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<1st attachment, "Kathy Stark 4.txt" begin>

The following is a work of fiction regarding sexual
relationships.  If you feel that it is illegal, immoral, or
otherwise improper for you to read this, then *Don't Read It.*

*  *  *

*Kathy*

Copyright (c) 1991, 1998, 2001 by Morgan. All rights reserved.

Please note the original copyright date.  This story was
basically written ten years ago and was originally posted in
1988.  As a result, you will likely find obsolete references. 
I'm afraid you'll just have to live with it; it's too tedious
trying to keep up with the latest and greatest.  It was
previously posted on ASSM in 1998, but not since then.

Incidentally, you will find occasional entries, _word_.  The
reason for this is that MS Word's Auto Format function puts a
word preceded and followed by an underscore in italics; that's my
intent.  Similarly, *word* results in the word appearing in bold
face.  If you use Word's Auto Format, it will take care of
things; if you don't, you at least know why it's there.

More of my works are posted on my site <www.asstr-mirror.org/files/Authors/Morgan/www> 
If you like it -- or if you don't -- please let me know at
morg105829@aol.com.

*  *  *

*Chapter 25*

Kathy had spent a miserable night tossing in an agony of sexual
frustration.  Her cunt ached for Ken's cock.  She thought about
it, but came to no conclusion.  She hadn't had a man for years
before she met him and it hadn't bothered her at all.  Why was
she so tormented now?

She was thinking along those lines when the phone rang.  It was
Tony Donetti.  Hearing his voice startled her:  He had never
called her before.  "Angel, there's a problem I'm sure you'll be
interested in.  It's in Family Court, downtown.  There's a young
girl named Susan Smith.  She's a runaway from her legal guardian,
Sylvia Black.  Anyway, this kid isn't represented.  I can help,
but I need someone to say some words.  Can you do it?  She needs
you, Angel."

Kathy was instantly awake when she heard Tony's voice.  "Tony,
how much time do I have?  You caught me in bed.  Do I have time
to take a shower?"

Tony laughed.  "I should have known!  I called the kids first. 
They loved your wedding, by the way, as did my wife and me.  You
should never have invited us and we should never have come, but
we did.  My wife cried, Angel.  She said you were the most
beautiful bride she's ever seen.  All she could talk about was
your white gown and golden hair.  You were stunning!

"Anyway, it's only seven o'clock!  You know the courts better
than I do, but I've never heard of anything happening before ten.
 And Angel?  Please let me know what happens.  The poor kid is
being held in jail pending the hearing.  Will you let me know?"

"Of course, Tony.  I'll get right down there."

As soon as she hung up the phone, she got out of bed, showered,
dressed in her lawyer suit, had a cup of coffee and drove down to
Family Court.  She went to the jail where she was well known and
asked to see Susan Smith.

The sergeant on duty looked embarrassed.  "I can't do that, Miss
Smith... I mean, Mrs. Stark.  Orders."

"Orders from whom, Sergeant?" she inquired.

"Up high, Kathy.  It's some political influence thing," he said
in a near-whisper.

Kathy left and went to a restaurant close by where she used to
eat when she was in the District Attorney's office.  She had
breakfast and was back in the courthouse before the court was
called into session.  The bailiff announced the judge's entrance
and the court was called to order.  The first case called was
Susan Smith's.

A young girl was being dragged into the courtroom from the
holding area.  She was handcuffed and was being dragged by the
two matrons who were escorting her.  Then Kathy saw Sylvia Black
again.  She had seen Sylvia for the first time when she attended
her trial on conspiracy.  While she had detested her then, she
hated her now.

The judge looked around the courtroom as if he was looking for
something.  "Is this girl represented by counsel?" he inquired.

Sylvia started to say that it was a juvenile case and no counsel
was required, when Kathy came forward.  "I am Kathy Stark, your
Honor, and I am representing Susan Smith," she asserted, smiling
venomously at Sylvia.  She continued, "I have been prevented from
meeting with my client.  Therefore, I respectfully request a
ten-minute recess to speak with her now."

Sylvia was about to protest, when the judge's gavel came down
hard.  "The court will be in recess for ten minutes.  We will
reconvene at twenty minutes after the hour."  Looking at the
deputies, he said pointedly, "Matrons will assure that Mrs. Stark
meets with her client _in private!"_

Susan Smith was brought in to an attorneys' conference room.  The
matrons were about to withdraw when Kathy said to them sharply,
"Take those handcuffs off my client's wrists."

"But Mrs. Stark, I can't.  This girl is violent!" one of the
matrons replied plaintively.

"I said, take them off.  Now!"  The matron responded instantly to
the steel in Kathy's voice, took off the cuffs, and quickly
retreated.

For the first time, Kathy had an opportunity to get a good look
at Susan Smith and almost fell off her chair.  The girl was
Kathy's identical twin but about ten years younger.

"Hi, Susan.  I'm Kathy Stark, and I'm an attorney in Norfolk.  I
lied in there when I said I was your attorney.  I'm not.  I can't
be your counsel unless you ask me to be, and you haven't had a
chance.  May I represent you, Susan?"

Kathy almost melted as Susan's beautiful blue eyes regarded her.
Then Susan did a double take as well.  "But... but... you look
like me!"

"I know, honey.  But we don't have much time.  May I represent
you?"

"Of course!  Anything to get away from that horrible woman!  Miss
Stark, please help me!  I only wanted to go to school."

"It's Mrs. Stark," Kathy corrected gently.  "Why are you moving
so stiffly?"  Instead of answering, the girl lifted her shirttail
and turned her back.  Kathy was horrified to see streaks of blood
crisscrossing the girl's back.  "Who hit you?" she askedquietly.

"One of the guards, ma'am.  She's a sadist, I think.  After
stripping me bare, she tied my hands to a hook that came down on
a pulley from the ceiling.  They pulled me up until my toes were
barely touching the floor.  She took off this leather belt and
whipped me with it.  I was spinning on the hook, and she just
kept beating me."

Kathy was appalled.  There was a phone in the room for attorneys'
use.  She used it to call Peter Mahoney on his private line, and
he answered at once.  "Pete, it's Kathy.  I'm at Family Court. 
Can you get down here right away?  And get a squad of police over
here, too?  I'm supposed to go back into court within three
minutes.  It's Courtroom Three.  Just stand in the back of the
room and have the police in the corridor waiting.  It won't be a
long wait.  Can you come?"

"I'll be there as soon as I get my shoes back on.  It'll take
about five minutes.  See you!"

Kathy turned her attention back to the girl.  "Susan, I'm
dreadfully sorry!  Would you please take your shirt off?"  The
girl was wearing a man's shirt that fit her like a tent, along
with a pair of dungarees tied with rope at the waist.  She took
off the shirt and faced Kathy.

Kathy almost became ill.  The girl's beautiful, but
still-immature breasts had been cut by the belt.  Marks
crisscrossed her body and went below the belt line.  "How far
down do they go?" she asked.

"To just above my knees," was the quiet reply.

"How many times did she hit you?"

"I don't know," Susan replied softly.  "I passed out after about
thirty.  It really hurt, Mrs. Stark."

Kathy's voice was so full of menace she didn't recognize it
herself when she spoke, "Never again, Susan.  I swear to you this
will _never_ happen again.  Come on, it's time to return to the
courtroom."

When they stepped outside the room, the same matron was waiting.
She looked at Susan with a question in her eyes.  The girl shook
her head and Kathy turned back to the matron.  "Do you know who I
am?" she asked.

"Yes, ma'am.  You're Kathy Smith.  Or you used to be."

"That's right.  Now, who beat this girl?  I want to know _now!"_

"I can't tell you!  Mabel would kill me!" the woman replied,
terrified.

"So we know her name is Mabel.  Is she in court today?" Kathy
asked.  Both the matron and Susan nodded.  "Fine!" said Kathy. 
"Let's go!"

They reentered the courtroom.  Kathy escorted Susan to the
defendant's table as the judge returned.  The court was called to
order and the judge announced that the plaintiff, Mrs. Black, the
child's legal guardian, could proceed.

Sylvia Black came forward.  "It's a simple matter, Your Honor.  I
have the papers here appointing me the legal guardian of Susan
Smith.  She ran away and got caught.  I want her back.  Thank
you."  Sylvia returned to the plaintiff's table and sat down.

"Mrs. Stark, do you have anything to say on behalf of the minor,
Susan Smith?  However, before you speak, Mrs. Stark, I have a
question to ask the girl.  Susan, would you please stand?"  Susan
stood up.  The judge continued, "Susan, Mrs. Stark has claimed to
be your counsel.  Did you ask her to represent you?"

"Yes, Your Honor.  I certainly did."

"Thank you, Susan, you may sit down.  Mrs. Stark, you may
proceed."

While the judge had been addressing Susan, Kathy looked around
the room.  She saw Peter Mahoney with a policeman sitting in the
back of the courtroom.  "Your Honor," Kathy began, "there is a
great deal about this case I do not yet understand.  First, I do
not know how Sylvia Black came to be this child's guardian in the
first place.  Your Honor may not be aware of the fact that Sylvia
Black was sentenced to three-to-five years imprisonment less than
six months ago after being convicted of larceny, conspiracy and
bigamy.  Her sentence was suspended.  I do not understand how a
convicted felon could obtain guardianship of a minor."

"Mrs. Stark, can you support this charge?" the judge asked.

At that point Pete spoke up from the back of the courtroom. 
"Your Honor, I am Peter Mahoney, District Attorney of Norfolk
County.  I can attest to the truth of Mrs. Stark's statements. 
Copies of the relevant documents could be delivered in a matter
of minutes from Criminal Court, if you wish."  Peter sat down
again.

"That won't be necessary, Mr. Mahoney.  Please proceed, Mrs.
Stark."

"Your Honor, I request a continuance of this case for ten days. 
In the meantime, I request that the defendant, Susan Smith be
remanded to my custody.  Further, Your Honor, I demand that the
matron standing over there be placed under arrest immediately." 
Kathy pointed to a beefy matron standing back in the corner of
the room.  "The charge is felony assault and battery!  Susan,
please show the judge your back."

Susan approached the bench, turned her back to the judge, and
lifted the back of her shirt.  When she exposed her back to him,
Kathy saw the judge turn white as a sheet.  Kathy spoke up
sharply, "That was done to the child by the matron I indicated. 
Perhaps I should ask you to look over this child in your chambers
where she could be fully unclothed.  I saw more, your Honor, and
it's sickening!  She has been beaten from her shoulders to her
knees as she was suspended naked from the ceiling revolving
helplessly.  Your Honor, that woman is a brutal sadist!"

Just then a shot rang out, followed quickly by three others. 
Kathy felt the breath of a bullet passing by her head.  She
turned quickly to see the matron, Mabel, crumpling to the floor
while the officer who had accompanied Peter was standing holding
a smoking revolver.

Kathy ran to the fallen woman and reached her the same time the
officer did.  A glance at the still-drawn weapon in the officer's
hand told Kathy all she needed to know.  It was a Smith & Wesson
.44 Magnum, a hand cannon.  Mabel was dead.  At least one of its
bullets had blown her apart.

During the instant that the courtroom remained in a stunned
silence, the judge spoke quickly.  "This case is continued for
ten days.  Miss Smith is remanded into the custody of Mrs. Stark
until that time.  This court is now adjourned!"  His gavel
pounded down as chaos erupted.

Kathy spoke quickly to Susan, "Let's get out of here.  Move!"

On the way out, she spoke quickly to Mahoney.  "Thanks, Chief. 
This is a lot more melodrama than I had in mind.  This kid is in
terrible shape and I really have to get her home fast.  May I
call you later?  And please thank the officer for saving my
life!"

They quickly left the courthouse before the press and TV crews
could arrive.  Ducking into a luncheonette Kathy used a pay phone
to call the hospital.  When she got through she asked for Dr.
Miller and was told he was off duty.  She identified herself and
asked for his home telephone number.  Calling his home, his wife
answered.  "Cindy, this is Kathy Stark.  I need help desperately.
 Is Charley home?"

Charley was on the phone immediately.  "Charley, I need your
help, and Cindy's, too, if it's possible.  I have a young girl
with me who's been viciously beaten.  She recalls about thirty
lashes before she passed out, but God only knows how many there
were.  I could bring her to the hospital, but I think another
institution is the last thing she needs to see right now.  Can
you help?"

"Of course, Kathy!  What's your address?"  She gave it to him. 
"We can be there in thirty minutes.  Is that soon enough?" he
asked.

"That's great, Charley.  In fact, the girl and I are in downtown
Norfolk now.  I'm not sure we can be there in thirty minutes."

"It's okay, Kathy.  If Cindy and I beat you, we'll just wait for
you there."  The connection clicked off before she could speak.

"Come on, Susan.  We're off."  They went to her car and got in. 
Then she noticed the cellular telephone that she had just had
installed.  "Damn!" she muttered under her breath.  Being so new,
she had forgotten she had it.  She picked it up and dialed "O."

When the operator came on the line she asked for the State Police
barracks closest to Norfolk and said it was an emergency.  She
was connected and asked to speak to the watch commander.  He came
on the line and identified himself as Lieutenant Pinkney.

"Lieutenant, this is Kathy Stark.  You may know me better as
Kathy Smith.  I need help.  I'm in Norfolk and need to get to my
apartment in Virginia Beach as fast as possible.  Could I get an
escort, please?  It's an emergency."

"Just a moment, ma'am."  A few seconds later he was back on the
line.  "Ma'am, Trooper Stockdale is in that general area.  He
knows you and your car.  He will meet you at the Expressway
entrance near the Omni.  He'll be there in two minutes or less. 
Is that satisfactory, ma'am?"

"That's perfect, Lieutenant, and many thanks.  I have to come out
to see you folks at the barracks some day soon.  Thank you, sir.
I'm rolling."

She glanced at Susan sitting in the passenger seat.  "Honey, the
way you've been beaten, that seatbelt harness won't feel too
great, but I think you'll feel better with it fastened.  This
ride is going to be a fast one."

The girl buckled her belt.  Kathy felt her heart tug as the girl
winced just once as the belt slid across her tortured shoulder. 
When she reached the Expressway, Will's cruiser was pulled off
the road, waiting.  When he saw her in his mirror, he waved and
started to roll.  He cut in his siren and flashers and made for
the high-speed lane.  Kathy was on his tail as they were soon up
to 100 mph speeding east.  In her rear view mirror, she saw
another police car closing in the middle lane.  He passed them
both and moved far ahead to provide more warning to other
vehicles.  In no time they were at the exit and off the highway.
Again, Stockdale escorted her to her driveway with his siren
screaming.  She had made it in less than fifteen minutes.

Will jumped out of his car and ran up to her, saluting.  "I hope
that was fast enough, Kathy," he asked.  When he peered into the
car he did a double take.  "Is this the...  Good grief!  Kathy,
she's... she's a younger twin sister!  Woweee!  Ma'am, I don't
think this poor old town can take two o' you.  It surelycain't."

Kathy looked at the beautiful girl sitting beside her.  "Will, I
would like to introduce you to a girl you've just helped a great
deal, Miss Susan Smith.  Susan, this is Trooper William Stockdale
of the Virginia State Police."

"How do you do, Trooper Stockdale?" Susan said in a soft, melodic
voice.  "Thank you so much for your assistance."

"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Miss.  A real pleasure,
indeed!  I surely hope you're feeling better, soon."

"Will," Kathy said, "I spoke with your Lieutenant.  Susan and I
would like to visit your barracks soon.  We hope to see you there
when we do."

Will blushed.  "I'll surely be there, ma'am, unless of course,
I'm on patrol.  Have a good day!"  He went back to his cruiser
just as the Millers drove up.

After Kathy parked her car, the four went up in the elevator
together.  Kathy led them into the guest room.

"Charley and Cindy, I would like you to meet Susan Smith, your
patient.  Susan, this is Dr. and Mrs. Miller.  Mrs. Miller is a
nurse.  They are a trauma team, and I think you need theirhelp."

Both Millers had done a double-take similar to Will Stockdale's,
but Charley recovered quickly.  "Susan," Charley said, "would you
please tell me what happened to you?"

Susan told the story of the matron, Mabel, and what the woman had
done to her.  Dr. Miller asked Susan to undress and she did so
quickly.  She was standing before them completely unselfconscious
and completely nude.  Kathy glanced at Cindy who had turned pale
at what she was seeing.  The girl had been unmercifully beaten
with special attention to her breasts, thighs and pubic area. 
Kathy noticed that Susan had a small patch of rather dense pubic
hair, a darker shade of gold than the hair on her head.

Charley turned to his wife, "Honey, could you start cleaning up
Susan, please?  I would like to speak with Kathy for a few
moments."

Cindy started opening the treatment bags and removing needed
materials as Kathy and Charley left the room.  Miller was shaken
as he said, "Kathy I've been in trauma treatment for over five
years, as has Cindy.  I know you saw her go pale when she saw the
girl, and we see some terribly beat-up people.  Of course, I
suppose the difference is that the others are victims of
accidents while this was deliberate."

"Charley, there's one consolation.  The woman who did that to her
is dead."  Kathy said, recounting the events in the courtroom. 
Then she asked, "What do you think, Doctor?  Will she be all
right?"

"I honestly can't say yet, Kathy.  Let's go back and take a
look."

They went back in the room.  Cindy was continuing to clean out
the cuts while Charley examined the girl carefully.  She was
beaten and cut, but no wounds were deep enough to require
sutures.  They were both relieved and amazed to see that the girl
was sound asleep.  As gently as they could they completed the
process by putting an anaesthetic ointment on the cuts.  When
they finished, Kathy drew the drapes to darken the room,
carefully covered the young girl and withdrew.

The Millers were waiting for her.  Cindy had collapsed in a
chair.  "Kathy," Cindy said, "I'm getting too old for this.  That
is a beautiful girl in there, as beautiful as you are.  She's a
younger identical twin, except there is no such thing.  Who would
do a thing like that to such a beautiful child?  She's very
brave, too.  I'm sure that some of the things I had to do were
agonizing to her, but the most she ever did was wince a little."

"Charley, you've had a chance to examine her now.  What do you
think?" Kathy asked.

"I think she may be incredibly lucky.  We can't be sure for a
while yet, but I don't see anything that will cause lasting
scars.  I would like to leave some anaesthetic ointment for you
to use on her body three times a day.  If you give me the name of
your pharmacy, I'll call them and order out a supply.  With her
condition you will need a lot."

She gave him the name and he placed the call.  When he hung up
the phone he said, "They're sending out their entire in-stock
supply right now and are reordering from their wholesaler.  They
expect to deliver more before the end of the day.  Between what
I'm leaving and what they're sending over you should be okay.  I
guess that about takes care of it.  Could you bring her in to the
hospital to see me in a week?"

"Of course, Doctor.  Now, would you and Cindy care to stay for
lunch?  I could fix something very quickly."

"Thank you, Kathy, but we want to get home.  It's our day off and
Cindy likes to spend it in bed."  Charley grinned while Cindy
blushed.

"Then can I at least pay you now before you leave?  It would save
you a lot of time and paperwork," Kathy said.

They were genuinely insulted.  "Kathy, you're our friend.  We
don't charge our friends, particularly when our friends are
playing Good Samaritan.  We're glad we could help.  I certainly
hope things work out for the poor kid!  If there are any
developments you don't like the looks of, holler?  Promise?"

"I promise.  And thank you both so very much!"

The Millers left and Kathy went into Susan's room.  The girl was
sleeping soundly as she gently closed the door again.

* * *

It was evening when Susan's door opened.  Kathy was curled up on
the sofa with a book as she came into the room.  When Kathy
looked up, her heart was wrenched by the juxtaposition of the
beautiful face on an equally beautiful, but now brutally battered
body.  Kathy put down her book, went over to the girl, and put
out her hand.

"Susan, after the events of today, I think we should start over.
I am Kathy Stark."

