As they ate, Pauline sensed Alex was uneasy about something. He kept glancing at her and then blushing slightly. Dreading it, Pauline knew she'd have to ask him what was wrong. She was about to, but Alex beat her to the punch.

"Mom… I… I got a real stupid question." His face was a fiery red.

Pauline got herself a cup of coffee and stood facing away from the table.

"What's the problem?"

"I… Mom, how big should I be?"

"Huh?" Pauline turned around, her eyebrows raised.

"At school, when I shower after phys ed, the coaches kid me and say I've got a real pussy splitter, and things like that."

"Pussy splitter? Oh!" It was Pauline's turn to blush.

Alex ducked his head, his face red.

Pauline fiddled with a button on her blouse and asked in what she hoped was a normal voice, "Just how big are you, honey?"

Alex mumbled something.

"What?"

Alex gulped and repeated, "Ten inches."

"Wow!" Pauline sat down and shook her head. "You are big, honey. But… well, I wouldn't worry about it. I mean, it… it doesn't get in the way, does it?"

Alex laughed and shook his head.

"Well then," Pauline smiled at her son, "I'd just let them kid you and grin at it. Okay?"

Alex, still chuckling, nodded agreement. He pushed his chair back from the table and got up just in time to answer the phone.

"Hello…? Hi, Mrs. Maxwell. Yeah, just a second… Mom, it's for you."

"Hi, Doris!" Pauline liked Doris Maxwell. They'd met at the butcher shop two years before and had become fast friends.

"Pauline, are you free today?" Doris had a husky voice, a real bedroom voice, Pauline thought.

"Unfortunately, yes, I am."

"Good! It's been ages since I've been on a picnic, and I thought we could take the kids and go out in the country somewhere and have one."

"I'd love to!" Pauline exclaimed. "Alex, would you like to go picnicking with Doris and Joan?"