A Special Time in a Boy's Life - Chapter 1
by Anastasio Luminos

Tingles were still skittering up and down my arms as I slowly opened my eyes. The dream had felt so real. I could still almost smell the bag of buttery popcorn Lynn and I had held between us.

I smiled to myself as I thought about the way she had been trying to act so nonchalant when she draped her arm across my shoulders. I had barely noticed when she had slipped her arm behind my back. But when she slid her hand under my arm and ... and ...

My face started feeling warm when I remembered what had happened next. Of course, nothing like that could have happened in reality. For one thing, my parents wouldn't let me go to the movies alone with a girl. For another thing, Lynn Taylor was one of the most popular girls in the seventh grade and already had a very pretty boyfriend.

I had turned over with a sigh, hoping I'd be able to return to my dream, when I noticed a strange sensation between my legs. My heart was pounding as I rolled out of bed and checked my sheets and covers.

After a brief search, I decided everything looked okay and allowed myself to relax a little, then slowly lifted the hem of my nightgown. I gasped and dropped it when I found a small damp spot on the crotch of my panties.

It had finally happened.

I looked up to my night stand and saw by the glowing hands of my alarm clock that it would be morning in few hours. Dad would probably still be asleep. Still, he *had* told me it'd be okay to come to him when this happened.

I turned to my little brothers bed and smiled when I saw him cuddled up with his plush unicorn. Suddenly, feeling all grown up and paternal, I gently pulled his covers up to his neck, then kissed his forehead before tiptoeing out the door.

I almost changed my mind when I reached my parent's bedroom. Their door was open, but I was having trouble getting up the nerve to walk in. I had probably been standing on the threshold for several minutes before I heard my father whisper, "Carlie, are you okay?"

I mutely nodded, then switched to shaking my head, before saying, "I guess I'm okay. I mean, nothing bad happened, but ... ummm ... ."

I could just barely see a small smile on his face by the light coming from the hallway. He slowly climbed out of bed, being careful to not wake up Mom, then silently walked across to me and rested his hands on my shoulders as he quietly said, "So, has your time come?"

My heart had climbed up into my throat, making it impossible to speak, so I just nodded.

"Oh honey," my dad said as he wrapped his arms around me and hugged me close, "congratulations."

I heard sniffling and looked up. Dad was smiling down at me, and a shiny line was sliding down his cheek. "Are you all right?" I asked as the lump in my throat dropped into my stomach."

His smile grew as he said, "I'm fine, sweetheart. I was just thinking about the first time I held you in my arms. And now ..."

Mom chose that moment to groan in her sleep as she rolled over in bed. We both watched her settle back down into a deeper sleep, then Dad led me by the hand to the bathroom.

Once the light was on and the door was closed, my dad rested his hands on my shoulders again and said, "Did you wear a liner tonight?"

I hung my head and sighed. "I'm sorry. I know you said I should start wearing them, but I was really tired tonight, and forgot." I cringed a bit when he lifted my chin, until I worked up the nerve to look at his face and realized he was still smiling.

"It's okay," he said as he brushed my bangs aside. "I'd forgotten to do the same thing more than once when I was your age. Do you remember the way I showed you to clean your panties if you have an accident?"

I blushed when I thought back to some of the things he had told me when he gave me the Some Things Are Going To Be Happening To Your Body Soon speech. "Yeah, I remember."

I must have been making a face, because I could tell Dad was trying very hard not to laugh. Instead, he kissed me on top of my head and said, "Okay, while you're cleaning up, I'll go find you some new panties."

Once I was alone, I pulled off my panties and put them on the toilet seat. While the spot I'd left on them was noticeable, it wasn't as big as I'd expected. I turned my attention to the sink and ran the water until it was warm, then began cleaning up.

Dad must have been listening for the water to stop running, because almost as soon as I had finished wringing out my panties and tossed them into the hamper, he was knocking on the door. As he handed the fresh panties to me he asked, "How are you feeling?"

"I don't know. I don't really feel any different from yesterday. But ... something does feel different."

"Do you feel more grown up?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe a little."

Dad pulled me into a fierce hug, and I could hear his voice cracking as he said, "Just don't try growing up too fast."

I just nodded into his chest as I hugged him back. Asking him about going to the movies alone with a girl could wait for another time.