It is amazing how time has a way of changing things and people. People you haven't seen in years can sometimes undergo a complete metamorphosis and when you see them again you hardly recognize them. Take the case of my cousin Raylene; It would be twelve long years before I would see her again and when I did, I would not recognize her but what a sweet and pleasurable reunion it would be.
Growing up Raylene and I would be more like brother and sister than cousins. Raylene was the youngest of three girls and I was the only child. Raylene's older sister was 8 years her senior and she was too much of a "girly girl" for Raylene who was more like a tomboy and that is why she and I took up together.
We were practically inseparable and we did everything together. As we got older Raylene would tell me secrets most men wouldn't tell their bartender. She felt she could trust me and I felt I could trust her and as a result, we developed a deep bond that went beyond mere words and was almost spiritual in nature.
Physically speaking, Raylene had always been somewhat on the big side. As a child, she had always struggled with her weight and this carried over into her teen and adult years.
Even though she had a very pretty face and smile she could not get past the fact she was overweight and this lowered her self esteem. Add to the fact that high school the so called "in crowd" of girls and boys made fun of her and that spelled the recipe for a downward spiral and led to a self fulfilling prophecy.
I saw beyond her outward appearance and saw her beautiful sweet loving spirit and in my eyes she was attractive. She stood about 5'11" with long chestnut brown hair sexy captivating hazel eyes a smile that could light up the room. She would be what you consider attractive but teenagers can be such jerks and as result this only led to Raylene getting fatter.
As for myself, I took up for Raylene. I was 6'2" with a very muscular build and was on the high school wrestling team. Also I had taken karate as a child so by this time I was one step way from a black belt and I used my skills to pay retribution on some of the boys at school.
One day during my senior year it was spring and all of us were in the locker room changing from P.E.. One fellow was being a jerk about Raylene calling her cave woman and me captain cave man. As for myself I didn't mind what they called me but when the asshole said that the only way Raylene could get laid was that a guy would have to be drunk, I lost it and beat the crap out of him. I was suspended for two days but it was worth it because no one ever made fun of Raylene again.
After high school Raylene and I would go our separate ways. By now she was over 250 pounds and wore a size 3X in large women's clothing which did not help her self esteem and led her to do a foolish thing. She got married to some jerk who only saw fat girls as an "easy lay" and as a result she became trapped in a 12 year long marriage from hell.
As for me I would go to college and major in computers and after graduation I entered the Air force as an officer and was in charge of networking. This would be the last I would see of her in person but for a few years while I was in college we kept in touch by mail but that soon stopped and it was like she dropped off the face of the earth I inquired about her from my family and they told me she was surviving but was not happy, even though she tried to convince them she was.
After a 6 year stint in the service I came back home and took a job as a web page designer for a large computer firm. All during this time, I would write her letters encouraging her and letting her know I still thought of her and invited her to call me or even drop into town and see me. Part of me knew I would not get any letters yet I continued to write in small chance that it would reach her and little did I know but my care and thoughtfulness would pay off and in a way I never imagined.
It would be two more years until I would see Raylene but when I did I would not recognize her and would be awe struck by the transformation she had undergone.
It was a Friday evening and my buddies at work and myself decided to go to one of the hot night clubs just to unwind and they went to see if they could get lucky and I must admit I wanted some action as well seeing it had been a couple of months since I had been laid.
My buddies found themselves people to dance with quickly but as for me I was thinking of Raylene, mainly because it was her birthday and was hoping that mom had gotten my card to her.
I was sitting at the bar drinking a beer and had just snuffed out a cigarette when I happened to look around the room to see who all was here and try to catch the eye of a sexy woman. I would catch one's eye but little did I know it would be Raylene.
I looked over at a table and saw three sexy women all laughing and looking like they were having a good time and I noticed the brunette had a birthday hat on and they were celebrating.
You know how it is when you know you know someone but you just can't place them maybe because its been a long time since you have seen them and they have changed, well that is the way it was.
As I continued to watch, my eyes caught hers and she smiled and waved and even blew me a kiss then as I happened to look back she was gone but her friends were still there. I couldn't help thinking that was Raylene but I dismissed it as wishful thinking and went back to watching game on the tube.
The next thing I knew someone had their hands over my eyes and a soft sexy voice whispered in my ear "Guess who sweetie."
My initial reaction was that it was one of the sexy bar maids who worked here but then it came to me; I knew that voice. It sounded just like Raylene's but it couldn't be or could it.
I was reluctant to answer at first but then I slowly and cautiously said "Raylene," not knowing for sure whether or not I was right but I was.
"In the flesh," Raylene said with a big smile as she leaned over my shoulder and I saw her for the first time in 12 years. "Its so-o-o-o-o-o- good to see you Kyle honey," Raylene said as she stood there beaming happiness.
"Let me look at you," I said as I turned towards her and I was thunderstruck at what I saw before me. Raylene was no longer extremely overweight but now she was a hot sexy curvaceous woman measuring 36D-26-36.
Raylene was wearing a .hot sexy "little black dress" which looked more like a nighty than a dress.
"Holy Shit," I exclaimed "You look absolutely" and before I could stop myself the word "scrumptious" came out instead of what I had planned to say which was beautiful.
Instead of being put off by what I said Raylene smiled and said "I am glad you like it and might I say you look absolutely delicious yourself."