Charles & Claire Ch. 31

CHAPTER THREE

Sarah asked the question I'd been waiting for, "Charles - which posters have done the best?"

"Here's a complete breakdown to date:"

525,000 - Kalista in her Red Dress

"Yeah me," said Kalista.

475,000 - Sarah Braless

"Yeah, the girls," she said, giving them another good shake.

404,000 - Claire in her Shimmy Dress

"Take that, Momma," she said giggling, and jiggling.

337,000 - Charles & Claire in Dance Pose

"Finally, One of my pictures breaks into the list," I remarked.

314,000 - Charles between the 'Two Moms'

"Maybe we should call this picture, 'four breasts and a boy?'" Sarah said, with Mom giving her a look, and the girls giggled furiously.

261,000 - Kalista in Blue

"Yeah me, again," said Kalista.

259,000 - Charles, Claire and Kalista.

No responses from anyone.

248,000 -- Anne and Sarah kissing Charles

"I didn't realize Charles was blushing for this picture. Annie?" Sarah noticed.

240,000 - Annie in Black

Mom went over to Sarah and shook her girls in Sarah's face, causing Sarah to say, "There's a picture that would sell millions," making both Moms laugh... and snort!

239,000 - Charles in Blue

"I may pass you yet, Mom -- you never know."

"Eat my dust, little man," she responded, with a giggle.

233,000 - Annie and Sarah in Yellow

"Sarah commented, "Just think if we'd both been braless for that picture, Annie."

"You would've been able to see our 'finer points' Sarah?" mom retorted.

"So?" Sarah said.

I said, "And bringing up the rear is..."

205,000 - The five heads shot.

*********** ***********

Is Ken in town, Sarah?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think so. You want newer pictures taken?" she responded.

"Right now the sales are rather flat statistically speaking, newer pictures would only help?"

"I'll call him, Charles," Sarah quickly responded.

"Hello, Ken? This is your mother calling, get over here. Charles wants some new pictures. We're only back in town for three more days, so get your ass over here, Now? Bye."

"Why did you do that, Sarah?" I asked, laughing a little.

"I never got to talk to him that way when he was a little boy, why not now? So what this time, dressed up, dressed down, fancy or plain, maybe swimsuits?" Sarah said.

That gave me an idea. "MOM!"

"You bellowed?" she responded, coming down the stairs.

"If we took pictures in swimsuits, would it be considered child pornography, if either Claire of Kalista were in a bikini?"

"Pictures in swimsuits? Wherever... did you get that idea?" mom said, looking straight at Sarah.

"I never thought he'd think to actually do it, Annie," Sarah said, blushing a bit.

"Well, pornography is subjective Charles, you never know who you might offend, a school, a preacher, a politician looking to get re-elected... who knows?" mom replied.

"Then we won't do it, Mom -- it's that easy of a decision," I said.

"GIRLS, downstairs please?"

Everybody came down, and these four stunning women surrounded me.

"Evening wear please everybody, what you would wear if we were going out and not dancing, just to be seen?" Claire and Kalista went up to start changing, so I turned to my 'Moms.'

"Ladies, you can be as provocatively dressed as you'd like. Wear lots of bling, please?"

I ran upstairs and got into a nice pair of pants, dark blue short sleeve shirt, a yellow tie, and a coat that I'll carry over my shoulder. As usual, I'm always the first one downstairs.

Just as I sat down, Ken showed up, with Sarah Jane and the kids in tow.

We exchanged "Hey's" as they set up.

"Isn't it amazing how many poster's we sold Ken?" I asked.

"Yeah, Charles -- that picture of my mom, is selling so fast, it's amazing."

"Yeah, but there are two good reasons that poster is doing so well," I replied.

Ken blushed deeply, understanding my remark, but not verbally responding in front of Sarah Jane. She did give us both a look, and smiled.

"Ready," Ken said. "Going for the 'man about town look' I see, Charles?"

"Well, my blue suit poster isn't doing so well, so this time, I'm trying to appeal to a broader demographic. If I had any hair on my chest, I would probably be doing this with a open collar," I said, laughing at the image I just provided.

Ken took about a dozen shots, posing me with and without the jacket.

Next downstairs was a redhead without equal, in a beautiful long green dress that went to the floor, earrings she must've borrowed from either Sarah or Annie, her eyes gleaming, and her dimples helping her smile to break through your heart like a diamond drill through plastic; Kalista.

