The First Time Part 1 of 2 By Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk) Part 1 quite harmless, Part 2 PG advised Summary: A nostalgic Mulder recalls a *hot* summer spent at the beach. Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully etc. are the property of Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten Thirteen Productions and are used without permission. No infringement of copyright intended. I do this for the love of it! Constructive comment and criticism welcome, anything else will be cheerfully ignored! The First Time Present Day Fox Mulder tapped the steering wheel of his car impatiently. He hated being stuck in traffic, especially when the temperature was in the high eighties, like today. He cursed himself for not putting on a pair of shorts instead of the thick jeans that were slowly roasting his legs, and wished that he had remembered to get the in-car air conditioning fixed. He moistened his lips with the tip of his tongue - a cold drink wouldn't have gone amiss at that point. Fox sighed, and inched the car forward a few more feet before coming to another juddering halt. He shook his head - trust his mother to pick this weekend of all weekends to summon him up to the Vineyard, when the roads were choc-a-bloc and the ferries packed with tourists. What irked him more than anything was the assumption that when she called, he would come running - which, of course, he invariably did. The other thing that annoyed him was that she never considered that he might already have commitments - she just expected him to drop everything, no matter how important it might be. It wasn't that she was inconsiderate - she just didn't stop to think. Fox sighed, wishing he didn't feel so uncharitable. He was all she had left now. He had thought about trying to persuade her to come and live nearer to him, but then thought better of it. Although he loved her, he preferred to keep her at arm's length. Fox wound down his window until it was fully open, then rested his elbow there, half in, half out. The heat was unbearable, made worse by the sheer amount of traffic and all those car engines which, like his, were just sitting there, gradually overheating. There was no breeze to speak of, just a ghastly pall of heat. He reached out and switched on the radio, desperate to relieve the boredom somehow. He tried a number of stations that were mostly all talk. Finally, he found something worth listening to. It was an oldies station. The Beatles suddenly blared out of the speakers, making Fox jump and reach out hurriedly to lower the volume. He tapped his fingers along in time to the music, and mouthed the words, not caring about the funny looks he was getting from his fellow travellers. He moved the car forward a few more feet, and idly wondered if he'd be lucky to reach home before nightfall. Okay, that was a bit of an exaggeration, but given the traffic, it was a distinct possibility. The first thing he would do when he arrived back at his apartment would be to take a long, cool shower - by then he reckoned he would have earned it. Fox continued to sweat, feeling it run down the back of his neck. One ear was on the radio while his mind was occupied with work related matters. He had promised himself an early start the next morning, to make up for the time lost in going up to his mother's, but that was looking increasingly unlikely from where he was sitting, unless by some miracle the traffic suddenly started moving again and he had a clear run all the way home. Besides, it was mainly paperwork that was awaiting him back at the office, and that wasn't his favourite part of the job, so maybe it wasn't such a bad thing being stuck in this interminable jam..... Fox tuned back into the radio just as some familiar bars of music spilled out of the speakers. The DJ was gabbling on about "something for all you romantics out there", while Fox recognised the distinctive intro to Bobby Goldsboro's "Summer the First Time". He leaned across, turned up the volume and lost himself in the music, transported back in time to the summer of 1975. That long, hot summer had been memorable for several things - but one thing stood above everything else. Fox Mulder had met Sally Martin. Chilmark, Massachusetts - Summer 1975 His mother had entered one of her periodic depressions, so for the second year running the Mulders' summer residence at Quonochontaug remained unused. Fox was left to kick his heels in Chilmark for the entire summer vacation - a prospect that didn't exactly thrill him. His best friend Joe had gone to England with his parents and sister to visit relatives, leaving no-one to share with him the delights of going swimming, riding on their bikes and generally getting up to mischief. Fox was also still learning to cope with the loss of his sister, Samantha - she had been a real pain in the butt at times, but he would have given anything to have her there with him now. Then there was the atmosphere at home - meals eaten in stony silence, his mother's eyes filling with tears every time Samantha's name was mentioned, which wasn't often - it was as if she had ceased to exist. Fox had grown oblivious to the pitying looks and whispered comments that followed him wherever he went - it was bad enough that his parents blamed him for