Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 07:48:51 EDT From: BaronAVR@aol.com Subject: Our First Time Together part Three Hello to all the readers out there! First, here's the legal stuff. All legal disclaimers are in effect. If laws where you live prohibit reading material of an 'adult' nature or if you are under the minimum legal age required to do so, you should leave this site at once. Please do not read this if homosexual relationships disturb you. All rights are reserved by the author. This is a true story. Now, here's what's up with this. This series, 'Our First Time Together' consists of excerpts from my autobiography, 'The Prince Of Main Street.' I have yet to find a publisher for it, so my boyfriend Terry has encouraged me to post these here. LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKE IT AND WANT MORE!!! E-mail me at : BaronAVR@aol.com. This book deals with my four years of high school and my first boyfriend, Jesse Dahlinger. In fact the book is dedicated to him and his memory. Thank you for reading it and E-MAIL ME if you want more! - Andy van Ryan Our First time together... Chapter 3 By Andrew Simon van Ryan Copyright 2000. All Rights Reserved We were asleep tangled in each others arms when the phone rang. Jesse jumped at the sound. He wasn't fully awake when he looked at me. "Answer it" he moaned before plopping his head back down. I picked up the phone and my voice hoarsely crackled "Hello?" "Andy? Is that you, hon?" I recognized his Mom's voice and sat up. "Hi, Mrs. Dahlinger, how are you?" I squeaked out. "Are you all right, Andy? You sound like you just woke up!" she inquired. "I did, actually. I went back to sleep after breakfast". Jesse opened one of his dreamy green eyes and looked at me. "You did? Well, you should be up dear! It's quarter 'till two! You boys didn't drink and stay up late did you?" she asked. "No, we only drank a little and were in bed early" I said gazing at my lover. Suddenly both of Jesses' eyes popped open. He sat up with a start and mouthed the word "Mom?" at me. I nodded yes. She was starting to say something to me as Jesse snatched the phone away. "Hi. Mom?! It's me!" he said practically shouting "Guess what? I'm in Love! Yes with Andy! Who did you think I meant?" he asked. I suddenly couldn't breathe! I was trying to speak and draw breath at the same time! All that I managed to do was squeak! Jesse looked over at me, those eyes shooting out devilish sparks! "Yes! And guess what? He loves me too!......... He said he's been wanting to for a long time but didn't know what to say or do.............. Yeah, I know, you were right. So were together now. I'm gay and he's gay ............. Yeah, but he's worried about his Dad".............. I must have started choking or wheezing, 'cause Jesse suddenly put his hand over the mouthpiece and said "are you OK?" I nodded my head in the affirmative. "Huh? What?" said Jesse returning to his conversation. "Yeah, we'll both be here when you get home just like always.......... You do?.......... 'bout What?" Jesse frowned "Oh, yeah. I forgot. Sure, we'll be here..........Ok Mom, I love you!" He turned to me and said "Mom says she loves you too, Andy". "OK" I managed to say. Jesse finished up saying "OK. We'll see you then, G'bye!" He hung up the phone and looked at me. "What's wrong, Andy?". "Nothing, I guess. I mean, I guess. I just wasn't expecting you to tell your Mom that we, uh....that I, well..." Jesse laughed. "What you're trying to say is that you didn't expect me to be so open about it with my Mom, is that right?". I sheepishly replied "Yes". "Ha! If you only knew how many times she's asked if we were boyfriends yet!" Jess really began to laugh as he said this. "She DID?!" I cried with surprise showing in my words. "Yes, Andy! She knows that we've been hot for each other. It's cool! She's happy for us!" "She really IS?" I asked sounding even more suprised. "Huh! I don't believe it! Andy van Ryan, Man of a thousand words and all he can say is 'She really IS?'! I don't believe it! What's wrong with you? Are you still in shock?" Jess laughed as he rolled around, holding his sides. "I'm just not used to hearing you tell her about us. I mean I didn't know you were going to say anything. 