“I honestly can’t say that I spent any more time studying than before.” I replied a little unsure about this development. “I still work my usual hours and even have a girlfriend to entertain now. How’d this happen!?”
For some reason, Mom’s proud smile turned into genuine happiness. She refrained from commenting further on it, but simply moved into the kitchen with a noticeable spring in her step to prepare something special for us to eat. Only when we sat down at the dinner table, as a small family, happily chatting away about our days, did I realize why my grades had improved and why Mom was so happy about it.
The one thing that changed was my environment. I had a Mom who was acting like a Mom. I had a sister that cared about me. I could sit down at my desk without being distracted by thoughts and worries about what the family was doing behind my back. I could go to school without feeling like a pariah. That was all. I didn’t study more than before, but the time I did spend studying garnered better results.
Because I was happy.
A few days later came the event that finally made me understand the weird happenings in my bedroom. Mom had asked me to help her with the grocery shopping, so we were out of the Apartment for a good two hours. When we returned, however, she showed a rather peculiar behavior by keeping me out of my bedroom. She insisted I’d help her put away the groceries while constantly checking her watch. Then kept me occupied with menial tasks until the doorbell rang and she all but ran to open the door.
As soon as Mia stepped into the apartment, Mom grabbed her purse, mumbled something about having to meet up with Danny, and left in a hurry. Mia, for her part, was again an absolute vision of beauty.
“Are we going out?” I asked a little perplexed about seeing her all dolled up.
“No, Muffin.” she said, before wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me in for a passionate kiss that instantly sent my blood into my nether regions. “But we are doing something special.”
“Ouuuh, I like the sound of that!”
“I was hoping you would.” she laughed. “Now, before we start, there are a few things I need to tell you.”
She grabbed my hand, led me to the couch, and made me sit down before she plopped herself into my lap. Then she continued.
“First of all, I won’t be home during next week. Dad has some business in Europe and the whole family has to accompany him.”
“Oh.” My disappointment was clear, but she quickly placated me with a kiss.
“Sorry, Muffin. I’d love to spend the whole week with you, but I can’t. But that brings me to my next point. You won’t be alone. I decided that it is time to give your sister a little reward. She worked really hard to rectify her mistake.”
“Which mistake?” I asked dubiously, half expecting to hear about something my sister did that I didn’t know about yet.
“The mistake of painting you in a bad picture amongst her friends.” Mia said firmly. “You might have wondered why so many of the girls were so happy about you accepting to be our trainer.”
“I did notice that.” I raised an eyebrow.
“Well, what you didn’t notice - because she didn’t want you to notice, so you wouldn’t think she only did it to gain your favor - was that your sister spent the last four months telling everybody and their parents what an awesome guy her little brother is.”
“What?” I asked incredulously. I remembered that she stood up for me during one of their cheer practices, when one of the girls had called me ‘Tiny Tim’ again, but since then I never was around her in school enough to notice anything.
“MhHmm.” Mia nodded. “She told everyone how you stood up for her in that parking lot. How you let her live with you when she needed a place. How you’ve been teaching us self defense. How you take care of her and your Mom. And even how much you changed physically, with all the training you’ve gone through. She’s using every opportunity she can get to praise you into high heavens.”
“Huh. I had no idea.” I really hadn’t. But a lot of things made sense now. Especially why so many of the girls asked Mrs. Jenkins about me in particular as a trainer for the self defense course.
“As I said, that was her intention. Though, I did almost slip and tell you.” she giggled. “Did you notice those displeased looks on the girl’s faces when I told them about us becoming a couple? That was envy, Muffin. So, I think she earned a little show of appreciation for her efforts.”
“Fine by me. What do you have in mind?”
Suddenly, she pressed her body closer into mine.
“That brings me to the other thing I have to tell you.” she said, and then leaned forward to position her mouth next to my ear. “Your big sister is a little submissive in bed, Muffin.”
I blinked in surprise. Was this going the way I thought it would!? I sure hoped so!
“You mean...” I let my voice trail off, hoping she would elaborate herself, so I was in no danger of revealing anything I shouldn’t know.
