Flashback One

September 1992

Fifteen-year-old Rig Johnson walked into his first-period history class on the first day of high college. He was cool and confident, expecting to have a great first day. I mean, why wouldn’t he? He was one of the most famous boys throughout middle college. The fact that this was a completely different college in a completely different town in a completely different state didn’t bother him in the slightest. He was a well-rounded boy who excelled at dealing with change. He had just taken his seat at an empty desk towards the back of the room when he was immediately accosted by another boy.

“Hey,” the boy said, slamming his backpack down on Rig’s desk in front of him. “This’s my seat.”

Rig was unperturbed. He offered the boy a polite greeting. “I’m Rig Johnson,” he said, sticking out his hand.

The boy slapped at his hand but Rig moved it out of the way before it could make contact. “I don’t care if you’re the Pope. You’re in my seat,” the boy said again. Rig began to look around the seat, under the desk, behind the chair. “What are you looking for?” the boy asked, snickering.

“I’m looking for a name,” Rig replied. “If it is your seat, then your name should be on it somewhere, shouldn’t it?”

The boy’s face reddened in anger as some of the other kids laughed. He reached for Rig’s shoulder as if to pull him out of the chair. Quick as lightning, Rig grabbed him by his two middle fingers and tilted them up, bending his wrist back. The boy immediately went to his knees. “Ow, ow, ow-ow-ow,” the boy whined in pain.

“That’s the second time you tried to touch me in a way I didn’t authorize,” Rig informed him. “Please don’t do it again.” His tone was still polite, but with a slight edge. He let go of the boy. He grabbed the backpack off of his desk and handed it to the boy with a polite smile.

The boy was rubbing his wrist as he stood up. He snatched his backpack out of Rig’s hand and walked away, fuming. “Don’t mind Lance.”

Rig turned to his right to see a stunning brunette girl in the seat next to him. He smiled, showing off his braces. “I don’t usually mind anyone trying to bully me,” he replied. “That’s why I didn’t get up.” He winked.

She blushed. “My name’s Rebecca,” she offered. “Rebecca Stewart.”

“Nice to meet you, Rebecca. I’m Rig Johnson,” Rig replied.

She giggled. “I know. I heard.” She smiled. Rig’s heart stopped beating for a second. “So, first day?” she asked.

“Isn’t it everybody’s?” Rig asked with a mischievous smile.

She giggled again and blushed, embarrassed. “I suppose it is,” she answered shyly.

Rig laughed softly. “I’m sorry, Becca. I can be too much of a smart-aleck for my own good,” he smiled. “Yes, this is my first day at this school.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, for the love of all that is good and holy, never call me that again,” she said and smiled. “I hate that name.”

It was Rig’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry,” he apologized. “It’ll never happen again.”

She narrowed her eyes playfully. “See that it doesn’t, sir,” she winked.

His heart skipped a beat. “So, you’re from around here?” he asked. He was suddenly nervous. He’d never been hesitant to talk to girls before. There was something about this one, though.

“Yup,” she answered. “Since I popped out of my momma’s coochie.” She giggled.

“Well, I guess that’s one way to put it,” he said, laughing.

She shrugged. “Sometimes people say I have no filter. I just say what’s on my mind.”

“That can get you into trouble if you’re not careful,” he replied.

“I know,” she said, shrugging. “I just don’t care.” She smiled then nibbled on her bottom lip. “Listen, um, I don’t usually do this, but, um,” she trailed off.

“I’d love to,” he answered.

She blinked. “You don’t even know what I was gonna say!”

He turned in his seat to face her fully. He looked into her eyes. She had the most mesmerizing green eyes he’d ever seen. He was suddenly at a loss for words. “Wow,” he whispered.

“What?” she asked, blinking her eyes at him, unsure.

“Your eyes,” he said. “They’re the most beautiful shade of green I’ve ever seen. Like a springtime forest.”

She blushed deeply, but had the biggest smile on her face. “Momma says it’s an anomaly. Only two percent of the world’s population has green eyes, but my shade of dark green is even more rare. Something like, one in a billion, is what she says.”

“Either way, I’m smitten,” he said, then blushed, but never took his eyes off of hers. “Wanna go see a movie Saturday?” he blurted out.

Before she could answer, the teacher came in and started taking roll. She hurriedly scribbled something on a piece of paper, then wadded it up and tossed it at him. He caught it and opened it. He grinned so big it hurt his cheeks, but he didn’t care. He read the note again. [I’d love to, but, you gotta meet my parents first. 😉 XOXO]. Rig didn’t notice the scowl on Lance’s face from two rows up.

You might say it was love at first sight for Rig and Rebecca, even if it was puppy love. From that day forward, however, they were inseparable. It turned out there was only one class that they didn’t have together. He had chosen Spanish as an elective while she chose French. Other than that, one would rarely be seen without the other.

A week after their first date, Rig brought Rebecca home to meet his parents. Upon walking through the door, Rebecca marveled at the beauty of his parents’ house. “Wow,” she whispered in awe. “It’s so beautiful. What do your parents do for a living?” she asked.

“Dad’s a neurosurgeon and mom’s a…well…” he faltered.

“Just call me Suzy homemaker,” Rig’s mom said, approaching the pair in the foyer with a wide smile. She was considerably shorter than Rig; even a few inches shorter than Rebecca. She was a plump, middle-aged woman with twinkling eyes, a winning smile, and perfect blonde hair that went to her lower back.

Rebecca giggled. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Johnson,” she greeted Rig’s mom.

