Heather Shows Up

After Billy walked to the kitchen, his mom showed up, with a slight hangover from last night. She didn't even notice her niece sitting down and walked right past her.

"Oh hi auntie Heather!" Miranda chirped out with excitement.

"Jesus." Heather turned around immediately to look at her. "Oh hi Miranda." She laughed lightheartedly. "You scared me there. I didn't expect someone to be over so early."

"Well you know what they say, the early bird gets the worm!" Heather laughed slightly, still feeling the effects of her headache. "That's quite tru Mira, come here and give your aunt a hug."

They both sat down at the couch and started some small talk, with Heather being direct with her questions, and Miranda being uncharacteristically forthcoming and talkative. Eventually, Billy came back with the coffee he didn't know how to make. His cousin mumbled a 'took you long enough' under her breath, which took her aunt by surprise and made her chuckle a bit.

Billy wondered whether his mom had found out from his aunt about their boxing match. Surely she couldn't have already told her?

Luckily for Billy it seemed Heather was oblivious to anything that had happened after she passed out yesterday night. "Hey there, how was your night?" She said without any teasing attached, like she was genuinely asking.

"Fine," he said, a little more soft than he wanted because of his embarrassment about his knockout loss the night before, as well as his cousin's dominant persona this morning.

Then Heather turned to her niece. "Mira, your mom told me yesterday that you were having some confidence issues. I have to say they seem to be gone this morning, but she did ask me to help out with that. Have you done any sports?"

Usually she would feel downhearted by the question. She was conditioned for the past few years that whenever sports were being brought up, it likely meant that Billy's achievements were going to be brought up. But this time was different. Because of her newfound confidence, she felt angered by the question.

"Nope, I don't have time for some silly activities," chirped Miranda. Her aunt was slightly taken aback, but she persisted in her original idea.

"Well it might be good to give it a try. Billy here is giving out some boxing lessons, and he's a pretty good teacher, and I speak from experience. How about it, willing to give it a try?"

Billy's heart sank. He knew from his mother's tone and demeanor that she wasn't trying to intimidate him. She probably was doing this for his cousin's confidence, but he knew deep down that with those loaded gloves, anything was possible, even being knocked out by his nerdy, unathletic, 5'3 115 pound 18 year-old younger cousin. He was glad his mom hadn't mentioned the knockouts, but was afraid that he would soon have another one to add to his collection.

Even with her new attitude Miranda was apprehensive. She wasn't really into sports, and Billy was a champion boxer at his school and then at university level. Sure, she would like to knock him down a peg or two, but she wasn't sure this was the way to do it.

"I don't know. I know nothing about boxing, and Billy's good, what if I get hurt?" Miranda asked with a hint of genuine concern.

"Oh nonsense honey, he won't go all out, just a bit of practice and some very light sparring at the end. Right Billy?"

"I don't know, boxing isn't really how you build up confidence, maybe a night out or something?" Billy said, sounding more demure than he wanted.

Miranda was taken aback by her cousin's unwillingness to teach her boxing. What exactly was he afraid of? Could it be that he didn't want her to learn because he thought she might be better than him? No, no way. He was really good, she'd heard too many stories to disregard that. But his tone had made her more eager to test out her skills against him. Who knows, maybe she'll pick up a thing or two.

"You know what, I'm actually into the idea of getting into boxing. I would love if Billy could teach me a few things!" She gave Billy some pouty eyes to sweeten up the deal. He knew with his mother there that he wouldn't be able to get out of this, so he resigned to his fate and accepted.

"Awesome, I'll go get get my gloves for Mira."

"No it's fine I'll get them."

"Billy dear yours are there," said Heather while looking back over her shoulder at her son with a sultry look. Then she turned back and skipped up the stairs to her room.