"I saw you and Dad talking. What was that all about?" Carol and I were out for our evening walk after her dad left.
"Oh, the usual father-of-the-girl and boyfriend talk. He was just making sure my intentions were honourable."
I basically brushed it off. I was afraid if I told her what really happened, that I had challenged him, and he'd accepted I would alienate her. In retrospect, I should have told her. Things would have probably worked out differently. Actually, knowing what I know now, they most certainly would have, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
"Well, if that's all it was, why the long face?"
"Having that talk always makes a guy nervous, especially when it's his first and hopefully only one."
"Oh. Well maybe this will cheer you up."
She grabbed me by the ears, and pulled me into a mind-numbing kiss, making sure her whole wonderful body rubbed against me. She was right, she cheered me right up.
The next week rolled by without incident. We laughed. We played. The four of us did almost everything together. There was a level of comfort, camaraderie, among us that hadn't been there before. When we went down to the beach, it was usually all four. The girls enjoyed snorkeling as much as us. We had great games of King of the Hill on the raft.
Carol and I spent as much time alone as circumstances would allow. Whenever we got truly alone, we'd get as intimate as time allowed. She'd developed a real taste for semen, and gave me a blow job every chance she got. I got really good at giving her major orgasms just playing with her nipples. A couple times we had enough time to get her pants open enough to give her a good hand job. She even learned how to give me one, but she didn't really like to do it, saying it was just for quick relief and a waste of 'his Precious Stuff' as she called it.
Carol and I also spent a good deal of time studying together for our upcoming 'Three-Sixty-Five' Driver's test. This was the written part of our Beginner's Drivers License Exam. Nowadays, they call the 365 a "Learner's Permit". Back then, your "Beginners" was good for 365 days, hence the common name. Once you had it, you could drive under supervision. It was expected that you get your full license before the 365 expired, otherwise, you wrote the test all over again, and started from scratch. I would turn 16 in the middle of August. The 365 was like a rite of passage for most teenagers, especially boys, and most people took it on their birthday. Carol hadn't bothered with it much, but after Riekie's success at getting her full driver's license, and it was a big deal for me, she decided to go for it. We were really excited to be doing it together.
That Friday night, Bob Sr. rolled in as usual. We spoke and were polite, even civil with each other, but everyone picked up on the latent tension. Carol mentioned it to me. I just laughed and said I didn't think he believed me when I said my intentions were honourable, and besides, I was taking away his little girl, making a bit of a joke out of it, something she wasn't to take too seriously. If only I'd said something then! As the weekend went on, the tension between us lessened enough for the others to ignore, and we all had a good time.
Bob Sr. had something planned for Dolly and the little boys for the following weekend. The Toronto Zoo had some special thing on for youngsters he was taking them to. Dolly and the boys would be away all weekend. Bob Sr. was leaving his car for Dolly to drive down, so the wagon was available for the rest of us. Dolly wouldn't be back until sometime on Monday, the day Carol and I were taking our test, so we needed the wagon for Riekie so she could drive us in. My actual birthday fell on the weekend, making the Monday the closest business day to it. Dolly had originally planned some kind of birthday party for me, but Bob Sr. insisted she take the boys to Toronto. They didn't get to see their father very often, much less do family stuff with him, so Dolly had little choice.
So, on Sunday night, Dolly and the whole crew jumped into the wagon and we took Bob Sr. to catch a train to the city. After we dropped him off at the station, and made sure he caught his train, we went out for ice cream. It was a pleasant end to a pleasant weekend despite the tension between Bob Sr. and me. It was also the last time I saw him all summer. His company got really busy and he was away on business trips every weekend until well into September.
The rest of the week went as usual. We swam; we walked; we played and laughed. Bob and I did more exploring. We played with the boys and I got to know the grandparents and the aunts better. Because they were Dutch, Dolly and her family usually spoke it among themselves. The kids didn't speak Dutch very well, but they understood it. It was odd to hear one of the adults speak to one of the kids, and the kid would reply in English. As the summer went on, I learned to do it, too. Even after all these years, I can still understand many words of Dutch.
