There's No Place Like Home 1 "Brother & Sister Erotic Coming of Age" (Extremely Taboo Series) (3 page)

"Where should we go?" Jenny asked as they sat on a bench, looking at the map of bus routes.

"I want to get away from this part of the country, but I think we might get overwhelmed in a really big city. Let’s see if we can find a place that isn’t too big or too small. Someplace no one will look for us…" he answered.

They looked for several minutes but since they knew little of any other part of the country, had a tough time trying to decide.

"Close your eyes, Jenny." Peter asked.

"What for?" she answered.

"Just close your eyes and point to a spot on this map. I figure that is as good a way as any other to decide."

Jenny nodded, closed her eyes and put her finger on Kansas.

"OK with you?" she asked peter.

"Good as any other place. He replied, looking at the stops the bus would make in Kansas. They chose a town that seemed to be in the middle of the state and hopefully the kind of town they wanted to find.

Peter went to the counter to get them tickets. He still had little idea of the value of money, so just handed the clerk a wad of bills when he had to pay for their purchase. The clerk realized this young man was not wise in the ways of the world and considered taking a few bills extra for himself, but seeing Jenny and the bedraggled look of the pair, decided to do the right thing.

"The bus will be here in about an hour. I will call you when it is time to board." He said as Peter took the tickets from him.

Jenny sat with the cases while Peter went into the coffee shop to see what he could find for their breakfast, they had not eaten since yesterday at lunch. He emerged with several muffins and a carton of milk for each of them.

*****

They had been on the bus for 2 days now, having stopped for short rests several times in that span. The experience was new for them and they kept to themselves, although few on the bus made much effort to socialize with any of the others. They talked quietly and decided that they would have to come up with a story about themselves if anyone asked. Something not very close to their actual background to hide their actions from the other day. They decided that making a cover story that was too convoluted would only trip them up, so made things simple. They kept their first names the same, but decided to change their last name to Grey, something taken from the bus company. With the same last name, they would have to be related, but didn’t want to chance using brother and sister. Peter was having some thoughts about a more in depth background story, so suggested that they say they were married. Jenny didn’t have any objections, so the basic story was born.

*****

"OK you two, end of the line!" the driver announced as the bus came to a stop in the middle of Kansas.

Peter and his sister had been dozing most of the day, the long trip and the steady hum of the bus’s engine lulling them into sleep. The scenery had been mostly huge wheat fields with oil derricks dotting the landscape. Realizing the driver was speaking to them, peter roused Jenny and they got off the bus. The driver had opened the luggage compartment and removed their suitcases before they got off. The bus terminal was just off the highway, sitting next to a Burger King and a dirty looking gas station. The driver announced to those remaining on board that they would be here for about 20 minutes, so they could get off and stretch or find something to eat before continuing on.

A road behind the group of buildings led to town, some few houses and other structures visible maybe a quarter mile down. Peter and jenny each took their own suitcase and started to walk. The mid-afternoon sun in early July was hot, even though they had grown up accustomed to hot weather in Florida. By the time they had reached the first of the houses, they were sweating and hot from their walk.

"Where do you think we can find a place to stay?" jenny asked.

"I don’t know, I imagine once we get further into the town we might find something to give us some information." Her brother replied.

Jenny did not want to complain, just readjusted her grip on her bag and continued to walk with her brother. As they walked, more of the houses had trees growing in the yards, and the sidewalk along the street was more shaded. Able to get out of the direct sun, they felt energized and continued to walk.

Up ahead, a woman was watering the flowers planted around the trees near the street.

"Excuse me, ma’am, might we get a drink from your hose?" Peter asked as they neared the woman.

Not hearing them approach, the woman looked up from her task, surveying the hot and tired looking pair. "No." she said simply.

NO? Peter thought she was certainly inconsiderate, allowing them a drink from her hose would hardly be an imposition on her.

"No." the woman repeated. "Go over near the house and sit on the bench in the shade and I will get you proper glasses."

"That ain’t necessary, ma’am. We can get a drink from your hose no problem." Peter answered.

"Young man, didn’t your mother teach you to respect your elders?"

"Yes’m." Peter said, embarrassed.

"Then go sit in the shade and I will get you some water. Go on, get out of the hot sun."

Peter was thinking this woman was just like his mother, ordering them around. He did, however, not feel the superiority his mother always projected when telling him what to do. He hoped that this woman wasn’t typical of those who lived in this town.

He and jenny sat on the bench as they had been asked to do.

"She seems sort of mean." Jenny said softly as she looked around the yard.

"I know. Let’s get a drink and move on quickly." He replied.

The woman came back out of the house carrying a tray with 2 glasses, each filled with water and ice.

"You can sit here a bit and cool off. It is hot in the sun and you two look like you have been walking a long way." She started.

"We came in on the bus." Jenny ventured.

Looking at their suitcases, the woman asked "Do you have family here?"

"No ma’am. We are thinking about moving here." Peter replied, although he wasn’t certain just how much he wanted this stranger to know.

"Do you have any idea of what you are going to do?" she asked.

"No ma’am." Jenny answered before peter could say anything.

"What brings you here if you don’t have any idea of what you are going to do?"

Embarrassed and not wanting to look her in the eye, Peter replied "We had family trouble and this is as far as the bus took us."

"What sort of family problems? Wait, that really is none of my business." She added. Seeing that they each had finished the water, the woman asked "Would you like more water?"

Peter and jenny looked at each other before Jenny responded "Yes’m."

They sat uncomfortably in silence as their hostess went into the house. She returned in a short time, carrying the tray with water and a plate of cookies this time.

"I’m sorry, I forgot my manners. I am Mary Simmons. What are your names?"

