A Boy Becomes a Man - (Part 1 of 3)

The hills in the distance appeared to be on fire as Tonya stared out the window of the nook in her kitchen where she was sipping a cup of coffee, the sun only beginning its daily ascent. The house was quiet and still as her husband and son lay upstairs in their rooms fast asleep, providing Tonya with this cherished time of solitude. A small smile stole on her lips as her eyes took in the beauty of nature, light spreading across the lush green of the trees upon the hills. Her fiery, red hair, as vibrant as the morning’s sun, lay in piles of loose ringlets on her shoulders and she brushed a stray lock away from her face. As she did, Tonya’s eye fell upon a photograph hanging on the refrigerator. She peered at, smiling at the memory of her son’s final prom. The girl in the picture was a tiny thing with glossy black hair that hung nearly to her waist. She was wearing a pink dress that hugged her body, the skirt showing almost every inch of her legs. Tonya shook her head in wonder thinking how much things had changed since she dressed up for prom. No way in hell would her father have let her out of the house wearing so little at such a tender age. But these day? Apparently anything went.
Setting down her steaming mug, Tonya walked over to the fridge and plucked the picture out from under the heart-shaped magnet holding it in place. She studied her son’s face noting the innocence in his bright blue eyes – eyes he’d gotten from her. It was, she thought, the last time they’d sparkled with such boyish purity. She looked back at the girl trying to remember her name – Candace, was it? Though her son had never said anything, his demeanor had changed overnight after his senior prom and Tonya suspected it was due to the loss of his – and possibly her – virginity that night. Ever since then, Ryan had seemed more worldly, carrying himself with confidence, and whenever she found his gaze on a pretty girl Tonya detected a sense of ownership in his eyes. Well, maybe ownership was too strong a word, but there was definitely something in them that showed he felt like the girl should belong to him. Again, Tonya shook her head. Whatever had transpired that night had seemingly created a monster. No less than a half dozen girls had graced their doorstep between prom and the end of summer – none of them being Candace. Tonya could barely keep track. Sowing his wild oats her son was, like it was going out of style, she thought. She squinted her eyes at the boy in the photo and thought, “And I think it’s going to your head, my dear son.”
Settling the picture back under the heart magnet, Tonya sighed. He might think he’s a man now, but she knew he wasn’t quite there. No doubt her husband, David, would agree. Sitting back down, Tonya actually chuckled to herself as she thought back to when she and David first met. They were seated next to each other in a science lab – chemistry? Or was it biology? – freshman year of college. David was a really good-looking guy but it was his sense of humor, which Tonya had discovered over the course of the semester, that really won her over. Eventually they started dating and that’s when Tonya realized that though David was old enough to be a man, he still held onto some very childish notions – one being that men were generally better at things than women, especially when it came to sports and other physical activities. Of course, that kind of thinking did not sit well with her, Tonya mused as she sipped her coffee.
One day, not long after they’d starting seeing each other a little more seriously, David was complaining about how boring the game was as the two of them watched their college’s women’s basketball team. He said the girls couldn’t jump as high, run as fast or dribble as well as the men and that they were just slower and weaker in general. Even now, Tonya found herself shaking her head indignantly. But a smile slowly crept across her face as she remembered what happened next. Irritated, she’d stood up in a huff and stormed out of the arena. As she expected, David soon followed after her. Tonya made a beeline behind the arena and then waited for David to catch up. When he’d rounded the corner, she sneered at him. “Girls are weaker, eh?” She spat out as he walked up to her. Then, when he was close enough, she kicked him square in the balls.