Ken actually gulped as he saw his young half sister approach him in the beautiful dark green dress she had on.

He took about a dozen pictures, posing her like a runway model, looking back over her shoulder. Wow, is the only word that comes to mind, and there are three more beautiful women to go.

Next... was Annie, who had come down during Kalista's 'shoot' wearing a tight, deep pink dress that gathered at the waist, showing her wonderful womanly curves. She was indeed braless and I hoped that I could control myself.

Ken was enjoying himself, although Sarah Jane kept an eye on him the whole time.

"Mrs. Newman," he said. "You might just melt this camera?"

Kalista, Mom and Sarah Jane all laughed at Ken's remark, but I heard Sarah Jane say, 'Behave' to him.

He posed her in the same style of poses he'd already used on Kalista. He was concentrating on a shot from the waist up, but he took some full length as well. I went and got him a bottle of water from the fridge. He greatly appreciated it, first using it on his forehead.

Sarah had come down during mom's 'shoot' and looked stunning. She was in a red evening gown, cut down to just above her belly button exposing large amounts of... cleavage. The dress was trimmed with rhinestones. There was what I think is called a high hip front slit in the dress exposing her gorgeous gams as well. She turned around and her shoulders and back were completely bare. This is a dress designed only for women built like Sarah.

Annie had not yet left the area set aside for taking pictures, so Ken had not yet noticed his mother's beautiful dress, that seemed so 'Wow!'

When he first laid eyes on his mother, I heard a gasp from his mouth, and he was holding his camera in front of his waist, apparently hiding an 'enhancement.'

When he could finally speak, he said, "Mom, where did you get that stunning dress?"

"You like it honey?" she teased.

"Ye-ah," he said.

"Annie and I ordered it from a website about a month ago. This is the first chance Charles gave me to wear it. I'm so glad both of you boys like it so much. I told Claire about the website too Charles, she'll be down in a minute."

She walked over to the photo area and Ken eagerly got his handheld digital camera and took, maybe two dozen pictures of Sarah in this dress from all angles, including the classic pose where Sarah pushes the girls together and leans forward. This will be a picture for the ages. This may give 'Kalista in Red,' a run for its money.

My girl came downstairs, looking straight into my eyes the whole trip down. She was in a little black dress that was so tight that the tops of her girls were peeking out a little over the top. There were matching 'cut-outs' on both sides of the dress, exposing skin. When she turned around there was a zipper, and I went over to her and asked quietly, kissing her on the neck, "Up... or down, Claire?" she giggled and said, "Up, please - You like my new mini dress, Charles?"

With my arms around her I said, "What there is of it, I like. Could you dance in that? It would be marvelous for our 'Sexy Paso Doble,' wouldn't it?"

"Ooohh, you're right Charles, it would."

Kalista whistled at Claire, causing my girl to beam.

Claire caught Ken's eye and all he said under his breath was, "Damn."

"Ken," I said, "Besides the new single poses, I want to have a poster of me with each of my ladies, all right?"

"You're the boss, boss," Ken said, apparently liking that expression.

He went through all of the poses with Claire, and then we took a half a dozen pictures of me with each of them. Ken was done taking pictures so, while he was tearing down, we all went and changed back into our regular clothes. Sarah came down in the tiniest bikini top I ever saw. She had a towel around her waist.

Trying to keep himself on task, and not stare at his own mother, Ken showed us the pictures and we picked out our favorites. He, Sarah Jane and the kids left and Sarah went quickly to the Spa, took off her towel and got in.

Annie said, "Is that a thong bottom you're wearing Sarah?"

"So, what if it is, Annie?" she said quite defensively.

"No, I'm not upset, more amazed that a women your age can pull off wearing a thong - I certainly couldn't."

"Mom, sure you could," I said without thinking. "You've got a nicer butt than Sarah, I've told you that a dozen times at least."

Sarah gave me a daunting look. I defended my statement by adding, "My mother has a nicer butt than you do, and that's all I'm saying Sarah."

"You mean it's nicer than mine?" a voice behind me said.

"Claire, yours isn't finished yet. For a finished butt, my mom's is nicer than your mom's... that's all I'm saying."

"What about my butt, Charles?"

I knew Kalista would join this quirky conversation, so I threw myself into things by saying, "Kalista, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 meaning your butt is ugly, and 10 means it looks as good as my mom's, then you have a solid 7.5, and it'll only get better. Claire to answer the question you're about to ask, I would give yours an 8.5, Sarah yours is approaching perfection, but my Annie's is tighter than yours."

