The First Time
Part 1 of 2
By Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)
Part 1 quite harmless, Part 2 PG advised
Summary: A nostalgic Mulder recalls a *hot* summer spent at the
beach.
Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully etc. are the property of Chris
Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten Thirteen Productions and are used
without permission. No infringement of copyright intended. I do
this for the love of it!
Constructive comment and criticism welcome, anything else will be
cheerfully ignored!
The First Time
Present Day
Fox Mulder tapped the steering wheel of his car impatiently. He
hated being stuck in traffic, especially when the temperature was in
the high eighties, like today. He cursed himself for not putting on
a pair of shorts instead of the thick jeans that were slowly roasting
his legs, and wished that he had remembered to get the in-car air
conditioning fixed. He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue
- a cold drink wouldn't have gone amiss at that point. Fox sighed,
and inched the car forward a few more feet before coming to another
juddering halt. He shook his head - trust his mother to pick this
weekend of all weekends to summon him up to the Vineyard, when the
roads were choc-a-bloc and the ferries packed with tourists.
What irked him more than anything was the assumption that when she
called, he would come running - which, of course, he invariably did.
The other thing that annoyed him was that she never considered that
he might already have commitments - she just expected him to drop
everything, no matter how important it might be. It wasn't that she
was inconsiderate - she just didn't stop to think. Fox sighed,
wishing he didn't feel so uncharitable. He was all she had left now.
He had thought about trying to persuade her to come and live nearer
to him, but then thought better of it. Although he loved her, he
preferred to keep her at arm's length.
Fox wound down his window until it was fully open, then rested his
elbow there, half in, half out. The heat was unbearable, made worse
by the sheer amount of traffic and all those car engines which, like
his, were just sitting there, gradually overheating. There was no
breeze to speak of, just a ghastly pall of heat. He reached out and
switched on the radio, desperate to relieve the boredom somehow. He
tried a number of stations that were mostly all talk. Finally, he
found something worth listening to. It was an oldies station. The
Beatles suddenly blared out of the speakers, making Fox jump and
reach out hurriedly to lower the volume. He tapped his fingers along
in time to the music, and mouthed the words, not caring about the
funny looks he was getting from his fellow travellers.
He moved the car forward a few more feet, and idly wondered if he'd
be lucky to reach home before nightfall. Okay, that was a bit of an
exaggeration, but given the traffic, it was a distinct possibility.
The first thing he would do when he arrived back at his apartment
would be to take a long, cool shower - by then he reckoned he would
have earned it.
Fox continued to sweat, feeling it run down the back of his neck.
One ear was on the radio while his mind was occupied with work
related matters. He had promised himself an early start the next
morning, to make up for the time lost in going up to his mother's,
but that was looking increasingly unlikely from where he was sitting,
unless by some miracle the traffic suddenly started moving again and
he had a clear run all the way home. Besides, it was mainly
paperwork that was awaiting him back at the office, and that wasn't
his favourite part of the job, so maybe it wasn't such a bad thing
being stuck in this interminable jam.....
Fox tuned back into the radio just as some familiar bars of music
spilled out of the speakers. The DJ was gabbling on about
"something for all you romantics out there", while Fox recognised the
distinctive intro to Bobby Goldsboro's "Summer the First Time". He
leaned across, turned up the volume and lost himself in the music,
transported back in time to the summer of 1975. That long, hot
summer had been memorable for several things - but one thing stood
above everything else. Fox Mulder had met Sally Martin.
Chilmark, Massachusetts - Summer 1975
His mother had entered one of her periodic depressions, so for the
second year running the Mulders' summer residence at Quonochontaug
remained unused. Fox was left to kick his heels in Chilmark for the
entire summer vacation - a prospect that didn't exactly thrill him.
His best friend Joe had gone to England with his parents and sister
to visit relatives, leaving no-one to share with him the delights of
going swimming, riding on their bikes and generally getting up to
mischief. Fox was also still learning to cope with the loss of his
sister, Samantha - she had been a real pain in the butt at times, but
he would have given anything to have her there with him now.
