Free Let It Go by Brooklyn James Page B

conversations. I thought sex,” Buffy whispers the one syllable word, “was something only boys obsessed about.” She sits down at the table, secretly interested and apparently not too terribly offended.
    “I’ll have to say, the man definitely stirs my loins,” Savannah confirms.
    “Stirs your loins?” Buffy says, her eyes wincing.
    “You know, Mama.” Savannah fans herself with her hands at the thought, her voice growing molten. “When you see a man and instantly you react. In here,” she says, gesturing to her lower abdomen. “It’s visceral. You just want to…ahh!”
    Vangie and Jac giggle, mocking her with simultaneous, “Ahhs!”
    “See! They know exactly what I’m talking about,” Savannah declares.
    Buffy shrugs, unfamiliar with such a feeling. “Maybe I don’t have any loins.”
    Savannah nearly chokes on her sweet tea. “Loin check,” she says. “Okay, so you know the movie Australia. With Hugh Jackman?”
    “Yes,” Buffy acknowledges encouragingly, having watched and enjoyed the movie.
    “The bucket scene. That part where Hugh Jackman dumps the bucket of water over his glorious naked torso,” Savannah takes pleasure in drawing out every adjective. Vangie and Jac ooh and ahh with sheer mention of the image, their loins effectively stirred. “If that scene doesn’t stir your loins, Mama, then you may not have any.”
    “Hmm…” Buffy says, neither confirming nor denying whether Hugh Jackman was successful in stirring her loins.
    “Well then, what’s stopping you?” Jac asks, alluding to her physical attraction to Brody. “You’re a free woman. Look at the way you go after your career.” She wields the newspaper, Savannah’s column facing out. “You use words in here I can’t even spell, let alone know the meaning of.” Jac grows loud and animated. “You’re fearless and driven in your profession, baby sister. You would be wise to take the same approach in your personal life.”
    “Easy,” Vangie attempts to soothe Jac.
    “I’m not mad at her,” Jac points out. “I just want her to know and see what I do now.” Jac looks at Savannah, her hand thumping off her chest, wishing she could give her younger sister all the experience and wisdom that slowly accumulates with age. “I’m six years older than you, Savannah. And I know I can come off as preachy sometimes. It’s just that I’m so proud of you. And I don’t want to see you make the same mistakes I have. It took me years to be authentic. Years to forget about what everybody else thinks. Who gives a shit about pomp and pretense.”
    “Jacqueline,” Buffy whispers reprimanding, wishing she would care at least enough to watch her language before the neighbors hear her. Further biting her tongue, Buffy knows to whom Jac’s last sentiment is aimed, having defined the majority of her life on the rigors of pomp and pretense, likely pushing such standards on to her daughters.
    “Quit second-guessing and explaining yourself,” Jac continues. “And quit feeling guilty and sorry for Jack. You owe him nothing. You two tried…it didn’t work out. Now it’s done. Move on. Call up that hunky gym boy Brody. Let him put the fire out.”
    “What fire?” Vangie asks innocently.
    Jac and Savannah laugh. “The one in her loins, brainiac,” Jac quips.
    “Oh!” Vangie giggles, recalling, followed by another less exuberant, “oh,” thinking how her advice to their younger sister may vary.
    “But, you want to know the thing that really gets me?” Jac asks, her eyes falling on Buffy, attempting to keep her jaw-gaping Mama in the conversation.
    “Of course.” Buffy indulges sarcastically. “Why stop now?” She watches her outspoken eldest daughter, wondering how it is that she is the mother, yet always finds herself educated by their conversations.
    “We wouldn’t even be having this discussion if we were men. It would simply be understood… boink anybody you want!” Jac does maintain some resolve in her choice