Part 4

Chapter 22

Sherry and I had planned to get together for a dinner and a movie on Memorial Day weekend. Unfortunately her parents dragged her off to Pittsburgh to visit her grandparents. The following weekend our Boy Scout Council was holding a High Adventure Shakedown for Scouts and Venturers going to the Philmont Scout Ranch, The Northern Tier Canoe Base and other wilderness destinations like Algonquin.

Our crew of eight rode together in Mr. Ritter's van on the way to the local scout camp on Saturday morning. Mr. Ritter had briefed me on how the weekend was run. As crew leader, I had to direct everything we did this weekend. Mr. & Mrs. Ritter were there just as advisors. I hoped I'd remember everything he told me to do.

When we arrived I went to the dining hall to check our crew in. The staff handed me a box of food and something called a "Crew Leader's Copy." It was a schedule of everything that we were going to do this weekend. I gathered our crew together. We split the food and equipment between the eight of us. Then we packed it in our duffle bags. At 8:45am I directed the group to the pavilion beside the dining hall. This is where the training would start.

We spent the morning listening to lectures about how to pack, map and compass, how to cook dehydrated food, bear bags, and sanitation. When the last session was done, the staff sent our crew and the two crews heading to Minnesota to the Northern Tier Canoe base down to the boat yard. One of staff members demonstrated how to pick up and carry a canoe by yourself. I raised my hand when he asked for a volunteer to try it. I stood at the middle of the canoe and lifted it onto my knees. Then I reached across the gunwale with my right hand the way they showed us. I lifted the canoe up over my head as I turned it over. I ducked under the canoe as it went up. I wasn't very coordinated at this yet. The bow of the canoe bounced off the ground as I flipped it over. I finally settled the canoe down on my shoulders. "Man, this thing is heavy. How far do I have to carry this thing?"

"Don't worry Justin. The canoes in Algonquin are a lot lighter and better balanced than these old Grummans." Mr. Ritter explained.

"I'm glad to hear that. What should I do with this thing now?"

"Every other person is going to take a canoe and carry it down to the river and put in the water." the staff member explained.

I walked down the trail to the river and tried to set the canoe down gently. I didn't get out in the water far enough. The stern bounced of the bank when I set it down. I stood in the water and watched the other eight canoes follow my path to the river. No one else did any better than I did. A couple kids couldn't even carry the canoe alone. Their canoe partner helped them carry the canoe.

Jon, Will and Mr. Ritter set their canoes down beside mine. Mrs. Ritter and the girls carried duffle bags down to the river. We loaded up. I assigned Sherry to canoe with me. I put Jon with Amy and Will with Katie. I thought, 'Maybe I can help Jon and Amy get together this way. I have always thought they would make a great couple.'

"OK everyone, let's get in and get going. We need to canoe down the river around camp and get out at the other side. We'll have lunch when we are further down river." I directed.

Everyone climbed in and started canoeing down river. 'Wow, they're really listening to me. I think I can do this.'

"What do you think so far Sherry?" I asked.

"We have a lot to learn. I like the people in our crew. I think we are going to have a lot of fun on this trip." she answered.

We canoed for fifteen minutes. "Jon, do you know where the lunch is packed?" I had appointed Jon to be our quartermaster. His job was to keep track of and look after our food and equipment. I knew Jon would do a good job for me. It would be one thing less to worry about. Jon pulled the lunch out of his duffle bag and handed it out to each of us.

We spent about twenty minutes on lunch and then continued paddling. We reached the lower end of camp after an hour. The girls carried the duffle bags up onto the bank. The guys picked up the canoes, hoisted them over our heads and carried them up onto the bank.

I asked Mr. Ritter, "Where do we put these? Will a truck come and pick them up?"

Mr. Ritter laughed. "No, we get these canoes back to the boat yard the same way we will get them around in Algonquin. We carry them."

Jon, Will and I moaned nearly in unison. "That's got to be half a mile!"

"How far is our longest portage in Canada? I think it's 3 1/2 miles. This is a piece of cake. Let's go boys!" He emphasized the boys a little too much to suit me. This was a challenge!

