It was summer break in my first year of college. I was asked by one of my cousins if I could help her out by spending some time there watching her four kids while she worked. Not having anything better to do and knowing I would get time to spend with my couple of favorite cousins, I agreed.

My Father's half-brother had a rather large family. Out of all of them, Denise and Joanne were my favorites. Denise was a couple of years younger. Joanne a couple of years older. For reasons I can't explain, even time apart didn't seem to dampen the good feelings we always had for each other. Nothing sexual mind you. We just always enjoyed each other's company.

Late one morning, Joanne came by the house while I was watching the kids. We talked for a little while, it was a hot, humid and nasty day. She asked if I'd do her a favor. "How about you watch my two while I go shopping. After I put everything away, I'll come back here and help you."

If you already have four kids what are two more? So I agreed. "I'll only be gone for an hour or so." She explained.

"That's fine." I said. "I'll be here." I couldn't help but notice she was wearing sneakers with white socks, jean shorts and a tank top. She looked really good, considering she was almost, or sort of a cousin. Three hours later she returned. I wasn't upset, the kids all got along and were easy to manage. I had them out back in the wadding pool and they had a ball. When Joanne returned she was wearing different clothes. I mostly noticed that the sneakers and socks were gone, replaced by flip-flops.

"Sorry I was so long." She said. "After I got home, I took a long bath and I feel great! There's a surprise for you in the car. Will you bring it in?"

"Sure, what is it?" I asked. I noticed she smelled terriffic.

"You'll find out." She smiled and winked at me. She had brought a case of beer and had it in a cooler on ice. I never drank until after the kid's Mom got home from work, but it was hot and I was thirsty. We drank a few and talked while the kids played. When it got close to 4 o'clock, we brought the kids in to watch the afternoon cartoons. Joanne kicked off her flops and sat on the couch. I sat on the floor in front of her with the kids. Being so young, they always fell asleep in the first half hour and then I'd just cart them off to bed for a nap. I had returned after placing the last one in a sleeping area to find Joanne laying on her stomach, her feet hanging off the end of the arm rest of the couch. I passed by on the way to the kitchen to get another beer and looked at her feet. I had never really noticed them before, they were so tiny, looked so soft and a great target if I had the nerve.

I sat back down on the floor and began to read the paper. Not much time had passed when her long nails ran up my sides, softly, to the back of my armpits and then across my shoulders. It sent a chill up my spine, and even caused me to wiggle a bit because it tickled. "Nice tan you have." She said. Then she continued the light tickling. "Something wrong?" She asked.

"That is rather annoying." I told her, but she had already started going over the same spots again. And again I flinched and wiggled.

"Annoying? Or it tickles?" She asked.

"Both." I said as she started it again. Needless to say, she had given me a great chance. Joanne never walked around without shoes and socks, that I ever saw and now here she was trying to tickle me and she was barefoot. I suppose I could have jumped up and tried to tickle her ribs, but her foot was so close, so why waste time?

I reached back and grabbed her left ankle with my left hand and pulled her foot in my lap. Before she could utter a sound, the fingers of my right hand were dancing across the sole of her foot. She exploded! "OHHHHH CHRIST ... nOOOOOOOOOO!!! Not my feeeeeeehee hee hee ha ha ha ha"

"You want tickles?" I asked. "Here are tickles." I doubt she heard me as she howlled with hysterical laughter. Only once before had I ever had someone react like this to being tickled. I could have let go of her ankle and it wouldn't have moved she was so stunned and overwhelmed.

"For God's sake ha ha ha ST ha hah aha ha ha p!!!!" She said as she fell off the couch to the floor.

"Cootchie cootchie coo." I teased. Her back arched off the floor and her face turned bright red with the strain of keeping up with the laughter. One minute, two minutes, then three minutes went by. She was hysterical, her back off the floor, her fist pounding the floor. I could see tears forming in her eyes from the laughter. All the while my fingers dancing lightly across her sole, she begged and pleaded for relief, but I was not so inclined, yet. No rest, non-stop 5 minutes went by. She was ready to do anything, and said as much, if I had wanted her to. But I had what I wanted. Six minutes and her laughter stopped, her face contorted into a scream, but nothing came out. I stopped. I let her ankle go and stood up. She lay there spent, driven beyond what she could endure. What followed doesn't really matter. Joanne wouldn't talk to me for over a week, but as time went by, she forgave me and once again we were friends. But I never again saw her without sneakers and socks on.

To Be continued.............. see:  Cousins - Part 2