Copyright © 2021, 2023 OmegaPet-58, Revised, March 2023
Chapter 1: Medium Man on Campus
Roger La Pine played football at his local college in Idaho. He wasn't huge or powerful, but he was
fast.
He could run back punts and kickoffs for touchdowns, and he also played wide receiver.
But other teams learned to swarm him whenever he came off the bench, so his actual statistics became unimpressive. His best sport would be on the pitch playing soccer, but his small college was unable to field a team.
At the end of football season, Roger hung up his cleats and pads, and focused on his studies. He wanted to finish in four years, to minimize his student loan burden.
Other students took little notice of him, he was a little less than six feet tall, average weight, brown hair, brown eyes, and quiet demeanor.
But he had a secret: Roger was losing his sight in his left eye. The Student Health Service had referred him to a specialist MD for treatment.
In Salt Lake City, the senior ophthalmologist had examined and tested Roger thoroughly and pronounced herself stumped. "All I can tell you is you should stop playing football, because you could be blind-sided and injured. We have ruled out glaucoma, retinal detachment, and a dozen more diseases. As long as your right eye is working, I can't see any reasonable way to heal you. I expect in a few months you'll be completely monocular."
There were some unexpected effects from Roger's condition. His deep-set eyes meant his good eye's view towards the left was blocked by the bridge of his nose. Driving was difficult because pedestrians would suddenly appear behind the left roof pillar of his car. Checking his left mirror was very hard, requiring him to twist his head uncomfortably.
"It's called a 'blind spot' for good reason."
If money were available, he would get a fancy pickup truck with the extended side mirrors (used for pulling trailers). Sadly, his finances were more Top Ramen than Top Gear. And there was little reason to go driving in his small college town.
Soon it was time to break for Christmas. Roger coaxed his elderly car to Rexburg, where his family home and parents and siblings lived. Roger's parents, Stephanie and Jared, were Mormons (or, more formally, members of the Latter-Day Saints church), quite common in Idaho. Roger had two younger brothers and three sisters. As was also common, Roger himself had drifted away from the church in his teens.
Nonetheless, Roger remained part of the family and would attend Sacrament Meetings from time to time. On his way, he had tanked up on hot coffee since there wouldn't be any for him at home in Rexburg.
At his arrival, the family happily exploded all over him. The boys, Jared ("Junior"), 15, and Joel, 12, demanded he throw the football with them. The girls, Ada, 20, Clara, 18, and Dinah, 9, were no less thrilled to see him. "Hey, you all, give me a chance to kiss my mom and sit down!"
"Roger, how ARE you? Tell me everything."
"Later, Mom, I have some news, but not for the youngsters. Don't worry."
"It's my JOB to worry, but I'll wait. Go put your stuff in the boys' room, And I'll work up dinner."
In the boys' room, Junior and Joel were after him again. "Wait, wait! Guys, it's 20° [F, -7°C] outside with snow on the ground. That ball will feel like a brick in this weather, so, no. Don't you have a girlfriend to harass, Junior?"
"No, not yet. I'm way too shy."
"Well, don't expect me to help you, girls at the college show no interest in me so far."
"I thought you were on the football team?"
"Yes, but that counts for nothing among these females. The cheerleaders don't even know my name."
When dinner was announced, everyone washed up and took their seats at the big table. As normal, they all folded their arms as their father gave the blessing. After the first surge of eating, conversations resumed. The boys were ebullient, trying to control the conversation, while the girls were more relaxed. Except for Ada, the oldest, who was tense and fidgety. Roger glanced at her with one eyebrow raised, but she briefly shook her head and resumed eating.
After dinner, Ada and Roger were tasked with dish washing and kitchen cleanup. Again, Roger inquired, but Ada whispered, "After breakfast."
She soon excused herself and took to her bed citing a headache (but mouthing "
cramps"
) to her mother.
Later on, the rest of the children had retired to bed. Stephanie: "OK, buster, what's the big secret?"
"Mom, I won't put you off any longer. I am becoming blind in my left eye. I have seen a specialist in Salt Lake City and there isn't any treatment available. In a matter of weeks, that eye will be permanently out-of-commission."
Jared: "Your right eye is and will be, OK?"
"Yes, Dad, as far as the specialist can tell."
"And what about sports?"
"I will quite literally have a 'blind side' and so I have to quit the football team."
Stephanie was silently weeping.
