The Couple

Merle's mind was on the same page but they were both on different paragraphs. Merle was not about to distress anyone with the horrors of war that he'd experienced; the terror, the anger, the horror of watching his mates die, and the determination he would do what duty required at all costs. They didn't need it and he'd carry it to his grave. A quaint old Navy phrase flashed through his mind; He could hack it then and he could damn sure hack it now!

Finally she turned the page to happier times.

The first was the birth of Ruth Anne, followed by the birth of Elizabeth Anne, and finally, the birth of Rachel Anne, all in the space of five years.

Why Anne for the middle names of the girls? Both her mother and mother-in-law had the middle name, Anne, so she could placate them both without disturbing the peace and harmony of her family.

The last step in their preparations was to empty the safety deposit box and her jewelry box. This would hopefully ensure that everyone received that which was intended for them.

Four shoe boxes were sitting on the coffee table, one for each child. The safety deposit box contents were emptied from the old leather briefcase they'd brought the items home in. The first was Merle's grandfather's Railroad watch. He set the time and wound it, not at all surprised that it still worked after all these years.

He could still remember Grandpa sitting in his father's house in his old rocking chair and pulling the watch from his vest pocket to check the time to make sure he didn't miss his favorite radio programs. Grandpa had been a widower for 15 years before he took his leave of this world and Merle, with his tumor, didn't have the ability nor the intention of walking in his lonely footsteps.

The watch went into Matt's box.

Kate removed an old fashioned wooden box and opening it smiled as she recognized her grandma's old ivory cameo brooch. Grandma only wore it to church on Sunday and at her death Kate's mother received it. It was now well over one hundred years old and yellowing with age.

The brooch was placed back in the box and deposited into Ruth Anne's box.

Each item was placed in this box or that until it was time for Kate to divide up her jewelry. As each piece was picked up a memory would flash through her mind and a smile appear on her lips as she and Merle recalled some event she'd worn that particular piece to, to augment her lovely appearance on that particular occasion.

Finally all was completed; letters written, legal things taken care of, and it was time:

Merle had carried the bottles of drugs they'd selected up to the bedroom. The drugs they hoped would launch them into eternity in a calm peaceful sleep of welcome togetherness.

On the last morning of the last day of their lives on this mortal coil, they woke early and ate a very light breakfast of toast and jam. For lunch they had another light lunch of toast and jam, washing it down with a delightful Burgundy.

As the late afternoon sun slowly drifted towards the backyard, Merle picked up the wine bottle as they slowly moved up the stairs side by side to their communal bedroom.

They removed their clothing, placing the folded items on a chair. Moving into the shower they softly and lovingly soaped and rinsed their partner off. During this exchange a feeling so intense engulfed the two of them it almost brought them to tears.

It was as if all of the fifty-five years of living and loving enveloped them within its folds in its totality.

Their plans were suddenly revised.

The feeling to join together in mind and body a final time was so overpowering it overcame all else.

Moving slowly to the bed each with an arm around the other in their need to unite, they pulled the covers back and lay down facing each other.

For many minutes they caressed each other and softly kissed and fondled their partner. Kate softly stroked her lover's penis into hardness as he sucked on the nipples and squeezed the breasts he'd worshipped for so long. Slowly his fingers slid in and out of the pussy that had welcomed and nestled his penis so many times.

Finally she threw her leg over the leg of her lover and gently pulled his penis into her waiting wet folds. Slowly, ever so slowly, he slid his penis deeper into her, pausing in agonizing delay until her sheath was accustomed to the fullness.

When he was at last fully engulfed into her warm wet pussy they both stopped all movement to bask in the warmth of their partners flesh.

The feeling that had overpowered them in the shower returned with an intensity so overwhelming it drove the both of them to tears. Their body movements were minimal. It was no longer about the physical act; it was the totality of mind and body truly merged and melded with the mind and body of their partner.

When they each climaxed it was not earth shattering or mind blowing but rather a final gift of each to the other.

As she lay with him still slightly engulfed, her head on his shoulder, his arm around her stroking her back as his other hand softly caressed her breast, she kissed his chest and whispered, "Merle, honey, before we uh . . you know, I'm so sleepy. Could we take a short nap?"

The two lovers closed their eyes and drifted off in a peaceful, contented, oneness.

Matt's story . . .

After breakfast I checked my e-mail. There was one from Mom (Dad is not a computer guru). All it said was Come Home Now!

Queer!

I picked up the phone to talk to my three sisters. Each had received the same e-mail with the same time stamp.

An uneasy feeling settled over the four of us and we agreed to meet at Mom's and Dad's immediately.

I arrived first and was just mounting the porch steps as Ruth Anne drove up. Unlocking the front door with my key I was assailed by the smell of gas. Throwing the door open, I shouted at Ruth Anne to call 911 as I moved around the house to shut off the gas at the meter. With the gas off I headed to the back door to get it open.

