The Real Man

Part-IV

Dad

The bees and the flower!

My dad always had a funny way of teaching us a morale lesson. While other fathers forced their kids to sit on the couch and gave long lectures.. my dad was different. Generally, it was the kids who dreaded being given the couch treatment. But in my case, it was the other way around.

The last time, we received his father-son talk was when Nick and I turned fifteen. Well, though I was a girl technically, my dad always considered me to be one of the sons due to my tomboyish nature. He liked to take me to the NBA play-offs and to the Cub's games.. Funny, isn't it?

So, where was I? Oh yes.. the father-son talk about.. uh.. you know.. sex.

Nick and I had been sitting on the couch when dad suddenly strode into the living room. He was forty-five but still had a few black hairs on his head, surprisingly. He looked perturbed and was fidgeting nervously. I wondered why he was so tense. I used to think people from the seventies were frank and open-minded; not afraid to speak about any topic.

I guess I was terribly wrong.

He went to the window and shifted the curtains. He peeped out to make sure no one was listening. Then, he turned back to us and cleared his throat.

"Uh. Hello kids. How are you today?” he asked us.

Beeeeeeeeeep. Kids?

My brother opened one of his slanted eyes and grunted. "Mm.. pretty good."

I nodded and didn't say anything.

Dad intook a deep breath and got his chest all puffed up and high, as if he was holding his breath. Jeez dad, it will take only ten minutes.. Ahem.. amend that.. The talk will take only five minutes since Nick already knew a lot more than you assumed.

He started again. "So, Nick, Rhea.. You two have turned fifteen and it's time for you to know about.. about.. "

"Sex?” my brother supplied.

My father's eyebrows shot up and it seemed as if a bolt of lightning had struck him right there. Oh no. Run people. Nick just spoke out the forbidden word!!

"Nick Armstrong! I would appreciate it if you don't use that word in this household!"

My brother grinned and sank deeper into his seat. He turned his head sideways to give me a brotherly wink and muttered, "Okay."

It was really funny watching the change in my dad's expressions. At first, he seemed flushed and his hands were shaking. Now he had sat down opposite to us. The armrest provided good support to him during this so-called torture. He started again, "We are here to discuss about the facts of life... "

"Facts of life?!", I asked to cross-check.

"YES Rhea! Facts of life!"

"I was just asking. Don't blow your anger on me."

He intook another deep breath. Poor dad. He was having a tough time today. I actually felt sorry for him. Mom was probably forcing him to do this. He ran a trembling hand through his few black hairs and sighed. "I am here to tell you the story of the bee and the flower. "

Nick and I tried hard to force back the laughter looming in our stomachs. Could this talk get more pathetic? The bee and the flower? Oh boy!

"As you know, once a bee matures and gets the ability to um- uh- fly, it goes on a hunt to look for the right flower. But this can only be allowed when the bee is fully mature and responsible."

My brother decided, that it was time to intrude and take over this conversation. He raised his hand jokingly.

"Yes Nick! What's your question?"

"What if the flower is looking for the right bee?"

My father narrowed his eyes. "Stop asking stupid questions."

"But?"

"No buts!"

"Jeez. Sorry sir."

My father intook another breath and thus he started his story. Believe it or not, we were forced to listen to him for the next sixty minutes. One hour I say! As the talk prolonged, I resisted the urge to dig my fingers into the couch and rip it apart. My brother seemed to have found a way to escape from the torture. Everytime dad looked the other way; he would drop his head and take a short nap. At times, I even heard him snoring.

After a good one hour, when my father finally stopped, he looked at us and gave us a smile of relief. I nodded back though the only thing I wanted to do right now, was to grab my backpack and run to my room.

"I am glad that I have two very patient teenagers as my children.” he said.

I didn't say anything and got up to leave the room. Nick, who somehow had awoken, got up after me. As we walked towards the door, I heard Nick turn back for a brief moment.

He called, "Hey dad?"

My father looked up with a troubled expression on his face. "Yes Nick? What is it this time?” he asked dreadfully.

My brother gave him an innocent smile. "You were talking about the bees and the flowers right? But how is that related to sex?"

Oh dear! I think those few black hairs on my dad's head aren't going to last long.

..--..

A/N:

(blinks) (blinks more) (scratches head)

Where did that come from?

(shrugs)

Orient Fox: Hey there buddy. You liked the guy in the last chapter. Too bad he's already taken. Yes. All the dialogues are true word-to-word because she narrated them to me after each and every incident. What he looks like? He is tall and lanky. He has black hair which is cut into a cropped hair cut and has brown eyes. I had rarely seen him in casuals but when he came for the farewell, he wore cargo pants with a white sweatshirt. His name is Vishwam. I know.. Initially, I based Vish on him. But Vish from werecat turned out to be different, didn't he? And thanks for the review. I think it was half the size, of the chapter itself.