Chuckling lightly now, under her breath, Tonya easily recalled how his body had gone limp, the air rushing out of him as he doubled over grabbing for his injured testicles. His teeth were clenched and his eyes pinched, brows furrowing together. It was as hilarious now in her memory as it was back then. And just as intoxicating. Slowly, David had sunk to his knees, unable to find any strength left to stay upright. The expression on his face was priceless. He looked so confused and shocked but also quite regretful. Oh, and the pain. The pain was also entirely evident in his eyes. It was the perfect elixir for Tonya’s offended soul. What had she said to him after that? Tonya took another sip of coffee as she tried to remember. Ah yes, she thought, the words coming to her. “Guess girls aren’t so weak after all, are they? I bet your balls really hurt!” David’s body sagged and his head drooped on his chest like the words had been a physical blow. Tonya had smiled at his humbled state and then spun on her heels and strode off, leaving David to nurse his nuts alone between the dumpsters.
She’d called him later under the guise of finding out how he was doing, though in reality she was feeling a little guilty – not for kicking him in the nuts, but for potentially hindering their budding relationship. He answered immediately and actually sounded rather upbeat, which surprised her. He even asked her to come over, sounding a little worried that she might not. She’d found his hesitation and uncertainty endearing and she headed over straight away. As soon as she knocked, David answered, apologizing immediately, completely stunning her. He’d led her into his dorm room and encouraged her to sit at his desk chair while taking a seat himself on the edge of his bed. Now, in the quiet of the house, Tonya sighed happily remembering how he’d looked at her and what he’d said next. He looked ashamed and humble, his pleading charcoal eyes searching hers as he spoke.
“I’m so sorry Tonya,” he began, apologizing again. “I’ve been wrong to say women are weaker all this time.” He’d spoken in a resigned whisper and Tonya had to lean forward to hear him, and she’d really wanted to hear what he had to say. “You were right to kick me.” When he smiled, a crooked, goofy smile, it caught Tonya off guard and she could feel her eyes widen. But then her jaw dropped when he said, “And, yes, you bet right. My balls really hurt. Wow.” Before she could pick her jaw off the floor, he added, “But you know what? I’m glad you kicked them like you did.” Tonya’s jaw stayed where it was. A million thoughts were flying around inside her head but her tongue was stuck fast as she just gaped at David’s handsome face. How sweet was the sound of his light laughter as he looked at her dumbstruck face. Tonya could still feel his soft touch as he reached out and brushed a strand of hair from her eyes. To this day, she loved the warmth and strength she felt in his hands whenever he touched her.
“Thank you,” David whispered.
“Thank you?” Tonya remembered uttering in her shock.
“Yes. I feel like my eyes have been opened. I’m like a new man! I always thought I was this strong, stoic man, able to take on the world. An island, you know?” David ran a hand through his thick, dark hair. “But I’m not. I can’t even take one simple kick to my balls...from a girl!” Again, he smiled that goofy, half-embarrassed smile. “At first, I was so mad because it hurt so much and I was so embarrassed, but that anger turned to fury when I realized that I couldn’t do a damn thing about it even if I wanted to. I had nothing left. No strength at all. I was consumed by the pain in my nuts.” Here, Tonya remembered clearly how his hand had involuntarily slid toward his groin, covering his wounded jewels. It had been adorable to see. “But as I laid there behind the arena, I could feel the small seed of a thought beginning to sprout and as the pain ebbed a little. I realized that my outlook on life this whole time was all wrong. Guys aren’t the strong ones in this world. Girls are. You proved that to me by giving my balls a swift, hard kick and then you just walked away like it was nothing. Meanwhile, my world was temporarily shattered.” Tonya could still see David shaking his head in wonder at this truth.
Without saying anything, Tonya had slid the chair closer to him and had taken his chin in her hand. She lifted his face and looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of dishonesty. To her relief, she could see he meant every word he’d said. She’d pulled his face close to hers and kissed him deeply. When she pulled away, she could see him smiling for real and she said, “Only a real man can take a kick in the balls from a woman and understand – own it, even – that it’s she who has the power. Do you feel like a man now?”
“I do,” David had said, nodding.
Now here they were, twenty-five years later, a man and his wife. And their son. Tonya’s brow knitted together at the thought, as Ryan’s handsome face, his expression almost smug, popped into her mind. He was eighteen now, not much younger than David was when they’d met. Perhaps it was time Ryan became a man, just like David had.
