SHE HAD THINGS SHE JUST HAD TO TELL HIM . . . BUT HOW?!?!
Supper that evening at the Grayson's was "shaky and nervous". That's how Jill would have
described it (and that's how she did describe it later when she wrote about it in her personal diary). She was almost too embarrassed to look at either Bill or her father during the evening meal.
Danny and Jack had no trouble keeping up a steady banter over the meal of pizza, chips, salad, and fruit. They were trading remarks about the fun they had had that afternoon in the 'ol swimming hole. Bill joined in occasionally between big bites (he was hungry), but he didn't say too much; he was only too aware of how quiet Jill was, seated across from him. She poked at her food, and took only a few small bites of pizza.
"Jill, dear, I hope you're not getting sick," offered her mother who had noticed how little she was talking and eating. "I worry about the germs in that old stream. I hope you didn't pick up something."
"I'm fine, Mom," she insisted, and took another big bite of fruit to prove it.
"Well, that's good," said her father. "Because this is movie night as usual, for anybody who wants to join us in the family room. We'll be watching Part II of the Randolph Stakes Adventure. It should be good."
"Popcorn as usual," reminded Margaret cheerily.
"Sounds good," said Bill.
"Do what you need to do," said her Dad. "You've had a full day with a lot of excitement. I would imagine you're pretty tired."
"I guess I am," she answered, looking away.
"I guess she got lots of exercise running after those two wild boys in her bikini," shot Danny.
Jill, who had tried hard to stomp down her embarrassment, glowed red with that and anger. "Danny, I'll get you for that!" she snarled.
"Danny!" said Gene with real sternness. "Jill has already heard from me about that. No more teasing!"
Jill started weeping, in spite of herself. "There, there, Honey, it's okay," said Margaret. Danny reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, Sis. I didn't mean --"
"Get your hands off me!" cried Jill, her hormones rushing. But she and the others knew she didn't mean it. Jill did want comforting just then, but preferably from Cousin Bill. There was no chance of that happening as the latter himself had turned red, embarrassed at Jill's surprising range of
responses and emotions, and silent. Bill was understandably as baffled as a male of any age when confronted with the vicissitudes of feminine emotion. "May I be excused," asked Jill, controlling her sobs through her hands over her face. "Of course, Dear. I'll be up to check on you soon."
Jill left while the others finished their meal. "May I be excused too please?" asked Danny. "Sure, daughter," smiled her dad. When he saw her heading out the door in the direction of her sister, he added, "Uh, Danny? Just please don't agitate your sister."
Danny did her best to look shocked. "Father! I'm surprised at you. I love my dear sister! I would never endeavor to do anything to harm her!" she answered with a toss of her brown curls and in her best fake old English dialect.
"Danny!"
"Yes, sir, Dad. I get your meaning." She ran off upstairs, much chastened by the tone of her father's voice.
"You're welcome to watch the movie with us, boys," smiled Aunt Margaret.
"I think I will," said Bill.
"I'll do what he's doin'," added Jack. "If I go upstairs, they'll just want to play games."
"Nothing wrong with that," remarked Uncle Gene. "The girls have some fun games up there now."
"I'll clear the table off and you can play them right here, if that's what you decide to do later on," offered Margaret.
"Maybe so. We'll see," replied Jack, sounding undecided. His cousins were lots of fun and
always came up with fun stuff to do. He suspected they were busy hatching something new right now . . . .
"Bill?" called his uncle. "Why don't you come and help me set up the dvd player?"
He looked at his uncle strangely and caught his uncle's wink. They both knew the dvd player was already set up. But he said, "Sure, Uncle Gene." Bill was sure he was going to hear about something as unrelated to the intricacies of home electronics as it could get. In light of the afternoon's activities he was pretty sure he knew what the subject would be. His uncle and he had already talked together about the swimming outing and all that had happened there. Bill appreciated discovering that his uncle was very understanding about the whole incident.
They went into the den where the large-screen tv was set up. The den was always sort of gloomy in the evenings, and especially on movie nights -- there wasn't any need for the extra pole lamps which stood on each side of the long couch. Gene sat down in one of the easy chairs there and Bill took a seat on a nearby couch.
