Sharon woke up early the next morning. Josh's birthday dinner had been fun and it was good to see the whole family together. Other than holidays and a few occasions like this one, it was difficult for her parents to coax all four kids home at the same time. Sharon and her brothers were close without most of the usual sibling friction. She had been happy when Jason had decided to come to her college as a freshman.

She lay in bed thinking about what she had in mind and how to do it. She realized that she had a decent size overnight bag in her bedroom closet. Was it long enough? She wasn't certain. She got up and packed a few clothes in it to fill it out on the sides. Unlike yesterday morning at her house, this morning she slipped into some sweatpants and sneakers to go downstairs. It was early enough that she hoped that no one else was up yet. Her Mom could be an early riser, which meant that her Dad usually got up when Mom did. Still, she thought it was just early enough.

She crept down the stairs, trying not to look suspicious in case her parents or one of the boys popped out of their bedrooms. She had the overnight bag and went directly to the downstairs coat closet. She didn't want to turn on the closet light but found that she needed to once she opened the door. She quickly found what she was looking for and placed it in the center of the overnight bag. She then covered it with some of the clothes that she had put in the bag already. She decided to take the bag straight to her car. Sharon opened the car trunk and placed the bag deep inside, next to her small bag of purchases for David. She quietly closed the trunk and headed back inside. She had barely gotten inside when her Dad came around a corner and startled her. "Up so early?, he said. "Oh, just putting some things in the car that I wanted to take back to school before I forgot them," Sharon replied. "Good idea. I've learned to do lots of things before I forget," her Dad said and then, "Coffee?" Which made Sharon smile as she remembered sending a very naked David downstairs just 24 hours earlier to get coffee for her.

Sharon and her Dad sat at the kitchen table catching up on their news. Dr. Allen was an internist and Sharon had an interest in medical school someday. So she enjoyed asking him about his work, even though much of it seemed routine. Occasionally, her Dad had an interesting medical case or some insight into a new medical development. He had once worked in pediatrics and adolescent care but had switched to internal medicine after several years. He liked seeing and treating adults more than young children and teens, it seemed. His work in pediatrics had closely tracked his kids' childhoods and he had participated in some studies of children and adolescents that Sharon found interesting. Dr. Allen eventually moved the conversation from talking about his work to her studies and life at college.

"So, can a father ask a daughter about her social life?, asked Dr. Allen. "Social life or personal life?, countered Sharon.

"What's the difference?"

"Well, social life might be how much I'm partying instead of going to class. Personal life might be who I'm dating or sleeping with," replied Sharon.

Dr. Allen said, "I'm interested in your well-being. Hoping that any boys that you might be dating are good for you. Kind, considerate, not domineering, not bullies."

"No problem there, Dad. I'm dating a boy named David that I think that you would like," she replied.

"Good, glad to hear that," said Dr. Allen, "Perhaps we can meet him sometime soon, if it is serious enough and you don't mind."

"Sure, I don't see why not. You have behaved yourself with some of my boyfriends in the past," Sharon said.

"Only some?", Dr. Allen said.

"Dad, you haven't met all of my boyfriends but of those whom you have met, you behaved acceptably," Sharon replied.

Dr. Allen sighed, "Only acceptably? A low standard indeed. Okay, as your Dad, but also as a doctor, are you two practicing safe sex?"

Sharon, "You taught me well. Don't worry."

"You told me that you have been on the pill for several years so my only question is whether you two use condoms every time," asked Dr. Allen.

"Oh, Dad, please! We did in the beginning. But I confess that we stopped after the first couple of months. He was willing. I was the one who didn't like him wearing rubbers much," she said.

Dr. Allen blinked and then said, "As a favor to me, please, consider going back to him always wearing a condom. Many boys don't like them, I know, but it makes us dads rest easily knowing that our very smart daughters are protecting themselves. And with that, I am willing to change the subject unless there is something else that you would like to talk about?"

"Not a thing, Daddy," Sharon replied.

"Then there is one more thing in the health care arena. When is the last time that you saw Dr. Phillips for a physical or gyne appointment?, Dr. Allen asked.

"It has been nearly a year, maybe a little longer," Sharon replied.

"Then may I suggest that it is time to make that appointment, please? You know that Dr. Phillips keeps his appointments with you confidential so you don't have to worry that what you tell him is getting back to me, right?", said Dr. Allen.

"Okay, okay," she said, nodding. It was time and she was probably overdue.

Dr. Allen then added, "And by the way, you should get your boyfriend in for a check-up too, if he hasn't had one in ages. Like most boys. You probably have more influence about his healthcare needs than you might think."

"Okay, I can do that, if he needs a check-up. I don't really know when he last saw a doctor. He is really athletic and looks like he is in great shape," replied Sharon.

Dr. Allen said, "In my line of work, looking healthy alone can be deceiving. All you can do is ask him. And if he hasn't seen a doctor in a year or two, then use your special powers of persuasion to make that happen. One more thing and then I'll shut up about this topic. Can you please ask David when the last time he was checked for STDs?"

"Dad! That would be really personal, don't you think?, replied Sharon.

"Of course, it's personal. That is why you should always ask sex partners about their history and the last time they were tested before you have sex with them for the first time. And insist that they get checked, if they haven't been recently. You and I have talked about this before," said Dr. Allen.

And with that, Sharon's Mom arrived in the kitchen to save her from whatever other questions her Dad had lined up. The boys soon came down to get coffee and breakfast. They sat around and talked until nearly noon. Then it was time for everyone to get ready to leave. Sharon went upstairs and showered while the boys did the same. She wanted to get back to school sooner and Jason was eager to get back as well. As Sharon and Jason were about to leave, their parents came out to see them off. Dr. Allen told Jason, "Remember you have an appointment with me in a couple of weeks, on the 14th at 2:00, you have it on your calendar?" Jason replied, "Yep, I remember and it is on my calendar. See you in a couple."

As Sharon and Jason drove off, Sharon asked Jason, "What was that all about?"

"Oh, I'm getting my annual physical from Dad then," said Jason.

Sharon asked, "How are you getting back here for that? Am I driving you?

"Uh, I was hoping that you might but my girlfriend whose name you never seem to remember has a car that she can borrow and she may be able to drive me, too. It is a quick drive," Jason replied.

Two hours later and after dropping Jason off at his dorm, Sharon stopped at the mall. She was determined to replace some of David's clothing after seeing what shape it was in when they did laundry on Friday night. She went into a large department store and immediately went to the men's clothing section. She started looking through the racks of underwear and socks. Some of David's socks had been pretty ratty too. So she picked up several new pairs. Then she looked at the underwear for size 28 briefs. She quickly realized that most men's underwear was white, unlike what was available when she bought underwear for herself. She picked out a pack of regular white Jockey briefs and then started looking at the low-rise briefs. Jockey had the best looking of those. Sharon selected a pack of low-rise white briefs and then three low-rise briefs in what the pack said were fashion colors. She picked pairs in light blue, green, and navy with white piping around the crotch and legs. She had been tempted by the red ones, although red underwear seemed like a big step for a boy who had probably worn only plain white briefs until now. She also thought about the bikini briefs for him but decided that she would wait until his birthday for anything more daring. It would probably be a major step for him to try the low-rise briefs in white and these colors first. Sharon had to think about what the other boys might say about David's underwear choices in the dorm and locker room. It could be that he would want to save some of these new options for her eyes only. One of her past boyfriends had been like that. He was willing to wear whatever she wanted him to wear when they were together for the night. But he went right back to plain white briefs for everyday in the dorm.