Tossing the tepid dregs of her remaining coffee into the sink, Tonya made her way to the stairs. It was time to wake up the boys. As she walked down the hall, she noticed Ryan’s jacket in a heap on the floor by the door. She sighed and shook her head as she stooped to pick it up. He might have a man’s body now, but clearly, no sense of adult responsibility...yet. As she lifted it, a piece of paper fell from a pocket. Curious, Tonya tossed the coat on the rack and then scooped up the folded sheet. Should she open it? It felt a little like an invasion of privacy to her, but then she reconsidered. If he’d just hung up his coat like he was supposed to, then he wouldn’t have to worry about his privacy being invaded, she mused.
Boy was she ever glad she chose to open it. Inside, the long, looping letters, clearly from a girl’s hand, jumped off the page at Tonya. They read,
*Dear Ryan,*
*I just wanted to let you know how pissed off I am that you ghosted me and how I had to find out second-hand that you’re now seeing my best friend, Danielle. I don’t care if you don’t like me or that you like Danielle. You probably just like her big boobs, anyway. But you could’ve at least been a man and told me face to face that you didn’t want to see me any more. But no, you had to be a coward. I hope you’re ashamed of yourself.*
*Ashley*
*P.S. I really feel like kicking you in the BALLS as HARD as I can!!!*
As Tonya re-read that last line, she could feel a warm tingling sensation spreading inside her. It never failed to thrill her to know that a girl wanted to kick a guy in his balls, and especially when the girl had the urge to kick him as hard as she could. Tonya smiled as she folded up the note and returned it to Ryan’s jacket pocket. The timing could not have been any better. Cheer up, Ashley, she thought, taking the stairs two at a time, I think you might just get your wish.
As the small family unit convened around the breakfast table, Tonya casually asked her son if he had any plans for the day. At least she hoped she sounded casual. It was hard to mask the excitement she was feeling over the secret knowledge she’d learned. In fact, it was this knowledge that prompted Tonya to scramble some eggs for her men, a fun and private joke for her own amusement. And as Ryan forked his, it was almost too much for Tonya to keep a straight face as she imagined this girl Ashley jamming the pointed toe of her high heels into Ryan’s *huevos* much the same way.
Ryan shrugged and swallowed his bite. “I might catch a movie this afternoon with this girl I’m seeing,” he offered, sounding like it wasn’t a sure thing.
“Oh?” Tonya said, raising an eyebrow. “With, um, Ashley?” She asked. Though Tonya knew it was most certainly not with Ashley, she was probing, trying to learn a little more about the girl.
Shooting his mom a perplexed look, Ryan replied brusquely. “Ashley? The blonde girl who works across the mall from me at Altar’d State? No, why?”
Tonya filed that little nugget away and replied airily, “Oh, sorry, I thought that’s who you were seeing these days.” She shot a glance at her husband, but David was wrapped up in the morning paper and seemed uninterested in their conversation. If Ryan finished his breakfast quick enough, Tonya thought, he might be a tad more interested when she filled him in on what she’d found in their son’s jacket pocket and what she’d decided to do about it.
“Nah, that was nothing,” Ryan shrugged. “I’m hooking up, er, seeing this girl Danielle now. That’s who I’m meeting at the movies.”
Tonya pretended not to notice the quick correction of his choice of words, but it did serve to confirm her suspicions that he was using his summer to “get around” – as they said in her day. “What time are you going?”
“I dunno,” Ryan replied through another mouthful of eggs. “I was thinking the two o’clock showing if Danielle gets off work in time.”
“Will you be home for dinner? And will this Danielle be with you?”
“Geez Mom! What’s with the twenty questions?” Ryan fired back, though he did answer Tonya’s questions, sort of. “I think I’ll be back for dinner because Danielle has some family thing tonight. Look, I gotta do some stuff this morning,” he mumbled pushing away from the table.
