Casper and Janice Summers tried to do everything down the middle with Jonas and Billie, their blue-eyed blonde twins, to avoid having a favorite or at least showing favoritism and that policy lasted till college time.
The Summer's ranch had been hit by drought two years in a row. As a consequence for the first time in eighteen years of the twins' life, Casper and Janice, up to their knees in debt, were forced to face a really unfair decision affecting the twins: the bank loan felt them with enough spare money to start one of the kids at college.
The family debated the issue for almost two hours before Billie's persuasion won the day. She argued Jonas wanted to be an engineer and so must go to college whereas she could develop her interest in writing based on what she already knew. Her mom had cried and her father choked and said she was a very brave young lady. Jonas kissed her and said thanks doll and went off to work on the motor of the ranch's ailing pickup.
Two days later under the hot South Texas sun and to an emotional family farewell, Billie boarded a bus for the train station to head for Philadelphia to stay with Aunt Susan, her mom's sister. Uncle Colin had promised to find her a good paying job.
Secretly Billie had thought of something else.
She progressed as far as Forth Worth where she disembarked and took a room in a seedy hotel and went on to the street. Billie's idea was to work as a prostitute and earn big money to save the ranch.
Billie was six foot one and still very lean, her breasts and hips only just beginning to fill out into curves and her simple dress was certainly not sexy. The men eyed her and either grinned or scowled. None made an offer or even suggested a freebie.
Billie wondered perhaps she needed to clean her teeth to appeal?
She's noticed a woman eyeing her from across the street. Well thought Billie, if she couldn't nail guys perhaps she might have to switch to take on loitering women.
Three more attempts to accost passing men failed and Billie found that woman from across the street right in her face and holding up ID. Billie winced. The woman was an undercover cop.
"Am I booked?"
The cop looked cross. "That depends. I have a daughter your age and feel like kicking your ass in despair. God you young kids have it all but can't accept that."
Billie figured the cop didn't intend to pay for the privilege of kicking ass.
The cop asked, "Do you have money?"
"Yes seventy bucks."
"And that's all?"
Billie regarded it as a lot of money, the most she'd ever possessed. "And a train ticket."
"Where are you heading?"
"Philadelphia."
The woman's eyes lit up and said, "That gets you a long ways from here. Come on, let's get your things and I'll lecture you at the train station. I'm Policewoman Sarah Lynch but you may call me Sarah."
Billie burst into tears and said she was only trying to save the ranch.
The cop giggled and said that was such a novel explanation that on a good day even the judge might buy it.
Over light food and coffee paid for by the cop and a lecture about Billie doing everything to make something out of her life without having to stoop to sell her body for sex, the cop looked rather startled when Billie kissed her before boarding the northbound train.
"Sarah thank you for giving me a break, I shall always remember you and wish you a happy life.
"Billie, you have the heart of an angle. Please, please get yourself back on track. I wish I'd been your mother."
Billie climbed aboard scarcely believing a cop had said that to her. Jeeze, what was happening to the cops these days turning to jelly like that?
Sarah was still waiting as the train pulled out. She saw Billie and blew her a kiss. Billie's heart melted. She couldn't believe that someone other than her mother cared for her like that. It made her think.
Forty-eight mind-numbing hours later she arrive at 30th Street Station. She'd called through on a pay phone and Aunt Susan came for her.
Billie staggered into her Aunt's arms and asked, "What day is it?"
"Darling," Susan cooed, "You need sleep, lots of it. OMG you are about to grow into a real honey."
"And ugly duckling more like it."
Susan gave her one of those far-way smiles Billie's mother often gave her that drove her to despair because they were undecipherable.
"W-what do you mean?" Billie yawned.
Her aunt answered in exactly the same manner of her mother: "Just be patient dear. In time all will be revealed."
God that's what their mother must have said to them. Although frustrated Billie was too tired to punch the side of her seat in the SUV.
The men arrived together, Colin picking up Stewart from university on the way home.
"Where's the kid from Texas?" Stewart yawned.
His mom frowned. "Your cousin is now a young woman, very beautiful and I don't want you attempting to get into her pants."
Son and father looked at one another and grinned.
"Mom you know I only focus on sexy women."
Susan looked less than convinced.
"What?"
"Just behave yourself when alone with your cousin Stewart, that's all I ask."
Stewart looked at his mom puzzled but she offered no elaboration.
After the men washed up the family had a drink and then began dinner.
They were on to mains when the door to the passage from the bedrooms opened and a blonde babe in an almost hip-high nightdress with a small boob with a normal size nipple hanging out entered. Rubbing her eyes she asked, "What day is it?"
Father and son gawked and Susan rushed to her niece, stowed the breast and said, "Remain calm darling, it's dinner time."
"Oh."
"This is your uncle Colin so you'll remember him."
"Um yes, he looks more virile than I remember."
For a moment Susan almost lost it, probably wondering what was behind that comment.