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Post by BorderWolf on Jul 17, 2008 12:03:11 GMT -5
Chapter 75
Several days later Jack awoke early. After getting dressed and starting the coffee maker, he turned on the television.
“Farmer Fran, Farmer Fran!”
“Hello Timmy, I have something for you.”
“What is it?”
“Here.”
Timmy opened the wrapped box.
“CHOCOLATE?!? Thank you Farmer Fran! But why are you giving me this?”
“Today is Winter Valentine’s Day. The day where girls give boys that they like chocolate.”
“Ooooh, well when do I give you chocolate?”
“You would do that on the Spring Valentine’s Day.”
“Ok, I’ll do that.”
Someone knocked on Jack’s front door. After turning off the television, Jack opened the door revealing Ann.
“Good morning Jack! Do you know what day it is?”
“The day where cute girls give nice boys chocolate?”
Ann giggled and blushed slightly, “Yeah.” From behind her back Ann brought a nicely wrapped box, “Here Jack.”
“Thank you Ann.” Unwrapping and opening the box, Jack saw a dozen chocolate cookies, “These smell great.”
“You’re welcome Jack. I made three dozen, so I could give you, Cliff and my dad a dozen each.”
“I hope that they said ‘Thank you’.”
“My dad did, I haven’t given Cliff his yet.”
“I hope he likes them.”
“He should. Well I need to head back, I heard that there is going to be a snowstorm sometime today.”
“There is??”
“Yes.”
“I guess that I better get ready for it.”
“Ok, take care.”
“You too.”
After Ann left, Jack went and fed Henny and got the chicken coop ready for the snowstorm. When he exited the chick coop he saw Elli at his front door.
“Hello Elli.”
Elli turned around, “So that’s where you were hiding.”
“Well I had to feed Henny and get the chicken coop ready for the snowstorm.”
Elli nodded her head, “Understandable, I just wanted to come by to give you this for Winter Valentine’s Day.” Elli held up the box she was holding.
Jack smiled, “Well let’s step inside so I can wash my hands.”
“Ok, I hope you like it.”
Upon opening the box, Jack saw that there was a small chocolate cake, “Thank you Elli.”
Elli blushed slightly, “You’re welcome Jack. I wanted to make you something nice, for all the kindness you have done for me.”
Jack carefully set the cake down, and walked over and hugged Elli, “Thank you for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome. I see that I’m not the only one to stop by.”
“Yes, Ann was here earlier.”
“I’m sure that Karen will be along soon.”
“I hope it will be before the snowstorm comes.”
“Yes, you’re right. I’m going to stay with my grandmother and brother to make sure they will be ok.”
“Good. Your grandmother is nice.”
Elli smiled, “Thanks Jack, she has said nice things about you. Oh, where is Hero?”
“He is with May and Barley. May wanted Hero to play with Hannah.”
“That’s nice of you, so I’m sure he will be alright. Anyway I need to go now.”
After Elli left, Jack checked to see how much food he had for the next few days. There was enough for six days. Looking out the window he saw the snow was starting to blow hard.
*I hope that Karen will just wait until the storm is over, she doesn’t have to give me the chocolate today.*
Jack turned on the television again, and turned to the weather channel.
“The storm should last………. So I hope……food and water….”
Jack turned off the television.
*It looks like the storm will interfere with the reception. At least I have that book I got for my birthday.*
There came a series of thumps on the front door. Jack dashed over and opened it. A snow covered figure stumbled in. Jack then shouldered the door closed, then turned to see who it was.
“H, h, h, h, hi J, J, J, J, Jack.”
A concerned look crossed Jack’s face, “Are you ok Karen?”
“I, I, I th, th think so.”
“Let me get a fire going in the fireplace, then you sit in front of it and get warmed up.”
“O, ok, but I can’t stay long.”
“You are going to stay here until the storm is over! I’m not going to let you freeze to death as you try to make it home.”
