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Country Christmas Visit

By

Lazlo Zalezac

Copyright (C) Lazlo Zalezac, 2003

It is another hour to the farm where Alex had grown up and he is

stuck driving. The fact that he is cold, the kids are constantly

complaining, and his wife is just generally irritable had made being

in the car a miserable experience. As Lewis reaches over to turn up

the heat, Alex swats his hand away from the control saying, "I'm

burning up in here."

He doesn't remember whose idea it was for them to spend the

Christmas Holidays at the farm, but now he regrets the decision to

come here. It isn't that he minds his in-laws, it was just that his

family has turned into a model dysfunctional atomic family. He is

in the midst of a mid-life crisis, his wife is going through

menopause, his teenage daughter is a sex-addict, and his teenage

son is drifting through life without direction.

His sixteen year old daughter, Susan, whines from the back seat,

"Whose dumb idea was this? Can't we just turn around and go

home?"

Lewis flinches, realizing that the time has come for another

argument. He answers, "We are not turning around. This is the last

Christmas that the whole family will have a chance to be together."

Alex's reply is much more direct. She snaps, "Stop complaining.

That boy of yours will be at home when we get back."

Jim, eighteen months older than his sister, says, "Ever since she

lost her cherry to that guy, he's all that she ever thinks about."

Lewis ignores the resulting argument by turning his attention to the

icy road ahead. He hates driving in winter weather, but this drive is

worse - it reminds him of how much he dislikes his life. This is not

what he thought his life would be like twenty years ago. He

wonders if anyone actually aspires to middle management, to be

married to a woman that no longer interests him, and to have two

kids who do not respect him.

He sighs as he looks at the sign to the University where he had

earned his Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering. He had so

many dreams the day he enrolled in school. He had dreamt that one

day he was going to design something that went to the moon, but

that never happened. His career as an electrical engineer lasted

about ten years before he was promoted to project manager.

Now he is a project manager over a bunch of software geeks that

build IT systems. He can barely call what he does project

management, it is more like catastrophe avoidance. He distrusts

software developers; he feels like they lied to him about their

progress on a daily basis. He hates software, it just doesn't have the

same feel as a circuit board that you could hold in your hand. If he

wouldn't have to stay at home, he would quit the job in a minute.

He is brought out of his introspection when his son asks, "Isn't this

the college that you went to, Dad?"

Looking in the mirror at his son, he answers, "Yes it is. I spent four

wonderful years there becoming an engineer."

He sees the wheels turning in his son's head and wonders how long

it will be before the kid suggests that he come to college here. He'll

use the old alma mater story, but that will be a farce. The real

reason is that it is a twelve hour drive from home, far enough away

to free him from his parents. He doesn't know how he feels about

his son coming here as opposed to anywhere else. His greatest fear

is that the kid will end up in college for eight years changing

majors every year before he finds one that he likes.

He sees his breath in the car as it fogs up the windshield. He

reaches over to the control for the defroster and adjusts the

temperature up. She might be having hot flashes, but he needs to

be able to see out the windshield. She shoots him an angry look,

but doesn't say anything. If she had, he was seriously considering

tying her to the roof where it is plenty cold.

The sign to the county fair grounds flashes by in the dark, lit

momentarily by the car's headlights. He smiles as he thinks back to

the first time he had come here. He had decided to take a Saturday

off from studying and took a drive through the countryside. A

banner proclaiming the County Fair caught his attention and he

decided to stop in to take a look around.

He had wandered through the fair grounds, amazed at the displays

in a county fair in the country. There were tables with home

canned goods such as jams, jellies, pickles, and vegetables, He had

never seen canned goods in mason jars before. There pens with a

variety of animals including cows, goats, chickens, and pigs. There

were also displays of handcrafted items such as quilts, lace, and

needlepoint.. There were a few rides for the kids and lots of

carnival booths with games of chance to win stuffed animals.

Entire families were there, but it wasn't like the parents were riding

herd over the kids. Kids, some of whom were eight or nine, were

running around without their parents within sight. It seemed like

everyone knew every kid and watched over them like they were

their own. He had no idea how many times he heard an adult

threaten some kid that they'd talk to their parents if they didn't

behave. The kids did not treat it like an idle threat.

His life had undergone a radical change when he stumbled into a

tent containing the small animal exhibits. There was a young lady,

seventeen years old, standing proudly by a cage with a rabbit in it.

