While traveling out West a few years ago, I decided to call my aunt and uncle in Minnesota, to see if they would be home while I was in the area. If so, I would swing by to see them on my way home.
"Why yes," my Aunt Dora exclaimed, "we'll be around. Even if we have to leave for a few days, Judy will still be there."
Judy was my favorite cousin. She was the youngest child of my Uncle Dave and Aunt Dora, and even though she was a few years older than me, we had always hit it off when I came to visit.
Apparently, Judy's marriage had not worked out, and she was living back at home. I made no reference to this as I replied.
"Okay. I'm not certain exactly what my schedule is, but I will stay in touch. If worse comes to worse, I'll just have to camp out for a few days until you guys get back."
"Okay Sweetie." Aunt Dora replied. "Keep us posted."
Several days later, I called my aunt and uncle to tell them of my schedule. Aunt Dora had some bad news.
"My brother had a heart attack." she explained. "We're going to have to go down to Mankato for a few days. I'll let Judy know you're coming in though. Just come in; the door will be unlocked. You can have the extra bedroom downstairs."
"Okay." I replied. "I hope your brother is doing well."
The following evening, I arrived somewhere around 2:00 AM and tried the door. It was unlocked, so I let myself in. I found the spare bedroom on the first floor and made a few trips to the car to get my clothes and toiletries. After ten minutes or so, I had all my stuff, so I undressed to my underwear and prepared to turn in.
I decided to get a drink of water and have a smoke before I turned in, and as I removed a glass from the cabinet in the kitchen, I heard the sound of footsteps treading lightly on the stairs.
I filled the glass with water as I listened to the sound of bare feet padding cautiously across the kitchen floor. Suddenly, a pair of hands clasped over my eyes, and a sweet female voice said quietly, "Guess who?"
Obviously, it was Judy, but I decided to play her game anyway. It had been more than ten years since I'd seen her, and I hoped we were still as close as we had once been.
"Morgan Fairchild." I guessed incorrectly.
"Nope."
"Umm, Brooke Shields."
"Nope again."
"Well then," I said as I turned around, "it must be my favorite cousin, Judy."
"Right you are!" she exclaimed. "What took you so long?"
"Well," I explained, "I figured if it wasn't one of the first two, it had to be someone even hotter."