Chapter 21

Leo found a place for us to park overlooking the frozen-over Pelican Lake.

“It must be shocking to see me all covered up, Leo. Just only my boring old face.”

“Fishing for compliments? You know very well what I think about your face. By now, you realize that I was pretending to be ignorant, like about women’s intimate parts. Of course, I noticed your clit right away. But I didn’t have a clue what to say about it to you.

“I am very shy and very inexperienced. You know you’re my first girlfriend. And I know that I’m not your first. No, I don’t care how many. I have an idea that Joy is far ahead of you if this is a competition.”

“Any other guy was nothing to me compared to you, Leo. You’re precious to me. This whole month has been a roller coaster. I felt isolated, then abused, and finally vindicated. I know my family is a bunch of wackos, but it seems like we have an arrangement that will work through the end of the year. That’s when my clothes go back on for good. Oh, don’t pout. I told you: when you unwrap me, it will be a lot more fun.

“We’ll have a normal clothes-on day today and tomorrow, then just another seven days on restriction. High school will start again, and we’ll be study buddies.”

We grinned at each other. For the next couple of hours, we cuddled together in the cab of Dad’s truck and talked about everything and nothing. Finally, Leo started up the engine and blew the fog off the windows so we could drive home.

After another terrific meal from Holly, we all sat down together. Dad said, “We have one more birthday present for you,” and handed me a slim wrapped package. Bigger than a phone, smaller than a tablet, what could it be?

“Holly found this. It’s a Kindle, an electronic book reader. I can hold tens of thousands of pages of every kind of book you can imagine. It loads over the internet, and Holly can update the content by bringing it into work from time to time.”

I didn’t know what to say! So I rushed over and hugged Holly and then Dad. Truthfully, reading cookbooks wasn’t thrilling anymore (if it ever was).

“The amazons have some free books available. No, don’t correct me; I know they aren’t women warriors. I’m just trying to be a little funny.”

Dad held up his thumb and forefinger close but not quite touching to show “very little.” Mom whapped him.

“Shut up, Sam. I’m trying to say they have lots of books to download that are free; they have expired copyrights. I downloaded a few of them for you.”

“What a wonderful present! Thank you, Mom, Dad.”

I guess they had picked up on how bored I was stuck in our immobile home, although it was Ethan who planted the sex toy and lube in my dresser drawer. Since then, Joy and I have become more comfortable with masturbation.

“I wonder what my brothers do,” I thought.

It pained me to say goodbye to Leo after such a wonderful birthday. He promised to be back the day after Christmas.

“You just want to see me naked again, don’t you?”

“Of course I do; have I ever said I was tired of your awesome body?”

“Oh, go home. I get all flustered when you talk like that.”

“So I can see,” he whispered, gesturing at my hard nipples poking through the thin and slinky material of my birthday dress.

“Enough, Leo! I’ll see you the day after tomorrow. Merry Christmas!”

Christmas morning was full of surprises. Thrilled, Joy reappeared to model one of three fuzzy sweaters like the one she lost (in the washing machine disaster). The boys received a handwritten gift card promising two new games for the Xbox. Joy and I received a lot of thrift-store clothes, urgently needed for when high school started up again. They weren’t perfect, but good enough. Also, new bedding,

Holly got me a digital watch with a timer, which will help me with cooking. We had a mechanical timer, but it must have been 70 years old and untrustworthy.

Nick found a toaster-sized box under the tree.

“To Everybody, from Santa?”

“Go ahead, open it,” Dad said.

Tearing off the wrapping paper didn’t help him. It was some kind of device, clearly, but Nick didn’t understand. Dad explained that this was a home internet device. A new tower was operating on U.S. 57, and the device would allow our devices internet access—even the Xbox!

My mouth was hanging open. How could we afford all this?

Holly explained: her employer had a good year, and she received a $600 holiday bonus. Dad had completed his probationary period and was now taking home a higher salary.

I thought, “Holy shit! I have seven more days of restriction, and then next year will be so much easier. And, I have Leo!”

I was so happy; I wanted to weep but kept my composure, mostly.

On the next day, December 26, I had even more reasons for happy tears. Before he left for work, Dad told me to have Leo stay for dinner with us.

“Tell Leo that I cleared it with Denny; here’s $20 for picking up some groceries. I’m expecting something special tonight.”

I pulled out the cookbooks and made up a shopping list. Tonight, I was baking a lasagna.

“Leo, now that you’re here, I want you to leave.”

“But, but, why?”

“I need you to buy groceries for tonight; here’s the shopping list. You’re staying for dinner.”

“Um, OK. You’re not coming?”

“I’m not going outside when I’m not dressed. It’s a short list, but drive carefully, will ya?”

“Yes, dear.”

“Oh, shut up. I’m going to kiss you, and then you’ll make the trip. Mnph!”

While we were kissing, I reached behind him and squeezed his tight little boy butt.

“That was Kiss type 8, with 4 to go. See you soon.”

Dinner was a big success. Everybody but me took seconds; I was expecting to have enough for leftovers, but the whole pan was empty. We had a light dessert of strawberries and whipped cream.

“Ethan, Nick, I want you to come back in an hour to wash up. Go play Xbox or something. Leo, Mary, stay here so I can talk to you.”

Dad stood and turned on the ventilation hood over the stove to make enough noise for privacy.

“Lean in so I can speak quietly. Denny and I have talked; I’ve gone over everything with Holly. This is difficult for her, but I have her consent. The three of us are worried about you two. I’m going to be very direct.”

“What’s wrong, Dad?”