From: bacon@mtu.edu (Jeff Bacon)
Subject: uhhhh....
Organization: Michigan Technological University
Date: Sat, 2 Jan 1993 05:13:53 GMT

OK. I said once that I had this story that I was gonna write for
here that I was worried about...well, this isn't it. That story is
gonna be a multipart saga. And I don't know how to start. And it's
gonna take some real time. Eventually I'll get it written, hopefully. 

But for now, this is something that just kinda popped into my head,
with a neat twist to it. (Good is relative...) Nope, no title, I ain't
got a good one. 

Julie, I think this'll do as my offical RFA app.

Hope it's worth the time I spent writing it. Enjoy.

-bacon

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ObDisclaimer: this is a fictional work. any resemblance to any
other work or situation, real or fictional, is coincidental and
unintended, etc etc etc.
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ObDisclaimer2: not perfectly edited. and definitely not standard
fare for me. I don't know where it came from. But here it is.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

It was a wonderful evening. The sky was clear, the moon was full, all
the stars were out. The crickets and frogs were in full song. The night
was alive, and the old river flowed on as it always had. The sun was
down, but it wasn't quite dark yet. It was a great night for a walk.

She sighed. "I'm sure gonna miss this."

"Me too," he agreed.

They had grown up here together, lived and learned and loved here together.
They had walked this path along the river together countless times in the
past - to collect flowers along the path and in the nearby meadows, to
splash and swim in the river, to go fishing in a nearby pond, to play
hide-and-seek in the forest. It seemed like this path had taken them
everywhere. And though it was dark, the woods held no fears.

Up on the left was the old treehouse, nearly lost in the branches of
the big old oak. His dad had helped him build it when he was 8. The
experience had taught him a lot of things - the value of doing a job
right, how gravity works, how to hammer a nail without hammering your
thumb. After it was done, the two kids spent a lot of time there -
playing games, sharing secrets, "hiding" from the parents.

They both stopped to look at the old treehouse for a bit, looked at each
other, and then walked on. There was nothing more to be said.

It had been a long time, and the path was starting to become grown over.
The creep of the suburbs had its costs. Well, he mused as they walked on,
maybe now a new family would move into his parent's place, and young feet
would once again keep the path worn clear.

Yup, her thoughts agreed.

They had always been the best of friends. The passage of time had only
strengthened their friendship and brought them closer. Even though they
had found others to marry and share their lives with, they still lived
near each other, and were closer than ever. It was something
their spouses would just have to deal with, they had laughed.

Up ahead was a small clearing in the woods. It had always been a 
great place for campouts and the like. There were some fallen trees 
that made great seats, and she had made a stone-ringed fire pit in
the center. 

"What the heck?"

Inexplicibly, there was a small cheery little fire burning in it.

"You did this didn't you?" she accused. "You started this while I 
was inside. Silly goof. So where's the picnic basket?" 

"Don't look at me!" He held up his hands in innocence.

"OK, then who?"

"Got me."

"Hmm. Maybe one of the Barker kids?"

"Could be. But then where are they? Geez. Leaving a fire here unattended."
He sighed.

"Well...yeah, but it is a cute little fire isn't it? Seems like a shame
to waste it." She sat down in her favorite spot and settled in. He
did the same.

They sat there in silence for a while, staring at the fire, lost in
their thoughts. There wasn't much to be said. There never was any more; 
they'd been together far too long to need to talk.

But there was plenty to think about, and plenty of memories to recall.


                        *****


What memories. Seems like I grew up in this spot. Well, I guess I did,
in a way. She smiled to herself.

She'd always loved fires. She could watch a simple campfire for hours
and be fascinated. He always teased her because, when they were eating
out, no matter where or who with, she'd play with the free matches in
the restaurants, lighting them and just watching them burn, watching
the fire flicker.

She was staring at the fire, but she couldn't help looking at him
now and again too. All this time, all those other guys she'd dated,
and he was still the most handsome guy she'd ever known. The dark
thick hair, the worn face, the strong yet soft hands.

She remembered that day so long ago when she had first realized that she
was drawn to him. And then the day they had first finally voiced their love
for one another. And the vow they had made, in the name of their friendship.

But she couldn't remember the times she had come to regret that vow - she
had long since lost count.

She loved him so much. As much as she loved her spouse. No, more. No,
the two loves were different. Maybe. But she knew that she would do
anything with him, anything for him. She'd die for him. And that he
loved her as much as she loved him.

