I always really liked my step-sister-in-law Helen. Fun to talk to, fun to be around. I’d always been closer to her than my step-brother. Not that there was anything wrong with Daniel, he was just a hard person to get to know. Helen’s sister Sara was a blast also. I’d met their mother, Maxine, a good number of times also and was suitably impressed.
So when Maxine died I didn’t hesitate about going to the funeral.
I met Clifton in the lobby of the funeral home. I didn’t know who he was but I wanted him right off. He was tall, thin, hot. He turned out to be Helen’s nephew, in town from San Antonio for his grandmother’s funeral.
The first part of the funeral was pretty dry. The preacher said all the words he was supposed to say while we sat still and listened. He said Maxine’s name a lot but it didn’t really feel like she was there. But for the second part he opened up the floor for people to come up and talk about their memories of Maxine.
One by one and in small groups most of Helen’s family took the stage and talked about Maxine. Suddenly Maxine was there with us, their memories were palpable and we could feel this strong willed, amazing woman in the room with us. When Clifton got up and spoke, he too was eloquent and a great story-teller. His memory involved Maxine chasing him around the backyard with a switch. The fact that he could talk so comfortably in a room full of people ( something I suck at) made me want him even more.
Out of respect I think we waited until the next day to get it on. At least I hope we did.
After a couple of dates though my interest waned. He was a great guy and handsome but, well, desire does not listen to reason. Unfortunately Clifton’s desire for me did not wane, so I stopped returning his phone calls.
There are a lot of things in my past that may hinder my ultimate goal to one day be the 15th Dalai Lama.
A couple of months later we had a family get together at my mom and step-dad’s house. Clifton wasn’t there of course, since he was a distant in-law but Helen was. She asked me, as casually as possible, “so what happened with you and Clifton? He says you stopped returning his phone calls.”
Shit.
I turned bright red and started sort of stammeringn “um, well, uhh, I just, uhh . . . “
Helen laughed and said, “that’s okay, I think I understand.”
