My mind went blank. What to tell Mom? There wasn’t any way I could make up a story that made any sense. Since my parents had always asked me to tell the truth, I decided I couldn’t suffer any more pain that I’d already had.
“I think she took them off when she visited me the other day,” I answered.
“And what would make her want to take her panties off?”
“Mom, I don’t want to answer for her.”
She turned and left the room with Heather’s panties still dangling from her forefinger.
I felt like crap–my girlfriend and I were going to be in deep trouble. The disgrace of being caught hung over our heads. Worse yet, both our parents would stop us from ever seeing one another again.
That evening, dinner was tense–I couldn’t eat. Mom didn’t say a word, and her icy stare made me hang my head in shame.
Following dinner, I retreated to my room, attempting to remain out of sight. About an hour later, Mom came into my room and announced, “I just spoke with Linda Fuchs on the phone and she wasn’t happy.”
My stomach lurched–now Heather’s parents were in on our secret too. I wondered what was kind of grilling Heather was getting about her panties being found under my bed?
“I’m sorry,” I said in a shaky voice.
* * *
Dad returned home Saturday night from his trip to Oklahoma. I instinctively knew when Mom told him she’d found Heather’s panties, I’ve be in even bigger trouble. Problem was that with my bum leg, I couldn’t run away from home–I’d have to face the consequences.
It took another couple days before Dad made any mention of Heather’s panties. He just said, “Mike, I’m sure you’re wondering what’s going to happen now. We’re going to meet with Heather’s parents next Saturday night. You and Heather are going to be there.”
It was like being kicked in the gut–having to explain what had happened between Heather and me to all four of our parents wasn’t high on my list of things to do.
* * *
No more was said by Mom and Dad for the remainder of the week. On Saturday night, after dinner, we arrived at the Fuchs’ house.
We sat down around the Fuchs’ dining room table, with Heather and me at one end of the table and her parents on one side of the table and mine on the other.
Dad began the discussion. “We all know why we’re here. Thus far, all we’ve seen and heard are circumstantial evidence. I think we should let Heather and Mike explain what happened.”
The other parents nodded their agreement.
“Well then, who wants to go first?” he asked, looking toward Heather and me.
Attempting to shield Heather, I said, “I will…”
Heather interrupted, “No, I’m the one to blame,” and she began talking slowly, measuring each word.
“As you know, I volunteered to stay with Mike because his dad was out of town and his mom was clearing the backlog at Ace Hardware. Well, one day Mike fell in the bathroom and I had to help him up. His gown didn’t cover his privates and I saw his penis was different from the little boys I’ve babysat for.”
Heather stopped and looked at me–maybe for encouragement–or maybe she expected me to comment. After a long pause, she began again.
“Later, when Mike was back in bed, I asked him about it. He said he wasn’t circumcised like most boys. I was curious.
“I know I shouldn’t have touched it, but I did, and things went downhill from there. After I touched his, he wanted to touch mine. I had these feelings like I’d never had before, and I’d heard nurses at the hospital talking about sex. I decided I’d like to give it a try.
I took off my panties and my dress. That made Mike’s penis stand up and I played with it awhile. Before I considered the consequences, I’d straddled him and we made love. We enjoyed it so much, we did it again the next day. That evening, Mike’s mom came home early so I had to put my dress on quickly. But, I didn’t have time to reach for my panties before she came into Mike’s room, so I just kicked them under the bed.”
At that point, Heather was in tears. “I’m sorry. I’m so ashamed of myself.”
I squeezed her hand under the table as her mother asked, “So you had sex with Mike?”
“Yes…”
“Did Mike use a condom?” she questioned.
“No. it was three weeks since my last period, so I figured we were safe.”
“Omigod–you didn’t pay any attention to what I’ve told you for years?
Heather slumped lower in her chair, bawling. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she blubbered as she wiped tears from her eyes.
Heather’s father added a comment, “I know Michael and Heather have been in a close and loving relationship for the past year-and-a-half. They’ve been a handsome couple and I thought they were more responsible than they have been. I’m surprised they engaged in sex, but they’re at an age when sex becomes an important part of their life.”
Dad spoke up next, frowning. “As a parent, I’m highly concerned you’ve had sex, but you’re both 18 and adults. You’ve made decisions I wish you hadn’t made, but the hormones of teens your age run high. The two of you have tasted of the forbidden fruit, and there’s no way any of us can put the genie back in the bottle. I know you’ll be having sex again–unless we send one of you to England or Japan.”
I decided it was time for me to speak up for the two of us. “I love Heather with all my heart and I’d never do anything to hurt her. I’m as much to blame as she is, since I encouraged her. Please don’t punish Heather.”
Dad responded, “It seems as if we’re holding court here. The accused have been truthful and sincerely admitted their guilt.”
Mr. Fuchs nodded his head and agreed with Dad. “What punishment should be given to the guilty parties?”
Dad thought about it for a bit, then said, “I think Heather and Michael can play a couple games of chess while we deliberate.”
The mothers agreed, so Heather helped me from the dining room as I hobbled on my crutches.
“I don’t feel like playing chess,” Heather said, as we entered her den.
“Neither do I,” I responded in a contrite manner.
“What do you think they will do to punish us?” she asked in a shaky voice.
“I hope they don’t try to separate us, because I love you.”
Heather and I discussed how our relationship began and how we’d grown closer to one another over time. I told her again how much I loved her.
About an hour later, Mrs. Fuchs opened the door to the den and asked us to return to the dining room. Heather and I sat down awaiting to hear our fate.
Dad asked, “Do you have anything to say for yourselves before we decide how to proceed?”
“I do,” I said. “I’ll accept whatever punishment you decide, but I want everyone to know I love Heather.” Then I looked at Heather as I said, “I hope to marry her some day.”
Heather smiled at me and spoke up, “Whatever punishment you give Mike, I’ll take too, and I’d gladly accept his proposal of marriage.”
Dad cleared his throat and said, “That sheds a different light on our decision–it sounds like a marriage proposal. Go back to the den and we’ll call you back in a few minutes.”
We hadn’t been in the den for a minute when we clung together in a romantic kiss. When we came up for air, I said, “Angel, I don’t know what our destiny will be, but I’ll love you forever.”