A second place ribbon hung prominently on the rabbit cage. Her

parents were taking a picture of her posed next to the cage. He had

watched the scene unfold entranced, more than a little intimidated

by her beauty. She was gorgeous with light brown hair down to her

shoulders, a very nice bust, and a heart shaped ass. She caught him

watching her and, after the picture session was over, said, "You

look lost. Can I help you?"

Staring at her 4H tee-shirt, he had grabbed the first topic of

conversation that came to mind. "I keep seeing this thing about 4H

everywhere. What is it?"

Alex had laughed as if he had asked what was the color of the sky.

When she noticed the hurt look on his face, she realized that he

really didn't know and explained that it was an agricultural club.

Over the course of the next few hours, she had explained about the

4H Club and the kinds of projects that people did as members. Her

rabbit had been her project and she was thrilled with taking second

place. She showed him other projects that members were showing

at the fair.

After just a few minutes of conversation, it was clear that there was

a chemistry between the two of them. The whole afternoon had

passed in a haze. He was enthralled by this young lively woman

and her enthusiasm for everything around her. They had ridden all

of the rides; she had laughed and giggled on each one as though it

was the biggest and best ride she had ever taken. There was an

earthy naturalness to this girl that he found fascinating.

When it was time for him to return to school, he had asked if he

could see her the next weekend. She had told him that he had to

ask her parents for permission. Shocked at the prospect of having

to deal with her parents, he followed her. Abe, her father, hadn't

liked him, but admitted that he could visit her on the farm on

Saturdays. Lewis could hardly believe that he had to visit her at her

home rather than take her out. In his old neighborhood, parents

didn't have any say about who their children dated or where they

went.

It seems as if it were just yesterday that he had made all of those

trips to the farm. Even today, he drives the route automatically,

makes each turn without conscious thought. It isn't long before

they pull up the drive and park in front of the house. Everyone

slowly steps out of the SUV and stretches their legs. They had

been in the car for too long of a time.

Amidst groans from people with tight muscles, he reminds

everyone to be quiet. "Listen up. Grandpa is in bed already, so be

quiet. He gets a little testy when you wake him early. He's got to

be up in four and a half hours to milk the cows."

Jane, Alex's mother, opens the door and waves everyone into the

house. She stands there in her bathrobe unwilling to leave the

warmth of house. She is too smart to freeze her feet in the snow.

As Jim heads towards the house, Lewis grabs him by the arm and

says, "You have to help me carry in the luggage, son."

As if he is angered by the personal contact, Jim pulls his arm out of

his father's grasp, but does as he was asked. He complains bitterly

about all of the luggage his mother and sister brought with them

for just five days on the farm. Of course, he puts on his best face

when he reaches his grandmother.

They all pile into the living room, ushered there by Jane. She looks

at everyone and showing her pleasure with a huge smile says,

"Don't you kids look great. Jim, you're quite a handsome young

man. And, Susan, I bet you have to beat the boys away with a

stick. You are just lovely."

The kids, with full smiles, hug their grandmother. Jane looks at

Lewis saying, "Still the smart young man you always were. I bet

you keep them on their toes where you work."

He goes over to her and hugs her tightly. She looks the same as she

did when he was dating Alex. There are a few more laugh-lines on

her face, but she looks a lot younger than her age. With a smile, he

says, "It's always good to see you, Jane. You look great."

Laughing, she makes a shooing motion with her hand as though to

chase away the complement. She'd never admit it, but she is quite

proud of her figure. She works hard around the farm to keep in

shape and is pleased that it shows. She says, "Flattery will get you

everywhere."

Alex shuffles her feet nervously, suddenly ill at ease, and says, "Hi

mom."

Jane goes over to her daughter and holds her at arms length. She

frowns as she looks over her daughter. Alex had gained thirty-five

pounds and is dressed in sweat pants, sweat shirt, and sneakers.

She isn't wearing any makeup and her hair looks like a mop. The

only adjective that comes to Jane's mind for her daughter is dowdy.

Finally, she says, "You look like hell, girl. How do you expect to

keep that handsome husband of yours coming home every night

looking like that? What are you wearing? It looks like you've been

buying clothes at the Salvation Army."

Alex immediately bristles and nearly explodes in anger. Rather

than risk the prospect of another miserable night, Lewis puts an

arm around his wife in a comforting fashion. He says, "I think you

look just fine dear."