They had a phone at the cottage. I was not only allowed to call home once in a while, I was expected to do so at least once a week. The only caveat was that I do so after 8PM, when the rates were cheapest. So, I kept in touch with home. There wasn't really all that much going on. Val got a similar invitation as I, and had gone off to my uncle's cottage with my cousin Cathy. Apparently she was having a good time too. Heather, who is 9 years younger than me, wanted to know everything I did. She missed her big brother, and I was touched. Mom and Dad said they missed me too, but were glad I was enjoying myself. They always asked after Bob and Carol, especially Carol. They were delighted when I told them our relationship was stronger than ever. At least somebody thought we had a good thing going.
As I said, it was a normal busy, happy week at the cottage. The girls seemed to spend a lot of time with Dolly, the aunts and Oma. Often when Bob and I entered the house, they would be sitting at the kitchen table, laughing and carrying on. As soon as we came in, though, they would all clam up in some conspiratorial silence.
Friday afternoon, right after lunch, Dolly loaded the boys in Bob Sr.'s car, and drove down to meet him in Toronto. They wouldn't be back until Monday. Dolly told us they were coming back by train, and would call us to let us know which one, and the time. She wished Carol and me good luck on our 365 test and then they were gone.
It was quiet without the boys around. We made our own supper, or rather Riekie and Carol made our supper. They were just as good cooks as Dolly and the food was great. They simply beamed when I told them how good it was. Carol and I went for our usual walk, fooled around a little bit, and then we played board games until bed time.
Saturday, we did our usual swimming and exploring. After supper, Carol begged off our walk, but told me I should go anyway.
"You're getting fat from all the good food we're feeding you. Go walk it off. Take Bob with you." She teased.
So Bob and I went for a walk that evening. We spent some quality time together, and headed back to the house. We were gone about an hour and it was almost dark by the time we got back. Oddly, the house was in darkness. I walked in, and just as I reached for the light switch, the lights all came on.
"SURPRISE!"
I didn't recognize the place. There were streamers and balloons with 'Happy Birthday' on them all over the place. The guests included the four of us, the aunts, and the grandparents. Carol threw her arms around my neck, and gave me a sloppy kiss.
"Happy Birthday, Darling! Mom was disappointed she couldn't have a party for you because she was leaving, so we did it for her. She helped with the planning and got all the decorations for us."
Aha! Now I understood all those conspiratorial silences. I'd known Dolly wanted to have a party for me, but figured when she had to leave, it was all off. They had noisemakers and silly hats — the whole nine yards. We had a grand time. Tante Pie, who was usually very stiff and formal, got right into the spirit of things. We got the music going, and everyone was dancing, having a good time.
I was dancing with Tante Pie. "We know your birthday isn't actually until tomorrow. We wanted to have the party then, but we will not be here."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Didn't Carol or Riekie tell you?"
"No, they were probably too wrapped up in their preparations and trying to keep me from finding out. Where are you going?"
"Yes, of course. We have to take Oma and Opa home tomorrow. They both have doctor's appointments. One on Monday and one on Wednesday. We won't be back until Thursday."
"I'll miss you all." And I meant it. They had been wonderful to me all summer, treating me like a member of the family.
"We will be leaving early in the morning. Opa says if he must go home, he wants to get there early enough to work in his garden."
We both laughed and had a good time with our dancing.
I was dancing with Carol. Well, we were standing in the centre of the floor swaying to the music, glued to each other.
"You didn't tell me the aunts and your grandparents were leaving tomorrow."
"Must've slipped my mind. It's no big deal is it?"
"No, it's a surprise, is all. I'm going to miss them, even if it's only for a few days. I like being around them. They don't treat me like some damn-fool teenager. They actually listen to what I say, and respect my opinions."
"They like you, too — a lot."
Carol ended that conversation with a kiss that almost took me off my feet. I was a little embarrassed in front of the old folks, but when I could see, I saw Opa give me the Big OK sign. He was smiling very broadly and nodding. Oma had a knowing smile. The aunts looked busy, like they hadn't seen a thing.
I was dancing with Tante Jo when someone turned the lights off. Then I saw a glow coming through the doorway from the grandparents half. They all started singing "Happy Birthday" as Carol carried in a big birthday cake topped with 16 candles and placed it on the table. They wouldn't turn the light back on, until I blew them all out. I swear one was a trick candle. I almost ran out of breath blowing them out, but I got them on one pass and got a round of applause for it.
I did the honours and cut the cake. It turned out Carol had baked the cake herself from scratch. I don't know when she got the time. It was delicious. I made a little speech thanking everyone for the party. Carol and Riekie served up the cake with some ice cream and Tante Jo surprised us all by breaking out a bottle of wine. The four of us each got one glass. Opa proposed two toasts.