"Bill, I guess you've probably noticed Jill's behavior. I mean she probably seems a little different than in previous visits."
Bill nodded. "Yes, sir." He offered no more, just kept on listening.
Gene cleared his throat. It wasn't easy for him to talk about his girls to another male, even if he was a family member. "By now, I'm sure you've had a talk with your dad about what goes on in the life of a young girl of Jill's age."
Bill nodded, feeling some embarrassment surface. He'd had a conversation or too with his father, but they didn't talk about much more than how children were conceived and born and why it was best to wait until marriage to have sexual intercourse. Come to think of it that was a lot! But it
hadn't been easy for Richard Thompson to talk to his son about such things.
Things had gone a little easier in discussions with his mother. She had been especially helpful about the whole mystery of female puberty. That had also been a hard talk to sit through, but when it was over, he was glad he'd heard it all from her. "They go through some changes, I heard," he remarked. "That's right," nodded Uncle Gene. "And those changes have to do with hormones and becoming fully mature. While it's happening they can be extremely emotional about seemingly little things."
"I guess so, Sir."
"Yeah," said Gene, folding his hands in his lap and looking down. It was hard for him to talk about such things too. "So, I guess it's our job as men is to be sensitive to all those emotional changes, and help them through it whenever we can -- if they let us, that is."
"Yes, Sir," he added. "That makes sense. Okay, well, I'll get this set up. If you don't mind, you can go help your aunt with the popcorn."
"Sure. Glad to!" He was glad for this conversation to be at an end. In the gloom of the den, he hoped his uncle hadn't spotted his nervousness and embarrassment.
Minutes later they were settled in front of the large screen television as the movie was coming on. The bowl of popcorn was situated between Bill and Jack. Their uncle and aunt were seated side by side on the comfortable couch nearby with a smaller bowl of popcorn on a side table.
"The girls are going to miss a good show," said Margaret.
"I'll go tell them it's starting," offered Jack. "Besides I got to go to the bathroom anyway."
"Want me to pause it?" asked Uncle Gene. "Naw, go ahead. I sort of know what's going to happen anyway." With that he ran up the stairs.
It was minutes later and Jack had not returned. "Wonder what Jack and the girls are doing?" asked Margaret casually. "I could go and check," offered Bill.
"Then we'd lose you too," chuckled Bill. "I'm sure they're okay. Jack probably just decided to stay up there and read; or play a game."
Bill said nothing. He knew Jack was not much of a reader; but real good at getting into mischief. He wasn't going to bite. The movie kept running on towards its central conflict. Bill was well into the plot by now when he suddenly heard Jack's voice behind him.
"Hey, Bill. The girls need our help. They want you to come and help move something heavy in their room."
Gene paused the movie. "Something heavy? What are they doing? Should I come up?"
"No, sir -- it's just that old toy box that was in the corner."
Gene snorted. "That's not too heavy. I'll pause it for you Bill, if you want to go and help."
"It's okay. Just keep it going if you like. I should be back quick."
He ran up the stairs to find the hallway light turned off and near complete darkness. He was groping for the light switch. "Jack? Jill?" he called out. Just then his arm was swatted hard by what felt like a pillow. Before he could react in surprise, another soft pillow clumped him in the face, followed by some stifled giggles.
"Oh, you're going to get it now!" he said in a loud stage whisper. This educed more giggles, mostly feminine in tone, but Bill ducked down and ran to his left down the upstairs hall. Thinking quickly he remembered the configuration of the upstairs, and ran into what he believed was his room. "Turn on the lights!" called Jack's voice. "Nooo! Shhhhhhh!" called what sounded like Danny's.
The lights were switched on but not before Bill had found Jack's bed and squirmed under it. The box spring came to within seven inches of the floor so this was harder than it sounded.
Nevertheless, he knew he probably met with success when the lights came on and from somewhere beyond this room he heard Jill's voice, "where is he?"
"You mean," said Danny, "where is that big hunk of lucious, beautiful manhood? -- Ow!" She must have been clubbed with Jill's pillow because he heard her say angrily, "shut up, Danny! I'll get you!!" "He's got to be here somewhere," said Jack. "Let's keep our heads and look."