Looking at her grandmother, Susan explains, "Grandma, Mom hit

menopause this year. She's been acting a little ... Well, don't make

her upset or none of us will be happy."

Jane examines Lewis with a critical eye. She does not believe a

word he said. Susan's comment explains a lot about everyone's

glances in Alex's direction when ever they say anything. Deciding

not to make an issue out of things, Jane suggests, "why don't all of

you follow me and I'll show you to your bedrooms."

Lewis climbs out of bed. It is five in the morning, his normal time

to wake up. Out here it is considered as sleeping in late. His wife is

still asleep and will sleep for another hour or two. He puts on a

bathrobe rather than risk waking her by dressing and quietly leaves

the room. He knows Jane will be in the kitchen, singing to herself

as she washes the breakfast dishes. This gives him a nice chance to

talk to her alone.

Jane greets him before he even enters the kitchen. "Come in,

Lewis. The coffee is hot and I've got some cinnamon buns here for

breakfast."

Entering the kitchen smiling, he looks around at Jane's domain. It

is a warm and friendly room, large as country kitchens usually are.

The kitchen table takes up half the room and is where the family

eats all of their meals except the Sunday Dinner. Actually, all

social life in the house centers around it. He answered, "Sounds

great to me."

She pours a cup of coffee for him. The aroma teases his nose. He

picks up the cup and takes a little sip, appreciating the temperature

and strength of the coffee. He says, "You still make the best cup of

coffee in the world. Starbucks should be paying you for your

coffee secrets."

She sets a plate with a hot cinnamon bun in front of him. Jane

smiles at the complement and sits down across the table from him.

She hesitates for a moment and then asks, "What happened to

her?"

Lewis knows what she means and doesn't really know how to

answer the question. Shrugging, he says, "About ten years ago she

stopped caring about herself. She joined the frumpy grumpy

housewives club and started acting like all of the neighborhood

women. She gained weight and started dressing like that. Her

whole attitude changed. I don't know why."

As she shakes her head in dismay, Jane says, "You've stayed with

her for ten years; with her looking like that. You must really love

her."

He shrugs in a very noncommittal fashion, not quite sure if he does

love her anymore. The fact is, he looks for every opportunity to

stay out of the house. He goes golfing every Saturday because that

is a socially acceptable way to spend time away from her. He

doesn't even like the game. On Sundays, the mornings are spent in

church and the afternoons are spent doing yard work. They still

have sex every week, usually Friday nights when the kids are out

on their dates. It is pretty much vanilla sex, almost like it is a duty

on her part.

Jane notices the far-away look in his eyes. She says, "Let me talk

to her for a bit."

The sounds of farm work filter into the kitchen. The men are

bringing another group of cows over to get milked. For Lewis, it is

a comforting sound; one of those noises in the country that lets you

know that today is just another day like all the rest. Looking at

Jane, he says, "Well, she'll be awake in about an hour or two. The

kids probably won't wake up until ten."

Laughing, Jane says, "I'm sure you won't believe this, but Jim was

up bright and early this morning. He went out with Abe to help

with the milking."

Lewis stares at her in disbelief that his son is up early and working;

the world must have stopped turning sometime during the night.

He starts to rise as he says, "I'm going to have to get dressed and

check it out for myself."

She puts a hand on his and says, "I'd wait until Alex wakes up. I

think Jim wanted to have a little man to man talk with his

grandfather."

It is strange, but Jim and Abe seem to have a spiritual connection

that defies all logic. Jim always remembers the last visit here with

fond memories, even though it was six years ago and he was just

twelve at the time. He had talked them into sending him here for a

month in the summer. He came back, tanned and much more

muscularly developed. Jim has tried every summer after that to

return here. Lewis says, "Jim has always liked it out here. I think

he wants to go to school at my old alma mater. The problem is that

he doesn't know what he wants to do. It just seems to me that he's

adrift."

Jane replies, "It sure must be hard raising kids in the city."

"It isn't really the city. We live in a suburb." Even as he defends

the place where they live, Lewis cringes inside. He hates it with a

passion. The house is too big, but all the rooms are too small. It

costs a fortune, but Alex insists they live there because the schools

are supposed to be good. The mortgage on the house isn't too bad,

but Alex thinks they have to look just as rich as everyone else in

the neighborhood. As a result, she drives an expensive SUV and he

drives a BMW. He had wanted a cheaper car, but she wouldn't hear

of it.