"It's OK, Mom, don't worry. Football isn't that crucial to me. I can still drive, obviously. And I will still graduate and get a job."
"Son, what about a wife? Aren't you going to scare women off wearing an eye patch?"
"I don't need, or want, to wear a patch. I can still study, I just won't have depth perception. Let me show you."
Roger grabbed the liquid soap and a cup. Now, see, if I hold the soap in the air, I can't see if it is going to drip into the cup, or drip on the table in front of or behind the cup. But, if I lower the bottle, I can touch the rim and avoid making a mess."
"Well, Roger, I guess there are worse things. No girlfriends?"
"No, Mother, it seems I am invisible to the opposite sex."
"Thank you for telling us about your eye. So, then we will have a good Christmas, and maybe you can bring somebody with you next year!"
"Yes, Mom."
In the morning, Roger woke up in pain. His boyhood bed was inadequate for his adult body. His dick was hard from needing to pee. And, there was no hot coffee in the house! Wearily, he wandered down the hall to the only bathroom. The door was closed, and he could hear the shower running. He sat down in the hall and tried to calm his dick so he could pee.
When the shower stopped, he rapped on the door. "Who's in there?" he asked.
The middle sister, Clara, answered. "You can come in."
She was still standing in the tub behind the curtain, drying herself with a towel. Gratefully, he addressed the bowl and relieved himself.
"Roger, do you want the shower?"
"Please, dear sister!"
"OK, just close your eyes while I get out."
The tub was the old claw foot type, with the curtain hanging from an oblong metal ring above. Stepping out, Clara's foot slipped, and she crashed into her brother. Fortunately, her large towel stayed on, covering her modesty. But she felt his erection against her body.
"Um, Roger, were you peeking at me?"
"No, it's just 'morning wood.' It's not about you, Clara."
"I guess I should ask Ada what you mean."
"I doubt Ada would understand 'morning wood' either."
"Roger, Ada is not the same girl you remember from before you left. You might be surprised."
With that, Clara slipped out of the bathroom. Roger stripped off his boxers and took a quick shower, knowing that the hot water was in short supply.
At breakfast, the children all had cold cereal while Ada, Roger, Stephanie, and Jared tucked into hot oatmeal and juice. Then Jared went off to work with Stephanie and the children left for school (their holiday break was to start in a few days). Ada and her brother cleaned the kitchen together and then moved to the living room.
"OK, sister, we're alone. I'm your big brother, tell me what, or who, is upsetting you. Do I need to punch somebody?"
Tears were running down Ada's face. "I think I may be pregnant."
"How late are you?"
"Ten days, I think, and I am usually pretty regular."
"Shit, Ada, how did this happen? Oh, never mind, stupid question. What about birth control?"
"We were trying to time things, but . . . you know."
"Ada, I'll go get some pregnancy tests for you to pee on. Are you still seeing this guy?"
"No, he blames me and won't take responsibility."
"Don't worry about that now, he (or his family) can be forced to pay support. And I will help you too, Ada."
"Thank you," she sniffled.
As expected, the pee stick results were unambiguous. If nothing changed, Ada was going to be a young mother.
"Ada, it's almost time for you to leave for work. You're going to need to talk to Mom about this. I will shelter you if I must, but that would tear apart the family. I think you will be surprised how well she takes it."
In fact, Stephanie and Jared were reasonably calm when Ada told them. Roger was there with them also. "You know, Ada, if you want to keep a secret, then you shouldn't leave evidence in the bathroom's trash can. Dinah found it all and brought it to me. So, what is your plan?"
"I don't know. The Church forbids abortion, but I don't have the means to raise a child. I can't dump the baby on you, and DI (Deseret Industries, the LDS charity) isn't going to be providing us enough to live on."
"What about the father?"
"Roger says I will have to sue him, and he (and his family) doesn't have enough money to pay."
"Your mother and I have discussed it, and we're going to send you to Nevada with Roger to get an abortion. It's not church approved, but they don't approve birth control either. We love you, Ada, and Roger will take good care of you."
"We knew this could happen after you stopped wearing your garments." (LDS members wear specially marked underwear as a symbol of belief.)
To Roger, "That rattletrap car of yours is too unreliable; you're taking our car to Reno while we try to repair yours. Also, you will need money for gas, lodging, meals, and the procedure. Can you leave tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, Mother. And thank you!"