'Cause my Mom would scream and start crying if I told her what you just told your Mom. Then we'd get killed by my Dad." Jesse straightened up, rolled over and looked at me with those twinkling eyes. "Yeah, but doesn't it feel good to know that it's OK if we're in Love? Even if it's only my Mom who knows at least we don't have to keep it bottled up inside, a big dark secret. If we need someone to talk to about being gay, she's there for us. She really does love us, you know?" "Really?" I said looking up from the floor. Jesse could see that I was beginning to cry again. "Oh, Andy! Are you afraid again?" Jess said taking my head in his arms and pulling me towards him. "No" I said. "Then what is it?" he asked as he looked at me. In a shy way, I looked into his green eyes and said "I'm in love with you". Jesse smiled and said "Oh, Andy! I'm in love with you, too!" Then he kissed me. It was after two when we finally dragged out of bed. Jesse began getting dressed and asked "You wanna' bike down to Burger Basket?" It was our Sunday ritual to eat at the Burger Basket downtown, so I automatically replied "Sure!" We dressed alike in jeans, T-shirts and desert boots. Setting off on our bikes we raced the mile and a half to the old downtown section. Pulling up to the bike racks, Jesse remarked "I can't wait 'till you're 16. Then we won't have to ride these fuckin' bikes anymore". "If I pass the test!" I said. "Ha!, you've been driving since you were 10! Why wouldn't you pass?" he snorted back at me. "I mean the written test. You know I always choke on written tests" I defended. "Hey, Faggots!" a voice shouted from behind. Panic stuck me immediately. My brain screamed 'who told?' inside of my ears. I spun around to see Eric Olsen, my brothers best friend standing in the doorway to the Burger Basket. "What are you queer boys doing downtown?" Eric sneered. Jesse glanced over and saw my horrified expression. "Fuck you, Olsen! You're the queer boy!" Jesse shot back. "Oh, yeah? Well come over here and suck my dick, homo." Eric snarled. "Suck your self, Olsen" Jess snarled back. "What's wrong, van Ryan? Truth hurt?" Eric whined as his attention turned my way. Jess pivoted to find I was red in the face and about to cry again. "No, Eric. It's just that you're such a mean shit. Someday you're gonna' have your ass kicked for the crap you say" I blurted out. "By who? You, Faggy boy?" Eric was now acting like he was ready for a fight. "Alright Olsen! I told you to watch your mouth in here!" a husky voice shouted. It was Ray, the owner of Burger basket. "Now get outta' here! I don't want to see you in here for a month. GO! and I'm calling your Dad!" Ray was coming out from behind the counter with a baseball bat in his hand. Eric freaked seeing this and ran like hell. "Come on in boys" Ray said "Don't let that boy bully you. I'd love to clean his clock one of these days. His Dads' too" It was no secret Ray hated Eric and his dad, Larry. "Do you think he knows?" I whispered to Jesse. "Who, Eric? No, but if you keep reacting like that he might figure it out. He said that 'cause he calls everyone faggot". "Oh... I'm sorry! I just didn't know what to say to him" I replied. "Don't say anything. Just ignore him. C'mon Let's order" Jess turned and looked up at the menu. "Hey, Andy!" Ray said while returning behind the counter. "Don't pay any attention to that Olsen kid. He's a prick". "Yeah, but he's my brothers friend and I have to see him at my house" I replied. "Oh by the way, your brother was in here ten minutes ago. He told me you're living at the Dahlingers now. Is that true?" Ray questioned. "Only on the weekends, Ray" I answered "Jesses' Mom doesn't want him to stay home by himself so she arranged it with my parents". "Wait a minute, YOUR Dad let you live at Jesse's? Without his Mom being there?" Ray was shocked. "Uh,... yeah" I replied. "Well if that don't beat all! I wouldn't ever guess he'd let you do anything like that! Your Dad is pretty damn strict, usually. Why'd he let you do that?" Ray said acting suprised. "Cause then he doesn't have to deal with me and I'm not in his way. He doesn't really like me much" I said beginning to look at the ground. "Hey, Andy, C'mon now. Your Dad loves you. He just doesn't understand why you're not like your brother. I've heard him say it. It's probably cause your Dads not a very understanding kind o' guy. Say, are you happy living at Jesse's?" Ray continued. "Oh, yeah! I like staying there a lot!" I smiled now. "See! He probably knows it and figures you're happy there, so why not let you!" Ray smiled. "Maybe" I said as a slight smile crossed my face. I glanced at Jesse. "OK, then! What'll you boys have? Two burgers and shakes? It's on me today!" Ray announced. "Wow, cool!" Jesse cried. "OK, Ray! Thanks!" I said. "Just be sure and tell your Granny I want to talk with her, OK Andy?" Ray winked and started the burgers. "That was cool" Jesse said "It must be cool having everyone in town know who you are" "They don't call me 'The Prince of Main Street' for nothing. Jesse!" I proclaimed now feeling a bit proud. "Maybe that's why your Dad is so cold to you. He's