Loving Cousin

There was silence for two seconds and then John burst out laughing. It was his bubbling laugh that finally broke the dark spell over me. I had to loosen up, just like Steph said. I needed to be willing to make a mistake or two. I looked up at his laughing face and felt him lift me out of that dark place I'd been all day. Before long, I was laughing along with him.

The infectious laughter spread and soon Mom started laughing, too. When we'd all calmed down a bit, John said, "Wait, wait. I don't mean to ask even more embarrassing questions, but I have to know. I understand how a little boy could pee on a plant, but how does a little girl do that?"

Mom gave me a look that said you're on your own. "I had to be about four at the time and wore dresses with little cotton panties. I took off my panties and just ... squatted over the plant."

That set him off again. Mom and I laughed more at his reaction. He finally had to cover his eyes so he couldn't see me anymore. "Oh God, I can't look at y