I had always been close with all of my cousins. I've always been there for them ever since they were born. I've pretty much helped raise them and always had somewhat of a parental role in their lives, always offering advice and imparting knowledge and wisdom. I guess that's because I'm the oldest of all of us cousins? Or maybe it's because I have a deep seated passion to be a father someday? That in itself was born out of my own father's shortcomings and emotional vacancy.
It's my first born cousin Kasey, whom I have a special bond with though.
I was 11 when she was born, so there was always quite an age gap between us, and I guess my wealth of life experience which I developed whilst she was growing up has always helped me to stand out from the others and helped me to guide her on the right path in life -- I guess, correcting some of my own mistakes in life?
I absolutely adored her when she was a baby and couldn't get enough of her. Every time I saw my Aunt and Uncle I would basically spend the whole time holding her and playing with her. I took care of her. When she was a toddler, again, I couldn't take my eyes off her. She was my cousin, my only cousin at the time, and I was going to cherish every minute I had with her. I'd never had a little brother or sister, so this was the best I was going to get. We played for hours and often she wouldn't eat or sleep easily unless I was there in the room, or feeding her myself.
As she grew up she would always cling to me as if I were an extension of her own body. I would always take the time to play games with her and the rest of my cousins, and I tried to offer the same experience to the others, but she just kept on clinging to me, and I loved her all the more for it. I guess I made her feel safe and comfortable, even amongst other family. It made me feel special and it made me consider our bond an extra special bond.
Even in her early teens she would often be seen sat on my lap at family gatherings, just as she did as a child. Everyone knew it was all innocent and that she was safe with me. When the family parties went on into the late evening we would often be found in a corner somewhere relaxing in a big chair together, cuddling to keep warm and sometimes drifting off to sleep. It seemed I was her best friend in the whole world.
I was her protector as she began to date boys. I would offer her advice and give her insight as to the mind of a teenage boy and what he would be thinking, and often, the lengths he would go to just to get a bit of action. This prepared her well for adult life. She would stave off the troublesome boys and when things got out of hand, I was always on call to step in and sort the situation out. I never needed to raise my fists to a teenage boy, but my mere presence would often scare them off if they wouldn't take no for an answer from her.
And now, it was time. Kasey was about to become a woman. I sat in the back of my dad's car as the parents and I drove down to the capital City for Kasey's 18th birthday celebration. This was going to be a big do. Her folks were pulling out all the stops, and though they weren't rich, they were certainly marking this occasion with a bang. The whole family was going on a luxury boat trip, at night, along the river.
When we arrived it felt like I'd stepped out of the car into the Titanic movie. The boat was huge. I was expecting some sort of canal boat or a small yacht or something, but no, this boat was big enough to fit more than a hundred people on board. Not quite the size of the Titanic, of course, but to me it was huge. Not quite a cruise ship, and not quite a house boat, this was a "leisure boat", whatever that meant!
On-board were a large staff to control and navigate the boat itself -- I don't know the terminology for I'm not much of a fan of boats! Alongside the crew there must have been 30+ waiters and catering staff -- About half the total number of people in our family! And then of course, there was our entire family too. Even with all those people on-board they managed to cram in a live band to play music throughout the night.
There were enough band members there for it to be considered a small orchestra. There were jazz and classically trained musicians, there were rock and pop musicians and there was even a conductor and a small choir. It looked like there was certainly going to be a variety of entertainment throughout the night. I even noted a DJ booth at the side of the large dance floor on this "entertainment and restaurant" deck.
This deck was where most of the night's festivities would take place. This is where the food would be served at the tables at the back, and the jazz and classical music would play during dinner, then everyone would move to the dance floor to dance to the rock and pop performances, and then as the night went on, the DJ would begin spinning his tunes and playing all that embarrassing cheese-pop music that's normally saved for weddings.
