Unexpected Fireworks, A Short Story. Happy 4th of July

She was a tease, a flirt, a tormentor of any male old enough to notice, and some said a tramp.  It wasn’t true, of course, but when you looked like Cat, jealousy and spite were something you got used to.  They said the boys flocked around her because she ‘put out,’ ‘gave it away,’ but in fact she was still a virgin, something she hoped was temporary.  
It was only recently that she came to this decision, wanting to get rid of her hymen.  Maybe then she’d fit in again.  Maybe the friends she’d had in junior high wouldn’t avoid her as they did now, as though she was a Venus fly-trap, waiting to snatch their boyfriends and devour them.  In her mind she pictured a sign flashing above her head.  ‘Used Goods’ it would say in bright neon lights, and that should take care of some of boys dogging her every move, wanting to be ‘the one’ who popped her cherry. 
Despite all the hoopla on TV about the sexual revolution,  free love and the hippies taking over a farm in New York for three days, south of the Mason Dixon line, some boys still wanted a ‘good girl’ and would scatter like roaches caught in a bright light once she was no longer prime.
It was silly really, she thought as she smoothed on her pink lipstick.  All this fuss over a little scrap of tissue and the lucky winner of this dubious prize would likely melt away like a sidewalk chalk drawing in the rain once he’d bragged to all and sundry. 
Taking a long necked Pepsi from the ice box, Cat popped the cap using the bottle opener on the side of the kitchen cabinet and went through the screen door, letting it slam behind her.  Plopping down on the porch swing she gently set it in motion, thankful for the slight breeze. 
Lord, it was hot, and he was late.
She’d chosen Wendell Culpepper last week when her 18th birthday party had been basically boycotted by all but two of her girlfriends and she suspected the only reason the Spiller twins had shown up was because their Mama was best friends with her Mama.  The young men had come in droves, everyone she’d invited and some tag-a-longs besides.  It was embarrassing, dancing under the Chinese lanterns her Daddy strung up in the back yard with one boy after another.  Cat pretended to have a good time and ignored the girls casually strolling up and down the sidewalk in front of her house whispering.  That was when she knew she has to do something.
She chose Wendell for a few reasons.  He was older, 23 to her 18, he had a real pretty pick-up with loud mufflers that sounded cool and he was cute, in that country boy sort of way.  His hair was brown with blonde streaks from working everyday on his Daddy’s farm.  He was strong, not excessively tall and she liked the way he looked in church on Sundays when he was all cleaned up.  But the main reason she chose him was his reputation.  It was said around town that Wendell could charm the panties off a nun if he put his mind to it.  With his easy smile and sharp wit, Wendell was the kind of man your Daddy would shake hands with and clap on the back, as though he personally had something to do with the boy’s prowess and your Mama would snap open her fan, quickly cooling off her face as she pulled you behind her.  Yes, if she was going to give it away, and she was, Wendell would at least know what to do with it.  It never occurred to her that his reputation might be as fabricated as hers.
Wendell pulled into Cathleen O’Brian’s driveway just as the last of the sun’s rays were sliding behind the trees.  Jumping out of his truck, it was his intention to walk to her door, speak with her Mama and Daddy and escort her to his vehicle, but she was already coming across the lawn.  Swallowing, he realized it was a good thing he didn’t have to speak.  Her perfectly straight blonde hair hung nearly to her waist, shinning in the fading light.  Frayed blue denim cut offs showed her tanned legs almost to her crotch and the white gauzy peasant blouse she wore moved with each step.  He knew women were burning their bras, but he never expected to see Cat’s breasts swaying freely as she moved in that loose hipped way.  She was artless, totally unaware of how perfectly proportioned and beautiful she was.  Her sweet, innocent face and wide blue eyes were angelic, almost too perfect to be real.
“Hi Wendell,” she said sweetly as she reached him.
“Hi Cathleen,” he replied thickly.
“It sure is hot, isn’t it?” she asked, tipping the bottle she still held to her lips, exposing her neck above the untied strings of her top.
“Um, yeah, it sure is, are you ready to go?”