“The storm could last a day or two, are you sure you want me to stay?”
“Yes, besides we are adults.”
“What about the sleeping arrangements? I didn’t bring my pajamas, and it looks like you don’t have an extra bed.”
“I have an extra pair of pajamas you can use. While it will be cramped, we can sleep in my bed.”
A concerned look crossed Karen’s face, “Anna and Manna might spread a rumor that we ‘made out’.”
“Everyone else will believe you when you say we didn’t, especially Sasha and Jeff.”
Karen chuckled, “You’re right Jack they’ll believe me.”
Jack brought Karen a chair to sit in.
“I’ll get a blanket to wrap around you, and then a cup of hot chocolate.”
Karen giggled, “Jack, you are a very nice guy. As far as I’m concerned, any girl that tries to revoke your nice guy status will need to have her brain checked.”
Jack chuckled, “I thank you for the compliment.”
“You’re welcome Jack. Oh, the box on the table is my Winter Valentine’s Day gift. It might not look great.”
After Jack got the blanket and the cup of hot chocolate for Karen, he opened the box. It revealed a slightly lop-sided chocolate cake.
Jack chuckled, “Thank you Karen.”
“You’re welcome Jack, but it’s…”
“Karen, it is the thought that counts, so what if the cake is lop-sided.”
Karen smiled, “That’s true, but I had a little help from my mom.”
“So she helped you make something for a guy you like, who she feels is charming.”
Karen burst out laughing, “Well you are charming, sometimes too charming.”
Jack grinned, “I blame my mom for teaching me to be nice.”
“Why?”
Jack broadened his grin, “I wanted to be a bad boy, but noooooooo, she had to spoil it. ‘Be nice so you can get a nice girl to fall in love with you. Date her and then marry her, so you can make me a grandmother,’ she would say.”
Karen giggled, “Jack are you trying to make me spill this hot chocolate?”
“No.”
“Then stop with the jokes. Did your mom really say that?”
“Not in those words, but that was the general hint.”
Karen chuckled, “Well I think that most mothers give that hint, as well as fathers.”
Several hours later despite the storm, it was getting dark outside.
“Jack, let’s go ahead and change into the pajamas.”
“Ok, you want to go to bed early?”
“Yeah, might as well. It will make waiting for the storm to die out go quicker. I’ll change in the bathroom.”
“Ok.”
A mischievous grin crept on Karen’s face, “Now don’t you dare peek.”
“Let me guess, if I do peek the amount of clothes you have on will be the amount you wear to bed.”
“No, I’ll whack you on the head with your plunger.”
“I’ll be good.”
A few minutes later Jack and Karen climbed into the bed.
“I see what you meant by it will be cramped.”
Jack smiled, “There is just enough room for us to roll over in our sleep.”
“Well good night Jack, sweet dreams.”
“Good night Karen may you have sweet dreams as well.”
A few minuets later Jack and Karen were sound asleep.
Several hours later, the clock near Jack’s bed clicked from 11:59PM to 12:00AM then winked out because of the power going out.
Jack sat in the water while the little girl washed his hair.
“Why should I be doing this? You didn’t let any shampoo run into my eyes.”
“I just wanted to make it fair by letting you wash me.”
“What makes you think I want to even wash you?”
The little girl’s mother said, “Sweetie, I think he likes you.”
The little girl stuck her tongue out, “Bleech, boys are yucky.”
The two mothers looked at each other and chuckled.
The little girl’s mother said, “If you want to be a mommy someday, you’ll need to find a boy to be the daddy.”
“Bleech!”
The little girl finished getting the shampoo into lather and then filled a small bucket with water.
“You ready for me to wash the shampoo out?”
“Yes.”
The little girl rinsed the shampoo out of Jack’s hair. Then she picked up a washcloth and a bar of soap, “I don’t want to do this.”
Jack looked at the little girl, “Please? Was it really that bad that I washed you?”