The girl smiled tentatively, but took Kathy's hand in a firm
grip.  Kathy looked down at the girl's hand.  It was the same
size as her own with the same long slender fingers.  It was as if
she were shaking hands with herself.  Kathy noticed that the girl
seemed totally unconcerned about her nakedness, but she asked her
anyway.  "Susan, would you feel more comfortable wearing
something?"

The girl smiled and shook her head, but suddenly her face showed
concern.  "It doesn't bother me a bit, but if I'm embarrassing
you...?"

Kathy grinned and shed her own clothes.  She had been wearing
jeans and a T-shirt.  It was May, and the weather in Tidewater
was hot.  "Susan, you certainly don't embarrass me.  I seldom
wear clothes around the apartment.  I was only trying not to
embarrass _you!"_

The girl looked at Kathy's body with its all-over tan.  "You're
very beautiful, Mrs. Stark," she said matter-of-factly, But
what's that?"  She was looking at the "Property" stamp across her
mound.

Kathy explained it, and the girl laughed.  Then Kathy heard a
digestive growl, "Good heavens!  Susan, you must be starving!"

"I guess I am a little hungry, Mrs. Stark," she said shyly.

"When did you eat last?"

"Yesterday, I think, ma'am," was the quiet reply.

"What would you like?" asked Kathy as they entered the kitchen,
"How about a hamburger?"

The girl's face lighted up.  "That would be wonderful!  CouldI?"

In no time Kathy had the grill working, and two hamburgers
starting to sizzle.  Trying to remember her own likes as a
teenager, she sliced onions and tomatoes and took out a head of
lettuce.  Hamburger rolls were soon toasting.

Kathy put the plates on the counter and watched as Susan's
hamburger evaporated.  Before touching her own, she put two more
on the grill.  By now the deep fryer had reached cooking
temperature, and she dropped in potatoes to french fry.  Finally,
she brought the drink mixer in from the bar and blended a milk
shake.

The poor girl was famished.  She devoured the food and the milk
shake, and finally looked up.  "That was marvelous, Mrs. Stark! 
Thank you so much."

Kathy wanted to cry hearing the girl's thanks for a couple of
hamburgers.

Kathy led the girl into the library.  She let herself down
gingerly on the couch and then relaxed.  "Susan, tell me about
yourself.  Let's start at the courtroom and go backwards, okay? 
And Susan, please call me Kathy.  I'm not _that_ much older than
you."

The girl gave her a warm smile.  "Sure, Kathy.  Kathy, I live in
a whorehouse, but... but... I'm still a virgin.  My birthday is
coming up next month.  I'll be sixteen, and I'm the prize in an
auction that Sylvia's running.  She made a poster with a picture
of me naked.  There's a place below for the johns to sign up with
a bid.  The highest bidder gets to take my virginity.

"Things weren't so bad until Sylvia bought the house a few
month's ago from old Mrs. Watson.  She brought in a lot of new
girls, Kathy.  A lot of them are younger than I am.  It feels
kind of strange and terrible to kneel on a bed and watch a girl
fourteen taking a huge cock inside her.  One little girl gripped
my hand as this guy ripped her insides.  She was screaming, but
he loved it.  He wouldn't let me do anything to make his entry
any easier for her.  He wanted to rip her apart!

"I guess they're not considered as pretty as me or something.  If
a John pays extra, I'll kneel on the bed and caress him while he
plows the other girl.  For even more money, I go down on them and
sometimes I take them in my ass.  Sylvia is always there, though,
to make sure they don't get to my cunt.  She will let them
carefully feel my hymen, sometimes, so they know it's still
intact."

The recital was the worst Kathy had heard.  Clearly, underage
girls were being prostituted.  She suspected that many were
probably runaways who had been trapped into prostitution.

"Susan, would you like a Coke, or something?  I can see I'm going
to have to change my food-buying habits.  Ken and I don't stock
many things that appeal to teenagers!"  She grinned at the girl
and added, "Why don't you help yourself to whatever looks
interesting in the kitchen?  You haven't had anything to eat in
almost thirty minutes!"  She smiled as the girl bounded out of
the library in the direction of the kitchen.

She picked up the phone and called Tony Donetti.  He was almost
instantly on the line.  "I'm sorry about what happened today,
Kathy.  I had a guy in the courtroom.  He never expected that
creepy matron would go for her gun.  What do you think of the
girl, Angel?"

"I don't know how to answer that, Tony.  She's like my younger
twin sister, but there is no such thing.  The reason I called,
though, is I want to smash Sylvia's little red wagon, and do it
for good this time.  But I need a little help.  Evidently, Sylvia
took over a house a few months ago and replaced a lot of the
girls with underage talent.  I'm going to call Mahoney right now
and see if a raid can be staged tonight before Sylvia has a
chance to temporarily clean up her act.  But I need to have a
full house at her place.  I assume you know where it is?"

"You're on, Angel!  She's the kind who gives the trade a very bad
name.  You want a mob of customers present who may get busted. 
Kathy, we need to get the timing exactly right.  It's one thing
to be booked for patronizing a house of prostitution, but a very
different thing to be nailed for statutory rape.  Guys can be
found with the young kids, but not being too friendly, if you
know what I mean?"

"I understand perfectly!" she said.  "I'll get right back to you.
 What _is_ Sylvia's address, by the way?  I don't even know."

He gave her the address and she called Peter Mahoney at home. 
"Pete, it's Kathy.  I haven't even thanked you for one favor, and
I'm going to ask you for another.  First, though, I don't know
what else to say, except that officer saved my life.  Thankyou."

"It makes good headlines, Kathy.  Thank _you._  The police are
delighted.  One of their own saves Kathy Smith.  The guy is a
hero on the force.  Incidentally, I'm also making points because
of you.  The Women's House of Detention turned out to be a horror
show.  Frankly, the officer did the state a favor.

"That matron, Mabel Mason, was a piece of work!  With her out of
the way, other inmates and matrons came forward.  She had them
all terrified.  However, Stark, as usual, you leave me with all
the shit paperwork -- taking statements, preparing for the
inquest -- all that garbage!"  Kathy could hear the grin in his
voice.

"You're _so_ welcome, Mr. Mahoney!" she replied sweetly.  "It's
the very least I could do!  Trying to keep the work within the
very restricted limits of your capabilities, I mean."  They both
laughed.

"Pete, could we really nail Sylvia Black?  Raid her place
tonight?  Could you get that Vice Squad sergeant, Tom Tucker, to
run it?  Here's what he's going to find."  She told him of the
underage girls forced into prostitution and the rest of the
Sylvia story.  She ended with a request.  "Pete, there's just one
thing.  I need to know, as accurately as possible, the time the
raid is going down.  Can you set it up and then let me know?"

"Let me get back to you," Pete said.  His voice sounded grim,
reflecting his reaction to the story she had just related.

As she hung up the phone, Susan returned to the room.  She had a
Coke and a bag of what had to be very stale potato chips that
Kathy didn't even know she had.  "Susan!  Those are ancient! 
They're stale and...  You shouldn't be eating them!  They're all
grease!"

Susan grinned and continued happily munching.  "They're good,
Mrs. Stark -- Kathy -- honest!"  She eased herself back onto the
couch.  Kathy decided that teenagers must have cast-iron stomachs
lined with copper or glass or some similar indestructible
material.

"Susan, how long were you in the whorehouse?"

The girl looked puzzled.  "I really don't know.  I mean I've
always been there, but...  I mean, it's all I remember -- a year
or so...  It's very vague."

Kathy had the eerie feeling of someone walking on her grave. _My
God!_ she thought. _Exactly like me.  She has no past beyond the
whorehouse._

"Susan, you don't know where you were born, or when.  You have no
memory of your parents or anything back more than a year or so
ago, do you?"

The girl was shocked.  "How... How do you know?" she asked,
bewildered.  "But you're right.  I don't!  I created a story to
tell if one of the girls asked, but I really don't know."

Kathy smiled at the girl fondly, "Because that's the way it was
when I was a prostitute, Susan.  I was just there."

This time the girl's jaw literally dropped.  "You!  In a
whorehouse!  It's impossible.  Look at this apartment, at you...
It just can't be!  Kathy, you're educated.  You have fine clothes
and a husband, and...  It's just impossible!"

"I'm sorry, Susan, but it's true.  I left the house when I was
eighteen, about eight years ago.  I'm glad I could get you out
earlier, with your virtue more or less still intact."  She smiled
warmly when she made the last comment.

"Then you know what it's like.  The johns pawing you, the
smells..."

"People don't change that much and the smells don't either.  I'm
pretty sure it's about what I went through.  Why did you finally
run away?"

"I don't know... I _do_ know!"  The girl's head came up straight
and her blue eyes flashed.  "I want to go to school!  I don't
want to be a whore all my life.  Is that wrong?"  Tears started
to flow from the girl's eyes, but she refused to lower them.

_Just like me,_ Kathy thought.  She couldn't hold back.  Taking
her in her arms she could feel Susan's shoulders shaking with
sobs.  Although there was no place Kathy could hold her without
touching the vicious lacerations on her body, the girl seemed to
need comforting.  She didn't flinch in the slightest at the
contact.

Finally, the girl lifted her head and looked into Kathy's eyes. 
"Do I have to go back?  Can they make me go back to that place?"

"I swear to you, Sue, you will _never_ go back!  If it's the last
thing on earth I ever do, you will not go back!"

Just then the phone rang and Kathy answered it.  It was Pete. 
The raid was going down at eleven o'clock that night.  She
thanked him and called Tony again.  "Tony, it's all set.  The
police will hit Sylvia's place at eleven on the dot.  Good
enough?"

"It's perfect, Angel!"  Tony laughed softly.  "It's a shame we
can't film it!  I have a feeling we're going to miss some real
Academy Award performances.  One more thing, Angel.  What's going
to happen to that lovely girl?"

"Ken and I are going to adopt her as our daughter, Tony.  You
just brought it into focus for me.  Now all I need is for her to
agree.  Thanks, again.  I owe you."

"You owe _nothing!"_ he said, "I owe _you!_  It's good for our
business to get this shit off the street!"

"Fine, Tony!  You win again.  But one of these days..."  He
laughed warmly and hung up.

Kathy looked  up to see Susan's mouth agape. _Good going, Kathy!_
she thought. _You've done it again!  The poor girl hears about
her adoption by listening to you tell it to a stranger.  Cool
move!_  "I'm so sorry, Susan!  I didn't mean it that way.  I was
talking to a friend -- a friend to both of us, by the way.  He's
the one who told me to get down to Family Court in the first
place.  Anyway, he asked what was going to happen to you and the
answer was so simple I just blurted it out without thinking how
it would sound to you."

She looked at the girl.  "Susan, will you consent to my husband,
Ken, and me adopting you as our daughter?  Will you be the
daughter we can never have?  Please?"

The girl had been slowly shaking her head from side to side as
Kathy was speaking.  When she finished the girl said, "You can't
be serious, Mrs. Stark!  You haven't been listening to me!  I'm a
prostitute!  I'm filthy!  I'm amazed that you allowed me in your
beautiful apartment, let alone in that gorgeous bed.  It's so
great!  It feels so cool, with those luscious sheets on my body.
But I'm dirty!  I don't belong here!  The whole idea is
ridiculous."  Tears started to flow unchecked from the girl's
eyes but she still refused to lower her head.

"Susan, I was a prostitute.  You weren't.  Remember?  I think I
took as many as thirty johns in a day.  I know what life is like
there -- the people, the smells -- everything!  I think we can
cope together better than any other two people because we've both
been there.  I don't know if you heard, but my maiden name is
Smith, too.  We're too much alike to be apart, Susan.  Please say
yes!"

While she was talking, Susan had been intently studying her face.
 The tears had stopped, and a look of tentative joy appeared. 
"You are serious, aren't you?  You really want me... as your
daughter!"  The girl ran into Kathy's arms and hugged her.  "May
I kiss you?...  And can I even call you Mom?" the girl asked
softly, and kissed her warmly on her cheek.

Kathy couldn't answer with words.  She just hugged the girl
close.  Her tears were flowing, and her throat was too choked up
to speak.  They went into Susan's room and Kathy applied more of
the antiseptic ointment on her body.  Susan was sound asleep
before Kathy finished.*Chapter 26*

The next morning while Susan still slept Kathy was in the kitchen
fixing breakfast.  Remembering the previous night, she fixed the
type of breakfast that Ken would eat and made enough for three. 
As it was cooking she heard noises coming from Susan's bathroom.
In a few minutes the girl was in the kitchen with her hair
wrapped in a towel.

"Mrs. Stark... Kathy... Mom... I hope you don't mind.  I don't
have anything, and there was toothpaste, and..."

"It's yours, Susan.  Maybe you would like a different brand, but
you can use..."

"Different _brand?_  You mean all of that's for me?  And I didn't
want to waste that luscious shampoo, so I used bar soap."

"Young lady, you can knock off that stuff starting right now. 
Everything here is for you to use.  Everything!  Understand?" 
Susan shyly nodded her head.  "Good!  Now let's eat!  It's all
ready and I hope there may be enough to fill even _you_ up!"  The
girl grinned and devoured the breakfast while Kathy ate hers and
had a second cup of coffee.

"Come on, young lady!  Back to your room.  We've got to see how
you're making out."

Susan lay on her bed while Kathy examined her body.  Earlier, she
had called Dr. Miller and asked him about swimming and sun.  He
said it was fine, but to apply no more ointment until they were
finished in the sun.  The lacerations were healing rapidly, a
tribute to the recuperative powers of adolescents.

"Susan, I would like you to do the next test yourself.  Let's
find a particularly ugly bruise.  Then I want you to press it
with your finger to see how intense the pain is.  Will you?"

Susan nodded and they examined her body carefully.  When they
found a particularly ugly bruise high on her thigh, Susan probed
gingerly with a finger, and then harder.  She smiled at Kathy,
"It's felt a lot better, but it isn't too bad.  I still would
rather not wear anything, Mom, if it's all right with you?"

Kathy smiled at her, and excused herself.  She caught Bob
Ferguson in his office and quickly briefed him on Susan.  "Bob, I
intend to adopt the girl.  Can you get another of your jiffy
almost-real birth certificates like you got for me?"

"I beg your pardon, young lady!" said Bob trying to act as
pompous as possible.  "You have a perfectly genuine birth
certificate!  Almost-real, indeed!"  He got serious, "I don't
suppose you've talked with Ken, have you?"

"No, I haven't" she said with the pomposity in her voice this
time.  "Would Jane ask you first if she planned to present you
with a child?  By the time you knew anything about it, the damage
would already have been done.  Then it's just ripening in her
belly until it decides to make an appearance."

"I give up!" he said.  "Seriously, Kathy, would you like me to
talk to some of my friends and get this going?  You know, the
world we live in is idiotic sometimes.  There are over a million
abortions each year.  Thousands of teenagers get pregnant and go
on welfare.  Yet a solid couple has to endure the torments of the
damned with our great social-service bureaucracy to adopt a
child.  And Virginia has one of the better systems, I'm told. 
Anyway, they can legally give you all kinds of aggravation.  "Do
you want me to start the ball rolling?  And what about Sylvia,
her legal guardian?"  As he spoke, her business phone rang.

"Bob, could you wait a moment?  There's a call on the other phone
that could provide the answer."  She put Bob on hold and picked
up the other line.

It was Peter Mahoney sounding gleeful.  "Kathy, it was the
greatest raid of the century!  Tucker and the vice boys are in
seventh heaven.  As usual, though, it's up to us poor paper
pushers to prepare the indictments and do all that other good
stuff.  Felony counts on Sylvia Black will be running pages. 
We're moving against her immediately on massive probation
violations.  She will be in prison before the end of the week,
and in jail until then.  Kathy, thanks for the tip.  And thanks
for establishing the idea that baddies actually serve hard time.
We're moving, and thanks again."

She went back on the other phone where Bob was waiting.  "Sylvia
will be unable to attend the hearing, it sounds like.  Pete is
moving for imprisonment for probation violations while he gets
the new case organized for trial.  He claims the felony counts
will run to pages.  Does that help?"

"I'll get on it right away.  And Kathy?  We're looking forward to
meeting your infant daughter.  I'll tell Jane when she gets
back."

Kathy went back to rejoin Susan who was resting on her bed.  She
rolled over and looked at her new mother.  "What now, Mom?"

"Now we're going swimming!  The sun is hot, and the water's cool.
 Let's go!"

"But, Mom!" said Susan, looking forlorn, "I don't have a bathing
suit, and I'm not sure I could wear one if I did!"

"Susan Stark!  I think it'll be your name starting next week, so
you might as well start getting used to it.  You're not nearly as
observant as I thought you'd be.  There's a pool outside your
window."  Kathy saw the girl's face fall as she listened to the
criticism.  "I'm sorry, honey!  That was unfair of me.  The
drapes have been drawn ever since you got here.  I apologize."

As they made their way out to the pool deck Kathy asked the girl
if she swam.

"I don't, Mom.  Remember where I've been?  And I almost never
left the house.  Let me watch you and then I'll try."

Kathy smiled at the girl and strode to the pool edge.  She
executed a beautiful racing dive, pounded down to the end of the
pool, did a racing flip turn, sprinted back, turned again and
then slowed her stroke to the one for distance she used swimming
laps in the pool.

She had completed 100 meters and had just flipped again when she
saw a sleek body arch out in a racing dive virtually identical to
her own.  The girl was beside her, using the same
distance-devouring stroke she was.

_My God!_ she thought. _Susan does it, too.  No wonder the guys
at Yale looked stunned.  She observed my movements, intuitively
analyzed the bio-mechanics of the actions -- exactly which of my
muscles are doing what -- and translated it into bio-kinetics. 
She makes her muscles do the things she's just seen for the first
time!  That's what I do, too!_

The two girls were making an endurance contest of it.  It matched
Kathy's superior skill and physical training against Susan's
youth.  Up and down the pool they went side by side.  Kathy had
long since lost count of the laps, and was hanging on by sheer
willpower. _I will not be defeated by a battered slip of a girl
in my own damned pool!_ she thought.

Finally, she had to stop.  She finished a lap and grabbed the
edge of the pool.  For the first time in her life she had to hold
on to the edge while she gathered enough strength to pull herself
out.  Finally, she did.  She spun around and sat on the edge with
her legs still in the water.

Susan had her head resting on the edge without enough energy left
even to lift it up.  Finally, she did.  With a grin as big as she
had the energy to muster, she gasped, "You win!"

Kathy grinned back at her, got out and reached down to pull the
younger girl from the pool.  Susan popped out like a feather. 
_How did she do that?_ Kathy wondered, then grinned to herself. 
_The same damned way I do it, is how!_

Kathy could scarcely walk.  She staggered over and dragged back
two sun mats and the sun tan lotion for Susan.  She mumbled
something and collapsed on the mat, sound asleep.

Kathy was lying on her back soaking up the sun when she felt the
coolness caused by a shadow on her.  Opening one eye, she saw
Jane standing there, nude as usual, with her shadow over Kathy.

"You're in my sun, Jane," she said, still groggy.  "Susan and I
swam to Bermuda and back and I need to rest."

Jane didn't move, and Kathy reflected that she had seen something
different.  She opened her eyes again, alert this time.  She saw
the girl's breasts had begun to swell, and there was a visible
convexity in her abdomen.  She jumped up.  "Jane!  You're
pregnant!  You're going to have a baby!  You are, aren't you?"

Jane had pulled up a mat and lay down beside Kathy.  "Sure am! 
It was confirmed this morning.  I didn't believe it.  Anyway, I
guess I shouldn't be surprised.  Except I feel so damn good. 
Even the swelling in my breasts I dismissed against the hope that
I was getting big-chested at long last.

"You know what the funniest thing was?  I saw this young OB/Gyn
guy who gave me a full checkup.  I was sitting in his office, and
saw him change something on the chart the nurse had filled out. 
He was running on about how so many women were waiting so late to
have babies and all the troubles they have.  Anyway, he was so
pleased to have a patient only twenty-five.  He said he was a
little surprised, because, from the exam he'd figured I was
twenty-two or twenty-three.  He had already changed the date of
birth on the medical history.  I told him it was correct.  I'm
thirty-five.  He almost fell off his chair.  Kathy, it was the
funniest, most ego-building thing that's happened to me in
years!"

