Author's note: I would like to extend thanks to a dear friend who served as editor and muse, offering tips on form, style and content. Without their tireless effort this tale might not have seen the light of day, and it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the outstanding efforts of my friend. Hope everyone enjoys it!
*****
My friend, Karen, and I boarded the plane and took our seats.
"So," Karen whispered, as she nudged me. "Details, please."
"Karen," I said in a hushed tone myself. "Now may not be the best time."
"Oh come on," Karen chided me.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. "It wasn't any better than it was after prom," I huffed.
"Really," Karen asked in a disappointed tone. "I thought maybe he'd be more relaxed your second time together."
"Apparently not," I sighed.
As the plane lifted off, Karen and I shared details about what we'd done the previous night. She had been with her boyfriend, and according to Karen the sex had been fantastic, as it always had been between them.
For me on the other hand, it was another disappointing experience. I had been with this one guy the night of our high school graduation prom. And, it wasn't especially remarkable for me.
"It didn't hurt though, did it," Karen asked, still in a hushed voice.
"No," I replied.
"Well it's good I told you how to ready yourself for sex with a dildo," Karen chuckled.
I sighed and chuckled a bit at that.
A few weeks before prom Karen had given me a dildo, and told me how to go about 'taking my own virginity'. So that when I actually did have sex it wouldn't hurt.
The theory had been, if you aren't in pain, you'll be able to enjoy it. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. And, as I had told Karen the night before, we had gotten together for a 'good bye romp' and it wasn't any better.
We weren't sure if it was a 'good bye romp' or not even though he was leaning towards heading back east to attend college. Even if he didn't end up heading back east once that night was over, I was sure it was 'good bye' because I didn't want to go through that kind of boring experience again.
Of course, I don't know if it was him or if it was me that made it boring. I certainly knew how to get myself off. That wasn't the problem. But the whole 'sex' thing was different. I wasn't as preoccupied with it as Karen. Maybe it was my upbringing or whatever, but I just didn't feel the fire about it.
"Well," Karen sighed. "Maybe he's just a dud. We should be able to find you someone better where we're going."
"Karen," I admonished her. "I am going there to visit universities."
Karen rolled her eyes, and then looked straight at me. "Joanne, you have two visits planned, and we're going to be there for two weeks!"
The two of us. both eighteen year old, recent high school grads, were on our way to Karen's father's place about an hour flight away. I had heard Karen speak of her father many times in the past, but had never met him. According to her though he wasn't a bad guy. Karen had told me she was going to go and see him for two weeks, after we'd graduated, and that I should come along.
Even though I was strongly considering going to a university on the coast, I got my parents to agree to let me tag along with Karen by telling them that I could use it as an opportunity to visit the two universities in Karen's dad's hometown.
I also knew the town her dad lived in. In fact, my folks and I had visited there years before. But, in the years that followed, they were tied up running the family restaurant, and I usually worked there, long hours over the summer.
Karen had pressed for me to join her because she felt I needed to let my hair down a little. I have to admit, I did admire Karen for her carefree spirit and the confidence she exuded. She was a smart girl and had achieved second class honors upon graduation.
But she was also a great looking girl. About 5'6" and slim, but not skinny. She had filled out well over the years that I'd known her.
In fact, I was a bit jealous of her sometimes. Karen had long, flowing, wavy, dirty-blonde hair, a very pretty face. As well as near C-cup boobs and legs that I wish I had.
Me? I was 5'1" at best. And, I always felt my legs were kind of short and stubby I didn't consider myself ugly or fat, not by any means. Just kind of plain. I wasn't tall, didn't have big breasts, and my hair was jet black and straight as an arrow. I did wear it long, to my shoulders. Karen always told me it looked great when I didn't have it tied up. She said it really made my blue eyes stand out.
Getting a compliment like that from Karen always made me feel good.
In fact that morning, after I'd showered and dressed, I eyed my reflection in my mirror and had to admit I wasn't too bad on the eyes.
The other reason I admired Karen was how she was able to appreciate sex, without coming off like a slut. We'd known a few girls like that back at school. They'd sleep with anyone in an attempt to be popular. Karen wasn't like that. She didn't have a long list of conquests, because she was selective. But she still approached it in a care-free manner.
She had even told me if the opportunity presented itself she might have herself a fling while we were on our trip. I'd questioned her about that, especially since she had a boyfriend at home. She replied with a matter-of-fact answer: "It's just sex".
Given my experience, that was an answer I couldn't comprehend.
The plane had landed and taxied up to the gate, and shortly thereafter, Karen and I were making our way down the hall to the reception lounge. Karen seemed almost giddy. In the past, she had told me she always loved coming to visit her father, because she loved this town so much, especially this time of year.
"Although," Karen had confided in me once. "There are times I hate the old man, for not fighting for custody of me when he and my mom got divorced. To think, I could have been living here the whole time."
