Chapter 16

My alarm woke me at six am. It was too early to go to the hospital. I rolled over and wished that the last three weeks were a dream. Mom’s knock at the door brought me back to reality. Doctor High was going to cut my knee open today.

I limped to the bathroom and showered. I went back to my room and dressed. I checked my bag to make sure I had packed everything I wanted for my two day stay in the hospital. Mom yelled from downstairs, “Hurry up, Kyle. We need to be at the hospital by seven.”

“I’m on the way, Mom,” I answered. I picked up my bag and limped downstairs and headed for the car. I desperately wanted something to eat. It wasn’t permitted before an operation.

I didn’t have anything to say as Mom drove me to Lancaster. Mom asked, “Are you scared about this operation, Kyle?”

“I wouldn’t say I’m scared, just a little nervous. I wonder how everything will turn out. I’ve never stayed in a hospital before. What happens if the operation doesn’t fix my knee?”

“I don’t have that answer, Kyle. Doctor High is an excellent surgeon who has done this operation a dozen times. He is confident that it will be successful,” Mom answered soothingly.

Mom filled out insurance forms while I waited at Admitting when we arrived at the hospital. Mom said she would join me shortly when the nurse took me upstairs to my room. The nurse had me undress and get into one of the short hospital gowns that didn’t cover nearly enough of me. I hopped in bed quickly so my backside didn’t stick out. I had my book and MP3 player for entertainment while I waited.

The nurse came back in ten minutes to get my temperature, blood pressure and a blood sample. I read and listened to music until Mom joined me. We talked for a little while we waited.

A different nurse came in with a basin and a razor. She said, “I have to shave your leg Kyle. It’s the left one, correct?” She giggled.

I nodded and said, “Yes, it’s the left one. Why do you need to shave it?” I knew I didn’t have much more than fuzz on it.

She explained, “It would hurt when your dressings come off after the operation if I didn’t shave you.” It took the nurse a minute to shave my leg from mid-thigh to mid-calf. She dried my leg and disappeared.

Mom and I waited another 45 minutes before anyone appeared. Doctor High and another doctor came in. Doctor High said, “Hello, Kyle. How are you doing?”

“I’m fine. What’s next?” I answered.

“I need to do a final check before you go upstairs for your procedure. This is Doctor Fletcher, your anesthesiologist,” Doctor High explained. He introduced me and my mother to Doctor Fletcher. Doctor Fletcher asked me and Mom a series of questions about allergies and drug reactions. We explained that I had never had any problem in the past. Doctor High examined my knee while Doctor Fletcher talked.

Doctor High smiled when he was finished. “Everything looks fine, Kyle. I’ll see you upstairs in half an hour. I’ll get this knee back in shape so you can be on the football field next season.”

“Thanks, Doctor,” I answered as they left.

A third nurse came in a couple minutes later. She asked for my left arm. She inserted a needle into my arm with a plastic thing attached to it. She taped it down to my arm. She said, “I’m going to give you an injection that will relax you. You may feel a little groggy after this. It’s normal.” She injected the drug into the plastic thing in my arm. I laid back and listened to music while I waited.

Two nurses and an orderly came a few minutes later with a gurney. They helped me switch from my bed to the gurney. Mom gave me a kiss on the forehead and said, “I love you, Kyle. I’ll be here when you get done with the operation.”

“I love you too Mom.” I replied as they wheeled me out the door. They took me down the hall to the elevator and then up to the operating room. They left me in the hall for a minute while they checked the operating room. The nurse and orderly returned for me shortly. They wheeled me into the brightly lit operating room. They transferred me off the gurney. Doctor High, Doctor Fletcher and two of the nurses who helped me earlier in the morning were there.

Doctor High asked, “Are you ready, Kyle?”

Am I ready to have you cut me open? What the hell kind of question is that? I waited a second and answered quietly, “I guess I’m ready.”

Doctor Fletcher looked down at me. He said, “I’m going to put you under now, Kyle. Count backwards from 100 for me.” He injected something into the tube that ran into my arm.

I counted, “100... 99... 98... 97...” Everything faded away.

My mind was in a haze when I woke up. I could hear muffled sounds that seemed to be in the background. I tried to open my eyes. It was too bright. I closed them again. I tried to concentrate on the sounds but couldn’t follow them. I tried to open my eyes again after a couple minutes. I heard someone say, “He’s waking up, Mrs. Martin.