Jon, Will and I took off after Mr. Ritter. No way a fifty year old man was going to beat us back to the boat yard. It took us around half an hour to take the canoes back to the boat yard. The other two canoe crews straggled in after us. I checked our schedule while we waited for the other two crews. Our next stop was to do a service project for the camp. We reported to the ranger for our assignment. My crew was assigned to clear dead branches and trees that had been knocked over by the big storm in the spring. We worked for an hour before we were dismissed.

We hiked back to the big field near the dining hall. This is where we left our duffle bags when we returned the canoes. Mentally I went over my list of things to do: Set up the dining fly; put all gear under it; set up the tents; make supper. I think I'm ready.

When we arrived at our assigned campsite, I started giving directions. Camp went up in about thirty minutes. I'm glad Mr. Ritter prepared me for what we are doing. Being Crew Leader is easy with his help. I pulled out the duty roster I made last night. "Jon, you and Amy are cooks and clean-up crew tonight. Will and Katie, you fill up the water bags and bring them back to camp. If we were really in Algonquin, Sherry and I would gather firewood and build the fire. Tonight, Sherry and I will help Jon and Amy with cleanup."

Mr. Ritter helped get the backpacking stoves lit and Mrs. Ritter watched over the cooking to make sure we had an edible dinner. Jon and Amy did a good job making dinner. It was delicious. 'I hope the food in Algonquin will be this good.' Jon, Amy, Sherry and I had the dishes done quickly. At 7 pm all crews gathered in the dining hall for more lectures.

When that was done, The staff started a slide show from previous trips to Philmont and Northern Tier. I looked at the stack of six slide trays. This is going to be a long night. Sherry and I were sitting near the back. After the lights went out and the slide show started, I nudged Sherry in the ribs and whispered "Follow me."

We slipped quietly away from the dining hall.

"Thank God. I was afraid we would be stuck in there for hours." Sherry exclaimed.

"I thought we could find a quiet place and have some fun."

"You remember, no condom, no sex?"

"Yes, I'm ready."

"Is it safe to do it in our campsite?"

"No, there is too much chance of someone catching us there. We can go to a campsite I know about near the back of camp. They have shelters in that site."

We stopped off at our campsite to grab a foam pad and a sleeping bag. We walked to the campsite I had in mind. It was deserted. Perfect for our plans.

We stopped at the first shelter. I brushed the leaves off of one of the bunks and laid the foam pad and sleeping bag down on it. Sherry and I kissed for a few minutes and then stripped naked. We lay down on the sleeping bag, side by side. I tweaked and kneaded her tits while she played with my cock. The crickets chirped in the background.

I rolled on top of Sherry and kissed her hard. I slid my cock up and down along Sherry's labia. We kissed and dry humped for about five minutes. My cock was covered with Sherry's lubrication. Sherry spread her legs wide for me. I sat up and twiddled with her clit for a minute.

"God, Justin don't make me wait any longer. Put it in! Now!"

I pulled the beat up condom wrapper out of my pants pocket. I opened it and looked it over. It looked fine. I rolled it down my cock.

"Are you ready lover?" I asked.

"Yes Justin, now let's do it." She emphasized.

I pushed my cock slowly into Sherry's vagina. My cock caught a little on something as I pushed it in. 'That's odd. I never felt anything like that before.' My cock was all the way in.

"Fuck me Justin. I need you."

Ever the gentleman, I helped my lady in distress. I pulled out and thrust back in hard and fast. Sherry pushed back towards me every time I thrust into her. Soon we had a steady rhythm going.

"Oh God. How could I forget how good this feels." I exclaimed. "The way your pussy walls slide across my cock is amazing. It feels so warm and wet. I don't think it ever felt this good before."

I rocked in and pulled out rapidly. Sherry grunted with each thrust, "Unhh... Unhh... Unhh... Unh... Ohhh... Justin... I... love... you... Unh..."

"I... unhh... love... unhh... you... ohhh... tooooo... Sherrrr... ryy..." I moaned.

Sherry wrapped her legs around my butt as we fucked. Her arms held onto me tightly.

"Unhh... sooo... wet... unhh... soooo... warm... Ohhh... GOD..." I stammered.

