Amy couldn’t believe her folks would dump her off like this. OK, she didn’t want to see some stupid musical with them tonight while they went into town. And yes, she had abused their trust, having a party while they were last away, leaving her with the house. But, shit! She was all of 18. Eighteen dammit! She could vote, and to drop her off at her uncle apartment in Chicago was SO incredibly embarrassing she couldn’t believe it. When they closed the door and left, she stood by her uncle’s door, head hung and ashamed.. and ready for some major boredom. Hopefully he had cable.
“Hey,” he said. “Don’t hang your head in shame. A face so pretty should be hung in a frame as a portrait. We all screw up with our parents. I did. I could tell you stories about your own mother. She was almost 13 years older than me, but I heard the stories.”
Amy looked up slowly. That’s right. Her mom became a mother at age 22, so her Uncle Max would be.. 27!! Ohmygod! She looked at him. He was only 9 years older than her. And, my god, what a hunk!! Maybe its the family genetics, but hell.. thick raven black hair like her own, eyes blue enough to be reflecting the sky. And her mother’s penchant to stay fit and in shape at the gym, she guessed.
“You have your own apartment... and you go to college here in Chicago?” she asked. Mother never talked about her baby “oops” brother for some reason. She almost nothing about him.. except he would be here baby-sitter tonight. Look at those beautiful hands.. splattered with paint.. before he said it she knew the answer...
“No, this is my studio.. I sell my works here in Chicago.. well, I hope to sell them. Lately, I barter for rent, giving the landlord some paintings.. he dreams he’ll get rich if I’m famous some day.” Max explained. He suddenly looked abashed. “Oh, forgive me!” He wiped his hands clean and came forward, arms wide for a hug. “I know you probably don’t remember me. Haven’t seen you since you were.. oh, maybe two years old. Your mother moved far away, and we had a.. a falling out... and you’ve had a filling out!” He went red in his face. “Uh, oh.. I mean.. uh, you’ve grown so much! And became such a stunning beauty! I bet the boys at our high school tripped all over each other to get a date with you.”
“Well, I have had a few boyfriends.. some can be real jerks.. this one guy I’m seeing is OK. A dumb jock I’m discovering. No love of learning or the arts... not like you. can I see what you’re working on?” she asked as she rounded the corner of the easel. Before he could say “Wait!” She was upon it.
Her eyes opened wide an jaw dropped as he heard her sharp intake of breath. “OH.. oh.. why.. it’s stunning! Um.. you paint nudes.” He blushed and draped a canvas over it quickly. “You need not hide it” she stammered. I’ve seen nudes in museums.”
“Yes, well.. its not finished, and I never show my work to anyone until its done. Sorry... just a funny habit.” He smiled and looked about. “Something to drink? A Coke?”
“How about a rum and Coke?” she asked.
“OK.. wait!” he turned and smiled.. you must be. what? Seventeen? Eighteen?”
“Twenty-one,” she lied.