| The Best Lesson - Discovery
"You've got lovely knees." Her new friend Patty looked serious, as though she meant it. "They're just knees. I keep falling over on them and scraping them." Ruth never really thought of them unless she had done something like that. "No, they're really nice. I like knees. Mine are fat lumps, but yours are lovely and bony, smooth and tanned." She reached out and put her hand on the nearest one and began to stroke it. "I like doing that. You don't mind, do you?" "S'pose not. Never thought about them, not really." "I'm funny, Mum says, but I started liking them when the doctor had to put a stitch in one of mine after I cut it on my trike. She was so kind and gentle, and she showed me her knee and how it worked, and it was so interesting it didn't hurt a bit when she stitched it. And I liked stroking her's so she let me do it for a while. Then I mostly forgot about it until I saw yours." Ruth looked at Patty's knees and thought they were pretty normal, just very pale, but she didn't say anything. Six-year-old wisdom said you didn't tell anyone they were wrong, not straight away, unless you didn't like them. Then she looked at her, in the face, and saw a funny lopsided grin, squinty green eyes, and a thin, bony face just like hers. It was a nice face, not angry and selfish like some of the girls at school, and she thought she might like to be friends with her. Then she got a bit of a shock, for Patty's hand had begun to stroke the inside of her knee, up onto her leg and inside the hem of her dress. "I like skin too. You know, stroking it and stuff. My big sister lets me do it, says it makes her relax, but when she does it to me it kind of tingles. And I couldn't help stroking your skin, it's just so beautiful, lovely tan, so smooth. Not like my rough white thing." Ruth had no idea how to handle this. It was not something she'd ever been told about, not with girls, anyway - she knew boys could try to touch her, but she knew they couldn't help it, and to hit them then feel sorry for them - but another girl? She fell back on an adage her father used: 'If it looks right, smells right, and you know the person well enough, then it probably is right.' And Patty was right too - it did tingle. And that's what she said. She'd met Patty only a couple of weeks ago, at the place they took pictures of children wanting to be paid for wearing clothes for some advertising thing. Her mother had found the idea in the paper, and she and Patty had been the only two girls selected. They were rather proud to have been chosen, although it turned out to be both boring and tiring. There was lots of time between shots, then they had to stay still for long periods, hold really silly poses, and change into new stuff quickly, then wait again. They were not always taken together, but this was their fourth day and both mothers had said they'd come back for them at five, about when they were supposed to finish. After that it would be at least once a month, but more likely once a week. Their mothers seemed to have also become friends, and were planning a get-together dinner somewhere - whatever that was - and Ruth's mother had talked on and on about how wonderful it was to find such a really nice person by chance. Patty's mum had said the same, and that meant, she said, that she and Ruth could really become friends even though they went to different schools and lived in different parts of the city. "That is, if you want to, Ruthie, I know I'd like to." Both girls found they had some things in common: wanting to be cheerleaders, learning to ski, and to own a horse, although they agreed the last two were not likely to happen. Both liked clothes and kept up with what other kids were wearing, so this photo thing was their chance to be the leaders in fashion at their respective schools. That made them laugh. Ruth was a swimmer, lived near the sea and went to the beach as often as she could; Pattie did ballroom dancing, and did that as often as she could too. There was lots to talk about. "Want a lollypop?" Patty began to unwrap a yellow candy, round and enormous, and offered it to her friend. Ruth did not have a sweet tooth - her father saw to that - but she loved lollies, so she said, "Thanks," picked it up and put it in her mouth. Well, she tried to. It was so big that it kind of sat between her teeth, and she knew it would look as though she was trying to swallow an egg or something. She giggled and went to take it out so she could begin licking it but Patty said, "No, don't do that. We can share! Like this." And she put her lips onto the side of the sweet that was almost poking out of Ruth's mouth. That meant their mouths were close, and it also meant their lips were touching. Patty began sucking on the candy as Ruth held it with her teeth, and it was not long before Ruth could taste the sweet saliva Patty was using to lick the sweet with. There was something about that taste that was so wonderful that she wanted to gasp, but couldn't. It was so different. She knew it was not her spit, and she felt suddenly dizzy. What was happening? "Er -" was all she got out, but had to put her head back and use her fingers to remove the sticky sweet before she could say what had happened. Before she could, though, Patty had put her mouth back on hers and pressed. She was kissing