Since I lost my wife in the accident I hadn't bothered to go out much. But life goes on, and what hurt badly at one stage is now a warm memory of a lost love. Accordingly, when I was invited out to an engagement party I decided to go. The only trouble was what to do with the kids.
I dug out my wife's old phone and dug through it, trying to remember the babysitter's name. Finally I got onto Brenda, and yes, she still did babysitting and would be happy to oblige.
Saturday evening Brenda showed up and I reintroduced her to the kids. They all seemed to get on well enough, so I went and got ready. The one thing I had noticed, though, was that Brenda seemed to have changed. She used to be a very happy sort of person, always bubbling over with high spirits. Now she actually seemed a little depressed. Still, it didn't seem to impact the way she handled the kids.
I headed off to the engagement party and quite enjoyed myself. It was a relief to be out and just relaxing with other adults, not having to worry about where the kids were and what they were up to. I decided it was time my social life started expanding again.
I arrived home around midnight. I found Brenda sitting on the couch watching TV and not looking too happy about it. Certainly not the Brenda I remembered. I made some coffee and brought it in for her and we sat there drinking it. I started feeling her out a little to see what the problem was. We chatted for a short while and then I raised the subject.
"If you'll pardon me for saying so, Brenda, you seem a bit down. Have you got a problem?"
"No. I'll be fine," she said, shaking her head. "Just an argument with my boyfriend."
"If you say so. I can lend a sympathetic ear if you need someone to talk to. I may not be able to help, but having someone listen sometimes helps."
If she didn't want to talk, she didn't and I wasn't going to force her. We finished the coffee and Brenda was making noises about going home, and then she suddenly blurted it out.
"Tell me, Mr Sanders, are all boys sex mad?"
I blinked at the sudden question but gave it consideration.
"I think I'd have to answer that with a yes," I told her. "Some hide it better than others, that's all. I take it your boyfriend is not even trying to hide it."
She glared, but I had a feeling that the glare wasn't directed at me. I just happened to be sitting in front of it.
"Joe says I should sleep with him and if I won't he'll find someone else. I just don't think it's fair that he should demand it like that. I'm not ready."
"Point out to him that you're under age," I said helpfully.
Well done me. I'd forgotten how long it was since I'd seen her.
"I'm eighteen," she said coldly, and this time the glare was for me. "I've been eighteen for ages."
"How time flies," I said, smiling. "Ah, how long is ages?"
"In this case, a couple of months," said Brenda with a small sigh. "Joe says that's plenty of time to make up my mind, but I just can't."
"I think you'll find that you have," I observed, "and your decision was no. I'd say Joe isn't who you want your first time to be with."
"But I love him," she half wailed. "Why would I say no?"
"Are you scared of the idea of having sex with him?"
"No," she said with great indignation. "Maybe," she added. "I don't know. It's just that everything starts to seem icky when he tries, and I just back right away."
So maybe her beloved Joe was lacking a little finesse in the way he approached the subject. Alternatively, maybe she just didn't like the idea of having sex.
"Maybe it's the way he's approaching the subject," I suggested. "Would you like to try a little experiment?"
"What sort of experiment?" she asked, and I could hear nerves already starting to twang.
"Very simple. I'm going to just hold your breast for a moment. Instead of slapping my hand and then my face, just let my hand rest there and consider how it feels."
With that I casually reached out and cupped one breast, just holding it firmly, not squeezing or rubbing.
Brenda blushed and went still, looking at my hand.
"Now think about it. Does it feel pleasant or does it feel wrong?"
She continued staring at my hand for a moment, seeming to be trying to assess its touch.
"It just feels . . . different," she said. "Um, I guess it's quite nice."
"Uh-huh. And if I rub it slightly?" I asked, suiting action to words.
I just gave her breast a gentle massage, letting her feel my hand crushing lightly over her.
"It feels very nice from this side, I assure you," I said softly. "Not feeling icky?"
She shook her head, and I let my hand drift over to the other breast, but squeezing slightly this time, instead of rubbing.
"You have very nice breasts. Is this how Joe tries to touch you?"
"No. I wouldn't mind so much if it was, but he keeps on trying to grope inside my top and under my bra."
I let my hand drift back and forth across her breasts, lightly stimulating them. Brenda didn't seem to mind, apparently taking note of what I was doing and how it felt.