I do come back saying that and I meant every Logos, if you'll have me."I expected some form of reaction, but it was even More than I had hoped for.

"YES ! YES ! YES ! love GOD…I dearest 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 outflank idea you've had all year, Jeremy."I looked down at my fiancee and brought my lips to hers. We held the candy kiss for almost a minute as everyone applauded, even the cops. Then I was led out to an ambulance for a quick check-up.

They checked my blood pressure—109 over 60—and my pulse—58. My schoolchild 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 body remains calm."That was all I said. zip more was needed. I could take told him that my dumb beat and low bloodline pressure led me to success as a sniper, but it wasn't his byplay. I buttoned up my shirt, took Beth's paw, and returned to ferment. fountainhead, 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 motorcoach were on their way. Our form would be covered until they arrived. Mr. Fazio took us aside."You both need to go home base. Take as practically meter as you need. This was a harrowing experience and I know you're both under a lot of stress. I'm sure the police 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. 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 paw in mine. We reached my house about ten min later. I walked around the hand truck to open her doorway then led her into the house. It was a cold day and I had left my coating in my schoolroom. Even with her pelage Beth was visibly shaking. I had a fireplace, but used it only occasionally. Today would be the exception. I opened the flue, started the fire and brought some humble logs in from the porch. A few minutes later the fire was roaring.

I had bought a ice cover with two doorway and a blower grate, essentially a set of empty steel tobacco pipe that held the fire and were connected to a electric fan fan. Once the fervour was going I could take off the fan and hot air would muck up into the elbow room. It was sufficiency to make the entire way warm and toasty, even on the coldest day. I brought a thick quilt from the closet and laid it on the story in front 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 cleaning 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 ring. It was a large disastrous pearl surrounded by a circle of rhombus in a 14-K yellow gold stage setting."This was my granny's…my mother's mother—the only member of my family I ever spoke with. She left it to me when she died. I want you to have it. I'll buy you an troth ring, too."

Beth took the anchor ring."It's beautiful, Bert. Aren't you supposed to put it onto my finger's breadth ?"She held out the third finger on her go away helping hand and I slid it on. It fit perfectly as though it had been made for her."I don't want another pack, Bert except for a wedding party band. This is a wonderful ring. I love it."She leaned forward to snog me. We held it for several minutes until Beth climbed onto me. We had been fan for almost three months. We knew each early's bodies well. Beth leaned forward, bringing her teat to my mouth. I loved suckling and nibbling her mammilla almost as much as Beth enjoyed my doing it.

In all our prison term together we had never engaged in oral sex. We'd talked about it tidy sum of times and knew it would come about one of these days when she wanted it. Truthfully, we were having too lots fun making hump together. Today must have been the day because she spun around, presented her Henry Sweet puss to me as she leaned forward to kiss the self-conceited top dog of my throbbing cock.

Next thing I knew, Beth was licking the integral surface of my Hammond organ and driving me wild with lust. My cock lurched up and down with every touch of her sass and knife. I groaned as I moved up to inhale Beth's meat. 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 brainiac. 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 medium and receptive to vaginal stimulant whether with my shaft or my finger's breadth, or—now—my tongue. She was the only char I'd ever met who was equal to of vaginal climax. I easily brought her to her initiatory orgasm and I hadn't even touched her button yet. My tongue found that special rough area just inside the top of her tunnel. I knew I was getting to her when she began humping my mouth. Meanwhile, she was taking fantabulous forethought of me. I knew that she had never tasted semen so I also knew that I had to warn her when I got close and I was there now."Beth ! Beth, I'm going to…."And then I did. Beth somehow managed to give suck it down her throat. She released me, kissing the carmine majestic straits before turning around to direct her head on my shoulder.

We lay there in the fondness of the fire relaxing…recovering. Eventually, Beth spoke."I can't believe that you lay on the line your life history for me. You're so brave. No wonder I love you so much. pappa used to laugh at my crush, telling me that nothing would ever come of it. Who do you suppose is laughing now ?"

"That reminds me ; you need to phone your folks. You need to tell them that we're engaged and also that you're okay. That vista with Peterson is sure to hit the John Roy Major news canal and I'm positive that we'll be named. I'm surprised the press hasn't already tried to beat a path to my room access. The school dominion won't firing any entropy and I don't have a fixture phone so there's no itemisation. Of course, they could get the address from the DMV or Board of Elections."I reached for my slacks and passed the phone to my love.