I don't know how but I managed to hold off my climax for seven or eight minutes. I felt the familiar tingling in my bottom while my balls pulled up tight against my body. I was almost there. Sherry was moaning and twitching under me. I ground my pubic area into Sherry's clit on each thrust. Sherry let out a scream and climaxed. Her pussy went crazy, squeezing and milking my prick, asking for my load of cum. The feelings were too much for me. My cum exploded out. Spurt after spurt of cum blasted out. Sherry's pussy suddenly felt much wetter than before.

"Oh my God! Justin, I felt you come."

"What do you mean?" I asked not quite coherent after my climax.

"I could feel your cum spurting into my pussy, that's what I mean. I don't usually feel this way."

The light finally clicked on in my head. "Oh my God. Do you think the condom broke?" I stammered in a panic.

Sherry pulled her legs down off my butt. I reached down and carefully held the end of the condom in place while I pulled out.

"Oh my God! It broke!" I said as I looked down at what was left of the condom. It was a small ring of rubber that extended down about an inch on my cock. The last six inches of my cock was bare and covered with my cum and Sherry's pussy juices. I looked at Sherry's pussy. My cum was dribbling out of it.

"Justin, what are we going to do? I can't be pregnant! I want to go to college. I'm too young! Oh my GOD."

"Sherry, calm down. We went through this before. We'll get through it again."

She sat up and I hugged her and kissed her tears. After a minute, she calmed down a little. "When do you expect your next period?"

"Umm... in about eight or nine days."

"Good. We should be fine. You are fertile two weeks before your period. Things should be OK." I said, wishing I was as confident as I tried to sound.

I helped Sherry clean up at the latrine wash stand. We needed to look presentable when we got back to camp. We dressed and walked quietly back to camp. I had my arm around her shoulder the whole way, trying to provide comfort and support. The group was still in the dining hall at the slide show when we got to our campsite. We put my foam pad and sleeping bag back in my tent. We walked hand in hand back to the dining hall. Only Jon saw us come back in. He winked at me.

Chapter 23

On Sunday when I got home, I decided as soon as I showered and had lunch that I was driving to Lancaster and buying more condoms. I pulled out of our driveway and headed west to Lancaster. I pulled in at the first CVS Pharmacy I saw. I wandered the aisles looking for the family planning section. Finally I found it near the back beside the prescription counter. I glanced around. No one was looking. I walked over to the display. 'Oh my God. I didn't know there were so many kinds.' I thought. I grabbed a box that was the same color as the one Joe bought for me. I tried to cover the box with my hand as I carried it to the front to pay for it. 'Oh no. There is a line of people. I'm going stand here forever holding a box of condoms in front of all these people. I can't do this.' I nearly bolted out of there.

'Get a grip!' I thought. 'I'm just a kid. They'll never let me buy these.' I could feel my face getting flushed. I waited impatiently in line behind three other customers. I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. 'Will this never end?' Finally it was my turn. I placed the box on the counter and blushed. "Is this all you need today?" the clerk asked pleasantly. I nodded my head. She swiped the box of condoms on the scanner and put it in a bag. "That will be $12.37 please." I paid her and hurried out the door.

I didn't relax until I reached the safety of my car. 'OK, maybe Joe was right. It wasn't so bad to buy condoms. I don't know what I was so afraid of.' I turned on the radio and drove home.

It was finals week at school. Sherry and I didn't have much time together, except first thing in the morning. She seemed to have gotten over her initial fright from our unprotected sex. Things seemed to be back to normal.

On Thursday, the next to the last day of school, I asked her, "Track and finals are over. Do you want to go out Friday night and celebrate?"

"Sure, that sounds great." Sherry replied. She gave me a kiss just as the warning bell rang. I kissed her again and we separated and went to our home rooms.

I took Sherry to the latest Hollywood blockbuster movie. It had lots of action, chases and loud music. We loved it. It was after 9 o'clock when we left the theater.

"I don't think we have enough time tonight to make love. What do you think?"

"I'd like to cool it for a little. Last Saturday night scared me."

"You and me both. When we're ready, I have a brand new box of condoms that we can use up. They're guaranteed not to break."

We made out for about fifteen minutes in the parking lot and then drove home.

My parents were dragging me to a family reunion on Saturday, so I didn't see Sherry. I called her Sunday afternoon after church.

