Cape May

The Promise

That spring of 99 showed me in my innocent youth and her more innocent youth what life could be like if one didn't settle. Our love grew beyond any measure. Our love was deep. Our love was large. Our love had no boundaries or limitation, which is why what happened next was so natural.

It was the middle of June and the school prom was approaching. I knew whom I was taking long before my affair with Gabby began, but now I really wasn't feeling it. But I had to honor my pledge to her. She was a good girl and a friend of mine. I knew she wanted me in more ways than a friend. That night as we sat in my bed, Gabby with her butt on my pillow, facing me, as always, she was sitting yoga style with her legs crossed, my oversized t-shirt, which was her favorite thing to wear, riding way up her thighs exposing her panties and wonderful legs.

"Gabby, I gotta talk to you about something you may not like, but I just gotta tell you."

She sat there, legs crossed and replied, "go ahead, wassup?"

"Well, you know the senior prom is coming up and I'm going, right?"

"Yeah, that's why they call it the senior prom."

"Yeah but, you see, I'm going with Linda Ballester." Silence, then,

"Why can't you go with me?" she replies in that pleading little girl voice she always uses when she wants something from any of us, and usually gets it, especially from grandma.

"Gabby, I can't go with you. You're my sister and that would look funny. Plus, I promised Linda this months ago, and as you know, it's only for seniors."

She kept silent then put her head down. Soon I saw tears falling on her thighs and little sobbing sounds coming from her.

"Gabby, why are you crying? It's just a stupid dance."

Still with her head down she managed to say in between sobs.

"You're gonna take her to the prom and then you're gonna do it with her."

"Ohh, Gabby, I'm not going to do it with nobody."

"Yes you are. I know what happens on these prom dates. You go there with her and then you go somewhere else and then you do it."

Her sobbing became more pronounced.

"Gabby, come on, that's ridiculous. I'll tell you what, as soon as it's over, I'll be here with you."

She was crying freely now, 'How do I know you won't stop somewhere and do it with her?

I laughed, because it sounded so ridiculous.

"Gabby, you'll know because I'm telling you I won't do that, but mostly because I love you and I would never do that with anybody."

And then again I said one of those things a brother should never tell his sister,

"And if I was going to do it with anybody, it would only be with you. Only you."

Her face shot up and eyes opened wide, and that Gabby smile radiated. She used to have a smile that was too big for her face, but she grew into it, but it was a big smile nonetheless, backed by impeccably straight white teeth thanks to Dr Goldstein, our orthodontist.

"You mean that Bobby, or you just saying it?"

"I mean that Gabby. I mean that with all of my heart."

She uncrossed her legs and gave me the biggest hug ever that knocked me backwards onto the bed. Now on top of me she smothered me with kisses.

"Bobby, I was thinking about that. You know how we been fooling around and all. Well I want you to do it to me Bobby. I want you to put him inside me and make me yours. I read in Cosmopolitan that when two people are in love, sex can bring them closer together, if it's the right time and Bobby, I can't think of two people more in love or a better time than now. I wanna be all yours, and the only way that could happen is if we do it, for real, all the way.

Cosmopolitan, the women's bible of relationships.

"They let you buy Cosmopolitan? I thought you had to be 21 to buy that magazine," I joked.

"Bobbeee, I'm serious. Having sex will bring us together more than we are now. Can you believe that Bobby? Can you imagine what that will feel like? You do want me to be all yours don't you?"

"Of course, I want you to be all mine silly. But I thought you were already all mine. You mean you been holding out on me," I kidded.

"I am all yours Bobby, but this would make it official. That's why I want you inside me, even if it hurts. It will make me your girlfriend."

"You can't be my girlfriend Gabby, you're my sister."

"Then I'll be your woman. Make me your woman Bobby, make me yours completely so no matter where I am, who I'm with, what I'm doing, I will always be yours. It'll be our secret. Promise me Bobby, promise me I'll be yours and you'll be mine always and always."

I looked up at this once skinny girl who used to torture me to no end, and I got up from under her and we both sat facing each other, legs crossed lotus style. I took her hands in mine.

"Gaby, I promise, I promise to be yours for always and always, cross my heart and hope to die. That no matter what happens, and it don't matter that you're my sister cause you're my true love and always will be. That no matter...." To my surprise, my voice started cracking. I was overcome with emotion. "That no matter where you are I will always be there to take care of you, to watch over you, to love you, because you are and always will be my miracle girl, my miracle Gaby."

As I uttered these words, tears came out my eyes. Gabby too was tearing up. We hugged, then, with her face still in my chest she quipped, "Does that that mean you're going to do it to me?"