her. It had never happened before to her, and she was about to pull away in fright and embarrassment but realised it wasn't a bad thing to do that, that girls could kiss, and that Patty's arm had gone around her neck and was pulling her tight. Her mouth was being squashed, and in a spasm of shock she knew she liked it. She was suddenly not in the room waiting to be called to a picture shoot, but in some other place that was warm, was full of delicious smells, and so beautiful that it was like heaven. Her own arm went around Patty's neck and pulled. She dropped the lollipop onto the ground as they stood up, then their other arms were around each other's waists as their bodies met. How long they stayed like that neither could tell, but eventually breathing became necessary and they stepped back, a mixture of rapture and shock on both their faces. "That was beautiful." Patty gave a big sigh. "I think I love you." "It was wonderful," Ruth said, her own sigh escaping slowly. "I've never - such a surprise - I've never felt anything like that. A kiss? But - but that's - " She could never remember the exact sensations running though her body at that moment, but always knew that something magical and profound had occurred. She looked at Patty with new eyes, no longer just a girl at a fashion shot, but someone so lovely, so beautiful and wonderful that it filled her mind with the kind of joy that she knew she'd never want to be without, even if she never found the words to describe it. They were still standing, wide-eyed and unmoving, lost in rapture when the young woman who organised the shoots came in and without looking at them said, "Right, on you go. Both of you. Swimwear to finish. Sorry about the delay, one of the cameras went on the blink." Hand in hand, still not speaking, they went to the changing room. They didn't hear the hustle and bustle of scenery being positioned, the two camera men talking loudly or the ever present background of traffic - their world had become their cocoon, a nest for two babes beginning life all over again. They had always used separate rooms for their changes, but Patty got her costume from the other booth and came into Ruth's without asking. There was no need. Their costumes were a two piece for Ruth and a one piece for Patty, and, smiling conspiratorially, they began to take off their clothes. The sight of another nude girl was nothing new - they changed in a locker room for sports at school every week - but this was different. These bodies belonged to two new people who mysteriously had fallen in love with a single kiss. Neither knew it then, but such things do happen to a fortunate few, and they instinctively took full advantage of it. Arms around each other, mouths together, lips joined in rapture, it was again the need to breathe that brought them apart. Patty, whose idea of thrills included touching skin, began to run her fingers over Ruth's body. It felt wonderful to them both. Ruth leant and licked Patty's shoulder, then her neck, and in a moment they were licking and kissing each other on any place that presented itself. As they leant back to admire each other, to look with amusement at the wet slops on each other's skin, and to marvel at the joy they felt, the door opened and in came the assistant. "Oh. Sorry. I didn't know you - I mean, you two? No, you're too young. Aren't you? Oh, what the hell. Anyway, good luck to you. But get those suits on, they're waiting. And for heaven's sake act normally." She gave them a grin - she wouldn't mind having a pash with a girl herself- although she hadn't known it started this young, but then kids these days - geez. 'Normally' meant jiggling about and acting the goat, but this time it also included holding hands and looking into each other's eyes, perhaps with more love in it than was usual, but the producer said it was great, exactly what they wanted, and as a reward they could keep the suits if they wished. They wished. Ruth had never been allowed to wear a two piece before, Pattie didn't have a suit that fitted her, and as they got changed Ruth said, "Hey, you'll have to come to the beach with me now. Could you stay at my place? We, you know, could… I want you near me - my heart is beating so fast." "What's happened to us?" Patty was really puzzled. "I wasn't like this this morning. It was just another day, but now, I can't think of anything except you. Oh, I'm thirsty, but that's not what I'm thinking about." They looked at each other, as seriously as any six-year-olds possibly could. Life was life, and learning, having fun, and discovery was what is was all about. But this was different, so far from anything yet experienced that it was unbelievable. They gently shook their heads in wonder, then their lips met once more in an affirmation of their new-found love. Tender, beautiful love. There could be no words, only sighs. * "We're taking you out for afternoon tea," said Ruth's mother . "You both really deserve something special. The producer is so pleased with you, and such lovely swimsuits. Well done!" "Couple of really special girls, you are," added Patty's mum, "We're both thrilled." They were in the back of Patty's mum's car, having been collected soon after they'd managed to tear themselves apart long enough to get dressed. Patty had leant over toward her friend, doe eyes saying