Nodding, Cat moved to open the door, but he got to it first, unable to take his eyes off her ass as she climbed onto the seat after handing him her soft drink.  The platform sandals on her feet, the swell of her sweet cheeks showing below her short shorts and the way she smiled at him over her shoulder as she crawled in, her hair fanning out around her, gave him an instant and painful erection.
“Hell’s bells,” he sighed as he closed the door and walked around to his side of the truck and got in.  It was going to be a long night.
“Is everything alright?” she asked nervously, peeking at him from under her lashes.
“Fine.”
“Are we still going to the fair?”
He had a moment when he wondered if taking her to a movie might be a better idea.  She was sure to attract plenty of undesirable attention at the fair.  Then he pictured her next to him in a dark movie house, his hand sliding over her shoulder, grasping her nipple through the thin fabric of her shirt.
“Yes.”
“Okay,” she said smiling and relaxing in her seat.  “I love fairs.  I haven’t been in ages.”
And to the fair they went.  Surprisingly he had a good time, when he wasn’t sending scowling stares to overeager admirers.  For the next several hours they laughed and talked about everything and anything.  She was funny and smart and he came to realize why she’d always been more to him than a pretty face in the pew across the aisle at church.  He was just biding his time until she graduated, that rite of passage into adulthood couldn’t come fast enough for him.
They rode the Ferris wheel, and the bumper cars, ate hot dogs and French fries and Cat consumed an enormous amount of cotton candy.  Looking at her sweet, sticky lips, Wendell reminded himself over and over that she was really just a child in a lot of ways.
   
They played many games with Cat cheering him on as he filled her arms with stuffed animals and Kewpie dolls.  When they approached the test of strength, Wendell picked up the mallet with one hand and rang the bell three times in a row, amazing Cat with his power and scattering the latest group of young boys following their steps.   Sticking the cigars in his shirt pocket, Wendell was surprised when she took one out and held it to her nose.
“You’ll don’t smoke, do you honey?” he asked frowning.
“No, my Daddy smokes a pipe though and I like the smell.  Why would it bother you if I did?” she asked.
“It damn sure would,” he replied sternly, taking the cigar and putting it back in his pocket.
“Why?” she asked, genuinely curious as she looked up at him.
“I just don’t like it, is all.  A lady doesn’t smoke.  It’s not proper.”
Cat laughed.  “What makes you think I’m a lady,” she teased, smiling over her shoulder as she walked away.
Wendell took her arm and pulled her closer to his side, slowing her steps.
“I know you’re a lady, despite how you’re dressed tonight.  How’d you get out of the house and past your Daddy in that getup anyway?” he asked, scowling.
“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” she demanded, stopping dead.
“You know damn well what’s wrong with it without me having to tell you.  For one thing you’re not wearing a bra and I can see clear through that top in the right light.”
“So.”
“So it looks like you’re…looking for something besides a good time at the fair,” he continued, pulling her along gently.
“Maybe I am,” she drawled.
Wendell snorted.  “You think I believe all those rumors about you?  I know better.”
“You don’t know anything, Wendell Culpepper!  I’m very experienced.  Ask anybody,” she sassed.
Wendell let his frustration win and began leading her to the parking area.  “Just why did you ask me to take you out, Cathleen?”
“Because I like you,” she snapped.  “Why are we leaving?” she demanded as he towed her across the hay field.
“I think I better get you on home.  I don’t know what you’re up to, but I’ve got a hunch I won’t like it.”
“Why bless your heart for being such a gentleman and worrying about me,” she drawled sweetly.  “It’s really not necessary.  If you want to go home, I’m sure I can find my own ride later.  Don’t you give it another thought,” she said, turning back toward the fairgrounds as soon as he released her arm at the truck.
“Oh no you won’t, I brought you and I’ll be taking you home before you get yourself in trouble.  What’s gotten into you tonight?”
“Nothing!  Nothing’s gotten into me and that’s what I aim to fix,” she shouted, stomping her foot and marching away.
“Cat, get back here,” he called as she stumbled on the uneven ground.
“No, and you can’t make me,” she yelled over her shoulder.
Wendell watched her for a few minutes as she wove her way back to the lights.  Finally he set off after her, swearing fit to burn the ears on anybody who might be listening.  It didn’t take him long to catch her and on the thick hay she never heard him coming.  One second she was headed in one direction and the next she was over his shoulder being carried to his truck and she struggled to hang on to her prizes.