Even though she had said it in jest, there was still a ring of truth to what she had said.
We rounded one last corner, and through the glass we could see a crowd of people waiting for others to arrive.
Again, since I had no idea what Karen's dad looked like, I didn't know who to be looking for. I did however spot an older guy, in a suit and tie, standing there waiting, and actually felt a tingle, and found myself smiling a bit. Maybe I will like this town, I thought to myself, as I looked down to avoid staring. When I glanced back up, I felt my eyes get wide.
"Dad," I heard Karen yell, and saw her run to the same guy in the suit I had just gotten a tingle over.
Seriously, I thought to myself. That doesn't look like any 'dad' I've ever seen.
Karen ran up and gave him a big hug as I slowly walked over to join them.
I felt myself shaking my head. I had seen 'dads' before. Most of them looked like my dad. Those would be the ones who were overweight, losing their hair. Those types of things. Or there'd be the ones who were more like the guy Karen's mother was seeing back home. Those that 'tried too hard'. They dyed their hair way too dark and spent too much time in the gym. So they'd be muscled up, but it never looked right. And they'd dress in the latest fashions, to appear hip. Every time I saw Karen's mom's boyfriend in board shorts I almost laughed.
"How ya doing, sweetheart," Karen's dad said, as their embrace ended.
He had this GORGEOUS smile, with a great set of teeth. His face didn't seem too have many wrinkles, other than crow's feet when he smiled. His hair was totally gray, and thinning a bit, but it was there. He wore it longer than most guys his age too. Certainly not all the way to his shoulders, but well past collar-length.
And yet, on him, it seemed to work. He still looked like a 'suit', but a much a more comfortable with himself 'suit'. I put him at about 5'9", and he appeared to be in great shape. As well, he appeared to have a great tan.
Karen told her dad she was great, and as he took her bag from her, she turned, and smiled. "Dad," she said, grabbing me by my shoulders. "This is Joanne."
"Pleasure to finally meet you, Joanne," her dad said, warmly, and with a smile.
I swear, I felt weak in the knees, when he smiled at me.
"Karen's told me a lot about you," he continued. "It's nice to put a face to the name. Here," he gestured towards me. "Let me take that for you."
I glanced down at the strap of my bag over my shoulder, and then shrugged with a smile. "No, Mr. McIvor, I'm okay," I replied.
"Now, now," he playfully admonished me. "Give it here. You're on vacation, after all."
God that smile!
"Thank you," I finally said, with a smile, and I passed the bag over to him.
Holy crap! Was I blushing? What the hell was going on with me?
"Shall we ladies," Karen's dad said, with a gesture towards the door.
Karen's dad lead us to his car, and tossed our bags into the trunk. He'd put on sunglasses and it just seemed to make him even cooler. Karen offered me the front passenger seat, but I declined.
Karen's dad was about to climb into the car when he paused. "Joanne," he asked from the opposite side of the car. "Do you mind if I smoke while we drive?"
I was bit taken aback. "Of course not," I almost blurted. "It's your car, sir."
"Sir," he chuckled. "This one is well-mannered, Karen," he said to her before looking back at me. "That'll be the end of that, though. No more 'sir', okay?"
"Yes sir," I smiled back.
I sat in the back as we pulled out of the parking lot. I felt 'warm' for some reason, and it wasn't because it was a sunny, hot day.
Karen's dad had thrown me for a bit of a loop. When he asked me if he could smoke in his own car. I struck me as odd, but polite - and I liked that. Still it was odd. Not in a bad way though. Many of my friends' parents, were all courteous like that. But for some reason, this act, struck as being 'above and beyond the call'.
And, I didn't know why.
Karen and her dad were getting a bit caught up as we pulled onto the main road.
'So are you seeing anyone, dad," Karen asked.
"Nope," her father replied, as he took a puff of his smoke.
Karen sighed. "We have got to get you a woman," she chuckled.
"Why," came the quick response. "Single life seems to agree with me."
We'd driven for about five minutes, when Mr. McIvor looked into the rear view mirror. "So, Joanne," he asked. "First time in town?"
"No," I replied, and had to stop myself from adding 'sir'. "My folks and I were here years ago. It does still seem as beautiful as it was back then though."
"Ah, yes," he said. "Your folks. Spoke with your dad, seems like an all right fellow."
I sort of cringed at that. My parents wanted to know all about where I'd be staying on this trip.
My folks knew Karen's mom. Enough to say 'hello', but that was about it. But, Karen's dad? Nope. And, my folks being who they were, wanted to know more about him. So, my father asked Karen to ask her dad if he could call, and 'chat'. Which apparently they had. I loved my folks, but at times they seemed overprotective.
"I hope my dad didn't pester you with too many questions," I almost apologized from the back seat.
"Not at all," he chuckled.