Jane feels that life in the country is less ambiguous than living

anywhere else. One knows full well the cost of staying alive; you

can't miss it when a chicken disappears from the coup and then

reappears as the main course for dinner. In the city, life seems so

separate from reality - characterized by conflicts over nothing.

Suburbs are even more unreal to her. They are divorced from the

violence of the cities and the harshness of nature. Jane wonders

how kids manage to grow up balanced in that environment.

Alex stumbles into the kitchen. This allows Lewis to dress and

head over to the barn. Outside, the odor of manure hangs heavily in

the cold morning air. The sun has been up for half an hour and now

casts a golden glow across the field. Lewis pauses to examine the

barn in the early morning light. It looks like it always had. It

should since every other year Abe puts a fresh coat of red paint on

it and replaces any boards that are starting to show signs of wear.

Lewis steps inside the barn. He spots Jim hooking a cow to a

milking machine. His movements are confident, as though he has

been doing it every day. Abe watches Jim work, smiling and

nodding his head in approval. He is pleased at how quickly and

thoroughly Jim swabs the teat with cleaning solution before putting

on the milking cluster. Lewis watches the scene in amazement.

Looking up at the hayloft, memories come flashing back. For the

first two years that he had dated Alex, Abe wouldn't let him take

Alex away from the house unless everyone went. They would

sneak up there and make out for hours. He remembers the thrill

that shot through his whole body when he first felt her glorious C-

cup breasts, even though it was through her clothes. She had

seemed to enjoy his explorations just as much as he. The next

weekend, she actually allowed him to run his hand under her shirt.

The only thing between him and the treasures on her chest was the

plain white bra. He loved and hated that bra.

It was about a month after that when the shirt and bra came off.

Her breasts were magnificent and he couldn't get over how lucky

he was to finally see and touch them. He had spent an hour kissing

her bare breasts. She was flushed with excitement by the time the

noise in the barn warned them that they weren't alone. His

embarrassment at his body's reaction to their activities was only a

little more obvious than the bulge in his corduroy pants. They had

to wait for almost twenty minutes before leaving the hay loft

because his erection hurt so much that he couldn't walk.

The weekend after that, she took pity on him and gave him a

handjob to relieve the pressure. He had been shocked when she had

brought out a handkerchief to clean up the mess afterwards. When

he had asked her if she wasn't afraid that her mother would find it,

he had been even more shocked to find out that her mother had

suggested using the hanky for that purpose. It was at that moment

that he understood how the folks out here understood things much

better than in the blue collar neighborhood where he had been

raised.

Abe shakes him out of his reverie when he says, "Jim is a fine

young man. He's a good hard worker."

Smiling at Abe, Lewis asks, "Unlike his father?"

Abe laughs good-naturedly and shakes his head. He answers, "His

father was a little more interested in chasing my daughter. They

used to disappear up in that hayloft for hours at time and when he

wasn't up there, he was making moon eyes at her. Couldn't get a

lick of work out of him to save my life. Of course, about the time

that young bull finds himself a heifer, I doubt that I'll see him in

here milking cows. It will be a different kind of teat he'll want his

hands on."

Laughing gently, Lewis can hardly believe Abe at times. It had

taken him a long time to convince Abe that he wasn't out here just

looking for a country girl in which to dip his wick and then leave

her behind. As rough as their initial start had been, they had

warmed up to each other by the time he married Alex. He answers,

"I've never been able to get any work out of him. I'm amazed you

can."

Abe shakes his head amazed at how little the father understands

the son. He feels that if the two of them had worked together while

the boy was growing up, things would be a lot different today.

Now, they are strangers to each other. He says, "He enjoys this. It

satisfies some need within the boy."

As Lewis returns to the house from the barn, Alex tells him that

she wants to get something from the pharmacy. He agrees to drive

her there. It is a very subdued Alex that rides with him into town.

He has no idea what she has discussed with her mother. Their talk

led to such a major change in her behavior that he doesn't know

what to think about it. As he parks the SUV in front of the

pharmacy more memories return.

She had her eighteenth birthday the previous week and he had

bought her a very nice pendant in the shape of a heart. As a poor

college student, money was very tight and it had seriously drained

his financial resources. She had recognized the sacrifices the gift

had required him to make. When he left, she had whispered in his

ear that he should buy some condoms for his next visit. His cock

got hard at the thought of finally getting to have sex with her.