I heard my mother say, “Welcome back, honey. Everything went well. You lie back and relax. Let the anesthesia wear off.” She gave me a kiss on the forehead and held my hand. I lay there enjoying the comfort of Mom holding my hand while my head cleared. Within a few minutes I could stand to open my eyes. Things were blurry at first but they gradually cleared.

I felt hungry and thirsty. I asked, “Can I get some lunch? I’m starved.”

Mom said, “It’s three in the afternoon, Kyle. Lunch was a long time ago. Let me check with the nurse to see if I can get you something to eat.” Mom disappeared for a minute. When she returned she said, “I’m sorry, Kyle. You can’t have solid food yet. You can have some water.” She held a large cup with a straw up to me. I sipped as much I could take. It helped slake my thirst a little.

A nurse and an orderly came in with a gurney. The nurse said, “It’s time for you to go back to your room, Kyle.” They slid me over onto the gurney and wheeled me to the elevator and took me downstairs to my room. They moved me back to my bed. Another nurse came in when the first nurse and orderly left.

She said, “I’m Nurse Simmers. I will be on duty on this floor this evening. If you need anything, push this buzzer. Do you have any questions, Kyle?”

“When is dinner?” I asked.

Nurse Simmers laughed. Mom did too. Mom said, “You see what I put up with? I have three teenagers at home.”

Nurse Simmers said, “I have two of my own at home. Let me check your chart, Kyle.” She looked it over. “You’re scheduled for supper this evening.”

“Bring a lot please,” I said hopefully.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Nurse Simmers said as she left my room.

I asked, “Mom, can I have my MP3 player? I’d like to listen to some music.”

“Sure, honey,” Mom answered. She gave me my MP3 player. I settled down to listen to my tunes. I fell asleep after a couple songs. Mom woke me up at dinner time. I wolfed down everything they brought me. I could have used another two or three trays of food to satisfy my hunger. I finished my water. Mom got more. Later I asked if I could have some Coke. Nurse Simmers said it was OK. Mom brought me a nice cold soda from the vending machine down the hall.

It was about 7:00 o’clock when I realized that I hadn’t gone to the bathroom all day. I really needed to go. Mom wasn’t in the room at the time. I buzzed for the nurse. When she arrived I said, “I need to go to the bathroom.”

“I’ll get you a bedpan, Kyle,” Nurse Simmers answered.

“A bedpan? Can’t I go the normal way?”

“You can tomorrow,” she answered. “You stay in bed tonight.” She returned with the bedpan. I never thought any place to go to the bathroom would be worse than the latrine boxes in Algonquin. I was wrong. I hoped I would never see another bedpan after I finished with that one.

Mom returned a little later. We talked for a little. Mom left just before eight o’clock. She turned the TV to ESPN so I could watch the Eagles play the Redskins. I caught sight of Zack Hayes’ brother Sam on the sideline a couple times conferring with Donovan, Jeff and Coach Reid.

The game was still in the first half when my knee started to hurt. Within a couple minutes it was throbbing worse than the evening I hurt it three weeks ago. I buzzed for Nurse Simmers. I was afraid something was wrong.

I explained about the pain. Nurse Simmers replied, “I thought you would be calling soon. I expected that the pain medication you were given earlier should be wearing off about now.” She returned with pills for me. I swallowed them with a couple sips of water. It didn’t take too long for them to take effect. I was back to enjoying the football game. I fell asleep before the game was over.

A new nurse woke me up. “You need to take these pills, Kyle.”

“Huh? What are they?” I muttered.

“A sleeping pill, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and more pain medication.”

“You woke me for a sleeping pill?” I muttered quietly. I took the pills as ordered. The nurse turned the TV off on her way out. I slept soundly through the night.

The nurse woke me up at 7 am for more medication. I took my pills and tried to go back to sleep. It didn’t work. A nurse came in a few minutes later. She said, “I’m Mrs. Roland. I’m here to help you to go to the bathroom.”

“Not the bedpan again,” I exclaimed.

Nurse Roland chuckled. “No, it’s much worse this time. You have to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom.”

“That doesn’t sound too bad,” I answered. Nurse Roland helped me scoot over to the edge of the bed and swing my legs down to the floor. She handed me a pair of crutches.

Nurse Roland said, “Put your weight on your right leg Kyle and stand up.” I did it. “Steady yourself with the crutches, Kyle.”