"What does Bob think about the prospect of fatherhood?" Kathy
asked.

"That's why I'm here.  The poor dear was floating so high, I hope
he doesn't hurt himself when he returns to earth.  He's floating
and so am I.  I asked the doctor about my favorite sport, and he
said we could continue to have sex as long as I felt like it.

"Kathy," she said with a broad grin, "do you suppose any woman
ever had it on her way into the delivery room?  By the way, I
think you're cheating.  You're getting them full grown.  Now will
you introduce me?"

Kathy looked over where Susan was watching the exchange.  She had
pushed herself up and was resting on her elbows.  "Susan, I would
like you to meet my dearest friend, Jane Ferguson."

Susan popped up from the mat, but her leg gave way and she went
down on one knee.  From that position, she held out a hand to
shake.  Kathy continued, "I think you ought to call her Aunt
Jane.  It'll help her keep you in mind when she needs a
babysitter in a few months and you need some spending money!"

Jane was looking at Susan intently.  "She's your twin, Kathy.  Do
you remember the first time we ever met?  I gave you that
admissions test?  She looks exactly like you did that day."  She
slowly nodded her head and spoke quietly, "Susan also provides
the answer to a question that's been bugging me for months.  I
always wondered what your pubic hair would look like if you
didn't remove it.  Now I know.  She's you."

"Mrs... Aunt Jane, you almost didn't get to meet me.  My mother
was trying to drown her newborn.  Don't they do that with girl
babies somewhere?"

"Drown _you!"_ Kathy protested.  "Why didn't you just stop?  I
wasn't hauling you through the water, for God's sake!"

"Yes, you were!" Susan retorted with a grin.  "You'd be damned if
some battered young squirt was going to beat you in your own
pool, and I'd be damned if my mother was going to have a quitter
for a daughter!  Mom, you almost killed me.  When I stood up to
shake hands with Aunt Jane, my leg collapsed.  Aunt Jane, would
it be wrong to say I have the most beautiful mother in the
world?"

Jane looked at Kathy critically, "Well... top five anyway.  Maybe
top three.  I guess it's okay, Susan.  Your mother is certainly
in contention."  She grinned at Kathy fondly.  "Would you women
care to help Bob and me celebrate tonight?  One of these months
I'm going to have to knock off the booze, but not today.  Can I
interest you?  Susan, you are the most beautiful girl I've ever
seen except for your mother.  I was looking at you while you
slept, and I'm glad that vicious creature who did this to you is
dead!  I think you'll be fine, though."

"Mother, I would love to!  Can we?  I've never been to a
restaurant before."

"On behalf of my brand-new bedraggled daughter and me, we accept
with pleasure.  Where are we going?"

"Bob loves the Promenade at the Omni.  Do you mind?  At eight? 
We'll meet you there.  Now I have to go and rescue the poor
darling from the ceiling.  And besides, I'm already late for my
principal business service of the day.  See you later."

They watched her move gracefully inside, put on her clothes again
and leave.  Kathy explained to Susan what the principal service
was and they both laughed.  "How are you feeling, young lady? 
Doctor Miller will skin me alive if I've allowed you to get a bad
burn on top of your other problems."

"I'm fine, Mom, really.  I just got the stuff larded on when I
passed out.  You know, I really think I did, too -- passed out, I
mean.  Mother, you are in fantastic condition... for an older
woman!" she said with a broad grin.

"Young lady, do you know where you are?  If you would like to
find yourself dangling by your heels from six stories above the
street, you just keep up with that 'older woman' shit!  The nerve
of some people's children!"  She grinned back.  "I don't know
about you, but I'm going to soak in my shower and then take a
nap."  Susan struggled to her feet, dragged the mats back where
they came from and then staggered off towards her room.

It was seven o'clock when Susan came into Kathy's room looking
like a dream, but still nude.  "Mom," she said with a wail, "what
can I wear?"

Kathy had just slipped into a white sleeveless dress that set off
her tan, her blue eyes, and her golden hair.  She inspected Susan
closely and thought again of the recuperative power of teenagers.
 "Honey, you've recovered more in one day than I would have in a
week!  Do you feel better?"

"Much better, Mom.  But I've seen your clothes, and they're all
cut like the dress you are wearing -- close -- to show off your
perfect figure.  But much closer than I would care to wear right
now.  Don't you have _anything_ else?"

Kathy had a brainstorm, and started laughing.

* * *

The Fergusons were already seated at the table when two beautiful
blondes entered the dining room.  Both were five feet seven, both
had brilliant blue eyes that were an identical shade of blue,
both had hair the color of yellow gold.  Attention was attracted
to the youngerof the two who was wearing a blue wildly-patterned
muu-muu.  One guest who had recently returned from the Islands
thought, _So that's the way they're supposed to look!_

Bob Ferguson rose to greet them.  He took both of Susan's hands
in his, studied her, and said, "She's right... my wife, I mean. 
She says you may be even more beautiful than your mother.  I
would never care to have to make a choice.  Welcome, Susan!  Your
mother has christened my wife, Aunt Jane, so please, could you
call an old guy Uncle Bob?"

They sat down, and Jane grinned at Kathy.  "That muu-muu gets
around, doesn't it?  I remember when you wore it to our place on
Thanksgiving.  Now it's getting on towards summer, I may get a
few myself.  Honey, on you it's spectacular!"

The evening was a delight.  As Kathy drove back to Virginia
Beach, Susan was asleep beside her.  She thought about the girl,
and realized she had met her scarcely two days earlier.  Yet the
girl was already settling in and changing her life for the
better, Kathy thought.  Now for their day in court.

* * *

At ten o'clock the following Thursday, Kathy was back in the
courtroom.  When the case was called, Kathy announced that the
defendant was ready, but there was no plaintiff present. 
Although irregular, she asked the judge for permission to
proceed.  Permission was granted and she began by calling Peter
Mahoney as a defense witness.

He came forward, was duly sworn, and took his position in the
witness box.  He stated his name and gave his occupation as
District Attorney of Norfolk County.  "Mr. Mahoney," Kathy began,
"are you acquainted with the plaintiff in this case, Sylvia
Black."

"I am, Mrs. Stark."

"Do you know her current whereabouts?  Do you have any
information for the Court regarding her absence from the
proceedings today?"

"I do.  At present Sylvia Black is serving a three-to-five year
sentence in the Women's Prison.  The suspension of her previous
sentence was revoked early this week as a result of a major
felony arrest the night of the prior hearing in this action," he
replied.

"As a result of the arrest is Ms. Black facing new charges?"

"She is.  She is facing over fifty felony counts.  The indictment
is not yet complete, Mrs. Stark, so I am unable to give you a
more precise number."

"Mr. Mahoney, as you know, this hearing is with respect to
returning Susan Smith, seated with me at the table, to Ms.
Black's custody as her legal guardian.  Do any of the charges Ms.
Black is now facing bear on her capacity or suitability to serve
as Susan's legal guardian."

"They most certainly do.  They include Pandering, White Slavery,
Soliciting Sex with Minors and many more.  Mrs. Stark, in plain
language, Ms. Black ran a whorehouse.  She had girls as young as
fourteen years of age that she forced to prostitute themselves. 
And I repeat, forced.  The raid was led by the most experienced
vice-squad officer on our police force.  He was physically
sickened by some of the things he and his men found.  And they
are in a line of work in which a strong stomach is an
occupational requirement.  Do you wish me to go on?"

Kathy addressed the bench.  "Your Honor, Defense sees no need to
pursue this line of questioning further.  However, there is no
need to convince me.  You are the one who counts.  Do you wish me
to continue?"

"No, Mrs. Stark, that will not be necessary.  However, it leaves
the Court with the question of what to do with the young lady."

"Your Honor, if it please the Court, there is a solution
available.  May I present it?"

"By all means, Mrs. Stark.  The Court is all ears!  Please
proceed."

"Your Honor, I have adoption papers signed by all relevant
parties.  To complete the process, it merely requires your
signature.  The papers indicate the adoption of Susan Smith by
Kenneth and Katherine Stark."  Kathy held her head up straight
and proud.  "I would be honored to be permitted to adopt Susan as
my daughter, Your Honor!"

 From his lack of reaction, it was clear to Kathy that the Judge
had at least some advance notice of her proposed course of
action.  He said, "Mrs. Stark, you are certainly known to this
Court as one of the most honorable and honored citizens of the
Commonwealth of Virginia.  I have never had the good fortune to
meet your husband, but, if I may be so bold, I must believe him
to be an outstanding individual for you to marry him.  The Court
finds, therefore, that you meet all tests that could reasonably
be imposed on adoptive parents.  It leaves only one question -- a
vital question -- that must be answered by the young woman
herself.  She is fifteen years old, I believe?"

"That is correct, Your Honor," Kathy replied.

The judge continued.  "Susan, please rise and approach the
bench."  Kathy was so proud of Susan who was looking beautiful in
a lime-green dress she had bought her for the occasion.  Susan
rose from her chair and came forward.

"Susan, Katherine Stark and her husband have indicated their
desire to adopt you as their daughter.  This is very important,
Susan, and I want you to think carefully before you answer.  Do
you accept the Starks as your adoptive parents?"

"Your Honor," Susan began, "I understand your question perfectly.
 Thousands... millions of children are born every day.  Their
parents are whomever they are.  Clearly, it just happens.  The
child has no say in the matter.  My case is different.  I have a
choice, I believe.  Your Honor, if I could pick any set of
parents in the world today, I would pick Ken and Kathy Stark."

Tears were streaming from her blue eyes, but she continued to
look steadily at the judge on the bench.  "I have known Mrs.
Stark for only ten days.  I love her as my mother.  I call her
Mom.  Please, your Honor, let me continue to call her Mom.  I
love her and want her desperately.  I beg you!  Please approve
the adoption.  I've chosen my parents: Ken and Kathy Stark!"

The judge was very interested in something on his desk as he
fished for a handkerchief and unobtrusively dried his eyes.  He
blew his nose and continued.  "This Court sees many family
problems of all sorts.  It is rare, unfortunately, when it is in
the capacity of the Court to create happiness.  Miss Smith, I am
moved.  I believe you.

"Accordingly, it is with joy on the part of the Court that you
are declared the daughter of Kenneth and Katherine Stark.  Mrs.
Stark, I should apologize.  Your daughter's statement has caused
my eyesight to blur.  If the papers are ready, I would appreciate
it very much if you would indicate where I should sign."

Peter Mahoney took care of the chore, carefully blinking his eyes
to be sure he was looking at the correct line.

"Hello, Daughter!" Kathy whispered with tears in her eyes while
she kissed Susan.

"Hi, Mom!" Susan murmured as she hugged her new mother
tightly.*Chapter 27*

Two weeks later Kathy and Susan went north to visit her brand-new
grandparents.  Susan had still not recovered from the shock of
another of Bob's odds and ends.  He had been waiting for them at
the back of the courtroom with the news that Susan, as Kathy's
legal child, had just received a bequest of five million dollars
from Sam's estate.  She was now a wealthy young woman in her own
right.

Kathy could not believe the change that had taken place in Susan
in less than two weeks.  Except for a few deep bruises which were
rapidly clearing up, she was back to her normal self, a truly
beautiful girl.

When they reached the senior Stark's home north of Williamsburg,
they were heard coming up the gravel driveway and Sam and Betty
came out to greet them.  While Betty was kissing Kathy, Sam was
looking at his granddaughter.  "Young lady, where have you been?
I'm your grandfather, and I didn't even know you were alive until
a few days ago."  He took her in his arms and kissed her.

Susan looked at the very distinguished-looking man holding her,
then wrapped her arms around him, kissed him and hugged him
tightly.  "Hello, Grandfather.  I'm your granddaughter, Susan
Stark, and I love you very much!"

Sam could feel the tears forming in his eyes as he continued to
hug this lovely girl.  Betty looked on.  "Kathy, she is so
beautiful!  She's a younger you.  Ken will be thrilled."

"Mother, do you really think so?  I can't even reach him!  I
don't know where he is.  I'm so scared.  Of course I love Susan
dearly, but I'm afraid Ken will think I've lost my mind!  I've
written him, but I don't know if he even got my letter."

They went inside, and Susan went into the kitchen to get to know
her grandmother while Kathy and the Admiral went into his study.
"Dad, what do you think?  I told Mom that I'm scared to death! 
Ken may not even know.  I can't reach him by phone."

Admiral Stark loved his daughter so much he refused to think of
her as a daughter-in-law.  He regarded her fondly.  "He married
you, didn't he?"

"I don't understand."

"My God!  Is my son lucky!  He's sharing his home with two of the
most beautiful women in the world: his wife, and her younger
twin, his daughter.  Kathy, there is no problem.  Absolutely no
problem!  Ken is madly in love with you, and I know you believe
that now.

"Sweetheart, Susan is a younger you!  It can't miss.  Besides,
I've only known her for a couple of minutes but already I love
her almost as much as I love you.  As a flag officer I weigh
probabilities.  It's what we deal with.  There are no certainties
in this world.  But this is as close to a certainty as I've ever
seen:  Kenneth Stark will love his daughter, Susan.  Believe me!
He will."

Kathy smiled.  "Okay.  I give up.  Dad, I love you."

"And I certainly love you.  You should know, Kathy, you're not my
daughter-in-law.  You're my daughter.  Period!  Kathy, you are
the greatest thing to happen to this family in centuries!

"Now, something's been on my mind.  I'm sure you remember the
fateful day when we had that... talk... in this very room?  Well,
you said two things.  First, that you had been a prostitute. 
Second, that you could never have children.  Kathy, we discussed
the first and dismissed the second.  But it's been on my mind. 
How do you know you can never have children?"

"Why, Dad..." Kathy began.  "Because a doctor who checked the
girls in the house when I was seventeen said so..."  She stopped
in mid-sentence.  "My God!  Do you mean to suggest...?"

"Kathy, I'm not suggesting anything, I'm asking.  But it occurred
to me that if you hung on to the belief that you were a
prostitute long after you left the trade, I might inquire about
the other.  Have you had a complete gynecological examination
recently?"

"I'm a fool, Dad."  She stood up, bent over, and pointed to her
lovely rear end.  "Would you please stimulate my brain by giving
it a kick?  It's right here!"  She pointed at her ass.  She went
back to the chair, sat down and looked at the Admiral ruefully,
"That's what happens when every time you sit down you're sitting
on your brains!"

"Kathy," he said, "that's the one thing I don't like about you. 
You take yourself so seriously!"  He grinned at his daughter and
she grinned back.

"Dad, I promise!  I'll have that complete gynecological checkup
as soon as I can get an appointment!"

"Fine!"  He looked at her and continued, "Now, why is it I sense
my daughter has something else on her mind?"

"Dad, maybe it's because I do.  First, you know your daughter is
utterly shameless?  If Ken came through that door right now, I
would have my legs spread wide to welcome his glorious cock into
my cunt in about half a second?"

"Kathy, your language is... vivid, but so what?"

"I love to play a little game with Ken, often when he's asleep. 
Dad, when the nipples of my breasts are fully erect -- which is
most of the time when Ken is around -- I find they neatly fill
the depressions in his shoulder caused by bullet holes.  In fact,
I tease him.  I tell him they're holes left by some Vietnamese
wench who left a permanent impression.

"But seriously, Dad, I love the big lug more than life itself.  I
don't want to see him screwed, by anyone, ever -- except me, of
course.  Dad, I've been reading books about the Navy and how it
works -- everything from _The Bluejacket's Manual_ to Mahan.  And
keep your mouth closed, please, thank you very much.  Ken would
kill me if he knew.  He tells me I'll be telling CNO what to do.
Anyway, one of the books was on military decorations.

"Dad, Ken took four bullets in the shoulder, presumably enemy
bullets.  Why doesn't he at least have the Purple Heart?  It's
supposed to be virtually automatic in such cases.  The only thing
I know is that it happened in 1974 when we were bugging out. 
That may be part of the explanation.  But damn it, Dad!  He lives
with those wounds.  I just play with them.  If he deserves a
medal, he should have it!

"There's something else: Ken's very honest and forthright with
me.  He tells me anything and everything about his past, life at
the Academy... anything.  Sometimes he's a little reticent
because he doesn't really believe I could be interested, but he
tells me.  Maybe that's why this thing has been bugging me.  He
says nothing.  The most he has ever said is that he didn't duck
fast enough.  I don't even know what ship he was serving on.  My
guess is that it was the river navy, though.  It's the only way I
could see him getting hit by small-arms fire.  Do you know
anything about it?"

"Kathy, I don't.  And, as usual, you're right.  As you were
speaking, I was kicking myself because I don't know, either, and
I'm his father.  You met him years after it happened.  Hell, I
visited him in the hospital and let him put me off the same way
he did you.  Want to make a deal?  You've promised to see a
gynecologist.  I'll promise to find out what happened to Ken in
'Nam.  Deal?"

She stood up and extended her hand.  Again, he was a little
surprised at the firmness of her grip.  "It's a deal!" she said.

* * *

As they headed back home, she glanced over at Susan.  "What did
you think of your grandparents?"

"Mom, could I answer a different question?  I consider myself the
luckiest girl alive!  I didn't know the judge was going to ask me
what he did that day in court.  I only hope and pray that you
understand my answer was from the heart.  I love you, Mom!  You
know something else?  I am the luckiest girl in the world.  I not
only have the neatest parents in the world, but the neatest
grandparents, too."*Chapter 28*

It was time to prepare for Susan's enrollment in high school. 
Kathy reflected on the events of the summer just past. 
Reflecting on it, the summer was the most pleasant she could
remember.  It was exciting to get to know one's daughter... and
oneself.  She smiled, thinking of the fame they had achieved,
this time on the sports page for a change.

As a break from the academic tutoring she was doing, she and
Susan had gone out to the club one day to play tennis.  She had
demonstrated the basic strokes and they started hitting the ball
back and forth.  The pace quickened as she saw Susan improving
dramatically with every stroke.  She developed a vicious topspin
drive in no time, lashing the ball into the corners of the court,
but always inside the chalk.

It had been a hot day, and Kathy called a break to catch her
breath.  She hit Susan with the flat of her racket when she heard
the girl murmur with a grin on her face, "The old lady's out of
shape.  The legs always go first."  Kathy noticed with
satisfaction that Susan was breathing hard as she said it.

They found that the mother-daughter tournament was scheduled to
begin in less than an hour.  "Mom, could we enter?  For kicks? 
You're too tough!"

She had agreed and went to see the pro.  There was an open spot
in the draw and he wrote them in.  As she did, Kathy reflected
that she and Susan had a running athletic competition. 
Inevitably, it was her experience against Susan's youth -- their
physical skills were about equal, but at a level far higher than
either realized.  Kathy looked down at her body.  Because of all
the exercise, she decided her physical condition and Susan's were
perfect.

They met their two opponents in the first match.  The girl was
about sixteen, while her mother appeared to be in her forties. 
While they had been waiting for the match, Kathy had briefly
reviewed doubles tactics with Susan, who immediately understood
the reasoning behind them.

Their opponents served first.  The girl served to Kathy who hit a
forehand smash down the center of the court.  The girl, coming to
net, could manage only a weak volley return that Susan slammed
into her feet for a winner.  The match was 6-0, 6-0.  In fact,
they swept the tournament without losing a game.

Kathy was proud of Susan.  In response to a question, she claimed
to have been playing tennis since the age of six.  On the way
home, Kathy kidded her about her answer.  Susan explained it. 
"Six or sixteen: the difference is the one, right.  And plus or
minus one is pretty close, isn't it?"

Following their club win they went on to area matches and finally
to the state championships.  Perhaps because Kathy was so well
known, perhaps because of their shared beauty, the tournament --
usually reported in the microscopic print on the sports' page
with long lists of scores -- had some reporters and photographers
in attendance.