“You put my down this instant, Wendell Culpepper,” she cried, kicking her feet.  “You’ll be lucky if I don’t tell my Daddy about this,” she warned direly.
“No, you’ll be lucky I don’t tell him,” he replied, eating up the distance and yanking the passenger door open.  Stooping he plopped her on the seat and pushed her kicking feet around.  When Cat tried to jump down he looked her right in the eye, his head bent close to her.  “You put one toe out of this truck missy and I’ll tan your hide but good.  Do you hear me?” he asked darkly.
Cat pulled her foot back and nodded, her eyes wide with shock.  Wendell waited until she lowered her gaze before slamming the door and walking to his side.   Once inside he didn’t start the vehicle immediately and Cat watched him out of the corner of her eye.  This may have been a bad idea from the beginning.  Wendell was obviously trying to get control of his temper and it was taking a while.
Finally he turned in his seat until he was facing her.  It was dark, the lights and the music seemed very far away now in the small quiet space.
“Alright, out with it and I want the truth.  Why did you ask me to take you out?”
“I asked you to take me out because I…want you,” she stammered out, hiding behind her hair.
“You want me?”
“Yes.”
“In what way?” he asked, confused.
“You know what way,” she hissed.
“No, I don’t think I do.  You’ll have to be a bit more specific, Cat,” he sighed.
“I want you to take me,” she whispered.
“Take you where?”
“Oh for the love of God, take me!  You know, fuck me!”
“You watch your mouth,” he shouted.  “Of all the… why would you…you’ve never kissed me and all of a sudden you want me to make love to you?” he said, stunned and maybe a little bit flattered.
“That was my plan,” she sighed.
“Well it’s a stupid plan,” he said, starting the truck.
“No, it’s very well thought out,” she insisted.
“Okay, then explain it to me,” he snorted as he followed the tracks to the road.
“I wanted someone who knew what he was doing the first time.”
“And you figure I know what I’m doing?” he asked.
“That’s what they say,” she admitted.  “You do, don’t you?” she asked, suddenly nervous and wondering if she had made a major miscalculation.
“I have a pretty good idea,” he said, hiding his smile.
“Just an idea?” she choked out.  “You mean you’ve never…”
“Listen, this conversation is about you, not me and a gentleman never tells.”
“Some do” she said sadly, “and some just make things up.  I figure if this town is going to treat me like a whore, I may as well have some fun.  It is fun, right?” she asked hopefully.
Wendell was tempted to tell her some real horror stories about the deflowering of a virgin, but he restrained himself.  There was no sense in scaring her and he had something else entirely in mind.
“Sure it’s fun, but if you have some feeling for the other person it’s more than fun, it’s amazing.”
“So will you?  Do it I mean?” she asked softly.
“Gee, I don’t know Cat.  I’ve never even kissed you and I still think it’s a pretty stupid idea.  Who cares if people gossip about you?  That doesn’t mean it’s true and the folks who really know you and care about you won’t believe it anyway.”
“I care and I’m sick of being groped and touched every time a boy thinks he can get away with it.  I’ll let you kiss me, if you want to.”
“Who’s touching you?” he demanded.  “Tell me who and I’ll take care of it, honey.”
“How you gonna fix it, Wen?  You’re at work all day and I’ve got another year before I graduate.  I don’t think I can stand it.  It’s like I’m some kind of contest or something, like whoever gets to do it wins a trophy,” she said angrily.
“What if we start telling everyone that you’re my girl?  I’m pretty sure most of those guys will back off if they don’t want me breathing down their necks, or worse,” he suggested, reaching for her hand.
“No, I’m going to do this,” she insisted pulling her hand away.  “If you don’t want to help me, I’ll find someone who will.”
“So if I don’t take your virginity, you’ll just find another guy.  Is that it, huh?”
“Yes,” she said, leaning against her door completely embarrassed.  He didn’t want her.  The one guy she trusted and actually respected, didn’t want her.  It was nearly unbearable.
Wendell slowed, hit his brakes and spun his truck in a 180.  Hitting the gas hard, he headed back down the highway.
“Where are we going?” she asked, feeling his anger like a fog around her.
“I’ve decided to give you what you need Cathleen,” he said, “and I know just the place.”