Sam's disappearance, having left her that night in his care, without feeling that everyone else blamed him too. Her disappearance had left a gaping hole in his life - one that would never be filled until he found out what had happened to her. The one abiding constant in Fox's life was the belief that one day he would see Sam again - without that, all hope was lost. So, Fox Mulder filled his days as best he could - he cut a solitary figure, often pounding endless circuits around the running track or shooting hoops in his yard. He spent hours in his room reading, and went for long rides on his bike. It was on one of these rides that he met Sally Martin. Still only fourteen, a few months off his fifteenth birthday, Fox had a maturity far beyond his years. He had also suddenly shot up in height, and although he hadn't yet gained the angular looks of his adult years, he was still a good looking boy - a fact that Sally Martin hadn't failed to notice as she sat herself beside him on the low sea wall. Fox had stopped to buy an ice cream and his intention was to sit and eat it in quiet contemplation, but Sally put paid to that. "You're Fox Mulder, aren't you?" she asked brightly. "Who wants to know?" he replied, not taking his eyes away from the distant horizon. "I do," said Sally, licking her rapidly melting ice cream. Fox turned to face the source of this unwelcome interruption, and his mouth dropped open in surprise. "You're Sally Martin!" he announced, taking in her sun bleached white-blonde hair, her lightly tanned skin and the palest blue eyes he'd ever seen. His eyes travelled over her body, which was covered, if that was the word, in a white halter necked top that ended somewhere short of her midriff, and the skimpiest pair of red shorts imaginable. Fox knew all about Sally - or he thought he did. He'd seen her around at school, usually surrounded by a gaggle of boys. Sally was sixteen, so they didn't move in the same circles. She had a somewhat racy reputation, and more than once he'd heard his mother refer to "that Martin girl" and her latest misdemeanour. It didn't take a genius, therefore, to work out that Sally Martin was not someone of whom Helen Mulder would approve, and William Mulder even less. "Is that your bike?" asked Sally, nodding to the shiny red machine that was propped beside Fox on the sea wall. "Yes," he replied proudly. The bike had been his fourteenth birthday present from his parents and Fox cleaned it religiously every week until it shone. He loved that bike and all that it represented - the opportunity to get away from home and be by himself as often as he could - so he didn't mind lavishing as much time and attention on it as he did. Fox never let anyone touch it, let alone ride it - not even Joe, so he was surprised to hear himself blurt, "Would you like to ride it?" "Can I?" asked Sally, hers eyes wide. Fox nodded, and she stood up, brushing her hands lightly over her backside and the back of her thighs to rid herself of sand and dust. Fox's eyes travelled up her slim, tanned legs - legs that seemed to go on forever. She was tall, but still at least a couple of inches shorter than he was, as he found out when he stood up beside her. He let her ride the bike all the way back to Chilmark while he walked alongside of her. For the first time during this long, lonely summer vacation, Fox seemed to be enjoying himself. Sally had a pretty, infectious giggle, and he liked the way the breeze ruffled her hair. When they reached the outskirts of the town, she dismounted, handing the bike back to him. "Thanks," she said. "You're welcome," replied Fox, glancing at his watch. "I'd better go, or my mom will be worried." "Me too," said Sally. "Maybe I'll see you tomorrow?" "Maybe." Fox didn't want to agree too readily. He wanted time to think about it. "See you then," said Sally, taking a step back. "Yeah, see you." Fox stowed his beloved bike in the garage beside his mother's car, and locked it. As he went into the house, he rehearsed in his mind what he was going to tell her should she enquire as to his day. She usually did, but he was relieved to find her on the phone when he reached the main part of the house. Still, she might ask over dinner, so it was as well to be prepared. By the tone of the conversation, and the brittleness of her voice, Fox guessed that his mother was talking to his father. She was in turn angry and tearful - it was only years later that Fox would discover the depth of her hatred for his father. He heard her slam the phone down, then she came into the living room. "Fox! I didn't hear you come in!" Helen Mulder was plainly startled to see her son sitting there. She wondered how much of the conversation he had heard....... He'd find out soon enough that she was filing for divorce, unable to stay any longer with a man that had done what William Mulder had done. She wiped her eyes, and Fox was thankful that his father wasn't there in person - the sound of one raised voice was quite enough. Helen and Fox Mulder ate their dinner in silence. She never asked about his day, being preoccupied with other things. Fox just kept quiet, and went up to his room after he had helped her to clear away and wash up the dinner things. With William Mulder away on State Department business much of the