Let me begin by telling you, that, regardless what others might say, our family sticks together like glue.
We've proven it time and time again, getting through anything life would throw at us together. However, last Christmas, our family was put to its toughest test ever. We nearly didn't make it this time, had it not been for the intervention of an outsider. But let me tell the whole story from the beginning.
Our family was Mom, my older sister Bobbie - Roberta, as Mom used to call her when she was really angry - and I, Fred, short for Frederick.
Mom and our father got married in Vegas when they were still in their teens, partially, because he got Mom pregnant with my sister when they were only 18, partially, because, after the row Mom had with my grandparents about keeping the baby, all she wanted was a life of her own, a family of her own, and enough money to get by.
Little did she realise then, that she wouldn't get that by running off with the first man she could think of.
Our father left us three months after I was born. I don't know an awful lot about him. I don't even know his name. Mom only called him "the coward". Obviously, taking responsibility for his family had not been his thing.
He decided to abandon us for what he thought would be a happier life, and by the time her 21st birthday came around, Mom was on her own again, well, almost. She had my nearly three-year (two years and seven months to be exact) old sister to take care of, and also me, a new born baby of three months.
After our father was gone, my mother pledged to my sister and me that - come what may - she would never allow the tree of us to get pulled apart, or even worse, separated.
Mom did a great job keeping her little family together and raising us kids, while keeping a full-time job as an office administrator in a local law firm and, on occasion, when money was particularly tight, as a night-time attendant at the local gas station.
We were bright kids, and Bobbie and I finished High School with ease. Bobbie even made valedictorian.
Mom managed to get us through college, too. Sure, both of us took on summer jobs to help with the expenses, and our college loans are hefty, but both of us made it through, well, almost.
Bobbie graduated last fall with a MSc in Industrial Engineering, and she is now working at a large factory, developing and improving production processes. She's doing well. In the year she has been working there, she has been promoted once already.
I, on the contrary, am still in college. Chemistry. Second-time Junior, to be precise. Yup, I flunked most of my classes last year and am on repeat this year. It had been that or drop out, but I'm not a quitter.
To make up for some of the damage the repeat year would do, I took on a part-time job as a Pharmacy Technician in our local pharmacy to help pay for tuition and give Mom a little bit of extra space by contributing my share to utilities and food. I even went through the hassle of getting certified, and am now the proud owner of the letters PTCB CPhT behind my name.
As far as our love lives go, I, for once, never had a serious girlfriend. Sure, I've had my share of flings, but I have never been ready to commit and usually ended things after a couple of months.
After my difficulties in college began last year, I vowed to stay celibate and focus on studying, and so I haven't gotten any for the best part of this year. In fact, the last time I had sex was on New Year's Day, when I woke up next to this pretty little freshman girl I had met at a party the night before. To be honest, I don't even remember her name.
The lack of sex left me horny as f*** most of the time. I had resorted to frequent masturbation to fight the hormones, but the effect of this strategy was limited at best. For the past couple of months, I found myself lusting after every female that crossed my path, regardless of age or appearance.
I don't think Bobbie ever had a serious relationship, either. I don't even know if she ever had a boyfriend. At least, she never introduced me or Mom to a guy, or brought one home. In fact, I'm not even sure if she ever had sex.
In school she was always hanging out with her books, and now that she had a job she spent all the time she had on her work. I don't believe she even thought of dating anyone.
Mom never brought anyone home since dad left us, either. I'm sure she was looking, as she would go out on occasion, and at times the babysitter stayed all night, but there had not been a regular guy in her life for the past 19 years.
For a while, Bobbie and I thought, more hoped, actually, she might have the hots for her boss, a filthy rich, single lawyer, but, unfortunately, that never played out.
With Bobbie working long hours and me trying to organize the repeat year in college, studying for the CPhT exams and taking on a job, we didn't have much time together as a family, especially, since Bobbie got her own place in town when she started work. She only drops by on weekends and holidays, so it's only Mom and I at home now for most of the time.
To make a long story short, we were all looking forward to the holidays this year. Some quality family time. Just the three of us. I for one was particularly looking to have Bobbie back in the house. It felt awfully empty without having her around.
--
At the Thanksgiving dinner table, Bobbie announced, "I've three weeks off around Christmas, guys. I'll be home from the week before Christmas, and I don't have to go back to work until January. Isn't this exciting?"
Of course, this was exciting news, especially, since I would be home during most of that time, too.
The week before Christmas was study week without any lectures. We were meant to catch up on stuff we missed during the year, and I, being there the second time around, had not much to catch up on.
After that, it was Christmas break, and the Pharmacy would run a reduced staff after the holidays. They had asked me and another part-timer to stay at home and enjoy the time off.
Mom would have to work, but that wasn't really a big deal, since she had gone part-time, too, after Bobbie had left the house. One less head to feed meant less money needed, and the two days a week she worked made her enough money to pay for her own expenses.
Having the family together again would be a welcome change to our new routine.
"I want the house decorated, though," Bobbie announced. "Proper Christmas decorations, like in the old days, when we were kids."
We put up a tree every year, but as we all grew older, decorating the house had fallen by the wayside. We simply hadn't bothered getting the boxes with garlands, lights and the little figurines down from the attic and clean and decorate the house any more.
"That's a great idea, Bobbie. We'll clean the house and bring all the old decorations out again. I have missed them over the years. When should we do it, kids?"
Mom and my sister were getting excited. I had always suspected Mom to be a bit of a Christmas-fanatic, who had missed the seasonal cheer, as our family had slowly let it slip over the years.
"Let's do it this weekend," I suggested. We're all here, anyways. I don't suppose you're going to have to go to work tomorrow, Bobbie? I'll get the boxes down from the attic, and we can spend Saturday and Sunday putting the decorations up, just like we did in the good old days."
"I'll make some mulled wine tomorrow evening, and we'll get some cookies from the store, too. That'll get us into the proper Christmas spirit," Mom suggested ecstatically.
Bobbie and I didn't have any objections, and so it was settled. Christmas decorations were going up this weekend.
--
I was still half asleep, when my sister stormed into my room the next morning. She was in her PJs, and was excited like a child.
"Wake up, Fred! Wake up!"
She pulled the blanket off me. She hadn't done this since we were children. Trying to hold on to the warm and cozy throw, I grabbed the next best thing I could reach, and...
"Fuck! What are you doing, Fred," my sister shouted at me, just before I felt her body fall on top of mine. In my attempt to grab the blanket, I must have pulled my sister's PJs, and she lost her balance and fell down on top of me.
Feeling her body on top of mine was strange, but not unpleasant, especially a little bit further "down below", where her belly pressed my morning erection firmly against my own stomach.