Having done all I could, I returned to the front of the house as Elizabeth Anne and Rachel Anne drove up. I quickly apprised them of my discovery even as the sirens wailed in the background.

The fire truck pulled up first and two of the firemen quickly donned breathing apparatus. As soon as they were outfitted they headed for the house to check things out and get the windows open.

Right behind them an emergency medical ambulance pulled up at the same time. The medic looked vaguely familiar but he was putting on his breathing apparatus so I couldn't be sure.

The two firemen returned shortly and removing their masks, congratulated me on turning off the gas at the meter and getting the doors open, and then moved off to warn the neighbors to not light off BBQ's or do anything else stupid until the gas dissipated.

The medic finally exited the house and removed his apparatus. Now I recognized him.

Several years ago there'd been a rash of what OSHA calls industrial accidents, including a heart attack or two at our company. In an effort to keep OSHA off their backs and limit lawsuits, the powers-that-be decided to upgrade their emergency equipment and to ensure there was someone qualified in first aid in each section and each shift.

John Palmer had been our instructor.

"Lo Matt,"

"Lo John," I replied.

"Can I talk to you in private?" he asked.

Moving off my sisters tried to follow but I waved them off.

With his back to my sisters he gave me the story of what he'd found.

"I assume that is your mother and father in the house?" With my assent he continued:

"They are apparently dead but it'll be for the Medical Examiner to make that determination and the cause of death."

"But, they died of gas poisoning . .," I started but he shushed me.

"Strictly speaking if death is from natural causes it would probably be death by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning," he uttered.

"If?. . natural causes?" I injected.

"Matt on the dresser were several sealed manila envelopes and four sealed boxes with names on them. I recognized yours on one of them. Next to the bed were several bottles of pills and a book titled, Final Exit. I think they were planning to commit suicide."

"Did they?" I had to know!

"I'm not sure and that's why we have to wait for the ME. In this state suicide is a crime so this may be a crime scene and so my hands are tied until he gets here."

Placing an arm around my shoulder, John tried to reassure me, "Personally I don't think it got to that point. The bottles all seemed full and it appeared to me that they fell asleep before they could take them."

"If it helps, Matt, I know the ME and I think I can get you and your sisters in to view the bodies but only under strict supervision, strict rules, and no touching of anything."

The ME arrived shortly and after a quick conversation, John and the ME escorted us into the bedroom. Mom and Dad were sleeping peacefully in each others arms with a contented smile on their faces. As I looked at them something caught my eye; the way the covers were pulled up around them could only have been accomplished by someone not in the bed. I looked at John and I swear he blushed.

In order to quickly rule on the cause of death the ME counted the pills in each bottle, checking it against the number of pills on the bottle label. It all checked out and he tentatively ruled that death was accidentally caused by Carbon Monoxide Poisoning due to the gas leak.

About a month after the funeral John and I were sitting in my living room slugging down a beer while our wives hustled up supper. John and I had renewed the friendship we'd established during the days I'd sat through his first aid classes.

The ball game was droning in the background on the TV when John turned to me and said some very disquieting things he must surely been mulling over in his mind for quite awhile.

"When the ME was finally able to establish the probable time of death some very disturbing things cropped up. Why did the hot water heater and the stove pilot lights both go off? They must have from the gas levels the fireman got on their meters. Why did the electricity fail? Because of the gas we never checked when we went into the house because of the possibility of an explosion. We worked by flashlight. Matt, I've been to dozens of gas leaks and I'll tell you that in most of them the house was laying all over the neighborhood from the resultant explosion and fire."

"The gas company came out that afternoon after checking their boards and no one reported anything and the meters showed no possible explanation."

"The power company did the same thing and there was no explanation as to why the power failed only in your mom's and dad's house."

His final words on the subject were the most thought provoking;

"Matt, did you notice the clock on their bed stand? Neither did I until I was getting ready to leave and something caught my eye. The light over the bathroom mirror came on and the clock suddenly began blinking 12:00 over and over. The power had just come back on."

"I've read the book and the author warned against trying to commit suicide by gas because of the unpleasant gas odor and the danger of explosion. It's also obvious they didn't cut the power so why did the failure occur? Why did the power stay off until the house was gas free?"

"I've seen some very strange events occur in my twenty two years that are beyond explanation and this one numbers right near the top."

I sipped my beer as my mind tried to absorb all that John had just told me. I remembered my sisters and I looking at them lying there in their bed; a couple tightly holding each other with a smile on their lips as they lovingly and together left all trouble and care behind them to begin a new journey.

Had the hand of fate or some greater power stepped in to prevent mom and dad from having to take that final fatal step by their own hand and instead allowed the couple to go to their maker lovingly, together, and with clear consciences, just as they'd lived their lives?

The end

All comments are gratefully accepted

Ronnie Wachuka

Sign me a Horny 'ol Sailor

30-