jealous, Andy! He's jealous of you!" Jesse declared, thinking out loud. "You got that right, Jesse boy!" Ray called from the Kitchen. "See! That's it!" Jesse cried out looking straight at me. "I don't know, Jesse" I remarked "It doesn't seem like he's jealous to me". After our lunch we biked over to Main Street where a few years earlier I had become known to the merchants as "The Boy Prince of Main Street". My Grandmother had her little clothes shop there and my mom had worked at the Five and Dime. As a preschooler I had wandered from shop to shop, visiting with all the people working there. I knew them all and they knew me. If I was hungry I'd go to Marie's cafe, order a burger and say "Put it on my tab!" I had no idea what a tab was, but I knew I could get lunch anytime by saying that! My Grandmother would recall years later that with my blue green eyes, blonde hair and funny little 'Prince' act I had all the women on Main Street under my spell! That was then and now it was today. Many of the old merchants had retired or closed their shops. Dave at the Hardware store was still there as were Bess at Main Street Market and Teddy at the Signal Gas station. It amazed Jesse how everyone on Main Street still knew me by name, even the new merchants. I didn't know many of them by name, but it didn't matter. The few older ones would tell the newcomers to downtown "See that boy? That's the Prince of Main Street. If he wants something you just give it to him. He's good for the money and if he doesn't like your shop you're cursed. You'll be out of business in six months time if you make him angry!" My Mother couldn't recall who first started the rumor downtown, but it had begun when I was no more than five years old. Superstitions are a strange thing. I've never believed any myself, but somehow the town became superstitious about me. I was "the Boy Prince" and if I liked you and your shop, you were successful. If I didn't like someone or became angry with them, their business died and soon closed. Weather by coincidence or by some unseen force working without my knowledge the reputation began to grow. Businesses flourished or died all due to my 'powers' it was said. Erics' Dad had first opened a grocery store in town. I had liked it until meeting Eric. Eric began harassing me and soon I wouldn't step in the place. Larrys' store went under in short order. He later opened his Real Estate office and even hired my Dad, hoping to "break" the curse. He went so far as to find a location just beyond the old downtown section where I never bothered to go. That way I never came into his office. He figured the "curse" wouldn't apply to him if I didn't come in there! Being the towns "Golden Boy" had it's down side too. If I was seen downtown my parents knew all the details of who I was with, what shops I'd been in and what I'd been given by the store owners long before I got home. Mom would pay my 'tabs' around town and do her best to dispel rumors of my 'strange powers'. Yet the rumors persisted. Jesse LOVED the attention we drew on Main Street. A new rumor started to circulate that Jess had the same 'power' that I had. Therefore, we both were kissed up to, looked after and protected by the shopkeepers. Like the way Ray had just chased Eric off and then given us lunch on the house. No one on Main Street wanted to bring the shadow of 'Double Trouble' on them. We'd become Andy and Jesse, the Two Headed Monster of Downtown. As I stepped off my bike the transformation took place. Andy melted away and 'His Royal Highness Andrew, the Boy Prince of Main Street' took form. Confidence was my middle name and my Crown was attitude. Head up and shoulders back I stepped into Main Street Market. Bess looked up from the register. "Well, hello Andy! Where's your friend Jesse?" she asked. I turned without answering and using both hands gestured towards the doorway like a magician performing his best trick. Jesse bounced through the open door and shouted "TA - DA!!" I took a bow. "You boys are so strange!" Bess said laughing. "How's your Grandma, Andy?" "She's fine" I replied in the Princes thoughtful voice while glancing over the junk food and candy bars. "How are you Bess?" the Prince inquired. "Oh, Andy, you're such a sweetheart! I'm doing just fine, but thank you for asking. I saw your Mom yesterday morning. She was asking if you'd been seen on the Street. She also told me you're staying at Jesse's on the weekends now". "Yes, that's right! We're the Lords of the Manor on weekends!" I quipped. "Well your Highness, If you boys run out of anything you let me know. You just come over here and we'll get you two whatever you need". Jesse and I looked at each other