Sister's Milk
Mike cursed as his car swerved slightly. He wish he could have gotten some snow tires... maybe he could convince his mom to lend him some money. He would really have to play up how dangerous this trip had been for him.
Snowflakes twirled out infinitely ahead of him. It didn't even look like they were falling, but rather like he was driving through some weird swirling snow cyclone. The highway wasn't completely covered in snow, but there was enough to make it slippery and treacherous.
Every year Mike still drove down to stay with his mom and sister for the week of Christmas. This year, Mike was anxious to arrive. While the trip was a nice family tradition, Mike was on a mission. Something weird was going on with his sister, Jennifer. His Mom, Charlene, had tried to tell him about it but she had been oddly vague. Apparently there was some kind of odd health issue and it was keeping Jennifer home from college. Charlene had said it was too personal to share any details about, so Mike knew the only way he'd find out more was if he saw his sister in person.
Despite assurances from his mom that Jennifer was not in danger, Mike couldn't help but speculate what awful disease she must have that in spoiled her plans to become a teacher. She had missed the spring and fall semesters already, and it didn't sound like she planned on returning in the winter either. She must be really sick, whatever it is.
Could she be pregnant? If that was the case, surely she would have told him. Mike felt like his mom would have shared this, they were a pretty progressive family and none of them would have judge Jennifer for getting knocked up.
Mike let out an exasperated sigh. Whatever it was, he was about an hour away from home, and he would find out soon.
Mike pulled into his mother's driveway and got out of the car. He went to the back of the car and got his bags, and a box of Christmas gifts out of the trunk and started up the snowy walk to the house. He was anxious and nervous as he rang the doorbell and waited. After a few moments, Charlene opened the door with a big smile.
Charlene was short, her head barely came up to Mike's chest. She was a curvy, with wide hips and a large butt. Her bust was quite large. Jenny used to complain all the time about how mom had such big boobs and she didn't, even though she took after mom in most other ways. These discussions always embarrassed and frustrated Mike, not wanting the think about his mom or his sister that way. Yet he often found his mind wandering in that direction... like now.
"Mikey!"
Charlene smiled wide as she rushed towards her son. Her reddish hair was styled up in a messy bun and she was wearing a thick knit sweater and some tight leggings. She looked amazing for her age. She grabbed onto Mike's arm.
"Mike! Come in come in! Missed you so much sweetie!" she said as she pulled him into the house and hugged him.
"Hey Mom, missed you too," he said as he hugged her back for a moment before breaking it off, "is Jenny home?"
Charlene's expression morphed into a pained smile.
"Mike, Jenny can't really leave the house much these days. She's in her room. I'm sure she'd be happy to see you..." she said. Mike, having removed his coat and boots, put his stuff down and started towards his sister's room.
"Mikey!" Charlene said suddenly, "Make sure to knock!"
Mike looked back at his mom: she looked very anxious. She was clearly trying to act as normal as possible, but having some trouble keeping that up. Mike wondered what was concerning her. He turned back and made his way to his sister's room. He knocked at the door.
"Jenny? Its Mike... I'm uh... back for the holi...days..."
While Mike spoke he heard a sudden ruckus. It sounded like Jennifer was knocking furniture over and slamming things shut. Mike was intrigued by the sounds, but stood his ground and waited. After an awkward amount of time Mike heard her call out, sounding kind of frazzled.
"Hey- hey Mike! Uh... come in!"
Mike opened the door and scanned the room before settling on his sister, sitting up in her bed with her back against the headboard. The room looked... kind of normal. There were some small changes: a new desk with a computer, presumably for college, some books laying about, mini fridge... nothing to crazy. Jennifer's reddish brown hair was down but mussed. Her pretty green eyes were fixed on Mike, examining him closely. A nervous, but friendly smile on her lips. Mike wondered for a moment if she was not dressed, the way she was holding the covers over herself, but he could make out the shoulder straps of a tank top. Mike decided not to press and entered her room, sitting down at her desk chair at the foot of her bed.
"Hey Jenny. How uh... how are things going?"
Her face reddened slightly in embarrassment. She sort of stuttered nervously through her response, "I'm... I'm alright. All things... considered and all... you know." She seemed off to Mike. Mike remembered Jenny as a teasing, confident little sister. It was more on brand for her to taunt and joke-flirt with him a little, just to try and make him uncomfortable. Or to parade around the house half naked and ask Mike if he liked what he saw when he was obviously embarrassed to see her like that. Seeing her meek, bashful, and really obviously trying to hide her body caused his curiosity to skyrocket.
"How was the drive in?" she asked suddenly, "I heard the roads were really bad because of the snow."
"Yeah it was slippery as fuck. I almost skidded off the road a few times."
"Jeez... well I'm uh... I'm glad you didn't..." she said nervously. Mike cocked his head, puzzling at her behaviour. She wasn't usually so awkward. She continued after a moment, "I can't... I haven't really been out much lately."
Mike nodded, as if she was making any sense. He stood up, wanting to leave her room and dispel this bizarre tension.
"Well, you seem tired or something, so I'll leave you alone. It's good seeing you Jenny, I hope you feel better soon."
With that he walked up to the head of the bed and bent over to give her a little half hug. She seemed to gasp slightly as he put his arm around her shoulder and leaned his head against hers. When he pulled away he saw that she looked flushed.
"Let me know if there's any way I can help with... whatever you're going through. Love ya, lil sis."
Her face lit up for a second and Mike almost thought she was going to say something, but instead she just blushed some more and thanked him. Mike left her room no less puzzled than when he walked in. She hadn't looked sickly, but she was clearly not herself. She had acted so bizarre, it was so out of character for her. It was like she was an entirely different person. Maybe it was some hormone thing? She had been covering herself awkwardly with the blankets, so Mike wasn't able to tell if she was pregnant. Maybe she had been disfigured somehow? But surely mom would have mentioned an accident or assault.
As Mike walked back into the dining room he saw his mom setting three spots at the table. She looked up at Mike as he walked in, clearly trying to get a read on him. Mike, impatient with the sustained mysteriousness that seemed to have enveloped his family walked up to Charlene.
"Mom. What is going on with Jenny."
Charlene froze for a moment before continuing to set the table. She looked up at Mike, clearly a little confused.
"Didn't you just see her?" she asked.
"Yeah, and she was acting very... weird."
"Acting weird? You... didn't notice anything else?" she asked with an incredulous look on her face.
"Well she was in bed and held the covers up the whole time so if she's got a second torso or something now I wasn't able to tell."
Charlene's expression changed from confusion to understanding to taciturn.
"Ah. Well, its not my place to share with you what she clearly isn't ready to yet."
"So the plan is that we're all having dinner together though? You're setting three spots. Is she going to sit at the table with a table cloth over her or what?"
"Mike, you're being unbelievably insensitive right now. I'm sure you'll learn about your sister's condition soon enough. For now, afford her the respect to chose when another person should get to learn about this very personal part of her life. I set three spots in hopes she would come down for dinner. If she doesn't feel up to joining us, I'll bring her food to her room as I sometimes do. Now, stop pestering me and go get settled in."
With that she walked off to the kitchen. Mike felt a hot wash of shame as he wordlessly gathered his stuff from the entrance and went to go get set up in his childhood room.
As Mike finished putting his things in order, he heard a soft knock on the door.