Then there was the atmosphere at home - meals eaten in stony silence,
his mother's eyes filling with tears every time Samantha's name was
mentioned, which wasn't often - it was as if she had ceased to exist.
Fox had grown oblivious to the pitying looks and whispered comments
that followed him wherever he went - it was bad enough that his
parents blamed him for Sam's disappearance, having left her that
night in his care, without feeling that everyone else blamed him too.
Her disappearance had left a gaping hole in his life - one that
would never be filled until he found out what had happened to her.
The one abiding constant in Fox's life was the belief that one day he
would see Sam again - without that, all hope was lost.
So, Fox Mulder filled his days as best he could - he cut a solitary
figure, often pounding endless circuits around the running track or
shooting hoops in his yard. He spent hours in his room reading, and
went for long rides on his bike. It was on one of these rides that
he met Sally Martin.
Still only fourteen, a few months off his fifteenth birthday, Fox had
a maturity far beyond his years. He had also suddenly shot up in
height, and although he hadn't yet gained the angular looks of his
adult years, he was still a good looking boy - a fact that Sally
Martin hadn't failed to notice as she sat herself beside him on the
low sea wall. Fox had stopped to buy an ice cream and his intention
was to sit and eat it in quiet contemplation, but Sally put paid to
that.
"You're Fox Mulder, aren't you?" she asked brightly.
"Who wants to know?" he replied, not taking his eyes away from the
distant horizon.
"I do," said Sally, licking her rapidly melting ice cream.
Fox turned to face the source of this unwelcome interruption, and his
mouth dropped open in surprise. "You're Sally Martin!" he announced,
taking in her sun bleached white-blonde hair, her lightly tanned skin
and the palest blue eyes he'd ever seen.
His eyes travelled over her body, which was covered, if that was the
word, in a white halter necked top that ended somewhere short of her
midriff, and the skimpiest pair of red shorts imaginable. Fox knew
all about Sally - or he thought he did. He'd seen her around at
school, usually surrounded by a gaggle of boys. Sally was sixteen,
so they didn't move in the same circles. She had a somewhat racy
reputation, and more than once he'd heard his mother refer to "that
Martin girl" and her latest misdemeanour. It didn't take a genius,
therefore, to work out that Sally Martin was not someone of whom
Helen Mulder would approve, and William Mulder even less.
"Is that your bike?" asked Sally, nodding to the shiny red machine
that was propped beside Fox on the sea wall.
"Yes," he replied proudly. The bike had been his fourteenth birthday
present from his parents and Fox cleaned it religiously every week
until it shone. He loved that bike and all that it represented - the
opportunity to get away from home and be by himself as often as he
could - so he didn't mind lavishing as much time and attention on it
as he did. Fox never let anyone touch it, let alone ride it - not
even Joe, so he was surprised to hear himself blurt, "Would you like
to ride it?"
"Can I?" asked Sally, hers eyes wide.
Fox nodded, and she stood up, brushing her hands lightly over her
backside and the back of her thighs to rid herself of sand and dust.
Fox's eyes travelled up her slim, tanned legs - legs that seemed to
go on forever. She was tall, but still at least a couple of inches
shorter than he was, as he found out when he stood up beside her.
He let her ride the bike all the way back to Chilmark while he walked
alongside of her. For the first time during this long, lonely summer
vacation, Fox seemed to be enjoying himself. Sally had a pretty,
infectious giggle, and he liked the way the breeze ruffled her hair.
When they reached the outskirts of the town, she dismounted, handing
the bike back to him.
"Thanks," she said.
"You're welcome," replied Fox, glancing at his watch. "I'd better
go, or my mom will be worried."
"Me too," said Sally. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Maybe."
Fox didn't want to agree too readily. He wanted time to think about
it.
"See you then," said Sally, taking a step back.
"Yeah, see you."
