“You must be Stud’s friend, Sex Piston.” Sex Piston could tell the woman was having difficulty getting her name to come out of her mouth.
“You must be Stud’s Aunt Katy,” Sex Piston returned the introduction, holding out her hand with the bright red fingernails and skull ring on.
She could tell the woman was afraid she would catch something if she touched her. Briefly she shook her hand then took a step away, wiping her hand on the side of her apron.
“Stud called and said he was running late. Have a seat while I finish dinner.”
“Can I help? I’m—”
“No. Um, I have it under control. You keep Meri and Keri company. Meri, go get your sister,” she said hurriedly. “I better get back in the kitchen. I don’t want anything to burn.” The woman skedaddled as if she had a porcupine up her ass. Sex Piston sat down on the couch while Meri went in search of her sister.
Movement from Star’s playpen drew Sex Piston’s gaze as Star toddled to the end of the playpen and stood, grasping it while she stared at her as she sucked her thumb.
“Sexy!” she squealed. A revealing smile broke free as Sex Piston stood up to pick up the toddler. Her baby powder smell enveloped her as she held her. Those chubby little arms circled her neck, grasping handfuls of her hair and tugging.
“Whatcha doing, Star? You being a good girl for your aunt?” Sex Piston cooed, going back to take her seat on the couch.
Sitting the girl on her lap, the little girl’s hands went over her leather jacket, playing with the zipper. Sex Piston baby talked with her for several minutes until she saw a movement from the kitchen doorway.
“Dinner’s ready,” Katy said with a smile. “Why don’t you put Star in her highchair and I’ll give you her bowl to feed her?”
“Sounds good,” Sex Piston said, rising with the little girl in her arms.
Going into the kitchen, she put Star in the highchair that was already placed at the table. Sex Piston sat down in the chair next to it, taking the bowl of vegetable soup that Stud’s aunt handed her.
“I already let it cool,” she said in amusement when she saw Sex Piston testing the warmth of the soup.
“Okay.”
Sex Piston was feeding Star her third spoonful when Stud walked in with Meri and Keri by his side.
“I see you’ve met,” Stud said while he and his daughters took their place at the table.
“Yes,” Katy answered, placing bowls of soup in front of each of them. A big plate of cornbread followed with a big plate of club sandwiches.
Katy took her own seat, while Sex Piston continued to feed Star as she ate her own food. When the little girl became restless, Sex Piston handed her a cracker to play with.
“Do you have any children, Sex Piston?” Stud’s aunt asked casually.
“No,” She answered.
“You’re very good with children,” Katy remarked.
“I babysat while I was in high school. I have a lot of cousins who are younger than me.” She shrugged.
“How was school today, girls?” Stud asked, taking another piece of cornbread.
“Good,” Meri said, looking at Sex Piston from underneath her lashes.
“It’s nice of your friend to pick the girls up from school. Now that I’m here with Stud, they can ride the bus. I could pick them up, but I don’t like driving with Star in the car. I get distracted when she gets fussy.”
“It’s no problem. Killyama doesn’t mind,” Sex Piston said, getting up from the table to get paper towels to clean the mess that Star was making with her cracker.
“Kill-ya-ma?” Katy asked with a concerned look.
“She’s great, Aunt Katy. She’s kind of scary, but she’s really nice. She lets us stop on the way home to get an ice cream cone,” Keri said.
“You’re not supposed to tell. She said Aunt Katy might not like us eating ice cream every day,” Meri scolded her sister, concerned she would lose the special treat.
Katy smothered her laughter, her concerned look gone. “Yes, well, it’s not very good for dinner, but I don’t suppose it will hurt if you play for thirty minutes when you both get home instead of watching television.”
Meri and Keri looked glumly at each other while their aunt began to gather the dirty bowls, placing them in the sink.
“I’ll do the dishes,” Sex Piston volunteered.
“That will be a help. I’ll give Star her bath.” Katy carried a fussy Star out of the room.
“We have homework,” Meri said as her and her sister left the kitchen.
“You came earlier than we planned,” Stud stated as he began doing the dishes.