"Liam, it's your 21st birthday. It's a big one. What present do you want?"
"Grandpa, I don't need anything, but if you can get me 2 tickets to the Olympics in Paris, especially to the swimming competitions, I'll be the happiest man alive."
"I'll do that."
The next day I called our guy in Paris, and he got 2 tickets for 2 consecutive days at the Olympic pool. When I notified my grandson, he was very excited and almost cried, "You are the best!"
I had tears in my eyes. I never told anybody my story at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
...
I was 25 year old highly ambitious guy. Two years earlier, with a friend, we developed a new security software, that was adopted by major corporations around the world. We were making tons of money and the future looked bright. Unlike my friend who was a classic geek, I loved sports, especially swimming and volleyball. At college, I was good in both and continued later whenever I found the time.
My girlfriend, Betty, was good looking, smart, and loved to travel. She often complained we never had time to go somewhere. I said we were too busy building a new company from scratch. Well, this excuse kept her with me for 15 months, but one day in January of 1984, she said, "Enough is enough. I love you, but I have no intention to spend my life with somebody who lives for work rather than the opposite."
She left me on the evening of the same day I got 2 tickets for three consecutive days of swimming competitions in the Olympics. I was devastated, and it took me weeks to slowly return to my old self.
When I felt better, I invested all my stamina at work, preferring to spend more hours there than socializing. As a result, There was no way I could meet new girls. In my rare free time, I watched TV.
In early July, the advertisements for the upcoming Olympics appeared everywhere, and I remembered about my 2 tickets. Neither of the people I worked with was a swimmer. Some were nerds and others were interested in football, baseball, or basketball. Then I remembered my younger sister, Maya. She was 5 years younger and attended college in St Louis. I haven't seen her in almost 4 years since I left our home in Boston.
Like me, Maya was an athlete who loved swimming and participated in her college's competitions. We haven't had much contact lately, and it was purely my fault. She actually tried to keep in touch, but I was too depressed or busy to think about anything but work.
I called Maya on her cellphone, "Hi girl. It's me, Max. I wanted to hear your voice after ages we didn't talk."
"Are you the jerk brother who ignored me for a long time?"
"Sorry. I was extremely busy, and then my relationship with my girlfriend fell apart, so I didn't want to see or talk to anybody. I know everything I say sounds like a lame excuse, but I am willing to make it up to you. How would you like to join me in seeing the swimming races at the Olympics in LA?"
"You are joking..."
"No, I mean it. I got tickets for 3 consecutive days of swimming competitions in early August."
She almost cried, "Maxi, did I mention I love you? The Olympics is my dream show. I thought I'd see it on TV, so being there is a once-in-a-lifetime fantasy fulfilled."
"I have already a flight ticket, and I land in LA on August 1st at 3 pm. Buy a ticket ASAP and we'll meet at the United counter in the airport."
"It will be crowded there. You haven't seen me in years, so look for the woman wearing a red blouse and blue jeans."
"No chance I won't recognize my brat little sister. OK, I'll meet you there."
A day before my flight, I remembered I didn't arrange our lodging. LA had so many hotels that prior arrangements usually were not needed. I called several luxury hotels and each one was booked solid. I offered twice the room rate, but they declined and said it was too late. According to them, every hotel in the LA area was full with 'No Availability' signs everywhere. I called our representative in LA to see if he had an extra room for us, but he apologized, saying his relatives were coming on these dates.
I checked the predicted temperatures for the upcoming days. According to the weather channel, the maximum temperatures in LA would be 80-85 degrees, and the minimum around 70 degrees each night. I went to Walmart and bought a Coleman Camping Tent for 2 with 2 pillows and thin blankets. Maya and I were young, so if there were no other places to sleep, we'd camp on LA beach 3 nights. I was debating whether to rent a car, but the traffic in LA was so terrible that I gave up, hoping to use taxis.
...
I arrived at LAX early and sat at a place where I could see Maya coming in my direction. A few female passengers were passing by, but neither one was her. About 25 minutes after her predicted arrival time, I saw a young woman wearing a red blouse and jeans. It couldn't be; she didn't look like Maya. The Maya I remembered was a skinny, tall girl with long hair.
The young woman before me was much prettier, sporting shorter hair, having on nice red lipstick, and... a figure to die for.
I approached her, "Excuse me. Is your name Maya?"
She smiled and hugged me, "Yes bro. I am the same brat you neglected to keep in touch with for the last 3 years."
I kissed her forehead, "You look so different. I didn't recognize you. I ogled you, thinking I was seeing Sports Illustrated cover girl."
She blushed, "Don't exaggerate. Yes, I gained weight and look better, but I didn't change that much."
I took her hand in mine and gave her the bad news, "I screwed up. I didn't reserve a hotel in time, and was surprised to find out the whole metropolitan didn't have a place to sleep. So yesterday I bought us a tent. We can put it on LA beach and sleep in it. We are fortunate the night temperature is supposed to be comfortable, around 70 degrees."
She smiled, "Not a problem. The last time I went camping was 8 years ago. I miss that experience. And being on the beach is even better: I brought a swimsuit, so we can go for a night swim."
We took a taxi to Venice Beach. I gave our luggage to the concierge at one of the small hotels along the beach and handed him a $50 bill to keep our stuff until nighttime. Before leaving the hotel, we changed into swimsuits and grabbed suntan lotion.
Maya exited the bathroom before me. When I came out wearing my Speedo she whistled, "Brother, you became a real hunk! Tall, muscular, handsome. If I weren't your sister, I would likely try to seduce you."
I ogled her flawless figure and grinned, "Look who's talking. A pretty young lady with a perfect body." I wasn't exaggerating: Her tiny bikini revealed more than covered. Her athletic tall frame showed prominent C-cup breasts, muscular tummy, and shapely long legs.
We strolled to the shore and mingled with the large crowd. It was around 5:30 pm, and a slightly cooler breeze made it feel better. Maya jumped in the water and called me. "Hey, lazy bum, join me. It's wonderful."
I entered the cool water and agreed it felt good. Suddenly, Maya jumped on my back, shouting, "Run, horsy, run." I started laughing: It was a game we used to play as children. I let her ride me and I'd run with her on my back. Now she was still light-weight, but the difference was that her covered tits smashed onto my back, reminding me she was no longer a child but a beautiful young woman.
"Hey, sis, be careful. At my advanced age, any injury I suffer may cause permanent damage."
She giggled, "Liar. You are only 25, and with your fantastic shape, I bet you can carry two of me without difficulties."
I smirked, "One of you is enough to distract me. Two of you and I won't survive a month."
She gave me a funny look, "Do I really distract you?"
"Of course you do. I was expecting to meet a child, and to my surprise, I ended up with Miss America." She blushed profusely but kept quiet.
"Lady, let's swim along the shore."
She chuckled, "I swam a lot in pools. Here, the water is salty, and there are high waves. Do you promise to save me if I drown?"