flesh and blood

One summer afternoon, when I was about fifteen years old, I went to a party at the home of my Aunt and Uncle. They are the eldest of my Father's side of the family, and he also drinks the most heavily (Which is saying something considering the rest of the family.)

Anyway, he being a truck driver and me being... well by that point probably the president of my High School drama club, we never really had much to talk about. So some point in the course of the party finds the two of us alone in his backyard (which is sprawling, and populated by a large swimming pool, playground, fire pit, several garages and sheds, a grove of trees, and go-carts, complete with a course to race them around) when the following conversation ensues:

Uncle: Yeah, we're uh... planning a few more additions to the yard. For the kids, you know.

Me: Oh, sure. Like what? There's already lots of fun stuff, here.

Uncle: Just the necessities. Treehouse. Tire swing.

Me: Oh.

Uncle: Yep.

Me: Well that just sounds... fun.

Uncle: Sure does.

Me: Yep. (sips soda. nibbles potato salad.)

(long pause)

Uncle: We're thinking of putting in a hot tub, too.

Me: Oh yeah, wow! That's... that's really great.

Uncle: For your aunt. She needs more sex. She wants to have it in a hot tub.

Me:

Uncle: Yep.

Me:

Uncle: Goooootta have sex. (sips beer. handful of potato chips. walks inside.)

(Rest of life spent as a mere ghost of the man I would have been, had that conversation never happened.)