Fox stowed his beloved bike in the garage beside his mother's car,
and locked it. As he went into the house, he rehearsed in his mind
what he was going to tell her should she enquire as to his day. She
usually did, but he was relieved to find her on the phone when he
reached the main part of the house. Still, she might ask over
dinner, so it was as well to be prepared.
By the tone of the conversation, and the brittleness of her voice,
Fox guessed that his mother was talking to his father. She was in
turn angry and tearful - it was only years later that Fox would
discover the depth of her hatred for his father. He heard her slam
the phone down, then she came into the living room.
"Fox! I didn't hear you come in!" Helen Mulder was plainly startled
to see her son sitting there. She wondered how much of the
conversation he had heard....... He'd find out soon enough that she
was filing for divorce, unable to stay any longer with a man that had
done what William Mulder had done. She wiped her eyes, and Fox was
thankful that his father wasn't there in person - the sound of one
raised voice was quite enough.
Helen and Fox Mulder ate their dinner in silence. She never asked
about his day, being preoccupied with other things. Fox just kept
quiet, and went up to his room after he had helped her to clear away
and wash up the dinner things. With William Mulder away on State
Department business much of the time, Helen Mulder had come to rely
more and more upon her son for practical and emotional support. It
was a lot to expect of him, she knew, but Helen Mulder had no-one
else to turn to, and nowhere else to go. Fox had been forced to grow
up before his time, and she laid the blame for that squarely at the
door of her husband.
The following morning was bright and sunny, heralding the arrival of
another hot day. Fox got out his bike and cycled the short distance
to the little grocery store on an errand for his mother. He was just
slinging the carrier bag containing his purchases onto the handlebars
when he heard,
"Hello again."
He turned, and there was Sally, wearing a blue T-shirt and navy
shorts.
"Hello," replied Fox. "I'm just getting some groceries for my mom."
"Me too," explained Sally. "Care for a soda?"
Fox's eyes narrowed briefly - what if someone told his mom that
they'd seen him with "that Martin girl"? He shrugged, throwing all
caution to the wind.
"Okay!" he replied cheerfully.
Fox couldn't fathom out why she would want to spend any time with
him, when there were older boys around, but at the same time, he felt
a frisson of excitement knowing that he was keeping company with
someone most people disapproved of.
"My cousins are staying," said Sally suddenly, as they sat on a bench
drinking their sodas. "We're going to the beach to play volleyball -
do you want to come?"
Fox didn't need any time to make up his mind. A game of volleyball
was far more preferable to his own company. "Thanks!" he replied,
his face lighting up. "I'll need to get these home first.....where
shall I meet you?"
"Down on the beach, about half an hour?" suggested Sally.
"I'll be there!" Fox said eagerly.
Fox discovered that Sally's cousins came from New York, and they
varied in age from ten to eighteen. After several aggressively
fought games, they all flopped onto the warm sand, feeling hot and
sweaty. Someone suggested a swim to cool off, but Fox demurred, not
having thought to bring along his swimming gear. He didn't think his
mother would take too kindly to him coming home with wet clothes.
Sally elected to stay on dry land and keep Fox company, unpacking the
sandwiches and pop that her mother had thoughtfully provided. Mrs.
Martin had supplied enough food to sustain a small army, with
sandwiches that were like deli sandwiches - stuffed so full that you
could hardly take a bite out of them without all the filling tumbling
out. Fox compared these offerings to the dainty little things his
mom made, and found hers wanting.
They were joined by the others, and the food and drink rapidly
disappeared. Fox watched Sally as she delicately nibbled on a
sandwich, wondering if her reputation was justified. The breeze
caught her hair, whipping it into her face. She reached up shyly to
tuck it behind her ear, conscious of Fox's dark eyes on her. He
flushed slightly when he realised that she knew he was watching, then
bowed his head so that she couldn't see his cheeks burning. He
wished that funny little feeling in his stomach, the one that he got
when he looked at her, would go away.