The little girl blushed slightly, “No.”
As the little girl was washing Jack chest, he looked at her birthmark. He liked how it looked like the last quarter phase of the moon.
The little girl looked up as saw that Jack was looking at her chest. With a slightly annoyed look, but also a slight blush she said, “Please stop staring at my boobies.”
Jack looked into the little girl’s eyes, “I’m sorry, I just think your birthmark is pretty.”
The little girl blushed a little more, “Th, th, thank you.” A smile crept on her face and a slight twinkle flashed in her green eyes.
Jack awoke with a start.
*Is it really Karen that I made the promise to?*
Karen rolled over still half asleep, “Whazz the matter Jack?”
“I just had another dream.”
Karen opened here eyes, “About the girl you made the promise to?”
“Yes.”
“Was the birthmark shown more clearly?”
“Yes and one small feature that I may have overlooked in the other dreams.”
“What was the feature?”
“While the dreams have been in black and white, in this one her eyes were green.”
“Her eyes were green?”
“Yes. I don’t know if I’m mixing your eyes in if it was Elli’s birthmark that I saw.”
“What did the birthmark look like?”
“It looked like the last quarter phase of the moon.”
Karen gasped, then closed her eyes and whimpered, “No…….., no, no, no.”
“That’s Elli’s birthmark, isn’t it?”
Karen shook her head, “No, it’s mine. I just remembered everything, but you are going to be angry at me.”
“Why would I be angry?”
Karen rolled over to look at Jack in the dim light, “When you didn’t come and visit the following summer, on the last day I went to the Goddess Pond and wished that everyone would forget that we ever met.”
Jack calmly replied, “I see.”
Karen started to shake and whimpered again, “I won’t blame you for getting angry.”
Jack moved closer to Karen and laid a hand on her shoulder, “I forgive you for making me forget you.”
“What?”
Jack leaned over and kissed Karen on the check, “I forgive you.”
“But Jack, don’t you want to be angry at me?”
“If I did get angry at you, it would only damage our friendship for several days. I don’t want that to happen. Besides anger is a poison that can eat you up from the inside. It would make you into someone that no one would want to be around with.”
Karen shook her head, “I can’t see how you can take this so calmly.”
“Well, I’m a nice guy. Also what you did happened when you were seven years old.”
“Didn’t you at least ask to come and visit Joe?”
“Yes. I did want to come back, just to prove to you that I didn’t forget you.”
“So you remember everything now?”
“Yes.”
“But I feel bad that I made that wish.”
“If you hadn’t, your feelings for me might be different.”
“Maybe, but maybe they would be what they are now.”
Jack lightly squeezed Karen’s shoulder, “So stop feeling bad.”
“Ok. You said you wanted to find out who the girl was that you made the promise to, that you wanted to apologize to her for forgetting her. But instead it is the girl who is doing the apologizing.”
“Yes, that is right. What are you getting at?”
“Well, you said that if she forgives you, if she isn’t seriously dating someone, that maybe the two of you could start dating.”
“That’s right. Are you hinting that you would like to go from being my girl friend to being my girlfriend?”
Karen nodded her head, “Yes.”
Jack chuckled, “Ok, you can be my girlfriend.”
Karen giggled, “It’s funny that we deepen our friendship, while we are in a bed wearing only pajamas.”
Jack chuckled again, “Yes, funny but sweet, maybe sweeter because of this.” Jack leaned closer and kissed Karen on the lips.
Karen lightly pushed Jack back, “Jack, I don’t know about this.”
“Don’t worry, I wasn’t going to try to ‘make out’ with you, since you haven’t given me any indication you want to ‘make out’ with me. I just wanted us to have our ‘first kiss’ as girlfriend-boyfriend.”
Karen relaxed, “I know you wouldn’t force yourself on me. I’m just nervous, I’ve never done anything like this before.”
“I haven’t either, so we are in the same boat.”
Jack couldn’t see that Karen was blushing.