"Heh, how are you doing?" I asked.

"Good. I missed you today."

"I missed you too. My parent's family reunion was totally boring."

"I thought my period should have started today. No sign of it yet."

"You don't think you're pregnant do you?" I asked, starting to panic.

"I don't think so. My period has never been real regular. It's often a few days late. It's probably nothing."

"When do you start work at the green house?"

"Next Wednesday. When do you start at the shipping company?"

"Not until next Monday a week."

Our conversation continued on about the mundane things that happen in our lives. I ended the conversation with "Sherry I love you."

I thought some more about what Joe and I had talked about last month. The longer I knew Sherry the more I felt for her. I did love her. It was the real thing, not lust, not puppy love. I had a great time on our date on Friday night. We didn't have sex. We barely even made out. It was simply being with her. It felt right.

Sherry and I got together nearly every evening. We usually just spent the night at my house or her house watching TV or DVDs. Nothing special, just time together. We made a date for Friday night. We decided to go to the mini-golf course in Lampeter. We had fun. After golf we stopped by the ice cream store in Strasburg. It was getting dark when we finished.

"Sherry, would you like to... uhh... visit the park... again?" I asked, trying not to be too explicit in a public place.

"Not tonight. I'm still worried about our uhh... last time. We need to talk, but not in here." We ate our snack quickly and headed for my car.

When we drove for home, I asked, "OK Sherry, what's up?"

"I still haven't had my period. I'm starting to get a little concerned. What if I'm pregnant?"

"You said before that it isn't unusual for you period to be a few days late. Let's take things one step at a time."

I pulled off the road and stopped. I leaned over and kissed Sherry. "We'll get through this together." I kissed her again. "I'll talk with my brother and see what he suggests, OK?"

Sherry sniffled a little. I hugged her and gently kissed her. I pulled back onto the highway and drove Sherry home. I kissed her before she got out of the car. "We'll get through this together. Trust me."

The next day I called my brother Joe. "Can I come over to talk?"

"Sure, what's up?"

"Umm... I need to talk about this face to face."

"OK, I'm not going anywhere this afternoon. Come any time."

"I'll be over in fifteen minutes." I said and hung up the phone.

I drove over. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering like crazy. 'I hope Joe will know what we should do.'

I knocked at his apartment door. Joe yelled, "Come in Justin, it's open." I walked in and sat down on his sofa.

Joe was sitting in his easy chair. "What's up little brother?"

"Umm... well... uhh... I wanted to talk... uhh... actually I need to talk..."

"Justin, spit it out. What's wrong?"

"Well uhhh..." I took a deep breath, steeled my nerves and started, "Well you know that Sherry and I have been having sex, right?"

"Yesss... and?"

"Well... we're worried that she might be pregnant." I sighed when I finally got it out.

"What!?! You told me that you always used a condom. How did this happen?"

"Well... uhhh... The last time the condom was kind of old... and... uhhh..."

"Come on! tell me."

"Well, the condom broke." My eyes started to tear up.

"Oh. Oh, my." Joe had a disappointed look on his face. Suddenly I felt like a little kid again, not someone who was starting eleventh grade in a couple months.

Joe moved to the couch beside me and gave me a hug. I wiped my eyes, trying to hide the tears. His arm around felt right. Someone cared about me. I sighed again.

Joe looked at me and asked, "How long ago did this happen?"

"Uh... two weeks ago."

"When is Sherry's period due?"

"She said three or four days ago. But she isn't really regular."

"OK. It's a little too early to find out for sure. You know the pregnancy tests that they advertise on TV?"

"Yeah."

"They don't work if you take them too early. You need to wait at least another week before you try one."

"OK. What else do we do?"

"Justin you need to support Sherry. This is an incredibly difficult time for her. She is going to need your help desperately. You're a great 16 year old. But you may need to grow up a lot in the next few months."

"I'm beginning to understand something dad told me last year when I got home a couple hours late from a date. The feelings that go with sex and love are intense. He said they were like fire. I certainly feel the heat now."

"I'm glad you understand that. I have one more question. You and I had a talk about what love is. Have you figured anything out yet?"