He quickly finished his sandwich and remaining pop, then helped to
clear up. The sun was at its zenith, and Fox knew that if he didn't
find some shade, he would burn. Sally, though, seemed oblivious to
the heat and the intensity of the sun's rays - she lay back
contentedly on the sand, her forearm resting comfortably across her
eyes. Fox looked around, and saw that her cousins had all done the
same. Not wanting to be thought soft, he remained where he was,
knowing that he would pay for it later.
And pay for it he did, with a vicious headache and gut wrenching
vomiting. He couldn't bear his skin to be touched, not even when his
mother tried to smooth on some soothing lotion. He wanted to cry
with the pain - he'd never, never do that again. His mother wasn't
in the least bit sympathetic when he told her he'd fallen asleep in
the sun - she'd have been even less so if she'd known the real
reason. So, he was forced to stay around the house for a few days,
at least until most of the pain and redness had subsided.
To be continued in Part 2.
The First Time
Part 2 of 2
By Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk)
Part 1 quite harmless, Part 2 PG advised
Summary: A nostalgic Mulder recalls a *hot* summer spent at the
beach.
Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully etc. are the property of Chris
Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten Thirteen Productions and are used
without permission. No infringement of copyright intended. I do
this for the love of it!
Constructive comment and criticism welcome, anything else will be
cheerfully ignored!
Fox was looking forward to seeing Sally again - he had thought of
nothing else during his confinement at home - and he cycled to the
beach with an air of anticipation about him. And there she was - he
could see her down below on the sand, her hair flowing out behind her
as she ran around what looked like an improvised baseball diamond,
with various articles of clothing doubling as the bases. He made his
way down to join her, and she called a brief halt to the game.
"Hey, Fox!" she cried, waving to him. "Where've you been? We've
missed you - we were a man short for our team!"
"Er, I got sunburnt - my mom kept me at home," he mumbled, feeling
stupid, and looking decidedly sheepish.
"Well, I hope you're feeling better," said Sally softly, touching his
arm lightly. Fox winced - his skin still felt sore.
"Oh, sorry," she said quickly, drawing her hand away. She nodded to
the others. "We're playing baseball - want to join us?"
"Okay!" replied Fox, his face beaming.
He spent most of his time watching Sally - she looked great in her
little top and shorts. She moved gracefully when she ran, reminding
Fox of a gazelle, or something equally exotic, her feet kicking up
the sand behind her. She was pleased to see Fox again - she didn't
stop smiling at him all morning, and she sat close to him when they
all sat down and enjoyed another of Mrs.Martin's picnics.
"Would you like to go to the movies this afternoon?" asked Fox
suddenly and unexpectedly bravely. He wanted to spend the rest of
the day with Sally, but not out in the sun. He'd learned his lesson,
and learned it well.
"Sure," she replied agreeably. "What's on?"
"Jaws," answered Fox. He'd been dying to see it, especially as some
scenes had been filmed locally, causing much excitement at school.
"Is it scary?"
"I hope so!" grinned Fox.
The small cinema was thankfully air conditioned, a welcome respite
from the searing heat outdoors. Fox was aware of Sally leaning
against his shoulder, and of the heat and faint perfume that her skin
was giving off. He tried to ignore it, and concentrated intently on
the film. In the dark, Sally reached out and slipped her hand into
his, but Fox snatched his hand away quickly. He knew it was
ridiculous, but he didn't want any one reporting to his mother that
he'd been at the movies, holding hands with Sally Martin. He was
aware that no-one would possibly see that in the dark, but he wasn't
about to take any chances.
He didn't mention it afterwards, and neither did Sally, although she
seemed rather quiet. They went for a soda on the way home, but
neither of them said very much, and conversation was difficult. He
guessed that Sally was annoyed with him, and silently vowed to make
it up to her. Quite how, he hadn't worked out, but he felt sure that
he'd think of something.
So, summer progressed. Fox's days followed a familiar pattern of
beach games, cycle rides, swimming, walks and visits to the movies.
