The scrawny kid who had allowed my inexperienced fingers to probe around in her knickers all those years ago had grown up into a stunningly beautiful young women. She was tall, too tall to become the ballet dancer she had trained to be since being nine years old, and slim. If her breasts were on the large side it was to her advantage for she carried herself with confidence. Her brown hair was long and she wore it naturally so that it swirled about her face as she swung her head.
This was the first time that I had seen my cousin since she was twelve, living as she did, way down in the south in times when travelling was not so easy as it is today. On this occasion she had accompanied our grandmother to my mother's house for a holiday at a time when I was also home on leave from the RAF.
I have to confess that I had always been attracted to Amy but I had always felt that it was not right for cousins to have such feelings. However, because we had grown up together and were of similar ages, we had always been company for each other and comfortable in each other's company.
I had not known that she would be home when I arrived and was taken aback to see how beautiful she looked. She wore a short skirt that made you think her legs went upward for ever and a tight jumper that outlined, in precise detail, her superb breasts. She tossed her dark hair back as she greeted me and then gave me a very theatrical hug and kiss - a gesture common, I suppose, in ballet circles but somewhat out of place amid the smoking chimneys of Manchester.
"You look great," I understated and she replied, whilst admiring me overtly, "So do you."
"Amy's here for a week, John. I hope you will look after her while you're home," said my mother from the kitchen.
"Sure," I replied and winked at Amy. Grandma continued her knitting having said hello, insulated by her deafness from any conversation that was conducted at normal volume.
Over dinner I asked Amy along to meet a couple of friends whom I had already arranged to see that evening. She accepted and, after our meal we made our way to the appointed place where we met two other male friends, Tony and Mike and Mike's girlfriend - Lisa.
Amy and Lisa, hit it off straightaway and chatted together, whilst we boys discussed 'boy's things'. However, I could not help but notice that Tony had been smitten with Amy from the moment he met her and was desperately trying not to stare at her whilst trying to maintain a semblance of interest in our conversation.
At about ten o'clock we all left and started to walk home together. In no time, Amy and I found ourselves walking alone as the others peeled off to follow their different routes. It was a warm, languid night and we walked slowly side by side.
"It really is good to see you, Amy. You gave me quite a shock when I walked in, I think you must have seen my mouth drop, didn't you."
"You've grown up yourself, John. Quite dashing in your uniform and so tall."
"We have to wear uniform when we travel but I am glad to get into something more comfortable," rubbing a hand down the leg of my blue jeans to indicate what I meant.
"You made a big hit with Tony, you know, I don't think that I have ever known him to be so tongue-tied." She laughed self-consciously and I began to realise just how shy she really was.
"I expect you have a boyfriend back home?" I asked, but the question made her blush.
"There hasn't been much time for boys with the dancing. It takes up all my time."
"Oh, come on, Amy, don't tell me that you are all grown up and never been kissed?" I teased, but could see that I had touched a nerve. I stopped and faced her. Her head was bowed and I gently lifted her chin so that I could see her eyes. They were wet and sad and I could not help taking her in my arms,
"Eh, I'm only kidding. Look, I am sorry."
She put her arms around me and clung on as if someone was trying to wrench her away and was shivering on that warm night.
Whispering in her ear I said, "If never-been-kissed is a problem then we can soon put that right," and, turning her to face me again, I pressed my lips against hers. They were soft, giving lips which parted seconds after meeting and I felt her tongue dart into my mouth and duel with my own. She may never have been kissed before, but she was very quick to put theory into practice.
Eventually we pulled away from each other and I said," There then, do you think you will grow to like it?"
She smiled coyly before lowering her eyes again,
"I am sure, with you as my teacher, I will be very quick to learn all sorts of things."
She flicked up her eyes to meet mine and to judge my reaction.
"I believe some night school might well be called for here."
I kissed her forehead and, taking her hand in mine, walked her home.
The house was in darkness when we arrived even though it was only a little after ten thirty. Grandma always retired early and my mother would have read for a few minutes before her sleeping tablet took effect and be sound asleep by now.
Embers of a dying fire glowed in the grate and I added a few more coals to prolong its life, each making yellow sparks as it fell onto the red-hot bed of ash.
