Flowers of Innocence

When I was 17 my family home burned to the ground (I suspect it was for insurance reason, as we were heavily in debt, but dad denied all my accusations). Anyhow, while it was being rebuilt I took the opportunity to stay with a family friend. He was an expatriot aussie who ran an emu farm in Nevada.

So for 5 weeks in the summer of '99 I lived and worked the ranch. It was hot, and dry, and I probably should've chosen somewhere a bit less australian in feel. But still, I had a great time. And before long, I became aquainted with some of the young ladies in town. And I became very well aquainted with one in particular, a Miss Sadie Adams.

I'm not ashamed to say that, back home, I was very shy, especially around girls. I'm short, and thin, and my personality tended to match. But since coming to America, I felt different. Maybe it was the freedom from my well-trodden rut, maybe it was all the fresh air, and the work adding some hint of muscle to my wiry frame. Maybe it was my "exotic" accent. Whatever it was, I found myself talking freely and, if I do say so myself, quite charmingly, to the local lasses.

I started taking long walks with Sadie. She looked very much the farmer's daughter stereotype, slim jeans and boots, lovely full lips. The only real departure from the cliche was her long, jet black hair. Like a witch. And sure enough, I fell under her spell.

I had my first kiss. I spent hours uncounted lip-locked afterward. Like two remora. We thought we were hiding our indiscretions, but in the years since i've found out that the only people we fooled were ourselves. So the weeks passed and my departure loomed. We sat up late in fields, kissing and holding each other and making all those silly promises of love and undying devotion that young lovers make.

Then, my last day arrived. I was due at the airport that evening. Just after noon I went to find Sadie, to say my final goodbyes. I found her in a secluded part of the trail we often walked. She had a perculiar look in her eye. I started to speak, but she shushed me, and walked behind a large rock at the side of the trail, beckoning me to follw with a silent gesture.

She had laid a small blanket out amidst the dry grass. A small basket sat on the corner. I started to speak, but was again held to silence. Her eyes locked on to mine, her hands reached up and, with a motion of powerful sensuality i've yet to see surpassed, started unbuttoning her blouse. Her small, pale breasts caused a terrible aching in my loins. I started forwards, eager to take this next step, when she held up a hand, stopping me.

"Not yet"

It was clear she intended this tantric dance to last. She removed her pants with the same slow intensity, and when she was done, she sat down on the blanket, leaning back against the rock.
"Now you" She said, her eyes filled with a predatory hunger.

So I started unbuttoning my shirt, trying to still my shaking hands and affect some of the same smooth sexual grace she exhibited. When I got caught up on the third button, I blushed terribly. I felt you could fry an egg on my burning cheeks. She merely laughed. A small, friendly laugh.

I'd finally gotten my shirt off, having pracitcally ripped the last few buttons apart. I reached for the button on my jeans, when a swift brown blur shot out from underneath the rock. Before either of us knew what was going on, the rattlesnake had bitten her. In a surge of hormone-driven heroics, I leapt forward and crushed the snake's head underneath my boots. I looked down at Sadie, and she was doubled up with agony.

"Did you get bit? Show me where!" I yelled. My childhood had imparted some basic knowledge of treating snakewounds. She remained curled up tight, sobbing.

"I can suck the poison out, but we have to hurry!"

She lifted her head, her eyes were bloodshot and watery. She rolled onto her back, and spread her legs.

"Oh."

"I don't want to die." She said, her voice so soft, so fragile. "I love you so much, I don't want to die."

The air was thick and hot, and the silence was heavy. A fly buzzed near my ear. I looked at my boots.

"Well... this is kinda embarassing. See, I don't actually do that, y'know? It's nothing against you personally, im sure you're, uh, clean and everything. I just don't do... that. "