I walked up the four wooden steps to the front door of the small, lake house, breathing heavily due to the increased altitude; the wood panels and red tin roof beckoning me back to childhood summers spent in the splendor of calmness and nature. The lake, just behind the house, had provided hours of recreation and peace, and there I was, back at the beautiful body of water. I could feel the cool liquid running across my body as tangibly as if I had already dived in.
I arrived at the door seconds later, my mind still entranced in the ardor of gliding through the natural collection of liquid, my hand inches from the metal doorknob. Violently, the door swung inward, shattering the imagery of the lake and its quiet splendor. Two arms flung around me, and warm lips pressed against my cheek.
"Sam," Danielle spoke as soon as her lips had left my face, "I haven't seen you in like forever!"
"Yeah," I replied, stunned by the warmer-than-usual reception from my only sibling. "How've you been?"
Danielle rolled her eyes. Pleasantries never suited her.
Standing only inches apart, I hadn't realized what my sister neglected in her apparel, until she stepped back.
"Danielle!" I grabbed her hand and pulled her inside the tiny, lake house. Shutting the door behind us, I continued, "You shouldn't be out there only in your underwear!"
"C'mon, Sam," she reasoned playfully, "There's no one around for miles."
I looked down at my older sister's outfit. Her tight, grey, V-neck ended half an inch above her black waistband, revealing the contour of her T-shirt bra. She lacked shorts, exposing her white, boy briefs with black trim.
"What's this for?" She pointed to the black trim that curved down the center of the briefs, not concerned at all about her attire, or lack of.
"That's the fly." I conceded. "It makes it easier to pee."
"Pee." Danielle giggled. "So you pull your.. thing... through this tiny hole?"
"Those are for twelve year-olds." I rolled my eyes.
As she turned and left me at the door, my eyes fell to her toned glutes; the stretched fabric of the child's briefs clung insubstantially to the firm, prominent curves.
---
"What took you so long?" I gazed at the perfect lake, its stillness and clearness entranced me; the click of the rear door of the house alerting me to my sister's late arrival.
"This stupid thing." Danielle's agitated voice growing as she walked toward me.
I turned my head around, not knowing what she was complaining about, and nearly fell backward.
In all our excursions, my parents had never allowed my sister to wear any swimsuit besides a one-piece, and technically she was wearing a one-piece swimsuit. It was just missing half.
"I just don't feel anything on my back." Danielle turned, her acuteness lacking.
"There is no back." I quickly snapped my head forward, my cheeks as red as the newly-painted tin roof. "And there's only half a front." I mumbled.
"Oh," Danielle exhaled, as if she had been oblivious to this detail.
The olive of her swimsuit was nearly synonymous with her skin, the latter being slightly darker, and cut in two ribbons, connected at the chest with a gold ring, that tapered to strands which tied behind the neck. The ribbons merged an inch below her navel, hiding only the more personal. "Well, what do you think?"
I never understood why my sister asked me to judge her figure. According to me, there never existed any flaw. Her thin legs, flat abdominals, small breasts, angular shoulders, and lean arms constituted no objections and no reservations to her stunning body. And I know da Vinci hadn't seen Danielle's face, but everyone who did, either stared impolitely or took a third look. Her big, hazel eyes, modest, cute nose, unblemished cheeks, and juvenile lips framed by gorgeous, wavy, brown hair stunned me even now, after seeing her thousands of times. Leaving nothing to be desired, the epitome of beauty stood before me, asking me my opinion of her 21 year-old Grecian figure.
The protuberance in my swim briefs noticeably increased as incestuous thoughts flooded my adolescent brain, and again, my face grew hot in the presence of my two-year-older sibling. Her gaze gradually fell until it rested on the bulge that grew in my black briefs. My hands shot from my sides to my privates, as awkwardness ensued; Danielle's mouth left gaping.
"Um," I tried to break the palpable tension. "I'm gonna jump in."
---
I heaved my wet body back on the slick wood and turned to lay in the sun. The fulfilling swim had drowned my insecurities and embarrassment, leaving me placid and accomplished. I drew in deep gulps of breath as I let my body warm in the rays of light. After a long minute, I stood and gathered myself as I made my way to the house.
As I glided to my room, I noticed Danielle with her nose and mind deep within a Jane Austen novel, her legs curled up into her chest on the white couch. I pushed the door, attempting to close it behind me, and slipped my thumbs inside the waistband of my swim briefs.
"Are you circumcised?" My sister's voice rang clear, not muffled by a wooden door.
"Yeah," I replied, removing my thumbs from inside my swimsuit.
"Can I see it?" The very words I dreaded.
"See what?" I asked, knowing full well the desire of Danielle's improper inquiry.
"You know," she frowned, closing the door behind her. "Your penis." Danielle's shame in asking and naming it properly apparent in her meek tone and posture.
I retreated to the corner opposite the door, the heat of her eyes overbearing, and pulled the waistband away from my skin to peer down at my manhood. Letting it snap back to my body, I faced Danielle, whose hand was on the doorknob, ready to retreat.
"Wait." I abruptly called.
No one had seen my privates since I was seven. My parents had taught me the importance of intimate parts and clothing. For the past decade, I observed this doctrine with exactness, the only exception being in the doctor's office. No one else had ever asked, especially so explicitly.
Danielle turned toward me, aware of the inappropriateness of her inquiry. Her head slumped, and her arms awkwardly turned inward ending in palms pressed together. She looked up at me as if I were to sentence her to some harsh punishment.
I sighed, resigning to reply favorably to her indecent request. If I could confide in anyone, Danielle had earned my trust. To deny her of this simple, yet perverted, request, would be hiding. Once again, I tugged at the waistband of my swim briefs and peered down. Slowly, I extended my arm until the briefs no longer served an adequate purpose. I felt my face heat up as I realized the inappropriateness of disclosing my intimates to a sibling of the opposite sex. Turning shamefully, I returned the waistband to its rightfully-named place.
I stood still, waiting for the door to click twice; the fulfillment of her request constituting an exit of the spectator in my mind, every moment an eternity. Anxiety drove me to turn my head after infinities of naive guilt. Stunned, I viewed Danielle quietly standing, centered in the room; her eyes wide, her demeanor curious.
"Sam," she gently addressed, "Is that it?"
I faced the wall again, my cheeks flush at the mention of my genitals. I felt Danielle's hand on my bare shoulder, but didn't acknowledge it.
"I've never seen one, so," Danielle explained, her fingers delicate, just like her lips, on my skin.
"You haven't?" I asked doubtfully. I paused, then added, "Dr. Woods says it's small for my age."
"It's modest, compared to the illustrations in the text books," she admitted, giggling softly "but I like that. Can I see it again?"