"To Dave on his sixteenth birthday... may there be many more, and as happy." They all raised their glasses and drank to my health. I was immensely pleased.
Then, to my never ending astonishment and a little embarrassment.
"To Carol and Dave... May their love stay pure and true forever."
I almost fell through the floor. Carol blushed prettily. It was a good time to kiss her, which I did, and just to make sure I got it right, I did it again. She was practically swooning when I finished. Everyone, I mean everyone, applauded. You would have thought it was a wedding instead of a birthday party.
Riekie disappeared somewhere, came back and called Bob out to help her with something. A few minutes later, they came back in, each carrying a pile of gift wrapped packages — all for me! I was overwhelmed. They made a 'Chair of Honour' and had me sit in it while I opened my gifts. There was one from each of them. There were even gifts from my parents and Val and Heather. How they snuck them into the Scotts' and got them to the cottage without me seeing them beforehand remains a mystery to this day. After all these years I don't remember who gave me what, except for two.
Riekie got me some small gift. I don't now recall what it was -- some little keepsake or some such thing. She came up to me and said.
"I got you a small gift, but I have one other for you. Carol said I could give it to you tonight."
She looked over at Carol, who just nodded and smiled. She looked a little strained.
Riekie put her arms around my neck, and pulled me into a cock-throbbing senses-blowing French kiss that went on forever, it seemed. I just about passed out from the intensity of it. That girl put her whole soul into that kiss and she made my birthday very happy indeed. As we slowly broke off the birthday kiss, she relaxed in my arms and cooed. Her eyes had a dreamy far away look.
"If you ever want a change from Carol, I'm right here. That was fantastic. She said you were a great kisser. Now you have two fans."
"Uh... thank you. I don't think Carol is going to lose me any time soon."
Now I understood why Carol had looked a little strained: she had let her sister lay that big kiss on me, knowing full well the effect of one. She trusted both of us to keep our heads on straight, but it was still hard on her to watch it. The rest of the crowd thought it was great, and again Opa gave me the big thumbs-up and a huge smile.
Carol saved her gift out from the rest. After I recovered from Riekie's mind-blowing birthday kiss, she parked herself in front of me.
"Back in the chair Big Boy, we ain't done yet."
I sat down in the Birthday chair. Carol promptly plunked herself in my lap, and squirmed around, acting like she was trying to get comfortable.
"There's an awful lump here. Did my sister cause that?"
"Yup. I recognized a certain tongue sucking technique that never fails to get your personal friend's attention (like my wife in later years, Carol anthropomorphized my penis.). I'd almost suspect that she'd been taking lessons and practicing!"
Carol actually blushed beet red. I'd taken a long shot and scored! Then I remembered what I'd seen outside the bathroom that night...
She punched me in the arm, found a spot she liked, and wiggled that cute bum down snuggly to her 'friend'.
"I'll have to speak to her about that. I have a gift for you."
She handed me a small box. I opened it. Inside was a ring. It looked almost like a wedding band. It was actually two bands of gold twined together ingeniously, with a small Alaskan diamond in a matching setting.
"Read the inscription."
Engraved on the inside was 'Carol and Dave 1965 Hearts Entwined Forever' The symbolism of the two bands twined together became obvious to me.
I didn't know what to say. Tears welled up in my eyes. I think I probably was blubbering. I pulled her so tight to me she complained she couldn't breathe. I slipped it on my left ring finger. It was too big, but it fit my middle finger, so I wore it there.
"Thank you isn't good enough, My Love, but thank you will have to do. I love you, I love you, I love you!"
I planted one of those mind-numbing kisses on her and she positively melted in my lap. I felt a heat where her bum was resting against her 'friend'. Later, when she got up, there was a wet spot on my pants that I didn't make... After we broke off the kiss she leaned in close to my ear.
"Your birthday isn't really until tomorrow. That's just a token of my love. You get your real present tomorrow."
I couldn't imagine what else she might get me for my birthday that would be better than that ring, and the sentiment it expressed. I didn't know how she got it. We hadn't left the cottage since we'd been there, except to take her dad to the train. The mystery was solved later that fall when I got her a matching one for her Christmas. I had an almost identical inscription engraved on it. The jeweler commented that he'd only ever sold one like it, it was so unusual. He'd sold it to a young lady earlier in the summer. She had it before we left home! I kept that ring for several years. It was my most prized possession. I wore it all the time. When I was working for Northern, they wouldn't let us wear jewelry when we worked on the power side. I took it off and put it in my locker. Some son of a bitch broke into a number of lockers that day. Mine was one of them. When I couldn't find it in my locker, I was sure Carol's ring was among the stolen items.