"I think, but I'm not totally sure. My dates with Sherry are great, even when we don't make love. She feels like a perfect fit to me. I believe I am in love with her."

"Does she feel the same way about you?"

"I think so. She says she loves me."

"That will help both of through this. Why don't you and Sherry take one of the EPT pregnancy tests in about ten days. That should be enough time for it to be accurate. If it is positive, I'll make an appointment for the two of you at the local clinic. OK?"

Joe hugged me again and kissed me on the forehead.

I met Sherry after lunch on Sunday. We went for a drive.

"I talked to Joe yesterday." I explained. "He suggested that we start with one of the at-home pregnancy tests first and see what it says. But that won't work yet. We need to wait another ten days before we can try it."

"Great. I'm tired of waiting. It's driving me crazy."

"I know. I can't concentrate on anything. I keep wondering what we're going to do."

"Justin, I'm scared."

"I am too. But we have each other. If you need to talk or just need a shoulder to cry on. I'm here. I'll always be here for you."

"Thank God for you. A couple other girls in our grade got pregnant and their ex-boyfriends won't even talk to them. Justin, thank you for being here."

Sherry leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. We talked some more about work and the trip coming up next month to Canada. Just normal small talk. After half an hour I pulled into the local Dairy Queen and bought each of us some ice cream. I drove Sherry home when we finished.

Sherry and I settled into a comfortable routine. We worked during the day and met to watch TV or DVDs at her house or at my house most evenings. Neither of us felt like going out anywhere.

After a week of this, my mother decided to have a talk with me when Sherry went home.

"Justin, are you and Sherry all right? You used to go out so often. Now all you do is sit at home together and watch videos. Is anything wrong?"

I forced a smile and replied, "No we're fine. I want to save my money in case I need it later, that's all."

"That's very responsible of you. Uncharacteristic, but responsible."

"I just don't feel like spending my money on junk I really don't need. That's all."

"OK. You know if you or Sherry have any problems, we can talk. About anything."

"I know mom." I got up from the couch and walked upstairs to my room.

Waiting another ten days to find out our fate was driving me crazy. The only thing that kept me sane was my nights with Sherry. Finally the day came. Time to find out if Sherry is pregnant. I picked her up after work and drove to Lancaster. I took her out for dinner. The conversation was quiet and subdued. After dinner we stopped at the CVS and bought a pregnancy test kit. Sherry read the directions on the way home. We went to my house since my parents went out with friends that night.

When we arrived, Sherry went straight to the bathroom to take the test. When she was done, we sat down and watched TV while we waited to find out our fate.

I looked at my watch. "It's time Sherry. Are you ready?"

"No! I can't look. You check it. Please?"

I walked to the bathroom like a doomed man. I picked the tester and carried it out to the living room. I breathed deep. I looked at it.

'Shit! Blue! Damn it.' I thought. "Sherry it's positive."

Sherry stared at me stunned. I sat down beside her and hugged her. She sniffled a couple times, laid her head on my shoulder and started to cry. She wailed for five minutes.

'What do I do?' I sniffled a little. 'Hold it together. Sherry really needs you now.' I held Sherry tight to my chest. I patted and rubbed her back, trying to comfort her. She kept on crying. 'What can I say? God. Now what.' I sniffled a little and tried to hold back my tears. 'Be strong. Sherry needs someone strong.' I breathed deep. Sherry started to quiet down a little.

She sobbed, "Uh... Justin... sniffle... I... ccc... an't... be... preg... sniffle... pregnant..." She started to cry again. I kissed her on the cheek and held her tight.

"Sherry, I know you're scared. So am I. Keep crying. This sucks. I told you before that you can cry on my shoulder anytime. So keep crying." I rubbed her back and kissed her cheek again.

Sherry sniffled and sobbed, "I... don't... sniffle... know... what... to do."

"I know. I'll call my brother Joe. He will help us." I rubbed Sherry's back again. She was finally starting to calm down a little.

"First thing, we need to get an appointment at the clinic so you can be tested properly. These at-home tests aren't always accurate. Joe said he would make us an appointment if we needed it."

Sherry sobbed and said, "How can I do this? sniffle... I don't know... sniffle... how I can... do this..."