time, Helen Mulder had come to rely more and more upon her son for practical and emotional support. It was a lot to expect of him, she knew, but Helen Mulder had no-one else to turn to, and nowhere else to go. Fox had been forced to grow up before his time, and she laid the blame for that squarely at the door of her husband. The following morning was bright and sunny, heralding the arrival of another hot day. Fox got out his bike and cycled the short distance to the little grocery store on an errand for his mother. He was just slinging the carrier bag containing his purchases onto the handlebars when he heard, "Hello again." He turned, and there was Sally, wearing a blue T-shirt and navy shorts. "Hello," replied Fox. "I'm just getting some groceries for my mom." "Me too," explained Sally. "Care for a soda?" Fox's eyes narrowed briefly - what if someone told his mom that they'd seen him with "that Martin girl"? He shrugged, throwing all caution to the wind. "Okay!" he replied cheerfully. Fox couldn't fathom out why she would want to spend any time with him, when there were older boys around, but at the same time, he felt a frisson of excitement knowing that he was keeping company with someone most people disapproved of. "My cousins are staying," said Sally suddenly, as they sat on a bench drinking their sodas. "We're going to the beach to play volleyball - do you want to come?" Fox didn't need any time to make up his mind. A game of volleyball was far more preferable to his own company. "Thanks!" he replied, his face lighting up. "I'll need to get these home first.....where shall I meet you?" "Down on the beach, about half an hour?" suggested Sally. "I'll be there!" Fox said eagerly. Fox discovered that Sally's cousins came from New York, and they varied in age from ten to eighteen. After several aggressively fought games, they all flopped onto the warm sand, feeling hot and sweaty. Someone suggested a swim to cool off, but Fox demurred, not having thought to bring along his swimming gear. He didn't think his mother would take too kindly to him coming home with wet clothes. Sally elected to stay on dry land and keep Fox company, unpacking the sandwiches and pop that her mother had thoughtfully provided. Mrs. Martin had supplied enough food to sustain a small army, with sandwiches that were like deli sandwiches - stuffed so full that you could hardly take a bite out of them without all the filling tumbling out. Fox compared these offerings to the dainty little things his mom made, and found hers wanting. They were joined by the others, and the food and drink rapidly disappeared. Fox watched Sally as she delicately nibbled on a sandwich, wondering if her reputation was justified. The breeze caught her hair, whipping it into her face. She reached up shyly to tuck it behind her ear, conscious of Fox's dark eyes on her. He flushed slightly when he realised that she knew he was watching, then bowed his head so that she couldn't see his cheeks burning. He wished that funny little feeling in his stomach, the one that he got when he looked at her, would go away. He quickly finished his sandwich and remaining pop, then helped to clear up. The sun was at its zenith, and Fox knew that if he didn't find some shade, he would burn. Sally, though, seemed oblivious to the heat and the intensity of the sun's rays - she lay back contentedly on the sand, her forearm resting comfortably across her eyes. Fox looked around, and saw that her cousins had all done the same. Not wanting to be thought soft, he remained where he was, knowing that he would pay for it later. And pay for it he did, with a vicious headache and gut wrenching vomiting. He couldn't bear his skin to be touched, not even when his mother tried to smooth on some soothing lotion. He wanted to cry with the pain - he'd never, never do that again. His mother wasn't in the least bit sympathetic when he told her he'd fallen asleep in the sun - she'd have been even less so if she'd known the real reason. So, he was forced to stay around the house for a few days, at least until most of the pain and redness had subsided. To be continued in Part 2. The First Time Part 2 of 2 By Carol Gritton (jimcaz@dircon.co.uk) Part 1 quite harmless, Part 2 PG advised Summary: A nostalgic Mulder recalls a *hot* summer spent at the beach. Disclaimer: Fox Mulder, Dana Scully etc. are the property of Chris Carter, Fox Broadcasting and Ten Thirteen Productions and are used without permission. No infringement of copyright intended. I do this for the love of it! Constructive comment and criticism welcome, anything else will be cheerfully ignored! Fox was looking forward to seeing Sally again - he had thought of nothing else during his confinement at home - and he cycled to the beach with an air of anticipation about him. And there she was - he could see her down below on the sand, her hair flowing out behind her as she ran around what looked like an improvised baseball diamond, with various articles of clothing doubling as the bases. He made his way down to join her, and she called a brief halt to the game. "Hey, Fox!" she cried, waving to him. "Where've you been? We've missed you - we were a man short for our team!" "Er, I got sunburnt - my mom kept me at home," he mumbled, feeling stupid, and looking decidedly