Driving home, he was so distracted that he had to pull off the road

and jack-off.

On the next trip to the farm, he had stopped at this very same

pharmacy to buy the condoms. He didn't know that doing such

things in a small town was not a good idea. By the time he had

gotten out to the farm, half the town knew he had stopped there

and half of them knew exactly what he had bought. Alex had met

him in the drive and angrily told him to go home. He had sat in his

Volkswagen confused by the change in her attitude, totally

unaware of what he had done wrong. Jane had come out after Alex

had run into the house crying and told him that he needed to learn a

little discretion. Seeing the confusion on his face, she had

explained about how one could keep very few secrets in a town of

this size.

He had left the farm that day very unhappy and didn't return the

next weekend. When he did return, things were a little strained in

the house on his part. The strange thing was that no one seemed

angry with him. He had the box of rubbers in his car, but didn't

mention them. It was almost a month later before the topic of

condoms came up again.

Their first time together had been amazing. She was phenomenally

beautiful, her naked body was almost enough to make him come.

When he fumbled trying to enter her, she had helped him insert his

cock into her. She really enjoyed sex and moved with him, her hips

rising to meet his thrusts. The whole time she had talked to him,

telling him how great it was and how full she felt. By the time he

came, he was convinced that he was the best lover in the world.

Every time after that, the sex was better than the time before. She

had her first orgasm with him the third time they were together. It

surprised both of them. He was surprised that she hadn't had one in

any of the previous times. She was surprised because it was her

first orgasm outside of masturbation.

By the fifth time they made love, he was hooked on her like a drug

addict on heroin. He asked her to marry him, she accepted, and

they set the date for as soon as he graduated. He never made the

mistake of buying condoms in town after that, even when it was

widely known they were engaged to be married.

The car door slamming interrupts his memories. He looks over at

Alex and asks, "Did you get everything you wanted?"

"Yes, thank you." She sits there looking out the window, lost in

thoughts of her own. She had filled the prescription for the

hormones that would minimize the effects of menopause. The

drive home is quiet and the rest of the day is spent apart.

On Christmas Eve, the entire family is gathered at the farm house.

Alex's brother, Harold, and his wife, Cindy, have joined them from

their farm down the road. Their three kids, George, Sam, and Kate,

reunite with their cousins in the kitchen, talking about music and

the current fads of the day.

Lewis realizes that he hasn't heard any arguments about being here

from Susan the entire visit. She has spent most of her time in the

kitchen talking with her grandmother. He didn't dare intrude on

their talks, but he is curious what they talk about. He's sure that

they aren't discussing Susan's need to sleep with her boyfriend on a

daily basis. He still couldn't believe that Susan had helped cook all

of the meals.

The family members exchange news about what is going on in

their lives. He steps into the dining room in time to overhear Cindy

and Alex talking. The conversation isn't very nice; Cindy thinks

Alex looks horrible and is making catty comments to that effect.

Lewis is about to interrupt, but is warned off by Jane. She whispers

in his ear, "Someone's been filling her head with nonsense. It's

time she wakes up and looks at what she has before she losses it.

Cindy's doing her part."

Lewis returns to the living room and takes a seat. Abe, Harold, and

Jim are discussing running a dairy farm. Jim asks very probing

questions about the business aspects of farming. Abe and Harold

approach farming like a business, monitoring every aspect of milk

production to optimize profit by improving productivity and

lowering costs. Much to his surprise, Lewis finds the discussion

very interesting. In a way, he is impressed by Jim's interest in the

subject.

The grandfather clock strikes nine o'clock as the entire family

gathers around the Christmas tree. Susan and her cousin Kate are

elected to hand out the gifts that are piled under the tree. Susan

hands Lewis the gifts from his wife. He pauses to watch his wife

open the bathrobe, perfume, and earrings that he had bought for

her. She tries to look surprised, but she has gotten the same gifts

every Christmas for the past six years. He opens his gifts, finding

the annual sweater and the usual assortment golf paraphernalia. He

tries to hide his disappointment, but fails.

He remembers past Christmases and the gifts they used to

exchange. It was about the third Christmas while they were dating,

that he had actually bought her the lovers' gift - lingerie. It had

been a lacy bra and panty set, a far different kind of underwear

than she normally wore. She had opened it in private and squealed

with pleasure. Of course, she had modeled them for him

immediately.