“What do you mean by I haven’t given any indication that I want to ‘make out’?”
“Snuggling close, kissing me on the lips more often, if I placed my hand on your butt or breast, you wouldn’t bat it away…”
“Or if you put a hand under my clothes to touch my boobs directly or even try to undress me?”
Jack blushed and gave a slight cough, “Ummm, yes.”
“Are you blushing?”
“Yes, what about you?”
“Yes. We shouldn’t be, because as you said, we are adults.”
“Then shall we snuggle?”
“Yes, but let’s do one thing first.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve read that some couples keep warm in the winter by sharing their body temperature. So…..maybe we could take these pajamas off.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?”
Karen nodded, “Sort of, I have sometimes wondered what it would be like to ‘make out’. I just know that if we do and I get pregnant, you wouldn’t run away.”
“You’re right. I’m not a creepy, crumby city boy who would flee after impregnating a cute, curvaceous country girl.”
Karen giggled, “Creepy, crumby city boy? Cute, curvaceous country girl?”
“Yes.”
“Well you definitely are not a creepy, crumby city boy. You are charming and caring.”
“Right, so I wouldn’t leave the cute curvaceous, cuddly country girl.”
Karen laughed, “Cuddly??”
“A caring person doesn’t mind hugging people they care about every now and then.”
Karen leaned over and kissed Jack on the lips, “You’re right. You were kind to Elli when she was sad about what happened to Cliff’s family. Yes Jack, she did tell me in private what she heard Cliff tell you. I’ll keep quiet about it. You were kind to Cliff for letting him know my uncle needed help with the grape harvest, as well as wanting to ask my uncle not to fire Cliff for missing a few days of work. You saved Ann when she fell asleep up at the hot spring. You cheered me up after Rick’s silly reaction to my wearing a bikini for the first time. You also helped me carry half of the crates of wine my uncle had made at the request of my father to celebrate my birth. So to me, you will always be a nice guy, and be allowed to be grumpy when you have bad days.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Oh yes, I almost forgot. You made that nice toast about me when my dad didn’t know what to say when we tried the wine.”
“Well you are beautiful.”
Karen chuckled, “Ann, Elli and I find you very handsome.”
Jack chuckled, “Would it break the mood, or cause you to get angry at me, if I say that Ann and Elli are also beautiful?”
Karen chuckled and shook her head while caressing Jack’s check with a hand, “No.”
“Then would you like some help removing your pajamas?”
Karen giggled, “On one condition.”
“What is the condition?”
“I help remove your pajamas.”
Jack chuckled, “That’s reasonable.”
“I love you Jack.”
“I love you Karen.”
Sitting up they helped each other remove their pajamas.
“Jack, could we leave the lights off while we make out? I’m still a tiny bit nervous.”
Jack leaned over and kissed Karen on the check, “Even if you would want them on, as I was dropping the pajamas on the floor, I noticed that the power has gone out.”
“How do you know that the power is out?”
“My clock by my bed isn’t showing the time.”
Karen glanced to Jack’s nightstand, “Huh, I wonder what time it is?”
“Do you want to know? I can check my watch.”
Karen shook her head, “Not right now.”
Karen and Jack got under the blankets again, and snuggled closer.
Sometime later, they dozed while snuggling together.
Jack caressed Karen’s arm, “You feeling ok?”
Karen snuggled closer, “Yeah, even if I’m a bit tender down there. My mom was right when she told me that a girl’s first time would hurt.”
Jack kissed the top of Karen’s head, “This might sound like I’m gloating, but I truly an sorry that it doesn’t hurt for us guys.”
Karen looked up, “That would only be gloating from guys that are jerks. Coming from nice guys, it sounds that you truly care how we girls feel.” Karen then scooted up and kissed Jack on the cheek, “If I’m pregnant, our child could be born on the same day we were born.”
“That’s right, is that bad?”
