First Time

"Hey Johnny thanks for coming over." Roy said opening the front door of his home. "I really appreciate this. With Jo out of town, and Jen not feeling well, I just...

Johnny took off his coat and threw it on the couch. "Roy don't worry. Take Chris to his game. I'll keep an eye on Jen."

Roy was extremely grateful. Today was the baseball playoffs for Chris' team. "Johnny I'll be back as soon as possible." Roy yelled for Chris and checked on Jenny one more time, but she was asleep. Roy and Chris left for the game.

Johnny settled down to watch some TV. After a short time he could her Jenny moving around upstairs. Then he heard the bathroom door slam. Johnny quickly ran up the stairs. He could hear Jenny sobbing behind the door.

"Jenny," He knocked on the door. "It's Uncle Johnny, honey you okay?"More crying. Johnny was getting nervous. "Jenny let me in."

"NO," Jenny yelled from behind the door.

"Jenny let me help you."

"NO""

Johnny was getting a little angry now. "JENNIFER LET ME IN."

"NO"

Johnny started walking back down the hall . He was going to get Roy's tool box and take the door off the hinges if necessary. As he passed Jen's room he quickly glanced in and kept going. Then he stopped and backed up. Johnny went into the ten year old girl's room. When he saw it he mouthed, "Oh shit." And shook his head.

There on the bed was a bloodstain.

Johnny gathered himself together. Then silently cursed his luck. But Jenny needed him. *Roy hurry up and get home he thought*

Going back to the bathroom. "Jenny, it's okay. I think I know what is wrong. " Johnny spoke softly and compassionately. "Jenny"

"How could you know?" Jenny said whimpering slightly.

Johnny smiled. "Jenny it's okay. Every girl goes through this." Johnny had a terrible thought, *I wonder if Jo even talked to Jen went about this*

"Jenny did mommy tell you about when something like this happens?"

Johnny heard the little whimpers from behind the door. "Yeah, but I don't know what to do?" Then it was quiet. Finally, Jen spoke again, "I want my mommy."

Johnny's heart broke for the little girl. "Jenny mommy isn't here. Let me help you, okay? Can you let me in?"

Johnny waited a couple of minutes. Then he heard the lock on the door and saw the knob turn. In front of him was his little angel in her Barbie nightgown stained with her first period.

Seeing her favorite uncle standing there the tears came again. "Oh, Uncle Johnny." Johnny knelt down and hugged her tightly.

"It's okay Jen, I take care of everything."

Johnny told Jen to go wash her face and he would be back in a minute. Going to Roy and Jo's bedroom he began looking around for Jo's supplies. What he found didn't make life any easier. "Dam, tampons." Johnny looked up and spoke to a high power. "Couldn't make this easy could you? Now , I need to go get pads for my best friends ten year old daughter."

"Hey Johnny I'm back," Roy yelled entering his house.

Johnny looked back up and said, "Thank you," and quickly went downstairs.

Roy saw an agitated Johnny come quickly down the stairs. "What's wrong? Is Jen worse?"

"Shhh, no she's not worse," Johnny said whispering. "Come in the kitchen." Johnny pulled Roy in the kitchen. "Where's Chris?"

"His team was loosing and I told him I needed to get home the Jen so his coach will bring him home later. Would you tell me what's wrong?" Roy pulled his arm out of Johnny's grip.

Still whispering, "Your little girl...." Johnny ran his hand through his hair. "got her period." Then gave Roy a wide eyed look.

"What?" Roy practically yelled.

"SHHH, she's scared enough. Jen got her period and your wife only has tampons."

Roy listened disbelieving what he was hearing, "Jen's only ten. How do you know Jo only has tampons?" Roy shot Johnny a curious look.

Johnny rolled his eyes, "Trust me Roy it wasn't a thrill for me to go looking for your wife's femine stuff. But now we need to get her --oh man--pads."

Roy leaned back against the counter.

"Why don't you ask a neighbor ...strike that....maybe we could call Dix...dam she's out of town with Bracket." Johnny started pacing.

"Johnny why don't you stay with Jen and I'll run to the store." Roy said taking control.

"No, Daddy. I don't want you to go." Jenny came into the kitchen and hugged her father. "Pleas Daddy don't go."

Roy's heart melted, "Okay, I'll send Uncle Johnny."

Behind Jenny's back Johnny mouthed emphatically, "Oh NO YOU DON'T."