"How would you know how 'tight' my butt is Charles?" Sarah said with a delicious smile on her face.

Somebody pinch me please.

"Sarah, I've noticed your butt jiggles a little more than my Annie's does? That's the only reason I marked you down to a nine on the scale that I mentioned earlier. Now, may I go up please and get in my own suit and join you, my dear sweet Sarah?"

"Charles, why have you never gotten a form-fitting suit, like a speedo or something? Are you holding out on us?" Sarah said.

"Sarah, what a thing to say to my son?" Annie said belligerently, but chuckling nonetheless.

"Oh, Annie -- He's always saying how hot we all are... I was just trying to get back at him for it," she said using perfect logic.

I left before I heard something too uncomfortable, or erotic.

I came back down in my usual style swimwear.

"Charles?" Claire spoke up and said, "Where are we off to next?"

"Yeah, Charles -- What's the schedule after we're through with these five days off?" Kalista asked.

"Well, starting in less then three days, we head north to Toledo, then northwest to Grand Rapids, Michigan; east to Detroit and back to Akron for our second trip there. After that is our New York four, as I like to call them, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany."

"Wow, the Cradle of the Union, Charles," mom said.

"What's that mean?" Kalista asked.

"Princess, That's an old nickname for Albany. I'll explain that term later, OK?"

"OK, Sweet Cheeks," Kalista responded.

"What did you just call Charles, Kalista?" Sarah admonished.

"Sweet Cheeks, I heard Charles say it to Claire once, and it seemed appropriate since the butt conversation of just a few minutes ago," Kalista responded.

I looked over at K and said, "I kind of like that, Princess -- that can be your nickname for me now, but only K can call me that everybody, all right?"

Annie, Sarah and Claire were all smiling at me as they nodded their heads in agreement.

I turned back to K and she was wearing a great big smile.

"OK, everybody back to the schedule, from Albany, we travel to Burlington Vermont, Concord New Hampshire, Portland Maine, Nashua New Hampshire and Boston Massachusetts. On to Providence Rhode Island, Hartford Connecticut, Newark New Jersey and Philadelphia Pennsylvania."

"Michael certainly seems determined to take us to every state at least once, hasn't he?" Annie remarked.

"I believe his goal was to let 'the common folk' come see us," I replied.

"That makes sense Charles," Sarah responded.

"The final mini-leg is back to Baltimore Maryland, Richmond Virginia, Danville Virginia, a long connection to Huntington West Virginia, and back to Columbus, where we get 14 days off, paid."

"Are we going to go do something during those 14 days, Charles?" Claire asked.

"Did you have anything specific in mind, Claire-Bear?" I replied.

"Not really, I just don't want 14 days of nothing, why don't we schedule something to keep busy during that time?" Claire surmised.

"Yeah, Charles... we don't want our legs to at-tro-phee, do we?" Kalista said.

"You must've had a new word you liked last night, kiddo -- and you're right, we don't want our legs to atrophy, or waste away from non-use, do we?" I said.

Kalista ran up to me and hugged me, saying, "I love you, that will never atrophy Charles?"

I hugged her back, and looked up and saw all the ladies with tears in their eyes. It indeed was a spell that was cast over us at that moment. I realized, just then quite innocently, that Kalista had 'matured' in many ways, as she was holding me close to her. She looked up to me and smiled a more mature smile then I had remembered ever seeing on her face. This nine year-old is quite the young lady.

"Sarah," I said, still holding K, "We better get the dance floor taken down. With the kind of weather in Ohio while we're gone, it makes good sense."

"Great idea Charles," Sarah responded getting on the phone.

Neither Kalista nor myself wanted to let go of each other. This hug was a soul mate hug. I leaned my face down, forgetting the other ladies surrounded us, and kissed Kalista, with a newfound love and respect for this beautiful young lady. She started kissing me back and we were oblivious to those around us. Her tongue entered my mouth and I reciprocated, and we were becoming a single person, instead of two people. Somehow I was aware enough of my surroundings to keep my hands above her waist. She did as well, but we were connected to each other like never before.

She IS my destiny.

*********** ***********

After I made a quick phone call to Brian, we re-packed and loaded back up the Suburban, getting ready for our North East Leg of the US Something Special Tour. The day before, we went over the 'For Good' and the 'new and improved Six-Pack' routines. Sarah was going through the house, locking windows and doors. Annie turned off and put the cover on the Spa, and we were ready to go.