I proceeded very slowly and unsteadily across the twenty or so feet to the bathroom. Nurse Roland helped me down on the toilet and excused herself while I did my business. We reversed the process to get back to my bed.

Nurse Roland returned about fifteen minutes later with more medication. I took my pills. Breakfast came a few minutes later. I ate everything on my tray including the yogurt, something I normally detest. It didn’t begin to fill my hunger.

I lay back with my book and MP3 player to pass the time. I had fifteen or twenty minutes of undisturbed time to read and relax. My therapist, Matt Horn was my next interruption.

Matt smiled as he walked in my room pushing a wheel chair. “Hi, Kyle. How are you doing?”

“I’m OK I guess,” I answered.

“Are you ready to start rehab?” Matt asked.

“I thought I didn’t start until next week?” I asked.

“That’s when your appointments at the Orthopedic Center start. You start rehab immediately after surgery,” Matt explained. Matt held my crutches out to me. I slid out of bed and stood up. “Good, Kyle. Follow me.” Matt said as he wheeled the empty chair towards the door.

“Don’t I get to ride in the wheel chair?” I asked.

Matt kept going. “Only if you need it, Kyle. Follow me.”

I hobbled down the hall as best I could, trying to keep up with Matt. “Put a little weight on your left leg if you can Kyle. That will help.” Matt called back to me. I noticed he looked back at me frequently checking to see how I was doing. I made it half way down the hall to the elevator before my knee started to hurt a little. I slowed down. Matt came back for me immediately. He said, “That was good work, Kyle. I wanted to see how far you could go.” I sat down in the wheel chair.

Matt took me downstairs to the therapy room. He showed me how to use the continuous passive motion (CPM) machine. He started me on the machine. The machine slowly moved my knee from straight to bent and back again. Matt explained that I needed to increase the flexion (bending) by 5 degrees every time I used it until I was comfortable with 95 degrees of flexion. I would use it twice a day for two hours. Matt had arranged for a company to deliver one of the machines to my house. Matt explained that using the machine would prevent internal adhesions from forming that would limit my ability to use my knee. Matt left after about a half hour. A nurse wheeled me back to my room after a couple hours workout with the CPM machine.

The day nurse brought me an ice pack for my knee. I listened to music and read my book until lunch time. I had a little time to relax before the nurse took me back to the therapy room for my second session with the CPM machine. I managed to get my knee bent to 30 degrees without too much pain. I was pretty tired when I returned to my room. The nurse brought another ice pack for my knee.

I only had fifteen minutes rest when Doctor High and the day nurse came to my room. Doctor High removed the dressing on my knee and I got to see it for the first time. I had a 3 inch row of stitches down the center of my knee where Doctor High had removed the piece of patella tendon that he used for the graft. My knee was black and blue, puffed up and swelled.

Doctor High examined my knee for a couple minutes and checked over my chart. He smiled. “Everything looks excellent Kyle. I am going to release you to return home. Keep doing the rehabilitation that Mr. Horn has taught you. This is the key to a good outcome for your surgery. Do you have any questions, Kyle?”

I indicated I didn’t.

Doctor High said, “I’ll see you next Monday. I have left a set of written directions for you and your parents that review everything I have told you today. Your parents may call my office if they have any questions. Good luck.”

Doctor High shook my hand and left. The nurse said she would call my mom and let her know I could go home any time. After the call was done she helped me get dressed in regular clothes so I would be ready when Mom got there.

Mom arrived a little after 4 pm. I had everything ready. I wanted to get home. I had more than enough of hospitals. Mom stopped at the babysitters to pick up Liz. She climbed in the back seat of the mini-van and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

“I’m glad you’re coming home, Kyle. I missed you.”

“Thanks, Liz.”

Liz gushed, “Mom says I don’t have to go to the babysitter’s anymore this week. I can come straight home from school.”

“That’s nice,” I said.

“I’m too old to be going to a babysitter’s,” Liz said.

“And too young to stay home alone. After Kyle goes back to school you will go back the sitters until football season is over.” Mom added.

“Andy didn’t have to go to the sitters when he was in seventh grade,” Liz insisted.

Mom confirmed, “That’s right. But that was after football was over. He had to stay at school with Kyle during the winter when Kyle was studying game tapes that year.”

“OK, Mom,” Liz said grumpily.