sheepish. "Well, I hope you're feeling better," said Sally softly, touching his arm lightly. Fox winced - his skin still felt sore. "Oh, sorry," she said quickly, drawing her hand away. She nodded to the others. "We're playing baseball - want to join us?" "Okay!" replied Fox, his face beaming. He spent most of his time watching Sally - she looked great in her little top and shorts. She moved gracefully when she ran, reminding Fox of a gazelle, or something equally exotic, her feet kicking up the sand behind her. She was pleased to see Fox again - she didn't stop smiling at him all morning, and she sat close to him when they all sat down and enjoyed another of Mrs.Martin's picnics. "Would you like to go to the movies this afternoon?" asked Fox suddenly and unexpectedly bravely. He wanted to spend the rest of the day with Sally, but not out in the sun. He'd learned his lesson, and learned it well. "Sure," she replied agreeably. "What's on?" "Jaws," answered Fox. He'd been dying to see it, especially as some scenes had been filmed locally, causing much excitement at school. "Is it scary?" "I hope so!" grinned Fox. The small cinema was thankfully air conditioned, a welcome respite from the searing heat outdoors. Fox was aware of Sally leaning against his shoulder, and of the heat and faint perfume that her skin was giving off. He tried to ignore it, and concentrated intently on the film. In the dark, Sally reached out and slipped her hand into his, but Fox snatched his hand away quickly. He knew it was ridiculous, but he didn't want any one reporting to his mother that he'd been at the movies, holding hands with Sally Martin. He was aware that no-one would possibly see that in the dark, but he wasn't about to take any chances. He didn't mention it afterwards, and neither did Sally, although she seemed rather quiet. They went for a soda on the way home, but neither of them said very much, and conversation was difficult. He guessed that Sally was annoyed with him, and silently vowed to make it up to her. Quite how, he hadn't worked out, but he felt sure that he'd think of something. So, summer progressed. Fox's days followed a familiar pattern of beach games, cycle rides, swimming, walks and visits to the movies. Most of these activities were undertaken in Sally's company, and sometimes her cousins came along too. After the ill-fated attempt at hand holding, Sally had not tried again, much to Fox's disappointment. As much as he wanted to hold her hand, maybe even kiss her, he couldn't find it in himself to do so. The thought of his mother's reaction if she ever found out was enough to put him off. If the news ever reached his father's ears, he'd never live to see his fifteenth birthday - of that he was quite sure. Fox came out of the grocery store and started walking slowly up the road, scuffing his feet in the dust. He heard a familiar voice calling, "Fox! Hey, Fox! Wait up!" He turned, and there was Sally trotting up behind him, her face flushed and her hair dancing in the breeze. "Where's your bike?" she asked, noticing that for once Fox was without his usual mode of transport. "Puncture," he replied. "I haven't had time to fix it." "Oh," said Sally. "Are you coming to the fair? There's a beach barbecue afterwards - do you think you could come?" Fox hesitated. "I don't know - I'll have to ask my mom." He guessed she wouldn't be thrilled at the prospect, especially now she had the divorce to worry about. "Well, will you ask?" "Sure, but don't hold your breath." He had to choose his moment carefully. "Mom? Is it okay if I go to the fair? Some kids from school are going, and there's a beach barbecue after." To his surprise, his mother gave him a warm smile. "Of course you can go!" she replied. "Just make sure that you come home on time!" "Yeah - I will. Thanks mom!" "You're welcome, Fox. You have a good time." It was the least she could do after the miserable summer vacation he'd had, what with his best friend away, and now that she'd broken the news to him about the divorce. He'd taken it rather well, as if he'd been half expecting it. Just as he was about to go out of the door, she called him back, rummaged in her purse and pressed ten dollars into his hands. Fox looked at her in surprise, mumbled his thanks, then took off lest she have a change of heart. At least she hadn't asked who the other kids were. Well, he hadn't lied exactly - Sally *was* a student at his school. He didn't actually say that these kids were his classmates...... A little voice whispered, "Quit worrying - she said Yes, didn't she? Just do what she says - have a good time!" They had a good time at the fair, going on all the rides at least once. Fox won a little teddy bear on the rifle range, which he presented to Sally. Then when they'd had enough of the noise and the bright lights, it was off to the beach. Fox loved barbecues - he liked the smell of the food cooking in the open air, and the fact that he could help himself to as much as he wanted. There was plenty of food to go round - hot dogs, hamburgers, steak for the grown-ups, chicken legs, fish, and numerous salads, relishes and dressings. Fox, Sally and the cousins helped themselves to the food, then silence reigned as they sat eating. They all chatted for a while - the cousins were heading