I'll never forget how she opened the call."Hi, Mom—it's your busy daughter calling."We both laughed when her mother failed to tell apart 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 secondment while her mother responded."It happened this first light and that's another reason why I'm calling. Bert saved me and twenty-six of my scholarly person from a man who had taken us hostage."Beth went on to evidence her mom everything. Okay…not quite everything—she didn't mention that we were naked in front of a fire in my living elbow room -- but almost. They spent Sir Thomas More than half an minute talking and then her dad joined in.

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

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

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

"Was it okay for you ?"

Beth was so sincere, but I couldn't service 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 thing I didn't like. How can you stand getting haircloth in your backtalk ?"

"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 smile on her cheek when she was done.

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

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

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

"So ?"Beth stood and pulled me up with her. side by side thing I knew we were in the bathroom. Beth used a pair of scissors to prune my pubic hair really nigh then placed a hot towel over my pubic field."Don't vexation, Bert. You know how very much I love these things. I think I'm going to suck your balls 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 scented body lotion then stood on the towel and I took attention of her. Then she rewarded me by taking me back to bed.

We stayed there for more than an minute and, had I known what having my orb sucked on would feel like, I would hold shaved them a farseeing, long prison term ago. We dragged ourselves up from the bed and drove down to the Village Sandwich Shoppe for dinner. This time Sal refused to train my money."The story is all over town, Bert. You're a imprecate hero and I understand that Beth is a bit Thomas More than a good friend now. praise !"He came around the comeback to escape from my hand and hug us. Before long all of the former frequenter joined him. I was totally embarrassed. I was for certain my grimace was common beet red.

Beth stayed overnight at my theater after picking up a change of clothes and we returned to work the postdate break of the day. I was embarrassed again at the reception I was given. The teachers applauded when we walked into the principal office. The kidskin applauded in the hallway and in each of my stratum. I didn't upkeep about that. I was worried about Danny Peterson. He was in my 6th period year right after tiffin so I arranged for him to be called to the office at the beginning of lunch. I closed the doorway when I saw him in the power with Mr. Fazio, the principal sum."Danny, are you okay ? I'm really sorry that I had to offend your dad."

"It wasn't your error, Mr. C. Mom threw him out because he was always pledge and he hit her when he was. He even hit me when I tried to stop him. It was hard to have Christmas without him, but it had to be done. He punched me and my trivial sister, too."

"Are the early minor giving you a hard time ?"

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

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

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

Beth just shook her head and laughed."Men ! You have no idea. 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 take thought about.

Well, we did get married the hold out Sabbatum in June and spent a hebdomad in Bermuda on our honeymoon. I had always been thrifty—okay, maybe cheap would be a better description -- so I had hearty investments that I used to buy us a veridical house. I enjoyed the petty farm 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 calendar week before the wedding.


> > > > > >

The wedding itself was lofty. What else would one look for the lonesome girl 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 quietus either Beth's relatives or associates of her famous Father-God. It was held in a immense duomo upstate. We were both Catholic so we had to weather an full heap. 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 southerly Iraq and a countermove from the Republican precaution was a possibility. In spitefulness of that, almost all of the military personnel and all of the tanks and artillery had already left the city en route to another farther northward. We had fewer than a hundred men remaining—nothing more than a skeleton gang, mostly append force, and nowhere near enough to hold off a determined blast. My spotter and I had taken place on the roof of the highest building still standing. I had my Barrett .50 bore M82, the finest sniper rifle ever made in my opinion and five thousand rounds of ammunition. The heavy .50 caliber bullet had a muzzle velocity of 2,799 feet per s, more than two and a half times the speed of sound. By the time you heard the write up you were dead.

My picket Dan picked up cause to the eastward as the sun rose—smart move, at least it would consume been if my orbit hadn't been specifically equipped to deal with the glare and brightness of the sun. With most of our fighting troops gone I knew it was up to me to hold off any onrush until reinforcements could arrive. I began shooting at 1800 meters, just over 1.1 miles—actually at the point of accumulation of the in effect range of the rifle. Mostly the first three were ranging shots—shots I used to help shape the effect of the wind which was negligible that morning. I mowed down more than a hundred over the succeeding four hours. They tried to approach in truck and their equivalent of a jeep, but a .50 caliber bullet will demolish a radiator and even unhorse or crack an entire engine engine block of almost any vehicle.

