It was a typical January evening, it was cold outside and the heating was on full blast. I had just got home from work and was settling in for an evening on the Sofa in front of the TV, microwave meal in hand. The only slight difference was I was excited about my pending ski strip to France. My friend Ben and I had booked a week's skiing in Serre Chevalier. We left on Friday, 4 days time.
I was interrupted from the TV by the phone ringing. It was my sister Jo. She was spending the week in Manchester with her boyfriend visiting his parents. Jo and Andy lived in the same house as me that we rented off our aunt, an arrangement that was still in its infancy after just 2 months. She blurted down the phone.
"Can you pick me up from the Station? Me and Andy have had an argument and I've come home early on the train. I can get a taxi but wondered if you were free."
"Yes of course." I replied. "How long till your train gets in? are you OK?"
"It arrives in 20 minutes I think. I'm fine but I'm tired. Just want a hot chocolate and bed."
"No problem." I reassured her. "I'll be outside the station when you arrive."
She signed "Thanks Paul, see you in 20 minutes."
My sister Jo had not long turned 18, four years my junior. She lived with me and my mate Andy and hadn't found a job since finishing 6th form college. She relied on Andy for money and material things. I had often thought that she was in the relationship for a meal ticket and an easy ride. Maybe that was a harsh assessment but if they ever split up she would have to have a serious think about life in the real world where you have to work for a living.
I quickly finished my soggy sheppard's pie and left for the station with some time to spare. 5 minutes later I pulled into the station car park and parked up in a spot where I could see the entrance and watch out for Jo's arrival. As I waited, somewhat impatiently, I was relieved when my phone rang. A phone call was always a good way of passing time, even more so when the caller ID revealed it was Ben calling. He probably wanted to check some details before our flights to France on Friday.
"Hi Benny boy!" I answered in my conventional manner, not giving him a chance to speak. I continued. "Looking forward to Friday!?"
Something was wrong. There was a pause on the line "Er mate. I dunno how to say this but I'm not going to be able to go."
"OK?" I said not bothering to hide my disappointment. "This better be good mate, we're meant to be flying out in 3 days."
"My dad died this morning." was the response.
I was shocked. I'd seen Ben's dad just the other day. He was a local cabbie and I often saw him around the town. I paused, hoping I could say something that didn't sound stupid and unsympathetic. "Oh shit mate I'm sorry." was all I could come up with.
Ben went on "I obviously don't want to talk about it but felt I owed you the call given the holiday situation."
"Of course, you do know we haven't taken out insurance yet though mate? There is no chance of a refund. Although I'm sure money is the last thing you're thinking about at the moment."
"Yeah I know this." Ben sounded a little more composed. "Can you do your best to get someone else to come? Even if you have to offer it for free. I don't want you to miss out, but if you can get something towards it I would appreciate it."
"Sure." I started scanning my brain for possible replacements. Thinking hard:
Simon -- No, he hated skiing and we had already asked him if we wanted him to join us.
James -- His missus would never let him go on holiday without her
Gary -- Not a chance, the guy would jump at the chance of a free holiday but nice as he was he was also as tight as a duck's arse and would expect me to pay for every meal, drink the lot.
"Listen mate. Go be with your family, and I'll sort this mess out. I'll do what I can about getting a replacement, push comes to shove I'll go on my own."
"Cheers mate." he sounded distant again as he hung up the phone.
"Shit, shit, shit." I said out loud staring blankly at my phone. I couldn't believe this had happened now. I know it was selfish but I was more worried about this holiday crashing down around my ears than I was about Ben's dad. I had been looking forward to this for ages. Now what was I going to do?
Suddenly the passenger door swung open and Jo plonked herself down in the front seat.
Jo stood around 5'7" and was slim but not too skinny at all. Up to this point I had never spent much thought on my sister's appearance but she did always looked well kept. She had a pretty face, and usually wore discreet makeup and mousy brown hair that fell down just below her shoulders. This was usually kept in a high pony tail like today.
You could say we had been blessed with good genes. Not the best but we were luckier than most. It was sometimes difficult to miss her cute arse and very nice tits, I've always paid attention to tits, sister or no sister they were nice, probably a 36B or C, not too big, not to small. I had never seen them in the flesh obviously but with the right top on they looked great. Not today though. Today she was wrapped up with more layers than an Inuit.
"Hi ya." Her mock cheeriness failing to hide her obvious mood.
Distracted by Bens phone call I had completely forgotten to pay attention the station exit.
I almost laughed "Hello - You sound like I feel."
"Why? What's up with you?"
It was difficult to judge if she was genuinely interested or just making conversation.
"Holiday just gone tits up." I said pulling away from my parking spot.
"Really? What happened!?"
As we drove home I explained the situation with Ben's dad but she was clearly more preoccupied with her recent spat with Andy. She also gave me the impression that her and Andy had had more than a lover's tiff and it was quite a serious situation. His mother had set him up with a job in Liverpool which he had taken with little discussion with Jo. He was serious about moving to Liverpool to be nearer his family but she didn't want to leave her family and friends down here in the south, certainly not at such short notice too.
She was definitely wounded from this incident, as they had what appeared to be quite a strong relationship. Being a tough cookie she would never show her hurt openly though but it was obvious.
We got home and Jo made us both a Hot Chocolate. She then received a call from Andy in the lounge so I discreetly went up to my bedroom and started making phone calls to persuade any friends or acquaintance I knew to take a cheap holiday. I have to admit they were half hearted calls. No-one I knew would be in a position to get time off work and up sticks on a holiday at such short notice. I therefore put in little effort.
I finished my last call and listened for Jo's voice downstairs. All I could hear was the TV in the lounge so assumed her phone call was over. I returned downstairs and plonked myself on my usual spot in the solitary arm chair. Jo was half lying on the sofa that she and Andy would normally occupy together in the evening.
"Go well with Andy?"
My question was met with a silent shake of the head, eyes fixed firmly on the TV.
"You don't fancy a skiing trip do you?" I asked nonchalantly. Not even giving any thought or hope to an answer. In essence I said it more as a way of expressing my frustration at not finding a replacement for Ben than anything else.
The obviously reply came back "Got no money."
"It's free!" I laughed.
Neither of us was actually fully engaged with the conversation. Not even exchanging eye contact. It was the sort of conversation you would have with your parents in front of family viewing TV after a day at school.
"A free holiday!?" she sat up from her lying down position, suddenly taking an interest. "How come it's free?"
"Well." I explained "Ben isn't expecting any money back from what he has paid out already, he's hoping for something but realistically knows that he won't. That includes flights, hotel and a ski pass for the resort. It's about five or six hundred pounds worth."
I glanced over, judging by her reaction I certainly had her attention. I thought about it for a moment. I couldn't go on holiday with my little sister could I? That would be a nightmare. Sharing rooms, teaching her how to ski, skiing slowly so she could keep up, not being able to go out and pull women (not that I had pulled anyone for over eighteen months but that wasn't the point) I tried putting her off instead before she started getting her hopes up.