Stephen and Jack, through more conversations, discussed the idea that Gail might not know she’s submissive. She had married Frank young after all. Under the guise of a campaign simply to make Gail happier, Jack was able to convince Stephen to help his mom know herself better. So they printed out articles about dominance and submission and left them in places they knew his mom would find them. They had carefully crafted conversations in her hearing. And once, Jack came over with his current sub.
Jack noticed the way that Stephen and Gail watched the interactions between Jack and his sub. They watched very closely–as if they were taking notes. Jack also noticed the way that Stephen and Gail watched each other. It was as if they were imagining the other in the roles that Jack and his sub were playing.
*****
Gail picked up yet another printed article about submission. She knew that Stephen had printed it out, but couldn’t imagine why. Surely he didn’t think of himself as a sub, Gail wondered. Gail knew that she was, though, from the very first article. She also recognized that Frank was not a dominant.
Whatever the reason was that Stephen was reading these articles, she was grateful for finding them. Reading them allowed her to put into words her amorphous feelings of dissatisfaction with her life and her marriage.
One afternoon, she heard herself mentioned when Stephen and Jack were talking. Jack said, “You know if I was straight, I’d totally be into your mom.” Gail smiled at the flattery.
Stephen replied, “If I wasn’t her son, I’d totally be into her.” Gail’s heart stopped and her stomach flipped when she heard that. She wandered off, her head in the clouds. She began to think about what it would be like if she had someone in her life like her son, rather than his father. Maybe even…not like her son, but her actual son. She felt shame heat her face and chest.
Another time she heard the boys talking, she heard Stephen say, “He’s not good enough for her!” Gail noted the passion in his voice and wondered who he was talking about.
Jack replied, “No offense, Bro, but your dad’s a jerk. She oughta kick him to the curb and find a real man.” She was not entirely surprised to hear Jack say such a thing. But she was entirely surprised at Stephen’s response.
“You’re right, Man. I wish she would.” Gail had to sit down. She wondered how serious Stephen was. She needed to know how serious he was.
Jack suggested, “You know, maybe you oughta tell her if she got got a divorce, she’d still have you to, you know, squish bugs; be the man of the house.”
Stephen froze. What was Jack playing at? That was not what he was supposed to say next!
Gail imagined for a moment Stephen being the man of the house. She couldn’t keep from letting her imagination take the two of them into the bedroom. She flushed furiously even as she held her breath waiting for Stephen’s response.
Stephen knew his mom was listening. He spoke for her benefit, from the heart. “Jack, I already am the man of the house in lots of ways. I’d take all the ways, in a heartbeat.” Jack smiled and gave his friend a thumbs up.
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