When they moved a tank up to the job I was able to set the ammo belt so I could fire a few tracers—bullets made with a small firework charge built into the rocket so I could see it all the way to the prey. On a machine gun every one-fifth troll is a tracer bullet. That's the sole way to see exactly where you're lighting, although in my cause I could tell by the hemorrhoid of bushed Iraqi's in the sand. Aiming carefully and squeezing the trigger slowly as I exhaled I was capable to fire the first tracer bullet into the diminutive slot the driver used to look forward. The .50 quality slug is so deadly that it will preserve moving at deadly speed even after passing through a person's soundbox. Apparently, that was what happened here because the tank blew up only a second after the bullet had entered. I surmised that the hot round must experience ricocheted into one of their cannon shells in the magazine publisher. Once one goes the rest follow in an instant. The explosion was so violent that the armored combat vehicle's turret flew More than fifty metrical foot into the air surrounded by the flaming from the burst. Their attack evaporated LE than a arcminute after the turret fell burning into the sand. Dan's formal report card the keep an eye on first light confirmed 117 kill plus the tankful and its crew. Our support also found three trucks loaded with ordinance and another filled with Diesel fuel hidden behind the dunes in addition to the four fomite I'd damaged. The enemy never came within 1500 yards of our location before they lost heart and retreated. I was credited with stopping their advance and given the Distinguished overhaul Cross a month later. A month after that my enlistment 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 build spirit not put down them.

I recall standing by the altar with Dan as my trump man while General Walter walked slowly forward with Beth on his arm. It had been decided over my objection that the men in the wedding ceremony party would wear dress uniform, the tidy sum clothes uniform to be precise. universal Walters had one, of course, as did his three sons—all officers -- but mine, and Dan's, had to be custom made with the insignia of our former membership. I even supplied all of my service ribbons and a listing of the approval I had received. I was pleased to see that I had several that weren't on any of their jackets—the DSC and the Expert-Rifle and handgun commendations, the gamy ranking of what was More commonly known as a crack shot's medal.

Beth was ravishing beautiful, so beautiful that one look and I was ready to enchant her. Her gown was strapless and form-fitting with tiny bone sewn into the bodice. Her cleavage was even more entice than usual. Her prospicient black whisker was pulled back into a Daniel Chester French plait. I still recall exactly what I whispered to her when I took her hand from the general—"You're incredible…beautiful. You look estimable enough to eat."

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

"Let them wait -- besides I'm jolly sure they're looking at you. You're absolutely breathtaking."She kissed my cheek, squeezed my handwriting and we turned toward the priest. An hr later we were in the limo on the way to our fabulous response. At various times I was introduced to the repository of the Army as well as several other dignitaries—a pair of congressmen and a senator -- I forgot almost immediately. They all claimed to know me—my service record, anyway. agiotage hard drink flowed like piddle and the food was nifty, too. secure of all was Beth. other than the dancing with her father and mine with her mother, she never left my side. 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 planer to Bermuda. We made the most beautiful roll in the hay off and on for hours until Beth and I were exhausted. It was the first meter that Beth offered me her ass. Of course, I was terrified that I'd hurt her, but she promised to state me if she did. She laughed as she told me,"I've been practicing with cucumber vine. It's strong to encounter one that's just the right size and shape."All that drill paid off. The experience was intense—our orgasms were to die for. We fell immediately into a deep sleep until our wake-up call at 6:00 the pursue morning.

We spent a week frolicking in the strong assoil ocean and making sweet lovemaking every sunup, every eve, and almost afternoon's, too. We had a honeymoon package that entitled us to attend the nightly gratuitous cocktail company where we quickly learned to make out rum punch. There was nightly local anaesthetic entertainment and we even tried our hands at the hotel's executive golf game grade. We sucked, but we had a clap, all the same.

Once Beth lost her virginity she seemed to make up for lost time. Now that we were married there was absolutely zilch that was off the table—any form of sex and any position. But, first, we attended to the of import commercial enterprise at hand—impregnating my tremendous wife. Her doctor had told us that she might not become fertile again for several months…or it could be a topic of hebdomad. There was no way of telling. Beth was taking no chances. We had made dearest every day since our commencement face-off with one exception—the night before our wedding when she stayed with her parents while I was in a nearby motel.

Something must cause worked because Beth was pregnant by the meter we returned to school in Sep. I was thrilled, but her parents were ecstatic. None of Beth's three sometime brothers were married so this would be their first grandchild. Unfortunately, Beth miscarried just after Christmas. I was beaming that I was home with her when she awoke with annoyance in her abdomen and rip oozing from her vagina. I rushed her to the infirmary where her doc confirmed the bad news. We were devastated, but we agreed to try again.

We did and four months later Beth was meaning again. This time her medico suggested she spend the final examination four calendar month of her term in bed. We agreed and Beth took exigency medical leave. We weren't worried about money. I had turned thirty on September 1st and had gone to my sire's post right after school to signalise the requirement paperwork to have my inheritance—Grandfather's trust investment trust. Of course, I expected worry 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 hands and, not surprisingly, my forefather 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 belatedly death night ?"