Typical teenager, Tonya thought, not taking her son’s exasperation personally, though she wanted to give his ‘tude right back to him asking, “Oh yeah? Like what?” But unlike her man-child, she was able to hold her tongue. Fortunately, Tonya’s husband chose that moment to finally pipe up.
“Like mowing the lawn, right?” David asked, looking over his paper.


“Sure, Dad,” Ryan grumbled as he dumped his plate in the sink and headed off to his room.
“Good,” David said, his eyes already returning to the paper.
When Tonya was sure Ryan was back in his room, she leaned over and put one finger on the top of the newspaper and pulled it down so that David could see her. Seeing the intensity of his Tonya’s blazing blue eyes, David smartly set the paper aside and looked inquisitively at his gorgeous wife.
“You’re never going to believe what fell out of Ryan’s jacket!” Tonya exclaimed when she saw she had his attention.
“You’re right, hon. I probably won’t,” he said, keeping his face straight, knowing it would exasperate her to not play along. The brief daggers she shot him confirmed this notion.
“I found a note from this girl Ashley.”
“That cute little blonde he’s been seeing?” David queried.
Tonya’s eyes narrowed. “Oh, so you think she’s cute, do you? I didn’t realize you were paying such careful attention to the girls our son has been seeing.”
David, realizing he may have just stepped on a proverbial landmine, quickly back pedaled. “Oh, you know, I just thought they made a nice couple. Real lookers, the two of them. Kinda like you and me,” he said, winking. When his wife didn’t return his smile, he added, “Of course that’s because you look good enough for the both of us.”
“Nice try, Mister,” Tonya replied, her voice as dry as the late Indian summer ground. But then she smiled, letting David off the hook. “Apparently he’s not seeing her any more,” she said, and then waited to see what her husband had to say about that.
“That’s too bad,” David shrugged. “She seemed like a nice girl.”
Tonya barked a laugh. “You might not think so when you hear this. I guess our son ghosted her and moved on to someone else, according to her note. But the best part is – ,” Tonya leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischievous delight, “because he wasn’t man enough to tell her himself she wants to kick him in the balls. Hard, too, from what I can tell.”
David sat back and took in his wife’s huge smile, thinking to himself how unbelievably beautiful she looked when something excited her. After a long moment of self-indulgence, he replied, “Is that so?” Tonya nodded her head with enthusiasm. “Well, I do think it’s about time Ryan learned the hard facts of life and what it means to be a man. But if he’s ghosting her – whatever the hell that means – how will she have the opportunity?” Judging by the smile Tonya flashed him, David quickly realized his wife already had a plan.
“I think I’m going to go over to the mall today. Ryan said she worked at a store there. If I find her, I’m going to tell her I found the little note she wrote and after reading it I came to the same conclusion she did – that Ryan deserves to have her kick him right in the balls for what he did. Then I’ll invite her over this evening and tell her she has my blessing – and yours – to kick him in the balls as hard as she feels like. What do you think?”
David sat silent for a moment, stirring his eggs around with a fork. Suddenly he smiled and then laughed heartily. “Is that why you made eggs this morning? Was it your subtle way of telling me you knew someone was about to get his eggs scrambled?”
Tonya only beamed.
“You know, hon,” David said thoughtfully. “She might not be working today. I sure hope she is, though. It really is about time he experienced what it feels like to be brought low by a girl, so he can learn what it means to be a true man. I should be home from work by six tonight, so maybe you could have this girl come by around seven? If you find her,” he added, looking at his watch. “Hey babe, I gotta get going. As much as I’d love to talk more about this, duty calls.” He stood up and kissed Tonya on the forehead on his way to add his dishes to the sink. “But just know, I’ll be waiting anxiously all day!” He called over his shoulder as he headed out the door.