Liz helped by carrying my bag inside when we got home. I took my time getting into the house. Mom made up an ice pack for my knee. I headed to the family room to watch TV until dinner time. Andy stopped by to talk when he got home from football practice. He filled me in on our game plan for the Braves on Friday night. Dad stopped by too and gave me a hug to welcome me home.

Mom made my favorite, spaghetti, for dinner. I ate two huge helpings along with salad and garlic bread. When dinner was done Mom surveyed the empty dishes on the table and asked, “I hope supper wasn’t too disappointing, Kyle.”

“It was great, Mom,” I answered. “I’ve felt starved since Sunday evening. This is just what I needed. Thanks.”

I headed to the family room to rest my leg for the evening. I did my knee extensions, quad sets, straight leg raises and heel slides while I watched TV. I had to do these exercises for ten minutes every hour I was awake.

Ed came over to see how I was doing. We started talking about my surgery when Jeremy and Hal came to visit. Ed, Hal and Jeremy turned out to be the first of a whole string of visitors that night. Drew and Stacie stopped by. Nick Zeimer stopped by to say he was sorry for the hundredth time. I assured him that he didn’t have to apologize. It wasn’t his fault. Greg Harrison came over and stayed for half an hour. Our entire offensive line – Jerry, Dustin, Adam, Josh and Jamaal – visited for a little while. George Reynolds and Jake Kring came as the o-line was leaving.

Penny Edwards came by with a heavy day pack as Greg, George and Jake were leaving. She greeted my friends and gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek when she arrived. She said, “How do you feel, Kyle?”

“I’m pretty good, Penny,” I answered.

Greg said, “The three of us should get going, Kyle. You two might want a little privacy.” He gave me a wink.

“No. It’s not like that. Penny has my homework assignments,” I explained.

Greg answered, “We should go anyway, Kyle. Get well. We need you helping us out.”

Jake added, “We miss you, Kyle. Practice isn’t the same without you.”

My teammates headed out. Penny joined me on the couch. We talked about my operation for a couple minutes then Penny went over my homework assignments. We decided to get to work on our Pre-calculus.

We had been working a half hour when we heard my Mom say, “He’s in the family room.” That was followed by the sound of two small feet racing from the front door to the family room.

Billy Baer dashed through the door. “Hi, Kyle. How are you doing?” He looked at Penny and me. “Hi, Penny. I didn’t know you would be here.”

I smiled at Billy. “Hi, Billy. I’m feeling pretty good. Where’s mom and dad?”

Justin said, “We’re right here.” As he and his wife Sherry came into the family room.

Justin, Sherry, Penny and I talked for fifteen minutes. Justin and Sherry were getting ready to go when Billy asked Penny and me, “What’cha been doing?”

“We’re doing our homework,” I answered.

“Mommy made me do mine before dinner. Mrs. Wexler gave us a hand out on the alphabet.”

Penny said, “You’ll find out that homework gets harder when you get older.”

Billy said, “Oh, OK.” as he put on his coat.

I asked, “Justin, I can breakdown plays on our possible playoff opponents if you bring me some videos. The earliest I can go back to school is next Tuesday. I’m going to want something useful to do other than homework.”

Justin answered, “I’ll talk to Coach Caffrey. I think we can use your help. The rest of us have to focus on the Braves and the Tigers. I’ll bring tapes over tomorrow night if Coach Caffrey says it is OK.”

“Thanks, Justin.”

“You take care of yourself. Work hard on your rehab,” Justin said.

Sherry added, “Get well soon, Kyle.” Sherry, Justin and Billy headed for home.

Penny asked, “Is Sherry putting on weight or is she pregnant?”

I smiled. “You haven’t heard, have you? Justin and Sherry are going to have another child.”

“How far along is Sherry?” Penny asked.

“About eleven weeks.”

“Ahh, another Algonquin baby.” Penny said. Both of us laughed. Penny and I went back to Pre-calc. Mom interrupted our work. “Kyle, it’s time for your medication.”

“Already?” I asked.

“It is 9:30, Kyle.” Mom answered.

“Good grief,” Penny exclaimed. “I’ve got to get going. I don’t want my dad freaking out on me.”

“I’ll get my pills on the way to my bedroom,” I called to Mom. Penny gave me a hug. “Thanks for bringing my work home for me, Penny.” I said. I gave Penny a kiss on the cheek. At least that is what I intended. Penny turned to face me as I kissed her. Our lips met. The kiss lasted a little too long for a kiss between friends.

