Chapter 1: The Marking

Looking back at it all I think it's fair to say that I was my mother's confidant. Things I remember my mother discussing with me seemed not very extraordinary then, but now I realize that they were not the normal type of discussions between mother and son. It's strange but when your mother is candid and forthcoming you grow up thinking it's normal to talk about all facets of human nature that many would believe should be spoken in hushed tones if at all.

I don't remember the exact details but one day my mother asked me to follow her and she led me in to the bathroom. She lifted up her skirt in a way as not to expose herself, reached under her skirt and lowered her panties as she sat on the toilet. She asked me to sit on the edge of the tub and said quietly, "You know you upset your cousin Sandra very much, don't you"?

We had a small ranch and it was customary for the cousins to come and visit during the summer. Two boys and two girls all older than me except the youngest boy who was 8 years old, the same age as myself.

So I apparently upset my cousin Sandra for some reason and my mother decided to take me aside. It's strange; I wasn't concerned that she had brought me into the bathroom, which she had never done before. This all seemed natural. I asked what I had done and my Mother explained that while we kids were out on the enclosed porch playing Monopoly I had noticed and remarked, to my cousin Sandra, that there was a spot of blood on her yellow shorts.

Sandra apparently became embarrassed and upset and ran into the house. This was the onset of her first period. After her mother Alice, and my Mother had settled Sandra down, my Mother brought me in to the bathroom to educate me in private on what had transpired.

She patiently explained the biology of the menstrual cycle and that Sandra was becoming a woman. She indicated that many women may become more emotional during this time and that those around need to show a degree of understanding.

It was about this time that my Mother lifted her skirt and neatly folded it high around her waist. Pointing between her legs and said "Now Tim this what is known as a sanitary napkin and this is the belt that keeps it in place. Coincidentally, I started my period yesterday". She unclasped the pad and held it out for my inspection saying "Not too gruesome, as a matter of fact, a lot less so than when you stepped on that nail last month".

Very quickly she added that although many women are over sensitive regarding an offensive odor that accompanies their period; with a little personal hygiene there is not really as much odor associated during ones period. I was snapped out of my trance when she raised the napkin to within an inch of my nose and said "Timmy, Mommy's napkin doesn't smell that bad does it"?

Being the naïve eight year old, I inhaled and nodded my head in agreement. I just kept my head close sniffing her napkin when my mother said, "My, my, you have the same reaction to my menses as your Father did". I looked up at her with what was evidently a big question mark etched on my face and she just pointed towards my shorts.

I was sporting the first erection that I was ever conscious of. My Mother, years later, told me the look on my face was of naïve inquisitiveness mixed with shock. All I could say was "What's that"?

"Baby, that's an erection. When a man and a woman want to have a baby the man's penis gets hard like that then he puts it into the woman's vagina". My mother pointed to her auburn thick mat of pubic hair. Again, I took all of this in stride. My Father died in an airplane crash when I was four and my Mother was my world. Looking back at it all, she was always chatting with me about anything that came into her head.

Now I can live to be a million years old but I'll never forget what she said and did next. Looking directly into my eyes she asked, "Honey, are your testicles getting tight"? This was my Mother's way, always using the proper language for everything. I really didn't know what she meant but I just nodded.

She gave me an Oh-well-we-can-fix-that-look and asked me to get her cold cream out of the cabinet. She placed the napkin across one of her thighs put the jar of cold cream on the sink edge and in one deft stroke brought my shorts and underpants down to my ankles.

I was beyond embarrassment and was in shock. "Look it's gone down a little here hold this up and sniff it some more and we'll see if we can get you hard again" she said. She handed me the napkin and I did as she asked".

"That's mommy's good boy, see how hard you are? I'm going to make you feel much better now". With that she opened the jar of cold cream took out a small scoop and worked it quickly into her palms and fingers.