We danced a bit more, but it started to get quite late. We said good night to the aunts and the grandparents. After they left, the girls cleaned up the party mess and Bob and I took down the decorations. We said our goodnights and everyone went to bed.
Carol and I played our usual game at the bathroom, but her mother wasn't there to yell at us. Imagine our surprise when Riekie yelled and told us to get to bed — our own beds -- right at the appropriate time! Later that night, she skipped our usual door-between-us mutual jerk off. She hadn't been down to join me the last few nights. I think it was her monthly or something. All was otherwise well in my world, and I slept soundly.
The next morning, the aunts and grandparents had already left by the time we got up. Mind you, we did sleep in a bit because we didn't have those early-rising boys to wake us up.
Riekie and Carol made a wonderful breakfast. After we cleaned up, we went for a swim, and just lazed around the house. Breakfast had been more of a brunch, so we didn't bother with a mid-day meal.
Early in the afternoon, Riekie came out with a newspaper. She said she was getting bored and wanted to go to a movie or something. She said she'd found a triple feature at a local drive-in. Carol said she didn't feel like any movies. Bob wasn't all that keen either, until Riekie showed him the playbill in the paper. One of the movies playing was a science fiction flick we'd both wanted to see. The other two were 'Teenage Something or Other' horror flicks. Bob decided he'd go. I would have liked to have seen the science fiction one, but if Carol wasn't going, I felt my place was with her, so I begged off. We decided on an early supper so Bob and Riekie could leave in good time. The drive-in, although 'local' was still an hour's drive away. With three features, and at least two hours of driving round trip, they'd be gone until 3 or 4 in the morning.
The girls busied themselves in the kitchen and soon the air was filled with delightful aromas. While they were getting supper ready, Bob and I went for a swim. We took the soap with us and got cleaned up. Neither one of us much liked the old tub in the bathroom.
The meal was a roaring success. Those girls outdid themselves on the food, which was simply marvelous. Tante Jo had left the rest of last night's wine. We all had a glass, except for Riekie, who being a newly licensed driver, and under age, didn't want to take any chances.
After that scrumptious meal, we all relaxed a little bit. Soon Bob and Riekie changed into warmer clothes, thinking it might be cool at the drive-in, and got ready to leave. Carol and I did the supper cleanup. They were changed and ready to go about the same time we finished washing up.
Riekie gave us one last chance. "You're sure you don't want to come with us?"
Carol stretched and stifled a yawn. "Naw, I'm not into those kinda movies, and I don't think I could stay awake long enough to get my money's worth."
"OK. Suit yourself. Have fun, but be good. Don't do anything I wouldn't do." Riekie had an evil twinkle in her eye that I almost missed.
"Riekie are we going or are you just gonna stand there gabbing!" Bob was getting impatient. Once he decided to do something, he wanted to get on with it.
"OK! Hold your horses. I'm coming!"
Then they left. Carol and I held each other as we waved them good bye from the step.
"I'm for a bath. You and Bob already had yours. I feel all greasy after working in the kitchen. Come scrub my back when I call you."
"Delighted to serve, M'lady!"
Carol skipped into the bathroom and ran herself a tub. While it was filling, she ran up and got her robe. When she came down, she said. "I'll call you when I'm ready." Then she disappeared into the bathroom.
I heard splashing sounds and a delighted "A-a-a-h-h-h-!" About fifteen minutes later "David! Oh, David!"
I could hardly contain myself and hurried to do M'lady's bidding. Carol had that old tub just heaped with bubbles. All you could see was her head. One slim arm held out the wash cloth to me. As I soaped up the cloth, she leaned forward. I reached into that sea of bubbles and gave her back a good scrubbing. Once I had her scrubbed, I eased up, and just started to rub her back.
"Mmmmmmm. Feels nice."
I continued to rub her back, and started to work my hand around to her breasts. She pushed my hand back to her back.
"Not now, I just wanna soak."
Thinking she was still on her period (many women get very sensitive nipples then), I complied, and rubbed her back some more, until...
"That's enough for now, Lover. Let me soak for a little while."