“No, it’s just….boy or girl?”
“Huh?”
“Our child silly. Do you want to have a son or a daughter?”
Jack smiled, “Karen, as long as the child is born healthy, I don’t mind if it will be a boy or girl.”
Karen smiled, “Don’t you want a son?”
“I wouldn’t mind having a son, but there is nothing wrong if we have a daughter. I just know that if it is a girl, she will be as beautiful as her mother and her grandmothers.”
Karen lightly blushed and giggled, “She probably will. But if we have a boy, I know he will be a handsome and very charming like his father.”
Jack chuckled, “Yes he will.”
Karen sighed, “I just hope that my mom will let you buy a blue feather so you can propose to me properly.”
“Is that how proposing is done around here?”
“Yes. I take it that it is done differently where you came from.”
“Yes, an engagement ring is given by the person proposing. It must sound unromantic.”
“No, I have heard that there are some cultures do a weird proposal, where the guy gives livestock to the girl’s father.”
“I’ve heard about that as well. So what would we do if you mother doesn’t let me buy a blue feather?”
“When Gotz came to start the work for your new bathroom. While I was helping you with your work in the field, you said that there is nothing wrong if a girl proposes to a guy. So would you feel bad if I had to propose to you?’
“No.”
“That’s good.”
Then a moment later Karen started to giggle.
Jack raised an eyebrow, “What’s so funny?”
“I just thought of something. When there is enough light outside, you’ll get two bonuses because of my staying here because of the storm, as well from the ‘making out’ we did.”
“What are the bonuses?”
“You’ll get to see my birthmark again after all these years, and you get to see the kind of bras and panties I wear.”
Jack chuckled, “Yes, but if I see your birthmark, that would mean I would be staring at your boobs.”
Karen giggled, “This time I won’t mind if you stare.”
“Ok. Oh, I just thought of something. We should probably go ahead and cancel the deal that Elli suggested back in the summer.”
“The deal where originally the three of us would go up to the hot spring to bathe? That Ann and Claire joined in?”
“Yes.”
“Why cancel it?”
“Since I now know that it was you I made the promise to, I don’t need to see Elli’s birthmark.”
“Jack, Ann and Elli are my friends since childhood. Claire is not only your friend you met, but she is a friend to me. So I would be upset if you saw my friends naked. Besides, every other year the water pipes are shut off for maintenance. So the hot spring would be the only place to bathe for a few days.”
“Really?”
“Yes, in fact next spring will be when they do the work. Since you saved Ann’s life, you did somewhat briefly see her naked, and remember she did ask that you be a ‘bathing buddy’ the next time she goes up there tired.”
Jack caressed Karen’s arm, “How about we do this we go ask Ann, Elli and Claire if we should still all go up there on New Year’s Eve.”
“In other words we take a vote?”
“Yes.”
“Ok, but if the yes votes win, those that voted no still need to go along.”
“Alright.”
“Besides, you might like Elli’s birthmark.”
“I would?”
“Yes, and I’ll forgive you if you stare at her boobs.”
“I’ll do my best not to stare.”
Karen giggled, “Ok. So what time is it? Is the power still out?”
Jack glanced over to his nightstand, “The power is still out. Even if the power came back on, my clock would be way off on the correct time.”
Karen giggled, “Yeah, my clock would say the same.”
Jack reached and picked up his watch. Pushing the button to lighten up the watch he read the time.
“It is a few minutes past five in the morning.”
“The sunlight will be up in about three hours.”
“Then let’s sleep for a few more hours.”
“Ok, it sounds like the storm has died down.”
“You’re right. So when it gets light enough, let’s first check on Henny and Zephyr. Then see what damage my buildings have taken. Then go together to tell Sasha what happened.”
“Ok. So you are going to just call my parents by their first names?”
“Well it is better then Mr. and Mrs. Shannon.”
“You’re right.”
After a few minutes, Karen and Jack fell asleep arm in arm.
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