Bill heard another light switch go on -- probably from the room where Jill and Danny slept. "Is he in here?" called out Danny, too loudly. Bill was glad he hadn't chosen their room. If their dad came upstairs that would not look good.
"He's got to be in one of these rooms," mumbled Jill. He heard the sound of closet doors opening, first in their bed room, then in the hallway. Finally he heard, then saw, footsteps coming into his room.
"Wonder where he is?" asked Danny sitting down on his bed and bouncing on it a little. Her feet were not more than two feet away.
"Well, he didn't run back down the stairs," shrugged Jill, opening the closet in his room.
It was then that he sprang! He grabbed Danny's ankle and yanked, growling out a loud "ROOOOWWWRRRRRR!!!"
It had the right effect. She squealed aloud, making Jill and Jack jump. When they turned and saw Bill's hand gribbing Danny's ankle they both screamed too. He released his grip and let them both run out to their own room, squealing all the way. Quickly, he crawled out from under his bed, lay down in it, grabbed a book from the bed side table and opened it to begin reading. Sure enough, here came the rapid steps of the stair of his uncle. "What's going on, Gang?" asked Uncle Gene when he got to Bill's room.
"Oh, nothing much," said Bill. I went to the john then decided to do some reading before I came down again." He succeeded in keeping a very serious expression. "I think the children are
playing twister or something like that next door," he added, still staring at his book.
"I see. The children," grinned Gene, sizing up the situation rapidly. As he stepped out into the hall again, he was met by the others. "Dad there's something strange under Bill's bed! Come check it out!" urged Danny. The three crowded around Gene as he retraced his steps back into the room where Bill and Jack were staying. The scene hadn't changed, with Bill's nose still in a book. "You guys all right?" asked Bill, lowering the book for a moment. "I heard a scream and --," he yawned.
"OOoooooohhhhhhhh!" growled the girls in mock anger.
"Are we going to get youuuuuuu!!"
"Not now, you're not," said Bill with an amazingly straight face. "I'm going to go finish watching that movie!" And he suited actions to words while the girls watched with mouths open in surprise.
"He fooled us," was Danny's last word, to no one in particular.
LBC
 |
| Danny was her usual giggly self. Jack was just glad to have his aunt's pizza again. |
described it (and that's how she did describe it later when she wrote about it in her personal diary). She was almost too embarrassed to look at either Bill or her father during the evening meal.
Danny and Jack had no trouble keeping up a steady banter over the meal of pizza, chips, salad, and fruit. They were trading remarks about the fun they had had that afternoon in the 'ol swimming hole. Bill joined in occasionally between big bites (he was hungry), but he didn't say too much; he was only too aware of how quiet Jill was, seated across from him. She poked at her food, and took only a few small bites of pizza.
"Jill, dear, I hope you're not getting sick," offered her mother who had noticed how little she was talking and eating. "I worry about the germs in that old stream. I hope you didn't pick up something."
"I'm fine, Mom," she insisted, and took another big bite of fruit to prove it.
"Well, that's good," said her father. "Because this is movie night as usual, for anybody who wants to join us in the family room. We'll be watching Part II of the Randolph Stakes Adventure. It should be good."
"Popcorn as usual," reminded Margaret cheerily.
"Sounds good," said Bill.
 |
| Jill was tired after the day's events . . . but she wasn't finished scheming . . . . |
"I guess I am," she answered, looking away.
"I guess she got lots of exercise running after those two wild boys in her bikini," shot Danny.
Jill, who had tried hard to stomp down her embarrassment, glowed red with that and anger. "Danny, I'll get you for that!" she snarled.
"Danny!" said Gene with real sternness. "Jill has already heard from me about that. No more teasing!"
Jill started weeping, in spite of herself. "There, there, Honey, it's okay," said Margaret. Danny reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, Sis. I didn't mean --"
"Get your hands off me!" cried Jill, her hormones rushing. But she and the others knew she didn't mean it. Jill did want comforting just then, but preferably from Cousin Bill. There was no chance of that happening as the latter himself had turned red, embarrassed at Jill's surprising range of
 | |
| The girls had lots of board games upstairs. But Bill suspected they might have something else in mind . . . . |
Jill left while the others finished their meal. "May I be excused too please?" asked Danny. "Sure, daughter," smiled her dad. When he saw her heading out the door in the direction of her sister, he added, "Uh, Danny? Just please don't agitate your sister."