"Daddy, Uncle Johnny won't know what to get?" Jenny didn't understand the look on her father's face.

"Well, if you feel okay, I suppose we all could go?" Roy shot Johnny a `please don't leave me alone look'.

Johnny rolled his eyes and then closed them. Lowered his head and shook it. Then not wanting to upset Jen he said cheerfully, "Sure, we could go together." Then looking up he thought, *You hate me, don't you*

Roy, Johnny and Jen were soon on their way to a small market not far from the DeSoto home. Jen sat in the front seat between her father and Uncle Johnny. Every once in a while she would look at either man's face. They didn't talk. Both men just looked straight ahead.

When they arrived Roy grabbed a carriage.

"Daddy why do we need a carriage, we're just getting.." Jen asked.

Roy jumped in before she could finish what she was saying, "Uh, I need some other stuff. Let's go." He nudged Johnny with the carriage.

"Hey, I'm coming," Johnny said rubbing his hip.

Roy just couldn't get himself to go to `that aisle' so he got the other items first. A six pack of beer, a couple of magazines-Wheels and Gears and Hot Rodder.

Johnny felt for his friend but was amused. "Hey Roy you can't keep putting this off. We need to get her home." Johnny said leaning in behind Roy and whispering in his ear. "If you know what I mean." Johnny then gave Roy a wide eyed look.

Roy rolled his eyes, swallowed hard and started for "that aisle".

Both Roy and Johnny starred at all the choices.

"Why do women need so many choices?" Johnny said. "You know if men had this problem we'd only need one choice."Roy gave Johnny a confused look. He had enough on his mind without having to understand what Johnny was talking about.

Jenny looked at the boxes ignoring the men, just like Mommy did sometimes, "Daddy those are the ones my friend, Karen, uses."

Roy and Johnny looked at the box. It was huge. STAY FREE MAXI PADS was in large letters emblazoned across he box. Roy and Johnny had the same thought. *I wish I could've stayed free from having to do this.*

Jennifer looked the her Daddy and Uncle Johnny but neither man moved.

Johnny decided. Grabbed the box.

"Johnny, Johnny Gage," called a very perky blonde coming up from behind Johnny.

Johnny very quickly tucked the box inside his coat, barely. Turning, "Oh hi" Johnny hoped the girl couldn't see the box.

Roy was watching his amusement at the situation was growing. But he also wanted to just go.

"Listen Tina, I gotta go, I'll call you, okay," Johnny said this as he backed away from the girl. Roy was moving the carriage down the aisle.

Tina was confused. "Sure, okay Johnny."

"Sir, stop right there." Johnny heard the deep voice from behind him.

Johnny turned. A man wearing a smock was standing there giving him the meanest look.

"I'm the store manager. I noticed you putting something under your coat. Do I need to call the police?" The man's eyes narrowed.

Johnny was momentarily confused. Tina had moved closer to see what kind of trouble Johnny was getting into.

"No, I , we, see she," Johnny kept cutting himself off.

The manager reached into Johnny's coat and pulled out the box of STAY FREE. "Normally these aren't a popular shop lifters item. But I don't try to understand the mind of thieves."

Tina try to stifle a laugh. Johnny heard her and the when he blushed even his ears turned red.

Jennifer wasn't sure what was going on. "My Uncle Johnny is not a thief." Jennifer said loudly getting the attention of some of the other women in the store. "I got my period and he and Daddy had to get me those." Jennifer pointed to the STAY FREE box.

Roy and Johnny just looked at each other and then to the manager and nodded their heads. Roy took the box from the manager placed it in the carriage and went to the check out. Johnny took Jenny's hand and keeping his head held high followed Roy.

Some of the other women in the store were peeking around corners to see who "Daddy and Uncle Johnny" were.

The clerk bagged the items. The STAY FREE box was taller than the grocery bag.

Johnny grabbed it and Jenny's hand. Roy shrugged his shoulders and grabbed the bag with the beer and magazines. As they were about to exit it happened. Roy and Johnny stopped in their tracks and gave each other sideways glances.

"Roy should we, I mean they are.." Johnny said giving Roy a crooked smirk.

"Why not?" Roy could only laugh.

Jenny smiled.

Roy, Johnny and Jennifer turned and bowed to the woman who were clapping for the two brave men and the little girl who loved them.