Wendell drove for several miles in silence before slowing and turning onto a dirt road.  He continued to follow the narrow track for another few miles.
“Where are we?” Cat asked, trying to control the quiver in her voice.
“On the farm.  This leads back to a swimming hole the local kids use during the summer.  It’s a little cool tonight and hopefully with the fair running there’ll be some privacy back here.  Are you scared?”
“No.”
“You should be,” he said under his breath as he pulled into a clearing, lit by millions of stars.  The sound of water trickling over rocks and the chirping of crickets was the only thing that broke the silence as he got out of the truck and pulled a blanket from behind his seat.  “Stay put,” he said before he closed his door.
Wendell let down the tailgate and hopped onto the truck bed, spreading the blanket out.  Jumping down he strode to Cat’s door, opened it and plucked her out as though she weighed no more than one of the stuffed animals he’d won for her.   Carrying her to the back of the truck he set her on the open tailgate and stepped back.  She was lovely, lonely and very fragile looking and he almost changed his mind.  She was also foolish and frustratingly determined to have her own way.  So be it.
“Kiss me,” he ordered, pushing her legs apart and stepping between them.
Cat looked at his face, shadowed by the moonlight.  He was nearly eye to eye with her sitting on the back of his truck and she closed hers and leaned forward, touching her lips to his.  They were surprisingly warm and firm and he gave her free rein to nibble and deepen the kiss, which she did with a sigh.  Her hands rested lightly on his shoulders for balance and after what seemed a suitable amount of time she pulled back, licking her lips.
“You’ll have to do better than that,” he said firmly, keeping his hands at his sides, fists tightly clenched.
Somewhat embarrassed, Cat leaned closer, determined to do a better job.  Pressing her mouth to his firmly, she slid her tongue along the seam of his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Wendell was lost.  His hands cupped the cheeks of her ass and brought her flush against his erection.  Holding her in place with one arm he buried his other hand deep in her hair, anchoring her head in place as he took possession of her mouth.
 
Breathy little sighs escaped and she began to tingle all over, feeling dizzy.  Warmth flooded her limbs and she felt hotter than if she were in full sun at high noon.  When his lips moved to her neck she let her head fall back and pushed her breasts against his hard chest.  Oh yes, this was fun, she thought as she shivered in his arms.  She was in high cotton.
It surprised her when he reached to unhook her arms from around his neck and she swayed slightly as he stepped back.  His hands gently traced her collar bone on both sides before sliding slowly down, brushing her nipples and stopping to grasp each one and worry it gently.  The moan startled her and she looked around, making sure they were still alone. 
“Was that better?” she asked breathlessly.
“Much,” he replied as he lifted her down, and took her place on the tailgate.  “Take your pants off.”
Cat gripped the tailgate with one hand and froze.  This was it, the moment she’d been hoping for.  She was nervous, exhilarated and terrified all at the same time, but she straightened her spine and let go of the truck.  Reaching for the snap on her shorts, she shucked them in a smooth motion, dropping them to the ground.  Her hands flew to the hem of her blouse and began lifting it over her head, but Wendell stopped her.
“No, leave that on for now and come here,” he said hoarsely.  After all, a man could only stand so much and at this point he had no idea how long his will power would hold up.  Cocking his hips to one side he let one of his long legs dangle from the back of the truck.  Cat slowly came to him and he caressed her cheek softly before reaching under her arms and hauling her up and straight over his knee.  Her pretty white panties with the little red hearts stayed up long enough for him to admire them before he whisked them to her knees. 
“Wen?” she said in alarm.  “I don’t think this is the way it’s done,” she whimpered, beginning to get a bad feeling about the whole thing.
“This is exactly how it’s done.  Haven’t you ever had you backside paddled?” he asked with a smile as he tucked his strong arm around her waist.
“Well sure I have, when I was a little girl,” she said, wiggling a bit and fighting down a sudden feeling of panic.  “Only if I was naughty though and you said the kiss was good.”
‘Oh honey, the kiss was perfect.  Too bad that’s not how we’re gonna end this date,” he sighed, rubbing her bare cheeks and wishing things could be different.
“It isn’t?  Why not?  Let’s just kiss a little more and you can take me home.”