Penny backed away a little flustered. “Um, I got to go, Kyle. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

The unexpected kiss brought way too many old memories back. The feel of Penny’s lips, the smell of her perfume, the intimacy we had once shared stirred my lust. My cock swelled to an immediate erection. That was all I needed when I needed to see Mom for my medicine. I arranged myself so my erection wasn’t too noticeable and hobbled out to the kitchen.

I took my medicine with a glass of orange juice. I headed upstairs to my bedroom. I went to bed earlier than usual. The past two days had been hard. I needed some peaceful sleep, unlike the last two nights.

Mom woke me up and made me take my pills before she left for work around 8 in the morning. Liz and Andy had left for school an hour earlier. Dad had left for work. I hobbled off to the bathroom for my first shower in two days.

I was allowed to remove the dressing over my wound today. I pulled the brace off and carefully unwrapped the gauze holding the dressing on my leg. I knew my left knee would look ugly, but I was still shocked. It was swelled to at least twice the size of my right knee. I had a neat row of stitches extending three inches across the front of my knee. I had more stitches closing the other three holes in my leg. The whole knee was still black and blue.

I was extremely careful while I showered. It isn’t easy to take a shower on one leg. I finally found something good about the bad ankle sprain I had in the spring. I was experienced at one legged showers. I dried off and put an ace bandage on around my knee. I dressed and went downstairs for breakfast.

My day went faster than I expected. I did my exercises for ten minutes after breakfast. I did homework for 50 minutes. I used the continuous passive motion (CPM) machine for two hours. I did more homework. I did my exercises followed by lunch, more homework, exercises, homework and another 2 hour session with the CPM machine. It was after three o’clock before I had free time. I got an ice pack for my knee and settled into the couch to read my book on the Battle of Spotsylvania.

I free time was interrupted as soon as I got settled. After she slammed the front door Liz yelled, “I’m home, Kyle. Where are you?”

“I’m in the family room,” I answered.

Liz poked her head in the family room door. “This is so cool to come straight home from school. I hope football is over soon.”

“Thanks, Liz. The football team will really appreciate you rooting for them to lose in the playoffs.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, Kyle. I hope you guys win in the playoffs, but I’m happy to be away from all the little kids at Mrs. Morton’s house.”

“I understand, Liz.”

“Can I go over to Dave’s house?” Liz asked. She was referring to her friend Davey Mitchell.

“Is Mrs. Mitchell home?” I asked.

“No.”

“Davey can come over here if you want, Liz.”

“Thanks, Kyle,” Liz said. She disappeared again. I heard her calling Davey and asking him to come over.

Davey arrived within a few minutes. Davey came in the family room with Liz to say hi before they went upstairs. I wanted to talk to him alone. I said, “Liz, why don’t you go to the kitchen and get milk and cookies for you and Davey?”

“Really? Thanks, Kyle. I’ll do that,” Liz replied. Davey started to leave with Liz.

I said, “Davey, have a seat.” I pointed at the chair beside the couch. Davey sat down.

“Liz will be home after school everyday this week. I’m responsible for her. I want to come to an understanding with you about what is permitted when you are here.”

“OK, Kyle.”

“You understand about what guys and girls do together, right?” I asked.

Davey frowned a little. “I’m not sure what you mean, Kyle.”

“You do. When guys and girls kiss, make out, or maybe more. You think about this don’t you?”

Davey blushed a little. “Um ... yes.”

“You are thirteen right?” I asked.

“Not yet. I don’t turn thirteen until next month,” Davey answered.

“That just reinforces the point I want to make. You and Liz are too young to be doing those things. I will be really upset if I find out you have been doing anything like that when I’m in charge. Is that clear Davey?”

“Yes, Kyle,” Davey said.

“Good. Why don’t you go get your snack with Liz,” I suggested. Davey headed for the kitchen. I could hear them talking over their cookies and milk. I went back to reading.

I heard Andy come home from football practice. He popped his head in the family room. “Hi, Kyle. How’s your knee?” Andy asked.

“It’s OK. How was practice?”

“Practice is going pretty well. The coaches have a few new plays for the Braves. I think the game will be fun,” Andy answered.

