admin

Steven

*quot;Judging by the gatehouse,*quot; Ashleigh related, *quot;I naturally assumed I'd arrived at a retirement community. None of you have to imagine my surprise at what opened up when I got around that first bend in the trees. Wow, did I ever feel out of place on my old hog, blattering through these quiet, picturesque country lanes past all the impressive mansions of our neighbors. When I got here, there was a little old man at the gate, holding it open for me. He was about five feet tall, skinny as a whip, stooped and as sour looking as last year's milk, visibly wincing at my racket as I idled into the courtyard.

*quot;By the time I'd gotten off the bike and removed my helmet, he'd closed the gate and shambled back to me, looking up at my mirrored aviator shades with a squint. He didn't look too pleased, his tone backing up his expression when he spoke simply in a Spanish accent.*quot;

*quot;The Lady of the house will see you now.*quot;

*quot;I followed him through the front door and he walked me through the house, straight out through the back door and to the rear patio. The house was a little different back then, but she was the one who'd commissioned the gardens and, if her front yard impressed me, her backyard blew me away. But, even that was nothing next to the woman who was waiting for me.

*quot;I was always under the impression that, looking so much like Dad, my height and body came from his side as well, but I was wrong. When she stood to greet me, I saw this right away. And she looked phenomenal, that age defying trait we all share keeping an odd appearance of youth even in her, even at seventy-two, yet nobody could miss the experience and wisdom in her eyes. She's also where Sheila got her pretty face, where Kathleen got her striking hazel eyes, and where you, Kitten, got that beautiful, golden brown hair.

*quot;So, there I am, gawking at this incredible woman with my body and my little sister's face, the only one of my like that I'd come across since Mum and... wow. Her bright eyes were so dark in that subtle way our eyes are, yet ablaze with their lively colour, and her smile was a pure delight. I could immediately read her sincere, good will towards me as she came closer and the first thing she did was look me square in the eyes.

*quot;I didn't want to, despite how she came off, but it would have seemed impossibly rude under the circumstances if I didn't look back. And I was so glad I did. It suddenly was as though a part of me left my body to join hers, floating weightlessly and surrounded by her love for me. We'd only just met, but that love was there for me and mine was there for her. It was almost like something that didn't have anything to do with me, or even Grammie, but something else that was much bigger. It was like... like being reunited with a hand, or a leg once it's been removed for years. Probably not a good analogy, but it was bigger than my ability to describe.

*quot;When I got back to my own head, all I could think about was how much I loved my Grammie Sammy and how she turned me on. Oh yes, I was very much enthralled with her after that little place she took me within her mind.

*quot;Anyway, we both hugged one another tight, already familiar in this weird way and, when we separated, I watched her unbutton my vest with a curious expression, opening it up after. I thought she was checking out the fat girls in my little black T-shirt, but I'd forgotten about the grip of my H