back to New York in a few days. Fox would be sad to see them go - he'd had a lot of fun spending time with them, and they'd more than made up for Joe's absence. After a while, the group began to dwindle as the younger ones started to feel tired. Sally leaned towards Fox. "Let's go for a walk," she said in a low voice. "Okay," he replied. They set off along the beach, and once out of sight of the others, Fox slipped his hand into hers, smiling shyly at her. Sally looked very pretty in her sundress, with her hair flowing over her tanned shoulders. She'd removed her sandals and the sand squeezed up between her toes as she walked along the beach. The cut down jeans and pristine white T-shirt that Fox wore showed off his long, tanned limbs to perfection. His dark brown hair, which had grown over the holiday, flopped down over his brow, and he was constantly running his fingers through it to push it out of the way. Sally came to a stop, and sat down on the sand, folding her legs beneath her. "Let's sit for a while - I like to watch the sun go down," she said softly. Fox bent his long legs and sank down facing her - he liked watching the sunset too, but right now he'd prefer to look at Sally. They sat in silence for a while, then Sally asked coyly, "Don't you want to kiss me, Fox?" He blushed furiously, momentarily speechless, and unsure of what to do. But it was already too late - Sally was leaning forward, her mouth pressed against his and her tongue sliding its way between his lips. Fox's eyelids fluttered, and then his eyes closed as her tongue explored his mouth. As quickly as she had moved in, she now pulled back. Fox stared at her, his eyes wide. No-one had ever kissed him like that before. It had to be said that Fox wasn't a complete novice when it came to girls, but of the girls he had known, none of them had ever kissed like that, because he certainly would have remembered it, and none of them gave him that funny feeling in the pit of his stomach. "What's wrong?" asked Sally. "N, n, nothing, " stammered Fox, his throat suddenly as dry as the sand. Sally was still sitting facing him, a smile hovering around her mouth. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, then tossed her head, making her hair swing about her shoulders. Fox sat there, transfixed. Then her fingers went to the small pearly buttons that ran down the front of her sundress. Keeping her eyes focussed on Fox's, she undid the top two buttons and turned back the fabric, exposing the very tops of her breasts. Fox swallowed hard, and Sally leaned forward to kiss him again. Fox could feel his heart thumping in his chest and the blood rushing in his ears as Sally took his hand and gently placed it on the top of her breast. "Sally....." His voice sounded strangled, and the flesh beneath his trembling hand felt soft and warm. "What?" she asked softly, reaching up and undoing two more buttons on her sundress. Fox drew his hand away quickly - he was frightened of where this was leading, but at the same time curious. His furtive fumblings had never gotten any further than slipping a hand under a girl's sweater, let alone anything else. Yet here was Sally, inviting him to look, to touch - and he was paralysed with fear. Fox's mind was racing. Why him? Weren't there any boys of her own age, or older? He suddenly thought of Joe, who would have sold his soul to the Devil to be where Fox was now. Curiosity getting the better of him, Fox slipped a tentative hand inside Sally's sundress and closed it gently around her breast. She closed her eyes, drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He could discern the change in her breathing as his hand caressed the soft fullness of her breast, and the barely audible whimper she gave as his thumb accidentally stroked across her nipple. Fox suddenly withdrew his hand, and Sally's eyes flew open. She could see the confusion, and the longing, in his eyes. She lay back on the sand, and while Fox watched, mesmerised, she undid the remaining buttons of her sundress, then parted it. Fox stared down at her. She wore skimpy white panties, but her breasts were now fully bared to him, the tiny pink nipples erect. He'd never seen a real live naked woman before - and Sally didn't strictly count as naked - only the glossy centrefolds in the well-thumbed Playboy magazines that Joe kept stashed at the bottom of his closet. He was still staring down at her, his own ragged breathing sounding loud in his ears. Sally reached up, and pulled him towards her. Fox offered minimal resistance initially, then he succumbed. His weight pressed her into the soft sand, his hands not knowing where to touch her first. His mouth found hers, his tongue slipping easily between her lips as Sally's hands found the hem of his T-shirt and slid beneath it. With each touch of Sally's hands, the feeling in the pit of Fox's stomach grew stronger. Things were happening to him - things that he couldn't control. He'd never had feelings as strong as this before - the snatched kisses and cuddles with the other girls had never aroused him in this way. This was like being on a roller coaster that was unable to stop. He was experiencing excitement and terror in equal measures....being carried along on a wave of teenage hormones he hadn't yet learned to