Cousin Natalie – A Thoughtful Gift
My first Christmas Day with the in-laws was a totally new experience for me. My wife had both grandparents on her father’s side and a grandfather on her mother’s side living in her home town. This meant that all the sons and daughters (her aunts and uncles) came to visit (with an assortment of cousins). Her parents had by far the biggest house to host such an occasion. This meant that everyone met here. My mother in-law was famous for her joy of cooking for others. This meant that they started showing up for breakfast.
As a newcomer I was only in the way in the kitchen so it fell upon me to answer the door, take coats and hats, announcing the new arrivals and showing people where to find breakfast. Before long there were at least twenty visitors. When it started to slow down at the door my wife warned me to get some food now because in another hour or so the second wave of relatives would start arriving for lunch. From the look on my face she could tell that I a little surprised that there could be more and she added ‘by dinner time there will probably be about forty people!’
I filled a plate with bacon, scrambled eggs, toast and fried potatoes. I didn’t see any available chairs so I stood in the doorway that opened into the kitchen from the hallway that leads to the bedrooms. I was almost finished eating when there was a tap on my shoulder. Turning around I saw Angela who said to me ‘Come see something we did for you.’ I knew that her friend Patti had come over among the wave of relatives and I was thinking that maybe they were planning to get some revenge on me for TUGging them the night before. Smelling an ambush I put my plate down on the kitchen counter, I would need both hands if I was to defend myself and try to TUG them again. I followed Angela down the hall and into her bedroom. To say that I was pleasantly surprised would have been an understatement.
Lying on the bed propped up on her elbows with her legs stretched out in front of her was a pretty young lady of about sixteen. Somehow I hadn’t noticed her when she came in because I surely would have remembered her. ‘This is my cousin Natalie’ said Angela ‘we fixed her up for you.’ Natalie’s hands were tied behind her back with a long winter scarf. Her ankles were bound the same way. A third scarf was deep between her lips as a gag. The ties were rather sloppy, she could have easily escaped, but she didn’t appear to want to. The gag was perfect though and looked quite good on her. She tried to say something that was probably just hello but it sounded much better through the gag. Patti said ‘Go get your camera’ and I didn’t need to be told twice.
I took several photos from different angles and Natalie actually seemed to be enjoying the attention. I was thinking how I could tactfully suggest that I redo their ties without offending them about their inferior efforts. I appreciated that they had done this for me but at the same time I really wanted to make a nice job of it. Before I could say anything a boy, about ten years old by the look of him, entered the room. Upon seeing Natalie trussed up like that he pounced on her and started to mess up her hair. It was her little brother who was doing what little brothers do; making his sister’s life difficult. She easily freed her hands and pummeled him until he ran from the room. She then kicked off her ankle restraints, stood up and went to the mirror to straighten her hair. Patti and Angela went to assist her.
I was left standing there with my camera. I wanted to suggest picking up where we left off but I decided to leave well enough alone. Patti and Angela, my wife and my in-laws were all fine with the TUG stuff but I didn’t know Natalie or her parents so I thought it was best to appreciate what I had received and not push it too far. To this day it’s still the nicest gift that Angela has given me.
This is part two of my first Christmas with the in-laws. There is one more installment to come. It definitely was a holiday to remember.