In the finals they met a team from Roanoke.  The daughter was
eighteen, and her mother was in her mid-thirties.  It was obvious
watching them warm up that they were very good and very
experienced in tournament play.  Susan served first.  Kathy
thought they won the tournament with that single serve.  Susan
served to the girl who was receiving deep.  Her serve came off
her racket like a bullet and kicked up chalk as it hit in the
service box while moving at an angle sharply away from the girl.
She could only watch it hit the screen behind the adjacentcourt.

In many ways, it was a strange match.  Like the others it ended
6-0, 6-0, yet many of the points and games were hard fought. 
Their opponents were real ladies and congratulated them warmly on
their victory.  The girl expressed surprise she had never met
Susan on the state junior tournament circuit, because clearly she
was the best female junior she had ever seen.

As the mother and Kathy relaxed with drinks after the match, the
woman commented that she had never seen a mother-daughter pair
like Susan and her.  "There's one thing I don't understand. 
You're obviously her mother -- you two look like twins -- but you
can't be.  You look like her older sister.  And if you'll forgive
my jealousy, only slightly older.  How on earth did you do it?"

Kathy couldn't remember what she had replied but knew it was some
double-talk that seemed to satisfy the woman. _Or else,_ Kathy
thought, _she's just too polite to pursue it._  Their picture
appeared in several Virginia newspapers and it was played up big
in Norfolk.  Susan was thrilled.  Kathy was concerned that Susan
might be recognized by some of Sylvia's former customers but
realized she had had little customer exposure, and all traces --
including her nude photo on the bidding sheet -- had been
destroyed.

As promised to Admiral Stark, she had been seen and examined by
the best gynecologist in the area.  She told him that she had
been told as a teenager by a physician that she could never have
children.  The doctor gave her a thorough examination.  He had a
sense of humor and laughed when he saw the now-faded stamp
imprint.

When she was again fully dressed, he reviewed the examination
with her in his office.  "Mrs. Stark, we like to think of
medicine as a science.  To the extent we know certain things, it
is.  However, there are still far more things we don't yet know.
The process of conception is one that we still don't really know
a great deal about.  Frankly, I see dozens of women who are
physiologically sound, whose husbands are potent, yet who fail to
conceive for whatever reasons.

"Clearly, there must be a psychological or neurological element
involved, because it's not uncommon for a woman to give up on
ever having a baby, adopt one, and then become pregnant.  I will
say this, however: I don't know who the doctor was who said you
could not have a baby.  I do know I found absolutely nothing
wrong with your reproductive system.  He may turn out to be
correct, but to do so he used astrology, numerology, or something
of that sort.  He did not use medical science.  He could not have
found anything that would make that a physical fact.

"I would add only one more thing.  It is rare that I get to
examine a woman who is as beautifully prepared for motherhood as
you are.  Barring complications, there should be no problems.  My
only advice to you and your husband is to keep trying.  Whenever
you mention him, your eyes light up.  I commented earlier on
your... markings.  I conclude you enjoy a very active sex life
and clearly you seem to enjoy it.  Continue to have fun trying to
make a baby."

_He's got that right!_ Kathy thought. _Just the thought of making
love with Ken makes me hurt._  She realized that her fun with
Susan had helped her get through what would otherwise have been
an unendurable separation.

Then her thoughts returned to a call she received from Sam Stark
a few weeks earlier.  She recalled it vividly in her mind's eye.
"Kathy, it's Dad.  Remember when you were up here, you turned
around, bent over, and wanted me to kick you in your brains? 
Well, I was sure you just wanted me to admire that lovely little
rear of yours.  I was about to say so when I remembered you're
the best pistol shot in the state, and you're armed.  Anyway, if
you think you sit on your brains, I must be walking on mine!

"It appears that your husband was a real hero.  I'm still
tracking down the details, but here's what I have so far:  He was
in command of one of those river gunboats we were using out there
and they were evacuating a group of Vietnamese from an encircled
village.  You were also correct on the timing.  It was when
everything was coming unglued all at once.  At any rate, most of
his crew were ashore helping to organize the evacuation, and then
all hell broke loose.  North Vietnamese regulars attacked the
village to try to collapse the defense perimeter before they
could evacuate.

"A couple of Ken's guys were hit, and they were all cut off.  He
took a weapon and singlehandedly fought his way to them and then
got them out.  The flotilla commander had been killed in the
first attack, so even though he was wounded Ken took command of
the force.  They held off the enemy until the people he came for
were boarded and on their way to safety.

"Kathy, I'm trying to speak as an admiral and not as Ken's dad. 
What he did that day deserves a very big medal.  We're talking
the Navy Cross or possibly even the Medal of Honor.  Anyway, I
don't know why Ken never said anything.  Perhaps it's because we
left with our tail between our legs while he was still in the
hospital.  I don't know.  However, the record is being
reconstructed from various information sources, and we're trying
to locate some eyewitnesses.  We have names of guys who were
there and we know where to look for them, so it's only a matter
of time.  Kathy, thank you.  I'll keep you posted, and I'm glad
your brain still works."

Kathy told him she had kept her part of the bargain and reported
what she had been told.  "So, Dad, it's a dirty job, but
someone's got to do it.  Ken and I will just have to work harder
when he gets back!"

Finally, she thought back to the day she and Susan visited the
State Police barracks and saw Will Stockdale.  She had been
greeted by the troop commander, Captain Collins.  Lieutenant
Pinkney, who had arranged the escort for Susan, was there as
well.

"Captain Collins, it's a real pleasure to meet you.  I have you
to thank for the escort to my apartment provided by Trooper
Stockdale on my wedding night.  It was very thoughtful of you. 
I'm afraid you've been hearing a great deal about me over the
last year or so, and not much of it could be good."

"Mrs. Stark... but may I call you Kathy?  Around here you're only
known by your first name.  There are so many Kathy stories
floating around the barracks, I couldn't count them.  They're all
respectful and -- pardon me for saying it -- loving.  I hope it's
not too painful a memory for you, but I remember vividly the
morning last year that the call came over the police radio net
that 'Kathy's down.  Somebody shot Kathy.'  No last name, just
Kathy.  With Virginia law enforcement that's all the
identification you need."  He finished with a warm smile.

"I don't believe I've had the pleasure," he said turning toward
Susan who had been listening to this senior officer greet her
mother with such respect and love.

"Captain, I'm very proud to introduce you to my daughter, Susan.
Susan was the one who was injured when Lieutenant Pinkney
provided the escort."

"How do you do, Susan?  It's a real pleasure!  I don't think you
know this, but the greatest pride we have had in our fellow
officers was when we learned a Norfolk policeman had killed that
sadistic matron who shot at your mother.  You see, your mother
spent a brilliant career making law enforcement agencies look
very good.  Mostly, we just stood around and cheered while she
did our job for us.  It was long overdue for us to do something
for her.

"Kathy, if it wouldn't be too much trouble, could I see those
famous badges I've heard so much about?"  Kathy smiled ruefully
and took them out.  Susan's eyes widened as she saw the gold. 
The captain looked at them carefully, looked at Susan and smiled.
 "Young lady, from the look on your face -- and on your mother's
-- you've never seen them before."  Susan shook her head.

The Captain looked at Kathy with a question.  She nodded, and he
handed them to Susan.  "Susan, as far as I know, those badges are
unique.  Your mother is the only law-enforcement officer with
dual jurisdiction -- both State and Federal.  She's also the
finest pistol shot in the state.

"Kathy, I can tell you're looking for someone, and it can only be
Will Stockdale.  Am I right?"  Kathy nodded.  "He's around
somewhere, I'm sure.  Let's find him.

"I'm right here, Captain," said Will from behind.  "I'm delighted
to see you women here today.  He looked particularly at Susan. 
"Miss Stark, if I may say, you are looking particularly
beautiful.  I'm so happy there were no lasting effects.  We heard
what had happened to you.  I shouldn't say this, I suppose, but
it's a good thing that woman is dead."  Turning to Kathy, he
said, "Now what can I do for you?"

"Will, could we go somewhere and talk?"  They found a quiet
corner in the troopers' lounge and sat down.  "Will, I have a
problem I think you can help me with.  You know how big a city
Virginia Beach is.  You really need a car to get around and Susan
is starting high school next month.  She'll be a junior.  She
just got her driver's license and...  Well, she drives like me."

"Kathy, are you serious?  Is she really that good?"

Kathy smiled and nodded.  "She really is -- probably better. 
Why?"

"Well, ma'am, as you know -- but won't admit -- you're a legend
around here.  And that most particularly includes your driving. 
We have a training track out back here.  Well, I asked the
Captain if we could get you behind the wheel of one of our
cruisers.  He thought about it, but finally said no.  He said
you're too big a name in this state, and he wanted no
embarrassment.  But if Susan would be willing?...  If you'd let
her?..."

"May I, Mom?  Please?  If the captain says it's all right?"

The captain said it was fine with him if Mrs. Stark approved. 
Kathy nodded and smiled at her daughter.

The whole troop off duty went out to the track.  Will fitted
Susan with a crash helmet and a Nomex driving suit and drove her
around the track.  It combined a high-speed track with both a
skid pad and a slalom course.  First, Will drove the course with
Susan riding beside him.  When they got back to the starting
point, Susan prepared to make her run.

Kathy asked what the track record for the course was.  She had
been observing the car as Will had driven the course.  Turning to
the Captain she asked, "Are you a betting man?  I'll wager Susan
breaks that record by at least one full second.  If we lose, you
and all your troopers who are off duty will be our guests for
dinner tonight.  If we win, you have to have us as your guests
here at the barracks."

"Kathy, did I hear you say you would buy food for this whole army
at a good restaurant, or we feed you what passes for food here? 
Is that the bet?"  Kathy nodded.  "Then Kathy, it's a bet!"

He raised his voice, called the troopers over, and explained the
bet.  A couple of troopers ran to set up the electronic timing
equipment they would need.  Soon they were all ready.  Meanwhile,
Will was busy making side bets with his buddies at very
attractive odds.  It was pointed out to him that the record
holder had spent nearly three years bringing the time down to its
present level.  Will just nodded, smiled, and took the bets.

When everything was set, a light ahead of Susan went from red to
amber to green.  At the instant the light changed, she was off
with her rear tires smoking from the wheel-spin.  Kathy watched
impassively as Susan found the perfect line on the banked track
and took it with the cruiser running flat out.  Jaws dropped as
the cruiser roared around the track for the three laps agreed,
flew out onto the skid pad and executed the required maneuvers,
including a bootlegger's turn at very high speed.

Will muttered, "Damn!  I forgot to bring out the speed gun!"

Finally, she roared through the slalom while the cruiser rocked
like a bathtub with its tires at the very limit of their adhesion
in spite of its special suspension designed to minimize body
roll.  She roared across the finish line, spun another 180 degree
turn and stopped on almost the precise spot from which she had
started.

The captain had been watching in utter amazement.  He turned to
Kathy and asked, "How long has Susan been driving?"

Kathy grinned at him.  "I apologize, Captain.  That was a setup.
Will has told me I'm pretty good.  Susan's only been driving for
three months, but she's probably better than I am.  She's very
good with cars."

"How much did she beat it by?" the Captain called out.  The
answer was by over five full seconds.

Susan got out of the car and ran over to where they were
standing, stopping just long enough to shed her helmet and
driving suit.

The Captain put out his hand and shook hers.  "Susan, that was
utterly amazing!  We're going to get a plaque with the time on
that run.  I know you're only in high school, _but..._  Young
lady, we're always trying to recruit young women into police
work.  Not many are interested.  Of the few that are, some are
unsuited.  Unfortunately, too many of the remainder aren't very
good.  You are _very_ good!  If you ever look for a job, there's
one here for you."

He had another idea.  "Susan, have you ever shot a pistol?"  She
shook her head, no.  "Your mother is the finest pistol shot
alive.  She says you are good at all the things she's good at. 
Would you like to shoot a few rounds on our pistol range?  Maybe
your mother would like to shoot, too?  Would you, Kathy?"

Kathy grinned.  "I was afraid you'd never ask!  I would love to.
Susan, would you get that case from the back seat, please."

Susan came speeding back with an aluminum carrying case in her
hand.  They went to the pistol range where they found the targets
arranged in sets of three.  The targets would spin, back to
front, on a pivot controlled by the rangemaster.  At the start,
there were three black silhouettes.  When they spun so the
shooter could see them, they were combinations of felons: targets
to be shot, and civilians: not to be shot.

They decided they would fire it from the draw position.  Kathy
opened the case Susan had brought.  In it were loaded cylinders
for her LadySmith which dropped in quickly to reload.  Kathy went
first to show Susan how it was done.  She went out to the
shooting position with her purse in her left hand.  After putting
on sound-absorbing ear protectors, she waved ready.

The targets spun: all bad.  Her weapon sounded like a continuous
thunderclap after a draw the officers admitted they never saw. 
Six bullets fired, two each into the ten spot marking the heart
location on the targets.  She continued in her unerring fashion.
She came back to the line and reloaded the now-empty cylinders
while the targets were being scored.

Susan had been watching her mother's movements carefully.  She
took the unloaded weapon, and Kathy showed her the sighting
patterns.  Then she put a loaded cylinder in to get the feel. 
Finally she was ready.  If there had been videotapes made, the
two images would have been duplicates.  When it was over, she had
lost to her mother by one point.  She had a single nine with all
the rest tens.

The Captain spoke to his troop.  "You have now seen a
demonstration of how to shoot this course.  We will forgive Miss
Stark her miss.  After all, this is the first time she has ever
held a gun in her hand, let alone fired one.  Also like her
mother, she put two bullets into each target.  The other bullet
was, of course, a ten.  One bullet in the heart is as lethal as
two, but then we know Kathy -- and her daughter -- believe in
being sure.

"Susan, you shot the highest score on this range ever!  We won't
mention how your mother did.  I hope this serves as a model to
you men.  A girl fires this score within minutes of holding a
weapon in her hand for the first time.  It really isn't so hard,
is it?

"But now I have some bad news.  I made a wager with Kathy and
lost.  Mother-love triumphed.  She bet me that Susan could turn
the track at least one full second faster than the best previous
recorded time.  You all know the results.  Therefore, the only
honorable thing to do is to pay up.  Accordingly, under the terms
of our wager, we must host the two women at dinner here in the
barracks this evening!"

The troopers cheered, and the Captain turned to Kathy, "There you
see true Virginia gentlemen: paying a lost wager with a cheer!" 
He grinned at her and winked.

Kathy looked at him speculatively.  "Captain Collins, could I
make a confession?  I thought that something like this might
happen, and I know that the state doesn't go overboard on your
food budget.  If you keep quiet, I've made arrangements to have
dinner tonight catered for you and your men.  It can be canceled
on a phone call, of course, but actually, I was planning to take
you and your men out to dinner in your own barracks.  May I
still?  Please?"

"Kathy Stark, you are a piece of work!" Collins said with a grin.
 "I wasn't kidding when I spoke earlier about all the Kathy
stories.  Collectively, they are forming a legend.  Needless to
say, you and Susan added to the legend this afternoon.  We would
be honored to accept your gracious invitation."

Kathy found Susan talking with Will.  "Mother, do you know what
Trooper Stockdale has just done?"

Kathy grinned at them both.  "No, I don't know what Trooper
Stockdale has just done... but I can guess.  But Susan, I do
think he'd like it better if you called him Will, wouldn't you?"

"Susan, I would appreciate it very much if you would.  I call
your mother Kathy, and she isn't much older than you are.  May I
call you Susan?"

"Of course, Will, and I would love it!" Susan replied, with a
smile that just about melted poor Will to the ground.

Kathy continued, "Back to your question.  I think Will has
probably just about cleaned out his barracks mates for the next
couple of months or so.  Will, I think it's only fair that you
buy Susan a dinner sometime soon.  If you did what I think you
did, you cleaned up!"

"Kathy, it was unfair, I guess.  I know how you drive.  When you
say Susan's good, she's _good!_  Then o' course, they went double
or nothing on the range, some of them, and that's all she wrote!
Susan, it would be a great honor to take you out to dinner. 
After next payday, I expect to get about half the barracks'
entire pay, so any place at all."

"Will," Susan replied, "I would be truly delighted!  Please call
and let me know what date would be convenient."  She gave him
another of her smiles.  Kathy recognized it as a duplicate of her
own.

"Now that the business is taken care of, I would like to get back
to our conversation about Susan.  Will, do you agree that Susan's
a bit better than your average beginning driver?" Kathy asked.

"Ma'am, you're joshing me!  She could drive the tracks at
Darlington, Charlotte or Daytona, she's that good.  Yes, ma'am! 
If it's got four wheels and an engine, Susan can drive it!  And
I'm not real sure she needs all four wheels, either.  Susan, I've
never seen that slalom driven better!  Now, Kathy, what do you
want me to do?"

"Will, I was thinking about a car.  I think Sue needs one to get
to school.  It's not a question of money, but I don't want her
looking all that different from the other kids.  On the other
hand, I can't stand anything mechanical that doesn't work well...
_very_ well.  I want to get Susan a car that looks like the basic
high-school junkie, but good.  Do you think you can help?  I know
you have friends I suspect do this for a living.  Am I right?"

"I caught your drift at the beginning Kathy, and I've been
thinking.  I want Susan in a car that won't mess her up too much.
 Air conditioning, for example, understand?  I have an idea. 
Mazda makes a car, the 323 GTX.  Now it's a real pocket rocket,
with a turbocharged engine, all-wheel drive, Recaro seats, three
spoilers on the rear -- the whole nine yards.  Now, what if you
bought one new?  I have friends that could take off the spoilers,
paint it a standard factory color, that sort of stuff.  It would
look like Susan's driving a 323 which is sort of an econobox. 
Now, Kathy, make no mistake.  Susan would look like she's driving
a new 323 you can pick up for less than $10,000.  The additional
work isn't much.  How does it sound?"

"Honey, how does it sound to you?" Kathy asked Susan.

"Mom, could we?  Really?  A car of my very own to drive to
school?  Fantastic!  It sounds fantastic."

"Okay, Will.  It's a deal.  I'll order the car tomorrow.  Does it
matter what the original color is?"

"No, ma'am, but a light color would be good if they have one. 
Now, the car comes with some things like a sunroof, rear wiper,
and the seats that aren't available on a normal 323, but I don't
think anyone will notice.  My friends will deliver it back to you
a week or ten days after they get it.  Okay?"

"Will, it's a deal!" Kathy said.  "Now, let's see about dinner,
shall we?"

The dinner was a spectacular success.  Later, while driving home,
Kathy said to Susan, "That was beautiful driving, dear.  And
beautiful shooting."

"I'm my mother's daughter!  What more can I say?" Susan
responded.  "Mom, you've been holding out on me.  At dinner I
learned that you've killed three men with that weapon in your
purse.  At our table all they could talk about was your shooting.
 'Five shots fired.  Four in the heart, one in the brain.' 
That's true, Mom, isn't it?"

"I'm afraid so.  I don't really know why I still carry that
thing, but it's been very useful.  Susan, how would you like one
with a bra holster?"  They both laughed at the thought.

* * *

Kathy and Susan went together to meet the educationists at the
high school.  They had an appointment with an assistant principal
named James Worthington.  After they were shown into Mr.
Worthington's office and took seats, Kathy began, "Mr.
Worthington, I've come in this morning to enroll my daughter,
Susan, as a junior in your school."

"That's fine, Mrs. Stark.  May I have a copy of the transcript
from her previous school?"

"Mr. Worthington, there is no previous school.  Susan has had
private tutors in the past.  She has decided that she would like
to meet more young people so she is enrolling in the public
schools.  Now, what is the procedure?"

"Why, Mrs. Stark, this is highly irregular.  Surely, she has a
transcript."

"From her tutor?  One could be prepared, I suppose, but it would
look like no transcript you've ever seen before.  Should we
bother?"

"But... Well... How do we know Susan is equipped to do the work?
I mean..."

"Why don't you give her an admissions test?" Kathy asked.

"Why that's ridiculous!  There are no admissions requirements. 
This is a public high school."