On the top deck, a fireworks display was being set up and the whole place was lit with fairy lights and it all looked very extravagant. I felt slightly under-dressed in my shirt and black jeans and casual shoes. Most of the men were wearing full suits, some even tuxedos. The women were all in a variety of dresses, though the majority, I'd have to say were in ball gowns. This really was beginning to feel a little like the Titanic movie -- thankfully, I knew there were no icebergs nearby!
And then there were my cousins. You could always count on them to be the scruffy crew! This is where I belonged. I was still a child at heart -- perhaps that's because I've spent most of my life around children, helping raise my cousins etc.? I felt like a rock-star when I showed up. They all yelled out my name and charged towards me for a big ol' group hug. Always makes me feel great.
I started to check-in on the cousins, asking how they were and what they'd been up to lately, getting all the latest gossip from the kids, and then... There she was; the apple of my eye. Kasey stepped up from one of the lower decks. She had her long, wavy, natural blonde hair down, cascading over her shoulders; hair which, as with many of us in our family, was getting darker and more brunette as she got older. Her dress was...Slightly inappropriate for the event, but in keeping with her fashion sense. She wore a very, very short, sleeveless, open-chested black dress with a lace pattern from the shoulder straps all the way down to the middle of her back.
The bottom of the lace pattern, at the front of the dress certainly highlighted the open-chested look as she almost proudly displayed her cleavage, which was clearly accentuated by a push-up bra, as she only has 36a boobs - It's funny the things you pick up on when you spend so much time with someone. Her size 6 waist looked good in the dress, but I can't say the same for her thighs since it didn't cover much of them! She's only a slender girl -- a trait that runs in the family as I'm quite slim, myself -- but she makes it look good. Her proportions are perfect and if I had filmed her walking up those stairs in slow-motion it would've been enough to make hearts melt.
She also had on a pair of black, open-toe stiletto heels with a single strap around the ankle. These, combined with her single diamond necklace and silver chain topped off a breath-taking outfit. It was clear, as she was fondling the necklace, that it was new. Since it was a diamond necklace I presumed either our grandparents or her folks bought it for her 18th birthday.
"Leo!"
"Kase!"
She ran towards me in such an un-flattering fashion I was scared she'd stumble in those heels, but she managed it and dove right into my arms for a hug.
"I'm so glad you came! Look, it's an actual diamond! Can you believe it? Did you see the band they got me? Oh, oh, and the fireworks! Isn't this amazing?!" She seemed excited to say the least.
"Of course I came. Did you really think that now you're old enough to drink and gamble legally that I was going to just slip off into the sunset? Nuh-uh lil' lady, not on my watch! I'm gonna be watching you like a hawk from now on!" I joked.
"Perv!" she said.
"Hey! That's not very nice! After all I've done for you! Changing your nappies, feeding you goop, singing you lullabies..." I replied.
"Hey shut up! God, you're so embarrassing! I'm all grown up now!" she gestured to her body, inviting me to look at her fully grown self.
"Besides, it's all about 'what have you done for me lately?' anyway!" she continued.
"Well, that's why I have a present to give to you later. I came prepared. Ha!" I retorted, smugly.
She glared at me.
"Ok, well, can't I have it now?" Kasey asked.
"Um...No! Because you always demand to have stuff 'right now' and people always cave. It's time you learned some harsh life lessons now you're an adult" I answered.
"Really?" she seemed visibly upset. I couldn't resist the pouty lip and the puppy dog eyes. She knew what she was doing. She knew I hated seeing her like that.
"No, of course not! Geez, what, did you think I was gonna start acting like all the old folks over there? God no. Here... Happy birthday honey."
I handed her a lovingly wrapped present from inside my leather jacket -- again, not exactly formal attire, but I needed something in case I got cold. After all my efforts wrapping her gift, and tying the ribbon, she did her usual, and simply ripped into it. My heart broke a little bit after I'd made sure it looked so perfect.
"OH. MY-GOD! Are you serious?!" she reacted.
"You like?" I enquired.