Most of these activities were undertaken in Sally's company, and
sometimes her cousins came along too. After the ill-fated attempt at
hand holding, Sally had not tried again, much to Fox's
disappointment. As much as he wanted to hold her hand, maybe even
kiss her, he couldn't find it in himself to do so. The thought of
his mother's reaction if she ever found out was enough to put him
off. If the news ever reached his father's ears, he'd never live to
see his fifteenth birthday - of that he was quite sure.
Fox came out of the grocery store and started walking slowly up the
road, scuffing his feet in the dust. He heard a familiar voice
calling, "Fox! Hey, Fox! Wait up!" He turned, and there was Sally
trotting up behind him, her face flushed and her hair dancing in the
breeze.
"Where's your bike?" she asked, noticing that for once Fox was
without his usual mode of transport.
"Puncture," he replied. "I haven't had time to fix it."
"Oh," said Sally. "Are you coming to the fair? There's a beach
barbecue afterwards - do you think you could come?"
Fox hesitated. "I don't know - I'll have to ask my mom." He guessed
she wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect, especially now she had the
divorce to worry about.
"Well, will you ask?"
"Sure, but don't hold your breath."
He had to choose his moment carefully.
"Mom? Is it okay if I go to the fair? Some kids from school are
going, and there's a beach barbecue after." To his surprise, his
mother gave him a warm smile.
"Of course you can go!" she replied. "Just make sure that you come
home on time!"
"Yeah - I will. Thanks mom!"
"You're welcome, Fox. You have a good time."
It was the least she could do after the miserable summer vacation
he'd had, what with his best friend away, and now that she'd broken
the news to him about the divorce. He'd taken it rather well, as if
he'd been half expecting it. Just as he was about to go out of the
door, she called him back, rummaged in her purse and pressed ten
dollars into his hands. Fox looked at her in surprise, mumbled his
thanks, then took off lest she have a change of heart. At least she
hadn't asked who the other kids were. Well, he hadn't lied exactly -
Sally *was* a student at his school. He didn't actually say that
these kids were his classmates...... A little voice whispered, "Quit
worrying - she said Yes, didn't she? Just do what she says - have a
good time!"
They had a good time at the fair, going on all the rides at least
once. Fox won a little teddy bear on the rifle range, which he
presented to Sally. Then when they'd had enough of the noise and the
bright lights, it was off to the beach. Fox loved barbecues - he
liked the smell of the food cooking in the open air, and the fact
that he could help himself to as much as he wanted. There was plenty
of food to go round - hot dogs, hamburgers, steak for the grown-ups,
chicken legs, fish, and numerous salads, relishes and dressings.
Fox, Sally and the cousins helped themselves to the food, then
silence reigned as they sat eating.
They all chatted for a while - the cousins were heading back to New
York in a few days. Fox would be sad to see them go - he'd had a lot
of fun spending time with them, and they'd more than made up for
Joe's absence. After a while, the group began to dwindle as the
younger ones started to feel tired. Sally leaned towards Fox.
"Let's go for a walk," she said in a low voice.
"Okay," he replied.
They set off along the beach, and once out of sight of the others,
Fox slipped his hand into hers, smiling shyly at her.
Sally looked very pretty in her sundress, with her hair flowing over
her tanned shoulders. She'd removed her sandals and the sand
squeezed up between her toes as she walked along the beach. The cut
down jeans and pristine white T-shirt that Fox wore showed off his
long, tanned limbs to perfection. His dark brown hair, which had
grown over the holiday, flopped down over his brow, and he was
constantly running his fingers through it to push it out of the way.
Sally came to a stop, and sat down on the sand, folding her legs
beneath her.
"Let's sit for a while - I like to watch the sun go down," she said
softly.
Fox bent his long legs and sank down facing her - he liked watching
the sunset too, but right now he'd prefer to look at Sally. They sat
in silence for a while, then Sally asked coyly, "Don't you want to
kiss me, Fox?"
He blushed furiously, momentarily speechless, and unsure of what to
do. But it was already too late - Sally was leaning forward, her
mouth pressed against his and her tongue sliding its way between his
lips. Fox's eyelids fluttered, and then his eyes closed as her
tongue explored his mouth.