I remained calm, but my eyes were steel 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 wife, Beth. She's an art teacher in my shoal. I'm sure you've heard of her father—Major full general gull Walters. By the way, do you have any idea what I did in the regular army ? I was a sniper, and a damned good one. I could put a fastball into your eye at a thousand 1000, easily. I'll do it, too if I ever hear you insult my wife again."Then I saw my father do a treble take. I smiled for the first clip since entering his office. Sy Richmond was here."I think you already acknowledge my attorney. howdy, Sy—how are you ?"

"Looking forward to pummeling your founding father once again ; I tell you, Bert -- some dawning I really enjoy getting up on the legal injury side of the bed."I had anticipated my founder creating some roadblocks in the way of my heritage 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 more than an hr when Sy placed a telephone call on his jail cell. Five minutes later an attractive young lady entered the conference room, walked up to my father, and announced,"You are served."

"What the fuck is this ?"

"Bert is suing you for fifty dollar bill million dollar mark for denying him his inheritance…his sound right wing. fall on, Bert—no sense in wasting any more metre here. We have a particular date with evaluator peter Tuesday cockcrow. I'll be interested in hearing what you have to say to Simon Peter, Albertus. Why don't I take you two lovebirds to dinner ?"Beth laughed and I joined her. We laughed even harder when my don slammed the league room room access in frustration.

I spoke to Mr. Fazio Monday morning to tell apart him why I would be late on Tues. The hearing was scheduled for 8:30 so I was hoping to be back at schooling by dejeuner time. Beth and I talked and we agreed that I'd go alone. There was no really reason why Beth should lack time from her students.

It was a pleasure watching my father squirm in battlefront of Judge cock. Sy had an official written matter of my grandfather's will and the language couldn't have been clearer. Additionally, there were the records of my monthly thousand dollar mark stipend and my official parturition certificate. I knew that tool hated my father and with skilful reason. He'd caught dear old dad in a lie—presenting sham evidence—that had led to a six calendar month hanging of his license and a condemnation for despite of court. The listening lasted less than thirty instant.

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

Having a lot of money was reassuring, but we still wanted to keep teaching. mass complain about having to crop, but I had always found that work gave my life significance. I had defended our nation while in the regular army and now I helped shape Young judgment, besides I'd be bored out of my mind if I didn't have a reason to get out of bed other. Beth agreed with me right up until the doc sent her to bed. unfit than the boredom, Beth was furious that we were not able to make love.

I hired a nursemaid to come in every morning at 7:30 until 4:00 when I was surely to be home plate. I cooked dinner every night except those when I brought in—either Formosan or Italian or Greek. We always ate in bed, using special 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 same, too—"It's a small price to pay for your safety and for the safe of our child."Then I'd buss her and hold her in my blazonry. I'd carry the smasher to the kitchen, put them into the dishwasher and put out the trash. Then Beth and I would shower and return to bed to watch over TV or playact cards or a board game. Ever play strip 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 summarise her normal activities. She went into Department of Labor in the wee 60 minutes, her first contraction coming at 2:16 a.m. Her loud moan scared me until I realized what was happening. I recorded the time in my note pad and did everything I could to comfort my love. I told a few jocularity and even sang a few song. Beth couldn't help but laugh. I couldn't sing for motherfucker and we both knew it.

We had discussed everything with Beth's doctor so an hour later I phoned his service and also a private ambulance. We were at the hospital by 5:00 that cockcrow. Our son Thomas Mark -- named for Beth's grandad and father, was born at 11:17 that morning, but not until Beth had struggled mightily. There was a problem with the delivery and the Dr. decided at the net minute to demand the sister by caesarian delivery. Because of the trouble she'd experienced Beth decided to ingest her tubes tied. She cried when she made that decision, but all I cared about was her eudaimonia. We had one nestling and we had each former. That was More than enough for me.

However, Beth had other estimation. Tom had just turned two when I returned home after school to come up my wife holding him and beaming, that same goofy smile showing her perfect tense teeth."I had a great idea today."

"Let me guess—you want to take over a child."I leaned down to osculate my case shocked married woman 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 Thomas More than an hour—so long that we wound up at the sandwich shop for a brace of insurgent Rousers. Beth got to work on the adoption the very adjacent day.
Unlike most couples, we didn't want an infant and we didn't charge about race or sex. In fact, we preferred to take a child that others didn't want. No minor should feel unwanted. We flew through the preliminary interviews—together at first at the social services office then separately at home base. I took Tom out to the commons during Beth's interview. Finally, the three of us met with the societal proletarian, again in our home. I sat on the flooring with Tom, minding him while participating as best I could. I just hoped it would be beneficial enough.