"I’m Peter and this is my wife Jenny." Peter answered, trying hard to not call jenny his sister. Jenny blushed but said nothing.

"Please help yourself to some cookies, you look like you need something to eat."

They were hungry, but peter didn’t like someone telling him what he needed. He kept his cool, deciding that they were in a new place and neither of them was worldly enough to complain about small annoyances.

After they had finished their second glasses of water and each eaten several cookies in silence, Mary asked "What are you going to do?"

"We’ll find a place to stay and get jobs." Peter said nervously.

Mary looked at them for a few seconds, trying to gauge what she might say. They were young and looked to be inexperienced with matters of the world. She thought carefully before offering "I have an apartment in the back you might stay in."

"We ain’t lookin for charity, ma’am." Peter said defensively.

"I am not offering charity, just help to get you started. If you choose to take up my offer, I expect you to pay rent once you get work. The apartment isn’t much, my husband converted the garage when my mother moved in with us. Both of them are gone now and it is just sitting empty. Think about it and let me know."

Peter wasn’t certain, but jenny said "We don’t have anywhere else to go, maybe we can look at it and try it for a bit?"

Her brother was going to object, but saw the look in Jenny’s eyes, seeing that she needed some certainty. Finding a place to stay, if only for a short time, would help her to regroup after the events of the past few days.

"I guess we could look at it before we decide." He offered.

"I’ll get the key and you two can look it over." Mary stated.

She went into the house and returned shortly, leading them around the side of the home. The garage had been at the end of the drive, sitting beside and slightly behind the house. The main door was still in place, although covered inside. Entrance was a door on the side. Inside, the place was small and still had the feel of a garage, although the walls were covered with dry wall and the floor was carpeted. The apartment was one large room with a small bathroom walled off in the back. There was a sink and apartment sized appliances also, the rest of the room filled with several chairs and a sofa.

"I told you it isn’t much, but it will be cheap and I think it will suit you for a while. Let me know if you decide to accept." Mary said.

Peter and Jenny looked at each other before Jenny said "We will give it a try."

Peter nodded and the decision was made.

T
he Greys sat on the sofa, wondering what to do next. Mrs. Simmons had gone back to her house and they were now alone. The apartment was warm, although it was in the shade of some large trees. There were 2 windows and peter opened them to see if some air would help to cool things off. Jenny was still wearing the hat and now took it off for the first time since she had put it on. Peter could see just how upset she was, even though he had seen her before. She was still pretty, but the savage way the hair had been cut off was not very flattering to her. They took their few clothes from the suitcases and put them into a chest of drawers.

"Are you sure we are doing the right thing?" Jenny asked as they sat.

"I only know that we had to leave, if we stayed I know they would have separated us. I don’t want to lose you Jenny."

Jenny could see the beginnings of tears forming in his eyes, she was also on the verge of crying. As they pondered their next move, there was a knock on the door.

"Who?" peter asked.

He went to the door and opened it to find Mary, holding a platter of sandwiches out to him.

"I know you haven’t had a chance to get any shopping done, and I haven’t had anyone here to cook for in several years, so I hope you won’t mind if I made these for you."

Peter was again ready to state his adversity to charity, but jenny got up and thanked their hostess, taking the platter and setting it on the table.

"Would you care to join us?" Jenny asked.

"Thank you but I have to make some phone calls. If you need anything, just come to the back door and knock."

*****

They had finished the food Mrs. Simmons gave them, each far more hungry than either would admit. They sat silently for quite a while, neither certain of what to expect tomorrow. The sun had started setting, the light inside the apartment was mostly gone when they turned on the only lamp inside. They had gone to bed when at home once sunlight disappeared, so that would be their habit once again.

"I’m going to take a bath." Jenny said after sitting quietly since dinner. Neither had the chance to do any cleanup since they left their home in Florida almost 3 days ago.

"Peter! There’s no tub!" Jenny said as she came out of the small bath.

"What do you mean?" He answered.

"There isn’t a tub. How can I take a bath?" she asked.

Peter went to see what she was talking about, seeing for the first time that there was no tub, only a small walk in shower. They had taken baths ever since they were small, but their bathroom back in Florida did have a shower head, so they knew what a shower was.

"Looks like we take showers from now on." He said.

Jenny had wanted to soak for a bit in the water, knowing for the first time that her mother would not be standing outside the door, timing her actions. She took her nightgown in with her and cautiously got into the shower and let the water revive her. The warmth felt good and the dirt she had covering herself ran down the drain with some of her apprehensions. There were towels on the rack, a line of dust showing that they had been there unmoved for some time. Jenny put on her nightgown and a feeling of dread overcame her. At home, seeing her brother or him seeing her in nightclothes had been strictly forbidden. Now she had to come out of the bath in her nightgown and peter would be able to see her. She would also see him once he changed into whatever he wore to bed, she realized she didn’t even know what he slept in. Jenny’s nightgown came to mid thigh, and she put it on without anything underneath. She wasn’t sure why her mother insisted they not see the other unless fully clothed, but taking a breath, she came out into the main room and looked at her brother for any reaction. He had not thought about it as she showered, but seeing her like this gave him a moment of fear before realizing that his mother was not here. Still, the thoughts she had ingrained in him continued to nag at the back of his mind. He tried not to look at his sister, although he wasn’t sure why looking at her would be so bad.

He went into the small bath and took a quick shower, again finding the experience strange for the first time. He had the same uncertainty about sleep attire his sister had, he normally slept in his underwear. He also took a deep breath before coming out to see how Jenny would react to his appearance.

Each looked at the other for a minute, not understanding why they were uncomfortable doing this.

Peter was the first to speak. "Are you ready to go to bed?"

"Yes." Jenny answered simply, waiting to see what they had to do.