The lingerie had the desired effect on both of them. She felt like a

wanton Parisian woman and he liked the way they looked on her.

First chance they had, they had driven to a dead-end road and had

sex in the back seat of his Volkswagen. It had been cramped and

cold, but fun and well worth the effort. At the time, he had cursed

the fact that there was snow on the ground, even though it meant a

White Christmas. He would have much preferred a warm day

where they could have spread a blanket on the ground. Looking

back, trying to make love in the back of a VW was part of the

charm of memory.

Every year after that, he had bought her lingerie for Christmas.

Some outfits were simple and others were very risqué. Over the

years he had gotten her teddies, garter belts, corsets, and even

leather outfits. They had many great sessions in which she wore

the outfits along with wigs. It had been fun and led to hours of

lovemaking, often accompanied with laughter.

She had discovered mail order sex toys the same year they were

married. The first year, it had been a simple vibrator. It had

surprised and even hurt him that she would want a vibrator, but the

orgasms she had with that little present made it all worth while.

After that, she had given him a toy every year to use on her in bed.

He looked forward to that present more than anything else she

gave him.

Then seven years ago, she didn't give him a toy for Christmas. She

stopped wearing the lingerie that he bought, saying only that she

looked ridiculous in them. He had been crushed and stopped

buying sexy things for her. He adopted the standard set of presents

for her, a robe, a perfume, and a bauble. He hated himself for the

lousy gifts, but there wasn't anything else he could get that she

would even wear or use. He missed the laughter, the wrestling, the

tickles wars, and the sex games they used to play.

Susan deposits a present from his son on his lap. This breaks his

train of thought. He looks up noticing Jane watching at him with a

funny expression on her face. He recovers with a minor shrug of

his shoulders and a quick smile. He unwraps the present. He is not

surprised to find another item with a golf theme. He makes the

appropriate appreciative noises. He decides at that moment that he

really hates golf.

Abe had given half the men off in the morning and the other half

off in the afternoon for Christmas. The cows produce milk

regardless of the holiday and now they require milking. The day

passes with everyone in the family helping out with the cows. Even

Susan helps with the work. Lewis is surprised that the day it isn't

that bad. Christmas music fills the barn, as Abe contends that

music helps the cows produce more milk.

Lewis pauses to watch Alex work, seeing that it hasn't taken her

long to get back in the swing of working on a farm. She had done

her fair share of milking when she was growing up. Susan and Jim

work together to feed the cows, both of them lift the bales of hay

into the feeders. Lewis spends most of his time shoveling manure,

a nice low skill job that he can handle. There are times when he

clears the floor of manure only to have the cow drop another load

right when he turns away.

This kind of work is physically tiring, but it is a pleasure to look at

the results when you are done. There is a sense of fulfillment when

you step back from the work and look at enough milk to feed a lot

of families. Abe doesn't believe in driving his cows to the highest

production values possible. That tends to cause major problems

that cost even more money to fix than the extra milk is worth. For

now, the cows are healthy, the people are tired, and there is a lot of

milk to be picked up the next day. Everyone goes to bed early that

night.

The morning they are to leave, he wakes because of an odd

sensation around his cock; one that he hadn't felt in years. Opening

his eyes and looking down he finds Alex kneeling on the bed as

she gives him a handjob. She smiles up at him and whispers,

"Don't make a noise."

He lay there as she strokes him. She is doing it the same way that

she used to do it when they were up in the hayloft. The intensity

with which she watches his cock as her hand strokes up and down

is reminiscent of the old days. She wears that same crooked grin

that he had come to love. She watches his come spray forth with

the same innocent fascination of the early times.

After the last dribble is squeezed out, she whips out an old

handkerchief to wipe up the mess. He stares at the hanky as he

recognizes that it is the one she used to use on him. Seeing the look

on his face, she says, "I found it when I was packing up Susan's

stuff. I couldn't resist using it one last time."

The comment wounds him more deeply than he could believe.

Staring at Alex, he asks in a hurt tone of voice, "Why would you

want to resist and why does it have to be the last time?"

Her mouth opens as she stares at him in surprise at the question.

More surprising to her is that she doesn't have an answer.

Uncertain, she answers, "I don't know."

"Why did you decide to become a member of the frumpy grumpy

housewives club?" He doesn't mean to ask the question, but it

bursts out of him before he has a chance to choke it back. Now, it

is too late to take it back. He knows how much she hates it when

he refers to the neighborhood women that way.