Apparently it was because we were asked to meet at social services again late on a Tues afternoon. They had a child—a female child who was two class old and the product of an interracial relationship. Her white father regularly beat his black wife and even struck the girl until child Protective Services removed her from the home. ‘ She's deathly afraid of men,"the societal actor told us."Would you like to run across her ?"Of form, the answer was yes.

She was the most beautiful shaver I'd ever seen. Her skin was the colouration of mocha coffee and her face was a perfect oval, surrounded by nappy black hairsbreadth. She cowered behind the doer until I sat on the flooring."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 spot where you'll be comfortable,"I suggested."Then I can show the fib and I'll show you the painting. She found a spot about ten understructure away. I read the narration, pointed out the picture show 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 sort 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 sojourn was over. When the worker asked if we would take her we answered immediately—YES ! We bought some bedroom furniture that afternoon and had it delivered Mon good afternoon. I took a personal day on Midweek so I could become a Church Father for the instant time. Beth and I were thrilled, but apparently not as much as Tom. Holding her mitt he led Aaliyah to her room.

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

We put Tom and Aaliyah into nursery schooltime when they reached three. It was only a half-day program, but it did wonders for their social growth. At four they knew the rudiment and act, even some simple adding and subtracting, and recognized a surprising figure 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 elderly child—one who had little chance of being adopted due to age. We welcomed Francois Jacob, a shameful boy, into our family. 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 attending at the motion-picture show or in a restaurant—white parents, a inglorious son, a half-black daughter, and a E. B. White son. Personally, we couldn't have been prouder.

Tom seemed to have inherited the best each of us had to offer up. He had my analytical mind, but Beth's soundly spirit and food colouring. He also had her artistic ability, but from the age of four he only wanted one thing—to attend and graduate from the United commonwealth Military Academy at Rebecca West Point. Tom was an fantabulous educatee, graduating near the top of his stratum and was an outstanding penis of the football and racetrack teams. It was a gallant moment when he was nominated for the honorary society and a prouder one when he graduated, again near the top of his stratum. He stayed at the Academy for alumnus work then reported for alive duty.

Aaliyah entered a six-year aesculapian program, combining her undergrad and medical schoolhouse studies. It was an extremely arduous programme, but our daughter was an outstanding student, valedictorian of her high shoal course of instruction with Tom only a few places behind her.

Jacob had graduated six days earlier and had been accepted at Stony brook state of matter University, the Saame university I had attended. Jacob's end was to become a teacher, following in the footsteps of the people he recognized as his loving parents. He wasn't the bookman his siblings were, but we were just as proud of him as we were of Tom and Aaliyah.


> > > > > >

We were back in the Middle East—Afghanistan and Irak this time—when Tom was deployed. Beth was beside herself with anxiousness and reverence. aught I tried would tranquilize her and in the end her concern proved to be prophetic. Tom was one of many in a farseeing convoy in Republic of Iraq. He was in the side by side to last truck when it struck an IED. Why his truck and not one of the XVII that preceded it ? There was no solution. Tom could have been buried in Arlington or even the National Cemetery 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 fortune we thought they might have become a couple. However, they were more like twins. That's how close they really were.

It was a hard time for both of us, but we still made time for each other every 1 day. We made love even on our darkest twenty-four hours. Beth had told me that it gave her comfort she was unable to regain any other way. We began our kinship making sleep together every day and we continued the Saami way right up until Beth became ill. Now I was alone, but I decided to espouse through on our plans to travel the United country aimlessly by day and tell apart her all about it every night. That's how I found myself two month later in beast Point, Montana.

I parked in the lot at the William Tecumseh Sherman Inn where I'd made a reservation conclusion nighttime. Once in my way I removed my front-runner 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 home. This was my favorite time—the fourth dimension I felt tight to Beth, but also the time I felt most alone. I usually finished my rite in tears and today was no exception.

It was almost seven that night when I walked out to condition on the car before dinner party. I never saw the old man."Can you spare a buck, 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 feet 4 inches and slenderize, although that was surd to severalize because of the foul raincoat and baggy dungaree he wore. His tomentum was Elwyn Brooks 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-colored and get inebriate, so no money…but I will buy you dinner. It will be a pleasant change to have fellowship. Come 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 crazy so I grabbed two carte and led my companion to a stall.

A few minutes later the manager of the hotel rushed to link 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 law, if necessary."I rose and bade my fellow traveler 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 brace of blue jean, socks, underclothing, and sneakers. We returned to the restaurant less than an minute later. The coach was savage, but there was naught he could do. We returned to the same booth we had been forced from just an hr ago.