a moment then in unison cried "EGGS!" Bess laughed and said "Go grab a dozen and I'll bag 'em up for you!" We picked out the eggs, grabbed some snack foods and carried them to the counter. Bess looked them over, bagged them up and said "There you go your Lordship! That should keep you until your next trip to Main Street". "Thank you, kind Lady!" I said bowing deeply at the waist. "Likewise!" Jesse added as he also bowed. "OK, you two! Come back here anytime you need something. I mean it! Oh, Andy. Tell your Granny hello for me. Jesse will you remind him if he forgets?" Bess smiled. "Oh, No! I can't tell Andy what to do!" Jesse blurted out "He's the Prince of Main Street!" "Yes, I am! Don't you forget it, Jesse!" I said sticking my nose in the air. "Well, you're both little princes to me!" laughed Bess "Have fun, boys!" We hurried out to our bikes and began the trek home to Jesse's house. "Bess seemed really happy to see us today. I'm glad she's smiling and laughing again" I said to Jess as we started up the slight hill leading towards home. "She hasn't seemed this happy since Jamie died" Her son Jamie had been killed in Vietnam, the first casualty from our small town. "Hey, Andy!" someone shouted. I looked back to see my brother and Eric in Moms' car. "You wanna get your ass kicked? Don't be trying to pick fights with Eric!" he snapped as they slowly drove past us. "Fuck you, LESLIE........, " I said, knowing it would piss him off. "My name is LES, you faggot! Don't you ever call me Leslie!" he shouted back, applying the brakes. "You're the Faggot with the GIRLS NAME!" Jesse roared back at him. With that, my brother slammed the car to a stop and jumped out. Incredibly, I watched as Jesse aimed his bike straight at Les and started pedaling as hard as he could. Les' eyes bugged out of his head and he had to jump to keep from getting hit. I quickly made the turn and accelerated into the long driveway leading thought the groves. Jesse pedaled fast, closing in behind. "Fuck you! You little faggots!" I heard Eric roaring far behind us. We made the long 'S' curve down between the orange trees and flew up the straightaway like a shot into the garage. Jesse smacked the garage door opener with his hand and it slid shut behind, closing with a 'BANG!' We looked at each other and collapsed on the floor in gales of laughter. "Did you see their faces? What a couple of Dicks!" Jesse blurted out between laughs. "You mean NO-Dicks!" I corrected him while holding my aching sides "C'mon, let's get inside!". Winded from our escape, I collapsed on the sofa as Jesse put the eggs and snacks in the fridge. "Jesse, are you SURE we don't seem faggy... umm, gay?" I said over the back of the sofa at him. "Yeah, why?" he replied. "Cause Les and Eric keep calling us faggots. It worries me". "Look, Eric calls everyone faggot and your brother does it because of the way you talk" he said sliding onto the sofa beside me. "What's wrong with the way I talk?!" I barked. "You know. Your lisp. It sounds queer so he calls you a faggot to make fun of your lisp" Jesse explained. "No one's ever called me faggot because of it! They've called me 'Sylvester the Cat,' but never faggot" I protested. "Well you're not a little boy anymore, so you'd better lose it or get used to being called faggot. I've heard guys at school saying you sound like a faggot" Jesse advised me. "That's it!" I shouted and jumped up from the sofa. "What are you doing?" he asked. I didn't answer him. I walked straight to the phone and dialed home. "Mom? Hi, it's Andy!" I began "Yeah were fine, but listen. I want to go ahead and start with speech therapy, OK? Huh?............ I know, but I changed my mind. Well..... Jesse changed my mind. Yeah he's here. OK......... she wants to talk to you" I said and held the phone out to him. "She does?" he said looking puzzled "Hello?". "Hi, Jesse. It's Mrs. van Ryan. How in the world did you persuade Andy to take the Speech Therapy classes?" My Mother inquired. "Oh, well actually I told him if he didn't lose his lisp, everyone would start to think he was a faggot!" Jesse replied. "UUUurrr!" I squeaked as my eyes bugged out. There was a slight pause before Mom continued "Well Jesse, I wouldn't have said it to him that way, but I'm glad you did! I guess I should have said it like that, but perhaps it means more coming from his friend. I want to thank you dear. I've been so worried the other boys in school would start making fun of him and calling him... well, what you said". "Faggot?" Jesse asked. "Uuuurrrrrhhhhhh!" I choked and collapsed on the sofa. "Yes, Jesse. That word. I'm so glad you talked to him about it. Andy's very lucky to have a friend like you" Mom