The First Time

The first time is never easy for a boy...

"You’re doing it wrong."

"I've never done this before!" Anson muttered self-consciously. "I've only seen it in... you know... books."

"I'll show you." Lori took his hand and gently guided it. "Right here." She smiled at his awkwardness. "Do you feel that?"

He closed his eyes, moving his finger back and forth on the small button-shaped nub. He nodded, looking at her. "Now what? Do I —"

Lori handed him the sleek metal object. Quietly, not wanting to break his concentration, she murmured. "Slide it in just below." She drew her breath in sharply. "Gently, Anson! Gently..."

Anson looked at her, afraid. "Did I—"

Lori tried not to grin. Anson was so timid, but that's why she was so smitten with him. He was gentle, but he needed to be more...focused...right now. "It's fine, Ans. Just be gentle."

She pressed his hand again, and the smooth metal slid in easily this time. Anson moved it back and forth. "Like this?"

"Maybe not so fast; it's delicate."

Anson's brow furrowed in concentration. In... out... back... forth...

"Yes, just like that, that's perfect. A little lower now..."

His hand shook. "Was it like this the first time you did it?"

Lori shook her head, moving his hand slightly to the right. "No, I kinda knew what I was doing. Careful now; pay attention to the technique."

A loud voice broke their concentration.

"Alright, that's it, everybody! Time's up. Please put your scalpels down and bring your dissection trays up to the front. Let's see who got this first cut right and who tried cutting their frog in half!" Mr. Teller grinned from behind his big teacher's desk. "Anson, you're first. Did your cut start just below its first vertebrae? Let's take a look..."

Anson looked at Lori and silently mouthed, "Thank you."

NOTES: ▶︎

Word Count: 300
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the phrase "You're doing it wrong"