The offset thing I did was bring out myself."I'm Bert."

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

"I did when I was in the Army, probably too much, but when I became a instructor I saw how many family line had been destroyed by alcohol. Other than our honeymoon neither my wife nor I drank."

"Where is she now ?"

"In Heaven ; she passed a bit more than a month ago. I can't evidence you how practically I miss her. It was our dream to meander around the res publica 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 eld ago. I put it on and talk with her.
Are you a local here ?"

"Here ? No, I come from a far off topographic point 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 have gone as far as you did to help oneself a tote up stranger."

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

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

"quite a little of times when I was in the Army ; it never killed me."

"What did you do in the Army ?"

"I killed hoi polloi and I was good at it…too effective. I was a sniper back when Al-Iraq invaded Kuwait. I did my duty, but I hated it."

"I know."

"free pardon ?"

"I meant to say that I can sympathize how you felt. There are plenty of times I've had to do things I hated to do."

The waitress returned with our drinking and we turned our aid to the menu. I ordered a big ribeye steak, medium rare, with a baked tater and a salad with bleu cheese dressing. I wasn't all that thirsty, but I wanted to set a tone for my guest. I was pleased when he ordered the same.

We had an amiable meal then I walked with him back to our elbow room. We were at the back of the inn where the only randomness came from the crickets. I was about to say salutary dark when Herb Simon stopped me."You're a good guy, Bert—probably the estimable I've met in a very tenacious clock time. I want to open you something…something that's incredibly valuable."

"No, Simon…you don't have to pass 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 lowly flask from his pocket."It's water, Bert, but special piss. This is weewee 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 various hundred class. And no…I'm neither gaga nor delusional. I dreamed about life forever and I got my like, 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 forever and you deserve to have a second hazard at felicity. Please…take the flaskful and drink one and only one capful tonight before going to sleep. One capful a twelvemonth is all you need. How old are you, Bert ?"

"Sixty-two."

"You'll be in your early 1930s when you wake up in the morning."I had my doubtfulness, but I took the flask. It was full and it looked like there was enough to last-place 15 or twenty years. I shook Simon's manus and returned to my elbow room where I showered again, used the sewer and brushed my tooth. Finally, I took a capful of the body of water and climbed into bed, my sweater covering my breast as I pulled the blanket over my body, falling asleep in seconds.


> > > > > >

I usually slept soundly, but this night I was plagued by Wyrd dreams—so Wyrd that I was relieved when I awoke the trace dawn. Stretching as I sat up I moved to the gutter, but stopped once I was in straw man of the mirror. Turning on the light I took a close looking at my aspect and body. My grey hair was light brown again and my wrinkly cheek was smooth. My soundbox 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 teeth then I dressed and rushed out the door where I turned left walking to the room I had rented for my acquaintanceship. I was surprised to see the drapes 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 mark that anyone had been in the room. Even the towels were exactly as mine had been when I first entered my way yesterday good 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 data processor then told me,"Nobody…the room wasn't rented last night."

"But…I rented it for someone I met in the parking lot. I have the reception here in my wallet."Pulling it from my scoop I checked where I always keep the day's reception. 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 eating house. My face must take shown my surprise when I saw the same manager on duty.

"Excuse me, sir ; do you remember me from net night ? I ate here with some hobo…you kicked him out until I was able-bodied 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 anesthetic doc 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 unit situation was getting weirder and weirder. I was beginning to wonder my own saneness. 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 Joseph Black tomentum, the same shining blue eye, and the same fantastic body. I had just reached her when she turned around to face me.

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

"Beth…either you're my wife 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 lifetime and I don't think we've ever met. I work here summers to aid with my tutelage at Boise State Department. Is there something else I can help you with ?"

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

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

I must throw been dreaming because I did see Beth as clear as day."Welcome, my darling Bert. I've missed you so much. I can't postponement to hold you and kiss you and make sexual love to you again."Then she did ; she held and kissed me and we made the most incredible passion for minute as we came together five fourth dimension. Beth lay exhausted on my thorax as we fell asleep together again. I never thought this would ever bechance again.


> > > > > >

It was after three in the afternoon when Jessica wheeled her cart to elbow room 113. That fucking Calophyllum longifolium hadn't come to work again and Jessica had been forced to cover her suite. Working as a maidservant was boring, but it paid reasonably well and was firm. All the Lapp, this was the third time in a week that she'd had to take in overtime because of Maria, time she needed to bring on her online course from Boise State.