“I can’t do that honey.  Not while I’m worried about what you’re planning.  It’s time you and I had a little talk.  I’ve had my eye on you for a long time, and don’t think I haven’t noticed you batting those lashes at me on Sundays when your Mama wasn’t looking.  I figure we’ve got two options here.  We can either get in the truck and head on over to Buford, wake up Reverend Watkins and put an end to this tonight, or we can have us a little set too and maybe you’ll rethink this whole crazy idea of yours.  It don’t matter much to me either way, but your Mama will surely be disappointed if she doesn’t get the chance to give you a big fancy wedding. 
“Of course if we get married you’ll have to drop out of school, which would be a shame since it’s your last year and there’s the senior ball and all.  I guess if you’re in such an all fired hurry to be a woman, it won’t bother you none,” he drawled, patting her bottom.   “The way I see it if we get busy, by the time you’re class graduates you can have a baby or two.  Did I tell you twins run in my family?  Well they do.  I can’t afford a house of our own right yet, but I’m sure we can all fit in my bedroom at the farm.  It will be a little crowded, what with a crib and all but we’ll manage.  You’ll likely be too tired to have much fun, what with diapers and being up half the night with the baby, ya’ll probably …”
“Wait!  I never said anything about wanting to get married and I sure don’t want a baby,” she cried.  “Where’d you ever get an idea like that?”
“What’s a man supposed to think when a girl comes to him and asks him to take her virginity, huh?  You answer me that.”
“I don’t know,” she whispered, hanging her head.
“Well I’m about to tell you.  He either thinks she loves him something fierce to be willing to give up something so precious, or he thinks she’s a foolish little brat who’s gotten too big for her britches.  So which is it Cathleen O’Brian?”
“Well, I don’t love you,” she said, “I mean I like you a lot and it’s true about the flirting,” she admitted softly. 
Wendell’s big hand waited on her bottom.  Funny she wasn’t so much embarrassed being over his knee nearly naked as she was that this man thought she was a foolish brat.
“So it’s option two then,” he said calmly.
“I guess it is,” she replied, knowing what was coming.
“Then we are in agreement finally,” he sighed as he began to spank her.
Wendell didn’t hold anything back, he just plain wailed away on her tender bottom until she was fighting for all she was worth to get away.  All her pleas for forgiveness fell on deaf ears as his hand moved from cheek to cheek, leaving fiery hand-prints that overlapped each other.  When he began to spank the area where her cheeks met her thighs his slaps were fast and furious and she prayed he wouldn’t go lower the way her Daddy did that one time she swore at her Mama.  Red thighs would be hard to explain and she knew how painful they could be.  It wasn’t until all the fight had drained out of her and she was quietly sobbing over his knee that he slowed down.
“Do you have any idea what kind of danger you placed yourself in tonight?” he demanded, smacking both cheeks, hard.  “If you had asked this of someone else you could be lying in a ditch somewhere.”
“I wouldn’t have asked anyone else,” she cried softly.
“You wouldn’t?”
“No, only you Wendell, only you,” she sobbed.
Wendell stopped.  She cared.  “Well, it’s a good thing!” he shot out, giving her another five blistering smacks when he remembered what he was about.  “And you better not pull another crazy stunt like this, if you know what’s good for you.  I won’t have my girl acting like a complete ninny just because of some cheap talk.”  Smack.  “Are you going to behave?”
“Yes, oh yes,” she promised, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her blouse.  “I’ll be good.”
“You better be,” he warned as he pulled her up and set her on her feet behind the truck.  Keeping his hand on her shoulder he jumped down, pulled a bandana from his back pocket and dried her tears.  She looked so cute standing there all soft and sweet, her hands framing her well-spanked bottom, her panties still around her calves.
After pulling up her panties, he picked up her shorts and helped her into them.  She was still sniffling, the occasional tear sliding down her cheek when he opened his arms to her.  Cat looked at him, her watery big blue eyes uncertain for a moment and Wendell figured it was the longest moment of his life. Then she launched herself at him and all was right with the world as he cuddled her against his chest.
“Am I your girl, Wen?” she asked.
“Honey girl, you’ve always been mine,” he whispered into her hair, kissing the top of her head.  “I was just waiting for you to grow up.”