Justin walked in the room. “Hey, Kyle. I gave Andy a ride home. Coach Caffrey wanted me to bring you these videos.” Justin set a stack on the coffee table that had to have 25-30 videos in it. “I know this is a lot Kyle. I don’t think you can go through all of these. Start at the top and work your way down as far as you can. The videos on the top are the teams we are most likely to see in the playoffs.”

“I’ll do what I can, Justin,” I answered.

“Are you allowed to come to the game on Friday night?”

“No. I have to stay home and keep my knee elevated and iced for a week,” I explained. “I can’t come to the game.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Justin answered. “I’ll miss you up in the booth with me.”

“What should I do with the breakdowns?”

“E-mail them to me,” Justin answered. “I’ll pass them on to the other coaches.”

“I’ll do that Justin.”

“See you later, Kyle. I’ve got to get home for supper,” Justin said. He headed back out of the room.

I was curious which teams I was going to look over. The top of the stack included South Western, Pottsville, Gettysburg, and Daniel Boone. Those teams weren’t surprising. The next stack included Unionville, Upper Moreland, Easton Catholic and West Scranton. We wouldn’t see any of those teams until the State Eastern Finals. The bottom of the stack had Pine-Richland, Thomas Jefferson, Strong Vincent and Hollidaysburg. The coaches were serious about us playing for the state championship. The last four teams were from western Pennsylvania. The only way we would see them was if we played for the state championship.

I did another set of exercises before dinner. I hobbled to the bathroom just before it was time for dinner.

Penny came over after dinner with today’s homework assignments. We spent a couple hours working on the Pre-calc, Chemistry and English. Penny loaded my work from today in her day pack so she could turn it in for me tomorrow. We shared the couch and watched some TV together when we were done with our homework.

When the 8:30 show was over I said, “I don’t know how to thank you for everything you have done since I got hurt, Penny. You’re the best.”

“You’d do the same thing for me, Kyle,” Penny said. “You are a good friend too.” I kissed Penny, on the lips again. It wasn’t an accident this time. I meant it. She may not be my girlfriend anymore, but she is still one of my closest friends.

Thursday and Friday went about the same as Wednesday. I filled my day with my exercises, time on the CPM machine, homework and studying videos of our potential opponents. By Friday afternoon I had my knee up to a 65 degree bend on the CPM machine. At the rate I was progressing I should get to my goal of a 95 degree bend on Monday. I could see the swelling going down day by day. My knee was yellowish-purple as the bruising faded.

I hoped PCN would feature our game with the Braves. No such luck. Jeremy picked up Andy after an early dinner on Friday night. They had to catch the team buses to the Braves’ Stadium for the night’s game. Mom, Dad and Liz left about fifteen minutes after Andy.

I was a little surprised by a knock at the door a half hour after my family had left. I yelled, “Hang on. I’ll be there in a minute.” as I hobbled for the front door as quickly as I could go.

I opened the door and found Penny standing there smiling at me. I blurted, “I thought you would be at the game tonight.”

“I have a friend who couldn’t go. I thought he could use the company.”

“You’re the greatest, Penny,” I said. We headed back to the family room. Penny brought along a couple of recent release DVD’s from the video store.

We settled in together on the couch. A few minutes after the movie started I put my arm around Penny’s shoulder. She snuggled up against me and laid her head on my shoulder. It felt so totally natural. We had done this a hundred times before. My cock twitched and started to get hard.

I managed to behave myself for about fifteen minutes. Propriety went out the window when the hero in the movie seduced his love interest and made love to her on the beach. Penny’s left hand moved onto my right thigh. She rubbed and massaged my leg. I glanced down at Penny’s breasts. Her nipples were poking out her blouse.

I breathed in and smelled Penny’s strawberry shampoo. Penny’s hand inched further up my thigh towards my now very prominent erection. She turned her head and stared down at my lap. I nuzzled her exposed neck. I let my right hand slide down onto Penny’s right breast. I caressed it gently.

Penny turned her head and stared into my eyes. “Do you ... think...” She didn’t get a chance to finish the sentence. I kissed her on the lips. I opened my mouth and slipped my tongue to Penny. My tongue met hers. I could feel Penny shiver when our tongues met. My spine tingled. Our old feelings hadn’t faded.

Penny and I rearranged ourselves. I laid back and Penny straddled my right leg. We continued kissing, our passion quickly rising. We kissed and rubbed our bodies together. Things progressed much faster than either of us intended.