Danny did her best to look shocked. "Father! I'm surprised at you. I love my dear sister! I would never endeavor to do anything to harm her!" she answered with a toss of her brown curls and in her best fake old English dialect.
"Danny!"
"Yes, sir, Dad. I get your meaning." She ran off upstairs, much chastened by the tone of her father's voice.
"You're welcome to watch the movie with us, boys," smiled Aunt Margaret.
"I think I will," said Bill.
"I'll do what he's doin'," added Jack. "If I go upstairs, they'll just want to play games."
"Nothing wrong with that," remarked Uncle Gene. "The girls have some fun games up there now."
"I'll clear the table off and you can play them right here, if that's what you decide to do later on," offered Margaret.
"Maybe so. We'll see," replied Jack, sounding undecided. His cousins were lots of fun and
always came up with fun stuff to do. He suspected they were busy hatching something new right now . . . .
"Bill?" called his uncle. "Why don't you come and help me set up the dvd player?"
 |
| Bill had had these talks about the "birds and the bees" before, with his dad . . . . |
He looked at his uncle strangely and caught his uncle's wink. They both knew the dvd player was already set up. But he said, "Sure, Uncle Gene." Bill was sure he was going to hear about something as unrelated to the intricacies of home electronics as it could get. In light of the afternoon's activities he was pretty sure he knew what the subject would be. His uncle and he had already talked together about the swimming outing and all that had happened there. Bill appreciated discovering that his uncle was very understanding about the whole incident.
They went into the den where the large-screen tv was set up. The den was always sort of gloomy in the evenings, and especially on movie nights -- there wasn't any need for the extra pole lamps which stood on each side of the long couch. Gene sat down in one of the easy chairs there and Bill took a seat on a nearby couch.
"Bill, I guess you've probably noticed Jill's behavior. I mean she probably seems a little different than in previous visits."
Bill nodded. "Yes, sir." He offered no more, just kept on listening.
Gene cleared his throat. It wasn't easy for him to talk about his girls to another male, even if he was a family member. "By now, I'm sure you've had a talk with your dad about what goes on in the life of a young girl of Jill's age."
Bill nodded, feeling some embarrassment surface. He'd had a conversation or too with his father, but they didn't talk about much more than how children were conceived and born and why it was best to wait until marriage to have sexual intercourse. Come to think of it that was a lot! But it
 |
| He knew how emotional Jill could be. She had passed through puberty recently . . . |
hadn't been easy for Richard Thompson to talk to his son about such things.
Things had gone a little easier in discussions with his mother. She had been especially helpful about the whole mystery of female puberty. That had also been a hard talk to sit through, but when it was over, he was glad he'd heard it all from her. "They go through some changes, I heard," he remarked. "That's right," nodded Uncle Gene. "And those changes have to do with hormones and becoming fully mature. While it's happening they can be extremely emotional about seemingly little things."
"I guess so, Sir."
"Yeah," said Gene, folding his hands in his lap and looking down. It was hard for him to talk about such things too. "So, I guess it's our job as men is to be sensitive to all those emotional changes, and help them through it whenever we can -- if they let us, that is."
"Yes, Sir," he added. "That makes sense. Okay, well, I'll get this set up. If you don't mind, you can go help your aunt with the popcorn."
"Sure. Glad to!" He was glad for this conversation to be at an end. In the gloom of the den, he hoped his uncle hadn't spotted his nervousness and embarrassment.
Minutes later they were settled in front of the large screen television as the movie was coming on. The bowl of popcorn was situated between Bill and Jack. Their uncle and aunt were seated side by side on the comfortable couch nearby with a smaller bowl of popcorn on a side table.
"The girls are going to miss a good show," said Margaret.
"I'll go tell them it's starting," offered Jack. "Besides I got to go to the bathroom anyway."
"Want me to pause it?" asked Uncle Gene. "Naw, go ahead. I sort of know what's going to happen anyway." With that he ran up the stairs.
It was minutes later and Jack had not returned. "Wonder what Jack and the girls are doing?" asked Margaret casually. "I could go and check," offered Bill.