Kathy had had enough.  With her eyes blazing blue fire she
declared, "Mr. Worthington, you have three choices.  First, admit
Susan as a junior and we move ahead to discuss her course of
study.  Second, give her an admissions test.  Her scores will
blow your mind and then we discuss her course of study.  Third,
do not admit Susan.  Then I call the Governor and you think about
where you might be able to get a job next year while I go through
this again with your successor who is likely to be more
agreeable.  Do you understand the alternatives?"

He nodded, looking like the canary about to be eaten by the cat.

"Wonderful!" Kathy said.  "Now, which of the alternatives would
you like to pursue?"

"Admit her as a junior?" he said tremulously.  His statement was
made to sound like a question.

"That's great!  Now that Susan is a junior, let's talk about her
courses, shall we?  Oh, I will see that a transcript of her prior
work is forwarded by her tutor.  She will need it for her college
applications."

On the way home, Susan looked at Kathy strangely.  "Mother, that
was cruel.  I have never seen you act mean to a living soul. 
Ever!  Yet you terrorized that poor man.  Why did you do it?"

Kathy looked thoughtful and finally responded, "Susan, there are
certain people I loathe.  Occasionally it shows.  Usually, when I
don't like a person I go out of my way to be extra nice.  But Mr.
Worthington is in the first group.  He stood between my beloved
daughter and her education, an education she underwent a brutal
beating to try to get.  I'm sorry, honey.  I blew my stack.  Was
I really that bad?"

Susan was giggling.  "I'm sorry, Mom, but he was in such terror!
And you are so beautiful.  I think of the story of the Amazons. 
It's just so funny, remembering.  Mom, will Dad be home soon?  I
can't wait to meet him."

"Very soon," Kathy answered.  "But, dear God, it can't be soon
enough!  Susan, you can't believe the extent of my love for your
father.  I absolutely worship the man.  But I guess you'll see
that for yourself pretty soon."*Chapter 29*

Susan had just come home from the very first date of her life
with Will Stockdale.  After closing the front door she just
leaned back against it.

"How was your evening, Sue?" Kathy asked.  "Did you have a good
time?"

"Spectacular!  The dinner was wonderful.  And Will was so nice! 
Mom, I don't think the people at the restaurant realized I was
only sixteen.  Do I look older?"

"Honey, you look magnificent!  You have no trouble holding up
that strapless dress, even though you aren't quite filled out. 
Susan, honestly, your 'not quite filled out' is better than most
women who have.  You're a beautiful girl.  What did Will think?"

Susan had worn a white strapless cocktail dress with white pumps
and a single strand of pearls.  With her flawless skin and tan
coupled with her blue eyes and golden hair, she was exquisite. 
Susan giggled at the memory.  "He just gaped, Mother.  He said I
was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen except maybe for
you.  We had dinner, we danced and then he took me home.  Mom, he
kissed me."

"How was it, honey?  Did you like it?"

"Mother, I just melted!"

"Then what did you do?"

"I asked him to please stop.  And Mom...  I asked him to please
be strong enough for both of us because I wasn't in condition to
say no again.  He stopped, and gave me the most tender kiss.  I
thanked him for a wonderful evening and for being strong enough
for both of us.  Was that all right?"

"That was fine, dear.  Will is a real gentleman, and I think you
said the perfect thing.  What did he say?"

"He said he couldn't believe I was only in high school.  He said
I was a 'woman growed.'  He said it was the best evening he's
ever spent with a girl, and hopes he can see me again, sometime."
 Her expression changed as she added, "Mom, Dad gets home
tomorrow.  Do you think he'll be disappointed or angry or
anything?"

"Absolutely not, sweetheart!  He'll love you as I do, probably
more.  There's just one thing I've been meaning to tell you. 
Honey, your dad and I are... uninhibited in our lovemaking.  Sue,
I doubt if there's a square inch of this apartment your father
hasn't taken me on.  Once I was peeling carrots at the sink and
he came in, picked me up by the legs and entered me from the rear
while I kept trying to peel the damned carrot.

"Usually, we never wear clothes at home.  I don't know what to do
about that now.  But Sue, do me a favor?  As long as your
father's home, please call before you bring any friends home?  I
know it won't embarrass us or you, but it would sure embarrass
your friends.  Agreed?"

"Agreed.  Mom, what time is the ship due to arrive?  Can I come
down to meet her?  Please!"

"Of course!  Now, what should you wear?"

* * *

Susan and Kathy were watching as the EVANS was nudged alongside
the pier by tugs.  Mooring lines were made fast and then they saw
sailors running along the deck getting ready to go ashore.  Kathy
thought she saw Ken on the bridge and waved.  It was a
beautifully warm day in early October.  She and Susan were both
wearing dresses in the blue that matched their eyes.  It was a
color that Ken loved on her.  They continued to wait with Kathy
unable to control her impatience.  Finally, the brows were made
fast, liberty was called, and men started running down the
gangways to get ashore.  The area was filled with families and
loved ones there to meet them on their return.

Finally, Kathy saw Ken and ran to him.  He dropped his bags,
gathered her into his arms and hugged.  He could feel her tears
on his cheek.  Finally, he eased her away far enough to take her
in his arms in an endless kiss.  With their arms around one
another they walked over to the car where Susan was waiting
fearfully.

When he was still about fifty feet away, he looked at Susan and
then down at Kathy.  "Honey, would you excuse me for a second
while I greet our daughter?"

Ken sprinted the last few feet, grabbed Susan around the waist
and lifted her high in the air.  Like her mother, Susan was
weightless in his arms.  He set her down, embraced her and kissed
her lovingly.  Then he just held her tightly in his arms until he
heard her sobbing.  Stepping away, he held her at arms length and
saw that tears were rolling down the girl's cheeks.

"What's wrong, Susan?  What did I do?  Did I hurt you?"  His
concern was evident in his voice.  Susan just shook her head from
side to side, then rushed back into his arms and held him close.
He held her and stroked her hair the way he did with Kathy who
was standing close by, saying nothing.  Finally the sobbing died
away and the tears stopped, but still she held him tightly.

At last, she pushed away and looked into his eyes.  A brilliant
smile started to form and she said, "Hello, Dad!  Welcome home! 
I'm your daughter, Susan."  She grabbed him and gave him a huge
kiss.

He eased her away and gave her a big grin while winking at Kathy.
 "Ease up, honey.  You'll make your mother jealous!"  He then
took Kathy in one arm and Susan in the other and tried to kiss
them both at once.

When they were back in the apartment, as soon as the elevator
door closed Susan disappeared into her room leaving them alone
together.  Kathy stripped off her dress and was nude except for
her pearls and her pumps.  As he was taking off his tie and
shirt, Kathy was on her knees working on his belt and pants.  She
let them drop, along with his shorts revealing his sex.  She
caressed his balls, kissed his magnificent weapon and was
rewarded with a drop of juice.

"Ken, darling, I missed you so much!  My cunt aches for you! 
Please, darling.  Put it in now!"  She lay on her back and lifted
her hips to make his entry as easy as possible.

He had shed all his clothes now, and quickly entered her warm
grotto.  Almost immediately he could feel her pelvis start to
take on a life of its own as it jerked spasmodically in her first
orgasm.  It triggered his orgasm, but barely slowed him down. 
For what seemed like hours, they made love together on the floor.
 Finally, they got up and went to the bedroom where their
lovemaking continued.  At last they paused and just lay in each
others arms, softly kissing any part of the other within range.

Kathy was just looking lovingly at Ken, when, following a knock
on the door, Susan came in carrying a large tray.  She put it on
the dresser and quickly left again to return with a bottle of Dom
Perignon and two glasses.  The tray also held a full kilo of
beluga caviar in a bowl of ice surrounded with all the trimmings:
the finely chopped onion, chopped egg whites, chopped egg yolks,
and toast.

"Welcome home, Dad.  With the exercise you and Mom have been
getting, I thought you might need something to eat.  I'll pour
the champagne."

Ken looked at Kathy who nodded.

"Susan, where's your glass?  Aren't you going to have a drink
with us?"

"Please, Susan?" Kathy urged.

She went for another glass and was back in a wink.  She poured a
glass for herself and sat in a chair in the corner.  Meanwhile,
Kathy's hand was exploring under the covers.  It found Ken's cock
which hardened instantly at her touch causing the bed covers to
rapidly tent because of the pressure.  He felt his wife's
hairless mound and gently ran a finger up and down her slit. 
Then he rolled over and found that her legs were already spread
wide to welcome him.

This time was as gentle as the previous ones had been violent. 
Their initial passions had been satiated so Ken entered her and
nearly withdrew as he moved in her with long strokes.  As he
moved he could feel the walls of her vagina constricting like
tender lubricated hands on his sex as it went in and out in
slowly accelerating tempo.  By this time they had forgotten the
girl sitting silently in the corner.  Kathy could feel herself
rising to a peak.  She had already had several small orgasms with
each more powerful than the one before.  She could hear the
passionate sounds she was making as if they were coming from
someone else.  Finally, they reached their peak together and she
erupted like a volcano.  Kathy lost consciousness at her peak in
a sensory overload.

When her eyes opened, she was looking into Ken's face.  Then she
realized with a start that Susan was sitting on the edge of the
bed.

"Mom, I only hope that will happen to me someday.  While you were
out, I was telling Dad about me... about what I had to do.  Now I
know the difference between lovemaking and fucking.  It was so
beautiful!"

Kathy sat up in bed with the covers falling to her waist.  Ken
pulled her up so she was resting beside him against the headboard
of the bed.  "Susan, why don't you bring that luscious caviar and
put it on the bed.  Let's all pig out!"

The family sat on the bed, two in and one on, eating caviar and
drinking champagne.  When the caviar had disappeared, Susan
removed the tray and went to the kitchen to start preparing
dinner while they went back to their lovemaking.

Later, Susan returned to the bedroom.  "Mom and Dad," she
announced, "dinner's ready, but would you do me a great favor,
please?"

"Of course, honey," Ken replied, "What is it?"

"Dad, Mom says you almost never wear clothes in the apartment. 
That's true, isn't it?"  Ken reddened slightly but said it was
true.  "Well, Mom and I don't either when you're not here...
and... and... you're not dressed now.  And I used to work in a
whorehouse, too.  Daddy, all kinds of creeps used to handle me. 
I can see how you and Mom adore each other.  Well, instead of you
two getting dressed, could I take off my clothes instead?"

He looked at Kathy who was busy studying a spot on the blanket. 
He just stared at her, and she could feel it.  "I love you,
darling," she whispered.  "It's what happens when your lovely new
daughter is 'born' at the age of sixteen!  Honey, she's
absolutely gorgeous, and I think she's being very honest.  She
_was_ forced to caress men while they were plugging girls much
younger and smaller than she was.  She's still a virgin, but
she's the most sexually experienced virgin alive!  I'm just happy
about one thing.  I have no pubic hair, while she does.  It's a
good way to tell us apart.  And honey, in a year or so, it may be
the only way!  Whatever you decide is what we'll do, but my vote
is to let her."

He took his wife in his arms and softly kissed her lips.  Again,
he could feel her melt.  He called out, "Okay, Susan.  We'll see
how it goes."  Then softly to his wife, "Are you ready for
dinner?  What are we eating?"

Kathy looked at him quizzically.  "I honestly don't have the
faintest idea.  Sweetheart, I hope you ate well aboard EVANS,
because this is going to be a sixteen-year-old's idea of haute
cuisine.  It could be pizza, hamburgers, potato chips, or all of
the above.  You can't believe how excited she's been or how
desperately she wants you to like her.  I guess you know by now
that she's madly in love with her father?"

"You're serious, aren't you, Kathy?  She's really afraid I might
not like her?  My God, she is a living, breathing doll!  She's
your twin sister about ten years younger, but there is no such
thing.  My God, I adore you and she's a younger replica. 
Incidentally, what do my mom and dad think about their
granddaughter?"

"Honey, Susan just cried.  She was so happy, and they love her so
much.  But let's move.  Our pizza burgers are going to get cold!"
 She hopped out of bed, followed by Ken, and went into the dining
area.  Susan was standing at the table, as if she were ready to
be inspected by her father.  He just looked at her and then
looked at Kathy.

"My God, you're right.  Susan, don't you dare do anything to your
pubic hair.  It _is_ the only way I'll be able to tell you and
your mother apart!"  He ran his right hand up Kathy's flat belly,
and could feel her muscles ripple as his finger tips moved across
it.

She whispered in his ear, "Just wait!  I promised myself I was
going to drain your balls dry in less than forty-eight hours.  I
sure hope you got plenty of sleep!"  She grinned at him as he
gave her a light spank on her tight little ass.

"What's for dinner, Sue?" Ken asked.

"Just sit down, please, parents.  This is mine, and I'll do it
all.  Mom and Dad, I know I'm only sixteen but... but could I
have wine, too?  Just this once because Dad just got home?  And
he's meeting me for the first time.  Please?"

"Susan Stark, am I being conned?" Ken asked with mock severity. 
"I think I see your glass already on the table, so I guess so." 
Kathy hadn't said anything, but she squeezed his hand and winked
at him as soon as Susan's back was turned.

Susan brought out the first course, carefully serving her mother
first, then her father.  She brought out her own plate, and sat
down.  She had made a magnificent lump crab meat cocktail,
flanked with Chincoteague oysters served with a marvelous
cocktail sauce she had created.  Ken looked across the table at
Kathy, then at Susan and started to laugh.  Both girls looked at
him, wondering what was happening.

"You should see yourselves.  Here a sailor comes home after six
months of not seeing a woman.  Then he sits down to dinner and
what does he see?  Two of the most magnificent pairs of tits in
the world, with their nipples staring at him.  Is that fair?"

Kathy just grinned, and Susan looked down at her chest.  "Do you
really like my tits, Dad?  Mine aren't quite as full as Mom's
yet, but they're getting there.  I waited dinner so you could get
the edge off your sexual appetite.  I know Mom's cum at least a
dozen times already.  But I hope you enjoy the dinner."

Ken looked at her and smiled.  "I'm teasing you, honey.  Would
you like me to pour the wine?"

Susan jumped up like she'd been shot.  "Oh, good heavens!  After
getting permission, and everything, I forgot to pour it!"

Moments later she was back with Kathy's best and favorite
Chablis.  She poured a tiny bit in Ken's glass and waited for him
to taste it.  He nodded, and she filled Kathy's glass, then
filled Ken's and finally poured some for herself.

Kathy offered a toast, "Welcome home, darling!"  She and Susan
drank and Ken acknowledged it.  Then, with a whoop Susan went
back to the kitchen.

The couple sipped their wine as they waited.  Ken smiled at Kathy
and said, "Pizza burgers?  Maybe I've been away too long, but
this isn't starting off as a fast-food special."

Kathy returned the smile with a brilliant one of her own and
said, "Darling, please don't laugh.  Whatever happens, don't
laugh.  It would absolutely destroy her."

Susan reappeared with salads.  Ken tried his and savored it. 
"Susan, what is this dressing?  I don't think I've ever tasted
anything quite like it."

The girl looked at him anxiously, "Do you like it?  I've been
experimenting with a lot of different ingredients.  Since Mom
hates me to waste anything, I'm turning into a rabbit eating the
darned salads I make just to experiment with different dressing
recipes."

"Honey, it's glorious!  Bottle it and you make a fortune."

Susan disappeared and minutes later, reappeared.  She placed
plates in front of Kathy and then Ken, and returned to get her
own.  She had made Ken's favorite, tournedos Rossini with foie
gras and truffles, sauce Perigord.  The older two cut into the
perfectly-cooked meat which was surrounded by beautifully
prepared and presented vegetables, while Susan watched.

They tried it, and savored it.  "My God, she not only looks like
her mother, she cooks like her, too!  This is absolutely
magnificent, honey."

Susan had just one bite and retreated for the wine.  The wine, a
grand cru Bordeaux from 1959, had been decanted earlier.  She
poured and served the classic wine.

Ken, feeling very expansive by this time, asked, "Honey, how long
were we in the bedroom, anyway?  We start with caviar and
champagne, move on to crabmeat and oysters, a glorious salad, and
then to tournedos.  The meal is exquisite.  Now I would like to
offer a toast to our beloved daughter, Susan: Darling Susan, as
your new father, I want you to know I could not possibly be
happier.  Your mother wrote and told me what you said to the
judge in the courtroom on the day you were adopted.  How children
are born by the thousands every day, and their parents -- for
good or ill -- are the luck of the draw.  You said you had chosen
us.

"Honey, I don't know how I could be happier.  Susan, to a long
and happy life, and a welcome from your parents who adore you. 
Thank you so much for choosing us!"

Kathy and Ken drank the toast to Susan, who just blushed.  Kathy
could see tears in her eyes.  She went to her father and gave him
a warm loving kiss.  "Thank you, Dad.  Thank you for having me!"

When the main course was finished, Susan cleared the table and
wheeled in a cart with a chafing dish.  She prepared and flamed
crepes Suzette and carefully served them to her mother, father,
and finally herself.  Ken was amazed at her deftness as she
handled the flaming dish.  Finally, she served coffee and poured
Kathy's finest cognac for her parents, while she just drank
coffee.  With the cognac she offered cigars which the two took.

Ken leaned back in his chair and savored his dinner.  He turned
to Susan and smiled, "Honey, that absolutely could not have been
better.  It's as good as your mother could do and that's high
praise indeed."

He grinned across the table at Kathy and said, "Susan, your
mother told me we were going to have pizza burgers.  Instead, I
get a magnificent feast.  Thank you!  I'm really happy to be
home!"

Kathy smiled at Susan fondly and said, "Susan, I did tell your
father that.  I had no idea you were going to prepare such a
meal.  He's wrong about one thing, though.  I couldn't do it
nearly as well."

Susan sat in her chair and blushed.  Ken choked off a grin as he
watched the blood rise through her breasts, up her neck and to
her face.

The next morning, the older two were in bed when they heard the
sound of a splash in the pool.  Kathy gave him a tender kiss and
snuggled even closer.  "Honey, how do you feel?  Would you like
to see something funny?"

Ken had just had one of the most joyous nights of his life with
his lovely wife.  He just grinned and said, "Provided all I have
to do is watch.  Okay?"

She threw off the covers and ran for the door to the deck.  She
arrived at the end of the pool as Susan was starting her fourth
lap.  As Susan completed her racing turn, Kathy cut the water in
a dive and started speeding down the course with her.  Ken pulled
up a deck chair to watch.  As they completed lap after lap
looking like a pair of porpoises and moving as smoothly through
the water, he had an idea.  As usual, the two girls were stroke
for stroke, so they made their turns together.

Ken had done some serious swimming at the Academy.  As they
turned again, he knifed into the water and was off in a 100-meter
sprint, four lengths of the pool.  The girls had been in a
distance stroke and had already covered almost two miles. 
Nevertheless, with the new challenge they simultaneously shifted
to a sprint stroke.  Ken wasn't in quite as good shape as the
women, but he hadn't swum two miles either.  He beat them by a
length, hauling himself out of the pool and sitting on the edge.
With their golden hair plastered around their heads, no makeup,
and their bodies still in the water, he honestly couldn't tell
which was which.  He extended a hand to each, and they popped out
of the water.  Both of them were grinning at him and at each
other.

"When you two get in shape," he said, "let me know.  Then we can
have a real race!"  He covered himself as two beautiful bodies
began to pummel him furiously.  Finally Susan got up and pulled
up three mats for them to lie on.  Kathy was still breathing hard
as was Susan.

"How do you two do it?" Ken asked.  "I'm just asking, not
complaining, you understand.  I hope you know it's not the
neatest thing for an old man to come out to the pool and see the
two women he loves most in the whole world pounding up and down
the pool like a couple of trapped porpoises."

"It's the same as usual, Dad," Susan said.  "Mom won't allow
herself to be beaten by a young squirt in her own pool and I
won't allow her to see her daughter quit.  She's going to lose
one of these days, though.  You really get the drive from your
legs, and the legs go first."