As quickly as she had moved in, she now pulled back. Fox stared at
her, his eyes wide. No-one had ever kissed him like that before. It
had to be said that Fox wasn't a complete novice when it came to
girls, but of the girls he had known, none of them had ever kissed
like that, because he certainly would have remembered it, and none of
them gave him that funny feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"What's wrong?" asked Sally.
"N, n, nothing, " stammered Fox, his throat suddenly as dry as the
sand. Sally was still sitting facing him, a smile hovering around
her mouth. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, then
tossed her head, making her hair swing about her shoulders. Fox sat
there, transfixed. Then her fingers went to the small pearly buttons
that ran down the front of her sundress. Keeping her eyes focussed
on Fox's, she undid the top two buttons and turned back the fabric,
exposing the very tops of her breasts. Fox swallowed hard, and Sally
leaned forward to kiss him again.
Fox could feel his heart thumping in his chest and the blood rushing
in his ears as Sally took his hand and gently placed it on the top of
her breast.
"Sally....." His voice sounded strangled, and the flesh beneath his
trembling hand felt soft and warm.
"What?" she asked softly, reaching up and undoing two more buttons on
her sundress. Fox drew his hand away quickly - he was frightened of
where this was leading, but at the same time curious. His furtive
fumblings had never gotten any further than slipping a hand under a
girl's sweater, let alone anything else. Yet here was Sally,
inviting him to look, to touch - and he was paralysed with fear.
Fox's mind was racing. Why him? Weren't there any boys of her own
age, or older? He suddenly thought of Joe, who would have sold his
soul to the Devil to be where Fox was now.
Curiosity getting the better of him, Fox slipped a tentative hand
inside Sally's sundress and closed it gently around her breast. She
closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He
could discern the change in her breathing as his hand caressed the
soft fullness of her breast, and the barely audible whimper she gave
as his thumb accidentally stroked across her nipple.
Fox suddenly withdrew his hand, and Sally's eyes flew open. She
could see the confusion, and the longing, in his eyes. She lay back
on the sand, and while Fox watched, mesmerised, she undid the
remaining buttons of her sundress, then parted it.
Fox stared down at her. She wore skimpy white panties, but her
breasts were now fully bared to him, the tiny pink nipples erect.
He'd never seen a real live naked woman before - and Sally didn't
strictly count as naked - only the glossy centrefolds in the
well-thumbed Playboy magazines that Joe kept stashed at the bottom of
his closet.
He was still staring down at her, his own ragged breathing sounding
loud in his ears. Sally reached up, and pulled him towards her. Fox
offered minimal resistance initially, then he succumbed. His weight
pressed her into the soft sand, his hands not knowing where to touch
her first. His mouth found hers, his tongue slipping easily between
her lips as Sally's hands found the hem of his T-shirt and slid
beneath it.
With each touch of Sally's hands, the feeling in the pit of Fox's
stomach grew stronger. Things were happening to him - things that he
couldn't control. He'd never had feelings as strong as this before -
the snatched kisses and cuddles with the other girls had never
aroused him in this way. This was like being on a roller coaster
that was unable to stop. He was experiencing excitement and terror
in equal measures....being carried along on a wave of teenage
hormones he hadn't yet learned to control.
Fox didn't have time to think about it - he felt fingers tugging at
the zipper on his cut-downs, and realised that it was Sally. She was
pushing down his denims, then wriggling out of her panties. Fox
Mulder was about to lose more than his heart.
Later, Fox shivered as the cool breeze caressed his bare skin. He
disentangled himself from Sally's embrace, and pulled on his T-shirt.
He glanced at his watch - during the summer holidays he was allowed
to stay out until ten o'clock - and noticed that it was almost five
minutes to eleven. He jumped up, causing Sally to cry,
"Where are you going?"
