John's story
Every Easter, we have a family gathering. It's usually held at my parents house and is a dull, lifeless affair for which my fiancΓ© and I fight over who will be drinking and who will be driving. That's if That's the harmony of the nuclear family for you. Anyhow, this year we were in luck. My parents had booked a cruise and were not going to be at home, so my sister suggested that we went round to hers instead.
My fiancΓ© and my sister get on really well; they are both the same age, two years younger than I am. I actually met Anna a couple of years ago at a party my sister was having during her final year at university. They didn't know each other, Anna had come along with another friend, but my sister still joked that I "owed her one" for that. However, once Anna and I started seeing each other, my sister Kate and and her hung out much more. So when my sister suggested going to hers, Anna agreed immediately. Even better, my sister suggested we stay over β which would give both of us a chance to drink.
It was a good thing really, as the weather that weekend was appalling. It thundered the night before and I had to drive really slowly up the motorway, windscreen wipers flashing furiously in front of me. My fiancΓ©, Anna, sat with her red stockinged legs curled up underneath her staring out the window.
"I wonder who the angels are crying for..." she said. That is one of the reasons I'm marrying her. Never been much of a poet myself, but she could say some really beautiful things. Though doing 40 up the M6 with visibility down to the red tail-lights in front of me didn't make me think of angels. Apart from the one to my left, who'd whispered to me that morning that she'd bought me a special 'Easter Present' from La Senza, which I could unwrap later. If I hadn't had to concentrate so much on the road, I'd have tried to sneak a peek. Later, I told myself, laughing.
We finally pulled into the drive an hour and a half later than we'd agreed. We dashed from the car to the porch and Anna rang the doorbell as we huddled together. My sister's boyfriend, Neil, opened the door almost immediately, I guess they had been waiting for us, and grinned.
"Thought you weren't coming!" he grinned.
"John's driving isn't that good," Anna quipped back.
"I know that! I still remember him trying to teach me to drive!" my sister said as she came to greet us, chucking some tissues into the bin as she went past.
"Hey, I wasn't too bad... you passed I remember." I said, punching her lightly on the shoulder.
"Mmm.
After
you moved out..." she laughed and gave me hug. She was wearing a black lacy blouse that suggested more than it actually revealed and a black skirt that tapered down to just above the knee. Black stockings completed the outfit. I guessed that I might not be the only one getting lucky tonight and actually, from the way Neil's hair was ruffled, I guessed we might have just disturbed something.
I shook hands with Neil β he was a new boyfriend and I didn't really know him too well yet. Anna and my sister had already started chattering excitedly before we even reached the lounge. Neil politely poured each of us a glass of wine and we made small talk until my sister leapt up and said,
"I got to go check on the dinner β Neil why don't you show them where they can dump their bag."
Neil led us to a room on the second floor, which was draped in so many curtains it looked like a Bedouin's tent crossed with, hell I don't know, but there were a lot of hangings. You had to push your way through to get to the bed, which was itself covered with cushions. "Romantic!" Anna whispered in my ear, her hand brushing my crotch as she put the bag down on the bed. Neil pretended not to notice anything as I went slightly red β and walking became a bit awkward.
"It's ready!" called Kate and we headed downstairs.
Dinner was a typical English roast β chicken (cue the bird flu jokes from Neil), potatoes, peas and lots and lots of wine. I think we went through four bottles, getting gradually more and more relaxed and giggly. Neil then suggested that the two of us smoked a cigar with some brandy, to which I readily agreed β despite Anna's disapproving look as she hates me smoking.
"Not in here you don't!" exclaimed my sister.
"Aww, but it's dark," I pretended to moan.
Kate got unsteadily to her feet and wobbled towards the door. She tried to raise her hand to point towards the garden, but spoilt the effect somewhat by needing to lean against the wall.
"Out!" she repeated, whilst we all laughed.
The cigars were good. I think. The brandy was good too, but by the end of the second glass, I couldn't see straight, let alone taste anything properly. Neil and I discussed football, cars and then, of course woman. I mean, hey not only are we guys, we were drunk guys.
"I like, you know, woman who are a bit, you know..." he said.
"Yeah," I agreed, "I like women."
"No, I mean yes, but I like women who make an effort."
"Mmmh." I nodded. "Anna bought new underwear for today."
"Cool. That's nice. She's nice. Like your sister." Neil giggled. "You know what, she wore that dress and those stockings especially today. I really like it when she wears those clothes and..."
He trailed off, eyes glazing over a bit as he stared into the darkness of the bushes.