This is twenty years on.
In that time I haven't moved, I am still in my simple two bedroom apartment, and I am still searching for that special woman to share my life with. However now that I am forty three I feel time is running out. My Sister turns fifty in two months, but she doesn't seem to be worried about the advancing years, probably because her life is more settled than mine. She has been with Dave since I moved into my 'new' place, they married only three months after their first date. They have two children, Charlotte nineteen and Christopher fourteen.
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"Hi Uncle Henry, Charlotte here."
I smiled, she always says that. She probably calls me at least two or three times a week. When I answer the phone I can see that it's her number, and then I recognise her voice, but she still thinks it's necessary for her to tell me who she is.
"I need a favour from you."
I smiled again, it seems that recently every call is because she needs something from me, or because she wants me to do something. I do have a soft spot for her and she knows it, so I always end up saying yes.
"OK, but it had better not be like last time."
I heard her giggle before saying, "What was wrong with last time?"
"You asked me to drive you to that new clothes shop. What did you say? 'It's only a few minutes out of town.' It took us an hour to get there."
"It's not my fault if you drive slowly."
"Very funny. Go on, tell me what you want."
"I have taken up running at College."
Even though she couldn't see me I was now shaking my head, then I said, "No, my running days are over. Ask your Mother to run with you."
"She does, but that's not why I am calling you. I have got a running injury and apparently you are the person who can fix it."
I had a flashback to the time when I had massaged her Mother, it was twenty years ago but It was still a vivid memory. She had come to me for a massage, but she had got a lot more than that. It is something we have never repeated, and we have never talked about it. Why had she suggested that I massage her Daughter?
"What did your Mother say?"
"Nothing, it was Grandma. I mentioned to her that I had a problem with my leg and she said that you had a qualification in Sports Massage."
I had forgotten about that. I do, but from about eighteen years ago. It was two hours in the evening for ten weeks. It was a very basic qualification. At that time I had ideas about doing it for a living, this was the first step. However six months after finishing it I lost interest. The only massaging I have done since then has been with girlfriends, and that has been sensual rather than therapeutic.
"That was a long time ago, you need professional help rather than me."
"But I will have to pay for that. I am a poor student."
She was, and I knew that if she had to pay it would not be cheap. If I could help her, then what was wrong with that?
"What is your injury?"
"Thanks Uncle."
"Hold on, I haven't said yes yet."
She laughed before saying, "But you are going to."
I probably will, but only if it's not in some place that might be embarrassing for both of us.
"It's my calf muscle, it's sore and tender. It's not pulled yet but it feels as if it will if I carry on running without any treatment."
I smiled, that's a safe area.
"OK I will, but on one condition, if my Sister is happy for me to do it."
"I don't see why I need her approval, but if that is what you want then I will get it."
The next day my Niece called again.
"Mother is OK with it, what time can I come round?"
"How about tomorrow at eight? I get back from work just after six so that will give me plenty of time to eat before you get here."
"That's good for me as well. See you then."
When the call ended I got back to watching television, but my mind was on other things. Was it really a good idea to be massaging her? The difficult thing to come to terms with was that even though she was my Niece I was attracted to her, as indeed most men must be. She has a beautiful face and the most piercing blue eyes you have ever seen. Her body is lean and toned, and is in proportion to her height of five feet, that is except for het tits. They would look very big on a woman who was a lot taller, so on her they are massive.
"You are thirty minutes late."
"Sorry Uncle, If you give me five minutes I am sure I can come up with a decent excuse, but for now I haven't got one."
Then she smiled at me, and I couldn't help smiling back.
"OK, but next time please be punctual."
"I will do my best."
As we walked to the living room nothing more was said, but we both knew that next time she would probably be late again.
"If you go into the bedroom I will get the oil ready. Lie on the bed face down and I will be with you in a few minutes."
When I saw her on the bed I was shocked, she was lying down on the towels I had placed there, but she was just in her underwear.
"Why have you done that?"
"What do you mean?"
"Taken all your clothes off."
"I have my bra and knickers on."
"But I am only massaging you calves. You shouldn't have taken anything off."
"Now you tell me."
Then she giggled.
"Sorry Uncle, I did know. It's just that I thought that after you had sorted my calf out you could give me a nice relaxing massage."
"Well you thought wrong."
When she turned her head to look at me I was standing there with my arms crossed. She must be able to see that I was annoyed but it didn't seem to bother her.
"Please, have I ever told you that you are my favourite Uncle?"
"Yes, every time you want something. But this time it's a no."
"Why?"
That was a difficult one to answer. I could tell her the truth, "If I massage you as you are I might not be able to resist the temptation to take it further." Then I thought of Lily.
"I don't think your Mother would like it."
"It's nothing to do with her. I do lots of things she doesn't like, I just never tell her about them."
Was there really any harm in me doing what she wanted?
"If that is all you are bothered about, it will be our little secret."
I hesitated for a few seconds before giving in, "OK, but if anybody asks I just did your calf."
That is where I started.
"It's very stiff, how much running have you been doing?"
"Normally three miles but I have started doing five."
"Did you go from three to five straight away?"
"Yes."
"That's your problem, it should have been a gradual change. I would have increased it initially by half a mile, then when I was used to that I would have increased it again. Two miles was too much."
"I know that now."
After fifteen minutes I had done both calves.
"I went deep into the muscle so your legs will probably be sore later on. Don't run again until at least the day after tomorrow."
"OK, it was a bit painful."