said. "I'm lucky to have Andy as my friend, Mrs. van Ryan" Jesse replied winking at me. "I'm so glad he's staying with you. You're a good influence on him Jesse. Now you boys take care and I'll see you tomorrow night" Mom said. "OK. Oh! By the way. I saw Les today and he slammed your car into park when It was still moving" he grinned. "Oh he did?! Thank you for telling me Jesse. He won't be driving my car around for awhile!" Moms voice sounded really angry. "Please don't tell him I told you, OK? He might beat me up!" Jesse said putting the icing on the cake. "Don't worry, hon. I won't even tell him why he can't drive it. You boys will be safe! Good-bye now and thank you Jesse!" Jesse put the phone down. "You Fucker! You practically told her!" I howled "She'll figure it out! Why did you say that?!" "Relax, Andy! She said she's happy I told you. She's happy your going to therapy. She doesn't want people to think you're a faggot either! She even thanked me that you're staying here. She said I'm a good influence on you!" "Why you little faggot!" I giggled. Jesse bounded over the sofa and jumped on me, knocking me onto my back. "Yes, and YOU love it" he sneered before planting a long soulful kiss on me. After 'foolin' around' we ate some junk food, watched a little TV then decided it was time for some playing. We ran through the songs we played the night before and they sounded better and even tighter than the last time we played them. "We have GOT to find a Bass player!" I said to him as we finished. "No doubt! I bet with a Bass player we could get gigs at the school dances" he remarked. "Lets go take a shower!" he winked. "OK" I smiled "but first I gotta call my Mom remember?" I ran to the phone and dialed home. "Hello?" Father answered. "Hi, Dad it's Andy!" I said. "I can tell it's you, son. Tell me, have you seen Les?" he asked, flatly. "Uuhh, not since early this afternoon.........." I said cautiously. "Well," Father continued "he's been all over town today with your Mothers car and we heard he's Hot-Rodding it." "Really? Who told you that?" I asked. "I heard it from Ray, Bess and Teddy. He's with that damn Eric Olsen and Larry just called looking for them about twenty minutes ago. They're in big trouble with him. It seems Larry found some drugs in Eric's room. Have you or Jess ever seen those two smoking pot?" he asked me. "What?! I cried "Les is on Drugs?". My jaw dropped open. "I didn't say that, Andy. We don't know for sure. We only know that Eric had some in his room and they've been acting strangely around town today. That reminds me. Ray said Eric was giving you and Jesse a hard time at the Burger Basket today. Is that true?" ."Uh, yeah, he was calling me names. Called Jesse some too" I replied. "Yes I heard. Son, Jesse did the right thing persuading you to start speech therapy classes. Mother and I are SO relieved that you're going. I've worried the other boys would start to call you names if you didn't lose that lisp, son. Is Jesse going to help you work at it?" Dad asked sounding a bit more lighthearted. Then an idea struck me. "Yeah but I have to study with him on Thursday nights so I'll need to stay here one extra night a week" I said. Jesse was hearing only my side of the conversation. He looked on with a puzzled expression. "Oh, that would be fine Son! As long as Mary doesn't mind having you there, It's fine with your Mother and I." "OK, Dad!" I was excited and wanted to tell Jesse. Father said "OK, stay close by the phone boys. If Les and Eric don't show up within the hour we're going to start looking for them. I may want you to ride around the area on your bikes to try spotting Moms car." "OK, Father! We'll stay right here. I'll talk to you soon! Bye!" I said and hung up. "What's up?" Jesse questioned. "Les and Eric are going to get their asses kicked! Larry found drugs in Eric's room and they're still out racing around in Mom's car. Only that's not the good part! I told Dad that you were going to help me lose my lisp but I have to stay here one more night every week. He said it's OK!! Can you believe it!" I started jumping up and down while holding Jesse's hands. "No Way! That's too cool! Oh, I can't believe it! FOUR nights a week? Oh, Yeah!!" He started shouting and jumping up and down like a madman. "Oh, shit!! If they only knew how happy we are!" I cried. "We're almost LIVING TOGETHER full time!" We celebrated by drinking Orange Juice and Vodka, then putting the ice cubes down each others trousers! I was just about to give up waiting and suggest we head for the shower when the phone rang. "Hello?" Jesse answered "Yes, sir! He's right here!" holding the phone out he mouthed 'your Dad.' I took it and asked "Yes