Brother drives his teasing sister to the nightclub.

“Why? Afraid you’ll catch something?” she said much too loudly.

“Hello there!” a raspy, yet energetic voice called. “It’s you isn’t it? Jay? Now how come you haven’t been round to cut my lawns? They get so untidy!”

“Hi, Mrs Kurch,” Julia said.

“That was a long time ago, Mrs Kurch. Must be fifteen years since I cut your lawn.”

“Jodie?” She said feeling my sister’s hair. “My, look at how you’ve grown. Such a beautiful young woman. I barely recognised you!”

“It’s Julia,” she giggled.

“Where’s your coat. Your gonna freeze to death, poor thing.”

“Nah, I’ll be ok. Got Jay to keep me warm, don’t I?”

They laughed while I blushed. I turned a brighter shade of red when Mrs Kurch looked at the packet of condoms in my hand.

“What’s that there? Candy? I can’t see shit without my glasses.”

“Yeah. Jay wants to buy me candy, but I’ve been trying to tell him it’s not good for my body. Or his.”

Julia beamed at me. She was going to get such a spanking for this.

“Well, he’s a sweet boy, ain’t he? Buying his sister candy. Cuts my lawn and everything.”

The old woman moseyed on down the aisle. She must have been half deaf as well to not react to Julia’s howling laughter.

“Wait up!” Julia said, following me to the checkout.

I gave her serious evil eyes when she told the cashier to discard the condoms. Not because sex was off the table. She practically said it herself. She tugged my hand before heading outside. Resting her chin on my chest, wide eyes beamed up at me. I looked around, praying no one recognised us. As much as she wound me up, how could I stay mad at that face? Besides, I probably had some rubbers lying around at home. It’d be fine.

“We haven’t kissed yet.”

“You’re doing this now, Julia? Here?”

Her persistent stare boring through me, I grabbed her hand and headed outside. We swung away from the entrance, down the side alley of the store. Heater steam flowed out past a dumpster. I pinned Julia against the wall and watched foggy breaths mix in the icy air. She squeezed my shirt sleeves as mouths touched. Soft lips parted and connected. I had to stoop so she could get her arms around my neck. Her tongue tasted of fruity alcopops. What the hell was I doing with this girl? This girl who was way too young. My bloody sister. Her forehead rested against my chest.

“Your heart is pounding,” she whispered.

I groaned as she squeezed my hardness.

“Jay, I’m so wet for you.”

Sheet metal clanged as I pinned her back. Her smile widened.

“Well I’m not going to fuck you against the dumpster. No matter how much you’d like it. Now let’s go.”

We held hands and giggled like fools as we ran towards the car. Julia pulled at me again. She nodded over at Mrs Kurch pushing a wonky trolly towards a bus stop.

“Jay, we can’t just leave her.”

Mrs Kurch was delighted with our offer of a lift. We drove her home and helped carry her shopping inside. I politely refused her few dollars payment. I fed her a white lie about coming around to cut grass when the weather improved. She smiled, knowing full well we wanted to get on with our evening. She warned us about the bad areas of the neighbourhood. She reminded Julia to take those amazing little pills that stop young girls like her from falling pregnant.