Authors note: This story is meant for my female readers in particular. If you have an Aunt Kate, you know you love her despite her bewildering ways. A woman who is far worldlier than you ever want to be, but one who is firmly on your side as a woman and wants your life to be filled with love and happiness. We all need different perspectives in our life, so if you're an Aunt Kate, or a little less so, bless you!
Krazy Aunt Kate
By Rachel Anne Wallace
I looked at my Aunt Kate in disbelief. She was siding with my boyfriend! I was sure she didn't know why I wasn't pleased with him, but then I really didn't want her to know. Some things you simply don't talk about with anyone other than your partner, and this topic was at the top of the list. I hadn't noticed she was standing just inside the hallway where she could hear us clearly as I laid out my disappointment.
It had all started last night after Peter and I had arrived at the family reunion held at my parents' home. Peter had flat out told me he was too tired and thought it would be better if we waited until after we got back home anyway. Maybe I should have been more understanding, but I wanted his attention regardless and didn't want to waitâafter all he was a man. At least no one else in the family had heard our exchange, particularly my motherâthe topic I was sure would have put her over the top. Her unmarried daughter shouldn't even have been thinking of such a thing at the reunion. Peter had slept on the pull out bed on the back porch the previous night, his usual spot when we stayed at my parents' home.
To be honest, Peter had been gentle in his suggestion, saying he wanted to be at his best for me and that would be in the morning. How that translated into something my Aunt Kate understood was a surpriseâas she was my mother's younger unmarried sister and I didn't expect her to know a thing about it. When she saw the expression on my face she smiled.
"Pam, I think maybe we should go into the backyard and talk about things your mother has never told you."
I looked at her, then glanced at Peter. He grew a grin, then elected to leave the room as if someone had summoned him. After Peter left, I turned to my aunt feeling the need to feign injury that she would have taken Peter's side about something she knew little or nothing about.
"You shouldn't have said anything, I mean...well...it was between Peter...and...not something I want to divulge to anyone else."
"Was it because it would embarrass you, or because you hadn't been considerate enough of his position?"
I was sure she hadn't a clue as to what we had been talking about and decided to deflect her insinuation that I hadn't been understanding enough. I was about to reply when she pointed to the door leading to the backyard. We walked out and sat down in two of the lawn chairs placed on the perfectly manicured lawnâa yard that a rabbit would have had had to pack food supplies in to survive for the day.
"Pam, I'm six years younger than your mother. Do you think I don't know anything about men or about sex?"
I was completely startled by her question. My god she did know what we were talking about! But more than that, I had never given a thought to her private lifeâafter all, she was single, never married, and spent a lot of time with family. I sat numbly, thinking to myself, what do I say now?
I slowly composed myself, "I don't know, I guess I thought..."
"Just because I'm not married doesn't mean I'm clueless about men and sex. I'm going to tell you a few things about men and sex your mother would never tell youâit seems overdue to me. Things that I've learned as a woman that have been hard-won and sometimes painful. You have a wonderful boyfriend and don't seem to recognize it. This is the third time over the past year I've met him, so I know you're committed enough to want to have a future with him, or am I wrong?"
I was taken aback by her directness, but then Aunt Kate had never been shy about asserting herself when she felt it was necessary, even with my mother. It took a while as I looked at her pensively, "No, you're right. I do want our relationship to grow."
"Okay, you admit that. Now, I'm not going to be genteel or timid about this. I'm going to tell you in plain unadulterated English so you'll understand. None of this watered-down drivel they tell you in books, sex education class, or women's magazines. You may be shocked, but it'll stick with youâyou won't forget my words for a while. Does that sound alright, or shall I simply tell you to appreciate him more and walk away?"
I felt myself grow a little anxious not knowing exactly where this was goingâthough I had to admit my mother had told me very little about sex other than explain the basic mechanics and to not to have sex until I was marriedâwhich up to three weeks ago I had been able to do. I set my jaw, my heart beating just a little bit faster, and looked her in the eye; maybe I really didn't have anything to lose. "No, I want to hear what you have to say."
"Well, to start off with let's get right down to basicsâyou're a woman and he's a man."
I nodded, not a thing vague about that statement; maybe this wasn't going to be so bad.
"You have a pussy and he has a cock, dick, penis, one-eyed snake, whatever you want to call it. Right?"
The look on my face must have told her I was more than a little shocked at the language. Crap, so much for my previous thought. My mother never, never, ever would say something like this to me. I nodded my head slowly and swallowed hardâthinking maybe I shouldn't have agreed to this. I was trying to think of an excuse to leave when she continued even before I had answeredâshe was on a roll.