"Then we'd lose you too," chuckled Bill. "I'm sure they're okay. Jack probably just decided to stay up there and read; or play a game."
 |
| They all loved the Randolph Stakes Adventures. He was always just so cool . . . . |
Bill said nothing. He knew Jack was not much of a reader; but real good at getting into mischief. He wasn't going to bite. The movie kept running on towards its central conflict. Bill was well into the plot by now when he suddenly heard Jack's voice behind him.
"Hey, Bill. The girls need our help. They want you to come and help move something heavy in their room."
Gene paused the movie. "Something heavy? What are they doing? Should I come up?"
"No, sir -- it's just that old toy box that was in the corner."
Gene snorted. "That's not too heavy. I'll pause it for you Bill, if you want to go and help."
"It's okay. Just keep it going if you like. I should be back quick."
He ran up the stairs to find the hallway light turned off and near complete darkness. He was groping for the light switch. "Jack? Jill?" he called out. Just then his arm was swatted hard by what felt like a pillow. Before he could react in surprise, another soft pillow clumped him in the face, followed by some stifled giggles.
"Oh, you're going to get it now!" he said in a loud stage whisper. This educed more giggles, mostly feminine in tone, but Bill ducked down and ran to his left down the upstairs hall. Thinking quickly he remembered the configuration of the upstairs, and ran into what he believed was his room. "Turn on the lights!" called Jack's voice. "Nooo! Shhhhhhh!" called what sounded like Danny's.
The lights were switched on but not before Bill had found Jack's bed and squirmed under it. The box spring came to within seven inches of the floor so this was harder than it sounded.
Nevertheless, he knew he probably met with success when the lights came on and from somewhere beyond this room he heard Jill's voice, "where is he?"
 |
| The stairway led up to a dark hallway . . . . Hmmm. |
"You mean," said Danny, "where is that big hunk of lucious, beautiful manhood? -- Ow!" She must have been clubbed with Jill's pillow because he heard her say angrily, "shut up, Danny! I'll get you!!" "He's got to be here somewhere," said Jack. "Let's keep our heads and look."
Bill heard another light switch go on -- probably from the room where Jill and Danny slept. "Is he in here?" called out Danny, too loudly. Bill was glad he hadn't chosen their room. If their dad came upstairs that would not look good.
"He's got to be in one of these rooms," mumbled Jill. He heard the sound of closet doors opening, first in their bed room, then in the hallway. Finally he heard, then saw, footsteps coming into his room.
"Wonder where he is?" asked Danny sitting down on his bed and bouncing on it a little. Her feet were not more than two feet away.
"Well, he didn't run back down the stairs," shrugged Jill, opening the closet in his room.
It was then that he sprang! He grabbed Danny's ankle and yanked, growling out a loud "ROOOOWWWRRRRRR!!!"
It had the right effect. She squealed aloud, making Jill and Jack jump. When they turned and saw Bill's hand gribbing Danny's ankle they both screamed too. He released his grip and let them both run out to their own room, squealing all the way. Quickly, he crawled out from under his bed, lay down in it, grabbed a book from the bed side table and opened it to begin reading. Sure enough, here came the rapid steps of the stair of his uncle. "What's going on, Gang?" asked Uncle Gene when he got to Bill's room.
"Oh, nothing much," said Bill. I went to the john then decided to do some reading before I came down again." He succeeded in keeping a very serious expression. "I think the children are
 | |
| Danny squealed when Bill grabbed her ankle from under the bed. (You would too!) |
"I see. The children," grinned Gene, sizing up the situation rapidly. As he stepped out into the hall again, he was met by the others. "Dad there's something strange under Bill's bed! Come check it out!" urged Danny. The three crowded around Gene as he retraced his steps back into the room where Bill and Jack were staying. The scene hadn't changed, with Bill's nose still in a book. "You guys all right?" asked Bill, lowering the book for a moment. "I heard a scream and --," he yawned.
"OOoooooohhhhhhhh!" growled the girls in mock anger.
"Are we going to get youuuuuuu!!"
"Not now, you're not," said Bill with an amazingly straight face. "I'm going to go finish watching that movie!" And he suited actions to words while the girls watched with mouths open in surprise.
"He fooled us," was Danny's last word, to no one in particular.
LBC