Check-out was at 11:00 so she was surprised to see the"Do Not Disturb"notice still hanging on the doorknob. She opened the room access and stepped inside, using the rubber wedge to take for the room access open while she worked. The way was obscure until she pulled the mantle back and opened the blind to let the bright 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 reaction so she touched his impertinence. His skin was cold to the touch and she somehow knew immediately that he was perfectly. Jessica turned and ran out, praying that the day handler hadn't yet gone home. She never noticed the lowly thin man in the cruddy raincoat step into the room as she left.

"You're a wonderful man, Bert. I'm sure your wife will severalise you all about the natural spring of spring chicken. I wished for eternal life. You wished to be with your married woman. I wished poorly. I want to die, but I can't. You wished well. I wish you all the just, my friend."He bent over the corpse to snog Bert on the forehead then he retrieved the flaskful and stepped out of the room just seconds before the frenzied Jessica and the director ran hurriedly to the room. Five second later a deputy sheriff pulled into the lot. Ten min after that the county coroner examined the body.

"Any signal of marked-up play, Doc ?"

"Nothing that I can see, Josh. From the eubstance temperature I'd guess that he died between eleven last Nox and one in the morn. Anybody call up seeing him last night."

"Yeah, records in the restaurant display that he ate there alone around seven. There's a credit carte receipt at 7:58. He must consume come straight back to the room and gone to bed. Any estimate why he had that old perspirer over his torso ?"

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

"His wallet says his gens is Bert M Jacqueline Cochran from Smithtown, New York. Any idea where that is ?"
"Long Island, I think ; I remember going to a seminar somewhere near there a few class ago. Okay, let's get the body out of here. Tell the Sheriff to hold on by deep tomorrow afternoon. I should have some answers by then."The coroner's work party wheeled the gurney out the threshold 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 morning time. I went to dinner last night with some tramp, but this morning there was no book. I rented a 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 maids. I don't even know if you're real. Are you ?"

"Take a close flavour at me, Bert then resolve your own question."

I looked at her from top to bottom. I felt her easy smooth tegument, ran my fingers through her pilus as I'd done for years and years. Then it hit me. Looking between her magnificent white meat I saw it—the chandelier I'd given her on our low Christmas 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 very ; you're wearing the pendant. But you're stagnant so that must mean…."

"Yes, Bert…you died finis nighttime almost as soon as you fell asleep. All of the other things were just a dream—a really Wyrd dream, but just a dream. Now I have to explicate a few affair to you. The fount of young person ?"

"There's no such thing."

"Actually, Bert, there is. Think of it as a test from God. It's not really a jet of spring chicken, but that's what to the highest degree of us name it because the stupid selfish multitude who make virtually of the indirect request ask to go back to their young person. The man you met death night—the one you know as Simon—was one of the number 1. He insulted God by wishing for unending liveliness. God kept his promise, but Simon never asked for health or happiness or even riches. He's been awake for almost a thousand years, but he's support every day of that clock time. 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 demo you our menage. You'll like it. It's right on the ocean and you can go fishing whenever you want. You'll snap spate, but they all have to be released."She saw the confusion on my aspect and laughed."Do you think the manager 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 love. I never tired of that when we were animated 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 snog just as I'd done thousands of time before.

I had a million questions, but Beth knew what they were before I could even ask."No, not everyone lives like this. commend how we talked about finding a small cottage on a derelict beach, maybe in United Mexican States or some former Central American language state ? This is our idea of paradise. It varies from soul to person. Tomorrow we'll see Tom and my parents. Your female parent and grannie are here, but your Fatherhood and grandad are not. Oh Bert, the awful things they did !"I was hardly surprised ; I had always considered them the trash of the earth. I might sustain become overthrow, but Beth kissed me again and all of my care vanished.


> > > > > >

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

"Yeah, Doc—I am. I've been in rival with people who knew him. Besides two adopted children, one an oncologist and the other a teacher, he has three brothers-in-law in the Army—two general and a wide colonel. They told me a lot about him and his life story : served six years in the regular army, four in Kuwait and Iraq as a limited force out sniper ; then college and a long famed career as a teacher. Neither he nor his married woman drank or smoked. No denotation 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 thing ; that he probably died of a broken heart. Seems his married woman died about ten weeks ago."

"Well, that makes as a lot gumption as anything I've found. If he wasn't here in one of my boxes I'd swear he was as salubrious as a horse. I can't rule a single thing haywire with him."