Dad?". "Hello Andy, We found Leslie and Eric" I cringed. When Father used Les' full name it meant his ass was in BIG trouble. "Where?" I asked. "They're in Fullerton. Les was racing someone and they had an accident, Andy" . Hearing the word 'accident', I got seriously worried. "Accident?! What happened?" I yelped into the phone. Jesse's face went ashen. "Don't worry no one got hurt" he relieved me then added. "However, Les wrecked the passenger side of your Mothers car. She's VERY. Be glad you're at Jesse's 'cause there's going to be a lot of yelling when Larry gets here with them. That brings me to another subject, Andy. Put Jesse on the phone, please." My heart skipped a little. I nervously replied "UH, sure, OK." I related Fathers directive to Jesse "He wants to talk to you......" Jesse gave a quick frown took the phone. I listened as he spoke. "Yes, Mr. van Ryan?....... Oh, no problem! I don't even have to ask her. Mom will be glad to.........Sure, I'll make sure he does. Your welcome! You need to talk to Andy again? OK, I'll tell him! Bye!" Jesse hung up and leaned his back against the wall. Looking toward the ceiling he began laughing and slipping down toward the floor. "What?!" I demanded. "He wanted to know if you could stay here all this week! They're going to busy and they wondered if you could stay here 'till NEXT WEEK!!" "AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!" our screams echoed through the house. I couldn't believe our good fortune. Les was in deep trouble. I knew Dad was going to make it Hell Week for him. I figured Eric wouldn't be off restriction for a year at least! Jesse and I thought with Les and Eric drawing the parental attention no questions about us would get asked. As we showered that night we didn't fool around. It was seven-thirty as we started our homework. Sunday, the dreaded night for teenagers in school. We commenced on our book work and by a little past nine o'clock had finished not only our homework but half of the remaining Vodka. "Crap!" Jesse declared stretching his arms over his head "I'm really tired!". "YOU'RE tired? It's about time you started to wearing out!" I yawned. "Hmmm. Lets watch Ed Sullivan then call it a night." "Who's on tonight?" Jess asked crossing the room to snap the TV on. "The Doors" I replied "Hope they're better than when my sister and I saw 'em" Lazily we watched the show 'til Ed finally introduced the Doors. I was suprised how much better they were on TV. Afterward, Jesse remarked how Ed Sullivan didn't seem very impressed. "Not like he was with the Rolling Stones!" I quipped "C'mon, lets go to bed. Six o'clock comes pretty early!" Once in bed we spent time talking over how cool things were going. We contemplated how to spend the coming week together. We devised dozens of plans as we chattered on. It was late when we snuggled up together and stared longingly into each others eyes. Making love once more we ended up a tangle of arms and legs fast asleep. The alarm clock screamed just inches away from my face. Both eyes spun open with a start and I smacked at the clock. I shut it off on the fourth try. "Time to get up, Jesse" I said as I rolled over to find him missing! 'When did he get up?' I wondered. Crawling out from under the covers I pulled on my discarded sweatpants from the night before. I stepped into the hallway and heard Jesse's voice talking in the living room. I went to investigate and overheard him say "So he's going to be with us the whole week, OK? Great Mom! I knew you wouldn't mind but I wanted to be sure. OK, We'll see you after school. We love you, too! Bye!" He turned to hang the phone up and I was standing there. "Oh, hey Andy! I didn't hear you get up. You hungry?". "Uh, Huh" I managed sleepily. "That your Mom?" I asked "OUR Mom, according to her!" he grinned "C'mon! I made you pancakes with blueberry Jam" "Ooohh!" I accented my anticipation of breakfast. "How long you been up?" I asked him. "Two hours. I spent the first hour watching you sleep. Do you know you put your finger against your lips like you're going 'Shhhh' when you sleep?" he asked while he gazed at me. I felt my face reddening. I snapped my embarrassed explanation, saying "YES! it's a hold over from childhood". "Well, I love it! You look cute doing it" he giggled. "What do you think school's going to be like?" I asked changing the subject on him. "What'dya mean" he responded. "You know, What's going to be like. I wonder if anyone will figure it out" The last words were almost interrupted by Blueberry Pancakes. "Not that again! Will you stop worrying! It's won't be any different than any other school day, unless YOU MAKE IT DIFFERENT!" Jesse couldn't have been more wrong!