Kathy looked down at her beautiful legs and carefully lifted them
up together from the mat.  "Ken, do you think I have two or three
more months before I'm in pieces, ready for the retirement home?
They don't look _that_ bad, do they?"

Ken just grinned down at her and Kathy said, "Honey, why don't
you start breakfast?  Your father needs some help.  We'll come in
a few minutes."

"How do you spell 'come' Mom?  With an 'o' or a 'u'?"

"In this case, both.  Now get your fresh tail back in the
kitchen!"

As Susan left, Kathy spread her legs.  "Kenneth, you've been
holding out on me.  I thought I drained you dry last night, but
either I missed or your powers of recovery are better than I
thought!  Come here."  she said softly.

Ken rolled over and got between her warm thighs and slowly
entered her.  As he slowly moved in and out in her moistness he
ran his fingers over her breasts.  She heard herself making small
cries of pleasure as she felt herself taken higher and higher
until she was gasping and shaking her head from side to side. 
Finally, she achieved her release.  She held him close while her
vaginal muscles squeezed him dry.

"Are you happy, honey?" she whispered.  "I hope Susan wasn't too
big a shock for you.  You _do_ like her, don't you?"

"Nope, sure don't."  he replied softly, watching a tiny element
of fear enter Kathy's eyes.  "I love her almost as much as I love
her mother.  'Like' as a word just doesn't do it!"  He kissed her
softly on the lips while his now-softened weapon remained inside
her.  As usual, though, her kiss was like a jolt of electricity
to him.  He could feel himself becoming rigid again, and Kathy
could feel it, too.

She grinned at him.  "Maybe it's something in the pool water.  Do
you think so?"

He had just reached another orgasm, bringing her with him when
they looked up as a shadow reached him.

Susan was standing there smiling warmly.  "Boy," she said, "wait
until I tell the kids at school.  I work my fingers to the bone
slaving at a hot stove and what are my parents doing?  Fucking
like bunnies, for gosh sakes."

She came around so Kathy didn't have to strain to see her.  "I'm
sorry, dear," she said in her haughtiest voice.  "It's your
father.  I can never get him to do me when I need it... in the
theater, a restaurant, while we're driving.  He's very
old-fashioned that way.  But you know how it is with the older
generation," she grinned at the girl.  "By the way, is our
breakfast ready?"

"Of course, dears," Susan said, imitating her mother's voice
perfectly.  "It's on the table, getting cold."

Ken eased out from between Kathy's thighs, running his hand
lightly over her breasts as he did so.  Kathy murmured with
pleasure and stretched, finally bouncing to her feet.  They went
in to the huge breakfast Susan had prepared.*Chapter 30*

It was getting close to Christmas when Susan and Kathy went to
the hospital.  They stopped by the emergency room to see the
Millers.  Kathy was delighted to see Cindy's abdomen starting to
bulge.  Grinning at the girl she said, "There's been a lot of
that going around.  Is it contagious?"

The dark-haired girl smiled at her and rubbed her belly.  "It
comes of spending days off in bed, I guess.  But what brings the
mother-daughter twins here today?"

"It's Jane.  She delivered last night, and we came to see the
baby.  It looks like we'll be back to visit you in a few months.
Congratulations to you both."

As they went up to the obstetrics floor, Kathy had her fingers
crossed.  Jane had had a very uneventful pregnancy which Kathy
had followed with interest.  The girl who Kathy thought of as an
older sister continued to come by to swim and joke about the way
she was expanding in size.

When they found her room and knocked, Jane's familiar voice asked
them to come in.  It was feeding time, but Kathy, as a hospital
governor, had full freedom of the floors.  Jane was nursing her
tiny baby and it was the most beautiful thing Kathy had ever
seen.

"Jane, you look absolutely gorgeous!  How do you feel?" she asked
softly as the baby nursed at its mother's breast, now swollen
with milk.

"Like a truck ran over my pelvis, since you asked.  It may be two
or three more hours before I can welcome Bob again," she answered
softly.  "You two look beautiful, as usual."  She cradled the
baby closer and then shifted it to her other breast.  They
watched as she put her nipple in the baby's mouth and then heard
it make quiet nursing sounds.

"How do you like nursing?" Kathy asked.  "What's it like?"

"The most wonderful feeling imaginable.  Suddenly you know what
it's all about."  She smiled and Kathy was surprised to see tears
in her friend's eyes.

"What's wrong Jane?  You're crying!"

"I haven't introduced you yet.  This is Billy Ferguson.  Kathy,
do you know what Bob did?  He absolutely insisted.  His name is
William Wilson Ferguson, named after my first husband."  She
blinked back the tears.  "He said that fighter jock did such a
great job of breaking me in, it's only fair."  She cradled the
baby tighter as he finished suckling and went to sleep.

"Oh, Jane, that's wonderful!" Kathy exclaimed.  "When are you
going to be ready for a babysitter?  Believe it or not, Susan has
been reading about the care of babies, and she can't wait."

"Susan, would you like to hold Billy?  He's asleep, now, but I'm
sure it's all right."

The girl's eyes glowed as she took the baby from its mother's
arms and held him, carefully holding his head.  "He's so tiny!"
she said softly so as not to wake him.  "Oh, Aunt Jane, he's
beautiful!"

"May I hold him, Jane?" Kathy asked diffidently.

"Are you kidding?  The kid's going to be with his Aunt Kathy at
his christening.  At least I hope he will."  Jane said as Kathy
carefully took the child from her daughter.  "Kathy, Bob and I
hope you and Ken will consent to be Billy's godparents.  Will
you?  Susan, you know I was your mother's first 'project.'  I was
sunk in a hole so deep I couldn't even see the sky.  Then your
mother hauled me out by my hair, and this is what happened."  She
smiled at the girl, "Don't you think it's about time I goteven?"

"Jane, Ken and I would be very proud to be Billy's godparents. 
When is the christening going to be?"

"Since he's not even one-day old yet, we haven't decided.  We'll
check with you on Ken's availability."

The nurse came in to take Billy back to the nursery.  They could
see Jane's eyes start to close, so they gave her quick kisses and
left.  On the way out Kathy looked at Susan and asked, "What did
you think?"

"Mother, he is the most beautiful little thing!  Now I can see
why you and Dad are always working so hard!" she teased.

They went down to Susan's car.  It was Saturday and school was
closing for the Christmas holidays the following Wednesday.  That
night there was going to be an athletic awards dinner for fall
sports at a local restaurant and the whole family was going. 
Susan had played soccer in the fall, and had been named
first-team All-State as a halfback.  She was also the leading
scorer on the team that had taken the Virginia state title.  Now
they were on the expressway headed east back to Virginia Beach
from Norfolk.  Traffic was heavy, so Susan was obeying the speed
laws -- or at least coming close.

Kathy leaned back and enjoyed watching Susan drive.  She thought
about the soccer season and the state championship game against
Reston, a perennial soccer power in the state.  It was, by a wide
margin, Susan's best game.  The truth was that Reston had a much
stronger team.  It was very well drilled and played beautifully
as a team.

But as good as they were, they were outplayed and outclassed by
the human dynamo playing for Virginia Beach.  Susan had her hair
tied back in a pony tail and her golden mane was flying all over
the field.  Kathy and Ken were at the game.  Later Ken teased her
about the beating he had absorbed as she pounded him whenever
Susan made a great play, and cheered so much she could scarcely
talk when it was over.

As a midfielder, Susan had both offensive and defensive
responsibilities.  She concentrated on defense.  Time after time
she charged in and tackled the ball, breaking up Reston attacks.
Virtually the entire first half was played on the Virginia Beach
end of the field.  When the second half started, Susan noticed
that the Reston players appeared to be tiring.  Because there had
been no score in the first half, substitutions for both teams had
been very limited.  The starters had played virtually the entire
game to that point.

Early in the second half Reston was on the attack again.  The
Reston right wing was bringing the ball up when Susan saw an
opportunity, streaked over and stole the ball.  She then took it
the length of the field, faking out both halfbacks and fullbacks.
 She faked a right-footed kick towards the left corner of the
goal and the goalie bit, diving to her right.  Susan drilled it
into the right corner with a left-footed boot to go ahead by a
goal.  Late in the period she repeated it.  Reston was laying
back this time and had learned that Susan Stark was the girl to
stop.  They massed around, and Susan passed to her right wing who
drove the ball in for another goal.  The final score was 2-0.

When the final whistle sounded, Susan collapsed on the field and
had to be helped off by her teammates.  Ken and Kathy met her on
the sidelines.  In addition to the trophy for the championship,
Susan won the Most Valuable Player award.  Kathy just looked at
her.  She was bleeding, her face was grimy, and her legs were a
mass of dirt and blood, but she was beaming.

Ken gave her a big hug and a kiss.  "You're beautiful, honey. 
And that was the best game you've ever played.  How do youfeel?"

"Like I was one of the cars in a demolition derby!  Can we go
home now?  For the last ten minutes, all I could think about was
taking a bath and soaking in the sauna until I'm fully cooked. 
Can we?"

They grinned at her and went to the car.  That evening, Kathy
joined her in the sauna after she had been in for a while.  When
she opened the door, she couldn't find Susan because of all the
steam the girl had created.  She found her asleep on the bench
with the sweat pouring from her pores.  Kathy grinned to herself,
and after she broke a sweat herself, helped Susan up -- the girl
was still groggy -- and took her out to the cold pool.  She
pushed her in and giggled as she heard a startled yelp as the
girl's body hit the freezing water.  Kathy jumped in after her.

"Mom, that's not fair!  I felt so nice and neat and sleepy, and
you woke me up."  Kathy noticed that the girl had adapted to the
water.  Although she was now full of goose bumps, she didn't jump
out of the pool.

"I give up!" Kathy said as she hauled herself out.  Susan leaped
out an instant later grinning as Kathy handed her a big fluffy
towel.  "How do you feel now?  You certainly look better."

"About as well as can be expected," Susan replied airily.  "Of
course I don't have a handsome man to keep me warm at night, so I
have to sublimate my sex drive in sports.  How's that sound, Mom?
 Convincing?"

"I guess it will have to do, Honey," Kathy had replied.

* * *

They were almost home from the hospital by now and Susan was
expertly threading her way through the traffic on the streets. 
"Honey, what are you going to wear to the dinner tonight?  I hope
it'll be something nicer than blue jeans."

"Gee, Mom, I was planning on going jeans formal.  That's with
shoes.  Isn't that good enough?"  She glanced over at her mother.
 "Mom, how was it when you went back to school?  Did you have...
problems?"

"What sort of problems, honey?"

"Mom, I really like the school and I like the kids, but it's
so... so strange!  I listen to the girls talk about boys in the
locker room sometimes and it's weird.  They don't know what
they're talking about!  And you know what's really funny? _I'm_
the 'goody two shoes,' the untouched virgin! _Untouched!_  I
never say anything, but it's funny.  There's this one girl,
Joyce, who claims to be the most experienced girl in the school.
All she does in the locker room is comb her pubic hair so it will
look nice for George... or Howard... or whomever. Mom, what did
you do?"

"Honey, it was different for me.  I _was_ a prostitute.  I made
my living on my back.  With you it's different.  You lived in a
whorehouse, but you weren't a whore."

"Mom, I took a lot of men in my mouth and more than a few in my
ass."  She shuddered.  "I can still remember that poor,
frightened little girl.  She was so young, she scarcely had any
pubic hair, and her breasts were just starting to develop.  Mom,
she held my hand as this ape just ripped her.  She clutched at me
for support as her blood flowed all over the place.  God, I hope
she's all right.  And these dumb girls don't have the firstclue!

That night the family went to the local restaurant where the
sports banquet was being held.  Susan had squeezed her mother's
hand when she quietly offered to cover the bill for those people
who couldn't afford to pay for the dinner.  The school, which
used to pay for such things, no longer did due to budget
cutbacks.

Susan looked beautiful wearing the blue dress that matched her
eyes.  Kathy and Ken could see the girl was so proud when she
received her varsity letter in soccer, and was then surprised to
learn she had been elected captain of the team for the following
year.  Kathy also noticed a tall boy whose eyes followed Susan
everywhere.  When she returned to the table, Kathy asked her
about him.

"Oh, I guess that's Jeff Fuller.  He's a senior and plays
football, I think," she replied with a seeming lack of concern.

"Susan!  You're not leveling with me.  You 'think'?  Who are you
trying to kid?"

"Mother!  He's... He's just a _boy!"_

"And you're just a girl.  So what?"

"He keeps asking me out," Susan said in a small voice.  "And I
keep saying no."

"Why, honey?  He appears to be a nice boy."

The girl continued in the same small voice, "Because he's a
senior, and... and I'm scared."

Ken had been listening to the exchange.  He exchanged looks with
Kathy who excused herself to go to the ladies room.  "Susan
Stark, what aren't you telling us?" he asked.  "You're the girl
who would tackle hell with a fire extinguisher.  What do you
mean, scared?"

"Dad, I'm afraid I'll do or say the wrong thing.  He's very nice.
 He shouldn't get mixed up with a whore," Susan said softly while
looking down at the tabletop.

Ken took her chin in his fingers and lifted it to make her look
at him.  "Young lady, that's enough of that.  I went through hell
with your mother because of that.  I was in agony.  Did you know
she wouldn't agree to marry me, and finally I find out it's
because she had been a prostitute nearly ten years earlier?  Do
you think I love your mother?"

Susan was startled.  "Love her?  Dad, you adore her.  We don't
wear any clothes at home, but if I ever feel chilly I just look
at you looking at Mom -- you always are, you know -- and feel
warm all over.  Do you know what I pray for every night?  I pray
someday I'll meet a man who'll love me just a little bit as much
as you love Mom."

"Then honey, do me a favor?  Do you like Jeff Fuller?"  She
nodded her head.  "I can tell the signs.  You're both very young,
of course, but he thinks you're great.  How often does he ask you
out?"

"A couple of times a week," she replied in a very small voice.

"And how long has he been asking?"

"For a couple of months, I guess."

"Then for chrissakes, say yes the next time!  Okay?"

Susan grinned.  "Okay, Dad.  And Dad?  I love you very much,
too."

There was a small high-school dance band playing.  Kathy had
returned to the table when the tall young man came up to their
table looking very nervous.  "Susan, would you like to dance?" he
asked diffidently.

"Yes, Jeff.  Thank you, I would.  First, Jeff, I would like to
introduce you to my parents, Commander and Mrs. Stark.  Mom and
Dad, this is Jeff Fuller."

Ken stood and shook hands with the boy.  "How do you do, Jeff?" 
Kathy shook his hand too.  The kids went out to the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance, darling?" Ken asked.

"I would love to.  Let's!"  She was out of her chair, on the
dance floor, and in Ken's arms.  He held her closely.

"What do you think, honey?" she asked.  "What did she say to
you?"

"It's nothing I can't handle.  She's _exactly_ like you.  She
likes the boy but is afraid of having been a whore.  Does that
sound like anyone you know?"

Kathy had her head resting on his shoulder.  She murmured, "Of
course not.  Who could you possibly be thinking of?  After all, I
was practically a virgin when you met me.  But my virginity
didn't last very long... about an hour or so, if I remember
correctly."  She tipped her head back and he kissed her softly on
the lips.

"God, am I ever lucky!  Sweetheart, you are the best thing that
could ever happen to a guy.  Do you know that?"

She snuggled closer in his arms.  "No, but keep the thought.  I
like it."

As they were driving home that night, Susan's eyes were dancing.
"Mom and Dad, that was terrific!  Boy, did I ever score points."

Ken and Kathy looked at each other.  "What does that mean?" he
asked.

"Well, you saw a lot of families there.  Most of the adults are
ten or fifteen years older than you two.  That's one.  The other
thing was your necking on the dance floor.  One girl came up to
me with her eyes as big as saucers to tell me she saw you kissing
Mom.  I told her you were married so it was all right.  She
almost choked.  'But Susan, it was a _real_ kiss!'  I told her I
had it on good authority that kissing hadn't been invented in
just the last six months.  'In fact,' I said, 'it wouldn't
surprise me if your parents kiss that way once in a while, or
used to, anyway.  After all, you're here aren't you?  Your
parents might have even had sex!'"

Ken and Kathy both laughed and Kathy said, "Susan, that's awful.
What a terrible thing to say to the poor girl!"

"Why?" Susan asked innocently.  "Don't you think they ever did?"

* * *

The family drove up to the Peninsula for Christmas leaving their
own Christmas tree in the apartment.  As they stuffed packages
into the BMW, the biggest car they had, Kathy made a face.

"What's wrong, honey?" Ken asked.

"I was just thinking.  We're getting old or something.  I was
thinking I'll have to buy a station wagon to haul junk around now
that there are three of us."  She grinned at him.  "Isn't it
ridiculous?  There are three of us, we have three cars, but I'm
thinking of getting a fourth just to haul the junk!  That's what
happens when the three are all 'personal' cars.  More than two
people and you're dead.  Susan's legs are going to be crushed!"

"That's okay," Ken replied.  "Young people are supposed to
suffer.  Why when I was her age...  Ouch!"

Kathy had punched him in the arm and then grinned.  "Right!  You
walked seven miles each way to school, through a raging blizzard
uphill both ways.  You couldn't even get the horse to leave the
barn!  Yes sir!  It was really tough in the olden days.  Let's
see...  That was about sixteen years ago?"

He grinned back at her.  "Okay, okay, I give up!  But it's still
no reason for you to assault me -- except with your cunt, of
course."

Just then Susan came up.  "Mother's assaulting you how?  And with
what?"

They all laughed, got in the car and headed over the bridge to
the Peninsula.  When they arrived Ken hugged his mother and gave
her a kiss.  He then held her at arms length.  "Mom, you look
gorgeous!  Every time I see you, you look younger than the time
before.  What's going on?"

"It's something very special Ken.  High-protein injections."

"Protein injections?"

"Yes, dear.  I get them from your father.  Sometimes two or three
a day."  Just then Sam Stark came up behind her and squeezed one
of her now-very-firm buns in his hand.  "Samuel Stark, you'll
upset the children.  They're much too young.  Except Kathy, of
course."

The Admiral had greeted his granddaughter with a very warm kiss.
"Honey, now I get some respect!  A lot of DOD and White House
brass live in Reston.  I've never had so much fun!  They come in
talking about this Susan Stark who singlehandedly destroyed their
team in the state championships.  I try to stifle a yawn and say,
'Oh, yes.  She's my granddaughter.'  I even made a few bucks. 
It's great, and so are you.  And you're looking particularly
lovely today.  Merry Christmas, sweetheart!"

* * *

As they were driving home that night, Susan pretended to sulk in
the back seat.  Finally, she attracted Ken's attention.  Kathy
was driving.  "What's the trouble, honey?" he asked.  He wasn't
concerned because he was pretty sure he knew what it was.

"It's you people.  All of you.  Just wait until I tell my
friends!  'What did you do on Christmas, Susan?' they'll ask. 
And I'll say, 'We went to my grandparents.  We opened gifts, and
grandmother served a magnificent Christmas feast.  So far, it's
great.  Then I get stuck with doing the dishes while my parents
_and_ my grandparents, for God's sake, go upstairs and fuck like
rabbits.'  They probably guess it about you two, but
grandparents?  That's ridiculous!"

"Does it bother you a lot?" Ken asked with a straight face.

Susan grinned broadly.  "Absolutely not!  My God, Dad, your
mother is beautiful!  Just before you came home she was down
visiting, and you know how Mom is.  The three of us were lying
nude by the pool.  Grandmother has a body like a 35-year old...
and one in beautiful shape at that.  Do you know what she said? 
She said as long as she's bare, she's Betty.  She's only
Grandmother when she has her clothes on!"

New Year's Eve found them planning on going their separate ways.
Susan had been dating Jeff Fuller and they were going to a party
while Ken and Kathy went to the Officers' Club.  They were
meeting Sandy and Jack Castle who were already there when they
arrived.

"What in heaven's name has happened to Sandy?" Ken whispered. 
"I've never seen her look like this.  She is beautiful!"