control. Fox didn't have time to think about it - he felt fingers tugging at the zipper on his cut-downs, and realised that it was Sally. She was pushing down his denims, then wriggling out of her panties. Fox Mulder was about to lose more than his heart. Later, Fox shivered as the cool breeze caressed his bare skin. He disentangled himself from Sally's embrace, and pulled on his T-shirt. He glanced at his watch - during the summer holidays he was allowed to stay out until ten o'clock - and noticed that it was almost five minutes to eleven. He jumped up, causing Sally to cry, "Where are you going?" "Home," he replied, and then he took off, running as fast as his legs would carry him. Fox ran all the way home, thankful for those endless circuits round the running track. He dashed up the steps, taking them two at a time, crashed through the front door and came face to face with his mother. "Where have you been?" demanded Helen Mulder frantically. "Do you know what time it is? I've been worried sick!" Fox could have kicked himself for being so thoughtless - he should have realised that she would panic when he wasn't home at the expected time. "I'm sorry, mom," he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes lest she was able to tell what he'd been up to. "I lost track of the time." She cast her eyes over him, over his tall, rangy frame, his head hung in shame. "Just be thankful that your dad isn't here - he wouldn't let you off so lightly." Fox was relieved that his father *wasn't* there - he'd have gotten more than a telling off, that was for sure. Helen Mulder sighed - she was unable to stay angry with Fox for long. He had enough of that from his father. At least he was home, and for that she was thankful. She reached out and gently squeezed his arm. "We'll say no more about it, okay?" "You won't tell dad?" "No. Now go on up to bed - I'll see you in the morning." Fox kissed his mother's cheek, then trooped up the stairs. After checking that she had gone back into the living room, he darted into the bathroom and locked the door. He stripped off his clothes and buried them at the bottom of the laundry basket, then stepped under the shower to rid himself of any incriminating evidence. He tumbled into bed, too keyed up to sleep. Eventually he drifted off, his dreams punctuated by visions of Sally Martin. Fox stared at himself in the mirror the next morning - the face that stared back at him looked exactly the same as it had the day before. He didn't know what he had expected to see - he had thought that maybe he might somehow be different, but there was no outward change that he could discern. The change was on the inside - it had been his first time, and the yardstick by which all future encounters would be measured. The feelings, the emotions, had been overwhelming in their intensity, and Fox wondered if he would ever feel like that again. He didn't see Sally that day, or the next - apparently she had gone off somewhere with her parents. Fox had taken the opportunity to buy Sally a gift - a pretty beaded leather Native American bracelet that he had purchased in a Gay Head craft shop. He was sure that Sally would like it when he gave it to her, only he never got the chance - for the last two weeks of the holidays, Helen Mulder went to visit relatives in Boston, taking Fox with her. The long, hot summer of 75 ended when Fox returned to school. There was no sign of Sally - the buzz going around the schoolyard was that she had gotten herself into trouble and the family had moved away hurriedly to avoid the scandal. Indeed, Fox had taken a detour on his way home from school and cycled past her house - a large "For Sale" sign stood on the front lawn. Years later, Fox had asked his mother what had happened to the Martin family. She had looked surprised. "I thought you knew - Sally got herself pregnant," Helen Mulder had replied. "I wasn't surprised - she was never anything but trouble, that girl." Fox had been stunned. "Did they know who the father was?" he had asked. Helen Mulder had shaken her head. "She never told them - I assume it was a local boy. God knows she always had enough of them hanging around her." "Where did they go?" "New York, I think. The Martins had family there. Why do you ask?" Fox shrugged. "I was just curious," he replied, not meeting her eyes. Fox never told his mother about that summer - he never told anyone, not even Joe. Present day The music faded, and Fox was back in the present. Whenever he heard that old Bobby Goldsboro track, it always reminded him of that summer - he could remember it as if it were yesterday. The smell of her skin, the softness of her hair, the sweet taste of her kisses. Many women had come and gone since then, but he had never forgotten Sally, or that night on the beach. Fox blinked, as if coming out of a daze, the sound of a car horn blaring in his ears. He looked into the mirror, and saw the driver behind gesticulating wildly, and none too politely. His eyes dropped to the road ahead - the traffic had moved on. Fox let the car roll forward. The traffic had inexplicably thinned out, and he was able to put his foot down. He was looking forward to getting home and taking that shower - after he'd dug out that beaded leather bracelet he'd bought all those years ago. The End