My sister...
... is very special.

I'm one of that strange breed of men who prefers the company of the opposite sex. I'm certainly not one of those "Hugh Hefner" types, I just seem to get on socially with women much more easily than I do with men.

All through my years of growing up I did have my younger brother, who is fantastic in (almost) every way. He's everything I'm not (artistic, good at sport, mentally stable (why is it it's always the younger sibling who manages all this?)) but I always felt I was missing out on something. Many of my friends had a sister, but I didn't.

It wasn't really a psychological or Freudian thing, more (as is often the way with kids) a "He's got a sister. How come he's got a sister and I haven't? I want one now!" kind of thing.

The answer came years later with Cathy. Cathy and I were pen-pals (she lives in Ireland most of the time) for years and years. We've been conversing for so long that neither of us can remember how we first started writing in the first place. I decided, one day, that I was going to "appoint" Cathy as my sister. And so I did.

We always refer to each other as brother and sister (sometimes, accidentally, in front of *real* family, which raises eyebrows!) and we do all the good things that siblings should, with none of the fighting and arguments (well.. most of the time!)

It's even got to the stage where I'm so sick of explaining the whole situation to people ("Well, she's my sister, but she isn't. You see, it's like this....") that I don't bother any more. Anyone who's met me in the last couple of years thinks she really is related (some have even commented on a family likeness).

So, if you're one of those only-children sitting in front of the keyboard, unable to contribute this week, here's your answer...
(mellotron never could get the hang of Thursdays, Sat 27 Dec 2008, 1:08, 2 replies)

Now why didn't I think of this.
I've always wanted a brother because I lost mine when we were both toddlers.

I think it's a bit late in the day for me to go looking for a brother now : (
( girlinthehole, Sat 27 Dec 2008, 12:16, closed)

Never too late
to go looking for a sibling!

Any takers lads?
(mellotron never could get the hang of Thursdays, Sun 28 Dec 2008, 19:17, closed)