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Summer School

J. Ross Archer

    September came; Sadie Grace Bennett and Sam Arthur, both with reluctance, went their separate ways to college. That was 65 years ago; I remember what a wonderful teacher Sadie Grace had been—the best I have ever known—in any subject. One might ask if I have seen her since that summer? Yes, several times, and when we meet, there is always an exchange of knowing, loving smiles. Was there something between us beyond friendship? Maybe. The story I am about to relate has happened and is happening, to a few lucky men across this country—at least I hope it is. I wish the reader will take away more than an amazing sex education experience. It is more about how a major life lesson can reach far beyond a sexual encounter.
+++65 Years Earlier+++
    The month was June, Sam had just graduated from high school and did not suspect his life was going to change forever soon. He was without a summer job prospect, and his girlfriend had enrolled for the summer semester at the University of Georgia. It was going to be a long summer—no girlfriend, no job.
    Sam’s mother asked him to pick up a few things at the grocery store; she thought that might cheer him up.
+++
    Grocery stores always fascinated Sam. The smells of fresh produce, the aroma of bread baking, and the pungent odor of the meat counters flooded his senses with colors, shapes, and textures. This part of his personality he did not advertise; he might be the one male beast on the planet who likes to grocery shop, and he intended that information to remain a secret known only to him.
    A crafted stack of oranges caught his attention, and he was about to pluck one from the stack when someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned to see who was seeking his attention, and Sadie Grace Bennett, a high school classmate, greeted him with a gorgeous smile. Sam’s stomach tensed; he had difficulty speaking, but he recovered and managed a smile and a greeting,
    “Sadie Grace Bennett, I see we both are charged with foraging for our families. It’s so nice to see you; someone told me you were in Athens this summer working for your brother, but I see that rumor is in error. You are now a sophomore at Georgia, are you not?”
    Sam’s nervousness manifested in accelerated speech and an elevated voice. If she noticed his nervousness, she did not show it; her smile broadened, and her posture was relaxed. Sadie Grace was a year ahead of him in high school and two years older. She had all the right attributes: long silky hair, she was tall, slender but well proportioned. A most intelligent, personable, girl, she is knockout beautiful, and she befriended him during her senior year. Sam had held a mad crush on her even though he had a steady girlfriend.
    She giggled at Sam’s multiple questions. “Yes and yes. I am a sophomore, and it does appear we are our mothers’ helpers—at least for today. I’m home this summer helping mom as she recovers from back surgery. However, Sam, I do find it strange that a man is doing his mom’s grocery shopping. Do you not find that an out of the ordinary chore for a man whose mom is not ill?”
    “Perhaps, but if you allow me to take you to dinner tomorrow night, I will tell you the story behind my willingness to do mom’s grocery shopping.”
    Sam had gotten over the initial shock of seeing Sadie Grace but was still unsettled. Sam was a gregarious, uninhibited guy who was popular among his friends, but Sadie Grace was special in his opinion.
    “You are on, mister, pick me up at seven and do not under any circumstances be late; I will be starving by that time.”
    “Great. I will see you at seven.”
    She flashed one more perfect smile, then walked away heading to the frozen foods. Sam’s heart pounded, and he was short of breath. He had not expected ever to see Sadie Grace again, nor did he expect her to accept his unplanned dinner invitation, but he was delighted. Shopping chore completed, Sam regained a modicum of emotional control. He caught one more glimpse of Sadie Grace as he stood in the check out line; she was bending over to retrieve something from a floor freezer that created a marvelous picture of her tanned legs in short shorts. The cashier noticed his focused gaze. “Is that young lady your girlfriend, you appear to be taken by her?”
    “No, mam, but I wish she were.”
+++
    The time for his date with Sadie Grace arrived, and excitement overwhelmed him. He still did not believe this was happening. He was concerned that he was over his head and mismatched, and that Sadie Grace would be bored with him. Sadie Grace was perfect, and he felt inadequate for a romantic relationship with her. Sam was of average height, stocky build and handsome; nonetheless, he felt inadequate. He braced his shoulders, took a deep breath, knocked on the door of the Bennett home, and waited. Mr. Bennett answered the door and invited him inside.
    “Sadie Grace will be ready in a few minutes, Sam, take a seat and tell me what your plans are for the summer while you wait to go to school in September.”
    “I am glad you asked, Mr. Bennett, I was hoping you might need summer help at the water and light plant.”
    “Sam, we sure could use extra help because we are changing out old rotten light poles that are dangerous. Stop by my office at the plant tomorrow, and we will see what we might work out.”
    “That would be great Mr...”
    Sadie Grace entered the room before he could respond to Mr. Bennett’s suggestion. She wore a yellow sleeveless sundress with white slippers, and she carried a small white purse. Her dark tan made the yellow sundress pop, and his full attention was now on her. They exchanged pleasantries with her father for a while then Sam went into Mrs. Bennett’s bedroom for a brief visit. All the courtesies observed, they left after ten minutes. As Sam assisted Sadie Grace into the car, he caught a pleasing whiff of her perfume. She noticed.
    “How do you like the fragrance? It’s new for me?”
     “Best smelling stuff I have ever smelled. Your aroma is wonderful,” Sam knew he had sounded like a country bumpkin and felt like he was one. Too late, now. Sadie Grace offered him an enthusiastic thank you and that made him think better of himself.
+++