I left her in the tub, and sat down with my book. I'd been working on the latest Isaac Asimov since I picked it up the night we took Bob Sr. to the train. Between our fun times and studying for our 365, I hadn't had much time to read, unusual for me. I normally had my head stuck in a book every free minute of the day.
Carol came out of the bathroom about twenty minutes later, wearing her robe, and toweling her hair. She gave me a mysterious smile as she glided past, heading upstairs. I figured she was going to finish her hair in her room, dress, and come back down. It was still daylight (hell, it wasn't much past normal supper time), and there was lots of the evening left to do things, like our nightly walk.
About ten minutes later. "David! Can you come up here? I need you for something."
"OK, be right up."
What could she need help with? I was just getting into my book. I finished the page I was reading, marked my spot, and headed upstairs to see what she wanted.
I didn't see her and called out. "Where are you?"
"In my room, Silly."
I pushed open the door. She was in bed. She'd done something to her hair to make it softer adding radiance to it, almost a glow. There was a banner on the headboard that read 'Happy Birthday David", with hearts on it. It looked more like a valentine. Around her neck was a big blue ribbon, with a matching bow at her throat and a card attached.
She threw back the covers beside her and held out her arms to me.
"Come get your birthday present, Big Boy." The way she said it was sexy as Hell, with a little Mae West corniness thrown in.
I knee jerked over to the bed and knelt on it. I heard a soft crinkly sound. I bent over to kiss her. Carol put her hands up to my shoulders and stopped me.
"Read your card."
I read: 'Happy Birthday David, My One True Love. The Time Is Right.'
I nearly fainted. She giggled. Then she stared into my eyes, and held my gaze. Her fingers started undoing the buttons on my shirt. I may have been a little dense, but not completely -- I was beginning to get the message. Her eyes held an open invitation. Carol finished with my buttons and reached for my belt. She got it undone, unzipped me, and popped the button. I hadn't worn jockeys since that day on the couch. She started pushing my shorts off. I finally got the full hint and turned and sat on the edge of the bed to remove my shoes and finish with my shorts. Her hands pulled my shirt off my shoulders then she helped me take it the rest of the way off.
I turned and slid under the covers with her. I slid over next to her, felt the incredible warmth and smoothness of her skin. I heard that crinkly sound again and gave her a quizzical look. Carol giggled again.
"Can't make the same mistake twice. Remember the couch? We put one of the boy's mattress covers on."
"We?"
"Yeah."
She snuggled up close as I slipped my arm around her warm, bare shoulders.
Another one of those damn lights went on. Riekie's evil eye! She was in on this! The movie thing was just to let us get alone. I wondered if Bob knew about this. Later, I learned the WHOLE family except Bob Sr., and maybe Dolly, were in on it. The aunts and the grandparents left to give us our privacy. Bob and Riekie had no place to go, so they went to an all-night movie, although Bob didn't know until well into the movies. He got bored with the second feature, and wanted to go home. Riekie told him they couldn't because they might interrupt something wonderful. He pouted, but then apparently a light went on for him, and he just grinned. Opa was in shit with the women because of his toast. They thought he'd give the whole thing away.
I never learned if Dolly knew for sure. If she didn't, she at least suspected, although when I learned all this, I became suspicious of her acquiescing so easily to a weekend in Toronto with the boys. Bob Sr. NEVER knew. He was never very popular with Dolly's family. As far as Dolly's family was concerned, this WAS our wedding night. They never forgave Bob Sr. for what happened later, and it was whispered that that was the main cause of his marital split with Dolly. But I digress, that's for later.
"I'll be damned..."
Carol turned to face me, head cradled in the crook of my arm, fingers playing idly in my chest hair. Newly 16, I didn't have much, but I had some. She lifted her face for a kiss and our lips touched in that age-old tenderness.
When we separated, she asked. "Aren't you going to take the ribbon off your present?"
I flipped her onto her back, and attacked her mouth. My hand found the end of the ribbon and slowly pulled. As the ribbon came away, she broke the mind warping kiss.
"There, now it's ALL yours... just be gentle with me."
I would be so-o-oo-o gentle. "I wouldn't have it any other way, but I do have half a mind to tickle you just to hear you scream."
"Do me good, and I'll scream for you anyway."
"Temptress!"
"Yeah? So? And your point is?"
Knowing I wasn't going to win this, I did the only thing possible. I sealed her mouth with another kiss.