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


> > > > > >

In accordance with Bert's final wishes there was a individual day of viewing—from one to four in the afternoon and from seven to ten in the evening. There had been hundreds, if not thousands, of visitant to the funeral domicile. general Paul Walter and his wife Sara presided. He was the honest-to-goodness of the three sons and had been asked to act as executor of Bert's estate of the realm. Beth's other Brother and their wives and children were also in attendance as were Aaliyah and Jacob and his family. They shook hands, seemingly non-stop, and received the sort commentary about Bert and Beth. Hard men, tempered by years of combat, they were surprised at the number of visitors who wept unashamedly when they knelt in prayer at Bert's casket.

Bert had lost his faith 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 retrieve his religion. Now he stood invisibly in the rear of the church, Beth's hand in his as the SRO crowd paid last attention to Gen. Walters as he began his eulogy.

"I'm Paul Walter, Bert's brother-in-law and Beth's comrade. I want you all to bonk how much our family appreciates your coming here this morning. May I ask by appearance of hands how many of you knew Bert from shoal ? Just about everyone, I see. Did you also know Beth, as well ? I'm not storm. Bert and Beth were joined at the hip. They were inseparable as well-nigh of you already know.

"You probably know Sir Thomas More 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 crime syndicate. Our family line had a big place in the Catskills SW of Albany. Our father was also in the Army—Major General gull Walters—and we used to enjoy shooting out behind the firm. We had targets set up about 200 yards out in the woods and I thought I'd take Bert down a peg or two even though he hadn't bragged or said anything remotely big during the day.

"I challenged him to a match while Dad and Mom and Beth watched from the deck. Bert asked for a trial run shot so he could see how ‘ the gun worked.'Those were his precise Holy Writ. When his first shot barely grazed the right-hand edge of the target area I figured I had it made. Then we shot for substantial. My ten shots all landed in the bull's eye's eye, but Bert's formed a perfect Mexican valium that I could have covered with a tail. That was when I noticed the fantastic laughter from Dad and Beth. They knew that Bert had been a sniper for four years in Koweit and Irak. Bert had unbelievable vision—20/10. thing that appeared twenty human foot away to well-nigh of us were only ten for him. His depth perception was amazing. If I flipped a coin into the air Bert could order exactly how high up it went and, even better, he could tell you how many flips the coin had made.

"Go to Google and look up the ‘ Second fight of Al Basrah."The reports are all unclassified now so they're useable to the general public. Bottom line—the commanding officer screwed up and took all of the allied assets north, leaving Bert, his spotter, and about a hundred supply stave behind. The Republican River precaution saw the tanks and flock move out and at first light it was essentially Bert against more than 500 Iraqi soldiers. Over the next four hours he killed more than a hundred of the enemy, destroyed various motortruck, and a tank, putting a hummer into the humble slot the driver uses to channelize from more than a geographical mile away. As undecomposed as Bert was he hated the killing. I really believe that was the biggest rationality he became a teacher.

"Now, here's something you'd never speculation. Bert was a multi-millionaire. He had a huge faith stock from his grandfather. It's now worth almost a hundred million clam, but he never spent even a penny except to pay for his tike's education and for an periodic vacation for them. former than confidence established for his two children and his two grandkids, all of Bert's money is going to Polemonium caeruleum. He has bequeathed twenty million dollars to the Northport school day dominion to be invested to bring home the bacon scholarships for graduating seniors. I estimate that at least ten elder each yr will receive one hundred thousand dollar mark for their C. W. Post high schoolhouse expenses.

"Bert told me about his class once. His parents named him Albertus Magnus the tierce. Bert hated the epithet so he actually cut schooling on his eighteenth birthday to give his name changed to Bert M. His parents were so upset that they totally disowned him. He further angered them by joining the Army instead of going to college as expected.

"My father and all three of his Son graduated from West distributor point and we've all gone on to first-class life history 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 part model for us, both as a husband and as a Father. He and Beth were totally dedicated to each early. I don't think they ever argued.

"Now…I'm going to state 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 entrepot on an errand while the rest period of us talked around the kitchen table. My married woman was bemoaning the passing of romanticism as we got old. She even talked about our declining sex life. I think we had been married about twenty age. 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 history. early than the Night before our wedding ceremony and the months before and after Tom's birth, Bert and I have made love every exclusive day. We did it once the tiddler were in bed while they were at home base, but now we're detached to enjoy each other whenever we're in the humour. That's always…every sec of every day. That's how we remind ourselves how 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 entombment be private, but we invite all of you to join us at the Northport racing yacht social club from one to five this afternoon for a celebration of Bert's life. It certainly was great in every respect."

Beth squeezed my helping 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 eyes we were back in our small home on the ocean. Beth smiled, extended her deal to me, and led me to our bed. I knew then that spending infinity with Beth would be very interesting .