“Oh, please, honey,” his mom said, waving her hand out and down in a dismissive gesture. “You can call me Suzy, or just Sue.” She winked at Rebecca as she wrapped her in a hug.

Rebecca’s eyes went wide. “Oh! I’m sorry!” she apologized as she pulled back from returning the hug. “I didn’t mean to laugh, but, I thought you were joking.”

Suzy grinned, reaching for Rebecca’s hand. “Come on, let me give you the tour.”

“Sue,” Rig’s dad chastised as he joined them. He was a spitting image of Rig, only older. “Honey, why don’t you let your son show his girlfriend around?”

Suzy sighed and looked down at the floor. “Okay,” she said dejectedly, then smiled at the kids adoringly. “I’m sorry,” she apologized. “I’m just so excited! This is the first girl our little Reggie has brought home!”

“Mom,” Rig groaned and rolled his eyes.

Rebecca squeezed Rig’s arm. “Maybe,” she began. “Maybe after Rig shows me the house, you can show me the kitchen?” she offered. “I love to cook.”

Suzy beamed. “Absolutely! If I had known that, I would have asked Reggie to bring you earlier and you could help me cook dinner!”

Rebecca smiled warmly. “Next time, then,” she said. Suzy smiled and looked at Rig, Sr. He nodded. Suzy went back into the kitchen. Rebecca looked at Rig with a questioning raised eyebrow.

Rig cleared his throat, then introduced his dad. “Rebecca, this is my dad, Rig, Sr. Dad, this is Rebecca. She doesn’t like to be called Becca, just so you know.”

The older Rig smiled. “I’ll make a note of that,” he replied, smiling. “A pleasure to meet you, Rebecca.”

“Likewise, Mr. Johnson,” Rebecca replied. “Um,” she hesitated. “I have no filter, so I hope I’m not out of line, but,” she blushed but powered on. “can I ask what that was about?” she asked as she motioned towards Suzy.

Senior smiled and looked at Rig. “Son, why don’t you take Rebecca downstairs before dinner and show her the library?” he said with a knowing smile.

Rig paled. “But, dad, sh-“

“It’s alright, son,” Senior interrupted with an upraised palm, looking at Rebecca. “There’s something about this one. I feel it in my gut.” He turned to leave, to give them some alone time, before turning back with a hesitant look on his face. He raised his closed hand with an upraised index finger. “Maybe, wait on showing her the ‘other’ room, just yet.” He emphasized the word ‘other’ before winking and turning to walk away.

Rebecca looked at Rig with utter confusion on her face. Rig, however, looked like he was about to be dragged off to the guillotine for his execution. He swallowed a lump in his throat before looking down at Rebecca. She looked up at him with those adoring green eyes and he melted. He took her hand and led her downstairs to the basement. “Come on,” Rig said. “I had hoped to wait a bit longer to introduce you to this part of our lifestyle, but, Dad’s the master of the house. What he says goes.”

“I’m confused,” Rebecca said.

“I’m sorry,” Rig apologized. “I’ll try to explain in a bit.”

“Okay,” she agreed. “Do you mind if I ask a question, though?”

“Sure,” Rig answered.

“Is your mom a submissive?” she asked. Rig stopped in his tracks and looked at her with wide eyes. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

“How do you-” Rig started.

“Hey, I’m not a prude,” she interrupted him. “I do read.”

“Alright,” Rig said, continuing down the stairs. “Let me guess, fiction?”

“Among other things,” she whispered under her breath.

Rig turned a corner and started towards shelves of books. Rebecca pulled him back and quickly kissed him. Her lips were soft as silk and sent jolts of electricity throughout his body. He stood there, stunned. She pulled back and smiled shyly at him, batting her eyelashes. He could have melted into a puddle right then and there. “What was that for?” he asked in a hoarse whisper.

She blushed deeply. “Because I wanted to,” she said, simply.

They heard footsteps descending the stairs and moved aside, but kept hold of each other’s hands. “You two okay down here?” Rig’s father said, coming into view.

“Yes, sir,” Rig answered. “We were just getting to the books.”

“Just checking,” Senior said. “Dinner will be ready in a half-hour.” He looked at Rig and winked before walking back up the stairs.

“I have a question,” Rebecca asked. She looked extremely apprehensive. “It’s one I’ve been wanting to ask for a while now, but, well, I didn’t want to upset you.”

“I’m an open book,” he replied, smiling. “Whatever you want to ask, I’ll answer.”

She smiled softly. “Well, it’s just that you’re a year older than me,” she began. “You’re fifteen, sooo,” she shuffled her feet and looked at the floor, “shouldn’t you, you know, be a…sophomore…this year?”

His smile faded as he sighed. “Honestly, it’s not something I’m proud of, obviously,” he said. “It’s just that, well, I didn’t do too well last year. I slacked off. On purpose. I was bored in all my classes and I decided to just goof off all year. I barely passed, but after my parents all but knocked some sense into me, I decided to hold myself back. You know, sort of a re-do so I could get it right.”

“So, you actually wanted to repeat the ninth grade?” she asked, surprised.

He nodded. “I already talked to all my teachers this year and explained to them why I’m repeating the ninth grade, and they all agreed to make it challenging for me. You know, to make sure I’m properly motivated.” He winked at her.

She smiled. “I think that’s the first I’ve heard of anyone wanting to be held back.”

He shrugged. “I guess I’m made of different stuff than you’re used to seeing.”

“And I’m not complaining one bit,” she coyly stated, then giggled.

They sat and talked for a while while Rig showed her numerous books that his father recommended.

“Dinner’s ready you two!” Senior called down to the two.

“Coming!” the two kids responded simultaneously.