She basked in the glowing warmth of that love, and in the heat radiating 
from the cheerily burning little fire.

She still couldn't remember the number of times she had come to regret
that vow, but it was one higher now.

This moment was so perfect. It was just the two of them, alone in the
woods with the birds and the trees and the frogs in the shallows along
the river bank. It had grown darkish, and he looked so handsome in
the glow of the firelight. She wanted so much to throw that vow out the
window - to go to him, sit in his lap, wrap her arms around him and tell
him how much she loved him, to feel his arms around her, take his beautiful
face in her hands and kiss him...

She knew that, once she started, once she opened that can of worms,
that that wouldn't be enough. But that would have been ok too. She
realized that couldn't think of a more perfect place. The clearing
was dirt, not grass, but they weren't dressed up either. He was in
his typical flannel and jeans, she was wearing a tshirt and an old
pair of shorts. A little dirt never hurt anyone. She'd just wrap her
arms around him and pull him down on top of her. she wanted him on
top for their first time anyway - to feel his powerful body thrusting
into her, her body arching up to meet him....

She knew he wasn't overly big, just average - when they had started to
reach that age, they had shown themselves to each other - but that
didn't matter. Besides, she couldn't say anything anyway. Her dad had
nicknamed her "Shorty" for a good reason, and her curves weren't terribly
pronounced.  But she knew that wouldn't matter to him. His wife was the
same way, and he found it attractive. And once they started, it'd be HER
curves he was caressing, and that'd be all that mattered to him...and
to her.

She was almost breathing hard now, and was definitely arousing...

No. Wait. This couldn't happen. There was a reason they made that vow
so long ago. No, who cares. I want him. We've shared everything
else. So what. What happens if someone finds out. How's anyone
going to find out anyway. Besides, he deserves me. He deserves
to know what it's like to have his brains fucked out by the one
woman on this planet who loves him more than life itself. I deserve
it too. Oh, do we ever. But we can't, we shouldn't. But we should.
ARGH!


                        *****


He looked around. Man, what memories. All the stuff they'd done here
together...he remembered the time he had taught her about hunting. She
had managed to shoot a squirrel, and he cooked it for her here at this
firepit. 

The view from here was great. The river was right over there, and the
trees were just back enough to allow a good view of the night sky...
they had spent many nights laying out here, staring up at the stars.
She had taught him the constellations, and wished upon countless stars.

He looked at her momentarily, and sighed internally. He had always thought
she was attractive. The fact that his wife kinda looked like her wasn't
an accident. He'd spent more than one night making love with his wife
and pretending she was her. But that was life.

He absent-mindedly tended the fire, as he had so many times.

Her face glowed in the fire, and her brown hair caught the faint
moonlight. It just made her that much more attractive, he mused.
And she was a definite turn-on to him. He wanted to reach over and
pull her to him and kiss her...he felt himself starting to stiffen...

Nah. We can't. Crying shame though. It'd be wonderful. And I know
she'd be fantastic in bed too. She's always been so energetic and
expressive...this'd be a great place too, out here in the woods,
close to nature, and no reason to have to stifle anything, with the
fire to keep warm by....

Darn that vow.

But I suppose it's better this way, considering. Besides, what if
whoever started this fire came back? Wouldn't that be a sight...
He laughed to himself.

Well, maybe someday. It'd be kind of a shame for us to go our whole
lives without doing it once. 


                        *****


They had been there quite a while, thinking their thoughts. It had
grown fully dark by now, but the moon was plenty bright for them
to walk back by. The fire was starting to die down finally. Whoever
built this fire had done a good job, he noted.

It was probably time to go. The memories and feeling were strong, but
they couldn't stay forever. His parent's house would be sold soon.
They would probably never be back. He was a sentimental sort, but he
couldn't afford to be maudlin about it anymore. Neither could she.

He shook himself awake.

She started, her reverie broken. Yup, I suppose we should go. 
OK, not today. But someday, she vowed to herself. Someday, the
right time will come. They'd both know when. It would happen.

"C'mon, let's go." It didn't really need to be said. He got up,
helped her up. 

"What about the fire?"

"It'll be ok. I should put it out, but they might still be back,
and it seems like a shame to put it out anyway."

"Yeah." They started back down the path. 

After a few paces, she impulsively grabbed him and hugged him. "Love
ya, brother." A quick kiss, on the lips.

"Love ya too sis." He hugged her back, tightly, briefly.

They headed on down the path.
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