she wanted to keep on doing what they had been unable to stop doing earlier, but Ruth, more alert to the ways of mothers, gave a little shake of her head and flicked her eyes toward the driver. She knew instinctively that this was one of the 'wrong' things, and that they'd have to work out how to make it 'right', but with no idea at all of how to achieve that. Catching the drift, Patty leant forward instead and said, "Mum, can I go to Ruth's place? We could go swimming." It sounded as though that was the only thing on her mind. "Would that be OK with you, Alice?" Ramona, Patty's mum asked, looking across at her friend. "Sure, love to have her. They seem to get on pretty well." She turned and grinned at them. "Don't you?" It was not a question, and they grinned back. To add confirmation, Patty leant across and kissed Ruth's neck. She couldn't help herself. If she'd known the word, it would have been enamoured. Alice gave them another grin. Girls, she thought. Aren't they lovely? "Can we go now? Please? I want to see where Ruthie lives. And it's hot and I want to go to the beach, I want to show you how good the costume looks." All that in one Patty breath, her secret desire giving her brain wings. "Yes, please, Mama, pretty please?" Ruth began to tug her mother's shoulder. "We could go in the pool, we can have afternoon tea at home, there's those slices you made, and I can show Patty my dolls." Alice and Ramona glanced at each other, but their smiles said yes. "OK then, right at the next street." Ruth waved her hand in that direction. "Yes!" Patty grabbed Ruth's hand and shook it. "Thanks, Mummy, you're wonderful," Ruth said. Well, she might have been wonderful, but that did not prepare her, or her friend, for the scene half an hour later. The girls had been in the pool for five minutes, having had their new swimwear admired, then out and onto the grass surround. Lying next to one another, looking at the clouds and sky, but as the two women sat and chatted on the back verandah a sigh from the pool area got their attention No ordinary sigh of pleasure or sadness, but one so full of heartfelt passion that they looked up in alarm. Gone were the costumes, gone was the decorum, and in their place were two passionate girls kissing, licking, stroking, clinging and moaning; two nude little girls in the throes of lovemaking, six-year-old style. Alice and Ramona looked at each other, wide eyed and speechless. "What do we do?" whispered Alice moments later. Ramona looked at her new friend, smiling and calm, eyes wide with hope. "We could follow their example," she whispered, feeling the sudden heat of desire rising in her heart. "What?" The exclamation was so loud it caused the girls to suddenly stop their writhing embraces and look up. They had been too excited to check if they could be observed, and the pool area was well screened from outside eyes. There was a sudden stillness all round. The girls, fearful now of having done something horribly bad, the women, one terrified she'd just ruined a perfectly good friendship, the other considering the new and unexpected panorama that had just opened before her. The girls rose, and holding hands with downcast eyes went toward their mothers. Without looking up Ruth said, voice trembling, "We love each other." Patty nodded her head and looked up. "We do, Mama, we really do." She put her arm around Ruth's waist and drew her close in confirmation. "How - how do you know?" Alice really didn't expect an answer, not one that made sense anyway, but her daughter's reply put paid to that idea. "There's no one else we want to be with. Not ever. I think we have become part of each other. I don't care what happens, I just want to be with her." "Me too. Forever" Alice looked at her friend, mouth open and eyes wide with surprise. She didn't have to stop and consider the consequences, not then - they could wait. Turning to Ramona she said, smiling her beautiful smile, "If they can, I reckon we can too." And she leant over and softly kissed this sexy, exciting woman on her lips. Then she turned and looked at these two innocent, beautiful girls, standing naturally and without shame in front of them, and said, "Just stay as you are. Stay in love forever. And don't get sunburnt." She hoped they would grow up with the knowledge that love could come at any time, in any place, and that when your soul mate appeared you melded. Soon the moans were not just coming from the pool area. The ones from inside were accompanied by shrieks, laughter, screams and other strange sounds. The girls came inside out of the sun, had a shower, a drink, and listened to their mothers being in love. "I think they must love each other too," said Patty, serious and sure. "Aren't we lucky?" Later the four of them sat together as they ate supper. Dressing gowns for warmth, the sun having gone, and talk of love and living was the general topic. The girls knew at least as much as their mothers about feelings, for love comes not from books or lectures but from the heart. They had a lot to learn, they were told, but they would understand and live. Patty made the final pronouncement. "We have a lot to thank you for, girls. Without you we would not have found each other. We love our husbands, we love you, and now we love each other. You have taught us the best lesson."
THE END |