She wants to get angry, but it just isn't in her anymore. The words

of her mother are ringing in her ears - what has she been doing to

keep him coming home at night? That is the nice way of putting it;

her father had been much harsher. He had stated that if she were

one of his heifers, that he would have sold it for dog food years

ago. She had fumed, but he had just shrugged and walked away.

Her sister-in-law had asked her how it was that she managed to

stay married. Later, she had asked how Alex expected to attract a

man when Lewis left her. She hadn't used the word, if, she had

used the word, when. That hurt.

In the suburbs, the other members of the frumpy grumpy

housewives club would claim those comments are sexist and

demeaning to women. Out here in the country, the people are a

little closer to earth and see the relationship between men and

women differently. A husband and wife are a team, not a pair in

competition with each other. A successful farm requires everyone

to work together. Neighbors don't try to outdo each other, they

support each other in trying times and celebrate the good times

together.

She knows that Lewis is right, she had joined the frumpy grumpy

housewives club. She tries to trace the roots of her change, but she

can't identify when it happened. It seems like there were so many

little occasions in which she had met hostility amongst the

neighborhood women for her country girl attitudes, that she had

joined in rather than fight. She finally answers, "I guess they just

wore me down."

Sometimes a person will postpone making a decision and then

wake up one day to find that the decision has been made for them.

It had been happening all too often for Lewis over the past few

years. He comes to a decision, now is time for him to start

directing his life again. "I want you to quit the frumpy grumpy

housewives club. If I had wanted to marry one of those selfish

stuck up bitches, I would have. I married a country girl that

enjoyed life and loving. I want her back."

Jane is preparing a huge feast for a late breakfast with the help of

Susan. The family gathers around the table chatting comfortably

while waiting for the. The kids, relaxed in the presence of their

grandparents, tell about their hopes and dreams for the future.

Lewis listens with an open mind for a change and decides that his

kids are okay after all. All conversation stops as Lewis states, "Jim,

you seem to like this part of the world. Why don't you apply for

college here?"

Jim stares at his father with an open mouth as the ability to speak

leaves him. Abe knows that is exactly what Jim wants to do. He

says, "I'm sure that we can work out some sort of deal that will be

satisfactory for Jim and will save you some money. He could live

here and commute to the school."

Alex starts to reply, but Lewis interrupts by saying, "Well, first Jim

has to decide if that is what he wants to do. If he wants to come to

school here, then I think the matter of living arrangements is his

choice. If he wants to live here, then you and Jim will have to work

out the details between the two of you. He's coming into his own

and it's time for him to make decisions for himself."

Abe smiles at the emphasis that Lewis makes on Jim being able to

choose. He knows it frees Jim to consider other options and select

the one that is the best for him. He fully expects the boy to come

live on the farm and go to school here. He figures that in a little

more than four years, Jim will take over Harold's farm and Harold

will take over his. He is happy at the prospect that the farms will

stay in the family. He can retire soon.

It is about time for them to start driving home. The couple step out

of the house to take a last walk around the place. In the barn, Lewis

smiles at Alex and points up to the hayloft. Alex smiles and leads

the way. Once there, she strips and spreads out the clothes for

them to lay on. It is just like in the old days. He strips and joins her

on the hay. They start making out, he takes his time kissing her

breasts, treating them like lost treasures regained. The odor of the

barn works some magic spell upon them. Her juices flow like they

haven't in years. Before he knows it, he is atop her, thrusting into

her with the kind of abandon that had marked their early years.

He stops when noises rise from the barn below. Jim, at the door of

the barn, is talking to his grandfather outside. Jim asks, "Grandpa,

where's Mom and Dad? We're supposed to be leaving now."

Abe answers, "They're probably up in the hayloft, son. I wouldn't

go up there if I were you. I don't think you'd like what you see and

I'm sure they wouldn't appreciate it."

A long moment of silence is interrupted when Jim says, "Oh

gross!"

When the barn door closes, Alex and Lewis start laughing as their

imaginations place an expression on their son's face. He returns to

making love to his wife. Laughter, rather than grunts and groans,

accompanies their orgasms for the first time in a long time. Lewis

lying next to Alex chuckles as he says, "Sometimes life is good."

Alex giggles as she says, "I would have loved to have seen the

look on his face."