"Protein injections, dear.  They're administered, usually in the
cunt, with a massive thing sometimes called a cock.  Of course,
Sandy was telling me she's now at the point where she likes to
take it orally almost as much.  She's funny now, sweetheart.  She
called to ask how you get it out of a carpet.  It seems Jack took
her three times before they made it to the bedroom the day you
got home.  Don't you think she looks good?"

They had drinks and dinner and then danced.  Ken got a chuckle
when he saw Sandy move Jack's hand from the small of her back to
her buttock as they danced.  "Honey," he said, "I can tell this
is going to be an early night.  Or else you'll have to help
Sandy.  She'll be dripping all over the floor."

It was an early night.  They were back at the apartment a little
after one.

He was entering Kathy for the second time in the new year when
they heard the door open.  She was on top, and straightened up as
they heard the door open and Susan say good night to Jeff.  They
heard the sounds of a very passionate kiss.  Then Susan came
bounding into the room.

"I might have known I would find you two like this," she said
with a grin.

"Like what?" Kathy asked, slowly moving her hips as her vaginal
muscles gripped the massive instrument inside her.  "Your
father's giving me a protein injection.  You know what wonders it
does for your grandmother."

She grinned back.  "How was your evening with Jeff?  I see your
lipstick's smeared.  I hope he liked the flavor."

"Mom, it was great.  Before we came in, I let him fondle me on
top.  He likes my boobs.  Was that awful?"

Kathy could feel herself reaching her peak, and could feel Ken's
sex beginning to throb.  She lost interest in the conversation
for a minute as she and Ken came together.  Then she just
collapsed on top of him and just lay there while they caught
their breath.  Finally, Kathy rolled off to the side and nestled
in Ken's arm.  She gave him a soft kiss and then turned back to
Susan.

"I think you asked if it was awful.  Was it?  When your father
handles my boobs, I melt.  On the other hand, I melt if your
father is within one hundred yards, so maybe that's not fair. 
How did it feel?"

"Absolutely glorious!  He thinks I have a beautiful body.  Do you
think he really means it?"

Ken spoke up.  "Since there is no indication that he's blind, I
think he probably does.  But why do you sound skeptical?"

"I don't know, Daddy.  It's just that...  Well, Mom said I could
wear my strapless dress tonight.  It's got a bra sort of built
in.  Anyway we were in Jeff's car and he took me in his arms to
kiss me.  And it was really great -- not like you and Mom, but
pretty nice.  Anyway, we kiss again, and again.  I guess I'm
teaching him a little bit about kissing.  Then he moves his hand,
and it's inside the top of my dress.  He touched my breast, and I
could feel the nipple harden.  Then he touched that.  Mom, I
could feel his hand shake.  Why do you suppose it was shaking? 
He's not sick or something, is he?"

Kathy was lying in her husband's arms.  His right arm was around
her and he moved it to cup her right breast.  Her nipples
instantly stood erect.  He slowly moved his fingers across her
body as she melted even closer towards him.  "Was it like that?"
Kathy asked.

"That's the point, Mom!  It wasn't.  Daddy moves his hand so
gently over your body.  It never shakes or twitches."

"Honey, there are two reasons for that.  First, your father is
familiar with every square inch of my body.  He's kissed it,
stroked it, and probably even poured his cum over it.  The second
thing is he's been home for a while now.  Do you remember the day
he got back?  Honey, it would have been funny if we hadn't been
so desperate.  He was trying to get his cock inside me and I was
trying so hard to help, I'm amazed we didn't both just cum all
over the carpet.  He can afford to be relaxed.  He's got me, and
we both know it."

Ken picked up the thread, "Sue, The poor guy was probably so
nervous he couldn't see straight.  You are a truly beautiful
girl!  Didn't you tell me he's been trying to date you for
months?"

"But Dad, this wasn't our first date!" Susan protested.

"How many dates have you had?" he asked.

"This was the fifth," she answered proudly.

"So he's gotten to kiss you on five occasions?" Ken continued.

"Of course not!  What do you think I am?  I let him kiss me
goodnight the last time.  Before that when he went to kiss me, I
turned my head away."

"So the poor guy only got to kiss you goodnight once before
tonight?  And because it's New Year's Eve, you kissed him several
times and let him feel a tit?  Is that it?"  She nodded.  "Honey,
you're lucky he didn't accidentally rip your dress!  No wonder
the poor guy's hand was shaking.  It's a good thing there aren't
any buttons or he never would have gotten his hand in.  Kathy,
what do you think?"

"I think I love you both very much," Kathy said.  "And honey,
your dad's right.  Look at it from Jeff's point of view.  He's
out with the most beautiful girl in the whole school, a girl he's
been trying to date for months.  She wouldn't even kiss him
goodnight until the fourth date!  And then she lets him caress a
boob.

"Sweetie, I don't think Jeff drove home.  I think he just
floated.  But don't worry about it.  Believe me, there's nothing
wrong with him."  She smiled at her beautiful daughter.  "Now
when is he going to get farther with you.  He hasn't seen your
breasts bare, has he?"

"Of course not, Mother.  I'm not one of those cheap little sluts
at school who...  My God!  I forgot!  I was the whore.  And I'm
calling those girls...  Oh Mother!"  Susan jumped on the bed and
kissed her mother.  Kathy took her in her arms.

"Sweetheart, now do you understand what your father and I have
been telling you?  You _aren't_ a whore.  Your instincts are
those of a good girl -- a very good girl.  Now do you see?"

"Yes, I do.  And thank you both so very much."  She kissed Kathy
and went around the bed to kiss Ken.  "It's really neat to have
such great parents."

Suddenly, she looked embarrassed.  "But Mom, what am I going to
do when he finds out my breasts are tanned.  There's no bra mark
or anything.  Do you think I should start wearing a bathing
suit?"

Ken answered.  "Don't be silly.  If he sees you bare to the
waist, it will blow his mind!  You have perfect breasts.  But
that's because you're our daughter.  Right?"  Susan grinned and
went off to bed while her parents went back to their
lovemaking.*Chapter 31*

It was a Saturday in March and Ken was home when the phone rang.
Kathy picked it up.  It was Susan calling.  "What are you and Dad
doing?  Or rather, where are you doing," she asked softly.

"Hi, honey.  Your father is doing me.  I'm sitting on the kitchen
counter.  He says he hasn't had a taste of hot cunt in a long
time and misses it.  He says I'm not fair because I'm always
getting his protein injections, but don't give him a chance.  So
my legs are spread as wide as they'll go, and he's doing my
cunt..."

She moaned as she felt her hips take on a life of their own. 
"Can you hold on... a minute... sweetie.  I'm... almost...
_there!"_  She came in a sudden flood, and Ken was licking
furiously to get every delicious drop of her liquid.  Kathy
continued her phone conversation.  "What's up, sweetheart?"

"Mom, you and Dad are too much!  No wonder you two are in such
great shape.  There can't be two people in the world who get more
exercise.  Can I bring some kids home, please, Mom?  They want to
talk to you and Dad.  Is it all right?"

"My God!" said Kathy, feigning horror.  "Do you mean to say... 
We have to get _dressed?_  Besides," Kathy said with a pout in
her voice, "you'll be going to college soon, and it's very
expensive.  Your father and I have to save money, and this is
much less expensive than going to the movies..."

Susan had now been around long enough to know when her mother was
teasing her -- which was most of the time.  "Mom, I know Dad's
trying to keep you barefoot and pregnant, but there might be a
usable flour sack around you can wear.  And I know Pa still has
his overalls."

Kathy laughed.  "I give up.  When will you be here?  Can you give
us three minutes?"

"Of course!  Mom, I love you both so damned much.  We'll be there
in a bit."

Kathy took Ken's face in her hands and kissed it.  "I love you so
damned much!  Thanks, honey.  That felt marvelous.  Almost as
good as taking you in my mouth.  That was Sue.  As you probably
guessed, we have to get dressed.  You know something?  This
business of going around nude is really a great idea.  This way
there's no risk of one of Susan's friends accidentally sitting on
a bra or a pair of your shorts."

She kissed him again.  "Kenneth Stark, I would send your picture
in to _Playgirl_ except I want to keep you all for myself.  Yum!
Come on.  Let's get dressed."

When the door opened a few minutes later, Kathy was wearing her
favorite Levi's and a Yale golf shirt.  Ken was wearing a pair of
tan poplin pants with a golf shirt.  They were drinking coffee in
the kitchen when the kids came in.  They recognized Jeff Fuller,
but his was the only familiar face.

When Susan introduced the group, Ken noticed that Jeff was
embasrrassed to shake hands.  Ken figured the poor guy was far
more shook up about caressing Susan's breast than she was -- or
he and Kathy were.  It was also obvious that Susan was the
spokeswoman for the group.

"Mom and Dad, we've got a problem.  We just got word a couple of
days ago that we can't have a spring prom this year.  Or it
appears we can't.  Because of the budget cuts, they can't be sure
teachers will be available to chaperon.  I guess they get paid
extra or something.  Then there's the problem of paying the
janitors, hiring a band and all that stuff.  We want the prom
badly.  Can you help us?"

Kathy asked, "What exactly do you need?  How many chaperons, for
example?"

Susan looked around at her friends.  They just shrugged.  It was
obvious they hadn't thought about it in any detail.  "I guess the
answer is, Mom, we don't know."  Susan looked abashed.

"How about the hall?  Do you use the gym?  How much do the
janitors cost, and would the school charge for the use of the gym
or just for the janitors and the District's out-of-pocket costs?"
 It was clear to Kathy they didn't know the answer to that
question either.  Rather than embarrass the kids further she went
to her office and came back with paper and a pencil.

"Sit down, kids.  Ken," she asked with a smile, "could you take
care of refreshments?"

Jeff Fuller got up to help.  He accompanied Ken to the kitchen. 
Ken got out Coke and munchies and Jeff helped carry them out. 
Kathy's grocery buying habits had changed substantially since
Susan arrived.

Ken looked on in some amusement as Kathy proceeded to organize
their dance.  The students just looked at her in awe.  From a
very puzzling problem, in no time everything was on track.  After
Kathy made assignments to each of the kids, they got up toleave.

One girl, Linda, said, "Mrs. Stark, aren't you Katherine Smith...
 I mean before you got married?"

"Yes, Linda, I'm Kathy Smith Stark.  I'm flattered you recognized
me."

The girl's eyes widened in awe.  "Then you're the District
Attorney that sent all those people to jail."  The girl's eyes
got bigger still.  "And some people tried to kill you but you
killed them first.  My mother thinks you are the finest person in
Tidewater, Mrs. Stark.  She'll be so impressed when I tell her I
met you.  It's a real privilege.  Thank you so much for all your
help.  Now I feel so much better about the prom.

"But what about the band?  Are you sure you can get one?  We
don't have any money..."

"I'll take care of it," Kathy promised.

* * *

It was three weeks later.  Kathy had made several phone calls to
Sam Stark.  In her first call she asked about Ken and his medal.

"Kathy," the Admiral said, "it's all set.  Ken's getting the Navy
Cross along with the Purple Heart.  DOD is trying to get its
collective act together to figure out where and when to make the
presentation."

"Dad, I have a wild idea.  Susan's school is in Virginia Beach as
you well know.  Now there are thousands of military families in
the school district.  I think Susan estimated over half her class
are military brats.  We haven't been shooting at anyone in a
serious way for a very long time, and we forget how fast things
change.  Now Ken will be getting medals for events that took
place in 1974.  Dad, the high-school kids in that school ranged
in age from about five to just born in 1974!

"My idea is this:  Could we borrow the Navy Band to play at the
prom?  Get the Secretary of Defense or Secretary of the Navy, or
whoever will be making the presentation to come down and make the
award at the dance?  I know it's far out.  But look at it this
way:  One of the biggest problems the Armed Forces face is
retention.  Many of your best people are leaving for civilian
jobs.  Now think about the real careerists:  These are the people
whose sons and daughters are in Susan's class.  Twenty-year-olds
don't have children of high-school age.  If their kids have no
sense of what their fathers are doing, why should the families
put up with the garbage?

"Dad, the other night -- between attempts at making a grandchild
for you and Mom -- I was resting on Ken's shoulder.  You know
what he said?  He said he has it all.  He says he's doing
something important, but what's more important to him, Susan and
I think it's important.  He says we do everything to try to make
his life easier.  Dad, he said, 'If every family was as
supportive as this one, there would be no retention problem.'

"Let's face it!  We bugged out of Vietnam.  We sure didn't cover
ourselves with glory, particularly in the way we left.  These
kids know nothing about it.  Some of them do know their dads are
still bitter about it but don't understand why.  They really have
no conception of what was going on back then."  She took a
breath.  "Dad, that's my idea.  Is it completely crazy?"

"My daughter isn't crazy," Admiral Stark said.  "It even makes
sense.  You want the Navy Band and SecDef for an evening.  It
just might be possible.  Anything else?"

"Yes, Dad, there is.  First, how's Mom?" Kathy replied.

"Getting younger every day!  My God, if our whole life together
had been like the last year or so, Ken would have so damn many
siblings we would have had to number them.  Kathy, I really don't
know what to say.  But the quick answer is, she's great."  He
laughed.  "She says it's regular protein injections!  Honey,
could I make a confession?  I was... fooling around with a
younger woman.  In fact, over the years there were several.  I
guess I got pretty egotistical about my physical condition. 
Well, your mother is in better shape than any of them, and I've
been working out secretly to try to keep up with her.  Does that
answer your question?"

Kathy was grinning as he spoke.  "It sure does!  Dad, don't you
think Mom would like to get a new evening gown?  Then you and she
could help chaperon.  Can you possibly imagine a little
high-school kid getting fresh with a four-star admiral?  Besides,
I think his parents would like to see their son receive his
awards.  What do you think?"

"Honey, I think it's a wonderful idea!  Let me see what I can
do."

* * *

The prom was set for late April and Kathy had been working with
the kids and the school administration.  Finally the Board of
Education had given permission to invite the faculty with the
understanding that their attendance was voluntary, not a
professional assignment.  It was another way of saying any
faculty members attending would not be paid.

Admiral Stark had lined up the Navy band from the Naval Base at
Norfolk and Kathy kept her fingers crossed that the arrangements
for the award ceremony would work.  When the arrangements were
complete, she talked to the school principal, Mr. Whitaker.  She
told him about the award ceremony and the fact that the Secretary
of Defense would be present: "Mr. Whitaker, it's strictly up to
you, of course.  Perhaps you would feel better if you checked
with the Board of Education.  However, the Secretary will be here
and I think it would be appropriate if someone in authority at
the school greeted him.  The whole presentation is set for ten
o'clock.  What do you want to do?"

Whitaker called the Superintendent of Schools who in turn called
the president of the Board of Education.  It was finally decided
that the Board president and the principal would attend.  Kathy
reviewed the list of chaperons with Whitaker when the guest list
had been settled.  She and Ken were coming, along with Bob and
Jane.  Jane had made arrangements to have a nurse for Billy. 
Sandy and Jack Castle would also be there, along with Admiral and
Mrs. Stark.

Finally, Kathy called a couple of friends on the newspapers and
at the TV stations.  She told them, very much off the record,
that the Secretary of Defense would be at the high school in
Virginia Beach and gave them the date, time, and some details,
omitting Ken's award.  They appreciated the call.

* * *

It was agreed that Sam and Betty would meet them at the
apartment.  On the evening of the prom Susan was finishing her
dressing and looked magnificent in a white full-length gown. 
Kathy's was similar, but its color was the sapphire-blue of her
eyes.  Ken was wearing Navy full-dress.

Kathy looked at him and put the final touches on his bow tie. 
"Darling, I love you so much," she murmured.  "Kiss me, please?"
Ken took his wife into his arms and kissed her tenderly.  She
snuggled up to him and murmured, "Ken Stark, you are the best
thing that ever happened to me.  I adore you, you know."

Ken ran his hand lightly over her exposed back and shoulders and
thought again of his good fortune.  She was all a man could ever
hope for and he said that to her.  She gave him a squeeze. 
"Honey, for the occasion, I'm even going to wear lipstick.  Do
you think I'm going to the dogs?"

Ken marveled at how beautiful Kathy always looked.

Just then Susan came in and stood in front of her father.  "Dad,
do I look all right?  Do you think Jeff will think I'm pretty?"
she asked with concern showing in her eyes.

"Sweetheart, what do you think of the way your mother looks?" he
replied.

Susan glanced at her mother.  "Mom?  Mom is an absolute vision! 
But she always is," Susan replied.

"Then stand next to her at the mirror."  Susan did and showed, in
rapid succession, shock, amazement, and then pleasure.

"But, Dad, I look almost like she does!" Susan exclaimed.

"We've been telling you that, sweetheart, but you haven't been
paying attention.  And, we love you so dearly.  Susan, you make
your mother and me very proud to have you as our daughter.  Will
you give me a kiss?"  She did, and it was sweet and loving.

Just then the doorbell rang.  It was the senior Starks.  When Ken
opened the door, he was genuinely shocked.  The radiant woman
standing there appeared to be his own age.  His mother just
grinned as Ken stood there open-mouthed.

Then she said, "Kenneth, you're really embarrassing your father
and me.  We thought we'd trained you better than to stand in
front of guests with your mouth open."

"But, Mom, you're gorgeous!  You're absolutely radiant!  And you
don't look old enough to be Susan's mother, let alone mine."

The Admiral was positively beaming.  "I'm going to embarrass your
mother, Ken.  Last week she was told by a young gynecologist to
be sure to stay on the Pill.  Otherwise we might have
grandchildren older than our own children.  What do you think?"

Betty was wearing a very pale grey evening gown that set off her
grey eyes which were now dancing with joy.  She had a light tan
and, like his girls, her gown was strapless showing off her
perfect skin.  "Do I pass, dear?" she asked Ken quietly.

For answer, he gathered her into his arms.  He whispered in her
ear, "I have to have the only mother in the world who's lost at
least twenty-five years in age in the last twelve months.  Mom,
you're gorgeous!"

While Ken was admiring his mother, the Admiral went back to the
bedroom.

Susan saw him enter and gasped, "Grandfather, I'm impressed!"

Indeed, the Admiral did look impressive in his full dress uniform
dripping with the gold of his four-star rank.

"And I'm more than impressed," he responded.  "You two are
absolutely too much.  Do you know, Kathy, right now with three
generations of Stark women -- I'm not sure how we got so lucky --
there appears to be about a ten-year age spread, top to bottom? 
Susan, go and see your grandmother.  I want to talk to your mom
for a second."

They could hear Susan's yelp of surprise as she kissed her
grandmother and exclaimed over her appearance.  Sam looked at
Kathy.  "Sweetheart, I've been asked to make an official request.
 Would you please bring your Medal of Freedom tonight?"  Kathy
looked at him and saw at once he wasn't joking.

"Dad, you meant it when you said, 'official request', didn't you?
 I'll see if I can find it.  But do I have to put it on now?" she
asked.  She found the medal in her drawer and gave it to the
Admiral to hold.  He opened the box, looked at it, shook his
head, put it in his pocket and closed it.

The doorbell rang again, and it was Jeff.  His eyes almost popped
when he saw the combination of gold braid and beautiful women. 
He was absolutely tongue-tied when he met Betty Stark.  Suddenly,
he brightened.  "Ma'am, I'm truly delighted to meet you.  And
you've just solved a mystery for me -- or maybe just created
another.  I couldn't figure out how Mrs. Stark could possibly be
Susan's mother.  But now I meet you, and you're not old enough to
be Susan's mother either, let alone the Commander's.  Maybe it's
something in the water."

Betty chuckled and kissed the boy on his cheek.

The young people left and the older Starks went downstairs where
limousines Kathy had hired were waiting.  She had decided there
was no sense in wrecking their gowns before they even got to the
dance.

When they arrived the dance was about to start.  Kathy was
startled as she read on the bass drum, "U.S. Marine Corps Band --
Marine Barracks -- Washington, D.C."  She looked at the Admiral
who just shrugged.  The presence of the Marine Band was news to
him.  Kathy was worried.  She remembered the Marine Band was the
only military unit under the direct command of the President. 
The bandsmen were in their dress white uniforms as well.  Kathy
knew the band -- once directed by John Philip Sousa himself --
was still one of the finest collections of musicians in the
country.