    They had a good dinner at the Alpine Restaurant in a neighboring town. To Sam’s relief, their conversation came without effort and for the most part was informational having to do with their recent lives, movies, music, and mutual acquaintances. After dinner, at Sadie Grace’s suggestion, they drove out to lake Beatrice to watch the last vestiges of the sunset followed by the debut of the stars. The weather was crystal clear and comfortably mild. Sam just knew this evening had been created for this occasion. He was certain that if he had wanted an orchestra playing for them, it would have happened. It was difficult for Sam to contain his enthusiasm for this evening with Sadie Grace. He had a swagger in his step, and he even whistled while helping Sadie Grace in and out of the car.
    They were both relaxed after having enjoyed a good dinner and were engaged in small talk with their seatbacks reclined. Romantic music on the radio encouraged Sam to put his arm around Sadie Grace’s shoulders, and she responded by sliding closer to him and laying her head on his shoulder. Sam thought to himself, how grateful he was for the bench seats in his car. Sadie Grace stopped talking after a while and turned her body in the seat to face Sam, and he did the same. The last rays of the sun cast a soft golden glow on Sadie Grace’s face. He could see her eyes had moistened and softened. She placed a hand on his cheek and leaned closer to him putting her lips inches from his. Sam thought, “Now, I might be slow, but I did not just fall off a turnip truck..” They kissed—a long deep kiss. Sadie Grace’s breathing came in shallow, short breaths. Sam’s breathing came in long, deep efforts. They embraced as close as possible. Sadie Grace was shaking noticeably. Moans came from them both. Intimacies progressed causing them both to become very much aroused. After five or ten minutes of heavy kissing and caressing, Sadie Grace little by little sat upright, removed her panties, unfastened and pushed Sam’s trousers below his knees, straddled him, and ...
    “Oh, my gosh, Sadie Grace, you made me feel things I have never felt before.”
    “Me, too, Sam. However, you must know that I’m not in the habit of letting things go this far, I’m not a virgin, but I am not a loose girl either. I’m sorry, Sam, it’s my fault for letting it go too far.”
    “Sadie Grace, I think you’re a great girl and I think nothing of you but the best. Forget the bad girl stuff. I think you know I adore you—and respect you. I could not have done what we just did if that were not true.” Sam was holding both her hands searching for more words when Sadie Grace burst out laughing.
    “Sam, can you imagine how ridiculous we must look sitting here with our pants down around our ankles.”
    “Yes, and I think I could learn to like it,” said Sam as he joined Sadie Grace in hearty laughter,
    They feigned disagreement and laughed some more in the afterglow of their union, and they kissed a tender, slow kiss.
    “Sam, are you all right with what happened?” Her look was somber, her head cocked to one side, and her voice became as soft as cotton.
    “Yes, sure, I am good with it. I think it was the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. How about you, are you Okay with it?
    “It was most delightful; you are a good-looking, barely legal young man.”
    They held hands on the way home and kissed again at her front door.
    For the next three months, with incredible gentleness, infinite patience, and boundless enthusiasm, Sadie Grace educated Sam on the finer points of sex— at the doctorate level. Her teaching was tender, and it was about developing and nurturing a caring relationship as an important part of an extended non-casual sexual experience. She told Sam she wanted him to acquire his sexual knowledge from someone who cared about him rather than from pornography or prostitutes. She stressed to Sam that her sexual education had been a gift similar to what she was attempting to give him. Sam, in turn, tried to convince Sadie Grace that he respected her without reservation. They appeared to have accepted each other’s explanations and had grown comfortable in their relationship. Those summer months with Sadie Grace flew by too fast, and it was a time Sam would cherish forever. He accepted it as an important step in his becoming a man. Every date with Sadie Grace had been a new adventure, yet it was a comfortable experience much like how an old shoe fits.
    On their last date, Sam felt compelled to ask Sadie Grace to forgive him for his clumsiness and lack of experience in lovemaking when they first started dating. It bothered him that it might have kept her from enjoying her side of the love-making. He thought she must have guessed that he was pretty much in the dark about sex and that he was embarrassed by his lack of experience. He told Sadie Grace: “That he might have been in the dark, but she had brought him out into full light.”
    Sadie Grace giggled and replied: “Do not give that a second thought, Sam, and please do not let your lack of experience inhibit you. Do you think I have sex with every man I date? Besides, Sam, couldn’t you tell I enjoyed sex with you? My goodness, Sam. I get excited almost as soon as you touch me, and I my sexual satisfaction was complete. I find you very attractive, Sam, in every way—physically, intellectually and spiritually. I thought as much during our time in high school. Maybe you will not think less of me for responding to you with so much enthusiasm. I told you I want you to learn proper techniques in the right way from someone who cares, not from pornography or from someone who sells sex to earn a living. Sam, I want you to remember everything we have shared so you might share what you have learned with your marriage partner one day. And remember, Sam, you will never be in the dark again.”
    “The right words for a response to what you just said escape me, Sadie Grace, but I want you to know my time with you this summer has been the most wonderful thing to ever happen to me. I know I’m a blessed man, and it’s not just what you have taught me about sex that has been so wonderful; it has been learning the magnificent person you have shown me you are. I am a much better person for having known you, and I hope to put what you have taught me to good use should I ever marry. You will always have a place in my heart. Thank you, Sadie Grace, for a terrific summer school.

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