Chapter 11

Karen and I looked up and smiled as our mothers entered the kitchen. My mother said, “Suzie, are you two going to wear matching suits at the pool this spring?”

I don’t believe Larry had heard that story yet. He said, “I have a pair of dark blue trunks that wouldn’t be hard to match, Suzie-Q.”

My sister cringed. My mother pounced. She said, “Suzie, I will go with you to pick one for each of you.”

Suzie-Q smiled. “That won’t be necessary, Mom. I can ‘handle’ that chore without any help.”

Karen’s mom said, “We ought to go to make sure Suzie understands all the details of a good fit.”

Larry figured out that he was being had. I took pity on him and explained, “Larry, Melissa and Paul, who share our apartment, had given us matching red thong suits. They were very cheeky. The club still talks about our display.”

Larry got an evil grin. ‘You mean I would have to wear one of those to see Suzie-Q in one that matches in color and intent?” Karen and I nodded. “Sign me up!” He exclaimed.

Now, Suzie-Q blushed. Our mothers laughed happily.

Breakfast was prepared and our fathers joined us. After prayer, we ate with our mothers still kidding Suzie-Q and Larry. I was glad my mother had a new outlet for her humor.

Larry enjoyed the teasing of my sister with my mother. He was finally getting my mother to back off because she was becoming embarrassed with her suggestions which Larry seemed to eagerly and happily endorse. Suzie-Q realized what was happening and started going along. My mother had to back off or she would be sending her daughter into a bedroom to have sex in the middle of the day!

When we had a quiet minute, I asked Larry about his strategy. He responded, “In firefighting, it’s called a back fire. You light a small fire to stop a bigger fire from continuing to burn in a certain direction. It appears to be working in this case.” He chuckled.

After the parental units went to bed that evening, the four of us talked. We had all enjoyed my mother’s discomfiture from the teasing. Larry asked, “I wonder if Rudolph enjoys the humor in some situations? I hope he/they do/does.”

Rudolph’s voice softly said, “We enjoy it. We don’t always completely understand some of the details but the emotions are clear to us.”

Larry said, “I’m glad. It was a lot of fun. Brad, even your father was enjoying your mother’s stammering when her teases were being accepted.” He grinned. “She can’t tease the two of you very much any more since you’re married. Suzie-Q, that could be our cure.”

Suzie-Q grinned back. “Be careful what you tease about. Someone might take you seriously.”

He looked at her suddenly serious. “I hope you do.”

Suzie-Q looked surprised with a little shock on her face. It made for an interesting expression.

We all went to our beds for the night. I wondered if Larry and Suzie-Q slept in their separate beds. I know I slept with my beautiful, loving wife, eventually!

In the morning, Karen and I woke at our usual early time and showered together very enjoyably. As I shaved, she fixed her hair. Then, we headed into the kitchen to start coffee.

As it finished dripping, Suzie-Q and Larry entered the kitchen and joined us in fixing our cups. We sat around the table sipping our coffees quietly. It was a nice, peaceful moment.

A minute or two later, our mothers entered and began to cook breakfast. My mother couldn’t resist and began to tease Suzie-Q and Larry.

Suzie-Q was sitting in Larry’s lap at the kitchen. She was wearing a blouse that buttoned up the front and was not tucked into her slacks. My mother made a first suggestive comment. Suzie-Q unbuttoned the bottom button of her blouse. Mother noticed that and made another comment. Suzie-Q unfastened another button of her blouse. My mother’s eyes widened. Another comment made and another button was undone.

Larry was quiet but his eyes were on my sister’s midsection that was being gradually exposed. Mother tried one more comment and Suzie-Q unfastened another button. It was now obvious she was wearing a bra but still had one button remaining. I could tell that my mother was contemplating another comment but wasn’t sure she wanted her daughter exposed in only her bra from the waist up! On the other hand, it was a challenge that she was trying unsuccessfully to ignore. After a long moment, she said, “Suzie, you won’t be wearing much if you undo that last button.”

“That’s correct.” Suzie-Q unbuttoned that last button and spread her blouse open. She looked at her mother. “The bra has a front closure and it’s next.” Wisely, my mother didn’t take that challenge but turned to her cooking. Everyone breathed easier. After a moment, Suzie-Q pulled her blouse closed and buttoned it back. It was quiet for the rest of the day as regards suggestive comments.

It’s New Years’ Eve and we were ready to party. It was late afternoon and people were expected from seven onward. I found it interesting to note that neither Suzie-Q nor Larry gloated over facing my mother down the day before. She hadn’t mentioned it and no one else did either.

Guests began to enter to create happy noise. Soon, the house was full of happy, talking people. I noticed Matt’s parents were there though neither of their children were with them. They made no effort to talk to my sister and she didn’t even seem to notice them. I still wondered what had happened. Another couple that I knew from a part-time job was later talking with Karen and me. Mister Cagle mentioned that Matt was working for him. I couldn’t resist. I said, “I thought he was in college?” I put a slight question in my voice.

Mister Cagle said, “He got a girl pregnant and had to quit. I’m not sure if they are married but they do live together. It doesn’t seem to be an altogether good situation but he is trying to make things work from what I have seen. He’s a good, intelligent worker but there really isn’t anywhere for him to go working at my store. I feel that his potential is wasted.”

I shrugged. “It happens. Karen and I don’t plan to start a family until well after we graduate college.” I then chuckled. “Unless, of course, we win the lottery.” I smiled. “I buy a ticket once a week and we watch the drawings for fun. It’s cheap entertainment. We take turns picking the numbers.”

Karen was wearing slacks and a blouse in a quiet shade of green. The blouse had a leaf design in the cloth. I had an entirely new appreciation of leaves. I noticed that she drew appreciative looks from many of our guests. She had my complete attention as usual.

We welcomed in the new year with hugs and kisses washed down with a glass of Champagne each. Shortly after midnight, people started leaving. By two, it was just family and went to our beds for the night. Karen and I celebrated the new year by loving gently. In the morning, we slept a little later than usual.

We were still the first ones into the kitchen to start coffee and that’s where Suzie-Q and Larry found us sipping our coffee while holding hands. For us, it was a quiet, romantic moment. They joined us, fixing their coffees and then sitting at the table.