Sealed with a Kiss

Sealed with a Kiss


Colleen rushed back into the kitchen and grabbed her keys.  “Car won’t start without these,” she laughed.  “Oh, and I almost forgot.”  She brushed a kiss on her daughter’s forehead and then kissed her husband on the lips before scurrying out the back door.

Gracie rolled her eyes at her dad and they both understood.  “So, dad, when did you get your first kiss?”

“Probably from my mother.”  He flipped a page of the newspaper and bit into his toast.

“No.  I mean like a romantic kiss.” 

He removed his glasses and chuckled.  “It’s complicated.”

“Well, now you have to tell me, but leave out the steamy parts.  Remember, I’m only twelve years old.”  Gracie gave him the Groucho Marx eyebrows.  She so reminded him of Colleen.

“Well, I was the new kid at school….a freshman.  Anyway, your Aunt Cathy and I were partnered for a science project.

Gracie burst out laughing.  “Aunt Cathy was a nerd?”

“Yes, and she calls me on a Saturday to ask if she can borrow my science book.  Sure, I say.  So a little while later Cathleen and Colleen are at my door.  They were so cute, like Doublemint Gum…two mints in one.”

“Lame, dad.”

“Yeah, well it gets better.  They are so identical; I don’t know who is who.  Then I realize Cathy is the chatterbox.

“That’s for sure,” said Gracie through a mouthful of cornflakes.

“And Colleen is the mysterious one.”

“Don’t you mean, disorganized?”

“Not at the time.. And then the cats come out.”

“You had cats?  How many?  I want a cat,” whines Gracie.

“Three cats and they start swarming Cathy.  Rubbing against her legs, purring, and I see panic in her eyes.”

“Did she run?”

“No, and I don’t understand what’s going on.  That’s when your mother, Colleen, tells her they better leave.”

“And, that’s that?”

“Cathy’s eyes start to water, and she quickly asks if I want to go to the Valentine dance with her.” 

“And you said no, of course.”

“Heck no.  I wanted to be suave Bob and go to the dance with a pretty girl.  So I said yes, but we should seal it with a kiss.”

“Are you kidding me?”

“Well, tears are rolling down her cheeks and I think it’s because she is so happy to be going to the dance with me and I lean in for the kiss.”

“Don’t tell me…”

“Yep, goes into a sneezing fit.  I had no idea she was allergic to cats.”

“So, she sneeze kisses you?  Gross.”

“No.  She misses.  Instead, your mother grabs my face.  Gives me a big fat kiss and says, ‘That seals the deal.  You’re going to the dance.’ Then she drags your aunt out the door.”

“So, mom kissed you and you went to the dance with Aunt Cathy?”

“Nah. Cathy failed the science test and got grounded.  I took your mother.”

And that’s when it hit Gracie.  “OMG…Aunt Cathy was almost my mother!”

“Pretty steamy, right?”



Word count: 499