Our first city was Toledo, 150 miles to the north, where we'll have a crowd of 9,000 or so at the SeaGate Convention Center. Sarah got us into the Crowne Plaza Hotel. While they had suites, they had nothing big enough for the five of us, so we got connecting rooms with two doubles in each room. After checking in and signing some autographs, we headed to Seagate, and saw Michael for the first time in a week; everybody hugged everybody. Michael seemed to be enjoying a hug from my mother a little too much - First Sarah, now mom... Hmmmm?

He went through his proposed set list, and we agreed on it, which hadn't changed much since our last performance. I went over to mom, and asked her about that hug.

"Oh, Charles... He was just happy to see us again. He didn't do anything inappropriate, OK? But thanks for looking out for me, honey -- that's sweet."

So, our sequence was the same since the overhaul we did for the DC performance. Rehearsal went well, performance was the next day. We went back to the hotel and ate at the Café Del Sol, which served American food. That's the part of the International Tour I'm really looking forward to, all of the different countries food delicacies.

We had only four beds this time, so I decided to shut up for a change, and see what somebody else had to say concerning sleeping arrangements. I did talk quietly to Claire and we proceeded under the assumption that we might be sleeping in the same bed. I let the girls take their showers first, and I was last. As usual I wore sweats and no shirt as I climbed into bed. Kalista saw this and asked Claire, "Are you two sleeping together tonight?"

Claire responded with a shocker, "Yeah, unless you want to sleep with my fiancé?"

I was staying out of this, unless it came to pushing and shoving, and then THE question came from Claire, "Charles, I know you're still awake, who do you want to sleep in the bed with you; me or Kalista?"

Now, this is one of those questions in life that have no 'right' answer, so I casually turned my head towards them and said, "I don't care, I need to get to sleep, you two choose?"

I practically held my breath until I felt a body climb in the bed, and the lights were turned off. I turned toward the body to give her a kiss regardless of who it was, and I kissed her on the lips, with a mighty response in return. This quickly got into a potentially dangerous situation, but I couldn't tell who it was until the kiss was over and I heard this wonderful voice say, "Oooh, that certainly was naughty of you, Charles."

"Mom!"

"Go to sleep honey, we'll find you a therapist in the morning," she said as she snorted a little and then went to sleep.

I had trouble sleeping all night.

The next morning I got out of bed, and with a change of clothes, went into the bathroom and took a cold shower. I changed into performance clothes and sat up looking and listening to music and watched my mother sleep. Who's in the other bed - Claire, Kalista or Sarah? Over the next 30 minutes Mom got up rubbing her eyes and saw me sitting at the table.

"How long have you been up, Charles?" she asked.

"Oh, about 30 minutes, I called for a therapist, he'll be here shortly," I said sporting a great big grin on my face.

"Sarah, get up -- get going," she said to the other bed.

Oh - So the girls and the ladies swapped rooms. What would've happened if it had been Sarah who got in bed with me? Fortunately, I don't have to worry about that.

Sarah got up and stretched and saw me and said, "Hi Charles -- the girls came to us last night confused, so we swapped rooms. How are you this morning?"

Annie answered, "He said that he's waiting for a therapist to arrive, so he can talk about his strong Oedipal Complex, and the fact he slept in the same bed as his mother last night."

"Oooh," Sarah said. "Did Charles do the naughty with his Mommy last night? Shame on you Charles... your poor defenseless mother, how could you? What about me; I guess we'll always have Cleveland?"

This caught my Mom unprepared and they both laughed for a very long time. I just ignored them as they each went into the bathroom, giving me a kiss as they walked by me. I slapped Sarah on the butt; she jumped and turned around and shook the girls at me, which were under a t-shirt. Mom came out looking very nice and said, "You don't look any worse for wear Charles? Maybe tomorrow night I'll let you have Sarah? Oh my, that isn't what I meant to say at all."

When my Mom gets flustered, her mouth messes up what her brain wants her to say, however this time is different.

"Mom, was that a Freudian slip, or are you honestly offering me to 'have' Sarah tonight? If you remember, she's told me I wouldn't be able to dance for a month, so you better find my dancing replacement before I 'do it' with my future mother-in-law," I smiled.

Mom was laughing and snorting so hard, I had to get up to help her sit down.

"Touché," she said, as Sarah walked out in a regular bra and panties.

"Sarah, cover yourself please?" mom said.