She greeted Sandy and Jack Castle.  Sandy took her aside to the
corner and took Kathy's hand.  She pressed it to her abdomen. 
Kathy could feel the swelling.  She looked at the girl who was
also wearing a strapless gown and saw her breasts were swollen. 
The girl's eyes were radiant.  "Kathy, there's no way Jack and I
can thank you enough.  He knows what happened, now."  Her eyes
grew serious.  "And I do, too.  He told me he was coming home
that day to ask for a divorce.  Kathy, if it's a girl, may we
please name her after you?"  Sandy grinned, "After all, she's
your responsibility!"

The dance progressed.  Kathy floated around the floor with Ken
and noticed the admiring glances from the students as they danced
by.  As the hour approached ten o'clock, Kathy was growing
concerned.  Events were not following her script.  First, the
band was scheduled to take a break at ten.  Instead, she saw
other members of the band appear to augment the dance band.

Promptly at ten o'clock the band hit a fanfare and Mr. Whitaker
came up on stage.  "Ladies and Gentlemen, it's a great privilege
and pleasure to welcome the Secretary of Defense of the United
States, Mr. John Connors."

The band played ruffles and flourishes, the appropriate honors
for the Secretary.  Kathy had earlier heard the sounds of
helicopter operations coming from the parking area outside the
gym.  The Admiral had said they were using special choppers which
were sound-muffled.

The secretary came out on stage to be greeted by applause from
the obviously very puzzled children.  When the gym had quieted,
he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United
States!"

Suddenly the entire Marine Band -- all its members were present
-- struck up _Hail to the Chief._  The side door opened and
Secret Service agents moved in preceding the President who came
in and went directly up onto the stage to the microphone.  He
stood at attention waiting for the completion of honors.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.  I'm very happy to be here
this evening.  For the two or three people in the country who
care about such things, the official White House schedule says
I'm at Camp David, fishing.  Well, the fishing wasn't too good
today, so I thought I would come down here instead.

"Would Susan Stark please come up on stage?" the Presidentasked.

Susan gasped as the President called her name.  She then went up
on stage to where he was standing.  While this was going on and
all eyes were riveted on the President, Kathy felt the Medal of
Freedom at her throat and could feel Sam securing the catch
behind her neck.

"How do you do, Susan?" the President greeted the girl.  He stood
back to admire her, nodded, and went back to the microphone. 
"When I'm in the Oval Office, the place is lousy with advisors. 
These are people who claim to be experts at everything
imaginable.  Well, some of these experts were making some minor
-- and some not-so-minor -- wagers on the outcome of a soccer
match last fall.  It seems a number of them live in Reston.  The
next thing I know, these experts aren't so expert.  It seems
there's a beautiful young woman living in Virginia Beach who took
their team apart by herself.  I can't personally attest to the
latter, but I agree with their judgment on the former.  Young
lady, you are one of the most beautiful young women it has ever
been my good fortune to meet.

"But I didn't come down here for that.  There's another reason. 
Susan, do you know what your father did in Vietnam?" the
President asked quietly.

The room was still.  Susan replied, "No, sir.  I don't.  He never
talks about it.  I do know he has four bullet holes in his
shoulder, but he's never told us how he was hit.  Mom and I ask,
but he never answers."

"Thank you, Susan.  Please stay here with me, if you would."

The President looked around the now-packed gymnasium.  "I
referred to 'experts' awhile ago.  Well, they did something they
_are_ good at: tracking down obscure bits of information.  It
seems that this school enrolls sons or daughters of the
commanders of more than half the warships in the United States
Atlantic Fleet.  Almost 70 percent of you are sons or daughters
of career military personnel.

"I'm here tonight to try to explain what your fathers do --
besides not being home on days that are so important to you, like
the day you won the State Soccer Championship.  Susan, I know
your dad was there.  I also know that the fathers of nearly half
your teammates were not.  Kids, they were defending the country.
What, exactly, does that mean?  Well, I came here tonight to tell
you a little bit of what that means.

"Commander Kenneth Stark, front and center!" the President called
out.

Ken's jaw dropped.  Kathy gave his hand a squeeze and pushed him
toward the stage.  He mounted the steps, saluted smartly and
stood at attention in front of the Commander in Chief.

The President reached for a piece of paper which his naval aide
handed him.  "Kenneth Stark, for wounds suffered from enemy
action on April 2, 1974, it is my pleasure to award you the
Purple Heart Medal."  The President took the medal from his aide
and pinned it on Ken's uniform.  Ken saluted smartly and was
about to go when the President said under his breath, "Stand
fast!"

"That medal should have been awarded years and years ago.  It
wasn't.  It wasn't awarded because Commander Stark was wounded at
a time quite a few people would rather forget about.  We weren't
defeated in Vietnam, we were bugging out.  That's what we were
doing in April, 1974.  Commander Stark, then an ensign and a
recent graduate of the Naval Academy, was doing what so many
before and since have done -- his duty.  What happened that day
so long ago?

"Ensign Stark was second in command of a flotilla of river craft.
 It was assigned to help in the evacuation of a unit of the Army
of Vietnam that had been cut off by North Vietnamese regulars. 
The town was encircled.  The only way out was by water.  Stark's
unit was given the task and it arrived on schedule.  Americans
went ashore to supervise the embarkation of the Vietnamese
troops, many of whom were wounded.  With almost all the Americans
now off the boats, the North Vietnamese mounted an all-out attack
with everything they had including heavy artillery.

"Ensign Stark formed a detail of boat holders and led a charge to
rescue fourteen Americans who had been cut off and were being
massacred.  Single-handed, he charged an enemy machine gun and
destroyed it.  He is given credit for killing over thirty of the
enemy himself.  But that wasn't all.  Attacking a manned machine
gun carries a price -- a price he paid.  He was hit four times in
the shoulder and later nearly died.  Nevertheless, he got his men
back inside the rapidly collapsing perimeter.  He organized the
evacuation of all the troops, particularly including the wounded
Vietnamese he had been sent in to get.

"I said he was second in command.  Now he was in command.  The
commanding officer of the flotilla had been killed.  Ensign Stark
got them out and stayed on the bridge of his lead boat, now
covering the retreat, until they were out of danger.  At that
point, he collapsed and came to quite awhile later in the Naval
Hospital at Pearl Harbor."

"What I have just said to you is a paraphrase -- trying to
translate jargon into English -- of an award I am about to make.
You know -- or possibly don't -- the face on the Purple Heart is
that of a great Virginian, George Washington.  Well, it gives me
great pride to recognize another great Virginian, Kenneth Stark,
by presenting him with the Medal of Honor."

The band struck up _Anchors Aweigh_ as the President secured the
medal with its blue ribbon with white stars around Ken's neck. 
"Congratulations, Commander.  Well done!"  Then in a low voice he
added, "Don't leave yet, Commander.  We're full of surprises
tonight."

The band stopped playing and the President returned to the
microphone.  "You know, the award I just presented to Susan's
father is the highest award for valor our country can bestow. 
There is another element to the award.  Over 80 percent of the
Medals of Honor given are awarded posthumously.  That's a
ten-dollar word meaning the recipient is dead.  Typically, he
died in the action for which the medal is given.  Commander Stark
came within a whisker of being in the same boat.  I'm happy he's
here, and looking at Susan beam, I'm sure she is, too.

"There's more, Susan.  I also know you and your mother are the
Virginia state mother-daughter tennis champions.  Am I correct?"
Susan nodded shyly.  "However, I also happen to know something
else about your mother.  Would Katherine Smith Stark please come
up on the stage?"

Kathy felt a push in her back and she climbed the stairs.  Before
greeting the President, she had something more important to do. 
She kissed Ken, and held him in her arms.  "Darling, I'm so proud
for you," she whispered.

She then went to greet the President who was obviously enjoying
himself immensely.  He shook her hand and looked from her to
Susan and back.  "Wow!" he said quietly as he held up his hands
for quiet.

"I don't know if they know which end of the racket to hold, but I
do know these two are the most beautiful mother-daughter
combination in the world.  As pleasant as that is, though,
there's more.

"You see Mrs. Stark is wearing a medal around her neck, too. 
Although she doesn't know it, she's wearing it as a special favor
to me.  It is the Medal of Freedom, one of our lesser-known
national awards.  Nevertheless, it is the highest award our
nation can bestow on a civilian.  Susan, I want you to know you
have a most remarkable set of parents.  Your father is a winner
of the Medal of Honor, while your mother holds the Medal of
Freedom.

"But there's even more.  Admiral Stark, would you and your wife
join us, please?"

Sam and Betty Stark joined the party on the stage.  "Susan, I'm
told you're very fond of your grandfather.  I also know he's very
fond of you... and substantially richer because of you.  I
mentioned that several senior members of the White House staff
were considerably poorer after you beat Reston.  It seems your
grandfather was covering their bets.

"However, the reason he's here is because, along with being your
grandfather, he is also the former Commander in Chief of the
United States Atlantic Fleet.  In that position he commanded all
the ships in our Navy operating in the Atlantic Ocean, including
everything based here in Norfolk.  I can't tell you what his
present job is except to say it's bigger than his old one, and
you can see how big that was.  Sam, welcome."  The President
shook hands with his friend and key military advisor.

"Susan, your family manifests the highest possible standards of
honor, integrity, and bravery.  Susan, I hope you'll try to live
up to the standards your parents and grandparents have set for
you.  And you're off to a helluva start!

"Kids, I'm sorry for taking up too much of your time this
evening.  There's an old joke that says if you put a politician
in front of a microphone with two voters he'll make a speech. 
And I guess I just did.

"But kids, there's a serious message for you.  If your dads
aren't with you when you want them -- and need them, sometimes --
it's not because they don't care or don't love you.  They're
doing something very important and making great personal
sacrifices to do it.  Try to understand.  To them and to you, I
say, thank God they are there!"

The band began to play and the President came over to Kathy. 
"Kathy, how do you do?  I hope you don't mind if I call you
Kathy.  I understand just about everyone does.  This has been a
rare privilege for me.  I've heard Kathy stories for years.  Now
I have some idea of what the fuss is all about.

"Sam told me it was you who raised hell about Ken and the medal.
But he says you're a specialist at raising hell.  Incidentally,
the substitution was my own doing.  I read the award, did some
research, and decided the DOD was sweeping it under the rug. 
It's not that the Navy Cross is a cheap award -- far from it. 
But what he did clearly deserves the Medal of Honor, and I'm
delighted to make the presentation.

"Now I'm afraid I must leave before the Secret Service starts
having fits."  He grinned and moved off.  Moments later they
heard the throb of helicopters taking off.

The band was playing and she went to Ken.  "Will you dance with
me, please?" she asked him softly.

When they moved out on the dance floor, they were the only ones
there.  She was in heaven, moving in his arms, and floating
around the floor.  Ken hadn't said anything.  He just held her in
his strong arms.  Finally the music stopped.

Suddenly the whole gym erupted in cheers.  They were instantly
surrounded by well-wishers including, it turned out, virtually
the entire off-duty sections of the EVANS who had come to see
their skipper receive his award.

Later that night back at the apartment, Kathy was standing in the
bedroom nude -- and worried.  Ken had scarcely said anything to
her since the award ceremony.  He was in the kitchen, so she got
into bed and waited for him. _I did it this time,_ she thought. 
_He's never going to speak to me again.  I meddled once too
often._

Ken came into the bedroom and got into bed, still without
speaking a word.  He put his arm around her and gave her a hug. 
She responded by molding herself to him.  "Do you want to find
out if your nipples still fit the bullet holes?" he asked, as he
played with her nipples which instantly hardened.

With a little yelp, she clambered on top of him and started with
one of her favorite games.  At the same time she could feel his
hand on her crotch with a finger penetrating her cunt.  Ken was
playing one of his favorite games, too.*Epilogue*

Kathy was lying in her bed when she received the memento from
Julie.  She had been saddened to learn of the woman's death. 
Since that time so many years ago, she had seen the woman only
once, and that was only a few months earlier.  At the time the
woman who had kept the house had not looked well.  Kathy had
visited her with Susan shortly after learning Susan had been
accepted at Yale.

Julie had commented again on how beautiful the two girls looked,
but now she was dead.  Kathy had learned that she was the
beneficiary of Julie's estate and was amazed to find it was worth
over $2 million, all in negotiable securities and certificates of
deposit.  In addition, there was a memento.  She opened the
package and found a lovely little music box.  She opened the lid
and heard it play a strange but lovely tune -- a tune she had
never heard before.

Then something truly remarkable happened.  She watched in
astonishment as her fingers appeared to take on a life of their
own.  With no apparent guidance from her brain, her fingers moved
across and around the little box as if it were a child's puzzle.
She was pushing, pulling, and turning at different points on the
box.  Suddenly, it was in two pieces.  Inside it she found a
small metal container shaped like a cigarette case, but smaller
in all its dimensions.  Without stopping to look at the case
closely, her fingers began to move again.  Although it was
absolutely plain, her fingers pushed and pulled and probed at
apparently known locations.

Suddenly, the container popped open like a clam.  Inside was a
carefully folded sheaf of papers.  Kathy unfolded them, realizing
they had a different feel from anything she had ever touched
before.

She smoothed them out.  It was a letter to her!  She began to
read:

My darling Kathy,

Your mother and I are delighted you have received this.  If any
person ever reads this letter, dear Kathy, it must be you.  Our
scientists have programmed your brain to react to the music the
little box plays.  I have watched them rehearsing our little girl
and watched your fingers fly through the puzzle.  They tell me
the knowledge you have is permanently embedded in your brain.

We are both happy and sad.  We look at you now in a strange
state.  The scientists call it "suspended animation" but to your
mother and me it appears our golden-haired child is in a coma. 
Your mother is in tears.  You are leaving us forever here and
going to a planet its inhabitants call Earth.  Since you are
reading this, it must have succeeded.  Your trip combines things
we know, things we suspect, and frankly, things we hope.

Arrangements have been made for you to be placed in a strange
place.  It's called, we understand, a "whorehouse," a place where
men come to take advantage of the women sexually.  Your mother
cried when she learned her darling daughter would be subjected to
such treatment.  I'm sorry, darling.  We did it for two reasons.
First, we have been told people -- and the women in them -- come
and go quickly.  A strange girl is unlikely to be noticed. 
Second, we believe their sexual customs are similar to ours, but
we can't be sure.  You will learn those customs quickly.  You may
wonder about this strange location we have selected.

There is one more thing: The woman in charge will have had her
memory somewhat altered.  If you were to ask her, she would say
you were always in the house.  It is with her we are leaving this
little music box.  We are told the tune it plays is unique, and
considered to be very melodic.  We want her to keep this safe for
you without knowing what it is.  When you hear the music, you
will act.

In this connection, there is a difference between here and Earth.
 Women here are prepared for sex almost instantly.  They secrete
a great deal of vaginal fluid which releases quickly.  The
doctors tell us you are unlikely to suffer great pain from your
sexual experiences.  Now you may wonder, "Why Earth?"  The reason
is -- and in this we combine hope with some knowledge -- the
people of Earth are near-duplicates of us, genetically.  We
believe you will be able to mate and bear the children of Earth
people.  At least we devoutly hope so.  But this is a hope, not a
scientifically established fact.

There are only two other things they know to be different between
us and the people of earth.  The first is our ability to combine
bio-mechanical analysis with bio-kinetics.  Basically, we have
the ability to analyze physical motion, break it down into its
bio-mechanical pieces, and then replicate exactly what has just
been observed.  You may find -- or may have found -- this ability
useful.

The second is an ability that seems to be concentrated among our
women.  It is a phenomenon for which we have no name.  Basically,
it's the ability to make yourself light.  If a man picks you up
to carry you, you can be almost weightless in his arms.  We have
found no practical application for this talent, honestly, but
there may be one on Earth.  Your mother insists I tell you,
"Because," she says, "it's fun!"

Now, you wonder, why did we send you on this great voyage when
you're so young and vulnerable?  We face the total destruction of
our home.  There is no doubt it will happen; the only question is
when.  I would like to tell you something of your people, but I
cannot.  I have been told by our scientists that they have
cleansed your brain -- you will have no memory of your life here.
 However, they are afraid of the chance of even a small mention
triggering a chain reaction and causing you to remember your
home.  It is a chance they have ordered me not to take.

There is one other thing I should tell you.  Although I know you
are reading this, I don't know when it will be.  I should have
mentioned this fact before.  The reason I can be so sure you are
reading this, dear Kathy, is there is only one correct way of
opening the box and this container.  Any other way of attempting
it will result in the paper's destruction.

But I interrupt my narrative.  The thing I wanted to tell you
concerns your ability to have children.  Our physicians have
implanted in you a long-release birth control device.  It has an
active duration of about ten years.  It is our devout hope that
within that time you will have found your way out of the house
where you are being placed and into a better life.  Clearly, with
so many uncertainties, we can have no great confidence in the
full period of its activity.  But if you are within the period
and feel you are barren, please don't give up hope.  Although you
are still very young, our doctors assure your mother and me you
will bear children very easily.

My darling, there are only three final notes.  The first is, in
spite of what the scientists want, I must tell you if you wish to
know what your mother looks like, just look in a mirror.  She is
the loveliest woman I have ever seen, and you will look exactly
like her.  The second -- and your mother insists I tell you this
-- is the likelihood you will find a mate to whom you will give
your whole heart and soul.

Kathy stopped reading for a moment to dry her eyes.  The tears
were running so much she could no longer read the writing. _Mom,
you sure got that one right,_ she thought, reflecting on her
adoration of Ken. _Darling,_ she thought, _Mother's right!  It
*is* my whole heart and soul._  She dried her eyes on the bed
sheet and went back to the letter, a letter with answers she
thought she would never learn.

The third is you have a baby sister, Susan.  We hope we will be
granted enough time to send her after you, but we don't know. 
Kathy, you are sixteen years old in Earth time as we send you. 
You will remember nothing of your past life.  You will feel you
were always in the house.  We pray that we're granted the time to
send Susan.  We cannot send her before she's about fourteen, and
she's only six now.  If you ever meet her, you will know her.

Finally, darling, the reason for all of this: Our people face
extinction.  We hope you -- and your sister, if we last long
enough -- will be able to have children on Earth.  You carry the
very best of our gene pool.  In your children, you will carry on,
at least in a small way, our people.  We have reason to believe
our genes may be dominant.  >From what we understand, you will be
considered to be as beautiful where you are going as your mother
is considered to be here.

Darling, we pray for you.  You have all the love your parents can
bestow.  We hope that it may be enough.

This paper will destroy itself in less than thirty minutes.  It
could be analyzed, and we do not wish it to be.

We love you, darling Kathy 

Mom and Dad

Of course Susan was her sister.  Who else could she be?  And she
had made it away from the place in time.  Tears flowed from her
eyes, thinking of her parents who loved her.  Minutes later the
paper disappeared before her eyes.

Just then a nurse appeared with a tiny bundle.  "It's feeding
time, Mrs. Stark," the nurse said, carefully handling her the
small bundle.

Kathy held the bundle in one arm while she opened her pajama top
to expose a milk-laden breast.  She looked at the tiny baby and
watched his hands wave.  His eyes had not yet focused.  When she
gently put her nipple in his mouth and watched him feed hungrily,
Kathy found the sensation marvelous as the newborn nursed at her
breast.

"Hello, darling.  You're a lovely addition to Earth's gene pool,"
she said softly.

*The End*

* * *

Comments and constructive criticism are sincerely welcome.  Let
me hear from you.  morg105829@aol.com

*Kathy Stark* Copyright (c) 1991, 1998, 2001 by Morgan. 
<morg105829@aol.com>

All rights reserved.  No part may be reproduced or transmitted in
any form or by any electronic means, including photocopying,
recording or by any information and retrieval system, without the
written permission of the author. <1st attachment end>


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