"Home," he replied, and then he took off, running as fast as his legs
would carry him. Fox ran all the way home, thankful for those
endless circuits round the running track. He dashed up the steps,
taking them two at a time, crashed through the front door and came
face to face with his mother.
"Where have you been?" demanded Helen Mulder frantically. "Do you
know what time it is? I've been worried sick!"
Fox could have kicked himself for being so thoughtless - he should
have realised that she would panic when he wasn't home at the
expected time.
"I'm sorry, mom," he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes lest she was
able to tell what he'd been up to. "I lost track of the time."
She cast her eyes over him, over his tall, rangy frame, his head hung
in shame.
"Just be thankful that your dad isn't here - he wouldn't let you off
so lightly."
Fox was relieved that his father *wasn't* there - he'd have gotten
more than a telling off, that was for sure. Helen Mulder sighed -
she was unable to stay angry with Fox for long. He had enough of
that from his father. At least he was home, and for that she was
thankful. She reached out and gently squeezed his arm.
"We'll say no more about it, okay?"
"You won't tell dad?"
"No. Now go on up to bed - I'll see you in the morning."
Fox kissed his mother's cheek, then trooped up the stairs. After
checking that she had gone back into the living room, he darted into
the bathroom and locked the door. He stripped off his clothes and
buried them at the bottom of the laundry basket, then stepped under
the shower to rid himself of any incriminating evidence. He tumbled
into bed, too keyed up to sleep. Eventually he drifted off, his
dreams punctuated by visions of Sally Martin.
Fox stared at himself in the mirror the next morning - the face that
stared back at him looked exactly the same as it had the day before.
He didn't know what he had expected to see - he had thought that
maybe he might somehow be different, but there was no outward change
that he could discern. The change was on the inside - it had been
his first time, and the yardstick by which all future encounters
would be measured. The feelings, the emotions, had been overwhelming
in their intensity, and Fox wondered if he would ever feel like that
again.
He didn't see Sally that day, or the next - apparently she had gone
off somewhere with her parents. Fox had taken the opportunity to buy
Sally a gift - a pretty beaded leather Native American bracelet that
he had purchased in a Gay Head craft shop. He was sure that Sally
would like it when he gave it to her, only he never got the chance -
for the last two weeks of the holidays, Helen Mulder went to visit
relatives in Boston, taking Fox with her.
The long, hot summer of 75 ended when Fox returned to school. There
was no sign of Sally - the buzz going around the schoolyard was that
she had gotten herself into trouble and the family had moved away
hurriedly to avoid the scandal. Indeed, Fox had taken a detour on
his way home from school and cycled past her house - a large "For
Sale" sign stood on the front lawn.
Years later, Fox had asked his mother what had happened to the Martin
family. She had looked surprised. "I thought you knew - Sally got
herself pregnant," Helen Mulder had replied. "I wasn't surprised -
she was never anything but trouble, that girl."
Fox had been stunned. "Did they know who the father was?" he had
asked.
Helen Mulder had shaken her head.
"She never told them - I assume it was a local boy. God knows she
always had enough of them hanging around her."
"Where did they go?"
"New York, I think. The Martins had family there. Why do you ask?"
Fox shrugged. "I was just curious," he replied, not meeting her
eyes. Fox never told his mother about that summer - he never told
anyone, not even Joe.
Present day
The music faded, and Fox was back in the present. Whenever he heard
that old Bobby Goldsboro track, it always reminded him of that summer
- he could remember it as if it were yesterday. The smell of her
skin, the softness of her hair, the sweet taste of her kisses. Many
women had come and gone since then, but he had never forgotten Sally,
or that night on the beach.
Fox blinked, as if coming out of a daze, the sound of a car horn
blaring in his ears. He looked into the mirror, and saw the driver
behind gesticulating wildly, and none too politely. His eyes dropped
to the road ahead - the traffic had moved on. Fox let the car roll
forward. The traffic had inexplicably thinned out, and he was able
to put his foot down. He was looking forward to getting home and
taking that shower - after he'd dug out that beaded leather bracelet
he'd bought all those years ago.
The End
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