CHAPTER 15 Cousins Episode 1

  In this story, everyone is at least 18 years old.

  *****

  "I'd love to accompany you, Mom." In response to the question that she had just asked me, I will say that the last time I saw Helen and Aunt Julie was three years ago at the large family reunion that was held in Cyril out on some farmer's land during which we all camped out.

  "Wasn't that three years ago?" I couldn't recall the last time we'd seen them. Despite the fact that I should have figured it out based on what Julie told me this morning."

  "What did she say to you?" What brought them back to America? Why didn't they relocate closer to us so it wasn't a nine-hour drive to see them or for them to come see us?"

  "According to what she told me this morning, she moved back to the United States two and a half years ago, right after the family reunion." She arrived home a few hours early to find her then-husband in bed with a drug whore looking for drugs and having sex with him to pay for the drugs.