The day passed slowly for Tonya. Ryan did indeed mow the lawn – edged it, too. Good boy, she thought as his sweaty body drifted up the stairs on its way to the shower. She looked at the clock in the home office where she was filing some bills. Thirty minutes and he should be gone and I can set my plan in action, Tonya mused.
As she strolled through the mostly dead aisles of the mall – 2:15 on a week day wasn’t exactly peak shopping – Tonya headed for Rally House, where Ryan worked part-time, remembering that he’d said Ashley’s store was across from it. Sure enough, Altar’d State was directly across the way. Tonya ducked inside and started scouting for the cute blonde Ashley. She was in the far right corner of the store folding a stack of t-shirts.
“Ashley?” Tonya asked quietly, afraid of interrupting the girl’s progress. Ashley looked up and Tonya could see a quick burst of confusion in the Ashley’s electric blue eyes. But then it quickly passed.
“I know you,” Ashley said, her voice light and silky. “You’re Ryan’s mom, aren’t you?”
As Ashley voiced her son’s name, Tonya could see the girl’s pretty mouth turn down a little at the corners. “I am,” Tonya answered, “and I understand why you might frown at the sound of his name.” Tonya hoped her own voice conveyed the support she had for Ashley and not her son.
“What do you mean?” Ashley asked, confusion clouding her face.
Tonya smiled warmly. “Let’s just say I found a little note you wrote my son.” Ashley blanched. “It’s okay, Ashley. Really.”
Ashley looked down at her feet. “I was really angry when I wrote that. I’m sorry I said – ,”
Tonya quickly cut her off. “Don’t be sorry! I may be Ryan’s mother, but I’m also a woman. If a guy did that to me, I’d want to kick him in the balls, too!”
Ashley looked up, allowing her face to brighten slightly. “Really?”
“For sure!” Tonya answered emphatically. “Trust me, my son deserves that kick in the balls you want to give him. In fact, I was thinking maybe if you weren’t busy later, you could give it to him tonight. Would you like that?”
Ashley smiled, but her eyes had a certain are-you-for-real-right-now kind of look. “Um, I…” Ashley started but then trailed off, still not fully believing what was happening.
“I am dead serious about this, Ashley,” Tonya said when she saw the doubt in Ashley’s eyes. “In fact, my husband also agrees that you are well within your rights as a girl to boot Ryan’s balls for how he treated you. So what do you say?” Tonya waited, her breath bated, feeling the anxious excitement swelling inside her as Ashley seemed to consider her offer.
“Well, I get off at 6:30 tonight and then I guess I don’t have any plans,” Ashley admitted, finally allowing herself a small, delighted smile. “You really don’t care if I kick him in the balls?”
Tonya again smiled warmly at the incredulous tone of Ashley’s voice. “No dear, of course not! I want you to,” she affirmed, reaching into her purse to scribble down their address.
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Ashley said. “I know where you live. I’ll be there around seven.”
“Perfect!” Tonya exclaimed, stashing the pen and paper back in her purse. She gave Ashley a quick looking over. The girl was wearing skinny jeans that drew ones eyes to her youthful, womanly curves and a slinky pair of shiny beige high heels that came to a nice point. She had one side of her large, glittery-necked t-shirt tucked into the waist of her jeans, stretching the thin fabric taut over her well-rounded young breasts. How in the hell could Ryan walk away from such a picture of femininity, Tonya wondered while understanding why her husband might remember this particular girl. “Don’t change,” Tonya added before making her exit. “Those shoes will really crunch his nuts.”
On the drive home, Tonya’s heart raced. She dialed David and the words rushed out of her immediately upon him answering. “She’s gonna come over,” Tonya gushed. “Around seven. Yes, I’ll make sure Ryan doesn’t make any plans tonight. No, we’re having lasagna. Oh – and you should see the heels Ashley is wearing. Yeah, very pointy. Oh for sure, yeah, she’s really going to make his poor nuts hurt. Mmmm. Love you, too.” When Tonya clicked off, she was grinning from ear to ear and laughing with glee all the way home.