My husband had died a couple of years ago leaving my son Brian and me to survive on our own. My husband had left behind a small nest egg that had run out a couple of months ago. Brian and I had been looking for work ever since. It was not easy to find a job though because the economy was in a slump and we didn't have experience in what jobs were available.
One evening I sat Brian down at the kitchen table after getting in a fight with the apartment manager over not paying the rent. "Brian, I don't know what to do. The apartment manager is threatening to kick us out the beginning of next month." I felt a lump forming in the back of my throat and I couldn't hold back the tears.
"It's going to be ok mom. We will figure something out."
"I feel like I have failed as a mother. Look at me I can't even take care of you."
"Don't say that mom. You've done fine. I'll do any job and live anywhere as long as we are together."
"That is so sweet Brian."
A week had went by and I still didn't have a job. The end of the month was coming up fast and I needed rent money bad. Right now I would do anything for money, I mean anything. I decided to try the internet to look to see if there was any type of work I could from home. I turned on the computer and waited for the monitor to come to life. "What if I can't get a job?" The monitor finally displayed the internet login prompt. After logging in I typed "home based work" into the search criteria box. After a couple of seconds some info popped up. I read through the titles looking for something that I could do. One caught my eye "Set up your own web cam." "Hmmm.... What could that be." I click on the link and it brought me to a page filled with a bunch of text and an email link at the bottom. As I read through the text I felt a cold tingle to down my spine. In big bold letters it said "We pay big money for mother/son kissing photos, $1000 a set." I leaned back in my chair feeling completely helpless. Am I really that desperate? I browsed the rest of the links related to working from home. There was nothing else that even remotely matched my abilities. "How could I even ask Brian to do such a thing. How would I even approach him to ask?"
Well my question was answered that evening after dinner. "Hey mom, any luck looking on the internet today?"
"Well there was only one that was even remote possibility but I don't know if we should do it."
"We? You mean I could work too?"
"Well it is something we can do at home, but I don't think it is something that you would be interested in."
"How do you know? Besides a week ago you said we were desperate for money, I don't think we should be too picky right now."
"Ok but don't tell me I didn't warn you and don't hate me for what I am going to say."
"Mom come on I won't hate you no matter what you say. Now I am really curious what it is."
"The add says they will pay a thousand dollars for pictures of mother and son kissing." Brian's mouth hung open and his skin turned pale as though he had seen a ghost. "You ok Brian? Maybe you should sit down hon." He just stood there motionless. BRIAN, I said are you ok?
"Um yeah I'm ok. So you ok with that?"
"Well I figure it's just photos of us kissing. And they'll pay a thousand dollars Brian. I am so desperate for money!"
"I know mom but they aren't looking for just a peck on the cheek you know."
"I know. I was scared to ask you Brian but I am running out of options. With you just out of high school and me not having degree I can't find shit. Sorry about the language but I am stressed beyond belief."
"Mom, I'll do anything to help. I just wasn't sure if you knew what they wanted. There is probably one thing you should know though, I have never kissed a girl before so I probably won't be that good."
I started laughing. Both the stress and Brian being concerned about not performing well pushed me over the edge. I kept laughing until tears came out of my eyes.
"MOM I can't believe you're laughing at me. It's not something I am proud of and I wouldn't have told you if I knew you were going to laugh at me!"
"Honey, I am not laughing because you have never kissed a girl. I am laughing because you look embarrassed about not having kissed a girl. There is no need to be embarrassed, I am honored to be the first girl you kiss. Why don't you go set up the computer and the camera."
"You want to do it now? Uh, ok."
"It's going to be ok Brian. Just go set it up and I will be in there in a minute." I was feeling nervous myself. What would it be like to kiss my son romantically. Would I actually like it? That thought scared me. "It's for the money! " I kept repeating this to myself as I finished cleaning up the dishes. After I was done I headed to the bedroom where the computer was. Brian had just finished setting up the digital camera with the computer. "You ready Brian?"
"Yeah I guess so." His face was pale and looked scared.
"You sure you can do this honey?"
"Yeah, I want to do it mom. I am just a little nervous."
"That's ok, so am I" I said with a reassuring smile.
"Really?"
"Yeah, it's not everyday that you make out with your son you know. I feel nervous like a teenage girl going on her first date."
"Glad I am not the only one" he said with a smile on his face.
"Ok lets aim the camera the bed so we can get comfortable. Do you want to practice a little bit before we start recording?"
He turned the camera towards the bed and zoomed it in so that I was the full size of the window in the software. "Yeah we probably should. I have no idea what to do."