Two days passed routinely with nothing more than a regular smile and an occasional peck on the cheek from Aunt Jane. At times I began to wonder if any of the images that filled my mind so frequently had really happened at all. Then Thursday afternoon rolled around.
My class ended a little late, so my usual leisurely stroll home took on a little more urgency, stimulated by my hunger. I entered the townhouse noisily by the front door, but there was no reply to my cheerful “Hi!” I walked into the kitchen and immediately noticed a large yellow “sticky note” on the refrigerator door. Aunt Jane’s familiar script read, “Lunch is in the frig. Bring it up to the deck, and let’s eat.”
I opened the refrigerator door, and sure enough, a tray was laden with sandwiches, chips and soda cans. I dropped my knapsack to the floor and slid the tray from the refrigerator. Closing the door with my heel, I turned toward the stairs. Taking the stairs one at a time, I was careful not to spill or drop anything from the tray. I entered my bedroom to obtain access to the deck.
Aunt Jane was fully reclined on one of the chaise lounges on the deck. I stopped quietly at the sliding glass door to take stock. She was wearing one of the tiniest bikini’s I had ever seen. It was crocheted, and the “cups” of the bra did little more than cover the areolas and nipples on each of her firm, round breasts. The bikini bottom formed a small triangle at her crotch, covering only the absolute minimum and leaving little to the imagination. Aunt Jane was wearing a large pair of sunglasses and was reading a magazine. I bit my lip as I surveyed her firm, tanned figure and wondered how I could appear “casual” as I walked out the door.
When she heard the door slide open, Aunt Jane looked up with her usual great smile and chirped, “Hi, I was wondering when you would show up. I’m starved!”
“Class ran long,” I replied, “and my stomach is eating a hole in my backbone.”
“Let’s eat!” she said, raising the back of her lounge to a near vertical position as I approached with tray in hands. She motioned to the small table between the two chaise lounges, and I sat the tray down. I sat on the edge of the lounge opposite her.
Aunt Jane went about removing the plastic wrap from the tray, showing no signs of self-consciousness over her appearance. She handed me half a sandwich with a smile, taking another for herself and biting off a corner of it with enthusiasm. “Yummmm,” she almost moaned, “this probably wouldn’t taste so good if I weren’t so hungry.”