Family Frolic

FRIDAY

My sister and her husband wanted to take a few weeks off in the sun and
asked me to look after their kids for a while. I'd move out of my tiny
apartment and into their house for the duration. As I was still living
off my severance and they had a nice spread with an indoor pool and a hot
tub, I readily agreed. The kids, fraternal twins of opposite sexes, were
almost 12 and were capable of looking after themselves anyway.

After my sister and her husband left for the airport, I took Jen and
Tommy out to dinner. I let them choose where (it was on their parents'
credit card). After the usual sibling tug-of-war, they decided on
Mexican food. Jen changed out of her school uniform and into a pretty
floral minidress. It was a warm spring evening and Tommy wore baggy
shorts and a t-shirt.

Dinner was actually fun. I hadn't spent much time with my niece and
nephew and was pleasantly suprised at how mature and polite they were. I
mainly remembered them as noisy precocious toddlers. They'd really grown
up.

Tommy had reached that age where a boy becomes aware of his body image
and it's role in self-esteem and social standing. He hadn't hit his
growth spurt yet and was 4'8" and 100 lbs. But he'd started to work out
with free weights in the basement of the house. He lacked the bulk for
muscle but the workouts gave him a lean, wiry look. His delicate
features, longish hair, and smooth complexion made him look pretty in an
almost feminine way, though he'd die to hear that.

Jennifer was just beginning to blossom into womanhood, with gently
swelling hips and tiny budding breasts. Her shoulder-length hair and
bangs framed a face even more delicate than Tommy's. My sister
encouraged Jen to try out for sports and cheerleading, things Jen
excelled at. But she had a natural leaning towards things artistic and
spiritual, far from the competition her mother thrived on.

We had a lively conversation about the social structure of sixth grade
classes and what to expect in junior high. The kids stuffed themselves,
leaving nothing for a doggie bag. After dinner, the kids were still
hungry, so we stopped for ice cream. As we sat on a bench outside the
store, I asked Tom and Jen what video they'd like to watch tonight.