I looked Sherry in the eye. "Sherry, look at me. I will be there with you every step of the way. We can get through this together, one step at a time. Do you believe me?"

"Yesss... uhhh... I think so..." Sherry answered hesitantly.

"Sherry, I love you. I loved you before. I love you now. I'll always love you." I pulled Sherry close, hugged her and kissed her on the lips.

Sherry looked at me and said, "I do love you Justin. I'm just afraid. I keep thinking about all the things I planned and expected to do."

I kissed her again. This time she responded and kissed back. We sat back on the couch and cuddled together. We held each other tight as we watched TV. Around 9:30 I kissed Sherry again and then I drove her home.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow after work. I'll let you know what Joe had to say. I love you." I kissed her and she got out and walked to her house.

When I got home I called Joe. "You remember what we talked about two weekends ago?"

"Yeah."

"Well, call the clinic and make us an appointment. The test is positive."

"Man, I'm sorry to hear that. Are you OK?"

"I'll survive. I'm worried about Sherry. She cried half of the night tonight. I tried to comfort her, but I don't know if I helped any."

"Just be there for her. That's probably all you can do now. I'll call you tomorrow."

"Thanks, bro. I couldn't do this without your help."

I hung up the phone and went to my room. I laid down on my bed and thought, 'Dad. That was what I was going to be. Not in 5 or 10 years. In seven and a half months.' I sighed. 'No football scholarships to college. Could I even go to college? I don't know anything about my future anymore. All I knew was I was going to be parent in seven and a half months. I better start growing up. Fast!'

Joe called back after work the next day. "I set up an appointment for next Tuesday at 1:30 pm for Sherry and you. Do you want me to go along?"

"No, thanks for offering Joe. I got Sherry into this. I need to take care of this."

Usually Sherry called before we got together in the evening. She didn't call. At 7:30, I started to worry. I called the Jones. No one answered the phone. I decided to drive over and make sure Sherry was OK.

When I got there, I saw that Sherry's parent's car was missing. Sherry's light was on, so I knew she was home. I knocked at the door. She didn't answer. I knocked again. Still no answer. I walked around to the side of the house by Sherry's bedroom window. I looked in. Sherry was lying on her bed with earphones on. I knocked on the glass. I finally got her attention. She came to the window.

"Justin, why didn't you go to the door?"

"I did, you didn't hear me knocking."

"Come around front so I can let you in."

I walked to the front door, where I met Sherry. She let me in the door.

"Are your parents here?"

"No they went out for a couple hours."

"Good. We need to talk."

"I know. I haven't thought about anything else all day."

"Are you OK?"

"I guess. I think stunned would best describe the way I feel."

"I know, that's how I feel to. Joe made us an appointment for next Tuesday at 1:30 pm at the local clinic. We'll have to get off from work that afternoon."

"Are you going with me?"

"Of course. I told you I will be with you every step of the way."

We sat down on the couch and popped a DVD in. We cuddled together and watched the movie quietly.

We passed the next few days the same way. Together, just passing time. I got off work for a doctor's appointment. So did Sherry.

Chapter 24

Tuesday after lunch I drove over to the greenhouse where Sherry worked and picked her up. We drove to the clinic.

"Sherry, are you going to be OK when we find out for sure?" I asked.

She breathed in and said. "I think so. I'm starting to get used to the idea. It still scares me. But having you beside me makes me believe that we can get through this. I love you Justin. I'm sorry I haven't said it enough lately. I'm just so scared and confused."

"I know. I feel the same way. We'll find out for sure today and then we need to make plans."

"I know. Just stay with me, OK?"

I patted her stomach as I drove. "You couldn't stop me if you wanted to. I love you Sherry."

I pulled into the clinic parking lot. We walked into the building hand in hand. The receptionist took Sherry's name and had us sit down to wait. After five minutes, a nurse came out and called Sherry's name. We stood up and headed for the exam room.

"I'm sorry, you can't come back here." the nurse said, looking at me.

"But, I need to... " I stammered.

"It will be alright Justin. I'm good." Sherry explained, trying to reassure me. She disappeared into the exam area. I went back to my seat, suddenly feeling very unnecessary.

Sherry came back out about fifteen minutes later. "We have to wait while they run the tests."